September 12, 2009

Toxic Air & Americas Schools

When you send your child off to school, you may worry about things. But could you have imagined they could be harmed by toxic air? Then are all those retail discount prices we seem to love actually harming our society?

Episode Segments:

Show Introduction
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Youth at Risk: Toxins & Our Schools USA Today reporter Blake Morrison shared the results of his eight-month investigation that examined industrial pollution near 127,800 schools across the U.S. A computer analysis of government data suggested that air outside thousands of schools could be at least twice as toxic as the air in nearby neighborhoods. He explained the underlying causes and how affected schools are responding.
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The Hidden Costs of Bargain Shopping Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture discusses her belief that the American drive toward bargain-hunting and low-price goods has a hidden cost in lower wages for workers and reduced quality of goods for consumers. She offered reasons that consumers should think about paying higher prices for higher quality goods, and buying items produced in the U.S.
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Medical Scans: Worth The Risk? Dr. Reza Fazel recently conducted a study into the rapidly rising number of medical imaging procedures, from CT scans to nuclear stress tests, that expose patients to significant amounts of radiation. He explained why patients should be concerned about the cancer-causing potential of these scans and whether they result in better health or increased longevity.
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