New EDC Science

A sweeping effort by the Trump administration aims to cancel $40 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research grants, halting studies on toxic chemical exposure in children and PFAS contamination in food supplies. Hiroko Tabuchi reports for The New York Times.

Microplastics have been discovered in human ovary follicular fluid for the first time, prompting new concerns about their potential role in declining fertility and hormone disruption. Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.

Health impacts are likely being underestimated by traditional risk models used by regulators, according to a new study that has found a different way to measure the cumulative risk air pollution poses to health. “I think this [is a] holistic approach,” Pete DeCarlo, study co-author and a Johns Hopkins University associate professor who studies atmospheric air pollution, told EHN. “The cumulative burdens across multiple health systems for every chemical that we measure is really, really important, because we breathe everything all at once.”

In a recent study published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers examined the impact of benzene exposure – a hazardous chemical emitted by natural gas and propane stoves – on cancer risk. “Our results should help facilitate prioritization of air toxins for potential environmental regulation and pollution control, and ultimately help to protect public health, especially for the people who are using gas stoves in their homes.”

The pesticide sulfoxaflor – a common substitute for toxic neonicotinoid pesticides – harms bees’ reproductive health, according to a new study published in Chemosphere. “More accurate assessments of pesticide exposure, toxicity, and risks are urgent to fully grasp their potential harm, support science-based regulatory decisions, and finally minimize inadvertent negative effects on our ecosystems.”

This article was originally published by U.S. Right To Know and is republished here with permission under a Creative Commons license. Chemicals found in common food packaging plastics like cling film and snack pouches may interfere with the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, increasing the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems, and even cancer, new research shows.

A team of toxicologists at the University of New Mexico has found alarming levels of microplastics in human brains — and they’re racing to understand what that means for our health. Nina Agrawal reports for The New York Times.

A recent study published in Environmental Health investigated the long-term health impacts experienced by U.S. Coast Guard service members who responded to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. “This study provides further evidence of the endocrine-disrupting potential of certain chemicals in crude oil and dispersants. Oil spill disasters will continue to occur as deep water exploration and drilling becomes more aggressive and offshore drilling regulations become less strict.”

A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives investigated the connection between persistent pregnancy nausea and long-term exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). “Additional studies are needed to elucidate potential underlying pathological pathways, including likely hormone-mediated relationships, as well as to understand the long-term implications for both mother and child.”

Prenatal exposure to common plastic additives may rewire key brain functions in newborns, a new study finds. Kristen Rogers reports for CNN.

A growing number of U.S. scientists are fleeing restrictive policies under Trump and finding support in Europe, where institutions are rolling out the red carpet for displaced talent. Fred Schwaller reports for DW.

Brominated polymers (polyBFRs) – a type of flame retardant that was considered a “safe” alternative to older flame retardant chemicals – breaks down into toxic byproducts once released into the environment, according to a new study published in Nature Sustainability. “Although polyBFRs initially seemed to be a more health-protective alternative compared to non-polymeric flame retardants, our work strongly indicates that polyBFR usage can no longer be assumed to be safe for human and environmental health.”

A small study from Austria links microplastics in bottled water to changes in blood pressure, adding to concerns about everyday plastic exposure and cardiovascular health. Eric Ralls reports for Earth.com.

In an extraordinary move, nearly 2,000 top U.S. scientists are sounding the alarm about what they say is a deliberate campaign to dismantle science under the Trump administration. Jessica Glenza reports for The Guardian.

Funding for biomedical research has dropped by nearly 60% since President Trump took office in January, leaving scientists without resources and forcing major project delays. Dan Diamond and Dan Keating report for The Washington Post.

In a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, scientists examined how a diet of food prepared using plastic cutting boards versus food prepared on wooden cutting boards impacted the intestinal health of mice. “This study highlights the varied health effects of MPs released from different cutting board materials, suggesting that no plastic cutting boards can be considered entirely ‘safe’.”

As the National Institutes of Health tries to restart its stalled grant process, new Trump-era oversight is injecting politics into decisions once guided by science. Sara Reardon reports for Science.

A growing body of research shows that donated blood is contaminated with industrial chemicals like PFAS, lead, mercury, and cadmium — and no one is regulating the risk. Bruce Lanphear writes for Substack.

Despite pledging to reduce toxins, President Trump’s policies are rolling back environmental protections and slashing medical research funding, raising alarms among scientists and public health advocates. Thomas B. Edsall writes for The New York Times.

A recent study published in Environmental Research tested pregnancy supplements – including 165 prenatal vitamins and 19 folic acid supplements – for lead, cadmium and phthalate chemicals. “Clear and enforceable regulations regarding frequent testing and restriction of lead and cadmium contamination in prenatal vitamins are needed.”