The Environmental Engineering Hub

It's not always that you will see an intentional oil spill, but that's exactly what happened in Ontario, Canada. In the beginning of June, scientists spilled bitum - a viscous liquid that is extracted from sand in some regions of the country and transported in ducts - in a limited surface of the Experimental Lakes from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD-ELA). The objective of the study was to help protect future freshwater ecosystems from oil spills. In a large test tube, installed in the lake where the research station was constructed, the scientists are studying the physical, chemical, biological and toxicological impacts from bitum in freshwater organisms - from the plankton to the frogs and fishes. Until recently, this type of experiment had been made only in laboratories, where it wasn't possible to imitate the real world. It's the first study of its kind made in Canada - an opportunity to answer questions that can help to

Usually, society's power come from fossil fuels, which have many disadvantages: production of pollutants in large quantities, limited availability and being the cause of conflicts around the world. Fuel cells have the ability to power cellphones, cars and even houses. Their advantages are specially important for applications that are energy limited. A good example is the power for portable devices, which is limited and needs constant recharging. Studies have shown that fuel cell systems are capable of providing the same amount of energy as batteries with a smaller system weight and volume, which is a great advantage for portable power systems. Future markets for the fuel cells could be the transportation, portable and stationary sectors. Each market could make use of fuel cells for different reasons. The portable sector needs fuel cells to power devices for longer periods of time. Convergence of devices is the current trend in electronics, and the amount of power require

Among the essential items for nutritionist Fernanda Bezerra, 29 years of age, which she always carries is her wallet, cellphone and a stainless steel straw. The metal utensil is a gift given to her by a friend after she vented out about the pollution in the ocean when she visited the Philippines. "It shocked me". Attitudes like Fernanda's are getting more common and can become the norm. In Rio, the city hall started last week the inspection of a law that forces stores and shops to offer paper straws and prohibits the plastic version. Similar laws could become the reality in other cities in Brazil. In social media, images showing animals affected by the pollution are getting the attention from everyone. One of the most watched videos is that of a straw being removed from the nose of a turtle. "I love animals. I have been following this topic and watching that sort of thing on the Internet, looking for alternatives", says 25 years old lawyer Georgia M