>> Environmental pollution’s the suspected cause of birth defects in the San Joaquin Valley. Both the U.S. EPA and the state are now looking into the scary number of birth defects in babies born in Kettleman City, which is near a huge Waste Management dump.

Community members say that five babies out of 20 live births in a recent 14-month period had facial deformities. A review by the Kings County Public Health Department found that six of 63 babies born over the same period to mothers living in the town had various birth defects…. The community of 1,500 sits in a region heavily polluted by pesticides and fumes from diesel-powered trucks.

The EPA’s regional director’s already paid the city and dump a visit.

>> You know how California set stricter standards for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles? As you may have expected, oil, chemical and trucking industries have sued to void Cali’s tougher car emissions standards, claiming they interfere with interstate commerce.

>> Somewhat relatedly: California’s putting together a greenhouse gases monitoring network. We currently rely on estimates based on the amount of gas sold in the state, but new greenhouse gas measurement devices — made by a company called Picarro — are going to be installed to measure the actual amount of methane in the air.

>> You know how California sets high efficiency standards for electronics and appliances? Jaymi Heimbuch at Treehugger says Cali’s tough electronics energy regulations are spreading to other states.

Photo by teresia

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