KIMO International’s Post

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham found that PFAS and microplastics become more toxic when combined. The study’s authors exposed water fleas to mixtures of the toxic substances and found they suffered more severe health effects, including lower birth rates, and developmental problems, such as delayed sexual maturity and stunted growth. The enhanced toxic effects raise alarm because PFAS and microplastics are researched and regulated in isolation from one one another, but humans are virtually always exposed to both. The research also showed those fleas previously exposed to chemical pollution were less able to withstand the new exposures. The findings “underscore the critical need to understand the impacts of chemical mixtures on wildlife and human health”, wrote the study’s authors. If you found this interesting and would like to know more about the EEPC or join us in our pledge to rid the East of England of plastic by 2030, email [william.fitter@eunomia.co.uk] #pfas #microplastics #plasticpollution #chemical #health #environment

The enhanced toxic effects raise alarm because PFAS and microplastics are researched and regulated in isolation from one one another, but humans are virtually always exposed to both. The research also showed those fleas previously exposed to chemical pollution were less able to withstand the new exposures. The findings “underscore the critical need to understand the impacts of chemical mixtures on wildlife and human health”, wrote the study’s authors, who are with the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. PFAS are a class of about 15,000 compounds typically used to make products that resist water, stains and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down and accumulate, and are linked to cancer, kidney disease, liver problems, immune disorders, birth defects and other serious health problems. Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic that are either intentionally added to products or are shed by plastic goods as they deteriorate. They have been found throughout human bodies, and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Research has linked them to developmental harms, hormone disruption cardiovascular disease and other health issues. https://lnkd.in/eCz-tkfD

New research published in the journal Environmental Pollution. Few human-made substances are as individually ubiquitous and dangerous as PFAS and microplastics, and when they join forces there is a synergistic effect that makes them even more toxic and pernicious, new research suggests. The study’s authors exposed water fleas to mixtures of the toxic substances and found they suffered more severe health effects, including lower birth rates, and developmental problems, such as delayed sexual maturity and stunted growth. The enhanced toxic effects raise alarm because PFAS and microplastics are researched and regulated in isolation from one one another, but humans are virtually always exposed to both. The research also showed those fleas previously exposed to chemical pollution were less able to withstand the new exposures. The findings “underscore the critical need to understand the impacts of chemical mixtures on wildlife and human health”, wrote the study’s authors, who are with the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. #pfas #microplastics #plastic #plastics #zeroplastic #toxicology #ecotoxicology #publichealth #pollution #chemicalpollution #environment #environmentalhealth #endocrinedisruptors #endocrinedisruptingchemicals #edcs #planetaryhealth

There is yet a lot more to be learned and understood about the impacts of PFAS. A new study suggest that a mixture of microplastics and PFAS is more toxic. The study was on water fleas and provides a good indicator of what the larger health impacts can be. Among other things, to me it shows that these complex contamination problems require comprehensive solutions and there is still more to learn. https://lnkd.in/gaCBkFc2

PFAS and Microplastics Become More Toxic When Combined, Research Shows: A University of Birmingham study reveals that PFAS and microplastics have a synergistic effect that significantly increases their toxicity. "The study's authors exposed water fleas to mixtures of the toxic substances and found they suffered more severe health effects, including lower birth rates, and developmental problems, such as delayed sexual maturity and stunted growth," reports The Guardian. From the report: The enhanced toxic effects raise alarm because PFAS and microplastics are researched and regulated in isolation from one one another, but humans are virtually always exposed to both. The research also showed those fleas previously exposed to chemical pollution were less able to withstand the new exposures. The findings "underscore the critical need to understand the impacts of chemical mixtures on wildlife and human health," wrote the study's authors, who are with the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Researchers compared a group of water fleas that had never been exposed to pollution with another group that had been exposed to pollution in the past. Water fleas have high sensitivity to chemicals so they are frequently used to study ecological toxicity. Both groups were exposed to bits of PET, a common microplastic, as well as PFOA and PFOS, two of the most common and dangerous PFAS compounds. The mixture reflected conditions common in lakes around the world. The study's authors found the mixture to be more toxic than PFAS and microplastics in isolation. They attributed about 40% of the increased toxicity to a synergy among the substances that makes them even more dangerous. The authors theorized the synergy has to do with the interplay in the charges of microplastics and PFAS compounds. The remainder of the increased toxicity was attributed to simple addition of their toxic effects. Fleas exposed to the mixture showed a "markedly reduced number of offspring," the authors said. They were also smaller at maturation and showed delayed sexual growth. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The One Health approach recognizes the interconnection between humans, animals, plants, and the environment shared by all, and promotes interdisciplinarity within the joint actions. The goal is to protect the whole system and maintain the global health. It is a complex and not always clear venture, due to the interconnection in the different systems, the ever-growing population, the different human crises happening in the world, and the lack of political will. However, #OneHealth was designed to help implement policies that facilitate conversations between multiple sectors to achieve better policy outcomes, including public and private organizations, research and political organisms, and regulatory agencies. In this line, ProtoQSAR and MolDrug AI Systems are working on identifying new sustainable candidates for antimicrobial solutions to be used such as biocidal paints, new disinfectants or conservants in foods as it is being done in #Paint4IRAS, #BioCODES, funded by IVACE+i Innovación Cadena de Valor program, and #COMPU-FOOD projects, respectively. Moreover, to guarantee ecological and human safety #(eco)toxicological predictions are consistently performed. At ProtoQSAR and MolDrug we believe in the urgency of application of the One Health approach not only for identifying new antimicrobials but also to reinforce the surveillance and readiness protocols in case of a new health crisis caused by climate change, wars, or environmental negligence.

How to detect more antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in our waterways By 2050, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually, according to the UN Environment Programme. But, as Dr Zina Alfahl BPharm, AFHEA, PgCert, PhD writes in The Conversation U.S. it is not just a human health issue. It also contributes to a decline in water quality and is exacerbated by water pollution, particularly from sources such as sewage and agricultural runoff. So, it’s a significant environmental concern with far-reaching implications. In her article Dr Alfahl has called on Governments around the world to prioritise investments in technologies that are not only scientifically robust but also economically viable, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. Read about this research- https://lnkd.in/eD7_Ask2

Health effects of #microplastics. #WhatsinYOURwater? 📞843-626-9856 for a 💧analysis. #Southlantic #waterexperts #toxicwater #cleanwater #pfas https://bit.ly/3WdbodX

Recent studies about microplastics have uncovered shocking findings. Follow the link to learn how they can even cause death. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g-de8BVQ #HealthStrives #health #microplastics #heartdisease #zerowaste #PollutionCrisis #plasticpollution #microplasticimpact #healthrisks #oceanpollution #GlobalIssues #SaveOurPlanet #sustainableliving #EcoAwareness #plasticfree #microplasticthreat #PlasticBank #EnvironmentalCrisis #marinelife #cleanenvironment #plasticwaste #ecofriendly #protectnature #EcoConscious #awarenesscampaign #ClimateAction #saynotoplastic #environmentalprotection

Knowledge will never go out of fashion. Until I read this article, I had a very myopic view of what it will take to effectively solve the antibiotic resistance problem. A very clinically oriented perspective. Which focuses on the use and abuse of antibiotics in the management of human infections. Yet, its drivers are not that simple. That even wearing a one health lens to the problem doesn’t quite paint the full picture. That people’s livelihoods may depend on access to antibiotics for successful livestock rearing. Also that the reason people may illegally access antibiotics without a prescription, maybe driven by the unaffordable costs of paying for a doctors consultation. Fully understanding and addressing these needs in crafting a solution would be pivotal for an effective and sustainable strategy to solving the problem……..💭