What is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)? July 27, 2016 N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, also known as DEET, is a chemical ingredient used in insect repellent products. This chemical deters insects such as mosquitoes, black flies, and fleas, preventing the spread of insect-borne diseases such as the West Nile Virus, the Zika Virus, or malaria. DEET products can be accessed in various forms including liquid, lotions, or sprays. DEET was first developed by the United States Army in 1946 as a way to protect troops from malaria and yellow fever carrying…

What is Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)? July 27, 2016 Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, also known as DDT, is a synthetic pesticide that was once widely used to combat insects until it was found in the 1970s to be harmful to fish and water supplies. Since its ban by the American government, studies have continuously shown a relationship between human exposure to DDT and reproduction issues and cancer, having since been labelled a probable human carcinogen. DDT was first created in 1874 when chloral was exposed to chlorobenzene and sulfuric acid….

What is a Consumption Footprint? February 1, 2024 Similar to that of an Ecological Footprint, a Consumption Footprint is a life-cycle assessment (LCA) set of indicators to determine the environmental impact of production and consumption, this being in the European Union (EU).  The consumption footprint follows five indicators in regards to area of consumption, these include food, mobility, housing, household goods, and appliances.  The environmental impact of these indicators are combined and multiplied by their intensity to find the consumption footprint. Assessing a consumption footprint…

What is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? July 25, 2016 Compressed Natural Gas is a gasoline alternative for motor vehicles that is considered more environmentally viable as it produces low hydrocarbon emissions and vapours that are not ozone producing. It consists mainly of methane and is produced in conjunction with crude oil. This form of natural gas has become popular in the United States with more than twelve million vehicles running on natural gas. Natural gas has proven to be a useful energy source since the…

What are Composting Facilities? July 25, 2016 Composting Facilities are locations where organic municipal solid waste is collected and stored in a controlled setting. The stored materials can be used as compost fertilizer for plants. These will often be a centralized location within municipal programs and include the collection of leaf and yard waste. At the same time, Composting Facilities include aerobic processing, where the collected material is broken down to and then decompose in windrow piles or in digesters. These mounds decompose the organics…