Latest news with #healthreport
The Guardian
12-08-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘No clinical benefit' to blood test for Pfas, government says, after ‘forever chemical' found in Blue Mountains
A new report from the government has found there is 'no clinical benefit' to having a blood test for Pfas after the so-called 'forever chemical' was found in local water supplies in the Blue Mountains. The NSW Health Expert Advisory Panel on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas), convened by the state's chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, to provide advice on the evidence and guidance related to the potential health effects, published its findings in a final report on Tuesday. All recommendations have been accepted by NSW Health. The panel included science and health experts in cancer, hormone and heart health, epidemiology, pathology, primary care, public health and risk communication. They found, based on the substantial research related to Pfas already undertaken, 'the health effects of Pfas appear to be small'. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Pfas are a class of manufactured chemicals used to make products that resist heat, stains, grease and water – sometimes called 'forever chemicals' as they are difficult to destroy and can remain in soil, groundwater and travel long distances. The report acknowledged that studies have reported an association with some health effects, but noted the findings are inconsistent across different studies with 'limited evidence of a dose-response relationship'. The report also found that 'while clinical testing for Pfas is commercially available, the current scientific evidence indicates that there is there is no clinical benefit for an individual to have a blood test for Pfas'. The authors stated Pfas blood tests were unlikely to guide medical care 'because Pfas will be detected in most people, there are many different Pfas types and blood levels do not predict any current or future health outcomes'. They also warned that Pfas blood test results can cause unnecessary concern and subsequent interventions may cause harms. The report recommended that 'should a health care provider order a blood test for Pfas for a patient, the health care provider should provide clear contextual information about the test and its limitations to the patient, to manage expectations and avoid misinterpretation'. The authors also suggest doctors can support patients concerned with their serum PFAS levels by engaging in usual preventative health interventions, 'as many of the health conditions potentially associated with PFAS are common in the community and are associated with well-established risk factors'. The panel acknowledged their recommendation differs from the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), an independent institution in the United States, whose guidance documents recommended individual blood testing and the use of blood levels to inform clinical care. They also noted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, overseen by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gives advice to clinicians on managing and evaluating Pfas exposure and has not adopted NASEM's recommendations on individual blood testing and health-based screening based on Pfas blood levels. Jon Dee, the convener of the Stop Pfas community group in the Blue Mountains, said 25 people in the area had paid $500 out of pocket to have the blood test for Pfas. Dee said they wanted to see how their blood test compared with the areas of Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine, which were contaminated with Pfas due to firefighting activities on nearby defence force bases. 'If you look at the average blood test level of people in the Blue Mountains, we are two to three times higher than the average Pfas levels in those defence communities that have been compensated by the federal government,' Dee said. Dee said what concerned the community was how many of them with high Pfas levels in their blood have also had health issues that have been known to be associated with Pfas, including cancer. 'It's been totally ignored by NSW Health … We've demanded free blood tests for everyone else.' Dee said the group was taking a class action against the New South Wales government and Sydney Water. 'The findings of this report clearly are more to do with reducing the legal liability of Sydney Water than actually looking after the health of people in the Blue Mountains,' Dee said. The panel acknowledged genuine concern in communities about Pfas exposure. 'There is considerable concern, particularly in the Blue Mountains community, about exposure to Pfas through drinking water, and NSW Health takes these concerns very seriously,' Chant said. 'NSW Health will continue to support local clinicians with information for GPs who may be managing patients with concerns about Pfas exposure including evidence about potential adverse health effects, counselling patients, the utility of blood tests for Pfas and the role of further investigations.'
Bloomberg
08-08-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Trump Commission's Health Report Expected to Miss Its Deadline
A Trump administration commission is expected to miss next week's deadline for releasing a highly anticipated report slated to issue policy recommendations around improving children's health, according to people familiar with the discussions. The delay in the unveiling of the policy report will extend the suspense for food and pharmaceutical companies that have been in the crosshairs of the Make America Healthy Again movement, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. It was unclear what's causing the delay, but some of the people familiar cited scheduling issues.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New CDC report shows more than half of our diets are made up of ultra-processed foods
In today's Health Alert, a new CDC report finds most kids' diets are packed with ultra-processed foods. So, what are they eating and why does it matter? Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
2 more measles cases in Edmonton
Edmonton Watch Alberta Health reported two new cases of measles in Edmonton over the weekend.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr's ‘Maha' report found to contain citations to nonexistent studies
Robert F Kennedy Jr's flagship health commission report contains citations to studies that do not exist, according to an investigation by the US publication Notus. The report exposes glaring scientific failures from a health secretary who earlier this week threatened to ban government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals. The 73-page 'Make America healthy again' report – which was commissioned by the Trump administration to examine the causes of chronic illness, and which Kennedy promoted it as 'gold-standard' science backed by more than 500 citations – includes references to seven studies that appear to be entirely invented, and others that the researchers say have been mischaracterized. Related: Key takeaways: RFK Jr's 'Maha' report on chronic disease in children Two supposed studies on ADHD medication advertising simply do not exist in the journals where they are claimed to be published. Virginia Commonwealth University confirmed to Notus that researcher Robert L Findling, listed as an author of one paper, never wrote such an article, while another citation leads only to the Kennedy report itself when searched online. Harold J Farber, a pediatric specialist supposedly behind research on asthma overprescribing, told Notus he never wrote the cited paper and had never worked with the other listed authors. The US Department of Health and Human Services has not immediately responded to a Guardian request for comment. The citation failures come as Kennedy, a noted skeptic of vaccines, criticized medical publishing this week, branding top journals the Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and Jama as 'corrupt' and alleging they were controlled by pharmaceutical companies. He outlined plans for creating government-run journals instead. Beyond the phantom studies in Kennedy's report, Notus found it systematically misrepresented existing research. Related: RFK's health report omits key facts in painting dark vision for US children For example, one paper was claimed to show that talking therapy was as effective as psychiatric medication, but the statistician Joanne McKenzie said this was impossible, as 'we did not include psychotherapy' in the review. The sleep researcher Mariana G Figueiro also said her study was mischaracterized, with the report incorrectly stating it involved children rather than college students, and citing the wrong journal entirely. The Trump administration asked Kennedy for the report in order to look at chronic illness causes, from pesticides to mobile phone radiation. Kennedy called it a 'milestone' that provides 'evidence-based foundation' for sweeping policy changes. A follow-up 'Make our children healthy again strategy' report is due in August, raising concerns about the scientific credibility underpinning the administration's health agenda.
