Toxin sponges may protect poisonous frogs and birds from their own poisons, study suggests. eurekalert.org. August 05, 2021. A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University, and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) has uncovered new clues as to how poisonous frogs and birds avoid intoxicating themselves. Their study, […]

Study shows common insecticide is harmful in any amount. eurekalert.org. August 02, 2021. For the average bee, every little bit counts.A new UC Riverside study shows that a type of insecticide made for commercial plant nurseries is harmful to a typical bee even when applied well below the label rate. An alfalfa leafcutter bee, the […]

Rodenticides in the environment pose threats to birds of prey. eurekalert.org. March 23, 2021.Over the past decades, the increased use of chemicals in many areas led to environmental pollution – of water, soil and also wildlife. In addition to plant protection substances and human and veterinary medical drugs, rodenticides have had toxic effects on wildlife. […]

Evidence of 55 new chemicals in people. sciencedaily.com. March 17, 2021. Summary: Scientists have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant women, including 55 chemicals never before reported in people and 42 ‘mystery chemicals,’ whose sources and uses are unknown. Scientists at UC San Francisco have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant […]

Increase in pleasurable effects of alcohol over time can predict alcohol use disorder. sciencedaily.com. January 05, 2021. New research challenges existing dogma that higher tolerance for stimulating and rewarding effects of alcohol leads to addiction. Summary: A new study following young adult drinkers for 10 years has found that individuals who reported the highest sensitivity […]

Older adults using cannabis to treat common health conditions. sciencedaily.com. October 07, 2020. Data indicates 61 percent of patients who used cannabis began after age 60. Summary: Researchers report that older adults are increasingly using cannabis to treat a variety of common health conditions, including pain, sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. […]

Decline in US bird biodiversity related to neonicotinoids, study shows. sciencedaily.com. August 14, 2020. Summary: Bird biodiversity is rapidly declining in the US. The overall bird population decreased by 29% since 1970, while grassland birds declined by an alarming 53%. A new study points to increased use of neonicotinoid insecticides as a major factor in […]

No improvement in death rate for COVID-19 patients who received hydroxychloroquine. eurekalert.org. May 22, 2020. In an observational analysis of almost 100,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients of whom nearly 15,000 received hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, patients had worse outcomes and heightened risk of ventricular arrythmias. A research team led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has […]

Binge drinkers beware, Drunkorexia is calling. sciencedaily.com. May 15, 2020. Around 1 in 3 female students report saving calories for binge drinking episodes. Summary: Mojito, appletini or a simple glass of fizz — they may take the edge off a busy day, but if you find yourself bingeing on more than a few, you could […]

Corona and air pollution: How does nitrogen dioxide impact fatalities? eurekalert.org. 20/04/2020. Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air may be associated with a high number of deaths from Covid-19. A new study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) provides concrete data that back this assumption for the first time. The paper combines satellite […]

Chemicals used to replace BPA may lead to increased blood pressure. sciencedaily.com. March 30, 2020. Summary: Common bisphenol A (BPA) substitutes can affect the developing fetus and cause hypertension in later life, suggests a rodent study. Common bisphenol A (BPA) substitutes can affect the developing fetus and cause hypertension in later life, suggests a rodent […]

Patients at risk of drug-induced sudden cardiac death in COVID-19. sciencedaily.com. March 25, 2020. Summary: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to spread, leading to more than 20,000 deaths worldwide in less than four months. Efforts are progressing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but it’s still likely 12 to 18 months away. SARS-CoV-2, the […]

How too much fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel. sciencedaily.com. February 18, 2020. Changes within enamel cells point to mechanism by which excessive fluoride leads to fluorosis. Summary: Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel — a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, […]

Using fungi to search for medical drugs. sciencedaily.com. November 26, 2019. Summary: An enormous library of products derived from more than 10,000 fungi could help us find new drugs. Researchers have set up this library and screened it for biologically active compounds. The researchers identified various known compounds, among which the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin. […]

Air pollution is reaching endemic proportions. By Daniel T Cross. sustainability-times.com. November 22, 2019. Air pollution is a potent killer. Need proof? Consider these facts: in the United States alone some 200,000 people succumb to ailments brought on or exacerbated by toxic air. Air pollution has been linked to a variety of debilitating health conditions […]

The hidden cost of gold: Birth defects and brain damage. By Richard C. Paddock. nytimes.com. November 09, 2019. Thousands of children with crippling birth defects. Half a million people poisoned. A toxic chemical found in the food supply. Accusations of a government cover-up and police officers on the take. La balsa en el Museo del […]

Fast-acting German insecticide lost in the aftermath of WWII Fluoridated DDT swiftly kills disease-carrying mosquitoes, which may lower its environmental impact — but its history is alarming. sciencedaily.com. October 11, 2019. Summary: A new study explores the chemistry as well as the complicated and alarming history of DFDT, a fast-acting insecticide. Mosquito picando (Sertox) A […]

Environmental toxins impair immune system over multiple generations. sciencedaily.com. October 02, 2019. Summary: New research shows that maternal exposure to a common and ubiquitous form of industrial pollution can harm the immune system of offspring and that this injury is passed along to subsequent generations, weakening the body’s defenses against infections such as the influenza […]

Vaping-associated lung injury may be caused by toxic chemical fumes, study finds. sciencedaily.com. October 02, 2019. Summary: Research into the pathology of vaping-associated lung injury is in its early stages, but a study finds that lung injuries from vaping most likely are caused by direct toxicity or tissue damage from noxious chemical fumes. Cigarrillo electrónico […]

Antimicrobial resistance is drastically rising. sciencedaily.com. September 19, 2019. Summary: Researchers have shown that antimicrobial-resistant infections are rapidly increasing in animals in low and middle income countries. They produced the first global of resistance rates, and identified regions where interventions are urgently needed. Pollos corriendo (Sertox) Chickens (stock image).Credit: © Alexbedoya / Adobe StockThe world is […]