Christopher Kassotis, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology in Wayne State University’s School of Medicine and the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, has been chosen to receive the 2024 Lou Guillette Jr. Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS) organization.
Tag: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
New study links air pollution with increased risk of spontaneous preterm births
Vulnerable populations without access to green space and exposed to higher temps were most affected
Imaging the invisible: advanced tech targets microplastics in living organisms
Plastic pollution, particularly the presence of microplastics in living organisms, poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health. This groundbreaking study introduces mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) as a cutting-edge method for detecting and quantifying microplastics in biological samples, offering critical insights into their distribution and potential impacts.
Polluted air, disturbed hearts: study ties air quality to cardiac health
A recent study has uncovered a significant link between chronic exposure to air pollution and an increased risk of various arrhythmias, representing a pivotal advance in environmental health research.
Research study to explore environmental factors affecting male fertility
A grant from the National Institutes of Health will support ongoing research at Wayne State University investigating the consequences environmental factors may have on fertility in males.
Expert Available: Republican-led States Challenge EPA Methane Regulations
Republican state officials from 24 states have asked the Supreme Court to pause a Biden administration EPA rule passed in December 2023 meant to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations… …
Community Focused Approaches to Fisheries Governance Transform Local Perceptions
New social science shows that community engagement and capacity building work can markedly improve local perceptions of fisheries governance capacity, restrictions, and management rules.
ALS diagnosis and survival linked to metals in blood, urine
People with higher levels of metals found in their blood and urine may be more likely to be diagnosed with — and die from — amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a University of Michigan-led study suggests.
UAlbany Study: Joint Effects of Thunderstorms and Power Outages Increase Respiratory-Related Emergency Department Visits
A new study led by UAlbany researchers is among the first to examine the joint effects of thunderstorms and power outages on respiratory-related emergency department visits in New York State.
Sizing up microplastics: nanofiltration uncovers environmental bioactivity
A new study reveals the bioactivity of microplastics in Lake Ontario using cutting-edge nanomembrane filtering technology. Researchers found all samples contained microplastics ranging between 8 and 20 µm. The study highlights varying bioactivity levels, such as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity and IL-6 levels, indicating potential health risks.
ATS Urges Do-Over on House of Representatives FY25 Interior & Environment Appropriations Bill
American Thoracic Society Environmental Health Policy Committee Chair Alison Lee, MD, strongly opposes proposed FY25 cuts that would jeopardize the health of all Americans: “Clean air, clean water and a healthy environment are essential to the health of all Americans. That is why I am calling on Congress to scrap the current FY25 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill and start over.
NIH funds critical center in Detroit to lead efforts to investigate and mitigate health impacts of community-voiced chemical and non-chemical stressors
Wayne State University received a $5.2 million P30 environmental health sciences core center grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in support of the “Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors” that is a collaborative hub focused on community-engaged research and environmental health equity in Detroit and throughout the region.
Leading-Edge Model Predicts Impact of River Plants on Flood Level
The research team at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) has developed a technology for quantifying the effect of river vegetation patches on flood level changes to aid in better decision-making of river management for balancing ecological benefits and flood mitigation.
Experts available to comment on air quality issues due to wildfires
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns of an impending record high heat across the nation. Last year was the warmest year on record for the globe, and we just experienced the warmest winter on record. With extreme heat comes…
Many Microplastics in the World’s Oceans Have Likely Escaped Detection
A new study that investigated the presence of the smallest particles of microplastics (MPs) in ocean waters from the Caribbean to the Arctic found that the most abundant (and tiny) MPs in the ocean are not being detected by net tow surveys.
Tracking Down Toxic Metals From Tobacco Smoke
Homes and public places where people smoke may have high levels of harmful trace metals from cigarettes, even after smoking stops, Berkeley Lab researchers have found. These metals include cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, and the levels may be above safety limits set by California.
Breathing Easy: New Study Declares Waste-to-Energy Plants a Low Health Risk
A recent study has highlighted the insignificant health hazards posed by the emissions from waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities in China’s Bohai Rim. This investigation brings to light the negligible impact of WtE plant emissions on public health, grounded in sophisticated regression analysis techniques.
EARLY-LIFE AIRBORNE LEAD EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER IQ AND SELF-CONTROL IN NIH STUDY
Children who lived in areas with higher levels of airborne lead in their first five years of life appeared to have slightly lower IQs and less self-control, with boys showing more sensitivity to lead exposure, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms’ health
Research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that worms are affected by small amounts of chemicals from pesticide-treated seeds.
NJIT Researchers Unveil Method to Detect ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Under 3 Minutes
Researchers report one of the fastest and most sensitive approaches yet for detecting toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulating in the environment, which are linked to health risks ranging from cancers to birth defects.
Heat-related cardiovascular deaths in the U.S. may more than double within decades
ardiovascular deaths from extreme heat in the U.S. may more than double by the middle of the century. Without reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, that number could even triple, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation.
WVU to help STEM graduates invest in Mountain State’s environmental health
To foster a continuing interest in STEM fields, West Virginia University is collaborating with other state universities to establish One Health West Virginia, a network connecting research mentors with postbaccalaureate mentees who will acquire training and experience to pursue STEM-based careers and address environmental health issues in the state.
Concrete as CO2 trap – right at the plant
After their production, which emits a lot of carbon dioxide, cement-based building materials such as concrete absorb the climate gas again – a process that takes decades and can hardly be controlled.
Commonly Used Herbicide is Harmful to Adolescent Brain Function
UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science researchers report in a new study that exposures to two of the most popular herbicides were associated with worse brain function among adolescents.
Cleaning products emit hundreds of hazardous chemicals, new study finds
A peer-reviewed study by Environmental Working Group scientists has found unsettling details about the potential health risks of common household cleaning products.
Electrifying vehicles in Chicago would save lives, reduce pollution inequities
If the Chicago region replaced 30% of all on-road combustion-engine vehicles — including motorcycles, passenger cars and trucks, buses, refuse trucks and short- and long-haul trucks — with electric versions, it would annually save more than 1,000 lives and over $10 billion, according to a new Northwestern University study.
Noted experts present detailed evidence on the impact of environmental issues on cardiovascular health
There is already robust evidence that people living with cardiovascular disease are disproportionately affected by poor air quality and extreme temperatures, in large part due to climate change, the greatest threat to human health of the 21st century.
A Thermal Processable, Self-Healing, and Fully Bio-based Starch Plastic
Researchers have proposed a novel strategy for the development of sustainable and degradable bioplastics. This starch plastics, which possess integrated advantages including superior flexibility, excellent thermal processability, waterproof capability, solvent resistance, and self-healing ability, demonstrate immense potential as a viable substitute to petroleum-based plastics.
New research establishes enduring connection between racial segregation, childhood blood lead levels
Living in a racially segregated neighborhood puts Black children at a higher risk of having elevated blood lead levels, and this association has persisted over more than two decades, according to new research from the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, which is led by University of Illinois Chicago Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda.
Mount Sinai Researchers Find Asian Americans to Have Significantly Higher Exposure to “Toxic Forever” Chemicals
Asian Americans have significantly higher exposure than other ethnic or racial groups to PFAS, a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals also known as “toxic forever” chemicals, Mount Sinai-led researchers report.
Society’s Involvement Is Key in Advancing the Green Energy Transition
Addressing climate change isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a societal one. A recent article in Nature Energy highlights the increasing urgency for engineers and social scientists to combine their expertise.
Tubing and swimming change the chemistry and microbiome of streams
As Labor Day approaches, many people will go tubing and swimming, but do these delightful summertime activities impact streams and rivers? Today, scientists report that recreation can alter the chemical and microbial fingerprint of waterways. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.
Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Earns $8.6 Million Grant to Protect Workers
The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), a partnership between the University of Utah and Weber State University and one of the nation’s leading centers focused on the health and safety of workers and their environment, was recently awarded an $8.6 million grant that will allow it to further a mission that touches tens of thousands of people each year in Utah and across the West.
UIC leads field study on home, water safety after Ohio chemical spill
A multi-university study will investigate the aftermath of the train derailment and subsequent chemical spill and fires in East Palestine, Ohio, to gain a better understanding of the impact that this event had on the community.
Ohio train derailment, clean-up resulted in high levels of some gases, study shows
A freight train carrying industrial chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. Researchers have been assessing the local air quality. Now, in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters, they report that some gases, including acrolein, reached levels that could be hazardous.
Higher Temperatures, Higher Risk for Algal Blooms, Higher Human Vulnerability
In a study published in the Environmental Health Perspective, a research team made up of scientists from across the country have found that environmentally relevant exposure to toxins found in algal blooms posed a risk to women’s reproductive health by heightening the probability…
Environmental Health Expert Available to Comment on PFAS
On July 5, the U.S. Geological Survey released findings that suggest at least 45% of the nation’s tap water could be contaminated with PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” Now, as many Americans express their concern, one environmental health expert…
Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomics Research Awarded $8.45 Million Grant to Study Environmental Health
New five-year award will focus on the effects of environmental exposures on health across the lifespan
Walkable Neighborhoods Help Adults Socialize, Increase Community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Achieves Environmental Goals
University Hospitals (UH) Cleveland Medical Center is interested in sustainability with two primary goals: to raise sustainability and climate change awareness among employees through educational events, and to set manageable sustainability and net zero emissions goals that lead to a broader impact on health and the environment.
Higher lithium levels in drinking water may raise autism risk
Pregnant women whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium had a moderately higher risk of their offspring being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported in JAMA Pediatrics.
Shh! Intensive care incubators resonate sounds and risk damage to premature babies’ hearing, scientists say
For vulnerable premature babies, an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a lifesaver, but the consequences can last a lifetime.
Cannabis use in adolescent years may create reproductive complications in women, according to a UC Irvine study
In a new study, University of California, Irvine researchers found that exposure to the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component of cannabis, at a young age could lead to depleted ovarian follicles and matured eggs in adulthood by nearly 50 percent.
Increased hospitalizations for heart attacks, heart failure seen in older adults living near fracking sites
Research shows connection between hospitalization rates for cardiovascular disease and proximity to fracking, providing evidence that exposure to airborne pollutants from unconventional natural gas development may impact human health
Residents Could Be Exposed to Cancer-Causing Substances in Wake of Train Explosion
Days after a train carrying vinyl chloride derailed and exploded near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, a controlled burn of toxic chemicals was ignited to prevent a much more dangerous explosion. In the aftermath of the cleanup, three additional toxic chemicals have been discovered…
UNC Researchers Tackle the E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use–associated Lung Injury (EVALI) Epidemic
Although doctors and researchers sympathize with smokers wanting to quit smoking, scientists are discovering that vaping might not be a healthier alternative to smoking, especially in adolescents. E-cigarette products have recently been linked to a new, serious lung condition known as E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-associated Lung Injury, or EVALI, which primarily affects youth and young adults. In 2019, the illness was declared an epidemic by the CDC.
EPA grant to Wayne State to evaluate chemical mixture health risks
There are hidden metabolic health impacts in things that most people encounter every day. From surface cleaners to silicone wristbands, from fracking fluids to wastewater — even household dust — these diverse environmental mixtures have a potential to disrupt human health. A grant from the EPA to Wayne State University will evaluate the risks of chemical mixtures on health.
Fire in the Amazon is associated more with agricultural burning and deforestation than with drought
A Brazilian study shows that the number of fires detected in the entire Amazon region between 2003 and 2020 was influenced more by uncontrolled human use of fire than by drought.
Today: ANA2022 Media Roundtable to Spotlight Latest in Neuro Research
As the American Neurological Association’s 147th Annual Meeting wraps up today, October 25, the ANA is holding a Media Roundtable at 11 a.m. U.S. Central for reporters to access the latest developments in neurology and neuroscience.
Physicians call on health care organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
In a new commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine, authors from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Tufts University of School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University offer strategies for healthcare organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and outline potential strategy tradeoffs to consider toward this goal. They say health care has a moral imperative to reduce its emissions and environmental footprint and force transformation across all other sectors it touches.