Environmental, Health and Safety News

Job Opening for Safety Analyst #OHS #JOBS# #OSHA #SAFETY

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:15:36 PDT

Safety Analyst $63,648 – $81,473 Annually + benefits Performs a variety of professional and technical activities to assist the Safety Officer in the administration and enforcement of the District’s accident prevention and safety programs; administration of workers’ compensation program; and to provide training to employees and conduct ergonomic assessments. Education: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in Industrial Hygiene, Safety Engineering, Occupational Health, or a related field. Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible experience involving the implementation of industrial safety programs. Experience in an irrigation or electric utility is desirable. Application screening will begin on or after 6/25/2013. Applications & detailed job announcement are available at www.mid.org/careers. EEO

Colorado wildfire snuffs over 500 homes; California fire a threat

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:59 PDT

DENVER/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The number of homes destroyed by a Colorado wildfire rose above 500 on Tuesday as rain dampened the flames and allowed damage assessment teams to enter charred neighborhoods, as another threatening blaze grew in California.

Tasmania Says Goodbye To Plastic Shopping Bags

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:57 PDT

Come 1st November 2013, Tasmania will be the fourth State/Territory to implement a plastic bag ban. Read on…

Solar phone chargers free in New York

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:55 PDT

Power has become a public commodity for smartphone users in Manhattan with newly installed solar charging stations that are emerging in New York City parks.

Scientists develop energy batteries made from wood

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:51 PDT

Scientists have taken inspiration from trees to develop a battery made from a sliver of wood coated with tin that shows promise for becoming a tiny, long-lasting, efficient and environmentally friendly energy source.

China threatens death penalty for serious polluters

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:48 PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have given courts the powers to hand down the death penalty in serious pollution cases, state media said, as the government tries to assuage growing public anger at environmental desecration.

Coke’s New Ice Bottle Keeps Drinks Cool and Melts Away With No Waste

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:41 PDT

Coca Cola just launched a new bottle that’s as cool as ice. The soda megabrand is offering Coke to its Colombian market, served in a chilled bottle made of ice. Once your ice-cold beverage is consumed, the packaging melts away, leaving nothing to throw away or recycle. The ice bottle joins 7Up, which introduced an ice vending machine in Argentina a few months ago that melted once all of its beverages were dispensed. Read the rest of Coke’s New Ice Bottle Keeps Drinks Cool and Melts Away With No Waste Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Coke Colombia, Coke ice bottle, eco design, environmentally friendly soda bottles, green design, ice bottle, sustainable design

OSHA fines Harwood Heights manufacturer $50k – Norridge Harwood Heights News

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:08:39 PDT

OSHA fines Harwood Heights manufacturer $50kNorridge Harwood Heights NewsFifteen serious violations were cited, including failure to ensure use of personal protective equipment; and one non-serious violation, failing to record the acid spill injury, according to OSHA. The agency has proposed fines violations are $50,785 …

New York City may mandate composting of food scraps to cut garbage bill

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:56:10 PDT

The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is preparing to roll out a new composting plan for the city, aimed at diverting some of the 100,000 tons of food scraps that ends up in landfill every year.

Siemens Will Shut Solar Unit on $1 Billion in Losses Since 2011

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:56:04 PDT

Siemens AG will close its solar power unit after struggling to find a buyer following losses of at least 784 million euros ($1 billion) euros since 2011 amid Chief Executive Officer Peter Loescher’s failed push into that business to expand renewable energy offerings. The shutdown of the solar division will affect about 280 workers at Europe’s biggest engineering company. Siemens,…

Why complexity matters when measuring sustainability

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:26 PDT

When working with metrics, there’s no such thing as a simple answer. Entire systems need to be taken into account.

New York: The nation’s most energy efficient city?

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:21 PDT

Green building proponents seek an advocate among the pool of mayoral candidates to uphold and build on the outgoing mayor’s achievements.

New Yorkers get juiced with solar charging stations

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:17 PDT

“My battery died!” may no longer be a valid excuse for missing an important text or phone call, thanks to new public cell phone charging stations from AT&T, Goal Zero and Pensa.

Wood as a Green Material

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:12 PDT

Man-made materials – glass, steel and concrete – carry the day in modern building design. Architects are fascinated by the possibilities offered by these material, we can build what was never possible before: structures of fantastical shapes, great heights, colossal spans. And in all the excitement, we let fall by the wayside one of the [...] The post Wood as a Green Material appeared first on Solar Feeds. go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

Japan Undergoes Solar Boom With Over 7.4 GW Already Installed

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:55:04 PDT

As the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to leak radiation, Japan is turning its sights away from atomic power and towards solar energy. At the end of 2012, the country had installed solar power-generating arrays that provide a total 7.4GW capacity. According to Bloomberg analysts, that number is expected to double. The explosive growth, thanks to a feed-in tariff established by former prime minister, Naoto Kan, could establish Japan as the second fastest emerging solar market behind China and trailing only Germany and Italy in size of installed infrastructure. Read the rest of Japan Undergoes Solar Boom With Over 7.4 GW Already Installed Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: china, Feed-in Tariff, france, fukushima daiichi, germany, italy, Japan, naoto kan, renewables, Solar Power

China invests billions in international renewable energy projects

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:58 PDT

It’s well-known that China ranks first in the world in attracting clean energy investment, receiving US$ 65.1 billion in 2012. But new analysis from WRI shows another side to this story: China is increasingly becoming a global force in international clean energy investment, too… Read the full story from Eco-business.com

Scientist drinks billion-year-old water: “It tastes terrible”

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:52 PDT

One of the great scientific questions has now been answered. No, it’s not something about the Higgs Boson or the Riemann hypothesis…

OSHA cites Florida underground utility company for willful, serious trenching violations; proposes more than $106,000 in penalties

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:48 PDT

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Gulf Coast Utility Contractors LLC with two willful and two serious safety violations with proposed penalties totaling $106,400 for exposing workers to a cave-in and other hazards while they were installing underground utilities at a job site in Panama City Beach. One OSHA inspection was initiated in December 2012 after its inspectors observed hazards while passing the work site. Another inspection began in February 2013 after additional trenching hazards were found at the same project in a different area. These inspections were part of the agency’s national emphasis program on trenching. Two willful violations, with $98,000 in proposed penalties, involve failing to provide workers with protection against cave-in hazards while working in a trench greater than 5 feet in depth. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=24207 Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Signs New Fracking Regulations Into Law

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:45 PDT

“Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed into law the nation’s strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling.” Read more

World's biggest solar boat reaches New York City

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:37 PDT

They will stay in the city until June 20th. After that, they continue their journey which will end in Norway.

The SolePower Harvests Energy from Walking to Charge Your Gadgets

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:31 PDT

If you pound the pavement every day for your commute or just a little exercise, you can use some of your stride to power your electronic devices. The SolePower is a shoe insole that allows the wearer to generate electricity as they move. Able to be slipped into a piece of footwear, the system runs a wire to a rechargeable battery worn around the ankle or clipped to the shoe. Power is generated and stored as you stroll and can later be used to charge phones, GPS units, music players, and other gadgets. Using mechanical linkages and generators, the SolePower works much like a smaller, slimmer version of a hand-cranked flashlight. Read the rest of The SolePower Harvests Energy from Walking to Charge Your Gadgets Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: carnegie mellon university, charge, developing nations, first responder, hiker, insert, insole, iPhone, kickstarter, kinetic energy, pennsylvania, pittsburgh, podiatrist, shoe, solepower, walk

16-year-old turns algae into biofuel, makes rest of us feel unaccomplished

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:26 PDT

Evie Sobczak is a young science rockstar who has already done more in her 16 years than most of us will in our entire lives (I KNOW, I should speak for myself): For a fifth-grade science fair, Evie Sobczak found that the acid in fruit could power clocks; she connected a cut-up orange to a clock with wire and watched it tick. In seventh grade, she generated power by engineering paddles that could harness wind. And in eighth grade, she started a project that eventually would become her passion: She wanted to grow algae and turn it into biofuel. (…)

Solar on Breweries Across the U.S

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:23 PDT

What can solar do for our tastebuds? Some brewers are posing this question as they offset their energy costs and integrate solar into the meticulous beer making process. Anyone who has tried to home brew knows there is a definite art to brewing, yet more brewers are trusting solar technology to produce thousands of barrels [...] The post Solar on Breweries Across the U.S appeared first on Solar Feeds. (…)

Postal Worker Struck, Killed At Post Office « CBS Minnesota

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:19 PDT

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A postal worker was hit and killed Tuesday morning after an accident at the Brooklyn Center Post Office, according to police. Authorities said officers were called around 7:25 a.m. to the post office located at 6845 Lee Ave. in Brooklyn Center. Upon arrival, they were directed to the loading dock area where the accident occurred. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/06/18/postal-worker-struck-killed-at-post-office/ Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

Going Green Helps Businesses

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:47:08 PDT

We are in tough times right now. The global recession is hurting industries all over the planet, and even the green industry is suffering as solar panel sales are falling, with the solar industry asking for help through the stimulus package. Whole Foods has lost 70 percent of its stock in the past year, solar panel companies are laying off workers and many companies are cutting their green divisions.However, it seems that things are not all bad for the green industries. According to Time, going green can actually help you save money in your business. (…)

Most schools still use asbestos in labs | Philippines | philstar.com

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:50 PDT

MANILA, Philippines – Most public and private schools still use asbestos, a toxic substance, in their laboratories despite the pledge of the Department of Education in November 2011 that asbestos would be removed from campuses, a labor group said on Tuesday. Allan Tanjusay, advocacy officer of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said their team visitsed four public and four private schools in Metro Manila last June 3 and June 10 and discovered that these schools still employ asbestos in Chemistry and Biology classes. http://www.philstar.com/campus/2013/06/18/955403/most-schools-still-use-asbestos-labs-group Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

OSHA courses coming up in Charleston – Huntington Herald Dispatch

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:37 PDT

OSHA courses coming up in CharlestonHuntington Herald DispatchOSHA TRAINING: The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with FDR Safety is offering a two-day workshop on OSHA 10 Hour for General Industry on Tuesday-Wednesday, June 18-19, at the Summit Conference Center in Charleston. and more »

Farm pesticides reducing insect species in rivers.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:35 PDT

In a study published by the US National Academy of Sciences, rivers containing high levels of pesticides were shown to have around one third fewer species than other rivers. In Europe, the impact of pesticides was even higher, with 42% fewer species found in rivers with high pesticide levels.

Autism tied to air pollution, brain-wiring disconnection.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:33 PDT

Researchers seeking the roots of autism have linked the disorder to chemicals in air pollution and, in a separate study, found that language difficulties of the disorder may be due to a disconnect in brain wiring.

Autism twice as likely in babies if mum lives near busy road, study claims.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:29 PDT

Mothers-to-be who live near busy roads are up to twice as likely to give birth to an autistic child, researchers say. Exposure to vehicle fumes and industrial air pollution dramatically raises a woman’s risk of having a child with the condition, experts found.

Link between air pollution and learning disabilities.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:27 PDT

Researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Manhattan said this is the first time that an association is made betweent black carbon exposure and decreasing attention skills among low-income, urban children.

Coal-fired plants in China cause smog that killed 9,900.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:25 PDT

Air pollution from 196 coal-fired power stations in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei caused 9,900 premature deaths in 2011, with the province, a big coal consumer, deserving most of the blame, according to a new study.

Pesticides spark broad biodiversity loss.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:23 PDT

Pesticide use has sharply reduced the regional biodiversity of stream invertebrates, such as mayflies and dragonflies, in Europe and Australia, finds a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Energy saving measures boost house prices, new research reveals

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:46:20 PDT

Energy saving improvements made to a property could increase its value by 14 per cent on average – and up to 38 per cent in some parts of England – new research has shown. For an average home in the country, improving its EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) from band G to E, or from band D to B, could mean adding more than £16,000 ($25,000 USD) to the sale price of the property.

Beautiful freak in Ecuador’s life raft of the frogs

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:39:12 PDT

This gloriously freakish fringe tree frog looks like it belongs in a Hayao Miyazaki fantasy, but in fact it lives in a safe haven that’s almost as magical

New Employment Postings

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:44 PDT

Check out the Job Postings/Jobs Available section of the website, many new jobs have been posted within the past week.

New permit allows faster cleanup of zebra mussels

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:41 PDT

A new state permit allows owners of waterfront properties to more easily clean up accumulated zebra mussels, dead fish, algae and other deposits.

Nissan plant worker killed in auto assembly area

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:38 PDT

SMYRNA (AP) – A maintenance technician has been killed at the Nissan auto assembly plant in Smyrna. A company spokesman confirmed the death of 43-year-old Michael Hooper. WSMV-TV reported Nissan spokesman Justin Saia said Hooper’s death on Sunday occurred in the body assembly section of the plant. Saia said he could not provide more details until family members had been told http://www.wate.com/story/22607922/nissan-plant-worker-killed-in-auto-assembly-area Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

Squirrels: Solar’s Biggest Threat?

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:34 PDT

So, what do a home solar system, squirrel/critter guard (more commonly known as chicken wire) and way too much yard work have to do with one another? In my case, quite a lot, unfortunately. Three years ago, when REC Solar installed our 5.59 kW home solar system (which has been working great, having pumped out [...] The post Squirrels: Solar’s Biggest Threat? (…)

Income From Hydroelectric Power

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:30 PDT

by Debra Fiakas CFA Are you an investor hungry for current income? Is there a green line of global warming fear running through your investment selections? I have stock that fulfills both requirements. Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (BEP: NYSE) is a renewable power producer with assets in Canada, the U.S. (…)

The Seychelles islands get their first wind farm (6MW) to replace dirty diesel generators

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:26 PDT

The Seychelles are a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles east of the coast of Africa. The archipelago currently relies on expensive and dirty diesel generators to produce most of its electricity.

Best of Biomimicry

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:24 PDT

A round-up of the different ways biomimicry is being used in the fields of energy, transportation, medicine and pollution control.

Kickstarter scam nearly duped thousands out of $120,000

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:21 PDT

Security is becoming a bigger challenge for Kickstarter as a scam campaign nearly made away with thousands.

Bloomberg’s ‘Final Recycling Frontier’: Food Waste

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:09:19 PDT

The Bloomberg administration plans to announce shortly that it is hiring a composting plant to handle 100,000 tons of food scraps a year, or about 10 percent of the city’s residential food waste.

Toxic shock: California allows up to one thousand times more glyphosate in drinking water than needed to cause breast cancer in women

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:09:15 PDT

Late last week, a story broke that revealed glyphosate — the chemical name of Roundup herbicide — multiplies the proliferation of breast cancer cells by 500% to 1300%…

Green College Dorm Rooms

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:40 PDT

As autumn begins to make its way back into the scene, it’s also a sign that school is just around the corner. But this year might be different for you, especially if you’re going away to college. Leaving home and living on your own can give you a sense of freedom, and if you’re an eco-conscious student, you can transform your dorm room into an eco-friendly pad without having to get flak from your family. College is supposed to be a time to have fun, learn more about yourself and prepare for your future, so why not transform your living space into an Earth-friendly environment? (…)

Forklift Accident Causes $250K In Damage – Northbrook, IL Patch

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:36 PDT

Northbrook firefighters responded to an alarm at Metals USA, 3000 Shermer Rd. last week when a fork lift placing a four ton roll of metal in a storage rack, struck and broke a water hose valve. via Forklift Accident Causes $250K In Damage – Police & Fire – Northbrook, IL Patch. Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

With new penalties, Eckart pollution fine nears $1 million.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:34 PDT

A Louisville, Kentucky pigment-manufacturing plant that paid a record $668,250 fine in 2011 for sloppy air-quality practices is on the hook for another $330,000 in penalties, according to the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.

Dangerous metals found in many preserved eggs.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:32 PDT

Shanghai food safety authorities said they are checking all preserved eggs from Jiangxi Province after some processors in Nanchang County were found to use dangerous chemicals.

China smog measures seen as most aggressive yet by Deutsche Bank.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:30 PDT

A Chinese government plan to fight air pollution announced last week marks the country’s “most aggressive” push to address smog to date, according to Deutsche Bank AG.

End of BP cleaning crews leaves questions on Gulf.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:28 PDT

Finding tar balls linked to the BP oil spill isn’t difficult on some Gulf Coast beaches, but the British oil giant and the government say it isn’t common enough to keep sending out the crews that patrolled the sand for three years in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

Funding to improve California drinking water has come at a slow drip.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:26 PDT

California officials have been slow to spend state and federal funds to address tainted water, snarling small communities in red tape that has delayed fixes for years, advocates say.

Frogs feminized, but atrazine's effects on people uncertain.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:24 PDT

Atrazine, one of the most widely used farm pesticides in the United States, has feminized male frogs and other animals in some scientific studies. But research examining potential effects in people is relatively sparse.

Technically speaking 10% of world crude, 32% of natural gas are sitting in shale

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:19 PDT

“Technically recoverable resources” – three words that refer to the amount of crude oil and natural gas that can be extracted from the ground using today’s technologies. No future innovations needed.The magnitude of this value with respect to shale gas formations was the focus of a major report released last week by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (…)

"Coal Industry Pins Hopes on Exports as U.S. Market Shrinks"

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:16 PDT

“CROW AGENCY, Mont. — Every few hours trains packed with coal pass through the sagebrush-covered landscape here in southern Montana, some on their way north to Canadian ports for shipment to Japan and South Korea. If the mining company Cloud Peak Energy has its way, many more trains will cross the prairie to far larger proposed export terminals in Washington State.” Read more

Bloomberg plans to get New Yorkers composting

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:13 PDT

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg plans to announce a new composting plan that aims to divert 100,000 tons of food scraps from landfills each year and become mandatory city-wide by 2016.

Officials: Giant Louisiana sinkhole now 1,000 feet across — New flyover footage released (VIDEO)

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:45:55 PDT

Dairy Farm Worker, 28, Killed After He’s Crushed By Cows « CBS Los Angeles

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:39:09 PDT

ONTARIO (CBSLA.com) — The San Bernardino County Coroner reports the death of a man who was crushed by cows Saturday morning. Winston Perez, 28, was working on a dairy farm just after 5 a.m. when he apparently got stuck between some cows and a fence. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/06/15/dairy-farm-worker-28-killed-after-hes-crushed-by-cows/ Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

Is BPA making girls obese?

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:39:07 PDT

A Kaiser Permanente study suggests BPA, which leaches out from things like food cans, some plastic packaging, and even cashier’s receipts, could increase the risk for obesity in preteen girls.

LEDs: A better light bulb. Again.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:39:03 PDT

by Marc Gunther. So you remember CFLs, right? The curlicue bulbs? The time they took to go on? (…)

Dubai’s Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:38:55 PDT

Read the rest of Dubai’s Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: architecture competition, Baharash Architecture, city master plan, dubai, Dubai Architecture, Dubai Sustainable City, green city, Stringa Planning Studio, sustainable city, sustainable city development

Organic farming hits the skids as recession-hit consumers desert the sector

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:38:51 PDT

Organic farming fell to its lowest level on record last year, as struggling consumers continued to desert a sector that had been booming until the financial crisis set in.

Learn and Live: Grain industry hazards lead to deaths, injuries each year

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:35:54 PDT

Region 5 News Release: 13-1128-CHI June 19, 2013 Contact: Scott AllenRhonda Burke Phone: 312-353-6976 Email: allen.scott@dol.govburke.rhonda@dol.gov Learn & Live: Grain industry hazards lead to d

Developmental Protein Plays Role in Spread of Cancer

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:25:27 PDT

A protein used by embryo cells during early development, and recently found in many different types of cancer, apparently serves as a switch regulating the spread of cancer, known as metastasis, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center in the June 15, 2013 issue of the journal Cancer Research. read more

Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985 – ThinkProgress

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:25:24 PDT

Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985ThinkProgressRecords reviewed by The Associated Press show that OSHA issued the West Chemical & Fertilizer Co., as the plant was called at the time, a $30 fine for a serious violation for storage of anhydrous ammonia. OSHA cited the plant for four other serious …

Aging Nuclear Plants Are Closing, but for Economic Reasons, Not Protests

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:50 PDT

Even reactors still licensed to operate may close, because the price of the electricity they generate doesn’t warrant costly repairs and maintenance.

Lung cancer victim Joseph Hughes ‘took part in fights with asbestos snowballs’ | This is Derbyshire

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:45 PDT

A FORMER welder, who used to have asbestos “snowball fights” with workmates, died of lung cancer. Joseph Hughes, 73, would engage colleagues in the friendly battles and they would hurl compact handfuls of the deadly substance at each other, unaware of its dangerous properties. But at an inquest into his death, Derby Coroner’s Court heard that despite finding asbestos fibres in his lungs, there was not enough evidence to link his death to his exposure to the substance. via Lung cancer victim Joseph Hughes ‘took part in fights with asbestos snowballs’ | This is Derbyshire. Visit safetyphoto For The Best Free Safety Photos On The Web Speak Up & Listen Up DVD – teach employees about Health & Safety Behavioural Training

Nuclear plants, old and uncompetitive, are closing earlier than expected.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:42 PDT

When does a nuclear plant become too old? The nuclear industry is wrestling with that question as it tries to determine whether problems at reactors, all designed in the 1960s and 1970s, are middle-aged aches and pains or end-of-life crises.

UK garbage industry is worth $4.5 billion

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:38 PDT

One man’s waste is another man’s gold. According to a report by a British government agency the country’s garbage disposal is potentially worth over $4.5 billion.

California’s Other Ethanol Producers

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:33 PDT

by Debra Fiakas CFAIn the last two posts Pacific Ethanol (PEIX: Nasdaq) and Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX: OTC/BB) got all the attention. Both companies have crafted their facilities to accept lower-cost sorghum as an alternative feedstock, opening up the door to lower carbon intensity measures for their ethanol output. There are other ethanol producers in the state, which we believe are still relying on corn as feedstock. Which companies will remain in operation in California is not yet clear. (…)

New method for detecting waste medicines in river water

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:24:28 PDT

Scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have developed a simple color sensor which detects the presence of dangerous, polluting waste medicines in water.

U.S Solar Hits Milestone

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:31 PDT

According to Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) and GTM Research’s latest US Solar Market Insight® quarterly report, several new milestones have been set in terms of U.S. solar growth: · 48% of new electricity capacity comes from solar power. · 723 MW of capacity was put on the grid – 179 MW more compared to [...] The post U. (…)

Sharp Unveils the World’s Most Efficient Solar Cell!

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:21 PDT

About a year ago, Sharp achieved a new solar cell efficiency record of 43.5% by using a lens-based system to focus sunlight directly onto the cells in order to generate electricity. Now, Sharp has done it again. This time, they’ve created a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell that offers conversion efficiency of 44.4%…all in a tiny package that’s only 4mm x 4mm! Read the rest of Sharp Unveils the World’s Most Efficient Solar Cell! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “solar energy”, efficiency record, fossil fuels, high efficiency solar cell, satellites, sharp, Solar Cell, Solar Power

The Prozac in your pee makes fish anxious and aggressive

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:16 PDT

Michael Bentley I’m sad, you guys. Everything that ends up in our waste stream messes with fish, from the estrogen in birth control to synthetic fertilizer. That isn’t news. The new part is that seemingly inconsequential amounts of Prozac and Zoloft can interfere with fish brain development — and instead of cheering them up, it has the effect of a Cure album on a 14-year-old. (Slipknot? (…)

Safe Chemicals Legislation Would Protect Children and Families from Toxic Risks

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:14 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2013

Landmark Legal Agreement Requires Nap Mat Maker to Eliminate Harmful Flame Retardant Chemicals

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:11 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2013 Peerless Plastics to Produce Safer Nap Mats for Daycares Nationwide

WIN one of three vertical gardens for your school!

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:08 PDT

A preschool, primary and high school taking part in Schools Tree Day will WIN the makings of a spectacular vertical garden (valued at $500). Students will be able to plant a year round “living wall” with native plants, vegies and/or herbs. All they need to do is show us how they Get Outside and Grow! Enter now…

Toyota ranked Best Global Green Brand third year in a row

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:06 PDT

Congratulations Toyota for maintaining their #1 spot in the Best Global Green Brand rankings for the third year running! Toyota Australia are not only the main partner of National Tree Day – Planet Ark also endorses their Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Find out more about the technology…

Scientists discover new materials to capture methane

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:05:03 PDT

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and UC Berkeley and have discovered new materials to capture methane, the second highest concentration greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere. read more

Silica dust poses newly revealed health risks from fracking

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:59 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. I am very pleased to present this blog from NRDC’s James Meinert, ‘guest blogging’ from the exciting meeting he attended this week… The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science recently convened a roundtable on Fracking and Health Impact Assessments, bringing together officials from federal and state agencies, universities, and industry. This roundtable hoped to reorient the discussion on fracking from: does the data show pollution, to what is happening in our communities? Many important topics were covered, but the most startling presentation of the roundtable was delivered by Eric Esswein, a Senior Industrial Hygienist for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Mr. Esswein presented the occupational health risks he found at 11 fracking operations in 5 states (CO, ND, PA, TX, AR). The presentation was straightforward and frank. Fracking uses up to 4 million pounds of silica sand per well to prop open all the newly created fractures in the formation. The NIOSH recommended health limit is that no worker should breathe in more than 500 micrograms of that silica per day; or else risk silicosis, an irreversible disease with a well-know, well-documented path to lung cancer. When more »

Chemical industry and ACC attack LEED green building ratings

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:55 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. A coalition of toxic chemical users and manufacturers launched their new “American High-Performance Buildings Coalition” to challenge the internationally renowned and respected voluntary LEED green building rating system that credits buildings with high energy efficiency and environmental sustainability design. What don’t the toxic chemical companies like about the proposed improvements to LEED? The new proposed LEED Version 4 standard will give credits for building teams that use materials that do not cause cancer, birth defects, and other health or environmental impairments. Construction and interior finishing with non-toxic or less-toxic materials is good business and will create jobs and support businesses that supply safer materials and products. Architects and engineers like it, and so do builders, contractors, and building product manufacturers. But, the American Chemistry Council, the trade organization that represents the corporations that make yesteryear’s old dinosaur war-era toxic chemicals are so offended by the idea of including human health into a green building standard that they’ve decided to push the government to reject LEED for government buildings. The chemical industry coalition includes the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Adhesives and Sealants Council and more »

The Congressional Red Tape Act – bad for the business of environmental health

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:51 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next week on the “Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act” (H.R. 4078) – a bill that, among other things, imposes a moratorium on issuing virtually any new regulations as long as unemployment remains above 6%, regardless of the substance of such regulations or support for them. EPA’s pesticide regulations are just one example of important standards that would be blocked by this bill. After years of effort by NRDC, farmworker advocates, and other NGO groups that we work closely with, EPA issued a proposed policy in 2010 to extend the children’s health protections of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) to include farmworker kids. Farmworker kids whose bodies are still growing are especially vulnerable to pesticide poisonings at exposures levels that are often as high as adult farmworkers. EPA says the response document was planned to be ready sometime in the fall of 2011. While the proposed regulations have not been finalized, H.R. 4078 would prevent EPA from establishing rules to protect young children from the dangerous threat of pesticide exposure. Another proposed rule by the EPA to increase public availability of the more »

Health scientists sign on to tell Congress not to strip funding for the Report on Carcinogens

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:47 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. Over 70 health scientists from around the country signed a letter to Congress asking them to reject attempts by the chemical industry to defund and delay the Report on Carcinogens (ROC), a scientific list of chemicals and substances that pose a cancer risk to people. Scientists from across disciplines signed on their support, including physicians, nurses, toxicologists, epidemiologists, occupational health experts, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, retired government scientists, and professors. The scientists’ goal is to convince Congress to reject a House budget rider that would strip funding for the ROC unless and until its process and criteria for listing chemicals has been reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). This rider (on page 52 of the House fiscal year 2013 Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) funding bill) follows a years-long strategy by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), representing its membership of chemical manufacturers, to defend its cancer-causing products and undermine the credibility of the ROC. Benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, asbestos – with friends like these, who needs enemies? (see ROC list here) ACC continues to use its Congressional allies to try to block public information on the health harms of toxic chemicals, more »

H.R. 6564 – The House Republican Bill to Destroy Scientific Oversight

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:38 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. Two letters, one signed by 8 national environmental organizations, and the other from 13 prominent scientists, were sent to Congress today to oppose a House Science Committee bill drafted by several Republicans that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Board of the ability to provide independent oversight. It is called H.R. 6564, the “EPA Science Advisory Board [SAB] Reform Act of 2012”. H.R. 6565 is intended to discredit EPA-funded academic scientists, and to create a false equivalence concerning conflict-of-interest between industry and government funded scientists. The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by Congress in 1978 to provide credible, independent scientific and technical advice to EPA. The work is done by standing committees that report to the Board on a wide-range of issues including clean air, drinking water, human health, and economics. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) imposes requirements on agencies when they establish or utilize any advisory committee, including that they must ensure that an advisory committee is “in the public interest,” id. App. II, § 9(2), is “fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and the function to be performed,” id. § 5(b)(2), and does more »

European Agency concludes neonicotinoid pesticides too dangerous for bees

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:34 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, came out with a report today concluding that the neonicotinoid pesticides, or “neonics”, pose an unacceptably high risk to bees, whose pollination services are critical to agriculture. Neonics are a relatively new class of pesticides that are “systemic”, meaning they are taken up into the treated plant, making the plant itself toxic to insects. That’s bad news for pollinators like bees, and other beneficial insects that forage from the nectar, pollen, and sap of plants. EFSA reviewed the science on neonics and bees, and made two important findings: first, neonicotinoid pesticides pose an unacceptably high risk to bees, and second, the company-sponsored science is too flawed to be useful. The Guardian reported that the spokesperson for Bayer, the company that manufacturers clothianidin and imidacloprid, two neonics widely used here in the US, is “being recalled to explain ‘discrepancies’ in his evidence. ‘Our inquiry has identified apparent flaws in the assessment of imidacloprid,’ said Joan Walley MP, chair of the environmental audit committee.” I have been reviewing some of Bayer’s studies for an Issue Paper that I am preparing on loopholes in the US pesticide registration system. Clothianidin is more »

Non-Toxic Love

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:30 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. I love you. On Valentine’s Day that declaration traditionally comes with a dozen red roses (my dad sends me a dozen roses on International Women’s Day, but I digress…). I love coming home to my bouquet of roses, deep red, fragrant, and complimented with delicate white baby’s breath flowers. This week my son sent me a dozen roses – thank you, darling. I love you! The sticker on the delivery box said the flowers originated in either Ecuador or Colombia. That’s not surprising, because about 90% of roses, 98% of carnations, and 95% of chrysanthemums sold in the U.S. come from those two countries. (See here for details) And, co-incidentally, I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Ecuador where in addition to kayaking some great whitewater (shout out to Small World Adventures – a rockin’ good time!) I spent a few days at the Santa Lucia Cloud Reserve enjoying dozens of different wild orchids, hummingbirds galore, pre-dawn Cock-of-the-Rock mating madness (it’s a bird, people), and churning our own sugar cane juice. The reserve is the creative brain-child of a dozen local families that together decided to transition from farming their land with harmful more »

NRDC reveals failed safeguards for pesticides – bad-actor pesticides, including nanosilver and the "neonics," approved through "conditional registration" loophole

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:04:25 PDT

Jennifer Sass, Senior Scientist, Washington, D.C. The public may think pesticides are only allowed onto store shelves and for use in agriculture if they have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a transparent and scientifically rigorous process. Our investigations, however, reveal a deeply flawed system that has allowed the majority of pesticides onto the market without a public and transparent process, and in some cases without a full set of toxicity tests, using a loophole called a conditional registration. As many as 65% of more than 16,000 pesticides were first market-approved using this loophole, including nanosilver and the neonicotinoid pesticides that are linked to bee deaths. NANOSILVER Silver has long been known to be an effective germ killer and has been registered since the 1950s as an antimicrobial pesticide. Nanosilver was conditionally approved by EPA as an antimicrobial agent in textiles including clothing, without rigorous toxicity testing to evaluate risks. The small size of the nanoparticle means it can go places that the conventional silver cannot. EPA’s review of the data submitted for the conditional registration application included two studies of rats given oral doses of nanosilver over 28 days and 90-days. The studies showed a more »

China revives Uganda’s biggest power dam with $500 million credit

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:59:58 PDT

KAMPALA (Reuters) – China has provided credit worth $500 million to Uganda to help pay for the construction of a large Nile River hydropower dam at Karuma, a government document said on Friday, reviving the $2 billion project stalled for years by a lack of money.

Hazardous chemicals found in children's rain gear

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:59:54 PDT

By Mike Schade from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice With the summer only a few weeks away, many parents are going out and buying new rain gear—but parents may unwittingly be exposing our most vulnerable children to lead, cadmium, and even phthalates, chemicals so toxic they have been banned in toys and baby products. A brand new investigation of vinyl rain gear by the EcoWaste Coalition found elevated levels of lead and cadmium in vinyl raincoats marketed to children. Chemicals that can cause permanently disrupt the brain. Shockingly, 70% of raingear they tested contained elevated levels of lead or cadmium. This follows a similar report I authored last year which also found high levels of toxic chemicals in children’s vinyl raincoats and rain boots, including Disney branded rain gear. This time, a Mickey Mouse raincoat contained 2,255 ppm of lead in it. Who conducted the study? The EcoWaste coalition, a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups based in the Philippines, used an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) to test rain gear for the presence of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. The XRF device is also able to identify products made out of more »

Cree announces LED retrofit tubes for fluorescent troffers with secure mounting

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:59:46 PDT

Cree estimated that there are around 2 billion linear fluorescent sockets installed around the globe that can be retrofitted with LED-based tubes for energy and maintenance savings and better light quality leading to the introduction of the UR Series LED Upgrade Kit. But Cree sought to eliminate concerns over other retrofit tubes in terms of whether LED tubes can be safely mounted in existing…

EPA Recognizes Students for Sustainable Environmental Solutions – U.S. EPA.gov (press release)

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:15:14 PDT

EPA Recognizes Students for Sustainable Environmental SolutionsU.S. EPA.gov (press release)EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) award competition was held at the 9th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo. Each award winning team qualifies to receive a grant of up to $90,000 to further develop their design and potentially bring it …

TV: Groundwater shows massive spike in radioactive material at Fukushima plant — Strontium up over 10,000% in past few months — Tepco apologizes (VIDEO)

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:59:03 PDT

With an Eye Toward Disaster, NYC Debuts Solar Charging Stations to help in emergencies

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:59:28 PDT

“When hurricane Sandy pummeled New York City last fall, it left a sizable percentage of the metropolis without electricity. Residents had trouble keeping their phones and tablets charged, and often walked across whole neighborhoods to reach zones with power. Come the next disaster, at least a few citizens could communicate a little easier thanks to 25 solar-powered charging stations going up around the city. The stations—known as ‘Street Charge’ — are the result of a partnership between AT&T, Brooklyn design studio Pensa, and portable solar-power maker Goal Zero (with approval by the city’s Parks Department). The first unit will deploy in Brooklyn’s Fort Green Park on June 18, followed in short order by others in Union Square, Central Park, the Rockaways, and other locations. Each station incorporates lithium-ion batteries in addition to solar panels; charging a phone to full capacity could take as long as two hours, but the time necessary for a partial charge is much shorter. But a couple of charging stations also won’t help very much if half the city is without power: In order to help mitigate the effects of the next hurricane, New York City major Michael Bloomberg has put forward a $20 billion plan for seawalls, levees, and dozens more »

Sign up by August 1 to join Safer Chemistry Challenge Program at no cost! via @NPPRoundtable #saferchemistry

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:40:04 PDT

The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable invites companies to join the 2025 Safer Chemistry Challenge Program (SCCP). The objective of this voluntary initiative is to motivate, challenge, and assist businesses in reducing their use of chemicals of concern to human health and the environment. The SCCP will also recognize and reward companies for finding safer alternatives to the hazardous chemicals they currently use. For information on how to become a member of the Safer Chemistry Challenge program visit www.p2.org/challenge. Facilities in the Great Lakes region can join the program at no cost for one year under the current EPA grant. 16th Annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show, Sept 25-26, 2013 in Plainfield, Indiana. This will be NPPR’s annual conference this year. The conference agenda (see link) includes workshops, panels, and presentations from national and local speakers regarding pollution prevention, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. The conference will provide excellent networking and learning opportunities. We hope that you will share this information with your colleagues. Due to the growing interest in pollution prevention across the country and beyond, this year the conference will be a two-day event as NPPR joins forces with the Indiana Partners for Pollution Prevention, including a GreenScreen training. more »

PCB's still used today. Webinar offers green chemistry principles to become PCB free in pigments, inks, dyes, and other products.

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:23:02 PDT

Advancing the design of PCB free pigments is a goal for the green chemistry community to help transition from research to development to market. Join this webinar to learn about the issues related to the inadvertent production of PCBs in pigments. This Webinar is hosted by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Webinar Title: Advancing Green Chemistry: PCBs in Pigments Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013, noon eastern Presenters: Dr. Lisa Rodenburg, Rutgers University Adriane Borgias, Washington State Department of Ecology Dr. Robert Christie, Heriot-Watt University, Galashields, Scotland Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3838278894993253632 Description: The purpose of this session is to provide historical and regulatory context to the issue, describe the changes, challenges, and solutions needed for effective source control of PCB. The goal is to provide insight into the design of PCB free pigments that meet green chemistry principles, and to outline a transition path from research to development to market: the mechanisms, barriers, and implementation.The challenge of reducing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) at the source is a national, even global issue as PCBs are globally transported, do not easily degrade, and bioaccumulate in the food chain. PCBs are ubiquitous in the environment, not only as the result more »

Panama expects benefits from world's first GM salmon

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:00:25 PDT

Panama’s researchers have played a key role in creating a rapidly growing salmon that may soon become the world’s first commercially sold genetically modified (GM) animal. The US’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled the consumption of GM salmon to be as safe as conventional Atlantic salmon, and is now analyzing public comments on its environmental impact as the final part of the approval process. If the FDA permits the transgenic salmon to be imported for human consumption — which the firm that developed the fish hopes will be granted this year — the research station in Panama that is studying the GM salmon would switch to growing it for the US market.

Sagita's hot air-powered Sherpa claims 85 percent efficient

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:55:26 PDT

Certainly one of the more intriguing things on display at this year’s Paris Air Show, the Sherpa by Belgian startup Sagita aims to make the helicopter simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more affordable. The helicopter’s rotors are directly driven by turbines which are themselves powered by hot air and fumes from the helicopter’s power plant. Sagita claims that this makes the the aircraft approximately 85 percent efficient while doing away with the need for a tail rotor… Continue Reading Sagita’s hot air-powered Sherpa rethinks the ultra-light helicopter

Research finds link between air pollution & autism via @bloomberg

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:54:59 PDT

Bloomberg - Researchers from Harvard University’s School of Public Health found that pregnant women exposed to high levels of diesel particulates or mercury were twice as likely to have an autistic child compared with peers in low-pollution areas. The findings, published today in Environmental Health Perspectives, are from the largest U.S. study to examine the ties between air pollution and autism. Please continue reading at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-18/autism-tied-to-air-pollution-brain-wiring-disconnection.html

Effects of Alzheimer's disease can be partially reversed in mice

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:51:14 PDT

Memory pathology in older mice with Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed with treatment. Even animals with advanced pathology can be rescued with this molecule. The researchers found an increased level of a receptor known as bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) in the brain of mice with AD, a receptor involved in inflammation. “By administering a molecule that selectively blocks the action of this receptor, we observed important improvements in both cognitive and cerebrovascular function,” says Dr. Baptiste Lacoste, research fellow who conducted the study at The Neuro and now pursuing his training at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “Alzheimer’s disease destroys nerve cells and also compromises the function of blood vessels in the brain. Not only were there improvements in learning and memory, but also marked recovery in blood flow and vascular reactivity, i.e. the ability of cerebral vessels to dilate or constrict when necessary.” Proper functioning of blood vessels in the brain is vital to providing nutrients and oxygen to nerve cells, and vascular diseases represent important risk factors for developing AD at an advanced age. Another interesting result that has not been seen before in our mouse model is a reduction by over 50% of toxic amyloid-beta peptide. Journal more »

SolSource uses the heat of the sun to cook your food

EHS News — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:46:03 PDT

We’ve already seen the Solar Kettle, which uses heat from the sun to boil water. Now we have a product called SolSource that also harnesses the sun’s heat, but instead of boiling water, it can cook anything you would put on a regular grill… Continue Reading SolSource uses the heat of the sun to cook your food