Gary Ruskin

Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans

We need to ban nonstick pans.
Via @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

First trimester urine glyphosate concentrations and gestational diabetes in nulliparas: a nested case-control study - Environmental Health Background Environmental exposures, such as pesticides, during pregnancy have been associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and shorter gestational length at birth. However, their relationship with gestational diabetes (GDM) is uncertain. The objective of this study was to analyze first-trimester urinary herbicide concentrations for their associations with GDM. Methods This was a nested case-control study analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study- Monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) study. The study included participants at the three midwestern study sites. We analyzed individuals according to whether they developed GDM. Urinary herbicide concentration at the upper quartile was the exposure of interest. To assess the association of first-trimester urine glyphosate and metabolites with GDM, conditional logistic regression was used for matched pairs models. To test whether the association of herbicides with GDM was modified by BMI, an interaction term of herbicide (dichotomous variable) * BMI was included. Results The 118 cases of nuMoM2b participants with GDM were matched with 118 randomly selected age-matched controls who had no adverse pregnancy outcomes. Participants with GDM were less likely to be Non-Hispanic White (26.3% vs. 40.7%; p = 0.02), had a higher mean BMI (30.7 ± 8.3 vs. 26.1 ± 6.3; p < 0.01), and were less likely to have graduated from college (55.1% vs. 72.0%; p = 0.007). Glyphosate concentrations were above the limit of detection (LOD) in 93.6% of analyzable samples. In the adjusted conditional logistic regression for the matched pairs model, participants with glyphosate in the upper quartile had significantly higher odds of having GDM (odds ratio [OR] 3.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–10.3), with the OR of 1.23 (95% CI 1.02–1.47) for the interaction with BMI. Compared to participants with BMI < 25 kg/m2, the adjusted odds of GDM for participants with obese BMI (≥ 30 kg/m2) was elevated (OR 8.52, 95% CI 1.27–57.2). Conclusion First trimester urinary glyphosate concentrations were associated with development of GDM, and the magnitude of this association increased at higher BMI. Trial registry NCT01322529.

"High concentrations of urinary glyphosate were associated with GDM [gestational diabetes] for pregnant individuals at BMI values ≥ 30 kg/m2....This adds to...literature [on] increased risks of human adverse pregnancy outcomes from glyphosate exposure."
ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

The sugar industry’s efforts to manipulate research on fluoride effectiveness and toxicity: a ninety-year history - Environmental Health Background Extensive academic research has documented the tobacco industry's manipulation of science. Recently, scholars have begun examining the sugar industry’s use of similar tactics to downplay sugar’s role in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and tooth decay. Archival records show sugar-industry-funded scientists criticized evidence linking sugar to these harms and deflected attention to other risk factors. Sugar’s connection to tooth decay has been the most difficult harm for the industry to deny. Evidence is emerging that the industry turned to promoting fluoride as the solution to tooth decay thereby averting calls for reducing sugar consumption. Newly accessible sugar and dental industry documents enable investigation into whether fluoride research was manipulated to deflect from sugar’s role in tooth decay, and later to defend fluoride when evidence of fluoride’s own harmful effects arose. Method Internal documents from sugar and dental organizations were examined and compared to the published scientific record. The Industries Documents collection at the University of California San Francisco was the main source of records. Analysis was in the context of the current understanding of how vested interests manipulate science to defend their products. Results Records dating back to the 1930s demonstrate the sugar industry, sometimes in cooperation with dental interests, exaggerated fluoride’s effectiveness and downplayed safety concerns. The sugar industry’s science manipulation campaign preceded the better-known tobacco industry campaign defending cigarettes. Key leaders of the sugar industry’s campaign transferred to the tobacco industry, which then adopted many of the sugar industry’s tactics and financed research from some of the same sugar-conflicted scientists. Currently, a prominent safety issue with fluoride is developmental neurotoxicity. Evidence indicates that researchers with undisclosed conflicts of interest with sugar and allied industries produced biased reviews downplaying this risk. Conclusion Recently available records reveal a long history of the sugar industry distorting fluoride science. Many of the sugar industry's tactics were later adopted by the tobacco industry and mirrored by industries involved in asbestos, lead, pesticides, climate change denial, and others. Researchers and policymakers should be aware of the distorted scientific record regarding fluoride effectiveness and toxicity.

The sugar industry’s efforts to manipulate research on fluoride effectiveness and toxicity: a ninety-year history.
"Many of the sugar industry's tactics were later adopted by the tobacco industry..."
ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

NIH committee green-lighted Wuhan coronavirus experiments despite concerns, emails show Public records for the first time show the NIH "gain-of-function" review committee's informal vetting of a controversial project in Wuhan.

NIH committee green-lighted Wuhan coronavirus experiments despite concerns, emails show
Via @lewiskamb.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/covid-19-ori...

Even tiny doses of glyphosate can cause health problems across generations, new study in mice shows Even extremely small amounts of the herbicide glyphosate can harm gut health, disrupt metabolism, and change behavior in mice, a new study shows.

Even tiny doses of glyphosate can cause health problems across generations, new study in mice shows
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/e...

Today we filed two #FOIA lawsuits, against CIA & State Department, seeking disclosure of what our government may know about the origins of COVID-19.
usrtk.org/wp-content/u...
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These are our 38th & 39th FOIA lawsuits for records on Covid origins.
usrtk.org/covid-19-ori...

Reproductive Risk of Neonicotinoids: A Review of Male Rodent Studies Neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) are the most widely used insecticides in the world. Numerous studies have identified detectable levels of neonics i…

"the collective evidence demonstrates that neonicotinoids consistently impair testicular function, disrupt spermatogenesis, and compromise sperm parameters such as count, motility, viability, and morphology [in male rodents]."
sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Plastics pose 'urgent threat' to children’s lifelong health, major review warns A sweeping new study warns that chemicals in common plastics pose serious — and lasting — health risks to children.

Plastics pose ‘urgent threat’ to children’s lifelong health, major review warns
Via @usrighttoknow.bsky.social @pamelawrites.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/p...

Opinion | Jailing of journalist shows China still fears the covid truth More than 120 journalists are imprisoned by the Communist regime, which tolerates no truth telling.

Jailing of journalist shows China still fears the covid truth. "Zhang’s imprisonment and China’s overall treatment of journalists raise a question still lingering about Wuhan. What, exactly, is China still trying to hide?"
Via @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Soft Drink Consumption and Depression Mediated by Gut Microbiome Alterations This cohort study examines the association between soft drink consumption and major depressive disorder diagnosis and severity and whether this association is mediated by changes in the gut microbiota...

"This cohort study shows that soft drink consumption is linked to an increased risk of MDD [major depressive disorder] and greater depressive symptom severity, mediated by changes in gut microbiota..."
Via @jamapsychiatry.com
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Alcohol industry uses tobacco tactics to downplay deadly risks and block reforms, studies show Urgent action is needed to protect public health from alcohol industry influence and to curb alcohol-related disease and death, reports show.

Alcohol industry uses tobacco tactics to downplay deadly risks and block reforms, studies show.
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/a...

The Trump administration misses key deadlines for imposing restrictions on gain-of-function research Biosafety hawks were initially optimistic that the incoming second Trump administration would at last place binding constraints on so-called "dangerous…

The Trump Administration Misses Key Deadlines for Imposing Restrictions on Gain-of-Function Research
reason.com/2025/09/18/t...

COVID-19 journalist Zhang Zhan will be tried this week in China, RSF calls on international community to act Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for breaking some of the earliest COVID-19 stories from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus took hold. Now, she is about to be tried in the...

COVID-19 journalist Zhang Zhan will be tried this week in China. Via @rsf.org
rsf.org/en/covid-19-...

Not substantially equivalent: New scientific research challenges claims that GMOs are safe (Professor Antoniou interview part 2) A leading molecular geneticist warns that regulators are ignoring the risks of “stacked-trait” GMOs, and herbicides used on GMOs, such as glyphosate, 2,4-D, and dicamba.

Not substantially equivalent: New scientific research challenges claims that GMOs are safe.
Via @stacymalkan.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/gmo/new-scie...

G.O.P. Plan on Pesticides Faces Revolt From MAHA Moms

G.O.P. Plan on Pesticides Faces Revolt From MAHA Moms. Via
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/c...

Why is the Defense Intelligence Agency disobeying federal court orders to produce documents about the origins of CovId-19? What are they hiding and why?
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Banned pesticides found in clouds, sparking new health concerns Pesticides banned years ago have been found in clouds above France, raising new concerns about their global health impacts, study shows.

"Pesticides banned years ago in the European Union are drifting through the skies and turning up in clouds above France, raising concerns about how long these toxins persist and how far they can travel, with potentially harmful global health impacts..."
usrtk.org/healthwire/b...

Are GMOs safe? A molecular geneticist speaks out Explore the risks of stacked-trait GMOs and the combined toxicity of pesticide mixtures in this insightful interview with Professor Michael Antoniou.

Are GMOs safe? A molecular geneticist speaks out
usrtk.org/gmo/are-gmos...

Alarm as WHO accepts increasing amount of dark money from corporate donors Experts say millions in corporate funding and concealment of donors’ identities raises key conflict-of-interest concerns

Alarm as WHO accepts increasing amount of dark money from corporate donors.
Via @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Opinion | The Clue to Unlocking Parkinson’s May Be All Around Us

The Clue to Unlocking Parkinson's May Be All Around Us. "Unfortunately, the United States government — more so than other governments — is more inclined to keep chemical companies safe than to protect our families."
Via @nickkristof.bsky.social @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/o...

Phthalates in everyday products may fuel breast cancer, new study warns Phthalates—common chemicals in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging—may drive the growth and spread of breast cancer, a new study warns.

Phthalates in everyday products may fuel breast cancer, new study warns
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/p...

Why internists should be concerned about glyphosate - Internal and Emergency Medicine Environmental health should be an ethical obligation for experts in internal medicine. Besides the harmful health effects of air pollution, endocrine-disrupting chemicals and climate change, growing e...

Why internists should be concerned about glyphosate.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Industry lobbyists stacked MAHA team — despite anti-corporate push Documents show the White House tapped ex-industry officials, though a pillar of the effort was to squash "corporate capture" in science-based rules.

Industry lobbyists stacked MAHA team — despite anti-corporate push. The "White House asked at least two Trump administration officials with industry ties to be part of its original MAHA staff."
www.eenews.net/articles/ind...

Pollution, toxic chemicals, and plastics drive millions of heart-related deaths, major review finds Cardiovascular disease—the world's leading cause of death—is increasingly driven by air pollution, toxic chemicals, plastics, and extreme temperatures.

"Cardiovascular disease—the world’s leading cause of death—is increasingly driven by polluted air, toxic chemicals, plastics, noise, and extreme temperatures..."
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social of @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/p...

Vaping triples the risk of cigarette smoking in young people, a major review shows Youth who vape are about three times more likely to start smoking cigarettes, according to a study of risks of e-cigarette use by young people.

Vaping triples the risk of cigarette smoking in young people, a major review shows.
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/v...

The Impact of a Ghostwritten Paper on the Fate of Glyphosate Opinion | A downsized EPA faces a deadline to review the herbicide’s safety without much of its in-house expertise.

The dirty deeds of Monsanto live on and on and on:
The Impact of a Ghostwritten Paper on the Fate of Glyphosate. Via @naomioreskes.bsky.social @undark.org
undark.org/2025/08/15/o...

Draft of White House Report Suggests Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations

Really disappointing:
Draft of White House Report Suggests Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/w...

Congress is lukewarm on RFK Jr.’s plans. In the states, they’re catching fire. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement is taking off in red — and blue — states, even as health experts condemn some of his actions.

"the strength of this independently growing movement in favor of cleaning up the food supply, reducing chemical additives, and pollutants that are affecting the health of people..."
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Aspartame sweetener may disrupt blood vessels, raising stroke risk, first-of-its-kind study suggests Aspartame, a common artificial sweetener, may increase the risk of ischemic stroke by damaging blood vessels and blood flow and causing inflammation.

Aspartame sweetener may disrupt blood vessels, raising stroke risk, first-of-its-kind study suggests.
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/a...

“No safe level”: Babies are harmed by even tiny amounts of nitrate in drinking water, study finds Tiny amounts of nitrate in drinking water may be linked to premature birth and low birth weight, a new study warns.

“No safe level”: Babies are harmed by even tiny amounts of nitrate in drinking water, study finds.
Via @pamelawrites.bsky.social @usrighttoknow.bsky.social
usrtk.org/healthwire/b...