POPs in the news

04/06/2020 -

Their latest win came in March, when the EU executive vowed “to address the unnecessary and unwanted use of chemicals” in products. The announcement was part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, known as the bloc’s masterplan for safer, longer lasting, and recyclable products. More:


Old Flames: The Quest to ban toxic retardants heats up

Their latest win came in March, when the EU executive vowed “to address the unnecessary and unwanted use of chemicals” in products. The announcement was part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, known as the bloc’s masterplan for safer, longer lasting, and recyclable products. More:

28/05/2020 -

Infectious disease experts, scientists, and doctors have warned about the potential for a pandemic for years. Similar to those who cautioned us about a disease like COVID-19, leading public health experts, scientists, and doctors today warn us that exposure to toxic chemicals is contributing to rates of chronic illnesses. And many of these illnesses worsen the impacts of COVID-19. More:


Listen to experts and tackle the toxic chemical crisis contributing to chronic disease

Infectious disease experts, scientists, and doctors have warned about the potential for a pandemic for years. Similar to those who cautioned us about a disease like COVID-19, leading public health experts, scientists, and doctors today warn us that exposure to toxic chemicals is contributing to rates of chronic illnesses. And many of these illnesses worsen the impacts of COVID-19. More:

28/05/2020 -

First, there was DDT. Then came BPA. The latest chemical acronym to become a household name is PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals in this class are valued as strong surfactants and for their ability to repel water, grease, and stains. Among other uses, PFAS are added to paper products designed to hold hot, greasy foods. A recent study in Environmental Health Perspectives delves into how such foods might contribute to people’s exposures to PFAS. More:


PFAS in Food Packaging: A Hot, Greasy Exposure

First, there was DDT. Then came BPA. The latest chemical acronym to become a household name is PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals in this class are valued as strong surfactants and for their ability to repel water, grease, and stains. Among other uses, PFAS are added to paper products designed to hold hot, greasy foods. A recent study in Environmental Health Perspectives delves into how such foods might contribute to people’s exposures to PFAS. More:

28/05/2020 -

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial processes and found in dozens of household items. Previous studies have linked the toxins with a variety of health problems, including cancer and high cholesterol. Winds can carry PFAS pollution several miles away from manufacturing facilities, according to a new study. More:


Wind can carry PFAS pollution miles away from manufacturing facilities

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial processes and found in dozens of household items. Previous studies have linked the toxins with a variety of health problems, including cancer and high cholesterol. Winds can carry PFAS pollution several miles away from manufacturing facilities, according to a new study. More:

18/05/2020 -

The foams, dubbed aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), were a boon to firefighters. Special perfluorinated chemicals gave AFFF unique hydrophobic and surfactant properties, allowing it to rapidly seal over burning fuel and prevent reignition once a blaze had been extinguished. By the 1970s, AFFF was in use at most military bases, airports, refineries, and many civilian fire departments around the world. More:


PFAS-free firefighting foams: Are they safer?

The foams, dubbed aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), were a boon to firefighters. Special perfluorinated chemicals gave AFFF unique hydrophobic and surfactant properties, allowing it to rapidly seal over burning fuel and prevent reignition once a blaze had been extinguished. By the 1970s, AFFF was in use at most military bases, airports, refineries, and many civilian fire departments around the world. More:

14/05/2020 -

Substances used for air conditioning in almost all new cars are building up in the environment and may pose a threat to human health, researchers say. More:


Ozone layer: Concern grows over threat from replacement chemicals

Substances used for air conditioning in almost all new cars are building up in the environment and may pose a threat to human health, researchers say. More:

13/05/2020 -

It seems like everyone knows someone with a sensitivity to gluten — a protein mixture found in cereal grains, like wheat and barley. A third of all Americans say they avoid products with gluten in them, and grocery store shelves are overflowing with gluten-free products that didn’t exist a decade ago. More:


Can’t eat gluten? Pesticides and nonstick pans might have something to do with it, study says

It seems like everyone knows someone with a sensitivity to gluten — a protein mixture found in cereal grains, like wheat and barley. A third of all Americans say they avoid products with gluten in them, and grocery store shelves are overflowing with gluten-free products that didn’t exist a decade ago. More:

06/05/2020 -

Manila, Philippines—Environmental rights group EcoWaste Coalition is calling on the government to revamp the country’s recycling protocols after an international study found the presence of highly toxic chemicals in some toys made of recycled plastics, particularly those from electronic waste (e-waste). More:


EcoWaste to govt, industry: Remove toxic chemicals in recycled plastic toys

Manila, Philippines—Environmental rights group EcoWaste Coalition is calling on the government to revamp the country’s recycling protocols after an international study found the presence of highly toxic chemicals in some toys made of recycled plastics, particularly those from electronic waste (e-waste). More:

05/05/2020 -

When you buy a pair of blue jeans, you probably don’t think about the harm they might cause to people or the environment. But synthetic dyes and other chemicals used to manufacture jeans and other clothing can make workers sick and pollute waterways, particularly in manufacturing regions in Asia, where heavy metals like cadmium, chromium and lead have been found in water and sediment outside of textile industrial parks. More:

Green Chemistry Safer Chemicals

Products we use every day are full of harmful chemicals. Can green chemistry lead to safer alternatives?

When you buy a pair of blue jeans, you probably don’t think about the harm they might cause to people or the environment. But synthetic dyes and other chemicals used to manufacture jeans and other clothing can make workers sick and pollute waterways, particularly in manufacturing regions in Asia, where heavy metals like cadmium, chromium and lead have been found in water and sediment outside of textile industrial parks. More:

Green Chemistry Safer Chemicals
04/05/2020 -

Researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and the University of Glasgow, UK, have identified a microbe in malaria mosquitoes that is capable of blocking transmission of the disease from the insects to people. More:


icipe scientists discover malaria transmission-blocking microbe in mosquitoes

Researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and the University of Glasgow, UK, have identified a microbe in malaria mosquitoes that is capable of blocking transmission of the disease from the insects to people. More:

29/04/2020 -

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the danger associated with four of the biggest Covid-19 mortality risks: diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and asthma. It also can make the immune system overreact, exaggerating the inflammatory response to common pathogens. And everyday hormone-disrupting chemicals could affect our immune system’s defenses against infections. More:


The toxic chemicals in our homes could increase Covid-19 threat

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the danger associated with four of the biggest Covid-19 mortality risks: diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and asthma. It also can make the immune system overreact, exaggerating the inflammatory response to common pathogens. And everyday hormone-disrupting chemicals could affect our immune system’s defenses against infections. More:

27/04/2020 -

New data suggest that commercial incineration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) doesn’t break down these hardy chemicals. Instead, it spreads them into surrounding areas. More:


Incineration may spread, not break down PFAS

New data suggest that commercial incineration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) doesn’t break down these hardy chemicals. Instead, it spreads them into surrounding areas. More:

27/04/2020 -

We can't do anything about getting older except age with grace and tolerate the excesses of youth (as long as they honor social distancing). Health problems, however, are another thing, because they may have causes that can be prevented and/or treated. More:


Confronting the chemicals that are worsening COVID-19

We can't do anything about getting older except age with grace and tolerate the excesses of youth (as long as they honor social distancing). Health problems, however, are another thing, because they may have causes that can be prevented and/or treated. More:

23/04/2020 -

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals masquerade as hormones. These insidious contaminants increase the diseases that cause the underlying conditions that result in susceptibility to COVID-19. Hormones determine our development, and our behavior—all at tiny concentrations. Hormone-impersonating chemicals can rob us of otherwise healthy lives. More:


Endocrine-disrupting chemicals weaken us in our COVID-19 battle: Linda S. Birnbaum, Jerrold J. Heindel

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals masquerade as hormones. These insidious contaminants increase the diseases that cause the underlying conditions that result in susceptibility to COVID-19. Hormones determine our development, and our behavior—all at tiny concentrations. Hormone-impersonating chemicals can rob us of otherwise healthy lives. More:

24/03/2020 -

Female firefighters in San Francisco have higher concentrations of certain cancer-linked chemicals in their blood than women in other occupations, according to the first study to investigate how women in the profession are exposed to chemicals in the line of duty. Chemicals called PFAS were found in high levels in the first study of female firefighter health. More:


Female firefighters exposed to cancer-linked chemicals

Female firefighters in San Francisco have higher concentrations of certain cancer-linked chemicals in their blood than women in other occupations, according to the first study to investigate how women in the profession are exposed to chemicals in the line of duty. Chemicals called PFAS were found in high levels in the first study of female firefighter health. More:

24/03/2020 -

In May 2018 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, D'Anthony Brown sets up fishing poles at the William O Huske Dam. This is the dam closest to the Chemours plant, which manufactures products containing PFAS chemicals. Chemours has been accused of polluting the water supplies of cities downriver. More:


Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ flow freely through this river—and now its fish

In May 2018 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, D'Anthony Brown sets up fishing poles at the William O Huske Dam. This is the dam closest to the Chemours plant, which manufactures products containing PFAS chemicals. Chemours has been accused of polluting the water supplies of cities downriver. More:

19/03/2020 -

A fluorinated gel can capture a larger proportion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water than currently available techniques. More:


Fluorinated gel grabs PFAS

A fluorinated gel can capture a larger proportion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water than currently available techniques. More:

18/03/2020 -

More than 50 years ago, scientists at the Permanente Foundation Hospital in Oakland started a simple experiment: When a pregnant woman would come in for routine maternal care, they were asked to give a sample of blood, to be frozen for future research. They didn’t know it at the time, but those samples would later be key in understanding the long-term health impacts of the then widely-used pesticide DDT. More:


DDT’s toxic legacy could span three generations

More than 50 years ago, scientists at the Permanente Foundation Hospital in Oakland started a simple experiment: When a pregnant woman would come in for routine maternal care, they were asked to give a sample of blood, to be frozen for future research. They didn’t know it at the time, but those samples would later be key in understanding the long-term health impacts of the then widely-used pesticide DDT. More:

03/03/2020 -

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been produced for a wide range of applications, mostly in open uses, such as metalworking fluids, lubricants, coolants or additives in consumer goods. The production volume is more than one million tonnes requiring control of the lifecycle of these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. In May 2017, the Stockholm Convention amended its Annex A to list short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). More:


Chlorinated paraffins in the technosphere: A review of available information and data gaps demonstrating the need to support the Stockholm Convention implementation

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been produced for a wide range of applications, mostly in open uses, such as metalworking fluids, lubricants, coolants or additives in consumer goods. The production volume is more than one million tonnes requiring control of the lifecycle of these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. In May 2017, the Stockholm Convention amended its Annex A to list short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). More:

03/03/2020 -

Harmful chemicals in food packaging and other food contact materials can pose considerable risk to our health, according to a review of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed studies. The report's authors—33 scientists from around the globe—urged lawmakers to take swift action to reduce exposure. The problem, they said, is particularly acute for recycled materials and plastics alternatives promoted as more environmentally friendly in response to plastic pollution concerns. More:


Food packaging can harm human health

Harmful chemicals in food packaging and other food contact materials can pose considerable risk to our health, according to a review of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed studies. The report's authors—33 scientists from around the globe—urged lawmakers to take swift action to reduce exposure. The problem, they said, is particularly acute for recycled materials and plastics alternatives promoted as more environmentally friendly in response to plastic pollution concerns. More:

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