Wigglesworth pointed to recent reviews by independent organisations that conclude MTBE is not carcinogenic to humans, including one from the World Health Organization that said MTBE is not classifiable as carcinogenic for humans. ``Clearly, the scientific community is of one mind on this issue, MTBE is neither carcinogenic nor dangerous. OEHHA's findings support our belief that MTBE is the most effective weapon we have for fighting air pollution in California,'' he said.

Solar-powered health centre in Palestine
Greenstar Foundation, with the assistance of the US Department of Energy, is sponsoring development of a solar-powered health centre in Palestine. The pilot installation of Greenstar componentstook place on Monday in the Palestinian village of Al-Kaabneh, near Hebron.

``Our immediate aim is to put practical tools in the hands of the Palestinian people--health, renewable energy, education, telecommunications, e-commerce--to add momentum to the peace process in the Middle East,'' said Michael North of Greenstar. Clean renewable energy technologies like these are being developed at US Department of Energy National Laboratories across the country. The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory is contributing its expertise in the use of photovoltaic technology and its ability to support improved healthcare and sustainable development.

Ski area construction will hit Wachusett mountain
One-fourth of the remaining old growth forest in Massachusetts is threatened by a proposed expansion of a ski resort, according to an alert from the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The 165-acre parcel on Wachusett Mountain is on state land managed by the Department of Environmental Protection,which leases part of the area to a private company. The proposed expansion includes clearing land for new lifts and trails, road construction and a new parking lot. Wachusett Mountain has special biological significance as it contains species associated with alpine areas, including the Arctic Skipper butterfly and the Bartram's Shadbush, a state listed species. Past ski area construction projects have fragmented and destroyed the old growth area already, according to the Audubon Society.

Don't landfill TVs and monitors, study warns
Cathode ray tubes inside televisions and computer monitors contain enough lead to be considered hazardous waste, according to a University of Florida study designed to encourage states to end the practice of dumping these electronic devices in landfills. With digital television sets and faster, better computers poised to catch the fancy of many a consumer, older televisions and computer monitors are destined for landfills where they will leach lead into theenvironment.

``I think the study, for the very first time, really gives conclusive data that the glass from cathode ray tubes does contain enough lead to be considered hazardous,'' said Tim Townsend, an assistant professor of environmental engineering sciences at the University of Florida, who did the study.

Cathode ray tubes are currently classified as ordinary household waste in every state except for Massachusetts, which recently banned the tubes from landfills. Excessive lead poses a problem in landfills because it can leach into groundwater or, in the case of lined landfills, it may require increased leachate treatment. Lead poisoning has been linked with learning disabilities, behavioural problems and at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death.