Results for search "Environmental Medicine".
Environmental contaminants may be driving higher rates of breast cancer in urban areas compared to rural locales, a new North Carolina study finds.
“Our analyses indicate significant associations between environmental quality and breast cancer incidence," said lead author Larisa Gearhart-Serna, who led the research as a Ph.D. can...
Nearly half of Americans have never heard of health-threatening PFAS “forever chemicals,” a new survey has found.
PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a category of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have become an emerging concern to environmental and human health, researchers from Texas A&M University said.
Nonetheless, 45% of survey participants ...
A variety of risks can make it more likely that someone develops Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
Now you can add neighborhood environment to that list. A new study finds low income levels and a lack of green spaces are among the factors that can harm brain health.
“Social determinants of health have a major impact on cognition, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular...
Exposure to ubiquitous chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, may delay puberty in girls, new research indicates.
The study is the first to consider the role hormones play in the delay, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati.
Delayed puberty can lead to negative long-term health outcomes for girls, such as a higher incidence of breast ca...
Highly processed packaged foods and drinks may be quick, cheap and tasty, but new research suggests they're also likely to up your risk for depression.
Among big consumers of ultra-processed foods, depression risk may rise by as much as 50%, the new study found, particularly when those foods are artificially sweetened.
“Given what we know about these foods and the important role o...
That beautiful park you walk through could be hiding dangerous levels of lead. So, too, could the soil under the play equipment where your children slide and swing.
New research in the United States finds that urban parks built on sites where waste was incinerated could be hotspots for lead.
“We found that city parks and playgrounds built on the site of a former waste incine...
Everyday products used for cleaning or freshening the air may release hundreds of hazardous volatile organic compounds, according to new research.
Both conventional and "green" products emitted these VOCs in an analysis by the Environmental Working Group, though the green cleaners had less of them.
“This study is a wake-up call for consumers, researchers and regulators to be more ...
Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall in the United States Wednesday.
Idalia was forecast to be a powerful Category 3 storm by the time it reaches Florida's Big Bend, an area prone to storm surge that stretches from Tampa to just south of Tallahassee. It's also expected to hit eastern parts of Georgia and the Carolinas before heading out to sea late Thursday or early Friday.
Paper straws, meant to be an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, may not be better for the environment, a new study concludes, warning that they also contain “forever chemicals” that can harm human health.
“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” said researche...
With 2023 predicted to be the hottest year on record, a new study is pointing to another potential consequence of heat waves: faster declines in older adults' memory and thinking skills.
The study, of nearly 9,500 older U.S. adults, found that those with greater exposure to heat waves over 12 year...
Research into a possible link between childhood health problems and natural gas wells in western Pennsylvania is wrapping up with some answers.
Children who lived near these wells were more likely to develop rare lymphoma, the research found.
In addition, residents of all ages near the wells had increased risk of severe asthma reactions, the Associated Press reported.
Some menstrual products -- pads, tampons, cups and underwear -- contain harmful “forever chemicals,” according to new research into the contents of these essential items.
Researchers analyzed more than 100 period products looking for fluorinated compounds, an indicator of potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The products typically don't list ingredients on...
If you're moving into a home where smokers lived, the first thing you should do to protect your lungs is rip out any old carpeting, new research suggests.
Scientists found that tobacco smoke clings to carpet fibers long after smoking has stopped, and ozone generators that purify the air and surfaces can't remove it completely.
This leftover residue, also known as "thirdhand smoke,"...
Microplastics appear to be everywhere, including within the tissues of the human heart.
A new Chinese report describes doctors finding microplastics in heart tissue both before and after heart surgery. The researchers also noted there is evidence suggesting that microplastics may have been unexpectedly introduced during the heart procedures.
The researchers, who included
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are living in an environment that contains higher levels of potentially harmful chemicals than seen in American homes, new research reveals.
The discovery is important because it could guide the design of future spacecraft.
“Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exc...
Being exposed to lead while in the womb or during early childhood may increase a person's chance of engaging in criminal behavior as an adult, a new review claims.
To arrive at this conclusion, the review authors evaluated 17 previous studies that used varying methods to test for lead exposure, including blood, bones and teeth. They also addressed the effects of exposure at different ages...
U.S. federal officials took a big step toward protecting children from a contaminant blamed for irreversible health effects, proposing tougher standards for removing lead-based paint in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New research on horses and dogs found elevated levels of PFAS “forever chemicals,” establishing horses as sentinel species.
Sentinel species provide advance warning of a danger to people.
The work also advanced knowledge about PFAS exposure and liver and kidney function in these animals. PFAS stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals used in plastics an...
Using gas stoves can increase indoor air levels of benzene, a chemical linked to higher risk of leukemia and other blood cell cancers, a new study reports.
Analysis of dozens of stoves revealed that a single gas cooktop burner on high or a gas oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit can raise indoor levels of benzene above those typically released by secondhand tobacco smoke, the researchers r...
Humans are inhaling microplastics from the degradation of plastic products in the environment, and these tiny plastic particles are sticking in human airways, according to researchers.
People inhale about 16.2 bits of these microplastics every hour --- the equivalent of a whole credit card each week --- according to a study published June 13 in Physics of Fluids. These micr...
Microplastic pollution is altering the gut microbiomes of wild seabirds and that could be a warning sign for humans, researchers report.
Scientists from McGill University in Montreal, along with colleagues from around the world, found that tiny bits of plastic present in the gastrointestinal system of seabirds have modified the gut's microbiome. The plastics are also reducing levels of ad...
A chemical used to degrease industrial parts that was also used as a surgical anesthetic until the 1970s may increase the risk for Parkinson's disease, researchers report.
Their new study found that two years of heavy exposure to the liquid chemical TCE may boost Parkinson's risk by 70%.
TCE, or trichloroethylene, lingers in the air, water and soil. It has been linked to certain can...
Black and Hispanic communities in the United States are more often poor — and also more likely to have harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water, a new study reveals.
Sources of PFAS pollution — including major manufacturers, airports, military bases, wastewater treatment plants and landfills — are disproportionately sited near watersheds t...
Pollutants produced by the U.S. oil and gas industry cause thousands of deaths and cost the country tens of billions in health care expenses, a new study reports.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter and ozone all contribute to air pollution, and all are emitted as part of oil and gas production, the researchers said.
The new study estimates that the oil and gas industry ...
Many common household products emit airborne toxins that can harm your health in ways up to and including cancer, a new study reports.
Dozens of different types of consumer products contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that escape as gases and accumulate in indoor air, researchers from the Silent Spring Institute and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkele...
U.S. water utilities will be required to remove certain “forever chemicals” from drinking water as the Biden administration sets first-ever limits on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, better known as known as PFAS.
Nearly all Americans have PFAS in their bloodstream. The toxic chemicals are found in an enormous range of goods from dental floss to waterproof clothing. The c...
Canned tuna is known to contain low levels of mercury, but a new Consumer Reports investigation has found spikes of the neurotoxin in some cans.
The organization tested five popular tuna brands, CBS News reported.
While the mercury levels were all within U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards, Consumer Reports urged pregnant women to "avoid canned tuna altogether."
...Chemicals found in plastic personal care products, kids' toys, and food and drink packaging could be raising the risk of type 2 diabetes among women, new research suggests.
To study the impact of these chemicals, known as phthalates, researchers followed just over 1,300 U.S. women for six years to see if exposure contributed to the incidence of diabetes.
About 5% of the women devel...
Parents in the United States may assume baby food is free of impurities, but a recent research review highlights the much different reality: Most foods made for babies and toddlers have some amount of toxic heavy metals.
The contaminants include metals, such as lead and arsenic, that can harm brain development, and contribute to learning and behavior problems in children. And they are fou...
Black and Hispanic women who work as hairdressers are exposed to an array of chemicals, including many that have not been previously identified, a small study finds.
Researchers found that compared with women of color in office jobs, hair stylists had higher levels of various chemicals in their urine. Those substances included expected ones -- ingredients known to be in salon products -- ...
Natural gas stoves have become the latest flashpoint in America's increasingly volatile political culture, after a top federal regulator publicly mulled over banning the appliances.
"This is a hidden hazard," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) commissioner, Richa...
Being evicted can have a significant impact on a person's health, according to new research.
In U.S. counties where eviction rates were elevated, death rates were higher for all causes, especially if those areas were home to a higher proportion of Black residents and women.
U.S. communities with higher Hispanic, American Indian or Black populations also have the highest concentrations of metal in public water systems, new research reveals.
Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City found significantly higher arsenic and uranium levels in public drinking water in Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native communities...
Diets higher in fruit, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids could improve astronaut health during long spaceflights while still sticking to requirements for what can go on board, according to new research.
A new study tested this theory on a spaceflight simulation chamber on Earth with 16 people: 10 men and six women.
Four individuals participated in each 45-day, Earth-based, closed-...
Uterine fibroids can cause uncontrolled bleeding and infertility in women, and now a new study finds an unexpected culprit: Toxic chemicals called phthalates that are present in everything from fast-food packaging to plastic water bottles.
“We detected the phthalate DEHP and its breakdown products in much higher quantities in the urine of women who also happen to have symptomatic uterin...
Lead is known to damage young children's brains, and a new study suggests the effects may still be apparent in old age.
Researchers found that among nearly 1,100 older U.S. adults, those who grew up in cities with lead-contaminated drinking water generally scored worse on tests of memory and thinking skills.
The findings, experts said, suggest that older adults who were exposed to l...
Equipping offices with "healthier" furnishings could reduce human exposure to risky PFAS chemicals, new research suggests.
To look at indoor PFAS levels, a team led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston, analyzed building dust in classrooms and common campus spaces.
“Our findings provide desperately needed scientific evidence for the success of healthier material...
A Missouri woman has sued L'Oréal and several other beauty product companies, alleging that their hair-straightening products caused her uterine cancer.
Alligators along North Carolina's Cape Fear River have high blood levels of 14 toxic chemicals, along with signs of immune system damage, new research shows.
The study of levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in the reptiles' blood adds to concerns that the chemicals may cause genetic and immune system harm. Alligators are a
Do the majority of Americans want government to make sure the products they buy are free of harmful chemicals?
Yes, a new survey shows, and they are even willing to pay more to get that assurance of safety.
“At a time when most issues are politically polarized, the issue of keeping people ...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a major step to curb the largest remaining source of airborne lead pollution.
The agency has proposed a so-called endangerment finding that aircraft that use leaded fuel cause or contribute to
Your children's school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear?
Maybe not.
Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the envir...
Munching handfuls of microwave popcorn might be perfect for movie night, but your snack could be loading your body with potentially harmful "forever chemicals," experts warn.
Pregnant women are exposed to toxic chemicals in dishware, hair coloring, plastics and pesticides that can heighten their risk of cancer and harm child development, a new study warns.
It's safe to say that when searching for somewhere to live most people prefer open, airy spaces over dark and dingy ones. Now, new research suggests why: Homes filled with lots of natural light makes for happier residents.
Workers who cleaned up the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico were more likely than others to have developed asthma or related symptoms, a long-term follow-up shows.
"This is the first study to ever look at specific chemicals from oil spills and link them to respiratory diseases," said study co-author Dale Sandler, of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health...
PFAS compounds are known as “forever chemicals” because they degrade slowly in the environment and accumulate in the body, potentially harming human and animal health.
Bacteria can't eat them. Fire can't incinerate them. Water can't dilute them.
Instead, these per- and polyfluoroalkyl subs...
It's well known that exposure to lead can harm young children's brain development. Now a new study suggests that racial segregation may be compounding the detrimental effects of lead on Black children.
The study, of close to 26,000 schoolchildren, found that Black children with elevated blood lead levels had wo...
A chemical called perfluooctane sulfate (PFOS) has been linked to the most common type of liver cancer, a new study indicates.
PFOS are used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly and accumulate both in the environment and in human tissue.
Researchers at the University of Southern Califo...
Inner-city kids are known to be at greater risk for uncontrolled asthma. Now, new research suggests that violent crime and poor school achievement may be two reasons why.
“Experiencing violent crime can result in toxic stress, and decreased educational attainment is associated with lower health literacy,” said study author Dr. Jordan Tyris, a hospitalist at Children's National Hospita...