January 15, 2024 | Environmental Health News
What we know about toxic chemicals and children’s mental health
Evidence suggests chemical exposures are altering children’s brains. We need to tackle this interconnected crisis. January 12, 2024 | The Guardian
Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have ‘immense’ effect on climate catastrophe
First months of conflict produced more planet-warming gases than 20 climate-vulnerable nations do in a year, study shows. January 12, 2024 | Reuters
‘Forever chemicals’ were everywhere in 2023. Expect more litigation in 2024
Lawsuits accusing major chemical companies of polluting U.S. drinking water with toxic PFAS chemicals led to over $11 billion in settlements in 2023, with experts predicting more litigation and settlements in the year ahead. January 10, 2024 | Inside Climate News
Diet for a sick planet: studies find more plastic in our food and bottled water
Researchers find we can now wash down the microplastics in our tofu, or steak, with a much larger quantity of nanoplastics in bottled water than previously known. January 10, 2024 | BBC
Microplastics are everywhere: Is it possible to reduce our exposure?
With tiny plastic fragments infiltrating every part of human existence, can we ever hope to avoid them? January 10, 2024 | New York Post
Microplastics found in nearly 90% of meat, plant-based proteins
“The plastic pollution crisis is impacting all of us, and we need to take action to address its many forms,” one study author said. January 10, 2024 | Environmental Health News
More than 900 common chemicals linked to breast cancer risk: Study
More than 900 chemicals commonly found in consumer products and the environment have been linked to breast cancer risk in a new study. January 9, 2024 | Reuters
Microplastics in Antarctic studied in penguin droppings and water
The amount of microplastics in the Antarctic is being analyzed by using nuclear science to study the region's waters, sediment and even penguin droppings. January 9, 2024 | AP News
Scientists find quarter million nanoplastic particles in a liter of bottled water
New research shows that the average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics. January 9, 2024 | The Tyee
Reducing the forever chemicals in the food we eat
Canada currently doesn’t test its agricultural soils for PFAS like some American states. But changes are coming. January 9, 2024 | Environmental Health News
Beverages in metal cans may be a significant source of chemical contamination, study finds
A recent study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials tested non-alcoholic beverages packaged in plastic, glass, cartons, and metal cans for contamination from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). January 8, 2024 | The Conversation
Senegal’s small scale gold miners still use poisonous mercury: how to reduce the harm
Given the dangers of mercury toxicity and the high exposure of miners and their communities, solutions are needed to reduce their exposure. January 8, 2024 | Environmental Health News
Inequities in air pollution exposure heighten health risks for India's vulnerable communities
Air pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities in India, posing severe health and environmental risks. January 8, 2024 | Environmental Health News
How BPA and its evil cousins dodge meaningful regulation
Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series, BPA's evil cousin. January 5, 2024 | Consumer Reports
The plastic chemicals hiding in your food
CR tested popular fast foods and supermarket staples for some of the chemicals used to make plastic, which can be harmful to your health. Here's what we found—and how to stay safer. January 5, 2024 | Chemical & Engineering News
EPA allows novel RNAi biopesticide for 3 years
The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of a sprayable biopesticide that relies on RNA interference to combat the destructive Colorado potato beetle. The product is the first dsRNA pesticide in the world allowed to be sprayed on plants, according to the EPA. January 5, 2024 | CBS News
BPA, phthalates "widespread" in supermarket foods, regardless of packaging, Consumer Report says
Among the supermarket foods tested, Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli, Del Monte sliced peaches and Chicken of the Sea pink salmon, had the most phthalates per nanogram. January 4, 2024 | EOS
India’s disadvantaged groups face more air pollution
Air pollution disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized around the world, and India is no exception. A new study published in Scientific Reports shows that lower-caste communities and other socially disadvantaged groups have the greatest exposure in the country. January 3, 2024 | Environmental Health News
Pakistan battles severe air pollution with school closures and cloud seeding
According to estimates, Lahore residents are losing an average of seven years of life span due to air pollution. January 3, 2024 | Environmental Health News
Addressing racial disparities in phthalate exposure could reduce the risk of preterm birth
A new study in Environmental Health Perspectives found large racial and ethnic disparities in exposure to phthalates, chemicals that are associated with an increased risk of premature births. January 2, 2024 | ABC News
How to reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics, tinned food and even paper receipts
Shopping dockets? You are probably better off not handling them. Microwaving food in plastic? That is also not advised — and it is because of the 'disrupting' chemicals, which experts say are affecting vital systems in the human body. December 28, 2023 | Aljazeera
Bangladesh capital most polluted as toxic smog engulfs South Asian cities
Capitals of India and Bangladesh see thick layers of toxic smog, ‘very poor’ air quality as normal lives are affected. December 28, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Childhood leukemia linked to PFAS exposure
Prenatal exposure to some PFAS is associated with a higher risk of childhood leukemia, according to a large study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. December 28, 2023 | The Guardian
Retailers to pay for consumers’ e-waste recycling from 2026 under UK plans
Households will be able to drop off cables and other electrical waste in-store or have home collections, says UK environment agency Defra. December 27, 2023 | Earth.com
AI shows how microplastics are harming global soil and agriculture
While the pollution of oceans by plastics is widely recognized, the presence of microplastics in soils across the globe is equally alarming. December 27, 2023 | CBC
Mumbai doctors blame pigeons for spike in lung disease
Doctors in India's most populous city are sounding the alarm over what they say is a fivefold increase in cases of a severe inflammation of the lungs called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. December 27, 2023 | Wisconsin Public Radio
New research highlights effects of biodiversity and pollution in spread of animal diseases
New research from UW-Madison shows that biodiversity and pollution are factors that can change how vulnerable amphibian species are to disease and parasites. December 26, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Our 5 most read stories of 2023
It's always interesting to see what stories touch people. December 26, 2023 | Boise State Public Radio
How pesticides are impacting Latino farmworkers
When it comes to the agricultural industry there are many different risks that come with the job. In a new study from Boise State University, researchers are looking at the impact of pesticide exposure on Idaho's Latino farmworkers. December 26, 2023 | Washington Post
Pakistan’s air pollution rivals India’s, so authorities try seeding clouds
Air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore is estimated to reduce average life expectancy by over seven years. December 26, 2023 | CBS News
Billions of pounds of microplastics are entering the oceans every year. Researchers are trying to understand their impact
A recent study estimates there are now 170 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean. December 22, 2023 | Grist
The link between climate change and a spate of rare disease outbreaks in 2023
The temperature-sensitive pathogens that caught U.S. communities off guard are a grim preview of the future. December 22, 2023 | Newsweek
Bizarre plastic rocks now found across five continents
One expert told Newsweek that these deposits are a "danger to ocean sustainability, blue economy and overall human health." December 22, 2023 | The Guardian
Ban use of bee-killing pesticide in UK, business chiefs tell government
Exclusive: ‘We need to listen to the scientists. Excessive pesticide use is killing our bees,’ say company heads in letter to minister. December 22, 2023 | Washington Post
Colon cancer is rising in young Americans. It’s not clear why
The disease is striking young people who have no obvious risk factors. December 22, 2023 | Inside Climate News
For one environmentalist, warning black women about dangerous beauty products allows them to own their health
The effort by Heather McTeer Toney, a former EPA official, is a part of a larger effort to educate communities of color about personal and communal environmental harms. December 22, 2023 | Washington Post
China’s pollution is getting worse again, says report
For the first time since China began its “war on pollution” a decade ago, the concentration of dangerous PM 2.5 particles in the air has increased. December 22, 2023 | Public Health Watch
California issues emergency rule to address silicosis epidemic
One hundred cases of the fatal lung disease have been documented among fabricators of artificial-stone countertops in the state. Public Health Watch and two collaborators broke the news of the cluster. December 21, 2023 | The Guardian
Pakistan uses artificial rain in attempt to cut pollution levels
The capital city of the eastern province of Punjab, near the Indian border, has some of the worst air quality in the world and has become extremely polluted because of a growing population of more than 13 million people. December 21, 2023 | Washington Post
Supreme Court to review EPA’s power to curb downwind pollution
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will review the Biden administration’s plan to limit smog-forming pollutants from power plants and other industrial facilities that cause problems for their downwind neighbors in other states. December 21, 2023 | CalMatters
California’s toxic waste creates health problems in Mexico
California companies and governments avoid the Golden State's strict environmental regulations by shipping toxic waste to Mexico. December 21, 2023 | EOS
Microplastics are the not-so-secret ingredient in marine snow
Particles of tiny, degraded plastics coated with biofilms sink to the seafloor, carrying carbon with them. December 21, 2023 | STAT News
Liver injury in Black Americans may be connected to lead exposure
New research supports potential link between low-level lead exposure and liver injury in Black Americans. December 21, 2023 | Wired
Oh good, hurricanes are now made of microplastics
When Hurricane Larry made landfall two years ago, it dropped over 100,000 microplastics per square meter of land per day. It’s another ominous sign of how plasticized the environment has become. December 20, 2023 | Endocrine News
Warning consumers about EDCs from the laboratory bench
With a keen interest in hormonal research, Emily Hilz, PhD, has become passionate about the dangers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, especially in beauty products. She talks to Endocrine News about a new app she’s developing to help shield Black women from dangerous products. December 20, 2023 | The Washington Post
Why fewer toys are the best gift for kids and the planet
‘Tis the season to buy toys. But research shows that less is more, for sustainability, and for kids’ play. December 20, 2023 | The Guardian
Rare ‘industrial snowfall’ thought to be caused by pollution recorded in UK
Anthropogenic or industrial snowfall can occur when moisture in the air condenses around tiny particles of pollution, for example, forming snowflakes. December 20, 2023 | BBC
Iceland volcano: Pollution warning for capital after eruption
Pollution from a volcano that erupted on Monday could hit Iceland's capital, the country's meteorological office has said. December 19, 2023 | CNN
Cinnamon applesauce investigation finds lead levels more than 2,000 times higher than proposed standards, FDA says
The FDA continues to investigate high lead levels in cinnamon applesauce pouches that were sold in the US. December 19, 2023 | The Express Tribune
Poisonous harvest : Pesticide overuse threatens bird species
Excessive use of toxic agricultural drugs has significantly reduced varieties of native bird populations. December 19, 2023 | Aljazeera
Finding a fix: Nigerian women lead drive to upcycle plastics
In Nigeria, where plastic pollution is still a huge problem, there is a rise of women-led schemes focused on fixes. December 19, 2023 | New York TImes
Monsanto should pay $857 million in PCB case, jury finds
Students and parent volunteers from a school in Washington State said in a lawsuit that they had become sick after being exposed to chemicals known as PCBs that had dripped from light fixtures. December 19, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Eliminating fossil fuels would save millions of lives, study finds
A recent study published in BMJ found that fossil fuels are responsible for more deaths worldwide than previously thought, highlighting the significant health benefits of transitioning to clean energy. December 19, 2023 | The Guardian
Plastics, pesticides and pills: how chemical exposures affect sperm health
Poor diet, stress, smoking and obesity are known factors impairing sperm health, but they don’t paint the entire picture December 18, 2023 | WebMD
What causes obesity? More science points to the brain
A new way of looking at a misunderstood disease is revolutionizing treatments and transforming lives. December 18, 2023 | AP News
Study bolsters evidence that severe obesity increasing in young US kids
A new study adds to evidence that severe obesity is becoming more common in young U.S. children. There was some hope that children in a government food program might be bucking a trend in obesity rates. December 18, 2023 | The Washington Post
Slight uptick in smoking for people over 65, but young adults smoke less
The researchers found that in all age groups, smoking prevalence was highest among those with the lowest incomes. December 18, 2023 | The Guardian
Wood smoke in urban areas: A hidden health hazard
A recent investigation uncovered the overlooked health risks and environmental consequences of using wood burning as a primary method for home heating in urban areas, challenging the perception of its safety and renewability. December 18, 2023 | The Guardian
Former EPA official says agency fails to protect public from toxic pesticides
Karen McCormack says regulators at environmental agency are discouraged from speaking up about dangerous chemicals. December 18, 2023 | The Lancet
The global plastics treaty: Why is it needed?
This comment in The Lancet argues that, "... physicians, nurses, health workers, and scientists are trusted voices who can help mitigate plastic pollution and reduce its harms to health." December 18, 2023 | The Guardian
Judge throws out Kabwe lead-poisoning case against Anglo American mining
A South African court has thrown out a case brought against the multinational mining company Anglo American on behalf of 140,000 Zambian women and children, who allege they have suffered lead poisoning from one of its mines. December 17, 2023 | The Guardian
Australia’s plan to phase out expanded polystyrene packaging is failing and was never possible, industry says
A nationwide promise to phase out expanded polystyrene from consumer packaging such as of white goods and electronics is more than a year behind schedule, with the packaging industry saying it was never a workable proposal. December 17, 2023 | The Washington Post
How to recycle gift wrapping paper and reduce waste during the holidays
Festive wrapping paper, bows and ribbons can be costly for the environment. Here’s what to know about recycling gift wrap and how you can reduce waste. December 15, 2023 | The Guardian
The health cost of burning wood to warm homes
Experts say wood-burning is not cheaper or truly renewable and constitutes a major health risk. December 15, 2023 | IPEN
Report: Forever chemicals in single-use food packaging and tableware from 17 countries
This report from the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) finds that more than half of the samples tested contained PFAS. December 15, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Phthalates linked to vitamin D deficiency in women
Phthalates, a type of endocrine disrupting chemical, were associated with lower vitamin D levels in a recent study of healthy Caucasian women published in Chemosphere. December 15, 2023 | Environmental Health News
EPA begins review of PVC ingredient vinyl chloride, which could lead to restrictions or ban
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it’s reviewing vinyl chloride under the Toxic Control Substance Act (TSCA), which could lead to restrictions or a ban on the widespread, toxic chemical. December 14, 2023 | NBC News
California wildfires created toxic chromium, research finds
As climate change intensifies wildfires, scientists are trying to figure out just how dangerous their smoke can be for human health. December 14, 2023 | NBC News
Why there still aren’t limits on lead in baby food
An outbreak of lead poisonings in children, tied to contaminated cinnamon applesauce pouches, illustrates the gaps in how heavy metals in foods are regulated. December 14, 2023 | The Guardian
Advocates demand US suspend weed-killing chemical that may cause cancer
Coalition alleges glyphosate, the most heavily applied herbicide in history, does not meet required safety standard set by federal law. December 14, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Houston's air quality crisis: Unchecked benzene pollution raises health concerns
Texas regulators, despite knowing about dangerous benzene levels in a Houston suburb since 2005, allowed a major polluter to expand, posing long-term health risks to residents. December 14, 2023 | ABC
'Cocktail of pesticides' found in Richmond River, including chemical banned in 2006
A report reveals unsafe concentrations of pesticides in the Richmond River and its oysters, but agricultural groups say the delay between when the research was conducted and the publication of the findings will make an investigation difficult. December 13, 2023 | The Guardian
Netherlands warns children not to swallow sea foam over PFAS concerns
‘Forever chemicals’ at Dutch resorts comparable to high concentrations detected along Belgian coast, study finds. December 13, 2023 | The New Yorker
All the carcinogens we cannot see
We routinely test for chemicals that cause mutations. What about the dark matter of carcinogens—substances that don’t create cancer cells but rouse them from their slumber? Siddhartha Mukherjee reports for The New Yorker. December 13, 2023 | Environmental Health News
PFAS exposure may have long-term impacts on bone health
Teens and young adults exposed to higher levels of PFAS had lower bone mineral density (BMD), according to a new study in Environmental Research. December 12, 2023 | The New York TImes
Why are frogs and other amphibian species disappearing worldwide?
Mysterious deaths have occurred all over the planet and followed a similar pattern. Why have so many species vanished? And what does it all have to do with us? December 12, 2023 | The New Lede
PFAS may disrupt bone development in children and young adults
Exposure to a widespread, toxic chemical called PFOS may interfere with bone development in children and young adults, potentially putting them at higher risk for osteoporosis and other bone problems later in life. December 12, 2023 | Forbes
Nearly nine in 10 people say river pollution affects human health, survey finds
The survey by the Rivers are Life coalition in partnership with Louisiana State University, found 86% of respondents agreed polluted waterways are affecting human health. December 11, 2023 | Environmental Health News
The crisis of air pollution: A global health emergency
Air pollution, responsible for more than 8 million deaths annually, is intensifying globally, highlighting a major health crisis. December 11, 2023 | The Spokesman Reviews
Epigeneticist posits that obesity may be caused by ancestors' exposure to toxic chemicals
WSU’s Michael Skinner suggests that today’s high rates of obesity could be linked to epigenetics rather than just diet and exercise. December 11, 2023 | Times Colonist
Toxic hot spots threaten endangered salmon and killer whales
Newly identified West Coast hot spots — including Victoria Harbour — for toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and copper pose yet another threat to endangered killer whales and their key food source, a recent study shows. December 8, 2023 | Chemistry World
High mercury levels in tropical birds in Americas blamed on gold mining
Exotic birds are the canary in the gold mine when it comes to mercury pollution and provide warning that other animals, including humans, affected. December 8, 2023 | The Seattle Times
WA proposes ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in clothes, other products
The chemicals have been linked to increased risks of some cancers, birth and developmental defects, and other health disorders in humans. December 8, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Who's protecting us against heavy metals in farm fertilizers?
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, farming communities in central Washington were rocked by the discovery that hazardous chemicals had been added to fertilizer without farmers' knowledge. December 7, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Scented period products bring worrisome toxic exposures. Who’s most at risk?
Many everyday household products expose us to chemicals and pollutants. Few products, however, allow these chemicals to interact with our bodies as intimately as pads, tampons, menstrual cups and other period care products. December 7, 2023 | Chemical & Engineering World
US EPA orders packaging firm Inhance to stop making PFAS
The agency says treating millions of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers each year, creates dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impurities that can leach into products stored in the treated containers. December 7, 2023 | Environmental health News
Op-ed: How climate change harms pregnant people and their babies
In the last few years it’s become undeniable that climate-driven disasters are affecting public health. December 1, 2023 | The Guardian
Nearly 40% of conventional baby food contains toxic pesticides
None of the organic products sampled contained the chemicals, which present a dangerous health threat to babies, researchers say. November 30, 2023 | Salon
Why indoor air pollution can be just as deadly as wildfire smoke and coal plant smog
Household air pollution is a hidden source of death and illness and climate change seems to be making it worse. November 29, 2023 | Newsweek
Sperm really is frazzled by modern life
"Sperm concentration has been decreasing over the past 50 years in industrialized countries," researchers told Newsweek. November 28, 2023 | The Guardian
Levels of toxic PCB chemicals found at 30 times ‘safe’ limits in stranded whales
Studies of cetaceans stranded in UK waters show high levels of toxins 20 years since global ban of most PCBs, say scientists November 27, 2023 | The Guardian
Exposure to widely used insecticides decreases sperm concentration
Study’s author says ‘we need to reduce exposure in order to ensure men who want to conceive are able to without interference’. November 27, 2023 | Inside CLimate News
Black women face disproportionate risks from largely unregulated toxic substances in beauty and personal care products
The FDA has finally proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair straighteners, and new regulations on the cosmetics industry take effect next month. But one activist called them “a floor, not a ceiling.” November 27, 2023 | Inside Climate News
A new law regulating the cosmetics industry expands the FDA's power but fails to ban toxic chemicals in beauty products
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act empowers the FDA to recall harmful cosmetics. Advocates want to know why manufacturers still don’t have to prove their products are safe before they’re sold to millions of consumers. November 26, 2023 | NBC News
Several more children sickened by fruit pouches tainted with lead
The FDA has received 52 reports of elevated lead levels among children who reportedly consumed the products, which is up from 34 cases reported last week. November 23, 2023 | The New York Times
Why we're still breathing dirty indoor air
The pandemic and recent wildfires have shown how unhealthy indoor air can be. But scientific and governmental inertia have slowed the necessary remedies. November 22, 2023 | The Guardian
EPA considers approving fruit pesticide despite risks to children
Internal emails show pressure from chemical industry lobbyists and politicians led Trump-era agency to change position on aldicarb. November 21, 2023 | Public Health Watch
The science on benzene keeps getting scarier. Industry remains in denial
The federal government has struggled to control the carcinogen, which threatens workers and residents who are exposed to it. Users and manufacturers have gone to extremes to argue that it’s dangerous only in high doses, hiding data and spending millions on questionable studies. November 21, 2023 | Environmental Health News
New Delhi's struggle with hazardous air pollution continues
New Delhi grapples with severe air quality issues, leading to school closures, traffic restrictions and a surge in air purifier sales. November 17, 2023 | CNN
New Delhi air pollution: Why can’t India’s capital clean up its toxic air like Beijing?
More than 20 million people woke last week to a thick, acrid, and noxious smog that settled densely across the Indian capital. November 17, 2023 | Environmental Health News
A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health
For years, scientists across the world have gathered evidence showing declines in sperm quality. Now, new research compiling the results of those studies has found that sperm count has dropped dramatically around the world, and the rate of decline is accelerating. November 15, 2023 | CNN
Common pesticides in food reducing sperm count worldwide
Pesticides used in our homes, gardens and lawns and sprayed on foods we eat are contributing to a dramatic decline in sperm count among men worldwide, according to a new analysis of studies over the last 50 years. November 15, 2023 | Telegraph
‘Tsunami’ of plastic damaging health must be stopped, scientists warn UN
Global population 'eat and drink' hazardous material, world leaders told amid treaty negotiations. November 12, 2023 | Mongabay
Study links pesticides to child cancer deaths in Brazilian Amazon & Cerrado
For every 5 tons of soy per hectare produced in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado, an equivalent of one out of 10,000 children under 10 succumbed to acute lymphoblastic leukemia five years later. November 9, 2023 | CNN
Reducing pesticides in food: Major food manufacturers earn an F grade
Seventeen major food manufacturers earned an average grade of F for their lack of progress in reducing pesticides in the products they sell, according to a new analysis by As You Sow, a nonprofit specializing in shareholder advocacy. November 9, 2023 | Grist
Mercury is still an environmental threat, especially for Indigenous peoples
The heavy metal is poisoning Indigenous peoples' environment and health, but no one can agree on how or when to get rid of it. November 8, 2023 | The Guardian
Gas cookers pump out toxic particles linked to childhood asthma
Scientists find average levels of nitrogen dioxide almost twice as high in homes cooking with gas as in those cooking without. November 6, 2023 | NBC News
FDA proposes ban on food additive found in fruity sports drinks, sodas
Brominated vegetable oil is no longer safe to use after studies found that the ingredient is potentially harmful to humans, according to the agency. November 6, 2023 | The Washington Post
FDA expands fruit pouch recall after reports of illnesses linked to lead
Three companies have issued recalls for applesauce pouches marketed for kids because they may contain elevated levels of lead. At least seven illnesses in five states have been linked to tainted puree, regulators say. November 5, 2023 | The Washington Post
Pakistan bears the brunt of global extreme heat illness and mortality
Climate-fueled disease — tied to heat, pathogens and toxins — is an emerging, lethal threat that countries are ill-prepared to confront. The Post visited ground zero for this new era, Pakistan, to see what the future holds. November 3, 2023 | Inside Climate News
Toxic pesticides are sprayed next to thousands of US schools
As many as 2 million children attend elementary schools near farms where pesticides are likely applied, as federal legislators aim to gut state and local health protections. November 2, 2023 | Environmental Health News
PFAS chemicals on your baby’s diapers
There’s nothing more important than making sure our babies are safe and healthy — and new testing from Mamavation has uncovered one more way to do that. November 2, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Chemical recycling “a dangerous deception” for solving plastic pollution: Report
Chemical recycling — an umbrella term used to describe processes that break plastic waste down into molecular building blocks with high heat or chemicals and convert them into new products — will not help reduce plastic pollution, but rather exacerbate environmental problems. November 1, 2023 | DW
Child cancer deaths in Brazil: Is soy farming to blame?
A new study suggests that pesticides used in soy cultivation could be correlated to child cancer deaths in Brazil, the world's largest producer of soybeans. November 1, 2023 | Futurity
Air pollution exposure linked to postpartum depression risk
A new study links long-term maternal exposure to common air pollutants, both before and after childbirth, to increased risk of postpartum depression. October 27, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Glyphosate cancer findings of “extreme concern” as Europe weighs reauthorization of pesticide
This story was originally published in The New Lede, a journalism project of the Environmental Working Group, and is republished here with permission. October 27, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Evidence of PFAS found in tampons — including organic brands
Five popular tampon brands — including two advertised as organic — have detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS. October 25, 2023 | Daily Mail
PFAS 'forever chemicals' found in virtually every room in your home raise risk of fastest growing cancer in America by 56%
Researchers confirmed a link between thyroid cancer and hormone-disrupting forever chemicals found everywhere from frying pans to firefighting foam. October 25, 2023 | Reuters
Consumer Reports finds more lead and cadmium in chocolate, urges change at Hershey
Consumer Reports says it has found "concerning" levels of lead and cadmium in a third of various chocolate products it tested recently, and called on Hershey to reduce the amounts of heavy metals in its chocolate. October 23, 2023 | Daily Mail
Two major studies reveal devastating effect of PFAS and food additives on male and female sexual health
In two new reviews of scientific literature from across the globe, researchers looked at the impact of exposure to EDCs on male and female reproductive health. October 19, 2023 | VICE
'Nanoplastics' could be worse than microplastics and we know almost nothing about them
“From the public point of view, this could be the next asbestos." October 19, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Wildlife across the globe are polluted with flame retardants
Wildlife on every continent are contaminated with harmful flame-retardant chemicals, including some endangered species such as killer whales, northern sea otters, red pandas and chimpanzees, according to a new map that tracks peer-reviewed studies from around the world. October 17, 2023 | The New York Times
F.D.A. plans to ban hair straighteners with formaldehyde
The products, often marketed to Black women, have been linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer. October 16, 2023 | The New York Times
California’s ban on red food dye puts FDA on the spot
The dye was banned in cosmetics after a study suggested it might be a carcinogen. Yet federal regulations still permit its use in foods, stoking concerns that helped build support for the new state law. October 12, 2023 | Environmental Health News
To protect school kids from toxic pesticides, protect state and local pesticide laws
Pesticides are designed to be toxic – to bugs and weeds. But pesticides can also be toxic to people, especially children. October 11, 2023 | The Guardian
Segregation’s toxic past re-emerges in North Carolina’s lead-poisoned playgrounds
Lead was found in several parks in Durham, North Carolina, a legacy of industrial waste in the city’s Black neighborhoods – and worsening segregation doesn’t help. October 6, 2023 | Environmental Health News
How do microplastics impact our gut health?
In 1997, the American Plastics Council ran a New Yorker ad calling plastics “an important part of a healthy diet.” October 4, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Texas is underestimating cancer risk from air pollution
HOUSTON — The Texas department responsible for monitoring air pollution is using different science to analyze risks than the federal government recommends. Health advocates say this leaves people breathing more cancer-causing compounds. October 3, 2023 | The Hill
Opinion: We’re missing a critical opportunity to prevent childhood cancer
Since health officials began collecting data in the 1970s, charts tracking cancer in children and young adults are distressingly uniform, with diagonal lines steadily climbing upward. October 3, 2023 | Health and Environment
Webinar: PFAS, phenols, and parabens: Links to hormone-mediated cancers
This October 19 webinar features Dr. Max Aung discussing new research that found a link between environmental chemical exposure and a prior cancer diagnosis. Sponsored by the EDC Strategies Partnership. October 3, 2023 | The Washington Post
Life expectancy in U.S. is falling amid surges in chronic illness
The United States is failing at a fundamental mission — keeping people alive. October 1, 2023 | The Guardian
Does glyphosate cause cancer? Australia’s Roundup case against Monsanto will offer a fresh legal answer
The class action will be decided by a single judge and could be a ‘genuine problem for Monsanto and Bayer if we’re successful’, lawyer says. September 30, 2023 | Independent
Case of deadly brain disease linked to COVID-19
This isn’t the first time the disease has been associated with COVID, experts say. September 28, 2023 | Bloomberg
Got plastic with a no. 2 recycling symbol? Beware a toxic problem
A little-known American company has been giving plastic a special touch called fluorination for 40 years. After the EPA discovered treated containers can leach “forever chemicals,” the company refused to stop. September 28, 2023 | Aljazeera
Silent killer: How deadly is air pollution?
It kills 7 million people a year. New research shows it also raises antibiotic resistance and is linked to cancer risks September 28, 2023 | Bloonberg
Got plastic with a no. 2 recycling symbol? Beware a toxic problem
A little-known American company has been giving plastic a special touch called fluorination for 40 years. After the EPA discovered treated containers can leach “forever chemicals,” the company refused to stop. September 27, 2023 | NY Post
Study identifies possible link between drinking diet soda during pregnancy and autism
Pregnant or breastfeeding women who consume diet soda or other foods and drinks containing aspartame could experience higher rates of autism diagnoses in their sons, a new study has revealed. But the study has limitations. September 27, 2023 | Mongabay
PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ harming wildlife the world over: Study
While PFAS impacts on human health are well known, scientists are also finding severe impacts on wildlife, including hawksbill turtles, American alligators, Arctic kittiwakes, hooded seals, striped bass, bottlenose dolphins and other species. September 27, 2023 | City Live
Genetically engineered bacteria convert plastic waste into useful chemicals
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has revealed the successful engineering of two synthetic bacteria strains capable of transforming plastic waste into valuable chemicals. September 27, 2023 | Public Health Watch
Impact: OSHA announces enforcement initiative after Public Health Watch reveals silicosis cluster in California
At least 77 fabricators of engineered-stone countertops in the state have been diagnosed with an accelerated form of the fatal lung disease since January 2016. September 27, 2023 | New York Post
Study identifies possible link between drinking diet soda during pregnancy and autism
Pregnant or breastfeeding women who consume diet soda or other foods and drinks containing aspartame could experience higher rates of autism diagnoses in their sons, a new study has revealed. But the study has limitations. September 27, 2023 | AP News
Japan's court recognizes more victims of Minamata mercury poisoning and awards them compensation
A Japanese court on Wednesday ordered the central government, the Kumamoto prefecture and a chemical company to recognize more than 120 plaintiffs as patients of the decades-old Minamata mercury poisoning and pay compensation they have been denied because they developed symptoms after moving away from the region. September 27, 2023 | The Guardian
Scientists use water fleas to filter pollutants out of wastewater
Tiny water fleas could play a big role in filtering out drugs, pesticides and industrial chemicals from wastewater to make it safe, according to scientists. September 27, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Burgers and fries with a side of PFAS
A new report from Mamavation found evidence of PFAS chemicals in food packaging including a McDonald’s filet-o-fish carton, a Starbucks’ sandwich wrapper and a KFC bucket of fried chicken. September 27, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Black, Hispanic and poor children are more exposed to pollution that ends up harming their brains: Study
Black, Hispanic and low-income children are more exposed to toxics like air pollution and lead — and this disparate exposure is linked to autism, lower IQ scores and worse memory, according to a new scientific review of more than 200 studies. September 26, 2023 | WRAL News
Growing number of studies show forever chemicals harm wildlife
A growing body of research indicates exposure to PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, can cause adverse health effects that are similar to those found in human studies. September 26, 2023 | DW
Asbestos: The silent killer in Turkey's earthquake region
Officials deny it but a DW investigation has found that the rubble from Tukey's devastating February earthquake contains life-threatening amounts of asbestos. The southern city of Hatay now faces a new health crisis. September 25, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Air pollution in Ireland linked to premature deaths at ‘concerning’ level in urban areas, report finds
Irish Times journalist Kevin O'Sullivan reports that the Irish Environmental Protection Agency advises using less solid fuel to heat homes and reducing use of cars if Ireland is to meet World Health Organization pollution guidelines. September 24, 2023 | The Cut
The cost of straight hair: Straighteners linked to cancer
The products Black women rely on to give their locks body and shine are now alleged to give them cancer, too. September 22, 2023 | The New York TImes
Gold mining is poisoning the planet with mercury
Ten years after an international treaty to ban mercury, the toxic metal continues to poison. The reason might have to do with your wedding ring. September 20, 2023 | The Guardian
The air tastes like burnt plastic’: Skopje’s chronic pollution problem
Ajit Niranjan reports for The Guardian that the North Macedonian capital is a PM2.5 hotspot where people live in fear for their health. Is there hope of change? September 18, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Everyone is likely overexposed to BPA
Our exposure to a common plastic additive linked to breast cancer and obesity likely exceeds health thresholds set by governments worldwide. September 18, 2023 | The Guardian
‘Forever chemical’ exposure linked to higher cancer odds in women
New research finds evidence that exposure to PFAS and phenols increases odds of certain ‘hormonally driven’ cancers for women. September 11, 2023 | BBC
The gold jewelry made from old phones
E-waste is mounting. Now the UK Royal Mint has found a new way to extract the precious metals hidden in laptops and phones to reduce our reliance on raw materials. September 11, 2023 | Independent.ie
Weedkiller glyphosate shows up in all but one of the samples tested on Irish volunteers
Glyphosate has been found in samples taken from all but one of a group of Irish volunteers tested for the controversial weedkiller. September 8, 2023 | Environmental Health News
How does cannabis impact developing brains?
This month Science Magazine explores research into disturbing ways that THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, binds to cannabinoid receptors abundant in the brain, including in fetal brains while still in the mother’s womb. September 8, 2023 | Environmental Health News
How does cannabis impact developing brains?
This month Science Magazine explores research into disturbing ways that THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, binds to cannabinoid receptors abundant in the brain, including in fetal brains while still in the mother’s womb. September 8, 2023 | NPR
New air pollution satellite could support environmental justice 19 JuneNew air pollution satellite could support environmental justice
A new satellite will take continuous measurements of dangerous air pollution in the U.S. That has scientists, and residents, warily optimistic about undoing decades of environmental injustice. September 8, 2023 | The Guardian
Are your clothes making you sick? The opaque world of chemicals in fashion
Our outfits contain BPA, PFAS and other dangerous substances – but we still know little about their cumulative impact. September 8, 2023 | The Washington Post
Wildfires are bad for air quality. Fireworks can make the smoke worse.
Swirling soot from Canadian blazes is likely to compound the usual pyrotechnics pollution on July 4. Health experts urge caution. September 5, 2023 | Science News
Bone marrow in the skull could be used to monitor Alzheimer’s, MS and more
New observations of skull cell signals and skull tunnels suggest bone marrow there could be used to monitor neurological diseases. September 5, 2023 | The Standard
Children in London’s most deprived boroughs most at risk of asthma attack
Data shows an 187% jump in the number of children in London with asthma being admitted to hospital between August and September 2021. September 1, 2023 | The Colorado Sun
Tests find more Colorado towns’ drinking water is contaminated with “forever chemicals”
New EPA test results for PFAS “forever chemicals” in drinking water supplies turn up more Colorado communities with contamination problems. September 1, 2023 | Propublica
EPA proposes regulations to curb cancer-causing emissions from coke plants
A new EPA proposal could soon limit the toxic emissions that pollute Birmingham’s historically Black north side. September 1, 2023 | Wired.com
Paper coffee cups are just as toxic for the environment as plastic ones
Supposedly eco-friendly cups are still coated with a thin layer of plastic, which scientists have discovered can leach chemicals that harm living creatures. August 31, 2023 | AP News
Memphis plant that uses potentially hazardous chemical will close, company says
A medical equipment sterilizing plant using a chemical whose emissions could lead to cause cancer and other health risks says it plans to close its Tennessee location by next spring. August 31, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Using AI to track coal train dust
Undark reporter Emma Foehringer Merchant writes about scientists in California who are working with local communities — and a suite of AI tools — to understand air pollution from coal transport. August 30, 2023 | The Hill
Marijuana users have elevated levels of heavy metals in their blood, urine
A study has found that marijuana users have elevated levels of heavy metals in their blood and urine compared to those who do not use marijuana. August 30, 2023 | Greek Reporter
Plastics in fish a growing threat in Greek seas
Experts warn that the presence of plastics in fish around Greece is a growing problem, which poses a threat to marine life and human health. August 30, 2023 | Alaska Beascon
Alaska governor vetoes statewide ban on pollution-causing firefighting foam
PFAS, a chemical used in many forms of firefighting foam, has contaminated water sources throughout Alaska. August 30, 2023 | Erie Times News
'Forever chemicals’ found in 76% of sampled Pa. streams, including one that's near you
A study found "forever chemicals" in 122 waterways in Pennsylvania. Experts explain what that means for humans, animals and water quality. August 30, 2023 | CNN
Marijuana users have more heavy metals in their bodies
Users of marijuana had statistically higher levels of lead and cadmium in their blood and urine than people who do not use weed, a new study found. August 29, 2023 | The Post and Courier
They couldn’t get pregnant. No one told them their ovaries held 'forever chemicals'
South Carolina researchers detected toxic PFAS in the ovaries of 36 women at a fertility clinic. Did those women have a right to know their own chemical exposure? August 29, 2023 | Times of Israel
In utero exposure to plastic chemicals tied to developmental problems in toddlers
Israeli researchers find that higher levels of ubiquitous phthalates in the urine of pregnant mothers correlate with emotional and social difficulties in boys — but not girls. August 29, 2023 | Reuters
Asia, Africa bear brunt of pollution health burden
Despite improvements in China, air pollution across the globe continues to pose the greatest external risk to human health, with countries in Asia and Africa suffering most of the impact. August 29, 2023 | Reuters
Air pollution now a major risk to life expectancy in South Asia - study 30 August
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health. August 28, 2023 | Environmental Health Perspectives
Neurotoxicity and Outcomes from Developmental Lead Exposure: Persistent or Permanent?
Childhood lead poisoning remains an important public health issue in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world. Although primary prevention is a major goal and it is critically important to keep children from getting poisoned, it is also important to explore ways to reduce the neurotoxic effects of lead in those children already poisoned. August 28, 2023 | The Irish Times
Firelighters ‘hidden culprit’ behind black carbon air pollution, study finds
Previously unknown health and climate effects from firelighters exposed by researchers from Ireland, China and India. August 28, 2023 | Mongabay News
Bangladesh to produce lithium batteries, electric vehicles to cut emissions
The production of locally made lithium batteries and transformation of the sector through electric vehicles will aid the country’s emission reduction plan, industry insiders say. August 28, 2023 | The Washington Post
Recycling and other myths about tackling climate change
A slim majority of Americans think their individual actions can reduce the effects of climate change, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. But do they know which actions are the most effective? Not quite. August 28, 2023 | AP News
Removing Fukushima's melted nuclear fuel will be harder than the release of plant's wastewater
The sound of treated radioactive water flowing to an underground pool could be heard as media toured Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. August 28, 2023 | Reuters
Indonesia launches sky train in capital, hopes to ease traffic and pollution
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday launched the first elevated rail line for Greater Jakarta, hailing the $2.13 billion project as a step towards easing the capital's chronic road congestion and worsening air pollution. August 25, 2023 | Inquirer
PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ found in 76% of PA streams sampled
Scientists with the USGS first set out in 2019 to sample 161 waterways as a way of finding potential sources of PFAS contamination from 33 different compounds of the “forever chemicals." August 24, 2023 | The Washington Post
Cancers among younger Americans are on the rise, new study shows
Some of the biggest increases were seen in women and in younger people diagnosed with gastrointestinal and breast cancers. August 24, 2023 | Mongabay
Activists slam coal pollution from Indonesia’s production of ‘clean’ batteries
Indonesia’s nickel smelters are powered by purpose-built coal-fired plants, which environmental activists say are causing illness, killing crops and polluting fish farms. August 24, 2023 | Chemical & Engineering News
US EPA orders toxicity tests on PFAS used in GenX
HFPO-DAF may present unreasonable health risks, US agency says. August 24, 2023 | NPR
New class of flame retardants found in breast milk raises concerns
After a class of flame retardants called PBDEs was phased out due to links with developmental health issues, manufacturers started using another, similar group of compounds. August 24, 2023 | The Guardian
Asian Americans have much higher ‘forever chemicals’ levels than other groups, study finds
Asian Americans likely have much higher levels of “forever chemicals” in their blood than other US races and ethnicities, research using a novel method for measuring PFAS exposure finds. August 23, 2023 | The Washington Post
Wildfire smoke may increase dementia risk, new study says
A new study has found that people living in areas with persistent exposure to wildfire smoke may have higher risks of developing dementia. August 23, 2023 | TBS News
Ship-breaking workers suffer lifelong illness due to asbestos exposure
Many workers of the ship-breaking industry become victims of asbestos unknowingly, as the symptoms of asbestosis – a chronic lung disease – usually do not appear until many years after the initial exposure August 23, 2023 | rfi.fr
As wildfires multiply, a new era of air pollution
Fires in Canada and the island of Maui, in the US state of Hawaii, have damaged massive areas of land and raised questions about lasting health effects. August 23, 2023 | Energy News
Hempcrete shows promise for healthy housing
The material is still hard to find and expensive — but proponents see a bright future for the concrete alternative. August 22, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Organic diets reduce glyphosate exposure for pregnant people: Study
Just one week of an organic diet effectively reduces levels of the herbicide glyphosate in pregnant women’s urine, according to a study published in July in Environmental Health Perspectives. August 22, 2023 | Mongabay
From grassroots to government, Singapore takes lead in tackling e-waste
Innovative legislation enacted by Singapore’s government in 2019 puts the onus on producers to collect used electrical appliances and electronic goods and send them to sorting and recycling facilities. August 21, 2023 | Bloonberg
American exposure to smoke pollution reached 17-year high in 2023
The US is on track to experience its worst year for smoke exposure in decades, after wildfires in Canada sent toxic plumes drifting across the border to the Midwest and the East Coast earlier this summer. August 20, 2023 | The Star
Indonesian capital Jakarta opts for remote working, learning to curb pollution and beat the smog
The Jakarta administration will impose remote working for city employees and learning for students ahead of the Asean Summit in September, a move aimed to curb the severe air pollution that has been choking the city in recent months. August 18, 2023 | The New York TImes
Paul Brodeur, reporter who exposed the hazards of asbestos, dies at 92
In his long career at The New Yorker, he specialized in writing about this and other threats to people’s health, including chlorofluorocarbons. August 18, 2023 | The Guardian
EPA’s new definition of PFAS could omit thousands of ‘forever chemicals’
Agency plans to take a ‘case-by-case’ approach that allows it to be more flexible, but critics argue ‘it is a lack of definition, and it makes no sense.’ August 16, 2023 | Environmental Health News
How toxic fertilizers create toxic municipal bonds
Two environmental hazards are emerging in tandem with the promise of disruptions to municipal financial markets. One, global warming, has received widespread attention; the other, toxic waste, less so. August 16, 2023 | AP News
A Pennsylvania study suggests links between fracking and asthma, lymphoma in children
Researchers in heavily drilled Pennsylvania are adding to a body of evidence suggesting links between the natural gas industry and certain health problems. August 16, 2023 | The NEw York TImes
‘Forever chemicals’ are everywhere. What are they doing to us?
PFAS lurk in so much of what we eat, drink and use. Scientists are only beginning to understand how they’re impacting our health — and what to do about them. August 16, 2023 | undark.com
In India, a spark of hope for detecting a chronic lung disease
Silicosis is an incurable illness affecting millions of factory workers. A new tool may lower the barrier to diagnosis. August 15, 2023 | The Washington Post
Many users of skin-lightening products are unaware of risks Study: Many users of skin-lightening products are unaware of risks
Nearly half of the participants said they didn’t know what active ingredients were in the skin-lightening products, which was a concern for researchers. August 11, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to ‘forever chemicals’
“To my knowledge this is the first study to measure PFAS levels in the U.S. military population and to investigate associations with a cancer endpoint in this population." August 10, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Back-to-school: Avoid PFAS in your kids’ backpack
Thirteen popular children’s backpacks have detectable levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation. August 10, 2023 | Mongabay
Residents near one of India's largest uranium mines suspect contamination affecting their fields and health
Residents near one of India’s largest uranium mines suspect contamination is affecting their fields and health, reports Meena Menon in Mongabay. August 9, 2023 | Newsweek
Sex toys shed fertility-damaging chemicals
Scientists have found that several types of sex toys contain phthalate chemicals at levels higher than the regulatory limit in children's toys. August 9, 2023 | The Washington Post
Air pollution linked to antibiotic resistance, new study suggests
Two of the world’s most urgent public health concerns might be connected, researchers from Cambridge and Zhejiang universities say. August 9, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites as reports of hundreds of cancers surface
Associated Press journalist Tara Copp reports that the Air Force has detected unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen in samples taken at a Montana nuclear missile base where a striking number of men and women have reported cancer diagnoses. August 9, 2023 | The Guardian
Pollution at Australia’s largest Antarctic research station exceeded guidelines for almost 20 years
Levels of contaminants such as arsenic and lead at Casey eclipsed international quality guidelines between 1997 and 2015, study finds. August 7, 2023 | Environmental health Perapectives
Diesel Exhaust and Lung Cancer—Delayed Findings Confirmed, but Consequences Continue
The publication of new analyses of lung cancer risk from the Diesel Exhaust in Miners Study (DEMS) is worth celebrating for many reasons. These analyses, known as DEMS II, extend follow-up of the original cohort by 18 y, adding 2,700 additional deaths to the cohort and 178 new lung cancer deaths to the case–control analysis. August 6, 2023 | Environmental Health News
How air pollution became one the UK's deadliest problems
From aggravating respiratory conditions like asthma to elevating risks of heart disease, stroke, and even neurodegenerative disorders, air pollution's impact spans across age groups. August 5, 2023 | The Hill
Public health alert issued for raw beef that may contain plastic
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns about a raw beef product that may be contaminated. August 3, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Ramped-up US construction exposes workers to an unregulated toxic
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act means vital upgrades for our nation — but workers using epoxy resins face risky exposures to the chemical BADGE, which has no safety standards. August 2, 2023 | The Hill
Scientists link early-life lead exposure to heightened risk of criminal behavior in adulthood
Although previous studies have shown statistical associations between lead exposure and criminal behavior at an entire-population level, scientists at George Washington University sought to understand how such connections present at an individual degree. August 1, 2023 | EOS
Air pollution increases COVID-19 risks
Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of contracting COVID-19 and results in more severe disease, according to two new studies comparing medical outcomes and pollution levels in Belgium and Denmark, published in the European Respiratory Journal. August 1, 2023 | Health and Environment
Webinar: Chemicals and pregnancy complications: Findings from nontargeted analysis
This Sept. 14 EDC Strategies Partnership webinar will feature Drs. Jessica Trowbridge and Tracey Woodruff discussing their new study on chemicals not usually studied that were found in U.S. pregnant people, and their association with complications during pregnancy. July 31, 2023 | Stars and Stripes
VA to review link between military toxic exposures and additional cancers
The Department of Veterans Affairs will review whether three more types of cancers will be added to the list of conditions presumed to be caused by exposure to toxins from military burn pits, the agency announced. July 31, 2023 | Investigate Midwest
EPA posts databases of pesticide harm to people, pets and wildlife for first time in agency history
“This is the most significant step the EPA has taken in years to increase transparency about pesticides’ harms,” one advocate said. July 31, 2023 | Stat News
Risk of prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke needs study
Scientists are calling for research on the health effects of increasingly frequent exposure to wildfire smoke. Emerging evidence suggests it’s even more problematic than "normal" air pollution from exhaust or industry, especially for lung health. July 28, 2023 | Grist
Mercury pollution is worsening mental health for the Grassy Narrows First Nation
Mercury poisoning among members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation in Ontario, Canada, is contributing to high rates of attempted suicide among Indigenous youth. July 28, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Environmental groups call on the EPA to ban the toxic chemical vinyl chloride
On Thursday, public health and environmental advocates gathered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Washington, DC, headquarters to call on the agency to ban vinyl chloride, a cancer-causing chemical used to manufacture PVC plastic. July 25, 2023 | Environmental Pollution
PFAS associated with sex hormones in European teens
This study, published in Environmental Pollution, found that exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAS) was associated with higher levels of testosterone in girls, and to lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone in boys. The teens were from Belgium, Spain, and Slovakia. July 24, 2023 | CNN
More than 300,000 children’s cups recalled due to high lead levels
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled roughly 346,000 Cupkin Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups because they “contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban.” July 20, 2023 | The Washington News
D.C. sues more than 25 companies it says polluted city with toxic chemicals
The attorney general's office alleged the companies made products that contained dangerous chemicals and hid health risks from the public. July 20, 2023 | CNN
New studies shed light on how genes might shape a person’s experience with COVID-19
About 20% of people who caught COVID-19 only knew they had it because it showed up on a routine screening test. They never had any symptoms. Others got it and couldn’t shake its aftereffects for months, going on to be diagnosed with long COVID. July 19, 2023 | Undark.com
The vice of spice: Confronting lead-tainted turmeric
Traders in Bangladesh used lead chromate to enhance the spice’s appearance. Then scientists and policymakers stepped in. July 19, 2023 | Reuters
Heatwave-linked pollution sees Spanish city urge less car use
A few weeks after saying it will curb its low emission zone, the new right-wing coalition government in the Spanish city of Valladolid is calling on people to stop using private cars due to high levels of ozone contamination. July 19, 2023 | The Hill
‘Forever chemicals’ and acids used in plastic production connected to poor pregnancy outcomes
The Hill reports on how cancer-linked “forever chemicals” and certain compounds used in plastic production may be associated with a heightened risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a study from researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. July 16, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Unregulated toxic chemical found in breast milk for the first time
Unregulated, toxic flame retardants called bromophenols are building up in breast milk from U.S. mothers, while levels of other regulated flame retardants are decreasing over time, according to a study published today in Environmental Pollution. July 14, 2023 | Grist
EPA plan to eliminate lead in buildings is a 'gigantic leap forward' for public health
Removing lead from homes, schools, and daycare centers could reduce exposure for half a million children under the age of 6. July 14, 2023 | Environmental Health News
EHN reporter on
Environmental Health News reporter Kristina Marusic joined NPR's "Living on Earth" to discuss the links between rising cancer rates and cancer-causing chemicals in the environment. July 14, 2023 | WHO
Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released
Assessments of the health impacts of the non-sugar sweetener aspartame are released today by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight. July 13, 2023 | The Guardian
Pesticides from farming leach into world’s waterways at rate of 710 tonnes a year, UN research shows
Agricultural pesticides leach far from their original sources into the world’s waterways, according to new research which finds pesticides exceed safe levels in 13,000km of rivers globally. July 13, 2023 | The New York Times
E.P.A. proposes tighter limits on lead dust in homes and child care facilities
Under the proposed rules, any amount of lead dust in floors and window sills would qualify as “hazardous” and require abatement. July 12, 2023 | Wired
The problem with sunscreen isn’t its ingredients—it’s you
Humans need protecting from the sun more than ever, and yet this gloopy white cream is widely distrusted, misunderstood, and misused. July 12, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Are you spreading PFAS on your morning toast?
Wrappers from eight brands of butter have detectable levels of total fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation. July 12, 2023 | Nature
Plastic waste is everywhere — and countries must be held accountable for reducing it
As UN negotiations on eliminating plastic pollution enter a crucial phase, researchers must play their part in designing adequate measurement, monitoring and compliance systems. July 11, 2023 | The Guardian
‘They’re in the air, drinking water, dust, food …’ How to reduce your exposure to microplastics
No corner of the planet is free from minuscule fragments of plastic packaging, textiles or utensils. We ask scientists what this means for our health – and what we should do to protect it July 11, 2023 | Wired
The microplastic crisis is getting exponentially worse
Plastic production is skyrocketing, pushing microplastic pollution to dangerous new levels. Now research shows even the Arctic is increasingly contaminated. July 10, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Air tests shows cancer-linked chemical across Hamilton
Toronto Star reporter Matthew Van Dongen writes about a citywide pollution-tracking study in Hamilton, Ontario, which found unhealthy levels of common steelmaking pollutant benzo(a)pyrene at monitoring sites from Dundas to Stoney Creek. July 6, 2023 | BBC
Covid pandemic linked to surge in child and teen diabetes
Experts have seen a 'substantial' yet unexplained rise in new cases worldwide since the pandemic. July 6, 2023 | Bloonberg
PFAS are bad, but other water-polluting chemicals are even worse
PFAS get a lot of attention, but there are other compounds in our drinking water that are more dangerous — and much more common. July 6, 2023 | AP News
Vermont schools sue Monsanto over toxic PCB contamination
Dozens of Vermont school districts have sued chemical giant Monsanto over contamination in school buildings from now-banned toxic chemicals known as PCBs. July 6, 2023 | The Washington Post
Bad air quality may be having a negative impact on your mental health
Breathing in the yellow haze of wildfire smoke is not only bad for your lungs, it can harm your mind, too. July 6, 2023 | The Guardian
The US banned a brain harming pesticide on food. Why has it slowed a global ban?
Farmers can’t use chlorpyrifos on food because it damages children’s brains but an EPA official questions restrictions under a global treaty. July 4, 2023 | The Guardian
High levels of toxic chemicals in pets living near US manufacturing plant
Researchers are alarmed by results of study of dogs and horses living close to Chemours factory in North Carolina. July 3, 2023 | The Guardian
New report finds most US kale samples contain ‘disturbing’ levels of ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS was found in seven of eight samples bought at US stores, with organic kale containing higher levels of the toxic compounds. July 3, 2023 | PubMed
Paraben exposure through drugs in the neonatal intensive care unit
A regional cohort study aims to quantify paraben exposure via drug administration in a group of very pre-term infants cared for in neonatal intensive care units. July 3, 2023 | Environmental Health Perspectives
Effect of Air Pollution on Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) poses a significant global disease burden. The current evidence on the impact of air pollution on HF remains inconsistent. July 2, 2023 | The Guardian
Low emission zones are improving health, studies show
Review of research finds particularly clear evidence that LEZs in cities reduce heart and circulatory problems. June 29, 2023 | Euractiv
Endocrine disrupting chemicals: a silent threat for children’s development
Dr. Anders Juul, a paediatric endocrinologist in Copenhagen, explains how children are exposed to these chemicals and the health issues this can cause them, both as kids and as adults. June 29, 2023 | Environmental health News
How to avoid the next PFAS crisis
About a decade ago, researchers at the German Environment Agency noticed a hole in chemical regulation. June 28, 2023 | The Converation
The ugly side of beauty: Chemicals in cosmetics threaten college-age women's reproductive health
Finding cosmetics that are free of hormone- disrupting chemicals often means paying more. An epidemiologist explains the risk, particularly for young women. June 27, 2023 | TBS News
A vicious toxic 'lead' cycle: Illegal lead battery factories, pollution and 'unauthorised' e-rickshaws
We take a look at the unregulated ecosystem of lead factories in the country, the uptick in its demand (due to the rise in e-rickshaws), detrimental repercussions and the potential for crores of revenue if the industry was effectively put under regulations. June 26, 2023 | The Star
As air quality worsens, is now the time to buy a respirator?
One person who used a respirator to combat wildfire smoke earlier this month said he wants to empower people to use the mask that works best for them. June 26, 2023 | Environmental Health News
What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals?
Nearly all people have endocrine-disrupting chemicals in their bodies. Here’s what these chemicals are and how we can avoid exposure to them. June 25, 2023 | CNBC
What to expect from work the next time wildfires poison your commute
Google told workers on the U.S. East Coast to work-from-home earlier in June when Canadian wildfire smoke sent air quality to dangerous levels for human health, but that was not a step many companies took. June 23, 2023 | EURO News
The EU and UK exported 1,000 tonnes of a banned pesticide to poorer countries, investigation reveals
This dangerous fungicide was banned in the EU three years ago. So why is it still being sent to developing countries? June 23, 2023 | Reuters
'Alarming' rise in diabetes expected globally by 2050, study says
Every country in the world will see rates of diabetes rise in the next 30 years without action, according to a new global study. June 22, 2023 | The Guardian
Revealed: A toxic metal is in a US city’s air – and may be harming children’s brains
The Guardian finds children in Portland, Oregon, could have lower test scores due to lead emissions from a nearby racetrack, one of dozens across the US to use toxic leaded gasoline. June 21, 2023 | The New York TImes
Opinion: Are wine, chocolate and artificial sweeteners good for you? Nutrition science needs a reboot
Nutrition science needs a credibility revolution. June 21, 2023 | National Geographic
What BPA can do to our bodies—and how to limit your exposure
The chemical used to make plastics is more prevalent than ever and remains unregulated in the U.S.—despite thousands of studies showing “overwhelming evidence of harm.” June 21, 2023 | MSN
Gold mine faces licence ban over ongoing air pollution
NSW's environmental watchdog says it is ready to take strong action against a dirty gold mine operating near a major outback regional centre. June 21, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Researchers and clinicians acknowledge the role of chemicals in spurring obesity
For the first time, prominent obesity researchers and clinicians have acknowledged the potential role of environmental chemicals in the obesity public health crisis. June 20, 2023 | Grist
Race has to be a factor in efforts to decrease air pollution
A new study shows that decreasing greenhouse gases alone isn't enough to save neighborhoods of color from toxic air pollution. June 19, 2023 | The Guardian
Action to tackle air pollution failing to keep up with research
Globally, outdoor air pollution is second only to tobacco as greatest cause of lung and respiratory cancers. June 19, 2023 | The Guardian
EPA sued over reapproval of toxic herbicides using Agent Orange chemical
Federal suit brought by public health groups alleges agency’s science shows human risks and harm to endangered species. June 19, 2023 | The New York TImes
Study compares gas stove fumes to secondhand cigarette smoke
One burner could raise indoor concentrations of benzene, which is linked to cancer risk, above levels that have prompted investigations when detected outdoors. June 14, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Are you replenishing your electrolytes with a dose of PFAS?
Nine electrolyte products have detectable levels of total fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation. June 2, 2023 | Stanford Medicine
Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh
Scientists find that a colorant that makes turmeric more yellow is the leading source of high lead levels in pregnant women in Bangladesh. June 1, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Recycling plastics “extremely problematic” due to toxic chemical additives
Plastics contain toxic chemicals that can enter products and interact to create new harmful substances during the recycling process, a new report from Greenpeace and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) shows. May 12, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Testing finds glyphosate in two popular oat milks
Two out of 13 popular brands of oat milk had detectable levels of the controversial herbicide glyphosate, according to a new report from Mamavation. May 9, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Scientists warn of disinfectant dangers
Disinfectants have had a moment since the COVID-19 pandemic began — and scientists are warning that this widespread use is spurring health problems, antimicrobial resistance and harming the environment. May 5, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Toxic exposures accumulate in more than 100 categories of consumer products
Products used at home and in the workplace frequently contain toxic chemicals that are linked to reproductive and developmental harms, and cancers, according to a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology. April 26, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Are you putting PFAS on your eyeballs?
Eighteen kinds of soft contact lenses have detectable levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation. April 7, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Air pollution exposure during pregnancy linked to reduced lung function in kids
Exposure to air pollution from sources like traffic and heavy industry during pregnancy has been linked to reduced lung function in children in a new study. April 5, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Not only are PFAS toxic — they’re bad at their job when applied to furniture
The group of chemicals referred to as PFAS are known for their ability to repel water and stains from fabric, but a new study found that treatments containing PFAS had a low impact on protecting furniture fabrics and that the fabric type did more to prevent stains. March 30, 2023 | Science News
50 years ago, air pollution was linked to more reports of animal bites
Scientists spent decades tying air pollution to health and behavior problems. Now, there’s more evidence that dirty air influences aggression in animals. March 24, 2023 | Science Newsw
Microplastics are in our bodies. Here’s why we don’t know the health risks
Researchers are racing to try to understand how much humans are exposed and what levels are toxic. March 23, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Get phthalates, parabens out of the bathroom drawer to reduce breast cancer risk
Switching to phthalate and paraben-free personal care products could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, according to new research. March 21, 2023 | Environmenatl Health News
Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, a potential influx of hazardous materials that the Earth and humans can't handle, according to a new report from the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. March 21, 2023 | Annals of Global Health
The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health
Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth’s environment. March 15, 2023 | Environmental Health News
PFAS: EPA releases proposed drinking water standards for six “forever chemicals”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today new proposed drinking water standards for six individual PFAS chemicals —a move that could re-shape how drinking water is tested, sourced and treated throughout the U.S. March 2, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Kids’ glyphosate exposure linked to liver disease and metabolic syndrome
Over the last decade, Dr. Charles Limbach noticed something strange in his family medicine practice in East Salinas, California. March 2, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Good news: Some toxic insecticides are vanishing from the atmosphere
Some once-common insecticides linked to harmful human health impacts are disappearing from the air in the Great Lakes region, though others still persist, according to new research. February 22, 2023 | Environmental Health News
The FDA needs to start protecting us from obesity-promoting food chemicals
The Western diet is a triple threat for causing obesity: the diet itself, the additives used in the food processing and the chemicals used in the food packaging are all culprits, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest. February 14, 2023 | Scientific American
The Brain and Long COVID
Long COVID Now Looks like a Neurological Disease, Helping Doctors to Focus Treatments The causes of long COVID, which disables millions, may come together in the brain and nervous system February 2, 2023 | Environmental Health Perspectives
Effects of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Comorbidity, and Coexposures on the Association between Air Pollution and Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Exposure to air pollution has been associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but studies investigating whether deprived groups are more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution are inconsistent. February 1, 2023 | Science News
Chemical residue reveals ancient Egyptians’ mummy-making mixtures
Chemical clues in embalming vessels reveal previously unknown ingredients used to prepare bodies for mummification and their far-flung origins. January 30, 2023 | Environmental Health News
What will it take to give babies a phthalate-free start in the world?
Since the late 1960s research has shown that a plastic additive in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), leaches from medical devices and is toxic to multiple organs, especially for premature infants. January 19, 2023 | Scientific American
The Health Risks of Gas Stoves Explained
Gas stoves produce emissions that can harm human health and the environment. Experts answer questions about the dangers and how to limit them January 14, 2023 | Science News
Pollution mucks up the lungs’ immune defenses over time
A study of immune tissue in the lungs reports that particulate matter buildup from air pollution may impair respiratory immunity in older adults. January 13, 2023 | Environmental Health News
Just one meal of caught fish per year is a significant dose of PFAS
People who eat just one U.S. freshwater fish a year are likely to show a significant increase of a cancer-causing chemical in their bloodstream, new research warns. January 10, 2023 | WHO
A child or youth died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report
Another 1.9 million babies were tragically stillborn during the same period, according to a separate UN report. December 29, 2022 | New York TImes
Hair straighteners may pose a small risk for uterine cancer, study finds
A national study suggests a link to this particular cancer among women who reported frequent use of the chemical products. December 14, 2022 | WHO News Release
Accelerated action needed to ensure safe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene for all
Urgent action is needed globally and locally to achieve safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation and hygiene for all in order to prevent devastating impacts on the health of millions of people. Findings from WHO and UN-Water’s Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report show that acceleration is needed in many countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – water and sanitation for all by 2030. December 8, 2022 | Journal of National Cancer Institute
Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer
Hair products may contain hazardous chemicals with endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties. Previous studies have found hair product use to be associated with a higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers including breast and ovarian cancer; however, to our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the relationship with uterine cancer. November 30, 2022 | EHP
Cardiac Development in the Presence of Cadmium
Cardiac Development in the Presence of Cadmium: An in Vitro Study Using Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Cardiac Organoids Researchers at NIEHS have developed a three-dimensional (3D) model that shows how exposure to cadmium might lead to congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the United States, affecting nearly 40,000 newborns a year. November 29, 2022 | The Daily Star
Smog engulfs Indian capital as winter pollution worsens
Thick smog engulfed India’s capital New Delhi yesterday as air pollution worsened with the setting in of winter, shooting up concentrations of fine particles in the air three times above the acceptable limits. November 28, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Where did the PFAS in your blood come from? These computer models offer clues
Downstream of a Chemours fluorochemical manufacturing plant on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, people living in Brunswick and New Hanover counties suffer from higher-than-normal rates of brain tumors, breast cancers and other forms of rare — and accelerated — diseases. November 28, 2022 | New York Times
10,500 toddler bottles and cups recalled over lead poisoning risk
Green Sprouts recalled the cups and bottles because the base can break off and expose a piece that contains lead. November 25, 2022 | Mongabay
U.N. report calls for the ban of mercury trade and its use in gold mining
Small-scale gold mining is the key driver of global mercury demand, according to a U.N. report on the highly toxic metal, with South America accounting for 39% of this demand. November 23, 2022 | Journal Sentinel
Study shows segregation worsens impact of lead poisoning on students
New research suggests lead-poisoned children with low academic test scores perform even worse if they live in a highly segregated area like Milwaukee. November 22, 2022 | Wired
Air quality mirrors the racial segregation of US neighborhoods
A new study shows that the more divided a community is, the higher the residents’ exposure to hazardous metals and particulates. November 22, 2022 | Chemical Engineering
Toward the production of safer chemicals
A new protocol for safer chemical design is helping to overcome gaps in 'traditional' toxicology and improve upon federal regulations for endocrine-disrupting chemicals November 22, 2022 | New York TImes
Beijing is tackling its air pollution problem. Why can't New Delhi?
The return of smog season in India’s capital has again left residents asking why nothing has changed. The answer may be largely political. November 22, 2022 | Wired
Tiny aerosols pose a big predicament in a warming world
Fossil fuels are rapidly heating the planet, but their aerosols also help cool it. Just how much, though, is a major uncertainty in climate science. November 21, 2022 | 9 News
'It's normal to have cancer': Some Colorado communities disproportionally impacted by pollution
An Environmental Task force created by the Colorado legislature submitted their recommendations to fix inequity in pollution effects this week. November 18, 2022 | Maryland Today
Study finds ubiquitous fungus fights mercury contamination
University of Maryland researchers found that the fungus Metarhizium robertsii removes mercury from the soil around plant roots, and from fresh and saltwater. The researchers also genetically engineered the fungus to amplify its mercury detoxifying effects. November 16, 2022 | i News
How UK air pollution is putting teenagers at risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks in later life
Prolonged exposure to air pollution can significantly increase the risk to teenagers of developing high blood pressure in later life – with obese adolescents particularly vulnerable, a study has found. November 15, 2022 | D Magazine
Coming soon: A pollution map that’s as easy to access as a weather forecast
North Texas environmental health advocates and Texas A&M University scientists have received a $250,000 grant to track pollution in real time. They hope it will shape policy and affect everyday behavior. November 14, 2022 | The Washington Post
US and China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, resume climate talks
Climate envoys for the U.S. and China have resumed formal talks, according to the White House, following a new agreement. Beijing froze talks in August. November 14, 2022 | Green Matters
How much pollution do cars produce? It depends
Cars can easily be considered one of the greatest inventions of the modern world. They have transformed the ways so many of us live, given us greater ways to connect with others, and allowed people to live longer lives. But of course, they don’t come without their downsides. November 14, 2022 | Popular Science
Teflon-coated pans might be more risky than you'd think
One surface crack on a Teflon-coated pan releases about 9,100 plastic particles. November 14, 2022 | Ensia
Wanted: healthier healthcare products
What’s in that IV bag besides saline and medication? As we become more aware of the harms of chemicals embedded in plastics and other materials, consumers — including patients — are demanding a higher standard. November 13, 2022 | Tehran Times
Mobile sources responsible for 83% of Tehran’s air pollution
Some 83 percent of air pollution in Tehran and 70 percent in other big cities of the country are caused by mobile sources, Abdollah Motevalli, deputy director of the Standards and Quality Inspection Company, has said. November 13, 2022 | The Washington Post
The health risks of wildfire smoke
State public health officials and experts are increasingly concerned about residents’ chronic exposure to toxin-filled smoke. November 13, 2022 | Chemical & Engineering News
California pressured to ban paraquat
Groups claim common herbicide is harming agricultural communities November 11, 2022 | Propublica
How the FCC shields wireless providers from safety concerns
The wireless industry is rolling out thousands of new transmitters amid a growing body of research that calls cellphone safety into question. Federal regulators say there’s nothing to worry about — even as they rely on standards established in 1996. November 11, 2022 | The Guardian
Children exposed to lead may experience symptoms of dementia sooner – study
Research on lead poisoning suggests countries could face an explosion of people seeking support for dementia. November 11, 2022 | North Carolina Health News
Plastics pose a problem in waterways. Could chemical recycling be a solution?
A recent study suggests enlisting bioengineered microbes to solve the mixed-use plastic recycling problem. November 10, 2022 | Iraqi News
Brussels under pressure to tighten car pollution rules
The European Commission on Thursday unveiled new proposals to tighten vehicle emissions standards, but immediately ran into fresh criticism that Brussels officials are too close to the car industry. November 10, 2022 | Bloomberg
FDA lags behind lab that found benzene in dry shampoos, sunscreen
Valisure has found tainted heart burn pills, sunscreens and dry shampoos, shaking up products that generate more than $9 billion in sales. Why are they outrunning regulators? November 10, 2022 | AP News
CDC to conduct health study at polluted former Army base
Federal health officials are conducting a new study to determine whether veterans once stationed at a now-shuttered California military base were exposed to dangerously high levels of cancer-causing toxins. November 9, 2022 | Futurity
Air pollution may cause far more deaths than previously thought
The annual global death toll from long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution may be significantly higher than previously thought, according to a new study. November 9, 2022 | Investigate Midwest
Popular flea collar Seresto has been linked to more than 100,000 reports of harm
Reports include at least 2,698 pet deaths and nearly 900 human incidents. November 8, 2022 | Carlsbad Current Argus
New Mexico's oil, gas air pollution is visible from space, study says
A cloud of methane about 2 miles long was discovered southeast of Carlsbad by NASA, amid the Permian Basin oilfields. November 8, 2022 | The Harvard Gazette
PFAS levels lower in buildings with healthier furnishings
Buildings renovated with healthier furnishings had significantly lower levels of the entire group of per- and polyfluoralkyl substances — toxic chemicals linked with many negative health effects — than buildings with conventional furnishings, according to a new study. November 8, 2022 | The Star
Air pollution second biggest killer in Africa after HIV
Without ambitious plans to adopt healthy and sustainable urban development, rapid urbanisation will increase the damaging health, economic and social impacts of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in 'megacities'. November 8, 2022 | Bay Journal
‘Forever chemicals’ found in more than a dozen waterways in Chesapeake region
Sampling by the Waterkeeper Alliance has turned up more waterways laced with toxic “forever chemicals,” including more than a dozen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. November 8, 2022 | Fast Company
5 activewear brands that aren't full of toxic chemicals
Last month, the Center for Environmental Health found that many of the most popular activewear brands contain BPA. Here are some greener alternatives. November 8, 2022 | Global Press Journal
Push for gold leaves a toxic legacy
Mercury exposure can be deadly. So why are gold miners in Zimbabwe using the dangerous chemical — and risking their lives and the health of their communities in the process? November 7, 2022 | Civil Eats
New evidence shows pesticides contain PFAS, and scale of contamination is unknown
Our new investigation found significant sources of 'forever chemicals' on farmland and in communities. November 6, 2022 | Yuba Net.com
California regulators urged to ban herbicide linked to Parkinson’s
Conservation and public health groups today called on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to reevaluate approval of the herbicide paraquat… November 6, 2022 | WHO News Release
Health must be front and centre in the COP27 climate change negotiations
On the eve of the pivotal climate talks at COP27, WHO issues a grim reminder that the climate crisis continues to make people sick and jeopardizes lives and that health must be at the core of these critical negotiations. November 4, 2022 | Environmental Health News
This loophole allows pesticide-coated seeds to kill birds. It’s time to close it.
Pesticides kill almost 100 million birds every year in the United States — and a federal loophole ensures this crisis will continue. November 4, 2022 | North Carolina Health News
PFAS contamination likely at 58K sites in US
North Carolina has at least 10 sites with known PFAS contamination and hundreds of locations with presumptive fluroinated-compound pollution. November 3, 2022 | The Independent
Delhi air pollution explained: Why India’s capital is being suffocated by toxic smog again
Deadly air pollution has become an annual hazard in northern India, but there were hopes for change after political upheaval in Punjab. But even more farm fires are filling the sky with particles, as Arpan Rai reports from a landscape up in flames. November 3, 2022 | Mongabay
Another winter of discontent as Kathmandu braces for deadly air pollution
As winter sets in, residents of Kathmandu are bracing for worsening air pollution levels that can exceed by a hundredfold the safe limit prescribed by the WHO. November 3, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Glyphosate exposure linked to lower birth weights for Indiana babies
Glyphosate exposure during pregnancy is linked to lower birth weights for babies, according to a new study of pregnant people in Indiana. November 3, 2022 | Medpage Today
Dry shampoo added to list of products contaminated with benzene
Findings represent the highest levels found in a consumer product to date, according to Valisure November 2, 2022 | North Carolina Health News
PFAS evidence piles up, puts polluters on notice
Between recent studies and lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers, polluters are being put on notice that they have to clean up. November 2, 2022 | News18
Farm fires' share in Delhi's pollution rises to 32%; local winds save the day
The share of stubble burning in Delhi PM2.5 pollution rose to 32 per cent on Wednesday, the highest this year so far, amid raging farm fires in Punjab and favourable conditions for the transport of emissions to Delhi-NCR. November 2, 2022 | FOX23
'Everybody's contaminated:' Maine hunters worried about PFAS contamination in animals
Hunting season is now underway, but with new worries, as many hunters are forced to avoid areas of PFAS contamination. November 2, 2022 | ABC
Impact of obesity on life expectancy in Queensland children shown in new modeling
A new report has found a "concerning" drop in life expectancy for Queensland children born over the next decade if obesity rates are not reduced. November 1, 2022 | ABC30
Racially segregated communities breathe in air 3 times more concentrated with toxins
New research is shedding to just how much higher proportions of dangerous toxins people in minority communities are breathing in. October 31, 2022 | TBS News
More than 20% of yearly deaths linked to air pollution: Study
About 20% of the total annual deaths in Bangladesh are associated with air pollution, which is increasing gradually, according to a recent study. October 31, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Tiny particles of air pollution appear more deadly if from human-made sources
PITTSBURGH—Air pollution from human-made sources like factories and vehicles is significantly more dangerous to patients with certain lung diseases than other types of air pollution, according to a new study. October 30, 2022 | Living on Earth
Living on Earth: Beyond the Headlines
This week on Beyond the Headlines, Environmental Health News editor Peter Dykstra and Host Bobby Bascomb explore a new study that found a correlation between natural gas production and low birth weights. October 29, 2022 | The Guardian
Pesticide use around world almost doubles since 1990, report finds
Agricultural chemicals drive falls of 30% in populations of field birds and butterflies, says Pesticide Atlas October 27, 2022 | Deseret News
There might be a link between air pollution and obesity
Researchers discovered that the more air pollution participants were exposed to, the likelier it was that they became obese. Specifically, women who were exposed to air pollution had a body fat increase of 4.5%. October 27, 2022 | New Scientist
Houseplants genetically modified to reduce indoor air pollution
While ordinary houseplants have little effect on pollution, two companies have developed genetically modified pothos plants that may have a bigger impact. October 27, 2022 | Environmental health News
Evidence of PFAS found in tampons — including organic brands
Five popular tampon brands — including two advertised as organic — have detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation. October 27, 2022 | UNEP
Inadequate progress on climate action makes rapid transformation of societies only option - UNEP
Climate pledges leave the world on track for a temperature rise of 2.4-2.6°C by the end of this century Updated pledges since COP26 in Glasgow take less than one per cent off projected 2030 greenhouse gas emissions; 45 per cent is needed for limiting global warming to 1.5°C Transforming the electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, and the food and financial systems would help put world on a path to success October 26, 2022 | The Hill
Hispanic women in Los Angeles exposed to air pollution, stress deliver lower-birth-weight babies: study
Hispanic women in Los Angeles who were exposed to air pollution and stress during pregnancy were more likely to deliver low birth weight babies, a new study has found. October 26, 2022 | New York TImes
Unilever recalls dry shampoo products in U.S. and Canada
More than a dozen aerosol dry shampoo products from brands like Dove and Suave may have elevated levels of benzene, a carcinogen, the company said. October 26, 2022 | New York TImes
Uterine cancer: What to know about symptoms and treatment
A new study raised alarms about chemical hair straighteners being linked to the disease, but doctors say there are telltale symptoms to watch for. October 26, 2022 | NIEHS Environmental Factor
Nonanimal testing experts connect with environmental justice community
Discussions highlighted opportunities and challenges in using new testing approaches to protect susceptible populations. October 25, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Researchers call for action on lead-contaminated meat due to EHN reporting
Scientists from the U.S. and Europe are calling for inspections of donated hunted meat at U.S. food banks to prevent toxic lead exposure for children and families. October 25, 2022 | Nature
Making tap water in Kenya and Bangladesh safe to drink
Amy Pickering helped create a purification device that runs without electricity and removes contaminants that can enter leaky pipes. October 25, 2022 | The Guardian
These farmers have Parkinson’s disease – and claim a weedkiller is to blame
One pesticide popular with US farmers has been prominently linked to the disease: a weedkiller called paraquat. October 24, 2022 | Live Science
Nazi shipwreck is leaking toxic chemicals into the sea, 80 years after sinking
A Nazi shipwreck that sank in the North Sea in 1942 is still polluting the seafloor around it, but there are signs of sea life adapting to the wreck. October 23, 2022 | New Scientist
Glyphosate weedkiller impairs learning and memory in bumblebees
Bumblebees exposed to glyphosate performed worse in tests that required them to remember which colours were linked to rewards October 23, 2022 | FOX11
Report: Parts of West Virginia at a high cancer risk due to gas and oil fumes
A recent report from a nonprofit group said some West Virginians are at a high risk of cancer because of pollution associated with the oil and gas industry... October 21, 2022 | The Guardian
Building works responsible for 18% of UK large particle pollution
Experts call for tighter regulation as construction accounts for more than 30% of PM10 pollution in London. October 21, 2022 | Environmental Health News
For the first time, natural gas production linked to lower birth weights in a national study
Across the U.S., birth weights have declined as rates of natural gas production have increased, according to a new, first-of-its-kind national study. October 21, 2022 | The Guardian
Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease
Cache of documents seen by Guardian detail effort to refute scientific research into paraquat and derail nomination of key EPA adviser October 21, 2022 | NC Policy Watch
PFAS found in blood samples of more than 1,000 people in Cape Fear River Basin
About 1 million people live in the Cape Fear River Basin, which extends from Reidsville southeast through Pittsboro, Cary, Fayetteville, Brunswick and New Hanover counties on the coast. October 21, 2022 | Propublica
The U.S. never banned asbestos. These workers are paying the price
As other countries outlawed asbestos, workers in a New York plant were “swimming” in it. Now, in a fight against the chemical industry, the United States may finally ban the potent carcinogen. But help may come too late. October 21, 2022 | Aljazeera
How river pollution is killing people in an Indian village
Villagers say they are suffering after years of unchecked industrial pollution has contaminated their water. October 21, 2022 | The Washington Post
Why Seattle air quality is the worst in the world two days in a row
Wildfire smoke made the air quality in the city worse than Delhi or Beijing -- with uncertain health effects. October 20, 2022 | Mining
Coal ash pollution affecting lakes for longer than previously thought
Researchers at Duke University and Appalachian State University ran an analysis of sediments from five North Carolina lakes near coal-burning power plants and found that coal ash pollution of surface waters has been more persistent and widespread than was previously thought. October 20, 2022 | The Guardian
Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease
Cache of documents seen by Guardian detail effort to refute scientific research into paraquat and derail nomination of key EPA adviser. October 20, 2022 | Environmental Health News
PFAS-polluted North Carolina alligators have weakened immune systems
Alligators living along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina had high levels of 14 different PFAS chemicals in their blood and showed clear signs of immune system dysfunction, according to a new study. October 19, 2022 | The Fast Company
Some sports bras and athletic wear contain high levels of BPA
A report finds activewear from brands including Nike, Athleta, and The North Face contain high levels of BPA. October 19, 2022 | Hypertension
Peripheral Immune Cell Composition is Altered in Women Before and After a Hypertension Diagnosis
The development and consequences of hypertension involve multiple biological systems that may include changes in immune profiles. Whether hypertension is related to peripheral immune cell composition has not been examined in large human cohorts. October 18, 2022 | The Conversation
Indoor air quality improvements in schools will reduce COVID transmission and help students learn
A lot of federal money is now available for making school buildings healthier. Two environmental health experts explain how school districts can best use it. October 18, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Chemical effects on female thyroid levels
How do common chemicals in furniture, electronics and takeout containers affect female thyroid levels? October 17, 2022 | BBC
Iraqi minister admits gas flaring cancer link
Iraqi Environment Minister Jassem al-Falahi has acknowledged that pollution from oil production is the main reason for increases in local cancer rates. October 17, 2022 | Today.com
Radioactive waste found at Missouri elementary school
A new report by an environmental investigation group shows there is significant radioactive contamination at an elementary school in suburban St. Louis, Missouri, where nuclear weapons were produced during World War II. October 17, 2022 | KPBS
In California, unhealthy pollution from wildfire smoke has become dangerously common
As wildfires have choked skies in the western United States, turning them vivid orange or sickly ochre, millions of people now live where smoke regularly makes breathing unhealthy. October 17, 2022 | CNN
A global epidemic of cancer among people younger than 50 could be emerging
A new review of cancer registry records from 44 countries found that the incidence of early-onset cancers is rising rapidly for colorectal and 13 other types of cancers, many of which affect the digestive system, and this increase is happening across many middle- and high-income nations. October 16, 2022 | NHK
Blood tests detect 2 to 4 times Japan's national average of PFAS in Okinawa
A civic group says blood tests it conducted on people living near US military bases in Okinawa have detected two to four times Japan's national average level of widely used chemical compounds known collectively as PFAS, or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances. October 16, 2022 | Asahi
Blood tests detect high levels of PFOS in residents near U.S. bases
High levels of a suspected carcinogen were found in blood samples of residents living near U.S. military bases in Okinawa Prefecture, triggering calls for authorities to conduct inspections of U.S. facilities to trace the cause of the problem. October 14, 2022 | Environmental Health News
See where toxic PFAS have been used in Pennsylvania fracking wells
PITTSBURGH—Toxic “forever chemicals”, also known as PFAS, have been used in at least eight oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania, but the exact location of those wells has never been publicly disclosed — until now. October 14, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Toxic PFAS pollution is likely at more than 57,000 US locations: Report
Toxic PFAS have likely contaminated roughly 57,412 locations across the U.S., according to a new study. October 14, 2022 | Investigate Midwest
Warming winters are increasing fertilizer runoff and polluting waterways, a new study finds
A new study finds as winter weather warms across the Midwest, fertilizers that once froze are now finding their way into streams and rivers. October 14, 2022 | Investigate Midwest
EPA to ban flea and tick collars linked to brain damage in children
The collars, which contain the chemical tetrachlorvinphos, make up more than half of flea and tick collars sold in the U.S., according to the EPA. They are much cheaper than many name brand collars and are largely aimed at low-income pet owners. October 13, 2022 | Earth.org
The link between climate change and disease outbreaks
Besides threatening the natural environment, climate change increases human vulnerability to infectious disease outbreaks. How and why does this happen? October 13, 2022 | Salon
For the first time, researchers find that air pollution is making its way into unborn babies
The World Health Organization estimates that 99 percent of the global population inhales dirty air that exceeds their guideline limits, air that kills about 6.7 million people each year. October 12, 2022 | Modern Diplomacy
Four ways the planetary crisis is impacting mental health
As the world grapples with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, there is a growing concern about the impact these crises have on mental health. October 11, 2022 | Wired
Wildfire smoke may carry deadly fungi long distances
Pathogens in soil are a danger to firefighters, but smoke may transport spores that cause valley fever and other infections into cities too. October 11, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Where the health of animals and humans intersect
Have you heard about "One environmental health"? It's a subset of "One Health," the concept that the health of animals, humans and the environment are interconnected. One environmental health focuses on how toxic chemicals impact that shared health. October 10, 2022 | AU News
Carpets pollute Aussie homes with plastic
Australians have been urged to reconsider carpeting their homes after a study found the floor covering may double microplastic pollution in household dust. October 10, 2022 | The Maine Monitor
Making the connection between PFAS and fossil fuels
Besides emitting actual PFAS, the factories that manufacture and work with the substances emit potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. October 7, 2022 | Capital and Man
Toxic pollutants a growing concern for pregnant mothers and babies
Links between environmental exposures and maternal health outcomes remain underexplored, despite recent efforts to catch up. October 6, 2022 | Forbes
‘TOXIC Act’ would target banned pesticides in illegal cannabis farms on public lands
Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation on October 3 that would combat the use of banned pesticides on illegal cannabis cultivation sites on public land. October 6, 2022 | The Guardian
Toxic air pollution particles found in lungs and brains of unborn babies
Particles breathed by mothers pass to their vulnerable fetuses, with potentially lifelong consequences. October 6, 2022 | North Carolina Health News
Researchers find elevated lead levels at child care facilities across North Carolina
It is all too common to find lead in tap water at North Carolina child care facilities, according to a new study by researchers from RTI International. Aging buildings and plumbing fixtures are the main culprits. October 5, 2022 | HCN
A smoldering threat to wildland firefighters
Long COVID affects more than 16 million Americans, and firefighters are at increased risk of getting it. October 5, 2022 | Environmental Health News
The dangers of skin lightening products
Senior Agents of Change fellow Michelle Gin speaks with Michael Xiong of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency about the dangers of skin lightening products that contain mercury. October 5, 2022 | The Guardian
Study links in utero ‘forever chemical’ exposure to low sperm count and mobility
PFAS, now found in nearly all umbilical cord blood around the world, interfere with hormones crucial to testicle development. October 4, 2022 | Washington Post
Why some skin-lightening products should be avoided
Some of the chemicals can be dangerous and cause permanent harm. October 3, 2022 | The Guardian
Boston bans artificial turf in parks due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’
The city joins a growing number across the US in limiting the use of artificial turf made with dangerous PFAS compounds September 30, 2022 | CNN
Video: This ingredient found in some beauty products can enter the bloodstream, the brain and breastmilk
CNN explains how high levels of mercury found in some skin whitening creams can affect the body of people using them and put entire households at risk by contaminating their homes. September 30, 2022 | PBS
Why getting PFAS out of our products is so hard — and why it matters
Researchers and consumers are calling on industries and institutions to phase out these chemicals and instead pursue safer alternatives that serve similar functions. But it's complicated. September 30, 2022 | The Great Simplification
Podcast: The growing threat from chemical pollution
New research on PFAS and their ubiquity in waterways all over the globe was discussed. The conversation then turns to plastic pollution and what we might do about it. September 30, 2022 | Reuters
Indian capital gears up to tackle air pollution ahead of winter
The Indian capital of New Delhi will enforce a 15-step action plan to curb pollution ahead of the arrival of winter, when a haze of toxic smog envelops the world's most polluted city. September 29, 2022 | NPR
Climate change is linked to the spread of viruses like monkeypox, experts say
Researchers say diseases that spread between humans and animals will become increasingly commonplace as human expansion into previously uninhabited areas intensifies. September 29, 2022 | AU News
New push to limit PFAS farm contamination in Australia
Chemical contamination concerns have sparked new limits that could end the mass disposal of human waste on farms that feed the nation. September 28, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Chemicals linked to birth defects are being dumped in Pittsburgh’s rivers: Report
PITTSBURGH—More than 50 years after the passage of the national Clean Water Act, industrial polluters still regularly dump toxic chemicals linked to birth defects and cancer into local waterways, according to a new report. September 28, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Chemical recycling grows — along with concerns about its environmental impacts
St. James Parish, located on a stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans dubbed “Cancer Alley” due to the high concentration of petrochemical plants, is home to the country’s largest producer of polystyrene — the foam commonly found in soft drink and takeout containers. September 27, 2022 | The Telegraph
The ‘deadly cocktail’ of India’s toxic rivers
River pollution is plaguing India, and experts warn it is causing a deadly crisis that threatens the country’s health and prosperity. September 27, 2022 | The Portugal News
Fruit "highly contaminated" with pesticides
Autumn fruit in Europe is “highly contaminated” with dangerous pesticides, according to a report by the non-governmental organisation “Pesticides Action Network Europe”. September 27, 2022 | The Portugal News
Fruit "highly contaminated" with pesticides
Autumn fruit in Europe is “highly contaminated” with dangerous pesticides, according to a report by the non-governmental organisation “Pesticides Action Network Europe”. September 27, 2022 | Environmental Journal
New biodegradable materials could be the answer to plastic pollution
As plastic pollution continues to be a global problem affecting both human and environmental health, scientists have developed new biodegradable materials which could help to rectify this. September 27, 2022 | SCMP.com
The toxic chemicals in our clothes and the harm they do us
Fast-fashion company Shein repeated its commitment to safety after a social media outcry over chemicals in the Chinese brand’s clothes, but use of the toxic substances is widespread in fashion. September 27, 2022 | US News
Study points to jobs with highest risk for ALS
People who work in manufacturing, welding and chemical operations and are exposed to hazardous chemicals may face a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a new study found. September 26, 2022 | CNN
As more info on lead in Jackson's water comes to light, parents are in the dark on their children's health
Residents in Jackson are accustomed to boiling water, so they can bathe or cook with it, but with lead, boiling water increases the concentration of the known neurotoxin and probable carcinogen. September 23, 2022 | The Guardian
Profiting from poison: how the US lead industry knowingly created a water crisis
The lead water crisis facing Chicago and many other US cities today has roots in a nearly century-old campaign to boost the lead industry’s sales. September 22, 2022 | VT Digger
Vermont effort successfully reduced lead in schools, officials say
Almost all Vermont schools and child care programs have addressed lead in their drinking water systems thanks to a state program created and funded by a 2019 law, state officials announced this week. As a result, students’ exposure to lead has plummeted. September 22, 2022 | IDW
Anthropogenic air pollution more significant than desert dust
In the Middle East, more than 90 percent of the fine aerosol particles that are detrimental to health and the climate originate from human-made sources. September 22, 2022 | Inside Climate News
Toxic metals entered soil from Pittsburgh steel-industry emissions, study says
Pittsburgh’s soil is contaminated in some areas by five toxic metals emitted by historic coking and smelting from the region’s now-diminished coal and steel industry, according to a new study by geologists at the University of Pittsburgh. September 22, 2022 | The Guardian
‘What are they thinking?’: toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in school uniforms
More than a third of children’s clothing tested in a study detected PFAS, which are used to make textiles stain resistant. September 22, 2022 | The Guardian
‘What are they thinking?’: toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in school uniforms
More than a third of children’s clothing tested in a study detected PFAS, which are used to make textiles stain resistant. September 22, 2022 | New York TImes
Wildfire smoke is erasing progress on clean air
New maps reveal a picture of daily exposure to wildfire smoke in better geographic detail than ever before. September 21, 2022 | KTLA.com
Dangerous arsenic levels may be lurking in California prison water
Incarcerated Californians — and those who live in neighboring rural communities — may be exposed to dangerous levels of arsenic in their drinking water, a new study has found. September 21, 2022 | The Guardian
Air pollution increases hospital admission risk for autistic children, study suggests
Research shows hospital admissions are linked to even short-term exposure, with boys more at risk than girls. September 21, 2022 | The Guardian
Air pollution increases hospital admission risk for autistic children, study suggests
Research shows hospital admissions are linked to even short-term exposure, with boys more at risk than girls. September 16, 2022 | Hartford Courant
Editorial: Every Connecticut child must be protected against lead poisoning
“We know that there’s no safe amount of lead for any child to be exposed to,” Dr. Jennifer Haile, a pediatrician at Connecticut Children’s Lead Treatment Center told The Courant. September 16, 2022 | CBC
He was drenched in a weed-killer made by Monsanto in a workplace accident. Then he was diagnosed with cancer
New documentary follows former groundskeeper Dewayne “Lee” Johnson’s trial against agrochemical giant Monsanto. He claims that their weed-killer was a substantial factor in causing his cancer. September 16, 2022 | The Conversation
Is your gas stove bad for your health?
Natural gas has been marketed for decades as a clean fuel, but a growing body of research shows that gas stoves can contribute significantly to indoor air pollution, as well as climate change. September 16, 2022 | UNEP Press Release
African Environment Ministers vow to end plastic pollution, eliminate open dumping and burning of waste, address antimicrobial resistance
The resumed 18th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) closed with environment ministers from 54 African countries adopting a series of decisions and key messages to tackle climate change, the loss of nature, pollution and waste, including the elimination of open dumping and burning of waste. The conference took place from 12 to 16 September 2022 in Dakar, Senegal. September 15, 2022 | Inside Climate News
A new website aims to penetrate the fog of pollution permitting in Houston
Texas’ environmental regulators make it tricky for citizens to speak out against, or even know about, industrial projects proposed near their homes. Advocates in Houston built a high-tech workaround. September 15, 2022 | KOAA.com
Asthma cases are getting more severe in the US
The major drivers for asthma are air quality, poverty and climate change, and a record number of asthma sufferers are dying. September 15, 2022 | UPR.com
Scientists find new way to break down dangerous 'forever chemicals'
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a large class of human-made chemicals used in many everyday products. Scientists have discovered a way to break them down, but it's far from a complete solution to the problem. September 9, 2022 | The Oaklandside
Study: traffic pollution harms seniors, increases health care costs
New research in Northern California shows that seniors living near high-traffic roadways, including Oakland’s I-880 and I-580, experience more health problems. September 8, 2022 | Inside Climate News
Despite misunderstandings, scientists and Indigenous peoples in the Arctic have collaborated on mercury pollution
A new paper cites over 40 joint projects in six nations and concludes that mercury research would be impossible without these working relationships. September 6, 2022 | Mongabay
Chinese companies slated for mercury pollution in Cameroon
Civil society groups have raised the alarm over pollution of rivers in eastern and northern Cameroon by gold mining companies. September 5, 2022 | The Globe and Mail
Mercury levels in the Arctic put wildlife, Indigenous communities at risk, landmark report says
Signs of mercury absorption in tree rings showed the chemical first became significantly present in the Arctic during the Industrial Revolution then continued to amass. September 5, 2022 | Washington Post
Editorial:'Forever chemicals' rule proposed by EPA is a step forward
It’s good news that the administration is beginning to take action on “forever chemicals.” But the proposed rule targets just two of approximately 12,000 types of PFAS, found in an estimated 41,000 sites across the country. September 2, 2022 | Mongabay
Weak waste management leaves Dhaka communities at risk from landfill sites
The four major waste landfills in Dhaka have left a serious environmental impact on the soil and groundwater of surrounding areas through leachate pollution, a study shows. September 2, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Air pollution can raise risk of Covid-19 death 51%, study says
People who live in areas that come with long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution face a 51% higher chance of dying from Covid-19, and thousands of lives could have been saved during the pandemic if air quality standards were met, a new public health research study has found. September 1, 2022 | Environmental Pollution
Accumulation and depuration of microplastic fibers, fragments, and tire particles in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica: A toxicokinetic approach
These results demonstrate accumulation and depuration of microplastics in eastern oysters is size-and shape-dependent. Depuration, which is a common practice for shellfish safety, is an effective way to reduce microplastic loads in eastern oysters, but the minimum recommended time of 44 h would only reduce loads of these particles by 55.5–67.6%. September 1, 2022 | Mongabay
In revising its criminal code, Indonesia risks unraveling environmental laws
The latest draft of Indonesia's criminal code contains provisions that would make it more difficult to prosecute environmental crimes, such as dumping toxic waste in rivers and setting forest fires, experts say. September 1, 2022 | CBC
Dollar store products commonly tested positive for toxic chemicals, analysis says
Canada needs more transparency and better enforcement to protect Canadians from unlimited exposure to toxic chemicals like lead and cadmium, an analysis from Environmental Defence said Wednesday. August 31, 2022 | New Scientist
Half of fish tested in an Amazon river have unsafe levels of mercury
At four locations close to the Yanomami Indigenous reserve in Brazil, many species of fish were found to have mercury levels considered unsafe for consumption. August 31, 2022 | Inside Climate News
Ubiquitous ‘forever chemicals’ increase risk of liver cancer, researchers report
The ubiquity of the toxic class of substances commonly known as “forever chemicals” is well established. Now, medical researchers have zeroed in on their effects on a crucial component of the human body’s internal filtration system: the liver. August 30, 2022 | Global Environmental Health Newsletter
Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Pesticides Are Key Topics for GEOHealth Programs
Through the NIH Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Program, seven groups will pursue research and training in low- and middle-income countries. August 29, 2022 | The Hill
Strategic planting around school playgrounds cuts children’s exposure to air pollution
Selective planting of vegetation between playgrounds and roadways can significantly reduce children’s exposure to traffic-related air pollution, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. August 26, 2022 | Washington Post
EPA finally moves to label some ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous
The compounds continue to turn up in drinking water, cosmetics, fabrics and food packaging used by millions of Americans. August 25, 2022 | MINNPost
The human and financial cost of air pollution in Minnesota
We can’t see it, and coroners rarely report it, but air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels prematurely kills an estimated nine million people worldwide every year. August 25, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Terry Collins: PFAS removal discovery not yet a ‘powerful solution’
Editor’s note: Researchers at Northwestern University last week published a breakthrough paper in the journal Science touting a new way of destroying PFAS molecules – dubbed the “forever chemical” for its engineered longevity. Carnegie Mellon University chemist Terry Collins offers a counterpoint on the optimism. August 25, 2022 | Washington Post
Study on underwater methane release raises climate fears
A new scientific claim about a burst of methane from the sea floor 125,000 years ago raises questions about our climate future. August 25, 2022 | BBC
Quitting single-use plastic in Japan
Japan is one of the world's biggest plastic waste producers, thanks to its love of packaging - but a week of going plastic-free in Tokyo reveals surprising solutions. August 24, 2022 | Washington Post
Study on underwater methane release raises climate fears
A new scientific claim about a burst of methane from the sea floor 125,000 years ago raises questions about our climate future. June 22, 2022 | Our Midland
Restrictions placed on PFAS-contaminated land next to landfill
New restrictions have been put on county-owned land next to the Huron County Landfill that has been contaminated by PFAS. June 15, 2022 | Nation.com
Reduction in air pollution can help improve functioning of kidney, study
Improving air quality may not only help your lungs but also your kidneys, a study suggests. June 6, 2022 | Futurity
Chemical exposure in pregnancy has gotten worse
Over the past 10 years, chemical exposure has increased among pregnant women, particularly women of color. June 5, 2022 | MSN
As wildfire season approaches, new studies show air pollution linked to severe health outcomes
Experts are warning about the negative health impacts from air pollution as we head into wildfire season — and new research suggests it could exacerbate severe outcomes from COVID-19 and increase the risk of lung disease. May 30, 2022 | Medical Xpress
Environmental pollutants play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes
The environmental pollutants we consume are probably the reason why some people develop type 1 diabetes. Even low concentrations of such pollutants can result in cells producing less insulin, reveals a new study from the University of Oslo (UiO). May 30, 2022 | Times Now News
First-of-its-kind study on children shows how air pollution affects children
Air pollution is one of the leading threats to children’s health – accounting for one in ten deaths in those below five years of age. Nearly 21 percent of children below the age of six reported respiratory disorders and infections due to air pollution in Ahmedabad. May 27, 2022 | The Washington Post
China's coal mining boosts methane levels, also dangerous for climate change
Amid fears of an energy crunch, China is mining more coal than ever and releasing more methane, a greenhouse gas more dangerous than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. May 26, 2022 | The Hill
Air pollution linked to increase risk of death from stroke: Study
Living in areas with higher levels of air pollution is linked to a heightened risk of in-hospital death from stroke, a new study has found. May 25, 2022 | Hometown Station
Air pollution can cause "deadly fog" in big cities
The "Great Fog of London" which caused the deaths of 4,000 to 12,000 people, could be the fate of other major cities if no action is taken. May 25, 2022 | Hometown Station
Air pollution can cause "deadly fog" in big cities
The "Great Fog of London" which caused the deaths of 4,000 to 12,000 people, could be the fate of other major cities if no action is taken. May 25, 2022 | Irish Times
‘Rising tide of chemical exposure’: Pesticide contamination up 8.8% in EU
The contamination of fruits and vegetables produced in the European Union by the most toxic pesticides has substantially increased over the past decade, according to new research. May 25, 2022 | Canada's national Observer
Canadian study finds link between air pollution and COVID severity
An extensive study of thousands of COVID-19 patients in Ontario hospitals found links between the severity of their infections and the levels of common air pollutants they experience. May 24, 2022 | The Hill
Greenhouse gas pollution trapping almost 50 percent more heat than 30 years ago
Planet-warming gases are trapping more and more heat in the atmosphere, holding in significantly more heat than they were in previous decades, a new assessment has found. May 24, 2022 | The Washington Post
The dangers of PFAS, often called ‘forever chemicals’
Even at low levels, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been linked to kidney disease, lowered immunity in children and other health concerns. May 23, 2022 | The Hill
FDA sparks anger with decision on ‘phthalates’ — a chemical in fast-food packaging
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday that it will not impose a total ban on a set of dangerous chemicals commonly found in fast-food packaging, angering scientists and environmental groups who have long pressed for their removal. May 20, 2022 | The Guardian
More than 3,000 potentially harmful chemicals found in food packaging
International experts who analyzed more than 1,200 scientific studies warn chemicals that migrate into food from food packaging are being consumed with unknown longterm impacts May 20, 2022 | The Guardian
Environmental toxics are worsening obesity pandemic, say scientists
Exclusive: Pollutants can upset body’s metabolic thermostat with some even causing obesity to be passed on to children May 19, 2022 | Mining
South Africans’ hair reveals heavy metal exposure from mining at Witwatersrand
Researchers are analyzing individual hair samples from people living and working around the Witwatersrand basin to determine the degree of uranium contamination. May 18, 2022 | Independent
Pollution killed 2.3 million people in India in 2019, says Lancet study
Air pollution led to more than 2.3 million premature deaths in India in 2019, the greatest toll of any country in the world, according to a new study published by The Lancet. May 17, 2022 | LA Times
Scientists find new and mysterious DDT chemicals accumulating in California condors
When Christopher Tubbs joined an ambitious multinational effort to save California condors from the brink of extinction, he knew the odds of success were long. May 16, 2022 | The Washington Post
Cutting air pollution from fossil fuels would save 50,000 lives a year
Eliminating air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels would prevent more than 50,000 premature deaths and provide more than $600 billion in health benefits in the United States every year, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. May 16, 2022 | UPI
Eliminating air pollution would save 50,000 lives annually, study estimates
Completely eliminating air pollution from energy production in the United States could prevent more than 50,000 early deaths each year, a study published Monday estimates. May 16, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Workers exposed to PFAS in a variety of industries
For the better part of 20 years, Peter Arlein worked as a professional ski technician, waxing skis across Colorado. May 14, 2022 | The Washington Post
How air pollution can affect COVID-19 risks
More studies conducted during the pandemic have found links between air pollution exposure and the chances of contracting the coronavirus, developing a severe infection or dying. May 13, 2022 | BBC
The chemicals that linger for decades in your blood
Environmental journalist Anna Turns experienced a wake-up call when she had her blood tested for toxic synthetic chemicals – and discovered that some contaminants persist for decades. May 13, 2022 | Inside Climate News
Fossil fuels aren’t just harming the planet. They’re making us sick
Researchers found multiple classes of potentially harmful chemicals where they’ve never been measured before: in the bodies of pregnant women. May 12, 2022 | CNN
Reducing aerosol pollution has led to more hurricanes in the North Atlantic, study shows
As the US and Europe worked for decades to reduce air pollution for the sake of public health and the planet, scientists found an unintended and challenging consequence: an increase in tropical storms in some regions. May 12, 2022 | Explosion
Which of these are the two major sources of nitrate pollution in rivers?
Nitrate pollution in rivers is one of the most common forms of water pollution. It’s one that people living near agricultural areas are particularly familiar with. May 12, 2022 | The Guardian
Maine bans use of sewage sludge on farms to reduce risk of PFAS poisoning
Maine last month became the first state to ban the practice of spreading PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge as fertilizer. May 12, 2022 | NBC News
Lead poisoning tests plunged during the pandemic. Kids still aren’t getting screened
Without testing, more children will be unknowingly exposed to high levels of lead, which can cause permanent damage to the brain, heart and kidneys. May 11, 2022 | Inside Climate News
New research shows aerosol emissions may have masked global warming’s supercharging of tropical storms
Air pollution cuts in North America and Europe helped to increase tropical Atlantic hurricane activity, and may do the same in the Western Pacific as Asia cuts emissions. May 4, 2022 | The Hill
Hormone-disrupting ‘forever chemicals,’ phthalates may impair bone health in teen males: study
Exposure to two classes of endocrine-disrupting compounds — “forever chemicals” and phthalates — may be associated with poor bone health in male teens, a new study has found. May 4, 2022 | Environmental Health News
“Green” children's products not always PFAS-free, warns new study
PFAS are finding their way into “green” and “nontoxic” products, especially waterproof products marketed toward children and adolescents, according to new research. May 2, 2022 | Mongabay
Tropical mammals under rising chemical pollution pressure, study warns
Primates and other tropical wildlife are increasingly being exposed to pesticides pharmaceuticals, plastics, nanoparticles and other synthetic materials, but adverse impacts on these animals have been little studied. May 2, 2022 | The De Paulia
Over 137 million in US breathing dangerous air
Over 40 percent of the United States — more than 137 million Americans — live in places where air pollution levels make the air too dangerous to breathe, according to a new study. May 1, 2022 | The Ferret
Fish farm pesticide ‘risk’ for swimmers, says industry report
Wild swimmers face “a risk” to their health from a toxic pesticide discharged into lochs and the sea from over 220 salmon farms around Scotland, according to an expert report for the fish farming industry. April 28, 2022 | Consumer Reports
New report links PFAS to liver damage
Consumer Reports shares details of a new report linking PFAs to liver damage. Exposure to these "forever chemicals" may be connected to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. April 28, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Chemicals in everyday products are spurring obesity, warns a new review
Exposure to obesogens, which are “pretty much everywhere,” is in part driving the obesity epidemic, according to scientists. April 24, 2022 | Times of India
Earth Day: The ‘yuck factor’ with wastewater reuse must be addressed to save freshwater, reduce water pollution
The treatment of reclaimed water (treated wastewater) and its reuse has become a significant area of interest because of its potential to address many pressing urban challenges. April 24, 2022 | The Denver Post
Colorado air quality: EPA wants neighboring western states to curb missions, pollution
The Environmental Protection Agency for the first time is proposing a measure that would force four Western states to reduce their harmful emissions because of the impact they’re having on air quality in neighboring states — including Colorado. April 5, 2022 | Environmental Health News
When seeds become toxic waste
Agrichemical companies won’t say how they’re disposing of seeds coated with hazardous pesticides, and the EPA isn’t tracking it. April 4, 2022 | Financial Times
Almost all the world’s population breathes harmful air, says WHO
Almost every person on the planet is exposed to air pollution that exceeds safe limits, the World Health Organization warned as it launched a new air quality database. April 3, 2022 | Medical News Today
Microplastics found in blood for the first time: What this may mean
Scientists recently found microplastics circulating in human blood for the first time but the health risks of this revelation remain largely unclear. April 3, 2022 | The Washington Post
There’s good reason to worry about the health risks of plastics
An emerging domain of research shows that plastic consumption and pollution harms human health — particularly for the world’s lower-income communities. April 1, 2022 | New York TImes
EPA decides against limiting perchlorate in drinking water
Drinking water for as many as 16 million Americans may be contaminated with perchlorate, a chemical that can harm the development of fetuses and children. April 1, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Starbucks will eliminate all PFAS in its packaging
Starbucks earlier this month announced its first commitment to eliminate harmful PFAS chemicals in its food packaging in both the U.S. and abroad, joining other large companies in banning the toxics. March 31, 2022 | The Conversation
Science shows that BPA and other endocrine disruptors are harmful to human health, which should incite tighter regulations
There is abundant evidence of the involvement of endocrine disruptors in reproductive dysfunction in several species, including humans. March 31, 2022 | Environmental Health News
2021 Annual Report: Environment, health, science & impact
Environmental Health Sciences' 2021 Annual Report, highlighting the many activities we undertook last year that set EHS up for a strong 2022. March 30, 2022 | Capital and Main
California grapples with regulation of known carcinogen ethylene oxide
Gaps in environmental regulations may leave communities at risk of exposure to the toxic industrial compound.

January 10, 2023 | Health Policy Watch
Over Seven Million Children and Youths Died in 2021, Says UN
An estimated 7.1 million children and teens up to the age of 24 years died in 2021, according to a United Nations (UN) report released on Tuesday. Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia bore higher burden of these deaths than other regions. March 29, 2022 | Telangana Today
Mercury pollution and its harmful effects on environment
Mercury occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, but human activities, such as mining and fossil fuel combustion, have led to widespread global mercury pollution. March 29, 2022 | MedPage Today
Prenatal disinfectant exposure linked to asthma risk in kids
Mothers who were exposed to disinfectants on the job were more likely to have children with asthma, an analysis of a large birth cohort from Japan suggested. Disinfectant byproducts? March 29, 2022 | Cosmo Magazine
A new world wide web to track hazardous waste trading
The world produces 300-500 million tonnes of hazardous waste every year – where does it all go, and what are the risks and benefits of this global trade? March 28, 2022 | Environmental Health News
PFAS in household waste may be going airborne
As states work to limit the use of PFAS, one path for their spread is often overlooked: incineration of consumer waste, such as clothing, textiles, food packaging, paints, and electronics. March 28, 2022 | Independent
Air pollution levels back up after first ‘zero-emission street’ in UK scrapped
Levels of a harmful air pollutant have shot back up in an area of London that scrapped the “first 24/7 zero-emission street” in the UK, according to new research. March 18, 2022 | Environmental Health News
PFAS cosmetics studies are “springboard” for litigation
Cosmetics companies could face litigation if their products are found to contain PFAS, warn attorneys, as a rash of recent lawsuits hit companies touting themselves as clean but whose products contain evidence of “forever chemicals.” March 17, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Ozone linked to depression in adolescents
Ozone, a common air pollutant, could be one of the causes behind depressive symptoms in adolescents, according to a new study. March 14, 2022 | Environmental Health News
PFAS are leaving a chemical fingerprint in pine needles
Pine trees are tracking airborne chemicals, according to new research. March 11, 2022 | The Guardian
Pollutionwatch: toxic air shortens lives by 20 months
Indian cities are among the worst affected but even they cannot match the UK’s air pollution of the 1920s