Microplastics are tiny particles of different kinds of plastic that come from many sources. At less than five millimeters in size, most are jagged with sharp edges and are too small to see. It is the smallest ones that are the most dangerous since they can penetrate cell membranes, induce inflammation, and disrupt metabolic processes. The tiniest of plastic fragments, called nanoplastics, are smaller than one micron, cannot be expelled by the body, and are far more abundant and dangerous than the larger microplastics.
Seven of the World’s Most Toxic Air Pollutants
Senators voted to turn off pollution controls. Now it is up to the House.On May 1, 2025, 52 Senators voted to repeal Clean Air Act protections against seven of the world’s most toxic air pollutants, including dioxins, PCBs, lead, and mercury. Now the resolution heads to the House of Representatives for a vote. If it passes the House, the resolution would allow 1,800 of the nation’s largest industrial polluters, including chemical manufacturers, pesticide makers, refineries, and other large facilities, to permanently shut off their pollution controls for the most potent carcinogens and toxic chemicals. These air pollutants cause cancers, birth defects, and children’s developmental disorders.
The First 100 Days of Making Emissions Great Again: A MEGA Mess
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is creating chaos and confusion with massive attempts to rollback protections from pollution. He and President Trump are also inventing ways to go around the legal and regulatory processes to shortcut and evade requirements for pollution controls.
Q & A: What to Know About the Endangerment Finding
The Endangerment Finding is a foundational part of EPA’s ability to protect us from the health effects of climate change, and thanks to the new Trump administration, it’s now directly under threat.
Life Before the Clean Air Act
In the 1960s, the U.S. had a deadly pollution problem. Bipartisan solutions, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, helped clean up our air. But now, our air is at risk as pollution rules and protections are threatened.
Trump’s Cabinet Nominees
Trump’s Cabinet nominees threaten health, clean air, and action against global warming. They have a reckless and dangerous agenda that will harm our families for generations to come—and cost us a fortune.
Air Pollution, Extreme Heat, and Black Maternal Health
While pregnancy is a time of extreme sensitivity for all, Black mothers in the U.S. experience drastically high maternal and infant mortality rates—they’re three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. In addition to this stark inequity, air pollution exacerbates existing health disparities, disproportionately affecting Black mothers and their infants in the U.S.
Gas Pipelines and Your Health
A network of nearly 3 million miles of pipelines transports natural gas around the United States. They crisscross the country and are everywhere—in our neighborhoods, cities, parks, and rural communities—though they are mostly out of sight. Leaks from these pipelines are a major source of methane pollution contributing to our changing climate.
Landfill Methane Pollution
This resource has been factchecked by policy experts, using the latest scientific research. Find all our sources linked below. What you need to know about emissions from landfills Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that causes warming much faster than carbon dioxide …
Electric School Buses for Florida
Why electric buses Kids who ride an electric bus get a cleaner, quieter, and healthier commute, while school districts save money on fuel and maintenance. New electric buses are going to be rolling into towns across Florida. We want every community to …
Reasons to Embrace Solar Energy
Solar energy is clean, abundant, and doesn’t generate pollution or threaten public health the way dirty electricity from fossil fuels does. People in the United States have already installed enough solar to power 36 million homes, and this number is on the rise. Here are more reasons to adopt solar today.
Air Pollution, Extreme Heat, and Latina Maternal Health
This resource has been factchecked by policy experts, using the latest scientific research. Find all our sources linked below. Air pollution and extreme heat threaten the health of everyone, but both pose outsize risks for pregnant people and babies. Pregnancy is a …