Hypertension found in children exposed to flower pesticides. sciencedaily.com. May 22, 2019. Summary: Researchers have found higher blood pressure and pesticide exposures in children associated with a heightened pesticide spraying period around the Mother’s Day flower harvest. This study involved boys and girls living near flower crops in Ecuador. Flor de solanum, cerca de Cuenca, […]

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could enhance the negative effects of binge drinking. sciencedaily.com. August 14, 2018. Summary: A key ingredient of energy drinks could be exacerbating some of the negative effects of binge drinking according to a new study. Danio rerio (WP) A key ingredient of energy drinks could be exacerbating some of the […]

A new, highly effective and selective molecule is developed to fight malaria. eurekalert.org. August 09, 2018. In tests with mice and in vivo culture, molecule designed in Brazil was capable of killing Plasmodium resistant strains and reducing the number of parasites in the bloodstream by 62 percent without attacking cells of the host organism. Plasmodium […]

Fungicide impairs silk production, according to study. eurekalert.org. June 06, 2018. By testing an agrochemical designed to increase resistance on the mulberry plants used to feed silkworms, a research verified a rise in caterpillars’ mortality and reduction in the size of cocoons.  One of the problems caused by the intensive use of pesticides is their […]

Playing both ends: Amphibian adapted to varied evolutionary pressures. sciencedaily.com. February 23, 2018. Summary: Caecilian, Siphonops annulatus, a limbless amphibian found throughout Brazil, has a concentration of enlarged mucous glands in its head region and a concentration of enlarged poison glands in its posterior region. These concentration appear to have evolved from different selective pressures: […]

Some Mexican Ceramics Can Serve Up Lead Poisoning. medlineplus.gov. October 20, 2016. Canadian woman’s illness highlights danger from glazes with high lead levels, doctors say. A charming ceramic reminder of a Mexican vacation could end up giving you lead poisoning, a new study warns. Exposure to high concentrations of lead — often found in glazes […]

Toxicological trivia from September 02, 2016: Bauhinia forficata, commonly known as Brazilian orchid tree, Pata de Vaca,  is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to Argentina, Brazil and Peru.Its flowers are white and pinkish, and is similar to an orchid. Deciduous leaves are lobed and the name "pata […]

A hair’s breadth away: New tarantula species and genus honors Gabriel García Márquez. sciencedaily.com. June 29, 2016. Summary: Thanks to its extraordinary defensive hairs, a Colombian tarantula proved itself as not only a new species, but also as a new genus. Its genus’ name honors an indigenous people from the Caribbean coast region, while its species’ name […]

Meet the spiders that have formed armies 50,000 strong. By Jason G. Goldman. bbcnews.January 22, 2016. It is like a scene from a horror film: spider webs several metres wide that are home to thousands of spiders. Why did these spiders turn social? Eight legs, eight eyes and a pair of venomous fangs – the […]

Toxicological trivia from September 16, 2015:  Spilotes pullatus, commonly known as the caninana,chicken snake, yellow rat snake, or serpiente tigre, is a species of large nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Mesoamerica. It is found in southern Central America, northern South America, and Trinidad and Tobago.It tends to inhabit forested areas, and is often found near […]

Toxicological Trivia from July 08, 2015: in August 2012  an article published in the journal Environment International, by Damià Barceló and other authors, which considers "surprising" finding of pyrethroid insecticides  in dolphins, and also is discussed accumulation of these contaminants. The highest concentrations were found in the offspring of these mammals, which is considered unprepared […]

Toxicological trivia from June 17, 2015: Erythrina crista-galli, often known as the cockspur coral tree, is a flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil and Paraguay. It is widely planted as a street or garden tree in other countries, notably in California. It is known by several common names within […]

Beautiful New Snake Species Discovered in Brazil. By John  Virata. reptilesmagazine.com.  August 20, 2014. Brazilian scientists have discovered a new species of snake that is a foot long, non-venomous, and pretty as all get out. The snake, named Atractus spinalis and of the family Dipsadidae, is brownish and reddish-burnt orange in coloration with a yellowish […]

Toxicological Trivia from August 13, 2014: The poinsettia  (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family that is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. In trivia # 138, we mentioned that the  poinsettia has low toxicity.. The petals of the "poinsettia" are greenish white or yellowish white, red, […]

With ‘self-fumigation,’ Darwin’s finches combat deadly parasitic flies. eurekalert.org. May 05, 2014. Researchers have found a way to protect threatened Darwin’s finches on the Galápagos Islands from deadly parasitic nest flies in a manner that’s as simple as it is ingenious: by offering the birds insecticide-treated cotton for incorporation into their nests. The study, reported […]

Toxicological  trivia from March 19, 2014: In our paper entitled  "Adaptación para la atención primaria de salud de una clasificación de plantas tóxicas" ("Adapting to primary health care rated toxic plants") in Group 2 (Plants that produce diarrhea and may be associated with emesis) figure Caesalpinia gilliesii, with the common name in Spanish "Lagaña de […]

Toxicological trivia from February 26, 2014: : The Couroupita guianensis is a deciduous tree in the family Lecythidaceae. It is native to the rainforests of Central and South America. It is cultivated in many other places. This tree is planted as an ornamental for its showy, scented flowers, and as a botanical specimen for its […]