Looking at disease clusters

Feb. 19, 2012   1 Comment  

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) defines a "disease cluster" as an unusually large number of people sickened by a disease in a certain place and time. Toxic exposure by industrial activity is usually suspected or blamed. Along with the National Disease Clusters Alliance, NRDC reported in 2011 that it had identified 42 disease clusters in 13 U.S. states.

Does where you live make you sick?

Report: Asthma rates on the rise

Dec. 17, 2011   Leave a Comment  

Asthma rates have doubled since the 1980s, in spite of air quality in U.S. cities having increased over the same time period. This has led some experts to conclude that other factors -- including Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, overuse of acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) and spray mist from glass cleaners and air fresheners -- are now playing a role. (Thinkstock)

New factors contributing

Jump in flu outbreaks going around Massachusetts

Feb. 11, 2011   Leave a Comment  

It’s going around. Your neighbors. Your co-workers. You. We’re sick lately. It’s not all in our head. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reports that rates of flu and flu-like illnesses have been rising over the past week and are expected to keep jumping. “Rates of flu-like illness continues to rise in Massachusetts this past [...]

EarthTalk: Prostate cancer? National recycling law?

Nov. 20, 2010   Leave a Comment  

Just a few decades ago, Americans recycled less than 10 percent of their solid waste. Today, Americans recycle some 32 percent of the 350 million tons of refuse they generate annually (Media credit/Tom Magliery via Flickr)

Should you be forced to recycle?

“Dexter” star Michael C. Hall announces happy health update

April 26, 2010   Leave a Comment  

Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter Golden Globes

It’s about time for an upbeat celebrity story, isn’t it? It has been three months since “Dexter” front man Michael C. Hall announced his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and that he was undergoing treatments for the illness. Subsequent reports had him pegged as optimistic, describing his illness as "eminently treatable and curable". And today, we [...]