Michigan is stepping up its fight against microplastics, those tiny plastic bits that are everywhere. The state is launching a week-long campaign to educate people about this growing problem. From October 19 to 26, Michigan will host a series of events, including a cleanup in Lansing and a virtual summit for experts and curious minds alike. Microplastics are a big d...
In Sweden, a big problem has been the presence of harmful chemicals called PFAS in drinking water. These chemicals are tough to break down and can cause health issues. A study looked at blood samples from first-time moms in Uppsala from 1996 to 2022. The goal was to see if efforts to clean up the water have helped reduce the amount of PFAS in these moms. The study f...
Mining does more than just extract resources. It also leaves behind a mix of materials that can affect the environment. One of these is slurry, a thick mixture used in grouting to fill gaps in the earth. But what happens when this slurry interacts with groundwater? Recent research sheds light on this issue. The study focused on how different types of slurry impact w...
In the heart of rural Bangladesh, a serious issue lurks beneath the surface. Groundwater in many areas is packed with harmful metals like arsenic, manganese, and iron. The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for arsenic at 10 micrograms per liter. However, in some parts of Bangladesh, this limit is far exceeded, even surpassing the Bangladesh Standard for ...
A 71-year-old woman from Texas passed away after a brain infection. The cause was a rare but deadly amoeba. This amoeba is known as Naegleria fowleri. It is often called the "brain-eating amoeba. " The woman had been using tap water to clean her sinuses. This is a common practice for many people. However, it turned out to be a fatal mistake. The woman had been campi...
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...
In the heart of Punjab, a silent crisis is unfolding. Groundwater, a lifeline for millions, is under threat from nitrate and fluoride pollution. This issue is particularly severe in the southwestern part of the state, where surface water is scarce. The Mansa district has become a hotspot for this problem, with drinking water quality far from ideal. A recent inve...
Groundwater pollution can strike suddenly, and finding the source quickly is crucial. A new method combines two algorithms to tackle this problem. This mix of tools can pinpoint where pollution started, how much was released, and when it happened. The first tool, called EnKF, narrows down the search area. It's like having a map that highlights the most likely spots ...
Big data has become a powerful tool in understanding the patterns of groundwater quality in Ontario. Researchers have tapped into a massive dataset of groundwater samples, totaling approximately 1. 1 million, collected over 12 years. Unlike previous studies that solely focused on E. coli detection rates. This study has looked into five different microbial contaminat...
Bamako, a large city in Mali, relies heavily on the mighty Niger River. It is a lifeline that supplies water for economic activities and the daily needs of the city. But, there is a huge problem. It is becoming harder to predict just how much water will be available in the future. The gap between what is supplied and demanded is widening, and it's a major headache f...