This new low-cost plastic sensor can help in early diagnosis of diseases

Scientists have developed a low-cost sensor made from semiconducting plastic that can be used to diagnose or monitor a wide range of health conditions, such as surgical complications or neurodegenerative diseases. The sensor can measure the amount of critical metabolites, such as lactate or glucose, that are present in sweat, tears, saliva or blood, and, when incorporated into a diagnostic device, could allow health conditions to be monitored quickly, cheaply and accurately. The device, described in the journal Science Advances, has a far simpler design than existing sensors, and opens…

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Grandparents’ Exposure To This Plastic Chemical Could Up Autism Risk In Kids

Your exposure to a plastic chemical can affect the communications skills of your grandchildren, says a study over mice that found a link between early exposure to the chemical and the risk of autism. Bisphenol A is an endocrine disrupting chemical used in consumer products such as water bottles, dental composites among others and is known to affect the crucial stages of development. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, showed that mice pups whose grandparents were exposed to BPA, demonstrated different vocalisation patterns. “There are potential concerns that…

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Moms-to-be, here’s why you should avoid drinking from plastic bottles

Pregnant women who drink from plastic bottles may be harming their children’s brain development, according to a recent study. The research in mice provides an explanation for how exposure to the widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy, even at levels lower than the regulated “safe” human exposure level, can lead to altered brain development and behaviour later in life. A previous study showed that pregnant women drinking from plastic bottles may have obese children. BPA is a chemical that is added to many commercial products, including water bottles, paper…

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Sipping On Your Favourite Beverages With Plastic Straws? You Must Stop!

We all love to sip on our favourite beverages using a plastic straw. Be it a smoothie or a soft drink, an energy drink or a cold coffee – using a straw is a super convenient and fuss-free way of enjoying any cold drink. Many like to enjoy their drinks this way because using a straw reduces the exposure to sugary and carbonated drinks in the mouth, preventing acid erosion of the teeth out enamel. While it may be convenient to drink beverages using plastic straws, it might not be an eco-friendly option. Moreover,…

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Drinking Water From Plastic Bottles During Pregnancy May Harm Your Baby

Pregnancy is a special moment in everyone’s family. There’s nothing like the joy of having a baby. But it is also the time for the pregnant woman to be very mindful of what to eat and drink. There are various factors that can affect the development process of your baby if you are not careful, leading to the onset of future diseases as well. It is no hidden fact that almost everything we eat and drink today come loaded with chemicals, and on top of that we also stay in…

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Prenatal Exposure to Plastic Chemicals May Develop Depression in Boys

Baby boys exposed to a common chemical used in plastics before delivery are more likely to develop symptoms of anxiety and depression at the age of 10-12, a new study has revealed. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a component of some plastics found in food containers, plastic water bottles, dental sealants and thermal receipt paper. In the body, BPA is a synthetic estrogen, one of the class of chemicals known as “endocrine disruptors.” The new study, published in the journal Environmental Research examined early life exposure to the chemical BPA. A…

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