Trade groups are opposing the global regulation of toxic and persistent chemicals in microplastics, according to documents obtained by investigative journalists. The industry argued that there is still insufficient evidence to justify the incorporation of the plastic additive UV-328 into the Stockholm Convention, the UN’s global treaty on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – chemicals which, once released, do not easily break down in nature. More:

• The oil and chemical industry is lobbying against landmark global regulation of microplastic chemicals  –  Unearthed
• Is this the end of plastic? United Nations considers groundbreaking global ban on key toxic chemical to turn the tide on pollution  –  Daily Mail Online
• Aquatic pollutants in oceans and fisheries  –  IPEN

• Synthetic musk compounds and benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in breast milk: Occurrence, time–course variation and infant health risk (Research abstract)
• Occurrence of substituted diphenylamine antioxidants and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in Arctic seabirds and seals (Research abstract)
• Monitoring and environmental risk assessment of benzotriazole UV stabilizers in the sewage and coastal environment of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) (Research abstract)
• Occurrence and concentrations of chemical additives in plastic fragments on a beach on the island of Kauai, Hawaii (Research abstract)

• Benzotriazole UV 328 and UV-P showed distinct antiandrogenic activity upon human CYP3A4-mediated biotransformation (Research abstract)

Toxic pollution is not an inevitable byproduct of prosperity. The choice between poisoning or poverty is a false one, writes the EEB’s Senior Policy Officer for Economic Transition Nick Meynen. The massive and growing ‘forever chemicals’ scandal marks the culmination and possible endpoint of the endless growth logic, not to mention the privatising of profit and the socialising of costs. More:

• The link between forever growth and Belgium's 'forever chemicals' scandal  –  META
• Talking industry accountability: Will the polluter pay?  –  META
• Flemish Government to pay 63 million euro to clear up PFOS pollution, 3M just 75,000 euro  –  VRT NWS
• High levels of PFOS in eggs of three bird species in the neighbourhood of a fluoro-chemical plant (Research article)

• Emerging chemical risks in Europe — ‘PFAS’  –  European Environment Agency
• Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure to Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) or Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)  –  US National Toxicology Program
• Menopause Comes Early With High PFAS Exposure  –  MedPage Today
• PFOA and PFOS Cause Lower Sperm Counts and Smaller Penises, Study finds  –  The Intercept

• What are your environmental rights?  –  UN Environment Programme

• From the wealth of nations to the health of nations  –  META
• How Europe can grow without growing  –  META
• From dough to doughnuts: Charting Europe's post-pandemic future  –  META
• Post-Growth Open Letter to EU institutions signed by over 200 scientists: “Europe, It’s Time to End the Growth Dependency”  –  Degrowth.org
• Wellbeing Economy Alliance  –  WEGo

Plastic is practical, cheap and incredibly popular. Every year, more than 350 million tons are produced worldwide. These plastics contain a huge variety of chemicals that may be released during their lifecycles—including substances that pose a significant risk to people and the environment. However, only a small proportion of the chemicals contained in plastic are publicly known or have been extensively studied. More:

• Worrying insights into the chemicals in plastics  –  Phys.org
• Bioplastics contain substances that are as toxic as those in ordinary plastics  –  Phys.org
• Complexity of plastics make it impossible to know which are dangerous  –  Phys.org
• Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids (Research article)
• Benchmarking the in Vitro Toxicity and Chemical Composition of Plastic Consumer Products (Research article)

A suite of harmful chemicals are added to plastic and food packaging to give them desirable traits, like grease resistance or flexibility. When they burn or break down, these chemicals contaminate the surrounding environment and animals living or feeding nearby. More:

• The plastics you throw away are poisoning the world's eggs  –  Canada's National Observer
• Plastic recycling could be more dangerous than you think  –  Canada's National Observer
• Toxic Chemicals in Plastic Waste Poisoning People in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe & Latin America (Report)  –  IPEN
• Plastic Recycling Schemes Generate High Volumes of Hazardous Waste (Report)  –  IPEN

The world’s soils are under tremendous pressure, damaged and poisoned by farming, mining, industrial, and urban pollution due to poor waste management. We are in trouble if this continues because the soils provide us with 95% of our food. Furthermore, they are the second-largest active store of carbon after the oceans and thus essential in combating climate change. More:

• UN Pollution Report Warns Soils Worldwide Are Under Severe Pressure  –  Intelligent Living
• Global assessment of soil pollution (Report)  –  FAO and UNEP

Despite the potential and still largely unknown risks posed by PFAS – in part due to the huge number of different compounds involved – many 'forever chemicals' are still found in common products in use today. This includes cosmetics sold in North America, Europe and Asia, research has found. More:

• Potentially Harmful 'Forever Chemicals' Found to Be Widespread in US Cosmetics  –  ScienceAlert
• Collins, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Ban PFAS Chemicals in Cosmetics  –  US Senator Susan Collins

• Fluorinated Compounds in North American Cosmetics (Research article)
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and fluorine mass balance in cosmetic products from the Swedish market: implications for environmental emissions and human exposure (Research article)
• Occurrence of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in personal care products and compounding agents (Research abstract)

People who wear makeup such as lipstick or mascara may be absorbing or licking up potentially harmful ingredients that hang around for decades in the environment, according to a new study by researchers in the U.S., Canada and Switzerland. More:

• How to make sense of the new findings on 'forever chemicals' in makeup  –  CBC News
• Fluorinated Compounds in North American Cosmetics (Research article)
• PFAS Master List of PFAS Substances (List) –  US EPA

• 'Forever chemicals' can have far-reaching consequences, need more regulation in Canada, scientists say  –  CBC Radio
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  –  Canada.ca
• Water Talk - Perfluoroalkylated substances in drinking water  –  Canada.ca

Researchers at Karolinska Institute found industrial chemicals in the organs of fetuses conceived decades after many countries had banned the substances. In a study published in the journal Chemosphere, the researchers urge decision makers to consider the combined impact of the mix of chemicals that accumulate in people and nature. More:

• Several persistent chemicals found in fetal organs  –  MedicalXpress
• Industrial chemicals pass from mother to fetus throughout pregnancy  –  Phys.org
• Mixtures of persistent organic pollutants are found in vital organs of late gestation human fetuses (Research article)

Many cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada likely contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a potentially toxic class of chemicals linked to a number of serious health conditions, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame. More:

• Use of PFAS in cosmetics 'widespread,' new study finds  –  Phys.org

• Study: PFAS Exposure Through Skin Causes Harm Similar to Ingestion  –  Environmental Working Group
• Immunotoxicity and allergenic potential induced by topical application of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a murine model (Research abstract)

• Study: Half of US cosmetics contain toxic chemicals  –  Phys.org
• Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ widespread in top makeup brands, study finds  –  The Guardian
• Unlabeled PFAS chemicals detected in makeup  –  Phys.org
• Fluorinated Compounds in North American Cosmetics (Research article)

Researchers have found that several long-lasting human-made contaminants have been building up in Arctic lakes, polar bears and ringed seals and other wildlife. These contaminants belong to a family of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and are used in food packaging, waterproof clothing and firefighting foams. The true number of PFAS that exist is hard to pin down, but estimates suggest there are more than 4,700 types. More:

• Toxic, long-lasting contaminants detected in people living in northern Canada  –  The Conversation
• PFAS in Ohio (YouTube)  –  Ohio Department of Health

• Levels and trends of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in the Arctic environment – An update (Research article)
• Characterization of perfluoroalkyl substances in sediment cores from High and Low Arctic lakes in Canada (Research abstract)
• Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of perfluoroalkyl acids and precursors in East Greenland polar bears and their ringed seal prey (Research abstract)
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Anglers May Be Exposed to Harmful Chemicals in Their Catch (Research abstract)

• Biomarkers of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Sub-Arctic and Arctic communities in Canada (Research abstract)
• Perfluoroalkyl acids in pregnant women from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): Trends in exposure and associations with country foods consumption (Research article)

What do raincoats, pizza boxes, frozen vegetable packaging and nonstick frying pans have in common? They all contain perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS). Known as "forever chemicals" by experts, they could be damaging human health. More:

• Teflon and 'forever chemicals:' The hidden toxins in your body  –  DW
• Detox outdoor: market leader takes harmful PFCs out of weatherproof gear  –  DW
• PFAS: The secret toxins in your body (YouTube) –  DW Planet
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  –  US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Chinese drinking water: risk assessment and geographical distribution (Research article)

• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Exposures and Incident Cancers among Adults Living Near a Chemical Plant (Research article)

• The cost of inaction (Report) –  The Nordic Council of Ministers

Rain that fell on Ohio this spring contained a surprisingly high amount of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, according to raw data from a binational Great Lakes monitoring program that tracks airborne pollution. The Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN), a long-term Great Lakes monitoring program was jointly funded by the US EPA and Canada. More:

• It’s literally raining PFAS around the Great Lakes, say researchers  –  mlive.com
• Raining PFAS: Amount of PFAS found is outpacing legacy contaminants  –  Great Lakes Now

• US rainwater contains new and phased out PFAS  –  C&EN
• Rainwater Can Be A Source Of PFAS, According To New Research  –  WKAR
• GenX found in rainwater samples collected near Chemours facility  –  NC DEQ

For decades, the people living in the Swedish town of Kallinge got their tap water from a treatment plant that turned out to be contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. It has been a long journey with many legal and medical twists and turns for the close to 5,000 inhabitants of Kallinge since December of 2013. That’s when high levels of PFAS – more than 100 times the EU limit value – were discovered in the water treatment plant run by the municipally owned water company. More:

• Why high levels of PFAS should be a personal injury by law  –  ChemSec
• No to PFAS  –  ChemSec

Sewage sludge that wastewater treatment districts across America package and sell as home fertilizer contain alarming levels of toxic PFAS. Sludge, which is lightly treated and marketed as “biosolids”, is used by consumers to fertilize home gardens, and the PFAS levels raise concerns that the chemicals are contaminating vegetables and harming those who eat them. More:

• Forever chemicals’ found in home fertilizer made from sewage sludge  –  The Guardian
• Sludge in the Garden: Toxic PFAS in Home Fertilizers Made From Sewage Sludge  –  Sierra Club
• Sludge in the Garden - Toxic PFAS in home fertilizers made from sewage sludge (Report) –  Sierra Club & Ecology Center

• Biosolids: mix human waste with toxic chemicals, then spread on crops  –  The Guardian
• Maine dairy farmer’s blood tests high for ‘forever chemicals’ from toxic sludge  –  Bangor Daily News
• Toxic PFAS Chemicals Found In Maine Farms Fertilized With Sewage Sludge  –  The Intercept

• Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in garden produce at homes with a history of PFAS-contaminated drinking water (Research article)
• Perfluoroalkyl acid distribution in various plant compartments of edible crops grown in biosolids-amended soils (Research article)

We believe people already compromised from high exposures to toxic chemicals should not be exposed to additional toxics in their medical treatment. Many common medical products used today contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, notably DEHP, a reproductive and developmental toxicant and carcinogen. More:

• Ridding health care of environmental injustices and toxic chemicals  –  EHN

• The danger of hormone-mimicking chemicals in medical devices and meds  –  EHN
• Lawmakers urge action on safer medical products  –  EHN

• Environmental Injustice ; Today, zip code is still the most potent predictor of an individual's health and well-being  –  EHN
• Pollution, Poverty, and People of Color  –  EHN

In early 2020, Jessian Choy, a journalist at the Sierra Magazine shared results from the laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics at the University of Notre Dame regarding potential PFAS contamination in the most popular period underwear brand. The results made it clear that products like period underwear could be manufactured with PFAS chemicals inside their “moisture-wicking” fabric. More:

• Report: 65% of Period Underwear Likely Contaminated with PFAS  –  MAMAVATION
• Nonstick Pan Chemicals Linked to Low Sperm Count and Small Penis Size  –  MAMAVATION

• Potential health effects of PFAS chemicals  –  US ATSDR
• Health effects of PFAS exposure  –  Food Packaging Forum
• PFAS and cancer, a scoping review of the epidemiologic evidence (Research abstract)

• PFAS Exposure in Infancy Linked to Reduced Vaccine Response  –  US NIEHS
• Maternal levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) during pregnancy and childhood allergy and asthma related outcomes and infections in the Norwegian Mother and Child (MoBa) cohort (Research article)
• Maternal Plasma Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Miscarriage: A Nested Case–Control Study in the Danish National Birth Cohort (Research article)
• Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Effects on the Placenta, Pregnancy, and Child Development: a Potential Mechanistic Role for Placental Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptors (PPARs) (Research abstract)

• Toxic Wrappers, Is Fast Food Packaging Dangerous  –  MAMAVATION
• Talking to Your Doctor about Exposure to PFAS (Factsheet) –  US ATSDR
• Immunotoxicity and allergenic potential induced by topical application of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a murine model (Research abstract)

• California Enacts New Ingredient Disclosure Laws for Feminine Hygiene and Cosmetic Products  –  Arnold & Porter
• New York becomes first state to require ingredients list on pads, tampons  –  Today

• Hormones and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Low-Dose Effects and Nonmonotonic Dose Responses (Research article)
• A Clash of Old and New Scientific Concepts in Toxicity, with Important Implications for Public Health (Research article)
• Environmental Chemicals: Evaluating Low-Dose Effects (Research article)

The young killer whale (Orcinus orca) was one of eight deceased orcas that researchers in Norway examined. Of these, seven (including the calf) had levels of the banned flame retardant polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) that were high enough to cause health problems in the animals, the researchers found. And all had lower levels of some newer pollutants of which little is known and haven't yet been banned. More:

• Dead baby orca reveals harmful chemical levels in killer whales  –  Live Science
• Dead orca contained highest levels of toxins ever recorded in a whale  –  Live Science

• High Levels of Legacy and Emerging Contaminants in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) from Norway, 2015 to 2017 (Research article)

• Predicting the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on cetacean populations through impacts on immunity and calf survival (Research article)

The study, which was carried out by Czech NGO Arnika, together with the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), CHEM Trust, and six other European NGOs, found that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) continue to be widely used in disposable food packaging and tableware in Europe. More:

• Harmful ‘forever’ chemicals widespread in EU fast food packaging, warns new report  –  EURACTIV.com
• European wide survey of PFAS in disposable food packaging and tableware (Report)  –  Arnica -IPEN - ChemTrust

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances – PFAS – are a family of around 5,000 different chemicals. They are widely used in industry and manufacturing to make non-stick and grease-repellent products, such as waterproof jackets, non-stick cookware, takeaway food packaging, fire-fighting foam and stain-repellent fabrics. More:

• Fast food packaging from McDonald’s and Subway “intentionally treated” with harmful chemicals, study finds  –  iNews
• Throwaway Packaging, Forever Chemicals: European wide survey of PFAS in disposable food packaging and tableware (Report) –  Arnika
• Plastic chemicals common in food packaging are accumulating widely in the human body, says study  –  iNews
• Sandwich makers and waffle irons under threat from mooted UK toxic chemical ban  –  iNews

A new study that checked American women’s breast milk for PFAS contamination detected the toxic chemical in all 50 samples tested, and at levels nearly 2,000 times higher than the level some public health advocates advise is safe for drinking water. More:

• Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in US mothers’ breast milk  –  The Guardian
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Breast Milk: Concerning Trends for Current-Use PFAS (Research abstract)