Polluting the shores of all five continents as well as lakes and rivers around the globe, microplastics are tiny pieces of debris formed from the degradation of plastic. Scientists have expressed increasing concern over the potential threat to aquatic systems and public health by the accumulation of these microparticles. Here,...
Paris, France — According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions were flat in 2016, at 32.1 gigatonnes, for the third straight year despite growth in economic activity of 3.1%. The Agency attributes this to the growing use of renewable energy, improvements in energy efficiency, the...
Seattle, WA — According to a Washington Post article, Washington has become the first state to sue Monsanto for pervasive pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs were used in many industry and commercial applications, including paint, coolants and hydraulic fluids. Monsanto, St. Louis, MO, produced PCBs from 1935 until 1979,...
Baltimore, MD—At Expo East, The Organic Center hosted an education session titled, “Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture” in which Tracy Misiewicz, associate director of science programs for the Center explained how organic farming is a more sustainable approach to agriculture than conventional farming. The most significant difference has to do...
An investigation by ProPublica reveals that the state of California is expanding exceptions to federal environmental laws, called aquifer exemptions, that allow mining, oil and gas companies to dispose of waste directly into water reserves (1). The state, one of 23 that have been issued exemptions, has been experiencing severe...
