Green Options

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A new study released by The University of Texas demonstrated a clear connection between industrial mercury released and autism. Researchers studied Texas school district data and proximity of children to a mercury emitting site and found the prevalence of autism in the community was reduced the further away it was from the site.

Raymond F. Palmer said the study showed — for the first time in scientific literature — a statistically significant association between autism risk and proximity to the mercury source

Today’s guest blogger is Environmental Defense scientist Tim Fitzgerald.

Last month’s New York Times report on high mercury levels in tuna sushi was certainly cause for concern for serious sushi lovers. (See my previous post Plenty of Safe, Eco-Friendly Fish in the Sea.)

The report might have also made many parents uneasy about the ubiquitous tuna sandwich in their kids’ lunch boxes. Many of us rely on canned tuna for a wholesome, high-protein meal. Once considered a “nuisance food” or “pauper’s food,” today almost half of all American households serve canned tuna monthly. Only shrimp surpasses canned tuna as Americans’ favorite seafood. But does this beloved fish in a can deliver a helping of toxic mercury, too?

Today’s guest blogger is Environmental Defense scientist Tim Fitzgerald.

As a marine scientist who has been researching seafood sustainability and health issues for a long time, I’ve known for a while that bluefin tuna not only has high mercury levels but is severely depleted, too.

These magnificent fish are highly prized for their rich, buttery flesh. The global sushi market can’t get enough bluefin, and as a result, exorbitant prices and severe overfishing are driving bluefin tuna to the brink of extinction.

I love sushi as much as the next person, but given its dire population numbers and high mercury levels, maybe its time that we all lay off for a while.

Now making big headlines is a New York Times report that found that much of the bluefin sushi served in upscale New York City restaurants actually exceeds the Food and Drug Administration’s “action level” for mercury. (The threshold is 1 part per million.)

To reiterate: It’s no surprise that bluefin tuna has high levels of mercury – it’s one of the largest and most predatory fish species in the ocean. What is surprising is just how many New York City restaurants are serving the really high-mercury tuna.

The recent recalls of toys for lead contamination has become a major concern for parents. Additional research shows that it is not just lead we parents should be concerned about.

Healthy Legacy, an environmental group of Minnesota, worked in tangent with a few other organizations to test 1,200 children’s toys. The tests were used to detect not just lead, which was found in one third of the tested toys, but four other potential hazards as well; cadmium, arsenic, mercury and chlorine.

December 28th, 2007 by Jim Gunshinan

Broke Your CFL? Don’t Panic!

The typical dose of mercury in a CFL is about the sizeof a pen tip 

(circled in red), and these doses have been getting smaller and smaller. 

(Photo provided by EPA.)

Australia has already begun to phase out the incandescent light bulb,

and the energy legislation recently signed by President Bush has

begun that process in the United States. Every time I turnaround,

it seems, someone is handing me a brand new

compact 

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What do mercury, cyanide, lead, ammonia, and benzo(a)pyrene have in common? These make up the 1.7 million pounds of pollutants that were dumped by U.S. Steel into Lake Michigan (via the Grand Calumet River) in 2005. A water discharge permit was recently proposed that may reduce or eliminate limits on heavy metals and toxic chemicals discharged by U.S. Steel into the Grand Calumet River, which flows into Lake Michigan.

The

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Editor’s note: Worried about mercury in the fish you’re eating? This week, email tips provider Vital Juice Daily has advice for how to avoid the mercury while still enjoying your seafood.

These days, there’s something fishy about fish—and we’re not talking about the smell!

The deluge of information about mercury contamination (affects the brain and nervous system) has us concerned. We know it’s a wonderful source of protein, good fats, vitamins and minerals—so

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Fish is a source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but unfortunately because of the pollution in our waters, fish and other seafoods also contain toxins such as mercury and PCBs. Then there’s also the issue of overfishing, and the debate between wild-caught and farm-raised fish to consider. So how do you know what fish choose?

To help you sort out the "good" fish from the "bad" fish, Environmental

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Installing compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in place of incandescent light bulbs is one of the simplest and least expensive ways homeowners can reduce energy use in their homes. But there’s a catch many homeowners may not be aware of – all fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a toxin that can cause neurological problems in humans, especially children and fetuses. The good news – CFLs are now available with reduced amounts of mercury.

A

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In my first exploration of the issue of by-catch in commercial fishing, I looked at the devastating effects of fishing not simply for the "target" species, but on those animals who are unlucky enough to be caught in the lines, traps, hooks, and nets not meant for them. In this second part, I further explore this issue and take a look at how the dolphins, sea turtles, and seals - animals for whom

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Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter: Image Courtesy of Corrosion-Doctors.orgIf you are not a parent or observant of children's shoes, you may not realize that many of the shoes marketed for children light up when they take a step. These shoes range from sandals to tennis shoes, and many adults and children think they are very cool. Light-up shoes are popular and inexpensive in our mainstream culture,

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