Environmental monitoring
The latest chemistry news and research on environmental monitoring, including analytical chemistry, remote sensing and water and air quality, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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Research
PFAS levels in the environment have been significantly underestimated
20 years’ worth of environmental samples reveal up to 80% exceed drinking water standards
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News
US finally gets nationwide regulation of PFAS in drinking water
Long-awaited rule is significantly stricter and covers six PFAS, with a five-year phase in for water utilities
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Research
‘Low-VOC’ paints may still release harmful volatiles
New analysis finds volatile compounds and potential allergens in several popular water-based paints
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News
EPA’s clean air rule cuts chemical plant pollution
New regulation affects about 200 facilities in the US, reducing emissions of ethylene oxide, chloroprene and three other chemicals
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Research
Monitoring PFAS pollutants in king penguins
New insight into how organohalogen pollutants affect seabirds
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News
PCB pollution may be worse now than before they were banned
Call to investigate potentially significant quantities of polychlorinated biphenyls that could form as industry byproducts
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News
Plastic chemicals review reveals thousands of compounds have little safety data
Existing scientific knowledge on hazards of plastic chemicals compiled in dossier for decision makers
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Research
Lateral flow PFAS sensor could enable at-home water testing
New device offers fast and cheap way to monitor PFAS in drinking water
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Research
PFAS contamination in Mersey basin among highest in the world, study suggests
Only two watersheds globally have higher yields of PFOS and PFOA
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Research
Canadian oil tar sands operations emit far more pollution than reported
Analysis of all types of organic pollution reveals emissions underreported by as much as 6300%
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Research
Nanoplastics make up around 90% of the plastic particles found in bottled water
Seven different types of plastic detected in three bottled water brands
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Research
High mercury levels in tropical birds in Americas blamed on gold mining
Exotic birds are the canary in the gold mine when it comes to mercury pollution and provide warning that other animals, including humans, affected
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News
Fisheries agency concludes it’s ‘very unlikely’ pyridine behind UK crustacean deaths after new tests
Cause of mass die-offs in late 2021 and early 2022 still a mystery
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Research
Underwater device reveals marine chemical diversity
I-Smel device probes metabolites produced by Mediterranean sponges
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News
US moves to regulate tyre chemical that was found to have killed salmon
The final rule, expected by the end of 2024, will require manufacturers and importers of 6PPD to turn over unpublished health and safety studies
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Research
Researchers identify metals released into the atmosphere by satellite reentry
Metals including niobium and hafnium detected in stratospheric aerosols
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Opinion
The PFAS problem in everyone’s back yard
Communities around the world will have to get to grips with a new pollution problem that will cost billions to address
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News
RSC calls on UK government to take action on PFAS levels in tap water
New analysis reveals more than a third of rivers in England and Wales have medium or high levels of fluorinated compounds
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News
New database maps plastic chemical exposure and human health effects
Minderoo Foundation’s Plastic Health Map tracking studies on polymers, bisphenols, PFAS and more from 1961 onwards, finds research gaps
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News
Two year clean-up of Scottish beach clears radioactive material from second world war planes
Multi-million pound operation removed over 6000 particles of highly radioactive radium-226 and associated radionuclides