Chemicals

"In the pesticide-laden Salinas Valley, the new year brings a new requirement for schools and licensed child care centers."

"As [a Dec. 11] Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing made abundantly clear, communities throughout the United States are at ongoing risk from potentially disastrous incidents involving hazardous chemicals."

"The fire burned for nine months, billowing toxic black smoke thousands of feet above its Appalachian valley source and across five states. It would take 20 years and $12 million to clean up the remains of the tire heap."

"AUSTIN — In 2007, Texas regulators quietly relaxed the state’s long-term air pollution guideline for benzene, one of the world’s most toxic and thoroughly studied chemicals. The number they came up with, still in effect, was 40 percent weaker, or less health-protective, than the old one."

"What could be worse that getting a bag of coal for Christmas? A bag full of toxic chemicals, health groups say."

Theo Colborn, who pioneered research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, has died at age 87.

"It was the late 1970s and Theo Colborn was, like pretty much everyone else in the ’70s, getting divorced. She was in her 50s and already retired from a career as a pharmacist.

"WESTLAKE, La. — Stacey Ryan already knows where he'll be buried."

"A new study looked at the health impacts on adults drinking a liquid from bottles lined with BPA, and found that the chemical not only made it into their bodies but seems to have caused a significant increase in blood pressure."

"Gary Southern, the former Freedom Industries president, faces federal charges for allegedly lying about his role at the bankrupt firm to protect his personal fortune from legal actions over the January chemical spill at Freedom’s Elk River facility."