Things Worth Noting
In January 2026, West Bengal recorded its first significant Nipah virus outbreak, with five confirmed cases among healthcare workers at a hospital near Kolkata, prompting quarantine and screening of numerous contacts to curb further spread. The Nipah virus, a zoonotic pathogen primarily carried by fruit bats, transmits to humans through contaminated date palm sap or […]
In January 2026, the United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization, a move driven by the Trump administration’s criticisms of the agency’s COVID-19 response, perceived inefficiencies, and lack of accountability, aiming to redirect resources toward domestic priorities and selective bilateral partnerships. This US exit from WHO creates an 18% budget gap, forcing significant […]
In 2026, the food industry faces transformative class action lawsuits highlighting hidden contaminants and deceptive practices, serving as a critical update for health advocates. Leading cases include San Francisco’s groundbreaking suit against major corporations for designing addictive ultra-processed foods linked to obesity and chronic diseases; microplastics contamination claims targeting plastic storage like Ziploc; ongoing multidistrict […]
San Francisco’s groundbreaking 2025 lawsuit against major food giants like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills accuses them of fueling a public health crisis by engineering ultra-processed foods that are deliberately addictive and linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental health issues. Using the NOVA classification, these hyper-palatable products—loaded […]
Smoking one cigarette shortens life expectancy by about 20 minutes, according to a 2024 University College London study, while eating a single hot dog cuts healthy life expectancy by around 36 minutes, per University of Michigan research. Both habits raise risks of cancer, heart disease, and premature death through carcinogens—tobacco toxins in cigarettes and nitrosamines […]
Lead exposure at firing ranges is a serious hidden risk from ammunition smoke and gun smoke, especially indoors. Traditional primers contain lead styphnate and lead peroxide, releasing fine lead particulates along with antimony, barium, and manganese when guns are fired. These toxins are inhaled, entering the bloodstream quickly and causing neurotoxicity, neurotransmitter disruption, cognitive impairment, […]
Mercury pollution enters waterways from coal plants, volcanoes, gold mining, and other sources. In sediments, bacteria convert it to toxic methylmercury (MeHg), which builds up in fish through bioaccumulation and biomagnification—levels rise dramatically in larger predatory fish like swordfish, tuna, and shark as they eat smaller ones. This poses serious health risks, especially neurotoxicity from […]
In Ripon, California, Weston Elementary School faced alarm in 2016–2019 when four students were diagnosed with rare childhood cancers (brain tumors, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma), plus cases among teachers and nearby preschoolers. Parents blamed a Sprint cell phone tower on campus for radiofrequency radiation exposure, despite measurements showing levels far below federal safety limits. […]
A new study shows nearly 70% of U.S. adults could be obese under a redefined framework that uses waist size, body fat, and BMI, compared to 43% with BMI alone. Traditional BMI misses hidden obesity risks, like belly fat, which increases chances of diabetes, heart disease, and death, even in normal-weight people. The new approach […]
In May 2025, 3M agreed to pay up to $450 million to settle New Jersey’s PFAS contamination claims, one of the state’s largest environmental settlements. The deal targets pollution from “forever chemicals” at 3M’s Pennsville and Sayreville sites, linked to health risks like kidney, liver, and testicular cancer, plus autoimmune and developmental issues. Payments, starting […]