I had thought the pesticide chlordane saw rather limited use for termite protection and would not have a significant presence in the global environment. I was surprised to find that it contributes more than any POP to Arctic human toxicity and is currently cited in Michigan’s fish eating advisories. Chlordane has a high human toxicity, […]
In reading about the frightful air pollution of India and China, I remember my first plane flight to a job interview in 1959. My wife and I left the far reaches of Northern Michigan, a place then boasting of the “Cleanest, Freshest, Purest Air on Earth.” Somewhat true for the time, except for the smoke […]
Scientists and Policy makers from the U.S. and Canada recently celebrated their ten year anniversary with a reception and dinner. I’ll bet that with what they know, Lake Trout was not on the menu
I may be overly sensitive here, but my history gives me a different spin on … or removes the spin … from […]
I remember my surprise on finding that beluga and narwhal blubber from the Arctic was contaminated at levels that would classify it as hazardous waste. More surprising is that trout from the northern Great Lakes contain toxaphene levels at nearly ten times that of hazardous waste … and State and Provincial health agencies have dropped […]
Yesterday I mentioned that Michigan’s Department of Health had again eliminated toxaphene from the 2007 Fish Eating Advisory. Toxaphene sounds awful, but what is it and how bad is it?
Toxaphene is the persistent organic pesticide (POP) that replaced DDT when it was banned. It is a horrendous mixture of hundreds of chemicals many of unknown […]
A month ago I purchaced my fishing licence and asked for a copy of the current Fish Eating Advisory. The clerk looked at me like I was from Mars and handed me a copy of their fishing regulations. I called the health department and was told that a new issue was eminent.
Yesterday’s newspaper brought the […]
While travelling around and talking about Cold, Clear, and Deadly, I am suprised how little is known about toxaphene, one of the most devastating pollutants in the Great Lakes and the Arctic.
Toxaphene was initially made by chlorinating? camphor oil. Camphor oil is a natural product distilled from the roots of Chinese Camphor trees. The resulting […]
During the period of May 4-11, I traveled from Cheboygan to Copper Harbor to introduce book stores of the northern Great Lakes to Cold, Clear, and Deadly. The most amazing thing about the trip was finding how many truly beautiful book outlets there are in the north. The stores and staffs at Cheboygan, St. Ignace, […]
