Current Events in July 2025

• EWG study shows tackling several tap water contaminants at once offers far greater health benefits than treating pollutants individually.

• Arsenic and chromium-6 frequently occur together and can be reduced using the same technologies.

• Small and rural communities face the highest risks and costs, underscoring a call for updated federal regulations.

A new study suggests that changing how America treats contaminated drinking water could save tens of thousands of lives. Instead of tackling one pollutant at a time, water systems should adopt multi-contaminant treatment strategies that can significantly reduce cancer risks nationwide, according to research published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in the journal Environmental Research.

The peer-reviewed study analyzed more than a decade’s worth of data from over 17,000 community water systems. EWG scientists found that simultaneously targeting dangerous chemicals like arsenic and hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, could prevent more than 50,000 lifetime cancer cases in the U.S. Chromium-6 alone has been detected in water supplies serving about 251 million Americans.

“Drinking water is contaminated mostly in mixtures, but our regulatory system still acts like they appear one at a time,” said Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., EWG senior scientist and lead author of the study. “This research shows that treating multiple contaminants together could prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases.”

Higher risk where pollution overlaps

Arsenic and chromium-6 frequently co-occur in drinking water systems and can be removed using similar technologies like reverse osmosis and ion exchange. The study found that reducing arsenic levels by as little as 27% to 42% in systems already dealing with chromium-6 contamination could quadruple the number of cancer cases avoided compared to treating chromium-6 alone.

States like California, Arizona, and Texas face the highest burden from arsenic pollution and would benefit most from a multi-contaminant approach. In California alone, nearly eight out of 10 preventable cancer cases linked to drinking water are due to arsenic exposure.

Health risks from these pollutants are particularly severe for children, pregnant people, and residents in small or rural communities, which often rely on groundwater and lack resources to upgrade outdated water systems.

Outdated regulations and cost challenges

Under current regulations, the federal government evaluates each contaminant in isolation, considering costs and benefits pollutant by pollutant. But EWG researchers argue this approach is outdated and leaves millions vulnerable to cumulative health risks from chemical mixtures in drinking water.

“The federal nitrate limit was set decades ago to prevent infant deaths, but we now know cancer and birth complications can occur at much lower levels,” said Anne Schechinger, EWG’s Midwest director.

Nitrate contamination, particularly common in agricultural regions, poses significant health risks including cancer and birth defects. EWG estimates that cutting nitrate levels by just 20% could prevent 130 cancer cases each year and save $35 million in healthcare costs, especially when combined with treatment for arsenic and chromium-6.

Despite proven technologies capable of removing multiple pollutants at once, small water systems face steep costs and limited technical support, leaving many communities exposed to significant health risks.

“This is about more than clean water—it’s about protecting health and advancing equity,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., acting chief science officer at EWG. “We have the engineering solutions to fix the broken drinking water system in the U.S., but we need state and federal policies to reflect the reality people face when they turn on the tap.”

What consumers can do

While policymakers debate reforms, consumers worried about tap water contaminants can take steps to protect themselves. EWG recommends reverse osmosis filters for removing arsenic, chromium-6, and nitrate, though filters must be replaced on schedule to stay effective.

Consumers can also search EWG’s Tap Water Database to learn which contaminants are present in their local water systems.

As concerns grow about drinking water safety across the country, experts say a shift toward multi-contaminant solutions could be key not only to preventing cancer cases but also to promoting health equity and saving millions in healthcare costs.

• U.S. median home-sale price reaches a record $400,125 amid declining mortgage rates
  

• Buyer demand remains resilient despite a slight dip in new listings and pending sales
  

• Touring activity and mortgage applications climb, offering signs of market stabilization

The median U.S. home-sale price surged to a record-breaking $400,125 during the four weeks ending June 29, according to a new housing market update from real estate brokerage Redfin. While the new high underscores ongoing market pressures, prospective homebuyers may find some solace as mortgage rates continue their downward trend.

Mortgage rates have eased in recent weeks, helping offset the impact of higher home prices. The weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.67% as of July 3, the lowest it has been since early April. Daily rates hovered slightly higher at 6.75%. 

This reduction in borrowing costs has resulted in the median monthly mortgage payment falling to $2,742 — the lowest level in four months and a modest 1.6% decrease year-over-year.

Demand and supply hold steady

Despite affordability challenges, homebuyer demand remains relatively strong:

• Mortgage-purchase applications rose 16% year-over-year, though they held flat week-over-week.

• Home touring activity, tracked by ShowingTime, climbed 32% from the beginning of the year — notably higher than the 21% increase recorded at the same time last year.

• Google searches for “home for sale” reached their highest level in a year, suggesting sustained buyer interest.
  

However, pending sales — a key indicator of market activity — dropped 3.2% from the same time last year, marking the sharpest decline in nearly four months. This dip may reflect hesitancy among buyers still facing affordability constraints, despite improving rate conditions.

Sellers begin to change their minds

New listings edged down 0.7%, the first weekly decline in nearly six months, while the total number of active listings rose 14.1% year-over-year — the smallest increase in over a year. The market's inventory now sits at 4.1 months of supply, inching toward a balanced market but still favoring sellers slightly.

Homes are staying on the market longer, with the median days on market rising to 37 days, up five days from the prior year. Additionally, only 36.3% of homes went off the market within two weeks, down from 40% a year ago.

Fewer bidding wars

With increased inventory and longer market times, competition among buyers has cooled slightly. The share of homes selling above list price dropped to 28.4%, down from 32%, while the average sale-to-list price ratio slipped to 99.1%, from 99.6% a year ago.

Market dynamics varied significantly by region:

• Detroit led all metros with a 10.1% year-over-year increase in median sale price, followed by Newark, N.J. (9.4%) and Cleveland (7.3%).

• On the flip side, Oakland, Calif., saw the largest decline at -3.7%, with San Diego and West Palm Beach, Fla., close behind at -3.4%.

• Virginia Beach, Va., led in pending sales growth (+7.4%), while San Jose, Calif., and Las Vegas saw steep double-digit declines.

• Tampa, Orlando and San Diego were among the metros with the largest year-over-year drop in new listings.

• UCLA Health researchers mapped four distinct pathways leading to Alzheimer’s disease using electronic health records.
  

• The findings suggest that tracking diagnostic sequences predicts Alzheimer’s risk better than analyzing isolated conditions.
  

• The study, validated with a nationally representative cohort, could transform early detection, personalized prevention, and intervention strategies.

Who is most at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease? If doctors knew the definitive answer, it might lead to earlier treatment and diagnosis. Researchers at UCLA may have uncovered some helpful clues.

Writing in the journal eBioMedicine, the researchers at UCLA Health said they have identified four unique diagnostic pathways that can lead to Alzheimer's disease, offering a more nuanced understanding of how the neurodegenerative condition develops over time. 

By analyzing electronic health records from nearly 25,000 patients, the study sheds light on how specific sequences of medical conditions – not just individual risk factors – can influence a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. The research marks a significant departure from traditional approaches that focus on isolated risk conditions. 

Instead, UCLA scientists mapped the step-by-step clinical trajectories that precede an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, offering new tools for early detection and prevention.

Patterns, not just risk factors

“We found that multi-step trajectories can indicate greater risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease than single conditions,” said first author Mingzhou Fu, a medical informatics pre-doctoral student at UCLA. “Understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how we approach early detection and prevention.”

The study identified four primary diagnostic trajectories:

1. Mental Health Pathway – Psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety that eventually lead to cognitive decline

2. Encephalopathy Pathway – Disorders involving brain dysfunction that worsen progressively

3. Mild Cognitive Impairment Pathway – A gradual decline in memory and cognitive functions, often preceding Alzheimer's
   

4. Vascular Disease Pathway – Cardiovascular conditions like hypertension that heighten the risk of dementia
   

Each pathway was linked with distinct demographic and clinical features, suggesting that different subgroups of the population may be predisposed to different disease routes.

Chronology of conditions

The researchers found that 26% of all diagnostic sequences showed a consistent, directional order. For instance, patients with hypertension frequently developed depressive episodes before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. These patterns, according to the team, may be key to identifying at-risk patients earlier in their disease progression.

“Recognizing these sequential patterns rather than focusing on diagnoses in isolation may help clinicians improve Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis,” said Dr. Timothy Chang, the study’s senior author and assistant professor of Neurology at UCLA Health.

The team validated their findings using the All of Us Research Program, a diverse and nationally representative database. The confirmation of these patterns across a wide population enhances the study’s relevance and applicability to clinical practice nationwide.

The study concluded that the innovative use of longitudinal electronic health data signals a promising shift in Alzheimer’s research, moving toward predictive and personalized care models that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

• A survey of over 1,000 students reveals a clear link between lactose intolerance, digestive upset, and more frequent nightmares.
  

• Only around 5.5% believe food affects their dreams, but sweets and dairy are the top perceived triggers.
  

• Feeling gassy or in stomach discomfort at night seems to mess with sleep quality and increase the chances of disturbing dreams.
  

If you’ve ever blamed late-night pizza or cheese for a weird dream, you’re not alone. 

Researchers at Université de Montréal and MacEwan University dug into whether food — especially dairy — can really affect sleep and dreams. 

They surveyed 1,082 students, asking about their eating habits, overall health, sleep patterns, dream recall, and any food intolerances or allergies to determine if there's a genuine link between dairy and bad dreams.

“Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies,” researcher Dr. Tore Nielsen said in a news release. 

“These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams!” 

The study

Participants, mainly undergrads around age 20, completed an online questionnaire between January and April 2023. It covered:

• Personal info (age, gender, health conditions)

• Diet habits (evening eating, snacks, food choices)

• Any intolerances (lactose, gluten) or allergies

• Sleep quality (using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)

• Nightmare frequency and severity (using a trimmed-down Nightmare Disorder Index) 

They also asked if students thought certain foods or late meals affected their sleep or dreams. Statistical analyses looked for connections between food, physical symptoms, sleep quality, and dream experiences.

The results

Here’s a look at what the researchers found: 

• Many feel food affects their sleep. About 40% believed that eating late or certain foods influenced their sleep; 25% thought it made sleep worse. But only 5.5% said food affected their dreams directly.

• Dairy and sweets get the blame. Among those few, most blamed desserts/sweets (31%) and dairy (22%) for weird dreams or nightmares.

• Lactose intolerance stands out. The strongest link emerged for students with lactose intolerance: they reported more GI symptoms (like gas or stomach pain), poorer sleep quality, and more frequent or intense nightmares. Statistical models showed GI discomfort acted as a bridge between lactose intolerance and nightmares — meaning the digestive issues likely trigger sleep disturbances and, in turn, bad dreams. Other food issues — like general food allergies or gluten intolerance — also connected to dream concerns, but the link was strongest for lactose intolerance.

• Overall eating habits matter. Healthier eating patterns — like less evening snacking and using hunger cues — were tied to better dream recall. Less healthy habits — late meals, disregarding hunger signals, and experiencing GI symptoms — were linked to more nightmares and negative dream content. 

“Nightmares are worse for lactose intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted,” said Nielsen. “This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming. 

"Nightmares can be very disruptive, especially if they occur often, because they tend to awaken people from sleep in a dysphoric state. They might also produce sleep avoidance behaviors. Both symptoms can rob you of restful sleep.” 

What this means

If you suffer from lactose intolerance and find yourself waking up stressed after a disturbing dream, dairy late at night could be a culprit — and not because of superstition, but because night-time stomach discomfort interferes with restful sleep. 

For some, simply adjusting evening meals — like avoiding dairy before bed — might lead to calmer sleep and fewer nightmares.

“We need to study more people of different ages, from different walks of life, and with different dietary habits to determine if our results are truly generalizable to the larger population,” said Nielsen. 

“Experimental studies are also needed to determine if people can truly detect the effects of specific foods on dreams. We would like to run a study in which we ask people to ingest cheese products versus some control food before sleep to see if this alters their sleep or dreams.” 

• Digestive issues like IBS and functional dyspepsia rose among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  

• Researchers surveyed over 160,000 people from May 2020 to May 2022 using standardized gut–brain disorder criteria.
  

• The study found an 11% increase in Rome IV digestive disorders, linked to pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes.
  

A team at Cedars‑Sinai set out to investigate whether digestive disorders became more common during COVID-19. 

Despite most attention being on respiratory symptoms, anecdotal reports hinted that stress, quarantine, and illness might also affect gut health. 

With the study, the researchers measured trends over time using clinical definitions and large-scale survey data to confirm if digestive issues truly surged during the pandemic.

“Using data from a national online study, we found that rates of digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation rose significantly,” researcher Christopher V. Almario, M.D., MSHPM, said in a news release. 

“These findings underscore the significant toll the pandemic has taken on digestive health.”

The study

This was a longitudinal, national survey that tracked U.S. adults from May 2020 to May 2022. More than 160,000 participants completed periodic questionnaires based on the Rome IV criteria — a gold standard for diagnosing gut–brain interaction disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and others.

The Rome IV tool identifies symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, discomfort, and altered bowel habits.

Participants answered the same questions repeatedly over two years, enabling researchers to measure prevalence trends and correlate changes with stages of the pandemic.

The findings

Overall, the researchers learned that digestive disorders have been on the rise since the pandemic – IBS specifically. 

In May 2020, rates of IBS were at about 6% among U.S. adults. That figure nearly doubled to 11% by May 2022. 

The incidence of chronic idiopathic constipation had a slight increase from 6.0% in 2020 to 6.4% in 2022.

The researchers explained that pandemic-related stress is likely a key driver: isolation, health fears, loss of routine, and shifts in diet/exercise.

It’s important to note that this study didn’t look at infection status, so the rise appears more tied to societal stress than direct effects of COVID infection.

What It Means for You

Based on these findings, if you've been experiencing ongoing gut issues — like bloating, irregular bowels, or discomfort — it's worth talking to your health care provider.

Standard treatments for functional gut disorders (e.g., dietary changes, stress management, medications) are still relevant — and mental health support may play a key role.

“This research calls for a renewed focus on gastrointestinal health in the post-pandemic era,” researcher Brennan Spiegel, M.D., MSHS, said in the news release. 

“Health care providers must be vigilant in recognizing and addressing the long-term effects of the pandemic on digestive health.”