Plastic additive meant to replace toxic phthalates linked to lower birth weights, study finds
A study led by NYU Langone Health researchers adds to growing evidence that replacement chemicals can pose their own health risks.
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“Forever chemicals” pollute more than 80% of tested US waterways
If you swam, fished or paddled a lake or river in the US over the past couple of years, there’s a more than 80% chance the water contained toxic “forever chemicals,” according to a new report.
EPA’s atrazine clean up plan is “utterly worthless,” study finds
A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to reduce the amount of atrazine running off into US rivers, lakes and streams would leave 99% of watersheds contaminated at levels that exceed the agency’s threshold for harm to plants, fish and other species, according to a new study.
Landmark bill in California now requires state to disclose PFAS pesticide use
Under the new law, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation must track pesticides containing PFAS in its publicly accessible database and monitor how these pesticides are used over time.
Pesticide linked to cancer and hormone disruption pollutes a quarter of US river miles
A cancer-linked pesticide banned in more than 60 countries around the world contaminates an estimated 25% of river and stream miles in the lower 48 US states, including many waterways used for drinking water, according to a new analysis.
EPA withdraws guidance preventing PFAS from entering drinking water
In the latest regulatory rollback on toxic chemicals, the EPA has identified several documents it deems “appropriate for rescission,” including a 2022 memo that encouraged states to use existing Clean Water Act authorities to prevent PFAS from entering drinking water.
This American city perfected clean water for beer — now it’s fighting to keep cancer-causing nitrates out of the tap
Ever since Jacob Leinenkugel discovered spring waters here that were pure enough to brew his famous beer, this small Wisconsin city’s devotion to clean water has been paramount.
How a patchwork of state laws leaves children unevenly protected from toxic chemicals
With the federal government politically divided nearly to the point of immobilization in recent years, most environmental health protections take place (or don’t) on the state level, and sometimes on the local level.
California phasing out herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease
Pesticide manufacturers have voluntarily cancelled registrations for products containing paraquat in California — kickstarting a statewide phase-out of the controversial herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, according to a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announcement on Monday.
FDA tightens oversight on foods “Generally Recognized as Safe”
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule making it mandatory for companies to notify the agency about new chemical ingredients they determined are safe for use in food.