Health + Wellness

Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have taken on the nickname “forever chemicals” for their inability to break down in the environment. These chemicals, which are found in everything from food packaging to camping gear, are popular for their stain-, moisture- and grease-resistant properties, but they have been found to accumulate in the environment and […]

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    PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

    PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

    Toxic chemicals from sewage sludge used as fertilizer pose health risks to those who regularly consume products from farms that use it, in some instances raising cancer risk by “several orders of magnitude” over what is considered acceptable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), federal officials said on Tuesday. EPA’s draft risk assessment, […]

    Australia Mosquito Population Researchers Developing Genetically Modified ‘Toxic Males’ to Kill Females by Mating With Them

    Australia Mosquito Population Researchers Developing Genetically Modified ‘Toxic Males’ to Kill Females by Mating With Them

    In Australia, researchers are considering how genetic engineering could allow mosquitoes to produce venom proteins, like those produced by spiders and sea anemones, in their sperm to transfer the poison to female mosquitoes when mating. In a study led by Macquarie University, researchers first used genetically modified fruit flies to test what has been dubbed […]

    Scientists Identify 11 Genes That Could Help Understand How PFAS Affects the Brain

    Scientists Identify 11 Genes That Could Help Understand How PFAS Affects the Brain

    It’s no secret that per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, are now well-established in the human body, with their presence detected in blood, umbilical cords and human milk. And while experts have linked PFAS exposure to health concerns like elevated cancer risks, endocrine disruption, developmental disruption and reduced immune system […]

    In Latest PFAS Lawsuit, Georgia County Says Chemical Companies and Carpet Makers Used Toxins Despite Knowing Risks

    In Latest PFAS Lawsuit, Georgia County Says Chemical Companies and Carpet Makers Used Toxins Despite Knowing Risks

    In a recent lawsuit, Murray County, Georgia, alleged that corporations 3M, Daikin and DuPont have used toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” to produce products in Northwest Georgia while hiding associated dangers since the 1960s, causing a public health crisis. The county is also suing carpet manufacturers, including Shaw and Mohawk Industries, reported […]

    Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

    Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

    Maryland is suing W.L. Gore & Associates, the maker of Gore-Tex — a waterproof material often used in outdoor gear such as raincoats — alleging its leaders continued to use per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” long after they learned of the chemicals’ serious health risks. The complaint filed in federal court last week […]

    Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Linked to Slower Marathon Times

    Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Linked to Slower Marathon Times

    Planning to tackle a marathon in the new year? While getting in your stretches and miles of practice, you may also want to prepare for air quality when training. According to new research, poor air quality could play a role in slower marathon finish times. Researchers at Brown University School of Public Health have found […]

    Major Win for Youth Climate Activists in Montana Supreme Court

    Major Win for Youth Climate Activists in Montana Supreme Court

    The Montana Supreme Court upheld a landmark victory on Wednesday, affirming a lower court’s decision that the energy policies of the state violated youth activists’ constitutional rights to a clean environment. The ruling in Held v. Montana last August invalidated a law stopping regulators from taking into consideration the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions when […]