A new study in Environmental Engineering Science looks at household appliances that burn natural gas. Long considered a cleaner hydrocarbon fuel source, it seems that natural gas can produce particulate emissions in the home. Gas-burning stove tops, water heaters, and fireplaces are increasingly common in homes across North America and Europe, but there may be some invisible effects.

Methane is the major component of natural gas, so that natural gas combustion results in carbon dioxide and water vapour. Fuels like coal and oil are made up of larger hydrocarbon molecules, which produce additional compounds like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide when burned. There are trace amounts of similar compounds in natural gas but, under ideal conditions, natural gas burns very cleanly compared to other fossil fuels. However, typical combustion conditions often diverge from ideal, resulting in more emissions.

Researchers compared emissions produced by different appliances and under varying conditions. They were able to identify small particles, ranging from one to 10 nanometres in diameter, given off from certain appliances. While natural gas furnaces had high levels of particles around the flame area, these were burned off inside the appliance to result in low overall emissions. However, stove tops had much higher emission levels as the burners freely interact with circulating household air.

What is the problem? The main concern is the tiny size of the carbon particles (soot). Very fine airborne particles are easily taken in through the lungs. Much of the existing research has been done on outdoor air quality, particularly resulting from vehicle emissions. However, different sources for these particles does not change their health effects. Because of their size, tiny particles can pass through lung tissue, ending up in the circulatory system and potentially depositing in sensitive areas like the brain. In practical terms, the health effects linked to breathing particulate emissions include heart disease, respiratory ailments, strokes, and premature death.

To date, most studies have looked at reducing outdoor emissions. But at least there is more circulating air outside, which may dilute the effect. Inside, especially in cold weather when doors and windows are shut, the effect of fine particulate emissions may be magnified

Photo credit: animalvegetable@Flickr.com

The Met Office data is often referred to as HadCRUT and includes data from observation stations across the globe. Recently the system was updated by researchers in order to keep a closer eye on the ever-evolving state of climate change. The main change to the system is a more thorough inclusion of the Arctic in the data records. The Arctic is the region that is warming the fastest in the world and is highly important for understanding and acknowledging potential effects now and in the future.

The data set from the Arctic now includes data from more than four hundred observation stations located in the Arctic. The stations can be found in Russia, Canada and the general Arctic. In addition, previous to the update the warmest year on record reflected the year of 1998 rather than the current 2010.

Phil Jones, the director of the Climatic Research Unit, stated: “HadCRUT is underpinned by observations and we’ve previously been clear it may not be fully capturing changes in the Arctic because we have had so little data from the area. [The update] has led to better representation of what’s going on in the large geographical region.”

Addition changes to HadCRUT include updating and recalibrating past sea surface temperature data. New technology has allowed for more precise measurement and comparison to old techniques. The old figures have been adjusted for their anomalies.

The changes to HadCRUT have not altered the overall findings determined by the data in terms of global warming. The warming trend and other significant findings have not changed. However, it has allowed for more precise measurements and overall global outlook. The changes have been noted and published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

According to PepsiCo, they have been attempting to create a PET plastic from materials aside from fossil fuels for years. After putting millions into the project, PepsiCo believes they have finally found the perfect combination in order to create PET plastic essentially from waste from their own factories. The new plastic is made entirely of plant materials.

PepsiCo recently unveiled a bottle made of the plastic, plastic which was created using switch grass, corn husks, pine bark and other materials from their factories. While this would not be the first bottle to be created using plant materials, it would be the world’s first bottle using entirely plant materials. In the future, PepsiCo also plans to create their PET plastic with oat hulls, potato scraps and even orange peels.

According to PepsiCo, the bottles are identical to their fossil fuel predecessors, they are simply made from plant material. The plant-based bottles cost about as much as their fossil fuel counterparts, which makes the bottles much more likely to become popular. Of all of PepsiCo’s brands, eleven of them involve beverages which use the typical PET.

The switch to plant PET will significantly reduce the yearly emissions attributed to PepsiCo, while also giving them a further use for the excess created at their factories. In addition, while the bottles are made of plant materials, PepsiCo stated that the bottles are not biodegradable or compostable, the bottles are recyclable however.

PepsiCo plans to use the plant-based plastic in the year 2012 in a trial run. If the plastic meets their expectations, the company plans to switch all of their PET-based products to the plant-based PET.

Global warming can lead to extremes in climatic conditions. Frequency of droughts and floods are expected to increase in future. These can lead to the creation of such conditions where diseases that can be tolerated on an individual basis, may converge and lead to mass deaths of wildlife or livestock. Recent research on the subject has suggested that extremities in climate can lead to changes in the relationship between host and pathogen and cause a ‘perfect storm’, whereby outbreaks of multiple infections could occur and lead to epidemics, causing mortality of animals and birds in huge numbers.

Canine Distemper Outbreaks (CDV) that occurred in 1994 and 2001 lead to the deaths of a huge number of lions in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. CDV occurs often in these ecosystems and mortality has generally been low. However, in 1994 and 2001, the outbreaks occurred after severe drought. This drought caused high mortality in the Cape buffalo which is food for the lions. Heavy tick infestations were found on surviving Cape buffaloes. With these buffaloes forming the diet of lions, very high levels of tick borne parasites were found in the blood of lions. Normally, these parasites are found in low levels in lions. The immune system was suppresses by the distemper virus on account of which, blood parasites increased to very high levels, ultimately causing mass deaths of lions. The 1994 outbreaks lead to a drop in the lion head count by more than 35%. This was repeated in 2001. Within 3-4 years after the occurrence of CVD, the head count of lions increased. However, models on climate change predict an increase in the frequency of droughts in the region.

Such research has ramifications for the future. It shows that mass deaths of species can occur due to ecological factors and the main cause for mortality can be co-infections. Such studies need to be taken cognizance of by policy makers.

The need of the hour is awareness, where in everyone needs to do their bit and realize the effects and ramifications of the adverse effects of epidemics caused due to global warming.

The two designs differ greatly. The British version, developed in Edinburgh, looks like a floating snake and faces into oncoming waves. Specially developed joints along its body move with the motion of the waves, generating an uneven stream of power which is smoothed out and sent back to shore via an underwater cable. The American version, seen in the video, sits higher in the water like a conventional buoy, and uses the same mooring and anchoring technologies as navigational buoys do. Power is generated in an open-ended, vertical tube, using the vertical component of the wave energy, and again, sent back to shore through a submarine cable.

The beauty of these wave converters is that they can be put together into large arrays which will interfere very little with the landscape or with human beings (as long as they’re not in the way of shipping routes), and which can produce up to hundreds of megawatts of power—enough to supply the dense populations of today’s large cities.

The next generation those born after 2001 will be the most connected ever, in terms of technology and on a world wide scale. Not only will they be facing all the issues that we as parents and parents-to-be are facing, like the effects of the Iraq war but any political and social decisions made today will have serious outcomes to their future. They are also supposed to be the ones to start the next cultural revolution, whether it will be social, economic, biological or even digital.

It makes sense then to educate our children today on environmental issues and concerns. Involving them now in a responsible and logical way will result in tomorrow’s adults being an educated, environmentally aware bunch, more committed than each generation before to the preservation of earth and those upon it. Allowing your child/ren to establish a connection to the natural world around them and instill within themselves a deep responsibility to and for the natural environment will later ground them. This is because of the deeper foundation found in the wild rather than the shallowness of the latest culture of materialism and crowded urban living. An educated child will grow with an increased awareness and knowledge of the world around him and may later influence his friends and peers with his pro-enviro actions.

The three most influential examples a child has are family, schooling and community. Within your own home, simplicity is the key. Delegate chores that involve some environmental responsibility. Sorting the recycling, adding scraps to the compost heap and stressing the importance of energy conservation will all start your child on the journey to green living. Help your children join or start their own environmental club. Watch documentaries highlighting issues and hold casual discussions afterwards. A great idea is to let your children donate their toys or outgrown clothing. Also walking short distances instead of driving benefits both their health and the environment and will give them an enormous sense of satisfaction while actively making a difference.

Most schools have some sort of environment based education attached to their curriculum. A child is more likely to develop a responsibility towards his environment if his schooling places great emphasis on the issue and the care of local natural habitats. Many schools often adopt a park and use this place as an example, not only to demonstrate conservation but to educate about outdoor activities. Parents can suggest implementing a recycling fund-raiser and it is not likely the school will forego any extra funding available! Many schools also have their own little gardens where children are able to plant seeds and learn about natural lifecycles.

Local tree planting groups are always willing to accept new members, as are conservation societies. Becoming a participant in local activities will allow a child to connect on many different levels with their community as well as bind them to a secure future. Imagine passing a tree that you planted twenty years ago. An experience worth the dirty fingernails as a nine year old!

Remember, keep it simple. It is best to gradually introduce the next generation to a cleaner, more responsible way of living, there are so many books and sites and resources available on this subject. It is well worth the time now because later your little apple may be influencing environmental decisions that could very likely change the world.

Great sites to visit

A trip to the zoo during anytime of the year can be an enlightening experience for people of all ages. You find out interesting facts about animals and insects you might not have known before. It’s also a treat to see the big cats roaming and hiding in the grass and the monkeys swinging from branch to branch. There is so much to explore, and when you leave, you have a better understanding of why it’s important to protect and preserve these amazing creatures.

In light of Halloween, zoos will host spirited events with spooky activities and displays. It’s also a safe way for children to go trick-or-treating. Some of the zoos that will have Halloween activities include the Toledo Zoo, Denver Zoo, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, National Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Audubon Zoo, Little Rock Zoo, San Diego Zoo and Detroit Zoo. The proceeds from the National Zoo will go to education programs.

Depending on the zoo you go to, there might be haunted train rides, magic shows, pumpkin carvings and other activities. The Endangered Species Carousel at the New Orleans Zoo and the Creepy Crawly Critter Show at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo are fun ways for kids to learn.

Celebrating Halloween at a zoo this year is an exciting experience for everyone. Not only will children get to dress up in scary costumes and fill their treat bags with candy, but they will also remember the animals. When children know more about the life around them, it gives them more of a reason to have compassion for these living things. Respect and compassion for these creatures is what is needed to prevent the addition of more endangered species to the list.

Species in these locales are often the target for studies, such as polar bears in the Arctic and penguins in the Antarctic. A common method of tracking and studying penguins is the use of flipper tagging. However, a recently published study is addressing the possibility that not only are these flipper tags skewing data but thety are impacting the very lives of the penguins.

The study was recently published in the journal Nature, with the lead scientist being Yvon Le Maho from the University of Strasbourg and the French National Center for Scientific Research. The team of scientists which performed the study followed 100 king penguins located in the southern Indian Ocean close to Antarctica.

All of the penguins studied were equipped with electronic tags placed under their skin. Half of the penguins were then fitted with the flipper tags and the other half were left without additional tags. These birds were studied over a ten year period, during which the scientists found alarming evidence that the tags could be impacting the livelihoods of the birds, even potentially leading to their deaths.

According to their findings, the penguins with flipper tags had a survival rate sixteen percent lower than their non-flipper tag counterparts. In addition, the penguins with flipper tags also had a thirty-nine percent lower production of chicks. Le Maho stated: “There was no sign the birds adapted to the handicap caused by the bands, even after 10 years.”

Ecologist Rory Wilson from Swansea University believes that the addition of the flipper tags impacted the penguins ability to swim and function regularly. Wilson, who did not participate in the study, stated that the flipper tags caused the penguins to have to expend twenty-four percent more energy while swimming, a main activity of penguins.

The flipper bands were found to increase the mortality rate of penguins considered at lower fitness levels than the average penguin. The bands, which increased the amount of energy the penguins had to expend, also left the penguins with less energy to care for their chicks which could have contributed to the lower survival rate of their chicks.

It is unlikely that the flipper tags will stop being used in the near future, however, more precautions are necessary.

Earth Day is finally here! Just by watching the news this morning I can see that Earth Day in 2009 is going to be the most successful yet. I live in Toronto, Canada and this morning and throughout the day there are many activities focusing on earth day. Here are a few things happening in Toronto today:

• Walking School Bus

  8:15 a.m., 819 Sheppard Ave. W.
  The Walking School Bus is a program where kids, teachers and
  guardians gather to safely walk to school together. Plans for a Walking
  Wednesdays walking club will grow from this introductory celebration.
  Website

• Earth Day Tree Planting

  9 a.m., 245 Bernard Ave., Richmond Hill

  More than 200 students from three Richmond Hill elementary schools
  will plant trees alongside Mayor Dave Barrow, members of Council, staff
  from the parks department, representatives from the town’s Earth Day
  project partners, Evergreen and local residents.

• Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Launch

  9:30 a.m., Allan Gardens (19 Horticultural Ave.)
  To mark the first day of Ontario’s cosmetic pesticides ban,
  Environment Minister John Gerretsen and Communities in Bloom’s Ontario
  executive director Lee Rozon will announce a unique partnership. They
  will be joined by celebrity gardener Charlie Dobbin.

• Mayor Miller introduces new recycling-collection vehicles

  10 a.m., 3000 Dufferin St.
  Mayor David Miller will introduce two new recycling collection
  vehicles — the ElectroVan and the HazMobile, to be used for household
  hazardous waste and electronics. These new City of Toronto vehicles
  will be used in a pilot project to collect these materials from
  multi-unit residences.

• Earth Day Labyrinth

  12-1 p.m, Trinity Square Park (immediately west of the Eaton Centre, south of the Church of the Holy Trinity)
  A walking meditation event focused on what is happening to our land, rivers, lakes and air.
  Feature medieval Music by Michael Franklin.
  Website

• Brita Pitcher Giveaway

  1 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square
  In Celebration of Earth Day, Brita is giving away 3,600 Brita Water
  Pitchers. The giveaway starts at 1 p.m. and runs as long as supplies
  last.

• Compost Giveaway

  3 p.m., 50 Kendal Ave. (near Bloor and Bathurst Streets)
  Come by and pick up some compost to give a healthy start to your gardening season.

• Outdoor Art Installation Launch

  3:30-5 p.m., Lower Don Valley (west side, south of Queen Street)
  Celebrate the launch of art collective BGL’s outdoor Earth Day installation
  416-644-1019,
  Website

• Embrace A Greener Tomorrow

  Brookfield Place (formerly BCE Place), Yonge and Front Streets
  This Earth Week event features an eco-intelligence seminar, green living products, a photographic exhibit and more.
  Website.

Let me know what you’re doing today to make Earth Day special, leave a comment below.

Being a ‘greenie’ or adopting a more sustainable way of living is so popular now that even Oprah and Leonardo have jumped on board. But there are those that have been thinking ahead for awhile now, those that have recycled religiously, or cultivated their own compost like a vino lover does his vintage wine.

With new gizmos and gadgets designed to help the environment being released everyday, sustainability has become a top priority to the average Joe. With Hollywood pushing the issue many seem to see sustainability as a recognized and revered movement, no longer the mantra of hippies and nerdy scientists. It is in fact an attempt to provide the best outcomes for both humans and natural environments for the immediate time and the indefinite future. Coupled with permaculture, which integrates landscape design and people in an agriculturally sustainable eco-system and you have yourself an environmentally beneficial design concept that allows both nature and mankind to co-exist with no permanent damage.

Now land developers are realizing that more profit can be made by offering eco-developments that will use environmentally sustainable concepts like grey water and storm water drainage systems and passive and active solar power design. Developers are aware that people wishing to build want to lessen their ecological footprint and save money by saving energy.

Houses are built with recycled or sustainable materials, like bamboo and incorporate as much in green living as possible. Native flora is kept and/or replanted in order to increase and maintain local bio-diversity and create natural habitats for children to explore and learn from. Some new developments incorporate onsite water treatment plants and recycling facilities which encourage community involvement regardless of location. Both inner-city dwellers and those in the outlying suburbs are anxious to actively make a difference and take responsibility for their impact on the environment.

The benefits of creating or re-establishing eco-housing are numerous. It allows children to be raised in an environmentally aware community where landscapes and streetscapes are naturally beautified and cared for by the collective whole. Tailored infrastructure means that the environment is significantly less impacted on by the neighborhood and most eco-developments will have extremely lowered CO2 emissions, use less energy and create less waste. Ethical minded developers are now creating environmentally focused communities with more cycle and walk routes and space for local stores so less drive time is needed to get that liter of milk and Sunday paper.

The concept of working with nature and not against it can bring about an environmentally beneficial design and create a healthier way of living for all involved. Some recent developments like Stringybark Grove in Lane Cove show that comfort needn’t be compromised for the environment. Permaculture design, (which is now a degree course), incorporates both beauty with bio-diversity. Homes and surrounding landscapes are carefully constructed to save as much natural habitat as possible, and that which is damaged is appropriately replaced and regenerated. Which means your little cottage in the woods can have all the gadgets and gizmos, without stripping the sweetness from the scene.