Policy Brief: Strengthening Regulation of PFAS in Food Packaging Perspectives from the Philippines
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl- substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals widely linked to a variety of health conditions, including cancer, immunotoxicity, cardiorespiratory diseases, endocrine toxicity, reproductive issues, and neurodevelopmental complications, has been found to be commonly used in food paper packaging products. Women, children, and factory workers are at higher risk to these negative health impacts due to inherent age and sex-related vulnerabilities and increased exposure.
This scoping review investigates the existing policies and regulations for PFAS use in food paper packaging in the Philippines, as well as the gaps and challenges in mitigating risk exposure in vulnerable populations.
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Heat Health Forum 2025: Strengthening Our Response to a Warming Philippines
Join the Heat Health Forum on May 15, 2025 at ASMPH Chang Te Hall, Ateneo de Manila University — a timely event bringing together health and climate experts, government agencies, and future professionals to address the rising health risks of extreme heat in the Philippines. Through expert discussions and collaborative breakout sessions, the forum aims to shape a unified national response and develop actionable strategies for protecting vulnerable populations. 📅 Date: May 15, 2025 📍 Venue: Chung Te Hall, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City 💻 Access: Zoom 🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/3RoQvNMPv5CcpKpG9 Be part of the conversation — and the solution.
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Making Clean Air a Right: The Launch of Breathe Metro Manila
This groundbreaking initiative, launched through a collaborative effort between Ateneo de Manila University's Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD), the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), the Manila Observatory, and technology partner Clarity, represents a new frontier in public health advocacy: making air quality visible, understandable, and actionable for every Filipino. The project made its public debut on August 6, 2025 at a media briefing and roundtable titled "The Urgent Case for Clean Air: Why Real-Time Data Could Save Lives." The event brought together leading scientists, health professionals, and innovators to address a sobering reality—air pollution has quietly become one of the Philippines' most pressing public health emergencies.