Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/echo/page/106/)
A recent federal study echoes concerns by Michigan health professionals that link the lack of time set aside for physical and health education classes in K-8 schools to increasing childhood obesity.
The Government Accountability Office study of public schools indicates that while sports opportunities for students have generally increased, the frequency of physical education classes has decreased.
Supporters say the practice creates jobs and improves the economy. Critics say that if not properly regulated it threatens groundwater, the source of drinking water for half of the state’s population.
Avoiding the threat of mosquitoes, ticks and other pests by wearing insect-repellant clothing sounds ideal, but there may be some hidden costs. On April 25, the EPA found that pesticide-treated clothing sold by the Columbia Sportswear Company lacked a proper ingredient statement, a warning, a proper storage and disposal statement and was missing the required EPA pesticide registration number. Until Columbia fixes the labeling and tells customers what ingredients are in them, it can no longer sell the pesticide-laden clothes. It also has to pay a fine of $22,880. So although it’s nice to have a day in the woods without constant insect buzzing, I’d appreciate knowing what pesticides are keeping them away.
Alright, sturgeon … they made your bed, now spawn in it.
Michigan organizations and agencies are building nine rock reefs in the Middle Channel of the St. Clair River to bolster native fish spawning and restore habitat.
The Eagle Project mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is facing opposition from the local Native American community which says the mine is being blasted directly into a sacred site.
A new weapon has emerged in the war against invasive zebra mussels. Put it on the shelf next to the BioBullets, Zequanox, the mussel-killing cocktail and the Mobile Decontamination Machine. Introducing, the Beachmaker. The Beachmaker sucks up zebra mussel shells and crushes them until they look like sand particles. It was invented by a Wisconsin man who wanted his kids to be able to play on the beach without wearing shoes.
If you’re an Ohioan itching to share your pictures of the Lake Erie watershed, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission wants to hear from you. The commission is opening up its 2012 Life on Lake Erie photo contest, looking for pictures that display sustainable use, development or protection of Lake Erie’s resources. The photos can’t be digitally altered. Winning images will be displayed online on the commission’s website and Facebook page. You can submit entries by sending a printed photo or CD and entry form to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission in Sandusky, Ohio, or online by contacting the commission office. Check out the winning 2011 photos here.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to allow a controversial chemical to remain in food packaging.
With summer on the horizon, water safety folks discuss ways to stay safe while splashing.
Featured photo: UW Digital Collections
New research suggests that earlier, warmer spring temperatures that quickly heat Lake Ontario’s nearshore areas spur summer growth of smelly, slimy algae.