Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical with endocrine-disrupting properties that is present in many consumer items: the linings of aluminum cans, heat-activated or pressure-printed cash register receipts, dental sealants and polycarbonate plastic products such as food and drink containers. Because of its prevalence, many people are exposed to BPA on a recurring basis. DataContinueContinue reading “Dangers of BPA exposure confirmed in rhesus macaques”
Tag Archives: environmental contamination
New concerns about a known contaminant
Exposure to arsenic through drinking water can have deleterious effects on reproductive and developmental processes in humans and animals. As a result, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a maximum acceptable concentration for arsenic in drinking water. This limit was 50 ppb until 2001, when it was reduced to 10 ppb because ofContinueContinue reading “New concerns about a known contaminant”
Studies may underestimate exposure to bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic and other food containers (including baby bottles and reusable water bottles). More than 8 billion pounds of BPA are produced each year, and the chemical can be detected in almost every water body. Human exposure to BPA, largely through diet, is practically unavoidable, and measurableContinueContinue reading “Studies may underestimate exposure to bisphenol A”
Air pollution linked to obesity, inflammation
Roughly one-third of the US population may be at an increased risk of developing health problems resulting from exposure to polluted air containing fine particulates. The tiny size of these pollutants allows them to travel deep into the lungs or other organs, potentially causing damage. In a new study, the specific effects of exposure toContinueContinue reading “Air pollution linked to obesity, inflammation”
Bisphenol-A may compromise fertility
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical present in materials many people use every day, such as polycarbonate plastics and the inner coatings of food and beverage containers. Exposure to BPA is quite pervasive: the chemical has been detected in the urine of more than 92% of those in the US who have been tested, and levelsContinueContinue reading “Bisphenol-A may compromise fertility”
Fishing for toxic bacteria
Bacterial pathogens in food and water cause more than 76 million infections per year in the US, which have symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to severe illness and even death. Accurate detection of these pathogens is essential for avoiding infection. Although molecular and immunological detection methods have progressed, they do sometimes fail to identifyContinueContinue reading “Fishing for toxic bacteria”
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