With the increase in plane traffic, contagious illnesses spread farther and faster than ever. Some diseases, such as tuberculosis are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Old enemies like polio refuse to go away. Others like smallpox which have been eradicated threaten a devastating comeback if released. In an increasingly connected world, what are the threaths to our collective health? GreenFacts has faithfully summarised the WHO World Health Report – A safer future: global public health security in the 21st century.

Read the GreenFacts summary on Global Public Health Threats

The listening habits of most users are unlikely to cause hearing loss, but some young people are putting their hearing at risk in the long term. This is a conclusion of the scientific opinion published today by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) and faithfully summarised by GreenFacts.

Read the GreenFacts summary on personal music players and hearing

Are toothpastes, mouth-rinses and tooth whitening products containing hydrogen peroxide safe? Above certain concentrations they may entail potential risks. This is one of the conclusions of an opinion issued by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP). GreenFacts faithfully summarised this recent assessment.

Read our summary on tooth whiteners & oral hygiene products