Environmental Health

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    Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog

  • Biomonitoring Data Links Brain Effects to Neurotoxic Chemical Exposure

    Beyond Pesticides
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:01 pm
    (Beyond Pesticides, February 9, 2010) In an innovative development that could transform the way Americans view the origins of learning and developmental disabilities, the national Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI) released the first-ever biomonitoring report identifying toxic chemical pollution in people from the learning and developmental disability community. Mind, Disrupted: How Toxic Chemicals May [...]

  • EPA Sued for Failure to Protect Endangered Species from Pesticides

    Beyond Pesticides
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:05 pm
    (Beyond Pesticides, February 8, 2010) The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week. The lawsuit argues that EPA violated the Endangered Species Act when it approved 394 pesticides known to be harmful to humans and wildlife, without consulting with wildlife regulatory agencies as to [...]

  • Conventional Turfgrass Management Creates Excess Greenhouse Gas

    Beyond Pesticides
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:16 am
    (Beyond Pesticides, February 5, 2010) While there are many great reasons for “green” spaces in urban areas, a new study has found that conventional landscaping practices are actually causing greenhouse gas emissions at a rate up to four times greater than the lawn’s ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The study, [...]

  • Obama Budget Proposal Reduces EPA Overall Budget; Pushes Climate Regulations Forward

    Beyond Pesticides
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:49 am
    (Beyond Pesticides, February 4, 2009) The Obama Administration proposed a budget of $10 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which represents an overall cut of $300 million from its 2010 fiscal year budget. However, within its $10 billion budget EPA is proposing a $43.5 million in new funding for climate regulatory efforts [...]

  • Greening the Community, 28th National Pesticide Forum: New Speakers, Garden Tour

    Beyond Pesticides
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:06 pm
    (Beyond Pesticides, February 3, 2010) Beyond Pesticides has confirmed exciting additions to Greening the Community, the 28th National Pesticide Forum, scheduled for April 9-10 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. The Forum is an important opportunity to discuss the latest information on pesticides and alternatives, meet scientists and community leaders, and network with [...]
 
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    EHSToday.com RSS Feed

  • At Least 5 Dead in Connecticut Power Plant Explosion

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:43 am
    At least five workers are dead and two dozen injured following a Feb. 7 explosion at Kleen Energy Plant in Middletown, Conn. Media reports indicate up to five additional people may still be missing.

  • VPPPA: Despite Budget Concerns, VPP Will Continue to Thrive

    5 Feb 2010 | 10:52 am
    Following the release of the OSHA FY 2011 budget request, which proposes reduced funding for compliance assistance programs, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association Inc. (VPPPA) produced a video message stressing that the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) will continue to thrive even as the agency’s focus turns to enforcement.

  • ATA: Current Hours-of-Service Rules Improve Safety

    5 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am
    On Jan. 28, representatives from affiliates and member companies of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other trucking industry speakers told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that declining fatality and crash numbers show that safety has improved under current hours-of-service (HOS) rules.

  • Feb 1-5 is Clean Energy Week

    3 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am
    Nearly 100 organizations in the renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental arenas joined forces to turn February 1-5 into Clean Energy Week, an initiative advocating for comprehensive clean energy legislation, including provisions for energy efficiency, renewable efficiency and climate solutions.

  • NIOSH Releases Spanish-Language Construction Ergonomics Guide

    3 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    NIOSH recently released a Spanish-language guide to help employers and workers effectively prevent job-related musculoskeletal injuries in the construction industry.
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    Enviroblog

  • 4 steps to drinking safer water

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 am
    Get the tap water database widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Here at EWG we talk a lot about water, because we think it should be safe to drink. We recently researched three water issues: Bottled water (skip it), Our water supply (don't frack it), and Tap water (filter it). To help you drink safer water at home and on the go, we rolled up all this drinking water information and guidance in one place. You can learn to drink safer water in 4 easy steps from our Healthy Home Tip: Identify the contaminants in your home tap water (use our…

  • 3,163 ingredients hide behind the word "fragrance"

    1 Feb 2010 | 11:12 pm
    By Lisa Frack with Becky Sutton Enviroblog readers all know that "fragrance" is a term that the cosmetics, cleaning and candle industries use on ingredient lists that discloses only that there are unnamed chemicals in the product. Which is not so helpful for avid label-readers (like me) who want and deserve full information when choosing products. Unless you use it as a red flag of what not to buy, that is. Then - and only then - is it helpful. It's pretty big news that, after years of intentional mystery, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) decided to publish an alphabetical list…

  • The new crop of eco-films: Which should you see?

    1 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am
    With green being the new black, there are more than a few environmental documentaries to choose from when popping that (not-in-the-microwave) popcorn. To help you navigate the choices, EWG's very own Don Carr, press secretary and hard-hitting ag policy blogger, offers guidance on which to see. He screened them himself at this year's Sundance Film Festival to boil it down for us on Grist (trailers included). On my list are the ones Don highlights as "well-crafted, compelling films that address crucial environmental themes not yet in the public consciousness." So find the film(s) for you and…

  • Carnival of the Green #212

    29 Jan 2010 | 11:22 am
    212 weeks ago the Carnival of the Green began over a pint of beer in London. Now it bounces from green blog to green blog, week after week, around the world. From EcoJoe's last week right here to EWG's Enviroblog. At EWG, we dish out a lot of (very useful, practical, science-based!) advice on how to live with fewer toxics, so it comes naturally to present this week's Carnival posts as suggestions on different ways to live green - from a host of green bloggers 'round the globe. You can choose from one of these 14 green living ideas today (more, of course, if you're feeling gung-ho): 1. Dave…

  • Cosmetics Safety Series - Part 3: Why it's Time for Personal Care Products to Go on Sale

    27 Jan 2010 | 9:47 am
    I was about seven years old, and frustrated from trying to curl my straight, limp hair when my mom taught me a saying she had learned from her mom when she was a young girl: "What price beauty."This classic line refers, of course, to the lengths  to which we go for "beauty." As a second-grader, having sore arms after 35 minutes of setting curlers was a steep bounty for the temporary effect. Today it's clear that there are bigger stakes - our health and that of our children and our environment - and these stakes are just too high.We need safer personal care products.  Here's why:They…
 
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    Environmental Health Perspectives

  • Climate Variability and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Transmission in Northeastern China

    Wen-Yi Zhang et al.
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Background: Being a typical zoonosis, the transmission of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is influenced by climatic variables. However, few studies have examined the quantitative relationship between climate variation and HFRS transmission. Objective: This study examines the potential impact of climate variability on HFRS transmission and develops climate-based forecasting models for HFRS in northeastern China. Methods: Data on monthly counts of reported HFRS cases in Elunchun and Molidawahaner counties during 1997-2007 were obtained from the Inner Mongolia Center for Disease…

  • Urinary Concentrations of Metabolites of Pyrethroid Insecticides in the General U.S. Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002

    Dana Boyd. Barr et al.
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Background: Pyrethroid insecticides are the most commonly used residential insecticides in the United States. Objectives: Our objective was to assess human exposure via biomonitoring to pyrethroid insecticides in a representative sample of the general U.S. population aged 6 years and older. Methods: By using isotope dilution high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we measured five urinary metabolites of pyrethroid insecticides in 5046 samples collected as a part of the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Univariate, multivariate and Pearson…

  • Comparison of Current-Use Pesticide and Other Toxicant Urinary Metabolite Levels among Pregnant Women in the CHAMACOS Cohort and NHANES

    Rosemary Castorina et al.
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    BACKGROUND: We measured 34 metabolites of current-use pesticides and other precursor compounds in urine samples collected twice during pregnancy from 538 women living in the Salinas Valley of California, a highly agricultural area (1999-2001). Precursors of these metabolites included fungicides, carbamate, organochlorine, organophosphorous (OP) and pyrethroid insecticides, triazine and chloroacetanilide herbicides. We also measured ethylenethiorurea (ETU), a metabolite of the ethylene-bisdithiocarbamate fungicides. Repeat measurements of the compounds presented here have not been reported in…

  • Residential Traffic Exposure, Pulse Pressure and C-Reactive Protein: Consistency and Contrast Among Exposure Characterization Methods

    Christine L. Rioux et al.
    1 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Background: Traffic exposure has been shown to increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk via systemic inflammation and elevated blood pressure, two important clinical markers for managing disease progression. Objectives: We assessed degree and consistency of association between traffic exposure indicators as predictors of C-reactive protein (CRP) and pulse pressure in an adult U.S. Puerto Rican population (n=1017). Methods: Cross-sectional information on health and demographics and blood data were collected. Using multiple linear regression, we tested for associations between CRP, pulse…

  • Association of Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation with Organic Components and Source Tracers in Quasi-Ultrafine Particles

    Ralph J. Delfino et al.
    1 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Background: Evidence is needed regarding the air pollutant components and their sources responsible for associations between particle mass concentrations and human cardiovascular outcomes. We previously found associations of circulating biomarkers of inflammation with mass concentrations of quasi-ultrafine particles<0.25 µm in diameter (PM0.25) in a panel cohort study of 60 elderly subjects with coronary artery disease living in the Los Angeles basin. Objectives: We reassessed biomarker associations with PM0.25 using new particle composition data. Methods: Weekly biomarkers of…
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    MCS America ©

  • Toilet paper is major emitter of bisphenol-A

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am
    Toilet paper is major emitter of bisphenol-Ahttp://www.buildinggreen.com/live/index.cfm/2008/8/26/Toilet-paper-bisphenol-A-wastewater-recycle d "As a key component in polycarbonate plastics such as those used for reusable water bottles, baby bottles, canned-food liners, and some building materials, bisphenol-A (BPA) has become the new chemical to fear."

  • POLICE RADIOS BLAMED FOR PC'S CANCER DEATH

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:09 am
    Police Radios Blamed for PC's Cancer Death http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156702/Police-radios-blamed-for-PC-s-cancer-death  "DOZENS of police forces are facing compensation claims from officers over radios they say make them ill and have been blamed by the family of one officer for his death from cancer."

  • AAN: Industrial Cleaner Again Tied to Parkinson Risk

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:05 am
    AAN: Industrial Cleaner Again Tied to Parkinson Riskhttp://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAN/18338 "The degreasing agent trichloroethylene (TCE) has been linked to increased rates of Parkinson's disease among industrial workers in yet another study, this time involving a large, well-studied group of World War II veterans."

  • In a California Town, Birth Defects, Deaths and Questions

    7 Feb 2010 | 4:57 pm
    In a California Town, Birth Defects, Deaths and Questions http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/07kettleman.html "State and federal officials are scrambling to determine what caused the deaths of three children in this Central California farming town, which shares a ZIP code with the largest hazardous waste treatment site west of the Mississippi. Over a 15-month period in 2007 and 2008, six children of mothers from Kettleman City were born with serious birth defects, including cleft palates, deformities and brain damage. Half of those infants subsequently died."

  • The chemical revolt

    7 Feb 2010 | 4:50 pm
    The chemical revolthttp://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_14345327?nclick_check=1 "BPA in baby bottles. Phthalates in children's books. Lead in toys. As parents' awareness of potential toxins in the home has grown in recent years, so has their anxiety. Minnesota has helped lead the way to regulate worrisome chemicals, and federal reform."
 
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    The Pump Handle

  • Energy Plant Explosion Kills Five

    Liz Borkowski
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:14 pm
    Yesterday afternoon, a massive explosion at an under-construction Connecticut power plant killed five workers and wounded several more. Workers at the Kleen Energy plant in Middletown, CT were reportedly purging a natural gas line, and the explosion was so powerful that residents towns away reported hearing it and feeling tremors. About 100 firefighters worked for an hour to extinguish the blaze and then begin searching for survivors, local station WFSB reports. The Hartford Courant gives the names of two of the five workers killed: Pipefitters Ronald Crabb, 42, of Colchester, and Raymond E.

  • Random thoughts on CDC’s swine flu effort: epidemiology and surveillance

    revere
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am
    by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure We still don’t know if we are experiencing a lull in flu or the virus has burned itself out for the season, but it’s as good a time as any to reflect a bit on where we’ve been and where we still need to go. Being otherwise occupied (I’m sure you are sick of hearing about my grant writing obsession but not half as sick as I am about having it!), I’ll start with something relatively straightforward: how CDC did on the epidemiology and surveillance front. Historically this is the agency’s strong suit and so it is…

  • Portland Models Cycling Planning

    Liz Borkowski
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    Portland, Oregon is already a model city in many ways, including an impressive public transit system and a high rate of bicycle commuting. Now, reports Joseph Rose of The Oregonian/Associated Press, Portland’s City Council is poised to approve a $613 million plan that would build 681 new miles of bike lanes over the next two decades. Rose collects a couple of different perspectives on the plan. Mayor Sam Adams thinks it’ll be hard for the city to reach its goals of increasing neighborhood livability and transportation affordability while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. John Charles of…

  • More on the Importance of Agencies

    Liz Borkowski
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:10 am
    Following Tim Dickinson’s Rolling Stone article about what Lisa Jackson is accomplishing at EPA, John B. Judis publishes a piece in the New Republic about the Obama “revolution” going on as Obama appointees at multiple federal agencies enthusiastically enforce laws intended to keep our air, food, drus, and workplaces safe. Judis contrasts previous Republican agency heads to Obama appointees as EPA, OSHA, FDA, and FEMA, and rattles off the budget increases that will allow several agencies to step up enforcement activities. I’m not as optimistic as Judis that Cass Sunstein’s…

  • Peer review problems: just in the Nature of things

    revere
    3 Feb 2010 | 6:21 am
    by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure The Nature blog, The Great Beyond, has an interesting although not surprising report of accusations on BBC that a cabal of researchers has been impeding publication of important stem cell research to help themselves or help their friends: Truly innovative stem cell research is being suppressed by a clique of peer reviewers for high profile journals, several researchers claimed today.They told the BBC that the problem lies with those responsible for producing the reviews of research that journals such as Nature use to decide whether to publish the…
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    Living w/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

  • Half Past Dead

    29 Jan 2010 | 1:48 pm
    Provigil. Work. Relapse

  • Seacrest Out!

    18 Jan 2010 | 4:43 pm
    This is a quick post to let my readers know I most likely will not be posting this week. Operation Smother the Stinking Carpet has begun.Actually, it began last week. Because I have co-morbid chronic fatigue syndrome and this is labor intensive work, progress has been slow. The only time I can make any significant progress is on the weekend, but I can't do so much that I end up fatigued at work during the week.Hey carpet!!! Smell ya later!!!! (Does anyone remember where the "smell ya later!" phrase is from? Was it a character on SNL? A movie? The Simpsons?) Anyway, this carpet is getting not…

  • Newsflash: Cleveland Still Sucks

    8 Jan 2010 | 7:24 am
    One look at this link and you'll have no doubt that Cleveland has one of the worst public education systems in America, or that it is a little behind the curve when providing reasonable accommodations to the disabled.

  • Holy Crap

    7 Jan 2010 | 6:38 pm
    Good 'ol treehugger reported on a scientific study that found 48% of fast food restaurants tested had fecal bacteria on the soft drink dispensers and in the drinks.http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/48-percent-fast-food-soda-fountains-contain-bacteria-grew-feces.phpThe scientists and the publication the article references seem legit, but because the soda fountains probably weren't similarly tested and proven clean before, and because the water that goes into the soda wasn't isolated and tap water can have fecal bacteria in it, we can't be 100% certain the fast food places are to blame.

  • Old Man Winter Wears A Scruffy Silver Beard

    7 Jan 2010 | 11:04 am
    In advance of the massive cold front sweeping the USA, my friend Joel the former rock-star turned-organic-wheat-farmer had to run a bunch of errands on his farm before the weather changed. On the farm, the word "errand" generally means "several hours of hard work". In this particular instance, we had to pick up a bunch of hay and alfalfa bales from the plot of land where they were cut and stored and transport them to the various acreages were the cattle and horses are kept.Most livestock instinctively eats more during cold weather, and my friend Joel told me that he also tries to give them a…
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    The Öko Box

  • Slugs

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm
    on a broom... I can't wait for spring time when all the bugs are gonna come back out!!!XoXo

  • Help Me Come Up With A DONKEY CALL!

    7 Feb 2010 | 6:20 am
    Ok, so I have not gotten my donkey yet cause I have to wait till I move to my new place... which I have to find still. But of course there is never a day that doesn't pass when I don't plan every little nuance of my life with my future donkey friend. I think about giving it hugs, riding slowly down the road together, making it a unicorn horn hat, sewing some regal velvet accessories so that it can feel like a king or queen, and I spend time daydreaming about how it will love me so much that when I give the 'special call' it will run right to me.But what is that special call? I never can quite…

  • Book Review: Hatchet

    5 Feb 2010 | 3:00 pm
    I think I have a 'thing' for survival books, especially if they are a true story (although fiction is fine by me too!) Possibly it is because I am living in someone's house who has a great love of survival books so when I go to find something to read it's like choosing which 'boy becomes man' adventure novel that looks the coolest.Hatchet ---> I read this book in one evening plus one morning before getting out of bed, it was not only a easy read but the adventure was something difficult to put down. So engaging is the true story that you don't realize you are even hungry or have a life…

  • Eco Art: Glob Paints -Gluten Free, Chemical Free, Vegan!

    4 Feb 2010 | 10:33 am
    Ya'll.... I am having a freak out! I have found gluten free, chemical free, vegan, food grade, 100% natural PAINTS!!! This is an idea I have been working on diligently for the last 2 years, compiling lists of pigments, experimenting with colors...... only to find someone has already figured out six of the best colors there are and they call them GLOB! Glob made their paint product so safe, you can use it on your body and flush it down the toilet with no environmental or health disasters.I am so excited about these paint pigments being available that I have been running back and forth across…

  • Hehyo Wittle Mouse!

    3 Feb 2010 | 12:55 pm
    When the chickens and guinea hens moved out the coop... somebody else moved in! Using the paper shreds and the feathers left behind this adorable mouse made the most beautiful nest ever (you know except if it had some glitter and sequins to work with). Mouser happens to be super friendly too, it popped out the nest to check me out :) --- and how cute is it dat a wittle feather is stuck on it's nose!!!?Many people are terrified and grossed out by mice, maybe from some kind of biological, evolutionary junk caused by rat poop/fleas giving us horrible plagues... but as for now, no plagues are…
 
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    Environmental Health (News)

  • Copenhagen Accord: A Bad Deal Waiting to Happen

    Editor2
    20 Jan 2010 | 2:06 pm
    By Frances Q. Quimpo Copenhagen - The climate negotiation in the Fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP 15) in Copenhagen has come to a sour end. The world's high expectation for a meaningful and binding agreement is doused with icy cold water by a non-binding deal dubbed as "Copenhagen Accord" - a deal primarily brokered by the most powerful and leading polluter country in the world -- the United States. read more

  • UN Should be Sidelined in Future Climate Talks, Says Obama Official

    Editor2
    20 Jan 2010 | 1:46 pm
    By Suzanne Goldenberg & John Vidal America sees a diminished role for the United Nations in trying to stop global warming after the "chaotic" Copenhagen climate change summit, an Obama administration official said today. Jonathan Pershing, who helped lead talks at Copenhagen, instead sketched out a future path for negotiations dominated by the world's largest polluters such as China, the US, India, Brazil and South Africa, who signed up to a deal in the final hours of the summit. That would represent a realignment of the way the international community has dealt with climate…

  • Preventing disparities at forefront of health care reform

    UH Staff
    22 Dec 2009 | 1:35 pm
    Federally funded security guards at dangerous neighborhood parks. Federal grants to poor neighborhoods to build grocery stores or to keep school gyms open after hours. These are the types of unprecedented — yet uncontroversial — disease prevention initiatives whose inclusion has been lost in the rancorous debate over health care reform legislation working its way through Congress. The prevention provisions mark a victory for advocates and federal lawmakers who for years have unsuccessfully sought more federal funding to close the gap in health disparities and life expectancies between…

  • Reclaiming health: Residents battle to overcome health inequities

    UH Staff
    22 Dec 2009 | 1:30 pm
    A church boardroom seems like an oasis in an area so crime-ridden that iron fences topped with spikes protect most homes. Inside the church, residents settle into padded leather chairs to plan a better future for the East Oakland neighborhood of Sobrante Park. They want to reduce crime, decrease neighborhood blight, and reopen a park closed years ago after a homicide. "It's been known as a very dangerous area," said the Rev. Jeffrey Parker, who left a comfortable home in Berkeley when he moved to Sobrante Park four years ago to lead the neighborhood's only church. It's the…

  • In East Bay, where pollution goes, health problems follow

    UH Staff
    22 Dec 2009 | 1:24 pm
    In an unusual move, Contra Costa Health Services employees have begun to advise low-income families on the best way to manage their finances. The innovative approach, dubbed BEST, is needed, health leaders say, to tackle the East Bay's widespread health inequities. In the program's first phase, county health employees who visit pregnant women and young mothers in their homes will assist them with their financial concerns and help them apply for public benefits, repair their credit ratings, open checking or savings accounts, and use prepaid debit cards. So what does this have to do with…
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    WordPress Tag: Environmental Health

  • Cuba to build Malaria control factory in Nigeria

    Minchie Israel
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:29 am
    Cuba Cuban investors are poised to begin construction of a US$25 million malaria control factory in

  • Pest Control in Food Businesses

    castlepest
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:23 am
    Pest infestations cost businesses money. Pests damage and contaminate food, gnaw through electrical cables and cause disease. As a food business proprietor it is YOUR responsibility to deal with pests effectively. The three main groups of pests that are encountered in food businesses are:  Rodents – Mice and Rats  Insects – Cockroaches, Beetles, Ants and Flies  Birds – Pigeons, Seagulls etc Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs states that businesses must ensure that the layout, design, construction and size of food premises shall permit good food…

  • Healthcare-Associated Infections

    Ashraf Faden
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:46 pm
    A couple of years ago I visited an ER department in one of the reputable public hospitals taking in a relative of mine with a head injury.  To my surprise, the ER physician did not even follow the ABC’s for head and neck traumas.  He began his physical exam by picking the patient’s head and turning it back and forth and twisting it side-to-side and so forth.  Luckily, my relative did not have any neck injury; otherwise, I do not even want to imagine the consequences.  Where do they get these doctors? Anyways, this is a whole different story I will leave for another post to talk…

  • Portland Models Cycling Planning

    Liz Borkowski
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    Portland, Oregon is already a model city in many ways, including an impressive public transit system and a high rate of bicycle commuting. Now, reports Joseph Rose of The Oregonian/Associated Press, Portland’s City Council is poised to approve a $613 million plan that would build 681 new miles of bike lanes over the next two decades. Rose collects a couple of different perspectives on the plan. Mayor Sam Adams thinks it’ll be hard for the city to reach its goals of increasing neighborhood livability and transportation affordability while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. John Charles of…

  • Vehicle deaths major killer in Saudi Arabia!

    Ashraf Faden
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:35 am
    According to the Traffic division of the Ministry of Interior in Riyadh, the average annual economic loss related to traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia is estimated at 21 billion Saudi riyals.  That is equivalent to $5.6 billion dollars a year.  In addition, Muhammad Humaidan reported in the Arab News newspaper in an article about traffic accidents in Saudi on December 14, 2009: The number of people killed in traffic accidents in Saudi roads has risen almost 10 percent to just over 7,000 in the past year, according to Dr. Khaled Al-Eisa, supervisor general of King Abdul Aziz Hospital in…
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    Enviroblog

  • 4 steps to drinking safer water

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 am
    Get the tap water database widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Here at EWG we talk a lot about water, because we think it should be safe to drink. We recently researched three water issues: Bottled water (skip it), Our water supply (don't frack it), and Tap water (filter it). To help you drink safer water at home and on the go, we rolled up all this drinking water information and guidance in one place. You can learn to drink safer water in 4 easy steps from our Healthy Home Tip: Identify the contaminants in your home tap water (use our…

  • 3,163 ingredients hide behind the word "fragrance"

    1 Feb 2010 | 11:12 pm
    By Lisa Frack with Becky Sutton Enviroblog readers all know that "fragrance" is a term that the cosmetics, cleaning and candle industries use on ingredient lists that discloses only that there are unnamed chemicals in the product. Which is not so helpful for avid label-readers (like me) who want and deserve full information when choosing products. Unless you use it as a red flag of what not to buy, that is. Then - and only then - is it helpful. It's pretty big news that, after years of intentional mystery, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) decided to publish an alphabetical list…

  • The new crop of eco-films: Which should you see?

    1 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am
    With green being the new black, there are more than a few environmental documentaries to choose from when popping that (not-in-the-microwave) popcorn. To help you navigate the choices, EWG's very own Don Carr, press secretary and hard-hitting ag policy blogger, offers guidance on which to see. He screened them himself at this year's Sundance Film Festival to boil it down for us on Grist (trailers included). On my list are the ones Don highlights as "well-crafted, compelling films that address crucial environmental themes not yet in the public consciousness." So find the film(s) for you and…

  • Carnival of the Green #212

    29 Jan 2010 | 11:22 am
    212 weeks ago the Carnival of the Green began over a pint of beer in London. Now it bounces from green blog to green blog, week after week, around the world. From EcoJoe's last week right here to EWG's Enviroblog. At EWG, we dish out a lot of (very useful, practical, science-based!) advice on how to live with fewer toxics, so it comes naturally to present this week's Carnival posts as suggestions on different ways to live green - from a host of green bloggers 'round the globe. You can choose from one of these 14 green living ideas today (more, of course, if you're feeling gung-ho): 1. Dave…

  • Cosmetics Safety Series - Part 3: Why it's Time for Personal Care Products to Go on Sale

    27 Jan 2010 | 9:47 am
    I was about seven years old, and frustrated from trying to curl my straight, limp hair when my mom taught me a saying she had learned from her mom when she was a young girl: "What price beauty."This classic line refers, of course, to the lengths  to which we go for "beauty." As a second-grader, having sore arms after 35 minutes of setting curlers was a steep bounty for the temporary effect. Today it's clear that there are bigger stakes - our health and that of our children and our environment - and these stakes are just too high.We need safer personal care products.  Here's why:They…
 
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    Environmental Health News: Blogs

  • Story should take a closer look at new fluorinated coatings.

    ebeach
    1 Feb 2010 | 10:36 am
    A story in the New York Times highlighted a scientific breakthrough in self-cleaning coatings that would reduce the need for detergents, but it did not ask questions about the potential toxicity of the new materials.

  • Epigenetics story neglects need to reduce current exposures.

    peubig
    17 Jan 2010 | 6:09 am
    A well-written article in Time Magazine overviews the burgeoning field of epigenetics and how manipulating epigenetic changes holds promise for curing diseases, but the article neglects to explain that limiting current environmental exposures could prevent the harmful epigenetic changes that cause disease in the first place.

  • Story on phytoestrogen cancer risk misses important point.

    jpmyers
    2 Jan 2010 | 7:28 am
    A story filed via Reuters reports on a new study that concludes dietary phytoestrogens have little impact on the risks of developing hormone-sensitive cancers. But the study and the story miss the main public health concern about phytoestrogens entirely: The role that exposure during fetal life and infancy may play to disease – including cancer – later in life.

  • Reporting or research lacking on aircraft noise

    jpmyers
    17 Dec 2009 | 7:19 pm
    A Time Magazine report on the health effects of jet aircraft noise made no mention of confounding variables, such as pollution and socio-economic status. If the study did control for these factors, the story should have mentioned them. If it didn't, the results should be regarded with deep skepticism.

  • Article should better explain the threat posed by environmental PCBs.

    hhamlin
    24 Nov 2009 | 2:39 pm
    A Los Angeles Times article fails to highlight what PCBs are and why they are such a problem in the first place.
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    Toxicology News

  • Alkaline food and drink-good for you-here's why

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am
    Alkaline food and drink-good for you-here's why Dr, Roger Drinkwater, physiologist, biochemist, toxicologist and molecular geneticist believes that taking the acid out of out diet and increasing alkalinity will help our overall health.

  • Ireland: Clearing the air on the Barnett Shale

    3 Feb 2010 | 5:40 pm
    In the 29 years since the first well was drilled in the Barnett Shale, the natural gas industry has taken steps to ensure that it is a good neighbor.

  • R&D manager, toxicologist selling in Boulder City

    1 Feb 2010 | 5:31 pm
    Shane Snyder and Erin Snyder have listed for sale a four-bedroom, three-bath at 1402 Pueblo Dr.

  • Latest study says TCE worse than thought

    29 Jan 2010 | 9:02 pm
    The Environmental Protection Agency has released a new report concluding that TCE - trichloroethylene, a pollutant found in much of Mountain View's groundwater - is definitely a carcinogen, a finding which could lead the agency to propose tougher cleanup standards.

  • Expert Q&A: Toxicologist Linda Birnbaum on BPA

    29 Jan 2010 | 2:19 am
    At the same time that the Food and Drug Administration announced a significant shift in its view on the potential health risks posed by Bisphenol A, the Department of Health and Human Services said that it is investing $30 million in human and animal studies over the next two years to yield further information about BPA's health effects.
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    WordPress Tag: Mold

  • Weather as Entertainment

    Minnesota Pilgrim
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 am
    On the island, a storm with lots of thunder and lightning was causing all sorts of problems (electri

  • Riverstone Residentitial Litigation - Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Ethical Conduct Complaint

    katytx
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:18 pm
    It is now time for me to fill this out and submit it. An Emphasis on Ethics and Professionalism All

  • Silicone Mold for Tripod, Part 1.

    someoneknows
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:13 pm
    The pattern for a tripod replacement part. This was posted as my thing-a-day project for February 8. Yesterday I made a replacement part for a tripod I bought at a garage sale. The Sculpey clay part probably would work but I can make a stronger part if I cast it in a urethane plastic. I will be making a two part mold to cast the new piece. Today I’m creating the first part of my silicone mold. Alumilite Casting Kit Materials I’m starting by cleaning up the surface of the pattern. It would be great if the top surface and bottom surface are parallel to each other. Since the tripod…

  • Lentil Soup: Take Two!

    chickiepea
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:07 pm
    Lentil soup tonight: our second try at it. It was MUCH better than the first time. It actually tasted much like restaurant soup, to Twig’s amazement and pleasure. He LOVES restaurant soups (probably filled with MSG and the like!) and has found it very hard to duplicate at home. Goose was not so pleased with the soup, but we later also discovered that she had only eaten part of an orange and some corn chips for her lunch (and skipped the chicken and beans), which meant she was craving sweet/starch today. She looked very ill and tired this evening, although was in a decent mood.

  • Romantic Love Design

    glassfusingmadeeasy
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am
    02/08/10 – Romantic Love Design – Merely entitled Romantic Love, this project can be applied for any interpersonal attraction. Adorn it on any outfit as you bear a feeling of hefty fondness whether it is romantic or platonic love. Because the word love could signify various attitudes and emotions, this pattern may be donned all year. Each alphabetic character is separately cut out of glass. And then overlap the pieces so they’ll be fused into the final art work. I’ve altered mine simply a trifle by placing a heart instead of the “o” in the word. Twist around the…
 
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    The Soft Landing Blog

  • Sassy’s New Line of Baby Dishes Are BPA-free

    Alicia
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:07 pm
    Along with Sassy in 2008, we learned the hard way that polypropylene (#5) products that are tinted with color can contain small amounts of BPA.  Sassy took the issue seriously and worked hard to make sure their whole new line of feeding gear for 2010 is BPA-free. We’ve had the opportunity to test out some of their newly redesigned bowls, divided plates and spoons.  They’ve done a great job and we’re excited to offer them at The Soft Landing soon!  For now you can check out the full array on Sassy’s website here. You’ll notice right away that the new products…

  • Is the Soda Stream Really Made From Safe Reusable Plastic?

    Alicia
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:21 am
    Bloggers everywhere are singing the praises of the BPA-free Soda Stream and how it makes the perfect alternative to other more toxic soda containers.  But is that really the case? My Investigation I started the ball rolling with a call to the manufacturer.  Their products are clearly labeled as BPA-free, which is usually a good indicator that we’re dealing with a company who is careful to make sure they really are. I asked them to confirm it anyway and I also asked them specifically what plastics were used in their bottles and casing.   I received an immediate response stating that…

  • Twitter Tuesday Giveaway: MAM Teach Me Toothbrush Set

    Alicia
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
    Teaching toddlers to enjoy brushing their teeth is important and MAM helps us get it right the first time. Their Teach Me Toothbrush Set offers specially designed toothbrushes for both parent and child. This way, opinionated toddlers get to have some control, ensuring toothbrushing without fits and fights! Our Favorite Features: The long handled brush is designed for parents and baby to brush at the same time in order to teach baby proper brushing technique. The short handled brush is perfect for baby. The rubbery grip as soft and works great as a teether too. Recommended for babies and…

  • Learn How to Do Your Own Research in Our Free Mini Course

    Alicia
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:37 am
    How in the world do you choose safer product from thousands of untested, unlabeled and unhealthy options sitting on the shelves of your local store? It’s seems like a full time job to keep your family safe sometimes.  As our family team has spent years researching toxic plastic alternatives, we’ve learned the ins and outs of getting to the heart of the matter quickly.  We’ve made costly mistakes, wasted many hours asking the wrong questions, and listened to lines of bologna like you’ve never imagined. We’ve been asked by thousands of parents to teach them how…

  • PVC-free Ball Pits Balls for Safe Playtime

    Alicia
    29 Jan 2010 | 3:30 pm
    We finally tracked down a couple of PVC-free ball manufacturers after running into way too many toxic brands.  So many companies responded to our inquiries in the same way, “All of our play pit balls are made with non-toxic, phthalate-free PVC.”  Ummmm, right . . . Not only are many of the balls made from PVC, but all inflatable ball pit toys we researched are made from PVC too.  Our kids are seriously surrounded by it! Today at the last minute before publishing our guide, we found a gold mine!  We confirmed that Tinker Tots.com carries only PVC-free ball pit balls!  And to…
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    Carbon Footprints

  • A Short History of REDD Policy

    Dave Sag
    24 Jan 2010 | 9:46 pm
    Late last year Carbon Planet published a couple of White Papers on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. One of those papers gave an overview of the history of REDD policy to date. The video above summarises that into a short timeline for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy — DS Technorati Tags: carbon, climate, Climate Change, COP15, Copenhagen, forests, Kyoto, REDD, video policy

  • It’s official: The hottest decade on record

    Dave Sag
    4 Jan 2010 | 8:52 pm
    Lincoln National Park by Dave Sag, used with permission. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has just announced, in its Annual Climate Statement 2009, that the previous decade, the ‘naughties’ as many call it, was indeed the hottest decade in recorded history. This puts paid to the lies and nonsense peddled by ranting climate deniers and their ill-informed ilk. 2009 ends Australia’s warmest decade on record, with a decadal mean temperature anomaly of +0.48°C (above the 1961-90 average). In Australia, each decade since the 1940s has been warmer than the preceding decade. In…

  • Launch of The 4° Map. “Disastrous”

    Dave Sag
    31 Dec 2009 | 7:33 pm
    Business as usual could see mean global temperatures rise by around 4 degrees Celsius. This would be disastrous not only for people but for the majority of life on Earth. A new map illustrating the global consequences of failing to keep climate change to under 2 degrees Celsius was launched on October 22 by the UK Government. The map highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by 4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial climate average. You can play with the interactive map and discover for yourself the various danger zones. The map was developed…

  • Sun Come Up

    Dave Sag
    23 Dec 2009 | 12:07 pm
    Papua New Guinea is already facing the impacts of climate change, with rising sea levels forcing people to move from their traditional homes. Documentary filmmakers Jennifer Redfearn & Tim Metzger have begun production of a new film “Sun Come Up” that follows a group of young families from the Carteret Islands in search of new homes on Bougainville, a mountainous island 50 miles away. The Carteret Islanders stand at the front lines of climate change. Small island communities like the Carterets have contributed very little to global warming, but they’re suffering the…

  • Covering COP15 via Social Media

    Dave Sag
    6 Dec 2009 | 12:56 pm
    1st Media Briefing at COP15. Photo by Dave Sag, used with Permission. I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to write on climate change and other topics for several years now, but I’ve never really thought of myself as a journalist. But the UNFCCC, in their wisdom, thought otherwise, so here I am in Copenhagen as an official UN accredited journalist, correspondent and photographer for this the 15th conference of Parties to the UNFCCC. There is no shortage of ways to cover COP15 assuming you can’t get here. The first place to look for real-time news just has to be…
 
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    Safer States

  • Washington State mom testifies before Congress

    Safer States
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    In November, we told you about the Earliest Exposures Report -- a report which described the test results of pregnant women who were tested in Washington, Oregon and California. Despite their best efforts, the mothers-to-be tested with high levels of levels of bisphenol A , mercury, phthalates, and perfluorinated -- or “Teflon” -- chemicals in their blood. At the time, we stated that the Earliest Exposures study underlined the need for states to pass laws protecting children and pregnant women from toxic chemicals. One of the women tested during the study was Dr. Molly Gray, a Washington…

  • Washington State gets close to a BPA ban

    Safer States
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:32 am
    Great news out of Washington state: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is close to being banned, which would make it the third state in the nation to pass a BPA ban in some form. Here’s the current status: The Washington State House of Representatives last Monday passed a bill (SHB 1180) -- the Safe Baby Bottle Act -- which would ban BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups, children’s food containers, and sports water bottles. The bill passed with a 95-to-1 margin in the House. Scientific studies have linked BPA to known health effects including impaired brain and reproductive development in unborn babies,…

  • The health case for TSCA reform

    Safer States
    25 Jan 2010 | 10:55 am
    The evidence is clear: Americans will be healthier if exposure to toxic chemicals is reduced, resulting in lower health care costs across the nation.  This information is in an analysis released last week titled "The health case for reforming the toxic substances control act." Toxic chemical exposure is linked to cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, asthma and other diseases and conditions, and conservative estimates show that reducing the incidence of these diseases by 0.1% could save $5 billion in health care costs. Upon hearing the news of the health report, many Safer…

  • FDA on BPA: What it means for the states

    Safer States
    20 Jan 2010 | 3:02 pm
    Imagine that you're the captain of the world's largest oil tanker. And you see danger ahead, and you need to turn that ship around as soon as possible, or at least steer the tanker to get it out of danger. No matter how quickly you would like to respond, it still will take a while for the ship to change course. That is the situation that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found itself in this week. The public has been awaiting a decision by the FDA on Bisphenol-A (BPA). Scientific studies have linked BPA to known health effects including impaired brain and reproductive development in…

  • EPA Establishes a Chemicals of Concern List

    Safer States
    14 Jan 2010 | 9:44 am
    Late last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an intention to create a "Chemicals of Concern" list which would give priority to some chemicals which are of particular danger to Americans. Immediately, phthalates and PBDE chemicals are being added to the concern list -- phthalates are used in flexible plastics like soft toys for children, household products and medical equipment. The EPA targeted these chemicals because they raise “serious health or environmental concerns.” Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the news stating, “The American…
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    About.com: Environmental Issues

  • San Francisco Launches Program to Help Property Owners Pay for Green Living

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:36 pm
    San Francisco has been out front on a lot of green issues--from banning plastic bags to transforming pet feces into energy--and now the City by the Bay is leading the way in helping property owners go green, by allowing them to add the cost of various eco-upgrades to their property taxes and pay them off over a couple of decades. Today, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to establish GreenFinanceSF, a new program designed to help tens of thousands of San Francisco homes and businesses become more water- and energy-efficient, use more renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse…

  • New Public-Policy Show Opens Two-Way Street Between Viewers and Pundits

    5 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am
    Do you ever watch television pundits discussing important public policy issues and wish you could cut through the sound bites and talk back, or maybe just hear from real people instead of a bunch of talking heads? Now you can. Two-Way Street--a new commercial-free program distributed by American Public Television and shown on various PBS stations across the United States--invites viewers to debate critical issues with a panel of top-notch experts that may range from Nobel Prize-winning economists to best-selling authors. Each episode of Two-Way Street will focus a full hour of audience/expert…

  • Osama bin Laden Blames United States for Global Warming

    29 Jan 2010 | 6:29 pm
    Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden recently took a break from planning terrorist attacks and encouraging suicide bombers to blast the United States and other developed nations for "the global warming crisis" and to call for a worldwide boycott of American products and the U.S. dollar. ""Speaking about climate change is not a matter of intellectual luxury--the phenomenon is an actual fact," said bin Laden, according to a report on the English-language Web site run by Al Jazeera, which released the full audiotape on Friday [January 29, 2010]. "All of the industrialized countries . . . bear…

  • Obama Tells Government Agencies to Cut Greenhouse Emissions 28 Percent by 2020

    28 Jan 2010 | 6:30 pm
    U.S. President Barack Obama today ordered the federal government to conserve energy and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2020, a "lead by example" move that could save $8 billion to $11 billion over the next 10 years and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 88 million metric tons--equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road for one year. The executive order, which covers 35 government agencies, came just two days after Obama urged Congress to pass clean energy and climate legislation during his first State of the Union address, and less than two months after he brokered an…

  • State of the Union: Obama Urges Clean Energy Economy, Plus Nuclear Plants and Offshore Drilling

    27 Jan 2010 | 3:53 am
    During his first State of the Union address tonight, President Obama focused his remarks on rebuilding the U.S. economy and improving the lives of middle class families. As part of that effort, Obama renewed his call for congressional action on comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, which he said would make clean energy a cornerstone of America's economic growth and U.S. leadership in the global economy. Read more...State of the Union: Obama Urges Clean Energy Economy, Plus Nuclear Plants and Offshore Drilling originally appeared on About.com Environmental Issues on Wednesday,…
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    Dot Earth

  • Exxon and the Climate Fight

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:40 pm
    A British newspaper reports that oil companies direct money to climate skeptics.

  • Reality Check on Old Ice, Climate and CO2

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:36 pm
    An expert on glaciers and climate explains how ice records relate to global warming.

  • Signs of Damage to Public Trust in Climate Findings

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm
    CBS News has run a report summarizing fallout from the illegal distribution of climate scientists' email messages and files and problems with the 2007 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The conclusion is that missteps and mistakes are creating broader credibility problems for climate science. [UPDATE, 2/8: Elisabeth Rosenthal has filed a piece reviewing [...]

  • If the Climate Accord Works, Will the Climate Notice?

    By JOHN M. BRODER
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    A member of the American negotiating team in Copenhagen assesses whether the resulting accord can limit climate risks.

  • The No(w)osphere

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am
    Can instant translation software facilitate one-planet thinking and acting?
 
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    Chai Life

  • Attention All CPR Providers!

    Evan
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:10 am
    The universal sign for choking has changed! Old Sign: New Sign: - OR - Ok, so it’s an old joke reworked for the Viqueens, but it’s still funny! Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Digg this! Share this on del.icio.us Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Mixx Email this to a friend?

  • Best. Weapon. Ever.

    Evan
    25 Jan 2010 | 9:53 am
    I don’t know who did this, why they did it, or how you’d even think up such a ridiculously crazy killing tool, but this is the most awesome weapon I have ever seen. If I were in a knife fight and someone came at me with this thing, I’d probably crap myself (Note: I have never been in a knife fight, nor do I ever intend to be). Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Digg this! Share this on del.icio.us Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Mixx Email this to a friend?

  • The Evolution of the Cylon

    Evan
    10 Dec 2009 | 8:55 am
    I saw this elsewhere on the ‘net and absolutely had to share it here. Click to see the full sized picture. Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Digg this! Share this on del.icio.us Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Mixx Email this to a friend?

  • Gift Guide for Geeks – Under $100

    Evan
    27 Nov 2009 | 6:58 am
    The 2009 holiday season is rapidly approaching! Do you know what you’re going to get your geek this year? Here’s a guide for those of you looking for ideas. Blue Violet Laser Pointer – $72.99 For some reason unbeknownst to me, even though I am a self-described geek, laser pointers are absolutely fascinating to geeks and cats. This thing is a king among laser pointers. The unique blue violet color really makes it stand out among a sea of red and will even impress geeks who have the cherished green laser pointer. RAM Upgrade – $20-$100 Unless your geek has already maxed…

  • Fox News Pie Chart Fail

    Evan
    23 Nov 2009 | 6:52 pm
    The following graphic, presented on the air by Fox “News” recently shows the split amongst the GOP when it comes to support for three potential 2012 presidential candidate. Keep in mind, that their source is the ever-reliable nationally accredited polling organization known as “Opinion”. Coming in at a mind-numbing 70% support is, of course, Sarah Palin, followed by by Mike Huckabee with 63% of the pie chart and Mitt Romney with a mere 60%. This, of course, perfectly adds up to a complete 193% of the pie. Wait, WHAT? Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Digg this! Share…
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    Von Löwen Designs

  • Radon - Myths & Facts

    Lars
    3 Feb 2010 | 11:51 pm
    MYTH: Scientists aren’t sure radon really is a problem. FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all major health organizations (like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Lung Association and World Health Organization) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to … [visit site to read more]

  • National Radon Action Month - Part III

    Lars
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:00 pm
    Radon and Home Sales. More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon now and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won’t complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move or are buying or selling a home, be sure to check out EPA’s ‘Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon,’ which addresses some common questions. You can also…

  • National Radon Action Month - Part II

    Lars
    19 Jan 2010 | 6:45 pm
    Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know … [visit site to read more]

  • National Radon Action Month - Part I

    Lars
    12 Jan 2010 | 10:35 pm
    Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium and radium in soils which can be found everywhere in the world. Uranium is present in rocks such as granite, shale, phosphate, and pitchblende. Uranium breaks down into radium, which then decays into radon. Radon is in the soil and air everywhere in varying amounts. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and…

  • Greening Your HVAC – Part II

    Lars
    5 Jan 2010 | 5:46 am
    Install Effective Ductwork. Poorly designed and installed ductwork lowers heating and cooling system efficiency and capacity, and can contribute to poor indoor air quality and comfort problems. Consider having ducts tested for airflow and leakage before and after any new work on the HVAC system. The following six strategies will improve ductwork effectiveness: · Install new ductwork within conditioned spaces Install any new ductwork inside the insulated envelope of the home. The unit and the duct runs may be installed in closets, chases, and soffits purposefully designed to … [visit…
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    IPS Inter Press Service - Environment

  • DEVELOPMENT: Crisis Could Open Doors for Change, Says UNCTAD

    UNITED NATIONS, Feb 8 (IPS) - As the financial crisis continued to threaten world economies last year, the White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel famously declared: "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."

  • BIODIVERSITY: Companies Push Hard to Halt Tuna Collapse

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb 8 (IPS) - In the Seychelles' only cannery, the din of thousands of empty tuna cans rattling on narrow metal troughs is incredible as they bustle along, soon to be filled with Skipjack tuna that only days ago were swimming freely in the inky blue Indian Ocean.

  • Q&A: ''There's a Limit to Fish Harvesting''

    BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (IPS) - The perilous state of the world’s fish stocks has received less media attention than the more visible, palpable environmental problems like air pollution. Isabella Lövin is seeking to redress that balance. Her 2007 book ‘Tyst hav’ (Silent Seas) hit the best-seller list in her native Sweden, garnering her three awards, including the title of 'Journalist of the Year'.

  • CLIMATE-GERMANY: Planting the Forest of the Future

    BERLIN, Feb 7 (Tierramérica) - Exotic tree seedlings grow next to native species in the southeastern German village of Laufen, at a site where researchers are experimenting with ways to restore forests lost to the effects of global warming.

  • ETHIOPIA: Dam Critics Won't Go Away

    ADDIS ABABA, Feb 6 (IPS) - Ethiopia is building a 240-metre high dam on the Omo River that is intended to end the country's electricity shortage and supply power to neighbouring countries. Not everyone's happy.
 
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    The Zeitgeist is Changing

  • The 10 Most Polluted Cities in America!

    Dr Robert Muller
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:44 pm
    By Glenford Robinson Air pollution is the process by which unhealthy chemicals or biological materials are introduced into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a gaseous system that has the necessary ingredients to sustain life. Ozone depletion as a result of air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to the existence of life on earth. The atmosphere in specific terms is a layer of gases surrounding Mother Earth. These gases are held in place as a result of Earth's gravity. The atmosphere is like an umbrella protecting life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The…

  • Environmental Issues Affecting the Travel Industry

    Dr Robert Muller
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:40 pm
    By Timothy Ijala Protecting the environment is now one of the most talked-about and hotly-debated topics across the globe. Many companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to create products or make their products environmentally friendly. An example is the electric car that is being looked at as a viable option to that of the present gasoline powered car. In 2009 world leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss ways in which they can prevent global warming and reduce on the effects of climate change, in effect protecting the environment. The travel industry too has not been left out of…

  • Planting Trees to Save the Planet

    Dr Robert Muller
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:38 pm
    By Tomer Treves We all know that our planet Earth is warming up and that something needs to be done on a global scale. However, until the governments of the world unite in action, we can all do our share and contribute to a worldwide effort to save our climate from going crazy. One of the best things a person can do to help our suffering planet is to plant a tree. Yes, one tree can make a real change. If you ask yourself how one tree can make a difference, please read the next few paragraphs. A single tree means much more than what it may seem. Trees generate a lot of oxygen and release it to…

  • Living Eco-Friendly is Not Just About Buying Eco-Friendly Products

    Dr Robert Muller
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:36 pm
    By Jordan Eske Why is it that saving money makes most people feel like they are missing out on something? Reducing is a word that makes us feel like we will have less. This is really all about how you look at it. Changing the way you think can change the way you feel about saving. Calculating how you spend and cutting back in the end will give you much more money to spend on other items. When I buy and I get the best price I mentally apply the money saved toward an item I would enjoy. The key is to visualize the money saved going to a luxury item or something you would enjoy more than what…

  • The Best Destinations and Activities Offered for a Green Vacation

    Dr Robert Muller
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:30 pm
    by Adriana Noton If you consider yourself an environmentally conscious person, you know that it can be difficult maintaining a 'green' lifestyle. One area that has seen an increase in 'green' options is the travel industry. There are now many places where one can travel and enjoy a 'green' vacation. If you are looking for an eco-friendly holiday, below you will find a number of fun 'green' vacation destinations. Belize: This is a beautiful eco-friendly destination. The rich and thick forests of Belize are home to the Belize Barrier Reef where there is an amazing variety of marine life. The…
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    Earth 4 Energy

  • A Quick Review of Earth 4 Energy E-book - DIY Home Renewable Energy Guide

    Radio
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:12 pm
    By Kevin DineIf you're an enthusiast who wants to learn how to build a solar panel, then Earth4Energy is one of the home study courses that you should give a closer look.It is undeniable that a solar panel can bring an improvement and benefit to your lifestyle and your home. If you're doing it in the right way, you can reduce your monthly power bills by half and save money.Earth4Energy is written by Michael Harvey who has 15 years experience in the home renewable energy field. In this guide, he will guide you through step-by-step from the basic to the end of the project. You are not going to…

  • Solar Power For Transport

    Radio
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:28 am
    The discovery of petroleum in the 1920s set back the world by two hundred years!!!It is not that petroleum was unknown before the 1920s. 4000 years ago, petroleum was used in the Euphrates delta for lighting. It was mined from pitch springs in ancient Babylon, and from the river sand of Issus, a tributary of Euphrates. But with the arrival of cars, and the internal combustion engine, petroleum began to be widely used as a source of dense, high energy fuel. If history had moved in a slightly different direction, liquid fuel powered automation might never have taken place. If this were a game…

  • Solar Energy Options For Your Home

    Radio
    30 Jan 2010 | 6:05 am
    The economic depression, to say nothing of global warming, has made people aware of the usefulness of having their own residential power supply. Not only does this reduce cost over time, but it also lets you invest in alternative green energy options that will eventually help you contribute to lowering the world’s pollution.There are 3 options available – solar, wind, and hydro-power – in that order of efficiency and availability. Solar is the most widely used, while hydro electricity generated DIY at home is pretty rare. This article will discuss solar power options only.Residential…

  • Earth4Energy - Let Earth4Energy Show You How to Make Solar Panels

    Radio
    30 Jan 2010 | 4:30 am
    By Sonny WestHave you tapped into the power of Earth4Energy? It is a step-by-step guide that teaches homeowners how to construct and install solar panels that are every bit as good as the professionals. Oh, and did I mention that they're doing it for less than $200? It's absolutely true. And you can do it to.If you're anything like me then the high cost of energy is really starting to tick you off. It seems as if every time I open up the utility bill and has gone up. And if you happen to live in a place that gets extremely hot or extremely cold then you know how expensive energy can get.We…

  • How to Make Solar Panels - A Review of Earth4Energy

    Radio
    30 Jan 2010 | 4:26 am
    By Anthony ParkerWe live in a world where green energy is becoming increasingly popular and there are reasons to introduce it to your own home or business. One of the best ways to benefit from green energy is to install solar power. If you want to eliminate some of the cost of solar you should look at the possibility of Do-It-Yourself installation. This review will examine the benefits of the Earth4Energy solar energy start-up guide and inform you on why this option is definitely worth considering.Solar energy is natures way of harnessing heat from the sun. This natural source of energy…
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