pollution

Hundreds of pesticides are legal, but that doesn’t mean that their impacts on health are fully understood. Cleaning produce before eating it reduces your exposure.

Researchers examined 202 monitoring locations across Missouri and found potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator bacteria at 171 locations, or 85% of the sites, on at least one day of testing.

Lakes and ponds need nearby wetlands to stay healthy. In some places in Missouri, there isn't the room to do that, so conservationists are bringing the wetlands to the water.

Before the southeast Missouri smelter shut down in 2024, air monitors showed the surrounding area exceeded federal sulfur dioxide standards.

Pesticide pollution is a problem especially in the middle of the country. And sometimes there's enough of it to possibly hurt aquatic plants and animals.

In some parts of Kansas, groundwater is polluted with enough nitrates that it can fulfill some of the fertilizing needs for farmers.

Industries and cities used to pollute rivers so heavily that at least one caught fire a dozen times. But like the Spring River in Kansas, some waterways are now bouncing back. Plus: Residents in a small Kansas town are upset about a smelly landfill.

Some rivers are success stories where wildlife is bouncing back from heavy pollution. But environmental groups say progress hasn’t happened across the board and backsliding remains possible.

Kansas City’s Blue River Biosolids Facility is using an innovative wastewater treatment process to convert sewage into energy and fertilizer while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

New EPA data show contamination across Missouri. But removing the forever chemicals could cost millions and take years.

Kansas City is exploring ways to manage stormwater naturally, using parks, gardens, and special pavement to soak up rains. The effort could reshape neighborhoods, improve water quality, and create more green space across the city.

Places such as Minnesota and Austin, Texas, already use green infrastructure like rain gardens to absorb stormwater and keep pollution out of streams and lakes. Now communities across the Kansas City area could get on board.