The thousands of abandoned oil wells and the environmental and safety hazards they pose to the public—as well as legal problem for the oil and gas industry—have gone relatively unchecked over the years in Louisiana…until now. In mid-April, a set of bills designed to reform state cleanup of these oil wells started making their way … Continued
Read MoreWhen it comes to choosing a home to live in, many of us assume that someone is looking out for the safety of that structure and any environmental hazards and other dangers it might pose to its inhabitants. We assume that houses most certainly must be built to be safer than they were, for example, … Continued
Read MoreWhile many of us are far removed from our sources for power and electricity, there are others still located near coal burning plants, which include coal ash lagoons or coal ash ponds dug into the ground nearby. And what exactly is a coal ash “lagoon”? They are open pits or dumps where millions of pounds … Continued
Read MoreA new book just released by professor McKay Jenkins, titled “ContamiNation: My Quest to Survive in a Toxic World,” explores the potentially severe health risks associated with household products that we use every day; from paints, cleaners, fertilizer, bleach, etc. It also suggests that we make lifestyle changes in order to limit exposure to these … Continued
Read MoreA high school made headlines recently when the auditorium was shut down so that the district could test to see if asbestos is present. The decision to inspect the auditorium was not taken as a precaution; rather, it was made after an environmental consultant was called in to examine part of the ceiling that was … Continued
Read MoreWe previously discussed the potential health-related dangers that recycled crumb turfs can pose to children and athletes that are active on them. Crumb rubber is used in the states for playground structures, sports surfacing, and rubber-modified asphalt, exposing many to the product every day and every year. At one point, soccer coaches in particular started … Continued
Read MoreMany do not realize that those who work directly with hair dyes have an increased risk of developing bladder, blood-related, and potentially breast cancer due to that exposure to the dye chemicals. Specifically, as found by one study in particular last year, dark hair dye has the ability to alter cells and make them more … Continued
Read MoreFew people realized just how dangerous being located to a natural gas storage facility could be until the methane leak in Los Angeles started three months ago. Within a week, those who lived close by began reporting severe health issues such as rashes, hives, nausea/vomiting, coughing up blood, headaches, and nosebleeds. And the gas company … Continued
Read MoreA story released recently by Al Jazeera America revealed that residents in Louisiana’s impoverished northeast have reason to be concerned about the tap water. Specifically, because the tap water turns a milky brown after running for a while due to iron sediment in the pipes, one resident remarked that she is “scared to take a … Continued
Read MoreNew research conducted by NYU and released on January 25, 2016 indicates that workers at hookah bars are inhaling very hazardous levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine from secondhand smoke simply by working at these facilities. The toxins found in their lungs are linked to inflammation, as well as serious airway and heart diseases. In … Continued
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