New side effect discovered in controversial fracking practice Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, isn’t without notoriety. The practice is riddled with objections and complaints from those affected. Communities near wells experience chemical exposures and contaminated water supplies, among other risks. Amidst all the negative publicity, a new threat emerged following a study by the National Institute […]
Recent rulings discipline careless asbestos handling
Recent rulings discipline careless asbestos handling Three recent verdicts represent the lack of care still associated with asbestos removal. In each case, the defendants either performed botched removal jobs or exposed workers to the deadly fibers without proper protection. During the demolition of a vacant public housing facility in Buffalo, New York, two city inspectors […]
Apple finally ends benzene use in factories
Apple finally ends benzene use in factories After months of petitions and investigations, Apple decided to pull the use of benzene from its production. Attention to the issue first came this March when groups began protesting after reports of Chinese workers falling ill. Many companies, including Samsung and Apple, use benzene in production of their products and in […]
Fracking at the Pittsburgh airport to begin this month
Fracking at the Pittsburgh airport to begin this month Discussions began last year regarding oil and gas drilling at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Allegheny County owns the more than 9.000 acres where the airport is located and the area is rich with layers of natural gas. For the struggling airport, the approval was more […]
Texas communities fight back against benzene emissions
Texas communities fight back against benzene emissions Oil refineries bring economic growth to the areas they inhabit, but residents question whether the boom is worth the price. For those living along the 54-mile stretch of coast between Galveston and Houston, the health risks currently outshine the benefits. This area is lined with city-like refineries and […]
PA fracking damaged water supplies more than 200 times in six years
PA fracking damaged water supplies more than 200 times in six years After years of withholding information, the Department of Environmental Protection released a spreadsheet outlining where oil and gas negatively affected water supplies in Pennsylvania communities. The damaged supplies mark a small percentage compared to the amount of oil and gas wells drilled since […]
Judge gives preliminary approval to NFL concussion settlement
Judge gives preliminary approval to NFL concussion settlement Less than two weeks after the NFL announced a new settlement for the concussion lawsuit, Federal Judge Anita Brody gave her preliminary approval to the deal. A fairness hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19 and after she will give her final decision some time after it occurs. After […]
NFL agrees to new concussion settlement terms
NFL agrees to new concussion settlement terms On Wednesday, June 25, the National Football League (NFL) announced a new settlement in the concussion lawsuit comprised of more than 4,000 former players. The rejected proposal of $765 million was replaced with an uncapped fund intended to meet the needs of all the qualified retirees. Months of […]
Mesothelioma treatments found in unexpected places
Mesothelioma treatments found in unexpected places Several research articles recently published detail new and innovative drug solutions to fight mesothelioma. Scientists from around the world continue to develop potential solutions with Korea releasing their findings tied to a leukemia treatment and red wine. Published in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the study found clofarabine, a drug typically used […]
Cities with bike shares see higher rates of brain injuries
Cities with bike shares see higher rates of brain injuries Wearing a helmet isn’t cool! My helmet makes my head hot! It’s uncomfortable! These are just some of the reasons you hear from children and adults explaining why they won’t wear helmets when riding their bikes. In fact, less than half of all Americans use […]