Contaminants Archives ~ Page 3 of 7 ~ MAVEN'S NOTEBOOK

January 30, 2025

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny. By María Paula Rubiano, Environmental Health News Wildfire...

HIGH COUNTRY NEWS: Wildfires are too much for municipal water systems. In Los Angeles, firefighters tried anyway.

High Country News

Planning and management Wildfires and watersheds

January 19, 2025

Water systems aren’t designed for unlimited demands during wildland-urban interface fires. by Kylie Mohr, High Country News When wind-driven embers...

GRIST: Wildfire smoke is always toxic. LA’s is even worse.

Grist

Wildfires and watersheds

January 18, 2025

Los Angeles residents are breathing bits of “cars, metal pipes, plastics.” By Zoya Teirstein, Grist This story was originally published...

THE CONVERSATION: Wildfires can contaminate drinking water systems with harmful chemicals − here’s what Los Angeles needs to know

The Conversation

Water quality Wildfires and watersheds

January 11, 2025

By Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have destroyed more than 10,000 structures, many...

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO: ‘Forever’ Chemicals Discovered in South County Water

Voice of San Diego

Water quality

December 10, 2024

Recent tests discovered toxic industrial chemicals in Sweetwater Reservoir. Officials say the water is safe to drink but ratepayers are...

COURTHOUSE NEWS: Scientists develop foam that can filter up to 99.9% of microplastics from water

Courthouse News Service

Water quality

November 30, 2024

The researchers hope their new method can be scaled up for use in the real world. By Christina van Waasbergen,...

UC DAVIS: The problem with microplastics

UC Davis

Water quality

November 19, 2024

UC Davis experts are studying where small bits of synthetic polymers, or microplastics, are winding up — and what risks...

USGS: New maps identify legacy mercury contamination in the Sierra Nevada

USGS

Ecosystems

October 30, 2024

A series of USGS interactive maps have recently been published. The maps identify locations and levels of mercury contamination resulting...

ARMY CORPS: Cold war cleanup in the Central Valley

US Army Corps of Engineers

Groundwater News

October 25, 2024

From the Army Corps of Engineers: Attacks by Germany and Japan thrust two emerging world powers — the Soviet Union...

USGS: Millions in the U.S. may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS for drinking water supplies

USGS

Groundwater News

October 25, 2024

Estimates according to a new USGS predictive model. Exposure to some PFAS may lead to adverse health risks. Press release...

COURTHOUSE NEWS: Monsanto will pay Los Angeles $35 million to settle lawsuit over contaminated waters

Courthouse News Service

Policy and regulation Water quality

October 11, 2024

For nearly 50 years, the agrochemical conglomerate was the sole producer of polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs in the United States....

PRESS RELEASE: Oil giant Valero, Amports settle SF Baykeeper lawsuit over Bay pollution

San Francisco Baykeeper

Water quality Water rights and water law

October 8, 2024

Repeated pollution violations result in $2.38 million in mitigation payments From the San Francisco Baykeeper: Valero oil refinery and Amports,...

GRIST: What scientists have learned from 20 years of microplastics research

Grist

Water quality

September 20, 2024

By Joseph Winters, Grist This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here. Twenty years...

NOTICE: Notification Level Recommendation for Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) in Drinking Water

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

September 19, 2024

From the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA): The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is recommending that...

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: Aquatic ecosystems aren’t immune to wildfire impacts, research shows

Inside Climate News

Water quality Wildfires and watersheds

September 16, 2024

Emerging research is unraveling the complex ways wildfires affect lakes, streams and the ocean. By Kiley Price, Inside Climate News...