Joy Scrogum

First comprehensive review of plastic pollution in the Amazon reveals contamination poses urgent health risks Plastic may well be a useful everyday item, but its careless disposal in oceans and inland waterways is a pressing global problem. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to human health and the ...

'For the first time, scientists have conducted a rigorous study of the Amazon Basin and found that plastic pollution is widespread across its ecosystems, contaminating water, plants and much of the wildlife.' phys.org/news/2025-10...

Microplastics in the placenta linked to increased risk of miscarriage In a recent study published by eBioMedicine, researchers found that women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta were at an increased risk of experiencing spontaneous miscarriage in the...

'In a recent study published by eBioMedicine, researchers found that women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta were at an increased risk of experiencing spontaneous miscarriage in the first trimester.' www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...

'New research presented at UEG Week 2025 shows that microplastics – plastic particles smaller than 5mm commonly found in the environment – can alter the human gut microbiome, with some changes resembling patterns linked to depression and colorectal cancer.' www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

Illinois Climate Education Hub now available online As Climate Week NYC comes to a close, it seems fitting to highlight the fact that the Illinois Climate Education Hub launched earlier this month. The hub offers a collection of resources to assist …

joysness.com/2025/09/28/i...

Can climate comedy still work? This offshore wind ad suggests it can. The satirical video starring Samuel L. Jackson pokes fun at offshore wind disinformation right as the Trump administration is targeting both comedy and…

In honor of Climate Week in NYC, please enjoy this piece & its embedded link to an ad featuring Samuel L. Jackson. "These giants are standing tall against fossil fuels. Rising up out of the ocean like a middle finger to CO2." www.canarymedia.com/articles/cul...

New and simple detection method for nanoplastics | News | Sep 8, 2025 | University of Stuttgart Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed an “optical sieve” for detecting tiny nanoplastic particles. It works like a test strip and is intended to serve as a new analysis tool in env...

Wow! www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/universit...

This Pennsylvania settlement could set the standard for preventing tiny plastic pellet pollution A company agreed to install technology to watch for "nurdles," tiny plastic pellets used to make all manner of goods.

grist.org/solutions/pl...

Study Assesses State Efforts to Take on Plastic Waste The U.S. pumps out more plastic waste than almost any country in the world, and the pressure is on for states to take the lead in curbing the issue.

Study Assesses State-by-State Efforts to Take on Plastic Waste www.waste360.com/plastics/stu...

Phthalates in everyday products may fuel breast cancer, new study warns Phthalates—common chemicals in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging—may drive the growth and spread of breast cancer, a new study warns.

'Common chemicals in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging may drive the onset, growth, and spread of breast cancer—the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women, new research suggests.' usrtk.org/healthwire/p...

The chronic risks from single-use plastic water bottles are dangerously understudied, new Concordia research shows | News - Concordia University Regular use will add tens of thousands of micro- and nanoplastic particles directly into your body every year.

'In her review of over 140 scientific articles, Sajedi writes that individuals on average ingest between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles per year, and bottled water users consume 90,000 more particles than tap water consumers.' www.concordia.ca/news/stories...

Congratulations to the 2025 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Award winners! p2.org/2025-MVP2-Aw...

Drawing of two hands reaching toward each other across a river, each cradling a bit of soil and a plant. Images on one side of the river show pollution, on the other, a clean environment.

Happy Pollution Prevention (P2) Week (Sept. 15-21, 2025)! Check out my latest ISTC blog post to learn more about P2, P2 week, & assistance your organization can tap into from the Center for Economic Impacts & Societal Benefits (CEISB). blog.istc.illinois.edu/2025/09/16/c...

The man and the mushroom kayak: can a boat made from mycellim change the future/ Sam Shoemaker’s record-setting voyage shows the promise – and limits – of fungi as a plastic alternative

There's a long way to go before mushroom-based (mycelium-based) materials can fully replace plastics. But this is a really cool effort. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Sites contaminated by toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are much more widespread than previously thought, researchers find New research from Northeastern’s PFAS Project Lab paints a more complete picture of just how much PFAS contamination there is in the U.S.

The maps showing known vs. presumptive PFAS contamination sites are like a kick in the teeth. news.northeastern.edu/2025/09/09/t...

Why the ‘Paris Agreement’ of plastics ended in failure Those who hoped to curtail plastic production—and the health risks associated with the stuff—were disappointed. Oil lobbyists, less so

"Those who hoped to curtail plastic production—and the health risks associated with the stuff—were disappointed. Oil lobbyists, less so" www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/enviro...

Banned pesticides found in clouds, sparking new health concerns Pesticides banned years ago have been found in clouds above France, raising new concerns about their global health impacts, study shows.

'Pesticides banned years ago in the European Union are drifting through the skies and turning up in clouds above France, raising concerns about how long these toxins persist and how far they can travel, with potentially harmful global health impacts' usrtk.org/healthwire/b...

USC study shows how PFAS disrupt healthy function in human liver cells Related News First genome-wide comparison of vapers and smokers finds similar DNA changes linked to disease risk August 12, 2024 Sweeping review reveals latest evidence on the diagnosis, treatment, an...

'Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC used a lab model of the human liver to analyze changes at the cellular level, finding that some PFAS triggered fat accumulation and others caused cell damage linked to cancer.' keck.usc.edu/news/usc-stu...

20 Years After Katrina, Louisiana Residents Are Most Vulnerable to 'Die of Despair' Today, Louisiana residents are the nation's most vulnerable to 'deaths of despair' as Black New Orleanians navigate hopelessness after Hurricane Katrina.

20 years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans still bears visible and invisible scars left by compounding climate disasters, environmental injustices, and decades of inequity and systemic neglect. @adamlmahoney.bsky.social

"It’s hard to move forward when the trauma is so present."

ICYMI, check out my post for the ISTC blog offering back-to-school sustainability resources: blog.istc.illinois.edu/2025/07/31/b...

Two men and two women stand on a sunny outdoor patio surrounded by greenery, eating pizza and conversing.

Experts suggest the most important thing you can do to address climate change is talk about it, but research shows most Americans never discuss the topic. My latest post for the ISTC blog offers suggestions and resources to help you broach the subject. blog.istc.illinois.edu/2025/08/28/s...

Mulling over microfiber pollution Back when I worked on the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR, the project I was hired for at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, or ISTC, over 23 years ago), I lea…

ICYMI, check out my post on microfiber cloths as a source of plastic pollution, including ideas to reduce microfiber pollution in your home. joysness.com/2025/07/20/m...

A look at the growing ‘disaster economy’ turning crisis into cash Disasters are big business. These charts show just how big.

Responding to and rebuilding from climate disasters is costing Americans staggering sums. We can break this cycle. Federal data shows that every dollar spent on preparedness saves $6 in recovery, but the Trump administration has turned that sound logic on its head.

How climate change endangers mothers and children Rising temperatures are rewriting the earliest stages of life, according to a new report.

How climate change endangers mothers and children

Rising temperatures are rewriting the earliest stages of life, according to a new report.

Deloitte Survey Shows How Climate Change is Impacting Sustainable Consumer, Employee Behavior People around the world are being impacted by the ongoing climate crisis. It’s changing how they think, feel, and act. Deloitte recently released a global survey that showcases insights from roughly 2...

"It’s clear that climate change is no longer an issue reserved for policy debates; it’s influencing where people live, how they shop, where they work, and how they invest." www.waste360.com/sustainabili...

Solarcycle produces recycled glass test module with ‘peak performance’ US solar PV recycling firm, Solarcycle, has produced a pilot module using 50% recycled glass from other decommissioned panels.

'US solar PV recycling firm, Solarcycle, has produced a pilot module using 50% recycled glass from other decommissioned panels, which it says matches the performance of entirely new products.' www.pv-tech.org/solarcycle-p...

Pollution solution with a pinch of clay A new clay-based material developed at CEB could offer an affordable, low-waste way to tackle water pollution using only sunlight

'It’s affordable, recyclable, and designed to work in water under visible light – offering a promising new approach to breaking down environmental pollutants without harsh chemicals or high energy use.' www.ceb.cam.ac.uk/news/flaponite

Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution linked to increased risk of dementia An analysis of studies incorporating data from almost 30 million people has highlighted the role that air pollution – including that coming from car exhaust

'he researchers found a positive and statistically-significant association between 3 types of air pollutant and dementia.' www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

If your interests/skills include marketing with a side of science communication, check out this opportunity with NWF. It would be so cool to work on Ranger Rick brands! recruiting.ultipro.com/NAT1047NWF/J...

ICYMI, this post was focused on graduation & Father's Day gifts, but the information included could also be useful as you prepare to send young adults off to college. blog.istc.illinois.edu/2025/05/23/e...

Alaska Ignored Warning Signs of a Budget Crisis. Now It Doesn’t Have Funding to Fix Crumbling Schools. Lawmakers only budgeted $40 million of the nearly $800 million that districts say is needed to fix and maintain schools to keep them safe and operating. Gov. Mike Dunleavy then vetoed more than two-th...

New: Lawmakers only budgeted $40 million of the nearly $800 million that districts say is needed to fix and maintain schools to keep them safe and operating. Gov. Mike Dunleavy then vetoed more than a third of that.

By @emilyschwing.bsky.social‬