Tag

Environmental Exposure

All articles tagged with #environmental exposure

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Health Officials Probe Possible Breast Cancer Cluster at Uxbridge High

Public health officials are investigating multiple breast cancer or precancerous diagnoses among teachers at Uxbridge High School. Air quality tests will be conducted and building factors like materials, airflow, and legacy hazards (e.g., PCBs, formaldehyde) are being reviewed, though experts warn that proving a cancer cluster is difficult and patterns can occur by chance; Massachusetts has seen previous cancer cluster investigations in different contexts.

via The Boston Globe|

#breast-cancer #cancer-cluster #environmental-exposure

health1 month ago•8 min saved

Dry-Cleaning Solvent Linked to Increased Liver Fibrosis Risk

A national NHANES analysis links tetrachloroethylene (PCE), the dry-cleaning solvent, to a higher risk of significant liver fibrosis. Among 1,614 U.S. adults (2017–2020), about 7.4% had detectable PCE in blood; those with detectable exposure had over three times the odds of meaningful liver scarring, and each 1 ng/mL rise in PCE increased fibrosis odds by more than fivefold, with roughly a 28% absolute risk increase. The association persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, and common liver risk factors like alcohol use and obesity. PCE exposure can occur via indoor air, groundwater, dry-cleaning and industrial use, and while the EPA is phasing it out over a decade, it remains in some settings. The findings underscore environmental toxins as potential contributors to liver disease and suggest a need for broader screening and further research.

via SciTechDaily|

#dry-cleaning #environmental-exposure #health

science2 months ago•33 min saved

Century-old solvent linked to elevated Parkinson's risk

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a century-old solvent once used in dry cleaning and various household products, is linked to a roughly fivefold increase in Parkinson's disease risk, with both occupational and environmental exposure. Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center say the long latency between exposure and symptoms can obscure cause, and historical cases like Camp Lejeune highlight community risks. Public health actions include the EPA banning TCE manufacture/import and processing, with risk evaluations and regulations continuing to guide safeguards.

via Yahoo|

#dry-cleaning #environmental-exposure #epa-ban

health2 months ago•9 min saved

Century-Old Cleaning Solvent TCE Tied to Higher Parkinson’s Risk

A century-old cleaning solvent, trichloroethylene (TCE), has contaminated groundwater and indoor air via vapor intrusion, and new research links past exposure to a markedly higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. Studies note brain and mitochondrial damage from TCE and its activation of disease-relevant pathways; cases near contaminated sites show elevated risks even among non-occupational exposures. The report calls for accelerated cleanup, expanded environmental monitoring, and clearer risk communication, while regulatory efforts to ban most TCE uses proceed amid legal challenges.

via SciTechDaily|

#environmental-exposure #health #parkinsons-disease

health3 months ago•55 min saved

Never-smoker lung cancer on the rise as genetics and pollution drive new cases

Lung cancer is increasingly diagnosed in healthy, non-smokers—often younger women—driven by genetic changes like ALK and environmental factors such as air pollution and burn-pit toxins; experts urge expanding screening beyond smoking history and highlight targeted therapies that can turn advanced disease into a manageable condition.

via Daily Mail|

#alk-mutation #environmental-exposure #health

science4 months ago•5 min saved

Microplastics Detected in 9 of 10 Prostate Tumors, Study Signals Environmental Link to Cancer

A pilot study from NYU Langone Health found microplastics in 90% of analyzed prostate cancer tumors, with cancerous tissue showing about 2.5 times more microplastics than healthy tissue (roughly 40 vs 16 micrograms per gram). Researchers say microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for prostate cancer and call for further study and potentially stricter plastic regulation to understand and mitigate this environmental health risk.

via Indian Defence Review|

#cancer-risk #environmental-exposure #microplastics

health5 months ago•5 min saved

Swedish Study Links Forever Chemicals to Increased Risk of MS

A Swedish study analyzed blood from 907 newly diagnosed MS patients and 907 controls, measuring 24 PFAS compounds and seven PCB byproducts. Higher levels of PFAS (notably PFOS) and certain PCB byproducts were linked to roughly double the odds of an MS diagnosis, with the strongest risk when multiple PFAS/byproducts were present, indicating a chemical ‘toxic synergy.’ A gene variant associated with lower MS risk amplified the effect of PFOS exposure, suggesting gene–environment interactions. PFOS and hydroxylated PCBs can cross the blood–brain barrier and may trigger oxidative stress in the brain, potentially contributing to MS symptoms. The study underscores considering chemical mixtures, not single substances, in disease risk; it was published in Environment International.

via ScienceAlert|

#environmental-exposure #forever-chemicals #health

health8 months ago•16 min saved

Unraveling Iowa's Rising Cancer Rates and Environmental Concerns

In Iowa, a rise in cancer rates among young adults, particularly in the Corn Belt states, has raised concerns about environmental factors like pesticides, soil radon, and nitrate pollution, with communities and researchers questioning whether land and chemical exposures contribute to this alarming trend. The region shows higher rates of certain cancers, and local activists are calling for more investigation into environmental causes, amid ongoing scientific debates about chemicals like glyphosate.

via The Washington Post|

#cancer #environmental-exposure #health

health9 months ago•2 min saved

EU-banned chemical linked to Parkinson’s disease

A new US study links exposure to the industrial chemical trichloroethylene (TCE), banned in the EU due to health concerns, with a modest increase in Parkinson's disease risk, highlighting the potential public health impact of environmental pollutants.

via Euronews.com|

#chemical-ban #environmental-exposure #health

health2 years ago•4 min saved

Canadian Scientist Claims Political Interference in Mystery Brain Illness Research

A top Canadian scientist, Michael Coulthart, alleges he was barred from investigating a mystery brain illness in New Brunswick, affecting over 200 people with unexplained neurological decline. Leaked emails reveal Coulthart's concerns about environmental exposures triggering neurodegenerative syndromes, despite the province's conclusion that the cases were misdiagnosed known illnesses. The controversy highlights ongoing fears and advocacy for affected patients, with accusations of political interference in the investigation.

via The Guardian|

#canada #environmental-exposure #health

health2 years ago•4 min saved

"Canadian Scientist Claims Political Interference in Mystery Brain Disease Research"

A top Canadian scientist, Dr. Michael Coulthart, claims he was blocked from researching a mysterious brain disease outbreak in New Brunswick, affecting over 200 residents with severe neurological symptoms. Leaked emails suggest health officials may have hindered investigations into potential environmental causes, such as toxic pesticides. The disease, first identified in 2019, has left many young adults debilitated, with symptoms resembling dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Despite local health officials attributing the cases to common illnesses, Dr. Coulthart and other experts believe environmental factors may be involved.

via Daily Mail|

#brain-disease #canada #environmental-exposure

health-and-science2 years ago•5 min saved

"Slowing the Pace of Aging: Is It Possible?"

A new tool called DunedinPACE can assess the pace of aging at a cellular level, revealing that a low-calorie diet, longer education, metal exposure, childhood hardships, and the Mediterranean diet all impact aging. The tool has shown that reducing caloric intake by 25% can slow aging by 2-3%, while staying in school longer correlates with slower aging and longer lifespan. Metal exposure accelerates aging, and children facing hardships age faster. Additionally, the Mediterranean diet slows aging and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

via Columbia Magazine|

#aging #cellular-health #diet

health3 years ago•4 min saved

Lithium in Drinking Water Linked to Autism Risk

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that exposure to lithium in groundwater may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. The study, which used data from Denmark, found that mothers who lived in areas with higher groundwater lithium levels were about 46% more likely to have a child with ASD. However, the study has limitations, including the fact that groundwater concentration of lithium and the amount of lithium a pregnant mother ingests is not the same thing. More research is needed to determine the link between lithium exposure and ASD.

via Medscape|

#autism #denmark #environmental-exposure

health3 years ago•1 min saved

Environmental factors linked to cardiovascular diseases in India

Environmental exposure is a significant risk factor for the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases in adults in India, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi. The study analysed data from over 60,000 people aged 45 years and above in both rural and urban India and found that older adults in India are prone to physiological risk followed by genetic, indoor environmental and behavioural risk factors. The research team utilised data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), a nationally representative longitudinal survey.

via Indiatimes.com|

#cardiovascular-diseases #environmental-exposure #health