Clean coal?

Brad — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:41:35 +0000

There is no such thing as clean coal. You can scrub all of the CO₂ out of the emissions all you want, but you’ll still be left with coal ash, be it fly ash from the emissions or bottom ash from the furnace. You need to do something with this ash, and although it can be used in road paving or cement, it’s often just piled up and stored somewhere. And it’s not just ash — it’s actually more radioactive than nuclear waste and has high levels of arsenic, amongst other toxic chemicals.

Here’s what happens when a retaining wall breaks and coal ash pollutes a river:

This is video from yesterday. That grey sludge poured into tributaries of the Tennessee River. You can read more about it at knoxvillebiz and tennessean.com.

Next time you hear an advert about clean coal, or someone tries to tell you that clean coal technology is a good replacement for burning oil, remember this post.

Concerned about toxic chemicals in toys?

Brad — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:41:32 +0000

If you’re a parent or prospective parent — and I know a number of you people out there are — you’re probably concerned about your child’s health. These days, toys can occasionally be laced with toxic chemicals. How’s an informed parent supposed to tell which toys are safe?

An informed parent can look up their toys on the Consumer Guide to Toxic Chemical in Toys. They’ve got a huge number of toys on there with levels of toxic chemicals found in testing.

As an example, one little girl I know is getting a Melissa & Doug Wooden Sushi Slicing Playset which has no detectable lead, bromine, cadmium, chlorine/PVC, or mercury, and only two parts per million of arsenic in the shrimp. Safe toy!

[hat tip to Skeptic Dad]

canspice.org » toxic chemicals

Clean coal?

Concerned about toxic chemicals in toys?