How can I find out how environmentally responsible a company is? —Michael Waldron, Ithaca, NY Ever wonder how “green” that new shirt really is? Or what kind of organizations are receiving money from your long distance phone company? Do you know if your favorite beverage company is using recycled plastic? A little detective work can […]
The park our children use is routinely sprayed with the herbicide Roundup. Is that chemical safe, especially for children? Ewa Bialkowski San Jose, CA The Center for Ethics and Toxics (CETOS) lists glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, as the most widely used pesticide by volume. The Monsanto Corporation, makers of Roundup, claims there is no evidence […]
How can I use my car in more environmentally friendly ways? The best thing you can do, of course, is to leave your car in the garage and take mass transit. But if you have to drive, start by filling up at night. In hotter temperatures, which typically occur during daylight hours, more gasoline evaporates through the fuel opening, allowing potentially dangerous hydrocarbons to enter the atmosphere.
One rarely thinks of cosmetics as toxic substances. However, as author Kim Erickson writes in Drop-Dead Gorgeous, "Many of the poisons that pollute our environment — from dioxin to petrochemicals — can be found in the jars and bottles that line our bathroom shelves."
The Channel Islands National Park and Island Conservation recently united in a $1 million project to remove non-native rats from Anacapa Island in an effort to protect critical nesting habitat for seabirds. Rat predation had reduced one of the largest breeding colonies of Xantus murrelets to just a few pairs, earning the seabird a potential spot on the federal Endangered Species List.
How serious is the problem of soil erosion, and what can be done about it? —Brandi, Fort Worth, TX © Chris Murphy The "dirt" beneath our feet plays a variety of supporting roles. It gives plants a foothold so they can root, filters rainwater and provides a record of environmental change. But excessive cultivation, erosion […]
The United Nations Development Program estimates that urban gardens, like the ones springing up all over New York City and Seattle, provide 15 percent of the world’s food supply. They also create sorely needed jobs in neglected neighborhoods and introduce concrete-raised children to the wonders of nature.
Is there a connection between practicing yoga and protecting the environment?—Rachelle Gould, Cambridge, MA ©Chris Murphy The modern practice of yoga is rooted in the complex belief systems of ancient India. According to Yoga Journal, hatha yoga emerged in the ninth century and is the foundation of the physical postures called asanas. The term "yoga" […]
What are some tips on maintaining a "green" swimming pool? —Jim Humphey, North Andover, MA © Chris Murphy Evidence on the dangers of chlorine continues to mount, as a recent study shows a possible link of child asthma cases to exposure of chlorine byproducts used in indoor pools, says the Water Quality and Health Council. […]
I remember hearing that the world’s frogs were in peril. How are they doing today? —Omar Khan, Columbus, IN © Chris Murphy According to Harvard biology professor Jim Hanken, "Overall, the status of frogs has definitely gotten worse. The problem is more serious than we originally thought." Scientists are particularly concerned because frogs are considered […]
