Marine Pollution Control8631 West Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48209 USA
313.849.2333 - 24/hour
11320 E Lakewood Blvd., #11
Holland, MI 49424
800-521-8232 – 24/Hour
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The Great Barrier reef corals are eating micro-plastic pollution — and that’s probably not a good thing
February 26, 2015
With the world's oceans becoming choked with plastic, it's easy to see that it's probably not a good thing. And when scientists in Australia found that corals on the Great Barrier Reef readily eat micro-plastic pollution, they were concerned. The reef is already threatened by the effects of climate change, problems from land-based run-offs, fishing, and expanding coastal development.
"Corals are non-selective feeders and our results show that they can consume microplastics when the plastics are present in seawater. If microplastic pollution increases on the Great Barrier Reef, corals could be negatively affected as their tiny stomach-cavities become full of indigestible plastic" said Dr. Mia Hoogenboom, a Chief Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University and a lead author of the study.
Pollution more deadly than malaria or ebola
February 26, 2015
Say the word “ebola” and people freak out, even though more people have been married to TV talk show host Larry King than have died of ebola in the US. But what most of us don’t realize is that pollution around the world kills almost 9 million people every year and has significant impact on the health of 200 million more, including brain damage from exposure to lead, mercury, and pesticides.
According to a new report, most of the burden of pollution falls on people living in poor countries. The report is a collaboration between the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. the Blacksmith Institute for a Pure Earth and the Green Cross of Switzerland.
“Most of the countries that are struggling with this have very limited resources to ta
Train derails, explodes in West Virginia; crude oil spills into river
February 17, 2015(CNN) A train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in West Virginia, displacing up to 1,000 residents and contaminating the local water supply.
At least 27 of the train's more than 100 cars veered off the tracks, the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said. And at least 15 of the derailed cars caught fire.
One home was destroyed, and one person was injured, agency spokesman Lawrence Messina said.
Complicating matters: Oil from the train spilled into the Kanawha River -- a source of drinking water in Kanawha and Fayette counties. Even parts of the river caught fire amid the explosions, Messina said.
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Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill
February 24, 2015
By Jeff Mason and Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday swiftly delivered on his vow to veto a Republican bill approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, leaving the long-debated project in limbo for another indefinite period.
The Senate received Obama's veto message and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell immediately countered by announcing the Republican-led chamber would attempt to overturn the veto by March 3.
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CSX train hauling North Dakota oil derails, cars ablaze in West Virginia
February 17, 2015
(Reuters) - A CSX Corp train hauling North Dakota crude derailed in West Virginia on Monday, setting a number of cars ablaze, destroying a house and forcing the evacuation of two towns in the second significant oil-train incident in three days.
One or two of the cars plunged into the Kanawha River, and “a couple are burning," said Robert Jelacic, night shift manager of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. There were no injuries or deaths, he said.
CSX said the train was hauling 109 cars from North Dakota to the coastal town of Yorktown, Virginia, where midstream firm Plains All American Pipelines runs an oil depot. It said one person was being treated for potential fume inhalation.