Articles by Grist staff

This Plastic Is Not Fantastic

EU governments yesterday unanimously approved an emergency ban on some baby toys made from PVC plastic containing chemicals called phthalates. Some scientists believe that phthalates, used to soften plastics, could leach out of toys that babies put in their mouths and pose serious health risks. The EU’s executive commission points to research that has linked […]

My Way or No Highway

Pressed by a lawsuit from environmentalists, the EPA yesterday said that smog clean-up plans are inadequate in nine of the nation’s most polluted urban areas, including New York City and Houston. EPA Administrator Carol Browner said that although the nine areas in question have made some progress, state governments still need to take additional steps […]

Soon, They'll Be Calling It the Greenhouse

Energy-efficiency measures and other steps taken to make the White House more eco-friendly have saved taxpayers nearly $1.4 million since 1993, according to an administration report to be released today. The savings, now totaling about $300,000 a year, have been achieved through more efficient lighting, heating, and air conditioning; new insulation; double-paned windows; and energy-saving […]

What a Riot, What a Gas

Tens of thousands of protestors, including many environmentalists, took to the streets of Seattle yesterday and succeeded in disrupting talks of the World Trade Organization. While a small minority of the protestors damaged some property, most were resolutely nonviolent as they tried to make their point that the WTO places corporate profits above human rights, […]