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Tuesday

From Ozempic to bird flu: Here are the biggest health stories of 2024

Just this month, California declared a state of emergency due to rising cases of bird flu in dairy cattle. BeritK/Getty Images hide caption

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BeritK/Getty Images

Short Wave

From Ozempic to bird flu: Here are the biggest health stories of 2024

2024 was full of science news. There was a total solar eclipse, the Paris Olympics, elections in the United States and elsewhere, technological breakthroughs and many space launches. But perhaps above all, it was a huge year in health. So, today, we're talking through some of 2024's biggest health stories — from what's in our drinking water supply, to bird flu, obesity drugs and this year's record heat. They're also the stories we think will continue to be big in 2025. See you in the new year, Short Wavers!

From Ozempic to bird flu: Here are the biggest health stories of 2024

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Wednesday

A stereoscope is used to examine a sediment sample to identify microplastics within the sample.

Scientists are working hard to understand the impact of microplastic pollution in the environment and in human bodies. The research requires identifying and analyzing types of microplastics particles, which can range from 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters in size. Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images hide caption

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Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. What are they doing to us?

Plastic particles are found in our organs, blood and even semen. But do they stay in us forever? What damage are they doing? Here are six questions scientists are trying to answer.

Thursday

John Brundahl (left) production superintendent, Todd Colvin, chief water systems operator, and Mark Toy, general manager, run the nation's largest resin PFAS water treatment plant at the Yorba Linda Water District in Orange County, Calif. The three men stand in front of large filtration tanks at the treatment plant.

John Brundahl (left), production superintendent, Todd Colvin, chief water systems operator, and Mark Toy, general manager, run the PFAS treatment plant at the Yorba Linda Water District in Orange County, Calif. Pien Huang/NPR hide caption

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Pien Huang/NPR

Shots - Health News

How a California county got PFAS out of its drinking water

Water utilities across the country will have to comply with EPA limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking water by 2029. Orange County, Calif., got a head start.

Utilities must comply with limits on PFAS chemicals by 2029. Some have a head start

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Friday

Chemical companies and water utilities have sued the EPA after it issued rules limiting some PFAs, or "forever chemicals" that are linked to human health risks.

Chemical companies and water utilities have sued the EPA after it issued rules limiting some PFAs, or "forever chemicals" that are linked to human health risks. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Shots - Health News

The EPA's new limits on PFAS in drinking water face legal challenges

Chemical companies and water utilities are challenging the EPA’s recent rule putting limits on six PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

Friday

From left: Shohei Ohtani, Te-Hina Paopao, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump

From left: Shohei Ohtani, Te-Hina Paopao, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump Matt Krohn, Getty Images; Steph Chambers/Getty Images; Megan Briggs/Getty Images hide caption

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Matt Krohn, Getty Images; Steph Chambers/Getty Images; Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The NPR news quiz

Would you qualify for the jury on a Trump trial? Find out in the quiz

Why is a famous elementary particle in the news? Where is Chechnya and what did it ban? Which prince is Andrew again? If you know these things, you'll get at least a 3 out of 11.

What to know about the new EPA rule limiting 'forever chemicals' in tap water

Following a new EPA rule, public water systems will have five years to address instances where there is too much PFAS in tap water – three years to sample their systems and establish the existing levels of PFAS, and an additional two years to install water treatment technologies if their levels are too high. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Short Wave

What to know about the new EPA rule limiting 'forever chemicals' in tap water

Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people's exposure to some PFAS chemicals. For decades, PFAS have been used to waterproof and stain-proof a variety of consumer products. These "forever chemicals" in a host of products — everything from raincoats and the Teflon of nonstick pans to makeup to furniture and firefighting foam. Because PFAS take a very long time to break down, they can accumulate in humans and the environment. Now, a growing body of research is linking them to human health problems like serious illness, some cancers, lower fertility and liver damage. Science correspondent Pien Huang joins the show today to talk through this new EPA rule — what the threshold for safe levels of PFAS in tap water is, why the rule is happening now and how the federal standards will be implemented.

What to know about the new EPA rule limiting 'forever chemicals' in tap water

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Wednesday

EPA puts limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

EPA is limiting PFAS chemicals in drinking water in the U.S. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Shots - Health News

EPA puts limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

PFAS chemicals have been used for decades to waterproof and stain-proof consumer products and are linked to health problems.

EPA puts limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

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Friday

The EPA is proposing that 'forever chemicals' be considered hazardous substances

Eva Stebel, water researcher, pours a water sample into a smaller glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and PFAS research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Feb. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. Joshua A. Bickel/AP hide caption

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Joshua A. Bickel/AP

Health

The EPA is proposing that 'forever chemicals' be considered hazardous substances

A study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the man-made chemicals are present in nearly half the country's tap water supply.

Thursday

'Forever chemicals' could be in nearly half of U.S. tap water, a federal study finds

A study released by the U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday estimates that at least 45% of U.S. tap water could be contaminated with at least one form of PFAS, which could have harmful health effects. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Health

'Forever chemicals' could be in nearly half of U.S. tap water, a federal study finds

A new government study estimates that at least 45% of the nation's tap water could be contaminated with one or more forms of PFAS. Here's what to do if you're worried about what's in your faucet.