childrens health

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 […]

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 […]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned two chemicals commonly used in dry cleaning because of their toxicity and cancer risks.  The EPA announced on Dec. 9 that it finalized the risk management regulations for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). PCE is commonly used for dry cleaning […]

In a new study, researchers have found a link between the use of certain personal care products, such as makeup, hair products and fragrances, by pregnant people and higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human milk. Researchers compared the use of personal care products and PFAS levels in prenatal plasma and human […]

A new UNICEF report released on Wednesday to coincide with World Children’s Day has found that eight times more children will experience extreme heatwaves globally by 2050. According to The State of the World’s Children 2024, three megatrends will have powerful impacts on the lives of children between now and midcentury, including the environmental and […]

In a new study, scientists tested soil samples from residential and play areas in the Greater Fifth Ward, a neighborhood of Houston, Texas and found high concentrations of lead. The researchers tested for heavy metals and metalloids, such as lead, arsenic and mercury. While the levels for most of the heavy metals and metalloids appeared […]

A drought in much of South America impacts more than 420,000 children living in the Amazon basin, according to new estimates from UNICEF. The record-breaking drought — ongoing since last year — has left rivers in the region at an all-time low, a press release from UNICEF said. The lack of rain has affected river […]

To mark National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week — October 20 to 26 — the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized stricter requirements for the identification and cleaning up of lead-based paint dust in homes and childcare facilities constructed before 1978. The new standards are the most recent action in the Biden-Harris administration’s strategy […]