Road Hazard: Evidence Mounts on Toxic Pollution from Tires

When 6PPD, which occurs in tire dust, is exposed to ground-level ozone, it’s transformed into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone, or 6PPD-q. The compound is acutely toxic to four…Continue readingRoad Hazard: Evidence Mounts on Toxic Pollution from Tires

Light and noise pollution are neglected hazards

A total of 130,000 healthy years of life are lost to noise pollution in the UK each year alone, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA),…Continue readingLight and noise pollution are neglected hazards

Microplastics found in every sample of water taken during Ocean Race

Concentrations of plastics in round-the-world race through remote ocean environments found to be up to 18 times higher than during previous event in 2017-18.Continue readingMicroplastics found in every sample of water taken during Ocean Race

More than 90% of identifiable trash in North Pacific Garbage Patch comes from just six countries

The researchers were able to identify the country of origin for 232 objects, with the largest percentage being from Japan at 33.6%. China was next at 32.3% followed by…Continue readingMore than 90% of identifiable trash in North Pacific Garbage Patch comes from just six countries

Vietnam battles plastic blight in idyllic Ha Long Bay

Rapid economic growth, urbanisation and changing lifestyles in communist Vietnam have led to a “plastic pollution crisis”, according to the World Bank. A report in 2022 estimated 3.1 million…Continue readingVietnam battles plastic blight in idyllic Ha Long Bay

Busy roads and airports expected over late-May UK bank holiday weekend

About 19 million leisure journeys by car are expected on Britain’s roads over the next four days, and more than 3,000 planes are scheduled to take off on Friday.Continue readingBusy roads and airports expected over late-May UK bank holiday weekend

High-stakes talks to end plastic pollution resume

Plastic production has doubled in 20 years. It wraps food, is woven into clothes and the fabric of buildings, and is an important material for disposable medical products. In…Continue readingHigh-stakes talks to end plastic pollution resume

Endangered chimpanzees contaminated with pesticides and flame retardants

A new study found that the feces of four primate species living in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, including chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys, contained significant levels of pesticides and…Continue readingEndangered chimpanzees contaminated with pesticides and flame retardants

Recycled plastic can be more toxic and is no fix for pollution, Greenpeace warns

Since the 1950s about 8bn tonnes of plastic has been produced. The Greenpeace report catalogues peer-reviewed research and international studies showing not only that just a tiny proportion (9%)…Continue readingRecycled plastic can be more toxic and is no fix for pollution, Greenpeace warns

Chemical cocktails harmful to wildlife found in 81% of English rivers and lakes

Of 1,006 river and lake sites with data, 814 were found to have these toxic mixtures, according to analysis of data collected by the government’s Environment Agency. The data…Continue readingChemical cocktails harmful to wildlife found in 81% of English rivers and lakes

Europe’s grassland butterfly population down more than a third in 10 years

Seventeen species that were once commonly found in pastures and meadows across 22 countries, including the small copper, common blue and meadow brown, declined by 36% on average between…Continue readingEurope’s grassland butterfly population down more than a third in 10 years

For Your Phone and EV, a Cobalt Supply Chain to a Hell on Earth

The race for high-tech metals has sparked a cobalt boom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has come at a steep human cost. In an e360 interview,…Continue readingFor Your Phone and EV, a Cobalt Supply Chain to a Hell on Earth

Iconic Nile River Delta faces existential threats, according to new study

Continue readingIconic Nile River Delta faces existential threats, according to new study

Air pollution linked with blood pressure in London teens

Continue readingAir pollution linked with blood pressure in London teens

Humans plunder the periodic table while turning blind eye to the risks of doing so, say researchers

In 1900, approximately 80% of the elements humans used came from biomass (wood, plants, food, etc.). That figure had fallen to 32% by 2005, and is expected to stand…Continue readingHumans plunder the periodic table while turning blind eye to the risks of doing so, say researchers

DR Congo’s faltering fight against illegal cobalt mines

At the bottom of a crater in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20,000 people work at a cobalt mine, in shifts of 5,000 at a time.Continue readingDR Congo’s faltering fight against illegal cobalt mines

Toxic air pollution particles found in lungs and brains of unborn babies

Toxic air pollution particles have been found in the lungs, livers and brains of unborn babies, long before they have taken their first breath. Researchers said their “groundbreaking” discovery…Continue readingToxic air pollution particles found in lungs and brains of unborn babies

Cobalt’s human cost: Social consequences of green energy must be assessed in addition to environmental impacts

While driving an electric car has fewer environmental impacts than gasoline-powered cars, the production of the parts necessary for these green technologies can have dire effects on human well-being.…Continue readingCobalt’s human cost: Social consequences of green energy must be assessed in addition to environmental impacts

Rapid increase in global light pollution

Over the past 25 years, the transition to solid-state LED lighting has been accompanied by rapid increases in light pollution, by up to 270% globally, and 400% in some…Continue readingRapid increase in global light pollution