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Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/author/brian/)

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Brian Bienkowski

Brian currently serves as a reporter for Great Lakes Echo. He's also a contributor to Mindful Metropolis magazine, the City Pulse and Michigan River News. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in business marketing in 2005 and will graduate with a master's degree in environmental journalism this May. Twitter: @BrianBienkowski

Wildlife

Warming rivers threaten iconic Michigan fish

By Brian Bienkowski | August 22, 2017

A beloved, cold-loving state fish is in danger of overheating.

Land

Michigan mine gains two state permits

By Brian Bienkowski | January 2, 2017

Menominee tribe ramps up opposition.

environmental politics

One tribe’s ‘long walk’ upstream for environmental and cultural justice

By Brian Bienkowski | October 13, 2016

An installment in Environmental Health News’s “Sacred Water” series.

environmental politics

River fight boosts a tribe’s long-threatened culture

By Brian Bienkowski | September 22, 2016

The Menominee Tribe, fighting a losing battle with regulators over a mine near their namesake river, has emerged with a stronger, vibrant voice.

environmental politics

Michigan mine risks Wisconsin tribe’s hallowed sites

By Brian Bienkowski | September 21, 2016

Modern boundaries complicate –and stymie–the Menominee Tribe’s effort to protect burial grounds.

Echo

Only half the drugs in sewage are removed before entering Great Lakes

By Brian Bienkowski | November 25, 2013

The impact of most of these “chemicals of emerging concern” on the health of people and aquatic life remains unclear, according to the International Joint Commission.

Water

Drugs found in Lake Michigan, miles from sewage outfalls

By Brian Bienkowski | September 23, 2013

Prescription drugs are contaminating Lake Michigan two miles from Milwaukee’s sewage outfalls, suggesting that the lake is not diluting the compounds as most scientists expected.

Echo

Out of sight, out of mind: Carcinogenic chemical spreads beneath Michigan town

By Brian Bienkowski | September 12, 2013

Officials stumbled upon one of the nation’s largest plumes of an industrial solvent called trichloroethylene, or TCE, in Mancelona, Mich.

Echo

Good news for Detroit: Lead poisoning of kids drops 70 percent since 2004

By Brian Bienkowski | April 3, 2013

Lead poisoning of Detroit children has dropped dramatically, and experts attribute it to the cleanup or demolition of vacant homes, a shrinking population and stricter city landlord laws.

Echo

Hormones from livestock operations may skew fish gender

By Brian Bienkowski | January 8, 2013

Baby fish exposed to hormone-laden manure from Indiana farms were more likely to be male than those raised in uncontaminated water.

The findings add to evidence that farm runoff may alter fish hormones.

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About Great Lakes Echo

Environmental news of the Great Lakes region from the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

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