Increasing Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains Increasing levels of plastic pollution are causing problems for human beings. The exponential rise in microplastics can be seen as contamination in human brains. Research found a rising trend in micro- and nano-plastics in brain tissue from dozens of postmortems carried out between 1997 and 2024. Particles were […]
Class Action Settlement Benefits Residents Surrounding U.S. Steel Plant
Class Action Settlement Benefits Residents Surrounding U.S. Steel Plant Residents living near U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Steel Works plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, may soon receive compensation following a class action lawsuit alleging that emissions from the facility created a nuisance and contributed to air pollution. An Allegheny County judge recently granted preliminary approval for the […]
Smartwatch Bands Contain High Levels of PFAS Chemicals
Smartwatch Bands Contain High Levels of PFAS Chemicals Smartwatch and fitness tracker bands can contain high levels of PFAS forever chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. A University of Notre Dame Study checked for PFAS, or markers of the substances, in 22 common brands. They were detected in 15 of the brands and […]
Shell Cracker Plant Pollution Harms Locals
Shell Cracker Plant Pollution Harms Locals A 60-year-old woman lives near the Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemical Complex, which is a plant that cracks ethane, a byproduct of natural gas, to make millions of tons of plastic each year. The plant became operational in 2022. She was excited for the prospect of jobs, but this excitement faded […]
East Palestine Residents Want More Time to Decide to Accept Settlement
East Palestine Residents Want More Time to Decide to Accept Settlement Some East Palestine, Ohio residents want more time to decide to accept their share of a $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern over last year’s train derailment. It is not clear whether the judge will rule on the motion before Thursday’s deadline for people […]
Johnson & Johnson Proposes Settlement with Talc Supplier
Johnson & Johnson Proposes Settlement with Talc Supplier Johnson & Johnson is proposing a settlement with mining companies Cyprus Mines Corporation and Imerys Talc America. If approved, Johnson & Johnson would pay $225 million and then an additional $280 million before the end of 2025. Imerys Talc America was once a subsidiary of Cyprus Mines […]
Benzene and Lung Cancer Risk
Benzene and Lung Cancer Risk According to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, being exposed to benzene during work heightened the odds of lung cancer development. Over the last several decades benzene has been regulated extensively. The result is exposure to benzene has declined to 1 ppm among […]
The EPA Set Limits for PFAS in Drinking Water
The EPA Set Limits for PFAS in Drinking Water For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency established exposure limits for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. The substances, also known as PFAS, are called forever chemicals because they don’t degrade and are nearly impossible to destroy. This leads to them lingering permanently in […]
The EPA Banned Methylene Chloride
The EPA Banned Methylene Chloride The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday a ban on most uses of methylene chloride. It is a toxic solvent used in paint stripping. It is linked to at least 88 accidental deaths since 1980. This final ruling strengthens the crackdown the Biden Administration is doing on different chemicals known to […]
Norfolk Southern Agrees to Pay $600 Million in Settlement Related to Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
Norfolk Southern Agrees to Pay $600 Million in Settlement Related to Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class action lawsuit settlement for the 2023 train derailment in Ohio. Residents fear though that the money will not be enough to cover future health needs when actually […]