Billions of denim garments are produced each year, with the global denim market valued at $63.5 billion in 2020. To produce this classic garment, producers rely on indigo dye, the only molecule known to provide jeans’ unique, beloved color. While indigo itself is naturally derived from a plant, growing demand for blue jeans throughout the 20th century gave rise to synthetic indigo, which is now more commonly used. More:

• Blue jeans are terrible for the environment—but a new discovery could help  –  National Geographic

• The surprising science of blue jeans  –  CNET
• Blue jeans: An iconic fashion item that’s costing the planet dearly  –  Mongabay
• Critical Review on Sustainability in Denim: A Step toward Sustainable Production and Consumption of Denim (Research article)

• Chemists go green to make better blue jeans  –  Nature
• Chemoenzymatic indican for light-driven denim dyeing (Research article)

Analysis conducted by Pesticide Action Network Europe revives debate on PFAS ban covering active substances in pesticides. Residues of toxic “forever chemicals” substances traceable on fruit and vegetables has reportedly tripled in the EU over the last 10 years, according to an NGO report. More:

• EU Policy. Fruit and veg increasingly tainted by 'forever-chemicals', NGO warns  –  EuroNews
• ‘Forever chemicals’ found in fruit and veg  –  Footprint
• Toxic Harvest: The rise of forever PFAS pesticides in fruit and vegetables in Europe  –  Pesticide Action Network Europe

Does your favorite deodorant contain indications of PFAS “forever chemicals?” PFAS “forever chemicals” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used as stain-resistant, water-resistant, & oil-resistant chemicals in commerce. More:

• Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Found in Deodorants — Guide  –  Mamavation

• Immunotoxicity and allergenic potential induced by topical application of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a murine model (Research abstract)
• Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours (Research abstract)
• Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk  –  US National Cancer Institute
• Save the Swimmers: Why Phthalates Are the Hormonal Enemy of Boys  –  Mamavation

A UN human rights panel calls on the UN Environment Assembly to take on “forever chemicals” at a meeting in Nairobi, citing a North Carolina PFAS plant as an example of environmental negligence. More:

• Chemours and DuPont Knew About Risks But Kept Making Toxic PFAS Chemicals, UN Human Rights Advisors Conclude  –  Inside Climate News
• US companies DuPont and Chemours generated extensive contamination with toxic “forever chemicals” in North Carolina: UN experts  –  OHCHR
• Toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ released by DuPont and Chemours caused significant harm  –  Earth.com

• An Assessment Report on Issues of Concern: Chemicals and Waste Issues Posing Risks to Human Health and the Environment  –  UNEP
• Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)  –  Endocrine

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs), mainly short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs), are currently the most produced and used industrial chemicals related to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) globally. These chemicals are widely detected in the environment and in the human body. As the release of SCCPs and MCCPs from products represents only a small fraction of their stock in products, the potential long-term release of CPs from a large variety of products at the waste stage has become an issue of great concern. More:

• Exploring long-term global environmental impacts of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) in waste: Implications for the Stockholm and Basel Conventions and the global plastic treaty (Research article)

• Chlorinated paraffins in the technosphere: A review of available information and data gaps demonstrating the need to support the Stockholm Convention implementation (Research article)
• Widespread presence of chlorinated paraffins in consumer products (Research article)
• Initial assessment of imports of chlorinated paraffins into Nigeria and the need of improvement of the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions (Research article)

• Short-, Medium-, and Long-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Wildlife from Paddy Fields in the Yangtze River Delta (Research article)
• Environmental risks of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins  –  Food Packaging Forum

• Critical review on disposition of chlorinated paraffins in animals and humans (Research article)
• Chlorinated paraffins and dechloranes in free-range chicken eggs and soil around waste disposal sites in Tanzania (Research article)
• Circular economy could expose children to hazardous phthalates and chlorinated paraffins via old toys and childcare articles (Research article)
• Distribution and Pattern Profiles of Chlorinated Paraffins in Human Placenta of Henan Province, China (Research article)

Nanotechnology has pervaded numerous industrial sectors over the past decades. Although many of us may not be aware of it, nanomaterials are now embedded within many of the the products we use in our daily lives. Recent developments suggest that agriculture could be next in line. More:

• Nanotechnology promises to help farmers cut pesticide use – but could also make chemicals more toxic  –  The Conversation

• Nanomaterials are changing the world – but we still don’t have adequate safety tests for them  –  The Conversation
• Nanotechnology - not that green?  –  Nanowerk
• Why nanotechnology is more than just a buzzword  –  The Conversation
• How Small is a Nanoparticle? (YouTube)  –  Sanford Burnham Prebys
• A guide to the nanotechnology used in the average home  –  The Conversation

• Discovering Novel Insecticides with Nanoparticles  –  AZO Nano
• Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice  –  AZO Nano
• Small amounts of pesticides reaching target insects (Research article)
• Technology readiness and overcoming barriers to sustainably implement nanotechnology-enabled plant agriculture (Research abstract)
• Sustainability Claims of Nanoenabled Pesticides Require a More Thorough Evaluation (Research article)

This report examines the commercial availability and current uses of PFASs and alternatives in cosmetics, as well as their market penetration, feasibility, effectiveness and cost. Thirty-six PFASs (polymeric and non-polymeric) were identified as intentionally added to cosmetics. PFASs provide a wide range of functions in cosmetic products, acting as hair and skin conditioning agents, emulsifiers, stabilisers, oil and water-resistant agents, lubricants, bulking agents and/or oil-resistant surfactants. More:

• PFASs and alternatives in cosmetics report on commercial availability and current uses  –  OECD
• IN-DEPTH: For clean beauty brands, getting PFAS out of makeup might be easier said than done  –  EHN

• Identification and classification of commercially relevant per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Research article)
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment- Terminology, Classification, and Origins (Research article)
• Environmental fate and effects of polyand perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Report)(download PDF)  –  Concawe
• Risk management scope for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  –  Government of Canada

• An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Research article)
• Historical and current usage of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A literature review (Research article)
• Occurrence of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in personal care products and compounding agents (Research abstract)

• Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Cosmetics  –  US FDA
• PFASs in Cosmetics (Report) (download PDF)  –  KEMI
• In the News: PFAS and Cosmetics – the Facts  –  CTPA
• 'Forever chemicals' still in use in UK make-up  –  BBC
• PFAS Found in L’Oréal Cosmetics  –  Verdant Law

• Risk assessment of fluorinated substances in cosmetic products  –  The Danish Environmental Protection Agency
• Safety Assessment of Polyfluorinated Polymers as Used in Cosmetics  –  Cosmetic Ingredient Review

• Are cosmetics a significant source of PFAS in Europe? product inventories, chemical characterization and emission estimates (Research article)
• Targeted and Suspect Screening of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products (Research abstract)
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and fluorine mass balance in cosmetic products from the Swedish market: implications for environmental emissions and human exposure (Research article)

Levels of mercury persist in tuna, decades after pollution controls were introduced to limit emissions, scientists say. The poisonous element is released by mining and burning coal and ends up in the ocean, where it builds up in fish. More:

• Mercury mystery: Poisonous element persists in tuna  –  BBC
• Stable Tuna Mercury Concentrations since 1971 Illustrate Marine Inertia and the Need for Strong Emission Reductions under the Minamata Convention (Research abstract)

Potential carcinogenic contaminants were found in almost 90 per cent of instant noodles tested by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog. The Consumer Council has urged the industry to reduce the production of harmful substances to safeguard public health following the study published on February 15, 2024. Council officials said the potentially cancer-causing chemicals 3-MCPD and glycidol were detected in 17 of the 19 samples of pre-packaged fried and non-fried instant noodles that were tested along with their seasoning packets and toppings. More:

• Potential cancer-causing chemicals found in instant noodles (YouTube)  –  South China Morning Post

• 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) Fact Sheet (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  Wyeth Nutrition Science Center Hong Kong
• Glycidol (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  National Institutes of Health

• Instant Noodles Are they Really Good for Health A Review (Research article)
• Health risk assessment of instant noodles commonly consumed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Research article)
• Quality and Public Health Concerns of Instant Noodles as Influenced by Raw Materials and Processing Technology (Research abstract)
• Beware of Sodium and Fat Content of Instant Noodles 1 Serving Enough to Exceed Intake Limit Improvement Urged as 3 Seasoning Samples Detected with Higher Levels of Probably Carcinogenic Contaminant  –  Consumer Council

Two Texas farm families have seen their health decline, their pets and livestock sickened and killed, their water poisoned and and their property values wiped out due to high levels of chemical contamination linked to a company marketing treated sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil conditioner, according to a lawsuit filed by the families. More:

• Dead livestock and poisoned water — Texas farmers sue over PFAS contamination  –  The New Lede

• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  –  U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Factsheet  –  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• 'Forever Chemicals' and Risks to Farms  –  DTN

• IARC Monographs evaluate the carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)  –  International Agency for Research on Cancer

• Suppressed Study: The EPA Underestimated Dangers of Widespread Chemicals  –  ProPublica
• EPA proposes adding PFAS to hazardous waste cleanup law  –  The New Lede

Tea has been an integral part of Bangladeshi life for long. From breakfast to evening chat, tea is a favorite drink to serve. Besides Bangladesh, tea is among the most popular drinks in countries like India, China, Japan and the United Kingdom. More:

• Herbicide used in Bangladesh tea production threatens biodiversity & health  –  Mongabay

• Weed Management in Tea - Recent Developments (download PDF) (Research article)

• 8 - Indirect herbicide effects on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and interactions with global changes (Research abstract)

• Glyphosate (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  US EPA
• Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review (Research article)
• 33 countries ban the use of Glyphosate – the key ingredient in Roundup  –  Biodx

The study, led by scientists at the Environmental Working Group and published today in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, is one of the first in the U.S. to examine levels of the chemical in people and is concerning as previous animal lab studies found it negatively impacts reproduction and post birth health, and impairs proper weight and bone development. More:

• Why is this largely unknown pesticide showing up in our bodies?  –  EHN

• Chlormequat Chloride (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

• EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products  –  EWG
• A pilot study of chlormequat in food and urine from adults in the United States from 2017 to 2023 (Research article)
• New study finds little-known toxic crop chemical in four out of five people tested  –  Phys.org

• Effects of the plant growth regulator, chlormequat, on mammalian fertility (Research abstract)
• Maternal chlormequat chloride exposure disrupts embryonic growth and produces postnatal adverse effects (Research abstract)
• The effects of chlormequat chloride on the development of pubertal male rats (Research abstract)

As the invasive water lettuce continues to multiply along the Vaal River, Rand Water has begun an integrated response to halt the growth, spraying herbicide on the plants and releasing weevils as biological control agents. While the response is seen by some as necessary to urgently address socioeconomic implications, it’s seen as controversial by others. More:

• Spraying of controversial herbicide on Vaal River water lettuce begins – critics urge caution  –  Daily Maverick

• Water lettuce (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  NAISMA
• Glyphosate General Fact Sheet  –  National Pesticide Information Center

• Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures a consensus statement (Research article)
• Association between glyphosate exposure and cognitive function, depression, and neurological diseases in a representative sample of US adults: NHANES 2013–2014 analysis (Research abstract)

• Rapid water lettuce spread threatens Vaal River — weevils could be the solution  –  Daily Maverick
• Water lettuce biocontrol agents (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  NAISMA

The decision at the committee level in the Parliament follows the European Commission’s July proposal, which aimed to reduce the number of unsafe toys sold in the EU – with special emphasis on the online market – by ensuring a level playing field between toys manufactured in the EU and imported ones. More:

• EU’s new rules to protect children from harmful chemicals in toys  –  Euractiv

• Endocrine Disruptors and Your Health (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Bisphenols should be banned  –  Taenk

• Commission steps up protection of children from unsafe toys  –  European Commission
• Green Deal: Commission adopts new Chemicals Strategy towards a toxic-free environment  –  European Commission
• The European Green Deal  –  European Commission

• ‘Game over’ for EU’s REACH chemical safety review, campaigners say  –  Euractiv

The study builds on evidence that a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, or neonics, are harming a range of species important for planetary health. Neonics have been banned in many countries but are popular with farmers in the United States. More:

• Pesticide-treated seeds harm earthworms, study finds  –  The New Lede

• How Neonics Can Harm Soil Health and Soil Biodiversity  –  NRDC

• Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Earthworms: A Hazard Associated with Sublethal Systemic Pesticide Exposures (Research abstract)
• DNA damage and oxidative stress induced by imidacloprid exposure in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Research abstract)
• Sub-lethal effects of six neonicotinoids on avoidance behavior and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) (Research abstract)

• MtDNA Copy Number in Oral Epithelial Cells Serves as a Potential Biomarker of Mitochondrial Damage by Neonicotinoid Exposure: A Cross-Sectional Study (Research abstract)

• European Union expands ban of three neonicotinoid pesticides  –  Science
• EPA Withdraws Decision on Toxic Fungicide Difenoconazole  –  Center for Food Safety
• Citing birds and bees, groups petition EPA to close pesticide loophole  –  The New Lede
• States Step In to Restrict Bee-Toxic Pesticides, California the Latest in Absence of EPA Action  –  Beyond Pesticides

Every February half-term, I think back to the French ski trips I went on as a teenager. I remember the freshness of the cold, crisp air as I snow-ploughed my way down the slopes. Escaping to somewhere seemingly so pristine felt like a world away from where I grew up in London. Back then, I never considered that snow could be a potential source of exposure to a harmful chemical. More:

• Forever chemicals in ski wax are being spread on snowy slopes  –  The Conversation

• About PFASs - Portal on Per and Poly Fluorinated Chemicals  –  OECD
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  Pennysilvania Department of Health
• PFAS and Forever Chemicals  –  Drinking Water Inspectorate

• Per and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) target and EOF analyses in ski wax, snowmelts, and soil from skiing areas (Research article)
• Skiers leaving ‘forever chemicals’ on pistes, study finds  –  The Guardian

• All The Stuff in Your Home That Might Contain PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’  –  TIME

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and thyroid cancer risk (Research article)
• Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and neurodevelopment in 2-year-old children: A prospective cohort study (Research article)
• Exposure to high levels of PFAS through drinking water is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes—findings from a register-based study in Ronneby, Sweden (Research abstract)
• Perfluorinated alkyl acids in the serum and follicular fluid of UK women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing fertility treatment and associations with hormonal and metabolic parameters (Research abstract)

• Grouping of PFAS for human health risk assessment: Findings from an independent panel of experts (Research article)
• Utah's famed Park City ski resort bans certain brands of ski wax after cancer-causing 'forever chemicals' from the products are found in the city's drinking water  –  Daily Mail Online
• Scientists call on ministers to cut limits for ‘forever chemicals’ in UK tap water  –  The Guardian

News reports of cancers potentially linked to a North Carolina State University building that was shut down in November after the discovery of environmental contaminants prompted a faculty vote of no-confidence in university leadership this week and caused a dust-up between university and federal officials over who halted a federal evaluation into the building. More:

• Reports Of Cancers Linked To NC State Building Spur Controversy: Here’s What’s Happening  –  Forbes

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  Texas Department of Health State Services
• Learn about Polychlorinated Biphenyls  –  US EPA

• PCB and dioxin-like PCB in indoor air of public buildings contaminated with different PCB sources – deriving toxicity equivalent concentrations from standard PCB congeners (Research abstract)
• Joint Sealants: An Overlooked Diffuse Source of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Buildings (Research abstract)
• An Unrecognized Source of PCB Contamination in Schools and Other Buildings (Research article)

• New test results from NC State building show PCB levels up to 38 times higher than EPA standards  –  NC Newsline
• 5 On Your Side confirms 40 cancer cases connected to NC State building (Video)  –  WRAL NEWS
• More than 100 people who spent time in Poe Hall report cancer diagnosis to WRAL (Video)  –  WRAL NEWS
• Cancer cases from people with connections to NC State building keep piling up (Video)  –  WRAL NEWS

• Indoor environmental investigation report - initial phase (Report) (download PDF)  –  North Carolina State University

Longtime University of Washington goalies coach Amy Griffin is not an activist by nature. But 15 years ago, she identified what she believed was a trend that she couldn’t ignore in good conscience — young goalies being diagnosed with blood cancer. More:

• Does playing soccer on artificial turf increase cancer risk, especially in kids?  –  KUOW

• Dam owner pleads guilty after spilling turf, tire bits in Puyallup River  –  KUOW
• Athletic Playing Fields and Artificial Turf: Considerations for Municipalities and Institutions (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  Toxic Use Reduction Institute

• Environmental and Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: A Review (Research abstract)
• Artificial-turf playing fields: Contents of metals, PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs, inhalation exposure to PAHs and related preliminary risk assessment (Research abstract)
• Health Risk Assessment for Artificial Turf Playgrounds in School Athletic Facilities: Multi-route Exposure Estimation for Use Patterns (Research abstract)
• Recycled rubber in artificial turf doesn't appear to cause cancer, state says  –  KUOW

NORTH CAROLINA — A superior court judge put forward an order Wednesday to make DuPont’s subsidiaries liable for PFAS contamination caused by the original company if deemed responsible for damages alleged in a lawsuit filed by attorney general Josh Stein. More:

• Superior Court rules in favor of AG Stein’s suit to put DuPont’s subsidiaries on the hook for PFAS damages  –  Port City Daily

• GenX Chemicals Toxicity Assessment (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  US EPA
• Human Health Toxicity Values for Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium Salt, Also Known as “GenX Chemicals” (Report) (download PDF)  –  US EPA
• Chemours’ fight against GenX health advisory goes to court, holds national ramifications  –  Port City Daily

Dust is full of seemingly benign detritus, but experts say it may also contain contaminants with concerning health implications. More:

• Dust busters: what’s really in household dust and how to get rid of it  –  The Guardian

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Fact Sheet (Fact sheet) (download PDF)  –  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Migration of Contaminated Soil and Airborne Particulates to Indoor Dust (Research abstract)
• Novel Insights into the Dermal Bioaccessibility and Human Exposure to Brominated Flame Retardant Additives in Microplastics (Research article)
• Potential Health Impact of Microplastics: A Review of Environmental Distribution, Human Exposure, and Toxic Effects (Research article)
• [House Dust and Its Adverse Health Effects] (Research abstract)

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Wildfire Smoke Accumulate on Indoor Materials and Create Postsmoke Event Exposure Pathways (Research abstract)
• Wildfire Smoke: Nationwide Health Risk  –  Climate Central