10-04-2008
Anticancer drugs in drinking water
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 Europe -
In two separate studies, scientists in London, UK and Berlin, Germany warned that residues of prescription drugs in drinking water had the potential to harm millions of Europeans. The most noticeable drugs out of a total of 50 found in samples from England's Thames River and Berlin's public reservoirs were anti-cancer medications. Experts say that most medicines are found in such tiny concentrations that they're unlikely to harm adults, but could be risky for fetuses. Furthermore, the chemotherapy drugs are easily dissolved in water and remain dangerous even at low levels. Conventional water-purification technology isn't equipped to eliminate trace drugs.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Ta Nea by
Original Language: Greek
Check for stories with: drinking water standards, chemical pollution, water purification technology
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10-02-2008
Climate Change Strategy to Help Manage Water Resources
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 Washington, D.C. -
In Washington, DC, the Environmental Protection Agency released its "National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change," which describes 40 specific steps that water managers and marine conservationists can use in adapting to global warming. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles enumerated responses in five areas: reducing the effects of greenhouse gases; education about climate change; research on water-related climate changes; adapting water-management programs to climate change; and coping with changes in water pollution, availability of drinking water supplies, and impacts upon coastal areas. The government's Web site is http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Water Strategist Community byRoxanne Smith (taken from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Original Language: English
Check for stories with: global warming, water policy
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10-02-2008
Benin: Launching of Aquatabs - Purifying and making water drinkable
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 Benin -
In Cotonou, Benin, Population Services International of Benin, a non-governmental agency, launched an inexpensive product to purify drinking water. "Aquatabs" are basically chlorine tablets; one tablet treats 20 liters of water and lasts for 24 hours, killing the microbes that cause such killer diseases as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and acute diarrhea, all widespread in some quarters of the city. According to Leger Feyet of PSI - Benin, "Aquatabs" will be available countrywide at health clinics, pharmacies, and shops, priced to be within nearly everybody's reach. The US Agency for International Development and the United Nations children's agency UNICEF are working with PSI on this and other health projects to benefit children.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
allAfrica.com byEleonore Djegui (taken from L'Autre Quotidien)
Original Language: French
Check for stories with: cholera, typhoid, waterborne disease, water purification technology, chlorine, international aid
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10-02-2008
Nine States, Canadian Province Sue EPA Over Pollution (Update1)
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 United States -
New York joined eight other states -- Illinois, Michigan, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington -- and the Canadian province of Manitoba in suing the US Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly creating an "illegal loophole" in the Clean Water Act. A June 9 regulation that makes the transfer of polluted water from one body of water to another exempt from the Act's protective regulations puts the Great Lakes, rivers, and streams at risk, asserted New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Bloomberg News byKaren Freifeld
Original Language: English
Check for stories with: legislation, water policy, lawsuit, lake, river, pollution
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09-30-2008
Drought threatens Crete
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 Greece -
A joint study of the future effects of drought in the Mediterranean region by ten institutions from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Malta predicted danger for Crete. Around 50% of Greece's biggest island is at high risk of turning into desert and the regions around Ayios Nikolaos and Kissamos - about 1 million acres -- are already "critical," according to the report. Deputy Manolis Skoulakis of Khania Prefecture asked the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Rural Development to supply information on what measures the national government has taken to conserve groundwater resources over the past 4-5 years and what future measures are planned.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Nea Kriti byViki Papadogiannaki
Original Language: Greek
Check for stories with: drought, desertification, forecasting
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09-30-2008
'Bosporus Strait threatened by pollution'
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 Turkey -
Professor Oya Okay of Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey headed a joint study of pollution in the Bosporus Strait in partnership with Munich Technical University of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The project revealed that surface flow from the Black Sea is the most important source of pollution, with oil and other discharges from heavy shipping traffic coming in second. Runoff containing contaminants from cars and ferries is a third major source of pollution. Okay took samples from sediments and oysters at 23 points around the Strait; oysters are good indicators of the level of pollution because they accumulate contaminants in their tissues. Okay found "extensive" pollution from Buyukdere through Besiktas and from Kandilli to Kuzguncuk, with Istinye being so bad that oysters can't live in the area. She said that health warnings should be posted to discourage people from consuming oysters from the Strait.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Today's Zaman by
Original Language: English
Check for stories with: ocean, runoff, oil pollution
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09-29-2008
Congress Approves White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Loan Legislation
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 Washington, D.C. -
In Washington, DC, Congress unanimously approved a bill authorizing a $9.8 million Federal loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Fort Apache, eastern Arizona, to build a dam and reservoir. S. 3128 was introduced by Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and was passed unanimously by the Senate on 25 September. The majority of the tribe currently gets drinking water from a small wellfield, but it's running dry, and the Miner Flat Project is considered to be the best long-term solution. The loan is repayable over a term of 25 years. The bill will now be sent to President Bush for his signature.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
Water Strategist Community byAndrew Wilder and Ryan Patmintra (taken from U.S. Senator Jon Kyl)
Original Language: English
Check for stories with: dam, legislation, water treaty
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09-29-2008
Europe warming faster than world average: study
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 Europe -
A new study by the European Environment Agency, the World Health Organization, and the European Commission showed that Europe is warming faster than the world average and governments need to invest in ways to adapt. According to the report, the Mediterranean region will grow drier and the north wetter by the end of this century. The damage will be in the south, where there's already a growing trend towards desertification. Changes in water temperature are likely to disrupt the Mediterranean fishing industry: some fish stocks have migrated north in the past 40 years. Economic losses caused by flooding from rising seas could total up to 18 billion euros a year by 2080 unless more dikes are built and beach levels are raised, stated the report, whose authors suggested setting up a new European Clearing House to help distribute information on climate change.
- summary by Louise Shaler
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Source:
ABC News Online by (taken from Reuters)
Original Language: English
Check for stories with: global warming, desertification, ocean, flood, rainfall, forecasting
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