News/Science

A U.S. woman is suing seven oil and gas companies, saying they contributed to an extraordinarily hot day that led to her mother's fatal hyperthermia during a heat dome event that also killed more than 600 people in B.C.It's one of the first wrongful-death claims in the U.S. seeking to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in the changing climate.The lawsuit filed in Washington state court this week says the companies knew that their products have altered the climate, including contributing to a 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest that killed 65-year-old Juliana Leon, and that they failed to warn the public of such risks.On June 28, 2021, an unusual heat wave culminated in a 42.2 C day — the hottest ever recorded in the state, according to the filing. Leon had just driv...

The federal government is moving to add PFAS, a class of thousands of chemicals used in a wide range of products from food containers to clothing, to the official list of toxic substances, in light of growing scientific and public concern about the substances in Canada and around the world.PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals used for their water and heat resistant properties. They are widely used in many everyday products — such as packaging, cosmetics and textiles — along with industrial uses like water-repellent coatings and firefighting foam. Often referred to as "forever chemicals," PFAS have also increasingly been linked to human health problems, such as increasing cancer risk and causing reproductive issues. The same qualities that make them useful al...