Hydraulic fracturing negatively impacts infant health -- ScienceDaily

Health risks increase for infants born to mothers living within 2 miles
of a hydraulic fracturing site, according to a study published Dec. 13
in Science Advances. The research team found that infants born
within a half a mile from a fracking site were 25 percent more likely to
be born at low birth weights, leaving them at greater risk of infant
mortality, ADHD, asthma, lower test scores, lower schooling attainment
and lower lifetime earnings.

Hydraulic fracturing and infant health: New evidence from Pennsylvania

Science Advances  13 Dec 2017:
Vol. 3, no. 12, e1603021

Environmental Health Perspectives – The Florence Statement on Triclosan and Triclocarban

The Florence Statement on Triclosan and Triclocarban documents a consensus of more than 200 scientists and medical professionals on the hazards of and lack of demonstrated benefit from common uses of triclosan and triclocarban. These chemicals may be used in thousands of personal care and consumer products as well as in building materials. Based on extensive peer-reviewed research, this statement concludes that triclosan and triclocarban are environmentally persistent endocrine disruptors that bioaccumulate in and are toxic to aquatic and other organisms. Evidence of other hazards to humans and ecosystems from triclosan and triclocarban is presented along with recommendations intended to prevent future harm from triclosan, triclocarban, and antimicrobial substances with similar properties and effects. Because antimicrobials can have unintended adverse health and environmental impacts, they should only be used when they provide an evidence-based health benefit. Greater transparency is needed in product formulations, and before an antimicrobial is incorporated into a product, the long-term health and ecological impacts should be evaluated. "



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Autism, intellectual disability incidence linked with environmental factors -- ScienceDaily

An analysis of 100 million US medical records reveals that autism and
intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level
with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator
of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as
pesticides.

Male fetuses are particularly sensitive to toxins such as environmental
lead, sex hormone analogs, medications and other synthetic molecules.
Parental exposure to these toxins is thought explain a large portion of
congenital reproductive malformations, such as micropenis, hypospadias
(urethra on underside of the penis), undescended testicles and others.

Non-reproductive congenital malformations and viral infections in males
were also associated with double digit increases in autism and ID rates.

Food packaging chemicals 'may be harmful to human health' - Medical News Today

The first cause for concern, say the authors, is that certain "known
toxicants" - including formaldehyde, a substance known to cause cancer
- are used legally in food contact materials. Plastic bottles used for carbonated drinks,
for example, usually contain low levels of formaldehyde.

Another point the authors make is that hormone production-disrupting
chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), tributyltin, triclosan and
phthalates, can also be present in FCMs.

Industrial chemicals 'may cause global neurodevelopmental epidemic' - Medical News Today

According to Dr. Phillippe Grandjean, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and Dr. Phillip Landrigan, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, the number of chemicals that are recognized to be linked with neurodevelopmental disorders has increased
from six to 12.
In 2006, lead, methylmercury, arsenic, polychlorinated bipenyls and toluene were the only chemicals linked to brain development disorders. By last year, manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos (a pesticide),
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), tetrachloroethylene (a solvent), and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) were added to the list.
These have variously been associated with ADHD,  autism , cerebral palsy and dyslexia (and obesity).

Why energy drinks are harming children, adolescents

 "Parents beware. If your tots and teens get their hands on your energy drinks, they could experience seizures, heart palpitations or other problems that drive them to the hospital emergency room."

Danish survey evaluates the content of chemical contaminants in food

: "The report shows that it would be an advantage to focus efforts on reducing Danes' intake of inorganic arsenic, acrylamide, the metals lead and cadmium as well as the environmental toxicants PCB and dioxin. The intake of lead and cadmium remains more or less unchanged since the last monitoring survey in 2003. In contrast, the intake of dioxin and PCB shows a falling tendency, however, focused efforts are still necessary."

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Related articles

• Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and behavioural problems at age 7-8years.
• Food Contaminants Worsen Metabolic Problems In Obese Mice

Effects of human exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals examined in landmark United Nations report

 "Many synthetic chemicals, untested for their disrupting effects on the hormone system, could have significant health implications according to the State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO."The joint study calls for more research to understand fully the associations between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) -- found in many household and industrial products -- and specific diseases and disorders. The report notes that with more comprehensive assessments and better testing methods, potential disease risks could be reduced, with substantial savings to public health.

Common chemicals linked to osteoarthritis

 "A new study has linked exposure to two common perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) with osteoarthritis. PFCs are used in more than 200 industrial processes and consumer products including certain stain- and water-resistant fabrics, grease-proof paper food containers, personal care products, and other items. Because of their persistence, PFCs have become ubiquitous contaminants of humans and wildlife. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to look at the associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and osteoarthritis, in a study population representative of the United States."

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Study finds high exposure to food-borne toxins

In a sobering study published in the journal Environmental Health, researchers at UC Davis and UCLA measured food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults by pinpointing foods with high levels of toxic compounds and determining how much of these foods were consumed. The researchers found that family members in the study, and preschool children in particular, are at high risk for exposure to arsenic, dieldrin, DDE (a DDT metabolite), dioxins and acrylamide. These compounds have been linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, birth defects and other conditions. However, the study also points to dietary modifications that could mitigate risk.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-high-exposure-food-borne-toxins.html#jCp

Epigenetic synthesis: a need for a new paradigm for evolution in a contaminated world - F1000 Biology Reports - F1000

Epigenetics is a perspective, not a set of techniques. Molecular biology and genetics are the dominant disciplines in biology today, but practitioners of these fields have only recently ‘rediscovered’ the importance of the environment. This has led to increasing research into molecular epigenetics and the interface between the environment and gene regulation. Beyond the study of epigenetic mechanisms at the level of the gene, more investigation of epigenetic outcomes at the level of both the individual organism and the evolution of the population is needed.

Chemical exposure in the womb from household items may contribute to obesity

Pregnant women who are highly exposed to common environmental chemicals - polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) - have babies that are smaller at birth and larger at 20 months of age, according to a study from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health published online in the August 30 edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Artificial butter flavoring ingredient linked to key Alzheimer's disease process

A new study raises concern about chronic exposure of workers in industry to a food flavoring ingredient used to produce the distinctive buttery flavor and aroma of microwave popcorn, margarines, snack foods, candy, baked goods, pet foods and other products. It found evidence that the ingredient, diacetyl (DA), intensifies the damaging effects of an abnormal brain protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. The study appears in ACS' journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.

Link found between environmental toxins and stroke

(Medical Xpress) -- Individuals with elevated levels of PCBs and DDT in their blood run a greater risk of having a stroke. This is shown in a study from Uppsala University that is being published today in the scientific journal Environmental International.

Fungicide Linked to Anxiety, Obesity and Autistic Traits in Rats | Psych Central News

Rats who were exposed to fungicide had babies, grandbabies, and even great grandbabies with an increasing amount of anxiety, stress, autism and obesity, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Research shows how PCBs promote dendrite growth, may increase autism risk

New research from UC Davis and Washington State University shows that PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, launch a cellular chain of events that leads to an overabundance of dendrites — the filament-like projections that conduct electrochemical signals between neurons — and disrupts normal patterns of neuronal connections in the brain.

List of the top 10 toxic chemicals suspected to cause autism and learning disabilities

1. Lead
2. Methylmercury
3. PCBs
4. Organophosphate pesticides
5. Organochlorine pesticides
6. Endocrine disruptors
7. Automotive exhaust
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
9. Brominated flame retardants
10. Perfluorinated compounds

Autism Linked To Industrial Food Or Environment

A new study in Clinical Epigenetics, suggests that the epidemic of autism amongst children in the U.S. may be associated with the typical American diet. The study by Renee Dufault and his team explores how mineral deficiencies, affected by dietary factors, such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), could have a potential impact on how the human body frees itself of common toxic chemicals, for instance, pesticides and mercury.

High levels of phthalates can lead to greater risk for type-2 diabetes

There is a connection between phthalates found in cosmetics and plastics and the risk of developing diabetes among seniors. Even at a modest increase in circulating phthalate levels, the risk of diabetes is doubled. This conclusion is drawn by researchers at Uppsala University in a study published in the journal Diabetes Care.

Prenatal exposure to combustion-related pollutants and anxiety, attention problems in young children

Mothers' exposure during pregnancy to a class of air pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can lead to behavioral problems in their children. PAH are released to air during incomplete combustion of fossil fuel such as diesel, gasoline, coal, and other organic material.