A weekly roundup of public health news
Insurance denials common for many Americans
More than 20% of U.S. adults with private health insurance have been denied coverage for recommended medical care in the past year, according to a Commonwealth Fund survey released June 4.
Many people who experienced a prior authorization denial said it delayed their care, and almost a third said their health worsened as a result. Patients who were denied also reported worry and anxiety.
Claim denials had financial consequences, the survey found. Nearly 70% of people who experienced a claim denial said it increased household costs, while 43% reported the denial led to medical debt they were still paying off.
Fewer than half of people who experienced a denial appealed the decision. Many said they were unsure of their right to appeal, doubted it would change the outcome or did not know who to contact. Appeals often took weeks or months to resolve, researchers said.
About 66% of insured Americans are covered by private companies, mostly through employer-based plans. Most companies that provide health coverage only offer a single plan, limiting options for workers.
Smog from wildfires killing Americans
U.S. deaths from ozone pollution are rising as wildfires worsen air quality, a new study in Science says.
Published June 4, the research found that increasing wildfire activity has reversed more than a decade of progress in reducing ozone pollution, commonly known as smog. Wildfire-driven ozone pollution has contributed to more than 300 additional premature deaths each year since 2013, researchers estimated.
U.S. ozone pollution had been on the decline, largely because of stricter controls on vehicle emissions and other pollution sources. That trend reversed course after 2015, however, as wildfires surged.
The Canadian wildfires of 2023 particularly had widespread effects. During that fire season, ozone levels exceeded federal air quality standards for 148 million Americans, representing about 44% of the continental U.S. population. In the Midwest, ozone pollution remained above recommended levels for more than a week.
Wildfire-related ozone pollution contributed to nearly 8,000 premature deaths in 2023 alone, the study estimated. From 2022 to 2024, wildfire-driven ozone pollution exposed 43 million people to ozone levels above the federal standard of 70 parts per billion, the study found.
Inhaling ozone can cause shortness of breath, worsen asthma and bronchitis symptoms, and damage airways.
Water waste from textile mills can carry toxic compounds
The way the textile industry treats its wastewater may be harmful for both workers and local water supplies, new research finds.
A common method used by textile manufacturers to treat wastewater before it is released can produce toxic byproducts, according to the June 1 study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
At issue is the use of sodium chloride, or table salt, which some manufacturers add to wastewater to speed the treatment process and break down dyes. But while adding salt may improve treatment efficiency, it can also create harmful chemical byproducts. Among the compounds detected were chloroform and bromoform, chemicals that have been linked to health risks and are regulated in drinking water.
While there are no U.S. limits for the compounds in textile wastewater, the Environmental Protection Agency limits related compounds in drinking water to 80 parts per billion. Some of the concentrations detected in the study were several times higher than that standard, researchers said.
The findings raise concerns about workers who may inhale the chemicals during wastewater treatment. Potential environmental impacts may also occur if the compounds enter waterways, researchers said.
While the U.S. no longer leads the world in textile manufacturing, it remains home to thousands of textile mills and manufacturers. U.S. textile mills produce products such as yarn, fabric, hosiery, sheets, towels and carpets, according to EPA.
AI taxing world’s resources, U.N. report warns
Artificial intelligence is putting strain on the world’s water, land and waste systems, impacts that go beyond its massive electricity use, according to a new report.
Released June 3, the report from the U.N. University Institute for Water, Environment and Health warned that the environmental costs of AI are extensive and growing. By 2030, data centers that power AI are projected to use 9.3 trillion liters of water annually to cool their systems. The land footprint associated with powering AI could exceed 5,600 square miles, which is roughly the size of Connecticut.
Electronic waste is another emerging concern. AI infrastructure could generate up to 2.5 million metric tons of e-waste each year by 2030, the report estimated. Much of that waste is expected to be processed in low-income countries with limited environmental protections.
There are also growing concerns about where AI infrastructure is located. In Mexico, expanding data center development has increased pressure on local water supplies, for example. While existing U.S. data centers are mainly in urban areas of the nation, most new ones are planned for rural regions, including the South, according to the Pew Research Center.
Other recent public health news of note:
• Growing demand for rapid delivery and low-price goods is making warehouse jobs more stressful and dangerous, according to new research in ILR Review. Researchers found employees at e-commerce fulfillment centers experienced greater pressure to work quickly, fewer opportunities for breaks and higher levels of stress and burnout than workers at traditional warehouses.
• Inhaling microplastics can make allergy symptoms more severe, a recent study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances says. Researchers found that tiny plastic particles stayed in the lungs of mice for at least two weeks after exposure and caused inflammation. When the particles were combined with ragweed pollen, a common cause of seasonal allergies, inflammation in the airways became worse. The type of plastic studied, known as PET, is commonly used in water bottles, food packaging and clothing.
• High healthcare costs may harm the ability of people to obtain adequate nutritious food, new findings in JAMA Network Open show. Families spending at least 5% of their income on out-of-pocket medical costs were significantly more likely to experience food insecurity the following year, researchers found.
The Watch is written by Michele Late, who has more than two decades of experience as a public health journalist.
