Sustainable Health Of Mice and Pollution
Though pollution has been shown to cause all kinds of health problems from headaches to cancer, no studies have looked into its affects on the brain…until now. Published earlier this month , a new study by the University of Southern California linked pollution to brain damage in mice, including signs associated with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.
The culprit is not an exhaust gas, but a mix of tiny particles one-thousandth the width of human hair made from burning of fossil fuel and weathering of car parts and pavement. "You can't see them, but they are inhaled and have an effect on brain neurons that raises the possibility of long-term brain health consequences of freeway air," said senior author Caleb Finch, an expert in the effects of inflammation and holder of the ARCO/William F. KieschnickChair in the Neurobiology of Aging.
The researchers hope to do follow-up studies to explore the potential for human harm, but if the hazard is confirmed, the problem is one that is not easily solved. Even if everyone switched to electric cars today, the particles are still being produced since electricity largely relies on combustion of coal. According to Finch, "It's a long-term global project to reduce the amount of nanoparticles around the world. Whether we clean up our cars, we still have to clean up our power generation."
Autism Awareness Month
Over the last hundred years, Autism has been studied and tested by countless doctors and scientists, though there is still no single known cause or cure. Autism Awareness Month has been celebrated in April since the 70’s, to spread information about the disability and gain funding for families affected and research for the future.
While there has been a lot more information available in the last 10 years on Autism, many people are still not aware of the facts. The actual name of the disability is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) simply meaning that it affects people differently and to different degrees. The symptoms usually appear before the person turns 2 and affect the way they interact and communicate with others. Though there is no cure, early intervention can greatly help improve a child’s development. The CDC reported in 2009 that 1 in ever 110 babies born in the US has ASD and between 2002 and 2006 the prevalence of the disorder increased by 57%.
These numbers are alarming and have created a new push for funding and research on the subject. Though the main cause has typically been attributed to genetics, new studies are beginning to point to environmental factors (i.e. toxin exposure) as contributors to the problem. You can find the most recent information on Autism and ideas to participate in Autism Awareness Month on the Autism Society’s website
autism-society.org
Chemicals in Your Packaging
Bisphenol A has been under fire for years, and with good reason. Studies have linked this chemical to a host of health problems such as obesity, thyroid dysfunction, neurological problems, erectile dysfunction and cancer. The latest research is warning of high levels of Bisphenol A (or BPA) in packaged food.
BPA was a brilliant breakthrough in 1957 and has been used in plastics ever since, especially in shatterproof plastics. While this seemed like the perfect product at the time, the harmful affects of BPA eventually made their way into the public eye. While federal regulation has remained minimal at best, the EPA highly recommends avoiding products that leech the chemical, especially for young children as it is especially harmful to children under three.
16 Sustainable Online Magazine
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