Candles Smell Good, But They Could Be Toxic (Links)
When it Comes to Los Angeles Lawns, Brown is Golden You know it’s the silly season when a member of the Los Angeles City Council weighs in on the importance of green lawns during a drought, as the 12th District’s Greig Smith did several weeks ago. How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass? New research suggests that atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than previously thought, particularly for fetuses. California Moves Toward Stringent Chromium 6 Standard for Drinking Water California took the first step Thursday toward setting a drinking water standard for chromium 6 that could force cities and water districts to undertake costly treatment. E.P.A. to Set Limits for Water Pollution in Florida After a 2008 lawsuit by the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and others, the settlement is the first time the agency has forced numeric limits on nutrient runoff on a state. California to Mandate Recycling for Businesses, Apartments California residents not living in permanent housing may no longer have to deal with the frustration of searching for recycling options. China Closes Factories Amid Growing Protests Over Lead Poisoning Chinese officials have temporarily closed at least five heavy metal smelters as concerns rise over high levels of lead found in children in nearby villages and towns. Environmental Racism? Brazil Sends Toxic Ship Back to Britain A ship supposedly carrying recyclable materials was in fact full of toxic waste, including condoms, syringes, and human waste. Sugar vs. Corn Syrup High-fructose corn syrup was invented in 1957. Calls to Tax Junk Food Gain Ground Cigarette ‘sin taxes’ have turned out to be the most effective ways to reduce smoking; will the same tactic work to fight obesity? Candles Smell Good, But They Could Be Toxic Burning certain kinds of candles may generate indoor air pollutants.
Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink (Links)
Navy To Conduct Warfare Training Near Right Whale Calving Grounds The training range will be constructed near the only known calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale, a species whose total population is thought to be around 300 individuals. On the Prowl For Water-Use Scofflaws Since June, nearly 700 citations have been issued to L.A. residents caught violating the city’s tightened water laws. San Diego Company Fined $600,000 for Groundwater Contamination Regional water pollution cops fined an industrial company $600,000 and threatened to nearly double the penalty if it doesn’t meet deadlines leading up to treatment of a contaminated groundwater plume in El Cajon. Alaska’s Kensington Gold Mine Gets Go-Ahead The Army Corps of Engineers has green-lighted a controversial plan to dump millions of tons of waste into Lower Slate Lake. U.S. Military Says to Act Now or ‘Pay Later’ For Climate Change U.S. military intelligence studies have concluded that over the next 20 to 30 years, the world’s vulnerable regions will food and water shortages, and catastrophic flooding, which could demand costly American humanitarian relief or military response. Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink Global warming is making birds smaller. Exxon Mobil vs. New York City New York City claims that Exxon Mobil knew that a certain additive used in their gasoline would contaminate groundwater, but used it anyway. ExxonMobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Protected Birds The company will pay $600,000 in fines and fees, and most of the 85 birds that died were exposed to industrial pollution. Russian Oil Rigs Just 45 Miles From Florida? Cuba will allow Russia to look for oil and gas in its territorial waters. Biologists Demystify Elusive War Zone Bacterium The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii causes mortality rates as high as 75 percent in the Middle East. Houshold Spices Provide Eco-friendly Pesticides for Organics Well-known spices such as rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint are becoming organic agriculture’s key weapons against insect pests as the industry tries to satisfy increased demands for organic produce. How Does College Major Affect Religious Faith? College students who major in the social sciences and humanities are likely to become less religious, while those who in education are likely to become more religious. I Say Spend. You Say No. We’re in Love. When it comes to money, opposites do attract: “spendthrifts” and “tightwads” tend to marry.
Duncan D. Hunter: If Only ‘We Could Override The Endangered Species Act’ (CA & San Diego Links)
CA’s State Parks Generate $4.3 Billion Annually Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to close 80% of California’s state parks to address the state’s $24 billion budget deficit—even though park visitors pump $4.32 billion into the economy each year. In Grave Danger, Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Gets a Reprieve The rare reptile may have one last chance, thanks to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. CA to Cut Water Usage to Save Fish Californians’ thirst for water has pushed salmon and other fish to the brink of extinction, a federal agency has ruled. CA Rep. Duncan D. Hunter Weighs in on the Water Ruling In a recent interview, Hunter dropped this gem: “If there’s some way that we could override the Endangered Species Act for things like the smelt fish and allow water to flow again down to Southern California that would be huge.” CA’s Climate Change Plan Will Boost Economy The floundering state’s plan is a watershed moment in history—but there’s still room to improve. Hatchery Fish May Hurt Efforts To Sustain Wild Salmon Runs Steelhead trout that are originally bred in hatcheries are too genetically impaired to expand populations in the wild. 40 Environmental Groups Back Frye for Coastal Panel More than 40 environmental groups in California lobbied Thursday for San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye to take over a position representing the region on the state Coastal Commission. Chaparral Institute Sues San Diego County Over Tree Removal Plan The wildlands advocacy group announced a lawsuit yesterday, alleging that the county failed to adequately analyze the environmental damage of removing trees and shrubs in the backcountry to reduce wildfire risks. EPA to Begin Unprecedented Coastal DDT Cleanup in 2011 The proposal includes placing a cap of silt and sand over one of the most hazardous places in the country—and mark the first time a Superfund site has used this method. California’s Thorny History of Cactus Theft In the early 1900s, gardeners took a shine to the prickly plants, and ‘cactus rustling’ was born.
Mockingbirds Can Remember Faces of People to Attack (Links)
Cost of Cigarette Litter May Fall on San Fran’s Smokers A proposed fee would add 33 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes, helping offset the estimated $10.7 million a year spent cleaning up discarded butts. Styrofoam Ban Grows in CA Palo Alto joins 21 other California towns in prohibition of polystyrene takeout containers. Yosemite’s Giant Trees Disappearing Data collected over 60 years by forest ecologists show that the oldest and largest trees in Yosemite National Park are disappearing. Climate change appears to be a major cause of the loss. Summer Haze Cooling SE United States Some local cooling is one effect of climate change. Marine Pleads Guilty in Wildfire A Marine was sentenced to a year in prison for horseplay that started a wildfire that burned a section of California’s Camp Pendleton, prompted widespread evacuations, and caused $2 million in damage. Cactus Wren Gets Another Chance in Culver City In an effort to bring the cactus wren back to a Culver City state park, Dorsey High students are restoring the coastal sage scrub preferred by the bird. Hollywood and the Flush Factor “If it’s yellow leave it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down,” said actor Cameron Diaz. EPA Approves Most Outstanding Mountaintop Removal Permits Environmental leaders criticized the EPA for not taking a stronger stand agains the highly destructive and polluting form of mining. Where Are All the Fish? Fisheries can’t keep up with the rate of seafood consumption by humans. New Study Provides Insight into Evolution of First Flowers Charles Darwin described the origin of flowering plants about 130 million years ago as an abominable mystery, one that scientists have yet to solve. Taking Back the Catalytic Converter A new bill would allow independent repair shops to compete for the business now guaranteed only to dealer-controlled establishments. Monkeys Found To Wonder What Might Have Been Monkeys register missed opportunities and learn from their mistakes. Intoxication May Not Always Be Visible It is difficult for even trained observers to fully identify “intoxication,” given that so many factors contribute to it. Some People Really Never Forget A Face “Super-recognizers” have an extraordinary ability to recognize faces, and can easily recognize someone they met in passing, even many years later. Mockingbirds Can Remember Faces of People to Attack Scientists find that the grey and white birds common in cities can distinguish between different people and will swoop to attack those they perceive as a danger.
Stop Drinking Bottled Water
The (many) downsides of bottled water:
• American tap water is among the safest in the world.
• As much as 40% of the bottled water sold in the U.S. is just filtered tap water anyway. Be sure to check the label and look for “from a municipal source” or “community water system”, which just means it is tap water.
• By drinking tap water, you can avoid the fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, and other chemicals that studies have found in bottled water.
• Tap water costs about $0.002 per gallon compared to the $0.89 to $8.26 per gallon charge for bottled water. If the water we use at home cost what even cheap bottled water costs, our monthly water bills would run $9,000.
Wetland Vies for Colorado River’s Water
The largest remaining wetland on the Colorado River Delta is a key stop for migrating birds along an arid swath of the Pacific flyway, and it’s part of an internationally recognized conservation area. It’s also in big trouble, thanks to demand for water in the unsustainably growing southwest.
The 63-square-mile patch of wetland…also sits squarely in the center of a debate over a multimillion-dollar water desalting plant just west of Yuma, Ariz., which is slated for a trial run later this year. Salty wastewater from the plant would flow down a drainage system that currently feeds Cienega de Santa Clara, essentially dooming the wetland.
This is likely just the beginning of what will be a long, hard push to keep unsustainable desert metropolises hydrated. In the end, cities like Tucson will still shrivel as people upstream continue to extract Colorado river water, but in our desperation we’ll still have destroyed critical wildlife and their habitat—and a lot of the southwest’s natural heritage.
[CSM]
LA Times Profiles the Manzanita
Emily Green gushes in today’s LA Times about planting California’s native manzanitas in your yard. Not only are they attractive and water friendly, but they grow in many shapes and sizes—from gigantic to ground cover, which makes them truly perfect for the eco-friendly Californian.
Now that our new president has called us to service, Southern Californians have another reason to pitch in and avert a looming water crisis. We can do it now, and the first step couldn’t be simpler or cheaper or more beautiful.
Plant manzanita.
First, the plant’s signature gray-green foliage will be erupting in clusters of white and pink flowers through February.
Second, the more manzanita you plant, the lower your water bill goes — as low as half if you plant it in place of lawn. Do that, and your yard maintenance bill would drop to close to zero.
[LAT]
Hidden Hills, Hiden Irony
This article from the LA Times cracks me up. Titled Yorba Linda Reservoir Languished For Years, the article details the terrible plight of residents in the “upper reaches of Hidden Hills Estates” in Yorba Linda, a northeast Orange County [suburb] that residents pay handsomely to live in, with a median household income nearly twice the state figure.” Evidently, in Hidden Hills Estates, water is as elusive as the neighborhood itself.
Ten Ton Meteorite Caused the Canadian Fireball (Links)
The FDA determines the acceptable amount of poison for baby formula. The Interior Department and EPA expect radical changes under Obama to ‘erase Bush’s mark.’ Maryland officials have taken on poultry pollution. Massey Energy will be allowed to remove the top of West Virginia’s Coal River Mountain, even though an economic study endorsed wind turbines instead. Bald eagles in the Catskills are showing increasing levels of mercury. The worldwide demand for sushi will extinguish the bluefin tuna in five years. Land iguanas are joining other endangered species in the Galápagos. A new preserve in Cameroon will protect the world’s most endangered great ape: the Cross River gorilla. ‘Efficient’ drip irrigation may be worse for the environment than traditional sprinklers. A ten-ton meteorite caused the Canadian fireball.
