All articles tagged with #pollution
A Washington Post report based on a leaked diplomatic memo shows the United States opposing binding limits on plastic production in global plastics treaty negotiations, seeking a broad national-security exemption to bypass the treaty and arguing for economic and petrochemical interests, as talks reach a critical phase.
Researchers at the Experimental Lakes Area seed Lake 378 with microplastics to study their fate, transport, and entry into the food web, part of a broader effort to push monitoring and policy action across the Great Lakes; the work, along with a growing body of evidence that microplastics are widespread in the basin, has spurred calls for stronger regulation and binational cooperation, even as local pollution issues—like Sarnia's Chemical Valley emissions and nurdle pollution—highlight ongoing health and environmental concerns.
Amazon Web Services plans a massive gas-fired plant in Pecos County, Texas to power a planned AI data center, potentially emitting up to 33 million tons of CO2 per year and becoming the single largest U.S. source of emissions, a move that would clash with its net-zero by 2040 pledge. Even without Pecos, AWS’ emissions are rising, with electricity use up 34% in 2025, while the company says growth and sustainability can go hand in hand and emphasizes transparency about challenges.
Environmental groups filed a petition with the FCC demanding a pause on new licenses for orbital datacenter projects by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others, warning that launches, satellite deorbiting, and the creation of millions of satellites could pollute the stratosphere, harm the ozone layer, and cause light pollution. The petition argues NEPA requires environmental reviews and questions the feasibility of the plans, while noting the potential for a dramatic increase in satellites and associated environmental and regulatory challenges.
New York City residents are breathing unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke from Canada, with the AQI in the 151–200 range; an expert says three hours outside is like smoking 2.5 cigarettes, and a full day outdoors could feel equivalent to about 10 cigarettes, with short-term symptoms such as itchy eyes, fatigue and shortness of breath. The city recommends staying indoors when possible, using air purification or air conditioning to filter pollutants, and is providing free K95 masks to those who must venture outside to reduce risk.
A US-focused analysis shows wildfire activity is rising across North America, with smoke from hundreds of Canadian fires drifting far south and turning skies orange in cities from Toronto to New York and Chicago. Climate change is driving hotter, drier conditions that fuel larger, more persistent fires, sending smoke hundreds to thousands of miles and triggering hazardous air quality. Health risks rise with prolonged exposure, prompting guidance to limit outdoor activity, wear masks, and seal buildings when air quality is poor.
The article reports a rapid expansion of fossil-fuel–powered AI data centers—especially in Texas—that is creating a hidden “shadow grid” of onsite gas plants and thousands of backup diesel generators, driving significant pollution as operators exploit loopholes to obtain permits. Scientists warn AI growth could push CO2 emissions to 24–44 million metric tons by 2030, comparable to millions of cars, while residents have limited ability to block expansion once permits are issued.
A UK environmental volunteer group, River Roding Trust, dredged 200 bags of debris from Alders Brook near London in ten days. The Environment Agency is investigating alleged unpermitted works and waste offences, potentially carrying up to two years in prison, a move the cleanup organizer says is disproportionate to his efforts and to ongoing pollution elsewhere. He notes the cleaned stretch is already showing wildlife recovery, despite years of inaction by authorities.
The U.S. Justice Department urged a federal court to throw out the NAACP‑filed pollution lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, arguing national-security concerns and potential harm to energy and AI innovation. The suit accuses xAI of operating gas turbines near homes and a school in Southaven, Mississippi, to power its Colossus 2 data center in nearby Memphis without proper air permits. Legal experts warn the DOJ’s intervention could undermine citizen-suit protections that allow communities to hold polluters accountable, with broader implications for environmental enforcement.
As SpaceX readies a multi-trillion-dollar IPO, residents near xAI’s Memphis and Mississippi data centers allege unpermitted natural gas turbines emit PM2.5 and stress local water supplies, spurring lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny even as officials cite tax revenue and a paused water-recycling project.
In many low- and middle-income countries, waste collection is incomplete—less than half of household waste is collected in some places, and when it is collected, a large share (often over 80%) ends up in open dumps or is burned, causing pollution. Improving basic waste management presents a major opportunity to reduce environmental and air pollution and curb plastic leakage.
Arizona State University researchers found that some ground-level fog droplets host actively growing bacteria—particularly methylobacteria—that consume formaldehyde, turning fog into tiny temporary ecosystems that can reduce airborne pollutants and potentially influence atmospheric chemistry and climate.
A Science piece argues that biological infertility is unlikely to explain the global fertility decline, noting a meta-analysis showing US sperm counts have risen and time-to-pregnancy has remained stable. The downturn since 2007–2010 is more plausibly tied to economic conditions and increased smartphone use affecting coupling, rather than toxins or climate harms.
A study of 105 wild Atlantic salmon in Sweden’s Lake Vattern found fish exposed to cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine swam about 1.9 times farther per week than unexposed fish, with the metabolite exposure adding roughly 7.6 extra miles — highlighting how pharmaceuticals in waterways are altering wildlife behavior and underscoring the need for improved wastewater treatment and monitoring, with related notes on sharks also ingesting drugs in other regions.
A multi-institution study exposed 105 juvenile Atlantic salmon in Sweden to cocaine or its metabolite benzoylecgonine and tracked their movement. Surprisingly, the metabolite had the strongest effect, with exposed fish swimming up to 1.9 times farther and ending up about 20 miles from release, suggesting cocaine pollution can alter wild fish behavior and ecosystem dynamics. The findings highlight that metabolites—often more prevalent in waterways—should be considered in risk assessments, and future work will assess how widespread these effects are and whether they impact survival and reproduction.