As would be the case after any natural disaster, water-borne illness could run rampant and chemicals and oil could leak out of damaged storage facilities as a result of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ripped apart Haiti on Jan. 12.]]> Dear EarthTalk: I work for an office equipment company selling copiers, fax machines, computers and printers. Each year new models come out making old ones obsolete. As a result, we have loads of trade-ins with nowhere to go. What can we do with this old equipment?.]]> Dear EarthTalk: I am very concerned about the amount of chlorine in my tap water. I called my water company and they said it is safe just let the tap run for awhile to rid the smell of the chlorine. But that just gets rid of the smell, perhaps, not the chlorine?]]> What is the current status of whales? How effective is the International Whaling Commission, and which countries are involved in illegal whaling?]]> I ride my bike to work along busy urban streets. Should I be worried about inhaling pollutants from vehicle emissions and other sources?]]> Can you enlighten on the environmental impact of the fashion industry? As I understand it, the industry overall is no friend to the environment.]]> Dear EarthTalk: If the ice caps are melting, what is happening to the salt content of the oceans? And might this contribute to weather patterns or cause other environmental problems?]]> Celebrities and billionaires are shelling out big bucks for cutting-edge green-friendly cars like the Tesla Roadster. But what are the rest of us — who live in the budget-constrained real world — to do about buying a new car that does right by the environment?]]> Weeds are nothing if not opportunistic. While you may not have bargained for getting one form of eyesore (weeds) by clearing another (an overgrown bush), dandelions and other fast-growing, quickly spreading plants know no bounds when some new territory opens up.]]> Dear EarthTalk: A friend with many minor health problems recently switched to a diet of only raw plant foods and reports feeling much better. She also insists her new eating habits are better for the environment. Does this make sense or is the strange diet making her crazy?.]]> The term "geothermal" is derived from the Greek words for Earth (geo) and heat (therme). In essence geothermal energy is power harnessed from the Earth itself. Heat from the Earth's core, which averages about 6,650 degrees Fahrenheit, emanates out toward the planet's surface.]]> Is it true that environmental nonprofits have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and has this had an impact on their effectiveness?]]>