GreenFacts Blog

Can the use of biocides give rise to antibiotic resistant bacteria?

Stephanie Mantell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:59:38 +0000

Today, bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and there is scientific evidence that the use and misuse of biocides such as disinfectants, antiseptics, or preservatives can contribute to antibiotic resistance. If and how this might occur has been explored in the recent opinion on “Antibiotic Resistance [...]

How “green” are Liquid Biofuels? a new GreenFacts Digest

Stephanie Mantell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:29:38 +0000

Serious questions are being raised about the environmental impacts of producing liquid biofuels for transport, the costs of policies to promote them and their possible unintended consequences. Even though production of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel is growing rapidly, their contribution to total transport fuel consumption in the coming decades will remain limited. In contrast, [...]

Flu season – second wave of the H1N1 influenza virus

Stephanie Mantell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:58:21 +0000

According to a recent announcement by the WHO, the H1N1 influenza virus is now the dominant influenza strain in most parts of the world and in the northern hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic spread. To date, there are no signs that the virus has mutated to a more [...]

Mobile Phones & Electromagnetic Fields: updated GreenFacts Co-Publication

Stephanie Mantell — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:03:00 +0000

From mobile phones and computer screens to vacuum cleaners and power lines, electromagnetic fields are an inescapable part of daily life. But there is concern that everyday exposure to some of these fields of force might be harmful to health, especially to children. Are current safety limits adequate in the light of recent scientific evidence? In [...]

Polar climate science in Montreal at the MOCA 09

Patrick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:07:56 +0000

Montreal is currently welcoming hundreds of scientists studying the atmosphere, the oceans and the ice for MOCA 2009, which is the joint assembly of the the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS), the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) and the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS). Climate in general [...]

Non-human primates in research and safety testing: a new GreenFacts co-publication

Cedric — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Every year, more than 100 000 monkeys and apes are used for biomedical research around the world for biomedical research and for testing the safety of new drugs. Are there alternatives to the use of primates in research and testing? Would it be feasible to stop using them altogether? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment [...]

GreenFacts Newsletter – June 2009

Stephanie Mantell — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:30:24 +0000

In this issue, we look into whether kids can safely chew on erasers, if energy-saving lamps might backlash on our health, and how to prevent and treat malaria. Read our Newsletter

Climate change: a look at the science before COP 15 in Copenhagen

Patrick — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:08:17 +0000

Today (18 June 2009) , the synthesis report of the Climate Change Congress has been released in view of the UNFCCC’s conference of parties (COP 15) which will take place in December in Copenhagen. At this upcoming conference, the world leaders will hammer out a new framework agreement on climate change mitigation that will take [...]

Phthalates in school supplies: a new GreenFacts Co-Publication

Cedric — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Some school supplies, such as erasers, contain phthalates – substances that are added to plastics to make them soft. Can regularly chewing on such articles cause harmful health effects? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) Read the GreenFacts summary on Phthalates in school supplies Languages [...]

Energy-Saving Lamps & Health: a new GreenFacts Co-Publication

Cedric — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Currently, conventional incandescent lamps are being replaced with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Do these energy-saving lamps aggravate the symptoms in patients with certain diseases? GreenFacts faithfully summarized the recent assessment by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) Read the GreenFacts summary on: Energy-Saving Lamps and Health