EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I understand that some companies are now looking to cut down forests and burn them as “biomass” for generating electricity. Is nothing sacred? – Audrey Barklay, Newark, NJ Credit: Hemera Collection/Thinkstock In theory, burning any kind of plant material for energy is a carbon-neutral endeavor, but chopping down forests for... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I was horrified to read recently that our oceans are actually becoming acidic, that the continued burning of fossil fuels is changing the chemistry of our seas. What’s going on? — Kim Richardson, San Diego, CA Credit: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock Ocean acidification is likely to affect the ability of some shellfish to produce and maintain... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I know that there are many issues with personal care products being unsafe for our health, but where do I look to find out what’s safe and what’s not? – Mary Pulaski, Trenton, NJ Credit: PhotoDisc/Thinkstock The vast majority of the 12,500 chemicals used by the $50 billion beauty industry have never been assessed for safety.... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Why don’t more states mandate deposits on beverage bottles as incentives for people to return them? Most bottles I’ve seen only list a few states on them. —Alan Wu, Cary, North Carolina Credit: Mr. T. in DC, courtesy Flickr Only 10 U.S. states have "bottle bills" requiring deposits on some beverage containers so consumers... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Thorium is a naturally occurring element that is supposedly more available, more efficient and safer to use than uranium for generating nuclear energy. Is this true and, if so, why haven’t we made the switch? – Jane Westermann, Austin, Texas Credit: iStock Collection/Thinkstock Advocates of thorium to power nuclear plants say... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I would like to make my holiday gifts matter this year. Where can I find ideas for green gifts? – Mary Baumgartner, via e-mail Credit: Organic Bug A wide range of green gifts can be obtained from nonprofit organizations that use the proceeds to fund important work and from green companies, easily found online, that sell recycled,... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: How clear (or not) are the links between the rising incidents of cancers around the world and the prevalence of synthetic chemicals in modern society? – Alberto Buono, Lee, Massachusetts Credit: Thinkstock Most researchers now agree that environmental factors -­ including exposure to chemicals and pollution -­ play a significant... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I drink diet soda but I’m told it’s bad for me and linked to health problems. Is this true and if so can you suggest any healthier alternatives? – Mitchell James, Ronkonkoma, New York Credit: Julesreyes, courtesy Flickr Researchers have found no direct links between diet sodas and specific human health problems. Initial reports... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Some drycleaners I’ve seen offer “wet cleaning” as opposed to dry cleaning. What’s the difference? Is it better for the environment? – Elizabeth Connelly, Tampa, Florida Credit: Simon Law, Wikipedia Most of the nation's 34,000 dry cleaners still clean clothes using perchloroethylene, or “perc,” a hazardous air... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest in regard to putting limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.? Is there any hope that Obama can get something done? – Bradley Johnson, Helena, Montana Credit: Rachel Johnson/Flickr Politics still stand in the way of efforts to limit U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Two efforts, the American Clean Energy...