
Shannon Kelleher
Posts by Shannon Kelleher:


Alarm sounded over effort to redefine PFAS chemicals
By Shannon Kelleher
Efforts by an international chemistry industry group to create a new, narrower definition for PFAS chemicals appear to be politically motivated, and could lead to weaker regulations of hazardous compounds, according to a group of international scientists.

Swampbuster stands: Federal judge dismisses Iowa challenge to wetlands protections
By Shannon Kelleher
A federal judge last week sided with environmental groups and US regulators in a dispute with an Iowa landowner over a Farm Bill provision that protects wetlands.

Louisiana law leaves vulnerable communities without warnings of poor air quality, lawsuit alleges
By Shannon Kelleher
A new Louisiana law violates federal air quality protections by preventing community groups from using data collected with certain types of monitoring equipment to call out air quality violations in polluted industrial areas, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by environmental and health organizations.

Chemical exposure from ultra-processed foods may contribute to health issues
By Shannon Kelleher
Toxic synthetic chemicals that migrate into ultra-processed foods from packaging, processing equipment and other sources may explain why these foods are so bad for our health, according to a new review article.

EPA dropping drinking water limits on four toxic PFAS
By Shannon Kelleher
US regulators said Wednesday they will do away with limits on certain types of toxic chemicals in US drinking water, a move that critics warn could expose millions of Americans to dangerous contaminants.
Maryland residents demand Perdue stop discharging PFAS that pollutes their water
By Shannon Kelleher
Residents of a Maryland community afflicted with contamination from harmful chemicals are demanding that a local soybean processing plant immediately stop releasing toxic PFAS into their drinking and groundwater, violating a federal law that governs the disposal of hazardous waste.
Formaldehyde lurks in lotions, other products popular with Black and Latina women
By Shannon Kelleher
A main ingredient in embalming fluid may be hiding in your body lotion. In an analysis of more than 1,100 products used over the course of a week by 70 Black and Latina women in South Los Angeles, over half reported using products that researchers found contained formaldehyde or preservatives that release the toxic chemical.
EPA’s PFAS plans draw concern in public health circles
By Shannon Kelleher
Moves by the Trump administration to draw up a new regulatory framework for types of toxic chemicals has sparked suspicion among health advocates who fear the changes will protect polluters but not public health.
USDA withdraws proposed rule meant to reduce Salmonella in poultry products
By Shannon Kelleher
Federal regulators on Thursday withdrew a proposed framework for raw poultry products that was introduced under the Biden administration to reduce the spread of Salmonella bacteria, one of the leading pathogens involved in foodborne illness outbreaks.