Reducing use of personal care products quickly lowers toxic chemicals in the body

Switching from conventional personal care products to nontoxic alternatives can rapidly and significantly reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

Hormone-disrupting chemicals contaminate breast milk, global review shows; scientists say breastfeeding is still best

Breast milk from mothers around the world contains a wide range of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) – such as bisphenols, perfluorinated chemicals, pesticides, flame retardants, and plasticizers – that can disrupt hormones and potentially harm development, a new study finds. The researchers note that human milk is still the best recommended nutrition for infants.

Common preservative may harm female fertility across generations, study finds

Propylparaben, a widely used preservative found in shampoos, lotions, packaged foods, and pharmaceuticals, may harm ovarian function and reduce fertility across generations, according to new research.

Are your baby’s clothes toxic? New study finds harmful chemicals in infant textiles

Infant clothing may expose babies to hundreds of different chemicals used in everything from plastics to pesticides -- including some known to be toxic, a new scientific investigation shows.

Common male cancer linked to hormone-disrupting chemicals, scientists warn

Chemicals found in everyday products—from plastics and pesticides to cosmetics and non-stick cookware — interfere with the body’s hormone systems in ways that may increase the risk and severity of prostate cancer, according to a new report.

Phthalates in everyday products may fuel breast cancer, new study warns

Common chemicals in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging may drive the onset, growth, and spread of breast cancer—the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women, new research suggests.

Endocrine disruptors impair women’s fertility, may lead to PCOS, major review finds

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—substances that interfere with the body’s hormone systems—may contribute to a wide range of female reproductive health problems, including reduced fertility, early or delayed puberty, premature menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a new review of more than 250 human and animal studies.

Everyday chemicals linked to cognitive decline in older adults, especially men, new study reports

Older adults exposed to a mix of chemicals found in everyday products—such as food packaging, cosmetics, and printed receipts—may face a higher risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, according to a study published in April in the Journal of Affective Disorders. 

Pollution may promote stress, leading to obesity, study says

Chemicals from plastics to pesticides may worsen the body’s stress response in ways that cause excessive weight gain, according to what researchers say is the first systematic review to investigate the link between pollution, stress, and obesity.

Prenatal exposure to chemicals in food packaging, plastics may increase young children’s body fat, raise obesity risk 

Phenol and phthalate exposure during pregnancy may be linked to higher fat mass in children as young as three years old, which can lead to obesity later in life, a new study shows.