Dear EarthTalk: I’ve read conflicting reports about the dangers of non-stick cookware. I have a set of older non-stick pans and am not sure if I need to replace them. Are they harmful to use, particularly if they have a few scratches?–Miriam Jones, Montgomery, AL It may be time to upgrade your pans, given that ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: There’s been a lot of coverage on the topic of organic foods and how they aren’t actually any healthier than conventional foods. Is this true?– Gina Thompson, Salem, OR There is no doubt that organic foods are healthier—for our bodies individually as well as for the environment—than their conventionally produced counterparts. The question ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: What are some tips for keeping my dogs and cats healthy?– Kim Newfield, via e-mail Believe it or not, our pets may be exposed to more harsh chemicals through the course of their day than we are. Researchers at the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that pet dogs and cats were contaminated ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: My family has bad allergies and I’d like to improve our indoor air quality. What are some steps I should take?– Marcia Lane, Scranton, PA Even for those of us without allergies, poor indoor air quality is an often overlooked health issue. Recent research has shown that the air inside some buildings can ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: It might seem obvious, but what would be the primary benefits of public transit as an alternative to the private automobile if our country were to make a major commitment to it?– James Millerton, Armstrong, PA The benefits of making a major commitment to building up and efficiently managing a larger and more ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that asthma cases in children often correlate to living close to roads and all the associated pollution-spewing traffic? – Jake Locklear, San Diego, CA Living near a roadway certainly does exacerbate asthma, especially for kids. To wit, a recent study by the University of Southern California (USC)—the most comprehensive by far ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that children are sicker today than they were a generation ago and that pesticides have played a major role?- Maria Jenkins, Clewiston, FL It’s impossible to say with certainty that our modern reliance on pesticides is directly causing more of our children to get sick more often, but lots of ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: What is “perchlorate” in our drinking water supply and why is it controversial?– David Sparrow, Chico, CA Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical used in the production of rocket fuel, missiles, fireworks, flares and explosives. It is also sometimes present in bleach and in some fertilizers. Its widespread release into ⇒

Dear EarthTalk: How can I have a greener, healthier laundry room? — Billie Alexander, Topeka, KS While there are many ways to green one’s laundry room, one place to start is with detergent. Luckily, in 2009 the federal government phased out phosphates, harsh chemicals that help break down minerals and loose food bits during the ⇒

California’s Proposition 37 Defeated Dear EarthTalk: What was Proposition 37 in California that concerns the labeling of genetically modified foods and that was just voted down in that state–Peter Tremaine, Euclid, OH Many healthy food advocates were disheartened on Election Day when Californians rejected Proposition 37, which would have required the labeling of genetically modified ⇒