Author: Alison Bernstein

Alison is a neuroscientist who studies Parkinson’s disease, epigenetics and neurotoxicology. Outside of work, Alison is a mom of two. She loves to cook, play tennis, do crafts, read bad sci-fi novels and sleep late (which rarely happens since having kids).

Coronavirus Shows We Still Suck At Assessing Risk

by Alison Bernstein, posted in Risk

I was really looking forward to co-chairing a session at the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting this year. The organizers wisely canceled the meeting due to the one risk on everyone's mind these days: coronavirus. My talk? “Communicating Risk in a (Mis)information-filled World,” in which I explore how errors in risk perception lead to public … Continue reading Coronavirus Shows We Still Suck At Assessing Risk

Are we worried about flame retardants?

by Alison Bernstein, posted in Are We Worried, Environment, Health, Risk

When I was pregnant with my first child in 2008, the nurse who taught our pregnancy class recommended that we use Dreft detergent. One of her reasons was that they don’t strip clothes of their flame retardants. At which point, I raised my hand and asked, “but don’t we want to avoid flame-retardant exposures?” Consider … Continue reading Are we worried about flame retardants?

Sepia tone image of a child's leg in a cast up to the mid thigh, with a single sneaker in the background. Text overlaid on the image says: I went on vacation and all I got was this stupid cast.

(Don’t) Jump Around: A Look at Trampoline Safety

by Alison Bernstein, posted in Risk

Several years ago, my youngest broke his leg at a trampoline park while we were on vacation visiting my parents. In the urgent care center across the street, the nurses informed me that such accidents were frequent, with toddlers coming in multiple times a week with broken legs. Given their popularity and the risk associated with … Continue reading (Don’t) Jump Around: A Look at Trampoline Safety