Public Health

Washington – October 28, 2026 -- Microplastics turned up in the blood of 27 of 28 people tested in a new report, a 96% detection rate across participants in Canada and the United States.

The report, titled Microplastics in Me: Finding Plastics in Human Blood, comes from Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic People, and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. It is the first to publicly identify a group of individuals who have microplastics in their bodies.

Participants were public figures from across North America

The 28 volunteers work in music, art, entertainment, media, politics, and public policy. They come from different age groups, backgrounds, and cities. Their blood was drawn over an eight-month window in 2025–2026.

Ontario, California – October 28, 2026 -- More than 4 million tubes of toothpaste sold nationwide have been recalled, including several Brush Buddies children's varieties, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Barbie, Hot Wheels and Crayola flavors are affected

The recalled Brush Buddies toothpastes carry Barbie, Hot Wheels, My Little Pony and Crayola branding. Certain lots of Evo advanced whitening and sensitive toothpaste are also included, as are lots of ARU gum health and cavity protection toothpaste.

All of the products were distributed by Ashtel Studios Inc. of Ontario, California. A full list of affected toothpastes and their lot numbers is in the recall's enforcement report.

The recall began Sept. 10 and became Class II on Oct. 22

The recall was first initiated on Sept. 10, 2026. Its certification was updated to a Class II recall on Oct. 22.

California – October 28, 2026 -- Anyone who bought Graziers raw milk cheese should not eat it: the FDA has given the recall its highest-risk Class I classification amid a multistate E. coli outbreak.

The warning covers every Graziers raw milk cheese from Sierra Nevada Cheese Company

The classification applies to all affected Graziers raw milk cheese products made by California-based Sierra Nevada Cheese Company. That includes the Monterey Jack, jalapeño jack, medium cheddar and sharp cheddar varieties.

Thirteen people in nine states have fallen ill

Investigators report that 13 people in nine states became sick. More than half of those infected were children age 5 and younger.

The cheeses were distributed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Choosing a designated driver before anyone starts drinking is the most cost-effective way to get home safely, and the stakes are high: drunk-driving crashes in the U.S. kill one person every 44 minutes.

People skip the plan for familiar reasons. They don't want to leave the car overnight, they want to avoid the cost or wait of a rideshare, or they simply don't feel impaired. But alcohol affects the same judgment you would use to assess your ability to drive, so the call is harder to make accurately in the moment.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Two out of three teens are not drinking alcohol, according to studies cited by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and parents can use that fact to counter the belief that "everyone's doing it." MADD's Power of Parents program offers conversation starters and practical tools for talking with teens about alcohol, drugs and safety.

Teens overestimate how much their peers drink

Perceived norms drive behavior, and many teens assume their peers drink more than they do. MADD suggests asking curious questions, such as what teens actually do on a typical weekend and whether everyone is really drinking. Comparing those assumptions with the statistics helps parent and teen see the real picture.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Cannabis sold in legal-sale states in 2023 contains 25-90% THC, compared with roughly 2-4% before 1990, so parents who tried it in their youth may be thinking of a very different drug. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is urging parents to update their conversations with teens through its Power of Parents program.

Potency has jumped by more than 100 times

MADD says the difference can be over 100-fold. Its comparison: if beer had strengthened the same way, one beer today would equal more than 20 beers in 1990. Beer potency, by contrast, has changed very little because of strong regulation.

Pennsylvania – October 27, 2026 -- Self-driving cars and in-vehicle prevention technology envisioned under the HALT Drunk Driving Law could keep impaired drivers off the road, says Bob Nulman, a MADD National Ambassador who lost his son to a drunk and drugged driver in 1987.

A 1987 wrong-way crash killed five young men

Nulman's son Dan, a 22-year-old college senior, was riding with four friends on I-95 in Pennsylvania. A 20-year-old impaired driver heading south in the northbound lanes hit their car head-on. All five young men and the driver died. Thirty-nine years later, Nulman says he still feels the loss every day.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Coffee, cold showers and workouts will not lower your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and only time lets your body clear alcohol, according to guidance from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Judgment slips before the 0.08% limit

Alcohol can affect your judgment well before you reach the 0.08% legal limit used in most states. Feeling alert does not mean you are safe to drive. Even under the limit, your reaction time and coordination may not be where they need to be behind the wheel.

Three popular tricks only change how you feel

Caffeine is a stimulant, so coffee and energy drinks can ease tiredness. They do not help your body process alcohol faster, and they can make you feel more capable than you are.

A cold shower may leave you refreshed, but it does not reduce your BAC.

Texas – October 27, 2026 -- Parents still outrank friends as the biggest influence on teens' decisions. In the 2022 MADD Parent & Teen Perceptions Survey, 60% of teens named their parents, while 23% named friends.

Teens start drinking at about age 15 on average

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism puts the average age of first alcohol use in the US at about 15. The CDC reports that the earlier someone begins drinking, the more likely they are to develop alcohol dependence later in life. The brain keeps developing until around age 25, which makes it especially vulnerable to alcohol and other substances.

The road toll is also high. AAA reports that 13,135 people were killed across the country in crashes involving a teen driver between 2019 and 2023.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents should be able to install third-party safety software on every social media platform and device operating system, argues Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, after two months of damaging press about children's exposure to harmful content.