Sometimes your biggest safety risks are the ones you can't actually see. This week, we're tracking a massive recall of a popular winter gadget that turned deadly. We're also watching a major legal fight over the "forever chemicals" flowing out of millions of California taps.
A winter gadget turns deadly
Most of us have a drawer stuffed with random rechargeable gadgets. One of them needs your immediate attention. Ocoopa is recalling a massive batch of its popular rechargeable hand warmers after a string of fire and burn injuries, NBC News reports.
The danger is real. An 83-year-old in San José died in a fire sparked by one of these devices earlier this year.
The problem is the lithium-ion battery. Because of the fire risk, you can't just toss a defective warmer into your kitchen trash or recycling bin.
Getting your money back requires a slightly tedious process. You have to write "RECALLED" across the device in permanent marker and snap a photo to submit for your refund. Then you have to physically take the unit to a household hazardous waste collection center for safe disposal.
The fight over California's water
In California, the fight over safe drinking water is getting aggressive. Attorney General Rob Bonta just expanded a massive lawsuit against chemical giants like 3M and DuPont. He accuses them of playing a corporate shell game to avoid paying for environmental cleanup, the State of California - Department of Justice reports.
These companies have known about the dangers of PFAS, commonly called "forever chemicals," for a long time. The state alleges the manufacturers confirmed these chemicals bioaccumulate in humans back in the 1970s.
Today, PFAS are in everyday household items like food packaging, cookware, and cleaning products. But the biggest concern for homeowners is the water supply.
Instead of footing the bill to filter these toxins out of our groundwater, the lawsuit claims the original companies restructured. They allegedly spun off new corporate entities and capped their own liabilities. One agreement set a $4 billion ceiling for certain DuPont defendants, leaving taxpayers on the hook.
This is no distant corporate drama. These chemicals are sitting in at least 146 public water systems across the state. The people who manufactured the toxins that ended up in your tap water are fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying to get them out.
What this means for you
- Check your winter coat pockets and glove boxes for Ocoopa hand warmers. If you find one, handle it with care. Lithium-ion batteries are volatile. That makes proper hazardous waste disposal a key part of your California seasonal checklist.
- If you're worried about the water coming out of your kitchen faucet, don't wait on the state. Forcing a corporate cleanup will take years. Consider upgrading to a reverse osmosis water filter, and read up on how to protect your family in our environmental hazards guide.