Will warning labels scare parents away from soda?

Health warning labels like those found on cigarette and other tobacco products could have a powerful effect on whether parents buy soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages for their kids. Findings of a new study—the first of its kind to examine the influence of warning labels—shows that regardless of a parent’s level of education, they may be significantly less likely to …

UGA research links inorganic mercury exposure to damaged cell processes

Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia research has found that inorganic mercury, which was previously thought to be a less harmful form of the toxic metal, is very damaging to key cell processes. This study is the first to compare the effects of inorganic and organic mercury compounds at the biochemical, physiological and proteomic levels in any model organism, according …

More than a third of children were physically assaulted in the last year

More than a third of children and teens 17 and younger experienced a physical assault in the last year, primarily at the hands of siblings and peers, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics. Violence against children is a national and international public health and public policy issue. The U.S. Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control …

Autism linked to higher smog levels, study says by Tara Haelle

Air pollution exposure may be linked to a child’s risk of autism, a recent study suggests. The controversial findings echo similar results from a study last winter that found an increased risk of autism among children of women exposed to more smog late in pregnancy. This new study—which does not establish a direct connection between dirty air and autism—did not find …