Water & Oceans

"U.S. Not Ready for Oil Spill in Arctic Waters"

"The warming climate is melting sea ice, opening U.S. Arctic waters to shipping and oil and gas development, but the National Research Council warned today that U.S. personnel, equipment, transportation, communication, navigation, and safety resources are not adequate for an Arctic oil spill response."

Source: ENS, 04/24/2014

"ER Symptoms ‘Consistent’ With MCHM Exposure"

"Hundreds of West Virginia residents who sought emergency-room care in January were treated for symptoms that were 'consistent' with exposure to MCHM, the primary chemical that leaked from the Freedom Industries tank farm into the region’s Elk River drinking-water supply, according to a review made public Wednesday."

Source: Charleston Gazette, 04/24/2014

"UW Researchers Study Plastic Garbage in the Great Lakes"

"Plastic is everywhere, and with good reason: it's cheap, lightweight, and durable and can be turned into practically anything, from filmy plastic wrap to colourful children's toys to vital components in a computer or a heart valve. But scientists are discovering that plastic debris in the world's oceans, and in large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes, could be a far more serious environmental problemthan previously realized."

Source: Kitchener Record, 04/22/2014

States Target Tiny Beads in Cleansers That Harm Waterways, Wildlife

"The tiny plastic particles found in many facial cleansers and soaps promise a gentle scrubbing and luxuriously smooth skin. But those little beads of grit are also piling up in waterways, where they can suck up toxins and harm wildlife, environmentalists say. Because of those concerns, Illinois is one of several states considering legislation to force manufacturers to drop products that use the particles, called microbeads."

Source: Chicago Tribune, 04/21/2014

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Water & Oceans