what's good for you may be bad for you, and etc.

CBC News (Canadian Broadcast, that is) reports today on a lawsuit levied against a number of manufacturers of fish oil pills. It appears that levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are high enough to make for real risks for consumbers.

I'm not a toxicologist, but sometimes I would like to be one. I have found resources on the web that give me links to reports of toxicity from these compounds, but I'm not savvy enough to weigh the risks related to the exposure that is reported in the news article. How much is kind of scary, and how much is really scary? While the CBC gives me concentration data (hoorah!) I don't exactly know how to react to it.

Thanks to the Sightline Institute for pointing out the story via Sightline Daily.

Ready??

It's time to fire things up at Mount Bachelor Observatory again, we're preparing for another season of sampling. Oh: you haven't heard of MBO? You can find out what's happening there by looking here and here.

Other groups will also be active, but the groups listed are those that have been around the longest, and that have had us most closely involved in their work.

After the gorgeous weekend we've had at the mountain, I'm feeling pretty excited for the upcoming work!

about autism and toxics

Nicholas Kristof has written an op-ed about the potential links between autism and toxics for the NY Times. The article is impressive. It's cautious and honest. I think it's definitely worth a read no matter what you think of the precautionary principle.

base oxidation rundown

Does the base of a ski oxidize after sliding on snow?

This question was put in front of me on the ski trail Sunday, and I've been thinking on it and doing a little investigating.

Ski bases appear to be made of polyethylene (polyethene, I suppose IUPAC would call it). There are no functional groups at all, just long, long chains of hydrocarbon. Polyethylene is completely saturated with hydrogen. It's nearly unoxidizable, unless you actually set it on fire.

A protective coating of wax on the base reduces the chance of air oxidation even further.

So I have to agree with some forum (I apologize for not having the url here) somewhere: when bases begin to show white (or grey on my black bases) it may be called oxidation in the ski lodge, but that isn't really the issue. Instead, the snow has physically damaged the base by putting lots of tiny little shreds into it, roughing the surface. It is of course real damage to the surface of the ski that will reduce glide, and it is to be avoided. You're overdue for a new coat of wax.

How rapidly this problem develops is going to be largely due to snow conditions when you're on the skis. Watch for it especially after fresh snow, when the snow crystals are still sharp, or when the snow is cold and icy.

excatly right now

I am sitting on a couch that is coated with this goop. At least I am strongly suspicious of it, although not because anybody in my family has thyroid disease. I am suspicious because I remember many years ago (too many to name...you don't really want to know how old my couch is) I remember paying about 75 bucks extra for the couch and loveseat we bought to be treated to make them stain resistant. At the time, of course, it seemed like a decent idea. We wanted to protect our investment.

Now that it's time to buy a new couch I am much more inclined to lean the other direction and look for natural fibers and materials. It may be a bit of an overreaction but I am sure that I have spent a lot of time snuggled down under a blanket just like I am right now: 6 inches from the fabric surface, likely coated with PFOA.

It's a little icky to think about I must say.

how to spend a Sunday evening

Try to get a handle on all the good stuff you can find at Science Blogs.

want to be a doc?

This article from the NY Times has something to say about the likelihood you'll do well....and it is not about your GPA.