Environmental Health

EPA finalizes chemical plant clean air standards

April 15, 2024 - On April 9, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a ruling to regulate toxic air pollution from chemical plants. The finalized ruling focuses on two primary cancer-causing chemicals: ethylene oxide and chloroprene. Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a flammable colorless gas characterized by a sweet odor that acts as a...

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Roughly 65% of bandages on the market contain forever chemicals

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this month, Environmental Health News partnered with Mamavation, a consumer watchdog site, to analyze the use of forever chemicals in bandages, including the popular Band-Aid brand. The study...

Understanding the environmental impact of the pharmaceutical industry

by Alivia Kaylor

The pharmaceutical industry is crucial in improving global health by developing and manufacturing life-saving medications. However, it also has a significant environmental impact that cannot be ignored.   The Pharmaceutical...

10% of Premature Births Linked to Phthalate Exposure In Utero

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this week, researchers revealed that approximately 10% of premature births in the United States are linked to prenatal phthalate exposure in a study published in the Lancet Planetary...

Healthcare Workers Urge Health Systems to Address Climate Change

by Veronica Salib

Solidifying the connection between healthcare and climate change, a survey by the Commonwealth Fund revealed that nearly 80% of clinicians in the United States believe that their hospitals must address...

EPA Proposes Lead Pipe Removal to Minimize Human Exposure

by Veronica Salib

Under the guidance of the Biden–Harris administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its plans to strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule as part of the Lead Pipe and Paint...

34% of Conventional Baby Food Contains Pesticides

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this month, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published an updated version of their 1995 study on pesticides in baby food. Data revealed that while some threats have been eliminated, there...

National Blood Supply Dropped 25%, Causing Critical Shortage

by Veronica Salib

Last week, the American Red Cross announced a national blood shortage across the United States. In addition to a dire need for blood due to natural disasters and climate crises, the organization...

7 Ways to Increase Pharmaceutical Sustainability

by Alivia Kaylor

The pharmaceutical sector is undeniably indispensable in the global landscape of essential medications. However, beneath the surface lies a harsh reality of environmental devastation and unsustainable practices. A 2019 Lancet report paints...

Pfizer Plant Damage May Cause Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Shortages

by Veronica Salib

A Tornado in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, caused significant damage to a Pfizer manufacturing plant. Experts predict that medication and pharmaceutical supply chain shortages are imminent. The company...

Comparing Merck and Pfizer’s 2022 ESG Ratings

by Hayden Schmidt

Environmental, social, and governance assessments, commonly called ESG scores, are emerging metrics that are beginning to shape how pharmaceutical companies do business. MSCI Inc., an American finance...

45% of Drinking Water Samples in the United States Contain PFAS

by Veronica Salib

An analysis of 716 tap-water samples revealed that 45% of drinking water samples in the United States contained at least one tested per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), also called forever...

Research Explores the Harmful Health Effects of Recycled Plastics

by Veronica Salib

Despite the narrative that recycled plastic is better for the environment and overall health, years of research have explored the harmful health effects linked to recycled plastics. In a report...

Adverse Birth Outcome Linked to Forever Chemical Exposure in Pregnancy

by Veronica Salib

On May 31, 2023, JAMA Network Open published an article detailing the impacts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure on birth outcomes. Researchers determined that exposure to...

Department of Agriculture Licenses Lyme Vaccine for Use in Wild Mice

by Hayden Schmidt

Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conditionally licensed an oral vaccine for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. LymeShield, the product...

Research Reveals That Forever Chemicals May Be Linked to Weight Gain

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this month, a study published in Obesity identified a link between weight gain and perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, independent of dietary habits....

How to Properly Dispose of Unused Drugs, Understanding Key Roles

by Veronica Salib

Unused medications pose a significant threat to healthcare, considering the impacts of improper disposal and drug misuse. Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications that are expired or no longer needed by the intended patient...

Liquid Albuterol Shortages Exacerbated by Supply Chain Issues

by Veronica Salib

Last month, WAND reported that Akorn Pharmaceuticals, a major domestic manufacturer of liquid albuterol, was shutting down. This closure — which followed 2020 reports that the company filed for...

Ohio Train Derailment and Chemical Spill Causes Health Hazards

by Veronica Salib

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, affecting 50 of the 150 cars on the train. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 20 of the cars...

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