POPs in the news

08/05/2023 -

Soil pollution threatens the environment and human health as seriously as air and water pollution. Until recently, however, it received very little attention. Unlike air pollution, soil pollution is usually less visible and cannot be directly assessed, making it a hidden menace that can have serious consequences. More:

Soil Pollution

Soil is the foundation of our planet's ecosystems: Report

Soil pollution threatens the environment and human health as seriously as air and water pollution. Until recently, however, it received very little attention. Unlike air pollution, soil pollution is usually less visible and cannot be directly assessed, making it a hidden menace that can have serious consequences. More:

Soil Pollution
08/05/2023 -

The company started by asking suppliers to stop using unnecessary PFAS, which removed about 65% of this type of chemicals in their products. It took four years for KEEN to phase out PFAS in all products, through finding and testing chemical water-proofing alternatives. More:

PFAS in Products PFAS Human Health Effects Phasing Out PFAS

Outdoor brands phase out PFAS, “forever chemicals,” ahead of state bans

The company started by asking suppliers to stop using unnecessary PFAS, which removed about 65% of this type of chemicals in their products. It took four years for KEEN to phase out PFAS in all products, through finding and testing chemical water-proofing alternatives. More:

PFAS in Products PFAS Human Health Effects Phasing Out PFAS
07/05/2023 -

PFAS are present at ‘potentially dangerous’ levels in widely used chemicals sprayed on food crops. The potential for millions of acres of contaminated food cropland demands swifter and stronger regulatory action, the paper’s authors say. More:

PFAS in Pesticides and other products Plant Uptake of PFAS in Soil PFAS Regulation

US food pesticides contaminated with toxic ‘forever chemicals’ testing finds

PFAS are present at ‘potentially dangerous’ levels in widely used chemicals sprayed on food crops. The potential for millions of acres of contaminated food cropland demands swifter and stronger regulatory action, the paper’s authors say. More:

PFAS in Pesticides and other products Plant Uptake of PFAS in Soil PFAS Regulation
06/05/2023 -

The US Environmental Protection Agency is taking unprecedented enforcement action over PFAS water pollution by ordering the chemical giant Chemours’ Parkersburg, West Virginia, plant to stop discharging extremely high levels of toxic PFAS waste into the Ohio River. More:

Addressing PFAS Water Contamination through Regulation

US agency takes unprecedented action to tackle PFAS water pollution

The US Environmental Protection Agency is taking unprecedented enforcement action over PFAS water pollution by ordering the chemical giant Chemours’ Parkersburg, West Virginia, plant to stop discharging extremely high levels of toxic PFAS waste into the Ohio River. More:

Addressing PFAS Water Contamination through Regulation
04/05/2023 -

There’s a lot of talk about biodiversity loss. And rightly so. But there is one word that’s almost always missing from the discussion — chemicals. Chemicals tend to fly under the radar, but they’re actually one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in the world. More:


This is the secret cause of biodiversity loss

There’s a lot of talk about biodiversity loss. And rightly so. But there is one word that’s almost always missing from the discussion — chemicals. Chemicals tend to fly under the radar, but they’re actually one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in the world. More:

04/05/2023 -

Since their invention in the mid-20th century, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were quickly adopted as key components of firefighting foams, non-stick coatings for cookware and other water and oil-resistant materials. However, in subsequent years, the scientific community would discover that these compounds did not readily degrade in the environment once released. More:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) PFAS Regulation

Inside the Evolving Landscape of PFAS Regulation

Since their invention in the mid-20th century, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were quickly adopted as key components of firefighting foams, non-stick coatings for cookware and other water and oil-resistant materials. However, in subsequent years, the scientific community would discover that these compounds did not readily degrade in the environment once released. More:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) PFAS Regulation
03/05/2023 -

Consumer products are important sources of exposure to harmful chemicals. Product composition is often a mystery to users, however, due to gaps in the laws governing ingredient disclosure. Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are a widely used class of chemicals that can detach from or are emitted from surfaces or products. Many pose health risks and are carcinogenic, or bond with other chemicals to form air pollution. More:


Common US consumer products release toxic compounds, new research shows

Consumer products are important sources of exposure to harmful chemicals. Product composition is often a mystery to users, however, due to gaps in the laws governing ingredient disclosure. Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are a widely used class of chemicals that can detach from or are emitted from surfaces or products. Many pose health risks and are carcinogenic, or bond with other chemicals to form air pollution. More:

02/05/2023 -

Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna bought a farm in Maine back in 2014 with the hopes of raising organic produce and a family. Seven years later, they learned their land was riddled with chemicals called PFAS, a family of thousands of toxic compounds known as "forever chemicals" because of how long they last in the environment. More:

Soil Contamination by PFAS Water and Fish Contamination by PFAS PFAS Regulation

Toxic "forever chemicals" found in U.S. farmland soil

Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna bought a farm in Maine back in 2014 with the hopes of raising organic produce and a family. Seven years later, they learned their land was riddled with chemicals called PFAS, a family of thousands of toxic compounds known as "forever chemicals" because of how long they last in the environment. More:

Soil Contamination by PFAS Water and Fish Contamination by PFAS PFAS Regulation
27/04/2023 -

A grassroots environmental organization in the Cape Fear River basin of coastal North Carolina wants the United Nations to intervene in a decades-long pollution fight and declare its ongoing PFAS pollution a human rights violation. More:

PFAS and Human Rights The PFAS Contamination Crisis PFAS Regulation

Is PFAS pollution a human rights violation? These activists say yes

A grassroots environmental organization in the Cape Fear River basin of coastal North Carolina wants the United Nations to intervene in a decades-long pollution fight and declare its ongoing PFAS pollution a human rights violation. More:

PFAS and Human Rights The PFAS Contamination Crisis PFAS Regulation
26/04/2023 -

Eighteen kinds of soft contact lenses have detectable levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report. An environmental wellness blog and community had contact lenses tested by a U.S.-Environmental-Protection-Agency-certified lab and found levels of organic fluorine ranging from 105 parts per million, or ppm, to 20,700 ppm. More:

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) PFAS in Food PFAS in Consumer Products

Are you putting PFAS on your eyeballs?

Eighteen kinds of soft contact lenses have detectable levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new report. An environmental wellness blog and community had contact lenses tested by a U.S.-Environmental-Protection-Agency-certified lab and found levels of organic fluorine ranging from 105 parts per million, or ppm, to 20,700 ppm. More:

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) PFAS in Food PFAS in Consumer Products
22/04/2023 -

Caroline Nowlan has spent a decade working on a machine that she's only seen once, through a window. And that's probably all she's going to get, now that TEMPO is 35,000 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. TEMPO is the first pollution-measuring instrument that could scan North America hourly. More:


She's watching a pollution-measuring machine that could reveal surprises from 35,000 km away

Caroline Nowlan has spent a decade working on a machine that she's only seen once, through a window. And that's probably all she's going to get, now that TEMPO is 35,000 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. TEMPO is the first pollution-measuring instrument that could scan North America hourly. More:

19/04/2023 -

The study took a novel approach to a frustrating conundrum many adults have experienced at some point: Pounds that slowly creep back on after successful weight loss and despite faithful adherence to a healthier diet. More:

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Obesogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

PFAS has more effect than type of diet on weight gain: Study

The study took a novel approach to a frustrating conundrum many adults have experienced at some point: Pounds that slowly creep back on after successful weight loss and despite faithful adherence to a healthier diet. More:

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Obesogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
19/04/2023 -

States and cities are replacing lead pipes to address concerns over lead-contaminated drinking water, an urgent health threat. But environmental advocates are concerned that a popular alternative piping material could pose its own dangers. More:

Lead contamination Vinyl Chloride and PCV Plastic Risks Hazardous Chemicals in Plastics

As states replace lead pipes, plastic alternatives could bring new risks

States and cities are replacing lead pipes to address concerns over lead-contaminated drinking water, an urgent health threat. But environmental advocates are concerned that a popular alternative piping material could pose its own dangers. More:

Lead contamination Vinyl Chloride and PCV Plastic Risks Hazardous Chemicas in Plastics
17/04/2023 -

Compostable packaging is popular for environmental reasons, but it can be treated with ‘forever chemicals’ linked to health problems. More:


Toxic PFAS chemicals used in packaging can end up in food, study finds

Compostable packaging is popular for environmental reasons, but it can be treated with ‘forever chemicals’ linked to health problems. More:

New tech could one day scrub ‘forever chemicals’ from your tap water

15/04/2023 -

Since Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that’s been a household name for decades, signaled recently that it might be going out of business, you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use — especially if it’s vintage. Figuring out the answer to that question for any type of reusable plastic food storage products — not just Tupperware — often comes down to understanding what they’re made of. More:


How long you can use your vintage Tupperware and other plastic food storage products

Since Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that’s been a household name for decades, signaled recently that it might be going out of business, you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use — especially if it’s vintage. Figuring out the answer to that question for any type of reusable plastic food storage products — not just Tupperware — often comes down to understanding what they’re made of. More:

14/04/2023 -

Here’s the bad news: Forever chemicals are everywhere. These toxic compounds, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are often used in goods that resist water and grease like packaged foods, cookware, furniture, and outdoor apparel. More:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) PFAS: Industrial sources PFAS in the Environment PFAS in Food Packaging and other Food Contact Application PFAS in Clothes PFAS Health Effects PFAS Risk Management and Regulation

Forever Chemicals Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Limit Your Exposure

Here’s the bad news: Forever chemicals are everywhere. These toxic compounds, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are often used in goods that resist water and grease like packaged foods, cookware, furniture, and outdoor apparel. More:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) PFAS: Industrial sources PFAS in the Environment PFAS in Food Packaging and other Food Contact Application PFAS in Clothes PFAS Health Effects PFAS Risk Management and Regulation
13/04/2023 -

Around 15 million people across the globe are working at artisanal and small-scale gold mining sites, nearly a third of them women and children. Instead of operating advanced equipment supplied by formal mining companies subject to government oversight, they use basic tools, bulldozers and unregulated chemicals. More:

Mercury Use in Gold Mining and Impact

International mercury regulations fail to protect the environment, public health: study

Around 15 million people across the globe are working at artisanal and small-scale gold mining sites, nearly a third of them women and children. Instead of operating advanced equipment supplied by formal mining companies subject to government oversight, they use basic tools, bulldozers and unregulated chemicals. More:

Mercury Use in Gold Mining and Impact
11/04/2023 -

Scientists from the University of Toronto have detected cancer-causing chemicals called short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in over 87 per cent of products tested, despite the toxins being banned in Canada for a decade now. More:

Chlorinated Paraffins in the Environment Human Exposure to Chlorinated Paraffins Body Burden of Chlorinated Paraffins

Illegal, cancer-causing chemicals detected in Canadian toys and electronics, new U of T study finds

Scientists from the University of Toronto have detected cancer-causing chemicals called short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in over 87 per cent of products tested, despite the toxins being banned in Canada for a decade now. More:

Chlorinated Paraffins in the Environment Human Exposure to Chlorinated Paraffins Body Burden of Chlorinated Paraffins
11/04/2023 -

While PFAS has become a predominant environmental health concern, they are not the only class of forever chemicals that pose a health risk. Rather, they belong to a diverse group of chemicals that share the property of being remarkably stable in the environment. Other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which is the scientific term for forever chemicals, include polychlorinated biphenylsl (PCBs), dioxins and organochlorine pesticides like DDT. More:


PFAS: The “New” Forever Chemicals

While PFAS has become a predominant environmental health concern, they are not the only class of forever chemicals that pose a health risk. Rather, they belong to a diverse group of chemicals that share the property of being remarkably stable in the environment. Other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which is the scientific term for forever chemicals, include polychlorinated biphenylsl (PCBs), dioxins and organochlorine pesticides like DDT. More:

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