Although they may not be the intended target, snails undoubtedly still suffer from the widespread spraying of insecticides on crops. But seeing as snails can also cause major damage to plants, farmers probably aren’t too upset if they get caught in the crossfire. This all makes it rather fitting that a team of Tunisian scientists has found a way for snails to help monitor insecticide pollution – by donating their shells. More:

• Snails take stand against pollution  –  Wiley Analytical Science
• Green magnetic snail shell hydroxyapatite sorbent for reliable solid-phase extraction of pesticides from water samples (Research article)

Using data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a team of academic researchers found evidence that women diagnosed with some “hormonally-driven” cancers had exposures to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used in thousands of household and industrial products, including in stain- and heat-resistant items. More:

• Certain common chemicals associated with higher odds of cancer in women  –  The New Lede

• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  –  US NIH
• Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS  –  US EPA

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater- Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications (Research article)
• Researchers find evidence of ‘forever chemicals’ in blood of pregnant women  –  The Guardian
• Exploratory profiles of phenols, parabens, and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances among NHANES study participants in association with previous cancer diagnoses (Research article)

A full-scale furor is erupting in Europe, pitting industry against government. The European Commission (EC) is proposing that all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) be banned because it says they are persistent, can be toxic, and can bioaccumulate in organisms—including people. The ban would include all fluoropolymers, a major subset of PFAS. More:

• The battle over PFAS in Europe  –  C&EN
• A guide to the PFAS found in our environment  –  C&EN
• High-Performance Fluoropolymers Global Market Report 2023  –  Research and Markets

• Hydrogen Europe Position Paper on PFAS.pdf (download PDF)  –  Hydrogen Europe
• Arkema's position on a European proposal to restrict PFAS  –  Arkema Global
• Semiconductor PFAS Consortium  –  Semiconductor Industry Association
• Review of essential use of fluorochemicals in lithographic patterning and semiconductor processing (Research article)

Deanna Denham Hughes still remembers the jingle that ruined her life. “Just for meeeee,” she sings, drawing out the last syllable before she breaks into a self-conscious laugh. “It’s like this little hip-hop beat.” In the ad, for Just for Me hair relaxer, Black girls wearing big earrings rap about “body and shine” and flip their silky hair in slow motion. Denham Hughes wanted to be just like them when she was a ’90s kid, and that meant she had to tame her thick, immovable Afro. More:

• The Cost of Straight Hair The products Black women rely on to give their locks body and shine are now alleged to give them cancer, too.  –  The Cut
• They were diagnosed with uterine cancer and tumors. Now they're suing the makers of chemical hair straighteners.  –  NBC News
• Hair Smoothing Products That Release Formaldehyde When Heated  –  US FDA

• Childhood Hair Product Use and Earlier Age at Menarche in a Racially Diverse Study Population: A Pilot Study (Research article)
• Use of Chemical Hair Straighteners and Fecundability in a North American Preconception Cohort (Research abstract)
• The pH of lye and no-lye hair relaxers, including those advertised for children, is at levels that are corrosive to the skin (Research article)

• Hair Relaxer Use and Risk of Uterine Leiomyomata in African-American Women (Research article)
• Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer (Research article)
• Hair dye and chemical straightener use and breast cancer risk in a large US population of black and white women (Research article)

• Fragrances in Cosmetics  –  US FDA
• Right to Know: Exposing toxic fragrance chemicals in beauty personal care and cleaning products (Report) (download PDF)  –  Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

• J. Mitchell vs L'Oreal (Lawsuit document)  –  DEHP Complaint
• Woman claims L'Oréal chemical relaxers caused cancer: lawsuit (YouTube)  –  Fox 32 Chigago

• Could ‘Hair Autonomy’ Be The Next Big Natural Hair Movement?  –  Refinery29

Don’t get us wrong, PFAS remediation in general is a very good thing. There are so many PFAS-polluted sites out there that urgently need to be cleaned up to limit the pollution. And due to all the years of toxic release, this is something we will need for a long time. More:

• Sorry, folks. PFAS clean-ups won’t solve the problem  –  ChemSec

• A Review of PFAS Destruction Technologies (Research article)
• Review of water treatment systems for PFAS removal (Research article)

• Remediation of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated soils — To mobilize or to immobilize or to degrade? (Research article)
• The efficacy of soil washing for the remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the field (Research abstract)

Exposure to the synthetic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) exceeds acceptable health safety levels, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing said. More:

• Europeans exposed to chemical BPA at higher than acceptable health safety levels, EU report says  –  Euronews
• Public exposure to widely used Bisphenol A exceeds acceptable health safety levels  –  European Environment Agency
• Bisphenol A in food is a health risk  –  EFSA

Gains made against malaria in Kenya and the East African region are under threat following the rapid spread of a new deadly mosquito species, according to scientists. The species was recently detected in parts of northern Kenya, raising alarms about its spread and risk of the vector-borne disease. More:

• Fight against Malaria in Kenya, Horn of Africa threatened by Asian vector  –  DownToEarth

• Malaria  –  WHO
• CDC Activities in Kenya  –  US CDC

• Africa not on track to eliminate malaria by 2030 as envisioned: Report  –  DownToEarh
• Malaria prevalence, transmission potential and efficacy (Research article)
• Nigeria has Africa’s highest malaria death rate — progress is being made, but it’s not enough  –  DownToEarh
• Alarms ring as deadly Asian malaria vector detected in Kenya  –  DownToEarh

• Climate’s clear connect: Africa is proof that extreme weather triggers and exacerbates disease; here’s how  –  DownToEarh

• 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF  –  UNICEF

For decades, it was the secret behind the magic show of homemaking across the US. Applied to a pan, it could keep a fried egg from sticking to the surface. Soaked into a carpet, it could shrug off spills of red wine. Sprayed onto shoes and coats, it could keep the kids dry on a rainy day. More:

• In our blood: how the US allowed toxic chemicals to seep into our lives  –  The Guardian

• PFAS in the U.S. Population  –  US ATSDR
• Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the U.S. general population: Paired serum-urine data from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Research article)
• Sources of Clinically Significant Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Phthalate Exposure (Research article)

• Consequences of DDT Exposure Could Last Generations  –  Scientific American
• The Navigation Guide—Evidence-Based Medicine Meets Environmental Health: Systematic Review of Human Evidence for PFOA Effects on Fetal Growth (Research article)
• Prenatal phthalate exposures and neurobehavioral development scores in boys and girls at 6-10 years of age (Research abstract)

• EPA Finalizes Action Protecting Americans from PBT Chemicals  –  US EPA

In a study published in the journal Chemosphere on September 13, researchers from the United States-based non-profit organization, the Environmental Working Group, analyzed 30 common cleaning products for hazardous volatile organic compounds. In total, 193 unique hazardous chemicals were identified with potential impacts on the respiratory system, development, reproduction and cancer risk. More:

• Toxicologists Discover Popular Cleaning Products Can Increase Cancer Risk  –  Newsweek
• Volatile organic compounds emitted by conventional and “green” cleaning products in the U.S. market (Research article)
• Impact of Cleaning Products on Women's Lungs as Damaging as 20-a-Day Cigarette Habit: Study  –  Newsweek
• Nine Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Common Toxins  –  Newsweek

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) account for over 70% of the refrigerants market in the world. In Europe, they represent the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as the entire EU aviation sector. More:

• Why you should care about the battle over F-gases  –  META
• What are PFAS and how are they dangerous for my health?  –  European Environment Agency

About a year ago, a team of scientists from the University of Antwerp in Belgium, went shopping for drinking straws. They bought a heap of paper and plastic ones. They bought a few made from bamboo. And they also purchased some crafted from glass and stainless steel. In all they collected 39 different brands of straws. More:

• Should You Ditch Your Eco-Friendly Drinking Straw?  –  Nautilus

Toxic Chemicals in Plastics

• Plastics leach toxins  –  Norwegian SciTech News
• Plastic Products Leach Chemicals That Induce In Vitro Toxicity under Realistic Use Conditions (Research article)

• Understanding PFAS in the Environment  –  US EPA
• Emerging chemical risks in Europe — ‘PFAS’  –  European Environment Agency
• What are the health effects of PFAS?  –  US ATSDR

Does the food packaging from your favorite fast food or fast casual restaurant contain toxic PFAS “forever chemicals?” These chemicals can make your meal more toxic and may take decades to break down in your body. More:

• Fast Food Restaurant Packaging & PFAS Forever Chemicals  –  Mamavation

• Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging  –  Consumer Reports
• PFAS Action - Governments, Retailes, and Brands are Stepping Up (Factsheet) (download PDF)  –  Toxic-Free Future
• Bill Text - Plant-based Food Packaging Containing PFAS (Factsheet) (download PDF)  –  California Legislative Information

The allure of evergreen sporting fields has also seen synthetic turf become an increasingly popular surface, driven by constraints on open space while population density increases. But concerns about microplastics, urban heat and the chemical compounds in synthetic grass have become points of contention for environment and community groups, who are calling for the surface to be banned. More:

• Turf war: fake grass is growing in popularity in Australia, despite concerns about its impact  –  The Guardian
• The plastic lawn backlash: why people are pulling up their fetid fake grass  –  The Guardian
• Independent review into the design, use and impacts of synthetic turf in public open spaces (Report) (download PDF)  –  State of New South Wales

To Dye For is an account of the toxic evolution of fast fashion — from its mauvine- and arsenic-tinted beginnings to the takeover of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It is essential reading for those who have ever experienced skin sensitivity, a rash or worse due to clothing laden with harmful chemicals. And for anyone interested in the true cost of the modern fast fashion that is polluting the world with toxins and discarded bargain clothing. More:

• ‘To Dye For’: The Toxic Evolution of Fast Fashion by Alden Wicker  –  EcoWatch
• Fast Fashion 101: Everything You Need to Know  –  EcoWatch
• Detox My Fashion  –  Greenpeace International
• Toxic Forever Chemicals Found in Almost 75 Percent of Stain and Waterproof Gear Sold by Major Retailers  –  EcoWatch

• How to dye clothes at home – naturally  –  BBC
• Brighten Up Your Wardrobe With DIY Natural Tie Dyes  –  EcoWatch
• Bella Gonshorovitz demystifying and personalizing circularity: Grow, Cook, Dye, Wear  –  Lampoon

Frozen dinners can be helpful when you don’t have the time or energy to prepare a fresh meal – quick and easy, especially given their long freezer life. But some brands include toxic chemicals you don’t want to see on your dinner plate. More:

• Freezer finds: Toxic chemicals in frozen meals may cause health harms  –  EWG
• Study: Preservative Used in Pop-Tarts and Hundreds of Popular Foods May Harm the Immune System  –  EWG

• What are endocrine disruptors?  –  EWG
• EWG’s guide to endocrine disruptors - 8 hormone-altering chemicals and how to avoid them (download PDF) –  EWG

• A review of the occurrence, metabolites and health risks of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (Research abstract)
• RoC Profile- Butylated Hydroxyanisole (Research article)
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole  –  California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

• Ingredient- TBHQ  –  EWG's Food Scores
• Food additive may influence how well flu vaccines work  –  MSUToday - Michigan State University
• Research links TBHQ to allergies  –  Food Business News

Understanding the hazards, designing safe facilities, proper handling and storage, employee training are all critical aspects of ensuring safety in chemical manufacturing. More:

• Safety first: A comprehensive guide to responsible chemical manufacturing  –  Gulf Business
• Chemical Safety and the Environment (Safety and health at work)  –  ILO

Chemical giant demands private files of neurology expert over journal article about link between paraquat and Parkinson's disease. More:

• Syngenta v. scientist  –  UnSpun
• Memorandum of law to compel scientist to the production of evidence (Legal document)  –  The New Lede
• Memorandum of law on behalf of scientist in oposition to compel (Legal document)  –  The New Lede

The Paraquat Papers

• Secret “Paraquat Papers” reveal corporate tactics to protect weed killer linked to Parkinson's disease  –  The New Lede
• Paraquat Papers Media Library  –  The New Lede

• Paraquat, Parkinson's Disease, and Agnotology  –  International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
• Revealed: The secret push to bury a weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease  –  The Guardian
• Syngenta’s “SWAT” team- Internal files reveal secret strategies to influence science  –  The New Lede
• Syngenta and its secrets  –  UnSpun

A U.S. military firefighter for 32 years, Kurt Rhodes trained and performed his duties with aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF — a highly effective fire suppressant that he never knew contained PFAS chemicals, now known to be harmful to human health. More:

• ‘Like a Russian roulette’: US military firefighters grapple with unknowns of PFAS exposure  –  USA Today

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFOS)

• What are PFAS? A guide to understanding chemicals behind nonstick pans, cancer fears  –  USA Today
• Understanding PFAS Exposure and Your Body  –  US ATSDR

• After five-year battle, South Bend firefighter dies of brain cancer  –  South Bend Tribune
• Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to ‘forever chemicals’  –  USA Today
• Lawmakers seek to protect Indiana firefighters from toxic chemical, leave Hoosiers at risk  –  IndyStar

• Department of Defense Serum Repository  –  Health.mil
• Biomonitoring Summary  – US CDC
• PFAS Blood Testing  – US ATSDR
• An epidemiologic review of menstrual blood loss as an excretion route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Research article)

• Dangerous levels of PFAS detected in water for 27 million. Did the EPA find it near you?  –  USA Today
• Getting ‘forever chemicals’ out of drinking water: EWG’s guide to PFAS water filters  –  EWG
• Drinking Water Treatment Units- Certified Water Filters  –  NSF International
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Point-of-Use Residential Drinking Water Filters for Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) (Research article)

A human bio-monitoring study by the Federal Office of Public Health has revealed undesirable chemical residues are present in the bodies of Swiss men and women. Among them was perfluorooctane sulphonic acid, or PFOS, a substance banned in Switzerland since 2010. More:

• Undesirable chemicals found in bodies of Swiss residents  –  Swissinfo

• The Forever Pollution Project  –  The Forever Pollution Project

• Research identifies 134 ‘forever chemicals’ hotspots across Switzerland  –  Swissinfo
• Cleaning up Switzerland’s toxic legacy  –  Swissinfo
• Situation du traitement des sites pollués  –  OFEV

• Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure to Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) or Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)  –  US National Toxicology Program

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules for limiting PFAS in drinking water, saying these compounds pose health risks. It’s estimated that nearly half the drinking water in our country has PFAS. More:

• What lessons could Va. residents learn from Gen X contamination in North Carolina?  –  Virginia's Public Radio
• Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council  –  U.S. Federal Register
• How did Gen X end up in the Roanoke River, far from Chemours' Fayetteville facility?  –  WHQR