POPs in the news

02/11/2020 -

It was the start of the 2016 growing season when the farmers were told their water was contaminated. Susan Gordon and her husband had run Venetucci Farm for ten years. It was there, against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains, they had raised their two children. “I was devastated,” says Gordon. More:

The story of PFAS and its legacy Water contamination Human exposure Human exposure and Health effects A Legal battle PFAS management and regulation PFAS management and regulation

Toxic synthetic 'forever chemicals' are in our water and on our plates

It was the start of the 2016 growing season when the farmers were told their water was contaminated. Susan Gordon and her husband had run Venetucci Farm for ten years. It was there, against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains, they had raised their two children. “I was devastated,” says Gordon. More:

The story of PFAS and its legacy Water contamination Human exposure Human exposure and Health effects A Legal battle PFAS management and regulation PFAS management and regulation
25/10/2020 -

The robot made its way 3,000 feet down to the bottom, beaming bright lights and a camera as it slowly skimmed the seafloor. At this depth and darkness, the uncharted topography felt as eerie as driving through a vast desert at night. More:

The pollution story POPs Health Effects

How the waters off Catalina became a DDT dumping ground

The robot made its way 3,000 feet down to the bottom, beaming bright lights and a camera as it slowly skimmed the seafloor. At this depth and darkness, the uncharted topography felt as eerie as driving through a vast desert at night. More:

The pollution story POPs Health Effects
24/10/2020 -

Pregnant women in the Nunavik region in northern Quebec are twice as exposed to certain chemicals produced far from home than a representative sample of other Canadian women of the same age group, according to a study led by a researcher from Université Laval. More:


Pregnant Inuit women more exposed to 'the new PCBs' than other Canadians: study

Pregnant women in the Nunavik region in northern Quebec are twice as exposed to certain chemicals produced far from home than a representative sample of other Canadian women of the same age group, according to a study led by a researcher from Université Laval. More:

20/10/2020 -

Researchers find people's exposure to PFAS and certain flame retardants could be significantly reduced by opting for healthier building materials and furniture. If you've been considering throwing out that old couch, now might be a good time. Dust in buildings with older furniture is more likely to contain a suite of compounds that impact our health. More:


Dust from your old furniture likely contains harmful chemicals—but there’s a solution

Researchers find people's exposure to PFAS and certain flame retardants could be significantly reduced by opting for healthier building materials and furniture. If you've been considering throwing out that old couch, now might be a good time. Dust in buildings with older furniture is more likely to contain a suite of compounds that impact our health. More:

20/10/2020 -

Researchers are increasingly concerned about the presence of toxic industrial contaminants called PFAS in the Arctic. These can damage the immune system and may also make people more susceptible to the more severe effects of COVID-19. More:


Concern mounts over impact of toxic “forever chemicals” in the Arctic

Researchers are increasingly concerned about the presence of toxic industrial contaminants called PFAS in the Arctic. These can damage the immune system and may also make people more susceptible to the more severe effects of COVID-19. More:

15/10/2020 -

Today humans are exposed to thousands of man-made chemicals. Can we infer how cumulative exposures shape our health? I am an environmental toxicologist studying effects of man-made chemicals on our health. I decided to develop a computational approach to objectively compare sensitivity of all genes to all chemicals and identify the most vulnerable biological processes. More:


Exposure to man-made chemicals influences genes controlling aging, immune system and metabolism

Today humans are exposed to thousands of man-made chemicals. Can we infer how cumulative exposures shape our health? I am an environmental toxicologist studying effects of man-made chemicals on our health. I decided to develop a computational approach to objectively compare sensitivity of all genes to all chemicals and identify the most vulnerable biological processes. More:

14/10/2020 -

A total of about 400 different agricultural pesticides were used in the United States in 2017, the latest year data is available. More and more pesticides have been used because they “contribute to higher yields and improved product quality by controlling weeds, insects, nematodes, and plant pathogens,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More:


GRAPHIC: The U.S. still uses many pesticides banned in other countries

A total of about 400 different agricultural pesticides were used in the United States in 2017, the latest year data is available. More and more pesticides have been used because they “contribute to higher yields and improved product quality by controlling weeds, insects, nematodes, and plant pathogens,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More:

14/10/2020 -

Chemicals are essential for the well-being, high living standards and comfort of modern society. They are used in many sectors, including health, energy, mobility and housing. However, most chemicals have hazardous properties which can harm the environment and human health. The European Commission published a chemicals strategy for sustainability on 14 October 2020. More:


EU Chemicals Strategy

Chemicals are essential for the well-being, high living standards and comfort of modern society. They are used in many sectors, including health, energy, mobility and housing. However, most chemicals have hazardous properties which can harm the environment and human health. The European Commission published a chemicals strategy for sustainability on 14 October 2020. More:

11/10/2020 -

There are a range of harmful chemicals in everyday products, including in food, food packaging, clothes, furniture, cosmetics and cleaning products. A lot of these chemicals are not well regulated and are not listed on ingredients lists or labels, making it difficult for consumers to identify them. More:


ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS How to reduce your exposure

There are a range of harmful chemicals in everyday products, including in food, food packaging, clothes, furniture, cosmetics and cleaning products. A lot of these chemicals are not well regulated and are not listed on ingredients lists or labels, making it difficult for consumers to identify them. More:

06/10/2020 -

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance is one of the newest of more than a dozen mining standards. But most are narrow in focus or lack independence. Some concentrate on single issues like workers’ rights or particular parts of the industry, such as the supply chain. Others were developed by the mining industry without oversight or are just aspirational. There is an appetite for something better.More:


In a world that needs metals, how can we mine more responsibly?

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance is one of the newest of more than a dozen mining standards. But most are narrow in focus or lack independence. Some concentrate on single issues like workers’ rights or particular parts of the industry, such as the supply chain. Others were developed by the mining industry without oversight or are just aspirational. There is an appetite for something better.More:

04/10/2020 -

Spending each morning at the kitchen sink scraping at the charred remains of breakfast gets tedious after a while. Non-stick cookware may seem like an appealing alternative — but is it safe? More:

Toxic Fumes

Are non-stick pans safe?

Spending each morning at the kitchen sink scraping at the charred remains of breakfast gets tedious after a while. Non-stick cookware may seem like an appealing alternative — but is it safe? More:

Toxic Fumes
01/10/2020 -

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Sept. 29 banning these foams in the state, with limited exceptions. The advocacy organization Environmental Working Group estimates that 7.5 million Californians have toxic nonpolymeric PFAS in their drinking water at a level of at least 1 part per trillion, with much of this contamination linked to the use of firefighting foam. More:


California bans PFAS firefighting foams

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Sept. 29 banning these foams in the state, with limited exceptions. The advocacy organization Environmental Working Group estimates that 7.5 million Californians have toxic nonpolymeric PFAS in their drinking water at a level of at least 1 part per trillion, with much of this contamination linked to the use of firefighting foam. More:

01/10/2020 -

Earlier this year, state and federal researchers reported finding a new, potentially dangerous chemical in soil samples from multiple locations in New Jersey. The compound was a form of PFAS, a group of more than 5,000 chemicals that has raised concerns in recent years because of their potential link to learning delays in children and cancer, as well as their tendency to last in the environment for a long time. More:

PFAS regulation

New 'Forever Chemicals' Are Contaminating the Environment, Regulators Say

Earlier this year, state and federal researchers reported finding a new, potentially dangerous chemical in soil samples from multiple locations in New Jersey. The compound was a form of PFAS, a group of more than 5,000 chemicals that has raised concerns in recent years because of their potential link to learning delays in children and cancer, as well as their tendency to last in the environment for a long time. More:

PFAS regulation
29/09/2020 -

There’s one store where the fields are literally right next to the parking lot. Nineteen year old Maritza Flores and her mom shop at one there all the time. And a lot of the time, when she’s there, she notices this smell. And instantly she knows, someone has just sprayed pesticides. She’s used to it. Maritza Flores has been part of a study her entire life that measures early life exposures to pesticides. More:


Pregnancy And Pesticides: A Study As Old As Its Subjects Reveals Health Concerns

There’s one store where the fields are literally right next to the parking lot. Nineteen year old Maritza Flores and her mom shop at one there all the time. And a lot of the time, when she’s there, she notices this smell. And instantly she knows, someone has just sprayed pesticides. She’s used to it. Maritza Flores has been part of a study her entire life that measures early life exposures to pesticides. More:

28/09/2020 -

Paul Hessburg is a former wildland firefighter who also spent 36 years as a U.S. Forest Service scientist researching the behavior of wildfires. Once able to easily hike 20 miles in a day, he found his capacity diminished after a particularly smoky summer working in Idaho three years ago. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that from 2000 to 2019, 400 wildland firefighters died on the job, but this may hide slower, quieter illnesses and death. More:


Overstretched Wildland Firefighters Risk Lung, Heart Maladies

Paul Hessburg is a former wildland firefighter who also spent 36 years as a U.S. Forest Service scientist researching the behavior of wildfires. Once able to easily hike 20 miles in a day, he found his capacity diminished after a particularly smoky summer working in Idaho three years ago. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that from 2000 to 2019, 400 wildland firefighters died on the job, but this may hide slower, quieter illnesses and death. More:

24/09/2020 -

But there is a catch: No matter how careful you may be, the food you eat and the beverages you drink likely contain one or more of some 10,000 chemicals allowed to be added to foods -- some of which are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors linked to developmental, cognitive and other health problems in babies and adults. More:


FDA must do more to regulate thousands of chemicals added to your food, petitioners say

But there is a catch: No matter how careful you may be, the food you eat and the beverages you drink likely contain one or more of some 10,000 chemicals allowed to be added to foods -- some of which are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors linked to developmental, cognitive and other health problems in babies and adults. More:

24/09/2020 -

A new study found that some carbonated water brands have measurable amounts of so-called PFAS chemicals, which are linked to adverse health effects. Researchers examined more than 40 brands of bottled water and found that sparkling water was more likely to include higher levels of the chemicals than still water. More:


Some sparkling water brands have PFAS chemicals, study finds

A new study found that some carbonated water brands have measurable amounts of so-called PFAS chemicals, which are linked to adverse health effects. Researchers examined more than 40 brands of bottled water and found that sparkling water was more likely to include higher levels of the chemicals than still water. More:

23/09/2020 -

PFAS, industrial chemicals used to waterproof jackets and grease-proof fast-food containers, may disrupt pregnancy with lasting effects. Scientists think that PFAS can alter levels of both mothers’ and babies’ thyroid hormones, which oversee brain development, growth and metabolism, and also play a role in immunity. More:

Human exposure to PFAS PFAS accumulation in human tissues and health effects

These Everyday Toxins May Be Hurting Pregnant Women and Their Babies

PFAS, industrial chemicals used to waterproof jackets and grease-proof fast-food containers, may disrupt pregnancy with lasting effects. Scientists think that PFAS can alter levels of both mothers’ and babies’ thyroid hormones, which oversee brain development, growth and metabolism, and also play a role in immunity. More:

Human exposure to PFAS PFAS accumulation in human tissues and health effects
22/09/2020 -

While several bans and policies have offered some protection, the same chemicals threatening these birds 60 years ago continue to accumulate in their bodies—and new chemical threats are adding to their toxic burdens, according to two new studies. In the first study, researchers examined how legacy pollutants around Lake Erie such as PCBs, PBDEs and DDT continue to bioaccumulate in common terns. More:


Long-banned toxics are still accumulating in Great Lakes birds—as new chemical threats emerge

While several bans and policies have offered some protection, the same chemicals threatening these birds 60 years ago continue to accumulate in their bodies—and new chemical threats are adding to their toxic burdens, according to two new studies. In the first study, researchers examined how legacy pollutants around Lake Erie such as PCBs, PBDEs and DDT continue to bioaccumulate in common terns. More:

17/09/2020 -

Food regulators in the European Union have updated their guidelines for protecting consumers from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food. The latest recommendations from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), released Sept. 17, set a limit for combined exposure to 4 PFAS—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)—in food. EFSA previously recommended individual limits for PFOA and PFOS. More:


EU agency sets limit on PFAS in food

Food regulators in the European Union have updated their guidelines for protecting consumers from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food. The latest recommendations from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), released Sept. 17, set a limit for combined exposure to 4 PFAS—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)—in food. EFSA previously recommended individual limits for PFOA and PFOS. More:

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