Bike Power, Burning Trash, and the Low-Down on Automakers’ Search for Alt-Fuels
Bike Power, Burning Trash, and the Low-Down on Automakers’ Search for Alt-Fuels.
EarthTalk Q&A
Survivor, Salty Roads and Car-Free Cities
I really enjoy the Survivor TV series, but what is the environmental impact of the TV crews working in those remote areas? —Rachel Maxwell, Port Washington, NY Chris Murphy Illustration Though the TV show Survivor ensures the survival of its contestants, some feel it fails to offer the same guarantee to the environment. As the […]
Photos, Philanthropy and Perfumed Pages
The Lowdown on Toxic Chemicals, Green Towns and Taming Allergies What environmental hazards, if any, are associated with photography? —Sarah, Ontario, Canada While pictures may be worth a thousand words, they have, pardon the expression, a negative side. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that “many of the chemicals used to develop photographs are corrosive […]
Batteries, Neurotoxins and Green Food
The Rundown on Hazardous Waste, Pine Sol and Companies that Care
How can I convince my co-workers to switch from Styrofoam cups to reusable mugs?
The best you can do is give “em the facts: Styrofoam, Dow Chemical’s trade name for its blown foam polystyrene product, gained widespread popularity in the 1970s as an inexpensive and effective insulating material for disposable cups and containers.
Where do I find sources of Earth-friendly building supplies and materials?
Where do I find sources of Earth-friendly building supplies and materials?
What are the special environmental threats to Native Americans
What are the special environmental threats to Native Americans
Dear EarthTalk: What is “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity” and what causes it?
People suffering from otherwise unexplainable medical problems such as headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and even chest pains may have everyday chemicals to blame. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a medical condition whereby such symptoms
What is the environmental impact of sewage from boats and ships on our waterways?
There is a clear relationship between the number of boats in a given area and the levels of coliform bacteria in both water and shellfish, reports the San Francisco Estuary Project. High levels of coliform bacteria, which indicate sewage pollution, can spread disease
I’ve heard that some foods are now being irradiated.
Food irradiation—used to kill bacteria, parasites and insects in food and to retard spoilage—is actually not new. Research began early in the 20th Century and picked up in the 1950s as part of the U.S. government’s “Atoms for Peace” effort to find non-wartime uses for nuclear technology.