The most important factor for disease risk is exposure – you actually have to inhale asbestos fibres to be at risk of disease. But asbestos needs to be treated with caution.
Canals carry PFAS into Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
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Scientists found PFAS hot spots in Miami’s Biscayne Bay where the chemicals are entering coastal waters and reaching the ocean. Water samples point to some specific sources.
Thick wildfire smoke blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., in May 2023. Evidence linking wildfire smoke with adverse health effects has been accumulating for years.
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The notion that wildfire smoke is ‘natural,’ and therefore less harmful than other types of air pollution, is not supported by the evidence. Wildfire smoke has been linked to adverse health effects.
Modifiable risk factors for dementia include high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and infrequent social contact.
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While there is no guarantee of warding off cognitive decline, encouraging people to be physically, mentally and socially active could potentially keep a significant number of dementia cases at bay.
Fire sites like Lahaina, where residents were allowed in on Aug. 11, 2023, are filled with hazards, both obvious and unseen.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Maui County issued an ‘unsafe water’ alert and urged precautions. Residents can face several toxic hazards from fires, as an expert in the chemical risks from fires explains.
Even drinking in moderation – one or two drinks each day over the week – is risky. Here are some tips for incorporating alcohol-free days into your routine.
Without home cooling, Phoenix’s weeks with temperatures over 110 F in July 2023 became dangerous.
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The industry and its allies have been so effective at publicising this unscientific guesstimate, it continues to be used to undermine Australia’s public health policy.
The risk of dying from COVID-19 varies from person to person.
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How providing information on the health risks of vaping through expert advice and personal testimonies can help steer students away from using e-cigarettes.
Many studies on alcohol and health do not consider the social context of drinking.
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Loneliness and social isolation are some of the strongest predictors of poor health. But many studies informing Canada’s new alcohol guidelines don’t consider social connection at all.
The new rating system shows that eating the right amount of vegetables can lower your risk of heart disease by nearly 20%.
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Health guidelines can feel contradictory and hard to interpret. But a new star rating system should help consumers and policymakers better parse the evidence behind health risks and outcomes.
The requirement to wear masks in airports lowers the risk of air travel.
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Parents face tough choices since young kids can’t yet get COVID-19 vaccinations. An infectious diseases expert offers guidance on navigating summer activities.
Everyday environments and activities, from transportation to screen time to eating, are tailored nearly exclusively to prolonged sitting.
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Too much time sitting is linked to health risks, and also to lower quality of life. But in some contexts, such as reading, playing an instrument or socializing, sitting had positive associations.
Death rates vary by demographic, with age and race playing big roles.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Using random testing, researchers in Indiana were able to calculate death rates by age, race, and sex and found sharp increases in risk of death among older and non-white state residents.
BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.
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BMI categories don’t give us a full picture of a person’s health risk.
Exercise training can improve your physical fitness incrementally in as little as two weeks, making it a viable option for people about to undergo a surgical procedure.
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Physical training before surgery — like breathing exercises or running — boosts the odds of a good outcome. Patients with surgeries postponed during COVID-19 can use the delay for ‘prehabilitation.’