All those acronyms in enviro-related news stories got you confused? Here's a little cheat sheet to help you out with a few of the acronyms constantly in the headlines these days:

>> BPA, or Bisphenol A. BPA's "a toxic plastic chemical found in polycarbonate plastic and the resinous lining of food cans," according to Environmental Working Group. When news outlets started reporting that BPA leached from baby bottles, Nalgenes, and other common household containers, many retailers vowed to pull products containing BPA from their shelves, and manufacturers vowed to reformulate their products to eliminate BPA. Most companies, however, set a future target date to get rid of BPA -- so for now, it's up to you to identify and avoid products containing the toxic chemical.

>> PFCs, or Perfluorochemicals. According to Environmental Working Group, "PFCs have been associated with cancer, reproductive problems, birth and developmental defects, and (recently) with immune system suppression." Unfortunately, PFCs can also be found in wide variety of water, grease and stain repellents -- including Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster and Gore-Tex. Follow the link for tips on limiting your exposure to PFCs. 

>> RECs, or Renewable Energy Credits. If you've ever considered buying RECs, read this informative article by Jennifer Boynton at TriplePundit to figure out whether or not RECs are for you. Although often confused with carbon offsets, RECs have key differences that set them apart. For one, RECs always come from renewable energy projects, and accordingly, are measured in kilowatt hours -- the same unit your electric company uses to measure your home energy use. Read up, and make your choice between offsets and RECs wisely!

^{Photo by Aaron Jack}