The dark halo of soot that often hangs over construction projects around Boston could go the way of smoking in bars and unfiltered smokestacks if city officials take action on a proposed measure.

For years, environmental groups have blamed the diesel fumes belched by bulldozers, cranes, and other construction equipment for contributing to the area’s high asthma rates and other airborne ailments. They cite data from the Environmental Protection Agency showing Suffolk County has more diesel pollution - 300 times the amount considered acceptable by the federal government - than 99 percent of the nation’s counties, more than one-third of it spewed by construction equipment.

BOSTON -- Cindy Luppi, co-director of the environmental group Clean Water Action, said there are potential risks lurking in every home."

Consumers really don't have a good way of knowing exactly what chemicals they are being exposed to," Luppi said.Luppi's concerns start with chemicals in cleaners in our kitchens and continue to the items in our pantries.

"Many of the canned foods are lined with that white, ribbed material that often contains Bisphenol A, or BPA," Luppi said. "It's linked to a number of diseases, including breast cancer."

But canned goods are just the tip of the iceberg of potential risks in our homes, said Luppi.

...Recently, Massachusetts lawmakers took a big step toward addressing the problem of electronics disposal. On Nov. 15, the legislative Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture voted favorably on a bill that would make manufacturers responsible for collecting and disposing of old electronics. Such a law, supporters say, would save money for both consumers and cash-strapped municipalities, and would inspire the industry to focus on making products that can be easily recycled....