Health
Andean villagers reel from the impact of disappearing glaciers
Within the shadow of towering, snow-capped Mt. Ausangate in the Peruvian Andes resides a pantheon of gods, spirits, and demons, according to local Quechua folklore. [Read more…] about Andean villagers reel from the impact of disappearing glaciers
Where did all the acorns go?
For many years, oaks in the Northeast were prolific acorn producers. The 2010 crop was record-breaking—many will recall getting hit with acorn rain or slipping on acorns underfoot. Last fall, however, acorns were scarce. [Read more…] about Where did all the acorns go?
Now your kitchen can smell like Yellowstone National Park
History is full of strange bedfellows. Air Wick recently debuted a new line of home fragrances inspired by four national parks. [Read more…] about Now your kitchen can smell like Yellowstone National Park
Get the lead out!
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Lead has been mined and smelted for more than two thousand years, and it has been recognized as toxic for nearly as long. It can affect every organ of the body, but in particular, it is a neurotoxin associated with cognitive problems. [Read more…] about Get the lead out!
What are you drinking?
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What is more precious than safe drinking water? Each year more than 2.2 million people die because they don’t have access to clean water. Children in the developing world are the most vulnerable, with one lost every 20 seconds. When you travel in these regions, you’ll see roadside ditches filled with discarded plastic water bottles. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford them. [Read more…] about What are you drinking?
If you like to eat seafood, make an informed choice!
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Some fish populations are declining, and some types of fish are high in mercury or contaminants that can threaten our health. There are several resources that help consumers and businesses make informed choices when purchasing seafood. One of them is Seafood Watch… [Read more…] about If you like to eat seafood, make an informed choice!
Methane—it’s not laughing gas.
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Methane concentrations are rising in Earth’s atmosphere, more than doubling since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Like carbon dioxide, methane contributes to global warming. In fact, it is 25 to 35 times more effective at warming our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Trouble is, we’re not sure what’s causing methane levels to rise. [Read more…] about Methane—it’s not laughing gas.
Toxic mercury is poisoning songbirds
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Each year in the U.S. coal-fired utilities release some 50 tons of mercury into the air. Once emitted, the pollutant is delivered to the landscape, where it takes on its most toxic form – methylmercury – in wet ecosystems such as lakes and streams. [Read more…] about Toxic mercury is poisoning songbirds
A shortage of acorns has left us vulnerable to Lyme disease
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The northeastern U.S. should prepare for a surge in Lyme disease this spring. And we can blame fluctuations in acorns and mouse populations, not the mild winter. So reports Rick Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. [Read more…] about A shortage of acorns has left us vulnerable to Lyme disease
What comes around goes around
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Modern society produces a lot of wastewater. Households, hospitals, businesses, and institutions discharge their dirty water into sewers. Each month, we allow every industry in the U.S. to discharge 33 pounds of hazardous waste. Sewage treatment plants are tasked with removing pathogens, metals, and an array of chemical compounds. [Read more…] about What comes around goes around
If you are allergic to pollen, you should worry about climate change
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As part of a field experiment in North Carolina, scientists bathed a pine forest with elevated levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2. This is one of the greenhouse gases that is contributing to global warming. CO2 is emitted when we burn fossil fuels, and it stays in the atmosphere where it traps heat on the earth’s surface. [Read more…] about If you are allergic to pollen, you should worry about climate change
Nitrogen might be the most ironic of all the elements
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Nitrogen is a key plant nutrient. And all of our plants grow in an atmosphere that is saturated with nitrogen—78 percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen. [Read more…] about Nitrogen might be the most ironic of all the elements
When is it a bad idea to fertilize a plant?
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Fertilizer makes our crops grow bigger and our grass greener. But nutrients from fertilizer end up in our waterways, where they may fertilize microscopic plants called phytoplankton. [Read more…] about When is it a bad idea to fertilize a plant?
For a few weeks in 2008, the city of Beijing reduced its notorious air pollution
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Like most developing countries, China has prioritized economic development over environmental protection. But after winning the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the country made a commitment to address its pollution problem. Olympic organizers promised blue skies over Beijing. [Read more…] about For a few weeks in 2008, the city of Beijing reduced its notorious air pollution
We all live in a watershed
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Our bodies are more than 60% water and we require about 8 cups a day to stave off dehydration. Keeping water clean is as good for humans as it is for the environment. [Read more…] about We all live in a watershed
Raising livestock outdoors is humane, but pasture-raised animals can cause environmental problems
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-25-12-Hog-Waste.mp3|titles=EW 04-25-12 Hog Waste]
Let’s focus on pigs. Most of the pork we consume comes from massive indoor facilities where a large number of animals are raised in a relatively small space. These operations are notorious for pervasive odors and for causing air and water pollution. For ethical reasons, many people prefer to buy pasture-raised pork. [Read more…] about Raising livestock outdoors is humane, but pasture-raised animals can cause environmental problems
You might want to think twice about that picnic on the beach
Most of us take precautions when planning to spend a day in the sun and surf. We apply sunscreen, don hats, and pay attention to warnings about waves, sharks, and water quality. But a recent report highlights an overlooked beach risk: the sand. [Read more…] about You might want to think twice about that picnic on the beach
Every Day is Earth Day
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Sunday is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, which first took place on April 22, 1970 and helped to prompt an awakening of American citizens to the importance of the environment. [Read more…] about Every Day is Earth Day
The Olympic games, traffic congestion, and childhood asthma
