Latest news with #UniversityofNotreDame
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
When forever chemicals enter period products
The name sounds almost poetic: forever chemicals. But these are perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which get their name from the fact that they practically never decompose — and stay in our environment forever. As per DW, they also have serious consequences for humans. Some PFAS are carcinogenic, while others have an effect on the immune system or reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations. "PFAS can affect fertility, sperm quality or even the development of the child in the womb," toxicologist Marike Kolossa-Gehring told the German TV show Tagesschau. Forever chemicals have also been linked to thyroid disorders and high blood pressure. Now, a research team in the US has found that these chemicals can be found in reusable period products. Almost a third of the period underwear, menstrual cups and reusable pads tested by the scientists were made using these toxic chemicals. The team, led by Alyssa Wicks and Graham Peaslee at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, tested 59 reusable period products from North America, South America and Europe. The researchers found low levels in some products, which were most likely packaging residues. But in some products, the levels were so high that PFAS must have been used in the manufacturing process - even though they would work just as well without the toxic chemicals. "We found PFAS in some, but not all of the products," Peaslee, a physicist and professor emeritus at Notre Dame University, told DW. "So it's not necessary. Some don't have PFAS, and they sell fine." Chemicals everywhere The chemicals can harm humans in two ways. The direct route is absorption through the skin of the wearer. "The skin absorbs between 1 per cent and 50 per cent of PFAS in the product," said Peaslee. "Even if only 1 per cent or 2 per cent are absorbed, that's still bad." The indirect route endangers not only the individual using the item, but everyone else, too. When the products are disposed of, the chemicals end up in our water cycle, where, as their name suggests, they do not decompose. People then wind up absorbing PFAS via their drinking water or food that has been irrigated with contaminated groundwater. "These products are sold as eco-friendly, because they produce less waste than single-use products," said Peaslee. "But this chemical class is particularly terrifying, because they're everywhere and don't go away." Growing awareness PFAS are widespread. They are water – and dirt-repellent, as well as resistant to pressure and heat. This makes them attractive for companies like clothing and packaging manufacturers. Forever chemicals can be found in water-repellent jackets or shoes, in tents and in food packaging. PFAS are even used in cosmetics to alter the consistency of the product, or as a colourant, for example. With the study, Wicks, Peaslee and their team want to raise awareness of the dangers of PFAS in menstrual products, both among companies and consumers. They do not mention brand names in their published report. "We didn't want to be sued," said Peaslee, adding that could easily happen in the US. The researcher said it would be more cost-effective for producers to omit PFAS from their products, as these materials are expensive. However, at the end of the day, he expects any industry move away from PFAS will primarily be driven by consumers. "Consumers have a lot of market power," said Peaslee. "Consumers should ask [whether products are manufactured without PFAS] and be vocal about their choices. If there's demand, companies will start to test for [the chemicals] and say when their products don't contain PFAS. And companies won't lie, because they don't want to get sued, either."
RTHK
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Kaylin Hsieh says this is her best fencing season yet
Kaylin Hsieh says this is her best fencing season yet Kaylin Hsieh described this latest University Games win as the perfect conclusion, marking both her first and last appearance at the event with a gold medal. Photo: RTHK Fencer Kaylin Hsieh said on Monday that this is her strongest season yet, following her successful title defence at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The 24-year-old claimed the women's individual epee gold, securing the first gold medal for Hong Kong, China, at this year's event. This victory mirrored her win at the previous Games in Chengdu back in 2021. Speaking upon her return, Hsieh, who is currently ranked fourth globally, described her rapid rise in the rankings as surreal. However, she emphasised there remains significant room for improvement and that she can continue pushing her limits. Reflecting on the past year, she mentioned numerous new challenges and changes requiring adaptation, highlighting her recent graduation from the University of Notre Dame, her return to Hong Kong as a full-time athlete and the start of work with a new coach. Despite these transitions, she said she felt she had handled them well. She described this latest University Games win as the perfect conclusion, marking both her first and last appearance at the event with a gold medal. "I think this is a really great confidence boost because I never really thought I could achieve the goals or the rankings I have now so quickly, and seeing it happen is just really surreal and it just makes me feel like anything is possible, not just for me, but for any one of us as Hong Kong athletes," she said. "Especially for fencing, I hope that gives confidence to the younger ones, the younger and up and coming, because this is just the beginning of a whole new chapter for Hong Kong's history." Looking ahead, Hsieh confirmed her focus is now set on the 2026 World Fencing Championships, which Hong Kong will host, and on pursuing a medal at next year's Asian Games in Japan. She also noted an evolution in her fencing style over the years, attributing it more to mental growth than physical changes. "Of course, the physical is always there. Like, I'm really strong, I'm really fast, but being able to think, and also to do what I think, that's the hard part, and I think that's more of the mental aspect, so the mindset," she said. "I feel like in the recent competitions, I've been more confident, even though sometimes it's normal for me to feel stressed, feel nervous before a competition. But I think I've handled these emotions a lot better than I was before. "Hence, I'm able to perform well this season, and this has been my best fencing season so far, and I'm really glad that the previous work that I've had has been paying off."
RTHK
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Kaylin Hsieh says this is her best fencing season yet
Kaylin Hsieh says this is her best fencing season yet Kaylin Hsieh described this latest University Games win as the perfect conclusion, marking both her first and last appearance at the event with a gold medal. Photo: RTHK Fencer Kaylin Hsieh said on Monday that this is her strongest season yet, following her successful title defence at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The 24-year-old claimed the women's individual epee gold, securing the first gold medal for Hong Kong, China, at this year's event. This victory mirrored her win at the previous Games in Chengdu back in 2021. Speaking upon her return, Hsieh, who is currently ranked fourth globally, described her rapid rise in the rankings as surreal. However, she emphasised there remains significant room for improvement and that she can continue pushing her limits. Reflecting on the past year, she mentioned numerous new challenges and changes requiring adaptation, highlighting her recent graduation from the University of Notre Dame, her return to Hong Kong as a full-time athlete and the start of work with a new coach. Despite these transitions, she said she felt she had handled them well. She described this latest University Games win as the perfect conclusion, marking both her first and last appearance at the event with a gold medal. "I think this is a really great confidence boost because I never really thought I could achieve the goals or the rankings I have now so quickly, and seeing it happen is just really surreal and it just makes me feel like anything is possible, not just for me, but for any one of us as Hong Kong athletes," she said. "Especially for fencing, I hope that gives confidence to the younger ones, the younger and up and coming, because this is just the beginning of a whole new chapter for Hong Kong's history." Looking ahead, Hsieh confirmed her focus is now set on the 2026 World Fencing Championships, which Hong Kong will host, and on pursuing a medal at next year's Asian Games in Japan. She also noted an evolution in her fencing style over the years, attributing it more to mental growth than physical changes. "Of course, the physical is always there. Like, I'm really strong, I'm really fast, but being able to think, and also to do what I think, that's the hard part, and I think that's more of the mental aspect, so the mindset," she said. "I feel like in the recent competitions, I've been more confident, even though sometimes it's normal for me to feel stressed, feel nervous before a competition. But I think I've handled these emotions a lot better than I was before. "Hence, I'm able to perform well this season, and this has been my best fencing season so far, and I'm really glad that the previous work that I've had has been paying off."
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
The university courses where students make friends – and the ones where they don't
When UNSW social science student Amali Bridgen attended her first class on campus, she was excited to find her people. But she soon realised not everyone showed up to lectures and, if they did, they weren't focused on making friends. 'When you're in class, people are there just to learn,' she said. 'We have such short terms as well, they only last 10 weeks … so we don't get that much time to form long-term connections.' Half of undergraduates in some degrees report struggling with social connection, according to a Herald analysis of data from the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching 2023 survey. Students say the convenience of course content being available online has come at the cost of connecting with their peers. Fixed-cohort programs such as medicine and pharmacy, where students move through classes together, had the highest scores for social connection. Degrees in teaching, arts and humanities scored poorly, as did, unsurprisingly, institutions with large online course offerings. University of Notre Dame education expert Emeritus Professor David Geelan said, in previous decades, most students could survive on study support payments without a need to work, so would therefore spend more time on campus. 'You would spend social time with your peers in your class after, and outside in between classes, whereas now it really is, drive into campus, attend class, go back to work,' he said.
The Age
3 days ago
- General
- The Age
The university courses where students make friends – and the ones where they don't
When UNSW social science student Amali Bridgen attended her first class on campus, she was excited to find her people. But she soon realised not everyone showed up to lectures and, if they did, they weren't focused on making friends. 'When you're in class, people are there just to learn,' she said. 'We have such short terms as well, they only last 10 weeks … so we don't get that much time to form long-term connections.' Half of undergraduates in some degrees report struggling with social connection, according to a Herald analysis of data from the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching 2023 survey. Students say the convenience of course content being available online has come at the cost of connecting with their peers. Fixed-cohort programs such as medicine and pharmacy, where students move through classes together, had the highest scores for social connection. Degrees in teaching, arts and humanities scored poorly, as did, unsurprisingly, institutions with large online course offerings. University of Notre Dame education expert Emeritus Professor David Geelan said, in previous decades, most students could survive on study support payments without a need to work, so would therefore spend more time on campus. 'You would spend social time with your peers in your class after, and outside in between classes, whereas now it really is, drive into campus, attend class, go back to work,' he said.
