public health

NOAA Imposes Restrictions on Scientists, Raising Concerns Over Global Forecasting

NOAA Imposes Restrictions on Scientists, Raising Concerns Over Global Forecasting

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has placed new restrictions on scientists that those inside the agency have said could hamper the availability and quality of global weather forecasts. Current and former high-level scientists with the federal agency said the new rules have created unease and caused alarm with partners at European […]

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    USDA and Forest Service Ordered to Remove Climate Change References From Websites

    USDA and Forest Service Ordered to Remove Climate Change References From Websites

    According to internal guidelines obtained and reviewed by various sources including Politico, The Hill and The Guardian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun removing references to climate change on its webpages and sites, including the U.S. Forest Service website. As The Guardian reported, the internal memo stated that the department must “identify and […]

    Microplastics in Human Placentas Linked to Premature Births

    Microplastics in Human Placentas Linked to Premature Births

    A new study presented as part of the annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting has revealed a link between microplastic bioaccumulation in the human placenta to preterm, or premature, births. In the study, researchers analyzed 175 placentas collected at both term and preterm, or under 37 weeks of pregnancy, and measured the amounts of 12 […]

    Microplastics Block Blood Flow in Mice Brains, Study Shows

    Microplastics Block Blood Flow in Mice Brains, Study Shows

    As microplastics become more and more prevalent, even showing up in seafood, clouds and human testicular tissue, scientists are working to further understand how these plastic particles could impact ecosystems and human health. Based on a new study, scientists are now concerned about how microplastics could affect our brains after finding that the particles can […]

    Chemours Chemical Plant Still Polluting West Virginia Water With Toxic PFAS After Almost 25 Years, Lawsuit Claims

    Chemours Chemical Plant Still Polluting West Virginia Water With Toxic PFAS After Almost 25 Years, Lawsuit Claims

    A Chemours chemical plant in West Virginia is polluting nearby waters with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals,” according to a new lawsuit brought by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. The complaint is the most recent in a fight that has been ongoing since 2001 over pollution from the Washington Works plant, reported The Guardian. The PFAS-contaminated […]

    Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

    Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have taken on the nickname “forever chemicals” for their inability to break down in the environment. These chemicals, which are found in everything from food packaging to camping gear, are popular for their stain-, moisture- and grease-resistant properties, but they have been found to accumulate in the environment and […]

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal

    For decades, 3M — a multibillion-dollar chemical company based in Minnesota — sold its firefighting foams as safe and biodegradable, while having knowledge that they contained toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to newly uncovered documents, reported The Guardian. Starting in the 1960s and continuing until 2003, 3M’s firefighting foams contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) […]