environment
How big a problem are plastics in food packaging?
Dear EarthTalk: Are we really all exposed to many hazardous chemicals that come off the packaging our food travels in? What can we do to minimize our exposure to these potential toxins in our food? —William Freleigh, Newark, DE Oct. 11. A large percentage of our food packaging contains toxic Food Contact Chemicals […]
Wastewater overflow in 16000 block/area of Jetton
Oct. 11. Charlotte Water is reporting a wastewater overflow in the 16000 area of Jetton Road due to a low pressure pipe leaking wastewater into Lake Norman. A pipe failure caused the overflow and an estimated 255 gallons (out of 510 gallons) reached Lake Norman Most homes along the lakes are served by low pressure […]
EarthTalk: What do bees know?
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that bee populations are healthier in and around organic farms than elsewhere and if so, why? —Martin Mason, St. Louis, MO Oct.4. According to experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, bees are responsible for a third of the world’s food production. Flowering plants, which make up about […]
Keep pets safe from the heat
Dear EarthTalk: How can I keep my pets safe during the increasingly frequent heat waves we are experiencing lately? —Mary B., Bern, NC Sept. 28. Summer may be over but the heat still lingers in much of the US and elsewhere. As such, the need to keep pets safe becomes an increasing concern. Heat poses […]
Dam: What’s up with these water-stopping relics?
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the story with so-called “deadbeat dams” causing ecosystem problems across the country? — George H., Seattle, WA Sept. 20. The invention of dams was certainly one of humanity’s most innovative feats of engineering. Able to harness power from the water currents, reserving water and effectively controlling floods, dams have been crucial to […]
EarthTalk: Can we predict where and when wildfires will occur?
Dear EarthTalk: How can we get better at predicting when and where wildfires will occur so we can adequately mitigate their impact? —R.K., Tarrytown, NY Sept. 13. In recent years, wildfire incidents have intensified, driven by factors including climate change, land use patterns and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. As we grapple with the growing risk, […]
EarthTalk: Why is nuclear fusion a hot topic?
Sept. 6. Dear EarthTalk: Why are Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, among others, so bullish on developing nuclear fusion as a power source? —Mark P. Newton, MA While nuclear fission is commonly used in nuclear power plants across the globe, nuclear fusion is a lesser-known process. Whereas fission is the process of releasing energy by […]
EarthTalk: What’s being done to phase out Styrofoam?
Aug. 29. Dear EarthTalk: Styrofoam is terrible for the environment and hard to recycle but still prevalent across the U.S. What’s being done to phase it out? — Michael Brophy, Boston, MA Plastic foam, better known under its brand name of Styrofoam, has been used for insulation, packaging and foodware (cups, takeout containers, etc.) for […]
Be a Riverkeeper: LKN clean-up Oct. 5
Aug. 27. Catawba Riversweep—the annual Lake Norman clean-up day—is Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 am to noon. The Catawba Riversweep is one day a year when citizens from all over the Catawba-Wateree River Basin come together to clean up on the same day, launching from dozens of sites from Lake James to Lake Wateree. Organizers […]
EarthTalk: Coming clean about pesticides on food
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the most effective way to remove pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables that I buy at the supermarket? —R.L.J., Kansas City, KS Aug. 23. For decades, pesticides have been a vital tool for farmers to ensure that their harvests aren’t overgrown by weeds or eaten by pests. As a result, pesticides remain […]
