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| Above the fold. News aggregated by www.EnvironmentalHealthNews.org | Read today's editorials |
| Daily links to top stories in the news about environmental health. Up in the sky, it's an environmental revolution. From a small West Virginia office, John Amos is single-handedly reshaping the postmodern environmental movement. He is the first, if not the only, scientist to take the staggering array of satellite data, turn it into maps with overlays of radar or aerial flyovers, then fan it out to environmental agencies, conservation nonprofit groups and grass-roots activists. Washington Post [Registration Required] Billion-dollar asbestos fight underway in Charlotte court. A bankruptcy case underway in Charlotte, North Carolina could settle a $1 billion dispute over asbestos. Garlock Sealing Technologies says its liability to current and future asbestos victims is $125 million. Charlotte Observer, North Carolina. How the chemicals in your blood can betray your wealth. A new study has found that different types of chemicals build up in people's bodies depending on their socioeconomic status. While some chemicals, such as those associated with smoking, tend to be found in people who are poorer, they found others that are predominantly found in the rich. The Telegraph, United Kingdom. Key points in the genetically modified food debate. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to securing a massive free trade agreement between the United States and Europe is a sharp disagreement on genetically modified foods. Associated Press Nigeria: Doctors treat children of world's worst case of lead poisoning after 2-year delay. The Nigerian village that suffered one of the world's worst recorded incidents of lead poisoning is now habitable and doctors can start treating more than 1,000 contaminated children, a doctor and a scientist from two international agencies said Friday. Associated Press Water wells near gas drilling more likely to have heavy metals, Barnett Shale study finds. Private water wells near natural gas drilling in North Texas’ Barnett Shale gas field are more likely to be contaminated with heavy metals than those farther from gas operations, a study at the University of Texas at Arlington has found. Dallas Morning News, Texas. Birds exposed to 'hidden pollutants' in south Wales valleys. Birds which have returned to the former industrial valleys of south Wales are being exposed to extremely high levels of hidden pollutants, experts warn. Tests on eggs of dipper birds found chemicals used as flame retardants in furniture and motor vehicles. BBC House panel hits EPA with subpoena over pollution studies. House Republicans say they are tired of asking the Environmental Protection Agency to provide the underlying data used in studies tying pollution to serious health problems. So, they issued a subpoena late Thursday, the first from the Science Committee in 21 years. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah. What climate scientists talk about now. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is preparing to release its latest report; it will be one of the most carefully analysed documents on climate change this decade, probed and picked apart by the thousands of people around the world for whom the subject has become a driving passion. Financial Times, United Kingdom. Modernizing artisanal brick kilns: A global need. Most bricks made in Peru and other low-income countries are fired in kilns that pump greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere, posing a health threat to brick workers, their communities, and farther afield. And since brick production keeps pace with population growth, its environmental health impacts are likely growing throughout the developing world. Environmental Health Perspectives Summer on the Jersey shore, after Sandy. On the beach under a brutal mid-July sun, all seemed as it once was. Teenagers frolicked in the waves like ponies, tossing their manes in the surf, while older couples contented themselves under umbrellas against the sun, and children built castles just out of reach of the waves. New York Times [Registration Required] The global oil industry: Supermajordämmerung. On the surface, things look pretty good for the big, listed oil companies. The world wants more of what they produce than ever before. But they are spending more and more money to produce less and less of global oil output. That is fine as long as the world goes on wanting more and more oil. But what if it doesn’t? Economist Efficient Uganda charcoal stoves see surge in popularity. Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, swallows thousands of bags of charcoal every day, mainly to cook food for the city’s rising population. But around Kampala, efforts to clean up cooking – and simultaneously cut forest loss, reduce health problems and curb climate change – are beginning to change that. Reuters Anti-fracking lobby point to lessons of the US nightmare as drilling begins in Balcombe. When fracking came to Hanover, Pennsylvania, the synthetic mud, used in the drilling process, came unnervingly close to the town. Between 3,000 and 6,000 gallons of it erupted to the surface. Brighton Argus, United Kingdom. Sahel region set to see rise in 'climate refugees' – report. Erratic weather linked to climate change is forcing people to flee their homes in West Africa’s Sahel region, a trend that could worsen dramatically as temperatures rise, a rights group warned. Reuters An interview with George Mitchell: The industry can no longer simply focus on the benefits of shale gas. George Mitchell, the pioneer of extracting shale gas economically, who died on July 26th, rarely talked to the press. In May 2012 The Economist conducted a written interview with him. Economist Neighbors object to plans for large hog operation. The pigs are coming. That much is almost certain. More than 9,000 of them, packed together in a huge warehouse in White County, pumping out as much bodily waste each year as the entire human population of Greater Lafayette. Lafayette Journal and Courier, Indiana. Floods blamed for Australia fish sickness. A sudden surge in diseased fish in an Australian harbor two years ago, which was blamed by environmentalists and fishermen on international energy companies' vast gas-export projects nearby, was likely caused by flooding during one of the wettest summers in Australian history, a government report said Friday. Wall Street Journal [Subscription Required] BPA and altered airway cells: Association seen in rhesus macaques after third-trimester exposure. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, report that bisphenol A exposure late in gestation alters airway cell development in rhesus macaques. The results shed light on the possible mechanisms by which BPA may affect lung health. Environmental Health Perspectives Plastics chemical BPA may harm human fertility. Exposure to bisphenol A, or BPA, may disrupt the human reproductive process and play a role in about 20 percent of unexplained infertility, said researchers from Harvard University. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. [Registration Required] BLM launches assessment of California oil, gas leasing. Federal land managers will launch a statewide scientific assessment of oil and gas development in California, a victory for environmentalists concerned about impacts of hydraulic fracturing nationwide. Associated Press Indiana Department of Environmental Management: Air contaminants in region lower than previous federal report claimed. A new study from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management shows that the level of air toxins have been improving, and aren’t as high as previous national studies suggest. Merrillville Post-Tribune, Indiana. Richmond sues Chevron over refinery fire. On the eve of the anniversary of the disastrous Chevron refinery fire, the city of Richmond sued the company Friday, accusing officials of placing profits and executive pay over public safety. San Francisco Chronicle, California. Argentina introduces more pesticide restrictions. Argentina's main agricultural province of Buenos Aires is restricting the use of pesticides near cities, a measure meant to protect citizens' health that will raise costs for farmers in the world's No. 3 soy and corn supplier. Reuters Light pollution a serious concern for human health and wildlife. Many studies have shown that light pollution has effects on both humans and animals. From sleepless nights to depression in humans to driving off species from their natural environment, the effects have been seen worldwide. Global News Online, Canada. Marine experts puzzled over dead dolphins at Jersey Shore. The elevated number of dead dolphins on New Jersey beaches, along with the even higher number along Virginia's coast, is alarming local marine mammal experts, state environmental officials, and officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. [Registration Required] Large dairy supplier warns of botulism threat. One of the world’s leading suppliers of dairy products said Saturday that a type of bacteria that could cause botulism had been found in tests of ingredients the company sells for use in infant formula and sports drinks, leading New Zealand officials to urge a recall. New York Times [Registration Required] FDA sets a standard on labeling 'gluten free.' The federal government on Friday set a standard for gluten-free claims on food labels, a step that health officials said would help the three million Americans with celiac disease and bring uniformity to the $4 billion market for gluten-free products. New York Times [Registration Required] More news from today Shortcuts to stories from today about The good news, Avian flu, Climate, Children's health, Air pollution, Cancer, Reproductive disorders, Endocrine disruption, Birth defects, Learning and developmental disabilities, Immune disorders, Environmental justice, Superfund, Water treatment/sewage, Food safety, Integrity of science, Green chemistry. You can also read last weekend's news. Plus: If you were on vacation last week, don't miss last week's top stories... Would you like to display the news stories from EnvironmentalHealthNews.org on your own web site? Check out our RSS feeds. Compiled by Environmental Health Sciences | |
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