#environmentalpollution — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #environmentalpollution, aggregated by home.social.
-
DATE: May 28, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Nanoplastics cause abnormal branch growth in neurons
URL: https://www.psypost.org/nanoplastics-cause-abnormal-branch-growth-in-neurons/
Tiny pieces of plastic can enter brain cells and alter their physical development, with the smallest particles causing the most noticeable changes. New research reveals that while low levels of microscopic polystyrene plastics do not kill brain cells or stop them from communicating, particles measuring just 50 nanometers wide prompt nerve cell branches to grow abnormally long. These findings were published in the journal NanoImpact, raising new questions about how environmental plastic pollution might affect neurological health over time.
Global plastic production continues to climb every year, generating massive amounts of waste that eventually breaks down into microscopic fragments. These fragments can enter the human body through the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. Once inside, these tiny particles travel through the bloodstream and can lodge in various organs, including the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Recent research has revealed that plastic particles can also cross the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is a highly selective border of cells that usually protects the brain from harmful substances circulating in the blood. Finding plastic within brain tissue has sparked widespread concern about potential neurological risks. This discovery prompted researchers to investigate exactly how these synthetic materials interact with delicate brain cells.
Most prior laboratory tests on plastic toxicity used exceptionally high doses or large plastic particles. Scientists often tested these massive doses on robust, immortalized cancer cell lines rather than normal brain tissue. This approach left a large gap in our understanding of how realistic amounts of small plastics might affect healthy, developing brain networks. To address this blind spot, a team of researchers from the University of Eastern Finland designed an experiment to observe the effects of low doses of microscopic plastics on highly sensitive brain cells.
Veronika Górová, a doctoral researcher at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, led the study. Górová and her colleagues focused their efforts on understanding how the sheer physical size of a plastic fragment changes its biological impact. They hypothesized that tinier particles would be absorbed more easily by cells, leading to more distinct biological changes than their larger counterparts.
The researchers chose to study primary cortical neurons, which are specialized cells taken directly from the outer layer of the brain of fetal mice. Neurons are the primary messengers of the nervous system, using electrical and chemical signals to process information and control the body. By using fresh cells rather than immortalized lab strains, the team created a model that more closely mimics how a living brain might react to foreign materials.
To test their hypothesis, the team exposed these neurons to tiny spheres made of polystyrene, a very common type of plastic used in everything from food packaging to building insulation. They used particles in three extremely small sizes: 50 nanometers, 100 nanometers, and 250 nanometers in diameter. For perspective, a human hair is roughly 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide, making even the largest of these tested plastics entirely invisible to the naked eye.
The neurons were submerged in liquid containing these plastic spheres for 24 hours. The researchers intentionally kept the concentration of the plastics low. They wanted to simulate a more realistic environmental exposure and observe subtle changes in the cells, rather than simply poisoning the neurons with an overwhelming amount of foreign material.
After the exposure period, the team used advanced microscopes to look inside the neurons. They successfully observed the 250-nanometer plastic pieces accumulating inside the bodies of the brain cells. The team noted that as the concentration of the plastic increased in the surrounding liquid, the amount of plastic absorbed by the cells also increased.
The microscopes used in the study could not clearly visualize the 50-nanometer pieces due to their incredibly small size. However, the researchers suspected these tiny pieces were also entering the cells. To determine if the plastics were harming the basic survival of the neurons, the researchers performed a test to measure the metabolic health of the cells.
They found that these low doses did not impair the basic survival or metabolic function of the neurons. The cells continued to process energy normally, showing no signs of dying off. It was only when the researchers applied extremely high doses of the plastics, far above their intended test range, that the neurons began to show signs of damage and reduced survival rates.
The team then investigated whether the tiny plastics affected the physical shape of the cells. Neurons grow long, thin extensions called neurites, which eventually become the wiring that connects different parts of the brain together. Proper neurite growth is an essential part of brain development and learning.
Using specialized imaging software, the researchers measured the length of these branches after the plastic exposure. They discovered that neurons exposed to the 50-nanometer plastics grew longer branches than those exposed to clear liquid. The cells exposed to the larger 100-nanometer and 250-nanometer plastics did not show this abnormal branch lengthening.
To understand what was happening at a deeper level, the team examined the neuronal transcriptome. The transcriptome is the complete set of genetic instructions, or RNA molecules, that a cell is actively reading and using at any given time. By looking at these instructions, scientists can see which genes a cell is turning on or off in response to stress.
The genetic analysis revealed subtle alterations in the cells exposed to the 50-nanometer plastics. The researchers found changes in the activity of genes known to control nerve branch growth and cell development. For instance, a specific gene associated with extending nerve branches, which relies on calcium to function, was highly active. This genetic shift matched the physical branch lengthening they had seen under the microscope.
Conversely, the larger 250-nanometer plastics did not cause these same genetic shifts. “It is important to understand that not only the concentration and material, but also the size of the particles matters,” Górová said in a press release. “With decreasing nanoparticle size, we observed more pronounced, although still relatively subtle changes.”
Finally, the scientists checked to see if the plastics disrupted the electrical communication between the neurons. They placed the cells on microscopic sensor plates capable of detecting the tiny electrical sparks neurons use to talk to one another. After monitoring the cells for an entire day following the plastic exposure, the team saw no changes in the firing rate or the strength of the electrical signals.
The results from the electrical tests were not statistically significant, meaning the plastic did not reliably alter the cells’ communication abilities. The brain cells maintained their normal chatter despite the presence of the foreign material. This suggests that while the smallest plastics change the physical structure and genetic reading of the cells, they do not immediately shut down the brain’s basic electrical network.
While this study offers a detailed look at how microscopic plastics interact with individual brain cells, the researchers noted several limitations to their work. The experiment involved growing isolated nerve cells in a dish, which lacks the protective barriers and complex interactions found in a complete, living brain. The human brain contains multiple types of support cells that might help clear away foreign materials or react differently to the plastics.
Additionally, the laboratory exposure only lasted for 24 hours. In the real world, humans and animals are exposed to a continuous, lifelong stream of environmental plastics. The researchers point out that a brief exposure in a lab setting cannot fully replicate the cumulative effects of decades of plastic accumulation in the human body.
The team also focused entirely on polystyrene. While polystyrene is a heavily researched material, it is just one of many different types of plastics polluting the environment. Future studies will need to test other common materials, such as polyethylene, to see if different chemical makeups trigger different reactions in nerve cells.
The researchers plan to continue exploring how these materials influence neurological health over longer periods. “In the future it would be interesting to have a look at the effects with more complex models and prolonged exposures, to get closer to the real-world scenario,” Górová said. By slowly building more realistic models, the scientific community hopes to eventually determine the true risk that everyday plastic pollution poses to the developing human brain.
The study, “Polystyrene nanoplastics modulate neurite length in a size-specific manner,” was authored by Veronika Górová, Thuy Thi Lai, Alexey M. Afonin, Kore Nemeth, Anssi Pelkonen, Tarja Malm, Pasi Jalava, Riikka Lampinen and Katja M. Kanninnen.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/nanoplastics-cause-abnormal-branch-growth-in-neurons/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Nanoplastics #Polystyrene #NeuriteLength #NeuralDevelopment #BrainHealth #Neurons #Neurotoxicity #Microplastics #Neuroscience #EnvironmentalPollution
-
Pope Leo XIV Laments Cry of Creation and Poor
The Holy Father said Pope Francis‘ encyclical Laudato Si’ is a framework for addressing the social and environmental…
#Italy #Europe #Europa #EU #'popeleoxiv' #Acerra #ACIStampa #careforcreation #environmentalpollution #LandofFires #laudato-si #PopeFrancis #TerradeiFuochi
https://www.europesays.com/italy/19624/ -
Pope condemns environmental harm in Italy’s ‘Land of Fires’
Pope Leo XIV made a visit on Saturday to Italy’s “Land of Fires”, where for decades the mafia…
#Italy #Europe #Europa #EU #environmentalpollution #FilippoMONTEFORTE #NicolaCalipari #PopeLeo
https://www.europesays.com/italy/19099/ -
https://www.europesays.com/iran/125985/ Satellite Images Show Persian Gulf Oil Slicks Growing During War #EnvironmentalPollution #EnvironmentalPollutionLiability #MarineCargoInsurance #MarineHullInsurance #MarineLiabilityInsurance #MarineWarRisks #OceanMarine #PersianGulf #ProtectionAndIndemnity(P&I) #Reinsurance #USIranConflict #WarRiskReinsurance #WarRisks #WarRiskInsurance #WaterPollution
-
Clinical Waste Washes Ashore on Sheppey Coastline
Illegal clinical waste, including medical vials, found on Sheppey beaches. Concerns rise over environmental and health risks. Cleanup plans are being made.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/
-
Clinical Waste Washes Ashore on Sheppey Coastline
Illegal clinical waste, including medical vials, found on Sheppey beaches. Concerns rise over environmental and health risks. Cleanup plans are being made.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/
-
Clinical Waste Washes Ashore on Sheppey Coastline
Illegal clinical waste, including medical vials, found on Sheppey beaches. Concerns rise over environmental and health risks. Cleanup plans are being made.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/
-
Clinical Waste Washes Ashore on Sheppey Coastline
Illegal clinical waste, including medical vials, found on Sheppey beaches. Concerns rise over environmental and health risks. Cleanup plans are being made.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/
-
Clinical Waste Washes Ashore on Sheppey Coastline
Illegal clinical waste, including medical vials, found on Sheppey beaches. Concerns rise over environmental and health risks. Cleanup plans are being made.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/
-
Thousands of tonnes of illegal clinical waste have washed ashore on the Isle of Sheppey, posing serious environmental and health risks.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/ -
Thousands of tonnes of illegal clinical waste have washed ashore on the Isle of Sheppey, posing serious environmental and health risks.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/ -
Thousands of tonnes of illegal clinical waste have washed ashore on the Isle of Sheppey, posing serious environmental and health risks.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/ -
Thousands of tonnes of illegal clinical waste have washed ashore on the Isle of Sheppey, posing serious environmental and health risks.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/ -
Thousands of tonnes of illegal clinical waste have washed ashore on the Isle of Sheppey, posing serious environmental and health risks.
#SheppeyWaste, #ClinicalWaste, #EnvironmentalPollution, #PublicHealth, #WasteCrime
https://newsletter.tf/clinical-waste-washes-ashore-sheppey-beaches/ -
https://www.europesays.com/ch-fr/32974/ «Aucune décision officielle n’a été prise concernant une éventuelle introduction en Bourse», selon le CEO de Syngenta #Agriculture #Article #BeatAgribusiness #Business #Économie #Economy #EnvironmentalPollution #GiveMePerspective #Multinationals #ProductionTypeAdaptation #Suisse
-
Uzbekistan Introduces Incentives for Major Industrial Polluters to Reduce Environmental Impact
-
Inside America’s carpet capital: an empire and its #toxic legacy
Covering the world in carpet came with a cost no one wants to pay
By Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearen and Justin Price, February 5, 2026
"Bob Shaw glared at the executives from the chemical giant #3M across the table from him. He held up a carpet sample and pointed at the logo for Scotchgard on the back.
" 'That’s not a logo,' fumed Shaw, CEO of the world’s largest #carpet company, one attendee later recalled. 'That’s a target.'
"Weeks earlier, 3M Company announced it would reformulate its signature stain-resistance brand under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency because of human health and #environmental concerns.
"Mills like Shaw’s had been using Scotchgard in carpet production, releasing its chemical ingredients into the environment for decades. And on a massive scale: The shrewd CEO built Shaw Industries from a family firm in Dalton, Georgia, into a globally dominant carpet maker worth billions.
“I got 15 million of these out in the marketplace,” Shaw told his 3M visitors. 'What am I supposed to do about that?'
"A 3M executive replied that he didn’t know. Shaw threw the sample at him and left the room.
"The answer to Shaw’s Scotchgard question from that moment in 2000 would be the same as that of the broader industry. Carpet makers kept using closely related chemical alternatives for years, even after scientific studies and regulators warned of their accumulation in human blood and possible health effects. Customers expected stain resistance; nothing worked better than the family of chemicals known as PFAS.
"A lack of state and federal regulations allowed carpet companies and their suppliers to legally switch among different versions of these stain-and-soil resistant products. Meanwhile, the local public utility in Dalton responsible for ensuring safe drinking water coordinated with carpet executives in private meetings that would effectively shield their companies from oversight.
"Year after year, the chemicals traveled in water discarded during manufacturing from mills across northwest Georgia, eventually reaching a river system that provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in #Georgia and eastern #Alabama.
"The #pollution is so bad some researchers have identified the region as one of the nation’s PFAS hot spots. Today, the consequences can be found everywhere. PFAS, often called forever chemicals because they can take decades or more to break down, are in the water and the soil.
"They’re in the dust on floors where children crawl, the local #fish and #wildlife, and as ongoing research has shown, the people.
"Doctors have few answers for those like Dolly Baker who live downriver from Dalton’s carpet plants. She recently learned her blood has extraordinarily high PFAS levels.
" 'I feel like, I don’t know, almost like there’s a blanket over me, smothering me that I can’t get out from under,' she said. “It’s just, you’re trapped.' "
Read more:
https://apnews.com/projects/pfas-forever-stained/#PFAS #Scotchguard #ThreeM #3MKnew #3MLied #BigChem #Accountability #WaterIsLife #CancerCausing #EnvironmentalPollution #ForeverChemicals #Carpeting #WoolRugs #HempRugs #DontTrustBigChem #PFASPollution
-
Inside America’s carpet capital: an empire and its #toxic legacy
Covering the world in carpet came with a cost no one wants to pay
By Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearen and Justin Price, February 5, 2026
"Bob Shaw glared at the executives from the chemical giant #3M across the table from him. He held up a carpet sample and pointed at the logo for Scotchgard on the back.
" 'That’s not a logo,' fumed Shaw, CEO of the world’s largest #carpet company, one attendee later recalled. 'That’s a target.'
"Weeks earlier, 3M Company announced it would reformulate its signature stain-resistance brand under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency because of human health and #environmental concerns.
"Mills like Shaw’s had been using Scotchgard in carpet production, releasing its chemical ingredients into the environment for decades. And on a massive scale: The shrewd CEO built Shaw Industries from a family firm in Dalton, Georgia, into a globally dominant carpet maker worth billions.
“I got 15 million of these out in the marketplace,” Shaw told his 3M visitors. 'What am I supposed to do about that?'
"A 3M executive replied that he didn’t know. Shaw threw the sample at him and left the room.
"The answer to Shaw’s Scotchgard question from that moment in 2000 would be the same as that of the broader industry. Carpet makers kept using closely related chemical alternatives for years, even after scientific studies and regulators warned of their accumulation in human blood and possible health effects. Customers expected stain resistance; nothing worked better than the family of chemicals known as PFAS.
"A lack of state and federal regulations allowed carpet companies and their suppliers to legally switch among different versions of these stain-and-soil resistant products. Meanwhile, the local public utility in Dalton responsible for ensuring safe drinking water coordinated with carpet executives in private meetings that would effectively shield their companies from oversight.
"Year after year, the chemicals traveled in water discarded during manufacturing from mills across northwest Georgia, eventually reaching a river system that provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in #Georgia and eastern #Alabama.
"The #pollution is so bad some researchers have identified the region as one of the nation’s PFAS hot spots. Today, the consequences can be found everywhere. PFAS, often called forever chemicals because they can take decades or more to break down, are in the water and the soil.
"They’re in the dust on floors where children crawl, the local #fish and #wildlife, and as ongoing research has shown, the people.
"Doctors have few answers for those like Dolly Baker who live downriver from Dalton’s carpet plants. She recently learned her blood has extraordinarily high PFAS levels.
" 'I feel like, I don’t know, almost like there’s a blanket over me, smothering me that I can’t get out from under,' she said. “It’s just, you’re trapped.' "
Read more:
https://apnews.com/projects/pfas-forever-stained/#PFAS #Scotchguard #ThreeM #3MKnew #3MLied #BigChem #Accountability #WaterIsLife #CancerCausing #EnvironmentalPollution #ForeverChemicals #Carpeting #WoolRugs #HempRugs #DontTrustBigChem #PFASPollution
-
Inside America’s carpet capital: an empire and its #toxic legacy
Covering the world in carpet came with a cost no one wants to pay
By Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearen and Justin Price, February 5, 2026
"Bob Shaw glared at the executives from the chemical giant #3M across the table from him. He held up a carpet sample and pointed at the logo for Scotchgard on the back.
" 'That’s not a logo,' fumed Shaw, CEO of the world’s largest #carpet company, one attendee later recalled. 'That’s a target.'
"Weeks earlier, 3M Company announced it would reformulate its signature stain-resistance brand under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency because of human health and #environmental concerns.
"Mills like Shaw’s had been using Scotchgard in carpet production, releasing its chemical ingredients into the environment for decades. And on a massive scale: The shrewd CEO built Shaw Industries from a family firm in Dalton, Georgia, into a globally dominant carpet maker worth billions.
“I got 15 million of these out in the marketplace,” Shaw told his 3M visitors. 'What am I supposed to do about that?'
"A 3M executive replied that he didn’t know. Shaw threw the sample at him and left the room.
"The answer to Shaw’s Scotchgard question from that moment in 2000 would be the same as that of the broader industry. Carpet makers kept using closely related chemical alternatives for years, even after scientific studies and regulators warned of their accumulation in human blood and possible health effects. Customers expected stain resistance; nothing worked better than the family of chemicals known as PFAS.
"A lack of state and federal regulations allowed carpet companies and their suppliers to legally switch among different versions of these stain-and-soil resistant products. Meanwhile, the local public utility in Dalton responsible for ensuring safe drinking water coordinated with carpet executives in private meetings that would effectively shield their companies from oversight.
"Year after year, the chemicals traveled in water discarded during manufacturing from mills across northwest Georgia, eventually reaching a river system that provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in #Georgia and eastern #Alabama.
"The #pollution is so bad some researchers have identified the region as one of the nation’s PFAS hot spots. Today, the consequences can be found everywhere. PFAS, often called forever chemicals because they can take decades or more to break down, are in the water and the soil.
"They’re in the dust on floors where children crawl, the local #fish and #wildlife, and as ongoing research has shown, the people.
"Doctors have few answers for those like Dolly Baker who live downriver from Dalton’s carpet plants. She recently learned her blood has extraordinarily high PFAS levels.
" 'I feel like, I don’t know, almost like there’s a blanket over me, smothering me that I can’t get out from under,' she said. “It’s just, you’re trapped.' "
Read more:
https://apnews.com/projects/pfas-forever-stained/#PFAS #Scotchguard #ThreeM #3MKnew #3MLied #BigChem #Accountability #WaterIsLife #CancerCausing #EnvironmentalPollution #ForeverChemicals #Carpeting #WoolRugs #HempRugs #DontTrustBigChem #PFASPollution
-
Inside America’s carpet capital: an empire and its #toxic legacy
Covering the world in carpet came with a cost no one wants to pay
By Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearen and Justin Price, February 5, 2026
"Bob Shaw glared at the executives from the chemical giant #3M across the table from him. He held up a carpet sample and pointed at the logo for Scotchgard on the back.
" 'That’s not a logo,' fumed Shaw, CEO of the world’s largest #carpet company, one attendee later recalled. 'That’s a target.'
"Weeks earlier, 3M Company announced it would reformulate its signature stain-resistance brand under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency because of human health and #environmental concerns.
"Mills like Shaw’s had been using Scotchgard in carpet production, releasing its chemical ingredients into the environment for decades. And on a massive scale: The shrewd CEO built Shaw Industries from a family firm in Dalton, Georgia, into a globally dominant carpet maker worth billions.
“I got 15 million of these out in the marketplace,” Shaw told his 3M visitors. 'What am I supposed to do about that?'
"A 3M executive replied that he didn’t know. Shaw threw the sample at him and left the room.
"The answer to Shaw’s Scotchgard question from that moment in 2000 would be the same as that of the broader industry. Carpet makers kept using closely related chemical alternatives for years, even after scientific studies and regulators warned of their accumulation in human blood and possible health effects. Customers expected stain resistance; nothing worked better than the family of chemicals known as PFAS.
"A lack of state and federal regulations allowed carpet companies and their suppliers to legally switch among different versions of these stain-and-soil resistant products. Meanwhile, the local public utility in Dalton responsible for ensuring safe drinking water coordinated with carpet executives in private meetings that would effectively shield their companies from oversight.
"Year after year, the chemicals traveled in water discarded during manufacturing from mills across northwest Georgia, eventually reaching a river system that provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in #Georgia and eastern #Alabama.
"The #pollution is so bad some researchers have identified the region as one of the nation’s PFAS hot spots. Today, the consequences can be found everywhere. PFAS, often called forever chemicals because they can take decades or more to break down, are in the water and the soil.
"They’re in the dust on floors where children crawl, the local #fish and #wildlife, and as ongoing research has shown, the people.
"Doctors have few answers for those like Dolly Baker who live downriver from Dalton’s carpet plants. She recently learned her blood has extraordinarily high PFAS levels.
" 'I feel like, I don’t know, almost like there’s a blanket over me, smothering me that I can’t get out from under,' she said. “It’s just, you’re trapped.' "
Read more:
https://apnews.com/projects/pfas-forever-stained/#PFAS #Scotchguard #ThreeM #3MKnew #3MLied #BigChem #Accountability #WaterIsLife #CancerCausing #EnvironmentalPollution #ForeverChemicals #Carpeting #WoolRugs #HempRugs #DontTrustBigChem #PFASPollution
-
Inside America’s carpet capital: an empire and its #toxic legacy
Covering the world in carpet came with a cost no one wants to pay
By Dylan Jackson, Jason Dearen and Justin Price, February 5, 2026
"Bob Shaw glared at the executives from the chemical giant #3M across the table from him. He held up a carpet sample and pointed at the logo for Scotchgard on the back.
" 'That’s not a logo,' fumed Shaw, CEO of the world’s largest #carpet company, one attendee later recalled. 'That’s a target.'
"Weeks earlier, 3M Company announced it would reformulate its signature stain-resistance brand under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency because of human health and #environmental concerns.
"Mills like Shaw’s had been using Scotchgard in carpet production, releasing its chemical ingredients into the environment for decades. And on a massive scale: The shrewd CEO built Shaw Industries from a family firm in Dalton, Georgia, into a globally dominant carpet maker worth billions.
“I got 15 million of these out in the marketplace,” Shaw told his 3M visitors. 'What am I supposed to do about that?'
"A 3M executive replied that he didn’t know. Shaw threw the sample at him and left the room.
"The answer to Shaw’s Scotchgard question from that moment in 2000 would be the same as that of the broader industry. Carpet makers kept using closely related chemical alternatives for years, even after scientific studies and regulators warned of their accumulation in human blood and possible health effects. Customers expected stain resistance; nothing worked better than the family of chemicals known as PFAS.
"A lack of state and federal regulations allowed carpet companies and their suppliers to legally switch among different versions of these stain-and-soil resistant products. Meanwhile, the local public utility in Dalton responsible for ensuring safe drinking water coordinated with carpet executives in private meetings that would effectively shield their companies from oversight.
"Year after year, the chemicals traveled in water discarded during manufacturing from mills across northwest Georgia, eventually reaching a river system that provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in #Georgia and eastern #Alabama.
"The #pollution is so bad some researchers have identified the region as one of the nation’s PFAS hot spots. Today, the consequences can be found everywhere. PFAS, often called forever chemicals because they can take decades or more to break down, are in the water and the soil.
"They’re in the dust on floors where children crawl, the local #fish and #wildlife, and as ongoing research has shown, the people.
"Doctors have few answers for those like Dolly Baker who live downriver from Dalton’s carpet plants. She recently learned her blood has extraordinarily high PFAS levels.
" 'I feel like, I don’t know, almost like there’s a blanket over me, smothering me that I can’t get out from under,' she said. “It’s just, you’re trapped.' "
Read more:
https://apnews.com/projects/pfas-forever-stained/#PFAS #Scotchguard #ThreeM #3MKnew #3MLied #BigChem #Accountability #WaterIsLife #CancerCausing #EnvironmentalPollution #ForeverChemicals #Carpeting #WoolRugs #HempRugs #DontTrustBigChem #PFASPollution
-
We are currently experiencing a triple planetary crisis: #ClimateChange, #BiodiversityLoss and #EnvironmentalPollution are deeply interconnected and threaten human life. A new series of reports identifies common causes and challenges to find mutually reinforcing solutions.
-
Rác thải ngập tràn tại đèo D'Ran - điểm nối cửa ngõ Đà Lạt và Khánh Hòa khiến cảnh quan nơi đây vốn nổi tiếng với vẻ đẹp thiên nhiên nay bị che lấp, người qua lại không khỏi ngao ngán. #RácThải #ĐèoDRan #LâmĐồng #ÔNhiễmMôiTrường #TìnhTrạngRác #KhuVựcĐôngNamBộ #VietnamEnvironment #WasteManagement #ScenicRoad #DaLat #KhanhHoa #EnvironmentalPollution #TrashProblem #NaturalBeautyLost #MountainPass #TourismImpact #LocalIssue #CommunityConcern #CleanUpNeeded
-
Rác thải ngập tràn tại đèo D'Ran - điểm nối cửa ngõ Đà Lạt và Khánh Hòa khiến cảnh quan nơi đây vốn nổi tiếng với vẻ đẹp thiên nhiên nay bị che lấp, người qua lại không khỏi ngao ngán. #RácThải #ĐèoDRan #LâmĐồng #ÔNhiễmMôiTrường #TìnhTrạngRác #KhuVựcĐôngNamBộ #VietnamEnvironment #WasteManagement #ScenicRoad #DaLat #KhanhHoa #EnvironmentalPollution #TrashProblem #NaturalBeautyLost #MountainPass #TourismImpact #LocalIssue #CommunityConcern #CleanUpNeeded
-
Chính phủ Ấn Độ đã cho phép các trường học tại thủ đô New Delhi và khu vực lân cận chuyển sang học trực tuyến, đồng thời đình chỉ tạm thời hoạt động xây dựng do ô nhiễm không khí nghiêm trọng.
#ẤnĐộ #ÔNhiễmKhôngKhí #BảoVệMôiTrường #EnvironmentalPollution #AirQuality #EducationReform
-
Giám đốc Công ty Tân Thuận Phong, ông Bùi Văn Bình, và các đồng phạm đã bị khởi tố, bắt giam.
Ông Bình bị điều tra về 2 tội danh: "Gây ô nhiễm môi trường" và "Vi phạm quy định về kế toán gây hậu quả nghiêm trọng".
#phápluật #khởitố #bắtgiam #ônhiễmmôitrường #kếtoán #TânThuậnPhong
#Vietnam #law #arrest #crime #environmentalpollutionhttps://vtcnews.vn/bat-giam-doc-cong-ty-tan-thuan-phong-va-dong-pham-ar969293.html
-
The trial against Conarpesa executives for alleged environmental damage began in Puerto Madryn. https://www.byteseu.com/1279891/ #environment #EnvironmentalPollution #Pollution #PuertoMadryn #trial
-
Almost immune to cancer and over 390 different genes: the unique characteristics of the Chernobyl dogs.
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 forever transformed the ecosystem of the region. The explosion of reactor 4…
#NewsBeep #News #Genetics #AU #Australia #Chernobyl #dogs #Environmentalpollution #nucleardisaster #pollution #Science #Ukraine
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/55374/ -
https://www.europesays.com/uk/203228/ Newly discovered soil microbe helps clean water #BiogeochemicalRemediation #CriticalZone #DeepSoilMicrobes #EcologicalHealth #Environment #EnvironmentalPollution #GroundwaterPurification #JamesTiedje #MicrobialCommunities #MicrobialEcology #MSUResearch #PNASJournalStudy #PollutionCleanup #Science #SoilHealth #Sysuimicrobiota #UK #UnitedKingdom #WaterPurification
-
#Trump #EPA’s Next Move: Making It Harder to Sue for Getting Cancer from #Roundup
The corporation behind Roundup #herbicide has paid out nearly $11 billion in lawsuits. Now it's backing an EPA rule that would stop the bleeding.
by Schuyler Mitchell, March 21 2025
"Last August, 11 industry-friendly red states, led by Nebraska and Iowa, submitted a 436-page petition asking the agency to amend its labeling rules under the Federal #Insecticide, #Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act, or #FIFRA. The proposed rule change would explicitly prohibit states from labeling #pesticides and #herbicides with warnings about cancer, #BirthDefects, and reproductive harm if those notices contradict the EPA’s risk assessment.
"The states made clear that their ultimate goal is to thwart future lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers. Their petition argued that recent court rulings have created a 'gap in FIFRA’s regulatory framework' that the proposed rule change would plug.
"In January, in a move initiated by the Biden administration, the EPA took a first step of accepting public comment on the rule-making petition, with a deadline of March 24 — though this step is exploratory and does not mean a new rule will be issued. Still, the EPA’s decision could have disastrous consequences if Donald Trump’s second administration is as friendly to the #ChemicalIndustry as it was in his first.
"'It’s telling of the lengths that pesticide manufacturers will go to make sure that nothing interferes with their profit margins,' said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'There’s a reality that the industry itself generates much of the data, and they say it’s safe, and then EPA approves that determination.”
Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/21/trump-epa-monsanto-roundup-bayer-cancer-chemicals/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/VsfWELink for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0562
#KillThePoor #Ecocide #GlyphosateKills #MonsantoKills #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Pollution #RunOff #Cancer #EnvironmentalPollution #USPol #BigChemical #BigAg #RoundupReady #Microbiota #BeeKilling #BayerKills #CenterForBiologicalDiversity -
#Trump #EPA’s Next Move: Making It Harder to Sue for Getting Cancer from #Roundup
The corporation behind Roundup #herbicide has paid out nearly $11 billion in lawsuits. Now it's backing an EPA rule that would stop the bleeding.
by Schuyler Mitchell, March 21 2025
"Last August, 11 industry-friendly red states, led by Nebraska and Iowa, submitted a 436-page petition asking the agency to amend its labeling rules under the Federal #Insecticide, #Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act, or #FIFRA. The proposed rule change would explicitly prohibit states from labeling #pesticides and #herbicides with warnings about cancer, #BirthDefects, and reproductive harm if those notices contradict the EPA’s risk assessment.
"The states made clear that their ultimate goal is to thwart future lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers. Their petition argued that recent court rulings have created a 'gap in FIFRA’s regulatory framework' that the proposed rule change would plug.
"In January, in a move initiated by the Biden administration, the EPA took a first step of accepting public comment on the rule-making petition, with a deadline of March 24 — though this step is exploratory and does not mean a new rule will be issued. Still, the EPA’s decision could have disastrous consequences if Donald Trump’s second administration is as friendly to the #ChemicalIndustry as it was in his first.
"'It’s telling of the lengths that pesticide manufacturers will go to make sure that nothing interferes with their profit margins,' said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'There’s a reality that the industry itself generates much of the data, and they say it’s safe, and then EPA approves that determination.”
Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/21/trump-epa-monsanto-roundup-bayer-cancer-chemicals/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/VsfWELink for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0562
#KillThePoor #Ecocide #GlyphosateKills #MonsantoKills #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Pollution #RunOff #Cancer #EnvironmentalPollution #USPol #BigChemical #BigAg #RoundupReady #Microbiota #BeeKilling #BayerKills #CenterForBiologicalDiversity -
#Trump #EPA’s Next Move: Making It Harder to Sue for Getting Cancer from #Roundup
The corporation behind Roundup #herbicide has paid out nearly $11 billion in lawsuits. Now it's backing an EPA rule that would stop the bleeding.
by Schuyler Mitchell, March 21 2025
"Last August, 11 industry-friendly red states, led by Nebraska and Iowa, submitted a 436-page petition asking the agency to amend its labeling rules under the Federal #Insecticide, #Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act, or #FIFRA. The proposed rule change would explicitly prohibit states from labeling #pesticides and #herbicides with warnings about cancer, #BirthDefects, and reproductive harm if those notices contradict the EPA’s risk assessment.
"The states made clear that their ultimate goal is to thwart future lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers. Their petition argued that recent court rulings have created a 'gap in FIFRA’s regulatory framework' that the proposed rule change would plug.
"In January, in a move initiated by the Biden administration, the EPA took a first step of accepting public comment on the rule-making petition, with a deadline of March 24 — though this step is exploratory and does not mean a new rule will be issued. Still, the EPA’s decision could have disastrous consequences if Donald Trump’s second administration is as friendly to the #ChemicalIndustry as it was in his first.
"'It’s telling of the lengths that pesticide manufacturers will go to make sure that nothing interferes with their profit margins,' said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'There’s a reality that the industry itself generates much of the data, and they say it’s safe, and then EPA approves that determination.”
Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/21/trump-epa-monsanto-roundup-bayer-cancer-chemicals/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/VsfWELink for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0562
#KillThePoor #Ecocide #GlyphosateKills #MonsantoKills #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Pollution #RunOff #Cancer #EnvironmentalPollution #USPol #BigChemical #BigAg #RoundupReady #Microbiota #BeeKilling #BayerKills #CenterForBiologicalDiversity -
#Trump #EPA’s Next Move: Making It Harder to Sue for Getting Cancer from #Roundup
The corporation behind Roundup #herbicide has paid out nearly $11 billion in lawsuits. Now it's backing an EPA rule that would stop the bleeding.
by Schuyler Mitchell, March 21 2025
"Last August, 11 industry-friendly red states, led by Nebraska and Iowa, submitted a 436-page petition asking the agency to amend its labeling rules under the Federal #Insecticide, #Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act, or #FIFRA. The proposed rule change would explicitly prohibit states from labeling #pesticides and #herbicides with warnings about cancer, #BirthDefects, and reproductive harm if those notices contradict the EPA’s risk assessment.
"The states made clear that their ultimate goal is to thwart future lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers. Their petition argued that recent court rulings have created a 'gap in FIFRA’s regulatory framework' that the proposed rule change would plug.
"In January, in a move initiated by the Biden administration, the EPA took a first step of accepting public comment on the rule-making petition, with a deadline of March 24 — though this step is exploratory and does not mean a new rule will be issued. Still, the EPA’s decision could have disastrous consequences if Donald Trump’s second administration is as friendly to the #ChemicalIndustry as it was in his first.
"'It’s telling of the lengths that pesticide manufacturers will go to make sure that nothing interferes with their profit margins,' said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'There’s a reality that the industry itself generates much of the data, and they say it’s safe, and then EPA approves that determination.”
Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/21/trump-epa-monsanto-roundup-bayer-cancer-chemicals/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/VsfWELink for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0562
#KillThePoor #Ecocide #GlyphosateKills #MonsantoKills #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Pollution #RunOff #Cancer #EnvironmentalPollution #USPol #BigChemical #BigAg #RoundupReady #Microbiota #BeeKilling #BayerKills #CenterForBiologicalDiversity -
#Trump #EPA’s Next Move: Making It Harder to Sue for Getting Cancer from #Roundup
The corporation behind Roundup #herbicide has paid out nearly $11 billion in lawsuits. Now it's backing an EPA rule that would stop the bleeding.
by Schuyler Mitchell, March 21 2025
"Last August, 11 industry-friendly red states, led by Nebraska and Iowa, submitted a 436-page petition asking the agency to amend its labeling rules under the Federal #Insecticide, #Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act, or #FIFRA. The proposed rule change would explicitly prohibit states from labeling #pesticides and #herbicides with warnings about cancer, #BirthDefects, and reproductive harm if those notices contradict the EPA’s risk assessment.
"The states made clear that their ultimate goal is to thwart future lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers. Their petition argued that recent court rulings have created a 'gap in FIFRA’s regulatory framework' that the proposed rule change would plug.
"In January, in a move initiated by the Biden administration, the EPA took a first step of accepting public comment on the rule-making petition, with a deadline of March 24 — though this step is exploratory and does not mean a new rule will be issued. Still, the EPA’s decision could have disastrous consequences if Donald Trump’s second administration is as friendly to the #ChemicalIndustry as it was in his first.
"'It’s telling of the lengths that pesticide manufacturers will go to make sure that nothing interferes with their profit margins,' said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 'There’s a reality that the industry itself generates much of the data, and they say it’s safe, and then EPA approves that determination.”
Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/21/trump-epa-monsanto-roundup-bayer-cancer-chemicals/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/VsfWELink for public comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0562
#KillThePoor #Ecocide #GlyphosateKills #MonsantoKills #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Pollution #RunOff #Cancer #EnvironmentalPollution #USPol #BigChemical #BigAg #RoundupReady #Microbiota #BeeKilling #BayerKills #CenterForBiologicalDiversity -
#FYI #microplastics #pollution #environmentalpollution #antibiotics #antibioticresistance #antimicrobialresistance
"microplastics in the environment increase antibiotic resistance by up to 200 times"
Good morning, everybody!
The original article, open access:
Yang et al. 2025 Environ Int 195: 109261
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109261 -
#3M, a multibillion-dollar chemicals giant, marketed its firefighting foams as harmless and #biodegradable, despite knowing they contained #toxic #foreverchemicals —substances so persistent they've been banned in many countries. #EnvironmentalPollution #ToxicChemicals #CorporateResponsibility #PFAS #EnvironmentalJustice #EcoHealth #Sustainability
-
So, fracturing amongst the various environmental and social justice groups has been going on as long as I've been in the movement. But there have always been those (like myself and some of my colleagues in #EarthFirst and the #ThomasMortonAlliance and #AIM) that saw #HumanRights abuses and #EnvironmentalPollution as being connected -- and that #CorporateGreed was the main driver of most of the issues facing our planet!
Hear Me Out: In 2025, Climate Activists Should Spend Less Time on Climate
If you’re a climate activist who doesn’t know what to do for the next four years, the answer is remarkably simple: Join other movements.
“[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,” #NaomiKlein, 2019.
Sophie Shepherd
Jan 09, 2025, Common Dreams"Yet my optimism arises out of a different trend in the climate movement: Climate activists are (finally) showing up for other movements.
"Historically, the climate movement has attempted to isolate itself from other political and social issues, arguing that climate policy is 'just science.' This majority-white movement has failed to see that fossil fuel emissions are part of a larger history of the Global North #colonizing and exploiting both people and the planet for decades. The climate crisis is a symptom of a broader exploitative system. To change that system, we need a united left that will fight for all people—not just those who identify as environmentalists.
"In 2020, climate activists were rightfully berated for not showing up enough for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Thankfully, I think many climate activists heard that message because today, they have come out in droves for #Palestine.
"Many of the college students who organized campus encampments last spring to urge their school administrators to divest from Israel and the U.S. imperial war machine were students who had previously organized for climate justice. I witnessed this firsthand at the Claremont Colleges when I was a senior: The student organizations demanding fossil fuel divestment fell to the wayside as the crisis in Gaza intensified. Globally, many climate organizations chose to speak out and take direct action to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
"But none of these climate activists had stopped caring about the climate. In fact, they often pointed out that Israel’s actions were not just #genocide, but #ecocide as well. The onslaught of #bombs dropped on Gaza will contaminate the soil and groundwater in the region for decades. And the destruction has produced at least 54.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the annual emissions of 16 coal-fired power plants.
"Climate activists cannot claim to fight for a just future and stay silent about genocide. 'If we, as climate activists, aren’t able to see and speak up against the current #marginalization and oppression and killing of people today, then I don’t think we should be able to call ourselves #climatejustice [activists],' climate champion #GretaThunberg told Al Jazeera in early December 2024.
"As Trump prepares to enter the White House, we will undoubtedly see more people oppressed and killed. Among the many groups who are vulnerable under his administration are undocumented immigrants, whom Trump has vowed to round up and deport.
"Migrant justice has long been intertwined with climate justice. As climate change makes many areas around the world uninhabitable, climate refugees have no choice but to leave their home.
In response to Trump’s election, climate organizers Jeff Ordower and Ahmed Gaya called on their fellow activists to bring their experiences of shutting down pipelines and coal plants to fight the incarceration and deportation we can expect under Trump. Climate activists should answer this call: The struggles for migrant justice and climate justice are intertwined, and we must meet the needs of the current moment.
"'[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,' writer and activist Naomi Klein said in 2019.
"With Trump as president, things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. We need to build a strong left to fight fascism during Trump’s presidency and to build a just green future in its aftermath. To do so, climate activists must put their words into action when they say they fight for every living being."
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/climate-movement-fight-fascism?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
#WaterIsLife #NoGenocide #NoBombs #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
So, fracturing amongst the various environmental and social justice groups has been going on as long as I've been in the movement. But there have always been those (like myself and some of my colleagues in #EarthFirst and the #ThomasMortonAlliance and #AIM) that saw #HumanRights abuses and #EnvironmentalPollution as being connected -- and that #CorporateGreed was the main driver of most of the issues facing our planet!
Hear Me Out: In 2025, Climate Activists Should Spend Less Time on Climate
If you’re a climate activist who doesn’t know what to do for the next four years, the answer is remarkably simple: Join other movements.
“[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,” #NaomiKlein, 2019.
Sophie Shepherd
Jan 09, 2025, Common Dreams"Yet my optimism arises out of a different trend in the climate movement: Climate activists are (finally) showing up for other movements.
"Historically, the climate movement has attempted to isolate itself from other political and social issues, arguing that climate policy is 'just science.' This majority-white movement has failed to see that fossil fuel emissions are part of a larger history of the Global North #colonizing and exploiting both people and the planet for decades. The climate crisis is a symptom of a broader exploitative system. To change that system, we need a united left that will fight for all people—not just those who identify as environmentalists.
"In 2020, climate activists were rightfully berated for not showing up enough for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Thankfully, I think many climate activists heard that message because today, they have come out in droves for #Palestine.
"Many of the college students who organized campus encampments last spring to urge their school administrators to divest from Israel and the U.S. imperial war machine were students who had previously organized for climate justice. I witnessed this firsthand at the Claremont Colleges when I was a senior: The student organizations demanding fossil fuel divestment fell to the wayside as the crisis in Gaza intensified. Globally, many climate organizations chose to speak out and take direct action to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
"But none of these climate activists had stopped caring about the climate. In fact, they often pointed out that Israel’s actions were not just #genocide, but #ecocide as well. The onslaught of #bombs dropped on Gaza will contaminate the soil and groundwater in the region for decades. And the destruction has produced at least 54.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the annual emissions of 16 coal-fired power plants.
"Climate activists cannot claim to fight for a just future and stay silent about genocide. 'If we, as climate activists, aren’t able to see and speak up against the current #marginalization and oppression and killing of people today, then I don’t think we should be able to call ourselves #climatejustice [activists],' climate champion #GretaThunberg told Al Jazeera in early December 2024.
"As Trump prepares to enter the White House, we will undoubtedly see more people oppressed and killed. Among the many groups who are vulnerable under his administration are undocumented immigrants, whom Trump has vowed to round up and deport.
"Migrant justice has long been intertwined with climate justice. As climate change makes many areas around the world uninhabitable, climate refugees have no choice but to leave their home.
In response to Trump’s election, climate organizers Jeff Ordower and Ahmed Gaya called on their fellow activists to bring their experiences of shutting down pipelines and coal plants to fight the incarceration and deportation we can expect under Trump. Climate activists should answer this call: The struggles for migrant justice and climate justice are intertwined, and we must meet the needs of the current moment.
"'[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,' writer and activist Naomi Klein said in 2019.
"With Trump as president, things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. We need to build a strong left to fight fascism during Trump’s presidency and to build a just green future in its aftermath. To do so, climate activists must put their words into action when they say they fight for every living being."
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/climate-movement-fight-fascism?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
#WaterIsLife #NoGenocide #NoBombs #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
So, fracturing amongst the various environmental and social justice groups has been going on as long as I've been in the movement. But there have always been those (like myself and some of my colleagues in #EarthFirst and the #ThomasMortonAlliance and #AIM) that saw #HumanRights abuses and #EnvironmentalPollution as being connected -- and that #CorporateGreed was the main driver of most of the issues facing our planet!
Hear Me Out: In 2025, Climate Activists Should Spend Less Time on Climate
If you’re a climate activist who doesn’t know what to do for the next four years, the answer is remarkably simple: Join other movements.
“[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,” #NaomiKlein, 2019.
Sophie Shepherd
Jan 09, 2025, Common Dreams"Yet my optimism arises out of a different trend in the climate movement: Climate activists are (finally) showing up for other movements.
"Historically, the climate movement has attempted to isolate itself from other political and social issues, arguing that climate policy is 'just science.' This majority-white movement has failed to see that fossil fuel emissions are part of a larger history of the Global North #colonizing and exploiting both people and the planet for decades. The climate crisis is a symptom of a broader exploitative system. To change that system, we need a united left that will fight for all people—not just those who identify as environmentalists.
"In 2020, climate activists were rightfully berated for not showing up enough for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Thankfully, I think many climate activists heard that message because today, they have come out in droves for #Palestine.
"Many of the college students who organized campus encampments last spring to urge their school administrators to divest from Israel and the U.S. imperial war machine were students who had previously organized for climate justice. I witnessed this firsthand at the Claremont Colleges when I was a senior: The student organizations demanding fossil fuel divestment fell to the wayside as the crisis in Gaza intensified. Globally, many climate organizations chose to speak out and take direct action to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
"But none of these climate activists had stopped caring about the climate. In fact, they often pointed out that Israel’s actions were not just #genocide, but #ecocide as well. The onslaught of #bombs dropped on Gaza will contaminate the soil and groundwater in the region for decades. And the destruction has produced at least 54.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the annual emissions of 16 coal-fired power plants.
"Climate activists cannot claim to fight for a just future and stay silent about genocide. 'If we, as climate activists, aren’t able to see and speak up against the current #marginalization and oppression and killing of people today, then I don’t think we should be able to call ourselves #climatejustice [activists],' climate champion #GretaThunberg told Al Jazeera in early December 2024.
"As Trump prepares to enter the White House, we will undoubtedly see more people oppressed and killed. Among the many groups who are vulnerable under his administration are undocumented immigrants, whom Trump has vowed to round up and deport.
"Migrant justice has long been intertwined with climate justice. As climate change makes many areas around the world uninhabitable, climate refugees have no choice but to leave their home.
In response to Trump’s election, climate organizers Jeff Ordower and Ahmed Gaya called on their fellow activists to bring their experiences of shutting down pipelines and coal plants to fight the incarceration and deportation we can expect under Trump. Climate activists should answer this call: The struggles for migrant justice and climate justice are intertwined, and we must meet the needs of the current moment.
"'[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,' writer and activist Naomi Klein said in 2019.
"With Trump as president, things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. We need to build a strong left to fight fascism during Trump’s presidency and to build a just green future in its aftermath. To do so, climate activists must put their words into action when they say they fight for every living being."
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/climate-movement-fight-fascism?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
#WaterIsLife #NoGenocide #NoBombs #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
So, fracturing amongst the various environmental and social justice groups has been going on as long as I've been in the movement. But there have always been those (like myself and some of my colleagues in #EarthFirst and the #ThomasMortonAlliance and #AIM) that saw #HumanRights abuses and #EnvironmentalPollution as being connected -- and that #CorporateGreed was the main driver of most of the issues facing our planet!
Hear Me Out: In 2025, Climate Activists Should Spend Less Time on Climate
If you’re a climate activist who doesn’t know what to do for the next four years, the answer is remarkably simple: Join other movements.
“[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,” #NaomiKlein, 2019.
Sophie Shepherd
Jan 09, 2025, Common Dreams"Yet my optimism arises out of a different trend in the climate movement: Climate activists are (finally) showing up for other movements.
"Historically, the climate movement has attempted to isolate itself from other political and social issues, arguing that climate policy is 'just science.' This majority-white movement has failed to see that fossil fuel emissions are part of a larger history of the Global North #colonizing and exploiting both people and the planet for decades. The climate crisis is a symptom of a broader exploitative system. To change that system, we need a united left that will fight for all people—not just those who identify as environmentalists.
"In 2020, climate activists were rightfully berated for not showing up enough for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Thankfully, I think many climate activists heard that message because today, they have come out in droves for #Palestine.
"Many of the college students who organized campus encampments last spring to urge their school administrators to divest from Israel and the U.S. imperial war machine were students who had previously organized for climate justice. I witnessed this firsthand at the Claremont Colleges when I was a senior: The student organizations demanding fossil fuel divestment fell to the wayside as the crisis in Gaza intensified. Globally, many climate organizations chose to speak out and take direct action to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
"But none of these climate activists had stopped caring about the climate. In fact, they often pointed out that Israel’s actions were not just #genocide, but #ecocide as well. The onslaught of #bombs dropped on Gaza will contaminate the soil and groundwater in the region for decades. And the destruction has produced at least 54.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the annual emissions of 16 coal-fired power plants.
"Climate activists cannot claim to fight for a just future and stay silent about genocide. 'If we, as climate activists, aren’t able to see and speak up against the current #marginalization and oppression and killing of people today, then I don’t think we should be able to call ourselves #climatejustice [activists],' climate champion #GretaThunberg told Al Jazeera in early December 2024.
"As Trump prepares to enter the White House, we will undoubtedly see more people oppressed and killed. Among the many groups who are vulnerable under his administration are undocumented immigrants, whom Trump has vowed to round up and deport.
"Migrant justice has long been intertwined with climate justice. As climate change makes many areas around the world uninhabitable, climate refugees have no choice but to leave their home.
In response to Trump’s election, climate organizers Jeff Ordower and Ahmed Gaya called on their fellow activists to bring their experiences of shutting down pipelines and coal plants to fight the incarceration and deportation we can expect under Trump. Climate activists should answer this call: The struggles for migrant justice and climate justice are intertwined, and we must meet the needs of the current moment.
"'[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,' writer and activist Naomi Klein said in 2019.
"With Trump as president, things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. We need to build a strong left to fight fascism during Trump’s presidency and to build a just green future in its aftermath. To do so, climate activists must put their words into action when they say they fight for every living being."
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/climate-movement-fight-fascism?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
#WaterIsLife #NoGenocide #NoBombs #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
So, fracturing amongst the various environmental and social justice groups has been going on as long as I've been in the movement. But there have always been those (like myself and some of my colleagues in #EarthFirst and the #ThomasMortonAlliance and #AIM) that saw #HumanRights abuses and #EnvironmentalPollution as being connected -- and that #CorporateGreed was the main driver of most of the issues facing our planet!
Hear Me Out: In 2025, Climate Activists Should Spend Less Time on Climate
If you’re a climate activist who doesn’t know what to do for the next four years, the answer is remarkably simple: Join other movements.
“[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,” #NaomiKlein, 2019.
Sophie Shepherd
Jan 09, 2025, Common Dreams"Yet my optimism arises out of a different trend in the climate movement: Climate activists are (finally) showing up for other movements.
"Historically, the climate movement has attempted to isolate itself from other political and social issues, arguing that climate policy is 'just science.' This majority-white movement has failed to see that fossil fuel emissions are part of a larger history of the Global North #colonizing and exploiting both people and the planet for decades. The climate crisis is a symptom of a broader exploitative system. To change that system, we need a united left that will fight for all people—not just those who identify as environmentalists.
"In 2020, climate activists were rightfully berated for not showing up enough for the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Thankfully, I think many climate activists heard that message because today, they have come out in droves for #Palestine.
"Many of the college students who organized campus encampments last spring to urge their school administrators to divest from Israel and the U.S. imperial war machine were students who had previously organized for climate justice. I witnessed this firsthand at the Claremont Colleges when I was a senior: The student organizations demanding fossil fuel divestment fell to the wayside as the crisis in Gaza intensified. Globally, many climate organizations chose to speak out and take direct action to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
"But none of these climate activists had stopped caring about the climate. In fact, they often pointed out that Israel’s actions were not just #genocide, but #ecocide as well. The onslaught of #bombs dropped on Gaza will contaminate the soil and groundwater in the region for decades. And the destruction has produced at least 54.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the annual emissions of 16 coal-fired power plants.
"Climate activists cannot claim to fight for a just future and stay silent about genocide. 'If we, as climate activists, aren’t able to see and speak up against the current #marginalization and oppression and killing of people today, then I don’t think we should be able to call ourselves #climatejustice [activists],' climate champion #GretaThunberg told Al Jazeera in early December 2024.
"As Trump prepares to enter the White House, we will undoubtedly see more people oppressed and killed. Among the many groups who are vulnerable under his administration are undocumented immigrants, whom Trump has vowed to round up and deport.
"Migrant justice has long been intertwined with climate justice. As climate change makes many areas around the world uninhabitable, climate refugees have no choice but to leave their home.
In response to Trump’s election, climate organizers Jeff Ordower and Ahmed Gaya called on their fellow activists to bring their experiences of shutting down pipelines and coal plants to fight the incarceration and deportation we can expect under Trump. Climate activists should answer this call: The struggles for migrant justice and climate justice are intertwined, and we must meet the needs of the current moment.
"'[Climate is] not more urgent than kids being ripped away from their families and dying in the desert—anyone who tries to win that argument is monstrous themselves. We either merge, join forces, or we lose,' writer and activist Naomi Klein said in 2019.
"With Trump as president, things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. We need to build a strong left to fight fascism during Trump’s presidency and to build a just green future in its aftermath. To do so, climate activists must put their words into action when they say they fight for every living being."
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/climate-movement-fight-fascism?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
#WaterIsLife #NoGenocide #NoBombs #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
'Chaos': #Peru Declares #EnvironmentalEmergency Over #OilSpill
"So far, we have not had any response from the oil company," said one fisherman whose livelihood has been threatened by the accident.
Julia Conley
Dec 27, 2024"At least seven beaches and the safety of local wildlife have been impacted by an oil spill in northern Peru, said the South American country's Environmental Assessment and Oversight Agency on Thursday as the government declared an environmental emergency.
"The environmental watchdog, known as #OEFA locally, said in a preliminary report that about 10,000 square meters of surface seawater have been contaminated by the crude oil, which spilled from a vessel at a terminal of the #TalaraRefinery.
"Petroperu, the state-owned oil company, was preparing to load the oil onto a tanker when the spill was detected at #LasCapullanas beach.
"The company has not disclosed exactly how much oil spilled, but OEFA said it has extended over an area of 116-566 acres. Petroperu has also not stated the cause of the accident."
Read more:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/petroperu
#BigOilAndGas #Petroperu #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #NoDAPL #RenewablesNow #EnvironmentalPollution #EnvironmentalDisaster -
The 5 biggest drivers for extinction are:
* destruction of habitats
* monocultures
* pollution (microplastic, pesticides, heavy metals, forever chemicals, ...)
* climate change
* invasive speciesIn other words the single biggest driver for extinction is capitalist extractivism and exploitation.
We clear forests to build roads, cultivate monocultures to feed our live stock, burn fossil fuels to power our consumerism and put our waste in the ocean. That destroys the ecosystem, species become extinct or seek refuge somewhere else and become invasive there.And with "we" I don't mean you or me - I mean the morbidly rich!
I'm not blaming anyone but the 1%. They are the ones that have everything and cause everything.There are a lot of solutions for this crisis, but we can't realize them without creating a system that prevents morbid abundance.
If the 99% decide to eat less meat, so we don't need so much land for our food - will that really save the rainforests or will it just free up more land for the rich to build more golf courses, factories and AI server farms?We need to talk about a wealth maximum, an income maximum and an interest maximum. Then we'll realize we don't need endless growth, we don't need exploitation of the 99% and the ecosystem, we won't need 3 full time jobs to 'make a living' and we won't need mindless consumption to numb ourselves in our spare time.
#extinction #SpeciesExtinction #deforestation #LossOfHabitat #monocultures #pollution #EnvironmentalPollution #MicroPlastic #MicroPlastics #ForeverChemicals #BioDiversity #BioDiversityCrisis #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #InvasiveSpecies #capitalism #extractivism #exploitation #consumerism #MorbidlyRich #MorbidWealth #WealthMaximum #IncomeMaximum #InterestMaximum
-
The @envpsyvienna lead and co-director of @univienna 's #Environment & #Climate Hub, @SabinePahl will give a central keynote at the largest #psychology congress in the DACH region, the #DGPs2024, next week. 👥🧠
Her topic: How human decisions around #plastic contribute to #EnvironmentalPollution – and how #SocialScience findings & political measures can help.
Read more here: https://ech.univie.ac.at/story/ech-director-sabine-pahl-at-the-largest-scientific-psychology-congress-in-the-dach-region/ -
@KeithDJohnson That was an excellent episode. Just finished watching it.
#DeadZones #EnvironmentalPollution #NitrogenPollution #Corn
#CropRotation NOT #monocrops -
#FloorWaxing could be an important source of #PFAS #contamination, with increased #occupational health risks for #workers
May 25, 2022
"There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers?
"A study published earlier this year measured per- and #polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in #dust and airborne #ParticulateMatter [which means it's going into the air that everyone breathes -- just not humans] during professional floor stripping and waxing. After estimating PFAS emission rates generated from the process, researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
"The study was led by Jiaqi Zhou, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Collaborators include Karsten Baumann; Naomi Chang; Glenn Morrison; Wanda Bodnar; Zhenfa Zhang; Jason Surratt; and Barbara J. Turpin — all with the Gillings School — and Joanna M. Atkin, with UNC’s Department of Chemistry.
"PFAS are human-produced chemicals commonly used in industry and consumer products. Most PFAS do not break down over time, so they remain in the environment and in the bodies of exposed human and #animals long after initial use. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects, which was the impetus for this study.
"Published in Atmospheric Environment, the paper reports that floor waxing floor waxing workers could have increased occupational health risks due to PFAS exposures.
“Assessment of occupational exposure due to floor maintenance is important because PFAS exposures can lead to increased risk of #cancer, #immunotoxicity and #neurodevelopmental problems, the co-authors write."
#PFASPollution #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalPollution #CleaningProducts #FloorWax #EnvironmentalPollution
-
#FloorWaxing could be an important source of #PFAS #contamination, with increased #occupational health risks for #workers
May 25, 2022
"There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers?
"A study published earlier this year measured per- and #polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in #dust and airborne #ParticulateMatter [which means it's going into the air that everyone breathes -- just not humans] during professional floor stripping and waxing. After estimating PFAS emission rates generated from the process, researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
"The study was led by Jiaqi Zhou, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Collaborators include Karsten Baumann; Naomi Chang; Glenn Morrison; Wanda Bodnar; Zhenfa Zhang; Jason Surratt; and Barbara J. Turpin — all with the Gillings School — and Joanna M. Atkin, with UNC’s Department of Chemistry.
"PFAS are human-produced chemicals commonly used in industry and consumer products. Most PFAS do not break down over time, so they remain in the environment and in the bodies of exposed human and #animals long after initial use. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects, which was the impetus for this study.
"Published in Atmospheric Environment, the paper reports that floor waxing floor waxing workers could have increased occupational health risks due to PFAS exposures.
“Assessment of occupational exposure due to floor maintenance is important because PFAS exposures can lead to increased risk of #cancer, #immunotoxicity and #neurodevelopmental problems, the co-authors write."
#PFASPollution #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalPollution #CleaningProducts #FloorWax #EnvironmentalPollution
-
#FloorWaxing could be an important source of #PFAS #contamination, with increased #occupational health risks for #workers
May 25, 2022
"There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers?
"A study published earlier this year measured per- and #polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in #dust and airborne #ParticulateMatter [which means it's going into the air that everyone breathes -- just not humans] during professional floor stripping and waxing. After estimating PFAS emission rates generated from the process, researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
"The study was led by Jiaqi Zhou, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Collaborators include Karsten Baumann; Naomi Chang; Glenn Morrison; Wanda Bodnar; Zhenfa Zhang; Jason Surratt; and Barbara J. Turpin — all with the Gillings School — and Joanna M. Atkin, with UNC’s Department of Chemistry.
"PFAS are human-produced chemicals commonly used in industry and consumer products. Most PFAS do not break down over time, so they remain in the environment and in the bodies of exposed human and #animals long after initial use. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects, which was the impetus for this study.
"Published in Atmospheric Environment, the paper reports that floor waxing floor waxing workers could have increased occupational health risks due to PFAS exposures.
“Assessment of occupational exposure due to floor maintenance is important because PFAS exposures can lead to increased risk of #cancer, #immunotoxicity and #neurodevelopmental problems, the co-authors write."
#PFASPollution #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalPollution #CleaningProducts #FloorWax #EnvironmentalPollution
-
#FloorWaxing could be an important source of #PFAS #contamination, with increased #occupational health risks for #workers
May 25, 2022
"There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers?
"A study published earlier this year measured per- and #polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in #dust and airborne #ParticulateMatter [which means it's going into the air that everyone breathes -- just not humans] during professional floor stripping and waxing. After estimating PFAS emission rates generated from the process, researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
"The study was led by Jiaqi Zhou, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Collaborators include Karsten Baumann; Naomi Chang; Glenn Morrison; Wanda Bodnar; Zhenfa Zhang; Jason Surratt; and Barbara J. Turpin — all with the Gillings School — and Joanna M. Atkin, with UNC’s Department of Chemistry.
"PFAS are human-produced chemicals commonly used in industry and consumer products. Most PFAS do not break down over time, so they remain in the environment and in the bodies of exposed human and #animals long after initial use. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects, which was the impetus for this study.
"Published in Atmospheric Environment, the paper reports that floor waxing floor waxing workers could have increased occupational health risks due to PFAS exposures.
“Assessment of occupational exposure due to floor maintenance is important because PFAS exposures can lead to increased risk of #cancer, #immunotoxicity and #neurodevelopmental problems, the co-authors write."
#PFASPollution #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalPollution #CleaningProducts #FloorWax #EnvironmentalPollution
