Latest news with #EnvironmentalHealthNews
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists discover simple method to protect against emerging threat to human health: 'Evolving'
Increasing fiber intake could help decrease concentrations of some types of PFAS, according to a new study that made another unexpected discovery. Canadian researchers analyzed the effects of implementing a fiber supplement over four weeks, finding that this intervention helped decrease levels of PFOA and PFOS, two types of long-chain PFAS. Environmental Health News summarized the findings, adding that the team also identified a few short-chain PFAS — a class of these chemicals that is commonly being used to replace long-chain varieties — that had never been documented in the Canadian population before. Some of these short-chain PFAS were linked to markers of liver damage. "Overall, the results show that exposures to short-chain and replacement chemistry PFASs are common in this Canadian population," the researchers stated, adding, "The types of PFASs to which humans are being exposed are evolving, yet the bulk of exposure assessment has focused on long-chain PFASs. As such, broader biomonitoring is needed to capture changing PFAS exposures in humans." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals known for their persistence in the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these substances have been tied to certain types of cancer, developmental delays in children, interference with the body's natural hormones, and other severe health impacts. Short-chain PFAS, those that have fewer than seven carbon atoms, have commonly been used to replace long-chain PFAS, which have six or more. Although short-chain PFAS were originally assumed to be safer than long-chain, several new studies, including one from Auburn University, suggest the opposite. This is not the first time researchers have linked fiber intake to reduced levels of PFAS. For instance, a study at the University of Kentucky found that a diet rich in fiber may decrease disease risks associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure. One easy way to boost fiber intake is to eat a plant-rich diet, which has been associated with a number of health benefits, including increased life expectancy. In addition to increasing fiber intake, you can limit your PFAS exposure by opting for PFAS-free brands and avoiding nonstick cookware along with stain- or water-resistant clothing. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scholar sounds alarm about disturbing hazards inside US prisons: 'People actually died in those conditions'
Prisons across the nation expose incarcerated individuals to environmental hazards such as air pollution and extreme heat, and one Massachusetts Institute of Technology scholar is advocating for major reform. Ufuoma Ovienmhada is a doctoral student at MIT who has devoted her research to studying injustices in prisons across the country. In an op-ed for Environmental Health News, she summarized her findings and why she supports creating a new justice system. During her research, Ovienmhada found that many prisons, jails and detention centers are situated near industrial activity, toxic waste facilities, and places where wildfires are common, exposing incarcerated individuals and staff to environmental hazards such as air pollution. She recalled speaking with one woman who had been incarcerated in a prison that is situated near 15 facilities on the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. "We were right across the street — literally — right across the street from a power plant that was just belching this sulfurous smelling stuff. I don't know what it was. And I know that I have asthma. And that was really aggravated there," she said. "There were times when we just couldn't go outside … because it wasn't just the smell you'd breathe in — it was like your lungs would … hurt." Meanwhile, outdated buildings often expose incarcerated individuals to extreme heat, Ovienmhada said, adding that funding for infrastructure updates is unlikely to make a difference. She cited interviews of formerly incarcerated people who said that such projects often were not completed. Others described how such upgrades sometimes further exacerbated their poor treatment during incarceration. For instance, one person said ultra-cooled cells at one facility were used to punish individuals. "People actually died in those conditions," the person told Ovienmhada. Ovienmhada said people in prisons, jails, and detention centers can develop respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as a consequence of exposure to such environmental hazards. "[This] can, quite literally, affect their ability to breathe, and even lead to premature death," she stated. "The fact that environmental injustice is widespread in carceral facilities reveals that the suffocation of marginalized bodies in the U.S. behind bars is in many cases by design, not an accidental byproduct." Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. This is just one example of the widespread environmental challenges across the United States. For instance, Cancer Alley is an approximately 85-mile strip of Louisiana that is home to around 200 dirty energy and petrochemical operations, according to Human Rights Watch. A scholar at Keele University concluded that Black communities living in Cancer Alley are more likely to have petrochemical plants nearby and called it a "prime example of environmental racism." Ovienmhada advocates for abolishing prisons as they're currently set up and instead focusing on increasing investment in social infrastructure, though she acknowledges this may seem "idealistic" and suggests that "unrepentant or repeated harm-doers" should not have access to power that would allow them to continue their ways. She shared an example of programs that are already working in this arena. For instance, Californians United for a Responsible Budget works to decarcerate, close prisons, and invest in programs that support workforce development, affordable housing, and drug treatment programs. Across the country, people are also standing up for their communities. For example, sisters in one small town in Cancer Alley helped put a stop to the construction of a grain export facility that would have been built atop an area of cultural and historical significance. The construction would have also increased pollution, and dust from the plant could have caused respiratory problems. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
