Pesticides are heavily used in conventional farms to protect food crops. But according to a recent study, about a third of global farmland today is at high risk of pesticide pollution. Published Monday in Nature Geoscience, the study revealed that Asia houses the largest land areas that face an increased risk of pesticide pollution in countries like China, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines. Furthermore, … Continue reading Nearly one-third of global agricultural land at high risk of pesticide pollution, study reveals
Scientists find 55 new environmental chemicals in pregnant women, newborns
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) detected 109 chemicals in pregnant women and their newborn children, including 55 that have never before been found inside human bodies and 42 whose sources and uses remain unclear. Of the 55 chemicals, 37 are ones that researchers have little to no information on. Published recently in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, … Continue reading Scientists find 55 new environmental chemicals in pregnant women, newborns
US scientists detect MORE THAN 50 chemicals from everyday products in pregnant women and newborns
American scientists have detected more than a hundred chemicals in the blood of pregnant women and their children. Fifty-five of these substances had not been found in humans before, while 42 “mystery chemicals” had no sources or known uses. Based on their findings, the scientists posited that the children receive the chemicals through the mother’s placenta while … Continue reading US scientists detect MORE THAN 50 chemicals from everyday products in pregnant women and newborns
Cleaning products linked to antibiotic resistance: Use plant-based non-toxic cleaners instead, urge experts
Millions of people around the globe use chemical disinfectants and other similar cleaning products to rid their homes of disease-causing bacteria. However, scientists find that the use of these cleaners can cause bacteria to develop resistance to chemicals meant to kill them. This is because chemical cleaners leave active residues that continue to kill bacteria — but not all … Continue reading Cleaning products linked to antibiotic resistance: Use plant-based non-toxic cleaners instead, urge experts
Exposure to common plastics increases risk of diabetes, reveals study
A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that chemicals commonly found in plastics can increase diabetes risk. French and Australian researchers found that exposure to high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) is associated with a two times-higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Exposure to plastic chemicals increases diabetes risk BPA is used in disposable water … Continue reading Exposure to common plastics increases risk of diabetes, reveals study
Toxic ingredient in disinfectants can give rise to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, birth defects and more
Experts are raising the alarm about a certain family of chemicals that are found in several commercial cleaning products. Quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, are charged chemicals that can kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. But though they are effective disinfectants, researchers found that quats can give rise to serious health and environmental problems, including antibiotic resistance, … Continue reading Toxic ingredient in disinfectants can give rise to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, birth defects and more
Glyphosate disrupts gut microbiome – even at “safe” doses
Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Bayer AG’s weed-killer Roundup, is the most commonly used herbicide in the United States. Although its effects on wildlife and the environment are well-documented, its impact on humans remains controversial. But that may soon change, thanks to a recent study by a team of European researchers. Published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, it showed that exposure … Continue reading Glyphosate disrupts gut microbiome – even at “safe” doses
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
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
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 