National (U.S.)

"Much of the U.S. is about to get pretty cold again."

"There are more than 80,000 chemicals in the United States catalogued by government regulators, and the health risks of most of them are unknown."

"WASHINGTON — In a broad review of scientific literature, the nation’s top doctor has concluded that cigarette smoking — long known to cause lung cancer and heart disease — also causes diabetes, colorectal and liver cancers, erectile dysfunction and ectopic pregnancy."

"In coming weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard will decide whether to allow wastewater from the hydraulic fracturing industry to be shipped along federal waterways -- including the Ohio River -- and how strict those rules governing the shipments should be."

"The latest data are out on the prevalence of global warming denial among the US public. And they aren't pretty."

"A former democratic senator and governor from Florida, Bob Graham, visited Cuba this week to discuss oil spill prevention and preparedness during a trip that has caused a stir among exiles and Cuba watchers due to his traditional support for tough sanctions against the Communist-ruled Caribbean island."

"A group of the nation’s leading environmental organizations is breaking with the administration over its energy policy, arguing that the White House needs to apply a strict climate test to all of its energy decisions or risk undermining one of the president’s top ­second-term priorities."

"WASHINGTON -- Climate change got more coverage on broadcast news in 2013 than in the previous few years, but the issue still didn't get nearly as much attention as it did in 2009, Media Matters found in a new analysis."

"The Environmental Protection Agency issued regulations Wednesday creating a national electronic system to track hazardous waste."

U.S. pesticide law allows EPA to approve pesticides for use under "conditional registration" -- before scientists know whether they will harm human health or the environment. Critics say the loophole is overused and abused, allowing EPA to ignore health threats.