Environment: Tracing caffeine pollution in coastal waters

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Caffeine pollution is becoming ubiquitous.

Traces of the popular beverage in waterways and oceans can be an indicator of other anthropogenic pollution

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Scientists on the lookout for all sorts of water pollution have found elevated levels of caffeine in unexpected locations in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon.

While caffeine may not be the biggest environmental problem, the researchers explained the presence of caffeine can signal additional anthropogenic pollution, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

The presence of caffeine can also provide a pathway to understand the effectiveness of wastewater treatment systems. Previous studies have found caffeine in other bodies of water around the world, including the North Sea, the Mediterranean, Puget Sound, Boston Harbor, and Sarasota Bay, Fla. (more…)

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New study suggests plastic pollution in Pacific Ocean is more widespread than previously believed

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Candy wrappers, styrofoam and other debris showing up in high percentage of dead birds along West Coast

A U.S. Geological Survey photo shows the remains of an albatross along with flotsam in ingested along the way.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite its vastness the Pacific Ocean is not immune to increases in plastic pollution, with concentrations off the coast of the Pacific Northwest reaching the level of the notoriously polluted North Sea, near the densely populated coast of northern Europe.

A new study led by a University of British Columbia researcher focused on the stomach contents of seabirds beached along the coastline from Canada down through Washington and Oregon.

The research group closely examined 67 dead northern fulmars and found that 92.5 per cent had plastics like twine, Styrofoam and candy wrappers in their stomach. On average, each of the dead birds contained  36.8 pieces. The average total weight of plastic was 0.385 grams per bird. One bird was found with 454 pieces of plastic in its stomach. (more…)

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Morning photo: People

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

What, no landscapes?

A trumpeter in Negril, Jamaica. I was headed to the beach and he was headed home from an all-night gig at Three Dives, a jerk joint on the West End. I asked for some Miles Davis, and he obliged.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Whew! This was one of the harder photoblogs I’ve put together in the past few months, from the standpoint that I’m not really a people photographer. As I searched the archives, I realized that even most shots that I have with people in them are about the landscapes, and not about the people. In many of the images, the people are tiny figures, set against a backdrop of mountains or forest. So I looked for images where you could actually see peoples’ faces, and images of people doing something, even if it’s just posing. Also interesting to me was how many of the photos involved music. (more…)

Filed under: Morning photo, photography, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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