EPA flags microplastics as “priority” contaminants in drinking water
Federal regulators are moving to add microplastics to a list of drinking water contaminants marked for research, funding and possible regulation in the future.
News
Higher cancer rates in counties with more CAFOs, study finds
People living near concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in California, Texas and Iowa suffer from higher rates of cancer, suggesting that the air and water pollution from the massive farms may be playing a role, according to a new study.
New study advances science linking pesticide exposures to cancer
A new study of pesticide exposure in Peru finds a mechanistic association between exposure and cancer, and shows how “complex pesticide mixtures” can contribute to the development of cancer in people, even at exposure levels currently deemed safe.
Even when EPA finds a pesticide cancer risk, agency rarely requires warnings
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to put warnings on pesticides linked to cancer — even when the agency itself determined a product’s ingredients are carcinogenic, according to two new analyses of federal data.
Proposed EPA rollbacks would put communities at greater risk for chemical disasters, workers and advocates warn
WASHINGTON — Workers, lawmakers and environmental advocates gathered this week to speak out against a proposed federal rule that would roll back protections for people who live near hazardous facilities across the country.
Scientists call for urgent action on glyphosate, citing strong links to cancer
US and European regulators should take urgent action to more tightly regulate glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weed killer, in light of strong scientific evidence that the pesticide can cause cancer and other health problems, a group of international scientists said on Friday.
Iowa cancer rates surge — farm chemicals are a key risk, new report finds
Iowans are suffering from higher rates of more than a dozen types of cancers linked to pesticides and pollutants than the rest of the country, with researchers saying the risk of pesticide exposure alone may rival that of smoking, according to a new report.
Ultra-processed foods may impact men’s fertility and developing embryos, study finds
Both men and women should probably avoid ultra-processed foods when trying to have a baby, according to a new study of 651 couples from Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Manure-to-energy project touted as climate fix emits thousands of tons of methane
A Wisconsin project dubbed the “world’s largest manure biogas project” emits nearly 5,000 metric tons of climate-warming methane annually, roughly equivalent to emissions from 30,000 gasoline-powered vehicles, according to state data that adds to concerns about the impacts of large-scale manure digesters.
Sewage sludge battle heats up as health advocates appeal move to dismiss EPA lawsuit
A federal court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit alleging US regulators failed to prevent widespread contamination of farmland with toxic PFAS chemicals was based on a “flawed interpretation” of the Clean Water Act, creating “dangerous real-world consequences for public health,” a watchdog group argued in a new court filing.