Emily Copeland

Elated to moderate the panel, "Public Dialogue Through Media" tomorrow - great chance to glean insights on how journalists tackle local and statewide public health issues!

See you there! #ShaleGas #PublicHealth

Trump's EPA Rollbacks Will Reverberate for 'Decades' The agency’s planned repeal of a cornerstone of US climate rules is part of an aggressive deregulatory agenda whose effects on the environment will outlast the president.

Trump is shrinking the EPA more quickly & aggressively than ever before, culminating in this week's move to rescind the crucial "endangerment finding" underpinning key regulations of planet-warming pollution.

Here's what it all means (a gift link @bloomberg.com): www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Even more concerning give a new study revealing PM 2.5 linked to adult death and adverse birth outcomes - with steel mills and coke ovens (#coal) are major point sources.

#AirPollution
annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/10....

Air pollution joins Europe’s list of cancer risks Air pollution has today (4th February) been formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe for the first time, after being added to the European Code Against Cancer. The update appears in the fifth ed...

Air pollution is now formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe.

“Individuals are encouraged to limit their exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling…and keeping homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood”.

#WorldCancerDay #AirPollution

Check out this handy breakdown for scientists who want to pitch their research to the media 🧪📝

This was excellent!

Global health burdens of plastics: a lifecycle assessment model from 2016 to 2040 Adverse health effects are associated with emissions throughout plastics lifecycles, particularly from production, though the non-disclosure of plastics chemical composition is severely limiting LCA c...

new paper in @thelancet.com estimating the global health burdens of plastics

I think this is one of the first analyses that quantifies the impacts of plastics across its entire lifecycle (from extraction to waste) and highlights the pretty staggering health effects of our current economic system

Very little plastic being recycled in California as state efforts falter California has hailed itself as a leader in single-use plastic reduction and legislation. But a scuttling of its pioneering law, and a new report on the dismal state of recycling in the state, shows t...

There's yet more data showing that hardly anyone is recycling any plastic in California, even as the Newsom administration once again delays landmark single-use plastic regulations: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @susrust.bsky.social

What we learned about microplastics in 2025 The year has been full of scary details about the tiny particles. Here’s what we know now.

For many scientists, 2025 was the year of microplastics. It’s only in the past year or so that they have begun to understand that the tiny plastics are in our bodies and food as well.

Here’s what we know now:

Mark the date and get ready: MICRO 2026 is happening (yes, it’s official!) and we want you all to join us in beautiful Cádiz from 12–16 October 2026 for a fantastic week of plastic science and community.
micro2026.sciencesconf.org

Why are famous chefs fighting PFAS bans? The answer, in retrospect, is obvious—and it’s part of a larger campaign to stop bans on Teflon cookware nationwide.

Celebrity chefs told Californians that PFAS-coated pans were “safe,” and successfully lobbied Gavin Newsom to veto a bill phasing them out

They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans.

New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:

Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It. Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.

Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.

With @readfrontier.bsky.social

Synthetic chemicals in food system creating health burden of $2.2tn a year, report finds Scientists issue urgent warning about chemicals, found to cause cancer and infertility as well as harming environment

New 🧪report on #ForeverChemicals #Phthalates

Scientists have issued an urgent warning that some of the synthetic chemicals that help underpin the current food system are driving increased rates of cancer, neuro conditions and infertility = $$ health burdens

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowships The SHERF fellowships are made to support early-career journalists who are pursuing careers in science, health or environmental reporting.

Boost your science, health or environment reporting in 2026 — the SHERF Fellowship can help you do it. Applications are open now! Tell a colleague and apply today: healthjournalism.org/fellowships/...

When I first saw the photos Annie took during the inversion, I immediately thought of historical photos from pre-EPA days.

But these were taken in 2025. The Trump EPA has halted rules meant to reduce pollution in this community and others. Here's what we found:

www.propublica.org/article/epa-...

Recycling Can’t Solve Our Plastic Crisis "Recycling doesn’t sustainably prevent plastic waste from ending up in the environment," argues Judith Enck.

Judith Enck writes in TIME that plastic recycling was never designed to solve the pollution crisis, and the industry has known it: time.com/7337065/auto...

Less than 6% of plastic waste in the US is recycled, while corporations continue to expand production and mislead the public with false claims.

The Trump Administration’s Data Center Push Could Open the Door for New Forever Chemicals The EPA is prioritizing review of new chemicals to be used in data centers. Experts say this could lead to the fast approval of new types of forever chemicals—with limited oversight.

"The EPA is prioritizing review of new chemicals to be used in data centers. Experts say this could lead to the fast approval of new types of forever chemicals—with limited oversight." Great piece by @mollytaft.com

Devastating

How these chemicals went everywhere and threatened our health These chemicals continue to contaminate Americans’ food, decades after scientists recognized their dangers.

Another deep-dive from @washingtonpost.com on concerning chemicals in plastics #Phthalates #EverywhereChemicals

Glad to see the 'Plastic Peril' series continue

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Toxic wastewater from oil fields keeps pouring out of the ground. Oklahoma regulators failed to stop it. Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from Oklahoma oil wells.

"Produced water", brimming with salt + chemicals, rises with oil + gas, then gets shot back underground by injection wells. The contaminants it contains turn up in people's wells + on farmland.

It's happening more often @grist.org explores why:

grist.org/accountabili...

Fossil fuels are bad for the planet and health. Our new report shows how coal, oil & methane gas harm every system of the body at every stage of life. Learn more: psr.org/fuelingsickness

Please join Beyond Plastics Science Director @trishavv.bsky.social, @amizota.bsky.social
of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, and Ryan Babadi of @toxicfreefuture.bsky.social on Nov. 12 for a free webinar about toxic chemicals in plastics.

www.beyondplastics.org/events/toxic...

Regulators overlooking toxic Pfas found around Lancashire chemicals plant Exclusive: Environment Agency not testing for ‘forever chemical’ made by factory despite evidence of emissions

Classed as 'reprotoxic', EEA-NH4 is a type of PFAS that can harm sexual function, fertility + child development.

In 2023, we exposed a plant in Lancashire releasing almost 800kg into the River Wyre - so why isn't the curent EA investigation testing for it?

🧵 1

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

News Platform Fact Sheet How Americans get news has greatly changed in the 21st century. Most now use digital devices for news at least sometimes. Read about the platforms they turn to.

Where do Americans get their news?

86% say digital devices – such as a smartphone, computer or tablet – and 64% say TV. 📈📱📺

Welp, UGH 🫠🤮

Plastisphere: A podcast on plastic pollution in the environment Emission dans Sciences · The podcast on plastic, people, and the planet by @anjakrieger. Plastics have become the basis for our modern lives, but they also pollute the planet. Will we be able to devel...

In this episode, @anjakrieger.bsky.social celebrates the 40th International Coastal Cleanup Day and explores its history with Elsa Devienne, an assistant professor in US history at Northumbria University in the UK. It’s a huge event which has been taking place each 3rd Saturday of September.

It is always a good time to check your Bluesky settings for content and media and make sure videos and GIFs do not autoplay.

Rethinking Autism’s Origins Beyond the Genome

blanphear.substack.com/p/rethinking...