Latest news with #environment
CTV News
9 minutes ago
- Climate
- CTV News
CTV National News: Saskatchewan declares state of emergency over wildfires
Watch Saskatchewan has joined Manitoba in declaring a state of emergency following a dangerous and sudden flare-up of wildfires. Abigail Bimman has more.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Northwestern University scientists develop possible replacement for PFAS, common "forever chemicals"
They're in cookware, cosmetic products, clothing, tap water, and even detectable in human bodies – PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals. PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they resist breaking down and can stay in the body for prolonged periods of time. However, a new nontoxic material developed by Northwestern University scientists could replace these harmful chemicals in paper-based food and beverage packaging. Professor of Chemistry SonBinh Nguyen and Professor of Engineering Tim Wei have developed a graphene oxide solution that is water- and oil-resistant, more compostable, and recyclable than the current average paper plate or take-out cup. The patient-pending product is being commercialized by Go-Eco, a subsidiary of Chang Robotics, where Wei is chief scientist, and a resident startup at Northwestern's Querrey InQbation Lab. Twenty years into Nguyen's research on graphene oxide, Wei came to Northwestern to give a talk about the engineering of food manufacturing before he had worked there. They remained in touch and formed a partnership over the last decade. The team has successfully tested the material on cardboard boxes, plastic produce bags, plates, cups, and straws. What are PFAS? PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals resist grease, oil, water, and heat. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PFAS do not degrade easily in the environment because their molecules have one of the strongest bonds. Because of this, PFAS break down slowly, if at all. If you grabbed a cup of coffee at your local convenience store not so terribly long ago, that cup would have contained PFAS. "Even 10 years ago, if you remember a paper cup, the outside of the cup was paper, but the inside had this sort of plasticky coating to it, and so that literally would be like a plastic, or it could be a PFAS, and that was essential to make sure your cup of coffee didn't disintegrate in your hand while you're still trying to drink it," explained Wei. A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found PFAS in the blood of 97% of Americans. There are over 15,000 types of PFAS, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Although not all of them are in use, many are hard to detect. The EPA says it will require public water systems to monitor the level of 6 PFAS by 2027. PFAS arealso detected in food, soil and air, in addition to the consumer Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says that PFAS can last thousands of years. How the graphene oxide material works Graphite — a naturally occurring crystalline form of carbon — is a common everyday substance best known as pencil "lead" (actual lead was never used in pencils despite the name). Graphene is a single, two-dimensional layer of graphite — simply a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice structure. Nguyen called it "hexagonal chicken wire." Graphene oxide is synthesized when graphene is exposed to oxygen. This process causes the substance to form functional groups — that is, structures that are responsible for reactions. Importantly, graphene oxide with its functional groups is water soluble, while pure graphene is a solid and is not soluble in anything. "So it becomes a solution that we can use to spray, to coat, to integrate it with paper making," explained Nguyen. Specifically, an oxygen function group in the graphene oxide binds onto the fiber of the paper and changes its properties — making it hydrophobic, or resistant to water. Graphene oxide also makes paper more resistant to oil, and reduces the amount of water vapor and gases that make contact with the paper, Wei explained. In other words, graphene creates a barrier when applied to paper. Studies also showed that graphene increases the strength of the substance to which it is applied. In Nguyen's early research, adding graphene oxide to a synthetic polymer, or plastic, dramatically increases its Young's modulus — a measurement of how strong a material is under compression or tension. Graphene oxide also increases the polymer's tensile strength — essentially, the force required to pull it apart. When graphene oxide is used on paper, such as a to-go cup, data likewise document a 30% to 40% increase in strength, Wei said. Better for the environment and health Graphene oxide is safer than PFAS because it is derived from carbon, according to Nguyen. "It resembles a carbohydrate," he said. "Graphene oxide will degrade in the environment the same way wood does biologically." Because graphene oxide is also water soluble, the theory is that it would not stick or stay inside the body the same way microplastics and PFAS do. The team said they are not yet at the step of getting FDA approval and will test this and verify their theories. "This material would be a lot safer for the environment, and a consumer could know that their disposable cup of coffee can safely go in the dumpster or to the compost without spreading harmful chemicals," Nguyen said. Graphene oxide has been shown to be able to filter out heavy metals from tap water, according to research done at MIT in 2021. Northwestern estimates that the U.S. produces approximately 14 million metric tons of paper-based food packaging and corrugated cardboard every year, many of which are coated with PFAS. Next steps "The problem is PFAS work really well and are really inexpensive, but as we learn as a society, that those are really problematic materials, they have to be removed," Wei said. Nguyen said the scientists are trying to "solve a little bit at a time," while pushing ahead in search of an even better alternative. Their long-term goal is to create a paper-based material that replaces plastic for food packaging for produce and meat, paper bags and tableware. The team received funding from a major national tableware manufacturer and is in talks with several companies to try pilot testing. "We work on this to make an impact on our future, our children, grandchildren, and for the whole earth," Nguyen said.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Drought declared in the UK after driest spring for nearly 100 years as water levels in rivers and reservoirs run low
The north west of England is now in drought due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers following one of the driest springs on record. The Environment Agency (EA) said Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, and Cumbria and Lancashire have moved from 'prolonged dry weather' to 'drought' status. Despite recent rain, water levels in the region remain low, the public body said, although no other areas of the country are in drought. A spokesman said: 'The north west of England has entered drought status due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers. 'No other areas in England are in drought and we continue to monitor the situation closely.' The agency also said hosepipe bans were a matter for water companies but they were expected to follow their drought plans, taking appropriate steps to reduce demand and leakage, to ensure more water is left in the environment for farmers and wildlife. The EA said it continued to regulate the region's water company, United Utilities, to operate within their agreed action plan to make use of available water while protecting the environment. Officials warned that periods of dry weather could have consequences for wildlife, including killing fish, more algal blooms and low rivers preventing species from moving up or downstream, as well as limiting water resources for those who need them. A United Utilities spokesman said: 'We are grateful for the support of customers as we've seen demand reduce thanks to their efforts in saving water where they can, combined with more recent rainfall and cooler temperatures. 'Reservoirs, however, are still lower than we'd expect at this time of year and so we're continuing to move water around our integrated network to get it to where it is needed, as well as bringing extra water into the system from other sources around the region. 'Leakage is at its lowest level and we're repairing record volumes, with customers supporting us by reporting more leaks and we'd ask that they continue to do that as well as doing all they can to save and recycle water, to help protect their local environment.' Experts warned that the North West had seen an exceptionally dry spring, and that drought conditions would become more intense in the UK with climate change – putting strain on water resources. Dr Jess Neumann, associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said the North West had seen the driest spring in nearly 100 years, which had led to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers. 'The north west of the country is reliant on reservoirs to source around two-thirds of its water supply. 'The 2025 drought is serious – reservoir levels are well below what they should be at this time of year. 'Water is becoming a scarce resource and the UK supply is under significant stress.' The news the North West had moved into drought status comes as the Government announced plans to fast-track the approval of major new reservoirs, warning drinking water supplies would run out in the next decade without action to boost water infrastructure. Officials blamed rapid population growth, crumbling assets and a warming climate for pressure on water supplies, and admitted new reservoirs would not come online for a decade or more. Professor Hayley Fowler, professor of climate change impacts at the Newcastle University, said the dry and drought conditions the UK was experiencing were consistent with what was expected from climate models, especially in the summer months. 'With global warming we expect more prolonged and intense droughts and heatwaves punctuated by more intense rainfall, possibly causing flash floods. 'In recent years, we have experienced more of these atmospheric blocks, causing record heat and persistent drought,' she said.
CBS News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Wildfires in Manitoba, Canada, to send smoke into Chicago area starting Friday
Leaders in the Canadian Province of Manitoba have issued a state of emergency as wildfires continue to rage there, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The inferno will impact the Chicago area too, with smoke descending downtown as soon as Friday. As anyone who was around two years ago will remember, this is not the first time a hazy, unhealthy back of air engulfed and choked Chicago. The fire is more than 1,300 miles away — almost a 24-hour drive — and in a different country. But CBS News Chicago Meteorologist David Yeomans explained why the smoke from what is burning in Manitoba will be down Chicago's way very soon. In short, all the air will be flowing right toward Chicago from Canada. "[The] northwest wind going to drive the smoke right into our area," Yeomans said, "possibly for three days." Smoky Chicago skies caused major health concerns multiple times in the summer of 2023. The city made national headlines in late June for having the worst air quality in the world. On one June day, several places in Cook County registered an AQI, or air quality index, of above 200 — considered "very unhealthy" by the Environmental Protection Agency. At one point on Tuesday, June 27, Chicago was at level 228. Beaches were closed and events were canceled around the Chicago area due to the smoke in the air that month. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency does not expect this weekend's smoke infiltration to be as dangerous as June 2023, and there are no plans for an Air Pollution Action Day as was issued then. But Loyola Medicine pulmonologist Dr. Sean Forsythe wants everyone to remain alert nevertheless. "Air pollution isn't healthy for anyone," Forsythe said. Forsythe said even moderate levels of smoke will make people cough of experience shortness of breath. "It will raise risk of lung disease being exacerbated, and everybody might not feel great when they're out in that weather," he said. Forsythe explained why people exercising outdoors, including those running in the Bank of America Half Marathon on Sunday, might especially feel the effects. "You tend to breathe deeper and faster, and so you're getting more exposure to that particulate matter," he said. Half Marathon organizers said their forecasting shows conditions for the race this weekend will be "green," or ideal. They plan to monitor air quality closely, and will provide updates if anything changes.
CBC
5 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Invasive goldfish seem to be thriving in a central P.E.I. pond, and naturalists aren't happy
A P.E.I. watershed group and a provincial biologist are urging people to think carefully before buying goldfish, or at least before releasing them into the wild. The fish are invasive, and they seem to be reproducing in a freshwater pond north of Charlottetown. CBC's Sheehan Desjardins reports.
