Toxin Sponges May Protect Poisonous Birds and Frogs From Their Own Poisons
A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University, and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) has uncovered new clues…
Toxicology
Benzodiazepines and “Z-Drugs” Increase Death Risk When Taken With Opioids
A new study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers of more the 400,000 Medicare patients taking medications for insomnia found that the risk of death…
Global Plastic Pollution May Be Nearing an Irreversible Tipping Point
Current rates of plastic emissions globally may trigger effects that we will not be able to reverse, argues a new study by researchers from Sweden,…
Worrying New Insights Into the Chemicals in Plastics – Significant Risk to People and the Environment
Plastic is practical, cheap and incredibly popular. Every year, more than 350 million metric tons are produced worldwide. These plastics contain a huge variety of…
Strange Biology: The Very Venomous Caterpillar
The venom of a caterpillar, native to South East Queensland, shows promise for use in medicines and pest control, Institute for Molecular Bioscience researchers say….
Tarantula Toxin Attacks With Molecular Stinger – May Hold Answers to Better Control of Chronic Pain
Venom immobilizes prey by interfering with sodium channels that generate electrical signals in the animal’s nerve cells. Oversized, hairy tarantulas may be unsightly and venomous,…
Biologists Raise Alarm: Brain Damage Caused by Even Small Amounts of Plasticizers
The plasticizers contained in many everyday objects can impair important brain functions in humans. Biologists from the University of Bayreuth warn of this danger in…
Antidepressant Pollution Alters Crayfish Behavior – Impacting Stream Ecosystems
Increased foraging and reduced aggression have the potential to alter stream functioning. Pharmaceutical pollution is found in streams and rivers globally, but little is known…
High Levels of Potentially Toxic PFAS Chemicals Detected in Makeup Sold in the U.S. and Canada
Many cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada likely contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a potentially toxic class of chemicals…
More Harmful Algal Bloom Impacts Emerge Amid Rising Seafood Demand and Coastal Development
UNESCO IOC delivers 1st global assessment report after 7 years’ work by 109 experts in 35 countries, creating a baseline to detect and gauge the…
Noble False Widow Spider Bites Can Result in Severe Symptoms Requiring Hospitalization
NUI Galway study confirms that the Noble False Widow spider does have public health implications. The research team established a DNA database to allow clinicians…
Popeye With a Whiff of Rotten Eggs: New Metabolic Capabilities of Gut Bacteria Discovered
An international team of scientists led by microbiologists Professor Alexander Loy from the University of Vienna and Professor David Schleheck from the University of Konstanz…
Connection Found Between Household Chemicals and Gut Microbiome
A team of researchers for the first time has found a correlation between the levels of bacteria and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract of children…
Centipedes Incorporated the Toxic Weapons of Bacteria and Fungi Into Their Venoms
Venom expert Dr. Ronald Jenner from the Natural History Museum together with his colleague Dr. Eivind Undheim, who is associated with The University of Oslo…
Three Decade Wildlife Mystery Solved: International Investigation Discovers Bald Eagles’ Killer
Invasive water plant becomes breeding ground for a lethal cyanobacteria. The alarm bells began ringing when dozens of eagles were found dead near an Arkansas…
Vape Aerosol Has Minimal Impact on Gene Expression in Human Lung Tissue Compared to Cigarette Smoke
A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Toxicological Research & Application shows acute exposure of a 3D human bronchial tissue model to e-cigarette aerosol…
Chemists Warn: Toxic Air Pollutants From Fossil Fuels “Multiply” in Sunlight
When power stations burn coal, a class of compounds called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, or PAHs, form part of the resulting air pollution. Researchers have found…
Researchers Warn: Preservative Used in Hundreds of Popular Foods May Harm the Immune System
New science suggests the FDA should test all food chemicals for safety. A food preservative used to prolong the shelf life of Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies…