public health

Nearly One-Third of U.S. Residents Exposed to Dangerous, Unregulated Contaminants in Drinking Water, Analysis Finds

Nearly One-Third of U.S. Residents Exposed to Dangerous, Unregulated Contaminants in Drinking Water, Analysis Finds

More than 97 million United States residents have been exposed to contaminants in their drinking water that are unregulated and could affect their health, a new analysis by Silent Spring Institute has found. Hispanic and Black communities have a higher likelihood of their water being contaminated by unsafe levels of toxic chemicals, a press release […]

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    What Is Jimmy Carter’s Environmental Legacy?

    What Is Jimmy Carter’s Environmental Legacy?

    In 1979, when President Jimmy Carter famously unveiled 32 solar panels on the White House roof, he remarked, “A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most […]

    Scientists Identify 11 Genes That Could Help Understand How PFAS Affects the Brain

    Scientists Identify 11 Genes That Could Help Understand How PFAS Affects the Brain

    It’s no secret that per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, are now well-established in the human body, with their presence detected in blood, umbilical cords and human milk. And while experts have linked PFAS exposure to health concerns like elevated cancer risks, endocrine disruption, developmental disruption and reduced immune system […]

    Thailand Bans Plastic Waste Imports in Effort to Curb Toxic Pollution

    Thailand Bans Plastic Waste Imports in Effort to Curb Toxic Pollution

    Following years of campaigning by environmental activists, Thailand has banned foreign imports of plastic waste due to concerns about toxic pollution. Experts warn that the failure to reach an agreement on a global treaty to eliminate plastic waste will have adverse impacts on human health, reported The Guardian. “The ban on imports will help stimulate […]

    In Latest PFAS Lawsuit, Georgia County Says Chemical Companies and Carpet Makers Used Toxins Despite Knowing Risks

    In Latest PFAS Lawsuit, Georgia County Says Chemical Companies and Carpet Makers Used Toxins Despite Knowing Risks

    In a recent lawsuit, Murray County, Georgia, alleged that corporations 3M, Daikin and DuPont have used toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” to produce products in Northwest Georgia while hiding associated dangers since the 1960s, causing a public health crisis. The county is also suing carpet manufacturers, including Shaw and Mohawk Industries, reported […]

    Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

    Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

    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 […]

    Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Linked to Slower Marathon Times

    Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Linked to Slower Marathon Times

    Planning to tackle a marathon in the new year? While getting in your stretches and miles of practice, you may also want to prepare for air quality when training. According to new research, poor air quality could play a role in slower marathon finish times. Researchers at Brown University School of Public Health have found […]

    Major Win for Youth Climate Activists in Montana Supreme Court

    Major Win for Youth Climate Activists in Montana Supreme Court

    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 […]