Oct 02
When coal is burned for power, a residue called coal ash is left behind. “It contains a slew of toxic pollutants such as arsenic, cadmium, and selenium,” says Lisa Hallowell of the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project. She says utilities used to frequently dispose of coal ash in unlined ponds that could leak into ground and surface …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/coal-ash-goes-to-court/
Jun 07
Not all algae is harmful, but it’s hard to know which is which. Listen up: Too many nutrients in lakes and ponds can cause algae to grow out of control, producing harmful algal blooms. Some unleash toxins that threaten our health…and our animals’ too. When ingested, touched, or even inhaled, they can make your pet …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/for-pets-sake-avoid-the-algae/
Nov 15
Harmful algal blooms are increasing in size and frequency—but they are reversible. Listen up: When swimming in the blue, stray away from the stinky green stuff known as algal blooms, which occur when large amounts of algae produce toxins. While water treatment facilities can successfully treat public drinking supplies, the toxins can cause liver damage …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/algal-blooms/
Oct 29
Restoring the original flow of the Chicago River could be the best way to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes—listen up for the scoop: Chicago’s going against the flow…again. More than a century ago, the direction of the Chicago River was reversed to move the city’s wastewater away from Lake Michigan. The …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/going-against-the-flow/
Sep 14
Why are so many of Pennsylvania’s streams orange? Find out: Thousands of miles of Pennsylvania’s waterways are painted a rusty orange color. The artist? Acid mine drainage. John Arway of the PA Fish and Boat Commission states “Acid mine drainage is a very insidious pollution problem, and it persists for a very, very long time.” …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/pennsylvania-rivers-painted-a-rusty-orange/
