A look at two websites that are measuring critical environmental hazards: carbon dioxide emissions, and the chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system.
Image: Flickr/NASA Goddard
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Breathing Earth.netCheck out this interesting, interactive website that is a real-time simulation displaying the CO2 emissions of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates. Also included is information on climate change.
You'll be surprised at how quickly it all adds up... |
Image: Flickr/Bill Sutton
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EndocrineDisruption.comCommon everyday products such as plastics, fragrance, building materials, etc. all contain chemicals. What we're starting to understand is that these chemicals - even at low doses - can have powerful adverse effects on the endocrine system, which regulates vital functions such as growth, metabolism, sexual development and intelligence. And exposure may start as early as the first months in the womb, and build up throughout a lifetime.
TEDX (The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Inc.) is a nonprofit that disseminates the latest scientific research on these chemicals, called "endocrine disruptors." Their work is prevention-driven, and the site is an excellent resource. |
Is China Running Out of Rare Earth Minerals?
What do color TV displays, GPS devices, x-ray machines, batteries, and your computer's hard drive all have in common? They all require rare earth minerals to run. Rare earth metals, a group of 17 chemical elements in the Earth's crust, are crucial to keeping our society running smoothly--and to transitioning to a clean-tech-driven economy.
One problem: China is responsible for 97% of global output, but the country has recently begun to restrict exports of these minerals. Recognizing this as a wake-up call, countries around the world are now scrambling to begin their own mining of rare earth minerals - but it will take years before production is fully viable.
One problem: China is responsible for 97% of global output, but the country has recently begun to restrict exports of these minerals. Recognizing this as a wake-up call, countries around the world are now scrambling to begin their own mining of rare earth minerals - but it will take years before production is fully viable.
Image: Flickr/ Tilemahos Efthimiadis
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Research studies: Air Quality and Environment Have Significant Health Effects on Pregnant WomenTwo recent studies have shown that the outdoor air quality and local environment that a woman is exposed to while pregnant can have important effects on her health.
From Environmental Health News: Researchers in Barcelona, Spain found that pregnant women who live in city neighborhoods with more grass and trees were exposed to lower levels of particulate air pollution than pregnant women with little vegetation around their home. Exposures were lower even when the women spent more time outside.The conclusions are important because exposure to traffic-related air pollution during pregnancy can affect fetal development and health at birth. These can include low birth weight, heart deformities and infant mortality. In a large Australian study, results showed that exposure to traffic-related air pollution can greatly raise a pregnant woman's risk for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can cause serious health problems for mother and baby. The strongest effects were observed among women exposed during the third trimester and for those who had gestational diabetes. |
Galapagos Islands: Are They at the Breaking Point?From The Guardian: In the Galápagos Islands, the balance between the economic benefits of the tourist industry and maintaining the unique biodiversity is reaching a critical point.
The islands, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, famed for their vast number of endemic species, were studied by Charles Darwin contributing to his work on natural selection. Three prominent conservationists who live on the islands discuss the threat posed to the fragile ecosystem in this video. |
Photo: Flickr/A. Davey
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