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☆ EPA designates two ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Mira Cheng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US Environmental Protection Agency designated two widely used “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances under the United States’ Superfund law on Friday. This ruling will allow the EPA to investigate and clean up leaks and spills of these harmful chemicals, according to the official news release. Exposure to “forever chemicals” has been linked to cancers, heart and liver disease and immune and developmental damage to infants and children, according to the news release. There are more than 12,000 forms of PFAS chemicals in the environment. The designation comes just weeks after the EPA announced new limits for “forever chemicals” in drinking water in the United States.

Persons: Michael S, Regan, Dr, David Andrews, ”, Sanjay Gupta, ” Lisa Frank, Harris, CNN’s Jen Christensen Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, United, EPA, Environmental, CNN Health, PIRG, Fund, Environment America Research, Policy, Biden Locations: United States, U.S, Washington

☆ Your drinking water could contain fewer hazardous 'forever chemicals' under new federal rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe Biden administration is cracking down on toxic "forever chemicals" that are widespread in America's tap water, food, and household products. EPA also set limits for mixtures of two or more PFAS chemicals, because research shows they may have combined health impacts. "The technology is there, especially to clean up drinking water, to filter these compounds out of the water. "For too long, many people across the country have had been drinking contaminated water levels that likely impact health." The Biden administration has a broader $9 billion PFAS strategy that goes beyond drinking water, including military bases, airports, and food packaging.

Persons: —, Biden, Ken Cook, Michael Regan, Regan, David Andrews, Andrews, it's, Carmen Messer, PFAS Organizations: Service, EPA, Business, Environmental, Companies, Chemours, DuPont, Harvard's, Chan, of Public Health Locations: North Carolina, Minnesota, Fayetteville , North Carolina

☆ Toxic ‘forever’ chemicals found in excessive levels in global groundwater, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found. Groundwater can be contaminated by PFAS from food and consumer products added to landfills as well as from manufacturing facilities. Public concern led to a commitment by manufacturers in 2008 to phase out use of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most widely used chemicals. Generally PFAS concentrations are higher in urban areas or areas that used PFAS products extensively, O’Connell said, but it is also leached into the environment in ways that may not be obvious. “Another example is that PFAS used to be used in ski wax, so pristine environments, where people ski, have PFAS in their waters and soils,” he said.

Persons: Mario Tama, ”, David Andrews, Andrews, ” Andrews, “, Denis O’Connell, O’Connell, ” O’Connell Organizations: CNN, US Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, EPA, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine . Studies, Environmental, Agency, Toxic Substances, Disease, Nature, University of New, Geological Survey, NSF, National Sanitation Foundation Locations: Mount Everest, Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ Safest summer sunscreens for 2023, according to the Environmental Working Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In 2019, oxybenzone was an ingredient in 60% of all sunscreen products tested by EWG, dropping to 30% in 2022. Best sunscreen by useFor the 2023 report, EWG tested and ranked over 1,700 sunscreen products for their safety and effectiveness, grouping the results by use. In addition to chemicals, there are two types of mineral ingredients listed in the guide that the FDA said are safe and effective: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. “Consumers need to have confidence that the sunscreen products they use meet international standards,” Swei said. Another plus — mineral ingredients don’t appear to harm the environment.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Emily Spilman, oxybenzone, EWG, David Andrews, EWG’s, Spilman, Homer Swei, ” Swei, ” Spilman, Oxybenzone, —, sunscreens, Alexandra Kowcz Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, Science, Environmental, Products, FDA, Healthy, EWG, sunscreens, European Union, Canada, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Toxicology Program, Skin Cancer Foundation, US Food and Drug Administration, Research, Care Products Council Locations: sunscreens, oxybenzone, EWG

Hazardous "forever chemicals" called PFAS are in most Americans' blood, and they don't break down. One simple chart shows how long PFAS last in human bodies, compared to substances like caffeine or lead. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of human-made chemicals, which are likely in your food, water, clothes, and furniture. "Once they get into your body, they stick around for a really, really long time," Carmen Messerlian, an environmental epidemiologist who studies PFAS at Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health, told Insider. That research tells us how long PFAS can linger in our blood, compared to toxic heavy metals or everyday substances like caffeine.

☆ Animals full of PFAS 'forever chemicals' have been found on every continent except Antarctica, new report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Animals, birds, and fish across the planet are contaminated with forever chemicals, a new report found. Though they're useful for resisting water, heat, and stains, PFAS do not break down in the environment, earning them the "forever chemicals" nickname. The new report suggests that contamination from forever chemicals may pose yet another threat to many species' survival. Cleaning up these emission sites is key to stopping more forever chemicals from building in the environment. "It will take regulatory action to move the entire market and country away from dependence on these chemicals," Andrews said.

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