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583 Results for search "Environment".

Health News Results - 583

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...

U.S. federal officials took a big step toward protecting children from a contaminant blamed for irreversible health effects, proposing tougher standards for removing lead-based paint in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 12, 2023
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  • As extreme heat continues to blanket numerous parts of the United States, Americans with dementia may be particularly challenged.

    “Triple-digit temperatures and heat indexes are especially dangerous for someone with a dementia-related illness such as Alzheimer's disease, because the effects of dementia can impair their ability to notice if they are developing heat stroke or dehydra...

    “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,...

    Older American adults who live in warmer regions are more likely to have serious vision impairment than those who live in cooler places, new research finds.

    Living with average temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above -- think South Florida, for example -- created much higher odds of blindness or trouble seeing even with glasses, according to a new study of 1.7 million people.
    ...

    For the second time this month, massive plumes of smoke from hundreds of out-of-control Canadian wildfires are polluting much of America's air.

    Among the major U.S. cities now experiencing poor air quality are St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Chicago, while entire states have also issued air quality alerts, according to the

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 29, 2023
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  • Clouds of smoke continue to drift over the Eastern United States and Europe from wildfires in Canada, and experts are predicting a longer and more destructive wildfire season due to rising temperatures and drier conditions.

    Now, new research puts a numbe...

    Wild and feral cats appear to release more toxoplasmosis parasites in places densely populated with people, new research suggests.

    These cats also "shed" more when the temperature is warmer, a significant finding given climate change, according to the report published online June 21 in PLOS ONE.

    Policymakers could help protect humans from this illness by better managing th...

    Space travel appears to weaken astronauts' immune systems, and researchers believe changes in gene expression are the culprit.

    These immune deficits aren't permanent. They disappear when back on Earth, often within weeks, according to new research published June 22 in Frontiers in Immunology.

    “Here we show that the expression of many genes rel...

    Just like their humans, dogs get cranky when temperatures and air pollution levels surge.

    Heat and air pollution have previously been linked to human aggression. Now, researchers say it also appears that there are more dog bites on hot, polluted days.

    More research is needed to confirm these findings, according to study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 16, 2023
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  • Astronauts spending six months or longer in space should stretch their time between trips to three years, warns new research on the impact of space travel on the brain.

    To study this, researchers examined the brain scans of 30 astronauts, looking at scans that depicted their brains both before and after their missions.

    The research team included missions that were two weeks long, si...

    Consider yourself a lifesaver if you opt for an electric vehicle next time you buy or lease a new car.

    Electric cars can save millions of lives and reduce health care costs by improving air quality so people can breathe better and freer, according to a new report by the American Lung Association. Zero-emission electric vehicles don't emit exhaust gas or other pollutants into the atmospher...

    Wildfires that have been spreading throughout Canada in recent weeks are now spewing tons of smoke southward into the United States.

    The smoke was so thick on Tuesday that New York City's skyline could not be seen clearly and air quality alerts were issued to residents from parts of the N...

    Millions of stray cats roam the world over, and surgical sterilization has long been the primary method of population control.

    But a small new study shows promising results for a one-and-done contraceptive injection.

    Researchers say this first-of-its-kind approach appears safe and effective.

    “A non-surgical contraceptive that could result in lifetime sterility following...

    Ticks are extremely resilient even when temperatures vary wildly, according to scientists who are working to better understand the spread of Lyme disease.

    In their new study, black-legged ticks, notorious for carrying pathogens, were very good at surviving both extreme cold and high heat, the scientists found. This was true both for nymph and adult ticks. Only larval ticks were more affec...

    A potentially deadly germ has made its way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, health officials warned this week.

    So far, three cases of infection from the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei have been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria causes melioidosis, which can be fatal if left untreated.

    "It is an environmental organism that lives natural...

    Large, uncontrolled wildfires in Nova Scotia are creating unhealthy air in the Northeast region of the United States, including parts of Connecticut.

    This significant smoke plume is likely to cause elevated levels of fine particulate matter, the American Lung Association warned in its alert. Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can ...

    Microplastic pollution is altering the gut microbiomes of wild seabirds and that could be a warning sign for humans, researchers report.

    Scientists from McGill University in Montreal, along with colleagues from around the world, found that tiny bits of plastic present in the gastrointestinal system of seabirds have modified the gut's microbiome. The plastics are also reducing levels of ad...

    Be cautious when heading to Florida's beaches this summer, an expert warned, as a 5,000-mile floating mass of sargassum seaweed has begun washing up on the state's shores.

    It can be low risk in some instances, but it also has the potential for triggering serious respiratory health issues.

    “The sargassum itself is not dangerous. It can have different jellyfish and sea creatures i...

    Two western U.S. states issued air quality alerts over the weekend as heavy smoke from fires blazing in Canada drifted south.

    Both Colorado and Montana experienced air quality issues because of dozens of Canadian fires. A third state, Utah, noted that it was beginning to see smoke, while Idaho had experienced haze last week, the Associated Press reported.

    “People with hea...

    The Atlantic hurricane season in the United States starts June 1, and some dangers might not be immediately obvious: carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and electric shock.

    “Hurricanes and major storms in the U.S. have increased in frequency and severity in recent years. This hurricane season may bring widespread destruction that could impact millions of Americans,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 22, 2023
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  • Kids whose families left distressed neighborhoods had significantly fewer severe asthma attacks, with improvements greater even than those seen with medication.

    New research found that children whose families participated in a program that enabled them to move to areas with less poverty, and better schools and parks had about 50% fewer severe attacks.

    After moving, there were about ...

    A chemical used to degrease industrial parts that was also used as a surgical anesthetic until the 1970s may increase the risk for Parkinson's disease, researchers report.

    Their new study found that two years of heavy exposure to the liquid chemical TCE may boost Parkinson's risk by 70%.

    TCE, or trichloroethylene, lingers in the air, water and soil. It has been linked to certain can...

    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 ...

    Does where you live affect your risk for lung cancer? Just possibly, experts warn.

    Although cigarette smoking is the principal cause of most lung cancers, new research has found evidence that Americans who live in areas where air quality is poor may be at greater risk...

    For people with epilepsy, living in lower-income neighborhoods is associated with worse mental functioning, new research suggests.

    For the study, the researchers looked at the memory, thinking ability and mental health of people with epilepsy, and found differences based on where they lived. Brain-health issues were more common among those from disadvantaged areas with fewer educational a...

    For what they say is the first time, British researchers report that they have found the spread of COVID-19 in households is linked to the presence of the virus on hands and surfaces, not just in the air.

    The investigators collected data from households at the height of the pandemic, finding that people were much more likely to get COVID-19 from someone in their house if virus was present...

    Some furniture fabrics are coated with questionable PFAS compounds -- often called 'forever chemicals' -- to repel stains, but a new study suggests they may not even do the job they're supposed to.

    The chemicals, widely believed to have a negative impact on human health, don't seem to keep furniture any more or less stain-resistant than untreated fabric, according to a new study.

    There's no single known cause for autism, but researchers now point the finger at higher lithium levels in drinking water.

    Their new study found that pregnant women in Denmark whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium were more likely to have kids with autism, compared to pregnant women living in areas where tap water had lower levels of this element.

    Autism is ch...

    A new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are increasing in the United States.

    The report looked at carbon monoxide (CO) deaths from 2009 to 2019, finding 250 consumer product-related CO deaths in 2019, more than any other year.

    Generators and other engine-driven tools accounted for the largest percentage ...

    While all Americans could benefit from proposed new limits on what's called PM2.5 air pollution, new research indicates the change has the potential to benefit Black and low-income Americans the most.

    The limits being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could cut death rates in those more vulnerable groups by up to 7%, according to researchers from Harvard T.H. C...

    Global warming is fostering the spread of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria along the northeastern coast of the United States, researchers report.

    Vibrio vulnificus bacteria grow in warm shallow coastal waters and can infect a person via a cut or insect bite during contact with seawater. The bacteria is found as far north as Philadelphia and is spreading even further north as ocean...

    A rare strain of the parasite Toxoplasma has killed four sea otters along the California coast, raising concerns about a potential public health risk.

    “The appearance of this lethal type of Toxoplasma in coastal California is concerning for two main reasons: First, because of potential population health impacts on a threatened species, and second, because this parasit...

    New moms who live on tree-lined streets may be somewhat less vulnerable to postpartum depression, according to a new study — the latest to link "green space" to better mental health.

    The study, of medical records from more than 415,000 new mothers, found that those living in ...

    A new study is enough to take your breath way: Nearly no place on Earth is free of air pollution, it found.

    The study "provides a deep understanding of the current state of outdoor air pollution and its impacts on human health. With this information, policymakers, public health officials and researchers can better assess the short-term and long-term health effects of air pollution and dev...

    Swapping that steak for a fish filet or a veggie burger is not only good for your health, but the planet's, too, a new study suggests.

    The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ranked various diets based on two measures: nutritional quality and "carbon footprint."

    And overall, ...

    Most food and water contains "nano-sized" microplastics, and new animal research suggests these tiny particles pass from pregnant rats to their unborn offspring and may impair fetal development.

    The same could be true in humans, the study suggests.

    “Much remains unknown, but this is certainly cause for concern and follow-up study,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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  • People living in heavily polluted areas of the United States may be more vulnerable to Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests.

    Specifically, the culprit is a type of air pollution called fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is less than 2.5 microns in diameter and comes from car exhaust, burning of fuels in power plants and other industries, and forest and grass fires, researchers s...

    Living closer to outdoor spaces and natural water may be better for your mental health, researchers say.

    A new study finds that close proximity to nature may reduce an older person's risk for serious psychological distress. That distress can lead to mild impairment of thinking and memory, as well as dementia.

    The study is scheduled for presentation at a meeting of the American Acade...

    How close a person lives to a major road could have an impact on their eczema risk.

    New research suggests that folks who live farther from one are less likely to develop the skin condition.

    A 13-year medical chart review focused on patients in Denver, from infants to age 18.

    Those w...

    Exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the risk of premature birth, new research suggests.

    For the study, the researchers reviewed birth certificates and hospital delivery data for more than 2.5 million pregnant women in California from 2007 to 2012, and used satellite images and ZIP codes to compare daily estimates of wildfire smoke intensity.

    The study found that from the four we...

    Researchers studying well water found current monitoring practices often fail to reflect actual groundwater pollution risks.

    The problem: Spikes in harmful bacteria, like those from animal and human waste, vary depending on the season. They may be higher at times when testing is less likely to be done.

    “This is concerning because many residents and homeowners across the country, i...

    People who live near traffic noise, especially when it continues at night, are more likely to develop the repetitive whistling or buzzing sounds in their ears known as tinnitus.

    Danish researchers found a link between the risk of developing the condition and traffic noise, with a vicious cycle of stress reactions and sleep disturbance as a potential cause.

    Living near a busy road m...

    If you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam and you start to feel fuzzy-headed, the diesel exhaust from the truck in front of you might be to blame.

    New research found that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust impaired the brain's functional connectivity, which can lower your ability to think and remember.

    "We compared people after diesel exhaust exposure compared to filter...

    Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer, but even during winter heating season, it's possible to stay safe.

    This dangerous gas is produced when fuels burn incompletely.

    This can happen in furnaces, both gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, space heaters and vehicles that burn fossil fuel. It's also possible in water heaters, gas clothes dryers and stoves, as well as other equipmen...

    A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.

    Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

    “Our findings suggest that pol...

    Getting a gel manicure may be less safe than many think.

    Researchers say the nail polish dryers that use ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the gel polish emit possibly dangerous rays. These rays might lead to cell death and cancer-causing mutations in human cells, they noted.

    Maria Zhivagui, a researcher at th...

    When the deadly Camp Fire swept through Northern California in 2018, it may have damaged more than the landscape.

    University of California, San Diego researchers studying survivors' mental functioning in the wake of the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state's history have uncovered evidence of “climate trauma.”

    The November 2018 fire burned 239 square miles, destr...

    Doctors are seeing an alarming increase in cases of a specific genital malformation in male babies, and new research suggests environmental factors might be at play.

    The malformation is known as hypospadias, where the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis, but on the underside of the organ.

    In the study, scientists identified a direct link between hypospadias tissue ...

    While U.S. policymakers have attempted to lower lead exposure among children since the 1970s, new research finds that kids living near airports are still being exposed to dangerous levels of the heavy metal.

    “Across an ensemble of tests, we find consistent evidence that the blood lead levels of children residing near the airport are pushed upward by the deposition of leaded aviation ga...