Friday, July 08, 2005

[PBDEs] Household Dust Is Main Source Of Flame Retardants In Humans Household dust is the main route of exposure to flame retardants for people — from toddlers to adults — followed by eating animal and dairy products, according to a report in the July 15 issue of the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology. ACS is the world’s largest scientific society. Until this study, which is based on a computer model developed by Canadian researchers, scientists have been unsure exactly how people are being exposed. Citation for the study: Jones-Otazo, H.A.; Clarke, J.P.; Diamond, M.L.; Archbold, J.A.; Ferguson, G.; Harner, T.; Richardson, G.M.; Ryan, J.J.; Wilford, B. "Is House Dust the Missing Exposure Pathway for PBDEs? An Analysis of the Urban Fate and Human Exposure to PBDEs." Environmental Science and Technology ASAP Article. Web Release Date: June 15, 2005 [http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/asap/abs/es048267b.html] [Source: Science Daily] 2:28:11 PM Google It!    [Power plants] Ontario Study Identifies Social Costs of Coal-Fired Power Plants Cost Benefit Analysis: Replacing Ontario's Coal-Fired Electricity Generation by DSS Management Consultants Inc. and  RWDI Air Inc., for the Ontario Ministry of Energy, April, 2005, 93 pages, This report documents the methodology, data and results of an independent cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the financial costs and health and environmental damages associated with four electricity generation scenarios. These scenarios cover a range of electricity generation alternatives for replacing the electricity produced by the province’s coal-fired generation facilities. The results of this study provide an estimation of the costs and benefits of some of the policy directions available to the government of Ontario with respect to replacing the coal-fired generation facilities. 2:21:03 PM Google It!    [Grants] Materials for Energy Efficient Industrial Processing Letter of Intent:08/31/2005 by 06:00 PM Eastern Time Application Due Date: 10/17/2005 Award Ceiling: $4,000,000.00 Award Floor: $500,000.00 This is a Restricted Eligibility Announcement. This financial assistance is in support of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) strategic Plan Goal 6, Increase Energy Efficiency of Industry. Part of the EERE’s Industrial Technology Program’s (ITP) strategy in support of this goal is to support high-risk high-reward research and development to reduce energy intensity in U.S. industrial manufacturing and processing by working with industry partners. The projects to be selected under this funding opportunity announcement would focus on development of materials or materials processing methods for energy efficient industrial processing. Applications will be restricted to multiple-organization teams. The team must be comprised of at least one industrial organization. Collaborations involving educational institutions, industrial companies, and research organizations are encouraged. The primary applicant can be any organization – for profit, non-profit, state and local government, Indian Tribe, or institution of higher education, but not a FFRDC or an entity specifically created in response to this funding opportunity announcement. 2:14:01 PM Google It!    [Great Lakes] NOAA Offers Electronic Field Guide To Harmful Algal Blooms In Great Lakes A new Web site (http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Centers/HumanHealth/hab/EventResponse), created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health (CEGLHH), serves as an electronic field guide to the types, locations and habits of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. 2:08:41 PM Google It!    [Green lifestyle] Reduce Your Climate Footprint: Carbonfund.org Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization, now makes it easy and affordable for individuals and businesses to remove their climate footprint. Carbonfund.org enables people to calculate their carbon emissions for home, business, commuting and air travel and then donate to offset the impact they have on the environment and climate change. [ENN Business Headlines] 1:51:03 PM Google It!    [Schools] Biologist Helps Students Get a Leg Up on Scientific Inquiry PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA--Scott McRobert's research on how temperature affects the development of toads gives second-graders a chance to dip into real science. Author: Yudhijit Bhattacharjee [Science: This Week's News] 1:44:44 PM Google It!    [Scientific publishing] Britain's Research Agencies Endorse Public Access. Starting in October, all investigators funded by the big eight research agencies in Britain may be required to put their papers and meeting talks in a free public archive "at the earliest opportunity, wherever possible at or around the time of publication." Author: Eliot Marshall [Science: This Week's News] 1:43:45 PM Google It!    [Environmental policy] Environmental Policy Act 'At A Crossroads' The National Environmental Policy Act was adopted 35 years ago to give citizens a say in land-use matters. Now it's facing strong challenges from the Bush administration, Congress and business interests who say it's been holding up progress on a number of fronts. Los Angeles Times reporter Tim Reiterman explains, 7/7/05. [SEJ: Environmental Journalism Today] 1:42:41 PM Google It!    [G8 Summit] G-8 Stance On Global Warming Seen As Bush Victory G-8 summit leaders agree to take immediate steps to curb global warming. Their blueprint is seen as a political victory for the Bush administration -- and some environmentalists aren't happy about that at all. The latest from The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin, 7/8/05. [SEJ: Environmental Journalism Today] 1:42:09 PM Google It!    [Climate change] New Satellites May Help Explore Global Warming The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin says NASA scientists are able to identify for the first time how rapidly sea level is changing through a series of new satellites and observation systems. The question of rising sea levels, which is linked to global warming, could prove critical in coming years as policymakers seek to protect imperiled U.S. coastal areas, 7/8/05. [SEJ: Environmental Journalism Today] 1:38:46 PM Google It!    [Meetings] EPA 2005 Science Forum Abstract and Poster Presentations May 16- 18 EPA's 2005 Science Forum held in Washington D.C. under the overall umbrella of Collaborative Science for Environmental Solutions. The Science Forum consisted of three main themes for which plenary sessions and sub-theme breakout sessions were developed. The themes were Science and Innovation to protect Health and the Environment (ORD), Using Science to Make a Difference (Regions), and Delivering Science-Based Information to Decision Makers (OEI). The poster abstracts and posters by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) Scientists' presented at the 2005 Science Forum are linked below in PDF format along with contact information. Note: Since the poster PDF files were created to be printed as posters, some of the files are very large. Please note the file sizes prior to opening. The abstracts are single pages in PDF format. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader. Science and Innovation to Protect Health and Environment ORD Invasive Species Research Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 167 KB) Contact: Daniel Kluza, Ecologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Washington Division (202) 564-3374, kluza.daniel@epa.gov The Impact of Exposure Classification Strategies and Water Consumption Information on Exposure Estimates of Waterborne Contaminants Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 109 KB) Contact: J. Michael Wright, Epidemiologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Cincinnati Division (513) 569-7922, wright.michael@epa.gov Interagency Coordination on the Development of Health Assessments Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 201 KB) Contact: Stiven Foster, Toxicologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (202) 564-2239, foster.stiven@epa.gov Integrated Disinfection Byproducts Mixtures Research: Assessing Reproductive and Developmental Risks Posed by Complex Mixtures of Disinfection Byproducts Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 264 KB) Presenter: Audrey Galizia, galizia.audrey@epa.gov Contact: Glenn Rice, Health Scientist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Cincinnati Division (513) 569-7813, rice.glenn@epa.gov Cumulative Risk Assessment - Collaborative Efforts for a Research Strategy Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 977 KB) Contact: Audrey Galizia, Toxicologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Cincinnati Division (732) 906-6887, galizia.audrey@epa.gov Evaluation and Incorporation of Child/Adult Toxicokinetic Differences in Assessing Risks to Toxicant Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 118 KB) Contact: Babasaheb (Bob) Sonawane, Group Chief, Exposure Identification and Characterization Group U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Washington Division (202) 564-3292, sonawane.bob@epa.gov Development of Tools for Children's Risk Assessment Based Upon Life-Stage Specific Exposure Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 476 KB) Contact: Gary W. Bangs, Exposure Science Coordinator U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Risk Assessment Forum Staff (202) 564-6667, bangs.gary@epa.gov Using a Life-Stage Approach for Assessment of Children's Health Risk Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 148 KB) Contact: Stan Barone, Research Biologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Washington Division (202) 564-3308, barone.stan@epa.gov Development of Microbial Risk Assessment Methods Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 979 KB) Presenter: Michael Broder, broder.michael@epa.gov Contact: Brenda Boutin, Microbiologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Cincinnati Division (513) 563-7532, boutin.brenda@epa.gov Encouraging Commercial Development of New Techniques for the Real-time Characterization of PM2.5 Mass and Composition Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 157 KB) Contact: William Wilson, Physical Science Administrator U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Research Triangle Park (RTP) Division (919) 541-2551, wilson.william@epa.gov Changing Patterns in Air Quality in Teplice, Czech Republic: Effects of Mitigation Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 148 KB) Contact: Joseph Pinto, Research Scientist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Research Triangle Park (RTP) Division (919) 541-2183, pinto.joseph@epa.gov Understanding the Ecological Risks, Costs, and Benefits of Use Attainment Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 249 KB) Contact: Matt Heberling, Economist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development/National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)/Cincinnati Division (513) 569-7917, heberling.matt@epa.gov Delivering Science-Based Information to Decision Makers Building a Community of Investigators: The Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 148 KB) Contact: Sue Norton, Ecologist U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development/National Center for Environmental Assessment/ Washington Division (202) 564-3246, norton.susan@epa.gov Developmental Immunotoxicity - A Proposed Testing Framework Poster Abstract (PDF) | Poster (PDF, 1 page, 330 KB) Contact: Susan Makris, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) 202-564-2075, makris.susan@epamail.epa.gov [Recent EPA Catalog Records.] 1:38:12 PM Google It!    [Great Lakes] Agencies Propose Great Lakes Cleanup Plan TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- A partnership of federal, state and local officials proposed a long-term strategy Thursday for restoring the health of the ailing Great Lakes, an effort that would cost billions. [AP Top Science News At 1:11 p.m. EDT] 1:34:00 PM Google It!    [Climate change] G8 Nations to Express Resolve on Climate Change Climate change is a serious challenge, and G8 nations will act with urgency and resolve to reduce greenhouse gases, according to a communique obtained by NPR. The topic has been seen as a possible source of contention between Britain and the United States at the G8 sessions in Scotland. [NPR Topics: Environment] 1:33:11 PM Google It!

© Copyright 2005 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 10/25/2005; 12:11:14 PM.