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Florida Testing Shows High Levels of Weed Killer in Popular Bread Brands
Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo released results from state testing that showed high levels of glyphosate (found in weed killers including Roundup). The Florida Department of Health found glyphosate in six of eight bread products tested: Nature’s Own Butter Bread, Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted White, Dave’s Killer Bread White Done Right, Wonder Bread Classic White, Sara Lee Honey Wheat, and Dave’s Killer Bread 21 Whole Grain, the state said. Results are in the graphic above.
The state said the results are intended to give families additional insight into everyday foods and support informed decision-making. “The Healthy Florida First initiative is taking proactive steps to strengthen food safety standards nationwide,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “The results from the Florida Department of Health’s analysis of bread testing results show troubling levels of glyphosate. Consumers deserve to know what chemical contaminants are in their food so that they can make informed decisions.”
“Bread is a staple food for many Florida families, and they should be able to consume it without worrying about toxins,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo. “Our testing found high levels of glyphosate in some popular bread brands. Chronic exposure to glyphosate is linked to harmful gut microbiome changes, liver inflammation, and adverse neurologic effects. Florida is taking action through transparency, continued testing, and a clear focus on reducing exposure to protect families.”
Virginia Lawmakers Seek Ban on Toxic Chemicals Used in Cosmetics
Virginia lawmakers want to remove toxic chemicals from cosmetics to better protect public health, something advocates say is also better for the environment. Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, D-Fairfax, introduced the Humane and Toxin-Free Cosmetics Act, or House Bill 122. The proposal updates the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to ban use of certain chemicals such as formaldehyde and methylene glycol, among others.
Formaldehyde is known to induce contact dermatitis, a form of eczema, according to the National Health Service. It is found in preservatives that release formaldehyde through activation by water. Shampoos and creams are a common carrier, according to the National Library of Medicine. Formaldehyde, at high levels or prolonged exposure, is also considered a human carcinogen, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Methylene glycol is a liquid form of formaldehyde found in hair smoothing products. When the hair smoothing solution is heated, formaldehyde is released into the air as a gas. Formaldehyde, when airborne, can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and lungs, according to the FDA.
Citing Parkinson’s Risk, Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push for Paraquat Ban
A contingent of Pennsylvania lawmakers and Parkinson’s disease research and support groups on Feb. 4 called for the state to move quickly to ban paraquat, a weed killing chemical commonly used by farmers that scientific research links to the incurable brain disease.
The move adds to growing calls around the country for action on the pesticide.
“The evidence linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease is clear,” Pennsylvania state Sen. Devlin Robinson said in a press conference. “Studies show that working in fields where paraquat has been sprayed or even just living near fields or golf courses where it has been sprayed significantly increases a person’s chances of developing Parkinson’s disease,”.
Citing other human health risks he said are tied to paraquat, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and childhood leukemia, Robinson said the “dangers of paraquat to human health are well established through numerous scientific studies.”
US Chemical Giant to Stop Producing Herbicide Called ‘Toxic Cocktail’ by Critics
The chemical giant Corteva will stop producing Enlist Duo, a herbicide considered to be among the most dangerous still used in the US by environmentalists because it contains a mix of Agent Orange and glyphosate, which have both been linked to cancer and widespread ecological damage.
The US military deployed Agent Orange, a chemical weapon, to destroy vegetation during the Vietnam war, causing serious health problems among soldiers and Vietnamese residents. Glyphosate, meanwhile, is a highly controversial and toxic herbicide ingredient that has prompted similar litigation. Both are banned or severely restricted in many industrialized countries.
Despite the risks of combining the substances, the US Environmental Protection Agency has twice approved it for use on food crops. The compound is annually spread on around 4.5m acres of fields in which corn, soybeans and genetically engineered cotton are grown.
Study: Toxins in Gulf War Led to Early Menopause for Women Veterans
Women who served in the Gulf War were three times more likely to experience an early onset of menopause based on exposures to dangerous chemicals, according to a new study and reporting from Scienceline. The study, published in the Women’s Health Issues journal, examined environmental exposures for women during the 1990-91 military campaign and its ramifications for reproductive health.
Several doctors took part in the research, including Carolyn Gibson, a psychologist and health services researcher at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. The panel researched a cohort of 384 women veterans from the Gulf War, and nearly two out of three said they were exposed to harmful substances. More than half met the guidelines for Gulf War Illness, an ailment that affects more women than men, based on VA research.
Through the survey, researchers found that of the veterans exposed to hazardous chemicals from burning oil wells and waste, 15 percent said they had experienced early menopause before age 45, three times faster than women who had not deployed to the Gulf War. According to the National Institutes of Health, women who quit producing estrogen before age 45 are at a higher risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis.
