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Celebrity chefs and forever chemicals

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – better known as PFAS – are a type of human-made chemicals that are found in a wide range of consumer and industrial products.  They don’t break down in the environment or in the human body, so they are often called forever chemicals.  They can contaminate drinking water sources and can get into the food supply.  PFAS chemicals have been linked to low birth weight, birth defects and developmental delays in infants, and an increased risk of some prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.  PFAS can be found in the blood of almost every person in the United States.

PFAS chemicals are used in some food packaging, dental floss, and nonstick cookware.  Some states have taken action against the use of the chemicals.  Minnesota has a law that prohibits PFAS in cookware and 10 other types of products.  Several other states including New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, and Maine have passed laws banning specific uses of PFAS.

California has passed a bill that would phase out the use of PFAS for a range of products including nonstick cookware and celebrity chefs are joining forces to defend the use of the chemicals in pots and pans.  These include Rachael Ray, Marcus Samuelsson, and David Chang.  All of them endorse cookware products.

The chefs say that nonstick cookware using PFAS coatings are safe when used responsibly and that eliminating the use of the coatings would be a serious loss to restaurants and home cooks.  Opponents say that PFAS can end up in food when nonstick cookware overheats, is scratched or otherwise degrades.  In any case, manufacturing products containing PFAS causes significant pollution.

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California Wants to Ban ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Pans. These Chefs Say Don’t Do It.

Photo, posted January 31, 2018, courtesy of Quiet Hut via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Electric trains are healthier

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The majority of commuter trains in the U.S. are powered by diesel fuel.  This is despite the fact that electric trains are quieter, more reliable, and produce fewer greenhouse gases than diesel locomotives.  A new study has found that electric trains are healthier for passengers as well.

Caltrain carries millions of passengers a year along a 47-mile route between San Francisco and San Jose.  It is the busiest commuter rail system in the western U.S.  Over a six-week period beginning in August 2024, Caltrain retired all 29 of its diesel locomotives and replaced them with electric trains.

As the process began, an environmental engineering and environmental health professor at UC Berkeley noticed the rapid change in the air aboard the trains and decided to study its potential health impacts.  With the support of Caltrain, he installed black carbon detectors aboard the trains and tracked the improvements in air quality as old diesel locomotives were being replaced by new electric trains.

Statistical analysis of the reduction in black carbon exposure achieved by the change predicted a reduction in excess cancer deaths by 51 per million people for passengers and 330 per million people for train conductors.  EPA policy states that any exposure that increases the average individual’s cancer risk by more than one per million is considered unacceptable.

In the context of the whole U.S. where millions of people commute by rail every day, the study predicts that hundreds of cases of cancer could be prevented each year.  California has long-term plans to electrify most of its rail systems.  The study indicates that the process shouldn’t be carried over the next 25 years but rather be sped up.

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Electric trains are quieter, more reliable than diesel. New study finds they’re healthier, too.

Photo, posted September 4, 2024, courtesy of J. Kehoe via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Microplastics and birds

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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, that come from the breakdown of larger plastics, synthetic fibers, microbeads, and tire wear.  Microplastics are found in oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air we breathe. These particles can take hundreds of years to degrade, spreading across ecosystems and accumulating in unexpected places, such as deep-sea sediments and Arctic sea ice.

According to a new study by researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington, microscopic plastic pollutants drifting through the air are lodging in the lungs of birds.  These findings raise  significant concerns about the impact on their respiratory health, but also raise alarms about potential risks to human health.

Birds were chosen for the study because they are found in almost every corner of the world and often share environments with humans. 

In the study, the research team examined 56 different wild birds from 51 distinct species, all sampled from the Tianfu airport in western China.  The researchers found high concentrations of microplastics in bird lungs, with an average of 221 particles per species.  The most common types identified were chlorinated polyethylene, which is used for insulating pipes and wires, and butadiene rubber, which is a synthetic material in tires.

Although there is no established “safe” level of plastic particles in lung tissue, high levels of microplastics have been linked to serious health risks, including heart disease, cancer, respiratory issues, and fertility problems.

The study highlights an urgent need to tackle plastic pollution in the environment because of its far-reaching impact on ecosystems and human health.  

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Birds breathe in dangerous plastics—and so do we

Photo, posted January 28, 2017, courtesy of Pete Richman via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

PFAS and groundwater

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, more commonly known as PFAS, are a family of human-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s.  They provide water-resistance, oil-resistance, dirt-resistance, and corrosion-resistance to a wide range of products, including food wrappers and packaging, clothing, dental floss, nonstick cookware, textiles, and electronics.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to birth defects, thyroid disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer.  These chemicals do not break down in the environment and therefore, over time, become concentrated in plants, animals, and people. 

According to a new first-of-its kind study by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 20% of the U.S. population could be drinking groundwater contaminated with PFAS.  The study, which was recently published in the journal Science, found that those living in the Eastern U.S. are particularly likely to be exposed.

The study is the first to report national estimates of PFAS in untreated groundwater that supplies drinking water to private and public wells. The USGS research also provides the first estimate of the total number of Americans – anywhere from 71 to 95 million – who might be exposed to this contamination.

The researchers note that their estimates merely measure the existence of PFAS – before the water has undergone any treatment or filtering – meaning that, while they may be present, they may be at very low levels. 

To find a link to the detailed USGS map showing the probability of PFAS groundwater contamination in your region, visit our website: EarthWiseRadio.org.

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PFAS in US Groundwater Interactive Dashboard

Predictions of groundwater PFAS occurrence at drinking water supply depths in the United States

Photo, posted January 12, 2008, courtesy of Andrew Kraker via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Pollution in downwind states

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Air pollution is a serious health threat.  It is associated with asthma and can lead to chronic disease, cancer, and premature death.  Globally, air pollution kills 7 to 9 million people, and 200,000 Americans die from it each year.

There are multiple sources of air pollution including automobiles, power plants, and other industrial activities.  Exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter does not require living or working near their sources.  Winds can carry pollution great distances including across state lines.  

The Clean Air Act included the EPA’s “Good Neighbor Plan”, which requires “upwind” states to implement plans to reduce emissions from power plants and other industrial sources.  However, three states – Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia – along with various industrial companies and trade organizations sued the EPA when it tried to enforce these plans.  A recent Supreme Court decision to block a federal rule curbing interstate air pollution further complicates efforts to reduce emissions.

As a result, there is a disproportionate burden on downwind states.  They face major challenges in demonstrating and attributing air pollution to sources across state lines and pursuing legal actions to get the EPA to address their problems.

A recent study by the University of Notre Dame looking at all the complex issues related to interstate pollution underscored how the regulatory system continues to be hamstrung when attempting to address a serious threat to human health and the environment.

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Downwind states face disproportionate burden of air pollution

Photo, posted February 19, 2021, courtesy of David Wilson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Beware of the blob

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For the past 10 years, there have been several occurrences of a vast expanse of ocean stretching from Alaska to California in which water temperatures are as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal.  Known jocularly as “the Blob,” the phenomenon can last for several years and decimates fish stocks, starves seabirds, creates blooms of toxic algae, prevents salmon from returning to rivers, and displaces sea lions and whales.

Until recently, there was no accepted explanation for this abrupt ocean heating.  Climate change, even combined with natural cycles like El Niños, is not enough to account for it.

In depth analysis by an international team of researchers has found that the extraordinary heating is the result of a dramatic cleanup of Chinese air pollution.  The decline of smog particles, which to some extent shield the planet from the sun’s rays, has accelerated warming and set off a chain of atmospheric events across the Pacific, essentially cooking the ocean.

This is an example of what can be called the pollution paradox in which global warming is actually increased when air pollution is reduced.  Reduced air pollution on the US West Coast has even been identified as a factor contributing to increased wildfires.  However, air pollution causes more than 4 million premature deaths from cancers and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases each year. 

Nobody thinks that we should stop cleaning up the air to slow down global warming.  The only viable solution is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as rapidly as possible.

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Pollution Paradox: How Cleaning Up Smog Drives Ocean Warming

Photo, posted December 18, 2017, courtesy of SGUP via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Forever chemicals in water

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So-called forever chemicals are pervasive in a wide range of products.  These are man-made substances called per- and polyfluoroalkyls or PFAS.  They get their unfortunate nickname because the chemical bonds in them are so strong that the compounds don’t break down for hundreds or even thousands of years.

PFAS compounds are used in makeup, dental floss, nonstick pans, food wrappers, pesticides, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, firefighting foams, and more.  High level exposure to some of these chemicals has been linked to a variety of health problems include high cholesterol, liver and immune system damage, pregnancy problems, and kidney and testicular cancer.

A recent study published in the journal Nature Geoscience has found that PFAS chemicals are showing up in water around the world.  The study looked at more than 45,000 water samples and found that about 31% of ground water tested that wasn’t even near any obvious source of PFAS contamination had levels of the chemicals that are considered harmful to human health by the EPA.  About 16% of surface water samples – streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes – also not near any known source, had similar hazardous PFAS levels.

The EPA has now imposed strict new drinking water limits for six types of PFAS.  Going forward, water systems are required to monitor for these chemicals and remove them if they are found above allowable levels.  The new rules make the United States one of the strictest countries in the world in terms of regulating PFAS in water.

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EPA puts limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

Photo, posted May 5, 2020, courtesy of Brandon Shaw via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Small changes can yield big results

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Global food production is one of the largest contributors to climate change.  In fact, one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions result from food production and agriculture.  Be that as it may, we still have to eat.  But what we choose to eat has a major impact on the environment.

According to a new study by researchers at McGill University in Canada and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the U.K., partially replacing red and processed meat with plant-based proteins can increase lifespan and mitigate climate change. 

In the study, which was recently published in the journal Nature Food, the researchers drew data from a national nutrition survey to analyze Canadians’ dietary records. The study modeled partial replacements (25% and 50%) of either red and processed meat or dairy with plant protein foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, and tofu, on a combination of nutrition, health, and climate outcomes.

In the study, the researchers found that a person’s diet-related carbon footprint plummets by 25% when they replace half of their intake of red and processed meats with plant protein foods. However, dairy substitutions showed smaller reductions of up to just 5%.

Meat and dairy-rich diets are known to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. The researchers also estimated that if half of the red and processed meat in a person’s diet was replaced with plant protein foods, life expectancy would increase nearly nine months on average, due to a reduced risk of chronic disease.

The research team hopes its findings will help people make healthier and more sustainable food choices. 

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Food production is responsible for one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions

Small dietary changes can cut your carbon footprint by 25%

Photo, posted November 24, 2019, courtesy of Theo Crazzolara via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Air pollution in India

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India is one of the world’s most polluted countries.  In fact, of the 30 cities with the worst air pollution around the globe, 21 of them can be found in India. 

India’s capital city, New Delhi, is the most polluted city in the world.  Concentrations of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) in Delhi, which is the name of the larger city that includes the capital New Delhi, are nearly 10 times greater than the World Health Organization guidelines. 

To reduce air pollution in Delhi, officials have focused on measures within the city limits, including boosting public transportation and regulating pollution from industry. 

But according to a review carried out by the University of Surrey and regional government officials in Delhi, the city will also need the help of its neighbors to tackle its killer smog problem.  Some of the pollution plaguing Delhi comes from rural areas in the region –  from things like crop burning, wood stoves, and power plants.  The review, which was part of a paper recently published in the journal Sustainable Horizons, also recommends drafting regional air quality plans, producing smog forecasts, and creating airshed councils to help improve coordination. 

Exposure to air pollution can cause all sorts of major health problems, including asthma, respiratory inflammation, as well as  jeopardize lung function, and even promote cancer.  Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is linked to premature death.  In fact, air pollution causes an estimated 670,000 deaths every year in India. 

Since air pollution doesn’t respect boundaries or borders, solutions require collaboration and the need to focus efforts more broadly in order to achieve emissions reduction goals. 

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Delhi smog: India’s cities must look beyond their limits to clean up air pollution

Photo, posted December 27, 2019, courtesy of Ninara via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Tracking down PFAS toxins

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PFAS – per- and polyfluoralkyl substances – are a group of organic compounds that have been extensively used to provide water-, oil-, and dirt-resistance to a wide range of products ranging from non-stick pans, clothing, and packaging to paint, car polish, and fire-suppressant foam.  Exposure to specific PFAS compounds is associated with multiple adverse health effects, including altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, kidney disease, poor reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer.  PFAS compounds do not break down in the environment and therefore, over time, become concentrated in plants, animals, and people.

Government agencies such as the EPA in this country and the EU have set strict limits for allowable levels of PFAS in drinking water.  Testing water for the trace amounts of PFAS that constitute the limits is time-consuming and expensive and requires complex equipment and experienced personnel.

Researchers at MIT have now introduced a technique for making a portable, inexpensive test that can easily and selectively detect PFAS in water samples.  The test makes use of a special polymer containing fluorinated dye molecules that cause the polymer to fluoresce red.  If PFAS are present in the sample, they enter the polymer and displace the dye molecules and switches off the red fluorescence. 

The new technique is suitable for on-site detection in highly contaminated regions.  Detecting smaller concentrations can be achieved with sufficient precision after pre-concentrating the samples using the process of solid-phase extraction.

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Tracking down Environmental Toxins

Photo, posted October 16, 2021, courtesy of Nenad Stojkovic via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Wildfires And Cancer Risk | Earth Wise

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Hotter and drier conditions are leading to an increasing number of wildfires in North America and elsewhere around the globe.  Scientists have linked the severe heat and drought that fuel these wildfires to climate change. As the climate continues to change, wildfires are projected to become more prevalent, more severe, and longer in duration. 

According to a United Nations report released earlier this year, the Western U.S., northern Siberia, central India, and eastern Australia have already seen an uptick in wildfires.  The likelihood of catastrophic wildfires globally could increase by a third by 2050 and more than 50% by the turn of the century. 

According to a new study by researchers from McGill University, living near regions prone to wildfires may boost the risk of developing serious health issues.  The study, which tracked more than two million Canadians over a period of 20 years, found a higher incidence of lung cancer and brain tumors in people exposed to wildfires.  People living within 50 kilometers of wildfires during the past 10 years had a 10% higher incidence of brain tumors and a 4.9% higher incidence of lung cancer when compared to people living further away. 

This study, which was recently published in The Lancet Planetary Health, is the first to examine how proximity to forest fires may influence cancer risk.

In addition to the impacts on air quality, wildfires also pollute aquatic, soil, and indoor environments.  While some pollutants return to normal levels shortly after the fire, many others persist in the environment for long periods of time. 

The research team notes that additional work is needed to develop more long-term estimates of the chronic health effects of wildfires.

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Exposure to wildfires increases risk of cancer

Climate change is causing more wildfires and governments are unprepared, says U.N.

Photo, posted August 17, 2020, courtesy of USFS via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

The Silent Killer | Earth Wise

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Air pollution is deadly.  Studies have found that particles from air pollution can enter our lungs and bloodstream, contributing to major health conditions including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease.  Globally, air pollution is responsible for the premature deaths of millions of people every year. 

The first line of defense against air pollution is ambient air quality standards.  But according to researchers from McGill University, more than half of the world’s population lives without the protection of adequate air quality standards.

The research team focused on a specific type of air pollution called particulate matter 2.5 (more commonly called PM2.5).  PM2.5 refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns or less in width.  These tiny particles are responsible for an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths every year globally, including more than one million deaths in China, nearly 200,000 in Europe, and more than 50,000 in the United States.

In the study, which was recently published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, the researchers found that where there are air quality protections, the standards are often worse than what the WHO considers safe.  Some regions with high air pollution levels, like the Middle East, don’t even measure PM2.5 air pollution.  The researchers found that the weakest air quality standards are often violated, while the strictest standards are often met. 

More than half of the world’s population is in urgent need of adequate air quality standards.   

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Air pollution: The silent killer called PM 2.5

Photo, posted November 17, 2019, courtesy of Kristoffer Trolle via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Destroying Forever Chemicals | Earth Wise

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PFAS, short for poly and perfluoroalkyl substances, have been used in commercial products since the 1940s.  There are more than 4,000 different chemicals in the class.   Some of the most commonly used PFAS chemicals, like PFOS and PFOA, have long half-lives, which has earned them the moniker “forever chemicals.” 

These dangerous chemicals have not been manufactured in the U.S. since the early 2000s, but they can still be found in various imported goods.  PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects, thyroid disease, and liver damage.  These forever chemicals linger in the environment and scientists have found them in the blood of virtually all Americans.

Researchers at Rice University have recently discovered an efficient catalyst for destroying PFAS forever chemicals.  Unexpectedly, the catalyst was actually in the control group in a study they were performing.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, found that boron nitride, acting as a light-activated catalyst, destroyed PFOA at a faster clip than any previously reported photocatalyst.

The catalyst, boron nitride powder, is a commercially available synthetic mineral that is widely used in makeup, skincare products, thermal pastes for cooling computer chips, and various other industrial products.  The discovery began with dozens of failed experiments on a variety of more promising PFAS catalysts.  But along the way, they found that the boron nitride control material repeatedly yielded positive results.

The research has already attracted the attention of industrial partners seeking to develop off-grid water treatment systems that both protect human lives and support sustainable economic development.

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Boron nitride destroys PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals PFOA, GenX

Photo, posted April 9, 2009, courtesy of Rex Roof via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Increasing Air Pollution | Earth Wise

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According to researchers from the University of Exeter, half of the world’s population is exposed to increasing air pollution despite global efforts to improve air quality.  The study, which was completed in conjunction with the World Health Organization, suggests that air pollution represents a major and growing threat to human health. 

For the study, which was recently published in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science, the researchers reviewed global air quality trends between 2010 and 2016.  The research team examined those findings against a backdrop of global policies to reduce air pollution.  The researchers used ground monitoring data and satellite data to develop yearly air quality profiles for individual countries and regions. 

The scientists focused on fine particulate matter, which is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.  Some of the particles, like dust, soot, or smoke, are large enough to be seen by the naked eye.  Others are so small that they can only be seen using a microscope.  Inhaling fine particulate matter can cause all sorts of health issues, including asthma, respiratory inflammation, and even promote cancer. 

For much of the world’s population, the consequences of polluted air are more deadly than war, violence, and many diseases.  According to the World Health Organization, more than four million deaths every year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution.  Some of the major sources of air pollution include coal-fired power plants, agriculture, transportation, and deforestation. 

The study found that low and middle income countries experience the highest burden of air pollution around the world, with the largest concentrations found in central and southeastern Asia.

More long term policies are needed to curb this growing threat to public health. 

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Half of the world’s population exposed to increasing air pollution

Photo, posted August 2, 2019, courtesy of Ron Reiring via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

PFAS In The Food Chain | Earth Wise

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of human-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe.  PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and the most extensively studied of these chemicals. 

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a host of adverse health effects, including thyroid hormone disruption and cancer.

PFAS compounds can be found in such things as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpets, water-repellent outdoor gear, and food packaging, like fast food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags. 

According to a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University have found PFAS substances in every step of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River food chain, even though the river doesn’t have a known industrial input of these compounds. 

The team collected water, sediment, algae, plant, insect, fish, crayfish, and mollusk samples at five sites along the river and analyzed them for 14 different PFAS compounds.  Nearly every sample tested contained PFAS compounds.  Biofilm contained the largest concentrations of 10 of the 14 PFAS compounds measured.  Insects, which primarily eat biofilm, had the greatest accumulation of PFAS compounds of all the living taxa the researchers sampled. 

When PFAS compounds are present at every step of the food chain, the compounds accumulate at each step leading to greater concentrations in animals that sit higher on the food chain – including humans.  This is known as biomagnification. 

Studies like this that reveal how prevalent PFAS can be within ecosystems without an industrial input highlight the need for further research into how these compounds affect the environment and human health.

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PFAS present throughout the Yadkin-Pee Dee river food chain

Photo, posted May 24, 2011, courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Breaking Down Forever Chemicals

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One of the toughest classes of pollutants are per- and polyfluoralkyl substances, or PFAS, as they are known.  PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely long-lasting and difficult to clean up.  They are found in household products including non-stick pans, dental floss, water-repellent fabrics, and many others.  They can be found extensively in U.S. waterways and soil.

PFAS move through the food chain, accumulating in humans at levels that scientists say can cause adverse health effects.  While these have not been definitively proven, there is evidence that higher cholesterol levels, cancer, thyroid disruption, and low infant birth rates are all associated with PFAS ingestion.

PFAS are difficult to get rid of because their carbon-fluorine covalent bonds are some of the strongest in organic chemistry.  Researchers at Princeton University have been studying a process known as Feammox in which ammonium breaks down in acidic, iron-rich soils in New Jersey wetlands and similar locations.  They found that this reaction takes place when a bacterium called Acidimicrobium A6 is present.

Using gene-sequencing techniques, they found that the microbe has characteristics that could help break down carbon-fluorine bonds, and therefore break down PFAS.  In tests using microbe-loaded soil samples, they found that the bacterium removed 60% of PFAS pollutants within 60 days.

The research has been published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology and the team is now testing the bacterium’s effectiveness over different time-spans in lab conditions before testing it in the field.

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New Jersey Soil Microbe Shown to Break Down ‘Forever Chemicals’

Photo, posted November 9, 2017, courtesy of the Department of Environmental Quality via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Trading Rhino Horn And Tiger Bone

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Historically, rhino horn and tiger bone were used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various illnesses, despite the lack of any evidence of their effectiveness.  In fact, rhino horn is simply keratin, a protein that is found in human fingernails and hair.  Rhino horn is used to treat everything from cancer to gout in traditional Chinese medicine.  Similarly, a paste made from crushed tiger bone is thought to treat a variety of ailments, including rheumatism and back pain.

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Air Pollution And Diabetes

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Air pollution is deadly.  Studies have found that fine particulate matter, such as airborne pieces of dust, dirt, smoke, soot, and other microscopic particles can enter our lungs and bloodstream, contributing to major health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease.

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Dioxane And Drinking Water

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A byproduct of plastics production, dioxane is a clear, synthetic, liquid solvent that easily mixes with water.  It’s frequently used in paint strippers, dyes, and varnishes, as well as shampoos and body washes – particularly those that are sudsy.  Dioxane doesn’t really biodegrade and is widely regarded as a contaminant.    

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