Benzene in Cold Med; Male Cancer Death to Rise 93%; Mail-Order Drugs Compromised?

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Generic versions of guaifenesin (Mucinex) sold at Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart may contain the carcinogen benzene, according to a Bloomberg News analysis. (New York Post)

More than half of U.S. states are reporting “very high” COVID activity levels, according to CDC wastewater data.

Time to boost? Experts weighed in on whether to get a COVID shot now or wait for the updated vaccines. (New York Times)

Even low-risk drinking was associated with higher cancer and all-cause mortality among some older adults, a JAMA Network Open showed.

Greater plant fat intake was associated with lower mortality compared to a higher intake of total animal, dairy, or egg fat. (JAMA Internal Medicine)

Meanwhile, alcohol manufactures may soon face updated labeling requirements regarding alcohol content and calorie disclosure, but health advocates want clearer warning labels too. (STAT)

Global cancer deaths in men are projected to rise 93% by 2050, according to a study in Cancer.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced $150 million in funding as part of its “Cancer Moonshot” initiative.

And Google is teaming up with actor Selena Gomez to fund high school mental health initiatives. (AP)

Arizona will put abortion rights on the ballot in November. (AP)

Two women filed federal complaints against Texas hospitals that allegedly refused to terminate their ectopic pregnancies, leading to both women losing a fallopian tube and compromising their fertility. (The Hill)

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said that all qualifying hospitals in the state have agreed to participate in a plan where they will receive higher Medicaid payments for relieving the medical debt of lower-income patients. (AP)

A cooling tower was linked to a New Hampshire outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has sickened five people, the state’s department of health said. (ABC News)

How one city is responding to the increasing length of mosquito season. (CBS News)

At least 47,000 Europeans died from heat-related causes in 2023, researchers estimated, but counter-measures prevented an even higher toll. (Nature Medicine)

Excessive heat can also alter drug components and pose a threat to mail-order medications delivered by truck. (New York Times)

Infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome cared for with the “Eat, Sleep, Console” care approach may be more likely to breastfeed. (JAMA Pediatrics)

Exercise is a fundamental aspect of treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but Black patients are being left behind. (KFF Health News)

The FDA approved aflibercept-abzv (Enzeevu), a biosimilar to Eylea, for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration, maker Sandoz announced.