Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters and PFAS in protective equipment has got to go, said the International Association of Fire Fighters on Monday. The union has retained three law firms to pursue stronger standards for toxic substances in firefighting gear, with General President Edward Kelly noting that this "initiative will accelerate our search for PFAS-free gear."

In this edition of the well-known Data Points column, the authors ask how probability of detection can be estimated using binomial distribution.

Bell's 525 Relentless helicopter is on track for certification by year's end, noting a high level of interest from prospective customers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its policy statement for the inspection, testing and remediation of private wells to provide safe drinking water for children. Recommendations include that pediatricians ask about the source of the family's drinking water and familiarize themselves with issues such as climate change and fracking and how they can affect water quality, along with guidelines on testing well water for levels of fluoride.

The troublesome absence of consistent structural codes for the solar photovoltaic industry has led the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers to form a special committee. The group has assembled a wide range of stakeholders who will draw on their experience to formulate design guides and standards for PV power generation structures.

Building codes are one key factor limiting the potential of 3D printing for commercial construction, according to Patti Harburg-Petrich, principal in the Los Angeles office of UK-based engineering firm Buro Happold. In an interview, Harburg-Petrich traces the problem to testing of 3D-printed materials, which is "a very lengthy and expensive process," making approvals a daunting challenge for major public projects.

Panel discussions hosted by McKinsey at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, brought together stakeholders from around the globe to discuss how to decarbonize and create a net-zero value chain for concrete and cement. For production to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, there has to be a focus on circularity, a reduction in clinker used in cement and the ability to reduce carbon emissions created during the production process, panelists said.

Development of new energy infrastructure such as CO2 pipelines, hydrogen projects and liquefied natural gas terminals is at the top of the Biden administration's energy agenda, but antiquated regulatory frameworks are holding back progress, slowing emissions reduction efforts and threatening to raise costs for companies. A good case in point is the $15.7 billion Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, developed by NextDecade, which on Monday blasted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for taking longer than usual to reevaluate its environmental review for the project to comply with a court order.

Additive manufacturing, or 3D-printing, was used to design a multigesture capable electromyographic prosthesis for children that is undergoing clinical trials, and various manufacturing techniques reduced the weight and enhanced performance, according to research published in the journal Prosthesis. Researchers offer recommendations for implementing additive manufacturing in prostheses, including consideration of cosmetic components.

A layoff is among the biggest life stressors that can negatively affect mental health, with feelings of powerlessness and lack of agency contributing to the emotional distress, writes licensed clinical social worker Allison Abrams. People who are let go should find opportunity during that time of adversity, broaden their identity outside of work and reconsider priorities, Abrams writes.

ASTM's Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) is sponsoring the Exo Games, a new initiative to improve student involvement and education in the exo technologies industry.