By Jessica Corbett Hawaiian state and U.S. Naval officials confirmed Tuesday that firefighting foam containing “forever chemicals” leaked at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Honolulu, requiring cleanup efforts and increased monitoring of soil and water. Commonly called forever chemicals because they persist in the human body and environment for long periods, per- […]
What exactly are these environmental toxins, and how can we limit our exposure and who is helping to drive systems-level change?
Five years of research, more than 40 studies, and over 30,000 samples reveal per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also called “forever chemicals,” are present in umbilical cord blood. Further, many of the studies linked PFAS in umbilical cord blood with health issues of the fetus during the parent’s pregnancy, in childhood, and as adults. “Even before […]
Some states in the U.S. are giving the go-ahead for the use of sewage sludge as a crop fertilizer with little to no testing, despite the sludge being contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. While only two states, Michigan and Maine, are currently testing for PFAS contamination in the […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a major step on Friday towards regulating the toxic substances known as “forever chemicals” for their tendency to persist in the environment and the human body. The agency announced a proposal to list two of the most common per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the […]
By A. Daniel Jones and Hui Li PFAS chemicals seemed like a good idea at first. As Teflon, they made pots easier to clean starting in the 1940s. They made jackets waterproof and carpets stain-resistant. Food wrappers, firefighting foam, even makeup seemed better with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Then tests started detecting PFAS in people’s […]
New research from Stockholm University shows that PFAS in rainwater around the world are exceeding safe levels. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical pollutants, often called “forever chemicals” present in many everyday items, like food packaging and clothing. The chemicals leach into the environment, affecting everything from the air we breathe to even rainfall. […]
By Thomas Marlow, James R. Elliott, and Scott Frickel Climate science is clear: Floodwaters are a growing risk for many American cities, threatening to displace not only people and housing but also the land-based pollution left behind by earlier industrial activities. In 2019, researchers at the U.S. Government Accountability Office investigated climate-related risks at the […]
Oysters — bivalve molluscs that have been around for about 15 millions years — are beneficial for the environment in a variety of ways, including as a natural water filter. An adult oyster is able to filter as much as 50 gallons of water per day, or about as much as a ten-minute shower. However, […]
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