Wake Up and Smell the ?Odorous Air Contaminant? (New York Times) Lagal trouble for a business began when a city inspector years ago called the smell of roasted beans a form of air pollution. [News Source]

Another ‘Spare the Air’ advisory issued (San Francisco Chronicle) With air pollution levels rising to unhealthy levels, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is asking people not to burn wood in their fireplaces, and to limit their driving tonight and tomorrow morning. The "Spare the Air Tonight" advisory is... [News Source]

Area rated worst in mercury taint.

The central Merrimack Valley, long suspected of being a hot spot for mercury pollution in Massachusetts, is the hottest such spot in the Northeast, according to two recent studies.

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Hearing will focus on proposal to extend backyard burning ban. Backyard burning already is banned within the city limits of Salem and Keizer, Oregon, but the proposal would extend the ban to the urban growth boundary, affecting 7,000 to 10,000 households. [News Source]

Lifting of ozone limits sought. Wisconsin will ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lift major restrictions on businesses in eastern Wisconsin because of continuing improvements in air quality. [News Source]

Blair county ozone level improving. The level of ozone detected in Blair County in Pennsylvania has decreased since 2004, prompting a state request to designate the county as having reached the federal ozone standard. [News Source]

Down to a dull roar, for now. Even as Massport officials this month touted the early success of Logan International Airport's newest runway in cutting flight delays, residents in East Boston say the verdict is still out on how much noise and pollution the runway will add to the neighborhood. [News Source]

US toxic gases push British pollution over safety limit. Toxic gases blown across the Atlantic from America are pushing British cities over the legal limit for air pollution and damaging people’s health, an official study shows. [News Source]

It’s easy being green after all. What about those of us who already own an older, not-so-green Florida home and who can't afford to make the leap to a new home, or at the very least, energy-saving upgrades. [News Source]

Half the state Assembly turns to hybrid vehicles. Nearly half the California Assembly is switching to hybrids as their choice for state-leased vehicles, a marked change from the gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and luxury sedans that have long been favored by lawmakers. [News Source]

Weird weather is result of global warming. More and more experts are beginning to believe the recent weather abnormalities may be caused by global warming. [News Source]