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2426. April 13, 2015 | Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Fish in Indonesia's Mahakam River delta contaminated by heavy metals
Researchers found unsafe concentrations of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in fish caught in the Mahakam River delta.
2427. April 13, 2015 | The Washington Post
Pesticides are polluting our waters — and we often don’t know it
Pesticides bring major benefits to modern agriculture, keeping dangerous bugs and fungi and pathogens at bay while boosting yields and making farming more efficient. But what about risks? Like any chemicals — manmade or not — pesticides can be bad for human health and ecosystems if they’re toxic enough and the amount that ends up in the environment is high enough.
2428. April 13, 2015 | Chemical & Engineering News
EPA halts new uses of pesticides linked to bee decline
EPA is drawing fire from all sides after it announced restrictions on any new uses of neonicotinoid pesticides, chemicals linked to a decline in bee populations. Requests from pesticide makers to use any of four neonicotinoids on additional crops or in new products or to apply them in new ways, such as by aerial spraying, are on hold until EPA can evaluate new data.
2429. April 10, 2015 | The Guardian
Air pollution spike across England sparks warning from health charities.
A major spike in air pollution across much of England poses a risk to those suffering from respiratory diseases, older people and children, health charities warned on Friday.
2430. April 8, 2015 | Buffalo News, New York
Toxic chemicals in toys stir call for ban locally
Toys that contain toxic chemicals are for sale on store shelves in Erie County, according to a statewide environmental group that wants county lawmakers to ban the chemicals in products marketed for children.
2431. April 8, 2015 | Straits Times, Singapore
High levels of mercury found in Japanese whale and dolphin meat products
An independent examination of whale and dolphin meat products purchased from Japan's largest online marketplace has revealed mercury levels well above the Japanese government's maximum allowable limits.
2432. April 8, 2015 | New York Times
Pesticides linked to honeybee deaths pose more risks, European group says
An influential European scientific body said on Wednesday that a group of pesticides believed to contribute to mass deaths of honeybees is probably more damaging to ecosystems than previously thought and questioned whether the substances had a place in sustainable agriculture.
2433. April 7, 2015 | The Independent, United Kingdom
Human waste blamed for turning one in 10 of Britain's male clams into females
Almost one in 10 male clams found around the English coast has developed feminine features, a phenomenon blamed on hormone-disrupting pollutants found in pharmaceuticals that enter the sewage system, paper-mill effluent and other waste.
2434. April 6, 2015 | Reuters
Childhood ADHD linked to secondhand smoking
Children exposed to tobacco smoke at home are up to three times more likely to have attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) as unexposed kids, according to a new study from Spain.
2435. April 3, 2015 | Scientific American
Artificial sweeteners may change our gut bacteria in dangerous ways
Substances such as saccharin may alter the type of bacteria inside us, could lead to obesity. The researchers concluded from studies of mice that ingesting artificial sweeteners might lead to—of all things—obesity and related ailments such as diabetes.
2436. April 2, 2015 | The Conversation UK, United Kingdom
Air pollution may be damaging children's brains - before they are even born
Exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy may contribute to childhood abnormalities in the brain, a new study suggests.
2437. April 2, 2015 | Reuters
Air pollution may be related to anxiety levels in women: Study
Women who live in areas with higher air pollution may also have higher anxiety, according to a new analysis.
2438. April 2, 2015 | New York Times
Air pollution takes early toll on children
Researchers studied exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, a form of pollution caused by burning gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and coal. They found that prenatal exposure to these compounds was tied to changes in the structure of offspring’s brains and to intellectual deficits and behavioral problems in childhood.
2439. April 1, 2015 | Environmental Health Perspectives
Air pollution and neonatal blood pressure: Examining earlier exposures
Ambient air pollution has been associated in some studies (but not all) with increased blood pressure in adults and children. A study in this issue of EHP examines even earlier exposures during gestation, an important period of cardiovascular growth and development.
2440. April 1, 2015 | Portland Oregonian, Oregon
Lead paint hazards linger at aging Portland schools
A Portland mother who has been recognized nationally for her activism against lead hazards is petitioning Portland Public Schools and the City of Portland to clean up lead hazards in district schools built before 1978.
2441. April 1, 2015 | The Guardian
Call for action on pollution as emissions linked to respiratory illnesses double
Study shows over the past five years industry doubled its emissions of a type of fine particle called PM10, linked to asthma and bronchitis
2442. March 31, 2015 | WHO-SEARO Media Center
Make food safety a priority: WHO
An estimated 700 000 children die of diarrhoea in WHO’s South-East Asia Region every year. Unsafe food and water cause a range of diseases, deaths and impact the wellbeing of individuals as well as nations. On World Health Day, the World Health Organization calls upon nations, policy makers, farmers, food handlers, families and individuals to make food safety a priority.
2443. March 31, 2015 | Newsweek
Pesticides on vegetables and fruit linked to lower sperm counts
For the first time, scientists have shown that men who eat produce with a lot of chemical residues may be less fertile.
2444. March 24, 2015 | EurActive.com
Traffic-related air pollution linked to type 1 diabetes in children
Several studies have already linked the likelihood of death by respiratory and circulatory illness to the level of fine dust particles in the air. A Munich study now shows that high levels of fine dust pollution could increase the risk of type 1 diabetes among children.
2445. March 23, 2015 | Reuters
Kids exposure to secondhand smoke tied to clogged arteries
The health effects of passive smoking on children are not limited to respiratory or developmental health, but can have a long-term impact on cardiovascular health
2446. March 21, 2015 | Aljazeera America
WHO: Ingredient in Monsanto Roundup 'probably carcinogenic' to humans
The most widely used herbicide in the world, glyphosate, the active ingredient in the Monsanto product Roundup, was classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans,” in a report released Friday by cancer researchers affiliated with the World Health Organization.
2447. March 18, 2015 | Environmental Health News
Lawsuit launched over US EPA’s approval of a new insecticide
A group of environmental and food safety organizations will sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its approval of an insecticide that the groups say will harm threatened and endangered wildlife.
2448. March 18, 2015 | BBC News
Mercury pollution threat to Arctic bird
Mercury pollution has risen nearly 50-fold in the feathers of the endangered ivory gull over the past 130 years, say scientists.
2449. March 16, 2015 | Christian Science Monitor
EPA debunks 'chemtrails,' further fueling conspiracy theories
The EPA has weighed in on the 'chemtrails' controversy, saying it is 'not aware of any deliberate actions to release chemical or biological agents into the atmosphere.' Still, the theory persists.
2450. March 12, 2015 | New Delhi Hindustan Times, India
Air pollution: What Delhi can learn from Beijing
Once known as the world’s most polluted city, Beijing shed the dubious tag by showing political resolve and implementing innovate measures to provide its citizens cleaner air to breathe. Delhi — which has now picked up the tag of being most polluted — can learn some lessons from its neighbour in bringing down pollution levels.