Category Archives: Environmental Impacts

Researchers find high levels of mercury in California’s coastal fog

By Christopher Stolz, Special to the Star Saturday, December 10, 2011 A research team at UC Santa Cruz that this year for the first time tested coastal fog in California for mercury found raised levels of the element. The team, … Continue reading

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Salmon-Killing Virus Seen for First Time in the Wild on the Pacific Coast

By CORNELIA DEAN and RACHEL NUWER NY Times: October 17, 2011 A lethal and highly contagious marine virus has been detected for the first time in wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest, researchers in British Columbia said on Monday, stirring … Continue reading

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Water treatment turns common chemicals toxic, says report

Ben Cubby December 2, 2011 TRACES of common pain-killing drugs are being transformed into toxic forms by waste water treatment plants, a new report from researchers at the University of NSW shows. The study, which used samples from water treatment … Continue reading

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Manufacturing Facilities Release Pharmaceuticals to the Environment

In a 2004-2009 study, USGS scientists found that pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment. Effluents from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that receive discharge from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities (PMFs) had 10 to 1000 … Continue reading

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Discussion on the Latest on Estrogen in Water

To All, Sewage effluent testing has shown high levels of estrogen and other pharmaceuticals that are likely to interfere with the reproductive cycle – and provide larger breasts for guys (as well as slower running and biking capabilities). Sewage sludge … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental Impacts, Pharmaceutical Contamination, Streams and Wetlands Impacts, Watershed Related Concerns | 1 Comment

Chopping Down Redwoods to Make Wine

Keith Goetzman November 14, 2011 Two California vintners want to cut down 2,000 acres of redwood trees and replace them with vineyards in the largest woodland-to-vineyard conversion in California’s history. Do I need to explain what conservationists think of this? … Continue reading

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Bankers vs. Fish, a Cautionary Tale

by Laura Waldbaum A few years ago the banking industry, lead by giants Lehman, Goldman Sachs and others convinced regulators that the old rules didn’t matter and that many of the regulations in place to protect the public were irrelevant … Continue reading

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Action to Stop Corporate Takeover of Water

Dear Activist, The battle to protect California’s water ahead of next year’s election has already begun. Corporate giants want the state to build a $20-40 billion canal so that they can auction off our water to the highest bidder. Tell Governor … Continue reading

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Action Letter to Protect Our Waterways from Pesticides

To All, Pesticides in our waters, often overlooked, are a significant threat to wildlife and human health. Right now chemical and agribusiness lobbyists are trying to persuade Congress to gut the Clean Water Act and allow unregulated pesticide application. You can … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture Impacts, Environmental Impacts, Pharmaceutical Contamination, Salmonid/Wildlife Impacts, Streams and Wetlands Impacts, Vineyards | Comments Off

Even the Cleanest Wastewater Contributes to More ‘Super Bacteria’

ScienceDaily (Nov. 14, 2011) A new University of Minnesota study reveals that treated municipal wastewater — even wastewater treated by the highest-quality treatment technology — can result in significant quantities of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often referred to as “superbacteria,” in surface … Continue reading

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