Wake up and smell the coffee — your favorite breakfast foods may be riddled with plastic. Microplastics are ubiquitous in modern life, with evidence showing they’ve infiltrated everything from the beauty products we use to the clothes we wear and the air we breathe. Food is a major culprit, largely because of all the plastic … Read more
And you think you’ve got a long commute. A brave Bay Area woman just swam the entirety of the California coastline to make a statement about the environment — braving the Pacific’s briny, shark-infested depths for 900 chilly miles. Endurance swimmer Catherine Breed, 33, began her 111-day journey at the Oregon border near Crescent City … Read more
Home is where the heart is — but it could also be where your health troubles start. Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. But the air inside your home, office or school may not be as clean as you think it is. “Air quality indoors can be … Read more
Smells like clean spirit? More like health issues. Scented cleaners dominate the household care market, with citrus, pine and floral scents heavily associated with hygiene and sanitation. That scent of cleanliness may come at a health cost, though, according to new research. Scented cleaners dominate the household care market, but that scent of cleanliness may … Read more
Car enthusiast and former late-night host Jay Leno’s crusade to free classic cars from California’s smog checks is revving up at the state Capitol, as bipartisan lawmakers make a final push to pass “Leno’s Law.” The longtime “Tonight Show” host joined state Sen. Shannon Grove on Wednesday to push Senate Bill 1392, a.k.a. “Leno’s Law,” … Read more
Your baby plans could be up in the air. As millions of Americans brace for another day cloaked in wildfire smoke, experts are warning that the haze may be clouding more than the horizon — it could also affect couples’ chances of getting pregnant. In one recent study, researchers found that when New Yorkers woke … Read more
Here’s the dirt on America. A new survey has revealed the US cities with the worst pollution, including metrics for air quality and waste management, as well as how it affects both the physical and mental well-being of their residents. The study, conducted by landscape care company LawnStarter, assessed more than 300 of America’s biggest … Read more
Some jobs may come with more than just a paycheck. A new study suggests that a mother’s line of work before, during and after pregnancy could influence her baby’s brain development. In certain careers, researchers found, she may even be more likely to have a child with autism, a developmental disorder that affects how people … Read more
Grab your noses, folks. While New York City has always been aromatic, it’s been a particularly pungent year so far, with smell complaints soaring higher than the Freedom Tower itself. With 5,332 stench reports to NYC’s non-emergency 311 hotline already this year, 2026 is shaping up to be quite a stinker — and we haven’t … Read more
They’re up s–t creek without a plunger. Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water: A picturesque California beach is at risk of being shuttered amid a deluge of sewage from Mexico that’s befouled the coastline. “It was heaven on Earth, and now I call it paradise lost,” Whitney David, … Read more
Forever chemicals have long-haul repercussions. Researchers in Sweden observed a concerning pattern when they combined data from separate public records showing drinking water exposure and the rates of asthma in young children. Babies born to women who lived in towns served by a municipal water supply notorious for its PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl substances) contamination had a … Read more
As we age, plastic pollution contributes to cancers, heart diseases, infertility and cognitive decline — and now it’s thwarting our chances at being healthy before our lives even begin. A new study from NYU Langone Health partially attributed close to 2 million preterm births in 2018 — about 8% of the world’s total that year — … Read more
We’re gonna need a stronger pill. Each year, the seasonal allergy warnings grow louder — as does the chorus of sniffling, sneezing and hacking. You can blame warmer temperatures, which “extend the duration of the pollen season,” and pollutants in the air that “can increase the potency of pollen allergens,” NYU Langone allergist Dr. Stephanie … Read more
There’s been much debate about whether we actually ingest a credit card’s worth of plastic per week. These new findings won’t help you poop money, but they do suggest certain foods might rid your body of a portion of that plastic. Probiotic foods — those teeming with beneficial lactic acid bacteria — have been used for … Read more
Talking about being stuck in a rut … with a gut. You’ve tried everything to lose weight — you’re eating healthier, exercising more, managing stress better and getting adequate sleep — but nothing seems to move the needle on the scale. Have you considered your chemical exposure? Obesogens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that sabotage weight … Read more
Sip at your own risk. A new study suggests that where you get your drinking water could increase your odds of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a devastating movement disorder with no cure. Even more concerning, the source linked to the highest risk is used widely across the country, especially in the southeastern and central … Read more
People with greater exposure to air pollution could face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by Emory University in Atlanta. Air pollution has previously been established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as well as other chronic conditions, like hypertension, stroke and depression, the researchers noted. Since those other conditions … Read more
It’s time to clear the air. While staying inside seems like a safe way to avoid the harmful effects of air pollution, it turns out that nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas that primarily comes from cars, lurks indoors as well. A new study out of Stanford University suggests that an everyday household appliance accounts for … Read more
This news may keep you up at night. New research from Harvard University has found a link between evening light exposure and an increased risk of heart disease. Moreover, the authors claim that even modest amounts of light at night can have serious, long-term consequences. In the small study, brain imaging and satellite measurements were … Read more
Location, location, location! A new study on aging across 40 countries confirms that your geographic location and your “exposome” — the physical, social and sociopolitical factors in your environment — significantly influence your chances of enjoying a long, healthy life. Two women bike in Copenhagen in this undated photo. Denmark is where you should go … Read more