#diethylene-glycol-poisoning

#diethylene-glycol-poisoning

"What surprised me is we are still seeing so many visits to emergency departments associated with very common household cleaning products," Lara McKenzie, Ph.D., stated, emphasizing the ongoing issue despite safety advancements.

Plasticizers are a general term for a whole range of chemicals added to materials, typically plastic and rubber, to make them softer and more pliable. They're found in countless everyday items like plastic shower curtains, shrink-wrap, PVC raincoats or flexible tubing and wire insulation for homes. Plasticizers, sometimes called phthalates, are also found in cosmetics, like nail polishes, lotions and shampoos.

Midlife is a sensitive biological window where the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors, which may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposure. We suspect that men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analysed are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can compound the damaging effects of these pollutants.

Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, were killed by methanol poisoning along with four other tourists after a night out at the Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist destination in Laos, in November 2024. More than a year later, the girls' fathers, Shaun Bowles and Mark Jones, said they were relying on a group chat with the families of the victims, started by parents of British lawyer Simone White, for updates provided by the UK government.

"The loss of a student is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with Kasie's family, friends, classmates, faculty, and all who knew and cared for him," the letter reads. "We recognize that news like this can be very distressing and may bring up many emotions. Please know that you are not alone and support is available."