Green Guru
Advice for the eco-minded.
By Starre Vartan
 

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Is it safe to eat swordfish again?
Ken Jones, Saratoga, NY

Well, yes and no. Overfishing in the 1980s caused Atlantic swordfish populations to dip to dangerously low levels, but strict fishing regulations have helped the north Atlantic population recover. Much less is known about the south Atlantic and western Pacific swordfish populations. The bad news is that longlining—the method used to catch large numbers of these elusive, sharp-nosed sport fish—creates considerable bycatch, a euphemism for inadvertently killing sharks, endangered sea turtles, other fish, and even seabirds. U.S. regulations require fishermen to minimize bycatch, but most swordfish comes from international waters. When shopping, it’s best to look for U.S.-caught north Atlantic swordfish. (The COOL—country of origin labeling—law requires seafood sellers to clearly note whether their seafood offerings are wild-caught or farmed and where they’re from. Restaurants, however, are not obligated to put this information on their menus.) Before you put swordfish back on your menu, also consider this: Swordfish is one of four species that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decrees off-limits for children and women who are pregnant or of child-bearing age. High levels of mercury—a neurotoxin that is dispersed into the atmosphere primarily by coal-burning power plants—builds up in large predatory species (swordfish, sharks, tilefish, and king mackerel). The bottom line is that while tightened fishing regulations have bumped north Atlantic swordfish off the no-no list, even sustainable seafood can be tainted by pollution.
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Courtesy of Volkswagen

If I have no other choice but to replace my aging and ailing car, which is the most environmental choice: hybrid or biodiesel?
Suzanne Wolfe, Atlanta, GA

As they say in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. If you take short trips around town and are lucky enough to have access to a local supplier of biodiesel—fuel for diesel engines that is made from either waste vegetable oil (think French fry vats) or processed from renewable crops like soybeans—this is the choice. It will produce the lowest carbon dioxide emissions and help improve air quality the most. Most biodiesel stations are in the Midwest and New England, but new pumps are being added at a rate of one a day. (Find out if you have a local supplier at biodiesel.org.) If you’re handy and happen to have a few spare 50-gallon drums lying around, it’s not all that difficult to make your own biodiesel (look online for how-to books, blogs, and regional co-ops). Critics of biodiesel charge that harmful pesticides and fertilizers are used to grow soybeans, which currently account for 90 percent of the fuel’s fodder, and that because soybeans use so much land and water, this is an inefficient way to solve our energy woes. Researchers are looking into more efficient biodiesel fuels, like switchgrass, palms, and even algae.

If you don’t live near a biodiesel pumping station and are unwilling to try a home science experiment, a hybrid vehicle—with an engine that runs on a combination of gasoline and a self-recharging electric battery—is a very good way to reduce emissions, save on fuel costs, and cut down on air pollution. Carpooling, public transportation, walking, and biking are also good for the air, your wallet, and your health. 
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PhotoDisc/Getty Images

My toddler’s life seems to revolve around plastics. Are these things dangerous to his health and that of the environment he’ll ultimately inherit?
Ingrid Hill, San Francisco, CA

The Graduate had it right—plastics were our future, and today the average American consumer carries the weighty responsibility for about 250 pounds of the stuff manufactured each year. Many plastics are recyclable, but more than 70 percent of them end up in landfills. They are also slow to break down; if the Pilgrims had packaged their ale with plastic six-pack rings, the archeological evidence would still be mostly intact. What’s more, plastics are made from nonrenewable petroleum resources, and they produce dioxins—likely carcinogens that also affect reproduction and development—during their production and incineration. Slow to break down, dioxins seep into the soil, air, and water, and wind up in the bodies of adults, developing children, and wildlife.  And dioxins are just some of the ingredients in plastics that are troublemakers.

Pthalates, the softening agent in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), have been linked to hormone changes, and are still found in children’s toys, from inflatable balls and dolls to bath toys and binkies. A 2005 University of Rochester study showed that pthalates interfere with the production of baby boys’ testosterone, an important male growth hormone. The European Union outlawed the manufacture of PVC toys in January 2006, but a similar bill in Washington failed. However, some companies are voluntarily eliminating PVC from toy production.

Like your toddler, you’re going to soon learn to play the numbers game. Plastics, whether in storage containers or rubber duckies, are stamped with a number from 1 to 7. If they’re not marked, you can call the manufacturer and ask what type of plastic was used. Since you live in San Francisco, you will be happy to know that in December your city became the first in the nation to prohibit the sale, distribution, and manufacture of baby products containing Bisphenol A—a chemical in polycarbonate plastics (No.7) and epoxy resins that can leach into food when heated—and certain levels of pthalates. Reportedly safer plastics for food storage include HDPE (No. 2), LDPE (No. 4), and PP (No. 5). You can also consider buying toys made of sustainably logged wood, and using ceramic or stone plates, real silverware, stainless steel beverage bottles, and glass storage containers. And stop chewing on that plastic pen cap!
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