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Pesticides Used Near Farm Communities Tied to Rare but Deadly Childhood Cancer
Children whose mothers lived near farms and fields treated with certain pesticides during pregnancy have a higher risk of a deadly cancer that is most commonly found in infants before their first birthday, according to a new study.
The new study, published in the Environmental Research journal, found that pregnant women in California who lived near areas that were treated with insecticides — flonicamid, cypermethrin or permethrin — or a now-banned fungicide called benomyl were more likely to have babies that would suffer from neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerve cells that is seldom diagnosed after the age of five.
While considered rare — there are about 600 to 800 new cases each year in the U.S. — it is the most common cancer in infants and accounts for about 15% of U.S. child cancer deaths each year. Previous studies have found an association between some pesticides and neuroblastoma, but this is the first to examine links between prenatal exposure from specific sprayed pesticides near the home and the disease.
The First 1,000 Days: How a Baby’s Gut Microbiome Shapes Lifelong Health
Currently, there is a children’s health crisis revolving around the gut microbiome, according to Dr. Elisa Song, a pediatrician and chief medical officer at Tiny Health.
With 1 in 2 children now diagnosed with a chronic disease, it is important to understand that the gut microbiome established in the first 1,000 days of life profoundly influences future health and disease risk, she told The Epoch Times.
“Any disruption to the developing gut microbiome, whether by C-section [cesarean] birth or antibiotic use, can significantly increase the risk of immune and mental health concerns later in life.”
Song noted that addressing obesity, Type 1 diabetes, allergic disorders, and other conditions only after they occur cannot solve the pediatric health crisis of chronic illness. Prevention — especially in the first 1,000 days — is the only way to end this epidemic of childhood chronic disease. The key to prevention involves boosting a baby’s gut microbiome through various measures, including breastfeeding and probiotics.
Simple Hair Test Identifies Children at Highest Risk for Depression and Anxiety
Measuring stress levels through hair samples could provide important clues about mental health risks in children living with chronic physical illnesses, research suggests.
“Hair cortisol offers a non-invasive, easy-to-collect biomarker that could one day be used to screen children and track whether treatments or support programs are helping to reduce stress,” study co-author Mark Ferro, a professor in the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health Sciences, said in a press statement.
An estimated 40% of children in Canada live with chronic physical illnesses —a number that has been increasing over the past decades. Those with higher cortisol levels are more likely to develop mental health problems at rates ranging from 20% to 50%, significantly higher than the prevalence in healthy children, researchers noted. These conditions can lead to lower quality of life, suicidal thoughts, and greater use of health care services.
Published this year in Stress and Health, the study tracked 244 Canadian children with chronic physical illnesses over four years. Researchers used hair cortisol, a biological marker that reflects stress over time, to measure stress levels. The results showed that more than two-thirds of the children had consistently high cortisol levels.
FDA recalls 16 Cinnamon Brands With Elevated Lead Levels — Here’s What to Know
The Food and Drug Administration is recalling 16 brands of cinnamon that contain elevated lead levels, which over time can cause neurological problems including learning disabilities in young children.
Contaminated products were distributed to grocery stores and other retailers across the country, including Dollar Tree and Save-a-Lot stores, the feds stated. U.S. food safety regulators are urging consumers to check their cabinets, since ground cinnamon has a long shelf life, and toss the tainted products.
The recall — which was initially issued in July 2024 — was updated this month to include four new ground cinnamon products from HAETAE, Roshni, Durra and Wise Wife brands.
