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    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 […]

    Many Smartwatch Wristbands Hold High Levels of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Study Finds

    Many Smartwatch Wristbands Hold High Levels of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Study Finds

    Wearable tech devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches have become the constant companions of many who rely on them for alerts, transactions and health and location information day and night. What wearers of these devices may not know is that many of them contain elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” that […]

    Higher PFAS Levels in Blood Linked to Neighborhood Factors

    Higher PFAS Levels in Blood Linked to Neighborhood Factors

    In a new study, researchers at University of Southern California (USC) have associated certain neighborhood factors — such as food access or proximity to Superfund sites — with higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human blood. The researchers examined the levels of certain types of PFAS, including PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFPeS and […]