California considering banning biodegradable microbeads from personal care products

The state is considering a bill that would prohibit microbeads, even if they’re made from bioplastic, eliminating a longstanding loophole

Sweat it out: could your sportswear be toxic?

A Greenpeace report is one of an emerging body of research highlighting the possible link between the chemicals in sportswear and health risks

Which is the healthiest city in the US?

City links: Fit cities in America, gentrification in Hong Kong and London’s canalside ‘duck lanes’ feature among this week’s best city stories

China’s middle class turns to organics after food safety scares

In Beijing and Shanghai the number of specialist and boutique food shops selling organic food is growing, with many willing to pay a premium for good-quality, safe food

Prince Charles’s ‘black spider memos’ show lobbying at highest political level

Publication of 27 letters after 10-year legal battle shows heir to the throne petitioning ministers on subjects from the Iraq war to alternative therapies

For the youngest and oldest, air pollution may have serious health consequences

The effect of air pollution on climate change is well-documented, but two new studies show that it may also pose surprising dangers to public health

Welcome to the UK’s latest national park … London

Ambitions to re-brand Greater London as a national park sounds like a gimmick, but organisers say it could benefit businesses and the city’s growing population

New studies link pollution to a variety of health risks

A raft of recent studies detail how air pollution might be linked to ailments from severe flu to ADHD

Pesticide residue on food could affect sperm quality, says Harvard study

Analysis of semen from men at fertility clinic matched with questionnaire on consumption of fruit and vegetables

Common pesticides linked to antibiotic resistance

People exposed to herbicides require more antibiotics to kill bacteria, according to new research published in mBio