Wednesday, 30 Jul 2003

And on That Farm He Had Pig-cow-duck

GM Animals Could Make It to Your Plate with Minimal Testing

Sure, you've heard the buzz about genetically modified plants. But all around the U.S., scientists are also mixing and matching genes to produce animals that could not occur in nature: bioengineered salmon that grow five times as fast as their wild cousins, hens genetically manipulated to lay low-cholesterol eggs, cows with disease-resistant genes, chickens that produce anti-cancer drugs. Some say this work holds great promise for preventing disease, boosting agricultural productivity, and eradicating world hunger. But many environmentalists, public-health organizations, and consumer-rights advocates fear that widespread production of genetically engineered animals could jeopardize human health and the environment -- particularly because testing protocols have yet to be developed and federal oversight is spotty and weak. Journalist Shelley Smithson checks out the world of genetically altered animals -- only on the Grist Magazine website.

The Story of O

Ozone Hole Reaches Turning Point, Scientists Say

For the first time, scientists have found evidence that worldwide efforts to halt the destruction of the ozone layer are working. Although the protective atmospheric layer has not begun repairing itself, the rate of its destruction has slowed considerably, presumably thanks to the global phase-out of ozone-destroying chemicals mandated by the 1989 Montreal Protocol. Because these chemicals take a long time to break down, no improvement in the condition of the ozone layer had been measured until now -- and even at present, the changes only affect the uppermost part of the stratosphere, which is home to less than 20 percent of the layer. Scientists expect it will be 40 to 50 more years before the ozone layer fully repairs itself. Still, environmentalists welcomed the news and called it proof of the efficacy of coordinated international action against long-term environmental threats.

Motor Voters

U.S. Senate Votes Against Increased Fuel Efficiency

In a blow to advocates of stricter fuel-efficiency standards, the Senate yesterday voted 65 to 32 against a proposal by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) that would have required cars and SUVs to average 40 miles per gallon by 2015. Instead, the Senate backed an industry-supported proposal to let the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set fuel-efficiency standards after reviewing their likely impact on U.S. manufacturing jobs and vehicle safety. That plan, said Durbin, "doesn't challenge the automobile industry to do better," a sentiment shared by environmentalists. Under current regulations, U.S. car fleets must average 27.5 miles per gallon, while SUVs, minivans, and light trucks (which together account for more than 50 percent of all vehicles sold) must average 22.2 miles per gallon by 2007. The proposal was voted on as part of the omnibus energy bill the Senate hopes to finish this week, before its August recess.

It Was the Salmon Mousse

Farmed Salmon Found to Contain PCBs

Okay, so you've read the latest word on mercury in tuna and changed your diet accordingly. But wait! We're sorry to report that you might have to alter your fish intake yet again, in light of new findings that farm-raised salmon contain high levels of PCBs. In a study by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group, 10 salmon fillets taken from grocery stores in San Francisco, Portland, Ore., and Washington, D.C., were found to have an average of 27 parts per billion of PCBs. That's way below the 2,000 ppb standard set by the FDA -- but high enough to raise eyebrows at the U.S. EPA, which assesses risk differently and sets far more stringent standards than the FDA. EWG, meanwhile, found the contamination alarming enough to recommend eating just one eight-ounce serving of salmon per month. Industry representatives and some federal officials lambasted the report for its small sample size and alarmist recommendations. PCBs, which cause cancer and problems with fetal development, have been banned in the U.S. since 1976.

Glowing Recommendation

Report Favors Nuclear Power to Cut CO2 Emissions

Pick your poison: nuclear power or global climate change? Former CIA Director John Deutch and former Undersecretary of Energy Ernest Moniz came out in favor of the former yesterday, with the release of a report they spearheaded that found that increasing global nuclear power production would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The two-year study determined that almost tripling the world's quantity of nuclear reactors could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25 percent. (In the U.S., that would mean building an additional 200 reactors.) To promote nuclear power, the report recommended increasing safety measures, improving waste management, creating strong anti-proliferation measures, taxing carbon-producing energy systems, and offering tax credits for nuclear power production.