September is globally recognized as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month, with September 9 dedicated to International FASD Awareness Day. This year, 2025, carries the powerful theme “Everyone Plays a Part: Take Action!”, a reminder that preventing FASD and supporting those affected is a collective responsibility.

What is FASD and Why It Matters

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes the lifelong effects on the brain and body of a baby exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. It can lead to physical, behavioral, and cognitive challenges that persist throughout life. The most severe form, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), is characterized by distinct facial features, slow growth, learning difficulties, and developmental delays.

Also Read: Kissing Bugs Disease Could Soon Become An Endemic, Says CDC

FASD Theme 2025

This year’s theme, “Everyone Plays a Part: Take Action!”, is a call to collective responsibility. It highlights that FASD prevention is not just about individual choices but also about community support, healthcare education, and creating safe environments for expectant mothers.

Health professionals are encouraged to screen for alcohol use early in pregnancy, families are urged to provide support to those struggling with alcohol dependence, and policymakers are called upon to ensure inclusive systems for people with FASD. The message is simple yet powerful: prevention and support require all of us.

Experts emphasize that there is no known safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy. Alcohol passes through the placenta to the developing baby, where it can cause permanent brain damage and affect organ development.

Also Read: What Role Do Genes Play In Alcoholism?

Symptoms vary, some children may face intellectual disabilities, behavioral issues, or difficulty with learning and social interaction. Others may experience challenges with coordination, speech, and growth.

The disorder is entirely preventable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. However, for those already living with FASD, early diagnosis and intervention can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

How FASD Awareness Day Began

International FASD Awareness Day was first observed on September 9, 1999, thanks to the efforts of parents and advocates like Bonnie Buxton, Brian Philcox, and Teresa Kellerman. They chose 9/9/99 to symbolize the nine months of pregnancy, a clear reminder that avoiding alcohol throughout those months can prevent FASD entirely.

What started as a grassroots effort in Canada and the United States has grown into a global movement. Communities worldwide now hold events, educational workshops, and social media campaigns each September to raise awareness, combat stigma, and advocate for better support systems.

Why This Day Matters

FASD Awareness Day is more than an observance, it is a global reminder that thousands of children are still born each year with preventable conditions linked to alcohol exposure. Beyond prevention, the day pushes for better understanding and empathy toward individuals already living with FASD. Stigma often keeps families from seeking help, and awareness campaigns aim to break that silence.

As the world observes FASD Day 2025, the message is clear: by spreading awareness, encouraging alcohol-free pregnancies, and supporting those affected, society can take a step closer to ending preventable harm and building inclusive communities where individuals with FASD can thrive.

When COVID-19 ravaged the globe, disposable face masks became a instant necessity and a sign of protection. They provided a layer of protection against the spread of the virus, it became mandatory in most settings, and were mass-manufactured to address the urgent need. But new research indicates the same masks that protected us throughout the pandemic can now be leaving a toxic trail behind.

A paper by scientists at Coventry University, published in Environmental Pollution, has established that disposable masks are leaching microplastics and toxic chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors, into the environment. This chemical fallout could have long-term impacts on human health, wildlife, and ecosystems globally, scientists warn.

During the height of the pandemic, the world consumed a projected 129 billion single-use face masks monthly. The majority were composed of polypropylene and other plastics and were meant to be used once and then discarded. Without a proven recycling stream, they wound up in landfills, scattered on urban streets, or carried by rain into rivers and oceans.

Also Read: Could A Daily Pill Restore Brain Function After Stroke? Scientists Test Bold New Treatment

These masks have started to degrade over time. Field studies in recent times have reported abandoned masks in soil, on beaches, in water bodies, and even in rural areas far from civilization. As they disintegrate, they do not vanish—they scatter tiny fragments of plastic and chemical additives in the environment.

Dr. Anna Bogush, the lead author of Coventry University's study, refers to this as a pressing problem. "We can no longer overlook the environmental price of single-use masks, particularly when we have learned that the microplastics and chemicals they emit have a detrimental impact on human beings and ecosystems alike," she stated.

Why Testing the Disposed Masks Is Essential?

To find out what happens to masks when they disintegrate, Bogush and co-researcher Dr. Ivan Kourtchev did a simple but insightful experiment. They put fresh, unused masks—surgical masks as well as filtering facepieces like FFP2 and FFP3—into glass flasks of distilled water. The water was filtered after 24 hours at room temperature and then tested using sophisticated laboratory methods.

The findings were alarming. Each mask, whether it was a surgical, cloth or respirator, emitted microplastics. But filtering facepieces, commonly sold as the most effective level of protection amid the pandemic, lost four to six times more particles than basic surgical masks.

Most of them were small—less than 100 micrometers, about the diameter of a human hair—and consisted mainly of polypropylene. Small amounts of polyethylene, polyester, nylon, and PVC were present. These substances do not biodegrade readily, so they linger for decades in the environment.

Invisible Pollutants With Visible Consequences

The worry is not limited to plastics. The study found that masks also emitted chemical additives, such as Bisphenol B (BPB), a chemical that has been found to act like estrogen and interfere with hormonal systems in humans and animals.

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The scientists estimated that at the peak of the pandemic, disposable masks released between 128 and 214 kilograms of BPB into the environment. That might seem insignificant compared to global levels of pollution, but the total effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals—no matter how low the dose—has been found to influence fertility, development, and hormone function in humans and wildlife.

Microplastics, similarly, are not inert trash. When ingested by fish, birds, or small animals, they can become concentrated further up the food web, finally ending up in human diets. Microplastics have already been detected in seafood, tap water, and even in human lungs and blood.

Why Are These Disposable Masks Now Posing A Risk To Human Health?

The threats from microplastics and endocrine disruptors are multifaceted and as yet not fully appreciable, but the preliminary evidence is alarming.

Hormonal interference: Substances such as BPB have the potential to disrupt reproductive health, fetal growth, and metabolism.

Breathing difficulties: Microplastics inhaled through air can settle in lung tissue, leading to inflammation or other respiratory disorders.

Contamination of the food chain: Plastics carried by rivers, oceans, and land can contaminate crops and animals, with the risk of exposing individuals through food intake.

Scientists emphasize that this is not a standalone problem. Disposable masks are one part of a broader plastic pollution plague, which already encompasses bottles, bags, packaging, and man-made fabrics. But the unprecedented rate at which masks were used during the pandemic generated a shock and intense period of pollution.

Disposable Face Masks Have An Environmental Burden That Lingers

In contrast to biodegradable trash, the plastics found in disposable masks resist natural decay. One mask might take decades to degrade, releasing microplastics and chemicals along the way. For already plastic-stressed ecosystems, masks provide another source of stress.

Wildlife scientists have documented instances of animals getting tangled up in mask straps or eating shredded pieces. Marine ecosystems are especially at risk, since microplastics can settle into sediment and wreak havoc on entire food webs.

The environmental effect isn't quite even, however. Low- and middle-income nations, which frequently do not have effective waste management systems, bear a disproportionate weight of mask pollution.

The authors of the study contend that society must reexamine mask production, usage, and disposal. Single-use masks may have been necessary amid a peak health emergency on a global scale, but to continue using them without sustainable options threatens long-term damage.

The pandemic compelled billions of individuals to shift toward protective behaviors in one night. Masks helped save lives, safeguarded frontline health staff, and contributed significantly in slowing down the transmission of COVID-19. But their environmental legacy serves as a reminder that timely solutions to one crisis can generate new problems unless sustainability is made a part of the equation.

As the world prepares to face the next public health threat, safety gear can't be designed to be as if it stops with the disposal. The decisions we make today regarding manufacturing, using, and throwing away will resonate for decades in the environment and in our bodies.

Disposable masks were probably necessary in 2020, but by 2025, they are also a harsh reminder that each protective act has an unseen price tag. The only question is whether we will take action on this information before the chemical timebomb ticks again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report could be declaring the kissing bug disease or the Chagas disease an endemic in the United States.

But, before we jump into the report, let us understand the difference between an outbreak, endemic, epidemic, and pandemic.

Outbreak: As per the National Collaborating Centers for Infectious Disease, Canada, an outbreak is limited to a specific area, for instance a school, a department store, etc. and it is within a certain time period.

Endemic: The CDC notes that the amount of a particular disease that is usually present in a community is called an endemic. It is also called a baseline. The National Collaborating Centers for Infectious Disease says that an endemic is when it is always present in a geographical area or a population group.

Epidemic: The CDC notes that an outbreak becomes are epidemic when there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in a specific area. It can also spread to a larger area, for instance, within the country.

Pandemic: The CDC notes that when an epidemic spreads over several countries and continents, affecting many people, it is called a pandemic.

What Does The CDC Report Say?

In a report published last month in the September issue of the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, researchers highlighted that the disease is already considered endemic in 21 countries across the Americas. They also emphasized that growing evidence of the parasite’s presence in the United States is beginning to challenge the long-standing classification of the country as “non-endemic.”

The report stated that autochthonous, meaning locally acquired, human cases have been confirmed in eight U.S. states, with Texas reporting the highest number of cases. “Labeling the United States as non-Chagas disease-endemic perpetuates low awareness and underreporting,” the authors warned, further pointing out that the insect responsible for transmitting the disease has been detected in 32 states.

In addition to Texas, the other states where human cases have been identified include California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

The report points out that available data is still “inadequate” to conclusively demonstrate whether the insects are expanding in either their geographic range or overall numbers. However, it also highlights that these bugs are being “increasingly recognized,” largely because of their frequent encounters with humans and the growing focus of scientific research.

“Invasion into homes, human bites, subsequent allergic reactions or exposure to T. cruzi parasites, and the rising number of canine diagnoses have all contributed to greater public awareness,” the report stated.

Read: What You Need To Know About Chagas Disease, Is it Contagious?

What Is The Kissing Bug Disease or The Chagas Disease?

Globally, around 8 million people are estimated to be living with Chagas disease, and about 280,000 cases are believed to exist in the United States, many of them undiagnosed.

Transmission occurs when the bug bites and then leaves parasite-containing droppings near the bite site. If a person accidentally rubs or scratches the area, or if the droppings come into contact with the eyes, mouth, or a cut in the skin, the parasite can enter the body and cause infection.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, often leaving survivors with long-term challenges in movement, memory, and speech. Traditional rehabilitation can alleviate symptoms, but progress is slow and limited for most patients. Researchers are now investigating a game-changer, a pill that could stimulate the brain to regenerate itself. Early studies indicate that approved drugs for other diseases can be repurposed to stimulate sleeping repair processes, providing a new avenue for recovery that previously was not possible. Successful use of this method could reframe the way physicians treat stroke victims and transform the future of neurorehabilitation.

For years, doctors and scientists knew that if damaged, the brain had little to no regeneration capacity. Stroke victims and head injury patients were too often doomed to a lifetime struggle with dysfunctional movement, memory loss, or difficulty speaking. Today, new research contradicts the long-standing principle. A pill in development may activate the brain's ability to heal itself, giving hope to millions of people around the globe.

Strokes, which happen as a result of interrupted blood flow to areas of the brain, continue to be among the major causes of long-term disability. Brain cells are killed through the resulting damage, and survivors are left with physical and mental difficulties that are notoriously hard to reverse. Conventional rehabilitation involves physical therapy and changes in lifestyle, but gains are slow and partial.

"Previously, the medical community believed that adult brains were incapable of producing new neurons after severe damage," describe neurologists who are knowledgeable about the study. "This pill contradicts that by stimulating directly involved pathways to neurogenesis."

The treatment, which comes from adapting already proven drugs like Maraviroc—already approved for other diseases—is aimed at molecular mechanisms thought to induce the birth of new brain cells and fix faulty circuits. If successful, it may significantly lower reliance on resource-intensive rehab programs.

How Does The Stroke Recovery Pill Work?

At the core of this innovation is the capability to "turn on" latent genes that stimulate neural repair. Recent stories in Futurism have reported that researchers, using animal models, have shown that activation of these pathways not only repaired faulty neural connections but also recovered movement and memory.

Initial experiments are exploring whether the same effects are possible in humans. Stroke patients are being treated with controlled quantities of the pill, and scientists monitor changes in brain plasticity, motor function, and cognitive abilities. The potential to restore lost capabilities via medication has generated guarded optimism among scientists.

“The early data is promising, but we’re just beginning to understand the scope of what this drug can achieve,” said one of the study’s lead researchers. “The ultimate goal is to complement or even replace traditional rehabilitation therapies.”

Optimism there is, despite challenges. Converting animal experiments to human triumphs has long been filled with stumbling blocks. Results vary considerably from person to person based on the magnitude of the brain injury and how quickly postinjury care is initiated.

Existing trials, some of which are closely monitored by The New York Times, are intended to test both safety and efficacy. Though Maraviroc has an established record of safety in its current uses, application to brain repair introduces new risks. Overactivating brain function, for instance, may precipitate seizures or other unexpected side effects.

Regulatory agencies such as the FDA are keeping close tabs. Any such breakthrough therapy will need to meet strict safety criteria before becoming widely available. Experts warn that although the prospect of a pill that can restore lost brain function has revolutionary appeal, the only course is thorough testing.

How Does The Pill Impact Brain Healing and Health?

The potential for this research goes far beyond recovery from stroke. Traumatic brain injuries caused by automobile accidents, sports injuries, or war may someday be cured with similar regenerative approaches. Researchers are also investigating whether stimulating neurogenesis could help degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

New Atlas reports indicate that marrying molecular therapies with current medical devices might optimize the recovery. For instance, Stanford researchers developing clot-removing technology envision a future when physical interventions are wedded with drugs that activate the brain's inherent repair function.

The drugs industry is already monitoring the situation. With millions globally suffering from neurological conditions, the potential is huge. However, experts stress that scientific support, rather than commercial motives, should be the driving force behind the development.

For patients, a chance at a pill that will trigger brain regeneration is nothing less than revolutionary. Consider a stroke victim able to walk without a decade of agonizing therapy, or a college athlete recovering from a head injury without enduring deficits.

But whereas the promise is revolutionary, neurologists caution patience. "We're in the beginning stages," said one clinical scientist. "The science is good, the trials have started, but it will take years to be sure if this is the tipping point we all hope it will be."

The economic stakes are equally high. Stroke rehabilitation alone costs billions annually in healthcare expenses. If a pill could accelerate recovery and reduce long-term dependency, it could reshape not only medicine but healthcare systems globally.

The road from bench to bedside is long, but hopefully, it is getting shorter. A placebo-controlled, randomized trial in Canada is ongoing, and the last results are likely to be available in approximately two years. Those results will give more definite answers on whether or not brain regeneration via medication is indeed achievable.