Honey bees can be used to monitor PFAS levels in the environment, new study shows

Honey bees can be used to monitor levels of PFAS in the environment, a new study from The James Hutton Institute and the University of Graz has shown. PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”, are a group of more than 12,000 man-made chemicals which are used in everyday items such as frying pans and waterproof jackets. First popularised in the 1940s, these chemicals have since been linked to serious health concerns including cancer, fertility issues and liver damage. Due to their widespread use, background levels of PFAS are detectable…

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James Hutton Limited to open lab capable of analysing anaerobic digestate

New plans to open a lab capable of analysing anaerobic digestate have been announced by James Hutton Limited, the commercial wing of The James Hutton Institute. Anaerobic digestate – the leftover material produced when organic waste is broken down by bacteria in a sealed anaerobic digester – is useful as a soil improver. However, before being put into action, digestates must be tested against the quality requirements laid out in Publicly Available Specification 110 (PAS 110). The Hutton, a world-leading scientific research institute at the forefront of transformative science for the…

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