Daily Downers: Contaminations

>> Parks get contaminated by ammonium, which can subtly alter ecosystems. Yellowstone, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, plus six other parks, have air that's increasingly contaminated with ammonium, possibly originating in concentrated animal feeding operations, says a report from the National Park Service.

>> Wal-Mart sold portable gas cans not compliant with Cali's clean-air regulations FOUR times in recent years, then settled for a mere $250K with the California Air Resources Board.

>> Radars taken out by global warming. "The Pentagon is closing down three of the 20 NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) early-warning radar sites in northern Alaska because the ground they’re built on in some cases is literally crumbling into the Arctic Ocean as a result of erosion caused by waves on ice-free waters."

Dec 31, 2007 8:49:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: On the anniversary of the Endangered Species Act

Bad news is funnier read all in a row:

>> On this day, Dec. 28, in 1973, The Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon. Today, the act's constantly in the news -- because political pressures have watered it down.

>> Just last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service admitted to being "inappropriately influenced" by political pressure and reversed seven rulings that denied endangered species -- including the white-tailed prairie dog (right) -- increased protection.

>> Yesterday, the Center for Biological Diversity sued the Interior Department to get documents about allegedly politically-influenced decisions made about other endangered species.

>> Read the entire Endangered Species Act here.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Dec 28, 2007 4:40:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Kids with toxins

Bad news is funnier read all in a row --

>> 1,268 toys get tested, and 35% are found to have toxic stuff. To help you find toys sans lead, here's my guide to eco gifts for kids.

>> Jewelry's toxic now too. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control told 11 retail outlets to remove more than a dozen types of jewelry for children. The trinkets all had lead levels beyond the state limit.

>> Smog: Still not good for you, or don't buy a house near a freeway, especially if you have kids.

Photo courtesy of CA Dept. of Toxic Substances Control

Dec 13, 2007 12:55:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: The aftermath of wildfires

Bad news is funnier read all in a row:

>> Wildfires left us ash with high levels of arsenic, lead and other toxic metals, say U.S. Geological Survey scientists. Hazardous runoff after rain is especially dangerous.

>> Post-wildfires, deer hang out near roads, get killed. Motorists are warned to watch out.

>> Citing wildfire threats, Malibu seeks to ban overnight camping in Malibu parks. Malibu's pretty notorious for barring public access to publicly-owned parks and beaches. The fight now goes to the California Coastal Commission.

Photo by Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Dec 8, 2007 11:54:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Water, water everywhere

Bad news is funnier read all in a row --

>> Waterworld circa 2070, sort of. Some 150 million people will be at risk from flooding by 2070, and at-risk coastal property could have a value of $35 trillion, says a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

>> The number of severe rainfalls and heavy snows is going up, according to an Environment America report.

>> The OC's getting a webcam to help warn residents about flooding. The first one will go up at Santiago Creek; the Malibu Canyon area'll get theirs soon too.

Photo by Peggy Archer via Flickr

Dec 7, 2007 2:35:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Birds and exhaust

Bad news is funnier read all in a row --

>> More than a quarter of US bird species are endangered, according to the U.S. The Watch List 2007, published by the National Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy. (via grist)

>> Penguins are threated by a diesel spill. A cruise bot hit ice last month, and the surrounding fuel spill site includes breeding grounds for Antarctic and Adelia penguins.

>> Truckers face increased face risks due to diesel pollution as do communities located near major sources of diesel pollution, like ports. So pollution-related health risks near our ports isn't exactly new info, but the National Resources Defense Council's report does include a set of recommendations for dealing with the problem.

>> Meanwhile, Waste Management's diesel truck fleet's costing the company more than $1. The nation's largest trash hauler settled with the California Air Resources Board for failing to properly inspect its diesel truck fleet to assure state emission standards were met.

Photo courtesy of National Audubon Society

Dec 6, 2007 9:31:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Toxic disclosures

Bad news is funnier read all in a row --

>> The EPA tries to exempt more companies from disclosing their toxic chemical use and emissions. In response, Cali and 11 other states sue the EPA.

>> Meanwhile, fear of toxic chemicals grows and people call for more disclosure. Salon's Machinist notes Nintendo's use of PVCs and BFRs, "which cause health and environmental damage and which numerous tech firms have vowed to phase out," and notes the company offers neither a takeback nor recycling program.

>> And a new report finds the cancer risk for people exposed to tritium could be twice as high as previously assumed. Tritium's commonly discharged in large amounts by nuclear plants around the world.

Image courtesy of Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics (PDF)

Nov 29, 2007 3:22:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Many fishies dying

Bad news is funnier read all in a row:

>> Killer jellyfish. A swarm of jellyfish covering 10 sq. miles wiped out Northern Ireland's only salmon farm. Cause of the unexpected jellyfish attack? "Unusual environmental factors including higher-than-normal water temperatures" had something to do with it. (via grist)

>> Deadly levee repair. Near Rio Vista, Calif., "Thousands of dead fish float belly up atop the water, victims of a federal levee repair project gone wrong."

>> In non fishy news, poor will suffer the worst of global warming, says a new U.N. report. (via grist)

Nov 28, 2007 11:44:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Springing back

Bad news is funnier read all in a row:

>> Climate change is delaying spring in some areas. It's possible that "some plants need to be exposed to a short cold snap to sprout" -- and this cold snap hasn't really been happening of late.

>> Oceans are headed for a 4.6-foot rise even if factories were shut down today and cars taken off the roads, says the latest report from the the U.N. panel of scientists.

>> India is getting about 5% less sunlight than it did 20 years ago, according to a study at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. "India is losing out on sunshine because a cloud of tiny air-borne particles released by the nation's industries hovers above the subcontinent, blocking light from reaching the Earth."

Nov 18, 2007 4:03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Daily Downers: Tainted

Bad news is funnier read all in a row --

>> We're all tainted with toxic chemicals. "The chemicals, including so-called phthalates, bisphenol A and PBDEs, are found in baby bottles, shower curtains, cosmetics, computers and other products. They leach "out of the products into our bodies," the report states." At least we're in it together? (via Grist)

>> Katrina victims live in trailers that may be tainted with formaldehyde; FEMA warns its employees to stay out of them, but puts off testing the trailers people are living in. It never stops with FEMA, does it. (via Grist)

>> Toys tainted with date rape drug chemical sickens U.S. kids. Beware those Spin Master Aqua Dots, which are "covered with a chemical that metabolizes into the compound gamma hydroxy butyrate -- the so-called date-rape drug."

>> Toxins taint fish and water downstream from Alberta’s huge oil sands projects. Residents think the pollution may be causing higher rates of cancer; Alberta's health department disagrees.

>> The Bay Area gets tainted with thick oil when a huge ship hits the Bay Bridge, spilling about 58,000 gallons of heavy fuel. Beaches close, animals suffer and a state of emergency is declared. All this elicits a super bland comment by a guy from the California Department of Fish and Game: "This is a significant event." No way.

Photo courtesy of aquadotsrecall.com

Nov 10, 2007 2:46:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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As a teenager, Siel sped past Paramount Studios on the 10 Metro bus to get to Fairfax High School. Now she cuts through the concrete jungle of Los Angeles on her pink Townie bike to shop at local farmers' markets and socialize in pre-loved Prada heels. A contributing editor to BlogHer, Siel also keeps a personal blog, green LA girl. Send your burning green questions to greenlagirl@gmail.com.

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