A team of environmental chemists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst led by Baoshan Xing, report that triclosan, an antibacterial agent in some over-the-counter toothpastes, accumulates in toothbrush bristles and is easily released in the mouth if the user switches toothpaste types. (Chem Info; Boston Globe; News Office, Time magazine, Infection Control Today, Science Codex, Health Day, Chemcial & Engineering News, UPI 10/25/17 )
News from the Media
UMass Amherst Researchers Find Anti-bacterial Chemical Accumulates in Toothbrushes
October 25, 2017
Research at UMass Cold Spring Orchard Bears Fruit
October 10, 2017
BELCHERTOWN — The University of Massachusetts Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center — its full name — is a facility where researchers are hard at work addressing sustainability, pest management, and climate change, in the name of growing the best possible fruit. (Boston Globe 10/10/17)
Editorial Praises Work at UMass's S. Deerfield Farm
September 28, 2017
An editorial praises two UMass Amherst agricultural initiatives in South Deerfield—a dual-use farm, combining solar panels and crops, and a student-run vegetable farm. “Both farms are providing an impressive demonstration of successful, practical education for an occupation as old as the earth but in a modern world,” the editorial states. Amanda Brown, Stockbridge School of Agriculture and director of the Student Farming Enterprise program, is quoted. (Daily Hampshire Gazette, 9/28/17)
Extension Professor Tells Town About Online Tool
September 28, 2017
Scott Jackson, extension associate professor in environmental conservation, explained new online tool to area leaders at a Creating Resilient Communities forum. (The Recorder, Greenfield, 9/28/17)
Apple Crop Expected to Reach 10-Year High, UMass Extension Comments
September 18, 2017
This year, the USDA is expecting about 46 million pounds of apples, the highest mark in 10 years. "There will be lots of apples and they'll be big," said Jon Clements, UMass Fruit Extension program. (Worcester Business Journal 9/18/17)
Learning Garden in Springfield Helped by UMass
September 11, 2017
Nutrition educator, Amanda McCabe, at UMass Extension in Amherst, cooked with young students, using recipes that incorporated veggies students are growing in Springfield at Square One. (MassLive 9/6/17)
Caterpillars Have Defoliated Nearly One-third of State’s Forests, UMass Entomologist Elkinton Comments
August 31, 2017
Nearly a third of the forest canopy across Massachusetts has been consumed this year by a plague of gypsy moth caterpillars, whose insatiable appetite for leaves can ultimately kill trees. Joseph Elkinton, an entomologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, adds predictions. (Globe 8/30/17)
UMass Amherst Study of Bee Health Finds No Natural Medicine in Once-promising Compound
August 29, 2017
AMHERST, Mass. – A new study of possible self-medicating behavior in bumble bees conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst reports that a once-promising finding was not supported by further experiments and analysis. (AgriMarketing, 8/29/17; Science Codex, Laboratory Equipment, Seed Quest, 8/28/17; News Office release, 8/28/17)
UMass Lab Analyzes Ticks to Identify Pathogens
August 29, 2017
Microbiologist Stephen Rich's laboratory team at UMass Amhest tests ticks that have crawled across, bitten or otherwise come into human contact. Within three business days of mailing in a tick as part of the Send a Tick to College program, people get a list of any pathogens the ticks carry. (Cape Cod Times 8/26/17)
Wes Autio Comments on Central Massachusetts Juicy Peach Crop
August 24, 2017
Wesley Autio, director of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and professor of pomology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, said moisture, sun and temperature have been ideal this summer for peaches and apples. (Telegram 8/23/17)