News by Subject Biology

More than 5.6 million Americans are exposed to nitrate in drinking water at levels that could cause health problems. In this first analysis of its kind, researchers also found that water systems with higher nitrate levels tend to serve communities with higher proportions of Hispanic residents. The findings could help inform programs to assist community water systems that might be vulnerable to contamination.

New systematic approach keys in on environmental mechanisms that contribute to central nervous system inflammation, identifies herbicide linuron as inflammation activator

Products transported by sea in containers are often fumigated with biocides as protection against pests. In addition to this, they often contain volatile organic solvents, such as the potentially carcinogenic 1,2-dichloroethane, which can originate from cleaning or manufacturing processes. In a meeting held at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) on 16 November 2018, 36 experts from science, monitoring authorities, trade and industry discussed the effects of substances of this kind on health, along with the need for future action.

Although sunscreen is critical for preventing sunburns and skin cancer, some of its ingredients are not so beneficial to ocean-dwelling creatures. In particular, sunscreen chemicals shed by swimmers are thought to contribute to coral reef decline. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry say that one such chemical, octocrylene (OC), which is also in some cosmetics and hair products, accumulates in coral as fatty acid esters that could be toxic to the marine organism.

Researchers have discovered supplementing a normal, carbohydrate-rich diet with specific ketogenic agents may significantly delay tonic-clonic seizures caused by exposure to high levels of oxygen.

Doctors Without Borders and Occupational Knowledge International are reporting on a successful pilot project demonstrating significant gains in reducing severe lead poisoning in mining communities in Nigeria. Since 2010 MSF has been treating thousands of poisoned children in response to the world's worst lead poisoning outbreak in Northern Nigeria. The introduction of safer mining practices reduced airborne lead concentrations by 95 percent according to the findings published in Annals of Work Exposures and Health.