Pollution

A federal judge ruled Monday that New York could not enforce a state law from 2024 which aimed to force fossil-fuel companies to pay $75 billion in 25 years to a fund for damages caused by climate changes. Chief U.S. district judge Brenda Sannes, of Syracuse, New York, sided with 22 Republican state attorneys general as well as business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in determining that the state measure was preempted under?federal laws. The New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul's office did not respond immediately to a comment request. Sannes, a Democratic appointee to?President Barack Obama's cabinet,...

We also share data that confirms the high cancer risk for U.S. airline crews from cosmic radiation. AVAILABILITY OF CHILLING PLATELETS MAY BE EXPANDED SAFELY Researchers who have tested the use of refrigerated plates say that their results could help more than triple the?supply? available to save bleeding patients. Platelets are an important blood component for clotting. They also help to stop blood loss. Platelets donated are stored at room temperatures with a shelf life of five to seven days. In 27 hospitals across the U.S., Australia and Canada, 1,000 children and adults who underwent cardiac surgery were given either...

Tuesday, the?Trump Administration took a first step towards?rescinding?a decades-old regulation that protects undeveloped forest. The administration claims this will help to manage wildfire risks, but environmental groups say it will do just the opposite. Donald Trump has reversed environmental regulations and removed land from conservation to be used for energy extraction. According to a Department of Agriculture press release, the 'proposed rule' filed by the U.S. Forest Service will rescind 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule which bans logging and roads in undeveloped forest and transfer authority to the local national forest managers. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires...

In lab tests, we also found that a flavoring chemical in e-cigarettes damages human embryonic cells. A BLOOD TEST CAN DISCOVER PRE-CANCEROUS COLORECTAL LEES Researchers say that an experimental blood test for the detection of colorectal carcinoma also has promise as a way to prevent it. Commercially, there are several blood tests for colorectal screening. However, the new test can also detect precancerous polyps called advanced adenomas. The removal of these polyps may prevent cancerous cells from developing. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reported that they tested the assay on more than 1,500 adult participants in colonoscopy programs in China....

We also share a report by cardiologists suggesting that you may (or may not) want check your waist and hip measurement, as well as a lab?study that has some encouraging news regarding brain tumor treatments. WILDFIRES ARE THE MAIN CAUSE OF US AIR POLUTION EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY Researchers?say that wildfires are the main source of air pollution harmful to pregnant women in the United States. The study examined 64.5 million pregnancies between 2003 and 2019 in 48 states, analyzing the "neighborhood" exposure to tiny airborne particles of 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less that penetrate deep into the lungs. Vehicle...

Taylor Farms announced on Sunday that it was recalling from retailers more than 12 'prepared food items' containing jalapenos. This includes salsas and guacamole. The California-based provider said that it had voluntarily pulled products with jalapeno in them due to a recall by Coast Citrus Distributors. It also stated that it was "no more" sourcing the peppers from a Mexican farmer who?supplied Coast Citrus, while it searches for alternative suppliers. The recall is being conducted as U.S. authorities investigate an outbreak of Salmonella linked to imported jalapeno peppers from Mexico. This outbreak, which began earlier this week, sickened 345 people...

Firefighters who had made great progress against a cluster?of blazes near Spokane in Washington scrambled to secure their gains on Wednesday as they awaited a return of hot and dry weather?in the coming days. Officials confirmed that crews had created buffer zones around three fires which threatened?the state's second most populous city. Since Saturday, the blazes destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to leave. Authorities said that full containment of the fire, which involves clearing a large area of combustible plants from around its perimeter, is still not achieved. The Spokane area fire command stated that "with primary containment...

Officials said that wildfires burning on the outskirts Spokane in Washington for the third day had destroyed at least 700 structures and forced thousands of people to flee. The three fires were deemed the 'top priority' in terms of firefighting across the U.S., which includes the Pacific Northwest region, where hundreds of wildfires are burning, causing air pollution to worsen over a large area. Since Saturday, the Spokane fires, which are located on the northern edge of the city and home to 230,000 people, have burned more than 8,000 hectares (3,200 acres). Video footage of the fire zone shows a...

Officials said that wildfires burning on the outskirts Spokane in Washington for the third day had destroyed 700 buildings. They also forced thousands of people from their homes. The three fires are a top priority for the U.S. in general, and this includes the Pacific Northwest where, due to the severe drought, dozens of wildfires of various sizes have been burning since weeks, causing air pollution across a large region. Since Saturday, the Spokane area fires have burned more than 8,500 acres in and around the suburbs of the city. The city is home to 230,000 people west of the...

Amazon.com was sued by consumers on Friday who accused it of misrepresenting the benefits to the environment?of the seafood that is sold on its platform, a practice called greenwashing. In a proposed federal class action, consumers claimed that labels with phrases like "dolphin-safe," "responsibly source," "sustainable," and "wild caught" led them to believe Amazon's seafood sources cause minimal harm to the oceans and environment. Consumers called these?representations unsubstantiated, or materially incorrect because most fishing boats are not tracked publicly and some vessels obscure their location by disabling transponders. The consumers also claimed that at least a fifth of imported wild-caught...

Scott Gottlieb, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said that some large retailers and restaurants stopped sourcing products from a central Mexican region linked to a growing cyclosporiasis epidemic in the United States because they were concerned about widespread contamination. A?FDA investigation? has linked the outbreak with iceberg lettuce served in Taco Bell restaurants that was sourced from Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. Health officials are looking for other products that could be causing people to get sick, as the cases continue climbing. A widespread contamination of imported products could increase the risk for consumers to contract cyclosporiasis....

Scott Gottlieb, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on Monday that'some large growers and retail outlets have stopped sourcing their produce from a region in Central?Mexico linked to a cyclosporiasis epidemic because they are concerned about widespread contamination. A?FDA investigation linked the outbreak to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, served at?Taco Bell owned by Yum Brands, in nine states. Health regulators are investigating other products. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 4,173 confirmed cases in laboratories, and more than 7,400 suspected cases. Michigan, where more than 9,000 cases have been recorded, said that...

Experts and officials from Nepal and China met in Kathmandu three months before the wall of water, rock and mud that hurled down a Himalayan valley bordering Nepal and China killed hundreds. The agenda for the meeting, which took place in the capital of Nepal on May 27, included 10 Nepalese officials and 12 Chinese officials, including those from the Tibet region, where the disaster occurred. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to monitor and respond effectively to hazards such as floods, bad weather, and glacier-related hazards. Participants called for joint measures to reduce risk, such...

Experts and officials from Nepal and China met in Kathmandu three months before the wall of mud, water and rock that 'hurt down' a Himalayan Valley bordering Nepal and China killed hundreds. The agenda for the meeting, held in the capital of Nepal on May 27, included 10 Nepali officials and 12 Chinese officials, including those from the Tibet region, where the disaster occurred. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to monitor and respond effectively to hazards such as floods, bad weather, and glacier-related hazards. Participants called for "joint measures to reduce risk, including inventories and...

Experts and officials from Nepal and China met in Kathmandu three months before the wall of mud, water and rock that hurled down a Himalayan Valley bordering Nepal and China killed hundreds. The agenda for the meeting, held in the capital of Nepal on May 27, included 10 Nepalese officials and 12 Chinese officials, including those from the Tibet region, where the disaster occurred. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to monitor and respond effectively to hazards such as floods, bad weather, and glacier-related hazards. Participants called for joint measures to reduce risk, such as inventories...

After a two-week trip across the Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Dolphin brought extreme rain to eastern, central, and northern China. Dolphin's long-lasting and wide circulation made it one of China’s most significant weather events in recent times. Meteorologists have compared it to the devastating Typhoon Doksuri that will hit in 2023. How severe was the rain? Thirteen weather stations in the country broke their records for a single-day rainfall. The average rainfall in?Zhejiang from 7 to 11 August was 215 mm (or 8.46 inches), which is a record for a typhoon that made landfall in eastern China. Taizhou, the city where...

The South Korean authorities ordered a brief evacuation of the surrounding area on Tuesday following a 'leakage of white phosphorus in the?U.S. Safety Ministry reported that Osan Air Base is located south of Seoul. Yonhap reported that no casualties had been reported, and the evacuation order for residents was lifted about a half-hour later, after South Korean fire authorities & U.S. Forces?had completed decontamination. The base issued a statement saying that "at 1708 (808?GMT) due to a mishap on the ground and to be extra'safety, Osan AB established a 1000-foot'safety cordon in order to?protect both base and local population." Our...

Some of the world's largest carmakers won the first stage of a mammoth court battle on Friday over whether their diesel vehicles had "defeat mechanisms" that limited emission control systems. In a summary of her decision, Judge Sara Cockerill stated that she "rejected the majority?of the main allegations advanced against the manufacturers?whose vehicles?were examined at trial". The decision was made after a trial that?focused on?20 sample vehicles produced by five manufacturers: Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan and Renault, as well as the Stellantis-owned Peugeot and Citroen. Cockerill said that in her summary, she made some negative findings. She stated that the "split...

Geneva police fired tear gas at protesters on Sunday who had set a Tesla car alight and broken windows of an UN agency as they vented anger at the Group of Seven summit that was about to be held across the border in France. A peaceful march of 20,000 people was held, but later protesters targeted symbols they deemed to be emblematic of capitalism and multilateralism. These included the Tesla parked in the street and the UN Office. Witnesses reported that demonstrators ripped bricks out of the ground to throw at police while children cried when tear gas wafted across...

As EVs get cheaper and emissions targets are met, the market will be supported by a battery-electric vehicle share of 23% in 2026 in 'the European Union and Norway and a share of?28% in '2027. European 'campaign' groups say Europe is on the right track in its transition to electric vehicles and that it can be profitable for the carmakers. They pushed the European Commission last December to reverse the effective ban on the sale of new internal combustion engines cars starting 2035. T&E stated that 'battery-electric cars prices have fallen in average by 4 percent in 2025 due to...

According to documents released by the Chinese government on Thursday, China will reduce its carbon intensity - or carbon emissions per unit gross domestic product - by 17% in its current five year plan. This is an acceleration of the previous period between 2020 and '2025. China's new five-year plan released on Thursday called for the replacement of 30 million metric tonnes per year with renewables, and pushing towards peak coal. However, it did not set further limits on coal use. China's carbon intensity was reduced by 12% during the five-year plan which ended last year. According to a report...

The Meteorological Department of China announced on Thursday that the average temperature in China for the year was 10.9 degrees Celsius (51,6 degrees Fahrenheit). This is the highest ever recorded high-temperature day. At a press event, the administration announced its climate bulletin for 2025. The World?Meteorological Organisation stated in January that last year was?amongst the three warmest years on record. The administration stated that China's annual average temperature has risen in recent decades. 2025 will be the hottest year since 1961 when the first nationwide records began. The intensity of heavy rainfall and extreme heat has increased, increasing the risk...

Researchers studying satellite data for California discovered that the?more electric vehicles in a neighbourhood, the lower air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Satellite data confirmed, on the other hand, that areas that increased their number of gas-powered cars saw an increase in pollution. In a press release, Sandrah Eckel from the Keck Medical School at USC stated that California's move to electric vehicles has already made measurable changes in the air quality. Researchers reported in The Lancet Planetary Health that for every 200 zero emission vehicles added to Californian neighborhoods between 2019-2023, nitrogen dioxide concentrations dropped by 1.1%. Pollutants...

eBay, the e-commerce giant, unveiled on Wednesday its first climate change plan and said it would increase efforts to decarbonize?its operations?and supply chain?as part of a plan?to reach?net-zero emission levels by 2045. The plan was validated by Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a standard-setting organization. It builds on achieving an earlier goal to power all of its facilities with 100% renewable electricity by 2020, which had been achieved in 2024. Renee Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer at eBay, said the company aims to align with the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius over the pre-industrial level. This...