New EDC Science

A recent article published in Nature Medicine highlights the ubiquitous presence of synthetic chemicals in the global food supply and emphasizes the need to transition to a safer, more sustainable food system. “Public health should be a priority for policymakers, and the importance of mitigating chemical exposures is still underappreciated.”

According to a recent study published in Obesity, women’s exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) chemicals was linked to an increased risk of obesity for both their daughters and granddaughters. “Women of reproductive age are a critical target population for reducing exposure to suspected obesogens … Support for clinician education will be essential to implement this strategy.”

Synthetic chemicals migrating into ultra-processed foods from packaging and equipment may contribute to rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, a new review in Nature Medicine finds. Shannon Kelleher reports for The New Lede.

While many previous studies have only considered the effects of individual chemicals, a recent study published in Environmental Research found that pregnant mothers’ exposure to multiple classes of chemicals increased their children’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “Our findings highlight the importance of considering multiple chemical classes with similar mechanisms of action (e.g., thyroid disruption) in epidemiological studies.”

A new study found that plant-based bioplastics marketed as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic can cause organ damage, gut disruption, and metabolic issues when ingested over time. Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.

Fifty years after the widespread contamination of animal feed left 6.5 million Michigan residents exposed to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) flame retardants, a new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives examines the chemical’s long-term health impacts over multiple generations. “The experience of this unique cohort adds to the growing evidence that effects of EDCs [endocrine disrupting chemicals] – and environmental exposures generally – depend both on the dose and timing of exposure … with the most damaging effects resulting from exposures during fetal development and before puberty.”

A global study suggests that daily exposure to a common plastic chemical may be contributing to hundreds of thousands of heart-related deaths among older adults, prompting renewed calls for global regulation of plastics. Imma Perfetto reports for Cosmos.

Even low levels of glyphosate exposure may increase the risk of chronic liver disease, according to a new analysis of studies spanning 17 years. Pamela Ferdinand reports for U.S. Right to Know.

Older adults exposed to a mix of common chemicals — especially men — may face greater risks of memory loss and slower thinking, according to new research. Pamela Ferdinand reports for U.S. Right to Know.

New research estimates that phthalates, common chemicals in plastics, contributed to 350,000 cardiovascular deaths worldwide in 2018, though experts caution the findings require further study. Nina Agrawal reports for The New York Times.

The journal Environmental Health Perspectives will stop accepting new scientific submissions due to budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that threaten the journal’s operations. Teddy Rosenbluth and Apoorva Mandavilli report for The New York Times.

Phthalates found in food packaging and personal care products may have caused more than 368,000 cardiovascular deaths worldwide in 2018, according to new research. Sandee LaMotte reports for CNN.

A new study of children in Boston published in Environment International suggests that exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals may reduce children’s immune response to the measles vaccine. “If the associations are confirmed, it would be important to implement public health strategies aimed at reducing PFAS exposure and optimizing MMR vaccination. From [a] public health perspective, even small shifts in immune function at the population level (decreased antibody reactivity) could have significant implications for the effectiveness of vaccination programs and the risk of measles outbreaks.”

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.