Month: February 2018

Environmental health, Nanotechnology

Nanomaterials — what are the environmental and health risks?

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Read the full story at Phys.org.

Over 100 scientists from 25 research institutions and industries in 12 different European Countries, coordinated by the group of professor Antonio Marcomini from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, have completed one of the first attempts to understand the risks nanomaterials carry throughout their life-cycle, starting from their fabrication and ending in being discarded or recycled…

After three years of research in laboratories and in contact with industrial partners, the scientists have processed, tested and made available an online platform (sunds.gd/) that supports industries and control and regulating institutions in evaluating potential risks that may arise for the production teams, for the consumers and for the environment.

Biofuels, Publications

Switchgrass Shows Promise as Next-Gen Cellulosic Biofuel

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Read the full story in R&D Magazine.

Researchers from Colorado State University (CSU) have found that switchgrass–a non-edible native grass– would have a low carbon footprint if used as a biofuel.

Agriculture, Great Lakes, Solar

More farmers may lease land for solar projects in Michigan

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Read the full story at Great Lakes Echo.

As solar energy soars in popularity in Michigan, solar leasing has become a profitable option for farm owners.

Food and beverage manufacturing, Food service and restaurants, Food waste, Grocery stores, Regulation

French Food Waste Law Changing How Grocery Stores Approach Excess Food

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Read the full story from NPR.

Every morning at a supermarket called Auchan in central Paris, Magdalena Dos Santos has a rendezvous with Ahmed “Doudou” Djerbrani, a driver from the French food bank.

Dos Santos, who runs the deli section of the store, is in charge of supervising the store’s food donations. She sets aside prepared dishes that are nearing their expiration date.

Opening a giant fridge, Dos Santos shows what else the store is giving away – yogurt, pizza, fresh fruits and vegetables, and cheese.

But giving leftover food to charity is no longer just an act of goodwill. It’s a requirement under a 2016 law that bans grocery stores from throwing away edible food.

Stores can be fined $4,500 for each infraction.

Water

Grassroots water advocates, Midwest cities at odds on lead

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Read the full story at Great Lakes Now.

Two years after Flint’s lead in drinking water issues finally boiled over and hit the national spotlight, emotions continue to run high on the topic, as evidenced by a gathering of activists and concerned citizens in Chicago last week.

Food service and restaurants, Food waste

Cocktail garnishes are a waste. These bartenders want to do something about it.

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Read the full story in the Washington Post.

When people talk about “food waste,” they’re usually referring to food that’s thrown away by farms, grocery stores, restaurants, even home cooks. But an increasing number of bars are also thinking about sustainability, and the next wave in the movement is actually shaping up in your glass — or right on top of it.

Scientific publishing

Stanford professor withdraws $10 million libel suit against journal, academic critic

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Read the full story in the Washington Post.

A Stanford University professor who has argued that the nation can power itself entirely with renewable energy by the middle of the century, said Thursday that he’s withdrawing a multimillion-dollar libel suit he brought against an academic critic.

Environmental health, Environmental justice, Publications

EPA scientists find black communities disproportionately hit by pollution

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Read the full story in The Hill.

A study conducted by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists found that minority and poorer communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution relative to the overall population.

The findings by five EPA scientists, published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, found that when looking at areas most affected by particulate air emissions, like soot, there were large disparities between communities differentiated by color and social strata.

U.S. EPA

Anti-secrecy lawsuits soaring against Pruitt’s EPA

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Read the full story at Politico.

The Environmental Protection Agency has experienced a huge surge in open records lawsuits since President Donald Trump took office, an analysis of data reviewed by POLITICO shows — a trend that comes amid mounting criticism of EPA’s secrecy about Administrator Scott Pruitt’s travels, meetings and policy decisions.

Green building, Product stewardship, Publications

Eliminating Toxics in Carpet: Lessons for the Future of Recycling

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Download the document.

Eliminating Toxics in Carpets: Lessons for the Future of Recycling, a new report by the Healthy Building Network (HBN), calls for eliminating over 40 highly toxic chemicals in carpets that threaten public health and impede recycling. These toxics are known to cause respiratory disease, heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and immune and developmental health problems in children. The report outlines strategies to protect public health and the environment by eliminating these hazardous chemicals from carpets, increasing carpet recycling rates, and improving product transparency.

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