toxic

New research indicates exposure to low levels of a flavoring chemical called diacetyl in combination with a mild case of influenza can cause serious lung damage, so those with occupational exposure should be cautious of working while unwell.

Engineers at the University of Washington have designed a reactor that can completely destroy PFAS forever chemicals. The technology could help treat chemicals at manufacturing sites before they can leak out into the natural environment.

Scientists have identified a toxin used by bacteria to kill others through a unique mechanism. It's the first found to directly target RNA in what the team describes as “a total assault on the cell,” which could lead to a new class of antibiotics.

New research presented at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society, analyzing nearly 100 currently used tattoo inks, found many inks contained chemicals not declared on their ingredient list, and at nanoparticle sizes suspected to be harmful.

In a new study, chemists claim to have found an Achilles’ heel to the ultra-stable molecules of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals." Using a relatively simple chemical reaction, the team could “decapitate” some kinds of PFAS into benign end products.

A striking study has found eggs from hens in urban backyards can contain up to 40 times more lead than eggs from commercially farmed hens. The researchers recommend those in inner-city locations test their soil before raising chickens or growing food.

New research has reported a link between elevated blood levels of perfluooctane sulfate (PFOS) and increased risk of liver cancer. The study is the first to directly associate exposure from this “forever chemical” to liver cancer in humans.

A striking new article argues the global spread of certain hazardous chemicals is so pervasive that unsafe levels of PFAS chemicals can be found in rainwater all over the world, including remote areas such as Antarctica and the Tibetan Plateau.

Researchers have found strong evidence exposure to a common group of household chemicals can be associated with 13 different health conditions. The related economic costs have been estimated at between US$5 billion and $60 billion annually in the US.

A new report has estimated more than 10 percent of all cancer cases in Europe are likely caused by environmental and occupational exposure to pollution. The report indicates most of these cases could be prevented by improving environmental protections.

A world-first clinical trial has found blood or plasma donations can reduce levels of toxic PFAS chemicals by up to 30 percent. The trial is the first to find an effective intervention that reduces blood levels of substances known as “forever chemicals”.

Striking new research estimates lead exposure, primarily from car exhaust in the 1960s and 1970s, has negatively affected the IQ of more than half the population of the US, and resulted in the loss of up to six IQ points in some people.