Pollution

Plastic-Eating Fungi Thriving in Human-Made ‘Plastisphere’ May Help Tackle Waste Globally

Plastic-Eating Fungi Thriving in Human-Made ‘Plastisphere’ May Help Tackle Waste Globally

A diverse microbiome of bacteria and plastic-degrading fungi lives in salt marshes on the coast of Jiangsu, China. It was identified by an international team of scientists who counted 55 bacterial and 184 fungal strains that are able to break down a biodegradable polyester called polycaprolactone (PCL), often used in polyurethane production, a press release […]

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    3M to Pay $10.3 Billion to Settle Water Pollution Suit Over PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

    3M to Pay $10.3 Billion to Settle Water Pollution Suit Over PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

    Multinational chemical company 3M has reached a $10.3 billion settlement with multiple public water systems in the U.S. over water pollution claims tied to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.” According to the company, settlement funds will be distributed to affected cities and towns to test for contamination from PFAS and to treat their […]

    EPA Sued for Approving Toxic Herbicides With Agent Orange Chemical

    EPA Sued for Approving Toxic Herbicides With Agent Orange Chemical

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is being sued for unlawfully reapproving toxic herbicides used to grow food that contain 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), an active ingredient used in the chemical weapon Agent Orange. The Center for Food Safety (CFS), Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and Alianza Nacional De Campesinas, Inc., are suing the EPA […]

    Wildfire Smoke From Canada Blankets Upper Midwest, Heads East

    Wildfire Smoke From Canada Blankets Upper Midwest, Heads East

    Wildfires in Ontario, Canada continued to bring thick smoke to the midwestern U.S. Thursday, compromising air quality for residents of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The worst air quality in the U.S. was detected in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. As of Thursday, at least 50 wildfires were burning in Ontario, with […]

    EPA Toughens Rules on Chemicals Used to Break Up Oil Spills

    EPA Toughens Rules on Chemicals Used to Break Up Oil Spills

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced stricter standards governing the response to offshore oil spills and releases of hazardous substances into the waters of the United States and its adjoining shorelines, a press release from the EPA said. The new standards under the National Contingency Plan (NCP) encourage the development of products like […]