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Coastal Review Online

Editorial cartoon from the early 1900s shows a man with Spanish influenza sneezing, and people in front of him falling down sick.

Historic Outbreak: Spanish Flu on NC Coast

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Historic Outbreak: Spanish Flu on NC Coast - North Carolina Health News

A century ago, North Carolina was ravaged by a different epidemic than the one we are experiencing today. Again, it was a disease that was without treatment, spread easily and killed about 14,000 people in the state.

By Kip Tabb Coastal Review Online In April, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the national COVID-19 task force, called out shaking hands as a particularly dangerous custom that should be relegated to the past. “ I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you,” he said in […]

A faucet with water flowing from it, as an illustration for drinking water contamination, with substances such as 1,4 dioxane and PFAS

School boards eye filtration to remove PFAS

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School boards eye filtration to remove PFAS - North Carolina Health News

Amidst growing PFAS concerns, schools in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties are planning to install new water filtration systems in their water.

By Kirk Ross Coastal Review Online Schools in New Hanover and Brunswick counties are installing new water filling stations and special filters in reaction to continuing concerns about levels of industrial contaminants found in drinking water systems. The move to reduce per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, comes after a nationwide report again highlighted high […]

shows a lake with pilings sticking up from the water. It's a lake contaminated with coal ash.

Researcher weighs in on Trump administration’s coal ash rule redo

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Researcher weighs in on Trump administration’s coal ash rule redo - North Carolina Health News

Earlier this month, the US EPA announced amendments to the regulations for the disposal of coal ash. Environmentalists are saying the rollback gives industry permission to pollute longer.

By Mark Hibbs Coastal Review Online The Trump administration moved last week to rewrite part of Obama-era regulations addressing coal ash disposal, which entails risks that a Duke University researcher says are all too familiar in coastal North Carolina. But a Duke Energy spokesperson said the proposed changes will have no effect on the utility’s […]

shows a grouping of hot dog shaped bacteria, each with a single hairlike appendage, called a flagellum. It's a picture of vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio survivor, wife warn of bacteria’s risks

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Vibrio survivor, wife warn of bacteria’s risks - North Carolina Health News

After hurricanes, floodwaters can contain bacteria such as vibrio which can kill about one in five people who contract it. Officials urge caution in the wake of storms.

By Trista Talton Coastal Review Online Fifteen minutes. That’s roughly the amount of time Richard Flaherty spent in 2 to 3 inches of flood waters helping a neighbor in Oriental the day after Hurricane Florence made landfall last year. Twenty-four hours later, Flaherty’s left leg had been amputated above the knee. His odds of survival […]

shows a lake with pilings sticking up from the water. It's a lake contaminated with coal ash.

Samples suggest unreported coal ash spills

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Samples suggest unreported coal ash spills - North Carolina Health News

Researchers from Duke University examined coal ash solids found in sediments collected from Sutton Lake in 2015 and 2018 suggesting the lake has been contaminated by multiple spills.

By Trista Talton Coastal Review Online Coal ash found in the sediment at the bottom of Lake Sutton suggests multiple, unreported and unmonitored spills have occurred for years at Duke Energy’s former coal-fired plant near Wilmington, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Duke University. Sediment samples collected from the lake in 2015 […]

shows a seemingly calm beach at sunrise, but there may be rip currents present

First responders warn of rip current risks

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First responders warn of rip current risks - North Carolina Health News

With the "official start of summer" behind us, it's important for beachgoers to be aware of rip current risks along the North Carolina coast. Knowing how to spot a rip current before it becomes a risk is key.

By Jennifer Allen Coastal Review Online There have been seven drownings on the coast so far this year. Emerald Isle Police Chief Tony Reese said that this is the earliest they’ve seen any type of water rescues or drownings in the 20 years he’s been at the town. Usually, the water temperature this time of […]

Shows two women in a lab, manipulating tools in order to test water samples, which are arranged on the tabletop

Health, environment central in Cooper’s budget plan

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Health, environment central in Cooper’s budget plan - North Carolina Health News

The $25.2 billion plan calls for about $748 million in natural and environmental resources spending, about 3 percent of the total budget.

By Kirk Ross Coastal Review Online A major upgrade to Department of Environmental Quality lab facilities, increased staffing for water pollution detection and oversight, and a nearly $1 billion boost in funding for clean water projects statewide are among the dozens of priorities Gov. Roy Cooper outlined in his version of this year’s budget plan. […]

shows the front of the legislative building in Raleigh, general assembly

Legislators Set to Review Storm-Relief Needs

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Legislators Set to Review Storm-Relief Needs - North Carolina Health News

Lawmakers will be back in Raleigh this week to address issues created by this fall's election and also to address problems created by flooding and damage from storms.

By Kirk Ross Coastal Review Online Legislators are set to reconvene in Raleigh after Thanksgiving as more details are compiled in steadily increasing estimates of the damage from Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael. The General Assembly, which returns Nov. 27 for a previously scheduled post-election extension of its 2018 regular session, is expected to […]

Shows two women in a lab, manipulating tools in order to test water samples, which are arranged on the tabletop

Blood Tests Show 4 PFAS, But No GenX

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Blood Tests Show 4 PFAS, But No GenX - North Carolina Health News

Results of blood tests taken earlier this year show people drinking Cape Fear River water had some fluroinated chemicals in their blood, but not GenX.

By Trista Talton Coastal Review Online Blood samples taken from more than 300 New Hanover County residents contain man-made chemicals unique to their drinking water source, but GenX is not one of them. Results of blood tests from a GenX exposure study reveal four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, specific to customers of the […]

shows a seemingly calm beach at sunrise, but there may be rip currents present

Coastal Waters May Carry Health Risks

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Coastal Waters May Carry Health Risks - North Carolina Health News

Health officials and others are warning visitors and residents to stay out of the water, including recreational waters, to avoid potential health risks.

Coastal Review Online Now is probably a good time to try to stay dry. Health officials and others say there’s stuff in the water — both flooded areas and recreational waters — that is best avoided. New Hanover County Public Health Department and North Carolina Emergency Management officials warn that people should be careful and […]

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