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Black Dust Covers Oklahoma Town As Residents Face Renewed Pollution Fears [1]

"Across a quiet Oklahoma town, a mysterious black dust has appeared throughout neighborhoods. As residents search for answers, many say this triggers memories from decades before."

Air [2]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Public [9]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [10]
Source: KOCO5 [11], 05/20/2026
  • Read more about Black Dust Covers Oklahoma Town As Residents Face Renewed Pollution Fears [1]

FWS Clears Weedkiller Atrazine, Saying It Won’t Cause Extinction [12]

"The Trump administration has determined that atrazine, a weedkiller used widely on corn and other crops, does not pose an extinction risk to threatened or endangered wildlife, effectively justifying its continued use, according to a federal review made public this week." "The finding effectively paves the way for continued use of atrazine, a widely used herbicide that has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans."

Agriculture [13]
Biodiversity [14]
Chemicals [15]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [16]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Technology [17]
Water & Oceans [18]
Wildlife [19]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: New York Times [21], 05/20/2026
  • Read more about FWS Clears Weedkiller Atrazine, Saying It Won’t Cause Extinction [12]

Over 17,000 Ordered To Evacuate As S. California Wildfire Threatens Homes [22]

"More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban homes. The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles."

Climate Change [23]
Disasters [24]
Environmental Health [3]
Pollution [8]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
California [25]
Source: AP [26], 05/20/2026
  • Read more about Over 17,000 Ordered To Evacuate As S. California Wildfire Threatens Homes [22]

Minnesota Sues 3M, Says PFAS From Cottage Grove Continue To Pollute Water [27]

"The state of Minnesota has filed a new lawsuit against Maplewood-based 3M, alleging that PFAS from the company’s manufacturing plant in Cottage Grove continue to contaminate groundwater and the Mississippi River."

Activism [28]
Chemicals [15]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Water & Oceans [18]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [31]
Source: MPR News [32], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about Minnesota Sues 3M, Says PFAS From Cottage Grove Continue To Pollute Water [27]

TVA Put Out Booklet Downplaying Coal Ash Risks. Experts Call it ‘Dishonest.’ [33]

"A 35-page booklet distributed in a public meeting by the Tennessee Valley Authority about coal ash is filled with “lies” and misleading information, according to coal ash researchers."

Chemicals [15]
Climate Change [23]
Disasters [24]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Infrastructure [35]
Journalism & Media [36]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Natural Resources [37]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Technology [17]
Waste [38]
Water & Oceans [18]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [39]
Source: Inside Climate News [40], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about TVA Put Out Booklet Downplaying Coal Ash Risks. Experts Call it ‘Dishonest.’ [33]

Calif. Hazardous Waste Rules Slammed as Years Late and ‘Polluter-Friendly’ [41]

"Wherever they turn, residents in and around Santa Fe Springs, California, contend with toxic hazards." "Proposed hazardous waste oversight changes are years behind schedule and fail to account for a community’s health risks from pollution, environmental groups warn."

Chemicals [15]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Technology [17]
Waste [38]
Public [9]
California [25]
Source: Capital & Main [42], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about Calif. Hazardous Waste Rules Slammed as Years Late and ‘Polluter-Friendly’ [41]

"Data Centers Drive 76% Surge In PJM Power Prices" [43]

"The findings highlight inflationary pressures on electricity costs in mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. “The price impacts on customers have been very large and are not reversible,” the grid market monitor said."

Climate Change [23]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Politics [5]
Infrastructure [35]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Technology [17]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [44]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [45]
Source: E&E News [46], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about "Data Centers Drive 76% Surge In PJM Power Prices" [43]

"Tick Bites Surge, Sending Many To ER. Maps Show Where." [47]

"Emergency department visits for tick bites have surged to the highest level for this time of year since 2017, driven by warmer temperatures that are boosting tick activity especially in the Northeast and Midwest."

Biodiversity [14]
Climate Change [23]
Consumer [29]
Environmental Health [3]
People & Population [7]
Wildlife [19]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [45]
Source: USA TODAY [48], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about "Tick Bites Surge, Sending Many To ER. Maps Show Where." [47]

Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Okla. Regulators Don't Help. [49]

"The Merediths were forced to abandon their house after it filled with black goo, reaching gas concentrations at explosive levels. Despite evidence of oil and gas pollution, the state “wanted to act like it would go away,” the family says."

Chemicals [15]
Disasters [24]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Infrastructure [35]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Technology [17]
Water & Oceans [18]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [10]
Source: Frontier/ProPublica [50], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Okla. Regulators Don't Help. [49]

"Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy" [51]

"The board said the administration is taking “a significant step backwards” on preventing chemical disasters."

Economy & Business [30]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [52]
Infrastructure [35]
Laws & Regulations [6]
People & Population [7]
Pollution [8]
Technology [17]
Public [9]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: New York Times [53], 05/19/2026
  • Read more about "Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy" [51]

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Source URL:https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=1

Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/headlines/black-dust-covers-oklahoma-town-residents-face-renewed-pollution-fears [2] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/air [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [6] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [9] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [10] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southwest [11] https://www.koco.com/article/ponca-city-black-dust-oklahoma-town-pollution/71296449 [12] https://www.sej.org/headlines/fws-clears-weedkiller-atrazine-saying-it-won-t-cause-extinction [13] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture [14] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists [17] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology [18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife [20] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [21] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/climate/epa-atrazine-endangered-species-maha.html?unlocked_article_code=1.j1A.a7fp.G8p8tRDVA9px&smid=url-share [22] https://www.sej.org/headlines/over-17000-ordered-evacuate-s-california-wildfire-threatens-homes [23] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [24] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/disaster [25] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california [26] https://apnews.com/article/sandy-fire-simi-valley-california-be9cce40d55499e6772328fa764954f6 [27] https://www.sej.org/headlines/minnesota-sues-3m-says-pfas-cottage-grove-continue-pollute-water [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism [29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [30] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [31] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes [32] https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/17/minnesota-sues-3m-says-forever-chemicals-from-cottage-grove-continue-to-pollute-water [33] https://www.sej.org/headlines/tva-put-out-booklet-downplaying-coal-ash-risks-experts-call-it-dishonest [34] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy [35] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [36] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [37] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land [38] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/waste [39] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southeast [40] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15052026/the-tennessee-valley-authority-produced-a-booklet-downplaying-coal-ash-risks-top-researchers-call-it-dishonest/ [41] https://www.sej.org/headlines/calif-hazardous-waste-rules-slammed-years-late-and-polluter-friendly [42] https://capitalandmain.com/california-hazardous-waste-rules-criticized-as-years-late-and-polluter-friendly [43] https://www.sej.org/headlines/data-centers-drive-76-surge-pjm-power-prices [44] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mid-atlantic [45] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northeast [46] https://www.eenews.net/articles/data-centers-drive-76-surge-in-pjm-power-prices/ [47] https://www.sej.org/headlines/tick-bites-surge-sending-many-er-maps-show-where [48] https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/05/17/tick-bites-emergency-room-maps-where/89991884007/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us [49] https://www.sej.org/headlines/oily-sludge-flooding-their-dream-home-okla-regulators-dont-help [50] https://www.propublica.org/article/oklahoma-oil-regulators-fort-gibson-meredith-family?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us [51] https://www.sej.org/headlines/federal-chemical-safety-board-sends-warning-trump-disaster-policy [52] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government [53] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/climate/chemical-safety-board-disaster-warning-letter.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jlA.fkkh.1JYme6e5Ggsr&smid=url-share [54] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=2 [55] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=3 [56] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=4 [57] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=5 [58] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=6 [59] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=7 [60] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=8 [61] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health?page=859