Doctors are calling for a moratorium on fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, the method by which the earth’s shale is shattered to release natural gas and oil deposits.

The fracking debate has grown significantly in recent months as gas producers tout the benefits of domestic energy and improved economics. Environmental and health advocates argue that the financial benefits are dwarfed by serious short- and long-term health and environmental effects. Now, doctors in attendance at a conference on fracking are speaking out. (more…)

As Congress mulls deregulating toxic coal ash, 20 toxic coal ash dumps have been uncovered in 10 states.

The dumps, discovered by the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), have contaminated groundwater and soil. At the same time, some members of Congress are seeking more leniency on federal oversight of toxic coal ash pollution cleanup and are asking that authority be eliminated that currently ensures compliance with significant standards. The 20 new sites identified in the report are: (more…)

Arterial plaque is the newest in issues facing Ground Zero responders who appear to have high rates of atherosclerosis (plaque in the arteries). It seems that World Trade Center first responders who experienced the high-level exposure to the toxic cloud that surrounded the New York terror attacks are exhibiting “high-risk” features consistent with atherosclerosis

The Insurance Journal explained that researchers utilized MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) testing to review cardiovascular risk in Ground Zero first responders. (more…)

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) just issued its “modified” natural gas development regulations, and not everyone is happy with the proposed drilling rules which, if adopted, would allow fracking in the watershed. Some organizations seek increased public input prior to adoption.

The revisions to the proposed rules are meant to direct natural gas activities in the watershed area, said Philly.com, and were presented in a very “technical” 100-page document that, in essence, will allow 300 wells to be drilled pending a reassessment 18 months later. The rules seek increased water monitoring, restrictions on water use, and remediation funding. All sides agreed on one thing: The rules, such as they are, are far too complex to immediately assess, said Philly.com. (more…)

The U.S. Interior Department is weighing in on the growing fracking debate. Considering regulations for natural gas and oil production on federally owned shale lands, the Department is also looking into mandating disclosure of chemicals used and creating water and well standards, said Bloomberg Businessweek

The rules will likely be presented in “a couple of months” and might become final the following year, according to David Hayes, the Interior Department’s deputy secretary, wrote Businessweek. The Department is seeking “full disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic-fracturing process, with necessary provisions related to” trade secrets, said Hayes at a meeting of the Department of Energy’s shale-gas advisory panel, added Businessweek. For instance, to protect against leaks, a key change would be, said Hayes, “Extending existing well-bore integrity standards to the hydraulic-fracturing phase of development” as well as, “extending existing water-management requirements” to discharges when fracturing is completed. (more…)

Australian women are cutting their cell phone use over cancer fears. Following a World Health Organization (WHO) warning about cell phone use and brain tumors, Australian women are apparently curbing their cell use at a rate of 25%, said The Daily Telegraph.

This summer, WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified cell phone radiation as possibly carcinogenic to humans. (more…)

Natural gas and oil drillers— including those who want to conduct hydraulic fracturing—are effectively banned from energy extraction and exploration drilling at the 65,000-acre Allegany State Park in New York State; this, following Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s signing of two pieces of legislation last week.

According to a report from The Buffalo News, the new laws should crush U.S. Energy Development Corp. of Getzville’s plans to sink five test wells at the park, a plan announced two years ago. The driller claims it had subsurface mineral rights underneath a 2,800-acre area of the park known as the Red House section. (more…)

Another cell phone study, this one out of Turku, Finland, has revealed that cell phone use does, in fact, affect the brain. A significant finding amid the controversy surrounding the extremely popular devices.

PET measurements were taken on 13 young, healthy males who were exposed to the GSM signal for 33 minutes each, explained Science Daily. The study confirmed that glucose metabolism in the temporoparietal and anterior temporal areas of the brain hemisphere closest to the device’s antenna becomes suppressed by GSM mobile telephone electromagenetic fields, said Science Daily. (more…)

Today’s tattoo explosion is drawing concerns to the chemicals used in tattoo art and the long-term health issues associated with tattoo inks.

Environmental Health News points out that emerging research has revealed issues with the chemicals used in tattoo inks, such as some known endocrine or hormonal disrupters, some with dangerous toxic and heavy metals, and one that is a serious skin carcinogen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a probe into tattoo ink safety. (more…)

Although Pepsi Co., was initially hoping to brush off reports of so-called “Mountain Dew Mouth,” the horrific mouth disorder continues to get attention. Pepsi Co. is the manufacturer of the popular, sugary drink that has been linked to increasing rates of pediatric tooth decay and loss is some poorer areas in the United States.

For instance, in the Appalachians, appropriate dental care and education are basically nonexistent, said Wise Geek, leaving many there with bad dental hygiene that is aggravated with residents’ consumption of foods and drinks that contain high amounts of sugar. Dentists working in Appalachian areas are calling severe cases of tooth decay caused by sugared sodas “Mountain Dew Mouth,” said Wise Geek. (more…)