Global Warming and the Loss of Whitebark Pine Trees
Dear EarthTalk: How is it that climate change is responsible for killing whitebark pine trees and thus impacting mountain ecosystems?
Ocean Debris
Researchers are worried about the long-term implications of so much plastic and other debris finding its way into our oceans. We can all play a role in reducing this marine litter by recycling more and littering less, while manufacturers need to reduce the wasteful packaging so common for many consumer and industrial items.
Over-Fortified Processed Foods
Could there really be too much of a good thing when it comes to fortifying foods with nutrients? The non-profit Environmental Working Group thinks so, especially when it comes to vitamin A, niacin and zinc — all of which are added to a variety of breakfast cereals and snack bars marketed to kids but with nutritional servings for adults. The group would like to see nutrition labels updated to reflect higher risks for kids, pregnant women and others.
Keurig “K-Cup” Coffee Containers
Dear EarthTalk: What is the environmental impact of those “K-Cups” everyone seems to be using nowadays to make coffee at both home and office?
What Your DNA Can Really Tell You
While the tests 23andMe and other companies like them offer an overall snapshot of your future disease risk, much of what those screenings look for in the genetic code is not well known yet. The 23andMe test looks at only small segments of the DNA, called SNPs, and the test is limited to looking at less than a million SNPs (whereas the human genome has around 10 billion SNPs identified so far). To have your entire genome decoded would cost around $3,000 with current technology. The 23andMe test is different from looking at a specific gene, like BRCA1 or the gene that causes HD. It is important to know the differences between various types of genetic screenings, and understand the implications of the results.
Dirty Fuels
Dear EarthTalk: What are “dirty fuels” and why are they so called?
Reusing Greywater At Home
Reusing greywater—that is, the waste water from sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines—for landscape irrigation may be the next frontier in the greening of the American home, especially if you live in an arid region where water use is restricted. In fact, reusing your graywater may be the only way to keep your lawn and garden healthy without taking more than your fair share of the community’s precious freshwater reserves.
People’s Climate March Puts Pressure on World Leaders
On Sunday, September 21, 400,000 environmentalists took to the streets of NYC to rally world leaders meeting at the United Nations later this week to agree on significant cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.
Study Finds Link Between Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Childhood Asthma
New research finds that NYC kids exposed in the womb to moderate levels of phthalates had a 72-78 percent higher chance of developing asthma than those with limited to no exposure. What’s a consumer to do about avoiding this potentially dangerous chemical?
Palm Oil Production and Rainforest Destruction
The FDA in encouraging food producers, restaurants and fast food chain to move away from heart-unhealthy trans fats, but the most common alternative, palm oil, isn’t much better for us while also wreaking havoc on tropical rainforests across Malaysia and Indonesia and adding to our climate woes.