Fertilizer made from city sewage has been spread on millions of acres of farmland for decades. Scientists say it can contain high levels of the toxic substance.
Tag: Hazardous and Toxic Substances
Switzerland Offers Reward for Ideas to Remove Old Bombs From Its Lakes
Switzerland is offering $58,000 in prize money for ideas to remove munitions from the depths, in case they start polluting. The catch: The cure can’t be worse than the problem.
2 Bases in Germany Placed on Heightened Alert Over Suspicious Episodes
The discovery led to the temporary lockdown of the base while the water supply was tested. NATO officials also reported that an intruder tried to forcibly enter one of the alliance’s bases in the country.
E.P.A. Pulls Pesticide Dacthal From the Market Over Health Concerns
The herbicide, used widely on crops including broccoli and onions, can cause low birth weight and impaired brain development, regulators said.
The White House Has a Plan to Slash Plastic Use in the U.S.
The government said it would phase out its purchases of single-use plastics, a significant step because it is the biggest buyer of consumer goods in the world.
The Killer Stalking Sri Lanka’s Men
Climate change and contaminated water have combined to create an epidemic of kidney disease.
A Chemical-Sniffing Van Shows How Heat Amps Up Pollution
In heat waves, chemicals like formaldehyde and ozone can form more readily in the air, according to researchers driving mobile labs in New York City this week.
Amazon Says It Will Stop Using Plastic Pillows in Shipments
They’ll be replaced in North America with paper packing, eliminating some 15 billion pillows a year. Plastic film is a major pollutant.
Chemical Makers Sue Over Rule to Rid Water of ‘Forever Chemicals’
Industry groups said the E.P.A. had exceeded its authority in requiring the drinking-water cleanup. The chemicals, known as PFAS, are linked to cancer and health risks.
U.S. Fund for Nuclear Radiation Victims Set to Expire Amid Impasse in Congress
Lawmakers are looking for a way to extend the program to compensate victims of government-caused nuclear contamination who fell ill, and some are seeking to expand it.