Disease Proof : pollution

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Gerald Pugliese

That dirty bottle with the red cap looks like trash. But it actually holds the first weapons-grade plutonium ever made. And no, it wasn’t found in some war-torn country. It was unearthed in Washington State, at an abandoned 1940s weapons plant; via NewScientist.

India has drawn a hard line against plastic bags. The capital city has banned all non-biodegradable shopping bags. And now, effective immediately, anyone caught with a plastic bag will face up to 5 years in prison and up to a $2,034 fine; DiscoBlog explains.

Southern China’s bustling factories are spewing a haze over Hong Kong, covering the famous harbor with pollution and threatening the city’s economy. Officials worry the poor air quality will force people to leave the city and no new people will move in; the AFP reports.

On the other hand, here in the United States, eco-friendly wind power could create 1 million new jobs by 2010. Now, only 400,000 people work in the wind power industry, but by 2050 it might reach 3 million! And jobs in China and Europe may boom too; from CleanTechnia.

Creative agriculture may slow global warming. Planting crops, specifically those with waxy leaves, with traditional farm crops will reflect sunlight and reduce temperatures by 2 degrees in central North America and parts of Asia and Europe; via The New York Times.

President Obama is expected to pass a waiver allowing California and 12 other states to enforce tougher air quality rules. Environmental groups praise the proposal, saying it’ll help combat climate change, but automakers fear the worst; The Los Angeles Times reports.

Image credit: NewScientist

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Gerald Pugliese

A new study in the European Heart Journal claims patients with implantable heart defibrillators are at greater risk of ventricular arrhythmia, a potentially fatal heart rhythm, when exposed to air pollution. Of the 211 participants observed for 33 months, researchers determined 73 patients had rapid abnormal heart rhythm due to pollution; Reuters investigates.

In related in news, researchers from South Korea may have figured out how to remove dangerous metals, like lead, from people’s blood. Appearing in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, scientists claim magnetic fields can fish out harmful metals from the bloodstream. High lead levels can cause anemia and brain damage; via Reuters.

And chemical contaminants, specifically pesticides, are actually causing fewer male births in both animals and humans.

Image credit: Simone Ramella

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Gerald Pugliese

The E.U. might love watching soccer on TV. But soon they won’t be doing it on giant plasma screen televisions. Currently, countries are drafting energy performance standards that plasma TVs will not be able to meet, basically banning them. Plasma TVs use 50% more power than LCD TVs; via EcoGeek.

Sorry spring-breakers, tequila is not good for the environment. The region of Mexico, where tequila is made, cannot re-grow blue agave cactuses, tequila’s prime ingredient, fast enough. The blue agave takes 6 years to mature and increased production has made tequila unsustainable; from NewScientist.

Climate change whacks the environment. But it also harms human health. And not just from pollution. An epidemic of nephropathia epidemica, which can cause internal hemorrhaging and death, in Europe is being blamed on booming vermin populations, due to warming temperatures; ScienceDaily explains.

A group of major U.S. corporations, including 3 automakers, has announced a joint pact to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. A spokesperson for the coalition says America, has the will, the capabilities and the courage to eco-innovate, even in these tough economic times; via ENN.

The Environmental Protection Agency has settled a lawsuit over their failure to adequately monitor mercury emissions from cement plants. In 2007, a group of 9 states sued the EPA. As part of the settlement, the agency will now regulate cement plant mercury pollution; the Associated Press reports.

More bad news for the EPA, this time 6 environmental groups have sued the EPA over a rule that doesn’t require dairies and livestock farms to notify officials when harmful materials, like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, found in cattle urine and feces, are released; the Associated Press investigates.

Image credit: johannesfreund