Exposure to phthalates before pregnancy could increase preterm birth risk
Exposure to the class of chemicals known as phthalates, which are found in a wide array of products from perfume to kids’ toys, was associated with preterm birth in new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of…
New Superfund Research Center will explore metals’ effects on cognitive health
A new Superfund Research Center at Harvard Chan School will focus on the effects of metals and metal mixtures on cognitive health in late life.
Bridging the worlds of health and design
Juan Reynoso, MPH/MUP ’20, is interested in the intersection of health and design.
The dangers of ‘secret’ chemicals
Chemicals such as perfluorinated substances (PFASs) and certain pesticides are among the most dangerous to human health because people have been unwittingly exposed to them for years, according to an expert from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public…
New tests find widespread PFAS drinking water contamination
Drinking water in dozens of cities across the U.S. is contaminated with toxic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), according to a new study, and the contamination appears to be more widespread than previously thought. The Environmental…
Opinion: Weight loss, complexion-lightening products harmful for young people
In India, societal norms can lead young people to turn to unregulated, potentially harmful weight-loss and complexion-lightening products.
Massachusetts poised to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs—a group of toxic chemicals linked with health issues such as cancer, immune system problems, and thyroid disease—will likely be subject to new regulations in Massachusetts in 2020. In mid-December, the commonwealth of Massachusetts proposed…
Examining the health effects of PFAS water contamination
A new nationwide federal study launched in fall 2019 is examining the health effects of drinking water contaminated with chemicals called perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which have been linked with health issues including some types of cancer, immune system…
Permanent hair dyes, chemical straighteners may increase women's risk of developing breast cancer
Women who use permanent hair dye or chemical hair straightening products have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. After analyzing hair care habits…
Understanding the risks of ‘forever chemicals’
News about a family of toxic synthetic chemicals called PFASs—“per- and polyfluoralkyl substances”—has recently been making headlines in New England. In Connecticut, PFASs were found to be leaching out of landfills in Hartford and Ellington. In Massachusetts, a…