Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
So-called “forever chemicals,” which are compounds that do not break down easily in the environment, are entering the air from the water through sea spray, a new Swedish study says.
Detailing their findings in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers said lab results showed that when bubbles containing perfluoralkyl acids (PFAS) burst at the surface of saltwater, the compounds were aerosolized and entered the air in tiny particles.
In order to find out if sea spray could be a vehicle for the compounds to be transported long distances, researchers did field observations at two coastal locations in Norway, collecting more than 100 air samples between 2018 and 2020.
Laboratory analysis of the particles in the air samples for 11 PFAS, including potential carcinogens, showed the presence of contaminants in all samples collected. Comparing the levels of the contaminants to the sodium ions (sea salt) made researchers posit that the PFAS leave the ocean with sea spay and are blown inland.
“Long-range atmospheric transport is considered to substantially contribute to the ubiquitous presence of PFAS, especially in remote areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic,” the study states.
The study suggests that PFAS can travel great distances via sea spray, with estimates of travel measured at 10 hours, 2.3 days and 1.5 weeks resulting in 330 kilometres, 2,000 kilometres and 10,000 kilometres respectively, depending on things like sea surface temperature and wind speed.
PFAS are used in industrial processes, food packaging, personal care products and water-repellant coatings, but have been phased out from products in certain countries.
Health Canada’s website describes PFAS as “a group of over 4,700 human-made substances that are used as lubricants, surfactants and repellants for dirt water and grease, and can be found in certain firefighting foams, textiles, cosmetics and food packaging materials.”
“Adverse environmental and health effects have been observed for well-studied PFAS, and they have been shown to pose a risk to the Canadian environment,” the website says.
Health Canada states that PFAS and similar compounds are “prohibited through regulation” in Canada but that “scientific evidence to date indicates the PFAS used to replace regulated PFOS, PFOA and LC-PFCAs may also be associated with environmental and/or human health effects.”
Using their field tests, researchers estimate there could be 258 to 686 tonnes of PFAS released globally from the oceans into the air each year, which means sea spray is an important source of the forever chemicals to coastal communities.
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes.
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
French police shot and killed a man armed with a knife and a metal bar who is suspected of having set fire to a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen early on Friday, the latest apparent act in a storm of antisemitism roiling France amid the Israel-Hamas war.
A Starbucks fan — whose name is Winter — is visiting Canada on a purposeful journey that began with a random idea at one of the coffee chain's stores in Texas.
Members of Piapot First Nation, students from the University of Winnipeg and various other professionals are learning new techniques that will hopefully be used for ground searches of potential unmarked grave sites in the future.
ALS patient Mathew Brown said he’s hopeful for future ALS patients after news this week of research at Western University of a potential cure for ALS.
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.