Environmental Protection Agency

After almost 15 years of legal wrangling the EPA has now banned chlorpyrifos from agricultural uses in the United States

EPA finally bans common food pesticide after years of court battles

After years of court battles the EPA has announced it will ban agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide suspected of causing health problems in children. The ban comes into effect in six months, with a further review of non-food uses to follow.

Researchers are calling for greater surveillance from health authorities of the influence of food additives on immune system activity

Wellness and Healthy Living

Concerns raised over safety of common food preservative

A study is questioning the safety of a food preservative found in hundreds of products that is suspected of impairing immune system activity. The research calls for greater surveillance of the immunological effects of food additives.

New research highlights the need for chemical manufacturers to be more transparent in reporting how and where chemical compounds are used

Science

42 "mystery chemicals" from unknown sources discovered in people

A study is demonstrating a new screening method developed to better identify human-made chemicals in people. The proof-of-concept research discovered more than 100 chemicals, including 55 that have never been reported found in humans before.

Environment

Recapture system limits mercury exposure from gold purification

In the developing world small-scale gold mining and smelting under primitive conditions poses a major health hazard. To help alleviate this, a team from Argonne National Laboratory and the US EPA are developing a prototype mercury capture system (MCS) to reduce heavy metal pollution.