Environmental Toxins: A Hidden Factor in the Obesity Epidemic

It is no secret that as a nation, the United States is getting fatter.

Over the past 50 years, the prevalence of obesity in adults has nearly tripled, from 13.4% in 1962 to 35.7% in 2010^1-3. The economic, social, and medical burden this places on our society cannot be overstated.  It is a healthcare crisis of immense proportions.  

In Approving GM Salmon, FDA Treads into Fishy Waters

Inan unprecedented step, the Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it is about to approve a fast-growing genetically engineered salmon. The fish will become the first-ever GM animal approved for human consumption, marking the start of a controversial journey into uncharted waters of our food supply.

Organic Labels & Fables

The number of products carrying claims like “all natural” and “all organic” on their packaging has grown rapidly in recent years. In this changing food landscape, it is important for consumers and healthcare providers alike to understand the real meaning behind such terms.

GMO Truths, Consequences, & the Right to Know

California’s Proposition 37, which would have required labeling for foods containing genetically-modified ingredients, was defeated on November 6, but in many ways, the proposition was still a victory for the movement to raise awareness about the potential health consequences of GMO food consumption.

Chlorinated Water Increases Risk of Asthma, Respiratory Distress

Swimming in chlorinated water increases risk of asthma and respiratory problems in children, says Alfred Bernard, PhD, research director at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. In a study of nearly 2,000 children, those who spent 30 or more hours in chlorinated pools before age 3 had triple the risk of respiratory problems.

FDA Curtails Antibiotic Overuse in Livestock, But US Still Trails Global Standards

A Food & Drug Administration order prohibiting the use of certain antibiotics in livestock finally went into effect this summer, but according to some public health advocates, the FDA’s move is too little, too late.

Foul Air, Fast Rx’s Fuel Childhood Obesity

Exposure to air pollution and overuse of antibiotics may be important risk factors for childhood obesity, according to recent studies. The findings suggest that there’s more to the obesity equation than excess calories & lack of exercise.

Creating a “Frack-as:” Physicians Call for Halt on Hydrofracking

Physicians and public health advocates gathered outside Washington, DC, calling for an immediate moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (aka “Fracking”), a controversial natural gas extraction method that many believe has serious negative impacts on human health.

CEFALO: Mixed Signals on The Cell Phone–Brain Tumor Issue

A high-profile international study of the impact of cell phones on childhood brain tumor risk is sending the signal that there is no “exposure-response relationship. However, some environmental health experts contend that significant safety concerns are hidden within the data.

Making Sense of CEFALO

CEFALO, a multi-center European project, is the first study to look specifically at the impact of self-reported mobile phone use on risk of childhood brain tumors. While it  seemed to dispel the notion that EM radiation from cellphones can cause brain tumors, critics contend that the conclusions are not so clear cut. Writers from the Environmental Health Trust challenge CEFALO’s findings; a spokesman from the study team responds.