Fluoxetine, a popular antidepressant sold under the brand name Prozac, might soon need a new warning label – “Caution: This antidepressant turns fish into zombies.” Findings of a new study showed that long-term exposure to fluoxetine made guppies act more alike, erasing crucial behavioral differences. Giovanni Polverino, a behavioral ecologist from the University of Western Australia, led the the study published on … Continue reading Popular antidepressant is turning fish into “zombies,” new research shows
TOXIC products: Humans are the greatest pollutants of office air, reveals surprising study
Researchers from Purdue University found that humans are the most significant pollutants of indoor air. In a study presented at the American Association for Aerosol Research Conference in Oregon, the researchers revealed that humans are the dominant sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an office environment. VOCs are a large group of chemicals that strongly influence the composition and chemistry … Continue reading TOXIC products: Humans are the greatest pollutants of office air, reveals surprising study
COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 caused temporary global warming, study shows
When much of the world was plunged into lockdown last year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, there was a lot of speculation that the lack of activity would benefit the environment. However, a new study shows that these changes to our lifestyles actually slightly warmed the planet for several months in 2020 in a counterintuitive … Continue reading COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 caused temporary global warming, study shows
Researchers evaluate the efficiency of natural plant products for disinfecting surfaces
In this study, researchers from India evaluated the efficiency of traditional fumigation practice using natural plant products to disinfect the air and surfaces. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Environmental disinfection is an excellent method for reducing nosocomial or healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). HCAIs are major … Continue reading Researchers evaluate the efficiency of natural plant products for disinfecting surfaces
EPA pledges to regulate PFAS in drinking water
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new action items that would put the agency one step closer to regulating “forever chemicals” in drinking water. The toxic chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have contaminated drinking water in the U.S. over the past few decades. More than two years ago, a former EPA administrator … Continue reading EPA pledges to regulate PFAS in drinking water
EPA approves use of toxic pesticide previously banned for use on citrus
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Jan. 12 that it approved the use of aldicarb, a toxic pesticide it had banned in 2010, and the antibiotic streptomycin on Florida’s citrus plants. The decision allows 100,000 acres of citrus groves to be treated with 2.5 million pounds of aldicarb, which has been banned in over 100 countries. It is also the only … Continue reading EPA approves use of toxic pesticide previously banned for use on citrus
Scientists develop an electrochemical process that removes toxic mercury from contaminated water
Researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden developed a method that can remove nearly 100 percent of toxic mercury from contaminated water. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers said that the electrochemical process works by encouraging mercury ions to form an alloy with another metal. This effectively draws the heavy metal out of the … Continue reading Scientists develop an electrochemical process that removes toxic mercury from contaminated water
Microplastic pollution found near summit of Mount Everest
Scientists from the University of Plymouth in the U.K. recently made a disturbing discovery near the summit of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth: microplastics. Microscopic pieces of plastic were found just a few hundred feet short of the peak of the 29,000-foot mountain, at a spot known as the balcony. The scientists collected snow samples from 11 locations on … Continue reading Microplastic pollution found near summit of Mount Everest
Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
Plant biodiversity serves as a natural method for controlling pests and can potentially reduce the need for environmentally harmful pesticides, according to a recent study. Researchers from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) revealed in their report that plant communities with diverse species support insect predator populations while depriving the pests themselves of their preferred food sources. Their findings … Continue reading Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
Federal court nixes FDA’s approval of genetically engineered “Frankenfish”
In a major win for wild salmon, the Court for the Northern District of California ruled on Nov. 5 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ignored potential environmental consequences in its approval of genetically engineered salmon produced by the Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies. District Judge Vince Chhabria also said that the FDA violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and … Continue reading Federal court nixes FDA’s approval of genetically engineered “Frankenfish”
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 