about us
Poison Diaries is a community-focused platform that educates the public about the dangers of pesticides and chemicals used in and around homes and residential areas.
Who’s Behind The Poison Diaries?
We’re a team of environmental health specialists who care deeply about people’s wellbeing, the planet we all share, and making sure everyone has access to transparent and easy-to-understand information about the hidden risks in everyday household products.
Led by Prof Andrea Rother, who brings over 30 years of experience in the field, we’ve seen what can happen when people use pesticides and other household chemicals without access to the full picture. Time and again, we’ve heard stories of families unknowingly putting their health at risk, not out of carelessness, but because they simply weren’t told what they needed to know.
Meanwhile, companies continue to sell products that can harm, without clearly warning the people who use them.
We started The Poison Diaries in 2025 to help change that.
meet The Team
Prof Andrea Rother is an Environmental Health specialist with over 35 years of experience in the field. Her work has focused on pesticide and chemical risk management as well as risk communication. Her goal is to protect people’s health, especially children’s, from hazardous pesticides and chemicals.
Tanya Wood is a public health researcher in the Division of Environmental Health at the University of Cape Town. Her work focuses on children’s environmental health, pesticide exposure, and the ways in which environmental risks affect vulnerable communities. Her interests lie in understanding how environmental risks affect communities and in helping translate research into clear communication and meaningful action.
Dr Ilzé Engelbrecht has a PhD in environmental science with a quantitative chemical background. Her areas of expertise include occupational and environmental health, with a specific focus on the use of mammalian tissue cultures to investigate the toxicological effects of chemicals, environmental mixtures, and occupational hazards.
Amy is a communications specialist in public health, working across divisions at the University of Cape Town. Her work focuses on translating research into clear, accessible communication tailored to diverse audiences. She is particularly interested in ensuring that research reaches the right audiences in ways that support understanding, inform decision-making, and contribute to meaningful public health action.
Caitlin Gould is a public health researcher in the Division of Environmental Health at the University of Cape Town. My professional interests lie at the intersection of the environment and health. I am especially interested in risk communication to empower everyday individuals on ways to reduce unknown environmental exposures in their daily lives. A key motivation is to contribute to meaningful change at both policy and community levels, advancing public awareness of environmental health risks and supporting the development of real change and better health outcomes for all.