Latest Pollution News

The oldest evidence for lead pollution comes from ancient Greece

Jan. 30, 2025 11:13 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ancient Greece produced the earliest records of democracy, western philosophy — and, it turns out, lead pollution. Researchers studying sediment cores recovered from mainland Greece and the Aegean Sea have found the oldest known evidence of lead pollution in the...

European court finds Italy violated the right to life of Naples residents living in toxic dump area

Jan. 30, 2025 09:49 AM EST

ROME (AP) — A European court on Thursday said Italy violated the right to life of those living in a toxic-waste polluted area around Naples, in a scathing ruling that validated a generation of residents' complaints that mafia dumping and burning of waste had led to increased rates of cancer and...

Record levels of 'forever chemicals' found in wildlife near New Mexico base, hunters warned

Jan. 29, 2025 18:26 PM EST

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmental regulators and health officials in New Mexico are warning hunters that harmful chemicals known to cause cancer in people have been found at record levels in birds, small mammals and plants at a lake near Holloman Air Force Base. In fact,...

Things to know about the Trump administration order on miles per gallon for cars and pickups

Jan. 29, 2025 16:11 PM EST

DETROIT (AP) — Hours after being sworn in as the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy took aim at the main way the federal government regulates miles per gallon for cars and pickup trucks — also a principal way that it regulates air pollution and addresses climate change. Duffy...

What to know about Trump's first executive actions on climate and environment

Jan. 27, 2025 13:13 PM EST

President Donald Trump's first week in office included a flurry of executive orders with implications for Earth's climate and environment. While former President Joe Biden made climate change a hallmark of his administration and some of his policies remain, at least for now, Trump is...

Study projects millions of European heat deaths as world warms

Jan. 27, 2025 11:10 AM EST

Extreme temperatures — mostly heat — are projected to kill as many as 2.3 million people in Europe by the end of the century unless countries get better at reducing carbon pollution and adapting to hotter conditions, a new study says. Currently, cold temperatures kill more people...

In policy reversal, Trump eliminates help for Black and Latino communities hit harder by pollution

Jan. 26, 2025 12:31 PM EST

For four years, the Environmental Protection Agency made environmental justice one of its biggest priorities, working to improve health conditions in heavily-polluted communities often made up largely of Black, Latino and low-income Americans. Now that short-lived era is over. ...

Thai authorities seek to ease air pollution in capital by offering free public transport

Jan. 25, 2025 05:21 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities have made travel by public transport in Bangkok free for a week starting Saturday, the latest tactic to try to tackle soaring levels of air pollution that have already seen hundreds of schools closed and employees working from home. The travel...

Dutch court orders government to meet pollution reduction targets or face millions in fines

Jan. 22, 2025 07:56 AM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered the country’s government to meet its own goals for reducing overall nitrogen emissions by 2030, a decision that could have major economic and political consequences. The District Court of The Hague criticized the...

Contaminated drinking water is a growing concern for cities facing wildfires

Jan. 14, 2025 10:38 AM EST

As fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, several utilities have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise. A warmer, drier climate means wildfires are getting worse, and encroaching on cities — with devastating impact. Toxic chemicals...