Environmental Health

Chromium is a heavy metal and is the sixth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is used in metal alloys, automobile brake production and leather tanning. Plants and animals are...

Black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, grows on material with a low nitrogen and high cellulose content, such as paper, fiberboard, and lint. It requires constant moisture in the form of...

There are numerous TV commercials that tout the freshness and odor-reducing benefits of air fresheners. However, the reality is that these devices and sprays can be harmful to one's health.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated since a 2001 report that it believes cows are responsible for hazardous emissions. A 2006 report produced with the support of the...

Cars, trucks, vans, buses and other automobiles churn exhaust--and its long list of pollutants--into the air. Most at risk are mechanics, professional drivers and workers at farms, mines, bridges...

Window glass generally should not be recycled along with glass bottles and jars. As with heat-resistant ovenware, drinking glasses and visionware, window glass has been treated during...

Do you find yourself plagued by runny noses, congestion, and colds that seem to nag on for weeks? Well I will share with you some

You can measure lead in soil or have the test performed under your direction. Lead is a cumulative toxin that builds up in the body, causing weakness and brain damage. In the past lead poisoning...

Most science organizations, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agree that current carbon emission levels--that is, levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air--are far too great...

Legionella pneumophila is an aquatic bacterium that is present almost everywhere in the environment where there is water. Swamp coolers use water evaporation to cool the air going into a building....

Pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances into the environment. Soil pollution has many sources including water pollution, acid rain, and nonpoint source pollution. NSP enters...

Diesel fuel spills result from accidental or deliberate release into the environment by humans. The impact of the spill depends on how quickly it spills, what kind of ecosystem it spreads to and...

Mold, a member of the fungi family, can be found both indoors and outside and grows year-round. Outdoors, mold tends to be found in moist, shady areas where vegetation is rotting. Indoors, mold...

People often overlook the fact that hundreds of plants are in danger of extinction. Usually, these plants are threatened due to human activity.

Aluminum cans are created and thrown away in large numbers. The environmental ramifications of those two facts are significant. Mining, the refining process, and the eventual discarding of...

Geiger counters measure ionizing radiation. Radioactive substances produce this radiation by generating electrons that produce an electric current. The Geiger counter meter measures the output.

Everyone seems to worry about smog and other sources of pollution outside there home. But what about inside your home is it safe? Is there products that we use every day is it safe? What are the...

Mold belongs to the fungi family and can be found in virtually every climate on the planet. The spores of the mold plant can cause illnesses in otherwise healthy people as well as worsen an...

The recycling logo has become a very recognizable symbol. While you may recognize the standard three arrows, it's important to know its exact meaning based on its depiction.

Cyanobacteria are blue-green bacteria that usually appear spherical in shape. They can often be identified with the naked eye because of their tendency to form symbiotic relationships with...

The purpose of this article is to make you aware of the health risk of using aluminum products in your home. Most households use aluminum in form of pots and pans, soda cans, and aluminum foil. ...

Environmentalists often talk about carbon footprint when discussing the impact of humanity on the environment. The carbon footprint is metaphorical shorthand for the impact that human activity has...

Toxic waste is defined as liquid, solid, contained gas or sludge waste that contains properties that are dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Manufacturing...

CFCs are one of the most dangerous chemicals for the environment. Some of society's favorite products, such as aerosol cans, contain CFCs, but the world will eventually cease production of CFCs in...

If you are interested in saving the environment or at least worried about the effects your lifestyle will have on the world, precycle. Precycling involves thinking about what you are planning to...

Mold can become a health problem whenever you come into contact with it. Ingesting mold can cause problems in certain situations, sometimes more severe than other forms of contact.

Cypermethrin, a pesticide first synthesized in 1974, targets insects by acting on the central nervous system, according to the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN). Because the...

Burning yard waste is an easy way to reduce twigs, leaves and grass clippings, but there are safer and healthier alternatives to cleaning your yard.

Wood pellets come from sawdust and wood chips, for a fuel in pellet stoves. More than 610,000 tons of wood pellets are produced in North America each year, according to the Encyclopedia of...

The effects of air pollution are felt by almost everyone, especially in heavily polluted cities like Los Angeles. Air pollution not only negatively impacts health, it can also destroy the environment.

Gasoline and diesel are the two most popular fuels in cars and both contribute a great deal of carbon pollution to the environment. Which one is better for the environment depends on more than...

Radiation is energy that's transmitted through space as electromagnetic waves or sub-atomic particles. It emits from various sources including microwaves, infrared, visible and ultra-violet light,...

Federal Environmental Protection Agency documents come in several forms, including informative materials, fact sheets and guidance publications. Most often these types of materials can be...

Overfishing disrupts the natural balance ecosystems attain over thousands of years of evolution. Humanity may lose more than just single species to overfishing, which can threaten entire...

The earth's climate--the cumulative weather conditions of precipitation, temperature and wind--shapes the growth and reproduction of every living organism. The slightest changes in the atmospheric...

Cardboard boxes create a lot of bulk in household and commercial garbage. You may have a local collection service or a recycling site for old boxes. Recycling consists of soaking and pulping,...

Diesel is widely used as a heating oil as well as fuel for big-rigs and trains that carry goods across the nation. Although not generally thought of as dangerous, diesel poses several hazards.

It is common to receive a PDF (portable document format) receipt for a purchase as an attachment to an email or directly after purchasing on the internet. Rather than printing the receipt out for...

Antiseptics and disinfectants are chemicals that are used on people and objects to kill bacteria that can lead to illness and infection; however, these chemicals serve different roles, and the...

The Dow Chemical Company invented Styrofoam more than 50 years ago. Styrofoam is generically known as polystyrene, a type of plastic. While many plastics can be recycled, many often wonder if...

When people discuss short-term symptoms related to mold exposure what they're usually referring to are allergic reactions. Every person will react differently when exposed to toxic molds and the...

Fires can be quite scary if in your kitchen area. Knowing how to act and what exactly to do is crucial to stopping a fire within your home. Keep in mind if the fire grows too big to be contained,...

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, trains are required to blow their whistles through highway-rail crossings in order to warn motorists and pedestrians. If you live close to the...

Methane is a greenhouse gas associated with global warming and climate change. However, it can also be considered an alternative energy source when captured and reused to generate electricity. ...

The state of the weather affects transportation, daily plans, and what people wear. It even has a profound affect on how we feel. Aside from exacerbating medical conditions, the weather can...

Bogs are a type of wetland characterized by deposits of acidic peat and sphagnum moss. As a vital part of an ecosystem, bogs provide a habitat for a variety of plant and animal life. They also...

According to recent studies by the Environmental Defense and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "The vast majority of chemicals in widespread commercial use lack basic toxicity data in the...