Chlorine’s Health Risk For Swimmers

Posted on | September 15, 2009 | Comments Off

Swimmers have long suspected the dangers of chlorine. Now, their suspicions have been confirmed.

A study by the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium found a link between swimming in chlorinated pools and getting asthma and respiratory allergies.

“The impact of these chemicals on the respiratory health of children and adolescents appears to be much more important — at least by a factor of five — than that associated with secondhand smoke,” according to toxicology professor Alfred Bernard.

“There is little doubt that pool chlorine is an important factor implicated in the epidemic of allergic diseases affecting the westernized world.”

World Climate Conference-3

Posted on | September 5, 2009 | Comments Off

Closing Statement from World Climate Conference-3
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Head of the United States Delegation

Improving development and delivery of climate services offers untold economic, environmental, human health, and national security benefits. For these reasons, the U.S. delegation is very pleased with the outcome of this conference, and its decision to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services.

Today, user demands for climate information are increasing rapidly. Decision-makers at all levels of government, business leaders, civil society and individual citizens are asking how they can best prepare their communities, businesses or lives for the impacts of climate change.

Lives, prosperity and social stability are at stake.

We must now seize the opportunity to use the science-based information about climate change and variability and translate it into meaningful information that can be used to inform critical decisions.

That the United States was both a sponsor and participant in this conference reflects President Obama’s strong commitment to addressing climate change. Climate change is a shared challenge. The declaration agreed to here unites all countries in recognizing the need for climate services.

As we head into Copenhagen we are heartened by the spirit of cooperation and commitment. The United States is working actively toward a successful agreement through ambitious domestic actions and international cooperation.

This morning’s announcement that President Obama will deliver an opening speech at the UN High Level Summit on Climate Change in New York later this month further demonstrates our country’s commitment to tackling this issue.

Space Junk Does Not Decompose

Posted on | September 3, 2009 | Comments Off

Junk in space is non-biodegradable.

“Debris (trash) from previous space missions can also damage spacecraft,” says NASA. Space debris is of such a concern that NASA established the Orbital Debris Program Office.

“The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, located at the Johnson Space Center, is the lead NASA center for orbital debris research. It is recognized world-wide for its initiative in addressing orbital debris issues. The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office has taken the international lead in conducting measurements of the environment and in developing the technical consensus for adopting mitigation measures to protect users of the orbital environment. Work at the Center continues with developing an improved understanding of the orbital debris environment and measures that can be taken to control debris growth.”

The International Space Station has been hit before. Now, it is under watch, again, as space junk from the the Ariane 5 approaches.

Space debris is a growing problem with 19,000 objects larger than 10 centimeters currently being tracked. China’s destroyed a weather satellite in 2007. In 2009, there was a collision of American and Russian communications satellites.

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Posted on | August 18, 2009 | Comments Off

The Energy Information Administration has released a report analyzing H.R. 2454 energy legislation. The major impact of the bill is “cap and trade”. Under the plan, greenhouse gases will be capped and reduced through 2050.

Read The American Clean Energy Report