Stories from The Allegheny Front archived under
chemicals
Phthalates Linked to Disruption of Pregnancy Hormone
Phthalates are chemicals in plastics which are known as endocrine disruptors, impacting normal hormonal function. A new study looks at how phthalates affect sex differentiation in fetuses during early pregnancy.
International Call for PA to Limit Lawn Chemicals
Farms and wastewater have gotten a lot of attention for contributing nutrients that create harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay. More recently, the spotlight has focused on lawn care. International regulators and others are pushing Pennsylvania to ban some lawn fertilizers.
Water Tasting Contest in West Virginia is No Joke
The 24th Annual International Water Tasting Competition took place recently in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. One of the judges was West Virginia Public Broadcasting Executive Director Scott Finn. He lives in Charleston, where his family had to deal with the chemical spill and water crisis earlier this year. This gave Finn a decidedly different viewpoint as he rated the water.
PA Explosives Maker Has 400 Times More Ammonia Than Texas Plant
On April 17, when 30 tons of fertilizer detonated in West, Texas, a shock wave travelling faster than the speed of sound crushed homes. The same chemical that blew up West—ammonium nitrate—is manufactured in Donora, Pa., 20 miles south of Pittsburgh.
Children's Puppet Show Brings Rachel Carson to Life
Plankton, fish, and birds are taking center stage at the Carnegie libraries this summer.
BPA Found in Cash Register Receipts
Shoppers and clerks are handling more than just food at the grocery store.
Farmers Say Gift of Herbicide Turned Out to Be a Loan
For many regional farmers, the most popular weed-killer is becoming less effective.
The Push and Pull Over Toxic Chemicals
Congress is looking to make changes in the way that toxic chemicals are regulated.
Getting Chemicals Out of Drinking Water
Some chemicals are getting into drinking water, and it's not so easy to get them out.