toxins
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Climate change is making food more toxic
Mycotoxins and other poisons are cropping up in our crops.
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Climate change danger: Arsenic in the water supply
Droughts, climate change, and resource-intensive dairy farming have joined forces to make Mexico’s Laguna Region, once well-stocked with ponds, into a semi-arid semi-wasteland. Oh, and the drinking water is full of arsenic and it’s giving everyone cancer. Is this the most cheerful post we’ve ever written? Maybe!
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Infographic: The top toxic health hazards
We figured this depressing Scientific American article about the top 10 pollution-related health hazards deserved the Onion-style infographic treatment. Here are the actual numbers for how many people are being sickened or killed by toxic pollution worldwide: Mercury pollution from gold mining (3.5 million people) Lead pollution from industrial parks (nearly 3 million) Pesticides from […]
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Ask Umbra: Can toxic pollutants escape from my body fat?
Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, If I ever manage to lose these rolls and handles, will the toxic stuff I’m storing in my fat be released? Will I get sick in the process? Theodora S.Angel Fire, N.M. A. Dearest Theodora, Yours was the closest I could find to a Halloween question this […]
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Do your clothes contain toxic chemicals?
Chemicals in clothing can break down in water into hormone-disrupting nonylphenol (click the infographic to embiggen). If you want to avoid dumping this crap in the waterways, you have two choices: One, never wash your clothing -- which, on top of being gross, will probably not be that effective, since wastewater discharges from textile plants sluiced nonylphenol out into the waterways before your clothes even hit the store. Or two, opt for clothing from companies that don't use nonylphenol-producing chemicals (called nonylphenol ethoxylates, or NPEs). According to research from Greenpeace, though, that might be tough. Of the 15 brands they tested for NPEs, only Gap had zero positive results.
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Ask Umbra on whether balloons are eco-friendly
Is there such a thing as a balloon that doesn't blow? Ask Umbra bursts a few bubbles.
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Meet the new water toxins, same as the old water toxins
Assuming it doesn't get cockblocked by industry or shut down by Michele Bachmann, the EPA is going to start regulating some gross stuff that hangs out in your water -- not because these are new toxins, but because they're finally being allowed to do something about the old ones. Forbes has a rundown on what you've been drinking, and how to stop drinking it anymore.
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Unwet and wild: Ask Umbra on dry shampoo
Dry shampoo is the latest hair-care craze. Ask Umbra investigates the tangled truth.
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Could your dildo kill you?
Germany's Green Party has a penetrating concern: Toxic substances in sex toys.