National Geographic takes a breathtaking look at Mount St. Helens, and the Washington ecosystem around it, both as it was before the devastating volcanic eruption of 30 years ago and as it is today after recovery.

The sand used to give blue jeans that worn look can cause silicosis, a potentially lethal lung disease -- in workers.

Michigan activist Lynn Henning, who endured abuse as she campaigned against water pollution caused by manure spreading, received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.

"The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed rules to cut mercury air emissions from U.S. gold ore processing and production facilities."

"An ocean census has revealed a 'new world' of richly diverse marine microbe life that could help scientists understand more about key environmental processes on Earth, a study said Sunday."

"The Air Quality Management District is hoping users of traditional gas-powered lawn mowers will help them "mow down air pollution" when, for the eighth year, the air pollution control agency hosts a series of lawn-mower exchanges throughout Southern California. The program allows local residents to trade in a gasoline mower and receive a new electric mower at a reduced price."

"President Obama launched the America's Great Outdoors initiative Friday, an attempt to reshape U.S. conservation policy at a time when the nation is facing new environmental threats but the government is hard-pressed to afford new spending programs."

"Nutrients in manure and synthetic fertilizers deplete oxygen in streams while fecal bacteria are posing health risks."
 

"Meet Terry Carter, an affable man in grease-stained blue work clothes: Terry Carter, struggling businessman, recycler, host of last resort for your broken-down Subaru, your over-the-hill refrigerator, that old RV you can’t sell. Or is he Terry Carter, unlicensed junkyard operator, scofflaw, headache for town government and threat to the environment?"

"Baltimore's revitalized waterfront draws millions of visitors a year, but could it ever be a place where people actually take a dip? Or catch fish? That's the vision of a local group that wants to make Baltimore's harbor swimmable and fishable within a decade."