Latest news with #Fabiano
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge halts Rockford's efforts to limit video gaming terminals
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A circuit court judge has barred the City of Rockford from enforcing rules meant to slow the growth of gambling in the city. 17th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Fabiano issued the ruling in response to a lawsuit brought by Kelly Quinby, the proprietor of Spinning Slots, at 1625 Sandy Hollow Road, after the city refused to license a 6th video gaming terminal (VGT) at the location, despite allowances by the Illinois Gaming Board to do so. The state's 2009 Video Gaming Act allows any business licensed to serve liquor to install up to six slot machines. However, to slow the growth of gambling machines within the city, Aldermen passed an ordinance that would require venues to derive at least 50% of total revenue from food and alcohol sales. The ordinance was to help existing bars and restaurants that wanted to add gambling terminals as a source of extra income, and discourage independent operators from opening establishments where gambling was the primary source of revenue. According to the lawsuit, the city refused to license Spinning Slots' 6th gaming terminal, despite its authorization by the Illinois Gaming Board, and denied renewal of its liquor license because the establishment did not meet the 50% income threshold. On Thursday, the court ruled that the City lacked the authority to regulate video gaming establishments, as this power resides with the state. The ruling prevents the City from enforcing any local ordinances that limit the number of video game terminals in the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The ‘plastic spoon' of microplastics in your brain could stem from these foods that are wrecking your health, researchers say
Earlier this year, scientists discovered that there is about as much microplastics in the brain as a whole plastic spoon. The paper, published in Nature Medicine in February, revealed that the amount of microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—in the human brain appears to be increasing: Concentrations rose by about 50% between 2016 and 2024. Not only were there more microplastics in the brain than in liver or kidney tissue, but microplastic concentrations were higher in the brains of dementia patients than in those without it. Now, scientists are examining the effect on brain health of microplastics and one of the largest sources of microplastics: ultra-processed foods (UPFs). In a series of four papers published in the journal Brain Medicine, researchers synthesize mounting evidence that microplastics accumulating in the brain—especially those from UPFs—could be contributing to rising global rates of dementia, depression, and other mental health disorders. 'We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all,' said co-author of one of the papers, Dr. Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa, in the press release. 'Ultra-processed foods now comprise more than 50% of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods,' Fabiano said. 'Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities.' The researchers consolidate the science linking UPF consumption with adverse mental health, and how that overlaps with microplastic accumulation in the brain. For instance, they cite a 2024 umbrella review published in the British Medical Journal which found that people who consumed ultra-processed foods had a 22% higher risk of depression, 48% higher risk of anxiety, and 41% higher risk of poor sleep. In the papers, the researchers hypothesize that microplastics could be the missing link in UPFs' impact on brain health, by connecting it to data such as UPFs like chicken nuggets contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts—highlighting how processing could increase microplastic content. 'Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways,' said Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center in Australia. Microplastics can increase inflammation in the brain as they cross the blood-brain barrier, as a 2023 study on mice found, which can put people at risk of neurological disease and degeneration, including Alzheimer's. 'What emerges from this work is not a warning. It is a reckoning,' wrote Dr. Ma-Li Wong, professor of neuroscience at Upstate Medical University in New York. 'The boundary between internal and external has failed. If microplastics cross the blood-brain barrier, what else do we think remains sacred?' Researchers are now looking to understand to what extent ultra-processed foods are responsible for adverse brain health outcomes, and what to do about it. The authors propose the development of a Dietary Microplastic Index, which would quantify people's exposure through food consumption. 'While we need to reduce our exposure to microplastics through better food choices and packaging alternatives, we also need research into how to remove these particles from the human body,' noted Dr. Stefan Bornstein in his paper. One of those potential methods, Bornstein proposes, is apheresis, a process of removing blood from the body and filtering out the microplastics—but he points out that more research is still needed. 'As the levels of ultra-processed foods, microplastics, and adverse mental health outcomes simultaneously rise, it is imperative that we further investigate this potential association,' said Fabiano. 'After all, you are what you eat.' For more on microplastics: Microplastics are everywhere. Here are 5 ways to reduce your exposure Chewing gum is shedding harmful microplastics into your saliva, study finds Tea bags and these 11 foods are likely exposing you to billions of microplastics This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Human brains contain spoonful of microplastics, dementia risk skyrockets: Study
A disturbing new finding shows microplastics have infiltrated human brain tissue, raising serious questions about our health. It's been discovered that human brains accumulate a surprisingly large amount of microplastics and nanoplastics – equal to a spoonful. Even more concerning, these levels are 3 to 5 times higher in individuals with dementia. Building on findings from Nature Medicine, a detailed commentary was recently released in Brain Medicine on this invisible health threat. "The dramatic increase in brain microplastic concentrations over just eight years, from 2016 to 2024, is particularly alarming," notes Dr. Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa's Department of Psychiatry, lead author of the Commentary. "This rise mirrors the exponential increase we're seeing in environmental microplastic levels," added Fabiano. These tiny plastic fragments, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, have infiltrated virtually every corner of the globe. They are found in the deepest ocean trenches, within the tissues of marine organisms ranging from plankton to whales, and have even been detected in the air and snow of remote mountain peaks. This widespread distribution highlights the alarming ability of microplastics to travel through air, water, and food chains. The study revealed that brain tissue contains much higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) – 7 to 30 times more – compared to other vital organs, such as the liver and kidneys. The main concern lies with nanoplastics – particles smaller than 200 nanometers. The small size raises the possibility that they can cross the blood-brain barrier, which could have implications for neurological health. Researchers analyzed brain tissue from autopsies, comparing samples from 2016 to 2024. They specifically analyzed the frontal cortex, an area of the brain directly behind the forehead. The study identified 12 different types of plastic polymers, with polyethylene being the most prevalent in the brain tissue samples. Polyethylene is widely used in packaging and containers like bottles and cups. The commentary suggests a simple yet effective way to reduce microplastic intake: switching bottled water to filtered tap water. This change alone could decrease annual microplastic consumption from 90,000 particles to just 4,000. "Bottled water alone can expose people to nearly as many microplastic particles annually as all ingested and inhaled sources combined. Switching to tap water could reduce this exposure by almost 90%, making it one of the simplest ways to cut down on microplastic intake," said Dr. Brandon Luu, an Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Toronto. Other key sources of microplastic intake include plastic tea bags and improper food storage/heating. Plastic tea bags release millions of tiny particles during brewing, and heating food in plastic containers. "Heating food in plastic containers—especially in the microwave—can release substantial amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics," the author explained. "While these changes make sense, we still need research to confirm whether lowering intake leads to reduced accumulation in human tissues," Luu added. Researchers have also been investigating how the body might eliminate microplastic compounds, with initial findings suggesting sweating could play a role. If left unchecked, this issue could represent a major, unforeseen environmental health crisis. "The commentary calls for urgent research priorities, including establishing clear exposure limits and assessing long-term health consequences of microplastic accumulation,' the press release noted. The peer-reviewed Commentary has been published in Brain Medicine.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Most human brains now contain a spoonful of dementia-linked plastics
Scientists have found "alarming" evidence that microplastics not only get into the human brain but could be contributing to the onset of dementia and other neurological diseases. "Human brains contain approximately a spoon's worth of microplastics and nanoplastics, with levels 3-5 times higher in individuals with documented dementia diagnoses," University of Ottawa researchers said in the science journal Brain Medicine. The Canada-based researchers' warning followed "groundbreaking" work by a University of New Mexico-led team which found microplastics and nanoplastics [MNP] to be making a beeline for the brain ahead of other organs. Concentrations in normal brain samples from deceased people are 7–30 times greater than the concentrations seen in livers or kidneys, while brain samples from dementia cases show even greater presence of plastic particles, the team said in a paper published by Nature Medicine in February. Other recently-published research has warned of microplastics and nanoplastics getting into the human body through sweat and of the particles being found in male genitalia as well as being passed from pregnant woman to unborn child. "The dramatic increase in brain microplastic concentrations over just eight years, from 2016 to 2024, is particularly alarming," said Nicholas Fabiano of the University of Ottawa's Department of Psychiatry. The surge in warnings about the health threats posed by microplastics and nanoplastics have tracked the rising anger over plastic pollution, vast quantities of which has ended up in lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Despite efforts to restrict the use of plastics through measures such as requiring paper straws, European countries and Japan have been accused in turn of shipping plastic waste to South-east Asia following the imposition of curbs and strict recycling rules at home. "This rise [of microplastics in the human body] mirrors the exponential increase we're seeing in environmental microplastic levels," said Fabiano.
CNN
19-02-2025
- CNN
This American man quit his corporate job to travel the world photographing dogs
A lifelong dog lover, John Fabiano, originally from Buffalo, New York, was always fascinated by the relationship between dogs and humans. But he hadn't imagined that he could actually turn this into a career. However, after realizing that he loved photographing pooches, Fabiano, who was feeling unfulfilled while working in the corporate world, began hatching an escape plan. In 2022, he quit his job to travel the world documenting the varying bonds between dogs and people. Over the past two years, he's visited the likes of Greenland to photograph Greenlandic sled dogs, Germany for German Shepherds and Japan for Shiba Inus as part of his passion project Wags Around the World. 'I'm in my mid-30s, I'm traveling around photographing dogs,' Fabiano tells CNN Travel via Zoom. 'I've left the corporate world, and I couldn't be happier or having more fun.' While Fabiano didn't own a high-quality camera until 2020, he says he was able to hone in on his photography during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he began taking lessons and saving as much money as he could in preparation for his big adventure. When it came to deciding which countries to visit, Fabian explains that he mapped out 'different sections and different relationships that people have with dogs.' He divided the project into four groups: wild dogs, working dogs, purebred dogs and 'the underdogs.' 'There were certain relationships that I wanted to see,' Fabiano explains. 'I mean, the way I treat my dog is much different to the way other people treat dogs around the world. So I wanted to get a glimpse of that.' He began his trip in March 2023, heading to Germany, where he met with a woman who owned 10 German Shepherds and felt an instant bond. 'Something that I guess I didn't realize was going to be so impactful on me was the connections with humans I was going to have across the world,' he reflects. Fabiano goes on to explain how his relationship with his dog Viola has helped him through many tough times and provided him a focus when he felt directionless. 'There were a lot of times where maybe I was in a rut, and I'd look at my dog and I'd say, 'What does she want to do?'' he says. 'And she wants to go and do something to live. 'And it got me off my couch. It got us out into nature. It got my camera in my hand. Those are some of the happiest moments for me.' Fabiano has come to look at dogs as role models over the years, and has nothing but admiration for their 'zest for life' and 'willingness to go and live and be on the move' at any time. 'There is no blueprint for loving and respecting dogs,' he adds. 'Each relationship is unique and dogs ask so little from us.' After Germany, his next stop was Greenland, where he took a photo during a sled ride that earned him first place in the documentary category of the Dog Photography Awards in 2024. 'That photo will always be very special to me,' he adds. Fabiano went on to visit India to photograph some of the country's street dogs, spending time with animal activist Satish Waran in the city of Chennai. 'We sat in the sand and scratched the bellies of street dogs while the sun rose,' he recounts. In October 2023, Fabiano, who has been chronicling his adventures on his Instagram account @WagsAroundTheWorld, traveled to South Africa to photograph painted dogs, also known as African wild dogs. For the 'underdogs' section of the trip, he traveled to Ireland to photograph restricted dog breeds and different parts of the United States to photograph rescue dogs. 'I saw beautiful German Shepherds, beautiful Huskies, dogs that people are paying thousands of dollars for sitting in kennels and rescues,' he says of his time traveling through the US. 'So these are dogs that I sought out in other countries… These are highly intelligent, trainable working dogs. 'If you put in the time, you can get these dogs to do whatever you want. But clearly, owners picked the wrong breeds.' One of Fabiano's most memorable trips was to Australia, where he spent 40 days driving around in a campervan with a fellow dog lover meeting various dogs and their owners. 'That was a unique one,' he says. According to Fabiano, one of the toughest aspects of photographing dogs is the fact that he has to 'get low all the time.' 'If I don't photograph dogs for a couple weeks, and then I have a day of doing it, I feel it in my knees and in my quads the next day,' he says. 'Because I am bending the entire day… And there's a lot of running on my end. Trying to just snap on the fly.' While he admits that dogs aren't necessarily the easiest subjects to work, noting that he has many 'horrible photos' of canines that are not sitting still or looking at the camera, Fabiano would choose photographing a dog over photographing a person any day. 'I don't like to photograph people all that much,' he says. 'I don't like telling people what to do, directing them, saying, 'Go here, go there. Do this.' 'Dogs, I just let them be dogs. I rarely try and pose them.' More recently, Fabiano visited Costa Rica, bringing along Viola and his girlfriend Steph, to photograph the canines of Territorio de Zaguates (Land of the Strays), which is home to over 1,800 stray dogs. He was particularly moved by his trip to the dog sanctuary founded by former teacher Lya Battle, recounting how he was constantly surrounded by dogs during his time there. 'They were everywhere,' he says. 'And personally, I've always loved rescue dogs. That's my style of dog. I'll have rescues my entire life. 'So to see someone making such a massive impact, and doing it at a level that has saved so many dogs, it really was inspiring. And I was just amazed by the work that she (Battle) has done.' Although Fabiano has had many incredible experiences while photographing dogs, it hasn't always been an easy task. Aside from the physical and technical issues that come into play, he's also found some aspects of his work incredibly emotional, particularly when encountering dogs in 'dire situations.' 'Dogs that were on the streets,' he reflects. 'Dogs that were tied up. There's not much I could really do… I would usually reach out to the people I was with in the areas that were helping stray dogs. 'But I was on the move, I didn't have a place to take a dog in anything like that. It was situations where dogs were probably in need and I really couldn't help. 'So those were struggles, and there were really sobering moments where I would have liked to do more.' While he's been able to travel to 18 different countries so far, Fabiano says that Thailand is next on his list. 'There's a couple of people that I've admired for their work in Thailand and what they've done with the stray dogs there,' he says. 'Feeding them, taking care of them, giving them medical attention. And I would really like to see some of their work up close.' He's also keen to visit border collies in the sheep farms of Scotland. 'I think that those dogs are unbelievably intelligent and trainable, and the work they do is remarkable,' he says. 'So to see them in action is really cool and special.' However, Fabiano, who plans to write a book about his adventures, admits that he's 'close to out of money' and may have no choice but to 'rejoin the corporate world' sooner rather than later. 'The well is not empty,' he says. 'But I can see the bottom of it… I have to use those degrees that I got, and start making some money again.' But if, or perhaps when, that happens, Fabiano say he'll continue on documenting the different relationships between dogs and humans across the globe in some capacity. 'It's something that I'm going to do for the rest of my life,' he says. 'I'm so fascinated by it.' 'I've loved dogs since I was a little kid… It makes me very happy that my younger self would be very proud of what I'm doing today.'
