Dear EarthTalk So many chemicals in everyday products are harmful to our health and the environment. Why aren’t we developing safer alternatives? Donna Langston, Asheville, NC Researchers today are beginning to question the safety of many chemicals used in consumer products.
DOWNTOWN — Water quality around the Santa Monica Pier continues to improve as the beach surrounding the historic landmark was taken off the Natural Resources Defense Council’s “10 Repeat Offenders” list, attorneys in the environmental advocacy group’s Santa Monica office said Wednesday.
CITY HALL — By the end of this week, Santa Monica will be operating under a new budget, which was approved last week by the City Council after hours of discussion and wrangling over process.
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public.
Dear EarthTalk Isn’t spray sunscreen a health and environmental nightmare when it seems that more of the sunscreen ends up going up my nose than on the kid at the beach next to me? Lillian Robertson Methuen, Mass.
CITY HALL — The Food and Drug Administration is inching closer to approving the first genetically-modified animal for human consumption, and commercial fisherman, dietitians nor Santa Monica city officials are happy about it.
Dear EarthTalk: Radioactive rain recently fell in Massachusetts, likely due to Japan’s nuclear mess. Given the threats of radiation, wouldn’t it be madness now to continue with nuclear power? How can President Obama include nukes as part of a “clean energy” agenda? — Bill Mason, Hartford, Conn.
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas.
Dear EarthTalk: I heard that some reusable bags contain lead. Is this a major health concern? Can’t these bags be made to avoid such contamination? — Donald Young, Cincinnati, Ohio It’s true that some reusable shopping bags for sale in U.
CITY HALL — In February, amid discussions of raising city fees on everything from adult recreation leagues to municipal swimming pool admission, Councilmember Bobby Shriver called out what he felt was the “800-pound gorilla in the room.
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that only a handful of outdated coal-burning power plants generate a sizable amount of the mercury pollution generated in the United States? If so, is anything being done to clean these sites up or shut them down? — Frank Pearson, Wichita, Kan.
CITYWIDE — Six months after the revised ordinance banning the use of leafblowers within city limits went into effect, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment has noted a major decrease in the number of reported violations, staff said.
