Chemicals

'Forever chemicals' are increasingly 'everywhere chemicals,' too.The durable pollutants are now pervasive in environments around the world, quietly persisting and accumulating. They're also ubiquitous in us, routinely appearing in human blood, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Formally known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), the synthetic compounds have been linked with serious health risks, although much of their danger still remains poorly understood, including the specific mechanisms they might use…

61 Unexpected ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Food PackagingA global study identified 61 PFAS chemicals in food packaging that are not authorized for use in such productsBy Katherine BourzacPFASs can be found in various food packaging, ranging from coated paper wrappers to plastic containers. Credit: Erlon Silva - TRI Digital/Getty ImagesFood packaging from around the world contains at least 68 “forever chemicals” that can seep into what we eat, a new study finds. And 61 of them are not even supposed to be used in such…

Acne products from brands including Proactiv, Target Corp.’s Up & Up and Clinique have elevated levels of the carcinogen, an independent testing laboratory said in a petition filed with the US Food and Drug Administration late Tuesday. The lab asked the FDA to recall the affected treatments — all of which contain the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide — while regulators investigate.  Benzene is a natural component of gasoline and tobacco smoke and can cause leukemia in high…

Recent research indicates that pesticides and herbicides used in farming could be contributing to higher rates of Parkinson’s disease in certain U.S. regions, emphasizing the need for more in-depth studies and potential reduction in pesticide usage to mitigate disease risk.A preliminary study recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting has linked pesticides and herbicides used in farming to Parkinson’s disease in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region of the country“We used geographic…

Our planet is changing. So is our journalism. This weekly newsletter is part of a CBC News initiative entitled "Our Changing Planet" to show and explain the effects of climate change. Keep up with the latest news on our Climate and Environment page.Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox every Thursday.This week: From fashion to burials: How fungi can help fight climate change 2024 has barely started and is already threatening to set temperature records World's globetrotting animals at risk due to habitat…

Innovative silicon spikes developed by URV and RMIT University effectively neutralize 96% of viruses, promising safer laboratory and healthcare settings. The image shows a virus on a nanostructured surface. Credit: ACS NanoAn international research project in which the URV has taken part has designed and manufactured a surface that has virucidal properties but does not use any chemicals.A team of researchers from the URV and RMIT University (Australia) has designed and manufactured a surface that uses mechanical means to…

Formation of the leaf layer at Quinton Rail Technology Center, Stratford-upon-Avon, U.K. Credit: Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2023.0450 A new insight into how leaves transform into slippery layers on railway lines, causing delays for passengers and costing the rail industry millions of pounds every year, has been revealed by engineers at the…

A new method for detecting PFAS compounds in under three minutes has been introduced by chemists, offering a rapid, sensitive approach for environmental monitoring and addressing the widespread issue of PFAS contamination. Researchers report one of the fastest and most sensitive approaches yet for detecting toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulating in the environment, which are linked to health risks ranging from cancers to birth defects.PFAS have earned the name “forever chemicals” with good reason —…

One in 10 premature births in the United States have been linked to pregnant women being exposed to chemicals in extremely common plastic products, a large study said on Wednesday.The chemicals, called phthalates, are used to soften plastic and can be found in thousands of consumer items including plastic containers and wrapping, beauty care products and toys.Phthalates have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors" which affect a person's endocrine system and have been previously linked to obesity, heart…

They are used to give plastic products their distinctive durability, bendability and sleek, nonstick surface.Yet some of these chemical additives have been tied to maladies such as breast and prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as problems with children’s brain development and adult fertility.Of particular concern are a class of additives known as endocrine disruptors — chemicals that mimic and confuse hormone signaling in humans. Aggressive and impactful reporting on climate change,…