Plastic You Put in Recycling Bin May End Up in Asian Waters
Study Finds That Plastic Recycling From Europe Being Dumped in Asian Waters Up to 31% of plastic exported for recycling is not recycled at all….
Pollution
Common Fireworks Emit Toxic Metals Into the Air – Damage Human Cells and Animal Lungs
Some of America’s favorite Independence Day fireworks emit lead, copper, and other toxins, a new study suggests. These metals, which are used to give fireworks…
Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations Drop 40% Over India During COVID-19
Concentrations of sulfur dioxide in polluted areas in India have decreased by around 40% between April 2019 and April 2020. Using data from the Copernicus…
Fluorocarbon Bonds Are No Match for New Light-Powered Nanocatalyst
Lab Unveils Catalyst That Can Break Problematic C-F Bonds Rice University engineers have created a light-powered catalyst that can break the strong chemical bonds in…
New Environmentally-Friendly Method Developed for Removing Toxic Chemicals From Water
Researchers from Swansea University have developed a new environmentally friendly method for removing toxic chemicals from water. A newly invented machine, called the Matrix Assembly…
New Research Shows Half of the World’s Population Exposed to Increasing Air Pollution
Half of the world’s population is exposed to increasing air pollution, new research has shown. A team of researchers, led by Professor Gavin Shaddick at…
Each Year More Than 1000 Tons of Plastic Rains on Western US Protected Lands
Microplastic particles and fibers spiral through the Earth system, accumulating even in protected wilderness areas and national parks in the western US. Utah State University…
Microfiber Forensics: How to Reduce Microfiber Loss From Washing Clothes
Almost 13,000 tonnes of microfibers, equivalent to two rubbish trucks every day, are being released into European marine environments every year. A new study has…
Superworms Digest Plastic: Superpower Made Possible by Bacterial Sidekicks
Resembling giant mealworms, superworms (Zophobas atratus) are beetle larvae that are often sold in pet stores as feed for reptiles, fish and birds. In addition…
Something in the Water: Environmental Pollutant May Be Much More Hazardous Than Previously Thought
Sometimes toxins, such as hazardous wastes and industrial byproducts, seep into groundwater, the source of our drinking water. One such pollutant is perchlorate, a chemical…
State of Emergency Declared After Massive Diesel Oil Leak Within the Arctic Circle
A state of emergency has been declared after some 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil leaked into a river within the Arctic Circle. Images captured by…
Researchers Use CLOUD Chamber at CERN to Find a Potential Explanation for Urban Smog
The effect of nitric acid on aerosol particles in the atmosphere may offer an explanation for the smog seen engulfing cities on frosty days. Under…
“Deep Biosphere” Microbes: Life Is Bubbling Up From Sediments Deep Below the Ocean Floor
The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that we move through a world shaped by unseen life. Bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms regulate the…
Toxic Chemicals – Including a Pesticide – Identified in Fracking Wastewater
Scientists are zeroing in on water quality and environmental concerns of fracking wastewater to determine if it is safe for reuse. Before water produced during…
NO2 Levels Rebound in China – Pollution Seen From Space Clear Sign Major Lockdowns Over
In early February 2020, scientists using NASA and European satellites detected a significant reduction in a key air pollutant over China after the country shut…
Artificial Intelligence Helps Researchers Up-Cycle Waste Carbon With Record Efficiency
Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University are using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate progress in transforming waste carbon into a commercially…
COVID-19’s Remarkable Changes to the Environment Seen From Space [Video]
As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives across the globe, Earth-observing satellites take the pulse of our planet from space. While the global lockdown has…
Unanticipated Consequences of Montreal Protocol: Ozone-Depleting Chemical Alternatives in Our Food and Water
An international environmental agreement to regulate the use of chemicals depleting the ozone layer may have inadvertently allowed higher levels of other harmful chemicals to…