#environmental-science

All articles tagged with "environmental-science"

First evidence found of cocaine pollution affecting fish in the wild

Study flags cocaine pollution as a new behavioral threat to wild Atlantic salmon

A newly reported international study says cocaine and its metabolites can alter the behavior of juvenile wild Atlantic salmon, raising another concern about how human drug pollution reaches aquatic ecosystems.

Key Takeaways

A reported international study links cocaine contamination to behavioral changes in juvenile Atlantic salmon.
The finding is presented as first evidence of this effect in the species.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 21, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

Congo Basin's Ancient Carbon Is Escaping Into the Air

Millennia-old carbon buried in Congo Basin peatlands is seeping into blackwater lakes and rivers, raising fears that tropical peatlands may be approaching a dangerous tipping point.

Key Takeaways

Radiocarbon dating shows millennia-old carbon appearing in Congo Basin waterways
30 billion metric tons of carbon stored in world's largest tropical peatland

DT Editorial Team·Mar 12, 2026·4 min read·via livescience.com

Toxic Metals Found in Bananas and Crops a Decade After Brazil's Worst Mining Disaster

Researchers have detected dangerous levels of cadmium, lead, and other heavy metals in bananas, cassava, and cocoa grown in soil contaminated by the 2015 Fundão dam collapse. The findings raise particular concerns for young children, who face elevated health risks from consuming contaminated produce.

Key Takeaways

Bananas grown near Brazil's 2015 Fundão dam collapse contain toxic metals posing health risks to children under six
Five heavy metals including lead and cadmium were detected in bananas, cassava, and cocoa crops

DT Editorial Team·Feb 17, 2026·5 min read·via sciencedaily.com