Mercury Pollution in China: Getting Better, But New Health Risks Emerging
Researchers studied mercury exposure across China over nearly 20 years by analyzing data from 158 different studies. They found that mercury levels in people's …
Read Moreenvironmental health
All content tagged with "environmental health"
More Trees Near Your Home May Help Reduce Stress
Researchers looked at data from over 40,000 American adults to see if having more trees in their neighborhood was connected to lower stress levels. They found …
Read MoreAir Pollution May Increase Pregnancy Diabetes Risk Through Gut Bacteria
Researchers studied over 1,200 pregnant women in China to understand how air pollution affects gestational diabetes—a type of diabetes that develops during …
Read MoreFarm Chemicals May Harm Reproduction in Animals and Humans
Pesticides and herbicides used on farms contain chemicals that can interfere with how hormones work in the body, affecting reproduction in livestock, wildlife, …
Read MoreMost Parents Want Eco-Friendly Foods for Kids—Here's What They're Already Doing
A new study asked 316 Australian parents about feeding their children in ways that are better for the environment. Good news: most parents already do many …
Read MoreWatercress Drink Helps Your Body Remove Harmful Toxins
Researchers found that drinking a watercress-based beverage three times daily for two weeks helped people's bodies get rid of harmful chemicals from pollution …
Read MoreHeavy Metals Found in Fish You Eat—Here's What You Need to Know
Researchers tested three types of fish commonly eaten in Turkey to see how much toxic metals they contain. They found that different fish species accumulate …
Read MoreForever Chemicals Found in Spanish Water and Bodies
Scientists studied harmful chemicals called PFAS (forever chemicals) that don't break down in nature and are found in water, soil, and our bodies. Researchers …
Read MoreTiny Plastic Particles in Food May Harm Your Gut
Scientists fed mice a realistic mixture of microplastics—tiny plastic fragments found in our environment and food—to see what happens in the digestive system. …
Read MoreSmoking and Gas Pumping Expose You to Harmful Benzene
Researchers tested thousands of Americans to see where benzene—a dangerous chemical linked to cancer—comes from in our daily lives. They found that people who …
Read MoreHome-Cooked Meals Beat Restaurant Food for Health and the Planet
Researchers in Portugal studied what over 2,200 adults eat and how their food choices affect both their health and the environment. They found that people who …
Read MoreWhat Causes Throat Cancer in Punjab? New Study Reveals Key Risk Factors
Researchers in Punjab studied 380 people with throat cancer and 760 healthy people to find out what causes this serious disease. They discovered that tobacco …
Read MoreThe Hidden Chemical in Your Home Affecting People and Animals
Scientists have discovered that flame retardants called PBDEs are spreading through our environment and affecting the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems …
Read MoreInvisible Chemicals in Asian Water and Food: What You Need to Know
Scientists discovered that millions of people across Asia are exposed to harmful chemicals called PFAS (forever chemicals) through contaminated water and food. …
Read MoreHow Toxic Metals in Your Blood Affect Your Health
Scientists are studying how poisonous metals like lead and arsenic get into our bodies through food and water, and then travel through our blood to damage our …
Read MoreAnxiety Medicine Found in Fish: Should You Worry?
Researchers in China discovered that a common anxiety medication called diazepam is showing up in freshwater fish, and the levels are increasing. Between 2020 …
Read MoreHow Scientists Test If Pesticides Harm Tiny Water Bacteria
Scientists created a computer model to predict how poisonous 11 common pesticides are to a tiny glowing bacteria found in water. Instead of doing expensive lab …
Read MoreClean Air and Green Spaces Help Kids Avoid High Blood Pressure
Researchers studied nearly 2,400 children and teenagers across Europe to see how air pollution and nearby green spaces affect their blood pressure. Over 6 …
Read MoreWhy Urine Tests Can't Detect Wood Smoke Exposure
Researchers wanted to know if checking urine could tell doctors whether someone was exposed to wood smoke from home heating. They collected air samples and …
Read MoreTiny Metal Particles Disrupt Fruit Fly Sleep and Development
Scientists exposed fruit flies to tiny manufactured particles made of zinc and iron to see what would happen. They found that when flies ate these particles, …
Read MoreBad Air Makes People Buy Healthier Food (But Only for a While)
When air pollution gets worse in Chinese cities, something surprising happens: families start buying more healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy …
Read MorePlastic Particles in Fish Food May Carry Harmful Chemicals
Scientists discovered that tiny plastic particles floating in our oceans can pick up and carry harmful chemicals that act like estrogen (a natural hormone). …
Read MoreWhy We Need a New Way to Think About Food and Health
For over 100 years, scientists have studied how different foods affect our health. But our food system has changed dramatically, and the old ways of studying …
Read MoreHow Kidney Care and Plant-Based Eating Help Save the Planet
A new research article explores how healthcare and our food choices affect both human health and the environment. The study highlights that kidney disease is …
Read MoreHow Dietitians Are Making Food Systems More Sustainable
Researchers surveyed 92 Canadian dietitians to understand how they're helping create more sustainable food systems. The study found that dietitians are already …
Read MoreFluoride During Pregnancy Doesn't Appear to Affect Autism Risk
Researchers studied over 450 Canadian mothers and their children to see if fluoride exposure during pregnancy was linked to autism-like behaviors in young …
Read MoreCommon Chemicals May Change How Kids' Bodies Use Vitamin D
Researchers studied 236 children to see if everyday chemicals found in products like food packaging and furniture might affect how their bodies handle vitamin …
Read MoreToxic Factory Waste Poisoning Water in Nigeria
Researchers in Nigeria studied water pollution from leather tannery factories that dump untreated waste into rivers. They tested 84 water samples over one year …
Read MoreUnderstanding Food Labels Helps You Eat Healthier and Save the Planet
Researchers in Turkey studied 495 college students to see if understanding nutrition information helps people make better food choices for their health and the …
Read MoreHow Healthy Eating May Protect Your Kidneys From Heavy Metal Damage
Researchers discovered that heavy metals like lead and cadmium in our bodies can harm kidney function, partly by triggering inflammation. The good news? What …
Read MoreMining Areas Have Higher Metal Levels in Blood
Researchers compared blood metal levels in men living near coal mines versus those in farming areas. They found that people in coal mining regions had higher …
Read MoreMystery Illness in China Linked to Harmful Metals in Soil and Water
Researchers in China investigated why some villages experience sudden, unexplained deaths while nearby villages don't. They tested soil, corn, and drinking …
Read MoreHow to Protect Yourself From Harmful Air Pollution
Tiny particles floating in the air called particulate matter can make us sick. Scientists reviewed 70 different studies to find the best ways to reduce the …
Read MoreWhat's Around Your School Affects Your Health Choices
Researchers visited six public schools in the Philippines to understand how the food and exercise options around schools influence what students eat and how …
Read MoreCan Vitamins Help Us Stay Healthy as Our Planet Changes?
Scientists are asking an important question: as climate change and pollution affect our environment, can dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals help …
Read MoreHow Tiny Plastic Pieces Harm Mussels (And How Algae Might Help)
Scientists discovered that microplastics—tiny pieces of plastic pollution in the ocean—damage the gills of mussels, which are the organs they use to breathe …
Read MoreCommon Plastic Chemical Linked to Joint Disease Risk
Researchers found that people exposed to higher levels of DINCH, a chemical used in plastics and consumer products, may have a higher risk of developing …
Read MoreNuclear Radiation Exposure May Change How Bodies Handle Salt
Researchers studied nearly 900 adults living in areas affected by radiation from an old nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. They compared blood salt levels and …
Read MoreChemicals in Plastics Linked to Early Death, But Vitamins May Help
Researchers followed over 8,000 American adults for about 8.5 years and found that people with higher levels of chemicals from plastics in their bodies had a …
Read MoreTiny Plastic Particles Are Everywhere—Here's What You Need to Know
Scientists are increasingly concerned about microscopic plastic particles called micro- and nano-plastics that are polluting our soil, water, and food. These …
Read MoreNew Game Teaches Doctors How Earth's Health Affects Our Health
Doctors need to understand how the environment, climate, and society affect human health—a field called Planetary Health. But medical schools struggle to teach …
Read MoreAir Pollution May Lower Vitamin D in Pregnant Women by Blocking Sunlight
A study of over 2,200 pregnant women in China found that air pollution appears to reduce vitamin D levels during pregnancy. The research suggests this happens …
Read More