Environmental, Health and Safety News | Volunteer EHS News Network Dedicated to Protecting People & Our Planet

Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz to Leave State Service

The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that Secretary Linda Seemeyer has accepted the resignation of Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz. Heifetz, who also serves as Administrator of the Division of Medicaid Services (DMS), is leaving the position to pursue career opportunities in the private sector. “Michael has been invaluable in his role as...
Read More »

Innovation in Action, November 2017

The November Innovation in Action newsletter is available, you can view it here. To subscribe to future editions simply … The post Innovation in Action, November 2017 appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Free Webcast on Forklift Training Tomorrow via @jjkeller

Forklift Training: It’s more than just the regulations Tuesday, December 12th 1 PM Central Time (2 ET, 12 MT, 11 PT) Forklifts and other powered industrial trucks are some of the most common – and most powerful – pieces of equipment in industrial workplaces. With this power, comes the potential for serious hazards. Effective training and operator evaluations...
Read More »

After years of toxic oil spills, indigenous Peruvians use tech to fight back

Armed with territorial knowledge, rubber boots, smartphones and drones, indigenous Amazonians in Peru are doing what state and private oil companies have long failed to do: report oil spills that have been polluting their corner of the rainforest for decades.
Read More »

Year after lawsuit, California health officials release cellphone radiation safety guide

Expert sued agency in 2016 for not releasing cellphone health research to public
Read More »

Could this quantum physicist revolutionize power grids?

Suchitra Sebastian investigates how superconductor technology could be applied in the real world.
Read More »

Air pollution can make kids behave badly

Tiny particles in car exhaust can directly impact the brain.
Read More »

Miners’ pensions a major part of spending debate

Union miners want Congress to shore up faltering pension plans, and Democratic allies hope to use a must-pass spending bill as leverage.
Read More »

E-waste grew 8 percent in just 2 years. Just one-fifth was recycled.

4,500 Eiffel Towers = equal in weight to 2016’s e-waste 7.7 billion = number of mobile or cellular subscriptions 7.4 billion = planet’s population 45 percent = people globally now using the Internet 20 percent = E-waste in 2016 properly recycled 38 pounds = E-waste generated per person in Australia and New Zealand (highest...
Read More »

Fracking study finds low birth weights near natural gas drilling sites

Researchers examined over 1 million infants’ birth records in Pennsylvania and found links between health and fracking proximity. Pinpointing which aspect is harder.
Read More »

Better beef

Can the cattle industry be remade to save the Amazon rainforest?
Read More »

Trump’s EPA chemical safety nominee withdraws

The nominee, Michael L. Dourson, had faced criticism on several fronts for his ties to the chemical industry.
Read More »

Trump’s mining regulator nominee was once dropped by the agency for doing “junk” work

Previously accused of sabotaging the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Steven Gardner is now likely to be its next chief.
Read More »

EPA expects East Chicago cleanup could cost $84.9M, almost 4 times earlier estimates

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is estimating the costs to clean up two East Chicago neighborhoods could increase from $22.8 million to $84.9 million.
Read More »

Worries grow that climate change will quietly steal nutrients from major food crops

Studies show that rice, wheat and other staples could lose proteins and minerals, putting more people at risk of hunger worldwide.
Read More »

Squirrel sex is complicated

Only 35 Mount Graham squirrels remain in the wild, but five captive squirrels could hold the key to their long-term survival — if we can get them to breed.
Read More »

$23 million could go toward Michigan PFAS contamination

Money might be on the way to help fight perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in Michigan.
Read More »

India produced 2 million tonnes of e-waste in 2016

India has one of the fastest growing electronics industries in the world, and its e-waste production is likely to touch three million tonnes in 2018.
Read More »

Can blockchain ensure Unilever’s tea farmers produce a fairer brew?

Imagine being able to trace the exact origins of your cup of tea: where and how it was made, whether organic soil was used and if the workers were treated fairly.
Read More »

Member states give green light to Commission’s plan on endocrine disruptors

EU member states backed on Wednesday the European Commission’s new plan to regulate endocrine disruptors, disappointing environmentalists.
Read More »

EU renews glyphosate approval, pledges transparency

A five-year renewal of the herbicide glyphosate, used in Monsanto’s Roundup, was officially adopted by the EU Commission on Tuesday despite public alarm.
Read More »

Hurricane-hit Caribbean states target future safe from climate harm

A group of Caribbean nations, many devastated by recent hurricanes, will work with companies, development banks and other organizations to curb damage from climate change and grow cleanly, under an action plan launched this week.
Read More »

More victims of the California wildfires: Avocados and lemons

The largest of the fires has damaged a portion of the harvest in the country’s most productive region for both crops.
Read More »

Brazil tops Places to Watch for deforestation, satellites show

Forest fires in Brazil and Indonesia contributed to a record loss in global tree cover in 2016, equivalent to the size of New Zealand.
Read More »

We may be in for far higher amounts of sea level rise than ever thought before

The amount of sea level rise that many of us will experience in our lifetimes may be more than double what was previously anticipated, unless we sharply curtail greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study that factors in emerging, unsettling research on the tenuous stability of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Read More »

City will give public a bigger voice on clean water plans

But water-quality advocates are seeking more than just better engagement.
Read More »

Scott Pruitt and a crew of EPA aides just spent four days in Morocco promoting natural gas

The Environmental Protection Agency plays no formal role in overseeing natural gas exports.
Read More »

Facing Senate rejection, controversial pick to head EPA chemical office bows out

Michael Dourson’s nomination had drawn widespread criticism because of his past ties to the chemical industry.
Read More »

Amazonian fish need tropical forests to survive

Fisheries ecologists at Virginia Tech have found a link between tropical forest loss in the Amazon and declines in freshwater fish populations.
Read More »

Mining mogul Murray gets coal in his stocking—and wants more

More than a year after his election, President Donald Trump hasn’t disappointed him.
Read More »

Russia Wins in Arctic After U.S. Fails to Kill Giant Gas Project

Building the $27 billion Yamal liquefied natural gas project meant shipping more than 5 million tons of materials to construct a forest of concrete and steel 600 kilometers north of the Arctic circle, where temperatures can drop to -50 degrees celsius and the sun disappears for two months straight.
Read More »

Tax compromise keeps wind and electric-car credits, source says

House and Senate negotiators have agreed to spare the electric-vehicle tax credit and wind production tax credit in their compromise package, according to a Republican familiar with the process.
Read More »

Canada’s oil capital is making the leap toward renewable energy

Clean energy is coming to Canada’s oil patch.
Read More »

We’re pouring millions of tons of salt on roads each winter. Here’s why that’s a problem.

Source: Ensia, 11/6/17. The use of salt to de-ice roads and parking lots has skyrocketed in recent years. As environmental consequences emerge, scientists propose creative solutions.
Read More »

DHS Requesting Five-Year Extension for BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Waiver

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is requesting a five-year extension for its current Section 1115 BadgerCare Reform Demonstration Project Waiver . The current waiver expires on December 31, 2018, and per federal regulations, DHS must submit an extension request one year in advance of the waiver expiration. Per direction from the Centers...
Read More »

Health Officials Offer Online How-To Guide for Family Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia

Health officials today released ” Dementia Capable Wisconsin: A guide for family caregivers ,” a new online resource for caregivers of family members with dementia. Approximately 110,000 people in Wisconsin are living with dementia. This resource offers guidance for family members, friends, and loved ones so they can offer the best support and also...
Read More »

Get Your Flu Shot Now, Be Protected for the Holidays

With the holiday season approaching, now is a good time to get a flu shot to make sure you, your friends, and your family are protected for all the events and activities to come. According to health officials, it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, so those who get a...
Read More »

Health Officials Launch “Tobacco is Changing” Campaign to Inform Parents About Flavored Tobacco Products

The Department of Health Services (DHS) today launched a campaign to inform parents about brightly packaged, candy-flavored tobacco products targeted to appeal to children. The “ Tobacco is Changing ” campaign is scheduled to run through February in various media. “Some 80 percent of youth tobacco users say their first tobacco product was flavored,...
Read More »

Department of Health Services Names Paul Krupski As Director of Opioid Initiatives

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that Paul Krupski has been selected to serve as the new Director of Opioid Initiatives to coordinate the department’s efforts to end the state’s opioid crisis, effective today. “Opioid overdoses and the misuse of opioids, either heroin or prescription pain medications, affects every corner of...
Read More »

How the Chemical Safety Library can improve laboratory safety

Gabrielle Whittick, Project Manager, Chemical Safety Library (CSL) asking why would you not share safety information to help others. You … The post How the Chemical Safety Library can improve laboratory safety appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

The Pistoia Alliance AbVance Project Reaches a Key Milestone with First Release of Antibody Structures into the Protein Data Bank

The AbVance project aims to accelerate biologics drug discovery by increasing knowledge of antibody structures in the public domain Boston, … The post The Pistoia Alliance AbVance Project Reaches a Key Milestone with First Release of Antibody Structures into the Protein Data Bank appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

New members welcomed in Q4 2017

Since April 2017 the Pistoia Alliance has welcomed several companies and individuals as new members. The post New members welcomed in Q4 2017 appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

#CSLDatathon: Deadline extended

We have extended the CSLDatathon, to give more time to collect valuable safety information. You could still win $100 gift … The post #CSLDatathon: Deadline extended appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Presentations from our 2017 US Conference now available

Nearly 200 participants attended our 2017 Annual USA Conference, a record attendance which helped provide us with a great platform … The post Presentations from our 2017 US Conference now available appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Announcing our 2017 President’s Startup Challenge Winners

Medley Genomics and Transformative AI Selected as Winners in the 2017 Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge Startups accelerating research into … The post Announcing our 2017 President’s Startup Challenge Winners appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Chemistry Safety Library Datathon is Open

The Chemical Safety Library ( CSL) Datathon is now open! You could win up to $100 gift card at the … The post Chemistry Safety Library Datathon is Open appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Introducing the 2017 President’s Startup Challenge Judges

We are delighted to introduce you to this year’s judges for the President’s Startup Challenge Judges, they come from many … The post Introducing the 2017 President’s Startup Challenge Judges appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Register for our webinar: Beyond BMI: Body Composition Phenotyping in the UK Biobank

The Pistoia Alliance Debate Series Our next webinar, Beyond BMI: Body Composition Phenotyping in the UK Biobank is coming soon.… The post Register for our webinar: Beyond BMI: Body Composition Phenotyping in the UK Biobank appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Join in the Chemistry Safety Library competition: #CSLDatathon

Help us improve safety in the laboratory The Chemical Safety Library ( CSL) project is excited to announce the … The post Join in the Chemistry Safety Library competition: #CSLDatathon appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Clarivate Analytics donate prizes to the 2017 President’s Challenge

We are delighted to announce that Clarivate Analytics have agreed to support this year’s President’s Challenge winners by once again … The post Clarivate Analytics donate prizes to the 2017 President’s Challenge appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
Read More »

Land reclamation threatens extremely rare spoon-billed sandpipers in China

One of the world’s rarest birds — the tiny spoon-billed sandpiper — could soon lose a critical habitat to land reclamation projects, warns a new report by Greenpeace. Every year,...
Read More »

African Parks backs marine reserve brimming with wildlife in Mozambique

A sliver of ocean on the Southern Africa coast is getting a new chance at success thanks to an agreement announced Dec. 6. The National Administration of Conservation Areas...
Read More »

For Papuan villagers practicing conservation, a bid to formalize the familiar

TAMBRAUW, Indonesia — It took more than two hours by boat, through a driving rain, to reach the village of Saubeba from the nearest large town of Sausapor in...
Read More »

Bees for trees: testing a potential tool for reducing human-elephant conflict

When times are tough for elephants, knocking over a tree may be the best way to get at the food resources it offers. Trees with bees, however, may avoid...
Read More »

How will Trump Admin policy rollbacks impact efforts to combat climate change?

Given that Donald Trump tweeted in 2012 that he believes concern about global warming is the result of a ploy by China to make American manufacturing less competitive, and...
Read More »

United States of Petroleum: Government’s Secret Alliance With Big Oil

“The Great War began in 1914 with cavalrymen on horseback and ended four years later with armored tanks and airplanes. It was, as one scholar put it, the ‘first...
Read More »

“Former Republican EPA Chiefs Blast Controversial Alaska Mining Project”

“Three former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrators who served under Republican presidents came out against a proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska on Tuesday.” Environmental Politics Fish &...
Read More »

EPA Watchdog Plans To Investigate Pruitt’S $25,000 Secure Phone Booth

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector general will investigate how it decided to spend more than $25,000 installing a secure, soundproof communications booth in the office of Administrator Scott Pruitt.”...
Read More »

U.S. Steel Didn’t Test For Toxic Metal After Spill Into L Michigan Trib

“U.S. Steel failed to test a Lake Michigan tributary for highly toxic hexavalent chromium after blue liquid “with visible solids” poured out of one of the company’s northwest Indiana...
Read More »

“EU Announces €9Bn In Funding For Climate Action”

“EU funds will be focused on clean energy, and sustainable cities and agriculture, with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also pledging $300m towards climate adaptation” Climate Change International Public...
Read More »

“Exxon Agrees to Disclose Climate Risks Under Pressure from Investors”

“In an SEC filing, the oil giant dropped its opposition to a shareholder demand for disclosure. Exxon also faces climate fraud investigations by two states.” Climate Change Economy &...
Read More »

“N.J. Governor Christie Eyes Nuclear Power Subsidies, Sparks Criticism”

“New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he would consider a bill in his last month in office that would subsidize the state’s nuclear power plants to prevent them from...
Read More »

“Minnesota Joins U.S. States Limiting Controversial Farm Chemical”

“Minnesota became the latest U.S. state on Tuesday to restrict controversial weed killers made by Monsanto Co and BASF SE that were linked to widespread crop damage, while Arkansas...
Read More »

Mining concessions in Ecuador stalled over compliance with indigenous rights

QUITO, Ecuador – Indigenous communities in Ecuador celebrated this week after President Lenin Moreno announced Monday that the government would come down harder on oil and mining companies that...
Read More »

Court Upholds Uranium Mining Ban Around Grand Canyon, Allows Nearby Mine

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Tuesday upheld a 20-year ban on uranium mining around Grand Canyon National Park but ruled in a separate case...
Read More »

“Arctic Report Card: Lowest Sea Ice on Record, 2nd Warmest Year”

“Climate scientists say the magnitude and rate of sea ice loss this century is unprecedented in 1,500 years and issue a warning on the impacts of a changing climate.”...
Read More »

Brazil / UK push offshore oil pact, a potential climate change disaster

Exploitation of the pre-salt layer off the coast of Brazil could result in the burning of a carbon reserve equivalent to the release of 74.8 billion tons of carbon...
Read More »

Light pollution lures nighttime pollinators away from plants

Populations of bees, bats, butterflies and other pollinators have been declining for decades due to habitat loss, disease, pesticides and climate change. Now, scientists have documented yet another threat...
Read More »

Companies still not doing enough to cut deforestation from commodities supply chains: report

The latest “Forest 500” rankings are out today from the Global Canopy Programme (GCP), and the main takeaway is that the global companies with the most influence over forests...
Read More »

Latin America-Europe trade pact to include historic indigenous rights clause

A young Guarani-Kaiowá man. This indigenous group has lost most of its ancestral land in Brazil’s Mato Gross Do Sul state. A Photo by percursodacultura on VisualHunt / CC...
Read More »

Saving Sumatran orchids from deforestation, one plant at a time

When tropical forests are felled and converted into land for oil palm or rubber plantations, it’s easy to think of the orangutans or the tigers that may lose their...
Read More »

Audio: Amazon tribe’s traditional medicine encyclopedia gets an update, and conservation effectiveness in Madagascar examined

On today’s episode, we’ll get an update on an ambitious effort to document traditional indigenous healing and medicinal practices in the Amazon and speak with the reporter behind Mongabay’s...
Read More »