These bulletins are archived and searchable on the CHE-WA website: http://washington.chenw.org/bulletins.html If you would like to join the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) and the CHE-Washington regional group, please complete the application on the CHE website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/application Joining CHE means receiving up to four email messages a month from the CHE National listserv. CHE costs nothing to join and the benefit is shared information and opportunities for further engagement, if you choose. Be sure to mark that you want to join the Washington State Regional Group at the bottom of the application.
Companion bulletins are available for different audiences:
While there is overlap with this bulletin, there are some events and announcements unique to those bulletins.
ICEH in Transition. ICEH Executive Director Elise Miller, MEd, will become director of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment January 1, 2009. She will stay based in Freeland, Washington, and continue to work closely with ICEH advisory board and staff. For more details, please see http://www.iceh.org/pdfs/ICEHinTransition12_08.pdf
1) Teleconference -- Community-Based Participatory Research: How Communities Assess Environmental Exposure and Make Positive Changes
Thursday December 18, 2008
9:00 a.m. Alaska time/10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment
Community-based participatory research is a collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community and has the aim of achieving social change to improve health outcomes and eliminate health disparities. The goal of any health-related research is to create knowledge for the advancement of a field that will ultimately improve the health and lives of people. In traditional research, the subjects studied are not actively involved in designing such projects. Community-based participatory research is based on the belief that the pursuit of knowledge is a community endeavor. It is a way to organize research so that the subjects of the study play a direct role in the design and conduct of the research study. Often the knowledge of the community will contribute valuable understanding of the health problems and will be used to design health-care interventions. Results of the study are immediately provided to the community, giving individuals the choice of directing the necessary steps toward positive change. In recent years, national organizations, funding agencies and researchers have called for a renewed focus on an approach to public-health research that recognizes the importance of social, political and economic systems to health behaviors and outcomes. Join our speakers for an informative look at critical health-related research examples that were structured around a community's concern and that have empowered and led to positive change in the lives of the people concerned. Speakers will be Dr. Phil Brown, professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies at Brown; Dr. Rebecca Gasior Altman, who earned her doctorate in sociology from Brown University in 2008; and Vi Wahiyi, a bilingual St. Lawrence Island Yupik Eskimo.
Price: free
Contact: Alaska Community Action on Toxics, 907-222-7714 or info@akaction.net
2) Webinar -- Urban Trees=Clean Air
Thursday December 18, 2008
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Arbor Day Foundation, US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, and Center for Chesapeake Communities
This two-part event will explore the importance of addressing air pollution and how trees can improve urban air quality. The speakers will present examples of innovative strategies that use tree planting to address air quality issues and build healthier communities. Topics are "The Great Clean Air Tree Planting Project" and "Climate Change Plan for the National Capital Region."
Price: free
Contact: Lisa Tilney, ltilney@arborday.org
3) CHE Partnership Call -- Crash Landing: Environmental and Health Costs (and Benefits?) of the Economic Recession -- A Conversation with Lester Brown
Thursday January 8, 2009
11:00 a.m. Pacific time/2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
How will the global recession affect health and the environment? The global recession has drastically reduced the use of oil, lowering emissions that contribute to climate change. Less manufacturing will reduce production of some chemical contaminants. Reduced oil and commodity costs should reduce the cost of food. But millions of people are out of work, and socioeconomic status (SES) is a powerful predictor of health outcomes. And the opportunities to reform the financial system in ways that reduce inequality, enhance health and sustain the environment are unlikely to be pursued. Please join us with eminent environmentalist Lester Brown to discuss these questions. This call will last one hour and will be recorded for archival purposes. Brown is the founder of the Worldwatch Institute, founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute, and author of many books, including Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/5071
4) Annual Hazardous Waste Refreshers
Monday through Friday, January 12 - 16, 2009 (choose one day from these)
8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle and Olympia, Washington
Sponsor: University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Department of Environmental Health
Employees responsible for worker safety and health at hazardous waste sites who have taken the basic 40-hour course can receive their annual eight hours of OSHA-required refresher training by attending this course. Group exercises, lectures, and a case study provide students with real-life approaches to hazardous waste-site operations. Class size is limited to 30 to ensure interaction between instructor and participants. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: see website below
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/ehce/NWcenter/courses/HREFjan09.htm
Contact: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 800-326-7568 or ce@u.washington.edu
Online Calendar. All upcoming events are listed in a searchable calendar: http://www.chenw.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Job opening: Washington, DC. The Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN) seeks a program associate to help develop programs and other activities of a national nonprofit organization. The focus is on education and training of key stakeholders, leadership in child-health advocacy, and support of pediatric environmental health research opportunities. Resume review begins in early January. For more information please contact Laura Hepting: lhepting@cehn.org
Job opening: Rockville, Maryland. The National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) currently has an open position for deputy director to direct and lead NCI-wide cancer health disparities reporting, and strategic planning and implementation efforts, as well as fiscal and administrative management of CRCHD functions. The closing date for applications is January 23rd. Please contact Dr. Sanya Springfield, Director of NCI's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities: Sanya.Springfield@nih.hhs.gov
Job opening: East Midlands, UK. Eden Brown seeks an environmental health officer based in the East Midlands area to carry out professional environmental health field casework and to respond to complaints, enquiries and other sources of notification of environmental health problems.
http://jobs.regen.net/job/304562/environmental-health-officer
Job opening: Vancouver, Washington. A part-time (90 hours/month) permanent position for an environmental health specialist is available in a small rural county.
http://marketplace.columbian.com/jobs/topjobs.cfm?job=4197
Funding opportunity: models for developmental toxicity pathways. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing to develop in vitro and in silico (computational) models for developmental toxicity pathways.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/2009_star_comptox.html
U.S. EPA, partners kick off green building design challenge. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partners are inviting the nation's architects, product developers, educators, environmental leaders, and students to submit innovative designs that minimize waste, reuse materials, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A0C7D51C97AD1DD98525752000795305
Healthy Toys website. This year's site is newly-redesigned, easier than ever to use, and includes new features. Visitors to HealthyToys.org can now create their own personalized holiday wish lists.
http://www.healthytoys.org/
Call for presentations: State of Environmental Justice in America 2009. The State of Environmental Justice in America 2009 Conference planners are inviting individuals to submit a short abstract of no more than 150 words that describes a paper or individual or panel presentation related to the current state of environmental justice.
http://www.lm.doe.gov/env_justice/conference/CallforPresentations2009.pdf
Federal guidelines for proper disposal of prescription drugs. The Office of National Drug Control Policy publishes guidelines for proper disposal to prevent polluting the environment or harming human health and wildlife. This week, the US Environmental Protection agency asks: What do you do with unused over-the-counter or prescription drugs? Answers are invited to EPA's blog.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A9DFB8F551964B4E852575120057C1AA
"Choosing our Future" comic strip. The comics, produced in English and French, highlight the recent evidence of harm to health from certain widely-used chemicals.
http://www.choosingourfuture.eu/ENG/the%20cartoons.html
For 'green' home, clean naturally. Even the most environmentally friendly home falls short if it's cleaned with many of the most commonly used household products on the market today. Associated Press.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/15/for-green-home-clean-naturally/
In-home particle concentrations and childhood asthma morbidity. Among pre-school asthmatic children in Baltimore, increases in in-home
particulate matter were associated with respiratory symptoms and rescue medication use. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/11770/abstract.html
FDA will continue to study chemical. The Food and Drug Administration, criticized by its own scientific advisers for ignoring available data about health risks posed by a chemical found in everyday plastic, said yesterday it has no plans to amend its position on the substance but will continue to study it. Washington Post.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121502920.html
Plastic pollution threat to health and environment. Many chemical ingredients used in manufacturing of plastic goods including benzene, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxides, xylems and bisphenol A. are linked with numerous health hazards and reproductive problems. Dhaka New Nation, Bangladesh.
Monday, December 15, 2008.
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/12/15/news0308.htm
Too much TV, video gaming can be hazardous. A new review of nearly 200 studies examining children and their exposure to media reaches a sobering conclusion: Too much television and computer time can be hazardous to their health. Oklahoma City Oklahoman, Oklahoma.
Monday, December 15, 2008.
http://newsok.com/too-much-tv-video-gaming-can-be-hazardous/article/3330248
New study firmly ties hormone use to breast cancer. Taking menopause hormones for five years doubles the risk for breast cancer, according to a new analysis of a big federal study that reveals the most dramatic evidence yet of the dangers of these still-popular pills. USA Today.
Sunday, December 14, 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-12-13-breast-cancer-hormone_N.htm
[Editor's note: See a related article advising against using moisturising lotions that contain estrogen: http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/12/15/eline/links/20081215elin028.html and another about hormone use in fertility treatments: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12758697 ]
Toy recall targets 42,000 toxic items. Health Canada has recalled thousands more toys that a recent Toronto Star investigation found contain dangerous levels of lead. Toronto Star, Canada.
Sunday, December 14, 2008.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/553544
[Editor's note: See related articles about lead in toys: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/10/BUKT14KQ9N.DTL, http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-lead5-2008dec05,0,2154808.story, http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/3622016-35/story.csp, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97723259, http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=08-P13-00049&segmentID=7 and http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1076803 ]
EPA exempts factory farms from emissions reporting rule. The Bush administration exempted certain large factory farms from a requirement to report emissions of noxious gases caused by animal waste, angering environmentalists and delivering another policy victory to business interests before President-elect Barack Obama and his environmental team take office. Wall Street Journal.
Saturday, December 13, 2008.
http://online.wsj.com:80/article/SB122911925393902761.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Scientists, physicians, health, and environmental justice advocates to new Obama EPA director: 'We look forward to toxic chemical regulatory reform.' Dozens of health advocacy groups concerned about growing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, thyroid disease and other illness linked to chemical exposure, said today that they look forward to supporting President-elect Obama's new EPA administrator with expertise and information for solutions to the urgent threat of toxic chemical contamination. Market Watch.
Saturday, December 13, 2008.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Scientists-Physicians-Health-Environmental-Justice/story.aspx?guid=%7B518758E2-0CF3-4CCA-929C-8DDC2DC58831%7D
U.S. to start testing food for melamine. Processed meat and poultry products -- including some of kids' favorite foods -- will be pulled from grocery shelves nationwide for limited, random tests for melamine. McClatchy Newspapers.
Saturday, December 13, 2008.
http://wvgazette.com/News/200812120733
Defending vaccines. A movie star and a prominent scientist have teamed up to reassure the public that childhood vaccines are safe and do not cause autism. Morning Edition, NPR.
Saturday, December 13, 2008.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97940354&ps=cprs
F.D.A. panel votes to ban asthma drugs. A panel of federal drug experts voted on Thursday that the drugs Serevent and Foradil should be banned from use in the treatment of asthma. New York Times.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/health/policy/12fda.html?ref=us
What you don't know about a drug can hurt you. There's a common assumption that when a drug makes it to market, it has run a rigorous gantlet of testing and proper disclosure. Testing, yes. Disclosure -- not necessarily. Wall Street Journal.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122903390105599607.html
Cumulative exposure to lead in relation to cognitive function in older women. Findings suggest that cumulative exposure to lead, even at low levels
experienced in community settings, may have adverse consequences for women's cognition in
older age. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/11846/abstract.html
Impacts of climate change on indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals from agriculture. Overall, climate change is likely to increase human exposures to agricultural
contaminants. The magnitude of the increases will be highly dependent on the contaminant type. Risks
of many pathogens, particulate and particle-associated contaminants could increase significantly. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/0800084/abstract.html
Arsenic exposure within the Korean community (U.S.) based on dietary behavior and as levels in hair, urine, air and water. The Korean community (WA, U.S.) represents a group warranting investigation as they consume foods (e.g. shellfish, rice, finfish and seaweed) known to contain arsenic. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/11827/abstract.html
White House backs down on easing air-pollution rules. The Bush administration on Wednesday abandoned efforts to relax pollution controls on coal-fired power plants and industries it started with Vice President Dick Cheney's energy plan in 2001, bringing to a sudden end a long White House fight with environmental groups.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/260/story/57552.html
New fabric can wipe away toxic chemicals: study. A new dry wipe can clean up chemical agents such as mustard gas, giving soldiers a more convenient way to deal with toxic materials on the battlefield, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. Reuters.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE4B27SO20081203
Antibacterial personal hygiene products may not be worth potential risks. A recent study by UC Davis researchers calls into question the widespread use of two active ingredients — triclocarban and triclosan — in personal hygiene products, including antibacterial bar and liquid soaps. Infection Control Today.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/antibacterial-products-risk.html
[Editor's note: See a related article about the effects of triclosan on thyroid function: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/could-your-toothpaste-be-harming-your-thyroid/ ]
Experts deride U.S. plan to assess nanotech risks. The U.S. government's plan to research the potential health and environmental risks from engineered nanomaterials is woefully inadequate, an expert panel of the National Research Council said Wednesday. Bay Area News, San Francisco.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/green/Experts_Deride_U_S__Plan_to_Assess_Nanotech_Risks.html
FDA draft report urges consumption of fish, despite mercury contamination. The Food and Drug Administration is urging the government to amend its advisory that women and children should limit how much fish they eat, saying that the benefits of seafood outweigh the health risks and that most people should eat more fish, even if it contains mercury. Washington Post.
Friday, December 12, 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/11/AR2008121103394.html?hpid=sec-health
A widely-used chemical alters inflammation. Dibutyltin, an understudied chemical used widely in PVC plastics, can interfere with the natural ability of human and animals cells to control important immune responses and inflammation. Environmental Health News.
Thursday, December 11, 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/a-widely-used-understudied-chemical-alters-inflammation/
Nursing, health, and the environment meet in Arizona desert. Last week, a group of nursing leaders representing a range of nursing organizations from across the country gathered in Oracle, Ariz. to launch a new configuration of nurses who are interested in the relationship between the environment and human health and how it relates to their individual nursing practices and the nursing profession as a whole. University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Thursday, December 11, 2008.
http://www.oea.umaryland.edu/communications/news/?ViewStatus=FullArticle&articleDetail=5075
Scientists convene in Charleston to help Obama fight cancer. Last week, the President's Cancer Panel heard testimony from 10 leading scientists on the cancer threat of air pollution and water contamination. Charleston City Paper, South Carolina.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008.
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A56157
Pollutants in the womb can trigger adult cancers. Mouse moms exposed late in pregnancy to heavy doses of a carcinogen gave birth to pups that inevitably developed lymphomas and lung cancers, a new study shows. Science News.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39227/title/Pollutants_in_the_womb_can_trigger_adult_cancers_
China ups efforts to rid food of illegal additives. China is launching a four-month food safety campaign Wednesday that will include inspections of food makers to weed out illegal or excessive chemicals in food, in the country's latest move to restore trust hurt by a tainted milk scandal. Associated Press.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hud2xejzcnuymvyU35uIkpblGfSAD94UVNS00
Diesel truckers at cancer risk from exhaust. Trucking company workers who have been regularly exposed to diesel exhaust from vehicles on highways, city streets and loading docks have a higher risk of lung cancer than other workers, according to a new national study. San Francisco Chronicle, California.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/08/MNFO14KAA3.DTL
Chemicals feminizing males, study suggests. Chemicals [including many pesticides and phthalates] commonly found in food wrapping, makeup and baby powders are having a gender-bending effect by feminizing male populations of wildlife and humans, a scientific report reveals. Toronto Star, Canada.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/550470
[Editor's note: See a related article about some cosmetics manufacturers' reduction of phthalates in their products: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/cosmetics-phthalates-47120903 ]
Apparent rise in autism prevalence linked to shift in age at diagnosis. The increase in autism prevalence that many studies have reported in recent years may be attributable, at least in part, to a drop in the age at diagnosis over time, the results of a Danish study suggest. Reuters.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72507.html
State laws fail to curb teens' indoor tanning. State laws meant to keep teens out of indoor tanning booths haven't made a dent, a new study has found, disappointing doctors hoping to reduce deadly skin cancers. Associated Press.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2008481751_apmedindoortanning.html
Toxic chemicals found in three-quarters of soft plastic toys in Canada. Despite a decade-old voluntary ban in North America, Health Canada tests found three-quarters of soft plastic toys and items for young children for sale in Canada contained toxic chemical additives [phthalates]. Canwest News Service, Canada.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0022107e-2ae8-43d0-94a8-d551f9b41252&p=1
[Editor's note: See a related article: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/03/toys-danger.html?ref=rss and another about a lawsuit in response to a decision by the Consumer Product Safety Commission's decision to allow children's products containing phthalates to continue to be sold as long as they were made before a ban takes effect: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122843155893080993.html ]
Children's Environmental Health Faculty Champions Initiative: A successful model for integrating environmental health into pediatric healthcare. The initiative was highly effective in achieving its goal of building environmental
health capacity among healthcare professionals. The Faculty Champions model is a successful
method and can be replicated in other arenas.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/0800203/abstract.html
Young girls may hold key to breast cancer. We've all heard of changes in diet and lifestyle to prevent cancer in adults. But it looks more and more as if a cancer-free adulthood is determined years earlier -- maybe even before birth. Bergen County Record, New Jersey.
Monday, December 08, 2008.
http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/health/Young_girls_may_hold_key_to_breast_cancer.html
Environment behind racial disparity in allergies. Allergies are more common in African Americans than in whites, but whether this has more to do with genes or environment is not known. A new study suggests that the primary cause for the disparity is likely the result of different environmental exposures. Reuters Health.
Monday, December 08, 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/12/05/eline/links/20081205elin024.html
Across U.S., kids exposed to toxic air. Using the government's most up-to-date model for tracking the path of toxic chemicals, USA Today spent eight months examining the impact of industrial pollution on the air outside schools across the nation. The model is a computer simulation that predicts the path of toxic chemicals released by thousands of companies. The Arizona Republic.
Monday, December 08, 2008.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/12/08/20081208ustoxicschools1208.html
[Editor's note: See a related article at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/school-air-chemicals.htm and rebuttal articles: http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/x776484830 and http://knox.villagesoup.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=137986 ]
Risks and causes of Irish pork contamination. The Irish government ordered the food industry on Saturday to recall all domestically-produced pork products from shops, restaurants and plants because of contamination with dioxin, which can cause cancer. Reuters.
Sunday, December 07, 2008.
http://www.forexpros.com/news/forex-news/factbox-risks-and-causes-of-irish-pork-contamination-11740
Reports says air pollution harder on infants, children. Researchers at UCLA's Institute of the Environment say federal smog regulations do not factor how smog affects pregnant women, infants and preschool-age children. Los Angeles Daily News, California
Sunday, December 07, 2008.
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_11156967
Health matters: Tracking a new generation. Recruiting starts next month for the largest long-term study of children's health ever conducted in the U.S. [the National Children's Study]. Newsweek.
Sunday, December 07, 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/172590
Second-hand smoke raises odds of fertility problems. Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered more life-altering reasons for women to avoid second-hand smoke: it may lead to fertility problems or miscarriages. Toronto CTV, Canada.
Saturday, December 06, 2008.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081205/secondhand_smoke_081205/20081205?hub=Health
[Editor's note: See a related article about the effects of tobacco smoke on asthmatic boys: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081204133553.htm ]
Breathe, breathe in the air. The inside scoop on air pollution. Indoor air pollution is a major concern of the EPA. Oh sure there is pollution outside, but according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission there is much more inside. Orange County Register, California.
Saturday, December 06, 2008.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/air-radon-home-2248172-epa-solution
FDA: Long-acting asthma drugs increase asthma risks. A Food and Drug Administration analysis of four drugs used to treat asthma said the products are linked with an increased risk of asthma-related side effects, with higher risks seen in children. Wall Street Journal.
Saturday, December 06, 2008.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122849265787282969.html
Push to replace mercury thermometers is going global. Old mercury thermometers have just about vanished in the U.S. and Europe. But they remain in many other countries. Now, a new global effort, part of a UNEP program to reduce mercury emissions, is spreading the word about viable alternatives for health care. Environmental Health News.
Friday, December 05, 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/push-to-replace-mercury-thermometers-is-going-global
Nanomaterials may pose health risk. Minuscule nanoparticles added to consumer products increasingly may be swarming through the body and threatening organs like the liver, U.S. scientists fear. United Press International.
Friday, December 05, 2008.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/12/04/Nanomaterials_may_pose_health_risk/UPI-64421228417918/
The battle over rbGH continues. Why all the controversy? Increasingly, studies indicate there are plenty of long-term problems -- for both cows and humans -- stemming from the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone. San Francisco Examiner, California.
Friday, December 05, 2008.
http://www.examiner.com/x-579-Food-and-Drink-Examiner~y2008m12d4-The-battle-over-rgBH-continues
Panel advises EPA to overhaul risk assessments. Warning that "decision-making gridlock" has bogged down efforts to protect public health, a national panel of scientists recommended today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overhaul its strategy for assessing the hazards of toxic chemicals and pollutants. Environmental Health News.
Thursday, December 04, 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/panel-advises-epa-to-overhaul-risk-assessments
Bellingham schools clear the air for student health. The Bellingham School District has been honored with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2008 Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Model of Sustained Excellence Award for its exemplary efforts to improve indoor air quality for students, teachers, and staff. US Environmental Protection Agency.
Thursday, December 04, 2008.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/7A008BFB899B18148525751500729928
Toxicologist to become an NIH director. Toxicologist Linda Birnbaum, an expert not only on dioxins and their kin, but also on brominated flame retardants, was named the incoming director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Science News.
Thursday, December 04, 2008.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39012/title/Toxicologist_to_Become_an_NIH_Director
Cutting the cord to determine babies' health risk from toxic exposure. A team of researchers has completed a global assessment of newborns' umbilical cord blood to better understand the fetal health risks from smoking mothers. EurekAlert!
Thursday, December 04, 2008.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/asu-ctc120208.php
PVC producer fined $12 million for environmental damage. The feds ordered a major U.S. producer of polyvinyl chloride resin, a known cancer-causing agent, to pay $12 million in fines and to clean up its facilities after determining that it violated antipollution laws. Shintech's penalty is the largest to date. Scientific American.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008.
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=pvc-producer-fined-12-million-for-e-2008-12-02
Health -- a victim of climate change. More malaria, diarrhea, and asthma: these diseases are on the rise around the world because of environmental destruction and kill some three million children under five and two million adults a year. Inter Press Service.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008.
http://ipsnews.net/text/news.asp?idnews=44954
Children of U.S. farmworkers often uninsured. Farmworkers' children are exposed to pesticides and often do dangerous agricultural and are three times more likely than other children and almost twice as likely as other poor youngsters to have no health insurance coverage, a new study finds. HealthDay News.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008.
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2008/12/02/hscout621798.html