Smoke from more than 200 wildfires burning across Canada has been turning skies hazy in North American cities far from the flames. We asked Chris Migliaccio, a toxicologist at the…
Category: Anthropology
Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling
My wife and I were in the grocery store recently when we noticed an older woman reaching above her head for some produce. As she stretched out her hand, she…
Parasitic infections hit the health of low-income Black communities where states have neglected sewage systems
Intestinal infections take a heavy toll on impoverished Black communities that have out-of-date sewage systems. These infections often spread through contaminated soil and water and are among the most common…
Pivotal points in the COVID-19 pandemic – 5 essential reads
Experts have made it clear that the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, which was lifted on May 11, 2023, does not mean an end to the pandemic. But this…
Gay men can now donate blood after FDA changes decades-old rule – a health policy researcher explains the benefits
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 11, 2023, that it has officially dropped restrictions that prohibit gay and bisexual men from donating blood under many circumstances on…
What does ending the emergency status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US mean in practice? 4 questions answered
The COVID-19 pandemic’s public health emergency status in the U.S. expires on May 11, 2023. And on May 5, the World Health Organization declared an end to the COVID-19 public…
FDA’s approval of the world’s first vaccine against RSV will offer a new tool in an old fight – 4 questions answered
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first vaccine to prevent the respiratory infection RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus, on May 3, 2023. The new shot represents…
Disinfectants and cleaning products harboring toxic chemicals are widely used despite lack of screening for potential health hazards
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Concerns about unnecessary use of a common class of antimicrobial chemicals used in disinfectants reinforces recommendations…
Many people are tired of grappling with long COVID – here are some evidence-based ways to counter it
A patient of mine, once a marathon runner, now gets tired just walking around the block. She developed COVID-19 during the 2020 Christmas holiday and saw me during the summer…
Medicaid work requirements would leave more low-income people without health insurance – but this policy is unlikely to pass this time around
The legislative package the U.S. House of Representatives passed on April 26, 2023, by a narrow margin would pare federal spending over the next decade while also raising the debt…
