Materials and Waste

Shots – Health News : NPR

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What Are PFAS, And Are They Toxic To Humans And The Environment? : Shots – Health News : NPR

Scientists are ramping up research on the possible health effects of a large group of common but little-understood chemicals used in water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant furniture, nonstick cookware and many other consumer products.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are generally referred to by their plural acronym, PFAS. PFAS are resistant to water, oil and heat, and their use has expanded rapidly since they were developed by companies in the mid-20th century. Today, PFAS' nonstick qualities make them useful in products as diverse as food wrappers, umbrellas, tents, carpets and firefighting foam. The chemicals are also used in the manufacture of plastic and rubber and in insulation for wiring.

In short, they are all around us. And as a result, they've found their way into the soil and, especially in some regions, into our drinking water.

Environmental and community groups detail opposition to proposed Catskill incinerator ash dump

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Environmental and community groups detail opposition to proposed Catskill incinerator ash dump

Wheelabrator Technologies, the second largest trash incineration company in the U.S., has proposed creating a large incinerator ash dump in a former quarry in the Town of Catskill near the shore of the Hudson River. The company is in the process of applying for permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

This project would involve trucking approximately 445,000 tons of toxic ash on local roads — including U.S. Route 9W — through Catskill and surrounding communities, with trucks coming from the south and the north. The quarry site is made up of highly permeable hydrology, which is known to have extensive drainage systems and springs, adding to the likelihood of toxic ash reaching the Hudson River and groundwater. Incinerator ash like that from Wheelabrator incinerators includes high levels of heavy metals and dioxins. The ash poses a significant risk to the surrounding region’s human and natural communities as well as to the entire Hudson River ecosystem.