Despite September marking the onset of autumn, wildfires persist across multiple regions of the UK due to summer drought and high temperatures. By mid-September, fire services in England and Wales had responded to 380 wildfires, with over 24,000 hectares burned, making this one of the worst years for wildfires in the country’s history. The UK…

Following an August recall, the U.S. FDA announced another recall on September 22 of 85,000 bags of frozen shrimp sold at supermarkets across 31 states, including Walmart and Kroger. Testing revealed traces of radioactive cesium-137 in some products—though below regulatory limits, it poses long-term health risks. The contamination source points to Indonesia’s BMS Foods factory,…

The World Meteorological Organization released a report stating that Earth’s ozone layer is recovering at an “unprecedented rate in history.” The Antarctic ozone hole shrank to its smallest size since 2020 in 2024 and is projected to return to 1980 levels by 2066. This progress stems from the global regulation of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs…

Delhi’s toxic air has caused a black crust to form on the walls of the Red Fort, a historic site from the Mughal era. PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter react chemically with the red sandstone, leading to blistering and peeling of the walls. Research indicates that black deposits on the red sandstone surface have reached…

The environmental organization “Congaree River Keepers” in South Carolina, USA, has filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing Alpek Polyester and Eastman Chemical Company of long-term discharge of large quantities of plastic pellets (commonly known as “plastic rice”) and the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane into the Congaree River. Monitoring indicates plastic pellet concentrations in this river…

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, revealing that global air pollution is worsening. WMO scientists note that due to climate change, wildfire seasons are intensifying and extending year by year. The fine particulate matter emitted by wildfires can travel across the globe, contributing to declining air quality worldwide.…

An international team has recently discovered evidence of invasive barnacles in Canada’s Arctic waters. As the climate warms, water temperatures in the region have risen, no longer cold enough to prevent the invasion of non-native species. These barnacles can cause biofouling on ships, pipelines, and other infrastructure.

Researchers from Kyoto University selected 34 wastewater treatment plants from approximately 2,200 nationwide for testing and analysis. Results revealed that sludge from all 34 plants contained perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds are difficult to degrade, accumulate in the environment and human bodies, and are known as “forever chemicals.”

Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Britain and Ireland, has experienced a blue-green algae bloom for the third consecutive year, turning its waters murky green and emitting an unpleasant odor. This algal bloom is the result of years of accumulated pollution, with agricultural, industrial, and domestic wastewater discharges all contributing to the contamination. Lough Neagh…

September 10, Asahi Shimbun website reports that the number of tourists visiting Antarctica is rapidly increasing, now exceeding 100,000 annually. An international research team comprising scientists from the Netherlands and other countries has pointed out that due to factors such as the surge in tourists and the expansion of research activities, the Antarctic region is…