Health + Wellness

Quick Key Facts In November of 2021, the U.S. Navy’s massive Red Hill underground fuel storage facility on O’ahu leaked 19,000 gallons of petroleum into the islands’ main drinking water aquifers, poisoning the water for over 93,000 people and sickening thousands of their own military families and civilians. The disaster occurred after years of protest, […]

People of color are far more likely to breathe heavily polluted air than white people, the American Lung Association’s 2023 State of the Air report shows.

When I read news about the latest IPCC climate assessment report, or predictions of imminent mass extinction, I admit that the statistics — the exact degree of warming, the number of feet sea levels will rise, how many species will die — find fewer footholds in my brain than the overwhelming sorrow they elicit.

A newly published study has found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) added to packaging can migrate into food and drinks. The study noted this phenomenon occurring with subgroups of PFAS considered safer than previous PFAS additives. PFAS are a group of chemicals added to many products, from outdoor gear to carpeting, for their waterproof, […]

Days into his presidency, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14008, mandating that 40 percent of federal climate, environment and energy funding go towards disadvantaged communities that have been exposed to more than their fair share of pollution. But how will these communities actually access this money?  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Thursday […]

Nonprofit American Forests and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have announced a statewide collaboration for Washington that will focus on achieving tree equity by improving urban tree cover. The partnership, called the Washington Tree Equity Collaborative, will spend the next few years working with cities, organizations and other stakeholders to form programs […]

A large industrial fire that ignited stored plastics at a the site of a former factory in Richmond, Indiana has led thousands of local residents to be evacuated. The flames are still burning, but under control, and authorities hope to have all flames put out by Saturday. Those living within 0.5 miles of the plant […]

The increasing problem of light pollution can have negative effects on both humans and wildlife. In people, it can cause sleep deprivation, increased stress, headaches and even anxiety. Artificial light can attract animals like sea turtles, moths and frogs, leading them astray and making them more vulnerable to predators and exhaustion. A new study has […]