Category Archives: bioaccumulation

PCBs, GE, & FOIA

Posted on March 9, 2014 by tbach

Yesterday’s Albany Times Union published damning information about GE’s PCB contamination of the Hudson River.  The polluted 200-mile stretch from Hudson Falls to the Atlantic Ocean makes it one of the largest Superfund sites, according to the EPA.  PCBs were banned in 1977 and are … Continue reading →

Posted in bioaccumulation, carcinogens, CERCLA, drinking water, environmental cleanup, environmental law, EPA, fish consumption advisories, FOIA, PCBs, public health, synthetic chemicals | Comments Off on PCBs, GE, & FOIA

New FDA guidance on antibiotic (antimicrobial) use in cows, pigs, and chickens

Posted on December 12, 2013 by tbach

Human antibiotic resistance has been on the radar for several years, but did you know that antibiotic-resistant infections kill 23,000 people in the U.S. and make another 2 million sick each year?  Some of this resistance has come from medical … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, agriculture and human health, animal welfare, antibiotics in livestock, antimicrobials, bioaccumulation, environmental health, FDA, food contamination, Food processing industry, public health, public health law | Comments Off on New FDA guidance on antibiotic (antimicrobial) use in cows, pigs, and chickens

FDA Issues Statement about Arsenic in Rice

Posted on September 6, 2013 by caitlin

On September 6, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement after testing over 1,300 rice products for the presence of arsenic. The tests follow research indicating that rice products contained unsafe levels of arsenic. Arsenic is naturally present … Continue reading →

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A Dam Shame – Reservoirs and Elevated Mercury Levels

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Alex English

One of the oldest forms of “renewable” energy comes from hydropower. From ancient grain mills to tanneries to hydroelectric generation, humanity has long harnessed the power of flowing water. Unfortunately, increased use of water power has corresponded with increased environmental impacts. Tanneries, … Continue reading →

Posted in bioaccumulation, drinking water, environmental health, fish consumption advisories, food contamination, mercury, public health, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), risk communication, routes of exposure, vulnerable populations | Comments Off on A Dam Shame – Reservoirs and Elevated Mercury Levels

Seafood: What Don’t We See?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by jamiemyers

Many people would agree that regularly eating fish is a recipe for a good diet. Such a diet has proven health benefits. For example, eating fatty fish like salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids, which is linked to reducing the risk … Continue reading →

Posted in bioaccumulation, dioxins, environmental health, FDA, food contamination, PCBs, synthetic chemicals, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Seafood: What Don’t We See?

The Sky is Falling: Stormwater as a Vector for Environmental Health Hazards

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Alex English

We have known for years that rainwater can carry hazardous substances which affect the health of human and animal life. The classic example is acid rain. Burning coal and other fossil fuels produces sulfur dioxide (SO2), which various nitrogen oxides (NOx) … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture and human health, bioaccumulation, carcinogens, Clean Water Act, cyanobacteria, DDT, drinking water, environmental health, fish consumption advisories, food contamination, mercury, public health, routes of exposure, Safe Drinking Water Act, synthetic chemicals, water quality standards | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Sky is Falling: Stormwater as a Vector for Environmental Health Hazards

Rachel Carson’s Environmental Health Legacy

Posted on February 3, 2013 by tbach

Rachel Carson’s 1962 book, Silent Spring, launched the environmental movement.  As the EPA observes in its history, “Silent Spring played in the history of environmentalism roughly the same role that Uncle Tom’s Cabin played in the abolitionist movement.  In fact, … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture and human health, bioaccumulation, DDT, environmental health, environmental health law, environmental law, EPA, John Burroughs medal, nature writing, public health, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, synthetic chemicals | Comments Off on Rachel Carson’s Environmental Health Legacy