Health

Insurance at risk: Small business employees risk losing coverage

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 17:26

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills today released a new report, Insurance at Risk: Small Business Employees Risk Losing Coverage. The report examines the health care status quo that has left employees at risk of losing their insurance and underscores the financial difficulties small businesses face when providing health insurance to their employees. The complete report is available now at www.HealthReform.gov.

Boxed wine saves resources and energy

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 17:23 EarthTalk ® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Apparently boxed wine (instead of bottled) is becoming all the rage for environmental reasons. What are the eco-benefits of boxed wine over bottled? -- Justin J., Los Angeles, CA

(Earth Talk) 80,000 acres of tropical rainforest lost daily

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 17:10 EarthTalk ® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Do you have current facts and figures about how much rainforest is being destroyed each day around the world, and for what purpose(s)? -- Teri, via e-mail

Indoor radon limits lowered to prevent lung cancer

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 17:01

The World Health Organization announced that they have established a new limit for indoor radon gas levels. The previously accepted "action level" was 4.0. The new maximum radon level is 2.7. Based on this new threshold, millions of U.S. homes will require repairs to reduce the levels of the gas.

Prostate Cancer Guide offers facts and guidance for hardest-hit male population

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 15:36

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new guide, Straight Talk for African-American Men and their Families, is now available from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). It was produced in alliance with Charlie Wilson, famed R&B singer and recent prostate cancer survivor. African-American men are 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2.4 times more likely to die from it than Caucasian men.

(Earth Talk) Non-toxic, non-lethal ways to deal with squirrels, gophers and groundhogs

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 15:33 EarthTalk ® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away? -- Faye Gillette, Coarsegold, CA

Keeping unwanted critters away can be tricky business, and options are somewhat limited.

(Earth Talk) Non-toxic ways of dealing with bed bugs

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 15:30 EarthTalk® From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Why are bed bugs a big issue right now? Where do they come from and what real harm do they do? Are there non-toxic ways of dealing with them? -- Harper H., Newburyport, MA