A.M. Greenlist: Carcinogens, citrus fruit, and coots
>> Birdie doodie rankles Valencia residents. Coots are cute -- and create more than 20,000 pounds of droppings over the course of a six-month stay in a Valencia subdivision.
>> Some popular consumer products marketed as green have detectable levels of a probable carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane. Most conventional products do contain 1,4-dioxane, but many "green" products -- such as those from Seventh Generation and Whole Foods -- also have the toxicant. Here's the full list of the 100 products that were tested.
>> 27 household uses for citrus fruit. Most tips have to do with cleaning up spots and stains. Earlier: green cleaning week.
>> In May, the European Union will consider cutting farmers' subsidies because crop prices are high, thanks to the biofuel boom. Concerns about whether biofuels are actually really green are also of concern.
>> Climate Solutions Research Director Patrick Mazza writes that "biofuels done unsustainably could make the climate problem worse, while biofuels done sustainably could play a leading role in solving the carbon challenge" -- and details some of the factors to consider.
>> Walmart president and CEO Lee Scott Jr. says flatly that Wal-Mart is not green -- though it's trying to get there. (via grist)
Photo by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
