Tag

Contamination

All articles tagged with #contamination

health4 days ago•385 min saved

Nationwide recall of Clear Eyes eye drops due to sterility concerns, FDA says

Nearly 40,000 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops distributed nationwide have been voluntarily recalled by Medtech Products (owned by Prestige Consumer Healthcare) after the FDA flagged a lack of assurance of sterility; 39,060 units are affected (Lot 2552A, D-0766-2026, exp. 9/30/2027); no injuries have been reported; recall began July 29, 2026 and is ongoing; products were sold over the counter at retailers such as CVS and Walmart.

via NBC News|

#contamination #eye-drops #fda

space26 days ago•14 min saved

Mars samples sealed to nanoscale cleanliness guard against Earthly fingerprints

NASA’s Perseverance carries 43 ultra-clean titanium sample tubes designed in a hyper-clean room to limit Earth-derived organics to 150 nanograms in total (and 15 ng for life-relevant compounds). A single fingerprint (~45,000 ng) would exceed the entire allowance by about 300x, so any contaminant would trigger cleaning and retesting. Tubes feature a titanium nitride surface, a reflective coating to limit heating, and hermetic seals, and are accompanied by five witness tubes to monitor contamination. Each tube comes with hundreds of pages of documentation, underscoring that cleanliness is part of the science. While a future Mars Sample Return is politically uncertain, this approach ensures that if Martian signals are found, they can be distinguished from Earthly material, even if the tubes never reach Earth.

via Space Daily|

#astrobiology #contamination #mars

health1 month ago•2 min saved

FDA recalls millions of prednisolone eye drops over potential contaminant risk

The FDA issued a Class II recall of about 2.5 million bottles of prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension 1% eye drops by Lupin Pharmaceuticals due to a potential foreign-substance contamination. The products—available in 5 mL, 10 mL, and 15 mL sizes—were initially recalled on June 4 and reclassified on June 30; the drops treat non-infectious eye allergies and inflammation.

via Boston 25 News|

#contamination #eye-drops #fda

science1 month ago•10 min saved

Digestive cancers show distinct microbiomes, large study finds

A large-scale analysis of Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes Project used stringent methods to separate genuine microbial signals from lab contamination. The study found that most cancers (including brain, breast and kidney cancers) do not have a microbiome distinguishable from background, suggesting earlier reports may reflect contamination. In contrast, mouth, esophagus, stomach and colorectal cancers showed clear, consistent microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea, with microbe communities varying by tumor location and subtype. The team released their data and a list of confidently present microbes to help other researchers apply the rigorous approach, with implications for understanding how microbiomes influence tumor development, treatment response, and potentially improving GI cancer diagnosis and early detection.

via The Conversation|

#cancer #contamination #genomics

health2 months ago•1 min saved

Target Recalls Up & Up Baby Wipes Over Bacterial Contamination Risk

Target is voluntarily recalling certain Up & Up brand baby wipes (fragrance-free and Fresh Cucumber Scented) after FDA testing detected bacteria, specifically Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, with customers reporting skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to serious, life‑threatening infections from contaminated products. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled wipes and return them to Target for a full refund; the products were sold nationwide in stores and on Target.com and were manufactured by Sapro Temizlik Urunleri. The investigation is ongoing, and questions can be directed to Target Guest Relations.

via USA Today|

#baby-wipes #contamination #fda

crime-and-courts3 months ago•48 min saved

Former McDonald’s manager charged with tainting fries for ex-girlfriend in Massachusetts

A 22-year-old Southbridge McDonald’s night manager, Kaylie Santos, is charged with distributing food with a harmful substance after allegedly placing her saliva on fries served to her ex‑girlfriend; police say a Snapchat video captured the act, and arraignment is set for June 5. Authorities say no other customers were affected and there were no public health concerns.

via The Boston Globe|

#contamination #crime-and-courts #ex-girlfriend

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Shroud of Turin: Food DNA Found, Pointing to Centuries of Contamination

Researchers analyzing dust and fibers from the Turin Shroud identified plant DNA—carrot, bread wheat, maize, peanuts, and various fruits—suggesting contamination over time rather than revealing the cloth’s age; metagenomic DNA cannot confirm origin, while radiocarbon dating in 1988 placed the cloth at 1260–1390 AD and a 2024 analysis hinted at a date closer to 2,000 years, with the final results not yet published.

via New York Post|

#archaeology #contamination #dna-analysis

science4 months ago•6 min saved

Shroud of Turin DNA: Plant Traces Suggest Post-1492 Contamination

Researchers analyzing dust and fibers from the Shroud of Turin report plant DNA—carrot, bread wheat and other crops—signalling contamination over time rather than confirming the relic’s age; they caution metagenomics can’t reliably date the cloth, even as radiocarbon dating in 1988 placed it medieval (1260–1390 AD) and 2024 WAXS results broadly align with a two-millennium history.

via Fox News|

#archaeogenetics #contamination #dna-analysis

science4 months ago•5 min saved

Ink in Martian Meteorites Triggers Contamination Wake-Up Call for Space Sample Prep

Researchers analyzing Martian meteorites found ballpoint pen ink contamination likely introduced during Earth-based handling, highlighting contamination risks in planetary sample prep and underscoring the need for standardized, contamination-aware protocols as space missions return Martian material.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#contamination #martian-meteorites #planetary-science

space-and-spaceflight4 months ago•17 min saved

Ballpoint Ink in Martian Meteorites Highlights Contamination Challenge

A Basque Country team analyzed six Martian meteorite slices and found traces of ballpoint-pen ink and other contaminants tied to sample processing, not Martian material. Using Raman spectroscopy, they identified seven contaminants, including a copper compound, printer-ink molecules, and blue polyester, across samples with and without prior processing. While analytic methods can distinguish these contaminants, the study underscores the lack of standardized, contamination-aware prep protocols and proposes steps to minimize leftovers as future Mars sample-return missions proceed.

via Gizmodo|

#contamination #ink #mars

food-and-drink4 months ago•14 min saved

Bagged Greens Pose Real Safety Risks, Experts Warn

A HuffPost piece explains that prewashed bagged greens are among the riskiest grocery items due to contamination by pathogens like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella, which can spread across the supply chain. Washing at home doesn’t reliably remove these pathogens, and mixing greens from multiple farms in processing can amplify spread. For safer shopping, check recalls and expiration dates, choose visibly fresh bags with minimal moisture, minimize temperature changes, and refrigerate properly; buying whole heads of lettuce or spinach can reduce risk. If you must buy bagged greens, follow precautionary steps and discard any bags that show signs of spoilage or recalls.

via HuffPost|

#bagged-greens #contamination #e-coli

science6 months ago•35 min saved

Scientists Push Back on Microplastics Health Alarm, Citing Method Flaws

A Fortune/Yahoo report notes that several scientists are challenging recent warnings about microplastics harming human health, arguing that many high-profile findings may be due to methodological issues, contamination, and false positives (for example, Py-GC-MS signals can be confused by fat in tissue). Some researchers say rising obesity could better explain observed health problems, and they call for more robust, standardized techniques before policy changes or costly “detox” treatments. Experts also urge precautionary steps but warn against sensational claims while the field remains immature and in need of rigorous validation.

via Yahoo|

#contamination #health #microplastics

health6 months ago•5 min saved

Tiny plastics found inside prostate tumors spark research questions

In a small, not-yet-peer-reviewed study of 10 men with prostate cancer, researchers found microplastics in 90% of tumor samples and 70% of nearby noncancerous tissue, with higher concentrations in tumors. The findings are preliminary, the study took extensive contamination precautions, and larger studies are needed to determine any causal link or health implications.

via NBC News|

#contamination #health #microplastics

business7 months ago•3 min saved

Meijer recalls over 38,000 gallons of distilled water amid contamination concerns

Meijer is recalling more than 38,000 gallons of Steam Distilled Water sold in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin due to a possible foreign substance; the affected one-gallon jugs with red lids have sell-by date Oct. 4, 2026, lot code 39-222 #3, product ID 472859 and Meijer item code 477910.

via NBC 5 Chicago|

#business #contamination #distilled-water

health-and-medicine7 months ago•3 min saved

New debate questions how solid the evidence is for microplastics in human tissues

A growing critique argues that many studies claiming microplastics in human bodies may be flawed, due to Py-GC-MS measurement flaws that can mistake tissue fats for plastics, and inadequate contamination controls. Critics point to 18 papers with questionable methods, highlighting that the field is nascent and that hard proof of health impacts is still lacking, though the possibility of plastics in humans isn’t fully ruled out.

via Futurism|

#brain #contamination #false-positives