The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the U.S. on March 21 overturned previous orders by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that banned the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in product packaging by a plastics treatment company, Inhance Technologies. In December 2023, the EPA issued two orders for Houston-based Inhance Technologies […]
According to a new report by European scientists, plastics — from food packaging to furniture, clothing and medical equipment — contain thousands more chemicals than environmental agencies had previously estimated, raising concerns about consumer safety and pollution, reported Reuters. More than 13,000 plastic chemicals had been identified by the United Nations Environment Programme, but the […]
A new study led by researchers at the University of Surrey in England has identified methods that, when applied together, could reduce air pollution in classrooms by up to 36%. Researchers tested air purifying methods for two classrooms in a school located about 10 meters from a highway that has an average of 31,067 cars […]
Following the hottest year on record, complete with a megadrought in Arizona that led to construction restrictions to reserve groundwater around Phoenix, Arizona has added a new chief heat officer to its Department of Health Services. The officer’s role is to help with extreme heat preparedness in the state. Dr. Eugene Livar, a physician who […]
Indigenous communities in California are exposed to disproportionate levels of particulate matter in amounts much greater than previously thought, a new study has found. Using a new technique of measuring prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke, the researchers discovered that the Indigenous communities were exposed to an average of roughly 1.7 times the smoke that would […]
Nano- and microplastics (NMPs) have become so pervasive in air, water and soil that they have made their way into the bodies and blood of humans and animals. While many methods have been attempted to remove the tiny plastic particles, a new study has found that a simple solution for reducing their presence in drinking […]
A new report from nonprofit First Street Foundation finds that many Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of pollution regularly and predicts the number of people exposed to unhealthy air could rise further by the middle of the century. The report, “Atrocious Air,” highlights how climate change is impacting air quality currently, and how it […]
According to official data, air pollution levels in Milan — including fine particulates — have been among Europe’s highest for February. Fine particulate matter poses the most health risks because it can go deep into the lungs and even make its way into the bloodstream. “It stinks! I smell a constant stench of smog, I […]
A new study led by researchers from University of Southern California (USC)’s Keck School of Medicine has found that certain foods — like processed meats, hot dogs, teas and foods not prepared at home — are likely to contain higher levels of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands […]