Water System Cyberattack Targets More Than 30 Communities in MN

Minnesota water treatment facility with cybersecurity warning illustrating the coordinated cyberattack targeting more than 30 community water systems while officials confirmed drinking water remained safe.

CLIFF NOTES More than 30 Minnesota water systems were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack. Officials found no evidence that drinking water became contaminated. Several cities temporarily relied on manual operations and backup procedures. Federal investigators continue to examine who was responsible. The incident highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in protecting public water systems. More … Read more

Early PFAS Exposure Linked to Gut Inflammation in Children

Pregnant woman and young boy with glowing digestive systems; PFAS bubbles and a factory in the background.

CLIFF NOTES Researchers followed 107 mother-child pairs in the United States and Mexico. Higher early-life PFAS exposure was associated with increased intestinal inflammation markers. Exposure was measured during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth. Elevated fecal calprotectin does not prove that a child has inflammatory bowel disease. Reverse osmosis and other certified treatment technologies … Read more

EPA Urged to Reject PFAS for Datacenter Cooling

Illustration of a datacenter using PFAS cooling technology contrasted with industrial pollution, highlighting environmental concerns over new PFAS chemicals proposed for datacenter cooling.

CLIFF NOTES Seventeen environmental groups asked the EPA to reject Opteon 2P50. Chemours wants the PFAS refrigerant approved for two-phase datacenter cooling. The coalition says the company understated possible health and climate risks. Chemours says the cooling system is closed-loop and releases are low. The EPA decision could shape future chemical use across the datacenter … Read more

Study Shows Microplastics in 84% of Severe Heart Attacks

Conceptual medical illustration of an anatomical heart gradually turning into cracked plastic as microplastic particles accumulate, representing research linking microplastics in the blood of heart attack patients.

CLIFF NOTES: Researchers tested coronary blood from 61 patients in Italy. Microplastics appeared in 84.2% of severe heart attack patients. Polyethylene was found in 97% of patients who tested positive. Smoking was the strongest independent predictor of detectable plastics. The study found an association but did not prove that plastics cause heart attacks. A new … Read more

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EPA PFAS Rollback Opposed By NC Attorney General

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson speaking beside the Cape Fear River with a headline about opposing the EPA rollback of PFAS drinking water protections.

CLIFF NOTES Jeff Jackson led 17 other states and Washington, D.C., in opposing the EPA PFAS rollback. The proposal would remove federal standards for GenX and three related PFAS categories. The states argue that the rollback violates the Safe Drinking Water Act. At least 500,000 eastern North Carolina residents receive water from the PFAS-affected Cape … Read more

Chemours, DuPont Settle 2,600+ Plaintiff PFAS Lawsuit

Industrial chemical plant near a river with a glass of drinking water and the words "Justice at Last" representing the North Carolina PFAS lawsuit settlement involving Chemours and DuPont.

CLIFF NOTES Chemours, DuPont and 2,658 North Carolina plaintiffs settled before trial. The residents alleged that GenX and other PFAS contaminated private wells and property. The settlement terms and payment amounts were not publicly disclosed. Separate utility lawsuits and a proposed $450 million federal Chemours agreement remain active issues. Reverse osmosis and certified PFAS filters … Read more

North Carolinians Sue Robeson County, PFAS in Tap Water From Landfill

Polluted landfill with caption highlighting PFAS contamination in tap water

CLIFF NOTES St. Pauls residents sued Robeson County over alleged PFAS contamination linked to the county landfill. Testing cited in the lawsuit found about 25 parts per trillion of GenX in tap-water samples. The samples reportedly averaged 30.3 parts per trillion of PFOA. The plaintiffs want the Rocco Water Treatment Plant restricted until PFAS removal … Read more

EPA PFAS Monitoring Excludes Microplastics

EPA UCMR 6 PFAS monitoring graphic showing a gloved hand holding a water sample at a treatment facility, with key facts about 30 unregulated contaminants and microplastics.

CLIFF NOTES EPA proposed UCMR 6 on July 1, 2026. Water systems would monitor 30 unregulated contaminants from 2028 through 2030. The list includes certain PFAS and other organic compounds. EPA excluded microplastics because no validated national drinking water test method is ready. Microplastics remain on draft CCL 6 and are the subject of continued … Read more

EPA Drafting Guidance On PFAS & Biosolids

Wastewater treatment plant releasing sewage sludge as EPA draft guidance addresses PFAS risks from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids.

CLIFF NOTES The EPA released draft guidance on PFAS in sewage sludge on July 1, 2026. The voluntary guidance focuses on reducing risks from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. PFAS can enter wastewater plants through industrial, commercial, landfill, and household discharges. The EPA recommends monitoring, source identification, and industrial pretreatment to reduce contamination. Properly certified … Read more