Molecular Spectacular | Revenue & Trends

The hottest Substack posts of Molecular Spectacular

And their main takeaways

Glyphosate, a common herbicide, has been linked to health risks like increased cancer risk and endocrine disruption. Many studies suggest a troubling connection between glyphosate levels in humans and serious health issues.
Soy protein consumption is strongly connected to higher levels of glyphosate's byproduct, AMPA, in urine. This indicates that what we eat can affect how much of these chemicals we accumulate in our bodies.
There are hints that glyphosate might disrupt gut health, which could impact digestion of gluten. This might be related to rising gluten allergies, especially in sensitive populations like infants.

Phthalates are harmful chemicals used in many plastics and can end up in our food. They are found in everyday items like toys, shower curtains, and even cosmetics.
Health experts warn that phthalates can disrupt our body's hormones, leading to various health issues, especially for children. This includes risks to their growth, metabolism, and reproductive health.
Even though we're not consistently above the safe limits for phthalate consumption, studies show we're getting close. It's important to be aware of our daily exposure to these chemicals.

Nanoplastics are smaller than microplastics and more dangerous to human health as they can cross biological barriers and carry toxic materials.
Recent research has discovered large quantities of nanoplastics in bottled drinking water, with detection remaining a challenge for real-world applications.
The composition of nanoplastics found in bottled water is surprising, with some potentially originating from water processing or sources, indicating a wider issue beyond just bottled water.

Old and current DWR coatings in clothing contain dangerous PFAS molecules.
PFAS molecules take thousands of years to break down naturally and can accumulate in water and human blood.
Exposure over time to various PFAS molecules poses serious health risks, with findings linking them to multiple diseases.

PFAS can move from non-stick pans to food while cooking. Research shows that this transfer can vary widely, depending on how often the pan is used.
Cooking multiple meals with a non-stick pan can lead to higher levels of PFAS in your food. Studies suggest that even cooking just 4 meals a day might put people over the safe limit for PFAS exposure.
Using salt in food can increase the amount of PFAS that transfers from the pan to the meal. Additionally, reusing the same pan seems to boost PFAS levels in each successive meal.

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We consume microplastics through our food and water intake.
Bottled water has high levels of microplastics.
Main sources of microplastics are plastic packaging decomposition, washing synthetic clothing, and tire wear.

Drinking water that is too pure, like reverse osmosis water, can lead to mineral deficiencies. It can wash away essential minerals in your body, which might cause health problems over time.
It's best to remineralize reverse osmosis water before drinking. This means adding back healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium that the filtering process removes.
If local water sources are contaminated, using reverse osmosis water might be safer, but it's still important to remineralize it to ensure you're getting the necessary nutrients.

PFAS are harmful chemicals that can stay in our bodies and the environment for a long time. There are two types: long-chain and short-chain, both of which are linked to health risks.
Filtering PFAS from water is challenging because existing methods can't completely remove these chemicals, especially the short-chain ones. Currently, a combination of techniques is often needed to get better results.
The EPA has set strict limits for PFAS levels in drinking water, but many water systems still exceed these limits. This highlights the urgent need for effective filtration solutions.

The smaller the microplastic particle, the higher the risk for health impact.
Limited research exists on direct impact of microplastics on human health, but toxic plastic additives carried by microplastics pose a concern.
Research is needed to understand the impact of microplastics particle accumulation in the human body and to strive for eliminating harmful plastics additives.

Benzene in air is well controlled today, with low levels unlikely to increase cancer risk.
Benzene can have impacts on reproductive health, but evidence does not show significant risks at background concentrations.
High concentrations of benzene in leaks or breakout scenarios can be instantly deadly.

The blog will focus on exploring chemical contaminants and their effects on health.
Chemical contaminants are encountered in various ways, impacting healthspan and bodily functions.
The goal is to examine research on chemical contaminants and discuss how to control for them.

High levels of PFAS in water consumed by humans pose health risks.
Various compounds under PFAS family have different concentration levels.
PFAS accumulation in soil can pose environmental risks beyond immediate human health concerns.