Are there toxins in your mascara?
Most of the waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks, and foundations tested in a recent study contained high levels of fluorine—suggesting the likely presence of toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
How deregulation of mercury could harm health
A recent Trump administration decision to ease mercury regulations for oil- and coal-fired plants will significantly harm public health, according to Elsie Sunderland. Sunderland, professor of environmental science and engineering in the Department of Environmental Health, spoke about…
Massachusetts poised to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs—a group of toxic chemicals linked with health issues such as cancer, immune system problems, and thyroid disease—will likely be subject to new regulations in Massachusetts in 2020. In mid-December, the commonwealth of Massachusetts proposed…
Understanding the risks of ‘forever chemicals’
News about a family of toxic synthetic chemicals called PFASs—“per- and polyfluoralkyl substances”—has recently been making headlines in New England. In Connecticut, PFASs were found to be leaching out of landfills in Hartford and Ellington. In Massachusetts, a…
A primer on ‘forever chemicals’
There’s been more and more news lately about the presence of “forever chemicals” in the environment. These widely used chemicals—whose technical name is “per- and polyfluoralkyl substances,” or PFASs—remain in the environment for thousands or even millions of…
PFASs found in some Massachusetts schools
Significant amounts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—toxic chemicals known as PFASs—have been found in the drinking water of some schools in Massachusetts. High levels of the chemicals turned up in schools in Stow and several other communities after…
Overfishing, climate change linked with rising mercury levels in fish
Even as mercury levels in the oceans have fallen, levels in some fish—such as tuna, salmon, and swordfish—have increased due to overfishing and climate change, according to a new study. Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School…
Mass. officials warn about some bottled water brands
Some bottled water sold under a variety of brand names across New England may have high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), chemicals that have been linked with some cancers and may negatively affect the immune system,…
Tracking mystery fluorochemicals in the environment
Widely used fluorinated chemical compounds called “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” or PFASs, are found in rivers, soils, and in people’s bloodstreams around the world, and some have been linked with a range of health problems, including cancer. Scientists…
Groundwater contamination near Georgia air bases worries experts, residents
Groundwater near three air bases in Georgia is contaminated with toxic chemicals that are linked with cancer and other health problems, according to recent tests by the Air Force—and experts and nearby residents are worried about drinking water…