- Efforts under way to clean up New River in Calexico 0 Aug 1, 2010
Running from Mexicali, Baja California, through Calexico, the New River is rife with an estimated amount of 100 biological contaminants, organic compounds, heavy metals like uranium, arsenic and mercury and pesticides. The New River is also known to carry pathogens that can cause tuberculosis, encephalitis, polio and other illnesses. (El Centro Imperial Valley Press, CA)
Nanotechnology for Water Purification Jul 29, 2010
They explain that toxic trace elements such as arsenic, and viscous liquid impurities such as oil can also be removed using nanotechnology. "The main advantages of using nanofilters, as opposed to conventional systems, are that less pressure is required to pass water across the filter, they are more efficient, and they have incredibly large surface areas and can be more easily cleaned by back-flushing compared with conventional methods," the team says. (Science Daily)
Nigeria: Govt Boosts Mineral Exploration Jul 27, 2010
"It will assist the agricultural sector by identifying areas with high concentrations of elements such as potassium that indicate fertile soils. It will identify potential health hazards in Nigeria's natural environment, such as high concentrations of toxic elements including arsenic and lead as well as provide high quality scientific data for research at Nigeria's academic institutes into Nigeria's natural environment, such as urban pollution studies. Roger further noted that the geochemical... (allAfrica.com)
EPA to hold coal-ash hearing in Denver Jul 25, 2010
The EPA says the ash contains mercury, cadmium and arsenic contaminants associated with cancer and other illnesses. The federal agency is concerned those pollutants could leach into groundwater and drinking-water sources. (Denver Business Journal, CO)
YOU: Is your water free and clear? (2) Jul 24, 2010
Other dangerous substances such as arsenic, cyanide, mercury, benzene or trichloroethylene ... If there are other contaminants present on your CCR, such as arsenic or lead, you may need a more involved filter like reverse osmosis. (Cleveland Jewish News, OH)
Soil tests show no links to Acreage cancer cases Jul 23, 2010
Levels for only three were too high: arsenic, benzo(a)pyrene and total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons ... Arsenic, a naturally occurring substance sometimes found in pesticides or pressure-treated wood, is a known human carcinogen ... Arsenic comes from pesticides in such areas, actually it comes from many sources. (The Palm Beach Post)
Acreage homes 'safe for families,' state environmental official says as soil tests find no link to cancer cluster Jul 22, 2010
Levels for only three were too high: arsenic, benzo(a)pyrene and total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons ... Arsenic, a naturally occurring element sometimes found in pesticides or pressure-treated wood, is a known human carcinogen ... The results: Soil at 11 homes contained excessive levels of one or more of these hazardous substances: arsenic, benzo(a)pyrene and total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons. (The Palm Beach Post)
Federal grant will be used for water quality study Jul 22, 2010
The grant, awarded as part of a cooperative agreement between the county and the National Center for Environmental Health, will be used to study arsenic levels in county wells and the distribution of ground water, said Brian Hanft, Health Department environmental health services manager ... Cerro Gordo County is the only county in the state that has a designated arsenic zone written into the countys well ordinance, Hanft said ... An area south of Mason City and Clear Lake has been identified... (Mason City Globe-Gazette, IO)
People Who Plan Their Vacations Around the Periodic Table Jul 20, 2010
But for the most part, all his samplesgold, arsenic, neon, carbon, etc. are legit, and his efforts won him , a sort of mock Nobel handed out for scientific work that "cannot or should not be reproduced.". (Slate)
Arsenic Shows Promise as Cancer Treatment, Study Finds Jul 16, 2010
ScienceDaily (July 15, 2010) Miss Marple notwithstanding, arsenic might not be many people's favorite chemical ... Specifically, a form called arsenic trioxide has been used as a therapy for a particular type of leukemia for more than 10 years ... Combining arsenic with other therapies may give doctors a two-pronged approach to beating back forms of the disease caused by a malfunction in a critical cellular signaling cascade called the Hedgehog pathway. (Science Daily)
New Arsenic Nanoparticle Blocks Aggressive Breast Cancer Jul 16, 2010
That drug is arsenic trioxide, long part of the arsenal of ancient Chinese medicine and recently adopted by Western oncologists for a type of leukemia ... Prior to the new research, arsenic hadn't been effective in solid tumors ... The concentration of arsenic couldn't be increased, because it was then too toxic. (Science Daily)
'Anti-pollution laws only on paper in Punjab' Jul 14, 2010
"The hair results are surprising. We expected an arsenic exposure. Instead, over 80% of adult and children, many of which are suffering from cerebral palsy and mental retardation, showed pathological levels for uranium," said Dr Carin Smit, a South African toxicologist who had sent the samples to the German laboratory in March 2009. With no apparent source of uranium in Punjab, Carin added, "We were not testing for radioactive element but heavy metal toxicity, which results in ill-health and... (India Times, India)
Gulf seafood tested for oil but not dispersant Jul 13, 2010
The Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based environmental nonprofit, said it is "irresponsible" for the petroleum industry and the government to use dispersant, which contains heavy metals, arsenic, chromium and copper, with so little understanding of its long-term effects. Indeed, little research has been done on that question. (The Palm Beach Post)
Careful With That Protein Drink: It Could Be Dangerous Jul 13, 2010
All drinks in CR's tests had at least one sample containing one or more of the following contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury ... CR purchased 15 protein powders and drinks mainly in the New York metro area or online and tested multiple samples of each for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury ... 9 micrograms (g) of arsenic, exceeding the proposed USP limit of 15 g per day and an average of 5. (FOX61, CT)
Use of Hijiki as Food and Inorganic... Jul 11, 2010
Use of Hijiki as Food and Inorganic Arsenic Level Concerns ... Use of Hijiki as Food and Inorganic Arsenic Level Concerns ... There are also concerns with its inorganic arsenic levels. (Suite101.com)
BP Gulf Spill - In a solution, what... Jul 8, 2010
Meanwhile tar balls are turning up on the shores of Texas beaches and arsenic levels in the Gulf are rising to dangerous levels according to researchers at the Imperial College of London, with longstanding and unforeseen environmental effects predicted (in case people didn't already know it would be bad). The clean-up is expected to cost BP and it's partners in crime somewhere in the vicinity of $US3-4billion. (Suite101.com)
E-waste volume to increase in coming yrs Jul 7, 2010
The biggest concern with E-waste was the presence of toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, printer cartridge inks and toners that pose significant health risks, he said. These components can contaminate soil, groundwater and air as well as affect the workers of the recycling units and the community living around it, he said. (India Times)
I-Team: BP's Environmental Mess in Nevada Jul 7, 2010
It was essentially abandoned ten years ago, leaving behind high levels of radiation in the rocks, as well as arsenic, acids, and other toxins that leach into the groundwater and blow into the air as dust. "When you take a job with the BLM, you take an oath to protect human health and the environment," said BLM whistleblower Earle Dixon. (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
Letters to the editor Jul 3, 2010
And power plants put out more arsenic than you could find on the ground. So how many have become sick after exposure to public lands. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Medical marijuana too dangerous, costly Jun 30, 2010
In New York, marijuana frequently comes laced with angel dust or small quantities of arsenic for added kick, as well as various crop protective poisons. Los Angeles officials say they found using medical marijuana purchased at medical dispensaries is like sprinkling insecticide on a salad and eating it. (Albany Times Union)
Facts About Smoking - Second Hand S... Jun 30, 2010
Some of these 4000 chemicals that passive smoking risks introducing to the immediate air around a smoker include, arsenic and the material used in production of plastics, vinyl chloride. Whether primary or passive smoking, these chemicals are inhaled, adding to passive smoking risks. (Suite101.com)
Arsenic water killing 1 in 5 in Bangladesh Jun 28, 2010
Pavel Rahman / AP Hanufa Bibi, 45, displays her palm, filled with small black warts caused by years of drinking arsenic-laced water, at her village in Chandipur, about 75 miles east of Dhaka, Bangladesh ... Thick black warts tattoo her palms and fingers, the result of drinking arsenic-laced well water for years ... "The magnitude of the arsenic problem is 50 times worse than Chernobyl," said Richard Wilson, president of the nonprofit Arsenic Foundation and a physics professor emeritus at Harvard... (MSNBC -- International)
The Springs Resort and Spa at Pagos... Jun 26, 2010
The Springs Resort and Spa at Pagosa Hot Springs. The Springs Resort and Spa at Pagosa Hot Springs. (Suite101.com)
July Line-Up of Cinespia Films at t... Jun 24, 2010
July 10, 2010 Arsenic and Old Lace (1943): This Frank Capra screwball comedy is based on the Broadway play of the same name. The movie stars Cary Grant as a man about to get married. (Suite101.com)
New study links 1 in 5 deaths in Bangladesh to arsenic in the drinking water Jun 24, 2010
June 23, 2010 Between 33 and 77 million people in Bangladesh have been exposed to arsenic in the drinking watera catastrophe that the World Health Organization has called "the largest mass poisoning in history." A new study published in the current issue of the medical journal The Lancet provides the most complete and detailed picture to date of the high mortality rates associated with this exposure, which began with the widespread installation of tube wells throughout the country 30 years... (EurekAlert!)
UA scientists look for link between disease and AZ's air & water Jun 24, 2010
Some tailings have high levels of metals, such as arsenic and lead, that can get kicked up in the dust ... Scientists want to know, could something like arsenic actually be changing the cells in our bodies, turning them against us ... It's finding out how arsenic might be changing the genes inside the cells. (KOLD.com, AZ)
Power line would be in everyones back yard Jun 24, 2010
Coal ash contains toxic substances including mercury, cadmium and arsenic and has been related to cancer and other health problems. According to the Arizona Daily Star, June 20, 2010), the Apache plant near Willcox was listed on an EPA list of sites with high hazard potential because of its proximity to populated areas and the attendant risk to human health. (Nogales International, AZ)
Ray Judah: Bad data must not stop crucial Everglades land buy Jun 24, 2010
The uncertainty of injecting water below ground raises serious questions as to the recovery rate and release of arsenic, contaminating ground water supplies. Mr. Wedgworth suggests that the SFWMD Acceler8 efforts focused on building reservoirs such as C-43 on the west coast will benefit the Caloosahatchee River. (The News-Press -- Opinion)
Study: Millions in Bangladesh exposed to arsenic Jun 21, 2010
A new study published in British medical journal The Lancet says that up to 77 million people in Bangladesh are being exposed to toxic levels of arsenic ... Arsenic found in abundance in rock and soil in the country ... A new study published in British medical journal The Lancet says that up to 77 million people in Bangladesh are being exposed to toxic levels of arsenic, potentially taking years or decades off their lives. (CNN -- World)
Deadly Effect of Arsenic in Drinking Water Measured in Bangladesh Study Jun 21, 2010
ScienceDaily (June 20, 2010) More than 20 percent of deaths in a study of 12,000 Bangladeshis were attributable to arsenic exposure from contaminated drinking water, new research reports ... The large 10-year study is the first to prospectively measure the relationship between individual exposure to arsenic and its associated mortality risk, the authors said ... Since the widespread installation of hand-pumped wells to tap groundwater sources in the 1970's, as many as 77 million people -- about... (Science Daily)
Study: Arsenic in Bangladesh water Jun 21, 2010
Study: Millions in Bangladesh exposed to arsenic in drinking water - CNN.com ... Study: Millions in Bangladesh exposed to arsenic in drinking water ... A new study published in British medical journal The Lancet says that up to 77 million people in Bangladesh are being exposed to toxic levels of arsenic. (CNN -- International)
Fertilizer flap goes to court A Cardiff businessman is locked in a battle with state regulators over his business of selling worm waste. Jun 21, 2010
Arsenic, she noted, is a natural product. A hearing on the lawsuit, which is seeking an order overturning the fine, is set for July. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fridge-free vaccine hopes raised Jun 20, 2010
BBC News - Scientists raise fresh hopes for fridge-free vaccines. Page last updated at 00:05 GMT, Thursday, 18 February 2010. (BBC News -- Health)
Bangladeshi water 'poisons 77m' Jun 20, 2010
BBC News - Bangladesh: 77m poisoned by arsenic in drinking water. Bangladesh: 77m poisoned by arsenic in drinking water ... Up to 77 million people in Bangladesh have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic from drinking water in recent decades, according to a Lancet study. (BBC News -- South Asia)
World faces 'arsenic timebomb' Jun 20, 2010
World facing 'arsenic timebomb ... About 140 million people, mainly in developing countries, are being poisoned by arsenic in their drinking water, researchers believe ... Arsenic consumption leads to higher rates of some cancers, including tumours of the lung, bladder and skin, and other lung conditions. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Marcellus drillers facing stringent wastewater rules Jun 18, 2010
Drillers use chemicals like arsenic, aluminum and cadmium mixed into pressurized water, which is shot more than a mile underground to fracture rock formations. The process is known as "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking.". (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
It's in the Bones: Human Bone as a Biological Material for Environmental Monitoring Jun 18, 2010
Among them are toxic elements, such as aluminium, arsenic, samarium and thallium, as well as the trace elements necessary for life, including calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. "Bone is a tissue in which the turnover of these elements, particularly those that have an affinity for bone, is extremely slow and their biological half-lives are estimated to be from few years to decades," the team explains. (Science Daily)
County Planning Two Hearings on Proposed Landfill Provisions Jun 16, 2010
The ash is known to contain harmful materials including mercury and arsenic. The county and the EPA aren't the only, nor the main, entities in the process. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
TVA hit with $11.5M penalty for '08 coal ash spill Jun 15, 2010
The EPA is slowly deciding how to regulate coal plant ash that contains arsenic, selenium, mercury and other substances that are defined as hazardous. "The recovery work has progressed around-the-the-clock for more than 17 months since the event occurred, and the progress is on schedule," TVA's e-mail statement said. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Business)
Replacing White Rice With Brown Rice or Other Whole Grains May Reduce Diabetes Risk Jun 15, 2010
(July 30, 2008) A new farming method first developed to conserve precious irrigation water may have the added benefit of producing rice containing much less arsenic than rice grown using traditional rice-farming. (May 28, 2008) Researchers in China are reporting a discovery that could turn rice straw into an inexpensive new renewable source of biofuel. (Science Daily)
The EPA Releases List of Chemicals ... Jun 13, 2010
Carcinogens are capable of causing cancer and are found in a variety of products such as radon, asbestos, arsenic, and other toxic chemicals and substances. So, how can Nalco say the dispersants are less toxic than the oil. (Suite101.com)
So far, fish appear to be healthy after fly ash spill Jun 10, 2010
4 million cubic yards of coal ash into the Emory River and an embayment adjacent to the Kingston Fossil Plant, the public was concerned that the ash and associated chemicals, particularly arsenic and selenium, could be a health hazard to local residents and also to fish and wildlife. Likewise, Peterson and a team of ecologists in ESD, including Marshall Adams, Mark Greeley and John Smith, were interested in seeing whether trace components of the ash such as selenium, which has been found to be... (EurekAlert!)
PLAYGROUNDS: Safer but can still be dangerous Jun 9, 2010
Wood mulch or play structures: Don't use arsenic-treated wood chips. Wood structures built before 2004 may contain arsenic ... Staining or sealing structures at least once a year can reduce exposure to the arsenic inside the wood. (USA Today -- News)
Some protein powders contain high level of heavy metals Jun 9, 2010
Based on a three serving amount, three of the 15 products tested showed dangerously high levels of metals, including arsenic, cadmium and lead. All of the products tested had some amount of metals in them, but most were below the limit recognized by industry standards. (WSFA.com, AL)
Bit by bit, risk of diet supplements is exposed Jun 8, 2010
Our view on pills and potions: Do you really know what's in that dietary supplement. Our view on pills and potions: Do you really know what's in that dietary supplement. (USA Today)
'We need an independent inquiry to find out if this environmental pollution is having an impact on the health of the community here' Jun 6, 2010
Conservationists also raised the alarm about the nearby coal-fired Wallerawang power plant releasing toxic metals and pollutants such as arsenic into the Coxs River, which feeds into Sydney's water supply ... "Coal companies barely get a slap on the wrist for pollution breaches, so they continue to reoffend. The Springvale colliery in Lidsdale, the state's worst offender, continues to breach its licence every year. ''Communities do not want to breathe coal dust, nor do they want arsenic, nickel,... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Proposed Landfill at Labadie Jun 5, 2010
Coal ash contains toxic material such as arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, and radioactive elements, which threaten public health and are associated with cancer and other serious health risks. Franklin County residents rely on ground water for drinking water, agriculture, and other critical uses. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Could Protein Shakes Harm Your Health? Jun 2, 2010
The investigation found some contain things like arsenic, cadmium, and lead ... Says CR's Urvashi Rangan, "We tested about 15 different types of protein drinks. ... And we actually looked for four different heavy metals. We looked for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead." ... Consumer Reports says three products were of particular concern -- because consuming three servings a day could result in exposure to arsenic, cadmium or lead that exceed proposed limits for contaminants. (CBS News)
Herbal Supplement Sellers Dispense Dangerous Advice, False Claims May 29, 2010
The lab found 92 percent of the tested herbal supplements (which included pills, capsules and other products derived from plant products but not ) contained trace amounts of lead and 80 percent had at least one other contaminant, such as mercury, cadmium and/or arsenic. None of the levels (none were more than 0. (Scientific American)
Scientists offer solutions to arsenic groundwater poisoning in southern Asia May 28, 2010
An estimated 60 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to unsafe levels of arsenic in their drinking water, dramatically raising their risk for cancer and other serious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Because most of the contaminated water is near the surface, many people in Bangladesh have installed deep wells to tap into groundwater that's relatively free of arsenic ... "Every effort should be made to prevent irrigation by pumping from deeper aquifers that are low... (EurekAlert!)
Diet supplements often sold with false claims May 27, 2010
The GAO, which conducts investigations for Congress, also said it found trace amounts of potentially harmful contaminants such as lead and arsenic, but at levels that do not exceed federal guidelines. Findings of pesticides, however, did exceed the FDA's advisory levels, the GAO said, and 16 of 40 supplements tested would violate the FDA's tolerance. (MSNBC -- Health)
Phthalates: Are They Safe? May 24, 2010
How about a little arsenic in your seafood, courtesy of BP, no problem, so long as they can make profit, right. Hello, it is not about fear, it is about eliminating as many man-made dangers to ourselves as is possible. (CBS News)
Healthy glow May 24, 2010
You are at higher risk of skin cancer if you have:-unprotected and or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation;- a fair complexion;- a family history of skin cancer;- multiple or atypical moles;- severe sunburns as a child or young adult;- work exposure to coal tar, pitch, arsenic compounds or radium. Employment Videos. (Erie Times-News, PA)
* FEATURE : Forgotten cyclone haunts Bangladeshis May 24, 2010
There is nowhere near here where we can get water X ground water here is too salty, we can cook with it but we cannot drink it, the wells have arsenic in and there are also no latrines, she said. The main road was washed away so even if we could farm we couldnt get to market, she said, pointing dejectedly at the small heap of mud and brick that used to connect her tiny village to nearby Khulner town. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Large Number of Public Wells in U.S. Have Potentially Harmful Contaminants in Source Water, Study Finds May 24, 2010
Findings showed that naturally occurring contaminants, such as radon and arsenic, accounted for about three-quarters of contaminant concentrations greater than human-health benchmarks in untreated source water ... Inorganic compounds arsenic (11 percent) and nitrate (8 percent) exceeded. (Science Daily)
Click to read:Oil Mars More Than 50 Miles of Louisiana Shore May 23, 2010
Corexit EC9500A has arsenic which can have an effect on wildlife. This product is approved by the EPA. Exxon developed Corexit 9500 to combat the Valdez oil spill in 1989. (CBS News)
Arsenic in Playgrounds Nothing to Worry About, Study Suggests May 22, 2010
The study compared arsenic levels in urine and saliva samples of children playing in eight pressure treated wooden playgrounds and those in eight playgrounds made of other materials. The study found no significant difference in the concentration of arsenic species in children playing on playgrounds with or without the chemically-treated wood ... The study suggests that contact with CCA treated wood in playgrounds is not likely to significantly contribute to the overall arsenic exposure in... (Science Daily)
Mercury Levels Are Increasing in Popular Species of Game Fish in Lake Erie May 22, 2010
8, 2007) White bass wild-caught and sold commercially contained significantly higher levels of mercury, arsenic and selenium than fish caught near former industrial areas, according to a new study. Results. (Science Daily)
* New research aims to build a bacterial brain May 22, 2010
In places such as Bangladesh, drinking water is often contaminated with arsenic and villagers have little choice but to use it, Amos says. Arsenic poisoning causes terrible damage to people, and detecting it is fraught with practical problems such as how to get rid of waste products safely ... A brilliant team of undergraduates at Edinburgh have developed a prototype arsenic detector, based on engineered bacteria that recognize the contaminant and flag up its presence. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Canada mining company criticised May 22, 2010
Water samples taken immediately above and below the mine also showed what researchers called "significantly higher" levels of manganese, cobalt and arsenic. However the scientists cautioned that it is "not clear if the current magnitude of these elevations pose a significant health risk", and noted that their results should be viewed only as a preliminary study. (BBC News -- Americas)
A river that’s fit for swimming May 15, 2010
Mercury, lead, and arsenic competed with human waste for the most toxic ingredients in the soup that could make a person feel sick. I myself felt vaguely ill when I braved the waters of the Charles in 1983 for a story on cleanup efforts. (Boston Globe)
Lung Cancer Causes May 12, 2010
Prolonged exposure to other harmful substances such as asbestos, arsenic, silica and chromium in some shape or the other also substantially heightens the chances of lung cancer among non smokers. Family History and Genetic Factors. (Suite101.com)
Curb toxins, crowd urges May 12, 2010
"It is not acceptable to increase the levels of mercury coming from the plant," said Caryn Niedringhaus, a Nassau resident who said she suffers from elevated blood levels of mercury, as well as cadmium and arsenic, which her doctor cannot explain. She questioned how DEC can consider renewing the air pollution permit without knowing whether past pollution from the plant is causing health impact in surrounding areas. (Albany Times Union)
Nothing to fear in landfill-area air, city says May 11, 2010
Notices have gone out to 469 businesses south and west of Miramar Landfill warning of possibly toxic levels of arsenic and crystalline silica in the air. Both minerals occur naturally in our soil. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Global warming devastation real, imminent May 7, 2010
On Jan. 6, the Journal of the American Medical Association said this could acidify aquifers, leaching arsenic and lead into water supplies. Another worry: accidental releases through cracks or erosion. (Honolulu Advertiser)
