#heckathorn-superfund-site

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NYC politics
fromGothamist
2 days ago

New Yorkers stopped composting after city stopped giving them fines, report shows

Enforcement of composting fines in New York City has decreased, leading to a significant drop in compost collection since 2025.
New York Islanders
fromCurbed
2 days ago

This Electric-Green Stream Is Actually a Good Thing

Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island faces odor issues linked to wastewater management, prompting investigations by environmental authorities.
New York City
fromGothamist
2 days ago

Reforms to 'wild west' private trash industry come to Manhattan's Chinatown

Manhattan's Chinatown will implement new trash reforms requiring businesses to use authorized waste companies by May 2024.
#epa
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

EPA moves to designate microplastics and pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water

EPA proposes to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals in drinking water contaminants list, responding to public health concerns.
SF food
fromTruthout
6 days ago

The EPA Is Routinely Failing to Require Warnings on Cancer-Linked Pesticides

The EPA fails to label most carcinogenic pesticides, with only 1.4% of products receiving cancer warnings despite known risks.
NYC parents
fromGothamist
5 days ago

Work to get lead paint out of NJ homes faces funding cliff

Lead remediation efforts in New Jersey are at risk due to dwindling federal funds, despite significant progress made in recent years.
Science
fromHigh Country News
6 days ago

New nuclear safety rules reduce protections for workers, the public - High Country News

Easing radiation standards threatens worker safety in the nuclear industry, according to a veteran who handled radioactive materials for decades.
Germany news
fromThe Local Germany
1 week ago

Germany's WWII munitions a toxic legacy on Baltic Sea floor

World War II munitions on the Baltic Sea floor pose environmental risks as they corrode and release toxic substances into the marine ecosystem.
#fire
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago
London

Residents warned about smoke from scrap metal fire

Residents in south-east London are advised to keep windows and doors shut due to a significant fire at a scrap metal recycling yard.
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 week ago
London

Erith scrap yard fire sends huge smoke plume across south-east London

A significant fire at a scrap metal recycling yard involves 12 fire engines and 80 firefighters, producing heavy smoke and requiring prolonged efforts to control.
London
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Residents warned about smoke from scrap metal fire

Residents in south-east London are advised to keep windows and doors shut due to a significant fire at a scrap metal recycling yard.
London
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 week ago

Erith scrap yard fire sends huge smoke plume across south-east London

A significant fire at a scrap metal recycling yard involves 12 fire engines and 80 firefighters, producing heavy smoke and requiring prolonged efforts to control.
Public health
fromwww.npr.org
3 days ago

EPA flags microplastics, pharmaceuticals as chemicals of concern in drinking water

The Trump administration has included microplastics and pharmaceuticals in a draft list of drinking water contaminants for the first time.
US news
fromThe Washington Post
1 week ago

NYC's newest hobby is cleaning up trash and documenting the filth

Volunteer groups in NYC are actively cleaning up trash, fostering community bonds, and promoting shared responsibility for urban cleanliness.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Owner blocks 'Rainham volcano' fix, council says

The landowner of a fire-prone illegal landfill site in east London has denied the council's request for a temporary fire containment solution.
Brooklyn
fromThe Cool Down
1 week ago

City residents worry about hidden threat lurking underground in trendy neighborhood

The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn poses health risks due to pollution and toxic waste, impacting residents' quality of life.
#911
fromwww.amny.com
6 days ago
NYC politics

A moral injury': City sued over not releasing information on Lower Manhattan air quality danger after 9/11 attack | amNewYork

Advocates are suing New York City for transparency regarding air quality information post-9/11 to seek accountability and answers, not compensation.
fromHoodline
6 days ago
NYC politics

NYC Denies 9/11 Toxins FOIL, Lawsuit Seeks Release

New York City is being sued for refusing to release records related to toxic dust and smoke from the 9/11 attacks.
NYC politics
from710 WOR
5 days ago

NYC Sued Again Over Hidden 9/11 Ground Zero Toxin Records | 710 WOR

New York City faces a lawsuit for refusing to release records on cancer-causing toxins from 9/11, impacting over 81,000 affected individuals.
New York City
fromNew York Daily News
1 week ago

NYC denies another request for info on 9/11 toxins, prompting new lawsuit

New York City denied another request for 9/11 toxin data, despite previously uncovering 68 boxes of related information.
NYC politics
fromwww.amny.com
6 days ago

A moral injury': City sued over not releasing information on Lower Manhattan air quality danger after 9/11 attack | amNewYork

Advocates are suing New York City for transparency regarding air quality information post-9/11 to seek accountability and answers, not compensation.
NYC politics
fromHoodline
6 days ago

NYC Denies 9/11 Toxins FOIL, Lawsuit Seeks Release

New York City is being sued for refusing to release records related to toxic dust and smoke from the 9/11 attacks.
Cancer
fromMail Online
1 week ago

Urgent warning as scientists find cancer-causing gas leaking from HOBS

Gas stoves may emit dangerous levels of benzene, posing significant health risks, including cancer, even when not in use.
NYC parents
fromHoodline
5 days ago

Dyker Heights Parents Furious Over Asbestos Fears At P.S. 176 Playground

Parents at P.S. 176 are concerned about asbestos exposure due to construction, alleging health issues in students and demanding accountability.
Higher education
fromCornell Chronicle
1 week ago

Rep. Tonko talks 'forever chemical' alternatives with students | Cornell Chronicle

Congressman Paul Tonko emphasized the importance of connecting students with policymakers to inspire future leaders in engineering and public policy.
Boston
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 week ago

2 hospitalized following hazardous materials exposure in Concord, fire officials say

Two individuals are hospitalized due to moderate exposure to spilled organo phosphorus in Concord.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Taxpayers to fund clear-up of huge illegal waste dumps

Three major illegal rubbish dumps in England will be cleaned up at taxpayer expense as part of a national waste crime action plan.
fromBoston.com
2 weeks ago

Debate in Quincy over funding for new firefighting gear after current gear tests positive for PFAS

The Quincy Firefighters Association Local 792 expressed their disappointment, stating, 'That's negligence, not due diligence. This isn't about politics - this is about doing the right thing and protecting the men and women who go out and protect Quincy every day.'
SF politics
Environment
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

New report on L.A. post-fire beach contamination finds something unexpected: good news

Long-term effects of 2025 firestorms on L.A. beaches show low levels of harmful metals, indicating no significant harm to the ecosystem or human health.
#air-quality
Public health
fromMail Online
6 days ago

Health warning issued for thousands as toxins flood multiple US states

Over half a million Americans are advised to stay indoors due to hazardous air quality caused by toxic fine particulate matter.
fromCbsnews
1 month ago
New York City

Funky smell consumes Staten Island neighborhood as city struggles to find source

Public health
fromMail Online
6 days ago

Health warning issued for thousands as toxins flood multiple US states

Over half a million Americans are advised to stay indoors due to hazardous air quality caused by toxic fine particulate matter.
fromCbsnews
1 month ago
New York City

Funky smell consumes Staten Island neighborhood as city struggles to find source

NYC real estate
fromNew York Post
2 weeks ago

Exclusive | Most landlords in trendy NYC nabe-turned-Superfund site refuse free testing - because of property values: pol

Only 26% of 1,000 properties in Brooklyn's Meeker Avenue Plume Superfund site have undergone free EPA air testing for toxic contamination since 2022, with landlords avoiding testing due to property value concerns.
NYC parents
fromFortune
1 week ago

Newark airport shuts down after a burning smell forces an air traffic control tower evacuation | Fortune

Air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport was paused due to a burning smell, but no fire was found and delays lasted less than an hour.
Brooklyn
fromBrooklyn Paper
2 weeks ago

Clean-up, construction inch forward at Gowanus Green amid concerns from residents, pols * Brooklyn Paper

Gowanus Green affordable housing project faces resolution of remediation disputes between National Grid and environmental agencies over contaminated groundwater containment at a former manufactured gas plant site.
East Bay (California)
fromThe Oaklandside
3 weeks ago

Toxic lead paint will be abated at 50 Oakland homes with $4M grant

Oakland receives $4.4 million federal grant to remediate lead paint in approximately 50 households over four years, targeting low-income families with children under 6 in high-risk census tracts.
Healthcare
fromSocial Media Explorer
3 weeks ago

Medical Waste Disposal: A Breakdown - Social Media Explorer

U.S. healthcare facilities generate 3.5 million tons of medical waste annually, requiring specific disposal methods and regulatory compliance with potential fines up to $13,653 per violation.
Public health
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

Quincy approves money for new firefighting gear after PFAS found in old gear

Quincy officials approved $2.65 million to replace firefighters' protective gear due to health risks from PFAS chemicals.
Boston real estate
fromCity Limits
3 weeks ago

NYCHA Residents Say Nearby Industrial Site is Covering Their Homes in Dust

A construction debris recycling facility in Far Rockaway creates dust pollution affecting nearby public housing residents, who invoke a 2023 state environmental justice law to oppose the facility's permit renewal.
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
3 weeks ago

A $1.3-billion river dredging in North Carolina by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could unleash forever chemicals'

Burdette worked with a team of North Carolina State University scientists who measured PFAS concentration in the blood of alligators and found that it was correlated with immune issues in the animals—another worrying sign in a decades-long history of PFAS poisoning in Cape Fear.
Miami food
Environment
fromJezebel
3 weeks ago

Imagine If the Trump EPA Cared Enough to REDUCE Our Daily Exposure to Carcinogens

The EPA has shifted from environmental protection to facilitating increased carcinogen emissions, including weakening ethylene oxide regulations despite evidence of severe health risks to children.
New York Islanders
fromGothamist
3 weeks ago

Mysterious odor of rotten eggs and broccoli invades Staten Island block

Staten Island residents endure unidentified sewer odors causing physical symptoms while city officials investigate and install filters without determining the source.
#pfas
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

People in North Yorkshire town found to have alarming' levels of toxic Pfas chemicals in blood

Residents in Bentham have alarmingly high levels of toxic Pfas chemicals in their blood, linked to a local firefighting foam factory.
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

People in North Yorkshire town found to have alarming' levels of toxic Pfas chemicals in blood

Residents in Bentham have alarmingly high levels of toxic Pfas chemicals in their blood, linked to a local firefighting foam factory.
fromwww.ocregister.com
1 month ago

Boy at center of California hazmat probe: I'm just a kid trying to go home'

In a calm, thoughtful voice, he explained that though the equipment in his home lab was simple—including items such as a hot plate, scales and standard glassware found in a school science classroom—the experiment itself was more advanced. Fritz said the work focused on molecular structures used in pharmaceuticals and how they might be adapted to improve treatments for various diseases.
OMG science
fromabc7.com
3 weeks ago

Massive fire erupts on scrap metal barge in Delaware Bay

A massive fire broke out Tuesday morning on a barge carrying huge piles of scrap metal on the Delaware Bay near New Castle. The U.S. Coast Guard responded after 8 a.m. to reports of the fire and dispatched a helicopter and two boats, Petty Officer First Class Matthew West said. Local fire departments, including those from Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, also responded.
US news
New York City
fromHoodline
3 weeks ago

Mill Brook Houses Fire: Lithium Batteries Found

A lithium battery fire at a Bronx NYCHA building injured no one but prompted renewed FDNY warnings about the fire risks of improperly stored or damaged lithium-ion batteries.
Environment
fromTruthout
4 weeks ago

House Bill Could Weaken EPA Oversight of Hazardous Chemicals

House conservatives propose rolling back 2016 reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act, weakening EPA authority to regulate hazardous chemicals despite ongoing groundwater contamination cases like Jones Road.
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Fear that herbicides are poisoning Orange County creeks blows up on social media

We want an end to the use of herbicides in our creeks. This idea that we're just going to spray, hose down these creeks and leave them dead is unacceptable. Linas and other residents have filed requests for records detailing the chemicals the county uses to control vegetation in the waterways, such as glyphosate, triclopyr and imazapyr.
California
Miscellaneous
fromNBC New York
1 month ago

Six hospitalized after elevated carbon monoxide levels in Brooklyn

Six people in Brooklyn suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from a leak in row homes; two have serious injuries while four have minor injuries, with all expected to recover.
US politics
fromGothamist
1 month ago

ICE could face legal battle over state water rules in plan to build NJ detention center

New Jersey's Highlands Water Protection Act may block ICE's plan to convert a Roxbury warehouse into a detention center by requiring environmental scrutiny in water-sensitive areas.
California
fromwww.ocregister.com
1 month ago

FBI hazmat team descends on homemade science lab at luxury California house

A juvenile mixed unknown chemicals in a rented luxury home in Irvine, triggering a multiday FBI hazardous materials response with no identified public safety threat.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Trump officials move to kill system that protects US from chemical disasters

The Trump administration is slowly dismantling the federal disaster management system that protects the nation from chemical catastrophes, such as fires and explosions at high-risk facilities. The US Environmental Protection Agency's Response Management Program (RMP) requires more than 12,500 high-risk facilities to develop protocols to prevent catastrophes, or limit fallout, and was largely designed to protect workers, first responders, and fence-line communities.
US politics
Public health
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

Trump EPA moves to roll back recent limits on ethyene oxide, a carcinogen

The EPA proposes rolling back Biden-era ethylene oxide emission limits, citing $630 million in cost savings for medical sterilization facilities while environmental groups warn of increased cancer risks to nearby communities.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Thousands of pollution incidents in England downgraded without site visit, data suggests

Environment Agency staff downgraded 98% of 2,778 serious water pollution incidents reported in 2024 without site visits, representing a 1,500% increase in downgrades since 2021.
New York City
fromHoodline
1 month ago

Manhole Explosion Injures Two Children in Tribeca

A manhole explosion near Warren and Church streets in Tribeca injured three people, including two children with facial burns, with the cause still under investigation.
Environment
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

SCAPE and BIG Unveil Final Plans for Manresa Wilds on Former Power Plant Site in Norwalk, US

Manresa Wilds transforms a 125-acre polluted industrial peninsula into a publicly accessible coastal park with phased development beginning spring 2027, incorporating community feedback to prioritize natural habitat and reduce intensive programming.
Startup companies
fromFast Company
2 months ago

This 'chemical sponge' sucks up the valuable minerals in polluted water

A supramolecular receptor-based, 3D-printed cartridge system selectively and cleanly extracts critical minerals from waste and wastewater with low energy and no toxic chemicals.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

Warning after asbestos found' in children's play sand sold in UK

Hobbycraft withdrew children's play sand after a parent found traces of asbestos in several colored bottles, prompting voluntary removal and independent testing.
Environment
fromGothamist
1 month ago

Environmental groups sue NYC over Willets Point wastewater plant

Environmental groups are suing New York City over plans to chlorinate wastewater entering Flushing Creek, arguing chlorine won't reduce sewage volume and may harm wildlife.
Environment
fromwww.dw.com
1 month ago

Mercury pollution and human health

Coal-fired power plants are a leading source of mercury pollution that persists in the environment and disproportionately harms nearby, often marginalized communities and children.
US politics
fromFuturism
1 month ago

US Government Seeking Volunteers to Store Nuclear Sludge

Federal plan asks states to volunteer to host a permanent geological repository for spent fuel in exchange for investment, jobs, and nuclear industry development.
New York City
fromsilive
1 month ago

Putrid Staten Island smell almost knocked me to the ground: A first-hand account

Recurring sewage-like odors on Merrill Avenue force residents to leave homes, worsen asthma symptoms, and prompt constant cleaning and air freshener use.
Environment
fromTruthout
1 month ago

EPA Repeals Regulations for Mercury and Toxic Air Pollutants From Power Plants

EPA repealed the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, removing stricter mercury and particulate limits and continuous monitoring requirements for coal and oil-fired power plants.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Worker dies after falling into vat of mineral oil at chemical plant

A 71-year-old man died on Monday after falling into a large vat of mineral oil at a New Jersey chemical plant, police and the company said Tuesday. The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. at the Bayway Chemical Plant in Linden when the subcontractor fell into a 6,000-gallon container he was loading with oil. He was retrieved by responders from the Bayway and Linden fire departments, but pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
US news
US politics
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
1 month ago

What repealing the endangerment finding' means for public health

Revoking the 2009 EPA endangerment finding removes legal basis to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, increasing emissions, health risks and fuel costs.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Trump's EPA to roll back rule limiting hazardous mercury from coal plants

Donald Trump's EPA has said that easing the pollution standards for coal plants would alleviate costs for utilities that run older coal plants at a time when demand for power is soaring amid the expansion of datacenters used for artificial intelligence. But environmental groups have said that weakening standards for mercury, a neurotoxin that can impair babies' brain development, and other air toxics will lead to higher health-related costs.
Environment
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 months ago

Trump Pardons Outhouse Kingpin Convicted of Illegally Dumping Raw Sewage

President Donald Trump granted a full, unconditional pardon to Arie Eric De Jong III for federal convictions related to illegally dumping sewage.
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

Freight train derails in Connecticut, sending cars carrying liquid propane into river

MANSFIELD, Conn. (AP) - A freight train derailed Thursday in Connecticut, sending cars carrying flammable liquid propane into the water, though officials say they don't appear to be leaking. Local and state officials said the derailment happened around 9 a.m. in Mansfield, near where Eagleville Lake meets the Willimantic River. The rural town in the eastern part of the state is home to the University of Connecticut.
US news
from24/7 Wall St.
2 months ago

Clean Harbors (CLH): The Environmental Services Moat is Expanding

Clean Harbors just locked in a $110 million contract for PFAS water filtration at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. This isn't just another project win. It's validation of the company's end-to-end PFAS solution: lab analytics, water filtration, site remediation, and most critically, high-temperature incineration disposal.
Environment
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

Troubled waters: How the UK's water companies became a national disgrace

Donations fund on-the-ground, paywall-free journalism covering issues from reproductive rights and Big Tech to failing water infrastructure and public-health crises.
fromNew York Daily News
3 years ago

N.Y. politicians demand fixes at NYCHA complex in Brooklyn where more than 100 units have water damage, mold

A six-decade-old public housing development in Williamsburg has decayed into a house of horrors marred by moldy dwellings, widespread water damage and vexing vermin, seven New York politicians charged Monday in a letter demanding accelerated repairs. A doorknock sweep of two of the nine buildings at Bushwick/Hylan Houses found more than 100 units with water damage and mold, according to the letter to the New York City Housing Authority, which runs the development.
New York City
#superfund
Public health
fromArs Technica
2 months ago

A century of hair samples proves leaded gas ban worked

Lead contamination from leaded gasoline and industrial smelting caused widespread human exposure; scientific hair analysis and health findings drove the rapid phase-out of leaded gasoline.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The death of Heather Preen: how an eight-year-old lost her life amid the UK sewage crisis

England's water companies have routinely dumped raw sewage, causing environmental degradation and health tragedies while accountability remained limited.
Public health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Evacuations, shelter in place order in effect while hazardous materials removed from Berkeley home

Residents near Colusa and Tacoma in Thousand Oaks were ordered to shelter in place or evacuate while hazardous photography chemicals including picric acid were removed.
Public health
fromCity Limits
1 month ago

Could Your Home Have Lead Paint? This Map Aims to Help NYC Tenants Gauge Risk

Buildings built before 1960 in New York City are presumed to contain lead paint, and testing plus a lookup tool help identify potential lead hazards.
Public health
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Torrance residents call for the ban of 'flesh-eating' chemical used at refinery

Residents demand banning modified hydrofluoric acid at Torrance refinery because of potential mass-casualty risks and a near-miss 2015 explosion.
Environment
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Supersized dump fire risk report kept from public

A fire risk assessment led to a costly clearance of the Kidlington illegal waste site, but the fire service denied FOI release citing public safety.
fromNBC New York
2 months ago

Carbon monoxide emergency in NYC sends 8 to hospitals

At least two people remained hospitalized early Monday, hours after a carbon monoxide leak spewed fumes throughout a three-family Brooklyn home late Sunday, authorities say. According to investigators, a 17-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman both felt woozy around 11 p.m. at the home, on West Sixth Street, between Avenue U and Avenue T in Gravesend. They told other family members, who called 911.
Public health
Environment
fromTruthout
2 months ago

Communities Say Congress Broke Its Promise to Clean Up Abandoned Coal Mine Lands

A House bill would withdraw $500 million from 2021 abandoned mine cleanup funds, jeopardizing reclamation and water treatment projects in Appalachian states.
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

A push to end a fractured approach to post-fire contamination removal

The patchwork efforts to identify and safely remove contamination left by the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires has been akin to the Wild West. Experts have given conflicting guidance on best practices. Shortly after the fires, the federal government suddenly refused to adhere to California's decades-old post-fire soil-testing policy; California later considered following suit. Meanwhile, insurance companies have resisted remediation practices widely recommended by scientists for still-standing homes.
Public health
Environment
fromThe Mercury News
2 months ago

Bay Area health agency report reveals what sparked complaints about refinery odor

Martinez Refining Company released 1,075 pounds of sulfur dioxide during a flaring event caused by an electrical issue; odors reported, no injuries or exposures.
Environment
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

FEMA to pay for lead testing at 100 homes destroyed in Eaton fire, after months of saying it was unnecessary

EPA will test soil for lead at 100 Eaton Fire–destroyed homes after reports of cleanup protocol violations, amid expert concerns testing may be inadequate.
Environment
fromFuturism
1 month ago

Site of Elementary School Was Sprayed With Radioactive Fracking Waste, Worker Warns

Nearly 500 Texas elementary school children play on fields contaminated with tons of illegally dumped radioactive fracking waste that may cause severe bone damage.
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