Shock autism and Alzheimer's link in bombshell study: Doctors sound alarm over common 'cause' and name cities most at risk
Researchers in Canada studied more than 600,000 older US adults who were exposed as children to high levels of lead, a toxic metal linked to autism, infertility and cancer.
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
E. coli outbreak in Florida linked to raw milk
Public health officials are warning of an outbreak of Campylobacter and E. coli-related complications linked to the consumption of raw milk from a Florida farm. The raw milk outbreak has impacted 21 people, including six children under the age of 10, causing seven hospitalizations, according to the Florida Department of Health. Two people have faced 'severe complications,' the department added. 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,' the department said in an announcement on Monday, though it did not name the particular facility. The Independent has contacted the department for more information. Raw milk can only be sold for non-human consumption in the state though some skirt the rule and buy milk meant for pets or animal feeds for their personal use. Florida officials warned that poor 'sanitation practices' at a dairy farm in the state were raising concerns after raw milk from the facility was tied to 21 cases of health impacts (Getty) The Department of Agriculture has banned the sale of raw milk for human consumption across state lines since 1987 and federal public health officials warn that consuming the unpasteurized milk puts people at risk of exposure to germs including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella, and Salmonella. The risk is especially high for children, the elderly, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune systems. 'Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption,' according to the CDC. 'Since the early 1900s, pasteurization has greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses.' 'While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear,' the FDA notes on its website. 'Since 1987, there have been 143 reported outbreaks of illness – some involving miscarriages, still births, kidney failure and deaths – associated with consumption of raw milk and raw milk products that were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli.' Last year, California regulators recalled batches of raw milk from a Fresno farm after bird flu was detected in samples. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drinks raw milk and has called for expanding access, despite warnings, including from federal health officials, that unpasteurized dairy can carry dangerous bacteria (REUTERS) Despite the scientific consensus on the risks of unpasteurized milks recent years have seen raw milk take on a countercultural status and become popular among some conservatives and independents. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he only drinks raw milk, and raw milk backers within his Make American Healthy Again push were initially encouraged as Kennedy put raw milk on a wish list of foods and health-related topics he hoped to tackle in office. Since taking office, Kennedy's FDA temporarily halted a quality control program for testing milk amid Trump administration staffing cuts at the health department, but the secretary hasn't delivered the kind of changes to federal milk regulation they were hoping. Mark McAfee of Raw Farm, a California dairy that counted Kennedy as a customer, has said he was initially encourage by Kennedy and his allies to assist federal officials with changing raw milk rules, but was later rebuffed when he sought a meeting with regulators. 'That's a bait and switch and that is really quite sad,' he told the Fresno Bee last month.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Earth's rotation will mysteriously speed up TOMORROW as scientists contemplate unprecedented move
Scientists have warned that Earth's rotation is set to speed up on Tuesday, resulting in one of the shortest days in recorded history. The change, driven by the moon's gravitational pull, will cause the planet to spin slightly faster at its poles, shaving 1.25 milliseconds off the usual 24-hour day. While the shift is too small for humans to notice, experts said the long-term implications could be catastrophic. However, scientists said that unchecked acceleration would eventually lead to disastrous consequences. If Earth's rotation continues to accelerate unchecked, scientists warn it could trigger disastrous consequences across the globe. As the planet spins faster, centrifugal force would begin pushing ocean water away from the poles and toward the equator. Even a modest increase of just one mile per hour could raise sea levels by several inches in equatorial regions, enough to swamp low-lying coastal cities already on the brink. In more extreme scenarios, where Earth spins 100 miles per hour faster, vast areas around the equator could disappear under rising water as polar seas surge southward. For those who survive the flooding, scientists warn that daily life would grow increasingly hostile as the planet's balance shifts, making this seemingly minor change far more ominous than it appears. A faster spin would not just shorten the day, it could throw human biology into chaos. If Earth's rotation continues to accelerate, the solar day could shrink to just 22 hours, disrupting circadian rhythms and effectively shifting everyone's internal clock two hours earlier each day without time to adjust. Such disruption wouldn't be minor. Studies have shown that even small changes, like daylight saving time, are linked to spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. A permanent shift would be even more dangerous. NASA astronomer Dr Sten Odenwald also warned that weather patterns would become more extreme. As the planet spins faster, the Coriolis effect, which causes storms to rotate, intensifies. 'Hurricanes will spin faster and carry more energy,' Dr Odenwald explained. These minute deviations in Earth's rotation are tracked using atomic clocks, which measure time by counting the oscillations of atoms in a vacuum chamber. This forms the basis of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global timekeeping standard. In recent years, Earth has seen a growing number of 'short days.' On July 19, 2020, the day was 1.47 milliseconds shorter than average. June 30, 2022, came in 1.59 milliseconds short. But the current record was set just last year, on July 5, 2024, when Earth completed a full rotation 1.66 milliseconds faster than usual, the shortest day recorded since atomic clocks were introduced in 1949. Graham Jones, an astrophysicist at the University of London, discovered the change earlier this year, noting that Earth's rotation could speed up noticeably on July 9, July 22 and August 5. Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day. Earth's rotation is not always perfect, as it can shift by a tiny amount over time, a few milliseconds. That is likely due to the Earth's spin being influenced by natural forces, like earthquakes and ocean currents. Melting glaciers, movement in Earth's molten core, and large weather patterns like El Niño can also slightly speed up or slow down the planet's rotation. These changes are measured using atomic clocks, which track time more accurately than regular watches. The recent spin-up has surprised researchers. The fastest day recorded so far was on July 5, 2024, when Earth spun 1.66 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours. Although Jones does not know the exact reason for the acceleration, he is studying what's happening inside the Earth. That includes shifting molten layers in the core, ocean currents, and high-altitude winds as they affect the Earth's spin.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Millions of Americans warned to stay inside today amid 'heart attack or stroke' warnings
Millions of Americans have been urged to stay indoors and close their windows as a thick smoky haze blankets large swaths of the US. The National Weather Service has placed 12 states in the Midwest and Northeast under an orange air quality alert today, warning outdoor exercise could cause coughing, eye irritation or breathing problems. In northern Wisconsin, a red alert is also in effect, with officials urging everyone to remain indoors where and when possible. The alerts were issued after wildfire smoke blew across the border from Canada, which is experiencing its second worst fire season on record. More than 4,000 blazes have been recorded so far, with around 700 still burning. The orange alert is aimed at sensitive groups, such as very young children, older adults or those with underlying conditions such as asthma or other respiratory diseases. But officials at the NWS told that even healthy adults in affected states should consider limiting outdoor activities. Breathing in smoke from wildfires can irritate the airways and cause trouble breathing. In serious cases, it can also raise the levels of inflammation in the blood and cause clots to form that may block a blood vessel and cause a stroke or heart attack. Warnings over wildfire smoke are expected to remain in place through Monday and into Tuesday, with officials saying they could be extended to the end of the week. Mac Bhenard, a lead forecaster at the NWS, told this website: 'The smoke is probably going to still be around today or tomorrow... and it does look like some smoke may be present through to the end of the week.' He added: 'The orange alerts pretty much just recommend that people should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity. 'That typically includes those in the most sensitive groups, such as very young people and those with pre-existing respiratory problems. But, in general, the recommendation for everyone is to limit strenuous outdoor activities if you can. 'Closing windows may also be a good idea. Trying to preserve indoor air quality, that certainly can't hurt.' The states under orange air quality alerts are: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin. There are also orange alerts covering parts of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont. The red alert covered northern Wisconsin. Over the weekend, parts of Illinois were also under warnings because of the smoke, although that alert is now no longer in place. In the affected states, the Air Quality Index, a measure of pollution in the air, has surged to between 101 and 150, the weather service says. In northern Wisconsin, it is between 151 and 200. A healthy level is between 0 to 50, while an acceptable level is between 51 and 100. Most of the US is typically in the healthy, or green, level. The uptick is driven by surging levels of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), or particles suspended in the air that measure less than 2.5 micrometers, or about a 10,000th of an inch. These particles can be released by wildfires and then breathed into the lungs, where they penetrate deep into tissue and cause inflammation leading to coughing and shortness of breath. They can also penetrate the lining of the eyes, causing irritation. The NWS also published yellow alerts for states neighboring those under orange advisories, warning of elevated levels of haze in the air. These states include Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Iowa. Pollution in these areas is too low to cause complications for most people, but those with serious asthma or heart or lung complications could still be at risk. Many states had their alerts first issued over the weekend. In Minnesota, officials say that their air quality alert, which started on Saturday, could be the state's longest-running since 2008 when the alert lasted for seven days. The state's Pollution Control Agency warned that even healthy people may experience symptoms as a result of breathing in the polluted air. The blazes in Canada are mostly in Manitoba, a province that lies just north of Minnesota, with winds then blowing the smoke south. Most of Canada is also under air quality alerts because of the pollution, including in Montreal, which was shrouded in smoke over the weekend.
