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11 Mar 2024
Petrochemicals – what are they, and why are they a problem for our health? 
Thousands of chemicals are manufactured from fossil fuels including oil, gas, and coal. It’s estimated that there are 350,000 petrochemicals are in use across the world as production levels have...
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27 Feb 2024
Men can pass on effects of pollutant exposure to future generations
New research at the University of Stockholm has identified potential links between paternal exposure to environmental pollutants and subsequent adverse health effects in future generations. In this longitudinal study, researchers were...
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19 Feb 2024
PFAS in children’s clothing
Keeping children dry on rainy spring days often means reaching for raincoats and waterproof clothing to keep them warm and dry. But with very little information on product labels to...
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12 Feb 2024
Avoid pesticides in your Valentine’s Day flowers
With Valentine’s Day approaching you may be thinking about buying floral gifts for your loved ones. Red roses are one of the most popular floral gifts for Valentine’s Day with...
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08 Feb 2024
Bob Woods MBE gives a personal commentary on rising cancer rates
So many people will have sympathy for King Charles’ cancer diagnosis as we would sympathise for any of our own family, friends, and colleagues who contract this awful condition.   ...
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06 Feb 2024
Spring is just around the corner so it’s a good time to blow away the winter cobwebs and give your home a good spring clean. But before you stock up...
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30 Jan 2024
Glyphosate links with cancer
Glyphosate has been at the centre hundreds of legal cases in the US brought against manufacturers by employees experiencing ill health because of occupational exposure. Last week a settlement of...
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22 Jan 2024
Microplastics in water
Microplastic levels water in plastic bottles are up to 100 times higher than previously thought. That’s the startling conclusion reached by scientists at Columbia and Rutgers universities. One quarter of a...
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15 Jan 2024
Vitamin D – the sunshine vitamin
We’ve not had a lot of sunshine lately, so this week’s sunny days are a welcome change. Throughout January the days start to get a little longer (more 40 extra...
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09 Jan 2024
It's well known that the health of our guts, or microbiome, can significantly affect our overall health. The microbiome is made up of many trillions of bacteria, microbes, and viruses that...
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02 Jan 2024
Five easy wins to avoid everyday chemicals
To welcome in the New Year we’d like to share five easy wins to reduce your exposure to everyday chemicals in 2024.    One - go organic for breakfast  Breakfast...
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19 Dec 2023
Organic festive drinks
Christmas is a time of year when many of us enjoy a festive tipple, and in our final post this year we take a quick look at organic alcoholic drinks....
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12 Dec 2023
Should we be concerned about chemical ingredients in fragrances?
Fragrance is a feel good Christmas gift many of us enjoy - we spend more than £1bn on fragrance in the UK each year! Whilst fragrance can be a good...
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05 Dec 2023
Have a healthy chemical free Christmas
With only a few weeks to go before we celebrate Christmas, we’ve done a festive round up of some quick wins to help you to enjoy the festivities with fewer...
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28 Nov 2023
Choosing a Christmas tree with fewer chemicals
We buy around 8 million real Christmas trees in the UK each year. They're thought to have been introduced to the UK by Prince Albert in 1840, but it was...
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21 Nov 2023
Go organic for breakfast
Breakfast is aruably the most important meal of the day, supplying nutrition to replenish our body after a night’s sleep when key metabolic functions are carried out. So, what we put into...
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13 Nov 2023
Pillars of health
We’ve been having a lively debate here at lastinghealth about the pillars of health - what they are, how important they are to us, and how many there might be....
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06 Nov 2023
Let’s talk about mould
With an estimated 1 in 10 homes affected by mould infestations, this creeping health risk is a serious concern for many. Mould grows in areas with excess levels of moisture...
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30 Oct 2023
Healthier Bonfire Night ideas
What are your childhood memories of Bonfire Night - a raging fire, standing too close, fireworks shooting off, and lots of woody smoke?   Decades ago, we didn’t think much...
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24 Oct 2023
Wet weather clothes
Keeping dry when the weather is wet and raining is a centuries old problem. As the weather turns we’re reaching for outer layers that provide protection from wind and rain,...
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16 Oct 2023
Is it time to re-think our wood burners? 
Around 8% of households in the UK burn wood in their homes. A recent survey asked people what they thought about wood burners and found that 44% thought they should...
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01 Oct 2023
The link between breast cancer and endocrine disruptors
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month which aims to bring information and support to anyone concerned about or affected by breast cancer. Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise have proven...
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21 Sep 2023
World Car Free Day
Friday 22 September 2023 is World Car Free Day. The aim of the day is to cut CO2 emissions by giving up our cars for a day and travel in...
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14 Sep 2023
Go organic in September
As the season changes, this month sees the return of Organic September, an initiative led by the Soil Association to work with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm...
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01 Sep 2023
Packed school lunches
As children return to school many will take a packed lunch with them. We take great care to create healthy lunches for our children to eat, but what about the storage...
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25 Aug 2023
What do we know about insect repellents?
As mosquitos and midges rise in the summer months, insect repellents can be an important safeguard for our health - but how much do we know about them?    Most...
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17 Aug 2023
Microplastics in washing
Wastewater from laundry is a major contributor to microplastics in our waterways and oceans. It’s estimated that around a third of microplastic pollution arises from microfibres released when we wash...
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03 Aug 2023
Can you help us with our market research?
If you share our concerns about the effects on our health of exposure to chemicals in our food and everyday products, we'd like to invite you to help us with...
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28 Jul 2023
What are ultra processed foods?
Ultra processed food (UPF) is the term used to describe foods where multiple ingredients have been combined to produce foods such as crisps, biscuits, mass produced breads and cakes, sugary...
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21 Jul 2023
A book about glyphosate
In this post we’re trying something a bit different by offering a review of a book about glyphosate – the world’s most widely used herbicide.   Toxic Legacy - How...
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13 Jul 2023
The link between mental health and the air we breathe
Air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths every year in the UK - it is the most worrying environmental health risk we face today. But the effects of air pollution on our mental...
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06 Jul 2023
It’s strawberry season!
Strawberries are synonymous with Wimbledon, and this year will be no exception, even if it rains! A whopping 8615 punnets are consumed each day during the tournament, all grown in...
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29 Jun 2023
Sunscreen – mineral or chemical?
Staying safe in the sun is fundamental to our health, especially during the summer months when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. As you reach for the sunscreen, you...
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21 Jun 2023
What is a digital product passport?
Can you imagine using your smartphone to scan a QR code on everyday products to give you detailed information about how they have been produced, and exactly what they have...
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15 Jun 2023
Clean Air Day, The UK’s largest air pollution campaign 
Thursday 15 June is Clean Air Day, a day of action to raise awareness about air pollution around the UK. This year's theme is 'Clean up our air to look...
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08 Jun 2023
Genetically modified (GM) food
GM food is an example of a GMO, a term used to describe a genetically modified organism where its gene pattern has been modified or engineered, either by adding or...
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31 May 2023
Get kids gardening 
Spending time in green spaces and gardens is good for our physical and mental health, and this includes infants and children. Studies have shown that levels of depression and anxiety can...
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23 May 2023
A spoonful of honey 
There are around 20,000 species of bees in the world pollinate up to 35% of the world’s crop production. They play a vital role in the health of ecosystems and...
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16 May 2023
Exposure to flame retardants in tents 
If the great outdoors is calling you, you might be thinking about buying a new tent. But before you do, bear in mind that flame retardancy regulations in many countries,...
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05 May 2023
No Mow May 
May sees the return of #NoMowMay a campaign to encourage us to leave the lawnmower in the garden shed throughout May. Its aim is to help the UK rebuild biodiversity of...
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26 Apr 2023
Sustainable clothing without chemicals
Fashion Revolution Week is an annual campaign that brings together the world’s largest fashion activism movement for seven days of action during April. One of its major activities is the...
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19 Apr 2023
A day to celebrate tea 
Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water, and in the UK, we drink 165 million cups a day! That’s 60 billion cups a year. It helps to wake...
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12 Apr 2023
One in six could face infertility 
One in six people may experience infertility at some stage in their lifetime. This is the startling estimate for 2022 from the World Health Organization (WHO) who have just published...
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05 Apr 2023
Easter egg chocolate choices 
Easter weekend is almost here, and it feels like Spring at last. Eggs at Easter time have symbolised new life and rebirth in some faith traditions for centuries, meaning that...
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27 Mar 2023
Do you take your shoes off indoors? 
Removing your shoes at the door is customary in many homes, and in some cultures it's seen as a mark of respect to leave your shoes outside. But there might...
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20 Mar 2023
Mediterranean diet lowers risk of developing dementia
Eating a Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. Data was used from 60,000 male and female participants aged 40-69 recruited to the UK Biobank....
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16 Mar 2023
Chemical free gifts for your mum this Mother’s Day  
As we approach Mother's Day, retailer shelves and online shops are brimming with an abundance of “health, beauty and wellbeing” products – from bath bombs and body scrubs to makeup...
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07 Mar 2023
PFAS – the everywhere, ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS present a serious concern to our health, so a new study which identifies breast milk as the primary source of exposure to PFAS in infants is deeply concerning. Researchers examined samples of breast...
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27 Feb 2023
What can you do if you get the flu?
For the last two years our health focus has been largely on coronavirus, but it looks like the common cold and flu is back with a vengeance. So, what can you...
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21 Feb 2023
Rinse aid affects immune and inflammatory responses 
A new study has revealed an important link between gut health and inflammation and exposure to alcohol ethoxylate used in professional rinse aids, to alterations in gene activity in the...
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03 Feb 2023
Is your log burner your Achilles heel? 
The government announced its new Environment Improvement Plan this week including updated guidance on emissions of particulate matter from log burning stoves. Earlier guidance of no more than 5g of smoke...
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26 Jan 2023
Glyphosate exposure raises oxidative stress levels
Oxidative stress is one of the indicators of carcinogens in the body that can lead to the development of cancer.     Animal and in vitro studies have established a connection...
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19 Jan 2023
Wild fish in the US contaminated with PFAS
Freshwater fish was discovered in a new study to contain levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that by eating even a single portion, could create a toxic burden of...
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13 Jan 2023
How do children manage exposure to environmental pollutants? 
Infants and children are at risk of exposure to the same levels of environmental pollutants as their parents. They are especially susceptible to these pollutants because their body organs including...
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03 Jan 2023
PFAS linked with suppression of the immune system
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is widely thought to be carcinogenic. Carcinogens act on the body by attacking the immune system and inflaming body tissue which can lead...
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12 Dec 2022
Early onset cancer rates
Since 1990 deaths from cancer have been rising in people under the age of 50 in many countries across the world. Rises have been recorded in a wide range of...
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05 Dec 2022
Glyphosate linked to breast cancer
Glyphosate exposure has been linked with adverse changes in breast cell tissue that can disrupt normal cell mechanisms and lead to the development of 'hormone sensitive' breast cancer. This type of breast...
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17 Nov 2022
What is good health? 
It can be quite easy to assume that people we come into regular contact with are completely healthy individuals because they "look well" - unless you have a debilitating disease...
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09 Nov 2022
What is Particulate Matter?
The term PM is used to describe the mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. It is measured in micrometres - smaller particles are known as fine...
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02 Nov 2022
Air pollution exposures linked to mutations in lung cells  
Exposure to air contaminated by pollution has been linked to changes in lung tissue which can increase the risk of lung cancer.     Air pollution can be measured by the...
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26 Oct 2022
What’s the ‘WHY’ behind lastinghealth.com?
We'd like to introduce you to Bob Woods MBE, Founder and Senior Advisor at Mattioli Woods. Bob is the inspiration behind lastingheath.com - he is committed to bringing the impact...
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17 Oct 2022
Glyphosate detected in the urine of 99% of pregnant US women
Glyphosate has been detected in 99% of urine samples of 187 pregnant women tested during their first trimester in a study based in Indiana, US. High levels of glyphosate were...
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05 Oct 2022
California legislates on use of PFAS
The Governor of California has passed a bill to ban the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in some types of clothing by 2025. The ban will make it unlawful to manufacture outdoor...
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27 Sep 2022
Can chemicals travel from mother to unborn child? 
A young mother recently told us she was doing everything possible to give her children the healthiest diet and environment. She described the careful diet she provided for her children, the home...
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20 Sep 2022
Edible cutlery – would you eat your own fork?
Billions of tonnes of plastic cutlery are thrown away every year. Many are manufactured using chemical substances considered to have endocrine disrupting properties, including Bisphenol A which has been associated with...
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09 Sep 2022
New water system for Illinois city will remove PFAS
A small town in Illinois is pioneering the way to bring safer water into people's homes by investing in a brand new water system.   At a cost of $13m,...
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23 Aug 2022
Can ‘Forever Chemicals’ be broken down?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a widely used chemical group used in the manufacturing process of everyday items such as non-stick pans, plastics, water and stain resistant clothing, and...
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20 Aug 2022
What are Per- or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)?
Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances, PFAS, are a large group of 9,000+ chemical substances which have a carbon-fluorine bond that is extremely hard to break. Because they persist for a long...
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16 Aug 2022
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) linked to liver cancer
In the first ever human population based study a connection has been made between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and a later diagnosis of liver cancer.    Samples...
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03 Aug 2022
Have PFAS exceeded planetary boundaries?
A new study just published by researchers at Stockholm University, Sweden has examined data to determine whether so-called planetary boundaries levels of PFAS have been exceeded.     Researchers compared levels...
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26 Jul 2022
80% of us might have glyphosate in our bodies – how does that make you feel?
An American health study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that 80% of urine samples collected had detectable levels of glyphosate. Samples were analysed from...
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04 Jul 2022
Glyphosate – an everyday herbicide that divides opinion
Glyphosate is a herbicide used to control weeds in a wide variety of settings ranging from farming to domestic gardens.   Opinion is divided about how safe it is to...
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15 Jun 2022
Indoor Air Quality study at the University of Leicester
In the UK more than 8 million people suffer with symptoms of asthma, higher than all other lung related health conditions combined. It affects all ages, and even though many...
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14 Jun 2022
PFAS linked to hypertension in new study of mid-life women
PFAS might be a factor contributing to cardiovascular disease risk in mid-life women a new study published on 13 June 2022 finds. In this extensive study more than 1000 women underwent...
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13 Jun 2022
Endocrine disrupting chemical risk to sperm health
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) presents a risk to the quality of human sperm. A new study has just been published by researchers in Denmark to investigate the impact...
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03 Jun 2022
Can exercise reduce the effects of phthalates during pregnancy?
Master student Eva Poling at the University of Wyoming, USA has revealed some interesting findings in her study of mice exposed to Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP) during pregnancy.   Her...
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27 May 2022
What are phthalates?
In our EDC Insights report on phthalates we explain more about this vast group of chemical substances and how they can disrupt our endocrine and hormonal systems, creating a serious...
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28 Apr 2022
European Commission takes the global lead on chemical restriction 
This week the EC revealed an ambitious plan to further restrict the use of harmful chemicals in Europe.    The Restrictions Roadmap published on Monday sets out a plan to...
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21 Apr 2022
NEW – Insight Reports to endocrine disrupting chemicals
We've created our new EDC Insight Reports to use as guides into key groups of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and to help you discover more about how everyday chemicals may be...
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13 Apr 2022
Is Bisphenol a risk to male fertility? 
Bisphenol is identified by the European Chemicals Agency as an endocrine disrupting chemical because it can mimic the actions of hormones in the body, especially the reproductive system.    Latest...
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05 Apr 2022
Can we learn about EDCs from animal studies?
Scientific experiments involving animals have long been surrounded by controversy, but they can be a sentinel to identify human risk. In a new study using non-invasive test methods, researchers have provided some...
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30 Mar 2022
EDCs increase the risk of delayed speech development
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have long been associated with a wide range of health risks, but new research has identified a link between exposure to EDC mixtures and delayed neurodevelopmental...
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25 Mar 2022
Microplastics detected in blood samples
This week it was reported that up to three types of microplastics can be detected in human blood samples. This is the first time that microplastics have been found in...
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16 Mar 2022
The Ideal Food Plan by Breakspear Medical
With so many opinions about what constitutes the ideal diet, it’s no wonder that we might still feel a little confused. So we'd like to share a healthy eating food plan...
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22 Feb 2022
What’s the State of the Science for EDCs?
In 2012 the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme published 'The State of the Science, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals'. This ground breaking report informed decision makers and health...
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14 Feb 2022
What’s lurking in your favourite fragrance? 
Research published last week examined ingredients in popular fragrances sold in Belgium. The study was commissioned by Belgium’s Fight against cancer, Dutch ‘Erase all Toxins’, and the Danish Consumer Association.   ...
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07 Feb 2022
Can chemicals cause obesity? 
Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim reported their study last week to identify whether a relationship can be established between plastics containing potent mixtures of chemicals...
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31 Jan 2022
Endocrine disrupting chemicals as a risk factor in pregnancy
A team based in Chongqing, China have carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of associations between exposure to EDCs during pregnancy and thyroid hormones in newborns. This area of study...
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24 Jan 2022
Are we at break point on chemicals?
Last week a new study published in the American Society of Chemicals explored the impacts of climate change, and reviews how well we can manage the consequences of our global reliance...
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17 Jan 2022
Impacts of maternal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals
Could exposure to phthalates during pregnancy increase the risk of premature birth? A study published last week which carried out a systematic review of prior studies may hold some of the answers.  ...
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10 Jan 2022
Products designed to keep you safe might be causing more harm than good
In our second update of 2022 we feature news about everyday consumer products that featured in the headlines this week.     How safe is vaping?   With 1.3 billion...
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03 Jan 2022
Microplastics Insight Report
We're all too familiar with the risk that air pollution poses to our health from inhaling air polluted by vehicles and industrial manufacturing processes. With the first death recorded with...
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04 Nov 2021
EDCs and pregnancy health risks
Can microplastics pass across the placenta? A new Dutch study has reported that microplastics have the potential to pass from mother to unborn child across the placenta. In laboratory based...
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05 Oct 2021
Are ECCs present in ultrasound gels a health risk?
Ultrasound tests during pregnancy are routine for most pregnant women, so it comes as quite a shock to discover that the gel used to lubricate skin during the procedure might...
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16 Sep 2021
“Forever chemicals” in our air
We spend a lot of time indoors, so it’s quite worrying to discover that the quality of our air is affected by so-called “forever chemicals”. They have been shown to...
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09 Aug 2021
Viral load and body burden
What is viral load? The term viral load emerged into the public consciousness during the past year when health scientists and academics stepped forward to help us all to understand...
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09 Aug 2021
How does the immune system work?
During the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated not only how important our immune system is in fighting infection, but also the need to understand our own immune health...
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27 May 2020
Is there a link between air pollution levels and COVID-19?
We invited Professor Anna Hansell to share her thoughts on the important questions surrounding the relationship between air pollution levels and disease outcomes of the coronavirus, COVID-19. Anna is a Professor...
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13 May 2020
Can dioxins contribute to the toxic load of children?
A study published in March 2020 has been looking at the levels of chemicals with potentially toxic properties present in children’s toys and other consumer products, collectively known as dioxins....
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05 May 2020
Can we boost our immune system?
During this difficult time when many of us are thinking more about our health, one question seems to bubble up to the surface time and time again - how can...
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07 Apr 2020
How does our immune system work?
Every day our bodies have the difficult task of selecting what has to be rejected as foreign material to prevent illnesses, including viral illnesses such as COVID-19. This sorting process...
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30 Mar 2020
How can vitamins support a healthy respiratory tract?
During the coming weeks we will be sharing expert information about some of the things we can all do to look after our general health. To begin, we invited medical expert...
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06 Mar 2020
Air pollution reduces life expectancies
This week also brought a new study published in European Society of Cardiology which looked at long term effects of exposure to air pollution on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The study...
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21 Feb 2020
Indoor Air Quality and Children’s Health – Part two
A study of Indoor Air Quality and Children’s Health In our last post we discussed a new study published in January 2020, The Inside Story. It was a systemic review...
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10 Feb 2020
Indoor Air Quality and Children’s Health
A new study published in January 2020, The Inside Story, was a collaboration between The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and The Royal College of Physicians.   The...
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27 Jan 2020
What Ella’s mum is doing to prevent further deaths from air pollution
Ella Kissi-Debrah died in 2013 age nine years old following a series of severe asthma attacks. Her death has been linked to air pollution levels near her home and school,...
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14 Jan 2020
Are you ready to switch your shampoo?
Welcome to January, the month where many of us will make New Year’s resolutions about our health and well-being. And where 'Dry January' and eating plant-based for the month -...
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20 Dec 2019
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the health news
Endocrine disrupting chemicals and increased risk of breast cancer A new study in the US has found a strong link between use of hair dye and chemical straighteners and breast...
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20 Dec 2019
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the health news
Endocrine disrupting chemicals and increased risk of breast cancer A new study in the US has found a strong link between use of hair dye and chemical straighteners and breast...
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11 Dec 2019
Air pollution in the scientific news
Proof that air pollution can age the brain New research published in the Journal of Neurology in November 2019 has found a connection between exposure to air pollution and increased...
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06 Nov 2019
Is plastic affecting our health?
It’s thought that we could be breathing in as many as 20,000 microplastic particles each year and ingesting up to 2000 pieces of microplastic every week. 40% of all plastic...
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10 Oct 2019
Can air pollution affect us whilst we’re at work?
We spend up to 90% of our time indoors so it makes sense that we might be exposed to airborne pollution at some point. Focus in the media is centred...
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10 Oct 2019
Can air pollution affect us whilst we’re at work?
We spend up to 90% of our time indoors so it makes sense that we might be exposed to airborne pollution at some point. Focus in the media is centred...
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10 Sep 2019
Bob Woods MBE, lastinghealth Sponsor
Bob’s journey began when he went looking for answers to positively address his own health issues, including chronic asthma. Drawing on expertise from environmental health.   Drawing on expertise from...
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