Current Events in February 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos on more crops because it is linked to neurological damage, a group of nine attorneys general said Tuesday.

The EPA has already proposed banning chlorpyrifos on 70 crops, but the proposal would allow it on 11 others, including apples, asparagus, citrus, cotton, peaches, soybeans and strawberries.

The ban is still under review and the EPA said an interim decision would come in 2026.

Chlorpyrifos is toxic and linked to neurodevelopmental harms in children, with exposures among pregnant woman causing lower birth weight, reduced IQ, loss of memory, attention disorders and delayed motor development, said the California attorney general, who joined with attorneys general of New York, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia in filing a comment letter with the EPA.

Acute exposure to chlorpyrifos can cause sweating, salivation, vomiting, low blood pressure and heart rate, seizures and even death, the attorneys general said.

People are exposed to chlorpyrifos through food residues, drinking water contamination and drifts of agricultural sprays, the attorneys general said.

“The facts are clear: chlorpyrifos exposure poses a grave danger to a child’s health," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. "This pesticide has no place in our food systems."

California has already banned chlorpyrifos on all crops, but Bonta said the health of its residents are threatened by imports of crops sprayed with the pesticide.

Email Dieter Holger at dholger@consumeraffairs.com.

It's pretty easy to know about most things that affect you closely. The weather? Look out the window. Your finances? Look at your bank account. Your health? Check your smart watch (you do have one, don't you?)

Ah, but what about your love life? If you don't know — or you're just not sure — whether you're truly, wholly, undeniably happy with your significant other, researchers at Stockholm University have devised a seven-question test that will clear everything up and let you get on with your day.

“This scale makes it possible to quickly and efficiently get an idea of how a relationship is doing, without having to go through long and complicated interviews or questionnaires. It can even be used during couples counselling to monitor progress over time,” said Per Carlbring, professor of psychology at Stockholm University and one of the researchers behind the study, in a news release.

The test is called, naturally enough, the Valentine's Scale. The professors tried it out on 1,300 participants and found that it has "high reliability." There's no word on whether those 1,300 lucky lab rats are still entwined with their mates.

What could be better?

Let's face it. Everything could always be better and the researchers say their goal is to "encourage open communication and understanding, not to create unnecessary stress."

On the other hand, “If the test result raises concerns, it may be a good idea to talk about what lies behind the answers. Relationships are dynamic and affected by many factors. It may be stress, communication difficulties or other life circumstances. By reflecting together, you can find ways forward, whether it’s strengthening the relationship or making other decisions,” said Carlbring.

Time waits for no person

Enough idle chatter. It's time to face facts. The Valentine’s Scale is available online free of charge.

By answering the seven questions, you can get an indication of how you feel about your relationship right now. Don't complain to us about your score. Talk to your mate instead. 

A new survey from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging reveals that older Americans continue to work not just for financial reasons, but for their health and overall well-being.

The poll shows that work offers numerous benefits, including improved physical and mental health, a sense of purpose and cognitive benefits.

Key findings

• Health boost from work: Over two-thirds of older workers report that their job has a positive impact on their physical and mental health. In particular, those over 65 report even greater health benefits from work, including better cognitive function and sharper focus.
• Sense of purpose: For 46% of those working, a major reason for doing so is a sense of purpose. Work provides not only financial security but also fulfillment, which can be crucial as people age.
• Positive mental and physical impact: Older workers, especially those 65 and older, overwhelmingly agree that work keeps their brains sharp and helps maintain their social connections.

“Our perceptions of working after age 65 have changed over time, and these data suggest that most older adults who are still able to work after the traditional retirement age derive health-related benefits from doing so,” said poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and associate professor of internal medicine at U-M.

“As we learn more about how loneliness, lack of social connection and isolation intertwine with physical and mental health in older adults, the role of work is important to consider.”

Barriers to work

Despite these benefits, the poll also highlights the significant barriers older Americans face in maintaining or finding work. Among the key obstacles:

• Health challenges: 29% of older adults report disabilities or chronic illnesses that prevent them from working.
• Lack of training and skills: 13% said they lacked the necessary training or experience for available jobs.
• Caregiving responsibilities: 13% cited caregiving duties as a significant barrier, with many caring for spouses or aging family members.
• Age discrimination: 11% reported facing age discrimination, which often prevents them from obtaining or advancing in positions.

Financial and social aspects

• Key motivations for working: For those 50 and older, the most important reasons for working are financial stability (78%), saving for retirement (65%), and having access to health insurance (59%).
• Age group differences: Workers 65 and older reported significantly more positive effects on their physical and mental health compared to those aged 50-64.

While many older adults experience health and mental benefits from working, significant barriers remain. Addressing issues such as age discrimination, caregiving duties, and the need for updated skills could allow more older adults to continue working in a meaningful way, reaping the health and social rewards.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst explored the link between youth vaping and smoking into adulthood. 

It’s been long debated that one habit impacts the other – kids who start vaping at a young age are more likely to be adults that smoke. However, according to these findings, this isn’t likely to be the case. 

“One of the substantial concerns from some members of the public health community about vaping is that it might cause more young people to smoke,” researcher Jamie Hartmann-Boyce said in a news release. “Some — but not all — evidence from our study possibly suggests the opposite — that vaping may contribute to declines in youth smoking, particularly in the U.S.”

The research

To understand the link between youth vaping and adult smoking, the researchers analyzed data from 123 previous studies that included data on over four million people in the U.S., Canada, and western Europe. All of the participants were under the age of 29, and their e-cigarette use was compared with population data on smoking. 

“The studies themselves are not straightforward study designs, because you can’t randomize kids to vape or not vape — it just wouldn’t be ethical,” Hartmann-Boyce said. “But it means that there are so many different ways to interpret the findings of these studies.”

The findings

So, what did the analysis show? Ultimately, the findings were mixed. 

However, the researchers did find that over 20 of the larger studies came to a similar conclusion: as vaping among young people increased, smoking rates went down. Additionally, when rules were put into place that restricted vaping, smoking rates were likely to be higher. 

The researchers explained that at the most individual level, those who vape are more likely to go on to become smokers. However, none of their data can prove the causal relationship between these two factors. 

Instead, the team encourages consumers to look at population-level data. Smoking levels have been steadily declining over the years, which indicates that vaping isn’t likely to play a role in subsequent smoking. 

“There’s enough non-smoking kids who start vaping in the U.S. that if vaping was in a consistent and widespread way causing kids to start smoking, we would start seeing that in our population-level smoking data,” Hartmann-Boyce said. “And we haven’t seen that at all.

“The smoking rates among kids have declined steeply, and whether or not that’s due to vaping or something else is up in the air. But it’s difficult to argue that  — in the U.S. population — youth vaping is en masse causing kids to smoke. The data doesn’t support that so far.”

As a series of winter storms threaten millions across the central Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic regions this week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a critical warning to consumers about the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fires. These dangers are particularly heightened during power outages when portable generators are frequently used.

The CPSC emphasizes the lethal risk of CO poisoning from gasoline-powered portable generators, which can kill within minutes. Known as the "invisible killer," CO is colorless, odorless, and deadly. Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and weakness can onset rapidly, often leaving individuals unconscious before they can react.

On average, CO poisoning from portable generators claims about 100 lives annually in the U.S., according to the CPSC's latest report. To mitigate these risks, the CPSC advises:

• Never operate a portable generator indoors, including in garages, basements, or enclosed spaces. Adequate ventilation cannot be achieved by merely opening doors or windows.

• Use generators outdoors, at least 20 feet away from the home, directing exhaust away from buildings.

• Follow safety instructions regarding electrical shock hazards, particularly in inclement weather.

• Regularly maintain generators and ensure they are equipped with a CO shut-off feature, which significantly reduces the risk of CO poisoning.

Make sure alarms are working

The CPSC underscores the importance of functioning smoke and CO alarms. These should be installed on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas, with monthly tests to confirm their operation. Immediate evacuation is advised if an alarm sounds, followed by contacting emergency services.

Portable heaters, another common winter hazard, should be kept at least three feet away from flammable materials and placed on stable surfaces. They should never be left unattended, and electric heaters should be plugged directly into wall outlets, avoiding power strips.

The CPSC warns against using charcoal indoors due to CO risks and advises caution with candles, recommending flashlights or battery-operated alternatives. In the event of a gas leak, residents should evacuate immediately and contact authorities without using electronic devices.

For homes affected by flooding, the CPSC advises against touching wet appliances still connected to power sources. Professional evaluation is recommended before using appliances, with replacements for any gas control valves or electrical components submerged in water.

If you've been thinking of buying an electric vehicle (EV), you might want to be sure there are already charging stations convenient to your home or office, because a $5 billion federal program to build more of them has just been axed by the Trump Administration.

In a memo issued last week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) ordered states not to spend any funds allocated to them under the Biden Administration's program to build out a national EV charging network.

“The new leadership of the Department of Transportation … has decided to review the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program,” Emily Biondi, the FHWA’s associate administrator for planning, environment and realty, wrote in the memo. “Accordingly, the current NEVI Formula Program Guidance dated June 11, 2024, and all prior versions of this guidance are rescinded.”

A former deputy FHWA administrator, Andrew Rogers, said the memo "appears to ignore both the law and multiple restraining orders" issued by federal courts, according to a Politico report. 

While auto manufacturers rushed to build electric cars over the last few years, there are still few public charging stations around the country and sales of EVs have failed to meet expectations.

Only 14 states have at least one operational charging station, according to the EV States Clearinghouse. 

Trump has been consistently florid in his remarks about EVs, at one point saying supporters of electric carges should "rot in hell." Last month, he revoked a Biden order that aimed to make half of all new vehicles sold in teh US electric by 2030.