What is an environment?

Many might wonder what PFAs are and how they are related to the environmental health. PFAs are man-made chemicals that are difficult to break down, but there are ways to reduce t he amount of PFAs within specifically water. The main way is to get filters that are specific or state that they reduce the amount of PFAs within tap water because there has been a study that shows the increase in consumption of PFAs from drinking water has caused an increase in blood toxin levels. Although there are a variety of ways to come into contact with PFAs, it has started to become apparent that the water systems have started to have a fluctuation of PFAs.

“Drinking Water Contaminated with Pfas Directly Linked to Dangerous Blood Toxin Levels.” Earth.Com, http://www.earth.com/news/drinking-water-contaminated-with-pfas-directly-linked-to-dangerous-blood-toxin-levels/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-water-contaminated-with-pfas-directly-linked-to-dangerous-blood-toxin-levels/

There are many regulations that are set in place to make potable water from pipe systems drinkable and to prevent contamination within the communities water system. However, there have been findings that show the plastic pipes used to create passage for the water system contains chemicals that are related to the usage of plastic piping. These findings have started to raise questions over the safety assessment of the usage of plastic piping and the results of their findings. The main problem they have with the chemicals is the additive of chemicals that could potentially become a microbial risk within communities drinking water.

Staff, Environmental Health Sciences, and EHN Curators. “Chemicals in Plastic Pipes Can Increase Dangerous Microbes in Drinking Water.” EHN, 31 Oct. 2025, http://www.ehn.org/plastic-pipes-microbes.https://www.ehn.org/plastic-pipes-microbes

A level one water emergency is where the demand of clean water exceeds the limit of available clean water to be used by communities. Corpus Christi has faced some difficulties that have led to the limitations and restrictions placed on the citizens to not exceed a certain amount of water usage. However, the main issue was the vote to create a new plant that would produce a surplus amount of clean water to help keep the issue under warps. Although the design plans and further progress of the plant was voted against being started because of the huge sum of money that would need to be spent. In the end the government decided to change their votes to start the work of the new plant. Although it does raise a question on why they never started fixing the issue before it had reached to be a level 1 water emergency for their city.

Webb, Shelby. “Water Shortage Threatens Texas Refining Hub.” E&E News by POLITICO, 27 Oct. 2025, http://www.eenews.net/articles/water-shortage-threatens-texas-refining-hub/.https://www.eenews.net/articles/water-shortage-threatens-texas-refining-hub/

Forever chemicals are only a nickname for the natural chemicals (PFAs) that can be found within drinking water. The reason they are named forever chemicals is the process needed to break down the harmful chemicals due to the fact that they are harder to degrade naturally. Within the article “Forever Chemicals found in nearly all Southeast Louisiana drinking water samples,” it describes the chemicals known as the Forever Chemicals and talks about the amount of contamination tests. It also discusses the harms that PFAS can have on communities along with the processes that are taken to identify what areas have been contaminated. In the end, will the PFAS continue to rise or will society find a way to eradicate the chemical or limit it’s contamination zone?

‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Nearly All Southeast Louisiana Drinking Water Samples • Louisiana Illuminator, lailluminator.com/2025/09/30/forever-chemicals-found-in-nearly-all-southeast-louisiana-drinking-water-samples/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.https://lailluminator.com/2025/09/30/forever-chemicals-found-in-nearly-all-southeast-louisiana-drinking-water-samples/

There are many abbreviations within various types of formats, but UPF may be one of the most interesting abbreviation by far. UPF stands for Ultra-processed foods, which in this case will be our dear beloved M&M’s. M&M’s has gone under research about he impact that it and its fellow processed foods could have on our environment. It is stated within the article that M&M’s has contributed to the increase of carbon dioxide that has been released into our atmosphere. It has also been contributing to the unhealthy benefactor of ingredients that are used to create these delish snacks, but at what cost are we willing to keep them? The article states the statics that have been found over the emission of carbon dioxide that has been released from the creation of M&M’s, but it has also been stated that the snack has unknowns or how harmful it truly can be in our society. Although processed foods are convenient and itch the little urge to have a little sweet for the road, it should also be brought to light the dangers of satisfying those cravings. So the next time that urge sneaks up, is it best to push past it or succumb to the impact of satisfying the hunger?

“The Hidden Cost of Ultra-Processed Foods on the Environment: ‘The Whole Industry Should Pay.’” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 8 Oct. 2025, http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/08/ultra-processed-foods-environment-impact.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/08/ultra-processed-foods-environment-impact

A new fact that was learned today were the possible pollutions that can come from farms. Many may know about pesticides and how they affect our environment from the farms that use them to keep away unwanted guests. However, pesticides is not the topic of this post, the star will be the increase in nitrate that have started to pollute the water within Wisconsin. Although the use of nitrogen is common for farmers to implement into their production of crops process, there has been an excess amount that has started to contaminate the water systems that are found either near the farm or within the communities water ways. Some of these adverse effects manly target pregnant women who could suffer consequences such as, birth defects, difficulty during the labor process, or harm to the infant within the womb. However, there has been a lot of attention brought to the public health department about the situation and some discussions on some of the solutions that may come into play. Overall, there has been action taken to prevent the situation from growing any further and who knew that nitrate could be a leading health issue that has certainly impacted the health of society.

Gillam, Carey. “New Warnings of Water Contamination from Farm Pollution in Wisconsin.” The New Lede, 23 Sept. 2025, http://www.thenewlede.org/2025/09/new-warnings-of-water-contamination-from-farm-pollution-in-wisconsin/.https://www.thenewlede.org/2025/09/new-warnings-of-water-contamination-from-farm-pollution-in-wisconsin/

When going to a grocery store, what is the most common grocery item that can be found within any retail store on the can aisle? Many may thing canned vegetables or canned preprocessed meat, but in reality the most common can item out there is the beloved Campbells soup brand. These soups may be amazing and convenient at times, but is it worth supporting a brand that has been found to exceed the legal limit of chemical or waste dumping into U.S. water systems? It was found out that the organization was found to be breaking the Clean Waters Act that was set into place to help not only industries, but also help preserve the environment that could be affected by these harmful chemicals. The article states that Campbell broke this law so many times that it became a primary, “point source” (Saleen) that had caused Lake Erie to become populated with toxic bacteria and algae. However, the company hasn’t taken any actions to figure out the solution to the issue, but they have released statements that they are willing to fix the problem. Although they stated that they need to figure out the cost first before making any further progress. Should this be allowed or should there be stricter penalties in place for these kinds of situations?

Martin, Saleen. “Campbell Soup Admits to Violating Clean Water Act 5,400 Times, Polluting River.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 18 Sept. 2025, www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/09/18/campbells-soup-clean-water-act-waste-ohio-river/86219608007/.

Would it be possible for a waste product to last 50+ years within the ocean and still cause issues to this present day? If the answer was no, this post would not exist because there are reports on a waste dumping incident that had occurred within the late 1900s that is still affecting the Los Angeles Coast. This waste dumping that has been stated as a, “localized impact on microbes” (Paul Jenson) which can be found from he research that has been done on the mysterious white halos that surround the barrels that had originally contained the waste. The most recent findings is that the waste seems to be from DDT and has been classified as an alkaline chemical. The effect it has had on the sea environment is the new habitat that has been created for micro-organisms that have been found thriving within the harsh environment that has now been created. It was mentioned that there are actions being taken to resolve this issue, however, they won’t proceed any further until it can be determined how many barrels there are on the sea floor and how detrimental the environment has gotten due to the release of the alkaline chemical. Should the scientists wait to find all of the existing barrels or start brainstorming ways to attack the problem before there is any further damaged caused by this mysterious 50+ year contamination that still affects the ecosystem to this day.

Decades-Old Industrial Dumping off SoCal Coast Still Wreaking Havoc on Seafloor: Study, thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5494426-california-los-angeles-seafloor-industrial-waste/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2025.

How may plastic be creating a decrease in sperm count? Well after doing some light reading, the plastic additives that can be found with in plastic bottles may be having a reaction with male hormones. These chemicals as stated are “Phthalates and bisphenols,” (EHN) which are used to create the flexibility within the plastic that contains the water. Furthermore, as stated within the article “Plastic additives may be fueling a global sperm crisis,” (EHN) they discuss how evidence over the years have shown that these harmful chemicals may be leaking into the contained water which is causing a disruption between hormones, more specifically male testosterone. Although there is amounting evidence that shows the statistical decline within sperm count, there has been no resolution or proper discussion on how to resolve this growing concern. However, what solutions would there be to either resolve or decrease the decline of sperm count for future generations?

Curators, EHN. “Plastic Additives May Be Fueling a Global Sperm Crisis.” EHN, 26 Aug. 2025, www.ehn.org/plastic-additives-may-be-fueling-a-global-sperm-crisis.