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.
Toxics
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.
WATCH: Mounting evidence linking industrial farming to cancer
From pesticide labels to a new report out of Iowa, there’s been a lot of news in the past week on how industrial farming may contribute to cancer in the US.
WATCH: “Definitely harmful”: Scientists issue warning on glyphosate impacts to human health
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 last week at a symposium in Seattle.
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.
WATCH: Iowa’s cancer crisis, explained
Cancer rates are rising in Iowa, even as the national rate declines. A new report from the Iowa Environmental Council and the Harkin Institute links elevated rates of more than a dozen cancers to farm chemicals. Researchers say pesticide exposure alone may pose risks comparable to smoking.
WATCH: Community members, workers speak out against EPA proposal to roll back chemical plant safety rule
Activists, members of Congress and industrial workers voiced their concerns on Capitol Hill this week as the EPA prepares to roll back protections under the 2024 Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention rule.
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.