Pollution (Page 3)

What you need to know about the gases, toxins, and garbage that make their way into water, air, and land.

Latest in Pollution

A multiple-exposure photograph of insects circling an artificial light at night. The light can mess with a moth’s sense of what direction is up and which way is down.

Why artificial light—and evolution—trap moths

By Laura Baisas

The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’

The cost of freeing drinking water from ‘forever chemicals’

By Charles Schmidt / Undark

Four of the best small humidifiers side by side on a plain white background.

The best small dehumidifiers

By John Alexander

‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents

‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents

By Hannah Norman / KFF Health News

How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space

How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space

Four choices for the best air purifiers for allergies on a plain background

The best air purifiers for allergies

Lawn equipment spews ‘shocking’ amount of air pollution, new data shows

Lawn equipment spews ‘shocking’ amount of air pollution, new data shows

By Tik Root/Grist

Cape Fear River in North Carolina, which is polluted by PFAS, seen from above after a storm

8 new types of ‘forever chemicals’ found in river linked to US cancer cluster

AlgaRay robot floating atop water in Antigua

This seafaring robot ‘eats’ stinky seaweed and dumps it in deep water

Small propeller plane flying in a clear sky

Small planes are still spewing toxic lead across the US, EPA says

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks before US President Joe Biden at Tioga Marine Terminal on October 13, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Biden discussed how his Bidenomics agenda is creating good-paying union jobs, investing in infrastructure, accelerating the transition to a clean energy future, and combating the climate crisis.

US will build seven regional ‘hydrogen hubs’ to spark clean energy transition

By Laura Baisas

Lots of chargers for devices tangled in a crowded corner

People send 20 billion pounds of ‘invisible’ e-waste to landfills each year

Oyster-inspired sponges can scoop up nearly invisible nanoplastics in the ocean

Oyster-inspired sponges can scoop up nearly invisible nanoplastics in the ocean

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Blue bins of fish and other seafood caught near the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan

This nuclear byproduct is fueling debate over Fukushima’s seafood

America’s war in Afghanistan devastated the country’s environment in ways that may never be cleaned up

America’s war in Afghanistan devastated the country’s environment in ways that may never be cleaned up

By Lynzy Billing/Inside Climate News

Pile of colorful Lego bricks

Lego’s plan for eco-friendly bricks has fallen apart

Plastic fishing gear brings in a better catch, but there’s a big tradeoff

Plastic fishing gear brings in a better catch, but there’s a big tradeoff

By Alastair Bland/Hakai Magazine

A remote Air Force base in Alaska is getting its own nuclear reactor

A remote Air Force base in Alaska is getting its own nuclear reactor

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Oysters can’t sleep—and your lights might be the cause

Oysters can’t sleep—and your lights might be the cause

By Hannah Seo/Hakai Magazine

3D printer making algae-based water decontaminate

‘Living material’ water filter uses bacteria to neutralize water pollutants

Scientists are using AI to track coal train dust

Scientists are using AI to track coal train dust

By Emma Foehringer Merchant / Undark

Lithium samples from the proposed Thacker Pass mining site in the McDermitt Caldera lithium deposit

What’s the most sustainable way to mine the largest known lithium deposit in the world?

Seafarers are unknowingly working with oil smugglers

Seafarers are unknowingly working with oil smugglers

By Nathaniel Peutherer/Hakai Magazine

A woman holds a red smoothie in a glass with a handle on it and a stainless steel straw sticking out. A group of ‘forever chemicals’ commonly called PFAS were not detected on the stainless steel straws in this study, but were on 18 out of 20 brands of paper straws.

‘Forever chemicals’ detected in paper and plastic straws

By Laura Baisas

Inside the fight to reclaim California’s biggest freshwater lake from algae

Inside the fight to reclaim California’s biggest freshwater lake from algae

By Tien Nguyen/Knowable Magazine

Metal mesh with water droplets

Titanium dioxide-coated mesh can purify contaminated fog

A burnt out car lies in the driveway of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12, 2023.

The health hazards from wildfires will linger in Maui for years

By Andrew J. Whelton/The Conversation

Aftermath Of Tanker Fire At I-95 In Bensalem

Federal study links testicular cancer to ‘Forever Chemicals’ for the first time

By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime/KFF Health News

Amazon package at fulfillment center.

Amazon might finally be cutting down on plastic waste

By Joseph Winters / Grist

first road constructed with plastic waste in Agartala

Turning plastic waste into streets faces roadblocks

By James Bruggers/Inside Climate News

turmeric at spice market

For decades, turmeric’s ultra-golden glow had a deadly secret

By Wudan Yan/Undark

No guts left behind: Iceland’s quest to repurpose fish waste

By Lela Nargi/Hakai Magazine

person holding latest fairphone

The most sustainable phone on the market is the one in your pocket

By Carla Delgado

EPA plan to eliminate lead in buildings could help half a million young children

EPA plan to eliminate lead in buildings could help half a million young children

By Kate Yoder/Grist

The giant Douglas firs in British Columbia forests are examples of so-called mother trees

Are ‘mother trees’ real?

Fast fashion might be making us sick

Fast fashion might be making us sick

By Danielle Renwick / Nexus Media News

Fourth of July partygoers playing in red, white, and blue confetti, which could be a fireworks alternative

Celebrate a firework-less Fourth of July with drones, bubble guns, or confetti cannons

By Carla Delgado

Marine microplastics chemicals may make microbes more resistant

Marine microplastics chemicals may make microbes more resistant

By Michael Allen / Hakai Magazine

How can we decarbonize copper and nickel mining?

How can we decarbonize copper and nickel mining?

By Carla Delgado

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 has an MPGe of 140.

What an electric vehicle’s MPGe rating really means

Why scientists want to banish barnacles from ship hulls

Why scientists want to banish barnacles from ship hulls

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Deer and other animals in wildfire smoke during California Dixie fire in 2021

Clouds of wildfire smoke are toxic to humans and animals alike

By Carla Delgado

A popular ‘compostable’ bioplastic isn’t as biodegradable as it seems

A popular ‘compostable’ bioplastic isn’t as biodegradable as it seems

By Carla Delgado

It will cost up to $21.5 billion to clean up California’s oil sites. The industry won’t make enough money to pay for it.

It will cost up to $21.5 billion to clean up California’s oil sites. The industry won’t make enough money to pay for it.

By Mark Olalde/ProPublica

Recycling bins with symbol

Why the recycling symbol is part of a ‘misinformation campaign’

By Carla Delgado

A sign that reads "Protect Our Waters" outside of the US Supreme Court before a rally to call for protection of the Clean Water Act on October 3, 2022. As the term began, the court was hearing arguments in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.

Wetlands lose some environmental protections in new Supreme Court ruling

By Laura Baisas

Climate justice campaigners march from the Shell Centre to Trafalgar Square to demand urgent climate finance and reparations for loss and damage for global south communities on November, 12 2022 in London. The march was organized by the Climate Justice Coalition as part of a Global Day of Action called by African climate campaign groups at COP27.

Chevron’s carbon offsets are mostly ‘junk,’ according to global watchdog investigation

By Laura Baisas

Plugging methane leaks could open up thousands of jobs in Texas

Plugging methane leaks could open up thousands of jobs in Texas

By Martha Pskowski/Inside Climate News

Fixing the ozone hole was a bigger deal than anyone realized

Fixing the ozone hole was a bigger deal than anyone realized

By J. Besl/Hakai Magazine

Smoke stacks from a power plant emit smoke.

Power plants may face emission limits for the first time if EPA rules pass

By Laura Baisas

How the US is fighting wealth disparities in climate action

How the US is fighting wealth disparities in climate action

By Carla Delgado

Empty crumpled plastic bottles pattern on blue background.

Recycling plants spew a staggering amount of microplastics

Yellow-green cyanobacteria bloom in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Events like these can cause mass fish dieoffs.

A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn

By Saima Sidik/Hakai Magazine

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

How to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your vacation

By Brad Reisfeld/The Conversation

Airplanes at terminals at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport

Europe’s fourth biggest airport plans to ban private jets

Urban water crises often boil down to classism

Urban water crises often boil down to classism

By Carla Delgado

Tesla’s carbon footprint is much larger than it previously disclosed

Tesla’s carbon footprint is much larger than it previously disclosed

Robot jellyfish swarms could soon help clean the oceans of plastic

Robot jellyfish swarms could soon help clean the oceans of plastic

Robot trash cans have survived a New York City field test

Robot trash cans have survived a New York City field test

By Sara Kiley Watson

Examples of floating plastics collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre during The Ocean Cleanup’s 2018 expedition.

Some coastal critters are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

By Laura Baisas

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

By Elise Cutts/Hakai Magazine

Otters are back, but that doesn’t mean our rivers are safe

Otters are back, but that doesn’t mean our rivers are safe

By Carin Leong/Hakai Magazine

Our bottled water habit stands in the way of universal clean drinking water

Our bottled water habit stands in the way of universal clean drinking water

By Carla Delgado

Some ‘recycled’ product claims are mostly garbage

Some ‘recycled’ product claims are mostly garbage

By Ian Morse/Undark