Gas drilling effects on aquifer

Cumulative CSG impact to trigger aquifer drawdowns. James Nason, Beef Central,  May 17, 2012. This article in an Australian beef industry publication reports on the possibly devastating effects of coalbed methane drilling in a region where water resources are precious to farmers and ranchers—lowering the water table by 5–150 meters. Issues surrounding coal seam gas drilling and hydrofracturing or fracking are closely related.

Scope: Ecosystems/Climate Change

Focus: Ecosystem

Lead cumulative risk analysis

Integrating Susceptibility into Environmental Policy: An Analysis of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Lead. Ramya Chari and others, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9(4) Susceptibility to chemical toxins has not been adequately addressed in risk assessment methodologies. As a result, environmental policies may fail to meet their fundamental goal of protecting the public from harm. This study examines the NAAQS lead standard to show how characterization of risk may change when susceptibility is explicitly considered in policy.

Scope: Human Health, Communities/Environmental Justice

Focus: Proposed law, Examples

Urban farming in New York City

Green Bronx Machine--Growing Our Way Into A New Economy. Stephen Ritz, TEDxManhattan video (15 min) January 30, 2012. Lively presentation by the South Bronx educator who, along with Majora Carter, has made the South Bronx a center of experimentation in urban farming, boosting academic performance as well as nutrition and economic development.

Scope: Human Health, Communities/Environmental Justice, Ecosystems/Climate Change

Focus: Best practices

Los Angeles cumulative impacts

Up in the Air: The Fight for Clean Air in Boyle Heights. Correspondent: Vince Gonzales. Producer: Rebecca Haggerty. KCET-TV, February 24, 2012. 8-minute video and transcript. A fine report on cumulative impacts in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles and the Cleanup/Green-up campaign to improve air quality.

Scope: Human Health, Communities/Environmental Justice

Focus: Best practices, Planning & strategies, Exposures

Climate change temperature swings increase mortality

Summer temperature and long-term survival among elderly people with chronic disease. Antonella Zanobetti and others, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 9, 2012. Seemingly small changes in summer temperature swings—as little as 1°C more than usual—may shorten life expectancy for elderly people with chronic medical conditions, and could result in thousands of additional deaths each year. While previous studies have focused on the short-term effects of heat waves, this is the first study to examine the longer-term effects of climate change on life expectancy. See this press release for a summary.

Scope: Human Health, Ecosystems/Climate Change

Focus: Socioeconomic, Ecosystem