Health + Wellness

Cambridge, Massachusetts Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

Cambridge, Massachusetts Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

Cambridge, Massachusetts has joined a growing list of cities that have banned gas-powered leaf blowers. The city’s ban went into effect over the weekend, and officials noted this move was in the interest of public health and reducing emissions for the environment. Cambridge first passed the Leaf Blower Ordinance back in December 2023, but the […]

Join our newsletter

The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    Trump Signs Executive Order Handing U.S. Public Forests Over to Private Logging Industry

    Trump Signs Executive Order Handing U.S. Public Forests Over to Private Logging Industry

    A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump over the weekend could have a disastrous effect on endangered species, climate change and local economies, warned conservation groups. The order encouraging the “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” seeks to erode Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection rules in favor of the expansion of tree felling […]

    Trump’s NOAA Firings Could Be ‘Dangerously Risky’ to Americans’ Well-Being, Experts Warn

    Trump’s NOAA Firings Could Be ‘Dangerously Risky’ to Americans’ Well-Being, Experts Warn

    The Trump administration fired roughly 800 employees of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) on Thursday, with more layoffs possible. An email from the U.S. Department of Commerce Thursday afternoon informed employees that they would lose their jobs the same day, reported The Guardian. “The majority of probationary employees in my office have been […]

    Scientists Develop Open Database With 500+ Potential PFAS Alternatives

    Scientists Develop Open Database With 500+ Potential PFAS Alternatives

    With increasing concerns regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impacts on human health, scientists from the Department of Environmental Science at Stockholm University have compiled a comprehensive database with potential alternatives to these “forever chemicals.” According to the European Environment Agency, PFAS exposure has been linked to risks of liver damage, thyroid […]

    Antioxidants in Fruits, Veggies and Nuts May Counteract Harmful Reproductive Impacts of Microplastics, Scientists Find

    Antioxidants in Fruits, Veggies and Nuts May Counteract Harmful Reproductive Impacts of Microplastics, Scientists Find

    The antioxidants that make fruits and vegetables so colorful have been found to potentially counteract some of the worst effects of microplastics on the reproductive system. The powerful antioxidants could even be used to develop future treatments, according to new research. “The accumulation of [microplastics/nanoplastics] contaminants across ecosystems raises significant concerns for human health due […]