Beijing birth defects rise again. The birth defect rate rose again in the Chinese capital Beijing last year, mirroring increases elsewhere in the country, according to figures. BBC. 16 September 2009.

Male bass in many US rivers feminized, study finds. Government scientists figure that one out of five male black bass in American river basins have egg cells growing inside their sexual organs, a sign of how widespread fish feminizing has become. Associated Press. 15 September 2009.

Sandals, flip-flops found with harmful chemicals. Some flip-flops, sandals, clogs, and rubber shoes recently tested in the Philippines have shown high concentrations of chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment, an investigation by a Swedish environmental group revealed. Manila Bulletin, Philippines. 15 September 2009.

Falling age of puberty in girls presents health risk. The shift towards early puberty in girls is a public-health problem. Early puberty opens the window of exposure to estrogen in girls and increases the risk of breast cancer, which strikes one in eight U.S. women. Burlington Free Press, Vermont. 12 September 2009.

Virus linked to prostate tumours. A virus known to cause cancer in animals has been found for the first time in human prostate cancer cells. The researchers from the University of Utah and Columbia University medical schools found the virus in 27% of the 200 cancerous prostates they looked at. BBC. 8 September 2009.

Household dust is an important source of exposure to a lesser known - but ubiquitous and potentially toxic - flame retardant, reports a study from Belgium. This study is the first to examine the relationship between dust, diet and serum concentrations of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Results are consistent with studies of other better known flame retardants, indicating that indoor sources may contribute most of human exposure to these chemicals. 8 September 2009. More...

New experiments with combinations of contaminants shows that mixtures can cause harm even when the level of each chemical in the mixture would cause no effect by itself. Because people are exposed to hundreds of chemicals at a time--or more--these results indicate that setting safety standards based on the action of individual chemicals will not be sufficient to protect human health. 1 September 2009. More...

BPA found in supposedly safe Swiss water bottles. SIGG Switzerland has revealed that until last August, its Swiss-made aluminum reusable bottle, an iconic symbol for the health-conscious consumer and the outdoorsy environmentalist, was lined with an epoxy liner containing trace amounts of bisphenol A. Canwest News Service. 26 August 2009.

Herbicide found in water may pose greater danger. Drinking water containing a common herbicide could pose a greater public health risk than previously thought because regular municipal monitoring doesn't detect frequent spikes in the chemical's levels, according to a report released by the NRDC. Washington Post. 25 August 2009. [Registration Required]

Blood Mercury Levels Rising Among U.S. Women - Study uncovers big jump between 1999-2006, especially among older females. A study involving more than 6,000 American women suggests that blood levels of mercury are accumulating over time, with a big rise noted over the past decade. US News & World Report. HealthDayNews. 24 August 2009.

Debating how much weed killer is safe in your water glass. New research suggests that atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than previously thought-particularly for fetuses. Atrazine is just one example of what critics say are regulatory weaknesses in the protections of America's drinking water. New York Times. 23 August 2009. [Registration Required]

The new normal in puberty. Most endocrinologists in North America agree that girls begin to menstruate at a younger age than in decades past. What is not as clear - and the subject of much debate - is why this is happening, and what - if anything - needs to be done about it. Toronto Mark, Ontario. Opinion, 21 August 2009.

The more perfumes and body lotions that are used, the higher the levels of synthetic fragrances - called polycyclic musks - that are in the blood, reports a new study that examined college students from Austria. This is one of only a few recent studies that have measured levels of polycyclic musks in human blood, even though they have widespread and increasing use in personal care products. 19 August 2009. More...

Sperm counts are lower in mice whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy to a mixture of particles found in diesel exhaust. The results add to a small but growing series of studies that suggest exposure to diesel exhaust can disrupt the proper development of the testis in rats and mice and perhaps affect reproduction. 14 August 2009. More...

Levels of contaminants in breast milk are more complicated than once thought; instead of a constant decline during nursing, levels may fluctuate from beginning to end, finds a new study that contradicts the long-held belief that the pollutants steadily wane. The pollutants include flame retardants, dioxins and pesticides. Sometimes, concentrations actually increased over the course of breast feeding. 11 August 2009. More...

A recent study links higher blood lead levels with high blood pressure in pregnant women, suggesting that lead exposure may increase the risk of developing hypertension during pregnancy. All of the women in the study had blood levels below the level considered 'acceptable' by most health agencies, providing additional support for the need to lower the threshold. 10 August 2009. More...