Increase in Enviro Disasters?

Are we just more aware of environmental danger and report on it more or is there a real increase in dangerous environmental events? Maybe both?

Recent examples:
Mysterious dead birds prompt downtown Austin shutdown
Gas-Like Odor Permeates Parts of New York City – News of this odor is updating as I blog this..

Increase in disasters linked to environmental damage
Posted: 24 Apr 2006

Climate change and environmental degradation may lie behind a sharp rise in the number of natural disasters, according to a new World Bank report.

The reported number of major disasters has increased from fewer than 100 in 1975 to more than 400 in 2005, according to Hazards of Nature, Risks to Development, just published by the World Bank. While the number of earthquakes has remained relatively stable, the number of disaster caused by severe weather has risen sharply.

Quoted text via People and Planet.