Tag: Environmental Health
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Heavy Metals in Volta River Linked to Birth Defects and Health Risks
Introduction: A Silent Threat in the Volta River The Volta River in Ghana has long been a lifeline for communities relying on its waters for drinking, farming, and fishing. Yet a growing body of evidence suggests that heavy metals contaminating these waters pose serious health risks, including birth defects among newborns. The problem is linked…
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Bad Effects of Bug Sprays on Humans and Reproductive Health
Understanding What Bug Sprays Are and How They Affect the Body Bug sprays, pesticides, and insecticides are widely used to control pests in homes, gardens, and public spaces. While they help protect crops and curb disease vectors, these chemicals can interact with human biology in ways that raise health concerns. Some active ingredients, adjuvants, and…
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Court condemns eThekwini for unlawful beach reopenings amid E. coli risks
Judgment frames a strong rebuke to eThekwini Municipality The KwaZulu-Natal High Court has issued a scathing ruling against the eThekwini Municipality, accusing it of endangering public health by reopening beaches with dangerously high levels of E. coli without provincial authorization. The case centers on whether the city acted within the law when it allowed beach…
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Wood-pellet Plant Harms Mississippi Town, Residents Say
Introduction: a town divided over a new bioenergy plant In Gloster, Mississippi, a quiet town nestled in Amite County, residents once welcomed economic development with the promise of jobs from a new bioenergy mill. The Amite BioEnergy facility, built to convert wood into pellets for export and domestic use, was pitched as a boost to…
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Arandis Council Fights N$200 Million Hazardous Waste Dump Near Green Hydrogen Site
Background The mining town of Arandis is at the center of a heated debate over a proposed hazardous waste dump project valued at around N$200 million. Local stakeholders argue that locating the facility near a green hydrogen site could jeopardize the region’s environmental safety, groundwater quality, and public health. The plan has drawn the attention…
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Climate Change: Africa’s Public Health Imperative at COP30
Introduction: A health-first agenda for COP30 As the world gears up for COP30, a clear message has emerged from Africa: climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a public health emergency with far-reaching consequences for economic stability and development. From intensified heat waves and shifting disease patterns to food insecurity and disrupted healthcare services,…
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New Study Links Air Pollution with Higher Parkinson’s Risk
What the study found Researchers have issued a cautious but growing warning: prolonged exposure to certain industrial chemicals in the air—specifically trichloroethylene (TCE)—may be a substantial, previously overlooked contributor to Parkinson’s disease. In their latest analysis, scientists identified a pattern suggesting that people living in areas with higher ambient TCE levels over years of exposure…
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Researchers warn of overlooked factor in Parkinson’s risk: Could air pollution from TCE be substantial?
New findings spotlight a possible environmental trigger for Parkinson’s disease Researchers are drawing attention to an overlooked factor that may contribute to Parkinson’s disease: chronic exposure to industrial chemicals in the air. A recent study suggests that long-term exposure to trichloroethylene, or TCE, a solvent widely used in manufacturing and metal degreasing, could be linked…
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New Study Links Industrial Air Pollution to Parkinson’s Risk: Could TCE Exposure Be a Major Factor
Introduction: A New Piece of the Parkinson’s Puzzle Researchers are sounding alarms about an overlooked environmental risk factor for Parkinson’s disease: industrial air pollution. A growing body of evidence points to chemical exposures, particularly trichloroethylene (TCE), as a potential contributor to the development of Parkinson’s. While genetics play a role, environmental factors are increasingly being…
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Health expert on rising pollution levels: How long-term exposure affects lung growth in children and young adults
Understanding the link between air pollution and lung growth As urbanization intensifies and pollution levels rise in many regions, scientists and clinicians are paying closer attention to how sustained exposure to outdoor and indoor pollutants shapes the developing lungs of children and young adults. Long-term air pollution doesn’t just trigger immediate respiratory symptoms; it can…