Yeah...that pesky science thrown in today, too
High levels of particulate pollution in Chinese megacities. The most extensive analysis of organic pollutants in the air of Chinese cities confirms that air pollution levels are much higher than in the developed world. Very high levels of phthalates were found in all cities. Environmental Science & Technology.
The new drilling battle. More than a mile beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico lies a tract of sea floor that is bigger than New Jersey and that oil and gas companies believe holds a trove of natural gas. Washington Post.
Can America go green? Why are Americans so sceptical about global warming? Possibly because they really don't want to do anything about it. London New Statesman
New GOP push for offshore oil -- state royalties. Just weeks after a bipartisan vote to preserve the 25-year-old ban on drilling off most of the nation's coasts, House Republicans have a new strategy: offer states a huge share of billions of dollars in royalties if they allow offshore drilling.
San Francisco Chronicle
Nuclear plan skips key green review. The Ontario government has exempted itself from a law requiring a full environmental assessment for its plan to spend up to $83-billion on nuclear plants and fixing the province's aging electricity system. Toronto Globe and Mail
The rocky road to oil riches. Colorado, America's "Centennial State", is home to four-and-a-half million people, lots of cattle, and potentially the world's biggest reserves of oil. BBC
Alarm bells sound for European water supply as hot weather looms. Summer has still to make its official start in Europe, yet many countries are sweating - and it has less to do with the immediate temperature than out of worry for their water supplies. Agence France-Presse.
Arctic ice melt is inevitable, scientists warn. A panel of scientists said yesterday it's inevitable that the melting of Arctic ice will open the passage for summer marine navigation, leading to new worries ranging from controlling pollution to halting smuggling. Toronto Globe and Mail
Villagers side with SEACC on mine suit. The Kensington lawsuit is widely viewed by state regulators and environmentalists as potentially precedent-setting for mining disposal methods in Alaska. Juneau Empire
Home Depot settling case. The Home Depot will pay $425,000 and change the way it handles pesticides and fertilizers as part of a settlement of allegations that it violated numerous environmental regulations at stores in Connecticut. Hartford Courant
City wins chemical pollution lawsuit. A San Francisco jury sided with the city of Modesto in its quest to make chemical companies pay for water pollution caused by dry-cleaning solvents. Up to $100M is at stake. Modesto Bee
Science Byte: New results indicate that children exposed to high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in New York City air may suffer impaired cognitive development. At age 3, exposed children were more likely to have lower mental development scores and slower cognitive development, sufficient to raise concerns about future school performance. EHP
Science Byte: A study of Latina women and their children found unexpectedly high variation in vulnerability to organophosphate pesticide impacts. Some newborns were 26 to 50 times more susceptible than others, and 65 to 130 times more sensitive than some adults. The results indicate current standards may not be sufficiently protective. Pharmacogenetics & Genomics
Science Byte: People who develop primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a liver disease, are more likely to live near Superfund sites. The discovery was made in an analysis examining the prevalence of PBC in different zip codes around New York City. In the study area, the majority of patients requiring liver transplants because of PBC live near Superfund sites. Hepatology
Strengthen the FDA. Given the dangers of the drug methadone recently outlined in the Gazette, you would think that the U.S. FDA -- charged with protecting the public health -- could at least require more specific and cautionary labeling on the packages. Charleston Gazette
A long, slow goodbye for a hazardous pesticide. The EPA has known for years that Guthion poisons farmworkers, yet only now is phasing out the chemical. Portland Oregonian
Water wars loom over Florida's drier future. If it isn't a concern that there isn't enough, the worry is that it is too dirty. Pensacola News Journal
Crude (oil) solutions. Oil companies haven't done anything illegal because they haven't had to. With seven oil companies controlling 98 percent of California's refining capacity and 90 percent of the retail market, they've got an oligopoly. San Francisco Chronicle
Get the lead out. Some public water systems around the state are doing water tests improperly, acting on old instructions from state officials that are incorrect. Raleigh News & Observer