DailyDirt: Pollution Put In Some Perspective

There are all kinds of environmental disasters going on -- some quietly, while other stories will be in the headlines for the foreseeable future. Optimistically, all the predictions of environmental catastrophes will be avoided by technology, but it's also technological developments that can bring about various ecological quandaries. When products are new and improved, they're not always an improvement to the environment. If you live near the Great Lakes, check out some of these ecological threats in your neck of the woods.

• The Great Lakes are threatened by microbead plastics accumulating in fish and the environment. We've mentioned microbead bans in other states before, but it's probably time to get rid of these tiny particles -- and just stop using toothpaste, soaps and facial scrubs that contain them. [url]
• There are two oil pipelines running along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac (which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan), operated and "maintained" by Enbridge. The pipes have been around for over 50 years (the original designed lifespan), and recent simulations suggest that a pipeline leak would be devastating to the Great Lakes region. Oil spills have occurred nearby, but hopefully, the Great Lakes won't become a disaster like Deepwater Horizon. [url]
• Onondaga Lake has been called the 'most polluted lake' in America, but after about 100 years and a billion bucks, it's starting to get clean. For decades, this lake near Syracuse, New York, was polluted with mercury, sewage and chemical runoff -- and it will be a while still before anyone should even attempt to swim in it. [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

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