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GoGreenNation News: England declines EU's new water pollution standards
GoGreenNation News: England declines EU's new water pollution standards

In a move that diverges from the European Union's latest environmental protections, England opts not to implement stricter regulations on water pollution from pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.Helena Horton and Sandra Laville report for The Guardian.In short:The EU has updated its water treatment rules to include "polluter pays" principles, requiring industries to cover costs for chemical pollution cleanup.This update aims to significantly reduce micropollutants and nutrients in waterways, a measure England is not adopting.Northern Ireland and Scotland are moving towards adopting these or similar regulations, signaling a potential policy divergence within the UK.Key quote:"The UK must urgently mirror EU measures to make polluters pay to remedy the problems they cause, as well as to ban the use of harmful chemicals at source, before they harm our health and pollute our environment."— Chloe Alexander, senior campaigner at the CHEM TrustWhy this matters:Ingredients in medications and personal care products, often referred to as emerging contaminants, are increasingly detected in water bodies around the globe. These substances enter aquatic ecosystems through various pathways, including the discharge of treated and untreated sewage, runoff from agricultural lands and improper disposal of unused medications.A little bit of an anti-depressant makes wild guppies less active, camp out more under plants and freeze up for longer after something scares them, according to a 2017 study.

GoGreenNation News: England sees a spike in waterborne diseases
GoGreenNation News: England sees a spike in waterborne diseases

A recent analysis reveals a 60% increase in hospital admissions for waterborne diseases in England since 2010, raising concerns about water safety and public health. Helena Horton reports for The Guardian.In short:Hospital admissions for waterborne diseases, including dysentery and Weil’s disease, have significantly increased from 2,085 cases in 2010 to 3,286 in 2022.The surge in diseases correlates with a rise in raw sewage discharges into rivers and seas, exceeding 3.6 million hours last year.Labour’s shadow environment secretary criticizes government oversight, proposing stringent measures for water companies to address the pollution.Key quote: “It is sickening that this Conservative government has turned a blind eye to illegal sewage dumping that has put thousands of people in hospital.” — Steve Reed, Labour’s shadow environment secretaryWhy this matters: Waterborne diseases result from pathogens in contaminated water. These illnesses can lead to a range of health problems, from minor physical discomfort to serious conditions such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. The transmission of these diseases is closely linked to environmental conditions and human activities that affect water quality, including pollution, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient water treatment.Nurses know that clean air and water are foundational to good health. And on clean water, the solutions we need are—quite literally—upstream.

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