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Pcbs

All articles tagged with #pcbs

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Swedish Study Links Forever Chemicals to Increased Risk of MS

A Swedish study analyzed blood from 907 newly diagnosed MS patients and 907 controls, measuring 24 PFAS compounds and seven PCB byproducts. Higher levels of PFAS (notably PFOS) and certain PCB byproducts were linked to roughly double the odds of an MS diagnosis, with the strongest risk when multiple PFAS/byproducts were present, indicating a chemical ‘toxic synergy.’ A gene variant associated with lower MS risk amplified the effect of PFOS exposure, suggesting gene–environment interactions. PFOS and hydroxylated PCBs can cross the blood–brain barrier and may trigger oxidative stress in the brain, potentially contributing to MS symptoms. The study underscores considering chemical mixtures, not single substances, in disease risk; it was published in Environment International.

via ScienceAlert|

#environmental-exposure #forever-chemicals #health

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Study Links 'Forever Chemicals' to Chronic Health Conditions

New research links exposure to 'forever chemicals' like PFOS and PCBs to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis, highlighting the long-term health risks of these persistent environmental toxins and the importance of reducing exposure.

via New York Post|

#environmental-toxins #forever-chemicals #health

health-education1 year ago•4 min saved

"NC State's Poe Hall Investigation Links Toxic Chemicals to 150+ Cancer Cases"

North Carolina State University's Poe Hall has been linked to over 150 reported cancer cases among former students, prompting the closure of the building for comprehensive testing after the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in building materials. PCBs are known carcinogens that can impact neurological, reproductive, immune, and endocrine systems. The university is working with federal agencies to investigate the health concerns and has created a website to document the ongoing investigation. Alumni have expressed concerns about potential exposure to PCBs and its connection to their cancer diagnoses, with one alumna sharing her experience of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and angiosarcoma while attending the university.

via USA TODAY|

#cancer-cases #environmental-health #health-education

environment1 year ago•2 min saved

"Rising Levels of Unintentional PCB Generation Post-Ban"

A study suggests that unintentional generation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be producing more of the chemicals than before they were banned in the 1980s. Researchers found evidence that products manufactured today are generating PCBs as byproducts, estimating an annual production rate of approximately 43,000 metric tons in the United States, surpassing the highest known amount produced directly in 1970. The study highlights the lack of monitoring and regulation of unintentional PCB generation, calling for further research to identify and regulate products leading to their creation.

via Phys.org|

#chemical-byproducts #environment #environmental-impact

legal2 years ago•2 min saved

Monsanto Faces $857 Million Penalty for Toxic PCBs in Washington Schools

Monsanto has been ordered to pay $857 million to a group of former students and parent volunteers at a Washington state school who claimed that exposure to the company's polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) caused health problems. The plaintiffs alleged that the PCBs, which were commonly used in buildings from the 1950s to 1970s, including in fluorescent light fixtures, led to brain damage and autoimmune disorders. Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, plans to appeal the verdict, stating that the evidence shows the plaintiffs were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs. The company is facing thousands of lawsuits over its weed-killing chemical Roundup and additional lawsuits over PCBs.

via CBS News|

#lawsuit #legal #monsanto

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

Monsanto Ordered to Pay $857 Million for Toxic Leaks in PCB Case

Chemical firm Monsanto, owned by Bayer, has been ordered to pay $857 million to seven individuals who claimed they were affected by toxic leaks from light fittings at a US school. The plaintiffs argued that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) made them sick, and a jury found Monsanto negligent and liable for selling the PCBs used at the school. PCBs were banned by the US government in 1979 due to their links to cancer. Monsanto plans to appeal the verdict, which adds to the company's legal troubles following court cases over its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup.

via BBC.com|

#bayer-monsanto #environment #health-concerns

business2 years ago•1 min saved

Jury Awards $857 Million in PCB Case Against Monsanto

A jury in Washington State has ruled that Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, must pay $857 million in a lawsuit filed by former students and parent volunteers who claimed they became sick after being exposed to dangerous chemicals known as PCBs that had leaked from light fixtures at a school. The verdict includes $73 million in compensatory damages and $784 million in punitive damages. This adds to the billions of dollars in similar verdicts against Bayer since its acquisition of Monsanto in 2018.

via The New York Times|

#business #chemical-exposure #jury-verdict

legallawsuit2 years ago•2 min saved

Monsanto Faces $857M Verdict in PCB Lawsuit at Monroe School

A King County jury has ordered Monsanto, now owned by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, to pay $857 million in damages to seven plaintiffs who claimed exposure to harmful chemicals, known as PCBs, at the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, Washington. The verdict includes $784 million in punitive damages and $73 million in compensatory damages. The plaintiffs, including students, parents, teachers, and staff, allege brain injuries and other health issues resulting from the exposure to PCBs that leaked from light fixtures at the school. This brings the total amount paid by Monsanto in similar cases to $1.74 billion, with 19 more cases awaiting trial. Monsanto plans to appeal the verdict.

via The Daily Herald|

#chemical-exposure #jury-verdict #legallawsuit

legal2 years ago•2 min saved

Monsanto and Bayer face $857 million verdict over toxic PCBs in Washington state school

Monsanto, a subsidiary of Bayer, has been ordered by a Washington state jury to pay $857 million to seven former students and parent volunteers who claimed that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the company's light fixtures at a school in Monroe, Washington made them sick. The verdict included $73 million in compensatory damages and $784 million in punitive damages. This is the latest trial loss for Monsanto, which already faced $870 million in verdicts from similar cases. The company plans to appeal the verdict, stating that the award is "constitutionally excessive." PCBs were widely used until 1979 when they were banned due to their links to cancer.

via Reuters|

#health-concerns #lawsuit #legal

computing2 years ago•5 min saved

Professional Repairer Fixes Cracked PCIe Slots on 19 Damaged GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs

A repair professional received 19 broken Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics cards, most of them with cracked PCBs. Repairing the cracked cards is not practical or economical due to the complexity of the GPU's PCB, which consists of multiple layers and electrical traces. The cause of the cracking is believed to be the weight and size of the RTX 4090, which is a heavy and large GPU. Lack of support and rough handling during transit could also contribute to the issue. The customer who sent in the damaged cards may have bought them cheaply with the intention of fixing and reselling them, but most of them are deemed unrepairable.

via Digital Trends|

#computing #gpus #graphics-cards

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Autopsy of Stranded Whales Sends Disturbing Wake-Up Call to Experts"

An investigation in the United Kingdom has revealed that nearly half of the stranded whales and dolphins over the past five years contained harmful concentrations of PCBs, highly dangerous chemicals that do not degrade easily. Orcas were found to have 30 times the safe concentration of PCBs, raising concerns about the future of marine mammal health and its potential impact on human health. The presence of these banned chemicals in marine mammals indicates an alarming trend, and urgent action is needed to protect the marine environment from historical and emerging pollutants. Reducing plastic pollution and proper recycling practices are crucial steps in curbing the issue.

via Yahoo News|

#conservation #environment #human-health

militaryhealth2 years ago•3 min saved

Air Force Addresses Carcinogens at Montana Nuclear Missile Sites Amid Rising Cancer Cases

The Air Force Global Strike Command is taking immediate action to clean up and mitigate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), probable human carcinogens, at two Montana locations after initial results from a recent study showed PCB levels above the cleanup threshold. The study, conducted at Malmstrom Air Force Base, is addressing specific cancer concerns raised by missile community members. The Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and the Defense Centers for Public Health conducted air and swipe testing, with non-detectable results for PCBs in air samples from Launch Control Centers. Further results from other bases are pending, and a comprehensive response will be guided by the final analysis.

via Fox News|

#air-force #carcinogens #militaryhealth

health2 years ago•4 min saved

Multiple States Expand Fish Consumption Warnings Due to PFAS Contamination

The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a statewide fish consumption warning due to the presence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Methylmercury in certain bodies of water. There are 10 locations with specific fish that should not be eaten by anyone due to PCBs, while the statewide advisory applies to women who are pregnant or nursing and children under 15 years old, limiting their consumption of predatory fish to one meal per week. Additional advisories are in place for over 100 bodies of water across the state, all related to methylmercury and PCBs.

via WGN TV Chicago|

#fish-consumption-warning #health #illinois