Health Insider Most sunscreens may contain harmful ingredients, research group says Justin Boggs
An annual report by the Environmental Working Group claims that 77% of sunscreens on the market offer inadequate skin protection, contain potentially harmful ingredients, or both. Out of more than 2,200 products analyzed by EWG, fewer than 500 meet its criteria for effectiveness and safety, the nonprofit, which advocates for the removal of toxic chemicals […]
EPA Imposes New Limit on Medical Sterilization Chemical, Citing Cancer Risk
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule on Thursday that aims to markedly reduce cancer risks for those living near commercial sterilization facilities by lowering toxic emission standards for ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide, the most commonly used sterilant for medical devices in the U.S., is used for everything from wound dressings to endoscopes […]
The microbiome of fruit and vegetables positively influences diversity in the gut
In a meta-study, a research team from the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at TU Graz has provided evidence that the consumption of fruit and vegetables contributes positively to bacterial diversity in the human gut. Bacterial diversity in the gut plays an important role in human health. The crucial question, however, is where are the sources […]
Reusable Surgical Head Covers Reduce Emissions, Environmental Impact
Reusable surgical head covers had a lower carbon footprint and a lower environmental impact than disposable ones, according to a life cycle assessment of three kinds of head covers in Amsterdam. In metric tons, the mean carbon-equivalent footprint for an annual supply of head covers at a hospital with 25 operating rooms was 1.9 (95% […]
EPA Favors Stricter Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to tighten the national annual limit on particulate matter (PM) pollution, according to its proposed updates to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Fine Particulate Matter. Part of the EPA’s plan is to lower the primary (health-based) annual PM2.5 standard down to 9.0-10.0 µg/m3, compared with the […]
Modeling a devastating childhood disease on a chip: Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) Chip reveals effects of nutrition and genetics on disease in children
Millions of children in low- and middle-income nations suffer from environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. EED is a devastating condition that is associated with malnutrition, stunted growth, and poor cognitive development, permanently impacting patients’ quality […]
Organic farming or flower strips: Which is better for bees?
How effective environmental measures in agriculture are for biodiversity and wild bee populations depends on various factors and your perspective. This is shown by agroecologists from the University of Göttingen, Germany and the Centre for Ecological Research in Vácrátót, Hungary. The research team found that when assessing the effectiveness of different measures, whether in the […]
Urgent action required to protect world’s coral reefs from disappearing within three decades, warn experts
An international team of environmental scientists have published a series of significant recommendations to protect, conserve and study the world’s coral reefs — the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ of climate change. The Vibrant Oceans Initiative presented their white paper on the future of the delicate and crucial habitats at the Our Oceans Conference held […]
Plant-based gummy candy helps vegans and vegetarians get their vitamins
Worldwide, millions of people follow vegan and vegetarian diets for religious, ethical, environmental or economic reasons. While these diets have purported health benefits, they can also lack essential nutrients, such as vitamins B12 and D3, if not well-planned or supplemented correctly. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Food Science & Technology have packed a strawberry-flavored gummy […]
Smoggier skies, lower scores? A Brazilian study examines the effects of air pollution on students’ cognitive performance
A new study published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists looks at the causal relationship between outdoor air pollution levels on nationwide university entry examination day and students’ cognitive performance in Brazil. In “The Effects of Air Pollution on Students’ Cognitive Performance: Evidence from Brazilian University Entrance Tests,” authors Juliana […]