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Autism in young boys linked to phthalate exposure before birth

A new study published in February 2020 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that being exposed to phthalates during intrauterine life is associated with the occurrence of autistic traits in boys 3-4 years old, but not in girls. These include poor social interaction, repetitive behavior, and a narrow range of interests, stopping short of an actual diagnosis of autism.

19 Feb 2020

Marine bacteria genes can help track environmental changes caused by humans

The gene expression of marine bacteria can be a valuable sensor for discovering environmental changes caused by humans. Furthermore, bacteria help to clean our oceans and hopefully they could be used to purify drinking water from harmful environmental toxins in the future.

13 Feb 2020

Synthetic chemicals are migrating through the soil like a ticking time bomb

A growing health crisis fueled by synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in groundwater has garnered much attention in the last few years.

11 Feb 2020

New technology captures CO2 from the atmosphere for use in beverage carbonation

It won’t tackle global carbon emissions yet, but a new technology from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has found a way to pull carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and put it into beer and other beverages.

From CSIRO 6 Feb 2020

Entrepreneurs are developing biodegradable, edible food packaging

These days, many people are concerned about plastic waste; however, the convenience, mechanical properties and cost of plastic food packaging are hard to beat.

30 Jan 2020

Novel composite could help to reduce foodborne illness outbreaks

A novel composite film -- created by the bonding of an antimicrobial layer to conventional, clear polyethylene plastic typically used to vacuum-package foods such as meat and fish -- could help to decrease foodborne illness outbreaks, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

21 Jan 2020

Study sheds new light on impact of common plasticizer on human reproductive health

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the New York State Department of Health have discovered how a common plasticizer associated with human reproductive abnormalities likely does its damage at the molecular level.

10 Jan 2020

Study: Bisphenol S can hinder heart function within minutes of exposure

BPA's counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study.

9 Jan 2020

Prenatal phthalate exposure may contribute to deficits in motor function in girls

Scientists at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) have uncovered a link between prenatal exposure to phthalates--a ubiquitous group of plasticizers and odor-enhancing chemicals--and deficits in motor function in girls.

6 Jan 2020

Common plasticizer leads to fertility problems in roundworms

A new study published 9th January in PLOS Genetics by Mónica Colaiácovo of Harvard Medical School and colleagues reports that the most commonly used plasticizer, diethylhexyl phthalate, leads to fertility problems by causing an excess number of breaks in the DNA during egg production, and then interfering with the repair systems that fixes the breaks.

2 Jan 2020

Researchers detect photoinitiators in human breast milk

Photoinitators (PIs) are compounds used in the ink of many types of food packaging. The substances have been shown to migrate into food and, when consumed, show up in human blood serum.

20 Nov 2019

Snacking could be banned on local transport in a bid to curb childhood obesity

England’s outgoing Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dame Sally Davies, the top doctor in the country, believes that snacking ought to be banned on public transport and additional taxes should be placed on unhealthy foods to make them less affordable, in order to fight the menace of childhood obesity.

14 Oct 2019

Popcorn packaging contains high levels of toxic chemicals

Many chemicals used at home and in various industries use per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Several studies have traced these substances in materials used for packaging foods, such as microwavable bags and food containers.

13 Oct 2019

Eating home-cooked meals reduces exposure to harmful chemicals, researchers say

Researchers have found that people reduce their exposure to harmful synthetic chemicals if they cook home-cooked meals rather than eat takeaways or at restaurants.

10 Oct 2019

High gluten intake during childhood increases risk of celiac disease

Children are more likely to develop celiac disease if they consume higher-than-average amounts of gluten during the first five years of life.

15 Aug 2019

Sesame could be added to the list of allergens on food packaging

Following a recent investigation, the FDA is considering taking regulatory action to ensure sesame is labeled as an allergen on food packaging.

2 Aug 2019

Study examines role of plastic exposure in irregular heart rhythms, arrhythmias

Calling an ambulance during an emergency, emailing a breaking news or journal article before a 5 p.m. deadline and maintaining conditions during the fifth week of a 6-week lab study, without altering the light or temperature, requires electricity and translates into time, money and lives

22 Jul 2019

Mothers with gestational diabetes transferring harmful 'forever chemicals' to their fetus

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have found that pregnant women with gestational diabetes have a higher rate of passing on harmful synthetic chemicals called PFAS (17 - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to their unborn babies and thus risking their health.

17 Jul 2019

Common bacterial pathogen of diarrhea diseases unknown to many people

Overall though, people are not as concerned as they were in the last survey in summer 2018.

17 May 2019

Common food preservative could make flu vaccine less effective

A preservative commonly used to increase the shelf life of food products may weaken the body’s immune defense against influenza, thus reducing the response to the flu vaccine.

9 Apr 2019