Pesticide may negatively affect estuarine health

PESTICIDE MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT ESTUARINE HEALTH; NOAA Study Identifies Potential Impacts on Aquatic Food Sources — NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science researchers have identified potential effects of the commonly used herbicide atrazine on phytoplankton—free-floating algae forming the base of the food chain for aquatic animals. Published in the January 2007 issue of the journal Pesticide-Biochemistry and Physiology, the study indicates protein levels in phytoplankton significantly decreased as a result of atrazine exposure....

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What is Deforestation?

Deforestation is the systematic destruction of forest areas and woodland around the world, not only does it affect wildlife and the food chain, it also affects the ecosystem. Cutting down trees and older woodland areas puts us at a greater risk of environmental disasters such as flooding, erosion, land slip and landslide. Such activities can include logging of timber for commercial purposes without replacing or replenishing lost woodland. Although we rely on trees for a number of everyday living activities, it is of paramount importance that we conserve and preserve our woodland areas for our own safety, protection and wellbeing.

Taking a quick look around my current environment and I can easily see so many uses for the wood from trees:

Paper, Newspapers, cardboard
Houses made of wood
Wooden bedframes
Furniture - tables, chairs, doors, floor boards
Storage and shelving


We have a multitude of uses for wood products, but our focus now should be on reducing such activities.

I think our emphasis should be on recycling.....

Planting new trees in the place of the ones we cut down to replenish and replace.

The following is a very quick and brief video but it does show some quick tips on how we can all participate....

Some Energy Efficiency Tips For Your Home

1. Fit Draught Excluders - to keep the house insulated and to keep the cold out from places such as your letter box and underneath doors.
2. Make sure taps are tightly closed and check the hot water tap is completely turned off to prevent waste of water and to save your energy bills.
3. Close curtains to keep the heat in during the winter and to keep the house warm and insulated.
4. Make sure radiators and heaters are not obstructed - Foam in upholstery and household furniture, including sofas and chairs act as insulators and block the heat from circulating around your home, so place armchairs away from heaters and radiators in order for heat to circulate effectively.
5. Close your windows - when you have the heating on, close windows to keep the house heated and to keep the heat inside the house and not outside.
6. Turn off the lights and any appliances which are not in use in order to conserve electricity and save yourself money at the same time.
7. Fit double glazed windows - Professionally fitted double glazed windows keep your home insulated and will help to keep the heat in and save on energy bills.
8. Loft insulation - This will help to keep the heat from escaping through your roof and will also help to keep the warmth inside, this will also help to keep draughts out.
9. Fit Carpets - Many people seem to like laminate flooring, however, these do not necessarily keep the heat in. You can fit carpets in order to provide a warmer and cosy home. On the other hand carpets accumulate dust and dirt where laminate or wooden flooring does not.
10. Fit an energy efficient boiler - This will ensure that your home is warm with plenty of hot water at the turn of your tap.

Why is using biodegradable materials useful for the environment?

First of all, before this question can be answered, the meaning of biodegradable first has to be established...

What does biodegradable mean?

Biodegradable is the term used for anything that can be broken down or decomposed when exposed to the environment eg wind, rain, bacteria in soil, when exposed for lengthy periods of time.

You have probably seen some plastic bags in recent years, which say that they are biodegradable. Well, this simply means that they can be broken down or will disintegrate naturally when exposed to the environment.

So, why are biodegradable materials useful for the environment?

Simply put, they do not clutter landfills and cause a build-up of harmful toxic materials. They can be broken down as if they were not there in the first place.

I found the following YouTube videos on some available biodegradable materials quite interesting...

Zelfo - 100% biodegradable material made from hemp

ecoXpac - Biodegradable wine holder packaging to protect wine bottles

Biodegradable plastic: How does it work?

Related External Link

Degradable Plastics

Green tip of the day - Quick tips for defrosting your freezer

Ice and frost can build up in your freezer, particularly if you tend to leave the freezer door open for long periods at a time.

Energy output of the freezer can increase due to the build-up of frost inside the freezer and your energy bills increase as a result because your freezer has to work almost twice as hard with all the frost encrustations inside it.

Defrosting your freezer often will keep it as energy efficient as possible. If you have to buy a new freezer or fridge freezer, look for the frost free variety which either defrosts itself or does not collect frost at all. This will also save you a lot of your valuable time.

Quick defrosting methods

• Turn off your freezer
• Get a big bowl and fill it with hot water and then leave it inside the freezer so that it loosens the frost inside the freezer
• Wear some rubber gloves
• Use an ice pick (usually provided with your fridge/freezer) to pick off the ice and frost in the freezer, which should be loose as a result of the steam from the hot water.
• Alternatively, switch off the freezer and leave it overnight to defrost. Make sure you have some rags ready to soak up any water that would leak all over the kitchen floor due to all the built up frost in the freezer.

Happy Green New Year!

Happy Green New Year 2008!
Let's hope this year is a lot greener than the last...






Related Topics

Recycling your Christmas cards and other materials