Plastic is everywhere. It's in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. But what happens when these tiny plastic bits, called microplastics, find their way into our bodies? Scientists wanted to find out. They looked at samples from different organs of people who had passed away. They used special tools to see if microplastics were hiding there and...
In the heart of Southwest China, Panzhihua stands as a testament to large-scale mining and smelting. These activities have left an indelible mark on the city's atmosphere, with dust serving as a major carrier of heavy metals. Identifying the sources of these metals is a complex task, as various pollution sources often overlap. Scientists delved into this iss...
In the heart of California's Imperial Valley, a region known for its winter crops and severe air pollution, a young boy's asthma attack sent his mother into a panic. Esther Bejarano had no idea what triggered her 11-month-old son's symptoms. She suspected pesticides used in nearby agricultural fields. This area, straddling two counties on the U. S. -Mexico border, ha...
Urban soils are often contaminated. This is a big problem in cities. The contamination levels can vary greatly from one area to another. This makes it hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution. In one city, researchers took a close look at this issue. They collected soil samples from six different types of areas: business districts, parks, homes, industrial ...
The waters of the Capibaribe River Estuarine System (CES) in Recife, Brazil, are under threat. The source of this threat is a chemical called linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). LAS is a common ingredient in many cleaning products. It is also a major pollutant in the river. LAS can be harmful to both the environment and human health. The river is a vital part o...
Mercury is a heavy metal that sticks around in the environment and builds up in living things. This is a big problem in Zambia's Copperbelt Province. Not many people have looked into how much mercury is in the Kafue River and its smaller rivers around Kitwe. In Kitwe, they checked the mercury levels in soil, river mud, and tilapia fish. They found more mercury in th...
Chicken is a popular choice for dinner, but there's a hidden cost to that meal. In early 2023, investigators found shocking conditions on a large chicken farm in Maryland. They discovered chickens packed tightly together, many dead or dying, and a barn filled with a "blanket of chickens. " The smell was terrible, and there was a huge pile of manure outside, littered ...
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are like tiny, super-absorbent sponges designed to soak up harmful metals from water and gas. These sponges are made from a mix of metal clusters and organic linkers. The key to their effectiveness lies in the defects and amino groups added during their creation. These defects and groups create more binding sites, making the MOFs incre...
The way we handle energy and trade can greatly affect our health. It's all about balance. When countries prioritize clean energy and efficiency, they can reduce pollution. This is crucial for sustainable development, which means taking care of our needs without ruining the planet for future generations. But here's where it gets tricky: trade can be a double-edged sw...
Imagine a world where industrial waste doesn't just pollute our planet, but actually helps generate clean energy. This isn't a fantasy. Piezoelectric materials can do just that. They turn mechanical energy into electrical energy. This makes them super useful for industrial applications. Scientists have been experimenting with a special type of piezoelectric ...