Stories by Brian Bienkowski

Children exposed in the womb to two chlorinated chemicals widely found in the environment are more likely to develop asthma by the age of 20, according to new research in Denmark

As countries’ human life expectancy grows, so do their numbers of invasive and endangered species, according to a new study

Under a new global treaty that limits the use of mercury, some lightbulbs, batteries, thermometers and other medical devices will be banned. But eye makeup is exempt

The Minamata Convention, a United Nations pact launched Thursday, is designed to limit mercury use and emissions internationally

On the shore of Lake Superior, the Keweenaw Bay Indians are raising walleye in addition to the traditional trout at their hatchery. They need to keep pace with their changing lake

Prescription drugs have been found far from Milwaukee's sewage outfalls, suggesting the lake is not diluting the compounds as scientists expected

Mancelona, Mich., suffers from one of the nation's largest plumes of an industrial solvent called trichloroethylene

Increasing downpours as a result of climate change have overwhelmed the struggling city's outdated sewers

Baby mice exposed in the womb to low doses – but not high doses – of bisphenol A were fatter and had metabolic changes linked to obesity and diabetes, according to a new study

The agency is responding to a report written by 12 scientists who criticized the government’s decades-old strategy for testing the safety of many chemicals found in the environment and consumer products

The report by New York University researchers is the first to calculate the economic cost of children exposed to lead in Africa, Asia, Latin America and other developing regions

Babies born in areas with high airborne levels of mercury, diesel exhaust, lead, manganese, nickel and methylene chloride were more likely to have autism than those in areas with lower pollution

New research has found that the pharmaceuticals, which are frequently showing up in U.S. streams, can alter genes responsible for building fish brains and controlling their behavior

Fifteen Major League Baseball teams bring players to Arizona for spring training every year where the athletes are exposed to a lung disease that's on the rise as the region's climate warms and dries

More than 50,000 high-polluting diesel engines have been cleaned up or removed from U.S. roads in a federal program

On the brink of a federal review, chemicals found in deodorants, lotions and hair conditioners are showing up in Chicago's air at potentially alarming levels

Just in time for swimsuit season, federal researchers are touting a faster, more accurate water-quality test to keep beaches open and people healthy. But it’s expensive

Contaminated food and shelter may be affecting baby minks and threatening population recoveries

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences suggests it will be "extremely challenging" to cut emissions and oil use by 80 percent by 2050

Fish in lakes tainted with heavy metals are losing their sense of smell

Kids exposed to a commonplace chemical early in life are more likely to have asthma, according to a study published today

Armed with new laws, paintbrushes and industrial vacuums, Detroit over the past few years has declared war on the toxic metal--and it appears to be winning

An international team of experts reported today that evidence linking hormone-mimicking chemicals to human health problems has grown stronger over the past decade

As a growing population stresses the world's food and water supplies, corporations and investors in wealthy countries are buying up foreign farmland and the freshwater perks that come with it