Pecologix Political Ecology Blotter

If drivers switch from gasoline to biofuels, will it lessen the air pollution that shrouds cities around the world? Studies of auto emissions have indicated it might. But the first citywide air quality study of its kind, reported at the meeting, suggests that unless more than 26% of cars make the switch, it will have [...]

At four locations in and around Monterey Bay, California, the researchers, using equipment that slurps up large quantities of air and retains any suspended particles, collected large volumes of fog droplets from June through August 2011. In the 25 samples they analyzed, concentrations of all forms of mercury averaged 10.7 nanograms per liter, and levels [...]

The possible role of ammonia in a future energy infrastructure is discussed. The review is focused on the catalytic decomposition of ammonia as a key step. Other aspects, such as the catalytic removal of ammonia from gasification product gas or direct ammonia fuel cells, are highlighted as well. The more general question of the integration [...]

Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants. EPA’s proposed standard reflects the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning, efficient natural gas generation, [...]

There have been few studies concerning cyanotoxins in desert environments, compared with the multitude of studies of cyanotoxins in aquatic environments. However, cyanobacteria are important primary producers in desert environments, where after seasonal rains they can grow rapidly both stabilising and fertilising arid habitats. Samples of cyanobacteria from wadis – dry, ephemeral river beds – [...]

After a year-long process of peer review, the DEMS scientists recently turned over to industry and others copies of two major papers they planned to publish in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The mining coalition made no official reply, but in mid-February, as the 90-day waiting period began to wane, Henry Chajet, a [...]

A protracted legal battle over an $11.5-million health study into whether diesel exhaust damages the lungs of miners has suddenly widened to take on scientific peer review. Editors with at least four research publications say they have received a letter advising them against “publication or other distribution” of data and draft documents. The warning, including [...]