Microplastics in the Great Lakes become benthic, study shows

Microplastics in the Great Lakes become benthic, study shows

Sediment petrologist Patricia Corcoran and several of her students at the University of Western Ontario found that microplastics in the Great Lakes are becoming benthic, as presented on the Geological Study of America Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, on September…

NOAA predicts very large 2019 dead zone for the Gulf of Mexico

NOAA predicts very large 2019 dead zone for the Gulf of Mexico

NOAA scientists are forecasting 2019 Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, or dead zone, to be very large – approximately 20 277 km2 (7 829 mi2). Dead zones are areas of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and other marine animals. Considered one of the world’s…

Toxic salt storm engulfs parts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Toxic salt storm engulfs parts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

A toxic salt storm from the Aral Sea hit western parts of Uzbekistan and northern Turkmenistan on Sunday, May 27, 2018, following a warm weather and rain. The dust covered the whole city of Nukus, forcing residents to use masks as the storm made it difficult to…

Finland has the cleanest air in the world, WHO report finds

Finland has the cleanest air in the world, WHO report finds

More than 90% of humans breathe dangerously contaminated air, according to the World Health Organization. Citizens of Finland, however, are not among them, a comprehensive analysis by WHO found. It shows that Finland has the cleanest air quality in the world,…

5.7 million pounds of air pollution released in Texas after Harvey landfall

5.7 million pounds of air pollution released in Texas after Harvey landfall

According to reports filed by companies to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), 2.6 million kg (5.7 million pounds) of hazardous chemicals were released into the air by chemical plants, oil refineries, and industrial facilities from August 23 to…

Delhi turns to ‘gas chamber’ as air pollution surges to extreme levels

Delhi turns to ‘gas chamber’ as air pollution surges to extreme levels

The Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, as toxic smog engulfed Indian capital Delhi. In some areas, Air Quality Index (AQI) reached a maximum of 999 and went beyond what instruments could measure. According to…