• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

  • Home
  • About Earth Wise
  • Where to Listen
  • Articles
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Archives for chemicals

chemicals

Septic Systems and Water Contaminants

August 28, 2017 By EarthWise

Septic Systems and Water Contaminants https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/EW-08-28-17-Septic-Systems-and-Water-Contaminants.mp3

A recent study has shown that septic systems in the U.S. routinely discharge pharmaceuticals, consumer product chemicals and other potentially hazardous substances into the environment.   The comprehensive study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, raises health concerns since these chemicals can end up in groundwater and drinking water supplies.

[Read more…] about Septic Systems and Water Contaminants

Natural Mosquito Repellents

June 20, 2017 By EarthWise

Natural Mosquito Repellentshttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/EW-06-20-17-Natural-Mosquito-Repellents.mp3

With summer comes mosquitoes and our desire to keep them away from us.  The most common repellents are based on the chemical DEET, which unfortunately has been found to have several health and safety problems.   Up to 15% of DEET is absorbed through the skin directly into the bloodstream.  Diethyl-meta-toluamide, the chemical name for DEET, has been shown to have a variety of toxic effects.  Fortunately, it turns out that there are some natural alternatives which may be as effective as DEET, or possibly even more effective than DEET in keeping mosquitoes away from us.

[Read more…] about Natural Mosquito Repellents

Pesticides And Food Insecurity

April 19, 2017 By EarthWise

Pesticides And Food Insecurityhttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/EW-04-19-17-Pesticides-and-Food-Insecurity.mp3

A newly released report by the United Nations takes a strong stance against the use of industrial agrochemicals, saying that they are not necessary for feeding the world.  The continued use of pesticides at the rate the world currently does in fact can have very detrimental consequences.

[Read more…] about Pesticides And Food Insecurity

Fast Food Packaging

April 6, 2017 By EarthWise

Fast Food Packaginghttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/EW-04-06-17-Dangers-of-Fast-Food-Packaging.mp3

Much has been made of the dangers of eating fast food.  Certainly, its high fat, sodium, and calorie content calls for moderating its role in our diets.  But a recent study has found that even the packaging that the food comes in might present health hazards.

[Read more…] about Fast Food Packaging

Spider Silk

February 15, 2017 By EarthWise

Spider Silkhttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/EW-02-15-17-Spider-Silk.mp3

Spider silk – the protein fiber spun by spiders to make webs, nests, cocoons, and wrapping for prey that they stash away – is a remarkable substance.  Its mechanical properties combine high tensile strength and high extensibility or ductility.  This allows spider silk to absorb a lot of energy before breaking.   It is stronger than steel, but not as strong as Kevlar, for example.  On the other hand, it is tougher than either.

[Read more…] about Spider Silk

Fracking And Earthquakes

January 5, 2017 By EarthWise

Fracking And Earthquakeshttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/EW-01-05-17-Fracking-and-Earthquakes.mp3

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process in which water, chemicals and sand are injected at high pressure to split apart rock thousands of feet below Earth’s surface and release oil or natural gas.  And it’s a controversial practice. 

[Read more…] about Fracking And Earthquakes

Help Save The Bees

December 13, 2016 By EarthWise

Help Save The Beeshttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/EW-12-13-16-Help-Save-the-Bees.mp3

Globally, 40% of invertebrate pollinator species, such as bees and butterflies, are facing extinction.  And since approximately three-quarters of the world’s food crops depend on pollination, the decline of these pollinators could pose a threat to food security around the globe. 

[Read more…] about Help Save The Bees

Houseplants And Clean Air

October 6, 2016 By Nationally Produced Shows

Houseplants And Clean Airhttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/EW-10-06-16-Houseplants-and-Clean-Air.mp3

Many of us like to have houseplants.  They add a bit of nature to our homes and they look nice.   It turns out that they have health advantages as well.

[Read more…] about Houseplants And Clean Air

Saving The Sea From Salt

July 18, 2016 By Nationally Produced Shows

Saving The Sea From Salthttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/EW-07-18-16-Saving-the-Sea-from-Salt.mp3

The Persian Gulf along with the Red and Mediterranean seas are getting saltier all the time because of the waste products of desalination.   The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman account for 45% of the world’s desalination capacity.  And the byproduct of desalination is brine, which is twice as salty as seawater.   Even advanced desalination plants produce two cubic meters of waste brine for every one cubic meter of clean water.

[Read more…] about Saving The Sea From Salt

Sunscreen And Coral Reefs

July 7, 2016 By Nationally Produced Shows

Sunscreen And Coral Reefshttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/EW-07-07-16-Sunscreen-and-Coral-Reefs.mp3

Coral reefs are great tourist attractions.   Nearly a million species of fish, invertebrates and algae live in these biodiversity hotspots and they generate billions of dollars yearly from the tourism industry.

[Read more…] about Sunscreen And Coral Reefs

Preservatives

February 8, 2016 By Nationally Produced Shows

Preservativeshttps://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/EW-02-08-16-Preservatives.mp3

Augmenting food with preservatives is not a recent practice.  For thousands of years, we have canned fruits with sugar, preserved meats with salt, and pickled vegetables so that they could keep in hot humid environments.

[Read more…] about Preservatives

A New Labeling Initiative

September 16, 2015 By EarthWise

Irrigated Lettuce

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/EW-09-16-15-Food-and-Fracking-Water.mp3

Hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – is a well-stimulation technique in which rock is fractured by a pressurized liquid to free otherwise trapped natural gas or oil.

[Read more…] about A New Labeling Initiative

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Air and Water
  • Climate Change
  • Economy and Policy
  • Energy
  • Health
  • Invasive Species
  • Our Environment
  • Sustainable Living
  • Technology
  • Wildlife and Habitat

Archives

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states (more...)

Copyright © 2019 ·

  • Home
  • About Earth Wise
  • Where to Listen
  • Articles