All articles tagged with #environmental exposure
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.