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Message to Congress: Don't leave organic behind
This just in: House passes diacetyl exposure regulations
Bisphenol A in your body: How it got there and how to minimize your exposure
FEATURED
BPA in your body: How to minimize your exposure
Caution: These 7 household items may feminize baby boys
BPA in infant formula: This is not a call to panic
7 ways to reduce your exposure to PBDEs
Ask EWG
Is there eco-friendly jewelry?
Are stainless steel water bottles safe?
Is mineral-based makeup safer?
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Archive
September 29, 2007
SMM: Return of the Sign-O-Matic
About a year ago, McDonald's thought it would be a good idea to put miniature Hummers in children's Happy Meals. About a year ago, EWG decided, "Wow, that's actually a really lousy idea."
And so began the Ronald McHummer campaign:
McDonald's often emphasizes its "long-standing global commitment to environmental protection and leadership."
So why did they give away 42 million toy Hummers in Happy Meals? The fast-food chain that helped make our kids the fattest on Earth cut a deal with General Motors to sell future car buyers on the fun of driving a supersized, smog-spewing, gas-guzzling SUV originally built for the military.
And the best part? The sign-o-matic. Users could create McDonald's signs and vote on their favorites. The website's still up and you can still use it to make signs; I came across this awesome one from Philonoist yesterday:
So for today's multimedia, I invite you to go and make up your own McDonald's sign. Think yours is particularly funny? Send it to me and maybe I'll post it here next week!
PS: Don't get the cheezburger joke? icanhascheezburger.com
September 28, 2007
Rotten eggs in Versailles, PA
What would you rather have lurking underneath your hometown: highly explosive methane, or highly toxic hydrogen sulfide?
Tough decision. How about both?
In Versailles, PA, that's exactly the situation they've been left with. Old, poorly sealed oil wells and an abandoned coal mine have been leaking methane for decades, but since at least 2006 there's been scientific evidence of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and is dangerous to human health. To date nothing has been done about the problem, because no one in the town has known.
A two-year study by the US Department of Energy was intended to reveal the direct source of the methane problems, but researchers found more than they expected hiding in the small town. Some residents had apparently complained of a rotten egg smell for years, without knowing they were being exposed to hydrogen sulfide. In small amounts the gas can cause breathing problems and eye irritation; exposure to high concentrations can lead to death.
The team conducting the study says they assumed the town government knew about the problem, but town officials say they were never informed. That means that it's been two years since there's been a documented problem in Versailles, and nothing has been done. Town officials are calling for the release of the report, which was expected on August 31st -- hopefully the report will contain not just the problem, but also the solution. Residents of Versailles have waited long enough.
Lots more in the AP Exclusive story.
September 27, 2007
Envirohealth News: Extra frog legs, knowing nanotech and more
New EPA regulations will "get the lead out" of drinking water. One more reason to ditch the bottle.
More toy recalls for lead paint. Is anyone surprised?
In LA, schools are being built by freeways despite clear evidence of negative health impacts -- oh, and the law.
Do consumers know about nanotechnology? Survey says: nope.
The EPA seems set to approve methyl iodide as a replacement for the agricultural pesticide methyl bromine. It doesn't deplete the ozone layer, but does that make it safe?
Extra frog legs, anyone? A new study links farm and ranch runoff (the same stuff creating the dead zone) with mutations in frogs.
Nike has unveiled a new line of shoes made specifically for American Indians. The shoes are shaped differently and will be sold a lowered prices to communities. Proceeds from their sale will go to tribal programs. We're not sure that's the biggest challenge facing the American Indian community, but we applaud Nike's efforts.
Message to Congress: Don't leave organic behind
Having cereal for breakfast? Take your coffee with cream? Serving up a nice cold glass of milk to your child as she's on her way to school?
Good then, I'm right on time.
You may not choose organic products now, either because they don't fit into your budget or because you're not convinced that it makes a difference. But think about this: if I put two glasses of milk in front of you -- one from a factory "farm" where the animals are treated with hormones and antibiotics, and the other from an organic dairy farm where the cows are pastured and the farmer has no reason to treat his livestock like that -- which glass would you choose?
I'm guessing you'd go organic. If you can have the same product (better, in most cases) and not get a bunch of extra chemicals in the process... well, why wouldn't you?
If that makes sense to you, here's what you should do: Click here to tell your Senators to support the Grow Organics Proposal.
We think Congress should increase funding for organic agriculture to $1 billion over 5 years. Here's what that money would do:
- Support local farmers markets and community supported agriculture
- Assist farmers converting to organic
- Increase research on organic, chemical-free pest control
- Boost conservation aid to help organic farmers take good care of our land and environment
- Put more healthy, US-grown organic food on your family's table
There's no reason why that glass of organic milk shouldn't be within reach for all of us. Tell Congress: Don't leave organic behind!
September 26, 2007
This just in: House passes diacetyl exposure regulations
In case you miss it in the comments below:
The House just passed the Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act, 260-154. The legislation will help to minimize the exposure of factory workers to the artificial flavoring diacetyl. Head over to The Pump Handle for more -- and congrats to TPH team, who worked hard to publicize this issue. Theirs is a model of what a good blog can be.
Bisphenol A in your body: How it got there and how to minimize your exposure
The common plastic additive bisphenol A has been getting a lot of press lately. It's a hormone disruptor that can be found in almost everybody, and animal studies have linked it to breast and prostate cancer, and infertility. Knowing all that won't help you avoid the chemical, but we've got some information here that might. Knowing how you're exposed is among the best ways to minimize further exposure.
How'd it get there?
Studies show canned foods are a common source of daily BPA exposure in our lives. Cans of soda generally contain less BPA than canned pasta or soup. The worst foods tested contain enough BPA to put pregnant women and formula-fed infants much closer to dangerous levels than the government typically allows. Even some liquid infant formula is packed in cans lined with BPA, which seems ludicrous given the special vulnerabilities of children's developing systems.In addition to canned food, certain plastics are often made with BPA. Called polycarbonate, these plastics are rigid and clear or translucent and usually marked with a recycling label #7. Not all #7 containers are made with BPA, but it makes for a reasonable and useful guideline for avoiding a category of plastics. Some reusable polycarbonate water bottles (we won't name names), marketed as non-leaching because they minimize plastic taste and odor, may still leach trace amounts of BPA. But hold on before you run out and buy a metal water bottle -- make sure you know what you're getting. Many reusable metal water bottles are lined with the same BPA-leaching plastic found in cans of food.
How do you get rid of it?
Unfortunately, BPA is so widely used and manufactured that you're not likely to eliminate it from your system altogether. There are some steps you can take to minimize your exposure, though:- When possible, and especially if you’re pregnant and when feeding a young child, limit the amount of canned food in your diet.
- Avoid using old or scratched polycarbonate bottles. If you're in the market for a new water bottle, look for stainless steel water bottles that do not have a plastic liner.
- Don't use plastic containers to heat food in the microwave. Opt for ceramic, glass, or other microwavable dishware.
- Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
- If you're formula feeding your infant, consider using powdered formulas packaged in non-steel cans. Also, choose baby bottles made from glass or plastics that don't leach BPA (like polypropylene or polyethylene).
Envirohealth in Blogs: Young farmers, coffee farmers, and cleaning the planet
A little light reading for your Wednesday.
Just as Congress is considering taking action to protect factory workers from the lung-disease causing food additive diacetyl, Kraft releases a new flavor called toasted butter. And what does it contain? Liz at The Pump Handle explains how this is a pretty good example of why we need regulation.
How to shop for food ethically, brought to you by David at The Good Human, is a great refresher or guide to someone who's new to the Ethicurean life. I especially like his second point.
Umbra answers a reader question about environmentally friendly laundry detergent with a list of ingredients to avoid. I wrote them down and slipped the paper in my wallet so I'll have the list next time I'm shopping!
On agriculture: Zoë Bradbury writes (on Edible Portland) about her reasons for becoming a (young) farmer and the startling statistics behind who's producing America's food. Meanwhile, over at Small Farm Central, Simon wonders if the next crop of farmers will have what it takes to stick it out.
You might want to put down your coffee for this one: Siel's got a great post up about the Starbucks PR machine and how farmers need fair prices, not charity. Have some time on your hands? Read the whole investigative report at The Sacramento Bee.
And finally, I am so excited about this book: Renee at EnviroMom found a book with recipes for homemade cleaning supplies -- and they're rated on how well they clean. I can't wait to get my hands on it. See the comments for a recommendation on a similar book about personal care products.
September 25, 2007
Ask EWG: Is there eco-friendly jewelry?
Question: I love jewelry, and have since I was a little girl. I don’t buy it often, and when I do I try to buy pieces that are made to last. I’m trying to be a responsible consumer. What should I keep in mind when making my next purchase?
Answer: Jewelry can be beautiful, but the process used to create it is often environmentally destructive.
Mining for gold, silver and other metals is the United States’ leading source of toxic pollution. That may come as a surprise, but it can take the removal of 280 tons of rock just to produce one ounce of gold. That’s because mining companies often extract vast quantities of dirt and rock and then spray it with cyanide or other chemicals to leach out microscopic amounts of metal. If that sounds bad, the greatest problem comes from digging the hole itself which often exposes sulfur to air and water. The result is a chemical reaction that produces acid runoff that can run out of mines almost literally forever. As it goes, the acid leaches heavy metals out of rock such as lead and arsenic and can pollute water supplies.
Eighty-four percent of gold consumed in the US is used for jewelry (another ten percent goes to dental and other uses, and only six percent is used for electronics). Perhaps the best option, then, would be to choose antique pieces or heirloom jewelry that’s been in your family. Recycled metals require additional energy to produce, but they may still be a better choice than new metal. Some jewelers preferentially use recycled metals.
You may hear about so-called “green gold” or responsibly-mined metal. Some of these claims may not be accurate, so check with Earthworks or other mining watchdog organizations before making your purchase. Certified fair-trade jewelry, which would ensure that the human rights of those producing the materials were protected, is not available at this point, but it could be on sale as early as 2009.
Got a question for our researchers? Send it in! We'll select one (or a few) for next month's edition of Ask EWG.
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September 24, 2007
Phased out pesticide still depletes the ozone layer
Methyl bromide, an organic halogen compound, is a dangerous pesticide used as a soil sterilant, and as general purpose fumigant that kills rats, insects and a variety of pests. It is also one of the pesticides that the United States insists on continuing using, even though all other countries had agreed on phasing it our by January 2005.
Besides killing rats, methyl bromide depletes the ozone layer much faster than some other chemicals. It also poses a danger to the health of humans. For example, according to International Labor Organization, some of this colorless, nonflammable gas’s hazard include dizziness, headache, vomiting, weakness, hallucinations, and temporary loss of vision and loss of speech.
One industry that lobbies hard to keep it on the market is fruit and vegetables growers, that find it cheap and easy to use. However, the continued use of it by the United States mocks the million dollars spend on developing alternatives for developing countries. Learn more about methyl bromide here.
Envirohealth News: Claims for antibacterial soap go down the drain
What's new in the world of environmental health.
The federal government is setting itself up to violate its own water quality standards -- by not cutting CO2 emissions. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, lowering their pH and resulting in acidification. Yet another reason to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK's largest water company accidentally allowed industrial disinfectants to leak into the Wandle River, resulting in thousands of dead fish. No one seems sure yet what the extent of the damage will be, but it's a safe bet that the three-mile stretch affected will take years to regenerate.
Banana companies in the Philippines will not be allowed to continue aerial spraying of pesticides, according to a ruling by a local judge who dismissed the companies' petition. An ordinance against aerial spraying was instituted in March when studies demonstrated the negative health impacts of the pesticides on workers and local residents.
Lead poisoning from toys? Unfortunately, there are lots of other possible points of exposure, as The New York Times outlines in this weekend's Testing for Lead Around the House. They even brought in some really brilliant expert to talk about it:
According to Richard Wiles, the executive director of the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization in Washington, high levels of lead in children 6 and under have been linked to nervous-system damage and learning problems. And the primary source of lead in the home is old paint.“Windows, doors and peeling paint are the primary problem areas,” Mr. Wiles said, even though lead has been banned from paint made for residential use since 1978. He explained that when lead paint has been painted over, peeling or friction from opening and closing a door or window can produce chips and dust containing lead.
And finally, it turns out that all those antibacterial soaps that get washed down the drain (and subsequently fiddle with the sexual hormones of fish) don't offer any more protection from germs than plain soap, at least according to research from the University of Michigan.
History of the war on cancer no longer secret
We here at Enviroblog loathe chemical waste. You regular readers may have caught that. Most people don't know enough about it, though -- about its sources and the nasty things it may be doing to our health -- to despise it as much as we do.
Part of that is because many in the chemical industry, like Big Tobacco before them, have made a living off of covering up incriminating documents and intentionally casting doubt on evidence that environmental toxins cause cancer.
Devra Davis wants to change that. Her book, The Secret History of the War on Cancer, aims to dispel myths and expose the realities of chemical exposure. From a review by Slate's Barron H. Lerner:
Davis' book reveals the barriers to changing the status quo. A strong indication of the hurdles that confront her hopes for reform is that her "secret history" is really not very secret at all—at least to anyone interested in the relationship of cancer to the environment. For almost as long as there has been a "war on cancer," there has been what might be called a "war on the war on cancer": a series of efforts to move beyond a sole focus on the detection and treatment of cancer (the standard war on cancer) to actual prevention of the disease.
Lerner seems doubtful that Davis' book will be the rallying cry that leads the masses against the chemical industry, but acknowledges that The Secret History is definitely a step in the right direction. It's true: it'll take a lot more than a book to scare the industry. But the first step is making the general population understand what's at risk, and Davis is on the right track.
September 22, 2007
SMM: Green Gamer
If everyone on the planet lived like you, how many Earths would we need?
That's the premise of a clever new game called Consumer Consequences launched by American Public Media. Here's the basic premise:
Roughly a quarter of the Earth's surface (land and water) is biologically productive, and a global acre represents the average productivity of that part of the Earth's surface. Global acres account for the fact that the Earth can only regenerate itself at a set rate.If you divide the number of global acres by the number of people on the planet (6.6 billion), then each human's fair share is 4.5 global acres. So, if your lifestyle requires more than 4.5 global acres, you're using more than our planet can sustain.
You create a character (cute cowboy hat, huh?) and answer questions based on your lifestyle, and the game computes how many earths we'd need to support our population if everyone lived the same way. Like a carbon footprint score, but different.
The game is not without its flaws. For example, my utilities are included in my rent, so although I try to conserve whenever possible I can't say how much they cost each month. There's no way to say you don't have a car. Also, there's something fishy going on with the transportation scores: I walk almost everywhere, take the metro maybe once a week and a cab once a month or less, but somehow I still scored a full "global acre" for transportation. Food was the biggest eye opener, with three global acres. Must be all the coffee.
Siel at Green LA Girl has a great roundup of eco-edutainment games if you're looking for more Saturday time wasters. Happy weekend!
September 21, 2007
True Green Confessions
Forgive us Kermit, for we have sinned.
Sometimes being responsible for the environmental impacts of our choices is like being on a diet. You splurge one night and have dessert, but then the next day you figure, hey, you've already fallen off the wagon. Might as well have that ice cream for breakfast.
But if a recycling faux pas or a frivolous car trip has you feeling greened out, don't give up! Now you can confess your eco-sins at True Green Confessions, take a deep breath, and move on with your environmentally conscious life.
The site, which is part of the TrueMedia network, also allows users to browse through others' confessions. So what are others confessing to?
"I let the worms in my worm composter die. I just couldn't stand them anymore - the fruit flies, the smell, the messy ick under my kitchen sink.I feel like a mass murderer..."
"I hate that my husband sits there with a stack of junk mail and rips out the plastic windows. We both work full time, have a child, and not a lot of time together. This is not how we should spend it!"
"I use CFLs so I don't have to change the burned out bulbs as much not because they're "better for the environment." I really am that lazy."
You can second a confession by clicking the "me too" button. I'm warning you now, it's a huge time sink.
September 20, 2007
Envirohealth News: Mercury-free fish may be in our future
Your environmental health news crib sheet.
Something smells.There's "a veritable cocktail of dangerous and potentially dangerous volatile organic compounds" in your air fresheners, and a group of environmental organizations want the government to do something about it.
Mystery at Upper Mystic Lake. There are ten tons of arsenic and undetermined amounts of lead and cadmium in Upper Mystic Lake. Too bad no one got around to telling the beachgoers, picnickers and fishermen.
Power to the people FDA. Congress is in the process of passing legislation that would help the FDA protect the nation's pharmaceutical drug supply. Knowing that our prescription drugs will be more thoroughly examined? Sounds like power to the people after all.
"Natural" is only skin deep, too. Organic and natural cosmetics are booming these days, but does "natural" mean safe? One cosmetics retailer points out that "there are some interesting and legitimate sources of impartial ingredient information" on the internet. Anyone know of any?
Good news department.Researchers think that making mercury-loaded fish safe to eat again might be as simple as -- wait for it -- stopping mercury pollution. Fish apparently recover quickly from mercury contamination, but getting industry to stop contaminating is another problem entirely.
Will California's condors be unleaded?
I’m having a hard time with this post. The issue seems so obvious, so clearly-cut, that there can’t possibly be much left for me to say. Lead bullets poison people in firing ranges, animals in the wild, and the environment in both – so we ought to stop using them. Right?
Not according to the NRA.
There are only about 300 California Condors left in existence (about half of those are in captivity), and lead shot is the biggest continued threat to their survival. The birds end up consuming the contaminated ammo when they’re eating from carcasses left behind by hunters, which causes lead poisoning. One condor recently died of lead poisoning, and other “wild” condors have to be captured and treated for lead poisoning regularly. A bill to restrict the use of lead shot within condor country (not to ban lead shot altogether, which is what makes the most sense to me) passed the state’s legislature and is on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk.
But the Governor is in the NRA’s pocket on this one. They claim that there’s no scientific evidence that lead is a threat to the birds. Worse, they claim that the expense of having to use non-leaded ammo would force many hunters to stop hunting, which “will have terrible consequences on wildlife management practices.” (Sounds an awful lot like the claims of bar and restaurant owners when smoking bans are being debated, doesn’t it?) When the state’s Fish and Game commissioner released a document outlining the threat to condors from lead shot, Senator Dennis Hollingsworth organized a letter to be signed by 33 other NRA-supporters urging the Governor to, er, terminate the commissioner’s term.
Three days later, the commissioner resigned – due, he said, to pressure from the Governor’s office.
So like I said, this one should be opened and shut. But it isn’t, because Governor Schwarzenegger must decide between protecting his NRA cronies and protecting the dwindling population of a bird he himself chose to represent his state:
In a nod to the condor's magnificence, Schwarzenegger chose the condor as the symbol of California on the state quarter. The governor now has another choice to make - whether the condor will remain California's symbol, or disappear again from California's skies.
September 19, 2007
Western drilling claiming more victims?
Well, it’s finally happened. The out-of-control explosion of oil and gas drilling in the Mountain West has started to claim other victims besides the environment. Politicians who were early supporters of the federal government’s plans to dramatically increase its search for domestic sources of energy may pay for it come the next election.
It has also made for some strange bedfellows, with environmentalists and sportsmen (not always allies) just as upset over what has been happening throughout the west as more drilling rigs are going up. Not only is the environment being put through the ringer as more an more pollution is released as a result of increased drilling, but big game are disappearing from areas where they traditionally could be found in abundance.
A similar thing is happening on public lands as well as mining claims are at record levels right near some of the country’s most well-known national parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.
Envirohealth in Blogs: Christmas lists, Australia's smoking ban, and more
A little light reading to get you through your Wednesday.
Here’s something useful: Treehugger alerts us that sensors for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might be on the way.
All Cristina at Moms Speak Up wants for Christmas is a lead testing kit.
Grist is knocking our socks of these days with their and Emily Gertz’s feature on chemicals and infertility.
Effect Measure takes a look at Australian casinos claims that the smoking ban is bad for the gambling business and is not impressed.
Mark H at Denialism makes an argument for bringing back the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), an agency that spent 20 years helping Congress understand science before being summarily executed in ’95.
September 18, 2007
7 ways to reduce your exposure to PBDE flame retardants
PBDEs are everywhere, and there's some evidence connecting them to brain and developmental problems in animals, and possibly even cancer. Exposure to flame retardant chemicals is ubiquitous, but there are things you can do to keep the concentration of PBDEs in your body as low as possible. Here are some ideas pulled from the EWG research archives:
- Whenever possible choose PBDE-free electronics and furniture. PBDEs should not be in mattresses, couches and other foam products sold in 2005 or later. However they are still put in some new televisions and computer monitors. Our 2006 PBDE-free manufacturer and product list is a good place to start looking for electronics with out them.
- Avoid contact with decaying or crumbling foam that might contain fire retardants. This includes older vehicle seats, upholstered furniture, foam mattress pads, carpet padding, and kid’s products made of foam.
- Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum cleaner. These vacuums capture the widest range of particles and are good for reducing lead or allergens in house dust too.
- Replace couches, stuffed chairs, automobile seats and the like that have exposed foam. If you can't afford to replace them, cover them with sturdy cloth and vacuum around them frequently.
- Do not reupholster your older foam furniture, especially in homes where children or pregnant women live.
- Be careful when removing or replacing old carpet, since PBDEs are found in the foam padding beneath carpets. Isolate the work area with plastics and avoid tracking construction dust into the rest of your house. Pull out a HEPA vacuum to clean up when you're finished.
- The replacement chemicals for PBDEs in foam are not fully tested for their health effects. Buy products made with natural fibers (like cotton and wool) that are naturally fire resistant and may contain fewer chemicals.
Photo: That adorable girl is Clover. Her daddy, Evan Long, is the photographer.
Toddlers' PBDE exposure (and some Queen for good measure)
I’m warning you now: read this post and you may find yourself humming a particular song for the rest of the day.
Science News has an article this week about human exposure to flame retardants (PBDEs) through dust. PBDEs are linked to cancer and problems with brain development (in neonatal mice) and neurobehavioral problems (in the same mice in adulthood), and now they’re linked to thyroid disorder in cats. They’re everywhere, in all of us, and they’re bioaccumulative (like PCBs – they build up in bodies and in the food supply).
The article, titled Don’t Bite the Dust (can’t you hear that catchy baseline now?) examines the higher blood-PBDE levels of toddlers and children, which researchers theorize may be due to their higher exposure to PBDE-laden dust (a subject EWG examined back in 2004: In The Dust). They’re crawling around on the floor, chewing on toys made of materials that attract dust, breathing air much closer to the source of the dust. Plus, researchers have also found a positive correlation between PBDE residue in dust and PBDE levels in breast milk.
So. Children are being exposed to PBDEs at higher levels, and PBDEs are linked to serious illness in other mammals. But the human data “just aren’t in,” so what does the Science News article recommend?
You might want to vacuum more often. Oh, and limit your children’s intake of fish and high-fat dairy, which tend to have high PBDE content.
Sound advice, but um, gee… do you think maybe the government ought to do something about a set of chemicals that pose a known health risk to other animals, especially when our most vulnerable population is being exposed at such high levels?
EPA has supported voluntary phase-outs of certain PBDEs by industry, but those same varieties have been outright banned in the EU (and in Washington, as of earlier this year). Other PBDEs go virtually unregulated. The chemical industry should have to prove that their products are safe, but instead the burden of proof is placed on government and environmental health scientists to demonstrate that PBDEs are a health risk.
Ugh. Please note my disgust. But in the meantime, Science News is right – vacuum often, with a HEPA vacuum. And if your coworkers get on your case today for humming Another One Bites the Dust, you can blame me.
September 17, 2007
Triple Crisis Teach-In report
As Amanda said, I did go to amazing teach in, Confronting the Global Triple Crisis - Climate Change, Peak Oil, Global Resource Depletion & Extinction, held this weekend in DC. The teach in featured numerous activist and experts, including Vandana Shiva, Jerry Mander, Ross Gelbspan, Jeff Goodell, Richard Heinberg, Wes Jackson, Frances Moore Lappe and David Korten.
While I am still collecting my impressions and encouragement that I got there, I would just like to convey the message of hope that I got from my favorite author, David Korten.
I have been a fan of David Korten since I first read his amazing book When Corporations Rule the World. Since then, I read numerous other books and articles written by him and had a chance to see him speak twice. His solution-oriented activism was and still is an inspiration to me and I hope that you have the chance to see him.
Envirohealth News: Rogue Algae!
Your environmental health news crib sheet.
With increased industry has come increased nitrogen and phosphorus in Chinese waterways, and the result is rogue algae.
Chemicals dumped in landfills near Minneapolis have migrated into groundwater --uphill. Yeah, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency didn't think it was possible either.
The Breast Cancer Fund has released a report detailing the effects and possible causes of early puberty in girls, including the probable role of environmental pollutants.
Looks like we're running out of room for storing nuclear waste. Maybe we should take that as a sign?
Are they losing momentum? The EPA will complete only a third of their average number of Superfund cleanups this year.
Officials refrain from dumping toxic sludge into Elliott Bay;
Mom not impressed
I was never rewarded for doing chores when I was a child. I was a part of the household, my mother told me, and she wasn’t going to applaud or pay me just because I did my part to help out.
I think I may need to send my mother out to Seattle, where commissioners for the Port of Seattle have decided not to dump PCB-contaminated sludge into Elliott Bay. I can see it now, my mother looking skeptically at the beamingly proud commissioners. “So you’re telling me you’re not dumping toxic sludge into the water,” she’d say, “and I’m supposed to be impressed? You’re going to have to do better than that.”
The plan to dump the sludge, dredged from a Superfund site, into Elliot Bay had passed muster with the state and federal government, whose standards are considerably lower than many environmental scientists would like. Environmentalists thought it might not be such a good idea, though, and
with support from the state's newly formed Puget Sound Partnership, King County Executive Ron Sims and various scientists within the state's Department of Ecology and Department of Fish and Wildlife -- said the current momentum toward a cleaner Puget Sound calls for higher standards.
PCBs, which were once used as flame retardants, have been banned for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately they persist in the environment and don’t easily break down. Instead they accumulate in bodies and move up the food chain, from small fish to larger fish to people and other fish-eating animals. In fact, if I were the gambling type, I’d be willing to bet a big chunk of money (say, enough to repay my undergraduate loans?) that you’ve got PCBs in your body right now. Exposure to PCBs in the womb has been linked to learning and behavioral difficulties, and new research seems to indicate a correlation between parental PCB exposure and low male birth rate. I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you the chemicals are also considered cancer-causing agents.
Personally, I’m thrilled that they’re working on a plan to dump the most polluted portion of the muck into a landfill and not the bay. Activists and citizens made noise about this, and they got somewhere – although they’ll have to keep the pressure on to make sure there’s no backtracking.
But if there’s one thing I learned from Mom, it’s that good enough doesn’t get rewarded. Not dumping toxic sludge into a body of water should be a no-brainer. Show me a plan to clean up the contamination already in Elliott Bay, and then I’ll be impressed.
September 15, 2007
SMM: Greensumption and the Triple Crisis
There's a teach-in here in DC this weekend on the triple crisis of climate change, peak oil, and resource depletion. Jovana is planning on attending, so hopefully we'll get to hear all about it on Monday.
In the meantime, this video -- which plugs the teach-in at the end -- makes me incredibly uncomfortable because it's so... honest. It's funny, sure, but it's also a little scary, because... well, some people believe those things. Yikes.
September 14, 2007
Three ways Congress can give the CPSC teeth
Look up “toothless tiger” in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of the Consumer Product Safet