By Shannon Kelleher Rick Wawrzeniak is tired of worrying about “forever chemicals.”| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Residents of a Maryland community afflicted with contamination from harmful chemicals are demanding that a local soybean processing plant immediately stop releasing toxic PFAS into their drinking and groundwater, violating a federal law that governs the disposal of hazardous waste.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher A federal judge this week ruled that the Trump administration’s move to terminate several grants to support farmers and underserved communities was likely “arbitrary and capricious,” and ordered the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore five grants it canceled and cease the cancellation of a sixth grant.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher With the looming possibility that the Trump administration could reduce federal limits on toxic PFAS chemicals in drinking water, public health advocates are warning that people across the country would suffer.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher The Trump administration’s plan to eliminate the entire research arm of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have devastating impacts on toxic chemical research, destabilizing infrastructure that forms the scientific backbone of regulations that protect people and the environment, according to former agency leaders.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Amid a flurry of actions curtailing Biden’s environmental policies, the administration of newly inaugurated President Donald Trump this week withdrew a plan to set limits on toxic PFAS chemicals in industrial wastewater.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Representatives of US water and waste systems told US lawmakers this week that hundreds of such operations across the nation could face unintended and overwhelming liabilities unless they are exempted from a proposal that would designate two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher A Trump administration move to axe key food safety advisory committees could leave the public more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses, critics fear, particularly alongside current legislative efforts to undermine proposed safety regulations on food processors.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illnesses more than doubled in 2024 over the prior year, with most people sickened in a small number of high-profile outbreaks involving lunch meat, eggs, cucumbers and other commonly consumed foods, according to a report published Thursday.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Scientists and public health advocates are warning of dire consequences amid a worsening climate crisis following the Trump administration’s announcement this week that regulators plan to rescind the “endangerment finding” that forms the basis for limits on greenhouse gas emissions.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher In the latest move to combat contamination of a Maryland community’s drinking water, two Salisbury residents allege Perdue Agribusiness is violating federal law by failing to properly dispose of waste that contains toxic PFAS chemicals, according to a lawsuit filed July 25.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher The Trump administration this week released a plan to fast-track the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in the US, delighting tech groups while alarming environmental advocates who point to the industry’s toxic emissions, high water usage and heavy reliance on fossil fuels.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Moves by the Trump administration to draw up a new regulatory framework for types of toxic chemicals has sparked suspicion among health advocates who fear the changes will protect polluters but not public health.| The New Lede
By Shannon Kelleher Federal regulators on Thursday withdrew a proposed framework for raw poultry products that was introduced under the Biden administration to reduce the spread of Salmonella bacteria, one of the leading pathogens involved in foodborne illness outbreaks.| The New Lede