Fracking blamed for spike in earthquakes

Pro-business pundits ridicule studies, yet officials in the state of Oklahoma acknowledge link.

Transfer of 'tainted' water sparks debate, concern

While critics say city overacted, event highlights vulnerabilities in critical water reserves.

Cases of severe illness rise on school campus

A number of faculty at a Malibu, California high school have experienced a rash of unexplained illnesses the past six months. Three members have been diagnosed with stage 1 thyroid cancer, three more are struggling with other thyroid issues, while seven teachers are suffering from chronic migraines.

Additional teachers claim they have been treated for a myriad of other concerns, from unexplained hair loss to skin rashes to a variety of respiratory illnesses. No official cause or link has been identified, though investigations are continuing.

Old transformers still contain PCBs

With that noted, the stricken school staff believes they know the source, pointing the finger at a 2011 construction project on the campus. They assert that polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] were released when over 1,000 yards of dirt was removed from the site, resulting in their illnesses.

PCB's are highly toxic coolant fluids, once used in transformers, capacitors, and electric motors. Banned in the United States [US] in 1979, soil-sample tests have concluded that PCBs are rife at multiple locations, thus the claims made by the ill faculty members have merit even if they do lack hard evidence connected to this event.

The localized nature of these illnesses has raised alarms amongst parents of the students as well, which has prompted administrators to relocate 11 classrooms of students to different schools. Despite this move, Authority in the area remains confident the explanation for this odd convergence of sickness lies elsewhere.

Researchers note that PCB's can be found anywhere, due to their rampant use pre-1979 and poor disposal procedures after the ban. They have been linked to a variety of ailments, including many of the conditions mentioned above. One expert flatly states that no matter where you are PCB's are unavoidable in the US, and when new ventures expose long-undisturbed soil the potential for cases similar to this will grow exponentially.

Photo Source: Sturmovik (Wikipedia)

Fuel spills into Columbia River from boat sinking

The pleasure craft Granby sank while moored near Willow Grove Park on Tuesday, a Washington-state recreational island on the Columbia River. The 75-foot wood-hulled trawler, aged 84 years, was carrying up to 600 gallons of diesel fuel, which began gushing into the river when the boat was damaged. While up to 250 gallons of that fuel was safely pumped into on-shore tanks as much as 100 gallons did spill, leaving a prismic sheen on the water's surface. As of this writing there is no estimated time-frame for cleanup.

Officials disagree over how much, or even if, the accident will affect fish and wildlife on and around the island park. The state's Ecology Department is warning that the immediate area (along with downstream wetlands) is in danger of being negatively impacted, while a Coast Guard [CG] Marine Science Chief asserted there was no risk to the environment. The CG official had also confidently stated that the sheen would evaporate off the surface 'within a few hours,' something which has clearly not occurred.

Willow Grove Park, approximately 55 miles downstream from the Portland, Oregon, is normally a popular place for beach-goers and water sports enthusiasts; bird-watchers also enjoy the island, with red-shouldered hawks being a major draw. Until clean-up from the sinking of the Granby is complete the park has been closed, with all water-activities being suspended.

Observation: Yes, I am aware of the fact this story is not exactly 'potentially cataclysmic' in nature (although the wildlife in the area might disagree, if they had a voice), but I decided to cover it as a reminder of an important point: even in minor incidents such as this, government officials - those who would be trusted by the apathetic majority to direct citizens through a worst-case scenario - are often conflicted and clueless. Something to bear in mind - SB.

Carbon sinks becoming 'saturated' warns report

In a recent report scientists in Europe are sounding alarms about 'carbon sinks' becoming too saturated to continue to absorb CO2. They fear that, if left unchecked, the natural cycle of the atmosphere could be irreversibly altered, dramatically affecting our ability to exist on the planet.

Carbon sinks are reservoirs which provide long-term storage for the gas; oceans, rocks, and soil are natural sinks which researchers consider vital to maintaining the balance between carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere. Trees play an important role in collecting carbon into the soil, but scientists are concerned by two factors: 1) There are too few trees to compensate for the volume of carbon being ejected, by both man-made and natural processes, and 2) Those trees which do exist are mature-growth, which by virtue of age collect and store less carbon into their root systems.

Scientists also note that forest fires (which are more dangerous than ever, courtesy of mismanagement and/or neglect of the denser forests which exist) play a large part in this, not only due to the destruction of the carbon-absorbing trees but also for releasing previously-stored carbon. Volcanic activity is also credited by some with playing a role, albeit minor.

They conclude that if these carbon sinks reach saturation points-of-no-return CO2 will eventually pollute our atmosphere beyond breathable levels. While artificial carbon reservoirs continue to be developed and deployed, without the natural sinks doing their part it will only be a matter of time before the planet is overwhelmed, and oxygen-breathing species - including homo-sapiens - will experience severe drops in populations, if not outright extinctions.

Oil spill off South African Coast

A cargo ship which ran aground near a South African nature reserve last Thursday dumped over three tons of oil into the waters, reports conclude. The Kiani Satu was damaged when adverse weather conditions forced the ship into the shoreline, causing the leak which allowed the crude to escape. As of Saturday the ship was no longer spilling fuel, and has now been moved safely off-shore.

While dozens of water foul were successfully rescued, cleaned, and placed into rehabilitation facilities, conservationists say the clean-up of the reserve could take years. They are further uncertain what long-term effects the incident will have on the affected estuaries, along with the fish which call the surrounding waters home.

Officials note the situation could have been much worse; the ship was hauling three hundred tons of the fossil fuel, thus a major accident could have been catastrophic. The oil still on board has been successfully transferred to the upper containment decks of the ship, and no further leakage is anticipated.

New study: Arsenic in groundwater at fracking sites

A growing body of research continues to cast a pall on fracking. A recent study by the University of Texas at Arlington found excessive levels of arsenic in the groundwater near such sites within the state, causing concerns about the long-term ramifications of the practice.

Supporters of fracking allege it has greatly expanded production of energy-providing resources, adding much to the economy and overall quality of life. Opponents assert that the poisoning of groundwater has both immediate and long-ranging consequences, well beyond the location of the practice; 20% of all fresh water on the planet exists as groundwater.

While the current study is considered inconclusive at best, anti-fracking forces are combining it with other studies to request a halt on the practice, at least until more research can be conducted. Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing, a procedure of injecting high-pressure fluids into the cracks of rock formations at drilling sites, widening said-cracks. This allows oil and natural gas to flow more freely, which in turn makes such sites more profitable.