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Week Starting June 18, 2012
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6/24/12
Oi prompts domestic, U.S. antinuclear rallies. Tens of thousands of demonstrators held antinuclear energy rallies in Tokyo, Osaka and U.S. cities Friday over the government’s decision to restart the first idled reactors since the Fukushima No. 1 meltdowns. Japan Times, Japan.
Chemical giants push for global green ‘standards’ at Rio. Rattled in Europe by the REACH regulation and carbon dioxide emission curbs, international chemical companies are at the Rio Earth Summit determined to push for a global approach to environmental policy – but with a light regulatory touch. Euractiv, Belgium.
GM grass linked to Texas cattle deaths. A mysterious mass death of a herd of cattle has prompted a federal investigation in Central Texas. Preliminary tests revealed the genetically-modified form of Bermuda grass—called Tifton 85 grass—, which has been here for years, had suddenly started producing cyanide gas, poisoning the cattle. CBS News
Pollen on the rise: Report. Around the globe, pollen counts are increasing and Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggests it could be affecting our health. Some scientists believe climate change could be to blame for the rise in pollen. Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia.
Port-area residents getting clean-air help. Soon, residents in Wilmington will be treated for asthma caused by emissions spewed from the nearby Port of Los Angeles, while a study will help determine how they are affected by noise from terminal operations. Contra Costa Times, California.
West Virginians express frustration with chemical company. Bayer CropScience’s methyl isocyanate plant needs better safety practices, according to a National Academy of Science report released last month. Recently, the plant’s neighbors in the town of Institute wondered what comes next. No one could give them definitive answers. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.
Plastics chemical linked to obesity in kids. New research suggests that chemicals called phthalates, which are found in the plastics that pacifiers and toys are typically made of, may be linked to higher rates of obesity in children. US News & World Report
U.S. consumers say ‘no’ to antibiotics. A U.S. consumer group is campaigning to get local supermarkets to sell only meat that has been raised without antibiotics. The campaign by Consumers Union, the public policy arm of Consumer Reports, coincides with the release of a study that suggests 86 percent of Americans want meat raised without antibiotics. United Press International
Mid-South producers fight regulations to meet demand for healthy meat. Most farmers who reject the use of antibiotics and hormones on animals have small operations, and finding their way through state and federal regulations to a processor who can handle their small volume can bedevil their efforts to grow. Memphis Commercial Appeal, Tennessee.
6/23/12
Rio+20 Earth Summit results in nonbinding declaration with moderate goals. The global environment summit concluding Friday, which drew nearly 100 world leaders and more than 45,000 other people to Rio de Janiero and cost tens of millions of dollars, may produce one lasting legacy: Convincing people it’s not worth holding global summits. Washington Post [Registration Required]
Florida struggles to overcome threats to freshwater springs. In the last 10 years, many of the famous freshwater springs and rivers in Florida’s central and northern parts have seen a sharp drop-off in flows and a steady rise in algae. The declines have accelerated rapidly in the past five years. For the first time, a state with so much rain is beginning to seriously fret about water. New York Times [Registration Required]
Keystone XL southern leg permitted as early as Monday. An increasingly vocal group of landowners, environmentalists and even tea party members is saying that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now ramming the Keystone XL project through without any public input or environmental review. Los Angeles Times [Registration Required]
California faces more serious risk of sea-level rise than other areas. As the world continues to warm, oceans will rise up to 4 feet by 2100, causing increasing threats from flooding, according to a new study. California will see even more sea-level rise because much of the state’s coastal area is subsiding, due to geological forces. San Jose Mercury News, California.
Climate refugees – today’s new reality. The continued exodus of Somalis to Kenya and Ethiopia has fuelled the debate on a new issue of global concern: climate refugees, driven from their homes and across borders by extreme weather events. Inter Press Service
Fake meat: Is science fiction on the verge of becoming fact? The race to make fake meat just got interesting. Two scientists on opposite sides of the world both claim to be on the verge of serving up the first lab-grown hamburger – and saving the planet in the process. The new reality is so close, you can almost taste it. The Guardian, United Kingdom.
Fracking with propane instead of water. Hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of water at each well site in order to release oil and gas. A Canadian company has found a method that uses propane instead of water. Gasfrac says the propane technique uses biodegradable chemicals and doesn’t pollute groundwater. But others say propane fracking is risky business. Living On Earth
Health risks still threaten those in flood zone. Despite the lack of initial injuries after dramatic flooding in northeastern Minnesota, there are still plenty of health risks facing the people who live in the ever-expanding flood zone. Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota.
6/22/12
Elevated levels of two stain-resistant chemicals in the blood of adults living near a DuPont plant in the Mid-Ohio Valley were associated with enzyme activity that indicates liver damage and possible liver disease. The results of this large study of PFOA and PFOS, which are used to make cookware, food packaging and fabrics, mirror the findings of studies of lab animals and chemical plant workers. More…
Injection wells: The poison beneath us. Over the past several decades, U.S. industries have injected more than 30 trillion gallons of toxic liquid deep into the earth, using broad expanses of the nation’s geology as an invisible dumping ground. ProPublica
As Rockies burn, debate over fire retardant toxicity, efficacy flares amid new rules for use. Forest Service officials insist firefighting won’t be hindered by new rules meant to prevent millions of gallons of retardant dropped onto scorched landscapes each year from poisoning streams and killing fish and plants. Associated Press
Public at last, H5N1 study offers insight into virus’s possible path to pandemic. Depending on your point of view, a study published Thursday in Science marks another good week for public health experts trying to protect a vulnerable world from a new influenza pandemic – or for future bioterrorists bent on unleashing one. Science [Subscription Required]
Predictions differ about size of 2012 ‘dead zone’ in Gulf of Mexico. Two Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” forecasts released Thursday could hardly be more staggeringly different. The wide range of the dead zone’s size in the forecasts is due to scientists’ use of two different forecast models, and the eventual size of the zone this year could help the scientific community understand which model works best. New Orleans Times-Picayune, Louisiana.
Wide-ranging support for banning BPA from baby products in Maine. A coalition of mothers, fathers, pediatricians and environmental groups is calling on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection to require the phasing out of the toxic chemical Bisphenol A from infant formula, baby and toddler food packaging. Maine Public Broadcast Network, Maine.
The battle over climate science. There’s no police tape across Michael Mann’s office doorway this morning. “Always a good start,” he says, juggling a cup of coffee as he slides his key into the lock. Climate scientists often find crude acts of harassment - death threats, hate mail - alongside sophisticated legal and political attacks. How much worse can it get? Popular Science
UL Environment aims to be the cop for zero waste initiatives Nearly every week, it seems at least one prominent company is announcing a new landfill waste reduction strategy. But finding out whether those initiatives are paying off can be a challenge.
Government key catalyst to ‘sustainable energy for all’ In order to achieve dramatic advancements in energy efficiency on a global level, government needs to be the catalyst to jumpstart innovation among businesses that otherwise wouldn’t be able to take advantage of such technology.
6/21/12
Opinion: Environmental policies must tackle social inequities. Despite significant victories, race remains a major fault line in American life. It shapes the distribution not only of power and economic resources, but environmental quality as well. Tales of environmental injustices around the country provide strong evidence that chemical-by-chemical and facility-by-facility regulation is inadequate to protect public health. Environmental Health News
Senate rejects Republican bid to lift EPA coal plant regulations. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-backed move Wednesday to scrap EPA regulations on mercury and toxic chemical emissions from coal power plants, not swayed by the contention that the rules are killing jobs, not saving lives. Los Angeles Times [Registration Required]
Wary of plastic, and waste, some consumers turn to glass. Consumer concerns that chemicals used in packaging can leach into the products they eat and drink are driving more and more beverage makers and food producers to use glass containers, said Lynn Bragg, president of the Glass Packaging Institute, an industry association. New York Times [Registration Required]
What’s in your wallet? Another ‘estrogen.’ Two small investigations over the past 18 months turned up U.S. greenbacks tainted with bisphenol A, a hormone-mimicking pollutant. One of them also detected BPA on paper currencies from 20 other nations. Now the authors of that second report have turned up BPA’s cousin — bisphenol S — on many of those same banknotes in addition to 13 other types of papery products. Science News
What’s in your wallet? Another ‘estrogen.’ Two small investigations over the past 18 months turned up U.S. greenbacks tainted with bisphenol A, a hormone-mimicking pollutant. One of them also detected BPA on paper currencies from 20 other nations. Now the authors of that second report have turned up BPA’s cousin — bisphenol S — on many of those same banknotes in addition to 13 other types of papery products. Science News
GMOs should be tested before entering market, says American Medical Association. The American Medical Association called for mandatory pre-market safety testing of genetically engineered foods as part of a revised policy voted on at the AMA’s meeting in Chicago Tuesday. Chicago Tribune, Illinois.
Smoking tied to one type of skin cancer. Smoking may not only cause wrinkles and sagging skin, it might also increase your risk of one type of skin cancer, researchers suggest in a new report. Smokers have a 52-percent increase in their risk of squamous cell cancer, based on six studies that varied in size, duration and design. Reuters
California high speed rail won’t get a pass on environmental regulations. After encountering criticism from environmental groups, Gov. Jerry Brown signaled Wednesday that he plans to withdraw his controversial proposal to protect the California bullet train project from injunctions sought by environmental lawsuits. Los Angeles Times [Registration Required]
6/20/12
Experts say science lacking on 9/11 and cancer. Call it compassionate, even political. But ... scientific? Several experts say there’s no hard evidence to support the federal government’s declaration this month that 50 kinds of cancer could be caused by exposure to World Trade Center dust. Associated Press
Bill would require federal mountaintop removal health study. New or expanded mountaintop removal permits would be blocked until the federal government concludes the mining technique is not contributing to increased risks of cancer, birth defects and other health problems among coalfield residents, under legislation proposed in Congress this week. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.
Environmentalists decry ‘irresponsible’ lobbying by coal-burning utilities. The Natural Resources Defense Council condemned eight coal-burning utility companies Tuesday for flouting the Clean Air Act and spending millions to lobby against pollution controls. The American public pays the price in the form of illnesses, higher health costs and more than 10,000 deaths annually, the environmental group said. Center for Public Integrity
Public backs EPA, not Republicans, on mercury rule, poll finds. A majority of Americans don’t support a Republican-backed measure the Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday that would nix a landmark environmental rule controlling air pollution from power plants. But they don’t support the regulation as is, either. National Journal
Industry group decries ‘extreme’ chemical safety bill. Don’t expect any movement this year on Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-N.J.) Senate bill to reform the nation’s top chemical regulations, the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, the president of the largest chemical trade association said yesterday. E&E Daily
Chemical makers bristle at green building standards, say new rules will cost jobs. Major business groups are lobbying lawmakers to take a look at the proposed standards from the U.S. Green Building Council, warning jobs will be lost if they are embraced by the federal government. The Hill, District of Columbia.
US House: Bulldozing environmental laws. The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would allow construction of roads, fences and checkpoints in pristine wilderness, parklands and Indian reservations along the U.S.-Canada border. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington.
‘The Girl Who Silenced the World’ returns to Rio. Twenty years ago, a 12-year-old girl took the podium at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and told a room full of world leaders that they were failing her. Severn Cullis-Suzuki is 32 now, and she’s back in Rio, helping the next generation of world leaders speak up in the global dialogue. ClimateWire
Corporate water disclosure grows, but remains a trickle U.S. corporations have improved their disclosure of water-related risks, but still have far to go, according to a new report. In a report released this week, Ceres revisited the disclosures on water-related risks by the same 82 companies previously studied, and noted improvement in several areas.
OfficeMax brings reusable boxes to business customers In a move that promises to reduce delivery packaging and create less work for businesses, OfficeMax has launched a shipping box reuse program called “Boomerang Box.”
6/19/12
Asthma and the inner city: East St. Louis children struggle with life-threatening disease. When it comes to asthma, the children of East St. Louis, Ill., are at high risk. Nearly all are African American and most live in poverty. Industrial plants ring their city, and exhaust from highways blankets the area. Environmental Health News
New California standards could reduce flame retardants. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday called for a sweeping overhaul of his state’s 1970s-era flammability standard, a change that could dramatically reduce or eliminate the toxic flame retardant chemicals in sofas, easy chairs and baby products in homes across the nation. Chicago Tribune, Illinois.
Tending the body’s microbial garden. For a century, doctors have waged war against human bacteria, using antibiotics as their weapons. But that relationship is changing. Under this new approach to health, known as medical ecology, scientists want to be microbial wildlife managers. New York Times [Registration Required]
Rio+20: The world is getting too heavy finds new league table of fattest countries on Earth. Researchers estimated that the adult human population now weighs in at 287 million tonnes, 15 million of which is due to the overweight and 3.5 million due to obesity. The study says that the world’s ‘spare tyre’ is shortening lives, driving climate change and destroying the environment. The Telegraph, United Kingdom.
Environmental activists ‘being killed at rate of two a week.’ The struggle for the world’s remaining natural resources is becoming more murderous, according to a new report that reveals environmental activists were killed at the rate of more than two a week in 2011. The Guardian, United Kingdom.
Lots of fish, lots of toxics; Washington state officials looking to change that. Nearly 30 Native American tribes rely heavily on fish for food, but Washington state’s official estimate of fish consumption - used to help determine water quality standards - doesn’t reflect this reality. Their rate is the lowest in the nation. Yakima Herald Republic, Washington.
Groups sue EPA on toxic release standard. A group of environmental organizations have filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA’s emissions standards for polyvinyl chloride plants in Mossville and Deer Park, Texas, both of which emit toxic pollutants at far greater concentrations than other PVC facilities. Baton Rouge Advocate, Louisiana.
Study finds strip miners getting black lung. A new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has again confirmed that black lung isn’t a disease limited to coal miners who work underground. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.
6/18/12
Pollution, Poverty, People of Color: Falling into the ‘climate gap’. The Shore Plaza East apartments have a stunning skyline view of downtown Boston across the harbor: Waves lap at the foot of the eight-story building; sailboats carve foam trails in the water. These could be million-dollar condos. But, buffeted by winds and the threat of storm-water flooding, these apartments are subsidized housing, reserved for the poor. Environmental Health News
GMO showdown in California. A measure that has qualified for the November ballot will ask California voters to decide whether foods produced through genetic engineering must have disclosure labels. The issue has farmers, grocers, scientists and foodies taking up sides, including some in Sonoma County whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. Santa Rosa Press Democrat, California.
Oceans of pollution. A drumbeat of recent scientific studies emphasizes an increasingly alarming convergence of crises for Earth’s oceans. Among the impacts, the amount of plastic floating in the Pacific Gyre has increased 100-fold in the past four decades, and growing ‘dead zones’ in the world’s oceans. Al Jazeera, Qatar.
Uncovering an ocean. If you want to study clouds, barnacle geese, seismology, sea ice, zooplankton and any number of pollutants – all indicators of how the Arctic and the world are changing – Ny-Alesund is the place, a huddle of wooden buildings by an icy fjord on Norway’s island of Spitsbergen. Much of the change in the Arctic is understood; little of it is reassuring. Economist
Hidden treasure: A hunt for Arctic resources. High commodity prices, receding ice and better technology are spurring a hunt for Arctic resources. But oil companies are reluctant to admit that climate change plays a part in their northward shift. They do not want to be seen to be profiting from the environmental damage to which their activities have contributed. Economist
Built on sinking ground, Norfolk tries to hold back tide amid sea-level rise. At her cozy house by the river, Julie Faella spoke as though a monster lurks nearby. It rises under a tidal moon, she said, or when the winds howl, or when rains crash down. She’s seen it with her own eyes. Washington Post [Registration Required]
As mercury affects fish in Florida’s waters, officials grapple with fix. Mercury tainting fish in the Indian River Lagoon and Everglades could come from local power plants or as far away as China. Environmental managers must grapple with the sources of this toxic metal as they try to write the state’s first limits on mercury pollution in state waters. TC Palm, Florida.
Senators target farm bill. Senators in both parties are trying to use the farm bill to go after EPA regulations and permits as a potential last-ditch effort to affect agency policy before the election. The amendments range from the usual moves against the agency’s renewable fuels mandate and so-called farm dust controls to efforts to limit pesticide permits. Politico
Stakeholders’ Environmental Perceptions Affect the Bottom Line, Deloitte Says News about a company’s environmental behavior affects its market value, according to a report from Deloitte. The report, “Drivers of Long-Term Business Value: Stakeholders, Stats and Strategy,” says an organization’s understanding of how its stakeholders (including shareholders) perceive and value the organization’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues can lead to financial benefits.
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