A few milligrams of all the science news of the week.
Hundreds of species exposed to chemical compounds
Traces of chemical compounds called PFAS have been found in the blood of hundreds of animal species. An analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization, shows that more than 330 animal species are affected globally. Traces of PFAS have been found in scorpions, pandas, turtles, Siberian tigers and even sea lions. PFAS include more than 12,000 chemical compounds used in the production of many products, especially water or heat resistant ones. The study did not look at the effects of PFAS on animals, but reports that other research has established that these chemicals can make many species sick.
Quiz
At what rate do the wealthy emit more GHGs than the less affluent?
Photo by Louis Tatto, Agence France-Presse Archives
Nairobi, Kenya
According to a recent analysis published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2021, the 1% of the population emitting the most greenhouse gases produced 1000 times more than the 1% with the lowest emissions. Another statistic to better understand the gap between North and South: The average North American produced 11 times more GHGs than the average African in 2021. Note that this analysis only concerns GHGs related to energy production.
count
Photo by Andrew Blaton, Agence France-Presse Archives
UK butterfly populations have declined by 6% between 1976 and 2019.
42%
Between 1976 and 2019, butterflies in the UK lost an average of 42% of their range, according to a recent report by British NGO Butterfly Conservation. Their population declined by 6% during the same period.
More and more cities will be affected by rising sea levels
Photo by Kim Hong-ji, Reuters Archives
Hundreds of cities are likely to be threatened by rising sea levels.
Since 2000, hundreds of cities around the world have 2500 km2 on their surface. The problem is that all these cities are located on the edge of oceans and are therefore at risk of rising sea levels. This is the finding of a team of researchers from the University of Southampton, England, after analyzing data from 135 coastal cities around the world. Much of this new construction was undertaken in Asia and the Middle East. According to researchers, by the end of this century 70% of these structures will be affected by flooding caused by sea level rise. The study was published in the journal Earth’s future.
Saskatchewan has high methane emissions
Photo by David Goldman, Associated Press Archives
Methane emissions in Saskatchewan are actually 3.9 times higher than figures provided by industry to public authorities.
According to a new study conducted with cutting-edge technology, methane emissions in Saskatchewan are actually 3.9 times higher than figures provided by industry to public authorities. The research was published in the journal Science Environmental Science and Technology, presents new methods for measuring methane emissions that challenge current industry practices, explained its author, Matthew Johnson, a professor of engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa. “A lot of the reporting is based on estimates,” Johnson told The Canadian Press. Methane is a greenhouse gas2)
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