I know this is a little belated, but better late than never. Here are my top five news stories for the week ending December 30, 2011.
- Chemical Exposure Linked to Sperm Abnormalities. The results of a recent study showed that exposure to certain organochloride chemicals are associated with chromosomal abnormalities in the sperm.
- Researchers Charge: Drug Trials Not Representative Of Patient Population. Few major randomized, controlled clinical trials examine the effects of a drug in patients who have multiple chronic conditions, even though more than one-quarter of all Americans are living with at least two chronic health conditions, researchers reported.
- Toxic Groundwater Contaminants: An Overlooked Contributor to Urban Stream Syndrome? Researchers conclude that groundwater contaminants should be considered a genuine risk to urban stream aquatic ecosystems.
- Without Regulation, Companies Won’t Recall Products. In India product recalls are rare because of a serious lack of regulations concerning product safety. In this environment corporations are in full control on how and when to recall defective products.
- Yet Another Drug Used To Treat Type Two Diabetes Bites The Dust. Actos, Avandia and now Rasilez. The European Medicines Agency and Health Canada are reviewing the safety of the drug Rasilez when data showed that the drug was associated with an increased risk of non-fatal stroke, kidney complications, and other side-effects.