Feb 08 How U.S. hospitals cleaned up their toxic trash By Courtney Vinopal A 1994 report was a wake-up call that hospitals needed to rethink their environmental footprint, especially since health care is “the one sector of our economy that has healing as its mission.”… Continue reading
Jan 04 Cities could be teeming with more rats, thanks to the shutdown’s festering trash By Jamie Leventhal Rats could get access to an all-you-can-eat buffet of garbage during the government shutdown as uncollected trash piles up. Continue reading
Dec 28 Watch 7:17 How Trump’s EPA is changing the public health benefits around mercury The Trump administration is partially rolling back an Obama-era rule on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, saying the health benefits of restricting mercury, which causes birth defects, brain damage and learning disabilities, are outweighed by the regulation's cost. The… Continue watching
Dec 26 These surprising health stories shaped 2018 By Laura Santhanam Gun violence, prolonged mental trauma for children and the ongoing opioid crisis were just a few of the major health stories that captured national attention this year. Continue reading
Dec 21 What to do with all of your holiday trash By Jamie Leventhal Many Americans will toss their mountainous pile of holiday waste into the recycling bin, which can do more harm than good. Here's how to properly dispose of holiday wrappings, decorations and Christmas lights. Continue reading
Dec 11 Your gym mats may be breeding antibiotic-resistant germs By Nsikan Akpan It may be time to reconsider the use of some spray sanitizers. Continue reading
Oct 08 Watch 9:53 World needs to make near-revolutionary change to avoid imminent climate disaster. Is there hope? Unless we immediately reduce the burning of coal and oil and gas that drive up global temperatures, a new UN report warns the world will suffer tremendous consequences as early as 2040. William Brangham talks with Rafe Pomerance of the… Continue watching
Oct 05 A massive plastic cleanup project provokes hope and skepticism By Vicky Stein While The Ocean Cleanup has been hailed as one solution for ocean plastic pollution, some researchers have expressed concern. Continue reading
Sep 25 What if we could put our plastic trash to good use? By Jamie Leventhal Humans produce 420 million tons of plastic annually, most of which lands in the environment. With these two innovations, plastic could have a useful second life. Continue reading
Sep 23 Watch 4:23 Scientists study the impact of hidden plastic to curb pollution By PBS News Hour Microplastics -- tiny fragments of plastic contained in microbeads and microfibers of everyday household products -- have infiltrated the landscape, oceans and living organisms. By studying microplastics, scientists hope to better understand their impact and how to limit their damage. Continue watching