Scientists found that some face masks used by the general public are laced with toxic chemicals, including known carcinogens and environmental pollutants. Michael Braungart, a German chemist and the scientific director of environmental nonprofit Hamburg Environmental Institute, carried out tests on face masks that people had worn shortly before developing rashes on the face. He detected formaldehyde, aniline and other toxic chemicals in the … Continue reading Face masks are laced with cancer-causing toxic chemicals
Popular antidepressant is turning fish into “zombies,” new research shows
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
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
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
Bees live shorter, become sicker because of air pollution, scientists find
Breathing in toxic fumes from polluted air is one of the major contributors to premature death around the globe as it can exacerbate lung and heart conditions. But despite the emerging threat of air pollution to humans, little research has been done on its impact on the health of animals. In one of the first … Continue reading Bees live shorter, become sicker because of air pollution, scientists find
Fast food wrappers loaded with toxic, polluting chemicals
New research put out by Mind the Store and Toxic-Free Future warns that the fancy wrappers used at many fast food chains to hold burgers and fries are loaded with so-called “forever chemicals” that are both polluting and highly toxic to the body. PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are used not only in food packaging but also in … Continue reading Fast food wrappers loaded with toxic, polluting chemicals
Air quality in India is IMPROVING after nationwide lockdown
The coronavirus pandemic has have one unexpected effect in the Indian subcontinent — clean air. This development came as a result of the recently-enacted 21-day lockdown enforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a way to curb the steadily-rising number of coronavirus infections in the South Asian nation. “It is true that pollution levels are going down … Continue reading Air quality in India is IMPROVING after nationwide lockdown
Just 10 minutes of swimming in the ocean is all it takes for infection-causing bacteria to alter skin microbiome – is pollution to blame?
A quick dip in the ocean is hard to beat on a hot day, but a new study shows that ocean bacteria can colonize your skin surprisingly fast – and some types of it can be quite dangerous. Researchers say that just 10 minutes of swimming in the ocean is enough to see your skin … Continue reading Just 10 minutes of swimming in the ocean is all it takes for infection-causing bacteria to alter skin microbiome – is pollution to blame?
Over 90 percent of salt brands contain MICROPLASTICS, scientists find
Bad news, salt lovers — a recent study says that over 90 percent of salts sold across the world contain microplastics. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, looked at 39 salt brands from 21 countries, including the U.S. and China. Microplastics refer to plastic debris less than five millimeters in length — around the size of … Continue reading Over 90 percent of salt brands contain MICROPLASTICS, scientists find
Compounds in plastic linked to declines in sperm quality, quantity
While most of us are aware of the dangers posed by pollution, we may not be aware that our very existence is being threatened in a very different way by plastics in the environment. Could the future of the human race be hanging in the balance? A recent study by researchers from the U.K.’s Nottingham University, published … Continue reading Compounds in plastic linked to declines in sperm quality, quantity
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 