The nation’s elected councillor, Janelle Nahmabin, shares the urgent need for Indigenous representation in treaty talks to address the health impacts of local chemical emissions on her community.Desmond Brown reports for CBC.In short:Janelle Nahmabin, Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s elected councillor, highlighted the harmful effects of benzene emissions from nearby chemical plants on the Aamjiwnaang community, located by the St. Clair River in Ontario, Canada, south of Lake Huron.Aamjiwnaang First Nation is surrounded by industrial sites contributing to significant environmental health concerns.Re ..read more

Europe grapples with escalating plastic pollution, driven by petrochemical imports from Texas. A recent report by Amnesty International shows how some of these imported petrochemical products are linked to environmental racism, and calls for more stringent rules to restrict the proliferation of polluting plastics. Alysha Khambay writes in euobserver.In short:European shores are increasingly littered with plastic pellets, causing environmental emergencies and threats to marine life.Petrochemicals linked to human rights abuses in Texas are contaminating Europe’s plastic supply, with European com ..read more

New research shows a few multinational companies, including Philip Morris International and Coca-Cola, are major contributors to global plastic pollution, a study finds.Sofia Quaglia reports for The Guardian.In short:Researchers identified 56 major companies responsible for half of all plastic waste, with six companies –Altria, Philip Morris International, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Danone and PepsiCo– producing a quarter of that.Over five years, the team collected 1,870,000 items of plastic waste across 84 countries. Companies are making efforts to increase recyclability and reduce virgin plastic use ..read more

As world leaders gather to forge a global plastics treaty, we must confront the undeniable havoc that plastic pollution wreaks on our health and environment, argues Environmental Health Sciences’ chief scientist.Pete Myers writes for Reuters. In short: The ubiquity of plastic is contaminating our bodies, contributing to health issues like obesity and reducing fertility. Recent studies highlight the economic costs of plastic pollution at $250 billion annually in the U.S., with broader implications for public health and safety. International treaty discussions aim to address the crisis by phasin ..read more

Jill Hunkler, an Ohio resident who considers herself a “fracking refugee,” is telling her family’s story at the global plastics treaty negotiations in Ottawa this week, where negotiators from about 175 countries are working to advance a treaty to address global plastic pollution.“I was forced to leave my home that I built with my own hands,” she told Environmental Health News. “I lived in Somerset Township, Ohio, where my sister, my mom and I had 13 acres of land and we had spent years building homes on it that we loved, but then 78 fracking well pads were built within five miles of our home ..read more

A test by Million Marker has unveiled widespread plastic contamination in humans, with bisphenols and phthalates present in most individuals. Jeffrey Kluger reports for Time.In short:Recent testing shows a significant presence of bisphenols and phthalates, chemicals linked to severe health risks, in the human body.Efforts to mitigate these risks include lifestyle changes and regulatory actions aimed at reducing exposure.Global discussions are underway to establish stricter regulations on plastic pollution to protect public health.Key quote: “These chemicals are everywhere. They’re in the atmos ..read more

A global surge in early-onset cancer cases, especially gastrointestinal cancers in adults under 50, has alarmed the medical community and spurred an international $25 million research effort to uncover causes and solutions. Dylan Scott reports for Vox.In short:An international team is investigating the spike in cancers among adults younger than 50, focusing on lifestyle and environmental risk factors.The research, combining surveys and animal studies, aims to understand the mechanisms driving these cancers, potentially influencing future screenings and treatments.This rise in early-onset cance ..read more

In anticipation of the next round of global plastic treaty talks, experts are calling on the U.S. to take a leadership role in pushing for an ambitious treaty. In a letter sent this week, environmental groups ask the administration to support a version of the treaty that includes reductions in plastic production, which has been a contentious issue thus far. In addition,they’re calling on the Biden administration to bolster domestic plastic pollution efforts and be a model for other countries. “The U.S. is the number one generator of plastic waste in the world — both per capita and total. [It’s ..read more

A new approach is necessary to address the common misconceptions about recyclable plastics, emphasizing the need for individual contributions to sustainability.Kaitlyn Wells and Katie Okamoto report for The New York Times.In short:Despite recycling labels, most plastics end up as environmental pollutants, breaking down into microplastics harmful to ecosystems and human health.The article presents 12 actionable tips for reducing reliance on single-use plastics, focusing on sustainable lifestyle adjustments over perfection.Jeremy Gregory, PhD, highlights the environmental impact of acquiring mul ..read more

A CBS News report uncovers a long-standing campaign by the plastics industry to mislead the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling.Ben Tracy reports for CBS News.In short:Despite widespread belief in plastic recycling, only 5 to 6% of plastic waste in the U.S. is actually recycled.The plastics industry has been accused of misleading the public about the feasibility of plastic recycling.Documents reveal that industry insiders knew recycling was not a viable solution to plastic waste as early as the 1980s.Key quote: “The plastics industry understands that selling recycling sells pla ..read more