Latest news with #UCDavis
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
US Preschoolers Exposed to Dozens of Potentially Harmful Chemicals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American toddlers are regularly exposed to a vast mix of potentially harmful industrial and consumer chemicals, a new study has cautioned. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, led by the University of California, Davis conducted one of the most extensive investigations to date into the chemical exposure among young children. The study focused on a group of 201 children aged between two and four from four states: California, Georgia, New York and Washington. Two year old drinking from plastic sippy cup. Two year old drinking from plastic sippy cup. Olha Romaniuk They tested for 111 different chemicals and detected 96 in at least five children, uncovering widespread contact with substances commonly found in plastics, personal care products, household dust and air pollution. Exposure to environmental chemicals—including pesticides, flame retardants, plasticizers, parabens, bisphenols and combustion byproducts—has been previously linked to developmental delays, endocrine disruption and rising health issues. Children encounter environmental chemicals through daily activities like eating, drinking, breathing air, and touching surfaces. Deborah H. Bennett, lead author and UC Davis public health professor, emphasized the urgency: "Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development." The study found younger children—particularly two-year-olds—often carried higher levels of these chemicals than their older peers. They also found the children had higher levels of several chemicals than their mothers did during pregnancy. These included two phthalates, bisphenol S and the pesticide biomarkers 3-PBA and trans-DCCA. Minority children also showed elevated concentrations of specific substances such as parabens, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—highlighting persistent disparities in environmental health. Alarmingly, nine compounds identified in toddlers were absent from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), suggesting significant gaps in national chemical monitoring programs. Jiwon Oh, first author and postdoctoral scholar at UC Davis, underlined the need for policy reform: "This new study highlights the urgent need for expanded biomonitoring and stronger regulations to protect children from harmful exposures." Recommendations for parents and caregivers include washing hands frequently, especially before eating, ventilating living spaces and avoiding plastics marked #3, #6 and #7 as they may contain BPA or similar chemicals. Using phthalates and phthalate alternatives used in plastics like toys and food packaging can also reduce exposure. Avoiding parabens commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos and pharmaceuticals is also advised. The researchers propose long-term biomonitoring across more diverse populations and the inclusion of emerging chemicals in national surveillance. They also call for stricter regulation of chemical use in consumer products and building materials. Early, proactive approaches are crucial for shielding children from invisible environmental threats. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about chemical exposure? Let us know via health@ Reference Oh, J., Buckley, J. P., Kannan, K., Pellizzari, E., Miller, R. L., Bastain, T. M., Dunlop, A. L., Douglas, C., Gilliland, F. D., Herbstman, J. B., Karr, C., Porucznik, C. A., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Morello-Frosch, R., Sathyanarayana, S., Schmidt, R. J., Woodruff, T. J., & Bennett, D. H. (2025). Exposures to Contemporary and Emerging Chemicals among Children Aged 2 to 4 Years in the United States Environmental Influences on the Child Health Outcome (ECHO) Cohort. Environmental Science & Technology.
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
From Microbes To Markets: What It Takes To Deliver Methane Vaccines For Livestock
Methane vaccines are an attractive proposition because they build on natural immune responses, work with existing industry and farming practices, and are scalable globally. Their efficacy lies in stimulating an immune response that targets methanogens. By David Aitken, CEO, Lucidome Bio Reducing methane emissions from animal agriculture is no longer a hypothetical. At the 2025 State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture, held at UC Davis in California, one session in particular signalled how far we've come and how far we still need to go. The panel ' Advancements and Barriers Toward a Methane Reducing Vaccine ' brought together global leaders in immunology, agritech innovation, and biotech development to explore the scientific and regulatory frontiers of this emerging solution. Moderated by Professor Paul Wood, a member of the Scientific Oversight Committee of the Global Methane Hub and a recognised authority on livestock vaccines, the panel also featured: John Hammond, Principal Scientist, Pirbright Institute Colin South, CEO, ArkeaBio David Aitken, CEO, Lucidome Bio What followed was a rigorous, grounded discussion on where the science stands, what technical barriers remain, and how the sector can work collaboratively to move from early promise towards real-world impact. Why methane vaccines matter Enteric methane emissions from cattle, sheep, and other farmed ruminants are responsible for around 5% of total annual global greenhouse gas emissions based on Food and Agriculture Organization data. This is similar to the total annual greenhouse gas emissions of all the passenger cars around the world. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has said that ' Cutting methane is the strongest lever we have to slow climate change over the next 25 years and complements necessary efforts to reduce carbon dioxide '. Methane vaccines are an attractive proposition because they build on natural immune responses, work with existing industry and farming practices, and are scalable globally. Their efficacy lies in stimulating an immune response that targets methanogens – specialised microbes in the rumen which are responsible for methane production – without disrupting digestion or affecting animal health. Scientific momentum – from antigen identification to animal trials Lucidome Bio is moving decisively from discovery to development. Our presentation at the summit outlined key milestones already achieved including: Screening over 2,000 relevant genes and filtering hundreds of vaccine targets for evaluation Prioritising a shortlist of 20+ vaccine candidates which are now going through in vitro testing and trials in cattle to assess immune response and effectiveness Demonstrating we can induce strong antibody responses and that these antibodies bind to methanogens We are using a range of tools from AI to bioinformatics to better understand how to trigger a strong, specific immune system response. Cattle trials are underway to measure how effectively the vaccine stimulates an immune response (immunogenicity) and effectiveness at reducing methane yields. These steps form part of a defined development pipeline that has been designed to de-risk each stage before moving toward commercial scale-up. Clarifying the barriers: perception, policy, and pace While scientific progress is tangible, the panel discussion made it clear that significant challenges remain. Attendees asked questions on several fronts: 1. Regulatory readiness Global regulators lack a common framework for methane vaccines for livestock as existing regulatory approval pathways have been developed for therapeutic vaccines. However, the panel noted that speed matters, that early adopter markets can accelerate regulatory approvals, and that there is an opportunity to meet core regulatory needs while building the larger scale deployment data that provides clarity to partners, investors, and governments. 2. Public and producer perception Pushback to new solutions is always a risk and can be rooted in a misunderstanding that these vaccines introduce something 'unnatural' to the animal. In reality, ruminant animals already recognise methanogens. Methane vaccines induce antibodies that may already be present at modest levels – effectively stimulating immune responses that are already part of the animal's biology. They aren't about inserting foreign organisms into food systems. This helps to support producer and consumer acceptance. 3. Collaboration vs competition A critical takeaway from the discussion is that collaboration is an important element to solving complicated vaccine challenges. Our team is already collaborating with a range of expert partners including AgResearch and Pirbright Institute to make the breakthroughs needed for a successful vaccine globally. No single technology can solve this challenge and the methane mitigation toolkit will need different options including a variety of feed additives, selective breeding, and lower methane pastures. These tools can complement one another and potentially be stacked to enhance the benefits – this isn't a winner-takes-all scenario. 4. Evolutionary response and efficacy What if the rumen microbiome evolves in a way that has other impacts on animals from inhibiting the growth of methanogens or makes a methane vaccine less effective over time? The panel acknowledged there is more work to do on this but that literature on methane reducing feed additives indicates that there should not be any negative impacts on productivity from a methane vaccine. We are targeting productivity gains from our vaccine but recognise a lot of work still needs to be done to achieve this as other sessions at the conference also explored. Methanogens share many similarities across ruminant species and countries which is helpful for efficacy and, just like flu vaccines can be updated for new strains, methane-reducing vaccines could also adapt as needed over time as research continues to progress. 5. Timeframes We often get asked when a methane vaccine will be ready. While this is influenced by how much investment we raise and the regulatory pathway in different countries, our focus is on demonstrating robust proof of concept in cattle and progress towards key elements of our first vaccine product over the next two years. We aim to get approved vaccines into the hands of farmers within five years. This aligns with a typical 3 – 5 year commercialisation timeframe post proof of concept that Professor Paul Wood highlighted during the discussion on other vaccines. The commercial approach is critical alongside technology development to delivering on this timeframe. There are opportunities to accelerate deployment through licensing opportunities with global animal health companies. Market impetus – supply chain momentum is here The commercial signals are encouraging. In New Zealand, where Lucidome Bio is based, dairy cooperative Fonterra – one of the world's largest – has committed to reducing supply chain emissions and will start offering financial incentives to farmers from 2025/26 who supply lower emissions milk. This mechanism is supported by Fonterra's customers Nestle and Mars showing how global agribusinesses can drive innovation through their supply chain. This type of leadership creates clear demand for tools such as methane vaccines. The future is within reach There is still a lot of work ahead – on technology development, public education, aligning regulatory pathways, and building multi-stakeholder coalitions – but the tone of the panel was clear: methane vaccines are no longer just about the fundamental science. They're now a credible, developing technology, generating a lot of interest across the sector. We've spent decades understanding this problem. It's time to invest just as deeply in solving it. Watch the event on catchup…
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Should You Do ‘Away Rotations' As a Fourth-Year Med Student?
When Katy Wyszynski, DO, was a medical student, she pursued three away rotations in emergency medicine. She purposefully chose month-long rotations that were distinct from one another — one at a level 1 trauma center, another at a level 2 trauma center and one in Philadelphia at 'a very high acuity trauma center,' she said. 'Through these rotations, it really showed me that I did want to work with patients and populations that were more underserved and like a true safety net hospital, rather than a different type of shop,' Wyszynski said. An away rotation generally refers to a month-long clinical rotation medical students apply to and complete outside of their home medical school. There are many different terms for an away rotation, Wyszynski said, including rotating internship or sub-internship. These terms all basically mean the same thing. 'It's a chance to work with faculty and residents at that institution, as a way to learn and to help sort of support your own application to residency,' said Sharad Jain, MD, associate dean of students at UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California. Katy Wyszynski, DO Everyone will experience something a little bit different from doing an away rotation, said Wyszynski, who is now beginning her second year of emergency medicine residency at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas. 'I got so much hands-on experience from doing procedures to even seeing really sick patients alongside the residents and the attendings, and the teaching that's associated with that really is invaluable,' she said. It varies whether residency programs expect medical students to complete away rotations, Jain said. Some of the more competitive residency programs — including those in orthopedic surgery and dermatology — often expect medical students to take on away rotations, he said. 'I think some of the more competitive fields want to see how you're going to perform in those areas.' However, for other specialties — such as the primary care fields of family medicine and internal medicine — it's not at all expected or even recommended for medical students to do them, Jain said. Still some students hoping to pursue those fields may choose to do them anyway. 'You do these away rotations in the specialty that you are applying…to kind of get your foot in the door as a medical student,' Wyszynski said. 'So it really does go both ways in my perspective,' she added. 'The medical student is truly auditioning, doing an audition rotation or an away rotation to be evaluated. But then the student is also evaluating the program to see if they would be a good…match.' Do away rotations really help medical students find and land their desired residency spots? Once a medical student decides to pursue an away rotation, how do they find the right one? We lay out what you need to know about sub internships from applying early to making professional connections while there. Letters of Recommendation, Exposure and More Those interested in pursuing emergency medicine need two formal away rotations to be a competitive applicant, Wyszynski said. In this case, it is important to obtain a Standard Letter of Evaluation or SLOE, she said. A sub-internship provides a student the chance to get such a recommendation letter. Sharad Jain, MD The letter requirement allows residency programs in emergency medicine to compare applicants 'in a very similar manner,' Wyszynski said. Emergency medicine is a rigorous residency program with a 'very difficult schedule,' she said. 'So it really helps, both the program and the applicant identify and confirm, 'I really want to do emergency medicine.'' An away rotation also allows a medical student to get exposure to the field of emergency medicine because not all medical schools require it as a core rotation in the third year of training, Wyszynski said. Other fields — including most surgical specialties — also recommend away rotations,she said. 'It's almost like a 1-month interview,' Jain said, 'because you are, you're there every day and they're asking you questions. They're seeing how you work with the team. They're checking out your medical knowledge. They're really getting a good sense of the applicant.' Wyszynski ultimately landed a residency spot at one of the institutions where she did an away rotation during medical school. The third-year residents impressed her with how smart, competent and capable they were. 'And I thought to myself, 'I want to be that type of doctor.'' Other students who are pursuing fields that don't necessarily recommend an away rotation such as family medicine may choose to do one anyway. Heather Barnes, who is just starting her fourth year of medical school at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, hopes to ultimately pursue a residency in family medicine. She chose to sign on to five away rotations because for her it was really about returning to Northeast Ohio where she is from and where her husband is currently a medical resident. Barnes then plans to complete her remaining core rotations in Ohio as well. She sees her away rotations as an audition of sorts for residency programs. 'I think you can showcase more during a whole month being there than just an hour-long interview,' she said. Even if she wasn't trying to move back to Ohio, Barnes said, she would have pursued away rotations anyway. Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine isn't affiliated with a home hospital like many other medical schools are, she said. It does have a few affiliated hospitals with dedicated residency programs, Barnes said, but they are rural and not anywhere near the campus. 'For family medicine, for internal medicine, it can be helpful to see a program and to get your foot in the door…,' Wyszynski said. It comes down to how important it is to have a sense of security during the Match process, Barnes said. 'I think for me, it was just nice to have multiple auditions. Like that way when I get to a rank list, I've had interface at multiple different spots in Ohio so my chances of staying in Ohio are greater.' Going on an away rotation, for her, also is a signal of personal expansion. She obtained a master's degree in Illinois prior to medical school, 'and I really do think that these pivotal life moments of living in a completely different state, completely starting from scratch, not knowing anyone, they really served as a nidus for the most growth I've had in my life ever,' she said. Start Early Barnes advises students interested in pursuing one or more away rotations to start planning them early. She began applying and scheduling her five sub-rotations back in December. 'Basically from January until May, I was submitting applications on VSLO [AAMC's Visiting Student Learning Opportunities system], reaching out to programs directly, really like emphasizing 'I want to come here. I'm really interested in getting back to Ohio,'' she said. Students interested in away rotations should reach out to education and/or clinical coordinators, Barnes said. 'Look for hospital officials with titles like residency coordinator or rotation coordinators or education coordinators,' she said. 'Don't fall into the group of people that's like: 'You know I'm stressed right now. I feel super busy right now'' and procrastinate starting the process, Barnes said. Try to take an hour out of your day and begin the application process. 'Sitting down to organize something that will help you exponentially in the next few months is like, it's really such like a mental shift to think that way,' she said. 'Shoot Your Shot' Regardless of the specialty, if you are really interested in a specific program, even if it's a reach program, and you don't think that you necessarily would get an interview or they would even accept you for an away rotation, 'I would say shoot your shot,' Wyszynski said. 'It doesn't hurt to apply to these rotations. You can apply to any rotation anywhere in the country regardless of where you go to medical school.' That said, there are certain downsides to away rotations. 'The financial strain is a very real downside of these away rotations,' Wyszynski said. Many institutions offer financial stipends for housing, she said, but it's not always enough. For that reason, many people do at least one away rotation relatively close to where they already are located geographically, she said. That's not always possible, especially if a medical student is interested in pursuing a competitive specialty such as orthopedic surgery where you might have to take an away rotation far away because it's the only one you can get, she said. Despite some potential difficulties, they're worth pursuing, said Wyszynski, who is also president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine Resident Student Association. 'I would say that I made invaluable connections when I was a medical student that I still use as mentors during residency,' Wyszynski said.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Lion cub struck by vehicle nursed back to health, returned to wild
A mountain lion cub that was struck by a vehicle and sustained horrendous injuries — including a fractured skull — has been released back into the wild, according to the San Diego Humane Society. It took nearly five months of careful rehabilitation to nurse the young male lion back to health without letting it get too dependent on, or comfortable around, people. 'Our job is to provide medical care while preserving the animal's wild instincts, so they have the best possible chance at surviving on their own,' said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations manager at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. That was a tall order after the cub, who is now about 10 months old, was found in January with its skull fractured, eye trauma and a lame left hind leg after being struck by the vehicle. The cub was initially treated at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Orange County, before being transferred to the humane society for his long-term rehab. During his first few weeks at the center, staff focused on pain management and getting him to eat. As soon as possible, they moved him to an outdoor enclosure so he could continue his recovery with 'minimal human contact,' staff said. After about 150 days, his caretakers decided he had gained sufficient weight and strength to be released back into the wild. He was also demonstrating natural survival behavior and, crucially, avoiding people. 'This is the moment we all work toward,' Welch said. So on June 17, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife released him into a remote location of the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County. The humane society is still caring for two orphaned mountain lion cubs that arrived at the Ramona Wildlife Center in late March. A team of UC Davis researchers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff trapped the cubs after they were found alone. The goal is to get them healthy — and wary enough of humans — to be safely released back into the wild, too. 'We're grateful for our partnership with CDFW and UC Davis, and for the opportunity to give these incredible animals a second chance at life in the wild,' Welch said. The San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife program cares for more than 10,000 wild animals each year — including orphaned baby songbirds and apex predators — with the hope of rehabilitating and returning them to their natural habitats.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
California's gas prices are set to increase on July 1. Here's what to know.
Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Many Californians are confused by how much more they will be paying at the pump come July 1. Starting July 1, the state excise tax for gas will increase by 2 cents, going from about 59 cents to 61 cents per gallon. That is a number politicians on both sides agree on, but the confusion is coming from the new Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) passed by the California Air Resources Board last fall and how it will impact gas prices. A University of Pennsylvania report found it would be a 65-cent increase, sparking the confusion. Senator Brian Jones created a petition against it that has garnered over 30,000 signatures and counting. In a post on X, he called out Gov. Gavin Newsom. "All Californians have to do is look at their wallet," Jones said. "Their wallets are being emptied every single week as these gas prices continue to climb." UC Davis associate director in the Energy Futures Program, Colin Murphy, said 65 cents is the worst-case scenario. Instead, his models show it would increase by 8 or 9 cents per gallon. "If the credit price spiked up to the ceiling, then 65 cents per gallon would be reasonable; however, there is no evidence suggesting that the credit price is going to rise anywhere near that," Murphy said. Newsom's office released what it is calling a fact-check sheet, saying Republican lawmakers and the oil industry are spreading misinformation. "I think it's very offensive for California motorists who are buying gasoline every day to get to work, for this governor to keep trying to split hairs on how much it is going to be," Jones said. "The bottom line is, it is going to be more." The Office of Administrative Law has not approved LCFS yet, but Murphy believes this action will happen by the end of July. USC associate professor Michael Mische told CBS Sacramento last month that his studies show that the price per gallon by the end of 2026 will be $8. "We built models, multiple models," Mische said. "It really doesn't matter whether it's $8 or $7 or $7.50. The models all indicate the price of gas is going up." Murphy said that it is highly unlikely and a worst-case scenario.
