Daily Roundup: August 24, 2009

Water Hazard: New studies suggest that Atrazine, a popular weed-killer and common drinking water contaminant, may be dangerous even at low levels of exposure. New York Times

Forest Slump: In an effort to reduce rampant deforestation in Brazil, environmental groups are offering to pay farmers to leave forests standing. New York Times

Go Fish? No: As a result of the loss of sea ice due to global warming, the expansion of commercial fishing in the Arctic has been prohibited until researchers know more about the changing marine environment there. MSNBC

Pondscum Millionaire: A Chinese energy and research company that turns algae into biofuel is developing a new strain of algae that will grow faster, have higher oil content, and absorb more carbon dioxide. CNN

District Align: African officials hope to present a united front at the U.N. meeting on climate change in Copenhagen. African nations are among the planet’s lowest emitters of pollution but may suffer most from climate change. BBC

--Julia Gelbaum