Will my new Himalayan salt block lamp really clean the air? [more inside]
posted by longsleeves on Oct 22, 2009 - 15 answers

Is the Ottawa river good for swimming in? [more inside]
posted by ~ on Aug 16, 2009 - 10 answers

What are these odd little vials? [more inside]
posted by lucidium on Mar 27, 2009 - 5 answers

Does anyone remember the name of a children's book that was a cautionary tale against air pollution? I remember it being a soft cover book w/ that was short and wide. Pictures of factory(s) and people getting and wearing gas masks (as well as dogs)! I can't remember the ending but hopefully my description suffices.
posted by gnash on Jan 16, 2009 - 13 answers

When a candle is burnt indoors, what happens to the wax? An amount of smoke equivalent to the mass of the candle is released as it's burnt (?)--does this manage to escape the house, or does most of it stay in the room and coat the walls, floors, ceiling, etc.?
posted by mstillwell on Nov 23, 2008 - 25 answers

How do I get people in my neighborhood to stop honking? [more inside]
posted by idledebonair on Oct 5, 2008 - 20 answers

We have a street lamp in front of our house that seems inordinately bright. We currently have cardboard in our windows to keep the light out so we can sleep at night. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Aug 8, 2008 - 26 answers

As an inveterate L.A. bike commuter (not to mention recently losing a close family member to cancer), this article made me wonder what sort of tests I should be having to measure the impact of particulate air pollution on my body. Recommendations? And how often? (I'm biking 30 miles a day in rush-hour traffic, year-round.)
posted by mykescipark on Jul 29, 2008 - 1 answer

What can I do to legally stop exploratory natural gas drilling within 1000 feet of my neighborhood? [more inside]
posted by TauLepton on May 20, 2008 - 7 answers

I have mild asthma. My wife and I live in California's Central Valley, and are considering moving to a place that's within 500 feet of Interstate 5. Would living so close to a busy freeway in the valley all but guarantee that our four month-old son develops asthma? [more inside]
posted by DakotaPaul on Mar 30, 2008 - 6 answers

Which makes more sense environmentally, heating with our waste paper or recycling it? [more inside]
posted by Toekneesan on Feb 24, 2008 - 20 answers

Where can I learn more about professional (or semi-professional) equipment for testing the levels of indoor air toxins like carbon monoxide, radon, mold, VOCs, etc.? Here's a Talk of the Nation show that addresses the need, if it helps.
posted by glibhamdreck on Feb 18, 2008 - 8 answers

How to verify and report potential illegal hazardous waste dumping? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 3, 2007 - 17 answers

I'm taking a road trip through the southwest, and I'd like to see places with an interesting backstory or that show you "behind the scenes." I'm interested in places with political, economic, environmental, or industrial significance. Can you recommend some? [more inside]
posted by salvia on Sep 30, 2007 - 9 answers

I am trying to organize a short camping trip with a friend. We would like to go somewhere in Southeastern Missouri, Southern Illinois or Southwestern Kentucky where there is little to no light pollution. Our plan is to spend some time photographing the stars, particularly the band of the Milky Way that's visible here on Earth when skies are clear. [more inside]
posted by scooterdman on Jul 25, 2007 - 12 answers

How do I clean the outside of windows on my third-floor apartment? [more inside]
posted by CaptApollo on Apr 21, 2007 - 5 answers

Blogger is polluting my webstats. Hivemind, please hope me. [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven on Apr 19, 2007 - 10 answers

Where I grew up in a suburb of LA, a coppery/iron-like smell, reminiscent of pennies or blood, would always waft unpleasantly through the air after it rained. I could never locate its source. Has anyone else had this experience, and what causes this?
posted by shivohum on Apr 6, 2007 - 18 answers

How come there is no smoke or cooking flesh smell coming from crematoriums? [more inside]
posted by esereth on Mar 10, 2007 - 16 answers

I just rented workspace/artspace which is directly downwind of the huge coal-fired power plant. (Didn't realize it until after I signed the lease). Short of moving, what steps can I take to minimize the negative health effects of the situation.
posted by Bighappyfunhouse on Feb 15, 2007 - 6 answers

chicagofilter: that noise is driving me nuts. what can I do about it? [more inside]
posted by krautland on Oct 4, 2006 - 17 answers

Calculate the overall lifetime dollar value of using a Brita (or similar filter) versus the costs and savings, including general impact on healthcare costs, etc, associated with using tap water. [more inside]
posted by andifsohow on Jul 12, 2006 - 27 answers

Training / running in smog - should I even run? [more inside]
posted by arrowhead on Mar 29, 2006 - 8 answers

Noisy nightclub filter: What are the appropriate steps one should take to efficiently address, and ultimately stop, repeated noise violations from a neighboring nightclub? [more inside]
posted by quadog on Jan 24, 2006 - 17 answers

NYC: Should I drink the water? [more inside]
posted by hermitosis on Jan 8, 2006 - 39 answers

Is the pollution released by the Hemel Hempstead oil fire greater or less than the pollution that would have been released if that fuel had been refined and used to power cars etc?
posted by Pericles on Dec 14, 2005 - 26 answers

Where in my local government (U.S.) should I be applying pressure to enforce noise ordinance laws? [more inside]
posted by rolypolyman on Oct 30, 2005 - 15 answers

How can I protect my skin from pollution? [more inside]
posted by londonmark on Sep 14, 2005 - 10 answers

So I found out They are wanting to build an Ethanol refinery 3 blocks from my mother's home.... [more inside]
posted by idiotfactory on Sep 7, 2005 - 12 answers

Why would Smart cars not meet US emmissions standards?
posted by Jimbob on Jun 28, 2005 - 12 answers

What are we supposed to do during a smog alert? [more inside]
posted by heatherann on Jun 9, 2005 - 9 answers

If I exercise in a polluted environment, is the net result positive or negative? [more inside]
posted by hazyjane on Mar 8, 2005 - 16 answers

Los Angeles is making me sick. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Asparagirl on Dec 10, 2004 - 17 answers

Does anyone know where one can access reports on air pollution in London as compared to Boston, Paris, NY etc?
posted by Mossy on Dec 4, 2004 - 2 answers

I watched Episode 208 of Discoveries This Week on the Discovery Science Channel, and there was a short blurb about mercury levels in fish. They showed a web site with drop down boxes so you could enter in what fish you have been eating and come up with a figure for how much mercury you have been consuming. I didn't have anything to write on, and by the time I got home to the computer I couldn't recall the address. The Discovery site is useless and I'm not having any luck with Google. Did anyone catch it and go to the site they mentioned?
posted by Orb on Apr 19, 2004 - 3 answers