It’s no secret that air pollution can damage the lungs and the heart. But new research suggests that exposure to polluted air can trigger neurodegeneration as well. In a study published in the journal Environmental Research, an international team of researchers described how they found tiny air pollution particles lodged in the brain stems of young people. Alongside … Continue reading Brains of young people exposed to dirty air show signs consistent with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
How do bacteria populations travel through soil layers?
Soil bacteria are important components of the ecosystem. They help improve soil structure and aggregation, as well as recycle soil nutrients and water. Soil bacteria also serve as decomposers that consume carbon compounds and provide large quantities of nitrogen to plants. Nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll and is essential for the production of amino acids, which are … Continue reading How do bacteria populations travel through soil layers?
Childhood cancer caused largely by environmental factors, report finds
For children in the U.S., cancer is the leading cause of death from disease. Worldwide, cancer has become so prevalent and devastating that some may use the phrase “like curing cancer” when describing something unfeasible or highly complicated. Yet in September, a team of more than 60 stakeholders and leaders in the health, science, business, policy and advocacy sectors … Continue reading Childhood cancer caused largely by environmental factors, report finds
A dose of toxic synthetic chemicals: Researchers detect “forever chemicals” in California’s drinking water
Drinking water sources serving 7.5 million Californians are contaminated with toxic synthetic chemicals, according to a study from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization specializing in environmental research. These chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, are commonly called “forever chemicals,” as they are extremely resistant to degradation once they get released to the environment. Low doses … Continue reading A dose of toxic synthetic chemicals: Researchers detect “forever chemicals” in California’s drinking water
California is going after another dangerous pesticide: Chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage
California is going after a very dangerous agricultural pesticide that has been linked to brain damage in children. At the end of this year, farmers will no longer be allowed to use chlorpyrifos in a move that Governor Gavin Newsom characterized as a “big win for children, workers and public health in California.” Chlorpyrifos is widely used … Continue reading California is going after another dangerous pesticide: Chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage
California wildfires are causing unprecedented levels of air pollution
With historic wildfires still blazing through the West Coast, smoke continues to clog the air and tinge the skies with eerie reds and oranges. In some regions of California, air pollution levels are now more than twice what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers “hazardous,” according to The Daily Mail. In particular, certain regions near Sacramento and Fresno are showing up … Continue reading California wildfires are causing unprecedented levels of air pollution
Plants can sense, think and communicate, says Italian scientist
Talking to plants is neither an uncommon habit among gardeners and plant enthusiasts, nor is it a modern notion. Strange as it might sound or appear to an onlooker, people talk to their plants for a host of reasons. Some do it as a form of social interaction. Others might talk to their ailing plants … Continue reading Plants can sense, think and communicate, says Italian scientist
Long-term exposure to chemical ingredients in sunscreen is lethal to freshwater organisms, warn scientists
For a lot of people, beach trips and lake excursions are never complete without a tall bottle of sunscreen to smother their skin with before going off for a swim. However, a recent report found that chemical ingredients in sunscreen that leach off of the skin while swimming might be detrimental to freshwater organisms. In a … Continue reading Long-term exposure to chemical ingredients in sunscreen is lethal to freshwater organisms, warn scientists
Chemicals in organophosphate pesticides cause brain damage: Study
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, a kind of pesticide considered toxic to humans, has been linked to impaired cognition and significant changes in the brain. In a major breakthrough, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and Stanford University found that teenagers exposed in utero to organophosphate pesticides demonstrated altered brain activities during tasks that required executive control. Sagiv and her … Continue reading Chemicals in organophosphate pesticides cause brain damage: Study
Scientists warn that microplastics are harming earthworms, plant health and soil pH
Researchers from the Anglia Ruskin University found that microplastic can curb the growth of earthworms, potentially affecting plant and soil health. Earthworms play an important role in the soil ecosystem as they dramatically alter soil structure, nutrient dynamics, water movement and plant growth. But the presence of microplastics is harming earthworms, according to the findings published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. “The … Continue reading Scientists warn that microplastics are harming earthworms, plant health and soil pH
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 