Bangor Daily News: Chemicals and Cancer

May 24th, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment
Photo: mabokoisland
Photo: mabokoisland
The President’s Cancer Panel has concluded that the role played by synthetic chemicals in the human environment in causing cancer has been “grossly underestimated.” The Panel urged President Barak Obama to use the power of his office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air.

Margret Kripke, an immunologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  who was a member on the panel, said past research showed environmental sources were responsible for only 6 percent of cancers. Kripke explained, however, that the finding was made in 1981 and the panel is “convinced that is very out of date.” She adds that there are many more chemicals in the environment today than there were 30 years ago.

READ THIS STORY AT BANGORDAILYNEWS.COM

Continue reading Bangor Daily News: Chemicals and Cancer

The New York Times: Conflict of Interest Worries Raised in Spill Tests

May 21st, 2010 | Environment | | Leave a comment
800px-US_Navy_100430-N-7367K-008_Longshoremen_and_personnel_assigned_to_the_Supervisor_of_Salvage_and_Diving_division_of_Naval_Sea_Systems_Command_stage_oil_containment_booms
800px-US_Navy_100430-N-7367K-008_Longshoremen_and_personnel_assigned_to_the_Supervisor_of_Salvage_and_Diving_division_of_Naval_Sea_Systems_Command_stage_oil_containment_booms
Local environment officials throughout the Gulf are collecting samples of water, sediment and marine animal tissue. The data is being collected for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, which is the federal process for determining the extent of the damage of the spill, the amount of money owed, and how it should be spent to restore the environment. The data will also likely be used in civil suits.

Since hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake, some are questioning the potential conflicts of interest arising from BP’s role in every aspect of the aftermath of the spill.

One source of doubt is the independence of the Texas lab, which officials have chosen to process virtually all of the samples, is part of an oil and gas services company that counts oil firms, including BP, among its biggest clients.

READ THIS STORY AT NYTIMES.COM

Continue reading The New York Times: Conflict of Interest Worries Raised in Spill Tests

DC Bureau

April 22nd, 2010 | Staff | | Leave a comment

DC Bureau is staffed by award winning journalist dedicated to bringing you in-depth stories covering the Environment and National Security.

DC Bureau

April 22nd, 2010 | Staff | | Leave a comment

DC Bureau is staffed by award winning journalist dedicated to bringing you in-depth stories covering the Environment and National Security.