Cities are more than just concrete and steel. They have a vibe, a feel, and a quality that can make or break how people live and behave. But how do you measure that? A recent study used a mix of street-level photos and computer smarts to rate the quality of urban environments across the U. S. The focus was on five key aspects: beauty, relaxation, nature, walkability,...
Every day, people in Brussels are surrounded by unseen threats. These threats are not from criminals or dangerous animals. Instead, they come from the environment. Noise, tiny particles in the air, and magnetic fields are just a few examples. Together, these factors cause a big problem. They are linked to 13% of deaths in Europe each year. But how do we know how muc...
People are getting more worried about PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals stick around in the environment and end up in our food. Understanding how they get into our diet is important to keep us safe. A recent study looked at how PFAS can enter our food. It found that older types of PFAS are often found in food. Eating certain foods can al...
Colorado has a problem with its fish. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment has put out a warning. It is about rainbow trout from Runyon Lake. These fish have high levels of a chemical called perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). This chemical is a type of PFAS. PFAS are harmful to humans. They can cause health issues. The same warning has been given for fish...
The Clean Water Act has a rule. It says the Environmental Protection Agency must set limits on certain things in our water. These things could be chemicals, living organisms, or physical conditions. The goal is to keep people safe from harm. For a long time, the EPA used a simple method to set these limits. It looked at a few key factors. But this method didn't accou...
Ciprofloxacin, a common antibiotic, is often found in waterways. This can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and harm both people and the environment. Scientists have been working on ways to remove ciprofloxacin from wastewater using advanced oxidation processes. One method is anodic oxidation, which uses special electrodes to break down ciprofloxacin. This metho...
Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic bits that are everywhere. They come from many sources like synthetic clothes, car tires, and plastic trash. These tiny particles are a big problem. They can soak up harmful chemicals and carry them around. This can mess up the environment and even harm people. MPs can get into the food chain and cause serious health issues. They c...
Cancer is a serious issue. It kills over 10 million people every year. Climate change makes this problem worse. It affects how cancer is treated, especially surgery. This is a big deal. It's not just about the weather. It's about how our environment impacts our health. Climate change brings new challenges. It affects how doctors do surgery. It also affects how hospi...
Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, has been a topic of debate for years. It has been found in various water sources, often accompanied by its harmful byproduct, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). This is a big deal because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) labeled glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" back in 2015. This means it could...
Climate change is making allergies worse. It is altering the environment in ways that affect how plants and fungi grow and spread. This shift is making pollen and spores more potent. The changes are causing more people to suffer from allergies and related health issues. The air we breathe is changing. Higher temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events are ...