Back in October 2006, we had a major storm that pretty much paralyzed the Western New York area. Wait until you see these pictures taken at the end of 2006 of an ice storm in the midwest U.S. Take special note of the high voltage lines and large towers.
I found this article about what they found in Puget Sound, Washington. We dump stuff down the drain all the time never thinking it would show up anywhere. I think these findings certainly prove that wrong.
I’ve heard all sorts of different opinions about the effect of cracking your joints. I found a page that debunks the myth that cracking your joints will give you arthritis. I’ve always done this habitually to my fingers, toes, neck, and sometimes my back. People get the impression that when you crack your knuckles that you are actually snapping your joints together which is not true. Check the article out and judge for yourself.