Toxic waste from India's 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy site moved for disposal after 40 years

(Reuters) - Indian authorities said on Thursday they had completed moving toxic waste from the site of the 1984 Bhopal gas leak disaster, which killed more than 5,000 people, to a disposal facility where it will take three to nine months to incinerate.

In the early hours of Dec. 3, 1984, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide factory owned by American Union Carbide Corporation poisoning more than half a million people in Bhopal, capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Twelve leak-free containers carrying 337 metric tons of toxic waste for incineration reached the Pithampur plant 230 kms (142 miles) from Bhopal on Thursday amid heavy security, Swatantra Kumar Singh, the director of Bhopal gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation department, told Reuters.

A trial run for the disposal of 10 metric tons of waste was conducted in 2015 and the disposal of the remaining 337 metric tons will be completed within three to nine months, the state government said in a statement.

Read full:

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/toxic-waste-indias-1984-bhopal-gas-tragedy-site-moved-disposal-after-40-years-2025-01-02/

A few minutes of 'incidental' exercise may cut heart attack risks in half, study finds

Yahoo News - We're often hard on ourselves when it comes to what "counts" as a workout, but a new study found that even tiny bursts of movement can have positive health effects. ?

Everyday activities like walking the dog around the block, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, scrubbing the floors, and raking the leaves all fall into the bucket of "incidental exercise." Researchers from the University of Sydney analyzed the value of these activities when it comes to preventing major adverse cardiovascular events, like heart attacks.

Women who got 1.5-4 minutes of daily incidental exercise had a nearly 50% lower risk of cardiovascular issues compared to those who said they never engaged in such activities. The results were slightly less dramatic for the men in the study: Those who got 5.6 minutes of incidental exercise per day saw a 16% reduction in their risk of major cardiovascular events.

"Doing something is likely better than nothing is the take-home message about incidental exercise," cardiologist Luke Laffin, who was not involved in the research, told Yahoo Life, noting that it's still ideal to have a more robust workout routine. Get some ideas on how to incorporate incidental exercise into your daily life.

Read full at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-stairs-few-minutes-incidental-233051580.html

One in five new colorectal cancer patients in the United States is under 55

Vox - One in five new colorectal cancer patients in the United States is under 55, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from the National Cancer Institute. That is nearly twice the rate in 1995. A recent meta-analysis led by the American Cancer Society found that 17 of the 34 most common cancers — including those of the small intestine, pancreas, and kidney — are occurring more frequently in younger people. Some of them had previously been declining but are now on the upswing again.

Here's the really scary part: While death rates for colorectal cancer patients over 65 are dropping, they are increasing among younger patients. Scientists say these early cancers can be more deadly because they are often not caught until it's too late for treatment. (Colonoscopies are not recommended until age 45.)

Please read full at: https://www.vox.com/explain-it-to-me/389508/cancer-early-young-adults-colon-breast-explained

Final EPA rules ban all uses of TCE, all consumer uses and many commercial uses of PCE, require worker protections for all remaining uses under the Toxic Substances Control Act

EPA– Today, Dec. 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the latest risk management rules for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) under the bipartisan 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) amendments, marking another major milestone for chemical safety after decades of inadequate protections and serious delays. These protections align with President Biden's Cancer Moonshot, a whole-of-government approach to end cancer as we know it.

TCE is an extremely toxic chemical known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. TCE also causes damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and fetal heart defects. These risks are present even at very small concentrations. Under today's rule, all uses of TCE will be banned over time (with the vast majority of identified risks eliminated within one year), and safer alternatives are readily available for the majority of uses.

PCE is known to cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer, as well as damage to the kidney, liver and immune system, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Today's final rule will better protect people from these risks by banning manufacture, processing and distribution in commerce of PCE for all consumer uses and many commercial uses, while allowing some workplace uses to continue only where robust workplace controls can be implemented.

"It's simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. "These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE. EPA continues to deliver on actions that protect people, including workers and children, under the nation's premier bipartisan chemical safety law."

PCE and TCE are both nonflammable chlorinated solvents that are volatile organic compounds. PCE can biodegrade into TCE, and PCE may contain trace amounts of TCE as an impurity or a contaminant. The chemicals can often serve as alternatives for each other. For several uses of TCE that will be totally prohibited, there is an analogous use of PCE that can continue safely in perpetuity under workplace controls. Some examples of uses that will be prohibited under the TCE rule, but will continue under the PCE rule include: industrial and commercial use as an energized electrical cleaner, in laboratory use for asphalt testing and recovery, use to make refrigerants and other chemicals, and for vapor degreasing.

"Over 40 years ago, a mother named Anne Anderson from Woburn, Massachusetts, approached me and started a crusade to keep any more children like Jimmy Anderson, her son, from dying from cancer caused by toxic chemicals. Anne's work directly led to this announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that I am overjoyed to celebrate today alongside her and every community that stands to benefit—a finalized ban on trichloroethylene and most uses of perchloroethylene, two chemicals that cause cancer, affect reproductive systems, are neurotoxic, and compromise immune systems," said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). "Despite their dangers, these chemicals could still be found in industries like dry cleaning, automotive repair and manufacturing. With no doubt that these chemicals are deadly, there is no doubt that this final rule will save lives—especially our children's lives—around the country."

"The Camp Lejeune contaminated drinking water issue has dragged on over the better part of forty years ever since TCE, PCE and other organic solvents were first documented in the base's drinking water supply in October 1980," said Jerry M. Ensminger, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant. "My daughter, Janey, was conceived aboard Camp Lejeune during the drinking water contamination and died of leukemia in 1985, at the age of nine. I first began my fight for justice in 1997, and was later joined by Mike Partain in 2007, who was also conceived aboard the base and diagnosed with male breast cancer at the age of 39. Mike and I welcome this ban on TCE by the EPA and this is proof that our fight for justice at Camp Lejeune was not in vain."

Please full at:
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-latest-actions-under-nations-chemical-safety-law

EPA Reforms New Chemicals Review Process to Better Protect Public Health, Promote Efficiency and Consistency

Final amendments will ensure that new PFAS and persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals are subject to safety review process prior to manufacture

EPA -  the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the regulations that govern the Agency's review of new chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ensure that new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals with potential for human exposure are always subject to the full, robust safety review process prior to manufacture. Under TSCA, EPA plays an important role by reviewing the potential risks of new chemicals before they can enter U.S. commerce and, when necessary, putting safeguards in place to protect human health and the environment. Today's final rule also improves efficiency and aligns with the 2016 bipartisan TSCA amendments under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, and is largely similar to the rule EPA proposed in May 2023.

"EPA's review of new chemicals should encourage innovation, while also making sure that new chemistries can be used safely before they are allowed to enter commerce," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chem...

Please read on from source:
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-reforms-new-chemicals-review-process-better-protect-public-health-promote

In total this year, at least 16 states adopted 22 PFAS-related measures.

More states ban PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' in more products
This year, at least 16 states have adopted 22 PFAS-related measures to either reduce or ban them from products or hold companies to account for the harm their products have caused. Of those 16 states, at least 11 have enacted laws to restrict the use of "forever chemicals" in everyday consumer products or firefighting foam. This includes bans on PFAS in apparel, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetic products, and menstrual items. In other states, lawmakers have passed measures that require companies to pay for testing or cleanup of these chemicals, disclose the use of PFAS in their products, and mandate the development of PFAS alternatives.

Read more from source:
https://stateline.org/2024/10/22/more-states-ban-pfas-or-forever-chemicals-in-more-products/

​EPA Report Shows US Fuel Economy Hits Record High and CO2 Emissions Reach a Record Low

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 50th annual Automotive Trends Report, demonstrating that model year 2023 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while greenhouse gas emissions dropped to record low levels. The report also shows that all 14 large automotive manufacturers are in compliance with EPA's light-duty GHG program requirements through the MY 2023 reporting period. Today, the new MY 2023 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road have led to 11% lower CO2 emissions.

The 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues a long tradition of providing the public with a highly detailed look at progress in the auto industry.

"This report provides a critical data-driven affirmation that strong, technology-neutral standards can underpin environmental progress while saving drivers money at the pump," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Manufacturers continue to innovate and are bringing technologies to market which will directly improve air quality, better protecting people's health and saving lives."

Over the course of 50 years, there have been many notable vehicle emission and public health accomplishments. Since EPA began keeping data in 1975, vehicles today are roughly 99% cleaner for common pollutants (such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particle emissions) which can help alleviate adverse health effects such as asthma and heart problems, and limit hospital days and cancer. In addition, fuel economy in the United States has improved from 13.1 miles per gallon in MY 1975 to 27.1 mpg for MY 2023 vehicles. 

Read on at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-report-shows-us-fuel-economy-hits-record-high-and-co2-emissions-reach-record-low

(The uardian) Five firms in plastic pollution alliance ‘made 1,000 times more plastic than they cleaned up’

Companies such as ExxonMobil, Dow, Shell, TotalEnergies and ChevronPhillips have only diverted 0.1% of the plastic they produced since 2019 away from the environment, according to data.

Oil and chemical companies who created a high-profile alliance to end plastic pollution have produced 1,000 times more new plastic in five years than the waste they diverted from the environment, according to new data obtained by Greenpeace.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) was set up in 2019 by a group of companies which include ExxonMobil, Dow, Shell, TotalEnergies and ChevronPhillips, some of the world's biggest producers of plastic. They promised to divert 15m tonnes of plastic waste from the environment in five years to the end of 2023, by improving collection and recycling, and creating a circular economy.

"The recycling schemes they're promoting can barely make a dent in all the plastic these companies are pumping out," he said. "They're letting the running tap flood the house while trying to scoop up the water with a teaspoon. The only solution is to cut the amount of plastic produced in the first place."

Bill McKibben, a US environmentalist, said: "It's hard to imagine a clearer example of greenwashing in this world. The oil and gas industry – which is pretty much the same thing as the plastics industry – has been at this for decades."

Read on from source:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/five-firms-in-plastic-pollution-alliance-made-1000-times-more-waste-than-they-saved-analysis-shows

EPA Launches New Initiative to Tackle PFAS, Identify Emerging Contaminants in Water

EPA - November 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a new, no-cost technical assistance effort focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities. This initiative is part of EPA's Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) program.

The Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative will help eligible public drinking-water systems evaluate emerging contaminant issues, conduct initial water quality testing, and identify next steps in 200 small or disadvantaged communities over the next three years. EPA will also share best practices and amplify successes through case studies, fact sheets, webinars, and other resources regarding addressing emerging contaminants, including PFAS.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing a focused opportunity to help small and disadvantaged communities address PFAS and emerging contaminants to ensure that drinking water is clean and safe for residents," said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. "By working hand-in-hand with local partners, the Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative will help ensure that historically underserved areas have access to safer drinking water that is essential for healthy and vibrant communities."

President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided an unprecedented $50 billion to improve water infrastructure across the nation. Of this funding, $5 billion is dedicated to the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant program, which supports this latest technical-assistance initiative.

EPA's free water technical assistance initiatives help communities identify their water challenges, develop plans, build capacity, and develop their application materials to access federal funding. The Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative builds on EPA's robust suite of technical assistance programs and includes diagnostic water quality sampling and analysis, source water assessment, preliminary treatment design and evaluations, operational and sampling training, and identifying solutions to address emerging contaminants and PFAS contamination including community engagement and outreach support.

In April 2024, EPA issued the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." Exposure to PFAS has been linked to adverse health impacts that include some cancers, liver and heart disease, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.

Communities can learn more about EPA's new Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative, on EPA's WaterTA website.

Source:

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-new-initiative-tackle-pfas-identify-emerging-contaminants-water

Some good news: Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by 37 percent below 1990 levels

Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by eight percent last year — to 37 percent below 1990 levels — according to a new report, Trends and projections in Europe 2024, by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The massive reduction in pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels in 2023 was aided by the ramping up of renewables like solar and wind, as well as the shutting down of coal-fired power plants.

Source:

https://www.ecowatch.com/greenhouse-gas-emissions-decrease-europe-2023.html

A world without OSHA: Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion giga-project The Line reaches new milestone after reports that 21,000 workers had died

NEWSWEEK: The largest construction project in Saudi Arabia has reached a new milestone amid growing concerns about the nation's workplace safety.

The city of Neom, which is the largest construction site in the world, announced that neighborhood planning and design for the 105-mile-long "linear city" will begin in 2025, with new global partners steering the process.

The announcement comes after a documentary shown by U.K. broadcaster ITV alleged that 21,000 foreign workers had died and another 100,000 more have gone missing while working on Saudi Arabian megaprojects.

In a statement released on Monday, Neom announced that the city, also known as The Line, would soon be entering "Phase One" of construction, heralded by the appointment of British development consultancy firm Mott MacDonald as the city infrastructure engineer.

Global design firm Gensler was also announced as the city's planning consultant, responsible for designing microclimate, mobility, logistics, and sustainability for the city, which aims to house 9 million residents once completed.

Source:

https://www.newsweek.com/workers-killed-saudi-megaprojects-construction-1977972

https://www.newsweek.com/saudi-arabia-megaproject-construction-workers-1984257

Reduction of daily-use parabens and phthalates reverses accumulation of cancer-associated phenotypes within disease-free breast tissue of study subjects

October 1st marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer and promoting early detection and research efforts.

This month serves as a reminder to focus not only on screenings and treatments but also on the everyday factors that could influence breast health.

One such area gaining attention is the role of chemicals found in personal care products and their potential link to breast cancer risk.

This research involved female volunteers who discontinued the use of beauty and personal care products containing harmful chemicals like parabens and phthalates for just 28 days.

The findings revealed a remarkable reversal of cancer-associated gene expressions in their breast tissue, suggesting that reducing exposure to these xenoestrogens could positively influence breast cell health.

Specifically, the study demonstrated that the subjects experienced significant changes in their breast cells, turning off certain genes linked to breast cancer.

This aligns perfectly with the goals of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of making informed choices about the products we use daily.

By switching to paraben- and phthalate-free products, we can potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer and promote overall well-being.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653523002813
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023Chmsp.32238014D/abstract
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36746253/

Weekend warriors and regular exercisers had a lower risk of developing over 200 different diseases

SOURCE— For those who struggle to find time for daily workouts, a new study brings welcome news: cramming your exercise into weekends may be just as beneficial as spreading it throughout the week. Researchers have found that "weekend warriors" enjoy similar health benefits to regular exercisers, challenging long-held beliefs about optimal exercise patterns.

The research, conducted by a team of scientists from prestigious institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute, analyzed data from nearly 90,000 participants in the UK Biobank study. Using wrist-worn accelerometers to measure physical activity, the researchers found that both weekend warriors and regular exercisers had a lower risk of developing over 200 different diseases compared to inactive individuals.

What sets this study apart is its comprehensive approach. While previous research has focused on specific health outcomes like cardiovascular disease or mortality, this investigation cast a wider net, examining associations between physical activity patterns and 678 different medical conditions.

The results, published in the journal Circulation, offer more good news for weekend warriors. Those who met the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week, even if concentrated in just one or two days, showed a reduced risk for a wide range of ailments. These included not only cardiovascular diseases but also metabolic disorders, digestive issues, and even some musculoskeletal and dermatological conditions.

Perhaps most notably, the study found particularly strong associations between physical activity and lower risk of cardiometabolic conditions. Both weekend warriors and regular exercisers showed approximately 50% lower risk of developing conditions like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and sleep apnea compared to their inactive counterparts.

"Physical activity is known to affect risk of many diseases," says co-senior author Dr. Shaan Khurshid, a faculty member in the Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital, in a statement. "Here, we show the potential benefits of weekend warrior activity for risk not only of cardiovascular diseases, as we've shown in the past, but also future diseases spanning the whole spectrum, ranging from conditions like chronic kidney disease to mood disorders and beyond."

Source Study:
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.068669

Invitation to Join the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC)

Join the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) for their first "Ask Me Anything" interview with Dr. John Warner – with you as the interviewers!

From Sept. 3 to Sept. 6, visit the "Ask Me Anything" forum space on the GCTLC to post questions for Dr. Warner. He will be on hand during this period to answer your questions (time permitting!).

You need to be a GCTLC registered user in order to post your questions and view his answers. If you aren't signed up yet, go to the log in page on the site, then click the Create A New Account button. Registration is free.

If you aren't familiar with the GCTLC, it's an online forum developed by Beyond Benign to advance the integration of green and sustainable chemistry principles and practices across the education continuum, including at the professional level. I've been a member of their advisory board since they began developing the platform and am also a forum moderator. I think it can be a great resource for the P2 TAP community.

​Living in a tree-filled neighborhood may be as beneficial to the heart as regular exercise

NBC News - Living in a tree-filled neighborhood may be as beneficial to the heart as regular exercise, new research shows. Researchers at the University of Louisville designed a clinical trial that followed hundreds of people living in six low- to middle-income neighborhoods in South Louisville, Kentucky. They used blood and other samples to better understand how their heart risks changed before and after the team planted thousands of mature trees near their homes. Results from the Green Heart Louisville Project's HEAL Study, released Tuesday, showed that people living in neighborhoods with twice as many trees and shrubs had lower levels of a blood marker associated with heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer compared with those who lived in more tree-bare neighborhoods.

US Landfills one of the country’s biggest sources of PFAS pollution

Landfills in the United States one of the country's biggest sources of pollution  have been found to contain large amounts of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) "forever chemicals." A recent study has found that PFAS likely make their way into the surrounding environment through gas emitted from landfills, since treatment systems at the facilities are not equipped to destroy or manage the hazardous chemicals, reported The Guardian.

According to a new study, more than half the landfills in the United States are "super-emitters" of methane.

"Addressing these high methane sources and mitigating persistent landfill emissions offers a strong potential for climate benefit," said Dr. Dan Cusworth, lead author of the study and a program scientist with Carbon Mapper, in a press release from Carbon Mapper. "The ability to precisely identify leaks is an efficient way to make quick progress on methane reduction at landfills, which could be critical for slowing global warming."

The study, "Quantifying methane emissions from United States landfills," published in the journal Science, is the largest measurement-based assessment of landfill methane ever conducted. It identifies major sources of emissions that have been absent from traditional accounting so that they can be given precedence for mitigation.

The research team — including scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and airborne atmospheric research company Scientific Aviation — assessed hundreds of the country's landfills using airborne surveys and direct observations.

The study not only emphasized the enormous impact of landfill emissions, but highlighted potential gaps in traditional methods of model-based accounting that could benefit from direct measurements using air-, surface- and space-based monitoring.

​Rate Of Cancer Deaths Projected To Increase by 93 Percent In Men In 2050

By 2050, the number of new cancer deaths for men globally is expected to reach 10.5 million, a 93 percent increase. Additionally, the number of new cancer cases for men is projected to rise by 84 percent. Both rates are higher for men than for women.

"Substantial disparities in cancer cases and deaths were observed among men in 2022, and these are projected to widen by 2050," according to a study published Monday in Cancer, an Interdisciplinary Journal of the American Cancer Society.

Read more from source:
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.35458

​EPA Invokes Emergency Ban on Pesticide - first time in 40 years!

On Tuesday the EPA issued an emergency stop order on the use of an herbicide called dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) due to serious health risks for fetuses.

This is notable because it's the first time in 40 years that the EPA has taken emergency action to stop the use of any pesticide.

According to the EPA: "unborn babies whose pregnant mothers are exposed to DCPA, sometimes without even knowing the exposure has occurred, could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, and these changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible."

DCPA is used on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, and onions crops grown in the US - it's been banned in the European Union since 2009. In the US, until last December, when the manufacturer voluntarily pulled it's use, it was also used on turf fields (gold courses, athletic fields, etc).

A 2019 study found that more than 50% of young women living in farming communities in the Salinas Valley in CA (a large agricultural area where pesticide exposure is high), had been exposed to this toxic herbicide. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30380470/)

Generation X and millennials are at an increased risk of developing certain cancers compared with older generations

Washington Post - Generation X and millennials are at an increased risk of developing certain cancers compared with older generations, a shift that is probably due to generational changes in diet, lifestyle and environmental exposures, a large new study suggests. In a new study published Wednesday in the Lancet Public Health journal, researchers from the American Cancer Society reported that cancer rates for 17 of the 34 most common cancers are increasing in progressively younger generations. The findings included:

• Cancers with the most significant increased risk are kidney, pancreatic and small intestine, which are two to three times as high for millennial men and women as baby boomers.
• Millennial women also are at higher risk of liver and bile duct cancers compared with baby boomers.
• Although the risk of getting cancer is rising, for most cancers, the risk of dying of the disease stabilized or declined among younger people. But mortality rates increased for gallbladder, colorectal, testicular and uterine cancers, as well as for liver cancer among younger women...

If the current trend continues, the increased cancer and mortality rates among younger people may "halt or even reverse the progress that we have made in reducing cancer mortality over the past several decades," he added.While there is no clear explanation for the increased cancer rates among younger people, the researchers suggest that there may be several contributing factors, including rising obesity rates; altered microbiomes from unhealthy diets high in saturated fats, red meat and ultra-processed foods or antibiotic use; poor sleep; sedentary lifestyles; and environmental factors, including exposure to pollutants and carcinogenic chemicals.

EPA Celebrates the 2024 Winners of the President’s Environmental Youth Award and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) and the President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA). 

"We are delighted to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions educators and students across our country make every day," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Our awardees exemplify commitment to environmental education and steadfast leadership in taking innovative approaches to protect human health and tackle climate change. To the awardees, we extend our sincere appreciation for your unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship. We look forward to seeing what you accomplish next."

"Environmental stewardship often begins in the classroom with young people and educators who are taking our planet's most pressing climate change and environmental justice challenges head on," said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. "This year's awardees represent passionate and dedicated leaders who are tackling the climate crisis, improving public health, and delivering a more equitable future for all."

The PIAEE award was established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act and seeks to recognize, support, and bring public attention to the outstanding environmental projects performed by teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning in K-12 education. The CEQ, in partnership with the EPA, administers this award. 

The PEYA was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1970 and recognizes outstanding community-level environmental projects by K-12 youth that promote awareness of natural resources and encourage positive community involvement. Each year, PEYA honors a variety of local projects developed by students, school classes, summer camp attendees, and youth organizations that promote engagement in environmental stewardship and protection. 

From across the country, 9 educators received the 2024 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Winning educators demonstrated leadership by integrating environmental education into multiple subjects and using topics such as climate change, environmental justice, water infrastructure, waste management, water quality, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, STEM education, and school gardens to teach about environmental sustainability. The winners also effectively demonstrated how they inspire members of their communities to participate in environmental education activities.   

Additionally, 29 students who worked as a team or individually on 13 projects received the President's Environmental Youth Award. Their stewardship projects, conducted in 2023, demonstrate the students' commitment and success in advancing community garden efforts, addressing environmental justice concerns, reducing pollution, conserving water and energy, reducing food waste, and combating climate change while also effectively encouraging the involvement of people in their communities.  

To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: PEYA Winners and PIAEE Winners.  

Help Butterflies, Bees And Other Pollinators During Pollinator Week

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to help native pollinators during Pollinator Week, June 17-23, and throughout the rest of the summer and fall.

A pollinator is any animal that visits flowering plants and transfers pollen from flower to flower, which helps plants grow fruits and seeds. Most of Wisconsin's pollinators are insects like bees (Wisconsin has 400 native species, including 20 bumble bee species), butterflies and moths. Wisconsin's pollinators also include hummingbirds and some beetles and flies.

"There's a special connection between our native pollinators and the natural areas that make Wisconsin so unique. The federally endangered Karner blue butterfly and rusty patched bumble bee are more abundant in Wisconsin than many other parts of the country," said Jay Watson, DNR insect ecologist. "These endangered species as well as Wisconsin's other native pollinators need our help. Getting trained as a volunteer or creating a healthy habitat for them in your backyard garden is a great place to start."

In addition to supporting rare pollinators, flowering plants provide food to common pollinators, other insects, people and wildlife. They also support healthy ecosystems that clean the air and stabilize soil. Despite the importance of native pollinators, many are facing population declines.

Here are some ways Wisconsinites can help pollinators:

Tips For Gardeners

• Plant native plants and trees. Early blooming trees are an important food source for bumble bee queens emerging from hibernation and many other insects, which in turn provide food for birds and bats. Flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, like columbine, bee balm and goldenrod, fill your garden with colors for months while providing food to pollinators.
• Familiarize yourself with and plant native host plants for butterfly larvae that work with the sun and soil in your yard. Many butterflies depend on specific plants for their lifecycles, like common milkweed (monarchs), violets (meadow fritillary) or dill, fennel and parsley (black swallowtails).
• Provide water and shelter. Pollinators need water to drink and safe places to rest, avoid bad weather and spend the winter. You can maintain brush and leaf piles, avoid trimming hollow-stemmed plants through the winter and provide water such as a bird bath.
• Maintain a yard free from pesticides and herbicides. Insecticides can harm or kill pollinators, and herbicides can kill the plants they need to survive.

Volunteer And Support Opportunities

• Become a trained volunteer with the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade, Wisconsin Karner Volunteer Monitoring Program or Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.
• Sign up for the State Natural Areas Volunteer Program. Volunteers clear brush, remove invasive species and collect native seeds.
• Support pollinator conservation efforts with a donation to the Endangered Resources Fund.

Source:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/95256

Air in Louisiana More Toxic Than Previously Thought

The presence of a dangerous chemical in the air of southeast Louisiana, is far greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated and exceeds safe limits, a study published Tuesday found. The levels of ethylene oxide, exposure to which can cause lung, breast, or other cancers, are nine times higher Ethylene oxide levels than the EPA estimated, the study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The new study found that the gas' presence averaged about 31 ppt and was far higher in certain locations within the industrial corridor, which runs alongside the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. In each of the census tracts the researchers studied, the level of the gas was higher than the EPA had estimated for that area, in most cases significantly, with a median discrepancy of about 21 ppt. "We expected to see ethylene oxide in this area," Peter DeCarlo, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University and an author of the study, told The Guardian, noting that it was "worrisome,"

"But we didn't expect the levels that we saw, and they certainly were much, much higher than EPA's estimated levels."

Please see full study here
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c10579

Conservation Efforts Are Succeeding Overall at Slowing Biodiversity Loss, Global Study Confirms

A first-of-its-kind study that analyzed hundreds of conservation actions around the world has confirmed that efforts toward preserving wildlife are resulting in measurable achievements.

The international study, published in the journal Science, sought to assess whether conservation efforts were having any positive impacts on biodiversity. Researchers analyzed 186 studies, including 665 trials, and measured changes to biodiversity.

Overall, the researchers found that about two-thirds of the studied conservation actions at minimum slowed biodiversity declines or led to improved biodiversity. 

"If you read the headlines about extinction these days, it would be easy to get the impression that we are failing biodiversity — but that's not really looking at the whole picture," Penny Langhammer, co-author of the study and executive vice president of Re:wild, told the BBC. "This study provides the strongest evidence to date that not only does conservation improve the state of biodiversity and slow its decline, but when it works, it really works."

Please read on via EcoWatch:

https://www.ecowatch.com/conservation-efforts-success-global-biodiversity-wildlife.html

​EPA issues new drinking water standard for PFAS

Earlier this month the EPA enacted it's first new federal drinking water standard in over 20 years for PFAS.

This new standard will require public water utilities to test for 6 specific PFAS chemicals

Here's a table from the EPA Fact Sheet on this new regulation.

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/pfas-npdwr_fact-sheet_general_4.9.24v1.pdf

As you can see from the table, the EPA has set legally enforceable limits for 5 PFAS chemicals, and for a hazard limit for a combination 2 or more of 4 of those. Hazard indexes are actually great, because it takes into account concurrent exposure. You can read more what a hazard index here.

https://pfas-exchange.org/wp-content/uploads/Hazard-Index-Graphic.pdf

The EPA has set aside $1.5 billion a year to help states comply with this standard, and while that might seem like a lot to spend on this one thing, compared to the benefits.

In calculating the quantifiable benefits, the EPA wasn't able to put a number on benefits related to developmental, cardiovascular, liver, immune, endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and carcinogenic effects, which means that the benefits will likely dwarf that $1.5 billion price tag.

A little MORE good news...
April 19th, the EPA designated two of the most common PFAS chemicals (PFOA & PFOS) as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law.

Both of these chemicals were phased out of use in the early 2000s, but because they are so persistent, they are still widespread.

A designation as a "hazardous substance" means that the EPA can add contaminated sites to the Superfund site list, and earmark funds for cleanup. One of the core aspects of the Superfund law is the "polluter pays" principle - the EPA can require companies to pay for cleanup.

You can read more about what this designation means here.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91109865/epa-pfoa-pfos-forever-chemicals-hazardous-superfund

EPA Takes Action to Maintain Public Health Protections for Communities Near Stationary Combustion Turbines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency denied a petition to remove stationary combustion turbines from the list of sources subject to regulation for emissions of air toxics, maintaining public health protections for communities near these facilities.

Today's action supports EPA's comprehensive approach to address climate and health-harming pollution from stationary combustion turbines. EPA is engaging with stakeholders on next steps for a broad-based approach to new and existing combustion turbines, including a proposed revision to the air toxics standards for combustion turbines as well as separate rulemakings to address ozone-forming pollution from new combustion turbines and to establish greenhouse gas emission guidelines for existing combustion turbines. 

EPA's section 112 regulations limit emissions of air toxics, also called hazardous air pollutants, such as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, acetaldehyde, and metallic HAP (e.g., cadmium, chromium, manganese, lead, nickel). HAP are known to cause – or are suspected to cause – cancer or other serious adverse health and environmental effects. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are probable human carcinogens.

Petitioners requested EPA remove, or "delist," combustion turbines, saying that cancer risks from this source category were below 1-in-1 million and would meet the statutory "delisting" threshold. EPA has reviewed data and analyses submitted as part of this petition as well as additional emissions testing data. EPA is denying the petition based on the agency's determination that the petition is incomplete and because EPA cannot conclude that there are adequate data to determine that the delisting thresholds in the Clean Air Act have been met. This is primarily due to both the uncertainty in the HAP emissions from affected sources and the missing emissions data from a large number of affected sources in the petitioners' risk analysis.

A pre-publication version of the notice and a fact sheet are available on the Stationary Combustion Turbines: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants webpage.

DNR, DHS Respond To EPA’s Announcement Of Maximum Contaminant Levels For PFAS In Drinking Water

WDNR- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced new enforceable federal standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This includes a new enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) individually for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt individually for PFNA, PFHxS and GenX. Additionally, the EPA finalized an MCL at a hazard index of 1 when a combination of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX and PFBS are present in a mixture.    

The EPA's enforceable standards acknowledge the importance of limiting exposure to PFAS in total and the role that drinking contaminated water plays in the potential for negative health impacts from PFAS.   

"Overall, Wisconsin's public water systems are well positioned to comply with the EPA's enforceable standards," said Steve Elmore, Director of the DNR's Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater. "The DNR set enforceable standards for two types of PFAS in public drinking water in 2022. Over the last year, public water systems throughout Wisconsin have sampled at least once for these and other PFAS."   

The current enforceable standard of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS in public drinking water will remain in effect until the DNR completes rulemaking to comply with the EPA's drinking water standards. This may take up to three years to complete based on Wisconsin's statutory requirements. 

Additionally, the DNR will formally request that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) update their health-based recommendations for the six PFAS included in EPA's finalized MCLs to account for new scientific findings. Wisconsin DHS anticipates their updated recommendations will be available during the second half of 2024.    

"DHS is committed to protecting Wisconsinites from exposure to PFAS, including diligently reviewing the new scientific information available from EPA," said Kirsten Johnson, DHS Secretary-Designee. "The good news is there are steps people can take right now to reduce their exposure to PFAS in drinking water and other sources." 

While this rulemaking process is underway, the DNR will also work with PFAS-impacted public water systems on potential actions to reduce contamination in water provided to the community.   

Of Wisconsin's nearly 2,000 public water systems, approximately 95% have PFAS levels below the EPA's standards. Sampling results for municipal public drinking water systems are available to view in the PFAS Interactive Data Viewer.   

The specific actions taken by any public water system will depend on their circumstances and could include treating water to remove PFAS or finding a different water source. These MCLs do not apply to drinking water from private wells.

Funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law may be available to municipal public water systems to take corrective actions against PFAS. 

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam.  

These contaminants have made their way into the environment in a variety of ways, including spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of wastewater that contain PFAS from treatment plants and use of certain types of firefighting foams. PFAS are known to accumulate in fish and wildlife tissues as well as in the human body, posing several risks to human health. 

You can find more information about actions to take to reduce your exposure to PFAS on the DHS website. 

Please read more from sources:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/91041

https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

For communities near chemical plants, EPA's new air pollution rule spells relief

The new regulation is aimed at reducing the risk of cancer for people who live close to plants emitting toxic chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a major rule on Tuesday to reduce toxic air pollution coming from more than 200 chemical plants across the U.S. The new standards for petrochemical plants, once implemented, will cut enough cancer-causing emissions to reduce cancer risk by 96% for people living near these industries, according to the EPA.

"This is a game changer any way you look at it," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan at a press event Tuesday. "This is a game changer for the health. It's a game changer for the prosperity. It's a game changer for children in these communities nationwide."

Please read full at:
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/09/1243778467/for-communities-near-chemical-plants-epas-new-air-pollution-rule-spells-relief

EPA Warns Farmworkers about Risks of Dacthal

WASHINGTON — April 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing its next steps to protect people from the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, or Dacthal). EPA is warning people of the significant health risks to pregnant individuals and their developing babies exposed to DCPA and will be pursuing action to address the serious, permanent, and irreversible health risks associated with the pesticide as quickly as possible. EPA has also issued a letter to AMVAC, the sole manufacturer of DCPA, restating the risks the agency found and stating that due to the serious risks posed by DCPA, the agency is pursuing further action to protect workers and others who could be exposed. EPA is taking this rare step of warning farmworkers about these concerns while it works on actions to protect workers because of the significant risks the agency has identified.

"DCPA exposure represents a serious risk to pregnant workers and their children, so it's imperative that we warn people about those risks now," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. "We're committed to taking action to protect the health of children, workers, and others who are exposed to DCPA."

DCPA is an herbicide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, but is primarily used on crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.

DCPA is currently undergoing registration review, a process that requires reevaluating registered pesticides every 15 years to ensure they cause no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. In May 2023, EPA released its assessment on the risks of occupational and residential exposure to products containing DCPA, after the agency reviewed data that it compelled AMVAC to submit, which had been overdue for almost 10 years. The assessment found concerning evidence of health risks associated with DCPA use and application, even when personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used. The most serious risks extend to the developing babies of pregnant individuals. EPA estimates that some pregnant individuals handling DCPA products could be subjected to exposures from four to 20 times greater than what current DCPA product label use instructions indicate is considered safe. EPA is concerned that pregnant women exposed to DCPA could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, and these changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life.

Also of concern are risks to developing babies of pregnant individuals entering or working in areas where DCPA has already been applied (especially post-application workers involved in tasks such as transplanting, weeding and harvesting). Current product labels specify that entry into treated fields must be restricted for 12 hours after application. However, the evidence indicates that for many crops and tasks, levels of DCPA in the previously treated fields remained at unsafe levels for 25 days or more. EPA also identified potential risks for individuals using golf courses and athletic fields after DCPA was applied. Spray drift from pesticide application could also put developing babies at risk for pregnant individuals living near areas where DCPA is used.

Please read full from source:

https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-warns-farmworkers-about-risks-dacthal

EPA issues PFAS test order as part of National Testing Strategy

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the fourth Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test order requiring testing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under EPA's National PFAS Testing Strategy, the latest action taken under EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap to confront contamination from "forever chemicals" nationwide. 

This action orders the 3M Company and Wacker Chemical Corporation to conduct and submit testing on the physical-chemical properties of 2-(N-Methylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido)ethanol (NMeFOSE) (Chemical Abstract Service Reference Number: 24448-09-7), including testing on the health effects following inhalation of this chemical. NMeFOSE has been used widely in products, including clothing and carpet treatments as well as furniture coatings (paint and varnish). NMeFOSE has been found in the air and in biosolids, which are a byproduct of the water treatment processes often used on agricultural fields as fertilizer. Studies have also demonstrated that NMeFOSE can accumulate in indoor dust and air, as well as in outdoor environmental media.

"Communities across the country need information about whether or not PFAS are in our air and water, and any health risks caused by these chemicals," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. "This year, we're continuing to use test orders to gather data about the health effects of PFAS so that we can take any necessary action to protect people and the environment."

After thoroughly examining existing hazard and exposure data, EPA has concluded that NMeFOSE may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. The potential hazards from exposure to this chemical could include damage to the nervous system and immune system, as well as cancer.  The test order will help EPA better understand the potential hazards and potential exposures associated with NMeFOSE. 

The information EPA receives under this order will not only improve the Agency's understanding of human health effects of NMeFOSE, but also potential health effects of more than 100 PFAS that are structurally similar to NMeFOSE and add to the agency's overall understanding of this category of PFAS.

The companies subject to the test order may either conduct the tests as described in the order, or provide EPA with existing information that they believe EPA did not identify in its search, but which satisfies the order requirements.

EPA encourages companies to jointly conduct testing to avoid unnecessary duplication of tests and will also consider possible combinations of tests that cover all required endpoints to diminish the amount of time, animal subjects and costs required.

The order employs a tiered testing process, as TSCA requires. The order is effective today, March 25, 2024. The results of all the first-tier testing are required to be submitted to EPA within one year of the effective date of the order and will inform the decision as to which additional tests are necessary. The order and any data submitted in response to this order will be made publicly available on EPA's website and in the applicable docket on the Regulations.gov page, subject to confidentiality considerations under TSCA section 14. 

PFAS National Testing Strategy 

In the National PFAS Testing Strategy, EPA assigned PFAS into smaller categories based on similarities in structure, physical-chemical properties, and existing toxicity data. EPA is issuing test orders for PFAS in specific categories that lack toxicity data to inform EPA's understanding of the potential effects on human health and the environment.

As EPA continues to further develop this strategy, refine its universe and categorization of PFAS, and consider stakeholder feedback, the agency also plans to increase the weight it places on the potential for exposures when identifying specific PFAS that would require testing.

Please read full from EPA:

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-pfas-test-order-part-national-testing-strategy-0

Endangered species, the “insect apocalypse” Death by a thousand cuts

Insects comprise much of the animal biomass linking primary producers and consumers, as well as higher-level consumers in freshwater and terrestrial food webs. Situated at the nexus of many trophic links, many numerically abundant insects provide ecosystem services upon which humans depend: the pollination of fruits, vegetables, and nuts; the biological control of weeds, agricultural pests, disease vectors, and other organisms that compete with humans or threaten their quality of life; and the macrodecomposition of leaves and wood and removal of dung and carrion, which contribute to nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water purification. Clearly, severe insect declines can potentially have global ecological and economic consequences.

Please read more from source:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2023989118

EPA finalizes stronger safety standards to protect at-risk communities from chemical accidents

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing finalized amendments to the Risk Management Program to further protect at-risk communities from chemical accidents, especially those located near facilities in industry sectors with high accident rates. The "Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention Rule" includes EPA's most protective safety provisions for chemical facilities in history, requiring stronger measures for prevention, preparedness, and public transparency. The rule protects the health and safety of all communities by requiring industry to prevent accidental releases of dangerous chemicals that could otherwise cause deaths and injuries, damage property and the environment, or require surrounding communities to evacuate or shelter-in-place.

"Many communities that are vulnerable to chemical accidents are in overburdened and underserved areas of the country," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This final rule is a critical piece of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to advancing environmental justice by putting in place stronger safety requirements for industrial facilities and new measures to protect communities from harm."

The final rule includes revisions to improve chemical process safety, to assist in planning, preparing for, and responding to accidents, and to increase public awareness of chemical hazards at regulated sources. The rule requires regulated facilities to perform a safer technologies and alternatives analysis, and in some cases, facilities will be required to implement reliable safeguard measures as practicable. This new requirement is expected to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents.

Read more information on the rule visit EPA's Risk Management Program rule website: 

https://www.epa.gov/rmp

A simple way to get microplastics out of your water

New research found that boiling drinking water can remove up to nearly 90 percent of microplastics.
"This study is aimed to stimulate more studies," the scientists wrote in their new paper. But they also noted that boiling water is relatively easy to do and has other health benefits — like killing potentially harmful microbes, parasites and viruses.

If you want to try it, the researchers cautioned you should wait 5 to 10 minutes to let the solids settle — and let the water cool. 

Then you can filter out the solids.

Read full from Maggie Penman:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/02/28/microplastics-drinking-water/

​World’s largest review finds direct associations with higher risks of cancer, heart disease and early death linked to Ultra-processed food

Ultra-processed food (UPF), "often chemically manipulated cheap ingredients" and "made palatable and attractive by using combinations of flavours, colours, emulsifiers, thickeners and other additives", directly linked to 32 health parameters spanning mortality, cancer, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic health outcomes."

From the Guardian:

Ultra-processed food (UPF) is directly linked to 32 harmful effects to health, including a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, adverse mental health and early death, according to the world's largest review of its kind.

The findings from the first comprehensive umbrella review of evidence come amid rapidly rising global consumption of UPF such as cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals and fast food.

In the UK and US, more than half the average diet now consists of ultra-processed food. For some, especially people who are younger, poorer or from disadvantaged areas, a diet comprising as much as 80% UPF is typical.

Convincing evidence showed that higher UPF intake was associated with about a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48 to 53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% greater risk of type 2 diabetes.

Highly suggestive evidence also indicated that higher PF intake was associated with a 21% greater risk of death from any cause, a 40 to 66% increased risk of heart disease related death, obesity, type 2 diabetes and sleep problems, and a 22% increased risk of depression.

The findings published in the BMJ suggest diets high in UPF may be harmful to many elements of health. The results of the review involving almost 10 million people underscored a need for measures to target and reduce exposure to UPF, the researchers said.

The review involved experts from a number of leading institutions, including Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, the University of Sydney and Sorbonne University in France.

Please read full from Andrew Gregory Health editor of The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/28/ultra-processed-food-32-harmful-effects-health-review

Science Source:
https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310

​Very cool: plants trees stalling effects of global warming in eastern US.

(The Guardian) Trees provide innumerable benefits to the world, from food to shelter to oxygen, but researchers have now found their dramatic rebound in the eastern US has delivered a further, stunning feat – the curtailing of the soaring temperatures caused by the climate crisis.

While the US, like the rest of the world, has heated up since industrial times due to the burning of fossil fuels, scientists have long been puzzled by a so-called "warming hole" over parts of the US south-east where temperatures have flatlined, or even cooled, despite the unmistakable broader warming trend.

A major reason for this anomaly, the new study finds, is the vast reforestation of much of the eastern US following the initial loss of large numbers of trees in the wake of European settlement in America. Such large expanses have been reforested in the past century – with enough trees sprouting back to cover an area larger than England – that it has helped stall the affect of global heating.

"The reforestation has been remarkable and we have shown this has translated into the surrounding air temperature," said Mallory Barnes, an environmental scientist at Indiana University who led the research. "The 'warming hole' has been a real mystery and while this doesn't explain all of it, this research shows there is a really important link to the trees coming back."

There was a surge in deforestation from the start of the US's early colonial history, as woodland was razed for agriculture and housing, but this began to reverse from around the 1920s as more people began to move into cities, leaving marginal land to become populated again with trees. The US government, meanwhile, embarked upon an aggressive tree-planting program, with these factors leading to about 15m hectares of reforested area in the past century in the eastern US.

Read more from Oliver Milman
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/17/us-east-trees-warming-hole-study-climate-crisis

Research source:
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF003663

EPA Issues Regulation Strengthening Air Quality Standards for PM 2.5

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule to strengthen the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The current standard, which has been in place for more than a decade, limits the average annual amount of fine particle pollution to 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The EPA will now require a 25% reduction in the allowable PM 2.5 to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter but will retain the previous standards for all other PM standards.

The tougher standard on particulate matter, often referred to as the "soot rule," will be fully implemented by 2032. The EPA maintains that the reduced PM 2.5 standard will result in $46 billion in public health benefits.  The EPA's new rule will trigger the following actions to implement the revised PM2.5 NAAQS:

For more information on particle pollution and to read the final rule, visit epa.gov/pm-pollution