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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
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 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.
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.
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.
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
March 8, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Pollution and our mental health
A guide to the emerging science on how air and water pollution impact our brains.
March 7, 2022 | The New York TImes
E.P.A. to Tighten Tailpipe Rules for the Biggest Polluters on the Road
For the first time since 2001, the government is setting more stringent limits on pollution from trucks, vans, and buses that harms human health.
March 2, 2022 | UN News
Nations sign up to end global scourge of plastic pollution
The landmark resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal.
March 1, 2022 | ABC10
Fewer heart attacks linked to reduced air pollution
With fewer cars and factories in operation during some of the earlier pandemic lockdowns, the environment reaped the benefits.
February 28, 2022 | The Guardian
Smoke from Black Summer bushfires depleted ozone layer, study finds
Smoke injected high into the atmosphere by the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires resulted in a depletion of the ozone layer, new research has found.
February 22, 2022 | World Economic Forum
Air pollution can increase the threat posed by COVID-19
Breathing polluted air contributes to 7 million premature deaths each year and can increase the threat posed by COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
February 18, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Prenatal exposure to toxics risks delay of child’s brain development
Everyday levels of a pregnant woman’s exposure to mixtures of endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), put their child at an increased risk of delayed language development, according to new research.
February 17, 2022 | Environmental Health News
BPA safety: The toxic chemical limbo game
After careful evaluation of the latest science, European officials have proposed lowering the safe daily dose of bisphenol-A, or BPA, by a factor of 100,000.
February 16, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Investigation: PFAS on our shelves and in our bodies
A wide-ranging, ongoing investigation of PFAS in everyday products has uncovered evidence of the toxics in our clothes, food, and makeup—including in many so-called “green” and “organic” brands.
February 15, 2022 | Environmental Health News
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals used in a vast number of consumer and industrial products. They’re often referred to as “forever chemicals,” because most don’t break down. Use this guide to understand PFAS and how to limit your exposure.
February 11, 2022 | New York Times
The types of plastics families should avoid
If it seems like plastic is everywhere, that’s because it is. But there are ways to limit your exposure.
February 10, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Europe’s revolutionary BPA proposal puts more scrutiny on US regulatory inaction
If a scientific opinion recently proposed by European officials is upheld, the recommended daily dose of bisphenol-A, or BPA, in Europe will be more than a million-fold lower than what U.S. regulators say is safe.
February 2, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Evidence of PFAS chemicals in sports bras
Fifteen out of 23 popular sports bras have detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of toxic PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation.
February 1, 2022 | Environmental Health News
BPA replacement linked to increased cardiovascular disease
Bisphenol-S (BPS), a replacement chemical for bisphenol-A (BPA), may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. population, according to a new study published earlier this month in Environmental Sciences Europe.
January 26, 2022 | Environmental Health News
PFAS widespread in water- and stain-resistant outdoor clothes, home linens
Looking for a new tablecloth or comforter? You might want to take a closer look if it’s stain-resistant because it likely contains toxic “forever chemicals,” according to a new report.
January 21, 2022 | Environmental Health News
The alarming link between air pollution and mental illness
Environmental Health News reporter Kristina Marusic recently spoke about the links between pollution and mental health during a webinar for the Pittsburgh-based Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP).
January 20, 2022 | Environmental Health News
Investigation finds evidence of PFAS in workout and yoga pants
One in four pairs of popular leggings and yoga pants tested have detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of toxic PFAS, according to a new report from Mamavation.
January 20, 2022 | New Scientist
Air pollution makes it harder for pollinators to find plants
A field trial found that levels of nitrogen oxides and ozone similar to those near roads led to a 70 per cent drop in the numbers of bees and butterflies on mustard plants
January 19, 2022 | The New Statesman
Chemical pollution threatens life on Earth. What are the solutions?
The amount of chemical pollution in the world is dangerous for human health and nature, said scientists this week. Economics and policies should reflect this reality.
January 19, 2022 | The Washington Post
For the first time in over 30 years, the EPA adds to its list of hazardous air pollutants
The move will allow the Environmental Protection Agency to curb the use of 1-bromopropane, a powerful dry-cleaning solvent linked to cancer
January 18, 2022 | The Guardian
Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity, say scientists
Study calls for cap on production and release as pollution threatens global ecosystems upon which life depends.
January 18, 2022 | WPR
UW-Madison researchers studying more targeted alternative to pesticides
RNA interference could be better for the environment, professor says.
January 17, 2022 | The Guardian
Toxic reaction: How to clear dangerous pollutants out of your home
After tests revealed the levels of harmful chemicals in her blood, the environmental writer vowed to discover the best ways to keep her family safe.
January 17, 2022 | KHN
Long-excluded uterine cancer patients are a step closer to 9/11 benefits
The hormone-related cancer can develop after someone is exposed to the kind of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including benzene, that were found in the dust that lingered in Lower Manhattan for months after the 9/11 attacks.
January 17, 2022 | The Globe and Mail
Opinion: My cancer diagnosis brought the links between pollution and health close to home
When the effects of pollution start affecting people directly, we become truly concerned and demand action.
January 17, 2022 | WHTV
ozone crop yields food Ozone harms East Asian crops, costing $63 billion a year, scientists say
Fossil fuel emissions aren’t just driving climate change and worsening air quality, they’re also hurting crop yields enough to cause some $63 billion in annual losses in East Asia, scientists say.
January 13, 2022 | IPS News
The relation between Covid-19 and air pollution
Air pollutants are risk factors for respiratory infections, and COVID-19 is not an exception.
January 13, 2022 | Yale Climate Connection
Household air pollution contributes to almost 4 million premature deaths a year
Many people around the world cook over open fires or simple stoves that produce dangerous indoor pollution, contributing to almost 4 million premature deaths each year.
January 13, 2022 | DW
Green groups target poisonings from rising pesticides sales
More and more pesticides are being sprayed worldwide with deadly consequences for humans and nature, a report finds.
January 13, 2022 | The Guardian
‘Babies here are born sick’: Are Bolivia’s gold mines poisoning its Indigenous people?
The government has been criticized for apparent inaction as evidence mounts that mercury contamination is causing illness in fishing communities
January 10, 2022 | BBC
Delhi's smog problem is rooted in India's water crisis
Every winter, Delhi's toxic air is fuelled by farmers burning crop stubble. But the fires don't stop. Why? The answer lies in water.
January 10, 2022 | BBC
Delhi's smog problem is rooted in India's water crisis
Every winter, Delhi's toxic air is fuelled by farmers burning crop stubble. But the fires don't stop. Why? The answer lies in water.
January 9, 2022 | KCRA
New research helps link extreme air pollution to climate change
New research shows a dramatic increase in the number of days where ozone and particulate matter pollution (wildfire smoke) are combined to create extreme air quality issues.
January 6, 2022 | The Guardian
High levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in anti-fogging sprays and wipes
A Duke University study nine top rated products contained PFAS, which has been linked to cancer and other health problems
January 6, 2022 | New Scientist
Air pollution: One in 12 child asthma cases linked to nitrogen dioxide exposure
A US and Canadian team have estimated 1.85 million new childhood asthma cases were linked with exposure to nitrogen dioxide in 2019, 8.5 per cent of all new cases that year.
January 6, 2022 | The New York TImes
Health risks of smoke and ozone rise in the West as wildfires worsen
Simultaneous high levels of the two pollutants, which harm human health, are occurring with increasing frequency, researchers say.
January 5, 2022 | Yahoo! News
'Concerning' threat in Aussie homes that's putting kids at risk
Household dust has been tested in 35 countries for toxicity and the results for Australia and New Zealand are concerning.
January 5, 2022 | Popular Science
Here's exactly how wildfires are polluting our air
Wildfires emit a mixture of hazardous compounds that contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses when people breathe them in.
January 4, 2022 | Jefferson Public Radio
Why air pollution is better, but not for everyone
We've had a Clean Air Act since the end of 1970, and generally cleaner air since that time. But there is still pollution out there, and you are more likely to be exposed to it if your skin is darker.
January 4, 2022 | Mongabay
More trees means healthier bees, new study on air pollution shows
Human-caused air pollution in Brazil’s São Paulo state is taking its toll on native bees, but the presence of plants can help ameliorate those effects, a new study shows.

Older News
January 3, 2022 | UPI
Lowering air pollution reduces risk for dementia in older women, study finds
Long-term improvement in air quality lowers the risk for dementia in older women, a study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found.
January 2, 2022 | ABC
Doctors say breathing toxic air in Delhi is like smoking 10 cigarettes a day and urgent solutions are needed
Months after the Delta variant ravaged India's capital, Delhi, the city's residents are taking refuge indoors once more. This time, they're protecting themselves from the city's toxic air.
December 31, 2021 | VOX
Beauty products are full of risky chemicals. I tried to get rid of them.
Eliminating endocrine disruptors is harder than you might think.
December 30, 2021 | Environmental Health News
Five top stories on healthcare sustainability
2021 brought a focus on healthcare: Why should our health systems, which we encounter when we are at our most vulnerable, be a source of environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals?
December 28, 2021 | South China Morning Post
Eating less meat can help reduce 75,000 premature deaths related to air pollution in China, study finds
Reducing the over-consumption of meat could help lower the concentration of a major air pollutant and avoid 75,000 premature deaths in China, a team led by Hong Kong researchers has found.
December 28, 2021 | Lancashire Telegraph
Firefighters are four times more likely to get cancer than any member of public, research suggests
New research has suggested toxic fire contaminants are playing a role in increasing firefighters’ chances of developing cancer and other diseases.
December 23, 2021 | The Business Standard
Bangladesh needs to monitor transboundary air pollution
Bangladesh needs to set up air quality monitoring stations at its borders to determine the source and severity of pollution, a recent study revealed.
December 22, 2021 | Nation.Africa
Sperm counts on the decline due to plastics
Recent studies show that fertility in both male and female has decreased over the past few decades. According to research, this is linked to the effects of toxic chemicals in plastics that have gone unregulated.
December 22, 2021 | Digital Journal
New links between air pollution and reduced health outcomes
Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in many parts of the world, especially under the conditions of urban or city living.
December 21, 2021 | ENSIA
Radioactive contamination is creeping into drinking water
As mining, fracking and other activities increase the levels of harmful isotopes in water supplies, health advocates call for tighter controls.