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Valley Public Radio Staff

Kristina Herrick
Kristina Herrick
Classical Music Host
George Mason
George Mason
On-air host, Clearly Classical
Rebecca Plevin
Rebecca Plevin
Reporter
Jason Scott
Jason Scott
Host, Clearly Classical and All Things Considered
Vince DiCiccio
Vince DiCiccio
Host, The Oasis; The Intersection
Ezra Romero
Ezra Romero
Reporter and Producer
Marv Allen
Marv Allen
Host, Morning Edition

Tagged: pollution

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Health
3:57 pm
Thu November 15, 2012

Study Links Flame Retardants to Developmental Delays in Children

Credit Courtesy UC Berkeley Media Relations
According to study authors, flame retardant chemicals can leach out from upholstered furniture, particularly if the foam is exposed through rips.
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A new UC Berkeley study adds to research that suggests flame retardants common in California homes are linked to neurodevelopmental delays in kids.

The study followed nearly 300 women from pregnancy to when their children were 7 years old. Researchers tested mother's levels and then the children's levels for the flame retardant compound polybrominated diphenyl ethers, known as PBDE. They wanted to assess in utero effect as well as childhood exposure, says lead researcher and UC Berkeley epidemiologist Brenda Eskenazi.

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Environment
9:43 am
Tue October 16, 2012

Arvin Residents Take On Air Pollution With 'Bucket Brigade'

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Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
The small community of Arvin has some of the worst air in the nation.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Byanka Santoyo with the Committee For A Better Arvin demonstrates the process volunteers use to capture air samples at an office in downtown Arvin.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Global Community Monitor has similar bucket brigade programs in 25 states and 27 countries.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Hazy conditions are a trademark of the air around the Community Recycling facility just west of Arvin.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Trucks and other machinery at the Community Recycling facility are visible from North Wheeler Ridge Road near Arvin.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
A Community Recycling truck sprays water on ground along North Wheeler Ridge Road near Arvin.
Credit Joe Moore / Valley Public Radio
Experts agree on one thing about Arvin - the community's 16,000 residents breathe some of the most polluted air in the nation.
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The small Kern County community of Arvin has some of the worst air in the nation. Surrounded on two sides by mountains at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, the city's 16,000 residents breathe air polluted by cars, trucks and industrial operations from nearby, and from across the valley. But now some members of the community are taking matters into their own hands, with a "bucket brigade" that aims to clean up the air. But their efforts are not without controversy. 

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Environment
4:09 pm
Tue August 14, 2012

Environmental Groups File Suit Over Water Contamination

Credit State Water Resources Control Board
A map shows water wells in the state that indicated the presence of chromium 6, from 2000-2012.
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Two major environmental groups have filed suit against the California State Department of Public Health for what they call a failure by the state to set rules for the safe amount of a toxic chemical in drinking water. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, gained widespread attention as the chemical that sickened residents in the film Erin Brockovich. 

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