Frank Gobas at the Simon Fraser University in British Columbia has identified a new class of organic contaminants in fish that can pose threats to human. These represent a third or organic chemicals used commercially.

For the 2008 Olympics, China announces the use of hormone-free feed for pigs to ensure food quality and to prevent false-positive doping tests. The widespread use of antibiotics and growth stimulants to increase food is common in China. In response, the government has promised a food quality crackdown.

Saskatchewan has recently witnessed a spike in West Nile cases and extreme heat and humidity are the culprits, officials announced.

“Six new cases were reported by the Saskatoon Health region on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 17. As of last week, the province had detected only four cases of the flu-like disease.”

“Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said Tuesday tests had confirmed a second foot-and-mouth outbreak in southern England as he awaited an initial report into biosecurity at a vaccine laboratory suspected of being at the center of the cases.”

The Clean Air Act, studied by a special Commons committee, looks to have increase punishments for polluters. After the Easter break, the House of Commons will convene to vote on these amendments.

The official Xinhua news agency in China says that as many as 8 million people in northern China are short of water due to droughts in that country. Liaoning is experiencing the worst drought in 30 years, and in Mongolia cattle are dying for lack of grass to eat. In southern China torrential rains have killed at least 76 people.

Beijing is known for its poor air quality and occasional dry periods. The summer Olympics takes place there next year.

In a proposal made by the European Union, paint removers containing the toxic chemical dichlorormethane will be restricted for sale and use after associated accidents and deaths to the substance.

An Oxford University survey has determined what many have long suspected: rich men are ruining the planet for everyone else. And they’re doing it primarily by flying.

China and India are choking on their own emissions in their race to catch up with the lifestyles of the developed world. Their argument against cleaning up their emissions has been that smog and greenhouse gases are just the price they pay for admission to the club of the wealthy nations. But that is starting to change.