Pesticide exposure can have negative impacts on many species and is a major threat to biodiversity. A new study is one of few to assess the risks specifically for European reptiles. The results suggest that at least one third of European reptile species are at high risk of exposure, with lizards showing the highest sensitivity to pesticides.

Micropollutants — small, persistent and biologically active substances — are found in aquatic environments all over the world and can have negative effects on plants, animals and humans. The EU recently adopted a ‘watch list’ of potential priority substances, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products that need to be monitored to determine their environmental risk. A new study reviews data on their worldwide occurrence and options for their removal from wastewater, and from surface and groundwater used to produce drinking water.

Judging whether to replace a hazardous conventional chemical in a product with a nanomaterial — i.e. to assess which is the safer alternative — is challenging for many reasons. A new study suggests that chemical-alternative assessment frameworks could be adapted to better assess engineered nanomaterials with the help of new tools which provide data on hazards of, and exposure to, nanomaterials.

Researchers in Spain have analysed waste water to calculate levels of exposure to phthalates in individuals. The calculations showed that levels of four types of phthalate exceeded safe daily limits in some of the sites studied, with levels of exposure in children being of particular concern. Using the results of waste-water analysis in this way can identify areas where action may need to be taken to lower exposure.

Personal Care Products (PCPs) are of increasing global concern, as thousands of tonnes enter the environment every year. Similar to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), some substances used in PCPs are toxic, persist in the environment and accumulate in the bodies of organisms that take them in. This study focused on the presence of ultraviolet filters (UV-Fs) (used in PCPs such as sunscreens and cosmetics) in the unhatched eggs of wild birds.

Environmental pollution is putting amphibians and reptiles at risk, yet these animals are not included in regulations regarding the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pesticides. The extent to which other species already used in pesticide toxicity assessment (including fish, birds and mammals) can serve as effective surrogates is currently under debate. This study conducts a systematic review of the available literature. The results reveal a positive correlation between toxicity recorded on fish and aquatic amphibians, but indicate that birds and mammals are generally not good surrogates for reptiles and terrestrial amphibians. Moreover, some chemical-dependent trends were detected, with a number of insecticides found to be more toxic to amphibians or reptiles than to potential surrogates. These findings highlight an urgent need for further research to reduce uncertainties and contribute to future policymaking regarding the protection of amphibians and reptiles from potentially harmful pesticides.

Ships that reduce their speed use less fuel, which lowers costs for shipping companies. The slow steaming practice also cuts nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. A study found that ships travelling on four European routes lowered their NOx emissions by 12% during the economic crisis of 2008/2009. Shipping continues to be a major way of transporting goods, however, and as the global economy recovers the researchers and civil society call for additional measures to reduce NOx emissions from shipping and improve air quality in Europe.

Synthetic biology (SB) is the design of new biological parts or systems. It could be influential in finding solutions to environmental challenges, but there are also concerns it could be hazardous. A new study has investigated the issues surrounding the application of SB and suggested policy strategies to oversee this area.

Researchers have published a paper providing evidence that a ‘cooling-off effect’ can lead to increased public acceptance of new environmental technologies over time. The scientists analysed survey results from over 1 000 respondents in Germany, using solar radiation management (SRM), a controversial climate-engineering technique, as a test case. They found that, following a cooling-off period of either one month, 12 months, or 18 months, acceptance of SRM increased significantly — and that the longer the cooling-off period, the larger the increase. These findings have far-reaching implications, both for the deployment of SRM and for climate policymakers seeking to more accurately measure the public acceptability of novel interventions.

NBC Dallas

The post Growing optimism for Aussie grain farmers appeared first on The Lead SA.

Steven Finn feels Middlesex’s Vitality Blast side possess similar qualities to the team that clinched the county’s first and only T20 triumph 11 years ago.

000
WTCA44 TJSJ 170242
TCPSP4

BOLETIN
Huracan Humberto Advertencia Numero 18
CENTRO NACIONAL DE HURACANES MIAMI FL AL092019
TRADUCIDO POR EL SERVICIO NACIONAL DE METEOROLOGIA SAN JUAN PR
1100 PM EDT lunes 16 de septiembre de 2019

...SE ESPERA QUE HUMBERTO SE FORTALEZCA DURANTE EL PROXIMO DIA
O MAS...


RESUMEN DE LAS 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMACION
---------------------------------------------------
LOCALIZACION...30.3 NORTE 75.1 OESTE
ALREDEDOR DE 625 MI...1000 KM O DE BERMUDA
VIENTOS MAXIMOS SOSTENIDOS...90 MPH...150 KM/H
MOVIMIENTO ACTUAL...ENE O 75 GRADOS A 8 MPH...13 KM/H
PRESION MINIMA CENTRAL...966 MB...28.53 PULGADAS


VIGILANCIAS Y AVISOS
--------------------
CAMBIOS CON ESTA ADVERTENCIA:

Ninguno.

RESUMEN DE VIGILANCIAS Y AVISOS EN EFECTO:

Una vigilancia de Tormenta Tropical esta en efecto para...
* Bermuda

Una Vigilancia de Tormenta Tropical significa que se esperan
condiciones de tormenta tropical dentro del area bajo vigilancia,
generalmente dentro de 48 horas.

Para informacion especifica para su area, favor monitorear los producots
emitidos por su oficina de servicio nacional meteorologico.


DISCUSION Y PRONOSTICO
----------------------
A las 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), el ojo del Huracan Humberto
estaba localizado cerca de la latitud 30.3 norte, longitud 75.1 oeste.
Humberto se mueve hacia el este-noreste a cerca de 8 mph (13 km/h).
Se espera este movimiento general con un aumento en la velocidad de
traslacion hasta temprano el jueves. En el pronostico de
trayectoria, se espera que el centro de Humberto se acerque a
Bermuda tarde el miercoles en la noche.

Los vientos maximos sostenidos han aumentado a cerca de 90 mph (150
km/h) con rafagas mas altas. Se pronostica fortalecimiento adicional
durante las proximas 48 horas, y Humberto pudiera convertirse en
huracan mayor en la noche del martes o miercoles en la manana.

Los vientos con fuerza de huracan se extienden hasta 30 millas (45
km) del centro y los vientos con fuerza de tormenta tropical se
extienden a 150 millas (240 km).

La presion minima central estimada por el Avion Caza huracanes de
la Fuerza Aerea es de 966 mb (28.53 pulgadas).


PELIGROS AFECTANDO TIERRA
-------------------------
VIENTO: Condiciones de tormenta tropical son posibles sobre Bermuda
tarde el miercoles.

LLUVIA: Humberto puede resultar en lluvia fuerte sobre Bermuda comenzando
tarde el martes.

RESACAS: Las marejadas grandes generadas por Humberto aumentaran a lo
largo de la costa de Bermuda en la noche del martes.

Las marejadas afectaran el noroeste de las Bahamas y la costa
sureste de Estados Unidos desde el este central de Florida hasta
Carolina del Norte durante los proximos dias.

Estas marejadas pudieran causar resacas fuertes amenazantes a vida y
corrientes marinas peligrosas. Favor referirse a los productos
emitidos por su oficina local de meteorologia en Bermuda.


PROXIMA ADVERTENCIA
-------------------
Proxima advertencia intermedia a las 200 AM EDT.
Proxima advertencia completa a las 500 AM EDT.

$$

Pronosticador Pasch
Traduccion RVazquez

000
WTCA43 TJSJ 291521
TCPSP3

Huracan Lorenzo Advertencia Numero 29
Centro Nacional de Huracanes Miami FL AL132019
Traduccion por el Servicio Nacional de Meteorologia San Juan PR
1100 AM AST domingo 29 de septiembre de 2019

...INTERESES EN AZORES DEBEN MONITOREAR EL PROGRESO DE LORENZO...
...VIGILANCIAS PUDIERAN SER EMITIDAS PARA ESAS ISLAS TARDE EN EL
DIA DE HOY O ESTA NOCHE...


RESUMEN DE LAS 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMACION
-------------------------------------------------------
LOCALIZACION...25.9 N 44.4 O
ALREDEDOR DE 1315 MI...2115 KM AL SO DE LOS AZORES
VIENTOS MAXIMOS SOSTENIDOS...145 MPH...230 KM/H
MOVIMIENTO ACTUAL...NNE O 15 GRADOS A 10 MPH...17 KM/H
PRESION CENTRAL MINIMA...938 MILIBARES...27.70 PULGADAS


VIGILANCIAS Y AVISOS
--------------------
No hay vigilancias o avisos costeros en efecto.

Intereses en los Azores deben monitorear el progres de Lorenzo.


DISCUSION Y PRONOSTICO
----------------------
A las 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), el centro del Huracan Lorenzo estaba
localizado cerca de la latitud 25.9 norte, longitud 44.4 oeste.
Lorenzo se esta moviendo hacia el norte-noreste a cerca de 10 mph
(17 km/h) y se espera que este movimiento continue hasta esta noche.
Un giro hacia el noreste, en conjunto con un aumento en su velicidad
de traslacion deben ocurrir el lunes y continuar hasta el miercoles.

Los vientos maximos sostenidos estan cerca de 145 mph (260 km/h) con
rafagas mas fuertes. Lorenzo es un huracan categoria 4 en la escala
de vientos de huracan Saffir-Simpson. Se espera un debilitamiento
constante durante los proximos dias, pero se sigue esperando que
Lorenzo siga siendo un huracan potente para los proximos par de dias.

Lorenzo es un huracan grande, con vientos con fuerza de huracan
extendiendose hasta 80 millas (135 km) del centro y los vientos con
fuerza de tormenta tropical se extienden hasta 275 millas (445 km)
del centro.

La presion central minima estimada es de 938 mb (27.70 pulgadas).


PELIGROS AFECTANDO TIERRA ADENTRO
---------------------------------

LLUVIA: Se espera que Lorenzo produzca un total de acumulacion de
lluvia de 3 a 6 pulgadas sobre la mayoria del oeste de Azores y de 1
a 2 pulgadas sobre el centro de Azores el martes y miercoles. Esta
lluvia pudiera causar inundaciones repentinas que amenacen la vida
en el oeste de Azores.

RESACAS: Marejadas generada por Lorenzo se estan desplazando a
traves de la mayoria de la cuenca del Atlantico. Estas marejadas son
muy probables que caucen condiciones de resacas y corrientes marinas
que amenacen la vida. Favor de consultar los productos de su oficina
local de meteorologia.


PROXIMA ADVERTENCIA
-------------------
Proxima advertencia completa a las 500 PM AST.

$$

Pronosticador Latto
Traduccion FRamos

Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page reveal the minds they would love to change for the better.

It's something no one alive today will likely ever see again: The planet Venus crossing the sun — a small, black dot moving across the fiery face of our neare

A federal judge has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make the morning-after pill available to teens without a prescription.

But like those civilizations that have disappeared mysteriously, ours seems headed in the same direction —disaster.

It's just not possible to feed meat to the 7 billion (and growing) people on planet Earth.

The USDA has updated its planting-zones map for the first time in 22 years, reflecting a warmer U.S. where many southern crops are expanding north.

The USDA is expected to announce that schools will be able to request beef patties with or without the controversial filler.

An ancient, two-sided amulet uncovered in Cyprus contains a 59-letter inscription that reads the same backward as it does forward.

Roughly a third of all scanned mummies contained no body inside.

More questions are being raised about nuclear power — in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa.

In countries where large families are the norm, the urge to conform pushes people to have more children than they can economically support.

The newly discovered ichthyosaur fossil challenges the assumption that live birth first appeared in marine reptiles after they took to the seas.

Volcano erupts on Indonesian island of Sulawesi, which had already been hit by a 7.5 earthquake and a tsunami.

If solar panels are out of your realm of possibility, you still have alternatives to coal and other fossil fuels.

New film, based on the best-selling book by Dan Brown, warns of humanity's demise from unchecked population growth.

Anecdotal social media posts suggest that the Marvel blockbuster 'Black Panther' is spurring folks to adopt black cats.

Designed to drink while binge watching “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” this cocktail is a breath of fresh air, just like the heroine of the show.

Harish Hande launched his solar company to dispel the myth that renewable energy was too expensive for poor people. The West could learn something from him.

You can still enjoy a wide variety of pasta dishes while following a special diet with these suggestions.

Turn that frown upside-down if you want to improve your health and live longer.

Morieka Johnson helps you choose what to get at the grocery and the sushi bar. Plus: 10 fish to avoid.

'If you see me, weep,' reads one of these so-called 'hunger stones.'

Climate doubters are apoplectic over a few misinterpreted sentences in the draft report.

New survey finds that as the U.S. economy worsened, vasectomy rates increased.

We know our old CRT television sets are loaded with lead, our batteries are bursting with heavy metals and although strides have been made in reducing mercury c

Program offers national recognition for kids working to make their world a greener place.

Recent research finds that grapefruit juice stems weight loss by 18 percent in mice and may be as effective as diabetes drugs.

This New Years Eve, I'll be raising my glass of biodynamic champers to the success of energy and money-saving home improvement projects.

As the U.S. struggles with an opioid epidemic, efforts like National Prescription Take Back Day are more valuable than ever.

Application deadline for the 2012 Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program is Aug. 10, 2012.

International Union for Conservation of Nature has updated its Red List, and the news isn't good for Australia's reptiles.

Despite a scientific torrent of data on global warming, the denial industry is alive and well -- living in a cooler, happier parallel universe.

The status quo gets what it wants when it sows confusion.

What energy efficient outdoor lighting options are there? From high-tech to just plain tiki, you've got plenty of options for illuminating the outdoors.