Latest News On Environmental Health

Latest KFF Health News Stories

‘Forever Chemicals’ Contaminate America’s Freshwater Fish

KFF Health News Original

Gone fishing? Depending on the lake, your catch may not be safe to eat.  A group of chemicals collectively known as PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer goods, including dental floss, rain jackets and nonstick cookware. Over decades, these chemicals have spewed from manufacturing plants and landfills into local ecosystems, polluting surface water and […]

California protegerá a trabajadores del calor extremo en interiores

KFF Health News Original

Sólo otros dos estados, Minnesota y Oregon, han adoptado normas sobre el calor para las personas que trabajan en interiores, según la Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (OSHA).

California Is Poised to Protect Workers From Extreme Heat — Indoors

KFF Health News Original

Only a few states have rules to protect workers from the growing threat of extreme heat, either indoors or outdoors. California is expected to adopt heat standards for indoor workers in spring, even as federal legislation has stalled.

‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Freshwater Fish, Yet Most States Don’t Warn Residents

KFF Health News Original

At least 17 states have issued PFAS-related fish consumption advisories, KFF Health News found. But with no federal guidance, what is considered safe to eat varies significantly among states, most of which provide no regulation.

US Military Says National Security Depends on ‘Forever Chemicals’

KFF Health News Original

PFAS chemicals are found in hundreds of products and weapons used by the U.S. military. Defense Department officials say a blanket ban on these man-made substances would threaten military readiness.

Epidemic: What Good Is a Vaccine When There Is No Rice?

Podcast

What good is a vaccine when there is no rice? Episode 7 of “Eradicating Smallpox” explores the barriers public health workers face in communities where people’s basic needs aren’t being met.

Rare ‘Flesh-Eating’ Bacterium Spreads North as Oceans Warm

KFF Health News Original

A rise in cases of Vibrio vulnificus and its spread northward have heightened concern about the bacterium, which can cause human tissue to rot and skin to decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to make more doctors aware of the dangerous pathogen.

Heat-Related Deaths Are Up, and Not Just Because It’s Getting Hotter

KFF Health News Original

Excessive heat contributed to 1,670 deaths nationwide last year, according to federal data — the highest rate in at least two decades. An increase in drug use and homelessness, along with hotter temperatures, were among the reasons.

‘Like a Russian Roulette’: US Military Firefighters Grapple With Unknowns of PFAS Exposure

KFF Health News Original

Federal research linking “forever chemicals” to testicular cancer confirms what U.S. military personnel long suspected. But as they seek testing for PFAS exposure, many wonder what to do with the results. There’s no medical treatment yet.

Trabajadores sufren mientras el Congreso y empresarios debaten la necesidad de normas contra el calor

KFF Health News Original

No existen normas federales para proteger a los trabajadores cuando los días son excesivamente calurosos. Y sin el apoyo bipartidista del Congreso, incluso con la atención urgente de la administración Biden, es posible que el alivio no llegue en años.

Pioneering Study Links Testicular Cancer Among Military Personnel to ‘Forever Chemicals’

KFF Health News Original

The military first documented health concerns surrounding chemicals known as PFAS decades ago yet has continued to use firefighting foam made with them. Despite scores of lawsuits by its personnel and high rates of testicular cancer among troops, it has been slow to investigate a connection.

As Many American Cities Get Hotter, Health Systems Face Off Against Heatstroke

KFF Health News Original

With millions of Americans suffering under relentless heat waves this summer, more people are seeking medical attention for heat-related illnesses. As temperatures get more extreme, hospitals, fire departments, and ambulance crews are preparing to treat more patients for heat exhaustion and heatstroke.