Environmental

Recent Posts

Can antibiotics interfere with the body's ability to fight viruses? Perhaps so.
Posted on 20 May 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have noted that abuse and misuse of antibiotics in people and animals has lead to an increase in antibiotic resistant organisms, to the detriment of human health. Prior posts have also noted the importance of bacteria to human health and welfare... Read More

Colony collapse disorder, has the answer finally been found? Possibly
Posted on 4 Feb 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have discussed the various research done and theories put forth related to colony collapse disorder (see Colony Collapse Disorder for an overview). The range of potential causes includes pesticides, global warming, disease, and habitat destruction... Read More

Armadillos may transmit leprosy
Posted on 11 Sep 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

It has been long suspected, and more or less recently confirmed, that animals (particularly those that were domesticated thousands of years ago) are the source of many major human diseases, including diseases that ironically are no longer found in animals... Read More

Armadillos may transmit leprosy
Posted on 11 Sep 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

It has been long suspected, and more or less recently confirmed, that animals (particularly those that were domesticated thousands of years ago) are the source of many major human diseases, including diseases that ironically are no longer found in animals... Read More

Colony collapse disorder, has the answer finally been found? Possibly
Posted on 4 Feb 2012 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have discussed the various research done and theories put forth related to colony collapse disorder (see Colony Collapse Disorder for an overview). The range of potential causes includes pesticides, global warming, disease, and habitat destruction... Read More

Antibiotics and vaccines can act as selection factors for bacteria
Posted on 25 Mar 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

As noted in prior posts, almost anything has the potential to act as an evolutionary selection factor. [Yes, Virginia, there really is evolution.] A recent assessment that traces the history of a virulent strain of pneumonia-causing bacteria demonstrates... Read More

Some bacteria found on grocery store meat are resistant to antibiotics, often many antibiotics
Posted on 15 Apr 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have noted the unfortunate tendency in much of the world, including the U.S., to over prescribed antibiotics (even for conditions in which antibiotics are of no use whatsoever [e.g., viral infections]), resulting in disease-causing organisms... Read More

Decimation of frog populations may result from fungus disease spread initially by the international amphibian trade
Posted on 22 May 2013 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have noted the decline in the frog population in California, among other locales worldwide. As with colony collapse disorder of honeybees, there have been numerous theses regarding the cause. Researchers now propose that the fungus Batrachochytrium... Read More

Can antibiotics interfere with the body's ability to fight viruses? Perhaps so.
Posted on 20 May 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

Prior posts have noted that abuse and misuse of antibiotics in people and animals has lead to an increase in antibiotic resistant organisms, to the detriment of human health. Prior posts have also noted the importance of bacteria to human health and welfare... Read More

Amoebas in drinking water: An untreated threat to health
Posted on 5 Feb 2011 by Thomas H. Clarke, Jr.

EPA recently announced they are moving forward, contrary to the policy of the Bush Administration, with setting standards for various toxics in drinking water. Unfortunately, attention is not being given to a serious health threat, amoebas in drinking... Read More