Tag

Environmental Health

All articles tagged with #environmental health

environment9 minutes ago•3 min saved

Proximity to a Defunct Nuclear Site Linked to Autoimmune and Metabolic Disorders

A Risk Analysis study surveying 475 residents within 15 miles of California's Santa Susana Field Laboratory—an old nuclear reactor and rocket-testing site and Superfund site—finds higher rates of autoimmune, endocrine, and metabolic disorders among those living closer to the facility, expanding beyond prior cancer-focused research, while noting limitations due to self-reported diagnoses and the need for further verification.

via Gizmodo|

#california #environment #environmental-health

health3 days ago•4 min saved

Close Proximity to Dry Cleaners Linked to Parkinson’s Risk, Study Finds

A new study links living within 500 feet of a dry cleaner to higher odds of Parkinson’s disease, with notable clusters in NYC and other regions. Near-cleaner residents had about 13% higher risk, while some areas, like parts of Southern Illinois, saw more than double the odds. Researchers point to solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) and vapor intrusion as possible drivers, noting that exposure occurs via air or skin contact rather than from clothes, with TCE largely banned and PCE being phased out. Proximity-based risk decreases with distance.

via New York Post|

#dry-cleaning #environmental-health #health

health24 days ago•2 min saved

Mold battles drive awareness: Northshore teen's illness and a CDC study

A CDC study suggests invasive mold infections may be more common than thought, with about 450 cases detected in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years and roughly one-third of patients dying in the hospital; hospitals may expect 3 to 5 cases per year for every 100 inpatient beds and most patients had compromised immune systems. In Mandeville, 19-year-old Elaina Faler has battled mold-related illness for four years after mold was found in her Covington-area home. She experienced fatigue, brain fog, rashes and GI issues, and initial doctors dismissed her symptoms until mold exposure and a diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome tied to environmental triggers emerged. She’s now receiving treatment in Florida and plans to start her sophomore year at the University of Alabama, as her family urges others to inspect homes for mold and notes that insurance may not cover such treatments.

via WDSU|

#environmental-health #health #home-mold

health1 month ago•5 min saved

New Research Finds Microplastics in Blood of Most Acute Heart Attack Patients

Italian researchers analyzed blood from 61 patients undergoing angiograms and found micro- and nanoplastics in about 84% of those having an active, severe heart attack, far more than in those with chronic heart disease (40%) or normal arteries (32%). Polyethylene appeared in 97% of plastics-positive cases, and smoking was the strongest predictor of detectable plastic particles. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, shows an association rather than causation and is limited by size and scope; experts say reducing daily plastic exposure (e.g., using glass/ceramic containers and avoiding heating plastic) may be prudent as part of overall heart-healthy practices.

via Fox News|

#cardiovascular-health #environmental-health #health

environmental-health1 month ago•25 min saved

Extended heat waves linked to higher mental-health hospitalizations across four countries

Using a time-stratified case-crossover analysis of 2,618,307 warm-season hospitalization records from 852 locations in Brazil, Canada, Chile and New Zealand (2000–2019), the study finds sustained extreme heat defined as four consecutive days above the local 97.5th percentile increases mental and behavioral disorder hospitalizations on the exposure day (RR 1.033) and cumulatively over the next 8 days (RR 1.056), with stronger effects among older adults and in low-density areas, indicating heatwaves can acutely raise demand for mental-health services and underscoring the need for targeted preparedness during severe heat events.

via Nature|

#climate-change #environmental-health #heatwaves

science1 month ago•2 min saved

Rubber Dust May Signal Alzheimer’s Risk, Study Finds

A Chinese study in Open Medicine links the tire chemical 6PPD-Q—formed when tire particles meet ozone—to oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired brain-cell communication associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s; exposure routes include inhaled dust, crops, soil, stadium turf, and recycled tire products, with road runoff harming salmon. Researchers used machine learning to show 6PPD-Q binds to three of five Alzheimer predictor genes, but more lab work is needed to assess human risk and causality, particularly in car-heavy regions.

via Futurism|

#6ppd-q #airborne-particles #alzheimers-disease

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Ladera Ranch families seek answers over cluster of rare pediatric cancer

In Ladera Ranch, several children have been diagnosed with the rare cancer Ewing sarcoma; families are urging investigations into possible links with local pesticide use, while officials say no direct cause has been identified and plan a follow-up data review.

via NBC Los Angeles|

#environmental-health #ewing-sarcoma #health

health1 month ago•2 min saved

Air pollution may reprogram sperm DNA, raising fertility concerns

A large fertility study following over 2,000 men links exposure to outdoor pollutants (notably ozone and nitrogen dioxide) during sperm development to subtle DNA methylation changes in sperm that regulate gene activity. Researchers identified 39 pollution-associated DNA changes, including in the GNAS gene, suggesting a potential mechanism by which air pollution could affect fertility. However, a direct link to infertility has not been proven, and further work is needed to confirm clinical significance.

via The Guardian|

#air-pollution #environmental-health #epigenetics

health2 months ago•1 min saved

Air-quality tests planned at Uxbridge High after several teachers diagnosed with breast conditions

Public health officials will visit Uxbridge High School to conduct air-quality tests after several female teachers were diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions in recent years, as school leaders say they are investigating potential environmental factors without providing numbers or a precise timeframe.

via The Boston Globe|

#air-quality #breast-cancer #environmental-health

local-news2 months ago•10 min saved

Air-quality review underway at Uxbridge High after multiple teachers diagnosed with breast cancer

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will conduct air-quality tests at Uxbridge High School after several teachers were diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions. While officials say there is no immediate danger, the district is coordinating with health authorities to determine if environmental factors or building infrastructure (HVAC, plumbing, etc.) could be involved and is gathering information from affected teachers as part of the review.

via Boston Herald|

#air-quality #breast-cancer #environmental-health

wellbeing3 months ago•18 min saved

Fresh scents, clean air: how to scent your home without indoor air pollution

Experts warn that candles, diffusers and other scented products release VOCs and nanoparticles that can impair lung function and worsen respiratory issues; to minimize risk, choose fragrance products that are phthalate-free, ensure good ventilation, and consider safer, non-fragrance alternatives to keep your home feeling fresh without polluting the air.

via The Washington Post|

#air-pollution #air-quality #asthma

health-and-medicine3 months ago•6 min saved

Pesticide mixtures tied to 150% jump in cancer risk, study finds

A major study links real-world pesticide mixtures in Peru to about a 150% higher cancer risk, based on environmental exposure mapping and cancer registry data, and suggests early cellular changes precede cancer—calling for updated risk assessments that account for chemical mixtures and environmental factors.

via ScienceDaily|

#cancer-risk #environmental-health #exposomics

health4 months ago•6 min saved

Coastal Drinking Water Salt Linked to Higher Blood Pressure, Meta-Analysis Finds

A meta-analysis of 27 population studies (over 74,000 participants) finds higher salinity in drinking water—driven by seawater intrusion in coastal areas—associated with higher blood pressure (about 3.22 mmHg systolic and 2.82 mmHg diastolic) and a roughly 26% higher risk of hypertension, strongest near coasts. The findings highlight an environmental factor in cardiovascular risk, note the lack of WHO health-based drinking-water sodium standards, and call for more research on long-term outcomes. Checking local water quality and managing total dietary sodium may help reduce risk.

via ScienceAlert|

#coastal-areas #drinking-water-salinity #environmental-health

health4 months ago•7 min saved

Nationwide Peru Study Links Pesticide Mix to 150% Jump in Cancer Risk

A Peru-wide study links exposure to 31 pesticides with about a 150% higher cancer risk in high-exposure areas, using six-year environmental dispersion models and national cancer registry data (2007–2020). Indigenous and rural communities face greater exposure, averaging 12 pesticides. Early molecular analyses suggest pesticides disrupt liver function and cellular identity long before cancer develops, indicating non-genetic pathways to cancer and challenging traditional single-chemical risk assessments. None of the chemicals are currently WHO-classified as known human carcinogens. The findings call for considering real-world chemical mixtures and environmental factors like climate shifts in prevention and policy.

via SciTechDaily|

#cancer-risk #environmental-health #health

health5 months ago•8 min saved

UCLA study links chlorpyrifos exposure to elevated Parkinson's risk

A UCLA-led study published in Springer Nature Link found long-term exposure to chlorpyrifos associated with a more-than-2.5-fold increase in Parkinson's risk in humans, with mice and zebrafish experiments showing brain effects; the study is observational and cannot prove causation, and researchers note limitations such as unmeasured diet and lifestyle factors while regulators reassess chlorpyrifos use.

via Fox News|

#chlorpyrifos #environmental-health #epidemiology