Pollution doesn’t only affect human health directly. It also has a tremendous impact on the natural environment and the organisms that inhabit it. This is especially true for endangered and threatened species that rely heavily upon specialized environments or lie high upon the food chain. Whether as a consequence of habitat destruction, direct poisoning that kills outright or the invasion of invasive species, pollution is directly or indirectly responsible for exterminating and creating endangered species.

By the onset of the 21st century, there were no parts of the Earth free from some type of chemical pollution. Furthermore, the threat posed by atmospheric pollution and climate change threatens to degrade and destroy habitats for creatures from polar bears to plankton.

Were that not enough, these threats tend to multiply. Amphibians are one example: pesticide poisoning of the water weakened their natural immunity to fungus that has already wiped out several species and critically endangered many others.

Pollution is found not only in the natural environment, but also in your own home and work, regardless of where you live or what you do for a living. But how does one gage their own personal exposure to these pollutants and toxins?

The only way to quantify your exposure to known toxins is to have a wide-spectrum blood test done. This has been done for people who suffer cases of acute exposure as well as by journalists investigating the pervasiveness of chemical exposure. However, these tests are very expensive – more than $10,000 in 2005 dollars as reported by National Geographic.

What such tests don’t tell you is how these chemical interact together in your body, since no one actually knows. You can, however, get a general idea of the sources of contamination by taking stock of all the places where you encounter pollution, including:

* air pollution
* water pollution
* soil pollution
* food residues
* bio-accumulated toxins
* fragrances, additives and other chemical additives
* industrial waste
* pharmaceutical drugs

Learn More About Ambit Energy Illinois and Ambit Scam here.

With slow economic times comes cutting back on lavish holiday trips abroad. This doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had. Camping is a great alternative for more and more people as it is an inexpensive holiday trip. Taking a camping trip also allows you to spend more time in the great outdoors which is something a lot of people don’t do as often as they used to.

Camping Safety Guide
Camping can be great fun, but the basics are often overlooked. Follow these 6 fundamental camping tips and you’re off to a great start!

Don’t leave without notice - Inform a family member, friend, or relative of your camping plans and location. An accident in the middle of nowhere can turn into a catastrophe if nobody knows you’re missing in the first place.

Weather is unpredictable - It might be 80 degrees today without a single cloud in the sky, but that doesn’t mean it is going to be that way later today or tomorrow. Don’t take risks with mother nature, your tent could easily fall victim to brutal winds or large hail. You could also be overcome by a flash flood or blizzard. More likely though, it would just plain suck to have nasty weather ruin your camping trip.

Bring Water - I know this one seems obvious right? You’d be surprised how many people leave without water and end up at a campground with no store or anywhere near. Water serves multiple purposes and is good for more than just drinking it.

You gotta Eat too - Keep in mind that not every single campsite has a store, some not even without an hour’s driving range, so bring your own food. You’ll find plenty of “what food to bring”-tips in the beginner’s guide to camping.

Dry Clothes - Bring extra clothing in case you get caught in a storm. Even summer can bring storms that can make the temperature drop well below comfortable levels. Don’t forget to put your spare clothes in a WATERPROOF bag.

Campfires and Wildfires - If you’re going to build a campfire, be sure to clear at least 20 feet around it. Also note that just because you took the necessary precautions doesn’t mean the camper a few miles away from you did. If you see a big plume of smoke in the distance, you better pack up FAST as wildfires can travel at insane speeds.

These are very basic tips. You can find details as well as other tips on safety, packing for camping, recipes, instructional videos, choosing a tent, and much more at my camping-site.