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…)

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…)

Some 200,000 Fayetteville, North Carolina residents are drinking water from supplies that are dangerously close to a contamination plume comprised of a cocktail of toxins, some carcinogenic. NC state officials have been aware of the contamination, which is coming from an abandoned textile mill situated adjacent to Fayetteville’s water treatment plant, since the mid-1990s, said The Fayetteville Observer.

The water supply storage tank—also known as a clear well—holds about 12 million gallons and lies on top of the plume, noted The Fayetteville Observer, that is comprised of dangerous industrial solvents—so-called tetrachlorothylenes, or PCEs—known to increase cancer risks and liver problems when ingested over time. According to the state, the cleanup of the former Texfi Industries site will cost in excess of $50 million, a figure that well exceeds available funds to just monitor the contamination. (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…)

Not just home owners, but business owners, are dealing with the fallout from DuPont’s Imprelis broad leaf herbicide fiasco that has killed or left many trees damaged, dying, or dead. DuPont promised to fix the problems, but many wonder what really can be done.

In one case, said FreeP, a lawn care firm sprayed Imprelis on over 3,000 properties with Imprelis; now, trees are dying on clients’ properties and, in some cases, neighboring properties. (more…)

On Wednesday, a Senate committee approved legislation that would provide health care to Marine veterans and family members who lived at Camp Lejeune Marine base. Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina caused thousands of veterans and their family members to suffer from various illnesses, reported the Miami Herald.

Advocates have been lobbying for the legislation for years but it still needs approval from the full Senate and House of Representatives. Health care for those affected by the contaminated water sources can only be provided by the bill until Congress appropriates money for it in a separate process. (more…)

A class action lawsuit was filed on Friday against Shell Oil Company alleging the company released benzene into ground water 25 years ago and never cleaned the area. The lawsuit was filed in Illinois State Court in Madison County and also names BP Products North America, Inc. as a defendant. The complaint states that in 1986, Shell Oil Company released 8,400 gallons of pure benzene from an underground pipeline into ground water beneath an oil refinery, reported KSDK.com.

Benzene is a colorless chemical that evaporates quickly into the air. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chemical is widely used in the U.S. and ranked in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. Benzene exposure can effect cell reproduction. For instance, exposure can cause bone marrow to stop producing red blood cells which can lead to anemia. Inhaling the toxic chemical can cause drowsiness, headaches, tremors, unconsciousness and death, says the CDC. (more…)

The New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing a regulatory commission should not issue final rules governing gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin, says the New York Times.

Eric T. Schneiderman, the New York Attorney General, filed the suit in the United States District Court in Brooklyn on Tuesday seeking to halt the Delaware River Basin Commission, a regional regulatory agency, from drafting its own rules without using a comprehensive environmental impact study. (more…)

Researchers identify a commonly used pesticide chemical is linked to causing Parkinson’s disease, says recent study. Ziram, a fungicide, is being linked to Parkinson’s along with previously associated pesticides maneb and paraquat.

Published in European Journal of Epidemiology, the study reveals ziram harms brain cells related to Parkinson’s and exposure to all three pesticides by working near sprayed areas creates a threefold greater chance of developing the disease than those with less exposure, reported FairWarning.org. (more…)