Latest news with #chemicalexposure
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Draft ‘MAHA' plan to improve kids' health leaked. Here's what's in it.
The Trump administration has identified ultra-processed foods and chemical exposure as potential hazards in its plan to improve the health of American children, but does not propose widespread restrictions on such foods or pesticides, according to a draft of the report obtained by The Washington Post. Instead, the 'Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy' - which isn't final and may not be publicly released for weeks - said the government will continue efforts to define ultra-processed food and work to increase public awareness and confidence in how pesticides are regulated. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. That approach is in line with some recent policy proposals but falls far short of the major changes some of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's supporters have called for. It's unlikely to provoke fury from the food and agriculture industries Kennedy has railed against and that once feared a sweeping crackdown on their products. President Donald Trump formed a 'Make America Healthy Again' commission chaired by Kennedy to address the root causes of chronic disease and childhood illness. The commission released a report in May identifying the causes of childhood chronic diseases that are shortening Americans' lifespans. The latest report is meant to serve as a blueprint to cure those ills. The draft report, first reported by the New York Times, provides new details on how health agencies will try to address broadly recognized dangers to American health, including air and water pollution, exposure to microplastics, and poor nutrition. It also targets long-established public health practices including vaccination and the fluoridation of drinking water. And it calls for new working groups and research into health issues, including a task force focused on chronic disease. It's unclear whether the draft was revised before the Tuesday deadline to submit it to Trump. An HHS spokesman declined to comment and referred questions to the White House. Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said 'any document purported to be the MAHA report should be treated as speculative literature' unless it has been released by the administration. Here are some of the takeaways: - - - Pesticides The draft report characterizes the Environmental Protection Agency's reviews of pesticides as 'robust' - a far different tone from how Kennedy has previously talked about the chemicals used widely in U.S. agriculture, saying they are contaminating the food supply. It doesn't directly mention the pesticides glyphosate or atrazine referenced in the first MAHA report in May. Instead it just says the EPA 'will work to ensure that the public has awareness and confidence' in the agency's 'robust pesticide review procedures.' The May MAHA report also took a far milder tone than some people associated with the movement expected. That report expressed a commitment to the prosperity of farmers who, along with chemical manufacturers, had pushed back on efforts to more strictly regulate the pesticides they rely on to produce large crops. Kennedy has repeatedly said he would not pursue policies that would put farmers out of business. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who calls pesticides 'crop protection tools,' recently said Kennedy and his team have met with 130 groups representing the farming and ranching industry. 'I have rarely seen anyone more open to understanding and learning,' she said at a news conference earlier this month. 'I've also heard [Kennedy] say that we can't compromise our farmers and their ability to feed and fuel and clothe the world.' - - - Food and pharmaceuticals The draft raises concerns about reduced-fat food, which became popular decades ago but is now questioned by many nutritionists. It proposes removing restrictions on the sale of whole milk in schools and mandates for reduced-fat foods purchased through the Women, Infants and Children food assistance program. And it calls for better food in hospitals and for veterans. The draft says HHS will explore developing potential 'industry guidelines' to limit the direct marketing of 'certain unhealthy foods to children' and will increase oversight of advertising by drug companies. But it does not propose immediate new restrictions. It points to some efforts already underway, such as pushing food companies to remove synthetic dyes from their products. It also promises transparency around fees paid by pharmaceutical companies to the Food and Drug Administration, which Kennedy supporters have characterized as giving the industry undue influence over drug approvals. - - - Families The report addresses a number of issues around raising families. It promises to update infant formula requirements, encourage breastfeeding and launch an education campaign to boost fertility rates. - - - Vaccines The draft promises to develop a new vaccine framework to ensure 'America has the best Childhood Vaccine Schedule' and address vaccine injuries. Kennedy has long been critical of the childhood immunization schedule, which he has contended has too many shots and could be linked to chronic disease and shortened lifespans. Public health experts have said the array of shots provided to children and their cumulative health effects have been extensively studied and deemed safe. This week, HHS revived a defunct Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a move anti-vaccine activists had demanded in an attempt to overhaul the immunization schedule. - - - Fluoride Kennedy and others in the MAHA movement have called for the removal of fluoride from drinking water, a practice widely hailed for improving oral health. But the draft doesn't outright call for removing fluoride from water. Instead, it says the government will 'educate' Americans on appropriate levels of fluoride and raise awareness of getting fluoride through toothpaste. It references the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revisiting its long-standing recommendation to add fluoride to drinking water and the FDA's review of prescription fluoride supplements. Research has found the health benefits of fluoride have diminished in recent years as the mineral became widely available through toothpaste and mouthwash. Studies have also shown fluoride can have harmful health effects at high concentrations that are well above levels considered safe for drinking water. - - - Electromagnetism The draft report said HHS would partner with other agencies to study electromagnetic radiation to identify 'gaps in knowledge, including on new technologies to ensure safety and efficacy.' Some people have been leery of electromagnetic radiation from modern technology such as cellphones, WiFi routers and Bluetooth technology, but there is little research to back up those concerns. Kennedy has previously echoed the conspiracy theory that 5G high-speed wireless network service is being used to 'harvest our data and control our behavior.' The World Health Organization in 2016 said scientific evidence does not confirm health consequences from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields, but more research is needed. The American Cancer Society in 2022 said most studies have not identified strong links between cancer and exposure to extremely low frequency sources of electromagnetic radiation such as computers and power lines. - - - Psychiatric drugs The report calls for the creation of a government working group to scrutinize the use of psychiatric medication by children. Kennedy has long criticized the use of these drugs, such as antidepressants and Adderall, and has made false claims about them. Medical associations and mental health experts have raised concerns about the Trump administration's scrutiny of the medicines, saying they have been shown to be beneficial when prescribed judiciously. The draft does not mention the use of weight loss drugs by children, which Trump's executive order establishing the MAHA commission characterized as a potential 'threat.' - - - Lauren Weber contributed to this report. 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Washington Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Draft ‘MAHA' plan to improve kids' health leaked. Here's what's in it.
The Trump administration has identified ultra-processed foods and chemical exposure as potential hazards in its plan to improve the health of American children, but does not propose widespread restrictions on such foods or pesticides, according to a draft of the report obtained by The Washington Post.
Emirates 24/7
23-07-2025
- Health
- Emirates 24/7
Study links 'forever chemicals' to increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Exposure to a class of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals", may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by researchers at Mount Sinai. The findings were published in eBioMedicine. The team conducted a nested case-control study within BioMe, a large, electronic health record-linked research database comprising records of more than 70,000 study participants who have sought care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007. Based on available data, the study analysed 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and compared them to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Researchers used blood samples to analyse PFAS levels - a group of chemicals used in everything from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant furniture to waterproof clothing -and found that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly greater risk of developing T2D in the future. Specifically, each increase in range of PFAS exposure was linked to a 31 percent increase in risk. The team also found that these associations could be due to metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, which may help explain how PFAS affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. Findings from this study underscore the importance of preventing PFAS exposures to promote public health and of advancing knowledge about potential mechanisms underlying the PFAS' impacts on human metabolism. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic gas leak injures four workers, 80 evacuated, in Burnaby, B.C.
BURNABY — A release of toxic bromine gas into the air in an industrial area of Burnaby, B.C., sent four workers to hospital and forced the evacuation of 80 others. The Burnaby Fire Department says in a statement that they responded to a report of an airborne chemical in the 8,000-block of Wiggins Street late Thursday. A statement from the department says they used portable air monitoring systems to detect the noxious gas and find its origin. It says four workers in a nearby business who were experiencing symptoms of exposure, including nose, throat and lung irritation, were treated with oxygen on site and then taken to hospital. All four are in stable condition and the department says the evacuation of other people was temporary while crews determined it was safe to return. It says Burnaby fire crews monitored the plume and ventilated all affected buildings, and while the statement didn't identify the origin of the gas release, it says there's no ongoing risk to exposure of the chemical. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Potentially Toxic Chemicals Are Reaching Toddlers Before Kindergarten, Study Finds
Young children nationwide are exposed to a large swath of possibly toxic chemicals before kindergarten, new research suggests 'Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development,' said the study's lead author, Deborah Bennett Researchers found that of the 111 chemicals they focused on, 48 were found in more than 50% of the childrenBefore ever stepping foot inside a kindergarten classroom, young children nationwide are already exposed to a large swath of possibly toxic chemicals, new research suggests. The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology on Monday, June 30, analyzed chemical exposure in 201 kids from the ages of 2-4 years old between 2010 and 2021, using urine samples from the children and most of their mothers during pregnancy. Researchers focused on 111 chemicals. 'Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development,' said the study's lead author, Deborah Bennett in a statement from UC Davis, where she is a professor. 'Many of these chemicals are known or suspected to interfere with hormones, brain development and immune function,' Bennett added. Researchers found that of the 111 chemicals, 96 were detected in at least five kids and 48 were found in more than 50% of the children. In addition, 34 were found in more than 90% of the kids — including nine substances "which have not been included in U.S. national biomonitoring." "This study reveals frequent exposure to multiple chemicals in young U.S. children, often exceeding prenatal levels," the authors wrote in a summary. "Expanded biomonitoring of emerging chemicals of concern and studies of their health effects in this vulnerable population are warranted." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to UC Davis, the study found children were exposed to phthalates, parabens, bactericides, and various other chemicals through "everyday activities, such as eating, drinking, breathing indoor and outdoor air and touching contaminated surfaces." 'Exposure to certain chemicals in early childhood, such as pesticides, plasticizers and flame retardants, has been linked to developmental delays, hormone disruption and other long-term health issues,' the study's first author, Jiwon Oh, told UC Davis. Read the original article on People
