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France bans the sale of disposable e-cigarettes
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On February 13, 2025, the French Parliament passed a bill declaring a total ban on the production and sale of disposable e-cigarettes in the country, making it the first country in the world to legislate a total ban on the product. The move is aimed at curbing youth nicotine dependence and reducing plastic pollution. According…
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Lake Tai’s water quality reaches good lake standards for the first time in 30 years
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According to reports, the water quality of Lake Tai in China has improved, and the average annual water quality of Lake Tai has reached the national standard for good lakes for the first time in 30 years. The lake’s permanganate index and ammonia nitrogen have remained stable at Ⅱ and Ⅰ, and the total phosphorus…
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Massive amount of old clothes found in river deep in Japan
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On February 6, 2025, local people found a large amount of old clothes floating on the water surface in a river deep in the mountains of Hiroshima, Japan, with a wide variety of clothes, some of which were stained and torn. Initial investigations suggest that the clothes may have been illegally discarded, reflecting problems in…
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Argentina’s capital city shocked by “blood river” pollution incident
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February 8 news, flowing through the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, southern suburbs of the Salandi Creek sudden water anomaly, about 3 kilometers of the river dark red and accompanied by a strong irritating odor. Initial tests found aniline residues, and the authorities have urgently closed the five tanneries involved along the river.
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Dutch capital to ban polluting yachts
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February 7, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam city authorities announced that from April 1, polluting yachts are banned from the city center canals and will only be allowed to travel on the city’s canals with electric, hydrogen or hand-rowed boats, meaning no more diesel fumes on the canals, but rather quiet, clean navigation powered by…
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U.S. Trump administration energy policy may exacerbate pollution concerns
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Trump signed more than 40 presidential executive orders on his first day back in the White House, including rescinding nearly 80 presidential executive orders and memorandums signed by former President Joe Biden. He plans to revoke the ban on offshore oil drilling and encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters, as well…
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The health of surface waters in the EU is a concern
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On February 4, 2025, local time, the European Commission released a report showing that the average health of surface water bodies in the European Union is in a worrying state, with only 39.5% of them in good ecological condition and only 26.8% in good chemical condition, mainly due to widespread contamination with mercury and other…
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California Refinery Explosion and Fire
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On February 1, 2025, a fire broke out at the Martinez Refinery in Contra Costa County, California, injuring six people. Smoke from the fire caused widespread air pollution, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) immediately issued an air pollution advisory, warning residents to avoid going outside and to keep windows and doors…
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Air Pollution Peaks in Paris and Ile-de-France Region, France
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On February 3rd, Paris and the entire Ile-de-France region experienced a spike in air pollution. Breezy conditions and cooler temperatures led to a build-up of fine particles in the air, and according to airparif, the Île-de-France air quality monitoring agency, pollution levels were likely to have exceeded the Information and Recommendations Threshold (IRT) of 50…
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Oil pollution in the sea of Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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On February 1, a large amount of black oil stains were found floating in the sea area of the first sub-district of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and some of the oil stains were washed up to the shore by the sea water. Cambodian Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Mines and Energy and Sihanoukville province officials quickly rushed…