Articles by Grist staff

Just Two Words: Scary Plastics

Phthalates, plastic-softening chemicals used in medical tubing and children’s toys, are at the center of a contentious debate, with enviros and a number of health experts arguing that the chemicals may cause serious health problems for humans. A panel of scientists led by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop released a report in June that […]

A Rising Tide Floods All Islands

Small island nations throughout the world are threatened by climate change, toxic waste, and excessive tourism, island leaders said yesterday during a U.N. session in New York focusing on their problems. The 43 members of the Alliance of Small Island States say they want an end to industrial fishing and the transport of nuclear and […]

Pew! Climate Change Stinks

Global warming could have serious effects on both the quality and quantity of freshwater, according to a report released yesterday by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. In mountainous watersheds, global warming will increase the ratio of rain to snow and lead to earlier and greater spring runoff, the report says, which could improve […]

World Bank Plays Shell Game

Enviros yesterday called on the World Bank to deny funding for a proposed 650-mile pipeline that would carry oil from landlocked Chad to the Cameroon coast, cutting through a tropical rainforest and most of Cameroon’s major river systems. The World Bank is expected to decide by November whether to provide $190 million in loans to […]