Tag: environmental effects

Categories : Environmental EffectsTags :

Study Finds High Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighters’ Bodies

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A new study has shown that volunteer firefighters have higher levels of ‘forever chemicals‘, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in their bodies than the general population.

Volunteer firefighters—who comprise more than 65 percent of the U.S. fire service—monitored their exposure to PFAS. PFAS are synthetic organic substances with diverse structures, properties, uses, bioaccumulation potentials and toxicities. These chemicals do not break down easily and accumulate in human bodies and in the environment and are found in common items food packaging, electronics and carpeting. PFAS have been associated with a number health conditions that affect firefighters, including cardiovascular disease, and increasingly to cancer.

“The primary cause of line-of duty death among firefighters are heart attacks. They also get and die from many types of cancer more often than other people,” said lead author Judith Graber, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and a faculty member at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute. “More than 95 percent of the U.S. population have these chemicals to some degree in their bodies, but firefighters have heightened exposure to PFAS through their protective gear and fire suppression foam and the burning materials they encounter that release particles, which can be inhaled or settle on gear and skin.”

The study surveyed 135 members of a volunteer fire department in New Jersey on their lifestyle and cancer risk factors. It compared traces of nine PFAS chemicals in their blood against the levels recorded in a 5000-strong nationally representative sample used by the CDC as a reference for the general population. Although over 4000 PFAS chemicals exist, the study looked at the nine chemicals commonly seen in the general population that the CDC has also tracked for the greatest length of time.

Two of thosee chemicals—perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)—were found to be higher in volunteer firefighters. “Notably, we found PFDoA levels in 80 percent of the firefighters, but little in the general public,” Prof Graber said.

The number of years of firefighting was linked to higher levels of the chemicals; the average participant had 20 years of experience. Since they are constantly on call, volunteer firefighters may potentially have more years of firefighting-related exposures than their career counterparts, Graber said.

“The number one risk of a firefighter is being protected from the fire. The chemicals used in fire suppression foam and the protective clothing firefighters use came out 40 years ago when people thought they were safe, and they work well for what they are intended to do,” Prof Graber explained. “Further research is needed to better understand the sources of these chemicals and to design effective foam and protective clothing that do not use these chemicals.”

Source: Medical Xpress

Journal information: Judith M. Graber et al, Prevalence and Predictors of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Serum Levels among Members of a Suburban US Volunteer Fire Department, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073730

Categories : Cancer Environmental EffectsTags :

Low-dose Radiation May be Beneficial to Humans

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A study has found that cancer rates go down and life expectancy increases in areas of the US with high natural background radiation, flying in the face of decades of accepted theory that low-dose radiation is still harmful.

Natural background radiation exists from sources in the environment. This is the first large-scale study looking at terrestrial radiation (coming from radioactive elements in rocks, which vary across regions) and cosmic radiation (which increases with altitude). The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers found that life expectancy is approximately 2.5 years longer for those who live in areas of naturally high background radiation vs those who live in areas of low radiation.

The linear no-threshold (LNT) hypothesis has guided radiation protection policy in the US since the 1960s. This assumes that health risk from radiation is linear and incremental, meaning that there is no safe minimum dose – all ionising radiation is assumed to be harmful. However, numerous studies have contended that radiation at low doses initiates a protective hormesis effect.

Reduced levels of a number of types of cancers were found when in areas of high background radiation levels as opposed to lower. In both sexes, there was a significant decrease in lung, pancreatic, colon and rectal cancers. Among men, there were additional decreases in brain and bladder cancers. However, no decreases in cervix, breast or prostate cancers or leukaemia were observed.

“Decades of scientific theory are potentially being disproven by the remarkable researchers at BGU. These findings might even provide a sense of relief for those who reside in areas in the U.S. with higher-than-average background radiation,” said Doug Seserman, Chief Executive Officer, American Associates, BGU.

Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s radiation dose calculator, the researchers retrieved data background radiation on all 3,29 US counties. Cancer rate data were retrieved from the United States Cancer Statistics, while life expectancy data were retrieved from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington Medical Center.

“It is reasonable to suggest that a radiation threshold does exist, yet it is higher than the upper limit of the natural background radiation levels in the US (227 mrem/year),” the researchers wrote. “These findings provide clear indications for re-considering the linear no-threshold paradigm, at least within the natural range of low-dose radiation.”

Source: News-Medical.Net

Journal information: David, E., et al. (2021) Background radiation impacts human longevity and cancer mortality: reconsidering the linear no-threshold paradigm. Biogerontology. doi.org/10.1007/s10522-020-09909-4.

Categories : Environmental EffectsTags :

Proximity to Deforested Areas Can Increase Outbreak Risk

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Aerial view of logging activities. Photo by Pok Rie from Pexels

A new study has found that human proximity to deforested areas poses an increased risk of the outbreak of zoonotic viruses.  

This adds to a growing body of evidence that human encroachment on the natural environment is resulting in zoonotic disease outbreaks.

Deforested areas and even monocultures such as commercial forests planted by humans are linked to the outbreak of diseases, the researchers found.

The researchers explained that a forest’s healthy diverse ecosystem with a range of species, blocks and filters viruses. However, in the case of monocultures where single species of plants are cultivated, like a palm oil plantation, specialist species die off and are replaced by generalists such as rats which then spread pathogens on to humans.

“I was surprised by how clear the pattern was,” said one of the study authors, Serge Morand, of the French National Centre for Scientific Research. “We must give more consideration to the role of the forest in human health, animal health and environmental health. The message from this study is ‘don’t forget the forest’.”

Using a number of databases from sources such as the World Health Organization, the researchers analysed the relationship between changes in forest cover, plantations, population and disease around the globe.
Over 1990 to 2016, the study period covered 3884 outbreaks of 116 zoonotic diseases that crossed over into humans and 1996 outbreaks of 69 vector-borne infectious diseases, largely carried by mosquitoes, ticks or flies.

“Everyone in the field of planetary health is worried about what is happening to biodiversity, climate and public health in Brazil,” Morand emphasised. “The stress there is growing. The Amazon is near a tipping point due to climate change, which is not good at all for the world ecosystem. If we reach the tipping point, the outcomes will be very bad in terms of drought, fires and for sure in terms of disease.”

The rainforests of the Congo basin and south-east Asia, and monoculture afforestation projects around the world were also cause for concern. “Our results clearly suggest that it is not only forest clearance that is responsible for outbreaks of infectious diseases, but also reforestation or afforestation, particularly in countries outside the tropical zone,” the paper noted.

Morand’s next study involves examining forest cover with satellite imagery and exploring links with that to disease.

Source: The Guardian

Categories : Environmental EffectsTags :

Edible Food Film Packaging Developed as Alternative to Plastic

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Researchers from India and Russia have created edible food films for packaging fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat, and seafood. 

These films are made up of natural ingredients, and as such are safe for health and the environment. In addition, these films are water-soluble and dissolve by almost 90% over 24 hours. A description of their research and the results of their experiments are published in the Journal of Food Engineering.

Using such films would help to reduce the problem of microplastics, micrometre-scale fragments of plastic which have been detected in human stools as well as inhaled through the lungs.Chemicals such BPAs, phthalates and flame retardants, as well as heavy metals included in plastics are of concern to human health. The increased surface area/volume ratio of microplastics in combination with their hydrophobicity, results in a high affinity with a broad range of hydrophobic and persistent organic pollutants, antibiotics, and heavy metals that could be introduced into the human body through the uptake of microplastics.

“We have created three types of food films based on the well-known naturally occurring seaweed biopolymer sodium alginate. Its molecules have film-forming properties. Sodium alginate is an auspicious carbohydrate macromolecule that has the potential film-forming properties upon hydrolysis and abundantly existed in cell walls as a mixture of various salts. The greatest advantage of sodium alginate is that it performs as liquid-gel in an aqueous medium.”

Rammohan Aluru, Study Co-Author and Senior Researcher of Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Ural Federal University

The researchers cross-linked alginate molecules with a natural antioxidant ferulic acid, resulting in a strong and homogeneous film that is more rigid and prolongs the life of the products. However, being able to produce edible, naturally sourced films also has other benefits.

“Food stays fresh longer due to the antioxidant components that slow down the oxidation processes,” said Grigory Zyryanov, professor of the Department of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at Ural Federal University. “In addition, we can add to the films natural antiviral agents that will also extend the shelf life of food. Garlic, turmeric, and ginger contain compounds that may prevent the spread of the viruses.”

No special equipment for the production of films is required, the authors claim, and can be scaled up to an industrial scale by manufacturers of  food products and films.

“It can also be produced at a polymer production plant. The only condition is that it must meet the standards that apply to food production. And if an inexhaustible source of algae the ocean is nearby it will be quite simple to create such films,” said Prof Zyryanov.

Source: News-Medical.Net

Journal information: Yerramathia, B. B., et al. (2021) Structural studies and bioactivity of sodium alginate edible films fabricated through ferulic acid crosslinking mechanism. Journal of Food Engineering. doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2021.110566.

Categories : Environmental Effects Neurodegenerative DiseasesTags :

With Climate Change, Heat May Worsen Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

On By ModernMedia

As average global temperatures increase due to climate change, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients can experience worsening symptoms resulting in an increase in hospital visits.

Some 60% to 80% of MS patients experience heat sensitivity. Increased body temperature slows or stops nerve signals in damaged nerves, which has a number of impacts such as blurred vision and other neurological effects. Heat sensitivity is also correlated with fatigue. Together with fatigue, divided attention from heat sensitivity can contribute to falls.

“We know that heat sensitivity is common in multiple sclerosis, and climate scientists expect that periods of anomalously warm weather will become more frequent with climate change,” said study author Holly Elser, PhD. of Stanford University School of Medicine. “Our study suggests that warming trends could have serious health implications over the long term for people living with MS.”

The study defined anomalously warm weather as a month in which local average temperatures were higher than the long-term average temperature for that month by at least 1.5C.

The researchers drew data on insurance claims for 106 225 people with MS living in the US, and then calculated the estimated effect of anomalously warm weather on MS-related emergency department, inpatient and outpatient visits. Then, the number of medical visits for each person during anomalously warm weather periods was compared to those for periods of normal weather periods.

During anomalously warm weather periods, there was a 4% increased chance of an emergency department visit compared to periods of normal weather. Participants had a 3% increased chance of having an inpatient visit and a 1% increased chance of having an outpatient visit during anomalously warm periods compared to periods of normal weather.

Researchers estimate that during the follow-up period, anomalously warm weather periods were linked to an estimated excess of at least 592 emergency department visits, 1260 inpatient visits and 1960 outpatient visits related to MS.

“While the relative increase in risk of visits is small, the associated absolute effect on people with MS and the health care system is meaningful,” concluded Dr Elser.

Source: Medical Xpress