Lab Notes | BAEHS

                                                                                  Written by: Tayren N. Ben-Abraham, MPH, MSc., M.A., M.A.  A recent article published by Them discussed a growing social media trend on TikTok in which some individuals claim that drinking their own urine can "naturally" replace hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause. The original article can be found here: https://www.them.us/answers-and-advice/health/maha-hrt-hormone-obsession?fbclid=IwdGRzaATPXP1jbGNrBM9cW2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHq6JM1C2jSgQgm7HH1bDvy8LvcLu1X_-sOhqGiktmMkLEOw1BDS9BzV_dfHG_aem_0eL7LtRbP7qzgSJE-h_p1Q&utm_campaign=mrf-facebook-them&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202607236a601dc...

                                                        Figure 1. Wildfires. Source: Al-Jazeera. Every year, wildfires affect millions of people around the world. The number of people affected by wildfires is increasing over time due to climate change (Velev, 2025). Even if you live far from an active wildfire, smoke can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, reducing air quality and affecting your health (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025a). Wildfire smoke is more than just an unpleasant smell or a hazy sky, it contains tiny particles and harmful gases that can make it harder to breathe and increase the risk of illness (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025b). Understanding what wildfire smoke is and knowing how to protect yourself can help keep you and your family safe during wildfire season. Wildfire...

                                                               Figure 1. Scented candles in glass holders. From www.carolinacool.com      What's Really in the Air When You Burn a         Scented Candle?                                            Tayren N. Ben-Abraham, MPH, MSc., M.A., M.A.                                                                                      Figure 2. Scented candl...