You might think everyone knows by now to protect against the sun’s rays, but many Gen Zers apparently haven’t gotten the message. In a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by the American Academy of Dermatology, many of these 18- to 25-year-olds were unaware of the risks from tanning. About 60% of Gen Z respondents…  read on >  read on >

Heat coupled with smog can be a particularly lethal mix, especially for older adults, a new study finds. Unfortunately, both hot temperatures and air pollution are going to increase as the planet warms, and so will deaths, researchers report. “We are experiencing more and more frequent wildfires, which cause pollution, and wildfires happen during the…  read on >  read on >

COVID vaccination is highly protective against severe disease in people of all body weights, new British research finds. The study of over 9 million adults found that those who’d received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were strongly protected against hospitalization or death from the disease. And the effectiveness was just as great for obese…  read on >  read on >

While it’s more widely known that polluted air can harm human health, another danger may be lurking at your feet. New research shows that soil, too, can contain contaminants that can impact health. These include pesticides and heavy metals. In this study, scientists focused on the impact of contaminated soil on the cardiovascular system. “Soil…  read on >  read on >

The natural gas being piped into your home contains a wide array of toxic chemicals, including nearly two dozen so harmful they’re classified as hazardous air pollutants, a new study says. Natural gas samples taken from 69 Boston-area cooking stoves were found to contain at least 21 different hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,…  read on >  read on >

New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the city has launched the first-of-their-kind mobile COVID-19 testing units that will also dispense the antiviral drug Paxlovid to those who test positive for the virus. The “Test-to-Treat” program is part of federal and city efforts to catch and treat infections early and be ready for…  read on >  read on >

Who you voted for at the ballot box may have the most influence over whether you’ve gotten a COVID-19 booster shot. Researchers studying vaccine hesitancy two years into the pandemic found that political party affiliation was a key determinant of where study participants got their information about the pandemic and vaccines. “Survey respondents who described…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – In a ruling that will curb efforts to fight climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants. The 6-3 decision comes as scientists are warning about the growing threat posed by global warming. It could potentially extend to other…  read on >  read on >