Cancer Prevention

New formaldehyde report supports EPA's assessment that chemical is 'human carcinogen'

WASHINGTON -- The ongoing debate about the risks of formaldehyde is intensifying in light of a new report by the National Academy of Sciences that said the Environmental Protection Agency's labeling of the chemical as a "human carcinogen" is supported by research.

The report, issued earlier this month, was a reversal from the academy's 2011 study, requested by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., which found EPA's findings went beyond available evidence and "needs substantial revision."

Expanding waistlines will cause 3,500 more cancers each year, study finds

Around 12,000 cancers a year are caused by people being overweight, according to a study which scientists hope will inspire more action to curb the obesity epidemic.

The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, is the biggest of its kind, involving data from 5 million UK adults. It finds that excess weight is linked to 10 different cancers, including cervical cancer, breast cancer and leukaemia.

63% of Americans Actively Avoid Soda

Americans are finally starting to realize the dangers of soda, with nearly two-thirds (63 percent) saying they actively try to avoid soda in their diet, a new Gallup poll revealed.1

This is a significant increase from 2002, when only 41 percent were trying to avoid soda, and a clear sign that, as TIME reported, “the soda craze is going flat.”2

Soda Consumption Falls to Lowest Level in Decades

How can I green up my back-to-school shopping?

Q. Well, it’s that time of the year again: back-to-school season. I’ve been trying to figure out how to reduce my impact when shopping for school supplies and during the overall year. What are some ways I can green up this school year?

Jason
Gaithersburg, Md.

A. Dearest Jason,

Colgate Total Ingredient Linked to Hormones, Cancer Spotlights FDA Process

The chemical triclosan has been linked to cancer-cell growth and disrupted development in animals. Regulators are reviewing whether it’s safe to put in soap, cutting boards and toys. Consumer companies are phasing it out. Minnesota voted in May to ban it in many products.

At the same time, millions of Americans are putting it in their mouths every day, by way of a top-selling toothpaste that uses the antibacterial chemical to head off gum disease -- Colgate-Palmolive Co.’s Total.

Easy-to-make All-Purpose Non-Toxic Cleaning Product

I’m interested in preventive measures when it comes to the health and the well-being of my family, and in my home office. Since home is where many of us spend 90% of our time, it’s a good idea to make the indoor environment as toxin free as possible. We can’t control what’s happening outside but we can when it comes to the indoors.

Beauty products and cancer: Are you at risk?

Have you been unknowingly increasing your cancer risk for the sake of beauty? It depends on what products you use.

“There are concerns with beauty products that contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals may interfere with your hormonal system,” says Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., MD Anderson professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Program. 

“While a direct link between EDCs and cancer is not yet definitive, certain cancers are hormonally-driven,” Cohen explains. They include breast, prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

The 10 Most Common Sunscreen Slip-Ups

Despite everything we know about the risks of sun exposure, skin cancer is still on the rise — big time. In fact, in the last 35 years, rates of deadly melanoma have tripled. And those applying sunscreen are not immune. Improper application, the wrong product, and even a few of your other summertime activities can render sunscreen virtually useless. Avoid these common culprits and get the most out of your SPF for risk-free fun in the sun!

Sun Safety: 10 Sunscreen Mistakes

Breakfast Bombshell: Vitamin Overload in Cereals May Be Making Kids Sick

The manufacturers of sugary cereals marketed to children sure know how American parents think. Although many of their products have as much sugar as a candy bar, somewhere along the line these companies figured out that labels that scream “fortified with vitamins” make Mom and Dad feel better about pouring a bowl of sweetened grain for Junior. Being jam-packed with nutrients must compensate for all that sugar, right?

Phthalates Are Out Of Children’s Toys, But In Your Food

Just when you thought that phthalates, chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible, were off your radar, think again.

Back in 2008, after these chemicals were shown to disrupt the endocrine system, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission restricted six phthalates in children’s toys and childcare products.  Canadian authorities issued similar regulations the following year.

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