Agency orders Range Natural Gas Company to stop the contamination of Methane and Other Contaminants into drinking water near multiple residences

(DALLAS – December 7, 2010) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered a natural gas company in Forth Worth, Texas , to take immediate action to protect homeowners living near one of its drilling operations who have complained about flammable and bubbling drinking water coming out of their tap.  EPA testing has confirmed that extremely high levels of methane in their water pose an imminent and substantial risk of explosion or fire.  EPA has also found other contaminants including benzene, which can cause cancer, in their drinking water.  Read more

Over the past decade, organic produce sales have soared from 3 percent of the retail produce market in the U.S. in 2000 to nearly 11 percent last year, to $9.5 billion. According to surveys by the Organic Trade Association, organic produce's precipitous trajectory barely slowed when the global financial crisis took hold in late 2008.
Organic salad greens have fared even more impressively. According to Nielsen surveys, fresh cut salad greens increased their market share from 8.3 percent in 2006 to 15 percent so far this year. Pre-packaged specialty salads have grabbed a whopping 46 percent of that market sector, compared to 29 percent.
The stunning gains make a sharp contrast to the otherwise lackluster market for fruits and vegetables in recent years.  

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According to a new report from the President's Cancer Panel, environmental toxins play a significant and under-recognized role in cancer, causing "grievous harm" to untold numbers of people. EWG's own research has found that children are born "pre-polluted" with nearly 300 industrial chemicals, pesticides and contaminants that have been found to cause cancer in lab studies or in people.

Four of every 10 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and two of every 10 will die from it. Beyond talking to your doctor about lifestyle changes that are known to make a difference -- stopping smoking, reducing drinking, losing weight, exercising and eating right -- there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

Here are some simple ways you can reduce your exposure to potentially cancer-causing chemicals (click here to download the PDF)

1. Filter your tap water. Common carcinogens in tap water include arsenic, chromium, and chemical byproducts that form when water is disinfected. A simple carbon tap-mounted filter or pitcher can help reduce the levels of some of these contaminants. If your water is polluted with arsenic or chromium, a reverse osmosis filter will help. Learn about your tap water and home water filters at EWG's National Tap Water Database. See the other tips here

FRIDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- It's a common find in medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers: a prescription vial containing years-old medication or an over-the-counter cold remedy that's embarrassingly past its sell-by date.  But unless they're spring-cleaning, many people don't bother throwing away these items. And when they do, people often turn to the toilet and flush the products away.  Both behaviors are big mistakes.  Keeping out-of-date medications in the house poses dangers to everyone in the family. And flushing old medications down the toilet can be harmful to the environment.
Old drugs and remedies kept moldering in the medicine cabinet may not be able to help you when you need them the most.  Read more

Before, during and after exercise
Article Headline  

Is your sunscreen actually protecting your family like it promises?

Of the 500 beach and sports sunscreens that EWG analyzed for our 2010 Sunscreen Guide, we can only recommend 8 percent. Between the false sense of security from sunscreens with an SPF of 50 or higher, and new data linking vitamin A to accelerated development of skin tumors and lesions, most products don't live up to their hype. In fact, EWG found that wearing a hat and shirt in the sun should be your first line of defense, then using an EWG recommended sunscreen.

Click here to view EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide. Visit Environmental Working Group website here

Presented by Dr. Allen S. Josephs
Co-Founder & Director, Vitacost.com

Exercise has many beneficial effects on the body, from boosting cardiovascular health to supporting weight loss efforts. Recent research suggests it may also protect the mind from mild cognitive impairment and decline caused by the normal aging process. Read more

Simple blood test could spot those who need more supplementation, study suggests
THURSDAY, May 13 (HealthDay News) -- Seventy percent of pregnant women in the United States don't get enough vitamin D, new research reveals.

What's more, the regimen of prenatal vitamins that many women take do not always provide enough vitamin D to boost levels when needed, researchers from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (UCDSM) and Massachusetts General Hospital cautioned.

People who scored highest in adherence to diet least likely to suffer mental decline, study finds.

TUESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a Mediterranean diet may help keep your brain healthy as you age, findings from an ongoing study show.

"This diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, lower meat consumption, and moderate wine and non-refined grain intake," study author Dr. Christy Tangney, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a news release from the American Society for Nutrition. Read more

TUESDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, yet a new survey of 1,000 Americans finds that nearly 60 percent don't known if their local hospitals offer specialized treatment for stroke.
Despite awareness efforts, "the public seems less aware of stroke-certified hospitals," Dr. Ralph Sacco, president-elect of the American Heart Association, said in a news release from the American Stroke Association. "The survey results show the need for continuous reinforcement of public education to maintain awareness of the stroke warning signs and symptoms as well as the importance of stroke specialty hospitals. This issue must be at the top of everyone's minds." Read more

By Dan Shapley
Posted Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:04am PDT

More from The Daily Green News Blog
Following on a February lawsuit that sought to enforce an arcane New York law requiring the disclosure of ingredients in cleaning products, Sen. Al Franken -- the recently minted senator from Minnesota -- has introduced a bill that would require disclosure across the country. Read more here

 For a number of years, there has been discussion about BPA as a potential hazard. Governments have issued guidelines and recommendations and some retailers have removed their products containing BPA from the market. Get an update on how international governments are approaching the issue. >Read More