Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:30s - Published
Pesticides Linked to Decline in Male Fertility
Pesticides Linked to , Decline in Male Fertility.
A new study linking pesticides with
low sperm concentrations was published in 'Environmental Health Perspectives' on Nov.
15.
.
Data from over 1,700 men across
several decades was used in the research.
.
The study examined "two groups of
chemicals — organophosphates and
some carbamates," NBC News reports.
.
No matter how we looked at the analysis
and results, we saw a persistent association
between increasing levels of insecticide
and decreases in sperm concentration, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News.
I would hope this study would get the
attention of regulators seeking to make
decisions to keep the public safe from
inadvertent, unplanned impacts of insecticides, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News.
Last year, a report published in 'Human Reproduction Update' found that sperm counts around the
world were declining at an accelerated pace.
There’s been some pretty, I’d say,
convincing and sort of scary data on measures
of male fertility over the previous 50-70 years,
whatever it might be, from different
places around the world suggesting
sperm concentration is on decline and
not just a little bit, John Meeker, a professor of environmental
health sciences at the University of Michigan
School of Public Health, via NBC News.
NBC News points out that environmental
factors other than pesticides are also likely
contributing to declining sperm counts.
.
We’re slowly pointing out various chemicals
or classes of chemicals we think could be
harmful to something like reproductive health,
but as far as a single smoking gun,
I haven’t seen anything to that extent, John Meeker, a professor of environmental
health sciences at the University of Michigan
School of Public Health, via NBC News.
Study author Melissa Perry hopes that the findings encourage agencies like the EPA to take action.
Given the body of evidence and these
consistent findings, it’s time to proactively
reduce these insecticide exposures for
men wanting to have families, Melissa Perry, study author, environmental epidemiologist
and the dean of the College of Public Health
at George Mason University, via NBC News
US Water System May Be , Vulnerable to Cyberattack, by China, Russia and Iran.
CNBC reports that the United States
water system has been the target of a series
of cyberattacks over the past few years. .
In response, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has been forced to issue an alert warning
that 70% of water systems do not comply
with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the EPA, some have “alarming
cybersecurity vulnerabilities,” including
unchanged default passwords and former
employees who retain access to vital systems.
In February, the FBI issued a warning to
Congress that Chinese hackers have embedded
themselves into the U.S. cyber infrastructure. .
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Water is among
the least mature
in terms of security, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Stuart Madnick, an MIT professor of engineering
systems and co-founder of Cybersecurity at
MIT Sloan, warns that an attack that shuts off
water to the population is the main concern.
We have demonstrated in our
lab how operations, such as
a water plant, could be shut
down not just for hours or
days, but for weeks, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
CNBC reports that budgets, outdated
infrastructure and an overall reluctance to take
action may prevent necessary fixes from
being made before a serious attack.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EPA's New Limits on PFAS , in Drinking Water Could Be , Upended by the Supreme Court.
'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court
is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put
in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court
is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put
in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In April, new national limits were placed on per-
and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the nation's
drinking water, otherwise known as PFAS. .
Also known as "forever chemicals,"
PFAS have been linked to a number of
health concerns, including cancer.
According to the EPA, of the 66,000 public drinking water
systems impacted by the new limits, an estimated 6% to
10% will need to make updates to meet the new standards.
According to San Francisco, the EPA's new
"narrative" regulations fail to meet the Clean Water
Act's requirement to lay out clear restrictions.
The lawsuit headed to the Supreme Court accuses the EPA of setting vague rules without quantifiable standards.
Rather than specify pollutant limits
that tell the permitholder how much
they need to control their discharges
as required by the CWA, these
prohibitions effectively tell
permitholders nothing more than
not to cause 'too much' pollution, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
These generic water quality terms
expose San Francisco and numerous
permitholders nationwide to
enforcement actions while failing
to tell them how much they need
to limit or treat their discharges
to comply with the Act, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
We simply want to know in advance
what requirements apply to us, and
we want the EPA to fulfil its duty
under the Clean Water Act to
determine those requirements. , Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against
the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled
6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda. .
'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against
the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled
6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EPA Issues , National Drinking Water Warning.
On May 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a countrywide alert urging water utilities to take immediate action to safeguard drinking water from cyberattacks. .
On May 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a countrywide alert urging water utilities to take immediate action to safeguard drinking water from cyberattacks. .
The agency said that recent inspections indicate that 70% of water systems in America don't comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 'Newsweek' reports. .
Some water utility systems have "critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities, such as default passwords that have not been updated and single logins that can easily be compromised.".
Cyberattacks have the potential to disrupt water treatment and storage, damage equipment.
and change chemical levels to dangerous amounts.
In many cases, systems are not doing what
they are supposed to be doing, which is to
have completed a risk assessment of their
vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity
and to make sure that plan is available
and informing the way they do business. , EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, via press release.
According to the EPA's warning,
countries like China, Russia and Iran.
have "disrupted some water systems with cyberattacks and may have embedded the capability to disable them in the future.".
Drinking water and wastewater systems
are an attractive target for cyberattacks
because they are a lifeline critical
infrastructure sector but often lack
the resources and technical capacity to
adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices, Michael S. Regan, EPA administrator, and White House National Security
Adviser Jake Sullivan, via March 18 letter to all 50 U.S. governors.
The EPA is offering to train water utilities
at no cost to correct some of the issues, .
but other issues are more complex and costly,
which many utilities companies aren't equipped for. .
Certainly, cybersecurity is part of that,
but that's never been their primary expertise.
So, now you're asking a water utility to
develop this whole new sort of department, Amy Hardberger, water expert at Texas Tech University, to AP
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
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