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Road Salt Contaminates U.S. Waterways in Northern States Year Round
Posted by EcoWatch: Brian Bienkowski on December 26th, 2013
EcoWatch: As winter sets in across the northern U.S., the road salt that keeps people out of ditches is flowing into rivers at levels that could harm fish and other creatures.
With billions of pounds of salt spread on U.S. roads every year, waterways in the nation’s wintry cities are getting saltier. And, according to new research, the salt--or sodium chloride--in rivers remains toxic not just in winter, but throughout two-thirds of the year.
Road salt runoff can cause developmental abnormalities and...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Road Salt Contaminates U.S. Waterways in Northern States Year RoundPrescription Drugs Entering the Great Lakes at Alarming Rate
Posted by EcoWatch: Brian Bienkowski on November 27th, 2013
EcoWatch: Only about half of the prescription drugs and other newly emerging contaminants in sewage are removed by treatment plants. That’s the finding of a new report by the International Joint Commission (IJC), a consortium of officials from the U.S. and Canada who study the Great Lakes.
The impact of most of these “chemicals of emerging concern” on the health of people and aquatic life remains unclear. Nevertheless, the commission report concludes that better water treatment is needed.
“The compounds...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Prescription Drugs Entering the Great Lakes at Alarming Rate