Tag: toxic
Scientists identify ‘tipping point’ that caused clumps of toxic Florida seaweed
Giant blobs along 5,000-mile-wide sargassum belt has killed animals, harmed human health and discouraged tourism Scientists in Florida believe they have identified a “tipping point” in atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic Ocean they say caused giant clumps of toxic seaweed to inundate beaches around the Caribbean in recent summers. Previous theories for the Great Atlantic…
Tesla’s challenges run deeper than ‘toxic’ controversy around Elon Musk
“This has been our family car for three years, and it has been an absolute dream,” says Ben Kilbey as he shows me his gleaming pearl-white Tesla Model Y. Ben is a staunch electric car advocate. He runs a communications firm that promotes sustainable businesses in the UK. Yet now, he says, the Model Y…
Mexico authorities order factory cleanup after Guardian toxic waste investigation
Inquiry uncovered health problems in neighborhood near Monterrey-area plant that processes US hazardous waste Mexican environmental regulators say they have discovered 30,000 tons of improperly stored material with “hazardous characteristics” in the yard of a Mexican plant that is recycling toxic waste shipped from the US. The authorities ordered “urgent measures” to get the materials…
Shutdown at Mexico toxic waste plant after Guardian investigation revealed pollution in nearby homes
Mexican officials ordered facility to shut down after report on very high levels of pollutants in surrounding neighborhood Authorities ordered the shutdown of a Mexican recycling plant that processes hazardous waste exported from the US, after an investigation by the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab that revealed heavy metals contamination in nearby homes and schools.…
‘A trash can for the US’: anger in Mexico and Canada over toxic waste shipments
Exclusive: US companies are increasingly shipping toxic waste to other countries, where some argue it poses a risk US companies ship more than 1m tons of hazardous waste to other countries each year, raising questions over possible impacts on health and the environment, an investigation by the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab has found. Exports…
Why Urban Wildfires like L.A.’s Release Such Toxic Smoke
What Makes Urban Wildfire Smoke So Toxic Wildfires burning in cities unleash a toxic, unpredictable combination of compounds into the air By Allison Parshall edited by Dean Visser Smoke over destroyed homes in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, US, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Firefighters are making some progress on controlling…
Thailand bans imports of plastic waste to curb toxic pollution
Campaigners welcome move but say success depends on enforcement and global agreement on a treaty Thailand has banned plastic waste imports over concerns about toxic pollution, as experts warn that failure to agree a global treaty to cut plastic waste will harm human health. A law banning imports of plastic waste came into force this…
Government must look at effects of toxic smoke on Grenfell firefighters, minister says
Union calls for regular health checks for 600 Grenfell firefighters after many developed long-term conditions The government “needs to seriously look” at the effects of toxic smoke inhalation on firefighters who served at the Grenfell Tower fire, a minister has said. The comments from Andrew Gwynne, the health minister, came after the Guardian disclosed that…
Grenfell firefighters exposed to toxic smoke developed health disorders, study finds
Exclusive: Data from 524 firefighters who risked their lives showed 136 reported life-changing conditions More than a quarter of firefighters exposed to toxic smoke during the Grenfell Tower fire have had long-term health disorders, a study shows. Prof Anna Stec, a world-leading expert in toxicity who co-authored the report, found that most of the firefighters…
Toxic waste from site of gas leak which killed thousands removed after 40 years
Authorities in India have removed hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste from an Indian chemical factory that witnessed one of the world’s deadliest gas leaks 40 years ago. A court in December had set a four-week deadline for the waste to be disposed. On Wednesday, the toxic waste – around 337 tonnes – was taken…