Sandra Steingraber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandra Steingraber
Steingraber in 2008
Born	1959 Tazewell County, Illinois, United States
Occupation	Biologist, science writer
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Period	1996–present
Subject	Ecology, cancer, fertility, pregnancy, toxicology
Notable works	Living Downstream

Sandra Steingraber (born 1959) is an American biologist and author. She is also a cancer survivor. Steingraber writes and gives talks about how the environment can affect people's health. She focuses on how environmental factors might lead to cancer and problems with having children.

Early Life and Education

Sandra Steingraber was adopted when she was a baby. She grew up in Tazewell County, Illinois. Her mother was a microbiologist (someone who studies tiny living things). Her father was a college professor. Her parents taught her to care about sustainable development and organic agriculture from a young age. This means they learned about farming without harmful chemicals and living in a way that protects the Earth for the future.

When she was in her 20s, Sandra got bladder cancer. In her books, she talks about how many people in her hometown and even in her family seemed to get cancer.

After her cancer went away, Sandra finished her first college degree in biology at Illinois Wesleyan University. She then worked as a researcher for several years. Later, she earned her doctorate degree in biology from the University of Michigan. She also has a master's degree in English from Illinois State University.

Her Work and Career

Sandra Steingraber has taught at Cornell University. She is also a special visiting scholar at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She has been a visiting expert at other universities like the University of Illinois. She also helped President Bill Clinton with his National Action Plan on Breast Cancer.

Activism for a Cleaner Environment

Sandra Steingraber is known for her work to protect the environment. She believes that a healthy environment is key to human health.

Living Downstream: Connecting Environment and Health

In 1997, Sandra Steingraber wrote her famous book, Living Downstream. In this book, she shares stories and facts about pollution from factories and farms. She uses scientific and medical information to show how the environment and cancer are connected.

Steingraber points out that a lot of money goes into studying if cancer is passed down in families. But not enough money goes into studying how the environment causes cancer. She argues that we cannot change our genes, but we can do a lot to reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals that cause cancer.

Her book, Living Downstream, is similar to Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson's book also looked at how chemicals affect the environment and people. Steingraber talks about how chemical pesticides can get into our bodies. She explains that even if chemical levels are now considered safe, they can still cause harm over time.

She wrote about the use of pesticides in farming:

• "In Illinois, about 54 million pounds of man-made pesticides are used on farmland each year. These chemicals started being used in Illinois after World War II. In 1950, less than 10 percent of cornfields were sprayed with pesticides. By 1993, 99 percent were treated with chemicals," (page 5).

Living Downstream was also made into a documentary film. The film shows Sandra's journey as a cancer survivor. It also highlights her work as an ecologist and an activist for cancer prevention.

Protesting for a Safer Future

Sandra Steingraber has actively protested against things she believes harm the environment. On March 18, 2013, she and other protesters blocked the entrance to a natural gas facility near Ithaca, New York. They were protesting the industrial growth in the Finger Lakes area.

She was arrested again on October 29, 2014, during another protest. This time, she and others blocked a chemical truck. She wrote an article called "Why I am in Jail" to explain her reasons for protesting.

Unfractured: A Documentary About Her Work

In 2018, a documentary called Unfractured was made about Sandra Steingraber. This film focuses on her ongoing efforts to protect the environment and fight against harmful practices.

Personal Life

Sandra Steingraber lives in Trumansburg, New York. She lives with her husband, Jeff de Castro, who is a sculptor. They have two children.

Awards and Honors

Sandra Steingraber has received many awards for her important work:

• 1997 – Named a Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year.
• 1998 – Received the first Altman Award for using science in an inspiring way to explain the causes of cancer.
• 1998 – Won the Will Solimene Award for excellent medical communication.
• 1999 – The Sierra Club called her "the new Rachel Carson."
• 2001 – Received the Rachel Carson Leadership Award from Chatham College, Rachel Carson's old school.
• 2006 – Received the Breast Cancer Fund's "Hero Award" for helping to find and stop environmental causes of breast cancer.
• 2008 – Given an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Lycoming College for her excellent research and writing.
• 2010 – Named one of the "25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World" by Utne Reader magazine.
• 2012 – Received the 17th Annual Heinz Award for her focus on the environment.
• 2013 – Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry.
• 2015 – Received the American Ethical Union's Elliott-Black Award for protecting our planet and teaching others how to get involved.
• 2015 – Received Breast Cancer Action's "Barbara Brenner Hell Raiser Award" for highlighting the links between toxic chemicals and breast cancer. This award recognized her for bringing her academic knowledge into real-world action.