Environmental Health

NEW ORLEANS -- Gen. Russell Honoré, the New Orleans hero who restored
order after Hurricane Katrina, is now inspiring and consolidating
grass-roots anti-pollution activism under the banner of a "Green
Army." One of their first missions is strengthening EPA's proposed
rule for toxic emissions from the refineries which pollute Southern
Louisiana neighborhoods. Among the places Honoré has sounded his call
to arms was the Society of Environmental Journalists' meeting October
3. Julie Dermansky report on the Green Army for DeSmogBlog August 20,
2014, before the SEJ meeting.

"The largest food safety overhaul in generations is being starved of funding needed to enforce a host of new regulations for factories, farms and importers, safety advocates warn."

"Should you worry about the chemicals in your makeup, lotion, shaving cream, soap and shampoo? The answer is a clear maybe."

"The corn rows are high and tassled, pumpkins are gaining girth and, amid these signs the fall harvest is near, evidence is growing that farmers and others who live or work around pesticides are at greater risk for neurogenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease."

"A report released today raises concerns about inmate cancers and other serious health ailments at a state prison that sits next to a massive Fayette County coal waste dump full of toxic fly ash."

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff said Friday that the nation should tighten smog rules significantly, a step that would improve air quality in California but force costly new requirements on government and industry."

"Consumers nationwide are closer to being able to buy furniture made without toxic, ineffective flame retardants after a California judge on Friday threw out a legal challenge from the chemical industry."

"JACKSON, Wyo. – Meghan Warren grabbed the bald eagle’s legs with thick leather gloves to secure its powerful talons. With her other hand, she pinned the bird’s wings before they could unfold to a six-foot span."

"A new study out this month reveals unconventional oil and natural gas workers could be exposed to dangerous levels of benzene, putting them at a higher risk for blood cancers like leukemia. Benzene is a known carcinogen that is present in fracking flowback water. It’s also found in gasoline, cigarette smoke and in chemical manufacturing. As a known carcinogen, benzene exposures in the workplace are limited by federal regulations under OSHA. But some oil and gas production activities are exempt from those standards."

"UN deputy secretary general says failure to address sanitation and open defecation threatens disaster for third of humanity."