News

Presence of toxic chemicals detected in soil and water in vicinity of former Rocketdyjsone facility

urlhttps3A2F2Fcalifornia times brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com2F202F2d2Ff04ae03a43b89aad4846caaeda5e2Fla me rocketdyne site canoga park

A former rocket testing and improvement web site in Canoga Park is below elevated scrutiny after latest exams confirmed excessive ranges of two poisonous chemical substances in surrounding houses and companies. The report, delivered on behalf of RTX Corp. to the California State Water Assets Management Board in June, detailed soil vapor and groundwater inspections at seven areas close to the now vacant lot that was as soon as house to the Rocketdyne testing and improvement web site. It’s adjoining to the Westfield Topanga mall.

At every of the seven areas, the exams recorded ranges of poisonous cleansing solvents that had been above environmental screening ranges that would pose a long-term menace to human well being and the setting. The report suggests additional testing at residential and industrial areas north and east of the previous Rocketdyne web site, as groundwater flows have a tendency to hold the poisonous chemical substances in that course.

A number of neighbors whose condo constructing was screened spoke to The Instances on situation of anonymity and mentioned that they had not been notified of the check outcomes and had been unaware that the testing had taken place in any respect. One resident of a constructing north of the positioning the place elevated ranges had been detected mentioned he had not been notified. He has observed safety on the vacant lot, but when something has modified just lately, he mentioned it could be “exhausting for me to note it.” One other resident of the constructing mentioned she was unaware of any testing, and requested additional info. It was unclear whether or not RTX or the state water board deliberate to inform residents.

RTX, previously generally known as Raytheon Applied sciences Corp., didn’t reply to requests for remark. The state water board confirmed that the company is reviewing the findings from RTX and consulting with toxicologists from the state Environmental Safety Company’s Workplace of Environmental Well being Hazard Evaluation. The water board mentioned in written responses that it had notified some 7,000 residents and events close to the positioning, “together with residences and companies inside a 500-foot radius of the property boundary.”

The 56-acre Rocketdyne web site opened in 1955 and produced hundreds of rocket engines. Engines produced on the web site helped put the primary man on the moon in 1969 and powered NASA house shuttles. Boeing acquired the corporate in 1996. On the peak of the U.S. house race with Russia, the Canoga Park plant employed 22,000 folks. By 2010, it was starting to close down, abandoning the remnants of its industrial processes, together with chemical substances generally known as TCE and PCE.

Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is a colorless liquid that has been used to take away gunk from jet engines, strip paint and take away stains from shirts dropped off on the dry cleaners. Many years of widespread use within the U.S. have left hundreds of web sites contaminated with TCE, and a latest paper suggests a connection between the chemical and Parkinson’s illness. Perchloroethylene, or PCE, is a cleansing solvent that has been linked to a number of forms of most cancers. California banned using PCE at dry cleaners in 2023, after a long time of use as a dirt- and stain-removing agent.

In all, the report performed for RTX by Haley & Aldrich Inc. included 66 soil vapor and 18 groundwater samples between October 2023 and Could 2024. “The presence of a chemical at concentrations exceeding an environmental screening degree doesn’t essentially point out opposed results on human well being or the setting,” the report acknowledged, “however quite that extra analysis is warranted.”

One other infamous web site related to the Rocketdyne identify within the close by Ventura County hills has additionally anxious residents. The Santa Susana Subject Laboratory, one of many state’s most poisonous websites, is the topic of a documentary movie by a mom who believes publicity to the toxicity brought about her youngster and neighbors’ kids to develop most cancers. The Santa Susana cleanup has been controversial and topic to vital delays. The smaller Rocketdyne web site in Canoga Park has acquired much less consideration.

Moreover, the state water board has notified some 4,000 residents close to a former Litton Industries web site northeast of the Rocketdyne web site and in addition in Canoga Park about publicity to poisonous chemical substances, mentioned Jane Williams, government director of California Communities Towards Toxics. She believes that sewer strains could also be connecting the 2 poisonous websites, inflicting them to develop into comingled. “We’re fairly certain that these two websites are going to come back collectively,” she mentioned, characterizing vapor intrusion websites just like the Litton Industries and Rocketdyne websites as “very alarming.”

“The truth that folks close to these websites aren’t being notified,” Williams mentioned, “is a matter of grave concern to us.”

This text raises necessary issues in regards to the environmental influence of poisonous chemical substances discovered within the soil and water close to the previous Rocketdyne web site. The shortage of transparency and notification to residents is troubling, and additional testing and analysis are essential to make sure the protection of the neighborhood. The connection to different contaminated websites within the space provides complexity to the problem and highlights the necessity for complete cleanup efforts. Total, this case underscores the significance of environmental monitoring and safety to safeguard public well being and the setting.

?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia times brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F2d%2Ff04ae03a43b89aad4846caaeda5e%2Fla me rocketdyne site canoga park

Intellectuals Insider

+ posts

News

Hamas issues “positive response” to latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

The Hamas terrorist group stated Friday it has issued a “optimistic response” to a U.S.-mediated ceasefire proposal in its conflict with Israel.

In a submit to Telegram, Hamas stated it “submitted a optimistic response to the mediators’ newest proposal.” It added that it was “absolutely ready to instantly enter right into a spherical of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework,” in line with a translation of the submit.

Israel is predicted to ship a delegation to Qatar on Saturday or Sunday for talks on a doable Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported Saturday, citing a senior official.

On Tuesday, President Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a proposal for a two-month ceasefire. On the time, neither Israel nor Hamas confirmed Mr. Trump’s assertion.

“I feel it has been very optimistic, a superb response,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters late Friday night time aboard Air Power One concerning the Hamas assertion.

“There may very well be a Gaza deal subsequent week,” the president later added. “…I am very optimistic, however you realize, it adjustments from each day. It has been altering for years.”

Israeli sources instructed CBS Information on Wednesday that whereas there was help for the phrases of the proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cupboard, Israel was not committing to it but.

Netanyahu is predicted to go to Washington, D.C., on Monday to satisfy with Mr. Trump on the White Home.

A Palestinian official instructed The Related Press on Friday that Hamas was nonetheless engaged on its response to the proposal introduced to it by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. He stated Hamas is insisting on ensures concerning an Israeli withdrawal to positions it held on March 2, throughout a earlier ceasefire, and an finish to the conflict following a 60-day truce, in addition to ending the U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF) system for distributing assist. The official spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to speak to the media.

The Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry says the variety of Palestinians killed within the territory has handed 57,000 because the conflict started about 21 months in the past. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its depend, however says greater than half of the lifeless are girls and youngsters.

The conflict started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 individuals and taking roughly 250 hostages.

In the meantime, the Gaza Well being Ministry says a minimum of 640 civilians have been shot to demise in latest weeks making an attempt to entry desperately wanted humanitarian provides, together with greater than 400 at distribution websites run by GHF.

Because it started working in Gaza on Might 26, GHF has confronted near-daily claims of aid-seekers being killed by Israeli forces as they attempt to attain its 4 hubs in Gaza.

“I don’t wish to diminish these experiences, however we won’t management what occurs exterior our distribution websites,” GHF’s director, American evangelical reverend Johnnie Moore, instructed CBS Information in an interview Tuesday in response to a query about experiences from docs and eyewitnesses that Israeli troopers have repeatedly opened fireplace on unarmed civilians making an attempt to succeed in its assist hubs.

Earlier this week, greater than 170 humanitarian teams referred to as for the opaquely run group — which has by no means revealed its funding or administration construction — to be disbanded and all assist efforts in Gaza to be reorganized below the long-established United Nations-led system. These worldwide humanitarian efforts have been largely blocked by Israel since March.

Intellectual Insider

+ posts

A blog which focuses on business, Networth, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Self Improvement, Celebrities, Top Lists, Travelling, Health, and lifestyle. A source that provides you with each and every top piece of information about the world. We cover various different topics.

News

Menstrual Cups Tested in Space Flight Conditions for the First Time

Scientists have launched menstrual cups into house for the primary time, testing whether or not these reusable gadgets can stand up to the intense situations of house journey. The AstroCup mission represents a key step towards giving feminine astronauts sustainable menstrual well being choices throughout lengthy length missions to the Moon and Mars.

Since Sally Trip’s historic house shuttle flight in 1983, when NASA famously requested if 100 tampons could be sufficient for every week lengthy mission, managing menstruation in house has been an ongoing problem. At present, most feminine astronauts use hormonal contraception to suppress menstruation fully throughout missions. Whereas this method has sensible benefits, it isn’t appropriate for everybody and raises well being considerations for terribly lengthy missions as we step additional out into the Photo voltaic System.

Sally Trip was the primary American lady in house. (Credit score : NASA)

With formidable plans for lunar bases and Mars expeditions that would final years and even many years, researchers recognised the pressing want for sustainable alternate options. An astronaut collaborating in a number of Artemis missions for instance might face over a decade of menstrual suppression, whereas somebody concerned within the full program from 2025 to 2035 may require almost 20 years of hormonal therapy.

Artemis I efficiently launched from the Kennedy Area Middle on November 16, 2022. (Credit score : Invoice Ingalls)

The AstroCup staff, led by L ́ıgia F. Coelho from Cornell College, launched 4 commercially obtainable menstrual cups aboard the Baltasar rocket throughout a European competitors in October 2022 with two cups flying into house whereas two remained on the bottom as controls. The rocket reached over 3 kilometres altitude throughout a 9 minute flight that subjected the cups to forces 16 instances larger than Earth’s gravity. Earlier than and after the flight, researchers performed rigorous testing utilizing water and glycerol to judge the cups’ structural integrity and leak proof efficiency.

The house flown menstrual cups carried out flawlessly. Visible inspections revealed no indicators of wear and tear or tear however extra importantly, the cups confirmed no leakage of both check liquid, sustaining their seal integrity regardless of experiencing excessive acceleration forces, temperature modifications, and strain variations throughout flight. The payload’s onboard sensors recorded difficult situations all through the journey with temperatures starting from 32-34°C, humidity dropping to 40%, and atmospheric strain falling beneath 70,000 Pascals at peak altitude.

These outcomes recommend that menstrual cups might be a viable resolution for managing menstruation throughout house missions. Not like disposable tampons or pads, reusable cups would dramatically scale back waste, a important consideration in house the place each gram issues and disposal choices are restricted. Past sensible advantages, this analysis addresses astronaut autonomy and selection in healthcare.

A report 4 girls concurrently in house aboard the Worldwide Area Station in 2010. Clockwise from decrease left: Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Naoko Yamazaki, and Stephanie Wilson. (Credit score : NASA)

Whereas encouraging, the AstroCup experiment was only a first step. The check occurred in Earth’s ambiance and gravity, whereas the Moon has one-sixth Earth’s gravity and Mars has one-third. These completely different gravitational situations might have an effect on how menstrual fluid behaves when cups are eliminated or repositioned. Future research should study how the gadgets carry out throughout a number of menstrual cycles, together with cleansing and storage procedures within the atmosphere of house.

The AstroCup mission proves that testing girls’s well being applied sciences for house is each possible and mandatory. With extra girls becoming a member of house applications around the globe and missions rising longer, making certain that feminine astronauts have protected, efficient menstrual administration choices is not only a technical problem, it’s a elementary requirement for the way forward for human house exploration.

Supply : One Giant Leap for Womankind: First Menstrual Cups Tested in Space Flight Conditions

Intellectual Insider

+ posts

News

Photos: July Fourth Protests in Los Angeles

urlhttps3A2F2Fcalifornia times brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com2F612Fd82F5fa52b3c43a1aa59a2db7e4e

A whole lot of protesters who spent the Fourth of July in downtown Los Angeles to rally in opposition to the immigration raids which have roiled the area and the surge in federal funding accepted this week to maintain them going. Many on the road mentioned they have been skipping the barbecues and fireworks this 12 months. They marched by Olvera Road and outdoors the Federal Constructing, which homes the immigration courtroom, waving indicators. A number of cops have been monitoring the protest however stored their distance through the gathering, which lasted just a few hours. “No extra occupation! No extra deportation!” the protesters chanted. On the Federal Constructing, army personnel lined up shoulder-to-shoulder guarding the property with shields and weapons.

An American flag passes by Marines standing guard during a rally against the ongoing ICE raids.

Thousands of Angelenos peacefully march and protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement tactics.

Los Angeles, CA - July 04: Gwen Roberts joins thousands of Angelenos to peacefully march and protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics that are affecting their communities at a rally at City Hall on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles, CA - July 04: Marines and National Guard stand guard as Angelenos rally against the ongoing ICE raids taking place in the city in front of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles, CA - July 04: Nancy Gonzalez wears fake bullet belts with her ornate dress made by Maria Flores representing Mexico at a rally against the ongoing ICE raids taking place in the city at LA City Hall on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles, CA - July 04: Nancy Gonzalez poses in an outfit showing her Mexican heritage as thousands of Angelenos peacefully march and protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics that are affecting their communities at a rally at City Hall on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

1. Los Angeles, CA – July 04: Gwen Roberts joins hundreds of Angelenos to peacefully march and protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ways which might be affecting their communities at a rally at Metropolis Corridor on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions) (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions) 2. Los Angeles, CA – July 04: Marines and Nationwide Guard stand guard as Angelenos rally in opposition to the continuing ICE raids happening within the metropolis in entrance of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Constructing on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions) (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions) 3. Los Angeles, CA – July 04: Nancy Gonzalez wears faux bullet belts together with her ornate costume made by Maria Flores representing Mexico at a rally in opposition to the continuing ICE raids happening within the metropolis at LA Metropolis Corridor on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions) (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions) 4. Los Angeles, CA – July 04: Nancy Gonzalez poses in an outfit exhibiting her Mexican heritage as hundreds of Angelenos peacefully march and protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ways which might be affecting their communities at a rally at Metropolis Corridor on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Occasions) (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions)