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14 Aug

‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Some Period Products

Researchers test more than 120 period products and find some, but not all, contain PFAS, a category of chemicals linked to a variety of health issues.

22 Sep

New Study Finds High Levels of Dangerous Chemicals in School Uniforms

Researchers tested dozens of children’s textiles and found the highest levels of PFAS in school uniforms.

Health News Results - 134

Common PFAS Chemicals Linked to Cancers in Women

Harmful "forever" chemicals are widespread in the environment, and new research hints they pose a particular health risk to women.

A new study suggests women who are exposed to higher levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, are more likely to have been diagnosed with certain cancers. Exposure is also linked to liver damage, fertility issues, high blood pressure and o...

Cleaning Products, Even Green Ones, Emit Unhealthy Toxins

Everyday products used for cleaning or freshening the air may release hundreds of hazardous volatile organic compounds, according to new research.

Both conventional and "green" products emitted these VOCs in an analysis by the Environmental Working Group, though the green cleaners had less of them.

“This study is a wake-up call for consumers, researchers and regulators to be more ...

Common Plastics Chemical Could Harm Boys' Development

Phthalates are commonly used in plastics, and researchers have now tied them to developmental issues in toddler boys who were exposed to the chemical in the womb.

The new study links the chemicals to emotional and behavioral development issues in 2-year-old boys ...

Chemical Contamination on International Space Station Exceeds That Found Back Home

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are living in an environment that contains higher levels of potentially harmful chemicals than seen in American homes, new research reveals.

The discovery is important because it could guide the design of future spacecraft.

“Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exc...

Carcinogens Found at Montana Nuclear Missile Base as Cancer Cases Rise Nearby

An investigation into a high number of cancers at a Montana nuclear missile base has led to the discovery of unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen.

The hundreds of cancer cases appear to be connected to underground launch control centers at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Levels of PCBs, an oily or waxy substance that is considered a

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 8, 2023
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  • Men's Use of Personal Care Products, and Chemicals They Contain, Has Doubled in 20 Years

    Men's use of personal care products has almost doubled since 2004, exposing them to some potentially harmful chemicals, a new study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) finds.

    Overall, the average American adult uses 12 personal care products a day that contain as many as 112 chemical ingredients. That's a change from the previous average of nine products with 126 unique...

    Cleanup After Ohio Train Derailment Released Dangerous Gases: Report

    The cleanup of industrial chemicals following a freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, early this year released high levels of some dangerous gases, including acrolein, investigators say.

    The Norfolk Southern freight train was carrying numerous hazardous chemicals. To avoid a catastrophic explosion after the Feb. 3 derailment, authorities opted for a...

    Beauticians, Hairdressers May Face Higher Odds for Ovarian Cancer

    When thinking of people in high-risk jobs, hairdressers and beauticians don't immediately come to mind.

    But cosmetologists have a much greater chance of developing ovarian cancer than the average woman, a new study reports.

    Specifically, working for a decade or more as a hairdresser, barber or beautician is associated with a threefold higher risk of ovarian cancer, according to a re...

    Nearly Half of Tap Water Americans Drink Is Tainted With PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    “Forever chemicals” are widespread in the environment, and new research finds they can be detected in about 45% of U.S. tap water samples.

    The chemicals are per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, and their spread through drinking water -- both tap and well -- may be even higher because researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were unable to test for all of them,...

    PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Found in Blood of Pet Dogs, Horses

    New research on horses and dogs found elevated levels of PFAS “forever chemicals,” establishing horses as sentinel species.

    Sentinel species provide advance warning of a danger to people.

    The work also advanced knowledge about PFAS exposure and liver and kidney function in these animals. PFAS stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals used in plastics an...

    Gas Stove Chemical Tied to Higher Risk of Leukemia

    Using gas stoves can increase indoor air levels of benzene, a chemical linked to higher risk of leukemia and other blood cell cancers, a new study reports.

    Analysis of dozens of stoves revealed that a single gas cooktop burner on high or a gas oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit can raise indoor levels of benzene above those typically released by secondhand tobacco smoke, the researchers r...

    Black, Hispanic Americans More Likely to Have PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water

    Black and Hispanic communities in the United States are more often poor — and also more likely to have harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water, a new study reveals.

    Sources of PFAS pollution — including major manufacturers, airports, military bases, wastewater treatment plants and landfills — are disproportionately sited near watersheds t...

    Toxins From Grilling, Smoking & Car Exhaust Could Raise Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Toxic chemicals that develop from car exhaust, smoking and backyard grilling might increase your risk of developing the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

    These chemicals are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They form as coal, oil, gas, wood or tobacco burn. Flame grilling of meat and other foods also contribute to PAH formation, the researchers ...

    Thousands of Tons of Toxic Chemicals Are Released Into American Homes Each Year

    Many common household products emit airborne toxins that can harm your health in ways up to and including cancer, a new study reports.

    Dozens of different types of consumer products contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that escape as gases and accumulate in indoor air, researchers from the Silent Spring Institute and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkele...

    Each Year Spent Working With Certain Chemicals Raises Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

    Jobs that regularly expose you to certain chemicals appear to steadily increase your risk of pancreatic cancer, a new analysis reports.

    People with more than 20 years of exposure to some chemical agents had a 39% increased risk of pancreatic cancer, compared with an 11% higher risk for 11 to 20 years' exposure and a 4% higher risk for 1 to 10 years' exposure, researchers found.

    “<...

    Black Hairdressers May Be at High Risk From Toxic Chemicals

    Black and Hispanic women who work as hairdressers are exposed to an array of chemicals, including many that have not been previously identified, a small study finds.

    Researchers found that compared with women of color in office jobs, hair stylists had higher levels of various chemicals in their urine. Those substances included expected ones -- ingredients known to be in salon products -- ...

    Workplace Fumes, Dust Could Raise Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis

    The air where you work could be increasing your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

    Breathing in the fumes from commercial vapors, gases and solvents -- and even common dusts found in the workplace -- appears to increase chances of the chronic autoimmune joint disorder, researchers reported Dec. 6 in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 9, 2022
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  • Chemicals in Household Plastics May Raise Risk for Fibroids

    Uterine fibroids can cause uncontrolled bleeding and infertility in women, and now a new study finds an unexpected culprit: Toxic chemicals called phthalates that are present in everything from fast-food packaging to plastic water bottles.

    “We detected the phthalate DEHP and its breakdown products in much higher quantities in the urine of women who also happen to have symptomatic uterin...

    'Healthier' Furniture Without PFAS Toxins Brings Healthier Offices

    Equipping offices with "healthier" furnishings could reduce human exposure to risky PFAS chemicals, new research suggests.

    To look at indoor PFAS levels, a team led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston, analyzed building dust in classrooms and common campus spaces.

    “Our findings provide desperately needed scientific evidence for the success of healthier material...

    Use of Hair Straighteners Tied to Doubling of Risk for Uterine Cancer

    Women who regularly use chemical hair straighteners may be more prone to developing uterine cancer, a new large government study suggests.

    The study, which followed nearly 34,000 U.S. women over a decade, found that those who frequently used hair straighteners were 2.5 times more likely to de...

    Most U.S. Voters Want Products Free of Harmful Chemicals: Poll

    Do the majority of Americans want government to make sure the products they buy are free of harmful chemicals?

    Yes, a new survey shows, and they are even willing to pay more to get that assurance of safety.

    “At a time when most issues are politically polarized, the issue of keeping people ...

    Study Points to Jobs With Highest Risk for ALS

    People who work in manufacturing, welding and chemical operations and are exposed to hazardous chemicals may face a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study found.

    "This study shows that certain occupational settings and exposures increase one's chances of...

    High Levels of PFAS 'Forever' Chemicals in Kids' School Uniforms

    Your children's school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear?

    Maybe not.

    Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the envir...

    With PFAS in Packaging, How Safe Is Microwave Popcorn?

    Munching handfuls of microwave popcorn might be perfect for movie night, but your snack could be loading your body with potentially harmful "forever chemicals," experts warn.

    Many microwave popcorn bags are lined with

    Pregnant Women Face Exposures to Dangerous Chemicals Daily

    Pregnant women are exposed to toxic chemicals in dishware, hair coloring, plastics and pesticides that can heighten their risk of cancer and harm child development, a new study warns.

  • By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 30, 2022
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  • Breakthrough Might Break Down PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    PFAS compounds are known as “forever chemicals” because they degrade slowly in the environment and accumulate in the body, potentially harming human and animal health.

    Bacteria can't eat them. Fire can't incinerate them. Water can't dilute them.

    Instead, these per- and polyfluoroalkyl subs...

    PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Cost the U.S. Billions

    They are called "forever chemicals" because they linger in the human body and can contribute to the risk of everything from cancer to childhood obesity.

    Now, new research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) finds they also exact a huge financial toll, costing the U.S. health system billions every year.

    ...

    Chemicals Found in Cosmetics, Plastics Linked to Preterm Delivery

    Phthalates, chemicals that are typically used to strengthen plastics, are in millions of products people use every day, but a new analysis confirms their link to a higher risk for preterm births.

    The largest study to date o...

    Weed Killer Glyphosate Found in Most Americans' Urine

    More than 80% of Americans have a widely used herbicide lurking in their urine, a new government study suggests.

    The chemical, known as glyphosate, is "probably carcinogenic to humans," the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has said. Glyphosate is t...

    Bumble Bee Clams Recalled Due to PFAS Chemical

    Bumble Bee Foods is recalling some canned, smoked clams because they contain high levels of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

    The voluntary recall, announced July 6,...

    Federal Court Orders EPA to Re-examine Whether Roundup Causes Cancer

    A federal appeals court has ruled that the EPA must take another look at whether the key ingredient in the weed killer Roundup poses a cancer risk, although the product will remain on the market for now.

    In its

    Nerve Gas Sarin Probably Caused Gulf War Syndrome

    After 30 years, researchers believe they finally have definitive evidence of the primary cause of Gulf War syndrome: exposure to low levels of the nerve gas sarin.

    Gulf War syndrome is blamed for leaving a quarter million veterans of the 1991 conflict with a disabling array of long-...

    Pregnant American Women Are Facing Higher Exposures to Chemicals

    Exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is on the rise among pregnant women in the United States, a new study warns.

    "This is the first time we've been able to measure the amounts of chemicals in such a large and diverse group of pregnant women - not just identify chemicals," ...

    No Threat From Common Chemicals in Most Face Masks: Study

    Reassuring new research finds that most face masks used by people during the pandemic don't have high levels of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

    The chemicals, which have been linked to numerous health harms, are used in many products to re...

    Mom's Use of Workplace Disinfectants in Pregnancy Tied to Eczema, Asthma in Kids

    If you're a worker who plans to get pregnant, take heed of a new study that warns that pregnant women who work in hospitals and are exposed to disinfectants may be more likely to have children who suffer from asthma and

  • Cara Murez
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  • March 29, 2022
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  • Fracking Wastewater Loaded With Toxic Chemicals, Study Shows

    Fracking has already raised the ire of environmentalists for its effects on the planet, but new research sends up another red flag: The wastewater produced by the complicated oil and gas drilling process is loaded with toxic and cancer-causing contaminants that threaten both people and wildlife.

    In fracking, water tha...

    EPA to Restore Rule Limiting Mercury Pollution From Power Plants

    Enforcement of a rule limiting power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants will be resumed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

    It's the latest move by the Biden administration to reinstate environmental protections lifted by the Trump administration.

    "The science is clear: we must limit mercury and toxic air pollution to protect our kids a...

    Could Everyday Plastics Help Make You Fat?

    Is your plastic water bottle widening your waistline?

    Could be.

    In a new study, Norwegian researchers said that chemicals in common plastic products like water bottles or food packaging may put you at risk of piling on the pounds.

    "Our experiments show that ordinary plastic products contain a mix of substances that can be a relevant and underestimated factor behind overweight...

    Pesticides at Work Could Raise Odds for COPD Lung Disease

    Workplace exposure to pesticides may boost a person's risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study finds.

    COPD is a group of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two main types of

    Your Gas Stove Might Make You (and the Planet) Sick

    That gas stove in your kitchen fires up quickly and cooks evenly. What's not to love?

    A lot, as it turns out.

    The emissions from gas stoves are considered major contributors to climate change and damaging to human health. Now, new research suggests they're troublesome even when they're turned off.

    The problem is sizable: Over 40 million U.S. households cook with gas, and gas ...

    Shorter Life Spans for Elderly Living Downwind of Fracking Sites: Study

    Older people who live near or downwind of fracking sites have an increased risk of premature death, likely due to airborne contaminants from the sites, according to a new study.

    "There is an urgent need to understand the causal link between living near or downwind of [unconventional oil and gas development] and advers...

    'Secondhand Vaping' May Be Unhealthy -- Could Public Bans Be Coming?

    Secondhand vapor from electronic cigarettes is harmful to others, causing bronchitis symptoms and shortness of breath in young bystanders, a new study reports.

    Secondhand exposure to vapor increased teens' risk of bronchitis symptoms by 40% and shortness of breath by 53%, according to findings published online Jan. 10 in the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 11, 2022
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  • Formaldehyde in the Workplace Tied to Later Brain Issues

    Long-term workplace exposure to formaldehyde may prompt thinking and memory problems later in life, new research suggests.

    Formaldehyde is a gas used in making wood and chemical products and plastics.

    "We know that exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to certain cancers, and our results sugge...

    Proctor & Gamble Recalls Pantene, Herbal Essences Products Due to Benzene

    Proctor & Gamble has voluntarily recalled several dry shampoo sprays and hair conditioner spray products with brand names Pantene, Herbal Essences, Aussie and Waterless because of benzene contamination.

    This follows an earlier recall of some aerosol spray Old S...

    Chemicals in Hair, Beauty Products May Interfere With Hormones During Pregnancy

    Pregnant women who use hair dyes or straighteners may have relatively lower levels of pregnancy-supporting hormones, a recent study suggests.

    Researchers found that among more than 1,000 pregnant women they followed, those who used certain hair products -- dyes, bleaches, relaxers or mous...

    'Wellness' Vapes Are All the Rage, But FDA Says Buyer Beware

    “Fights off tumors and alleviates symptoms of chemotherapy," one vape's advertising claims, while another is touted as an "asthma remedy, ADHD remedy, and dementia treatment."

    Don't believe the hype.

    Despite claims that certain vaping products may alleviate health problems, there's no proof that they do -- and they may even cause health issues, the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio...

    Could Pollution Help Decide Your Baby's Sex?

    A boy or a girl? New research suggests that the air pregnant women breathe or the water they drink could play a role in their baby's sex.

    The finding stems from tracking hundreds of factors -- including pollution exposure -- surrounding the birth of more than 6 million Americans an...

    Pandemic Data Suggests Cars Spew More Ammonia Than Suspected

    COVID-19 lockdowns brought surprising news to scientists studying pollution: Cars spew much more ammonia into the air than previously thought.

    Ammonia is a common air pollutant that's a major cause of lung and heart disease, especially in cities.

    “The tricky question has always been: How do we separate out ammonia concentrations owing to traffic from the ammonia emitted from sourc...

    Old Spice, Secret Antiperspirants Recalled Due to Benzene

    Several Old Spice and Secret aerosol spray antiperspirants and hygiene products have been voluntarily recalled in the United States due to the presence of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, Proctor & Gamble says.

    Benzene exposure can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin. It can lead to cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow, as well as potentially lif...

    Biden Announces New Lung Health Program for U.S. Veterans

    A new program to help U.S. veterans with lung problems caused by inhaling toxins while deployed was announced on Veterans Day by President Joe Biden.

    It will also assess the potential connection between cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to the White House.

    "We're discovering there is a whole host of lung conditions related to deployment," Dr. Richard Meeh...

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