A single scratch on a non-stick coated pan can release approximately 9,100 PFAS plastic particles.

A new study, published in the Science of The Total Environment (PMID: 36030853) found that a single scratch on a non-stick coated pan can release approximately 9,100 plastic particles.

"Plastic" in this paper refers to PFAS chemicals that are polymers - not the kind of plastic used in water bottles, etc.

Many (but not all) chemicals in the PFAS family are classified as polymers. Polymer simply means "many segments" - they are molecules that are long chains made up of many segments.

This paper has found that non-stick-coated cookware can release thousands to millions of these micro and nano-plastic polymers. They are releasing PFAS particles when used, and these particles are ending up in our food. This testing was done mimicking around 30 seconds of cooking on both new and old/used cookware with different types of utensils.

Study authors write: "It is expected that the true amount of the released microplastics and nanoplastics from the actual cooking process is significantly higher, even with variations"

Read study at:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36030853/

NASA Scientists Join White House Cancer Initiative

NASA - "Cancer is a leading cause of death among Americans as well as a long-term risk for astronauts due to space radiation exposure. Scientists at NASA have been studying cancer for decades, focusing on understanding risks to astronauts," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Through this initiative, NASA will work with agencies and researchers across the government to help end cancer as we know it. This endeavor represents NASA's ambition to propel humanity forward – for science, for health, and for hope." 

NASA's space radiation team is comprised of 25 people across the agency, universities, industries, and government facilities. Representatives meet periodically with the Presidential Cancer Cabinet, which includes Administrator Nelson, to discuss the status of their research, and brainstorm ideas to further progress and interagency collaboration.

"The White House has requested all hands on deck to improve the outcome of cancer diagnoses," said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We are honored to have employees from the Space Radiation Element not only work to protect our astronauts, but also work to protect our nation through the Cancer Moonshot Initiative."

For instance, scientists are seeking to develop and test new screening technologies for specific cancers as only a handful of cancers currently have well-vetted, early-detection protocols. They strive to incorporate these new detection methods into the astronaut health surveillance program, which could help spot certain cancers earlier and make these measures more widely available.

"We want to know: What are those cancers' early 'tells'? And how feasible is it to screen for those tells?" explained Robin Elgart, Space Radiation Element lead scientist at Johnson. "If we could find these early-detection technologies and implement them into the astronaut health surveillance program, collaborations through the Cancer Moonshot could pave the way for broader use and acceptance of these new detection methods." 

"NASA support could even help the new technologies to come to market," added Brock Sishc, Space Radiation Element cancer discipline lead at Johnson. "Then we can help not only our astronauts, but also potential cancer patients on Earth."

Scientists are also working to identify medicines and dietary supplements that could help reduce the risk of cancer from radiation exposure. Searching for such compounds requires scrutinizing large groups of people over long durations – something NASA's small set of astronauts can't provide. Using connections forged through the Cancer Moonshot to access and process vast data sets involved with modern drug screening may help. Finding patterns in these data sets could reveal new insights.

In addition, NASA seeks to harness cutting-edge technologies to develop personalized cancer risk assessments from radiation exposure. The research, still in its early stages, involves using small devices called tissue chips, which help scientists model human systems.

Please read full at:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-scientists-join-white-house-cancer-initiative/

U.S. Department Of Energy Announces $43 Million to Support the Clean Energy Transition in Communities Across the Country

Research Projects Across 19 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico Will Help Communities Improve Energy Planning, Increase Grid Resilience, and Restore Power After Disasters

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $43 million for 23 projects to help communities plan their transition to a clean energy future and improve grid reliability and security. Twenty research projects will focus on increasing communities' resilience to disruptions from extreme weather and other disasters, and three will focus on building tools to help communities better evaluate and benefit from local energy resources. Researchers will develop and share planning methodologies, tools, technologies, and best practices that can be replicated in communities across the country as they work to install clean energy and strengthen grid infrastructure. Today's project announcements will help communities secure their energy future and support President Biden's goals to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035 and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050.

"Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to giving local communities the tools to understand and make informed decisions about their own energy supply and needs," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "These critical projects will help deliver reliable, affordable energy to every pocket of America—strengthening the safety and resiliency of communities across the nation and improving the quality of life for Americans everywhere."

Communities across the nation have faced increased disruptions in power caused by extreme weather events due to climate change. According to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, the U.S. has sustained 15 climate disaster events in 2022 with losses exceeding $1 billion each. Overall, these events have cost $30 billion and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. Power outages can have disastrous effects, shutting down critical services such as water, energy, communications, transportation, and other types of infrastructure.

The Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) funding program seeks to enable communities to utilize solar and solar-plus-storage solutions to prevent disruptions in power caused by extreme weather and other events, and to rapidly restore electricity if the power goes down. The 20 projects selected under RACER will advance innovative approaches to community energy planning and develop and demonstrate resilient clean energy technologies. These projects span over 30 diverse communities from California to Puerto Rico, and include partners from local and state governments, national labs, universities, and nonprofit organizations.  

Read more at:
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-43-million-support-clean-energy-transition-communities-across-country

​ EPA Issues Final List of Contaminants for Potential Regulatory Consideration in Drinking Water, Significantly Increases PFAS Chemicals for Review

WASHINGTON (November 2, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), which will serve as the basis for EPA's regulatory considerations over the next five-year cycle under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This update includes a substantial expansion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), an important first step towards identifying additional PFAS that may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

"Following public engagement and robust scientific review, the final contaminant candidate list is the latest milestone in our regulatory efforts to ensure safe, clean drinking water for all communities," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "As EPA takes action to protect public health and the environment from PFAS, including proposing the first nationwide drinking water standards later this year, today's final CCL 5 looks further forward to consider additional protective steps for these forever chemicals."

A year ago, EPA published the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, outlining an Agency-wide approach to addressing PFAS in the environment. Today's announcement strengthens EPA's commitment to protect public health from impacts of PFAS and support the Agency's decision-making for potential future regulations of PFAS.

In addition to a group of PFAS, the Final CCL 5 includes 66 individually listed chemicals, two additional chemical groups (cyanotoxins and disinfection byproducts (DBPs)), and 12 microbes.

In developing the Final CCL 5, EPA requested public nominations, providing an opportunity for people to make recommendations to the Agency about specific contaminants of concern that may disproportionally affect their local community. EPA further enhanced the CCL process based on comments received on this CCL and previous CCLs, including by prioritizing data most relevant to drinking water exposure, improving considerations of sensitive populations including children, and considering the recommendations included in the Review of the EPA's Draft Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5) report from the Science Advisory Board. These improvements resulted in a Final CCL 5 that can better inform prioritization of contaminants for potential regulatory actions and/or research efforts.

More information on the final Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5).

https://www.epa.gov/ccl/contaminant-candidate-list-5-ccl-5