We may not know all the ways in which the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) affects our health, but we can be sure that we’re exposed to it frequently — BPA is used in plastic products and lines nearly all food and beverage cans.
Environmental Health
Early Report Suggests Low Radiation Exposure in Fukushima
In the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan on March 11, concerns have focused on the lasting health impact of the radiation that leaked from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was …
Study: A Curious Link Between Birth Control Pills and Prostate Cancer
Could women’s use of birth control pills increase men’s risk of prostate cancer? A new study in the medical journal BMJ Open suggests there’s a link, finding that countries where more women take oral contraception have higher …
Is Disease Occupying Wall Street?
Refugee camps, not surprisingly, are rather unhealthy places to be. For one thing, there are the effects of the natural disaster that usually drive refugees to a temporary settlement. There’s also the threat of hunger and thirst
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Why Air Fresheners Can Trigger Respiratory Problems
They may smell sweet, but popular air fresheners can cause serious lung problems.
BPA Exposure in Pregnant Women May Affect Daughters’ Behavior
A new study finds that exposure to bisphenol A before birth may lead to behavior problems in girls by age 3. The findings, published in Pediatrics, promise to heat up the debate over the safety of BPA, the ubiquitous chemical …
Why the Latest Study on Cell Phones and Brain Cancer Won’t Be the Last Word
Proving a negative in science is really, really hard — and that may well be the task that researchers trying to evaluate the potentially carcinogenic effects of cell phone use may have before them.
Environmental Group to Rate the Safety of 10,000 Foods
Choosing the most healthful foods for your family is no easy task. You can try looking at products’ ingredients lists, but who can tell whether things like xanthan gum, L-cysteine or Polydimethylsiloxane are safe to eat?
Environmental Toxins May Boost Heart Risk
In the first study of its kind, researchers in Sweden have linked exposure to environmental toxins to an increased risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries — a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
With Bed Bugs, the Cure May Be Worse Than the Disease
Bloodsucking bed bugs have made a comeback in recent years. But as victims of infestation have become increasingly desperate to rid their homes of the bedeviling pests, many have only done themselves more harm.
Why Pregnant Women in California Have High Levels of Toxic Chemicals
Unintended consequences are a pain. California has long had some of the strictest flammability regulations in the country for furniture and other household items. As a result, in the 1970s flame retardant chemicals called …
Could Microwaves Be Associated With Children’s Asthma?
Exposure to electromagnetic fields has been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer and immune system and reproductive abnormalities, and now the latest research adds another concern to the list: childhood asthma.
‘Plant from Hell’: Giant Hogweed Can Scar, Burn and Blind
A towering weed with sap that causes blisters and burns is blooming this month across the U.S.