Dear EarthTalk: I just read an article that said air fresheners contain chemicals that can cause health problems when inhaled. Are scented candles any better? – Leanne Chacksfield, Cincinnati, OH Like most air fresheners, many scented candles contain and release phthalates, potentially harmful chemicals that have been linked to the disruption of hormonal systems and [...]
EarthTalk: Green computers? Meat?
Feb. 25, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: As an online gamer, I spend a lot of time in front of my computer. What’s the environmental impact? And are “greener” PCs available? – Bob Grant, Burlington, Vt. Online gamers and other heavy computer users are definitely leaving an environmental mark. Depending on when it was made and how it was designed, [...]
EarthTalk: Clean coal? Food packaging waste?
Feb. 18, 2008 1 Comment
Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, coal that is used to fuel power plants and other industrial activity is a key culprit in pollution and climate change. So what is “clean coal” and is it really? — Matthew Oliver, Minneapolis, MN The term “clean coal” describes various processes that remove pollutants from coal, our cheapest, [...]
EarthTalk: Chocolate? Land trusts?
Feb. 4, 2008 1 Comment
Dear EarthTalk: I heard a reference to “Earth-friendly chocolate” and was wondering about what goes into chocolate that would raise environmental concerns. — Ben Moran, Providence, RI Like coffee beans, the cacao seeds from which we derive chocolate can only be grown successfully in equatorial regions — right where the world’s few remaining tropical rainforests [...]
EarthTalk: Sharks? Green info online?
Jan. 28, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of sharks around the world? I see occasional stories about sharks attacking humans, but on balance aren’t we a lot more brutal to them then they are to us? – Pam Hitschler, Radnor, PA It’s true that humans do a lot more damage to shark populations than vice versa. [...]
EarthTalk: Litter? Cell phones and cancer?
Jan. 21, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: What is the impact of all the littering that individuals do, largely from their cars and on highways? What can I do to help clean it up? How can we strengthen laws to prevent it? — Won’t litter in Norwalk, CT Environmentalists consider litter a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. [...]
EarthTalk: Bedding? Carbon Offsets?
Jan. 14, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that traditional mattresses and bedding can cause environmental and health problems, and if so, what alternatives are out there? — Jay and Aubrey Gillespie, via e-mail With all we know today about synthetic chemicals and their effects on our health, going green in the bedroom — where we spend a [...]
EarthTalk: Presidential candidates? Recycling odd items?
Jan. 7, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: Where do the leading presidential candidates stand on the issue of climate change and other environmental issues? – Max S., Seattle, WA The outcome of the 2008 presidential election could very well have a big impact on a wide range of environmental issues, especially climate change. All of the Democratic candidates—Hillary Clinton, Barack [...]
EarthTalk: Greener cars coming? Mother Nature?
Nov. 12, 2007 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: We’ve all seen the current generation of hybrid cars, but what vehicles do the automakers have coming out that are even greener? – Brian Smith, Seattle, WA No longer just the domain of the Japanese, greener cars are forthcoming from just about all of the major automakers. Toyota will improve on its hot-selling [...]
Welcome to Green-Collar America
Nov. 9, 2007 Leave a Comment
Does the future of the American middle class lie in sustainable business? The people that bring you Earth Talk try to answer.
EarthTalk: Glossy magazine covers? Global Warming?
Nov. 5, 2007 2 Comments
Dear EarthTalk: I would think that the glossy paper used by most magazines is bad for the environment, yet most publishers still use it, even the outdoors and environmental titles. What’s the scoop? Is paper made glossy by using chemicals that are not safe? — Kellina Higgins, via e-mail It’s no secret that glossy coatings [...]
EarthTalk: Plastic bottles? Allergies?
Oct. 29, 2007 3 Comments
Dear EarthTalk: Are the rumors true that refilling and reusing some types of plastic bottles can cause health problems? – Regina Fujan, Lincoln, NE Most types of plastic bottles are safe to reuse at least a few times if properly washed with hot soapy water. But recent revelations about chemicals in Lexan (plastic #7) bottles [...]
EarthTalk: Cats inside or out? Hospitals recycling?
Oct. 22, 2007 Leave a Comment
Most environmental advocates believe that keeping cats indoors is better for both the health of the felines themselves and for their prey. Scientists estimate that the typical free-roaming housecat kills some 100 small animals each year. Also, getting a large institution or corporation on board with recycling is no easy job.
EarthTalk: Coral reefs? Green cars?
Oct. 15, 2007 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard about the die-off of coral reefs due to global warming. I’ve also read that coral reefs themselves store carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main global warming gases. So if coral reefs are dying out, isn’t that a double whammy that increases the CO2 in the atmosphere? – Tom Ozzello, Maplewood, [...]
EarthTalk: Air not-so-fresheners? Truck pollution?
Oct. 8, 2007 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that some ingredients in common air fresheners can cause health problems? — Mike Jaworski, Seattle, WA Air fresheners are a $1.72 billion industry in the United States. An estimated 75 percent of homes use them regularly. According to a September 2007 report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), [...]
