From Green Right Now Reports Nigeria is experiencing a gold rush, but the fallout is devastating the health of its children, exposing them to lead dust that can produce convulsions, paralysis and longterm cognitive deficits. Many children have been disabled for life, and have died from the lead contamination related to gold mining, which lures [...]
Tags: · environment, gold mining, lead contamination, lead dust, Nigeria, Voice of America
Urban gardening is taking root across the country as cities, suburbs, schools and churches turn to the land to produce food.
But as the trend sweeps across vacant lots and abandoned brownfields, it has raised questions about the safety of using dirt that may have been contaminated by industrial pollution, specifically lead.
Lead, which can be found in soil, drinking water and old paint chips, poses a threat to those who have contact with it, especially children who can suffer irreversible speech problems, cognitive delays, hyperactivity and nerve damage from significant lead exposure.
Tags: · community garden, Dr. Shawn McElmurry, greenrightnow.com, lead contamination, lead soil testing, urban garden, Wayne State University
From the Truth-Beats-Fiction files comes news that the bubble gum called “Toxic Waste Short Circuits” has been recalled…because it, uh, contains toxic waste, and that can short circuit your health.
Federal authorities found that samples of the gum contained elevated levels of lead.
The voluntary recall of the product, which is imported from Pakistan, was announced March 26. It affects only the 3.2 oz. size of Toxic Waste Short Circuits Bubble Gum, Lot #15070SC12.
Tags: · bubble gum, Candy Dynamics, food recall, greenrightnow.com, lead contamination, Toxic Waste Short Circuits
By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now
Before you turn over the first spade of dirt for your new veggie garden, you’ll want to take stock of your equipment. Spades, shovels, picks — these things tend to accumulate in garages and storage closets, and you’ve probably got some already. If you’ve done any flower gardening or have potted plants, you also likely have a watering can that can be used in the veggie patch.
But when it comes to hoses and watering equipment, there are some special considerations when growing food.
Tags: · Drinking Water, garden hose, garden hoses, lead contamination, organic garden, polyurethane, PVC, rain barrel, rubber, vegetable garden
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift