Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or forever chemicals, are being identified in more places. Period products are on that list, likely because of the resistance to stains and liquids conferred by these chemicals. Building on previously presented research, a team publishing in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters found that some reusable products, namely period underwear and reusable pads, contained PFAS, which might be absorbed into the body through skin contact.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help emergency department (ED) teams better anticipate which patients will need hospital admission, hours earlier than is currently possible, according to a multi-hospital study by the Mount Sinai Health System. By giving clinicians advance notice, this approach may enhance patient care and the patient experience, reduce overcrowding and “boarding” (when a patient is admitted but remains in the ED because no bed is available), and enable hospitals to direct resources where they’re needed most. Among the largest prospective evaluations of AI in the emergency setting to date, the study published in the July 9 online issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcpdig.2025.100249].