Synopses

This column contains paragraph summaries of newly published scientific findings from the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Often these synopses are posted before the research is covered by the mainstream press.


Recent Synopses


Size matters: silver can get under your skin. Jan 05. Researchers show for the first time that very small silver nanoparticles, now widely used in creams and other products to kill bacteria, can penetrate skin, especially if it is cut or damaged. more...
Mercury-laden whale meat may foster heart disease. Jan 05. Eating mercury contaminated seafood increases the risk of heart disease in men, reports this unique study that examined Faroese whalers. more...
PCBs influence allergy risk. Jan 05. The type of chemicals someone is exposed to in the womb, or soon after birth, may predetermine the risk for developing respiratory infections as an infant and allergy and asthma as an adult, according to a study that focused on PCBs and DDE. more...
Toxic materials hitchhike into cells on nanoparticles. Jan 04. Toxins that cannot enter cells on their own can get in and hurt them when they are bound in nanoparticles, those very, very small materials now widely used in a range of consumer products. more...
Humans, worms share ancient estrogen bond. Dec 28. Researchers confirm for the first time that a worm has estrogen signaling capabilities, just like people and other back-boned animals. The invertebrate shares both the good -- and detrimental -- functions. more...
Low mercury levels damage nerves. Dec 28. A reanalysis of decades old data finds that neurologic problems caused by eating mercury contaminated fish plagued Japanese residents 10 years after the poisoning and at lower doses than originally measured. more...
Soy mixture may be alternative hormone therapy. Dec 24. Eating a mix of soy compounds may be a safer way than traditional hormone therapies to protect against age-related brain disease, finds a new study that tested the mixtures in rats. more...
Older moms and dads might be a reason for more autism. Dec 24. Women who give birth after age 35 and men who father children after age 40 increase their risk of having autistic children, according to a large population-based study in the US. more...
Oil slicks cause heartaches in fish. Dec 23. Crude oil disrupts the first heart beats of a developing fish, say scientists, who note that the heart may be the most sensitive target of harmful chemicals from oil spills. more...
Illicit drugs blanket cities. Dec 23. Cocaine, methadone and a slew of other drugs and illicite substances drift freely in the air of cities around the world. more...
In-home air pollution heightens asthma symptoms. Dec 16. A recent study confirms and broadens our understanding of asthma by showing the respiratory disease is highly affected by particulate matter. more...
Organotins block a cell's protein recycling center. Dec 15. Widely-used pollutants called organotins can harm cells - and even kill them - by interfering with their ability to take apart unwanted proteins. more...
Biomarkers show chemical exposures and predict health risk. Dec 15. People living in agricultural areas of Belgium have higher blood levels of certain markers that identify chemical exposure than people living in nonagricultural areas. more...
Carbon nanomaterials damage rat DNA. Dec 12. A single exposure to carbon-based nanomaterials can damage DNA in a rat's sensitive liver and lung tissue, raising health concerns for people exposed through work and consumer products. more...
Chinese paint exceeds legal lead limits. Dec 12. A study of new, oil-based paints sold in Chinese retail stores finds that more than half have lead levels above the government's standards. more...
A widely-used, understudied chemical alters inflammation. Dec 12. Dibutyltin, an understudied chemical used widely in PVC plastics, can interfere with the natural ability of human and animals cells to control important immune responses and inflammation. more...
Early life radiation exposure causes long-lasting behavior changes. Dec 11. Exposure to ionizing radiation just days after birth can impact anxiety and memory during later life, finds a new study with rats. more...
Pesticide mixes: when 1 + 1 does not equal 2 Dec 11. A mix of two pesticides had greater toxic effects on exposed salmon than would be expected from one separately, adding to concerns that health risks from pesticides are underestimated. more...
A blanket approach to safe and healthy beaches. Dec 10. Studying beaches on a region-wide basis and not individually is a better way to manage beach health. more...
Mouse allergen in US homes linked to asthma. Dec 06. The risk of asthma increases as more mouse allergen is found in homes. more...
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