human health
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US shifts to support global plastic production cuts
In a significant policy shift, the United States is now backing a global treaty to reduce plastic production, putting it at odds with major plastic producers like Saudi Arabia and China.
In short:
- According to a source close to negotiators, the U.S. will support a global treaty to reduce the production of new plastic, a change from its previous stance.
- This move aligns the U.S. with countries like the EU and Canada, which advocate for caps on plastic production and eliminating harmful chemicals.
- The U.S. will also support creation of a list of harmful chemicals for phaseout.
- The policy shift comes just before crucial treaty negotiations in South Korea and has received mixed reactions from industry and environmental groups.
Key quote:
"This significant change of heart by the U.S. State Department — to support a global target that will reduce plastic production and to identify a list of hazardous chemicals to be eliminated from plastics — is affirmation of hard work by an assemblage of organizations working to ensure the treaty negotiations fully incorporated concerns about the human health effects chemicals in plastics. It was already clear that the current level of plastic production was unsustainable, and that current 'business as usual' projections by industry were going to make things much worse. If the State Department sticks to this commitment, we will all benefit."
— Pete Myers, EHS founder and chief scientist
Why this matters:
By backing the treaty, the U.S. is acknowledging that our addiction to plastics is not just an eyesore but a real threat to our health and the environment.
Read more from EHN about the impacts of plastic on our health:
A plastic recipe for societal suicide
Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health: Report
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Photo by Ella Ivanescu on Unsplash
Climate change linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, including death
Exposure to environmental stressors related to climate change - such as extreme weather and high temperatures - is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a review of 492 studies published in JAMA Cardiology.
In short:
- An increased risk of cardiovascular disease was specifically linked to extreme temperatures, ground-level air pollution, hurricanes, cyclones, and dust storms.
- In some cases, experiencing a combination of stressors (such as pollution and high temperatures) amplified the risk.
- Older adults, individuals from minority groups, and those in low income communities were disproportionately affected by these stressors.
Key quote:
“Urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower climate change–associated cardiovascular risk in vulnerable populations.”
Why this matters:
As climate change continues to alter global weather patterns, the environmental consequences examined in this article are becoming more common and more intense. With international climate agreements like COP28 failing to definitively address fossil fuels and other drivers of global warming, the authors emphasize the need to recognizethe human health impacts of climate change as a way to push for concrete action.
Related EHN coverage:
- Eliminating fossil fuels would save millions of lives, study finds
- Op-ed: How climate change harms pregnant people and their babies
- Oil and gas production responsible for $77 billion in annual US health damages: Study
More resources:
- Climate Change Resourcesprovides numerous sources of news, information, and avenues for action on climate change related issues.
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)assesses international climate change science.
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Photo by Mike Newbry on Unsplash
Wildfires and heat waves linked to an increased risk for preterm birth
Pregnant Californians exposed to extreme climate events like wildfires and heat waves were at a higher risk for giving birth early, according to a new study published in Environmental Research.
In short:
- Exposure to wildfires was associated with an increased chance of preterm birth. The same was true for days with unusually high temperatures.
- This association was much stronger when exposure to both wildfires and heat waves occurred simultaneously.
- The risk for preterm birth was strongest for Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American study participants in comparison to White participants.
Key quote:
“Given the increasingly frequent occurrence and co-occurrence of these climate related events, pregnant people and their growing fetuses should be consistently in the front of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.”
Why this matters:
As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, heat waves and wildfires have become increasingly intense and frequent. Environmental hazards that affect the health of pregnant people and their children can have long-term and severe outcomes, such as harm to babies’ respiratory, neurological, and cardiometabolic development. The authors of this study point to the need to recognize pregnancy as a vulnerable period in order to encourage regulatory action that better protects parents and their children.
Related EHN coverage:
- American Heart Association: Children must be protected from health threats of environmental toxics
- Op-ed: How climate change harms pregnant people and their babies
More resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wildfire smoke and pregnancy
- California Air Resources Board:Smoke ready California
- Yale Climate Connections: Extreme heat makes pregnancy more dangerous
Ha, Sandie et al. for Environmental Research vol. 252, 4. July 1, 2024
Science summaries are produced by the EHS science team, including HEEDS.
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UN
Credit: Glynnis Jones/BigStock Photo ID: 120471452
Chemours and DuPont's knowledge of PFAS risks leads to UN intervention
A United Nations human rights panel has spotlighted a North Carolina PFAS plant for its environmental negligence, highlighting the ongoing production of toxic chemicals despite known health risks.
In short:
- The UN panel accuses Chemours and DuPont of continuing PFAS production in North Carolina, ignoring the chemicals' toxic impacts on health and the environment.
- Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are criticized for being overly influenced by these corporations, undermining efforts to regulate PFAS effectively.
- Despite corporate denials and claims of responsible manufacturing, the UN calls for global action to address the harmful effects of PFAS chemicals on communities worldwide.
Key quote:
“This does need to be a global fight. These are forever chemicals.”
— Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear
Why this matters:
PFAS, a.k.a. "forever chemicals," persist in our global ecosystem and have had an adverse impact on global health since their inception. Scientists are scrambling for effective solutions to this ubiquitous toxic scourge and we are reminded that "forever" is a long time.
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Credit: Festival of Faiths/Flickr
A scientist in Louisville is compiling data on trees and human health
An ongoing science experiment involves nearly 8,000 trees and shrubs in southern Louisville and health data from nearly 500 residents.
Newsletter
Credit: Jason Woodhead/Flickr
Canada’s tar sands are a much larger source of air pollution than previously thought, study says
The research, published in Science, found the oil operations are releasing vast quantities of compounds that can cause localized air pollution and form damaging particles that can travel across the continent.
Vicky Cann: How the chemical-industry lobby pushes 'safe use' exemptions
Ever since the EU Commission published its hazardous chemicals strategy, the industry has lobbied to undermine and dilute its promises — and lobbyists can point to some clear wins.
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