Good morning. In today’s edition:

• A Study Found That Black Plastic Food Service Items, Kitchen Utensils, and Toys Contain High Levels of Cancer-causing, Hormone-disrupting Flame Retardant Chemicals

• Teenagers Are Taking New Weight-loss Drugs, but the Science is Far From Settled

• Harmful Diagnostic Errors May Occur for as Many as One in Every 14 Hospital Patients Receiving Medical Care, a New Study in the U.S. Has Found | as Many as 85 Percent of These Errors May Be Preventable, Highlighting the Need for Improved Surveillance in Hospital Settings

• People With Higher Levels of Neuroticism Were at Greater Risk of Dying From a Range of Causes, Finds New Study Which Used Data From Nearly Half a Million People. Loneliness Stood Out as the Most Strongly Associated With an Increased Risk of Early Death

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

A Study Found That Black Plastic Food Service Items, Kitchen Utensils, and Toys Contain High Levels of Cancer-causing, Hormone-disrupting Flame Retardant Chemicals

A new study has discovered harmful chemicals in common black plastic items like food trays, kitchen tools, and toys. Researchers from Toxic-Free Future and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found high levels of chemicals that can cause cancer and disrupt hormones. These findings were published in the journal Chemosphere.

The worst offenders were items such as spatulas, sushi trays, and beaded necklaces. These items contained flame retardant chemicals, which are usually used to prevent fires. Surprisingly, these chemicals come from recycled plastics. They were once parts of old electronics, like TVs.

Megan Liu, one of the study's authors, emphasized the dangers of unsafe recycling. "We shouldn't let recycling lead to dangerous health risks. It's important to keep harmful chemicals out of everyday items," she said.

The study points out a big problem. The rules on using dangerous chemicals in plastics, especially recycled ones, aren't strong enough. These chemicals are linked to serious health issues, including cancer and problems with reproduction.

Toxic-Free Future is asking the U.S. government to ban harmful chemicals in plastics. This plea is part of their work on the Global Plastics Treaty. Countries will discuss better ways to handle plastic waste.

This study shows why we need to be careful about what goes into recycled products. With better rules, we can keep harmful chemicals out of our homes and protect our health.

Source: toxicfreefuture.org

WEIGHT LOSS

Teenagers Are Taking New Weight-loss Drugs, but the Science is Far From Settled

More teenagers with obesity are now using weight-loss medications like Wegovy. These drugs help control blood sugar and make people feel full, leading to less eating. They were recently approved for kids 12 and older.

Doctors see good changes in teens using these drugs, but many experts are worried. There is still a lot we don't know about the long-term effects. These medications might need to be taken for life, which is a big decision for young people whose bodies are still changing.

Some concerns include how these drugs could affect teens' bone strength, growth, and eating habits. Without long studies, health professionals are careful about using them with young people.

The use of these drugs is part of a bigger conversation about weight and health. More doctors are learning that being heavier does not always mean being unhealthy. Still, they want to find the best way to help teens stay healthy now and in the future.

Doctors remind us that these drugs should not be the only solution. Eating well and exercising are still important. The goal is not just to lose weight but to improve overall health for a long time.

As these drugs become more popular, doctors and families are talking more about their safety and benefits. It's a complicated topic that mixes health, feelings, and growing up, and it needs careful thought and more research.

Source: scientificamerican.com

HEALTH

Harmful Diagnostic Errors May Occur for as Many as One in Every 14 Hospital Patients Receiving Medical Care, a New Study in the U.S. Has Found | as Many as 85 Percent of These Errors May Be Preventable, Highlighting the Need for Improved Surveillance in Hospital Settings

A new study from a big U.S. medical center shows that one in every 14 hospital patients might get the wrong diagnosis. Surprisingly, about 85% of these mistakes could be stopped with better checking systems.

Anuj Dalal of Brigham and Women's Hospital led a study. It examined 675 patient records from July 2019 to September 2021. They found that 7% of these patients faced harmful errors in their diagnosis.

Dalal said that, while doctors are usually right, things can go wrong. This is due to complicated processes and human error. The main problems were found in the first checks and tests done on patients. "It's usually not just one person or one thing that's wrong," he pointed out.

The study also talked about making electronic health records better so they can catch errors more easily. Andrew Auerbach, a co-researcher, said these problems often come from system issues like bad data display or doctors being too busy.

But, we should be careful when applying these findings to all hospitals. "We're studying more hospitals to understand errors better," Dalal added.

To fix these errors, Dalal suggested hospitals should measure how often they happen as part of their safety checks. They also might use artificial intelligence to help. "Making diagnosis better is key for both patient safety and doctor well-being," Dalal noted.

Source: newsweek.com

People With Higher Levels of Neuroticism Were at Greater Risk of Dying From a Range of Causes, Finds New Study Which Used Data From Nearly Half a Million People. Loneliness Stood Out as the Most Strongly Associated With an Increased Risk of Early Death

A recent study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that people who often feel anxious, sad, or lonely might be at a higher risk of dying early. This personality trait is called neuroticism. Researchers used data from nearly half a million people in the UK Biobank to learn more about this link.

The study found that, of all the parts of neuroticism, feeling lonely was the biggest risk factor for dying too soon. This was especially true for younger men and those without a college degree.

During the study, researchers followed participants, aged between 38 and 73, for over 13 years. In this time, over 43,000 people died. The reasons for their deaths varied. But, those with high neuroticism, especially loneliness, were more likely to die early.

Professor Antonio Terracciano noted that loneliness was a much stronger death risk than other parts of neuroticism, like being moody or irritable. On the flip side, people who worry a lot might live longer because they're more careful.

The study also mentioned its limitations. The participants were mostly healthier and more educated than the average UK person. This might affect the results.

We need more research. It should clarify how neuroticism causes early death and if the findings apply to everyone. The study shows we must address negative feelings. It suggests that better handling of loneliness could greatly improve public health.

Source: psypost.org

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.