Environmental News for you to USE!
The apple bites back: Claiming old orchards for residential development. In state after state, old orchards are metamorphosing into highly desirable subdivisions-- desirable, that is, until it emerges that the soil may be contaminated with lead and arsenic. Environmental Health Perspectives.
France's nuclear tests in Pacific 'gave islanders cancer.' For the first time, the French government has been confronted with scientific evidence that its nuclear tests in the Pacific caused an increase in cancer on the nearest inhabited islands. London Independent
Pesticide levels in soft drinks too high. Three years after first findings on pesticide residue in soft drinks were released, a new study shows that nothing much has changed and soft drinks remain unsafe and unhealthy in India. The Hindu
Glacier melt rate a surprise. The glaciers of Southeast Alaska are shrinking twice as quickly as scientists had previously estimated.
Juneau Empire
Petrochemicals linked to leukemia in young adults Residential exposure to petrochemicals is associated with an elevated risk of leukemia among adults in their 20s, according to a new report. Reuters Health.
Organic milk shortage possible. Dean Foods Co. in Texas may have to ration organic milk shipments this winter as demand continues to outstrip supply, the company's chief executive said Wednesday. Dallas Morning News
Heavy metals contaminate grains in China. It is estimated that each year there are twelve million tons of grains contaminated by heavy metals, which results in an economic loss of more than 20 billion yuan. Epoch Times International.
The cost of Bangalore's boom is apparent in its vanishing lakes. In 10 years, 160 of the 200 lakes in India's high-tech hub have disappeared, and private builders, construction waste and recreation threaten those remaining. Agence France-Presse.
`No danger from uranium cloud' . Cyprus is not in danger from a cloud of toxic depleted uranium from weapons allegedly being used by Israel against Lebanon, Health Minister Charalambous Charalambous said yesterday. Cyprus Mail
Toronto's sewage sludge may go into lake. A Michigan landfill's decision to no longer accept sewage sludge could force Toronto to dump tonnes of human waste into Lake Ontario, a court heard yesterday. National Post
States petition EPA to ID all pesticide ingredients. Fourteen states, including New Jersey, have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose secret, potentially hazardous ingredients in their products. Atlantic City Press
No more protection. Cutting NASA's science budgets is one thing; rejecting the agency's historic role in the study of Earth is something else entirely. Nature.
Living green involves values, not just hollywood hype Living green is not a new idea, it has just become more pressing ... and more confusing. Palo Alto Weekly
Toxic runoff. The Peninsula's cities are pumping poisons into Monterey Bay. And they can't afford to stop. Monterey County Weekly
Almost one out of every five scientists appointed to an NAS panel has direct financial ties to companies or industry groups with a direct stake in the outcome of the study. About half of the panels examined had some scientists with readily identifiable biases who were not offset by scientists with alternative points of view. The NAS should strengthen its policies for avoiding and disclosing conflicts of interest and for maintaining balance. Ensuring independence and objectivity at NAS. Published by Center for Science in the Public Interest.