Companies Knew the Dangers of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’—and Kept Them Secret

The female employees at the DuPont chemical company’s Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, W. Va., were not given much of an explanation in 1981 when they were all abruptly moved away from any part of the factory that produced a category of chemicals then known as C8. They certainly were not told about their eight … Read more

How Extreme Heat Impacts Your Brain and Mental Health

When the temperature spikes, so too do suicide rates, crime, and violence. Twitter sees hate tweets and online aggression increase during heatwaves, along with phrasing that researchers have linked to anxiety and depression. Our very language captures the confluence of heat and emotion—when we are annoyed, we get “hot under the collar”; when we are … Read more

States Consider Banning Cosmetics Containing PFAS

A growing number of state legislatures are considering bans on cosmetics and other consumer products that contain a group of synthetic, potentially harmful chemicals known as PFAS. In Vermont, the state Senate gave final approval this week to legislation that would prohibit manufacturers and suppliers from selling or distributing any cosmetics or menstrual products in … Read more

The Challenge of Removing Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ from Drinking Water

What’s in your faucet can be a dangerous thing. If you’re like an estimated 200 million Americans, every time you turn on the tap, a host of contaminants come out with the water. Among these are trace amounts of PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Also known as “forever chemicals”—because that’s pretty much how … Read more