toxic chemicals news stories on Newser

Culprit for Epidemics of Autism, Obesity: Fungicide?

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:14:08 CDT

Can the recent increase in autism, obesity, and anxiety disorders be traced back to chemical exposure? That's what a new study involving pregnant rats suggests, AFP reports. Pregnant rats who were exposed to the common fungicide vinclozolin had descendants who, three generations later, weighed more, were less sociable, and displayed...

Chemical Regulators Aren't Protecting Us

Kevin Spak — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:47:58 CDT

Male frogs born with female organs. Male fish laying eggs. Male alligators with tiny penises. These are just some of the bizarre effects we've seen in nature thanks to hormone-mimicking chemicals, Nicholas Kristof laments in the New York Times. Despite this, the same class of chemicals is nearly unavoidable in...

'Toxin-Free' Nail Salon Products Still Have Toxins

Matt Cantor — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:49:14 CDT

The labels say they're free of toxic chemicals—but certain products in nail salons could be dangerous for workers, a California report finds. Investigators are raising concern about the so-called "toxic trio" of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, which have been associated with cancer and birth defects, the Los Angeles...

Climate Change Could Cause Cancer, UN Warns

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:22:32 CST

Climate change is doing more than just harming our environment—it could also be harming you, scientists say. Toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, tumors, heart disease, and infertility are being released into the air and water via melting glaciers, reports the Daily Mail , pointing to a new...

Toxin Plagues Brockovich Town, Again

Matt Cantor — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:50:46 CST

A toxic plume of chromium continues to trouble the California desert town that Erin Brockovich put on the map—and the pollution is getting worse, reports the AP . High levels of the material, which can cause cancer, have spread through wells near Hinkley. “Because of the widespread nature of the...

Hungary Arrests Toxic Sludge Boss

Emily Rauhala — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:01:00 CDT

The head of the company behind Hungary's toxic sludge spill has been arrested, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asked parliament to take over. "The company should be put under state control and its assets under state closure," he said. Zoltan Bakonyi, of aluminum firm MAL Co, is accused...

Burning Trash Made Us Sick: Troops

Kevin Spak — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:57:00 CDT

Hundreds of service members and employees of Kellogg Brown & Root have filed lawsuits against the contractor, which burns vast amounts of trash on US bases in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying the thick smoke from the burn pits has made them sick. KBR operates more than two dozen of the...

Don't Touch That Receipt! It May Be Toxic

Caroline Miller — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:00:00 CDT

Sheesh: The same toxic chemical—bisphenol A—that's shown up in baby bottles and canned goods is apparently also all over the receipts you get from stores and restaurants, and in much greater amounts. BPA was found in the coating used on cash register receipts in 40% of businesses tested,...

Beware Toxic Beauty Products

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:37:00 CDT

With all the fervor over organic food, it’s surprising that so little attention has been paid to the many chemical ingredients we put on our face each day—until now. A February protest by a group of students in Maine was one of a number that have been recently drawing...