Latest news with #health risks
Japan Times
a day ago
- Health
- Japan Times
In the Philippines, informal e-waste dismantling poses health risks
Dexter Barsigan has spent the past 13 years making a living with his bare hands and a pair of pliers, stripping scrapped laptops and air conditioners for metal he can sell to junk shops in the Philippines. But since his hands began aching and his vision started to blur three years ago, there have been days he can only watch his wife and nephew do the job for him. The 47-year-old father of three is a mambabaklas, the Filipino word for informal dismantlers who scavenge electronic waste for the nickel, aluminum and copper inside. "Dismantling helps us put food on the table. It provides the money to send my kids to school," Barsigan said while sitting along a kilometer-long stretch of Onyx Street, home to hundreds of fellow "e-waste" dismantlers. Their work frequently involves burning away rubber wire casings, releasing a toxic brew of chemicals including lead, mercury and cadmium into the air. Both the Philippine government and the Basel Convention, a global waste-management treaty signed by 191 countries, consider e-waste hazardous. "It poses serious threats to human health and the environment," said Irvin Cadavona, a hazardous waste management officer with the environment department, citing health risks ranging from cancer and neurological diseases to respiratory illnesses and birth defects. The World Health Organization said last year exposure to e-waste chemicals can lead to asthma and reduced lung function in children, while pregnant women are at higher risk for stillbirths and premature delivery. "It's very hard to recycle these (chemicals). When you dismantle (e-waste), you must intricately break it down. It can be very hazardous," said Gelo Apostol, an environmental health specialist from Ateneo de Manila University. Exposure to the substances can lead to anemia, kidney and thyroid diseases, and nerve damage, he said. The Philippines is among the top e-waste generators in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations' Global E-waste Monitor, accounting for 540 million kilograms in 2022. Dismantlers who work at the country's accredited facilities are required to follow stringent guidelines. But their informal counterparts lack the training, regulations and protective equipment needed to properly protect themselves. "I strongly believe that some Filipinos are getting sick because of the exposure to e-waste," Cadavona said. Burning rubber Barsigan, who doesn't wear a mask while working, prefers dismantling computer circuit boards with aluminum and copper because they fetch as much as 470 Philippine pesos ($8) per kilo. But circuit boards have especially high concentrations of toxic metals that can cause nerve damage when breathed in, Apostol said. While illegal, Onyx Street's e-waste dismantlers also routinely burn wires to extract copper, which is faster than peeling them by hand. Rosalie Sedantes strips parts from discarded electronic equipment in Manila on June 26. Her husband, Dexter Barsigan, has developed health issues after years of dismantling scavenged electronic waste. | AFP-JIJI Rosana Milan, physician-in-charge at Manila's Pedro Gil Health Center, said her clinic has diagnosed half of the 12,000 people living along the street with respiratory issues, most of them children. "It's very risky for the babies, the toddlers and even the school children ... they're sitting beside their father while the father is ... burning the rubber," Milan said. "Mostly they have pneumonia, upper and lower respiratory illness, even if they have vaccines." Dismantler Sammy Oligar said his one-year-old grandchild had been diagnosed with pneumonia that a doctor attributed to pollution caused by the burning. "The smoke would enter from our window and the child would inhale it," Oligar said, adding that many of his neighbors were dealing with lung illnesses. 'What are we waiting for?' Medicins du Monde (MdM), a French humanitarian organization providing gloves, masks and safety orientations for the dismantlers of Onyx Street, is calling for the recognition of informal e-waste workers. "Health is clearly not their first priority. Their priority is to have food on the table," said Eva Lecat, general coordinator of MdM. "If (their work) was legal and recognized and regulated, there would be ways to protect people and communities." Cadavona, the waste management officer, said the informal nature of the picker-junkshop relationship made it "very hard" to establish formal recognition for the community. Apostol, the faculty researcher, said an "evidence gap" created by the lack of studies specific to dismantlers might be contributing to a lack of urgency. "But remember, many of the chemicals found in e-waste already have extensive studies on their health effects," Apostol said. "What are we waiting for? To have nationwide data of people who died from e-waste before we take action?" Worried he will be unable to afford treatment, Barsigan said he has avoided doctors, instead putting ointment on his hands and taking a cheap, over-the-counter pain reliever. Once his hands feel a little better, he said, he will put them back to work. "If I stop dismantling, it's as if I have also given up the hope of a better life for my children."
Health Line
22-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What Are the Side Effects of Drinking Red Bull?
Red Bull may raise your energy and improve your performance, but some people also experience side effects such as increased heart rate, impulsive behavior, and the risk of health conditions. Red Bull is one of the highest-selling energy drinks in the world. However, despite its popularity, there are concerns about side effects, especially if mixed with alcohol. It's also high in sugar and low in nutrients. For some people, drinking coffee or tea may be a preferable alternative. This article reviews the possible side effects of Red Bull, including whether drinking too much of it could be life threatening. What is Red Bull? First sold in 1987 in Austria, Red Bull is a carbonated drink containing caffeine and other energy-boosting compounds, including several B vitamins and taurine. While the exact composition varies by country, additional ingredients in Red Bull or other energy drinks can include sugar, artificial colors and flavors, carbonated water, and legal stimulants, such as guarana and L-carnitine. One 12-ounce (355-ml) can provides: Calories: 160 Protein: 0.99 grams (g) Fat: 0 g Carbs: 40.1 g Sugar: 38 g Sodium: 99.4 milligrams (mg) It also contains certain B vitamins, including niacin (B3), B6, and B12. Red Bull has sugar-free options, including Red Bull Zero and Red Bull Sugarfree, which are made with artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose and acesulfame K, instead of sugar. While the ingredients in Red Bull may provide a temporary boost of energy, they may also cause short- and long-term side effects, especially in larger quantities. Possible side effects of drinking Red Bull Though Red Bull remains a popular beverage, research suggests that it may have the following effects on your health. Increased blood pressure and heart rate Blood pressure and heart rate are two important measures of heart health. As your heart rate rises, so does your diastolic blood pressure. Someone with persistently high blood pressure may have a higher risk of health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. A 2020 review highlights mixed research into Red Bull's effects on heart rate and blood pressure. Some studies demonstrated no significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure after Red Bull intake. However, others suggest Red Bull may cause significant increases in both parameters, particularly in comparison to people who drank tap water. One small 2023 study of 30 young female adults found that Red Bull consumption caused a decrease in heart rate and a small increase in blood pressure. However, the researchers emphasize the need for more research. Increases in heart rate and blood pressure may be due to the caffeine and stimulant content of Red Bull. Moderate and occasional intake of Red Bull is unlikely to cause serious heart problems in healthy adults. However, people with pre-existing high blood pressure or heart problems may benefit from checking with a healthcare professional before drinking Red Bull. Increased type 2 diabetes risk As Red Bull is sugar-sweetened — providing 38 g of sugar in one 12-ounce (355-ml) serving — excessive or regular consumption could increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Tooth damage Research indicates that regularly or excessively drinking acidic, carbonated soft drinks can damage tooth enamel, which is the hard outer coating that helps protect your teeth against decay. Red Bull is an acidic beverage. Regular intake may harm your tooth enamel. A 2021 cell study tested four acidic drinks — Red Bull, TNT Energy Drink, Monster, and Coca-Cola — on dental enamel. All drinks in the study eroded tooth enamel. TNT Energy Drink caused the greatest percentage of loss, followed by Red Bull. Adverse effects on kidney and liver health While occasionally drinking Red Bull is unlikely to have any serious effects on your kidney health, research suggests that chronic and excessive intake could. A 2023 review of energy drink consumption suggests an association between liver toxicity and large amounts of niacin (vitamin B3), which is present in Red Bull. The review suggests that taurine in Red Bull and other energy drinks may be a contributing factor to acute kidney injury. Increased impulsive behavior Research suggests an association between drinking energy drinks and increased risk-taking behavior, especially in children and teenagers. These effects may increase if someone combines Red Bull with alcohol. A 2018 animal study suggests drinking Red Bull may lead to a higher consumption of alcohol and, therefore, blood alcohol concentrations. Alcohol may also significantly increase the stimulating effects of energy drinks, which may lessen feelings of intoxication and contribute to the risk of impulsive, risk-taking behaviors. Of course, not everyone who drinks Red Bull will experience a change in their behavior. Still, it's important to be aware of the potential risks, especially in younger adults and when alcohol is involved. Caffeine overdose and possible toxicity While safe doses of caffeine vary by individual, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting caffeine to 400 mg per day or less for most adults. As one 12-ounce (355-ml) can of Red Bull provides 111 mg of caffeine, drinking more than four cans per day could increase your risk of caffeine overdose. The average half-life of caffeine in the blood ranges from 4 to 5 hours in healthy adults. This means it could take this long for your caffeine blood levels to drop to half of the original amount. This makes it hard to know exactly how much Red Bull could lead to a caffeine overdose. Additionally, adolescents and children may have a greater risk of caffeine-related side effects. The FDA suggests they may experience symptoms such as heart palpitations, sleep issues, dehydration, and more. Current recommendations call for limiting caffeine to 100 mg or less per day in adolescents ages 12 to 19. Drinking more than one 12-ounce (355-ml) serving of Red Bull could increase the risk of caffeine overdose in this age group. Symptoms of caffeine overdose and toxicity can include: nausea vomiting hallucinations anxiety rapid heart rate dizziness trouble sleeping seizures Is sugar-free Red Bull healthier? Sugar-free Red Bull is lower in calories and sugar but has a similar amount of caffeine to regular Red Bull and, therefore, likely the same potential side effects. Despite not providing sugar, sugar-free Red Bull may still increase your risk of type 2 diabetes if consumed regularly, as it contains artificial sweeteners. In fact, research associates regular intake of artificial sweeteners with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and has its own potential safety concerns and side effects. Can drinking too much Red Bull be life threatening? While rare, research links excessive intake of Red Bull and similar energy drinks to heart problems and death. There's also a chance that cases of death involving energy drink consumption are underreported. Many factors affect how much caffeine you have to consume for it to be dangerous and potentially life threatening. Life threatening heart events may be more likely when a person mixes Red Bull with alcohol. Energy drinks may also include additional sources of caffeine that the label does not clearly outline, making it harder to know how much caffeine you're consuming. Energy drinks may lead to a change in heart rhythm. Certain types of arrhythmias may result in cardiac events that lead to death. More research is necessary on how the combination of ingredients in Red Bull may affect risks for heart attack and other serious side effects. As such, pregnant people, children, people with heart problems, and caffeine-sensitive individuals may benefit from avoiding Red Bull entirely or speaking with a doctor before drinking any.
Vogue
21-07-2025
- Health
- Vogue
4 Foods to Eat Before a Run
If you run, you've probably experienced occasional digestive discomfort. At best, this annoying little side effect can limit your performance. At worst, it can become so intolerable that it forces you to abandon your run altogether. In severe cases, it can even present health risks. 'Gastrointestinal problems are common, especially in endurance athletes, and often impair performance or subsequent recovery,' notes an analysis published in Sports Med. 'Generally, studies suggest that 30–50% of athletes experience such complaints.' No fun at all. Luckily, there are certain foods that can help mitigate the effect—and optimize your performance. Read on to find out exactly what you should be eating before you hit the road for max results. Running and digestion Here's what's going on to cause the upset: When the body exerts physical effort, it redirects blood to the muscles in order to supply them with as much oxygen as possible. This redistribution reduces blood flow to the digestive system, disrupting its function. This can happen during any intense physical activity, and is the reason that most of us were told not to swim right after eating as children. But running is also a high-impact sport, which creates a bit of a double whammy—literally. Each step against the ground results in a shockwave of vibrations that travels up the legs to the body's digestive organs, creating discomfort and cramping. The role of diet and timing Nutrition is the cornerstone of fitness—and for runners, timing is everything. To give the body adequate time to digest before a run, here's a good rule of thumb: Wait two to three hours after a meal, and 30-60 minutes after a snack. Avoid foods that are high in fat, protein, and fiber—all of which are extra difficult and time-consuming to digest. Just as some foods can make digestion difficult before a run, other foods can optimize energy and boost performance. A good pre-run meal or snack should include easy-to-digest carbohydrates to support the body and boost performance, as well as protein to help stabilize blood sugar. 'Appropriate nutritional choices can reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort during exercise by ensuring rapid gastric emptying and the absorption of water and nutrients and by maintaining adequate perfusion of the splanchnic vasculature [abdominal nerves],' the aforementioned review notes.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Artificial sweetener in Diet Coke and chewing gum could trigger early puberty
Children who consume artificial sweeteners found in Diet Coke and chewing gum may be at higher risk of reaching puberty earlier, researchers have said. Commonly-used sweeteners including aspartame, which are also added to light yogurts as a sugar alternative, have long been linked to certain cancers and heart issues. But now, Taiwanese experts have found high levels of the additives could also trigger central precocious puberty where the first signs of puberty emerge far earlier than normal, typically before the age of eight in girls and nine in boys. Higher consumption of 'added sugars', meaning those above the natural content of a food or drink item, was also linked with an earlier puberty. Experts said the study, which was one of the first of its kind, showed how sweeteners had a 'surprising and powerful impact' on children's development. Previous studies have warned that starting puberty at a very young age may increase the risk of other health conditions including depression, diabetes and cancers. Dr Yang-Ching Chen, is a co-author of the study, and an expert in nutrition and health sciences at Taipei Medical University She said: 'This study is one of the first to connect modern dietary habits - specifically sweetener intake - with both genetic factors and early puberty development in a large, real-world cohort. 'It also highlights gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls, adding an important layer to our understanding of individualized health risks.' In the study, the scientists assessed 1,407 Taiwanese teens, who answered diet questionnaires and took urine tests, and discovered 481 had undergone early puberty. They found the artificial sweetener sucralose showed a stronger link with early puberty in boys, while aspartame, glycyrrhizin and regular added sugars showed a stronger link in girls. Experts also found the risk was most pronounced in those who already had a genetic predisposition towards an earlier puberty. The study was presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, and has yet to be published in full. But common limitations of diet studies include the fact eating habits are often self-reported. Sucralose is made from normal sucrose table sugar but is chemically altered so the body doesn't process it as a carbohydrate, meaning that it contains no calories. It is the main ingredient in the Canderel sweetener. Glycyrrhizin, on the other hand, comes from liquorice roots and is a natural sweetener. Previous research from the same team found that some sweeteners can affect the release of puberty-related hormones. They said the chemicals were having this effect by influencing the function of cells in the brain or by altering the make-up of bacteria in the gut. Concerns about the impact artificial sweeteners, which are added a plethora of products to make them TAST sweet with fewer calories, could be having health, including its cardiovascular impact, have circulated for years. But critics highlight such studies are only observational, meaning they are unable to prove artificial sweeteners are the culprit and cannot rule out other external factors being to blame. Fears have also been raised about links between artificial sweeteners and cancer. These worries were heightened in 2023 after the World Health Organisation controversially classified the artificial sweetener aspartame, found in drinks like Diet Coke, as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'. However, the UN agency ruled it only posed a risk to those who consumed massive amounts and that a 155lb adult could safely drink about 14 cans a day. A growing body of research also suggests that girls who go through puberty at earlier ages could be at risk for health issues later in life. One 2023 U.S. study found that girls who started their period before the age of 13 were at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and suffering strokes in adulthood than their peers who began menstruating later. Another found that girls who started their periods at early ages were at an increased risk of breast cancer. Experts have put the surge in girls starting puberty younger down to the ongoing obesity crisis, with fat cells containing hormonal properties triggering puberty at a younger age.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Researcher says N.W.T. officials taking right steps after school lead investigation
A health professor who studies lead exposure in Canada says he's confident that the N.W.T. government is responding appropriately to a recent investigation into lead in the drinking water at two Yellowknife schools — and that the priority must be to reduce any ongoing risks. Earlier this week the N.W.T.'s education minister said her department is committed to implementing the recommendations made by an independent investigator who looked into how the territory responded to the discovery of lead in drinking water at École William McDonald Middle School and Range Lake North School. Bruce Lanphear is a professor in the department of health sciences at Simon Fraser University whose research focuses on toxic chemicals and children's health. He said Yellowknife school officials reached out to him to talk about the investigation and he spoke with them on Tuesday. "What I came away with from my meeting this morning was that they are taking all the necessary steps," Lanphear said on Tuesday afternoon. "They've got a longer-term strategy to make sure that all the sources are mitigated, and that's really what we want them to do now." In a statement this week, Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland said the investigation confirmed "warning signs were missed, key test results weren't escalated quickly enough and communication between departments and with the public was inconsistent." Lanphear acknowledged the public concern around the issue. "Parents are understandably concerned, understandably angry… This should have been dealt with 20 years ago," he said. Based on the lead levels detected at the Yellowknife schools, Lanphear agrees with the N.W.T.'s chief public health officer that blood lead levels in students and staff would likely not be above the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's level of concern, which is 3.5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL) for children. However, Lanphear said even low-level exposure to lead can have effects. Health Canada also says that health effects have been associated with blood lead levels as low as 1 to 2 μg/dL, though it acknowledges "uncertainty associated with effects observed at these levels." Lanphear says another group at higher risk from lead exposure is pregnant women. His research has found that blood lead levels of 1 μg/dL were associated with a 50 per cent increase in preterm birth. He says blood testing can be done but there's nothing to do in response to elevated blood lead levels other than reducing further exposure. "The main thing is to stop it from continuing to happen," he said. Past and future testing In 2019, Health Canada updated its guideline for lead in drinking water — cutting the acceptable concentration of the metal in half, from 10 µg/L to 5 µg/L. The N.W.T. government was looking into doing its own testing for lead in school water around the same time, but plans for that testing fell through. Agata Gutkowska, manager of public affairs and communications for the territory's environment department, says it came down to costs. "At the time, the water testing program included elements beyond lead. This broader scope increased the overall estimated cost — exceeding $100,000 — which contributed to the decision not to proceed at that time," said Gutkowska. The N.W.T. government has committed to annual testing of school water going forward, but the cost of that is still being determined. Gutkowska said the cost will depend on things like the number of water outlets and where a school is located. She said the goal is to develop a program that is sustainable for the long term. The program scope will be determined by a steering committee made up of senior officials from the territory's health, environment, and infrastructure departments, as well as YK Education District No. 1. Gutkowski said some operational staff who were involved in the initial testing initiative will continue to support future work. "As the program is formalized under the oversight of the steering committee, roles and responsibilities are being clarified to support a more structured and sustainable approach." Future testing will take place at schools across the territory including St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife, which was flagged for retesting since its results were below, but close to, the maximum acceptable level for lead in drinking water.
