RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
A class-action lawsuit alleges Costco sold Orgain Organic Protein Powder containing toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic without warning consumers. Plaintiffs cite testing by Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports, claiming Costco knew or should have known about the contamination.
A class-action lawsuit accuses Costco of failing to disclose toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic in its Orgain protein powder, marketing it as clean and healthy. Consumers claim they were misled and seek compensation and disclosure.
Calaminarian grasslands, rare habitats adapted to heavy metal contamination from centuries of lead mining in Northumberland, face decline as water quality improves, threatening these unique 'metallophyte' plant communities.
A UN report has found that critical minerals extraction for batteries and microchips is causing severe environmental damage and public health crises in Africa and Latin America. Researchers found 456bn litres of water were used to extract 240,000 tonnes of lithium in 2024, while 700m tonnes of waste were generated by global rare-earth production. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 64% of people lack basic water access and 72% near mining sites report skin diseases. The lithium triangle in Latin America is also suffering as Indigenous communities face water scarcity. The report warns production must increase ninefold by 2040, calling for mandatory international due-diligence standards.
