#Safety

A recent US-based investigation has rocked the dental care industry, with new research revealing that the majority of toothpaste brands—some specifically marketed for children or as “green” alternatives—are contaminated with toxic heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. The findings, released in April 2025, have raised serious public health concerns for families worldwide, including in Thailand, where toothpaste is a staple in daily hygiene routines and global brands are widely used.

A new US study has sparked concern across the global dental and consumer safety communities. Researchers tested 51 toothpaste brands and found that a large majority contained toxic heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. The report, published in April 2025, highlights potential risks for families who rely on toothpaste daily, including children, and underscores the need for stricter oversight in Thailand and beyond.

According to investigative researchers led by a patient-safety group, about 90% of the tested brands contained detectable lead, with two-thirds showing arsenic and nearly half containing mercury. About one in three brands carried cadmium. All of these metals are classified as harmful to health, and exposure is associated with cognitive, kidney, and cardiovascular issues, with children being especially vulnerable. Public health experts emphasize that no safe level of lead exposure exists, particularly for young children.

The dried seeds of Myristica fragrans, known as nutmeg (ลูกจันทน์), have captured human imagination for centuries, straddling the realms of food, medicine, and mystique. From ancient trade routes to the heart of Thai and Southeast Asian traditional medicine, nutmeg’s journey is an illuminating saga—a testament to nature’s therapeutic potential and the evolving scrutiny of modern science. In recent decades, research has begun to substantiate many folk claims while issuing important cautions for contemporary users.

Nutmeg, the dried seed of Myristica fragrans, has long fascinated people as both a kitchen spice and a traditional remedy. In Thai and Southeast Asian practices, it bridges culinary delight with healing traditions. Today, growing interest in plant-based remedies is driving renewed scientific investigation into nutmeg’s potential, while also highlighting safety considerations for contemporary users.

In Thailand, nutmeg transcends the dining table. It appears in herbal blends, home tonics, and traditional treatments aimed at digestive issues, nausea, and general vitality. Across Thai, Chinese, Malay, and Indian medicine, the seed and its aril (mace) have played dual roles as remedies and valued commodities in global trade. Modern curiosity is sparking further research into nutmeg’s bioactive properties, seen through the lens of both cultural heritage and scientific inquiry.

A puzzling health pattern has prompted an in-depth review at a Boston-area hospital where five nurses from the same maternity unit floor were diagnosed with benign brain tumors. The cluster emerged among 11 employees on the hospital’s fifth floor, triggering scrutiny by hospital officials in partnership with government health and safety agencies. Early findings show no clear environmental cause within the facility.

Hospital leaders, including the Associate Chief Medical Officer, say disposable masks, the water supply, and proximity to medical technologies such as X-ray equipment and chemotherapy facilities were thoroughly evaluated and found not to pose risks. Staff and patients were assured that no environmental hazard within the hospital has been identified at this stage.

In a puzzling development, five nurses working on the same floor of a Boston-area hospital, Massachusetts General Brigham Newton-Wellesley, have been diagnosed with benign brain tumors. This worrisome cluster of health issues was identified among 11 employees from the hospital’s fifth-floor maternity unit, prompting an in-depth investigation by the hospital in collaboration with governmental health and safety bodies. Despite thorough scrutiny, the investigation has not identified any environmental factors within the hospital that could explain this phenomenon.

A new health advisory warns that some widely used herbal supplements can harm the liver, especially among older adults who take them for joint pain or general well-being. While these products are marketed as natural solutions, they can provoke serious liver reactions that may progress to liver failure in rare cases.

The JAMA Network Open study from 2024 identifies six botanicals most often linked to liver toxicity: Ashwagandha, Black Cohosh, Garcinia Cambogia, Green Tea Extract, Red Yeast Rice, and Turmeric/Curcumin. The research notes that middle-aged and older adults are particularly at risk because aging can alter how the liver processes substances, increasing susceptibility to adverse effects.

In a recent report, it has been highlighted that some popular herbal supplements—commonly used by older adults for various health benefits—pose significant risks to liver health. While many consume dietary supplements with the hope of filling nutritional gaps or alleviating health issues like joint pain, there is an alarming association with liver damage, which can be severe enough to lead to liver failure.

The investigation, based on a study published in JAMA Network Open in 2024, points out that six botanicals are most commonly linked to liver toxicity. These are Ashwagandha, Black Cohosh, Garcinia Cambogia, Green Tea Extract, Red Yeast Rice, and Turmeric/Curcumin. The study emphasized that such supplements are frequently taken by middle-aged and older adults, who are often more vulnerable to their adverse effects due to age-related changes in liver function.

Deeply embedded in the fragrant traditions of Asia, the camphor tree – known locally in Thailand as “การบูร” and scientifically as Cinnamomum camphora – has captivated generations with its distinctive aroma and remarkable healing properties. Revered as much in temple rituals as in household medicine chests, camphor (การบูร) bridges the world of ancient herbal wisdom and contemporary pharmacological research, serving as a vivid illustration of how tradition and science can intertwine for the benefit of health-conscious individuals today.

Camphor, known locally in Thailand as การบูร, sits at the crossroads of traditional wisdom and modern science. This aromatic resin has long warmed balms, guided temple rituals, and offered relief for everyday ailments. Today, researchers are unpacking its chemistry and evaluating its safety, relevance, and potential for Thai health practices in a global context.

In Thailand, the scent of camphor evokes comfort and memory. It is a staple in households for soothing muscle fatigue, easing coughs, and calming itching. Beyond the home, camphor’s role in religious ceremonies underscores its cultural significance as a purifying, protective substance. As new studies illuminate how camphor works at a molecular level, Thai readers can connect age-old remedies with contemporary safety and efficacy standards.

A new study reveals unsettling findings about so-called healthy foods potentially carrying microplastics. The research links these tiny plastics to DNA damage and other health concerns, prompting a rethink of dietary choices that many people assume are beneficial. For Thai audiences, the results highlight how pervasive pollution can reach daily meals and how local eating habits may need careful consideration.

Microplastics are small plastic fragments, barely visible to the naked eye. They have infiltrated air, water, soil, and the foods we eat, making complete avoidance nearly impossible. The study points to practical dietary adjustments to reduce exposure. Notably, items like carrots, apples, rice, and honey were identified as common carriers, largely because of environmental contamination and industry processing.

A new health alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the rapid spread of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus increasingly found in hospitals and long-term care facilities in the United States. Health officials warn that C. auris is hard to treat and can cause severe infections, particularly among vulnerable patients.

Since its first identification in 2016, C. auris has grown from a handful of cases to thousands in 2023. The fungus is linked with high mortality, underscoring the need for strict infection control in healthcare settings.