Public Health

Mainz – September 11, 2026 -- Constant background noise from white noise machines, audiobooks and headphones may be overwhelming children's hearing, according to Eberhard Schmidt, a certified hearing acoustician and president of Germany's Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker (biha).

Schmidt, who also specializes in pediatric hearing care, says ears are always "on" and cannot simply switch off. The real risk comes from a combination of high volume, close proximity to sound sources, and nonstop exposure -- not from sound itself.

Hearing develops before birth, around the fifth month of pregnancy

Unborn babies can perceive sound starting around the fifth month of pregnancy, Schmidt explains. While amniotic fluid and tissue reduce volume, loud repeated noise -- such as at concerts or noisy workplaces -- can still reach the fetus and should be limited during pregnancy.

Berlin – September 10, 2026 -- The Deutsche Sepsis-Hilfe e. V. has released a free children's book, "Papas kleiner Gemeinling," to help families explain sepsis to kids when a parent is suddenly hospitalized.

Sepsis, commonly known as blood poisoning, is the most severe form of an infection and ranks among the leading causes of death in Germany. At least 230,000 people in the country are diagnosed with sepsis each year, and at least 85,000 die from its effects.

The book follows a girl named Hannah as her father battles sepsis

Written by children's author Saskia Heinl and illustrated by Julia Hannes, the story explains in age-appropriate terms what happens during treatment and rehabilitation. It aims to acknowledge children's fears while offering reassurance during a frightening time.

Düsseldorf – September 10, 2026 -- Ahead of World Sepsis Day on September 13, pharmacies in North Rhine, Germany are urging the public to recognize four warning signs that can distinguish a routine infection from a life-threatening emergency.

Sepsis, once commonly known as blood poisoning, occurs when the body's immune response to an infection spirals out of control and begins damaging its own tissue and organs. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections and infected wounds can all trigger it. "Many people still associate sepsis mainly with an infected wound. In fact, any infection can trigger it," said Thomas Preis, chairman of the North Rhine Pharmacists' Association.

Munich – September 09, 2026 -- A new two-part investigative docuseries, "Seelenfänger: Der falsche Heiler," premieres October 13, 2026 in the ARD Mediathek and airs October 19, 2026 at 11:30 p.m. on BR Fernsehen, documenting families who lost loved ones after they trusted the pseudo-medical theory known as "Germanische Neue Medizin" (Germanic New Medicine).

The theory rejects evidence-based cancer treatment

Germanic New Medicine frames cancer not as a disease but as the physical manifestation of an unresolved psychological conflict. Followers of the theory are encouraged to reject conventional, evidence-based medical treatment -- a choice the docuseries links directly to preventable deaths.

Prague – September 09, 2026 -- The FDI World Dental Federation has unveiled "Generation Smile," a new global movement aimed at making oral health a lifelong priority for people of all ages, launched during the FDI World Dental Congress in Prague.

The campaign centers on a new platform tied to World Oral Health Day

Generation Smile serves as the flagship platform for World Oral Health Day, with this year's theme, "Join Generation Smile," inviting individuals worldwide to treat oral health as a core part of overall wellbeing rather than a standalone concern.

New York – September 09, 2026 -- A new episode of the climate interview series Net Zero Speaks features David W. DuBois, State Climatologist of New Mexico, discussing why extreme heat, drought, and water scarcity are becoming hyper-local problems rather than distant global statistics.

DuBois links declining snowpack and dust storms to daily life in the Southwest

Hosted by youth climate advocate Ivan Ransom, the episode examines how prolonged drought, worsening air quality, and declining mountain snowpack are already reshaping agriculture, water management, and emergency planning across the American Southwest. DuBois, who also directs the New Mexico Climate Center and chairs the state's Drought Monitoring Workgroup, argues that communities need hyper-local data to prepare rather than react.

Washington – September 08, 2026 -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is joining the global Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy community to mark World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7th, a date recognized by the United Nations.

This Year's Theme Focuses on Access to Care

The 2026 theme, "Access Changes Lives," spotlights the need for people living with Duchenne and Becker to reach trusted information, knowledgeable care, appropriate therapies, clinical trial opportunities, and community support. PPMD says access should not depend on where someone lives or what resources they have.

"Access can change the trajectory of a person's life," said Katherine Beaverson, PPMD's Chief Executive Officer. She added that PPMD is committed to breaking down barriers so families can make informed decisions and benefit from scientific progress.

MINNEAPOLIS – September 08, 2026 -- A 76-minute documentary that uses artificial intelligence to recreate a Parkinson's patient's pre-disease voice has been selected for the Twin Cities Film Fest, running Oct. 15-24, with a screening set for noon on Oct. 24 at the Edina Mann Theatre in Edina, Minnesota.

The film pairs a real family's 28-year Parkinson's journey with AI narration.

Berlin – September 08, 2026 -- The German environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court of Braunschweig challenging the approval of the pesticide Joystick, arguing it releases the persistent chemical trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) into the environment.

EFSA toughens its health risk assessment of TFA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently strengthened its health risk evaluation of TFA, citing evidence that the substance can alter levels of thyroxine, a thyroid hormone. EFSA also flagged the need for further research into long-term risks, including potential cancer risk and effects on the immune system.

Joystick's active ingredient breaks down into TFA

Joystick, a herbicide used in field crop farming, contains the active ingredient diflufenican. According to recent scientific findings cited by DUH, this compound degrades in the environment partly into TFA.

Clearwater, Fla. – September 08, 2026 -- The National Safe Boating Council is urging boaters heading onto the water this Labor Day weekend to wear life jackets and use engine cut-off switches, citing federal data showing drowning as the leading cause of boating deaths.

Drowning caused 76% of boating fatalities in 2024

According to the 2024 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics, drowning was the reported cause of death in 76% of all boating fatalities that year. Of those drowning victims, 87% were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

"Labor Day weekend is a wonderful time to celebrate the close of summer on the water, but safety must come first," said Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. She urged boaters to wear a life jacket, use an engine cut-off switch, and never operate a vessel under the influence.