Mercury sources, distribution and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean

Source: Global biogeochemical cycles, vol.23 (2009)
"Scientists have known for some time that mercury deposited from the atmosphere to freshwater ecosystems can be transformed into a highly toxic form of mercury called methylmercury. In contrast to the growing knowledge base on the processes leading to the production of methylmercury in freshwater ecosystems, very little is known about marine systems. This new paper provides a significant step toward understanding oceanic methylmercury sources."

Enzyme product removes pesticides from water

Source: CSIRO
"CSIRO has developed an enzyme-based product that can rapidly degrade pesticide residues. This bioremediation solution reduced organophosphate levels in cotton irrigation wastewater by 90 per cent within 10 minutes and in used sheep dip by 99 per cent within 30 minutes."

Environmental risk assessment guidance manual for agricultural and veterinary chemicals

Source: EPHC
"This manual covers agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals and is written based on current methodology in Australia and international best practice.
Its purpose is twofold. The first is to provide risk assessors with guidance on the environmental risk assessment of agvet chemicals. Secondly, it may provide other stakeholders with an illustration of the general process and considerations that risk assessors employ when assessing the potential risks that chemicals may pose to the environment. For a less technical illustration of the key areas that risk assessors consider, a separate overview document is available. The manual establishes a starting point for best practice assessment. It is intended that
improved assessment tools and methods will be incorporated into the manual as they become available."

Over the limit: eating too much high-mercury fish

Source: Oceana
"Real people have been sickened by mercury in fish according to a new report released today, demonstrating the importance of strong FDA advice about mercury in fish. The new report, Over the Limit, shares stories like those of Dan Deeter, Will Smith and Wendy Moro, who each ate enough store-bought fish to suffer mercury’s effects, according to their physicians. From New Jersey to Wisconsin to California, these stories show that seafood contamination is a very real problem that should not be ignored."

The rise, fall, rise and imminent fall of DDT

"DDT is probably the single most valuable chemical ever synthesized to prevent disease. It has been used continually in public health programs over the past sixty years. Despite a public backlash in the 1960s, mainstream scientific and public health communities continue to recognize its utility and safety. DDT’s delisting for various uses in the United States in 1972 was a political, not a scientific, judgment. After decades of extensive study and use, DDT has not been proven to be harmful to humans. But by 1997, its future looked bleak. Environmentalists were pushing for it to be banned worldwide, and its most articulate champion, the South African Department of Health, stopped using it. Surprisingly, DDT recovered its reputation, and in 2006 the World Health Organization (WHO) championed it again. But celebrations have been short-lived. The momentum to increase DDT use has stalled for lack of increased political and financial support".