The problem with plastic water bottles; FDA to fast-track nicotine pouch reviews; pesticides in pregnancy tied to higher childhood leukemia mortality – Morning Medical Update

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The problem with single-use plastic bottles

A Concordia University review warns that drinking from disposable plastic water bottles could expose people to tens of thousands of micro- and nanoplastic particles each year, adding to risks of chronic inflammation, hormone disruption and even cancer. The study, published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, found bottled water users ingest roughly 90,000 more plastic particles annually than tap water drinkers. While the long-term health effects remain poorly understood, researchers say education and reduced reliance on single-use bottles are key to prevention.

FDA to fast-track nicotine pouch reviews under White House pressure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will pilot a program to speed reviews of nicotine pouches from Philip Morris International, Altria, British American Tobacco’s Reynolds and Turning Point Brands, aiming for decisions by December 2025, Reuters reports. The move follows pressure from the Trump administration to clear smoking alternatives more quickly. Although FDA officials stressed that scientific standards remain intact, public health advocates warned against shortcuts, citing risks to youth. Nicotine pouches, led by PMI’s fast-growing Zyn brand, are the nation’s fastest-growing tobacco category.

Pesticide exposure in pregnancy tied to higher death risk in kids with leukemia

A federally funded study led by the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) found that children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia faced a 60% higher risk of death if their mothers were exposed to pesticides during pregnancy, with rodenticide exposure raising the risk by 91%. Published in Cancers, the study followed more than 800 children and is the first to link pesticide exposure to survival outcomes, underscoring how environmental toxins can shape cancer prognosis and highlighting the need to reduce children’s exposure.