Latest news with #PFAS
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic Discovery in U.S. Lake Sets Off Global Alarm
Holloman Lake in southern New Mexico has captured the attention of environmental scientists worldwide, and not for the reasons anyone wanted. A newly published study found the lake now holds the highest levels of toxic 'forever chemicals' ever recorded in natural water. Researchers from the University of New Mexico discovered staggering concentrations of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the lake's water, surrounding soil, vegetation, and wildlife. In some samples, levels exceeded federal drinking water limits by more than 10,000 times. One bird and one plant tested carried the highest PFAS loads ever documented globally. Often used in firefighting foam and industrial products, PFAS are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, infertility, and immune issues, and they don't break down easily in the environment. What makes the findings at Holloman so alarming is that contamination doesn't stop at the water's edge. According to the report, flooding from the lake has carried PFAS into nearby playas—temporary bodies of water that serve as crucial habitats for migratory birds. Scientists worry the chemicals could now be spreading across ecosystems via wildlife. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that just one bite of duck meat from the lake could expose a person to a lifetime's worth of PFAS. 'We are worried about the possibility of toxicity on reproduction and development in local birds,' said lead researcher Jean-Luc Cartron. 'Contamination by PFAS could also be transgenerational.' Researchers also observed oryx, an exotic species introduced to the region decades ago, drinking from the lake. And while hunting has been banned in the area since 2024, New Mexico health officials have warned anyone who consumed meat from Holloman wildlife in the past decade to consult a doctor. This discovery adds fuel to a growing conversation about PFAS pollution in the U.S. and beyond. While other contaminated lakes exist, none have reached these levels. And although scientists are making progress in removing PFAS from water, the scale of the challenge remains massive. The crisis at Holloman Lake isn't just a local issue. It's a flashing warning sign for the Discovery in U.S. Lake Sets Off Global Alarm first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 10, 2025
Business Wire
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
UL Solutions Expands Software Platform for Business Growth and Sustainable Practices with the Latest ULTRUS ™ Software Releases
NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced several new ULTRUS software releases that further help companies ensure their compliance and make important progress in sustainability. The ULTRUS software platform by UL Solutions includes offerings designed to help customers worldwide manage complex regulations, heighten product safety, operationalize sustainable practices and improve speed to market. The releases address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals; Scope 3, Category 1 emissions; wind farm planning, including a mapping feature with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for wind energy professionals; and other challenges. 'UL Solutions is staying ahead of the evolving needs of our customers with our powerful new ULTRUS software releases,' said John Genovesi, executive vice president and president of Software and Advisory at UL Solutions. 'These new capabilities are providing our customers with expertise to help manage evolving regulatory requirements, deliver transparency across complex global supply chains and take action on sustainability. ULTRUS software further complements our testing, inspection and certification services.' Many top retailers rely on UL Solutions' WERCSmart ®, an essential part of ULTRUS software, to help manage the safe handling, storage, transport and disposal of products while mitigating risks of noncompliance. UL Solutions recently enhanced WERCSmart ® to help retailers identify PFAS in the products put on retail shelves and collect product documentation from manufacturers to enhance product safety and help protect the environment. PFAS are common substances used to make products resistant to stains or water, but they can linger in the environment and pose hazards to humans and animals. UL Solutions launched its new Purchased Goods and Services module on the ULTRUS software platform. This module, part of the UL 360 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability platform, simplifies Scope 3, Category 1 emissions data management and reporting. Scope 3, Category 1 emissions include goods and services that organizations purchase from their suppliers. Managing this type of data is complex for organizations that work with global suppliers and large datasets that may be fragmented or in inconsistent formats. The new module helps organizations set targets, streamline reporting, and drive meaningful sustainability and financial resilience in a changing global economy. UL Solutions also introduced new capabilities to its UL 360 ESG and Sustainability software's ESG Disclosures module to enable data management for International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) disclosures. ULTRUS software users can pull data from the UL 360 platform directly into the module to manage ISSB requirements, providing a data source and audit trail for disclosed values. Legislation based on the ISSB standards is in force or under consideration in many jurisdictions, including Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the U.K. Windnavigator software, part of the ULTRUS software platform, has a new AI feature to help wind energy professionals. This tool, called Windnavigator Resource Data and Maps, offers high-quality maps and data, making it easier for developers to find suitable wind farm sites and plan the initial project steps, leading to informed decisions about renewable energy options. UL Solutions also introduced AI capabilities for automated learning content generation to its LearnShare™ software, which enables training and development professionals — including human resources and environmental, health and safety professionals — to quickly and easily create learning quizzes and transcriptions faster via large language models. Last year, UL Solutions launched its ULTRUS software platform, uniting its flagship software to help customers meet regulatory, supply chain and sustainability challenges. Learn more about UL Solutions' software and advisory offerings and expertise at About UL Solutions A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers' product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers' products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage. Source Code: ULS-IR
Fashion United
14 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Montane takes measured step in outdoor apparel's green transition
The fashion industry is increasingly scrutinised for its environmental toll, with sustainability now a financial imperative rather than a mere ethical one. Against this backdrop, British outdoor specialist Montane has released its annual 2025 Social Report, positioning itself as a proactive player in the sector's green evolution. The report navigates the inherent "performance paradox" of technical apparel, where the pursuit of durability and function often clashes with sustainable material innovation, yet Montane asserts its commitment to both, a delicate balancing act that will define its long-term market resilience. Montane's report details tangible progress, notably achieving Fair Wear Foundation Leader Status, signifying robust ethical labour practices across its supply chain. The brand is also making strides in material responsibility, aiming to eliminate PFAS chemicals by 2026, increasing its use of recycled fabrics, and ensuring ethical sourcing for materials like mulesing-free merino wool and Leather Working Group-certified leather. This commitment to transparency, exemplified by its "Know What You're Buying" initiative, is a strategic move to build consumer trust in an era rife with greenwashing. However, Montane's commendable efforts operate within a broader industry still grappling with systemic challenges. The fast fashion model continues to drive overconsumption and textile waste, while true circularity remains largely aspirational due to technological limitations in textile-to-textile recycling . Consumer reluctance to pay a premium for sustainable alternatives further complicates the landscape, highlighting a critical gap between environmental intention and purchasing action . Ultimately, Montane's report reflects a brand making significant, pragmatic strides, yet it underscores that the fashion world's journey towards a truly sustainable future demands not just individual corporate responsibility, but profound shifts in technology, regulation, and consumer behaviour. Read the full Montane Social 2025 Report here.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mass. Gov. Healey touts nearly $3B ‘Swiss Army knife' disaster preparedness bond plan
Massachusetts could pump billions of dollars into climate resilience improvements, land conservation efforts, clean water and more under a policy-heavy borrowing bill Gov. Maura Healey unveiled Tuesday in Braintree. Flanked by local officials and environmental activists who praised the measure's wide scope, Healey rolled out a more than $2.9 billion environmental bond bill packed with reforms she and her deputies said would touch topics ranging from wildfires to flooding impacts on home insurance to dams and culverts. Highlights of the 51-page bill include funding for upgrades to Department of Conservation and Recreation properties, flood control projects, clean water infrastructure and food security programs, as well as policy reforms such as streamlining environmental permitting with an eye toward speeding up housing development. Healey pitched the proposal as especially necessary at a time when President Donald Trump and Republicans who control Congress are pursuing significant spending cuts. 'We cannot count on the president or Congress to be there to make the investments that we want to see made in Massachusetts, in our communities. They're, in fact, doing the opposite, and taking away from and undermining important investments on a whole bunch of fronts,' Healey said. 'In the face of that, [it's] all the more important that we take action like the action that we're taking today.' Healey's office rolled out the bill with a detailed set of summaries, outlining its borrowing proposals and several of the most significant policy reforms it envisions. The five-year bond bill Healey proposed calls for $764 million in borrowing to fund upgrades at Department of Conservation and Recreation properties, $401 million for dams and flood control projects, $315 million for the Municipal Vulnerabilities Preparedness program, and $304.5 million for land stewardship and conservation. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said about 200 of the state's 3,000 dams are in 'poor condition,' and warned that many of the 25,000 culverts and small bridges sprinkled across Massachusetts 'are too small for the kind of rain that we are now getting.' 'This bill gives cities and towns the help they need. It removes old, unsafe dams and replaces broken culverts before disasters hit,' she said. Other major funding proposals include $505 million for clean water infrastructure and addressing contamination from PFAS, sometimes referred to as forever chemicals due to how long they take to break down, and $125 million for food security programs. The bill would also launch a 'Resilience Revolving Fund' that would provide 'low-interest loans to communities so they can invest in resilience projects that reduce risk and protect people and property,' Healey's office wrote in a summary. Healey wove some policy changes into the bill, too. Several focus on speeding up permitting involving waterways and environmental reviews, including with removal of MEPA environmental impact report requirements for some housing and natural restoration projects, according to a summary. 'The Mass Ready Act saves people money and jumpstarts housing, culvert repairs and other infrastructure projects by streamlining the permitting process,' Healey said. 'That was a charge to our team: streamline those regulations, streamline the permitting. We've got a lot to do, and we've got to get after it and get it done as quickly as possible.' Another section calls for increased disclosure of past flooding and flood risk to homebuyers. Steve Long, director of policy and partnerships for The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, called the wide-ranging bill 'the whole package.' 'This bond [bill] provides the most holistic approach I've seen across four environmental bonds that I've lobbied on since 2008,' he said. 'It's like a Swiss Army knife that provides multifaceted funding and policy solutions. Mass Ready funding will provide a return on investment that will boost climate resilience by restoring natural systems to reduce heat, prevent flooding and cut community costs.' Beacon Hill typically approves an environmental bond bill once every several years to authorize state borrowing for near-term projects. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the prior iteration, a $2.4 billion package, in 2018. However, like other bond bills, not all of the approved dollars actually get deployed because the state faces a lower cap on annual borrowing. The most recent state capital investment plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 lists a five-year bond cap of $1.26 billion for energy and environmental affairs. Mass. AG Campbell sues Trump over obscure rule used to withhold federal funding to states Gov. Healey taps Lexington venture capitalist as new economic development chief Trump to strip protections from millions of acres of national forests. Here's how UMass study: Male TV 'talking heads' constantly interrupt female experts For the MAGA faithful, Trump's Iran strikes are all about 'America first' Read the original article on MassLive.
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Proposed lawsuit filed over groundwater contamination near Yarmouth, N.S., airport
FILE - Logan Feeney pours a water sample with forever chemicals, known as PFAS, into a container for research, April 10, 2024, at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lab in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against the federal government over groundwater contamination in a residential area near the Yarmouth, N.S., airport. Residents in the area claim their property values have decreased since they became aware last year that their groundwater is contaminated with PFAS. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of human-made substances that can pose a risk to the environment and people's heath. Transport Canada began contacting residents in February 2024 to inform them there was PFAS contamination at the Yarmouth Airport. They also reportedly requested that residents agree to have water sampling done to see if the contamination had spread to their groundwater. The affected area contains about 70 properties. PFAS result of firefighting operations Wagners, a Halifax-based law firm which filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, says PFAS from Transport Canada's past firefighting operations at the airport has migrated into the area. 'Until 1997, Transport Canada (then the owner of the Yarmouth Airport) operated a fire-fighting training area at the Airport,' reads a news release from Wagners. 'As part of its operations, it used fire-fighting foam known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam. AFFF – which is generally prohibited in Canada - contains PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, a class of thousands of chemicals that are referred to as 'forever chemicals', because that they do not break down easily in the environment.' 'It's poisoned our sense of security' High levels of PFAS in drinking water can pose a danger to people's health. Wagners says the results from the testing show many residences have PFAS levels in their drinking water above various guideline levels. 'Transport Canada is offering bottled water to residents whose water sample results exceed Health Canada's current PFAS objective, and is planning a pilot program to explore water treatment systems,' the release says. The lawsuit is seeking remedies for all residents in the impacted area for the reduction in their property values. The claim also wants the federal government to remediate the area and oversee residences connected to the public municipal water system. 'PFAS contamination has done more than poison our water - it's poisoned our sense of security,' said Nick Hilton, one of the three proposed representative plaintiffs, in the release. 'Our home, once a place of comfort and future stability, has been devalued to the point where we no longer see it as a retirement asset, but a financial burden. With the cost of living so high, many of us rely on our homes as our nest eggs. But who wants to buy a house where the water and soil are unsafe? It's in our drinking water, our gardens, and the water we bathe in. We can't sell, we can't leave, and we can't ignore it. It leaves you with the feeling of being trapped.' Wagners says the first step in the proceedings will be a hearing to determine whether the action should be certified and may proceed to a trial. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
