Scientists have identified bacteria and specific bacterial enzymes that trigger harmful effects of triclosan, an antimicrobial agent found in thousands of consumer products; moreover, the study suggests these enzymes can be blocked from driving intestinal damage. Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient present in more than 2,000 consumer and industrial products. It is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant […]
Good news for grilling: Black pepper helps limit cancerous compounds in meat
A Kansas State University researcher recently discovered that a commonly used spice is a champion at reducing carcinogenic compounds in grilled meats. J. Scott Smith, professor of animal sciences and industry, found that black pepper nearly eliminates the formation of heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, which can form on the surface of meat when it is […]
Higher Olive Oil Intake Reduces Risk of Total and Cause-Specific Mortality
Consuming more than 7 grams of olive oil per day is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, neurodegenerative disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, according to a study of over 92,000 U.S. adults. “Olive oil consumption has been shown to lower cardiovascular disease risk, but its associations with total and cause-specific […]
Scientists discover chemical which can kill glioblastoma cells
Aggressive brain tumour cells taken from patients self-destructed after being exposed to a chemical in laboratory tests, researchers have shown. The study could be the first step in tackling cancers like glioblastoma, which led to Dame Tessa Jowell’s death earlier this year. The research, led by the University of Leeds, found that the synthetic chemical, […]
Curry: Curcumin offers potential therapy for cancers caused by HPV
Curcumin, an antioxidant found in the curry spice turmeric, has been found to slow or limit the activity of the HPV virus, which causes oral and cervical cancers. Turmeric — the familiar yellow spice common in Indian and Asian cooking — may play a therapeutic role in oral cancers associated with human papillomavirus, according to […]
Why high-dose vitamin C kills cancer cells
Vitamin C has a patchy history as a cancer therapy, but researchers at the University of Iowa believe that is because it has often been used in a way that guarantees failure. Most vitamin C therapies involve taking the substance orally. However, the UI scientists have shown that giving vitamin C intravenously — and bypassing […]
Woolsey Fire & Santa Susana Field Lab Documentary: ‘In the Dark of the Valley’
MSNBC will widely share the stories of local community members, activists, and parents in a brilliantly produced and acclaimed documentary entitled In the Dark of the Valley. This documentary, which will be aired nationwide, chronicles the stories of families living in the shadow of chemical and radiological contamination, making them and their children ill. MSNBC recently […]
Air pollution: The silent killer called PM 2.5
Millions of people die prematurely every year from diseases and cancer caused by air pollution. The first line of defence against this carnage is ambient air quality standards. Yet, according to researchers from McGill University, over half of the world’s population lives without the protection of adequate air quality standards. Air pollution varies greatly in […]
The Most Detailed Map of Cancer-Causing Industrial Air Pollution in the U.S.
This story was originally published by ProPublica. by Lylla Younes, Ava Kofman, Al Shaw and Lisa Song, with additional reporting by Maya Miller, Poison in the Air The EPA allows polluters to turn neighborhoods into “sacrifice zones” where residents breathe carcinogens. ProPublica reveals where these places are in a first-of-its-kind map and data analysis. From the urban sprawl of Houston to […]
Use of PFAS in cosmetics ‘widespread,’ new study finds
Many cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada likely contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a potentially toxic class of chemicals linked to a number of serious health conditions, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame. Scientists tested more than 200 cosmetics including concealers, foundations, eye and eyebrow […]