monty-ross68

Q: What would it take to produce “green” tires? I understand that tires contain a large amount of petroleum products. Is there an alternative? A: Tires are indeed no friends to the environment. Most tires on the road today are constructed of roughly equal parts natural rubber, petroleum and “carbon black” filler (derived partially from […]

Q: Should I fear radiation exposure associated with medical scans such as CT scans, mammograms and the like? A: The short answer is … maybe. Critics of the health care industry postulate that our society’s quickness to test for disease may in fact be causing more of it, especially in the case of medical scans. […]

Q: Is there any way to harness volcanic energy to meet our electricity and other power needs? A: The short answer is yes: Heat generated by underground volcanic activity can be, and has been, harnessed for electricity for more than 100 years around the world. Utilities can capture the steam from underground water heated by […]

Q: What are the differences between farmed versus wild salmon when it comes to human and environmental health? A: Salmon farming, which involves raising salmon in containers placed under water near shore, began in Norway about 50 years ago and has since caught on in the U.S., Ireland, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom. Due […]

Q: What is happening with various programs initiated over the years in the U.S. to return to the wild certain animal species that had been endangered or threatened? And do environmentalists tend to be for or against such efforts? A: From the standpoint of species and ecosystem health, limited attempts at predator reintroduction in the […]

Q: Many people oppose dams because they change the flow of rivers and affect the migrating patterns of fish and other species, but aren’t they also a great renewable energy source? A: Hydroelectric dams are among the greenest and most affordable electricity sources in the worldand by far the most widely used renewable energy sourcesbut […]

Q: Is the dairy industry really trying to stop soy milk makers from calling their products “milk”? They must feel very threatened by the preponderance of soy milks now available in supermarkets. A: Indeed, just this past April the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), a trade group representing dairy farms, petitioned the U.S. Food & […]

Q: I always thought cotton was eco-friendly, but I recently heard otherwise. What’s so bad about cotton? And where can I find organic cotton clothing? A: There’s a lot “bad” about conventionally grown cottoncotton grown with the aid of synthetic chemicals, that is. The Organic Trade Association (OTA), a nonprofit trade group representing America’s burgeoning […]

Q: I know that local food has health and environmental benefits, but my local grocer only carries a few items. Is there a push for bigger supermarkets to carry locally produced food? A: By eating locally sourced foods, we strengthen the bond between local farmers and our communities; stay connected to the seasons in our […]

Q: What are the most important foods to buy organic? A: Given the typically higher prices of organic versus conventionally grown foods, it can be a challenge to get the biggest bang for our buck while eating healthy and avoiding the ingestion of synthetic chemicals along with our nutrients. One approach, say some experts, is […]