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Published on Leave a comment on Chemical Exposure Linked to Liver Scarring
Human liver Credit: Wikipedia

Not all cleaning products or chemicals used in dry cleaning are safe to use. A recent study found that the chemical tetrachloroethylene (PERC or PCE) can cause serious liver harm in the form of liver fibrosis, and that the effects are dose dependent for liver fibrosis. The more a person is exposed, the greater the risk of developing liver fibrosis.

PERC is a chemical that used to be found in household products, such as spot removers, furniture stripper, adhesive glues, suede protectors, spray-on water repellents, but is being phased out. It is also commonly used in dry cleaning of clothing, and it has 10 years to phase out. It will continue to be used in a number of industrial settings, for example, as a degreaser. Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) is a volatile organic compound (VOC).

Liver fibrosis is the buildup of tough scar tissue in the liver resulting from chronic inflammation and persistent damage. Unfortunately, over time this scarring can progress to liver failure or liver cancer.

Bottom line: Avoid products with PERC. The danger is in inhaling the chemical's fumes or getting it on your skin (contact with the chemical). Nowadays PERC is mainly used in industrial settings (resulting in occupational exposure). It is being phased out in consumer products and dry cleaning because it is a carcinogen (cancer causing).

From Science Daily: Hidden household toxin triples liver disease risk, study finds

Liver disease most often develops due to one of three major causes: excessive alcohol use, the buildup of fat in the liver associated with obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol, or viral infections such as hepatitis B and C.

Researchers from Keck Medicine of USC have identified another potential cause of liver damage. A new study published in Liver International links tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a chemical widely used in dry cleaning and found in household products like adhesive glues, spot removers, and stainless steel polish, to serious liver harm. ...continue reading "Chemical Exposure Linked to Liver Scarring"

Published on Leave a comment on Microplastics Found In Higher Levels In Prostate Cancer Tumors
Credit: Wikipedia

Microplastics are turning up everywhere in our environment, including us. A recent small study found microplastics in 90% of human prostate cancer tumors, and at much higher levels than in nearby healthy tissue.

The tumor samples contained about 2.5 times more plastic than nearby healthy prostate tissue. This led the researchers to suggest that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. This is because chronic inflammation is considered a risk factor for the development of cancer.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (smaller than 5 millimeters) that occur as plastics get worn down, degrade, or get heated. They get into the air, water, soil, and throughout the environment. The particles are so small that after they are inhaled or ingested (in our food and water), they travel to the lungs, blood, and organs. The health effects of plastic particles in our bodies are still mainly unknown, but so far studies are finding oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

From Science Daily: Microplastics found in 90% of prostate cancer tumors, study reveals

A new study has found tiny plastic particles in nine out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Researchers also discovered that these microplastics were present at higher concentrations in cancerous tumors than in nearby noncancerous prostate tissue. ...continue reading "Microplastics Found In Higher Levels In Prostate Cancer Tumors"

Published on Leave a comment on Tires Are A Source Of Microplastics In Urban Air

There is much concern over the amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment, especially since they are turning up wherever we look. Including inside human bodies (e.g., the brain, blood, lungs, our bones), with mainly unknown health effects. A recent study found that an important source of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban air (in heavy traffic areas) comes from vehicle tires.

This occurs from tire abrasion - tires get worn down when vehicles are driven and also when braking occurs, and the tire abrasion particles get released into the air. In this study, they accounted for about 65% of the total plastic particles in the air in a heavy traffic area in Leipzig, Germany. Microplastics are smaller than 5 mm, and nanoparticles are even smaller (smaller than 1 micrometer).

According to the researchers, residents spending 24 hours a day in the high traffic area would inhale approximately 2.1 micrograms of plastic particulates per day, which is about 0.7 milligrams per year. So far it other studies find that this can result in oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory reactions in the lungs.

From Phys.org: Microplastics and nanoplastics in urban air originate mainly from tire abrasion, research reveals

Although plastic particles in the air are increasingly coming into focus, knowledge about their distribution and effects is still limited. Chemical analyses from Leipzig now provide details from Germany for the first time: Around 4% of the particulate matter consists of plastic. Around two-thirds of this comes from tire abrasion. ...continue reading "Tires Are A Source Of Microplastics In Urban Air"

Published on Leave a comment on Spring Is Here!
Winter aconite flowers

March 1 is the first meteorological day of spring.

There were cold temperatures, strong winds, and deep snow (up to 2 feet in the NYC metro area) earlier this week. But as soon as the temperatures warmed a few days later - the first spring flowers made their appearance next to the melting snow.

Published on Leave a comment on Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia
Cup of coffee Credit: Wikipedia

Once again, a recent study found that daily consumption of coffee has health benefits.

Recent research found that drinking a moderate amount of coffee (2 to 3 cups of daily) or 1 to 2 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower risk of dementia and better cognitive function. Decaf coffee appeared to have no effect on risk of dementia or cognitive functioning.

Persons with the highest intake (2 to 3 cups or more daily) of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of dementia compared with those who drank little or no caffeinated coffee. The large study followed people for as long as 43 years.

From Medical Xpress: Consuming 2–3 cups of coffee daily associated with lower dementia risk, better cognitive function

A new prospective cohort study by investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard analyzed 131,821 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), finding that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee (two to three cups a day) or tea (one to two cups a day) reduced dementia risk, slowed cognitive decline, and preserved cognitive function. ...continue reading "Consuming Coffee Or Tea Daily Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia"

Published on Leave a comment on Elderberries Have Health Benefits
Elderberries Credit: Wikipedia

People are always looking for foods that seem especially beneficial for health. Colorful vegetables and fruits fall into this category, especially berries, because of the polyphenols they contain. Recent research found that elderberries may help with insulin control, reduce fat production, and improve metabolic health - at least in this study using mice.

Interestingly, the researchers found that the microbes in the gut break down the polyphenols in foods. The researchers pointed out that other fruits and berries have similar effects to elderberries. But be careful - don't eat large amounts of raw elderberries by the fistful, because unripe elderberries also contain cyanide, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

Excerpts from Food and Wine: This Antioxidant-Rich Berry Could Be a Big Deal for Blood Sugar Control, Researchers Say

    • Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found that a compound in elderberries, cinnamic acid, may help improve insulin control and reduce fat production in mice with a healthy gut microbiome.
    • The study shows that gut bacteria can transform elderberry compounds into metabolites that support improved metabolic health, potentially informing treatments for insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
    • While promising, scientists caution that more research is needed before recommending elderberry supplements — and remind readers that raw elderberries can be toxic if eaten unripe.

...continue reading "Elderberries Have Health Benefits"

Published on Leave a comment on Physical Activity Slows Down Kidney Function Decline That Occurs With Aging
MALE URINARY SYSTEM Credit: Wikipedia

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem globally, especially in aging populations. As people age, their kidney function declines - and this is a normal part of aging. A recent study found that physical activity slows this kidney function decline.

The study followed healthy individuals (aged 50 to 64 years at the start), who had varying physical activity levels, over an 11 year period. The researchers found that there is a dose response effect from physical activity - more active persons had a slower annual kidney function decline, as well as a much lower risk of accelerated kidney function decline.

The slowest level of kidney decline was in persons who were physically active almost every day (at least 5 days a week) and who engaged in more intense exercise. Note that physical activity is not just doing exercises - it's physical activity of all sorts. Yes, walking counts.

The researchers viewed physical activity as having reno-protective effects - in both the general population and in persons with CKD. This is because it lowers the risk of developing CKD, but it also slows kidney function decline. By the way, other studies have also found physical activity or exercise beneficial in slowing down the kidney function decline that occurs with aging.

From Medscape: Physical Activity May Slow Kidney Function Decline

Increased physical activity was associated with a substantially lower risk for kidney function decline, with the strongest effects seen with higher frequencies and intensities of activity, according to a new longitudinal study. ...continue reading "Physical Activity Slows Down Kidney Function Decline That Occurs With Aging"

Published on Leave a comment on Every Tree Has A Microbiome

Not only humans and many foods (e.g., fruits) have microbiomes - the community of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi living on and in the organism. Researchers found that trees also have microbiomes, and when a tree is diseased, the microbiome changes.

A single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells! The microbes interact and depend on each other.

Additionally, different tree species have different microbiomes, and different parts of the tree have different microbiomes - the tree bark (sapwood) vs tree interior(heartwood). Makes sense!

Excerpts from NY Times: In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives

Scientists have found that a single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells — an invisible ecosystem that is only beginning to be understood.

A forest is a complex, dynamic ecosystem in which a rich array of living things, from old-growth trees to microscopic fungi, interact and depend on one another for survival. ...continue reading "Every Tree Has A Microbiome"

Published on Leave a comment on Organic Farmland Is Shrinking in the US

Organic food sales in the USA are up, up, up - yet it turns out that organic farmland in the United States is shrinking. The decrease in organic acreage is approximately 1.5 million acres from 2021 to 2023. Yet, in 2024, organic sales were more than $71 billion dollars. What is going on?

Unfortunately,  a big reason is because the United States is being flooded with cheap foreign imports, which may or may not be real organic foods. It turns out that organic standards are not the same for United States organic farms and foreign organic foods.

"...industry observers contend that a significant number of organic farmers who follow the letter and spirit of the law have been forced out of business because competing on an uneven playing field is not financially viable."

Forging of documents, no farm inspections necessary - it's basically "take our word for it being organic". Hah! This has been documented over and over, yet nothing has been done to correct the fraud. The group Organic Eye is an organic industry watchdog documenting the organic certification abuses.

An excellent group to support is the Real Organic Project - local farmers who are following the letter and spirit of organic certification. In other words, they are practicing organic as it's meant to be.

Another group that scores organic foods (e.g., organic dairy and organic eggs) and whether they are real organic or not is Cornucopia Institute. A fantastic resource when trying to decide what eggs or dairy foods to buy at the grocery store (ranking of 5 is best to 1 is poor/basically no documentation that it's actually organic).

From Organic Insider: The Quiet Decline of U.S. Organic Acreage — and What It Will Take to Reverse It

For decades, organic has been surging in popularity among consumers, with the sector growing 5.2% in 2024 and topping more than $71 billion in sales. ...continue reading "Organic Farmland Is Shrinking in the US"