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Senate Passes Bill to Compensate More Americans Exposed to Radiation

More Americans exposed to radiation caused by the government would be compensated under a bill that passed the U.S. Senate Thursday.

The bipartisan legislation, which would cost an estimated $50 billion, would expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (R...

Radon a Bigger Threat to Rural Homes

Rural homeowners face a greater threat from odorless, radioactive radon gas than people living in urban areas, and it's likely due to the wells they rely on for their water supply, a new study shows.

On average, people living in rural communities are exposed to 30% higher residential radon levels than people in cities and suburbs, researchers found.

This radon appears to be seeping ...

EPA Will Spend $5.8 Billion to Help Clean Up U.S. Drinking Water

Nearly $6 billion in funding will soon be spread through every U.S. state and territory as part of a massive, ongoing effort to clean up the nation's water supply, the Biden Administration announced Tuesday.

EPA Adminstrator Michael Regan and Vice Preside...

Despite the Evidence, Nearly 15% of Americans Deny Climate Change

Nearly 15% of Americans still deny that climate change is real, according to a new national assessment from the University of Michigan.

Evidence of climate change has been mounting, including science which has shown that climate-related natural disasters are growing in frequency and intensity sooner than originally predicted, researchers said.

Nevertheless, climate change is still n...

More Cancers Linked to Contaminated Water at Camp LeJeune

A much anticipated government study finds that military personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1975 and 1985 face at least a 20% higher risk for certain cancers than those stationed elsewhere.

Why the increased risk?

For decades, the drinking water at the Marine Corps base was contaminated with industrial solvents,

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 1, 2024
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  • Most Americans Know Little About Harmful PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    Nearly half of Americans have never heard of health-threatening PFAS “forever chemicals,” a new survey has found.

    PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a category of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have become an emerging concern to environmental and human health, researchers from Texas A&M University said.

    Nonetheless, 45% of survey participants ...

    Nearly Half of Tap Water Americans Drink Is Tainted With PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    “Forever chemicals” are widespread in the environment, and new research finds they can be detected in about 45% of U.S. tap water samples.

    The chemicals are per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, and their spread through drinking water -- both tap and well -- may be even higher because researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were unable to test for all of them,...

    Half of America's Beaches Have Unsafe Pollution Levels: Report

    A day at the beach can be fun with family and friends, but water pollution can ruin the experience.

    The problem is more widespread than many might think: In a new report, the Environment America Research & Policy Center, a nonprofit organization, found that half of U.S. beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels in 2022.

    Among nearly 3,200 beaches nationwide that were teste...

    What's in the Water? Maybe Germs That Could Harm You

    Under the surface of your favorite swimming pool, beach and lakes, hazards too small to be seen by the naked eye may await.

    And these bacteria, viruses and parasites can turn a refreshing plunge into a nasty infection.

    “There's a variety of microorganisms that can make recreational activities in water less than fun,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 4, 2023
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  • Oil & Gas Production Takes Toll in U.S. Lives, Health Costs

    Pollutants produced by the U.S. oil and gas industry cause thousands of deaths and cost the country tens of billions in health care expenses, a new study reports.

    Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter and ozone all contribute to air pollution, and all are emitted as part of oil and gas production, the researchers said.

    The new study estimates that the oil and gas industry ...

    EPA Proposes Limits on Dangerous Chemical Used by Medical Sterilization Plants

    The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed limiting the use of a chemical used to clean medical equipment in sterilizing plants because it also raises cancer risks for workers.

    The agency plans to slash emissions of the odorless gas, called ethylene oxide, by about 80% at 86 medical sterilization facilities.

    “EPA's number one priority is protecting people's health and...

    Sea Spray Can Waft Polluted Coastal Water Inland

    Sewage-polluted Southern California coastal waters become airborne in sea spray aerosol, and can spread to people on land, even beyond the beach, according to a new study.

    For this research, scientists sampled coastal aerosols at Imperial Beach in San Diego County and water from the Ti...

    California Files Suit Over 'Forever Chemicals' in Water

    The state of California is suing several companies for their role in manufacturing "forever chemicals."

    The lawsuit filed Thursday also claims that the companies, including 3M and DuPont, covered up the harm their products, commonly known as PFAS, were causing to the...

    Even Alligators Might Be Harmed by PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    Alligators along North Carolina's Cape Fear River have high blood levels of 14 toxic chemicals, along with signs of immune system damage, new research shows.

    The study of levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in the reptiles' blood adds to concerns that the chemicals may cause genetic and immune system harm. Alligators are a

    Depression, PTSD Plague Flint Residents 5 Years After Water Crisis

    An unprecedented water crisis continues to take a heavy toll on the mental health of adults in Flint, Michigan, a large survey shows.

    Five years after the crisis, an estimated one in five — about 13,600 people — remained clinically depressed, the survey found. And about one in four — 1...

    Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Cleanup Put Workers at Risk for Asthma

    Workers who cleaned up the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico were more likely than others to have developed asthma or related symptoms, a long-term follow-up shows.

    "This is the first study to ever look at specific chemicals from oil spills and link them to respiratory diseases," said study co-author Dale Sandler, of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health...

    Pollutants in Soil Can Harm Your Heart

    While it's more widely known that polluted air can harm human health, another danger may be lurking at your feet.

    New research shows that soil, too, can contain contaminants that can impact health. These include pesticides and heavy metals.

    In this study, sci...

    PCBs Still a Health Threat Around the World

    Nations are falling short in their efforts to get rid of toxic PCB chemicals that pose a risk to human health and the environment, researchers report.

    "We're only six years out from the Stockholm Convention's deadline to responsibly eliminate PCB stocks, but shockingly little progress has been made," said study co-author Lisa Melymuk, an assistant professor of environmental chemistry at M...

    Pollution Killed 9 Million People Worldwide in 2019

    Pollution from varied sources caused 9 million deaths worldwide in 2019, accounting for 1 in 6 of all deaths, a new study says.

    Of those pollution-related deaths, three-quarters -- close to 7 million -- were caused by outdoor or indoor air pollution. Toxic chemical pollution (including lead) caused 1.8...

    Dangerous Germs Floating on Microplastics in Ocean Wind Up in Food, Water

    Land parasites that pose a risk to human and wildlife health can hitch rides on the millions of pounds of microplastics that float between oceans, a new study shows.

    "It's easy for people to dismiss plastic problems as something that doesn't matter for them, like, 'I'm not a turtle in the ocean; I won't c...

    Microplastics Found in Mussels That Humans Eat

    When you eat mussels or other seafood, you might also be getting a serving of microplastics, a new study suggests.

    Demonstrating that plastic trash is everywhere, researchers discovered microplastics from plastic pollution in edible blue mussels from 10 of southern Australia's most popular and more remote...

    Humans Bear Blame for Red Tides

    Red tide is a scourge of Southwest Florida, often littering beaches with dead fish and marine life and disrupting plans for boating and bathing.

    But Mother Nature isn't entirely to blame for this blight.

    A new study confirms what some have long suspected - that human activity helps sustain and intensify naturally occurring

    Two-Thirds of U.S. Water Systems Contain Uranium

    Two-thirds of U.S. community water systems have detectable levels of uranium, and the highest levels are in Hispanic communities, according to a new study.

    "Previous studies have found associations between chronic uranium exposure and increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney damage and lung cancer at high levels of exposure," said researcher Anne Nigra, assistan...

    EPA to Restore Rule Limiting Mercury Pollution From Power Plants

    Enforcement of a rule limiting power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants will be resumed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

    It's the latest move by the Biden administration to reinstate environmental protections lifted by the Trump administration.

    "The science is clear: we must limit mercury and toxic air pollution to protect our kids a...

    Most of Restaurant Menu Must Be Vegetarian Before Meat Eaters Make the Switch

    Meat eaters are far more apt to choose plant-based foods at restaurants if menus are at least 75% vegetarian, according to a new study.

    Along with the health benefits, British researchers said getting more people to eat plant-based foods could help fight climate change.

    "Th...

    Could Pollution Help Decide Your Baby's Sex?

    A boy or a girl? New research suggests that the air pregnant women breathe or the water they drink could play a role in their baby's sex.

    The finding stems from tracking hundreds of factors -- including pollution exposure -- surrounding the birth of more than 6 million Americans an...

    Millions of Tons of COVID Masks, Gloves Will End Up in Oceans

    While the lockdowns of the pandemic may have done the planet's atmosphere a favor, a new study predicts that discarded masks, gloves and face shields will add more than 25,000 tons of plastic waste to the world's oceans.

    Researchers from Nanjing University's School of Atmospheric Sciences in China and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Scripps Institution of Oceanography used ...

    'Forever Chemicals' Might Raise Risk of Pregnancy Complication

    So-called "forever chemicals" might increase pregnant women's risk of a dangerous condition known as preeclampsia, researchers say.

    Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used and long-lasting chemicals found in the drinking water of many U.S. communities.

    A new study found a link between PFAS exposure and late-onset preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressur...

    EPA Plans New Strategy Against PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

    MONDAY, Oct. 18, 2021 (HealthDay News) --- A new plan to limit pollution from so-called "forever chemicals" will include restricting their release into the environment and speeding cleanup of contaminated sites, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

    The chemicals, called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are used in products ranging from cookware to carpets ...

    Tree Rings Show Hurricanes Becoming Wetter, Longer, More Dangerous

    The rings of stately pines on the coasts of North and South Carolina offer telling long-term evidence of climate change and a chilling forecast for the future.

    The upshot: The last 300 years have gotten wetter and wetter, making hurricanes ever more dangerous.

    "Our findings suggest that the maximum amount of rainfall from these storms is increasing and is likely going to continue to...

    How Your Medicines Make Their Way Into Rivers, Lakes and Bays

    Leaky sewer pipes are to blame for large amounts of human medicines getting into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, a new study reveals.

    Researchers found that tens of thousands of doses of drugs get into Chesapeake Bay in Maryland every year due to seeping sewer pipes.

    "Pharmaceuticals enter freshwaters through multiple pathways, including effluent from wastewater treatment a...

    Even a Little Lead in Drinking Water Can Harm People With Kidney Disease

    No amount of lead in drinking water is safe for people with kidney disease, a new study warns.

    Low levels of lead in drinking water are widespread in the United States. These findings suggest that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules on allowable lead levels in drinking water pose a risk to the 30 million to 40 million Americans with kidney disease.

    "While drinking water...

    Live Near a 'Superfund' Site? Your Life Span Might Be Shorter

    Living near a Superfund hazardous waste site may shorten your life, new research suggests.

    There are thousands of Superfund sites across the United States and they include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mines where hazardous waste was dumped, left out in the open or poorly managed, posing a risk to the environment and human health.

    In this study, research...

    Cancer Plagues California Sea Lions, With Implications for Humans

    A virus-linked cancer killing California sea lions is sounding a chilling alarm for mankind.

    Exposure to environmental toxins significantly boosts risk for the herpes-like cancer, which was discovered in sea lions in 1979.

    Since then, between 18% and 23% of adult sea lions admitted to a California animal rescue-and-research center have died of the disease. That's the highest rate f...

    Which Seafood Has the Highest Amount of Microplastics?

    Those mussels, oysters and scallops on your plate may come with a secret ingredient: microplastics.

    Researchers at Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull in the United Kingdom reviewed more than 50 studies (from 2014 to 2020) to investigate the levels of microplastic contamination globally in fish and shellfish.

    The investigators found that mollusks (such as clams, muss...

    Autopsies Show Microplastics in All Major Human Organs

    Microscopic bits of plastic have most likely taken up residence in all of the major filtering organs in your body, a new lab study suggests.

    Researchers found evidence of plastic contamination in tissue samples taken from the lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys of donated human cadavers.

    "We have detected these chemicals of plastics in every single organ that we have investigat...

    Wildfire Pollution Puts Kidney Patients at Risk

    Air pollution caused by forest fires can be deadly for people with kidney failure, a new study suggests.

    The tiny particles of air pollutants -- called fine particulate matter -- from wildfires can trigger inflammation in the lungs and further affect the delicate health of people with kidney failure, the researchers said.

    Using data from the U.S. Renal Data System (a regis...

    Summer's Toxic Algae Blooms: A Growing Threat to Health?

    Every summer seems to bring fresh warnings of toxic algae blooming in local ponds, lakes and waterways.

    These toxic blooms are known to be dangerous to human and animal health, but a new study suggests they might be even more harmful than previously thought.

    A single massive blue-green algae bloom in Florida's Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River flowed into the Gulf...

    Will COVID Pandemic's Environmental Benefit Last?

    It has been the sole silver lining in the coronavirus pandemic -- cleaner air and water on the planet. But will it continue?

    A new study says that isn't yet clear.

    "The pandemic raises two important questions related to the environment," said study author Christopher Knittel, from the MIT Sloan School of Management in Boston. "First, what is the short-run impact on fossil fu...

    Don't Get Sick While Swimming This Summer

    Swimming and summer are practically synonymous, but getting sick from bacteria in lakes, rivers and the ocean can spoil the fun, U.S. health officials warn.

    Since 2009, nearly 120 disease outbreaks in 31 states have been tied to untreated recreational water. But being aware of potential harms and taking precautions can help keep you healthy while you cool off, according to a new repor...

    During Droughts, Many Poor Americans Will Lack Clean Tap Water: Study

    Poor and minority Americans are most likely to lose access to clean tap water as droughts become more common and severe, a new paper says.

    Water service in the United States is delivered by tens of thousands of community systems, most of which are small and funded locally, according to the study.

    More than 80% of the 50,000-plus U.S. community water systems delivering wa...

    Plastic Smells Like Lunch to Sea Turtles, Putting Them at Risk: Study

    Sea turtles mistake the smell of stinky plastic for food, researchers say.

    Sea turtles worldwide are threatened by marine plastic debris, mostly due to eating it and getting tangled in it, noted the authors of the study published March 9 in the journal Current Biology.

    "We found that loggerhead sea turtles respond to odors from biofouled plastics in the same way they ...

    Even Dolphins Are Threatened by Antibiotic-Resistant 'Superbugs'

    Scientists have found one more way Flipper is a lot like people: The sharp rise in antibiotic resistance affecting humans is also happening to dolphins.

    The discovery stems from a 13-year study of bottlenose dolphins in Florida's Indian River Lagoon.

    "We've been able to provide a large database of information in order to continue learning from these impressive animals," sai...

    Diving Deeper Into Sunscreen's Impact on Marine Life

    Is the sunscreen you slather on your body marketed as safe for coral reefs? New research suggests those claims may not be entirely true.

    Trace metals and other compounds in many sunscreens have unknown effects on marine ecology, say researchers studying Mediterranean waters.

    Previous studies have shown that ultraviolet-screening ingredients in sunscreens can harm coral and o...

    50 Years After Ban, Canadian Lakes Still Have High Levels of DDT

    Although DDT was banned in the 1970s, the toxic pesticide still lurks in the sediment of lakes in New Brunswick, Canada, researchers report.

    To control insects, airplanes sprayed nearly 6,300 tons of DDT onto New Brunswick forests between 1952 and 1968.

    Sprayed DDT can enter lakes and rivers, and find its way into the food chain, researchers say.

    To see if DDT had ...

    Your Drinking Water May Harbor Cancer-Causing Nitrate: Study

    Millions of tons of nitrate from industrial farming find their way into America's drinking water each year, causing thousands of cases of cancer and other health problems, an environmental advocacy group says.

    In a new report, researchers from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) quantify the risk. They say nitrate is responsible for nearly 12,600 cases of cancer a year.

    "...

    Antibiotics Pollute Rivers Worldwide: Study

    Levels of antibiotics in some of the world's rivers are hundreds of times higher than what's considered safe, British researchers report.

    For the new study, investigators checked rivers in 72 countries on six continents for 14 widely used antibiotics and found them at 65% of monitored sites.

    "The results are quite eye-opening and worrying, demonstrating the widespread co...

    Well Water's Spillover Effect: Heart Damage?

    Does your home draw its water source from a well? A new study finds that well water may be injurious to heart health in young adults -- if it contains arsenic.

    "People drinking water from private wells, which are not regulated, need to be aware that arsenic may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease," said study author Dr. Gernot Pichler. He is an internal medicine specialist at...

    Agent Orange's Toxic Legacy in Vietnam

    A toxic byproduct of Agent Orange is still widespread in Vietnam's soil and water and is getting into food supplies, a new study claims.

    Agent Orange was a chemical defoliant widely used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1975. The herbicide contained dangerous dioxins.

    "Existing Agent Orange and dioxin research is primarily medical in nature, focusing ...

    The Deadliest Plastic for Seabirds? Balloons

    No plastic is good for seabirds, but new Australian research finds that balloon bits pose the most deadly threat to marine life.

    "Balloons, or balloon fragments, were the marine debris most likely to cause mortality, and they killed almost one in five of the seabirds that ingested them," said study author Lauren Roman, a Ph.D. student at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Mari...