Lynn Goldman has extensive background in pesticide and environmental risks to children. During her tenure as Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), she was responsible for the nation’s toxic chemicals regulatory programmes. There she expanded citizens’ right to know under the Toxics Release Inventory, and updated the US pesticides laws. Goldman made progress on testing of high volume industrial chemicals and identification of chemicals that disrupt endocrine systems. She was also successful in promoting children’s health issues, furthering the international agenda for global chemical safety.

“The environment has been taken out of public health and put into environmental agencies, and environmental agencies have lost touch with health.”

With globalisation, Goldman recognises the increasing importance of chemical safety and biotechnology to public health. Her work involves development of policy. At Johns Hopkins University, she co-chairs the school-wide taskforce on bioterrorism.