Exposure to some airborne chemicals found indoors may increase blood pressure

Acrolein, crotonaldehyde and styrene, compounds found in everything from cigarette smoke to plastics, were associated with higher blood pressure measurements for both the top, systolic, and bottom, diastolic, numbers. “Acrolein is a well-known cardiotoxic chemical, and styrene had a causative signal with diastolic blood pressure,” said lead researcher Katlyn E. McGraw, a postdoctoral fellow at […]

UV exposure not linked to risk for melanoma in skin of color

(HealthDay)—Among people with skin of color, ultraviolet (UV) exposure may not be an important risk factor for melanoma, according to a review published online Dec. 16 in JAMA Dermatology. Fabiana C.P.S. Lopes, M.D., from the University of Texas at Austin, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to critically assess and synthesize published data relating to […]

Prenatal Cannabis Exposure May Raise Risk for Psychopathology

THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2020 — Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with a greater risk for psychopathology during middle childhood, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry. Sarah E. Paul, from Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues evaluated whether cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes among offspring. The […]

Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to cognitive deficits, altered behavior

Regular cannabis exposure in rats during pregnancy may cause their offspring to have long-term cognitive deficiencies, asocial behavior, and anxiety later in adulthood. That’s according to a new study by neuroscientists in Washington State University’s Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience unit that provides a rare look at the effects of using cannabis during pregnancy. “The reality […]

Many ventilation systems may increase risk of COVID-19 exposure, study suggests

Ventilation systems in many modern office buildings, which are designed to keep temperatures comfortable and increase energy efficiency, may increase the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, particularly during the coming winter, according to research published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics. A team from the University of Cambridge found that widely-used ‘mixing ventilation’ systems, […]

Pollution exposure linked to stroke risk in people with common heart rhythm disorder

People with one of the most common heart disorders who are exposed to greater levels of pollution have a 1.2-fold higher risk of stroke than their peers who live with less pollution, according to a JAMA Network Open study published recently by researchers at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and University of Pittsburgh School […]

‘Very low’ risk of unknown health hazards from exposure to 5G wireless networks

Experts weigh in on recent online reports that warn of frightening health consequences from new fifth generation (5G) wireless networks. Within current exposure limits, there appears to be little or no risk of adverse health effects related to radiofrequency (RF) exposure from 5G systems, concludes an evidence-based expert review in the June issue of Health […]

Can pollution face masks really protect us from exposure to toxic particles?

An estimated 28,000 to 36,000 deaths a year in the UK are attributed to long-term exposure to air pollution. Exposure to air pollution can cause a range of serious health complications, including lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Pollution can come from a variety of sources, including wood burning fires and fossil fuels. But research […]