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Microplastic effects on health

Microplastics are everywhere – in our water and food, everyday household items, beauty products like shampoo, children’s toys, our home furnishings, and our rivers. Microplastics can also pollute our indoor air. So what is known about the effects of microplastics on human cells?   A study led by researchers at Hull York Medical School was … Continued

Can chemicals lurk in your furniture? 

Spring is a perfect time to think about updates to your home – your furniture and carpets, and a splash of paint to add colour to your walls. But before choosing, it’s worth thinking how products are manufactured, and the chemicals used to achieve features such as stain and water resistance, and affordability. In this … Continued

Chemical free spring clean

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 on cleaning products, it’s worth taking stock of what’s in them, and whether some of their ingredients might pose a risk to our health.   … Continued

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 with poor ventilation, poor insulation, and high condensation. It reproduces itself via tiny spores which can grow on paper, carpets, and soft furnishings around the … Continued

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 wellbeing are less well documented. In this post we present a roundup of the latest evidence that air pollution might be the cause of a range of … Continued

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 after your mind‘, sending a strong message to us all about the health risks posed by air pollution, both physical and mental. Every year, air … Continued

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, including the UK, also apply to tents and outdoor shelters. Flame retardants are widely used in the manufacture of soft furnishings and furniture (it is … Continued

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 also be some good health reasons to ask anyone coming into your home to remove their shoes first.    Bacteria is carried on the soles … Continued

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 emissions per hour has been reduced to 3g per hour in areas designated as smoke control areas, which encompasses most UK towns and cities.    … Continued

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 cancers including breast, liver, kidney, thyroid, and numerous others.   5.7 million people died globally in 1990 from cancer, increasing to 8.9 million by 2019. … Continued

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