We hear a lot about toxic chemicals being linked to myriad of serious health conditions. But just how does that happen? We are now much closer to understanding the mechanisms involved that trigger health problems after exposure to toxic chemicals in our food, products and general environment. Researchers have reviewed the existing scientific evidence and propose eight hallmarks of environmental exposures that chart the biological pathways through which pollutants contribute to disease.
Category: Personal Care Chemicals
Group calls for Ban on Phthalates
A paper published by Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks), a group of volunteer scientists, health professionals and child advocates working to study and reduce children’s exposure to neurotoxic chemicals and pollutants, calls for a ban on phthalate chemicals commonly found in personal care and home care products.
Amazon Does Partial Ban of Toxic Food Packaging Chemicals
While they still have a long way to go in cleaning up the products they offer, in response to a recent class action lawsuit, Amazon has announced that it will ban certain chemicals and plastics in food packaging used for one of its product lines.
Antimicrobial Additive Triclosan Linked to Fatty Liver Disease
New research has uncovered a link with Triclosan and fatty liver disease. More specifically, scientists found that the chemical accelerated the development of fatty liver and fibrosis. Mice exposed to Triclosan also had less diversity in their gut microbiomes (less gut microbiome diversity as science has now shown, is generally associated with poorer health).
Highly Toxic Site Planned for New School and Low-Income Housing
A low-income housing development plus a school will be built on a toxic waste site in the area along the Gowanus Canal in New York City.
Household Chemicals PFAS and Phthalates Alter Gut Microbiome: Study
In another new study scientists have again found that chemicals commonly found in our food and home environment alter our gut microbiome. This is a critical confirmation of the findings found previously because gut microbiome–the community of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract–has recently come under close scrutiny by the medical science community because several serious health conditions have been suspected to be linked to an imbalance in gut microbiome.
Eye Health Threatened by Toxic Chemicals in the Air
The toxins from indoor and outdoor air pollution can trigger eye infections, dry eye disease, eye irritation, burning and itching and vision problems, including blurry vision. This is nothing to take lightly. Scientific studies have confirmed that if exposure to toxic air is prolonged it has the potential to cause chronic and even serious eye diseases like glaucoma.
Chemical Alternative to Phthalates Looks Promising
New study finds no observable effects of the phthalate-replacement chemical DINCH on reproductive hormones.
Do You Have Chemical Sensitivity? Answering Just Three Questions Can Tell You
To increase screening of chemical intolerance, researchers have developed and validated a three-question survey that can be incorporated into patient visits within a minute.
New Chemical Treatment for Tomatoes on the Horizon
New research has demonstrated that it is possible to spray sanitizing chemicals (levulinic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate, aka sodium lauryl sulfate) to produce preharvest–while it is still in the fields.
