Tens of millions of ash trees in the U.S have fallen victim to an invasive insect called the emerald ash borer. That’s not just a problem for forests. Trees are important for water quality. “The roots help control the nitrates and phosphates, which are some of the pollutants that can enter streams and waterways. They …
Tag Archive: water quality
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/a-tiny-green-insect-does-major-damage/
Mar 04
Microorganisms on medicine
When we take medication, some of it gets excreted in our waste. And from there, it often ends up in water. John Kelly of Loyola University Chicago says common pharmaceuticals can harm benthic microbes – microorganisms that grow in the sediment at the bottom of rivers. “The microbes are at the bottom of the food web …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/microorganisms-on-medicine/
Feb 04
Fast Facts on Arsenic in Water
A naturally occurring chemical is stirring up trouble in water. Listen up: We all know that water is crucial to survival—but what happens when arsenic gets in the picture? Arsenic is a naturally occurring chemical component of many minerals, so it can leach into ground and surface water. The chemical can also enter water supplies …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/arsenic-in-water/
Jan 13
A Salamander Hell-Bent on Clean Water
Hellbender salamander populations are declining because of poor water quality. Bend your ears to this: At more than one-foot long, the Hellbender salamander is the largest in North America. Flat, brown, and wrinkled, it has lived at the bottom of streams and ponds for millions of years. But that legacy is threatened, as hellbender populations shrink Conservationist …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/marine-debris/a-salamander-hell-bent-on-clean-water/
Dec 25
Students Break the Ice
Some students are taking a creative approach to collecting water samples from Saginaw Bay. Listen up: The Kawkawlin River, which empties into Saginaw Bay, has been polluted by excess sediment, nutrients, and even E. Coli from failing septic systems and animal agriculture. David Karpovich of Saginaw Valley State University saw an opportunity for his students …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/agricultural-runoff/students-break-the-ice/