Medicine & Health
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Jul-2025 01:10 ET (11-Jul-2025 05:10 GMT/UTC)
Study links PFAS contamination of drinking water to a range of rare cancers
Keck School of Medicine of USCPeer-Reviewed Publication
Communities exposed to drinking water contaminated by PFAS experience up to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, according to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Data on cancer cases between 2016 and 2021 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, while data on PFAS levels in public drinking water (2013-2024) came from the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule programs. Researchers found that between 2016 and 2021, counties across the U.S. with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence of certain types of cancer, which differed by sex. Increases in incidence ranged from slightly elevated at 2% to substantially elevated at 33% (the increased incidence of mouth and throat cancers linked to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, or PFBS). Males in counties with contaminated drinking water had a higher incidence of leukemia, as well as cancers of the urinary system, brain and soft tissues, compared to males living in areas with uncontaminated water. Females had a higher incidence of cancers in the thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissues. Overall, PFAS in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6,800 cancer cases each year, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results add to the mounting evidence that PFAS levels should be limited, and suggest that proposed changes may not go far enough.
- Funder
- Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center, NIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH/National Cancer Institute, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Circulation problems in the brain’s seat of memory linked to mild cognitive impairment in older adults
University of Southern CaliforniaPeer-Reviewed Publication
Mild cognitive impairment is linked to blood vessel dysfunction in the brain’s temporal lobes — the seat of memory — according to a new USC-led study. The findings, seen in people with and without signs of amyloid buildup in the brain, suggest that microvascular trouble may be an important, early biomarker for dementia as well as a potential target for therapy.
- Journal
- Neurology
Shift to less reliable ‘natural’ contraception methods among abortion patients over past 5 years
BMJ GroupPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
Why older women are embracing the open road
University of Technology SydneyPeer-Reviewed Publication
Oregon State receives $11.9 million from Defense Department to enhance health of armed forces
Oregon State UniversityGrant and Award Announcement
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded up to $11.9 million to Oregon State University to invent new drug delivery technologies for protecting members of the military from a range of health threats in combat areas.
- Funder
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Travel distance to nearest lung cancer facility differs by racial and ethnic makeup of communities
American College of PhysiciansPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Annals of Internal Medicine