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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Iran is believed to have weaponized pharmaceutical agents to kill or incapacitate.</li><li>These chemical weapons affect a victim's central nervous system.</li></ul>Iran has developed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nerve-agents-chemical-weapons-how-they-work-2018-3">chemical weapons</a> based on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, warns a US expert, powerful agents that could incapacitate soldiers or civilians when added to grenades or artillery.Pharmaceutical-based agents, or PBA, are essentially weaponized medicines that incapacitate or kill their victims depending on the exposure. Iran may have given PBA to its proxies such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-naim-qassem-longtime-deputy-now-leading-hezbollah-2024-10">Hezbollah</a>, which could use them to kidnap Israeli troops and civilians."At a time of growing regional instability in the Middle East, largely the result of the militancy of Iranian proxies, the threats posed by Iran's weaponized PBA program can no longer be overlooked," wrote Matthew Levitt in an <a target="_blank" href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/tehrans-tactical-knockout-weaponized-pharmaceutical-based-agents/">article</a> for the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point.The U.S. Government Accountability Office defines PBAs as "chemicals based on pharmaceutical compounds, which may or may not have legitimate medical uses, and can cause severe illness or death when misused." They include opioids such as fentanyl and tranquilizers for animals.These drugs affect a victim's central nervous system. "Once inhaled, these agents cause victims to lose full consciousness and enable the forces deploying them to advance quickly and quietly and/or take captive the unconscious victims," Levitt wrote.Iran was a victim of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-uses-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-cause-panic-war-report-2024-4">chemical warfare</a> during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when Iraqi chemical attacks — including <a target="_blank" href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/07/iraq-once-devasted-iran-with-chemical-weapons-as-the-world-stood-by-governments-still-struggle-to-respond-to-chemical-warfare/">nerve gases</a> such as Sarin, and mustard gas — contributed to as many as 1 million Iranian casualties. But Iran employed its own mustard gas on a few occasions during the war. Israel believes Iran used PBAs against rebels in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-usher-in-a-brutal-new-phase-syrian-civil-war-2024-3">Syrian Civil War</a>, while there are reports that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may have unleashed them against anti-government protestors."The problem is that Iran is right when they said they've been victims of chemical weapons in terrible ways during the Iran-Iraq war," Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, told Business Insider. "But the reality is they themselves have been using these as well."The US and its allies have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/05/2ffa826926cd72354b90a05f7de765bfcc9908b6.pdf">warned</a> for years that Iran is developing pharmaceutical-based weapons in breach of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the manufacture and use of "toxic chemicals," defined as "chemical action on life processes [that] can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals." Treaty signatories — including Iran — are obligated to destroy existing stockpiles.Still, evidence suggests Iran is pursuing PBAs. "In 2014, Iran's Chemistry Department of IHU [Imam Hossein University] sought kilogram quantities of medetomidine — a [veterinary] sedative it has researched as an aerosolized incapacitant — from Chinese exporters, according to a 2023 US State Department's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/2023-condition-10c-annual-report-on-compliance-with-the-chemical-weapons-convention-cwc/">report</a>. "The Chemistry Department has little history of veterinary or even medical research, and the quantities sought (over 10,000 effective doses) were inconsistent with the reported end use of research."In September 2023, Iranian anti-government hackers "posted confidential documents detailing an Iranian military university's development of grenades meant to disseminate medetomidine," the State Department said.Of particular concern were references in Iranian literature to the 2002 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/opioid-chemical-weapons-moscow-theater-hostage-crisis">Dubrovka incident</a>, when Russian security forces pumped pharmaceutical-based gas — probably fentanyl or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/hq092216_attach.pdf">carfentanyl</a>, another synthetic opioid vastly more potent — into a crowded Moscow theater to subdue Chechen rebels who had taken almost a thousand hostages. Commandos then stormed the building and killed the incapacitated rebels — but the gas also killed more than 130 hostages.Yet restricting PBAs is difficult because they overlap with products used for legitimate law enforcement and medical purposes. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21277995/police-tear-gas-protests-history-effects-violence">tear gas</a> has been used by law enforcement as a riot control agent since the First World War, while US troops used it in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/tunnel-rats-of-the-vietnam-war/">Vietnam War</a> to smoke out enemy tunnels. Tear gas is still legal when employed for riot control, but not as a battlefield weapon.Stopping nations from manufacturing PBAs is " very, very difficult, which is why you've seen such a focus on diplomatic efforts, sanctions and some law enforcement actions," said Levitt.Iranian PBAs are a particular problem if Tehran has supplied them to proxies such as Hezbollah. "Deploying weapons produced with dual-use items, and then providing said weapons to proxies, provides Iran with multiple layers of cover and reasonable deniability for having done so at all," the CTC article noted.Israel feared that Hezbollah would use PBA weapons as part of an alleged plan to seize the Galilee region of northern Israel and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaza-israels-special-forces-rescue-woman-on-a-motorbike-hostage-and-3-others-2024-6">kidnap Israeli citizens</a>. "Maybe you just use them to incapacitate the border guards and reach the now unprotected civilians," Levitt said. "Or, you actually target and incapacitate the soldiers so you can kidnap or capture them."Israel's recent military <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-launches-ground-offensive-into-lebanon-destroy-hezbollah-targets-2024-9">offensives in Lebanon</a> have badly hurt Hezbollah, including its huge arsenal of missiles. But PBAs can be added to hand grenades and mortar shells, of which Hezbollah still has ample stocks. And there remains a possibility that US forces could clash with Iran and its allies and encounter pharmaceutical-based agents. (The US, in contrast, completed the destruction of its chemical weapons in 2023.)However, Levitt emphasizes that PBAs are not in the same league as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rangers-are-training-to-neutralize-enemy-nuclear-sites-2024-11">weapons of mass destruction</a> such as nerve gas, which is potent enough to kill widely across exposure areas. "This is not a strategic threat. It is a tactical weapon."Nonetheless, chemical weapons do have a frightening aura, even if fentanyl gas is nowhere near as deadly as nerve gas. "I think that many, many people would see it that way because you're talking about chemical weapons," Levitt said.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

Iran has developed fentanyl-based chemical weapons

Have you been harbouring the misimpression that the worst thing that could happen to you while commuting to work is getting stuck in rush hour traffic? As it turns out, being trapped in your car for the duration is even worse because you could be inadvertently breathing in <keyword id="21593992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-causing-air" source="keywords">cancer-causing air</keyword>. This is a real bummer, considering rolling down your windows would mean inhaling polluted air most of the time. New research has found <keyword id="21589825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flame-retardants" source="keywords">flame retardants</keyword> in nearly all (99%) of the cars tested in the US. These chemicals, including tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). Why is this a problem? These chemicals are linked to cancer, <keyword id="21593994" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="neurological-problems" source="keywords">neurological problems</keyword>, and even lower IQ in children. In fact, even firefighters seem to have been raising concerns about flame retardants potentially contributing to their high cancer rates. And companies have been adding these potentially carcinogenic flame retardants to car seats and other materials, off-gassing harmful chemicals into the air you breathe. “Considering the average driver spends about an hour in the car every day, this is a significant <keyword id="21593993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-issue" source="keywords">public health issue</keyword>. It’s particularly concerning for drivers with longer commutes as well as child passengers, who breathe more air pound for pound than adults,” explains lead author Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist at <keyword id="20075490" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Duke-University" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Duke University" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Duke University">Duke University</keyword>. Here's the kicker: exposure seems to be worse during hot weather. Car interiors can reach scorching temperatures, causing these flame retardants to break down and pollute the air you breathe. The good news? There's a safer way. California, US, for example, updated its flammability standards for furniture and baby products to eliminate flame retardants without compromising safety. This update actually led to a decrease in flame retardant levels in homes, proving there's a better path forward. While opening windows and parking in the shade can help, the real solution lies in urging <keyword id="19996197" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="car-manufacturers" source="keywords">car manufacturers</keyword> and safety regulators to update outdated standards. We shouldn't have to choose between fire safety and our health. “Commuting to work shouldn’t come with a cancer risk, and children shouldn’t breathe in chemicals that can harm their brains on their way to school,” says the study’s co-author Lydia Jahl, a senior scientist at the Green Science Policy Institute. The findings of this study have been detailed in Environmental Science &amp; Technology and can be accessed <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c10440">here</a>.

Toxic chemicals in your car seats could be increasing risks of cancer, study warns

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's new evidence that chemicals can migrate to human bodies via material like plastic containers.</li><li>It's not clear what the health risks may be, but at least a few of the chemicals are known hazards.</li></ul>New research suggests you're being exposed to thousands of chemicals, including hazardous substances, that can leach into the human body through food- and beverage-related material like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-can-increase-diabetes-risk-new-research-2024-6">plastic bottles</a> and takeout containers.It's not a surprise that our environment is full of contaminants, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-penises-testicles-male-fertility-plastic-health-environment-2024-7">microplastics</a>, that can accumulate in our bodiesBut researchers in a recent study were taken aback by just how many chemicals in our everyday items can migrate into humans, and said it's "concerning" that we don't fully understand the risks.The researchers, led by scientists from a Swiss nonprofit called the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, looked at data on more than 14,000 food contact chemicals — substances in containers or other materials that touch what we eat and drink.The study, published September 17 in the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=98f40f9124eaa010f2a0a4c0fb4f3c1e59d87c00a6f65522c297e9b5c22824cf&amp;postID=66eae69769657a7deb42dbab&amp;postSlug=thousands-of-chemicals-entering-human-bodies-from-food-packaging-study-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41370-024-00718-2">Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology</a>, explained that 25% of the chemicals they were studying — about 3,601 substances — showed up inside the human body, in samples including skin, hair, blood, breast milk, and fat tissue.That suggests manufacturing chemicals are migrating into our bodies from items we use to store, package, or cook our food. It's not just plastic either, since even paper or cardboard can contain substances like ink that can be problematic when it comes into contact with food.<h2 id="27fa7f62-8a96-4c1c-a5a6-1d66b9506469">Trying to understand the health risks</h2>Scientists are digging for clues to understand the impact of these chemicals on long-term health.Some of these chemicals are known to be dangerous, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3">carcinogens (cancer-causing) substances</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-toxic-chemical-phthalates-in-food-makeup-toiletries-2021-10">toxins</a> linked to hormone and reproductive problems.One such category is called PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-how-long-hazardous-forever-chemicals-pfas-stay-in-blood-2023-3">forever chemicals</a>" because they linger and accumulate in our bodies and in the water and soil. PFAs exposure is linked to some cancers, liver damage, and more, as well as possible developmental defects in children.Other hazardous chemicals the study found in food and our bodies include <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-bpa">BPA</a> (a toxic ingredient in packaging linked to hormone problems) and heavy metals that can cause harm to our DNA.And there's a lot we don't know about many of the other chemicals found in human samples, including whether they might be harmful or what, if any, amount is safe.The actual number of chemicals we're exposed to through food and drinks could also be much higher than the 3,601 estimated in the study, according to the researchers.<h2 id="5746f6cb-2471-495d-9d89-a8d0cff3dc10">Putting limits on chemical exposure</h2>This same team of researchers previously published a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28893723/">study</a> that found government regulations aren't doing much to prevent chemical exposure.While there are some existing rules — such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">limits on PFAs in drinking water</a> — legislation is slow to keep up with the latest science, and sometimes too vague to enforce. Plus, there's so much we don't know about potential risks of chemicals that haven't been studied as closely.The new study is one crucial step in understanding how chemicals in our environment (and in our food) could affect our health long-term, and how we might be able to reduce the risks in the future."This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people," Jane Muncke, senior author of the study, environmental toxicology expert, and managing director at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a press release."We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials — both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives," Muncke said.

Food packaging chemicals are seeping into human bodies — here's what that means for your health

A new <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355#b0205">study</a> published in Environment International found that 14 of the 30 tampon brands tested contained measurable quantities of 16 metals, including <keyword id="21287030" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heavy-metals" source="keywords">heavy metals</keyword> like lead and arsenic. Unlike other areas of skin, the <keyword id="22359234" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaginal-tissue" source="keywords">vaginal tissue</keyword> readily absorbs substances, potentially leading to "systemic exposure" to these metals, warn scientists. The study acknowledges several possible sources for the metals in <keyword id="21056381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tampons" source="keywords">tampons</keyword>. They could be present in the cotton itself due to environmental factors or contamination. Alternatively, the metals might be added during manufacturing for purposes like pigmentation, whitening, or anti-bacterial properties. But how “safe” are they? We know what you're thinking: a relatively tiny chunk of Indians use tampons. But while this study claims to be the first of its kind for tampons, this is hardly the first time questionable materials have been found in a <keyword id="22359233" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanitary-product" source="keywords">sanitary product</keyword> created for women. Other heavy metals, potentially harmful <keyword id="20406621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chemicals" source="keywords">chemicals</keyword> and even carcinogens have previously been detected in sanitary napkins as well. And last we checked, over 40% of Indian women used <keyword id="584042" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanitary-pads" source="Orion">sanitary pads</keyword> while menstruating. <h2>Link between sanitary pads and <keyword id="22359235" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reproductive-diseases" source="keywords">reproductive diseases</keyword></h2>A 2022 <a href="https://toxicslink.org/publications/reports/wrapped-in-secrecy-toxic-chemicals-in-menstrual-products">report</a> focused on two main culprits: phthalates and volatile organic compounds that are added for elasticity and absorbency in pads. These chemicals were detected in all ten tested brands, including both inorganic and organic varieties. Popular names like <keyword id="20280828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="whisper" source="keywords">Whisper</keyword>, Stayfree, Sofy, PeeSafe, Nua, and Plush were included in the analysis. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111624399" title="How did over 800 students test HIV positive in Tripura?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Experts have repeatedly warned of the potential <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword> associated with these chemicals, going as far as to suggest that these chemicals could disrupt hormonal functions, potentially leading to PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism. Long-term exposure may even increase cancer risk. The concern is heightened by the vagina's high absorbency, allowing these chemicals to enter the body at a faster rate. A lot of this is conjecture based on what doctors and experts suspect, primarily because not nearly enough research has been conducted on the potential impacts of sanitary products on women’s bodies. Naturally, there’s a lack of regulation from governments on period products. <h2>The glaring lack of proper labelling of sanitary products</h2>Sanitary product manufacturers love to wrap their stuff in flowery and “girly” packages, with the size of a pad’s wings and how it will last you all day long advertised in bold letters. But they don’t think it’s necessary to test their products for their content and perhaps even share that little tidbit with their customers. Companies making pads and tampons are usually exempt from listing ingredients as these are categorised as "medical products." However, many argue this label is misleading as pads cannot be considered medical intervention, they’re just for absorption. The absence of research on quality standards raises red flags. Individuals and NGOs have voiced concerns about potentially harmful chemicals in some pads but to no avail. Even existing regulations offer no solace. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) did implement higher quality standards for reusable sanitary pads, sanitary napkins and period panties. However, Without ingredient lists, it's impossible for consumers to make informed choices about their health. <h2>A call for change</h2>This lack of transparency and outdated regulations create a situation where millions of women are unknowingly exposed to potential health risks. Sanitary pad companies should be required to list all ingredients on the packaging, empowering consumers with knowledge. The BIS needs to update its guidelines to include thorough testing for harmful chemicals, ensuring safety. Most of all, further research is crucial to assess the quality and safety of sanitary pads available in the Indian market. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111578389" title="Talc, found in baby powder and cosmetics, is “probably” cancer-causing, says WHO agency" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>While the ongoing research sheds light on a previously unknown potential health risk associated with sanitary products, we acknowledge that using a pad is a lot more hygienic and safe than using a cloth rag. But clear labelling and stricter regulations are essential to ensure the safety of individuals who rely on these products.

Your go-to sanitary product likely has harmful heavy metals in it, even if the label doesn’t say so!

One aspect that always garners much traction on the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget" source="keywords">Budget</keyword> day is what got <keyword id="20257498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cheaper" source="keywords">cheaper</keyword> and what got <keyword id="20286063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="costlier" source="keywords">costlier</keyword>. Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> as part of her Budget presentation proposed a host of tweaks in basic <keyword id="20454068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="customs-duty" source="keywords">customs duty</keyword> (BCD) for various products or items that are critical for manufacturing. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman proposed an exemption on customs duty on certain <keyword id="22516435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-medicines" source="keywords">cancer medicines</keyword> and a reduction in duties on <keyword id="19920958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-phone" source="keywords">mobile phone</keyword> parts and chargers, aimed at bringing down their prices in the retail market. "With a three-fold increase in domestic production and almost 100-fold jump in exports of mobile phones over the last six years, the Indian mobile phone industry has matured. In the interest of consumers, I now propose to reduce the BCD on mobile phone, mobile PCBA and mobile charger to 15 per cent," said Sitharaman in her Budget speech that lasted around 90 minutes. To provide relief to cancer patients, she proposed to fully exempt three more medicines from customs duties. Imported <keyword id="19895579" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold" source="keywords">gold</keyword>, silver, leather goods and seafood will also get cheaper, as duties were invariably lowered on them. Duty cut on gold would boost retail demand and help in curtailing smuggling in the world's second-biggest bullion market. "To enhance domestic value addition in gold and precious metal jewellery in the country, I propose to reduce customs duties on gold and silver to 6 per cent and that on platinum to 6.4 per cent." She also proposed changes in the customs duty on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors for use in medical X-ray machines under the <keyword id="20330318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phased-manufacturing-programme" source="keywords">Phased Manufacturing Programme</keyword>, so as to synchronise them with domestic capacity addition. Also, she proposed to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce basic customs duty on two of them. Minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are critical for sectors like nuclear energy, renewable energy, space, defence, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics, said the finance minister. "This will provide a major fillip to the processing and refining of such minerals and help secure their availability for these strategic and important sectors," Sitharaman said. Putting energy transition on focus, as it is critical in the fight against climate change, the finance minister proposed to expand the list of exempted capital goods for use in the manufacture of solar cells and panels in the country. However, in view of sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity of solar glass and tinned copper interconnect, it was proposed not to extend the exemption of customs duties provided to them. To enhance competitiveness in marine products, the reduced duty on certain broodstock, polychaete worms, shrimp and fish feed to 5 per cent, besides exempting customs duty on various inputs for manufacture of shrimp and fish feed. Moving on to leather and textile, reduction in duty was announced for various items. "...to enhance the competitiveness of exports in the leather and textile sectors, I propose to reduce BCD on real down filling material from duck or goose," Sitharaman said. To reduce cost of production of steel and copper, two important raw materials, it was proposed to remove the customs duty on ferro nickel and blister copper. "I am also continuing with nil BCD (customs duty) on ferrous scrap and nickel cathode and concessional BCD of 2.5 per cent on copper scrap." On the flip side, to support chemicals and petrochemicals, an increase in duty was proposed. To support existing and new capacities in the pipeline, an increase in duty on ammonium nitrate from 7.5 to 10 per cent would be applicable. PVC flex banners are non-biodegradable and hazardous for environment and health. To curb their imports, a propose was made to raise the duty on them from 10 to 25 per cent. To incentivise domestic telecommunication equipment manufacturing, a propose to increase the duty from 10 to 15 per cent on PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) of specified telecom equipment was made. Explaining her rational behind the indirect taxes tweak, Sitharaman said her proposals for customs duties intend to support domestic manufacturing, deepen local value addition, promote export competitiveness, and simplify taxation, while keeping the interest of the general public and consumers surmount. In Budget 2022-23 too, the government reduced the number of customs duty rates.

Here's what will get cheaper and costlier after this Budget

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of battery found in electric vehicles.</li><li>Scientists found they contain PFAS or 'forever chemicals' found in air, water, snow, soil, and sediment.</li></ul>Scientists have uncovered a new source of hazardous "forever chemical" pollution: the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in most electric vehicles.Some lithium-ion battery technologies use a class of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-pfas-chemicals-2018-8">PFAS chemicals</a>, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, that helps make batteries less flammable and conduct electricity. Scientists found high levels of these PFAS in air, water, snow, soil, and sediment samples near plants that make those chemicals in the US, Belgium, and France, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49753-5">peer-reviewed study</a> in the journal Nature Communications.PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-how-long-hazardous-forever-chemicals-pfas-stay-in-blood-2023-3">build up quickly</a> in the environment, people, and animals and don't break down for thousands of years. They've been linked to a host of health conditions, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf">liver damage</a>, high <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831917/">cholesterol</a>, low <a target="_blank" href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1408837/">birth weights</a>, and chronic <a target="_blank" href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/8/893/155305">kidney disease</a>.The findings underscore how switching to cleaner cars and renewable energy is key to solving the climate crisis, but comes with its own set of trade-offs that are still emerging and understudied. While the environmental and health impacts of mining lithium and other minerals used in batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and other technology are well documented, it's only now that researchers are uncovering lithium-ion batteries as a source of PFAS pollution."Slashing [carbon dioxide] emissions with innovations like electric cars is critical, but it shouldn't come with the side effect of increasing PFAS pollution," Jennifer Guelfo, an associate professor of environmental engineering at Texas Tech University and coauthor of the study, said in a statement.It's an issue of global concern because lithium-ion batteries are used worldwide, the study said. The same class of PFAS has recently been detected at low levels in European and Chinese water, but the source of the pollution was unclear.The specific class of PFAS that Guelfo's team found is called bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides, or bis-FASIs. Scientists tested more than a dozen lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and consumer electronics like laptops, and found bis-FASIs at various concentrations.It's hard to know just how widespread the chemicals are in specific lithium-ion batteries because there isn't enough research yet, Lee Ferguson, associate professor of environmental engineering at Duke University and coauthor of the study, said.Guelfo said bis-FASIs is comparable to "older notorious" chemicals like PFOA, in part because they are extremely difficult to degrade and studies show the chemicals change the behavior of aquatic organisms at low concentrations. PFOA has been phased out of production in the US but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">continues to pollute drinking water</a>.The study was the first "cradle-to-grave" evaluation of the environmental impacts of bis-FASI use in lithium-ion batteries. The effects of bis-FASIs in humans hasn't been studied yet.The scientists detected bis-FASIs chemicals at parts per billion levels — much higher than the limits the Environmental Protection Agency <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">set for PFAS in drinking water in April</a>. Strategies to get rid of PFAS in drinking water can also remove bis-FASIs, the study said, which should become more widely adopted due to EPA's regulations. However, chemical makers and some water utilities <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/06/21/nx-s1-5013957/pfas-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-rule-lawsuits">have challenged the agency in court.</a>Other routes of exposure to bis-FASIs exist. Air emissions data suggest the chemicals can travel to areas far from manufacturing sites. They can also leach into the environment from landfills, where the majority of lithium-ion batteries end up.The study said only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled, and by 2040, there could be some 8 million tons of lithium-ion battery waste.Guelfo said scientists, engineers, manufacturers, and policymakers need to develop battery technology and recycling solutions that don't exacerbate PFAS pollution."We need to be carefully evaluating these chemicals that are being used in sustainable energy infrastructure," Guelfo said. "We should be evaluating them now before it becomes a more widespread problem. We an opportunity to really maximize the idea of sustainability."Companies including 3M, Solvay, and Arkema either hold patents for bis-FASIs or advertise its production or use, the study said. (In December — after the research was conducted — Solvay spun off its specialty and applied chemical businesses into a new entity named Syensqo. The lithium battery business is housed there.)Scientists focused their research on areas near the companies' manufacturing plants in Minnesota, Kentucky, Antwerp, Belgium, and Salindres, France.3M has manufactured PFAS for decades and last year <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/business/3m-settlement-forever-chemicals-lawsuit.html">agreed to a $10 billion settlement</a> with US cities and towns over their claims that the company contaminated drinking water with forever chemicals. 3M said it will exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.The company's settlement followed another agreement by Chemours, DuPont and Corteva to pay $1.19 billion to help resolve thousands of lawsuits.Correction: July 8, 2024 — This story was updated to clarify the name of one of the companies that make EV battery materials. After the research, Solvay spun off its lithium battery business into a new entity named Syensqo.

The most common type of EV battery is a growing source of 'forever chemical' pollution, scientists say

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Biden administration has set the first-ever limits on levels of PFAS in drinking water.</li><li>These "forever chemicals" are linked to some cancers, lower fertility, and other health issues.</li></ul>The Biden administration is cracking down on toxic "forever chemicals" that are widespread in America's tap water, food, and household products.The EPA on Wednesday finalized the first-ever limits on levels of PFAS in drinking water, putting the chemicals in the same class of other well-known pollutants like lead, arsenic, and nitrate.PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they don't biodegrade and instead accumulate in the environment and our bodies over time, creating a hazard to human health. Peer-reviewed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas">studies have linked</a> them to some cancers, decreased fertility, reduced vaccine response, high cholesterol, and developmental delays in children."It is easily the most consequential and difficult decision to protect drinking water in the past 30 years," Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, told reporters.He added that the watchdog group started researching PFAS more than two decades ago and found PFAS everywhere they tested, including in umbilical cord blood.The chemicals were originally developed in the 1940s to make non-stick cookware, and then exploded in use in clothing, carpets, food packaging, and firefighting foam used by airports and military bases to put out jet-fuel fires. Companies that make PFAS also dumped the chemical into waterways, landfills, and unlined pits in states like North Carolina and Minnesota.EPA Administrator Michael Regan is announcing the new limits in drinking water in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where residents in 2017 learned a river was heavily contaminated with PFAS pollution from a manufacturing plant owned by Chemours, and DuPont before it."This action will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses," Regan told reporters, citing EPA estimates about the impact of the drinking water limits.There are thousands of different types of PFAS manufactured today. The EPA is regulating six of them based on research linking them to harm and showing they are prevalent in drinking water, David Andrews, deputy director of investigations and senior scientists at EWG, told BI.They include PFOA and PFOS that persist in waterways and the environment, despite being phased out of production in the US since the 2000s. The EPA said these two chemicals effectively aren't safe at any level, but the lowest level modern labs can detect in drinking water is 4 parts per trillion — the limit the agency set.The limit for several other chemicals is 10 parts per trillion. EPA also set limits for mixtures of two or more PFAS chemicals, because research shows they may have combined health impacts.States and local water officials will have five years to comply with the new limits: Three to test PFAS levels; and if they exceed the federal limits, another two years to install technology that cleans up the water. The administration is making $1 billion available in grants for public water systems and private well owners to install treatment technology.Senior administration officials said they expect up to 10% of the 66,000 water systems in the US will have to take steps to comply. That means the vast majority won't detect PFAS levels beyond the new limits. But this is just an estimate, they added. The first three years of sampling will indicate the real scope of the problem."The technology is there, especially to clean up drinking water, to filter these compounds out of the water. So it becomes a question of cost and political feasibility," Andrews previously told BI."The agency has known about the harms that these chemicals can cause for decades," he added. "For too long, many people across the country have had been drinking contaminated water levels that likely impact health."The Biden administration has a broader $9 billion PFAS strategy that goes beyond drinking water, including military bases, airports, and food packaging.The FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-announces-pfas-used-grease-proofing-agents-food-packaging-no-longer-being-sold-us">in February said</a> paper food packaging — like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and take-out pizza boxes — is no longer being made with certain kinds of grease-proofing PFAS. The voluntary phase-out eliminated the main source of exposure from our diets, the agency said. Still, there are lingering stocks of packaging that contain PFAS that could take months to be exhausted.Some scientists told BI that while these are important steps, they aren't enough to control PFAS contamination."It's better than no regulation, but it's really just a Band Aid solution to the entire problem," Carmen Messerlian, a professor of reproductive environmental epidemiology at Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health, who studies PFAS, said. "We should regulate the entire class of chemicals and stop companies from manufacturing them to begin with, rather than try to regulate how much is in our water."Correction: April 10, 2024: An earlier version of this article misspelled Carmen Messerlian's last name.

Your drinking water could contain fewer hazardous 'forever chemicals' under new federal rules

For generations, adhesive bandages have been a staple in every household's first aid kit, offering a quick and convenient solution to minor cuts and scrapes. However, a recent consumer report has unveiled a concerning truth about these seemingly innocuous products — they may harbour harmful chemicals that pose a risk to our health. Testing 40 bandages, including popular brands sold in India such as <keyword id="20298068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Johnson-Johnson" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Johnson &amp; Johnson" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Johnson &amp; Johnson">Johnson &amp; Johnson</keyword>, the study found that an alarming 65% of the bandages contained detectable levels of <keyword id="20570153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phthalates" source="keywords">phthalates</keyword>, also known as <keyword id="20307473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pfas" source="keywords">PFAS</keyword>, or "forever chemicals." These chemicals, typically added to plastics to make them flexible, can persist for decades inside our bodies, and have been linked to a range of health issues including <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword>, reproductive problems, and <keyword id="49683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thyroid" source="Orion">thyroid</keyword> disease. New studies are discovering that PFAS — detected in the sticky portion and the adhesive pads of the bandages tested — are present in an increasing number of <keyword id="20447338" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-items" source="keywords">household items</keyword>, including nonstick cookware, shampoos, makeup items, and even yoga pants. Evidence from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has indicated that virtually all Americans have some of it in their bodies. What's particularly concerning is that since bandages are designed to be applied directly to open wounds, they inadvertently provide an easy route for these chemicals to enter the body. Even if these bandaids contain only a trace amount of the stuff, experts warn that these small exposures can add up, leading to significant <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword> over time. “Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it’s troubling to learn that they may be also exposing children and adults to PFAS,” explains Linda Birnbaum, a health expert. “It’s obvious from the data that PFAS are not needed for wound care, so it’s important that the industry remove their presence to protect the public from PFAS and opt instead for PFAS-free materials.” Moreover, the lack of transparency in the industry exacerbates the problem. While some companies may claim ignorance about the presence of PFAS in their products, the responsibility ultimately falls on manufacturers to ensure the safety of their offerings. Without federal regulations mandating transparency, consumers are left in the dark about the potential dangers lurking in everyday items like bandages. “It is discouraging to find yet another important product space, bandaids or bandages, containing PFAS compounds where transfers into users are conceivable,” laments Terrence Collins, another health expert. “PFAS compounds deserve the ‘forever chemicals’ name, such that when PFAS-containing bandaids and bandages are discarded post-use, the final resting places will be contaminated into the indefinite future.” After this issue garnered significant attention, other health experts have weighed in, and reassured that there might not be complete cause for concern yet. A panel of reviewers from heathfeedback.org pointed out that only two PFAS types out of a thousand have been connected to a heightened cancer risk. Since the study did not sufficiently identify the types of PFAS found in the bandages, further research is necessary to conclude if they are actually cancer-causing. The findings of this study can be accessed <a href="https://www.mamavation.com/health/band-aids-bandages-pfas-forever-chemicals-report.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>. The article has been edited since the original publishing to reflect new context.

Cancer-causing ‘forever chemicals’ may have been detected in many popular band-aids available in India

New Delhi, India's <keyword id="413762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manufacturing-sector-growth" source="Orion">manufacturing sector growth</keyword> fell to an 18-month low in December amid softer increase in factory orders and output, despite minimal inflation, a monthly survey said on Wednesday. The <keyword id="20046281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hsbc-india-manufacturing-pmi-survey" source="Orion">HSBC India Manufacturing PMI survey</keyword>, conducted by S&amp;P Global, showed that there were softer, albeit sharp, increase in factory orders and output, while business confidence towards the year-ahead outlook strengthened. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing <keyword id="726966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Purchasing-Managers-Index" source="Orion">Purchasing Managers' Index</keyword> (PMI) fell from 56 in November to an 18-month low of 54.9 in December. In Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) parlance, a print above 50 means expansion while a score below 50 denotes contraction. The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI is compiled by S&amp;P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 manufacturers. "India's manufacturing sector continued to expand in December, although at a softer pace, following an uptick in the previous month. Growth of both output and new orders softened, but on the other hand, the future output index rose since November," said Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC. Despite a loss of growth momentum, the sector still expanded strongly in December. New business gains, favourable market conditions, fairs and expositions collectively induced another sharp increase in manufacturing production during December, according to panellists. The December data showed a 21st consecutive increase in international order receipts at goods producers in India. "Companies noted gains from clients in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. New export sales expanded at a moderate pace that was the joint-slowest in eight months," the survey noted. On the prices front, input costs rose at the second-slowest rate in nearly three-and-a-half years and charge inflation softened to a nine-month low. Among the items reported to have been up in price were chemicals, paper and textiles. Little-changed from November, however, the rate of inflation was negligible by historical standards and was the second-weakest in just under three-and-a-half years, as per the survey. "Rates of increase in input and output prices were broadly unchanged," Bhandari added. HSBC India PMI data showed a general lack of pressure on the capacity of manufacturers at the end of the third fiscal quarter. Subsequently, employment was largely stable in December. When assessing the year-ahead outlook for production, Indian manufacturers were at their most upbeat for three months. Anecdotal evidence highlighted advertising, better customer relations and new enquiries as the main factors boosting business confidence in December, the survey said.

India's manufacturing sector growth falls to 18-month low in December on softer rise in orders, output

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warren Buffett invested a vital $3 billion in Dow Chemical at the height of the financial crisis.</li><li>In return, Berkshire Hathaway received preferred stock paying a yearly dividend of 8.5%.</li></ul>Warren Buffett poured $3 billion into Dow Chemical in the depths of the financial crisis, helping the manufacturer to complete an acquisition at a time when investors, lenders, and companies were taking cover.Here's the story of one of Buffett's signature deals, which provided much-needed cash to an ailing company – and earned him a healthy return.<h2>Financial chemistry</h2>Dow agreed to buy Rohm and Haas for nearly $19 billion including debt in July 2008, and roped in Warren Buffett's <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/brk-b-stock">Berkshire Hathaway</a> to help with the financing. The acquisition was part of Dow's strategy to shift its focus away from bulk chemicals toward higher-margin, specialty chemicals.Buffett agreed to put up $3 billion in exchange for 3 million Series A convertible preferred shares, which paid an 8.5% dividend, or $255 million a year. Preferred shares often offer larger dividends than common shares, and holders take priority when it comes to dividend payouts. Dow had the option to convert some or all of Berkshire's preferred stock into common stock starting in April 2014, at a ratio of 24.201 common shares for each preferred share. The maker of chemicals, plastics, agroscience products, and advanced materials could only do so if its stock price exceeded $53.72 for 20 trading days in a 30-day period.<h2>Adverse reaction</h2>Dow's takeover proved to be poorly timed. Lehman Brothers collapsed two months later, causing credit markets to seize up, asset prices to plunge, and shockwaves to reverberate through the housing market and the wider US economy.The chemicals giant had planned to cover a big chunk of the deal's cost using $9 billion of proceeds from a joint venture with Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries. However, the state-run company scrapped the partnership in December 2008, sending Dow stock plunging."The world fell apart," Buffett <a href="https://buffett.cnbc.com/video/2017/02/27/buffett-buys-airlines-and-apple-full-interview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNBC</a> in 2017, recalling that Dow tried and failed to back out of acquiring Rohm and Haas. "We closed the deal to buy the stock in April 2009, by which time the market had totally disintegrated."Given the collapse in Dow's stock and its weakened prospects, Buffett found himself paying the equivalent of a dollar for 60 cents, he said."We showed up with $3 billion for something that was worth about $1.8 billion maybe at the time," Buffett noted. "Which is one reason people offer us deals – they know we'll be around at the closing."Indeed, Buffett struck agreements with not only Dow but also <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-goldman-sachs-sale-billions-return-bailout-2020-5-1029212109">Goldman Sachs</a>, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-invested-3-billion-general-electric-ge-2008-crisis-2020-6-1029327040">General Electric</a>, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-spent-billions-help-mars-buy-wrigley-2008-crisis-2020-7-1029366581">Mars</a>, and Swiss Re between 2008 and 2009. He deployed a total of $21.1 billion across those five transactions, securing positions worth a combined $26 billion at the end of 2009, which were yielding $2.1 billion in dividends and interest annually.However, the cash-conscious investor sold shares of companies like Moody's, Procter &amp; Gamble, and Johnson &amp; Johnson to fund the deals and avoid depleting Berkshire's cash reserves, which dropped below $20 billion in April 2009. He also refrained from capitalizing on some of the enticing opportunities that popped up."During that whole period, we had these commitments and that kept me from doing some other things we might have done at that time — the fact that we had this $3 billion going out the door," he told CNBC, referring to Berkshire's investment in Dow.As for Dow, Buffett's money and vote of confidence helped to assuage fear on Wall Street that the company had bitten off more than it could chew and might tumble into insolvency."The stake was taken at a time when Dow was really desperate," Hassan Ahmed, an analyst at Alembic Global Advisors at the time, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dowchemical-buffett-idUSTRE6A93WC20101110" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Reuters</a> in 2010.Buffett may have felt he massively overpaid, but the deal he negotiated was still lucrative."Those preferred shares are yielding a lot," Ahmen said. "Purely on a financial basis, I'd like to knock him out." <h2>Producing profit</h2>Dow paid supersized dividends to Buffett for more than seven years. In December 2016, it finally converted Berkshire's preferred shares into 72.6 million common shares, freeing itself from the costly commitment.Buffett and his team had no interest in owning Dow's common stock, so they sold all of the shares they were set to receive ahead of time. Dow redeemed the stock on December 30, and Berkshire was out of the position entirely by the end of the next day.Berkshire made about a $1 billion profit from selling the Dow stock, Buffett told CNBC. The company also collected over $1.8 billion in total dividends from its preferred stock. As a result, Buffett made about a $3 billion pre-tax return, or roughly double what he invested.Dow's then-CEO, Andrew Liveris, tipped his hat to Buffett."He's done very well with that investment, as he has done at Goldman and elsewhere," he told Reuters. "He was incredibly valuable through the crisis."

Warren Buffett poured $3 billion into Dow Chemical during the financial crisis. Here's the story of how he helped the manufacturing titan – and doubled his money.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>David Einhorn touted Solvay as a top-five portfolio pick while speaking at the Sohn Conference.</li><li>The Belgian chemical firm has high returns on capital and stable margins, the hedge fund manager said.</li></ul>Value-investing legend David Einhorn has his eyes set on the Belgian firm Solvay, praising its market potential during a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnkeCQ021kQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sohn Conference presentation</a>. Speaking later with CNBC, he said it <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/03/greenlights-david-einhorn-unveils-chemicals-company-solvay-as-top-investment-idea.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">holds a top-five spot</a> in his portfolio."Solvay is a commodity chemical company with a relatively high and stable margin, a high return on capital and a good return of capital," Einhorn outlined on Wednesday. He added: "We think this boring essential chemicals business will generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for investors."The comments sent Solvay's American depository receipts soaring 18% to $3.22 apiece at 2:45 p.m. ET.In large part, the company focuses on manufacturing soda ash, a common compound used to produce everything from glass, soaps, to lithium batteries. Though soda ash is not a volatile commodity, COVID distortions have pulled down its capacity utilization, with 2024 set to be a trough year, Einhorn said. Due to Solvay's ties to soda ash, many sell-side analysts have printed mostly negative reviews of the company, he cited. But these reports have largely ignored the fact that 70% of Solvay's revenue streams come from other chemical products, including peroxides, silica and coatis."The point I'm making is that while there is a reduction in soda ash prices and profits in 2024, which everyone knows about, the rest of the business is less cyclical and more resilient," he said. "The bears seem intent on completely ignoring that reality."What's more, the company is investment-grade rated, with modest leverage and high returns on capital, he said. While consensus expects earnings of 3.62 euros a share this year, Einhorn said that an European economic recovery should keep the price above 4 euros a share in 2024."If management executes on its growth and cost targets, normal earnings per share should [rise] to more than €6 per share,"

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