EarthTalk Q&A: Expert Answers on Climate, Wildlife & Pollution

Are any professional athletes vegetarians? Billie Jean King, who racked up 20 wins at Wimbledon, won the U.S. Open 13 times and dealt a blow to male chauvinism when she beat Bobby Riggs in a 1973 tennis match, was powered by a vegetarian diet. She is not alone. The list of vegetarian athletes is several pages long and includes names like bodybuilder Andreas Cahling, football star Desmond Howard, Ironwoman Ruth Heidrich and sprinter Carl Lewis.

Away With Additives, Landfill Clutter and the Buy-and-Spend Mentality Can you explain the effects of MTBE on drinking water? Do any of the major low-cost water filters remove it from the tap —John Jacobson, Oakland, CA Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) is added to gasoline to reduce the effects of automobile emissions on air pollution. But […]

Should I Worry About…Airports, Siding and CFCs? Does the airport near where I live emit any kind of magnetic or electrical waves that will impact my health? —B. Sachau Living near an airport poses no special risk from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) , though there is both air and noise pollution to consider. The National Council […]

Reusable Mugs, Bleach Alternatives and Acid Rain What are the main causes of acid rain, and where are the highest concentrations found in the U.S.? —Jeff Ohmberger, Lincoln, NE A vast medley of chemicals and pollutants can contribute to acid rain, but emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) are primarily to blame. […]

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 […]

I have been searching for an environmentally-friendly way to repel moles from my home without killing or harming them. Any suggestions?—Elizabeth Powell, Marion, OH Having moles in your yard is not necessarily detrimental. In fact, moles eat destructive creatures like Japanese beetles and grubs, and aerate the soil by tunneling, bringing subsoil close to the […]

Do airplanes contribute significantly to air pollution? —Neil Gladstone, New York, NY Airports cause as much pollution as power plants, incinerators and oil refineries, although they are subject to less regulation, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The hundreds of thousands of airplanes taking off, landing, taxiing and idling each day across the […]

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.

What are the pros and cons of juice pasteurization? —Sabrina Coolidge, Portland, OR Some consumers are skeptical of pasteurization because they are concerned that the heat treatment will compromise the nutritional value of juice. According to Odwalla, a natural juice company, there is an approximate 30 percent nutrient loss during pasteurization. But the U.S. Food […]

Breathing Silica, Washing Vegetables and Saving Habitat What are the health effects of clumping cat litter on humans? Are there any negative side effects from breathing the actual litter? —Andy and Taeja Klukas, Maple Grove, MN Clay-based cat litters contain crystalline silica, the main component in sand, rock and mineral ores. A possible health threat […]