Pollution

‘No Plastic Chemical Can Be Classified as Safe’: Study Finds Hundreds of Toxins in Recycled Plastics

‘No Plastic Chemical Can Be Classified as Safe’: Study Finds Hundreds of Toxins in Recycled Plastics

Since its invention more than 100 years ago, plastic has become increasingly ubiquitous in the environment, from the depths of the ocean to within algae beneath Arctic sea ice. Tiny microplastics have been detected floating high in the atmosphere above the French Pyrenees, as well as in human blood. Plastics persist in the environment because […]

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    Coal Plant in Alabama Named Worst Greenhouse Gas Emitter in the U.S.

    Coal Plant in Alabama Named Worst Greenhouse Gas Emitter in the U.S.

    A coal plant in Jefferson County, Alabama has topped the list of worst greenhouse gas polluters in the U.S., according to data recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This latest annual recognition is the eighth consecutive time for the notorious Alabama Power facility in Jefferson County, called the James H. Miller Jr. […]

    Environmental Groups Launch Global Plastic Laws Database

    Environmental Groups Launch Global Plastic Laws Database

    A group of environmental organizations has produced the Global Plastic Laws Database, which is launching ahead of the next round of the United Nations Plastic Treaty negotiations in November. The Global Plastic Laws Database will track plastic-related legislation around the world and allow researchers to study laws relating to all cycles of plastic production and […]

    ‘Uncharted Territory’: Human Activity Pushing 20 of Earth’s 35 Vital Signs to the Limit, Scientists Warn

    ‘Uncharted Territory’: Human Activity Pushing 20 of Earth’s 35 Vital Signs to the Limit, Scientists Warn

    According to a new study, life on our planet is “under siege” from humans and its “vital signs” have been pushed to the limit. As wildfires rage and record temperatures cause everything from coral bleaching to widespread drought and water shortages, the international team of scientists who declared a climate emergency back in 2019 have […]

    Nearly Half a Billion Cheap Electrical Items Ended Up in UK Landfills in the Past Year, Research Finds

    Nearly Half a Billion Cheap Electrical Items Ended Up in UK Landfills in the Past Year, Research Finds

    Humans love portable electronics, from the Walkman in the 1980s to the disposable vapes and handheld, miniature fans of today. Over the years, as demand for these electronic gadgets has soared, they have gotten cheaper, leading to an enormous amount of waste. In the past year, 471 million small, inexpensive everyday electronics like headphones and […]

    The Great Barrier Reef Is Being Polluted Largely by Groundwater, Study Finds

    The Great Barrier Reef Is Being Polluted Largely by Groundwater, Study Finds

    Groundwater is carrying a significant portion of the pollutants coming into the Great Barrier Reef, a recent study has found. According to the study, previously unquantified nitrogen and phosphorus have been discharging into and impacting the reef system, and researchers have now found that groundwater is responsible for about one-third of new nitrogen and two-thirds […]

    Direct Air Capture: A Solution, or More of a Problem?

    Direct Air Capture: A Solution, or More of a Problem?

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $1.2-billion to finance two direct air capture projects to be built in Texas and Louisiana. These two sites, when fully operational, aim to pull about two million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air, or the equivalent of the annual emissions of 70 airplanes, 450,000 gas […]