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Wednesday January 23, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)
Sponsor: The Seattle Biotech Legacy Foundation
Cosponsors: Antioch University Seattle and The Russell Family Foundation
Organizer: The Institute for Children's Environmental Health
What is ecological economics? Dr. Robert Costanza, an internationally renowned ecological economist, will present an overview. He will explain the key concepts of ecological economics -- notably, how ecosystems and their functions provide vital goods and services that directly benefit people, and how the valuation of ecosystem services in dollar terms gives critical economic justification for ecological sustainability. He will also discuss how the framework of ecological economics will promote and sustain human health and well-being. Dr. Costanza is Professor and Director of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont, a premier institution studying the relationships between human, ecological and economic systems. He is the cofounder and past president of the International Society for Ecological Economics; is past chief editor of the society's journal, Ecological Economics; and currently serves on editorial boards of various journals and steering committees of many organizations relating to sustainability.
This is the first of a four-lecture series. A $5 donation is appreciated for this special first lecture, while a $10 fee applies to the remaining three lectures if paid in advance. Dates and topics of the remaining three lectures are:
Details are on the CHE-WA website: http://washington.chenw.org/lectures.html
1) 2nd Annual Northwest Conference on Climate Change
Friday January 11, 2008
Portland, Oregon
at the World Trade Center Two Auditorium, 25 Southwest Salmon Street
Sponsor: Environmental Law Educational Center
This conference will address climate change laws, regulations and litigation; the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed air quality and climate change rules package; greenhouse gas regulation and reporting and more.
Price: see http://www.elecenter.com/online-reg/2008-Climate-Change.htm
Website: http://www.elecenter.com/agenda_2008-01-11.htm
Contact: Environmental Law Education Center, 503-282-5220 or hduncun@elecenter.com
Saturday January 12, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at Seattle Pacific University, Gwinn Commons 3rd Floor (3310 Sixth Avenue West)
Sponsor: Priorities for a Healthy Washington, Washington Environmental Council
We'll hear from legislators, environmental lobbyists, members of the media and others regarding the community's Priorities for a Healthy Washington. The four 2008 Priorities are Washington Climate Action, Local Solutions to Global Warming, Evergreen Cities, and Local Farms -- Healthy Kids.
Price: $20 with lunch or $10 without
Website: https://www.wecprotects.org/join/legworkshop_reg.cfm
Contact: 206-622-8103
Monday January 14, 2008
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at Goods for the Planet, 525 Dexter Avenue N
Sponsor: Greater Seattle Climate Dialogues
Drop into our monthly meeting (this month only, on the second Monday of the month). It's an informal gathering where you can learn all about the Climate Dialogues, get a copy of Climate Choices, and meet other people who are getting involved. Get facilitation tips, get help starting a circle, and maybe even get to try one out.
Price: free
Website: http://www.climatedialogues.org/
Contact: Phil Mitchell, phil@2people.org
Online Calendar. Upcoming events extending more than one month in the future 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/
Lawmakers spar on product safety. Efforts to overhaul the federal agency charged with protecting consumers from harmful products have hit a roadblock, even after this year's recalls of toys and other merchandise. Wall Street Journal, 18 December 2007.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119794157439335459.html
All about: water and health. According to the World Bank, 88 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. CNN, 18 December 2007.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/17/eco.about.water/
County to ban smoking in public housing units. Following a national trend, the housing authority's board voted Monday for a pilot program that bans smoking entirely in three apartment buildings, 222 units in all. Seattle Times, Washington, 18 December 2007.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004079576_smoking18m.html
Marijuana smoke contains higher levels of certain toxins than tobacco smoke. Researchers in Canada report that marijuana smoke contains significantly higher levels of several toxic compounds -- including ammonia and hydrogen cyanide -- than tobacco smoke and may pose similar health risks. Science News, 18 December 2007.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217110328.htm
Water may hide harmful chemical cocktail. A report by the UK's Royal Society of Chemistry says chemicals from consumer products and drugs could be breaking down and recombining into a harmful brew in water supplies. New Scientist, England, 17 December 2007.
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/mg19626343.300-water-may-hide-harmful-chemical-cocktail.html
As temperatures rise, health could decline. Depending on where you are, this is going to be a hotter, wetter, drier, windier, calmer, dirtier, buggier or hungrier century than mankind has seen in a while. In some places, it may be deadlier, too. Washington Post, 17 December 2007.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121601723.html
A growing problem in our houses: mold. Mold in buildings has gotten more attention over the last several years as it was linked to allergies, breathing problems and other health issues. Bergen County Record, New Jersey, 16 December 2007.
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3NDAmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcyMzM0NDUmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyMQ
Mobile phones 'cancer link': mouth tumors 50% more likely after heavy use. The results raise concerns that mobiles could be interfering with the body in ways that scientists simply do not understand. Previous studies into the links between phones and cancer have generated conflicting results. Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 15 December 2007.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=502409&in_page_id=1774
Benzene study in Anchorage targets attached garages. Because of our gasoline and our climate, Alaskans who live in homes with attached garages are at higher risk of exposure to harmful chemicals in the air. A few scientists are trying to find out the size of that risk. Dutch Harbor Fisherman, Alaska, 15 December 2007.
http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/361691.html
Traffic pollution hurts asthmatic kids' lungs. Children with asthma who are exposed to traffic pollution are at increased risk for respiratory problems and reduced lung volumes, says a study that looked at children in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, a crossing point into the United States. Health Day News, 15 December 2007.
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/071214/6121415AU.html
Mercury in mascara? The quest for thicker lashes and defined eyes should get safer on Jan. 1, when Minnesota bans mercury from mascara, eye liners and skin-lightening creams. Associated Press, 14 December 2007.
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8TGQAKG0
State to expand lead jewelry probe. California toxics regulators Thursday said secret shoppers would be expanding their search in 2008 for lead contamination in children's and adult jewelry as well as metal studs used in body piercing. Los Angeles Times, California, 14 December 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-lead14dec14,1,4861439.story?ctrack=4&cset=true
Indoor air important, too. The world worries about air pollution, with most of the concern focused on outdoor smog and emissions. What many people don't know or think about is indoor air pollution, which the World Health Organization says kills 1.6 million people around the globe yearly, or one every 20 seconds. Nevada City Union, California, 14 December 2007.
http://www.theunion.com/article/20071214/NEWS/112140157
Health effects of synthetic turf are studied. Most of the fields are made springy with rubber pellets from recycled tires that can stick to skin or find their way into children's mouths. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, 14 December 2007.
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=27&id=17261
Lingering toxins continue to cause cancer. In the largest study of its kind ever done, researchers report that banned pesticides and other toxic chemicals lingering in the environment put people at an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Vancouver Sun, Canada, 13 December 2007.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=90e51e11-d69c-44c0-a45f-a1569cb261d4&k=81453
Sears aims to reduce and phase out use of polyvinyl chloride. Sears Holdings Corp. said Wednesday it will move to phase out the use of the plastic PVC in packaging and merchandise at its Sears and Kmart stores, joining other retailers in targeting the plastic because of health and environmental concerns. Associated Press, 13 December 2007.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-ap-il-sears-pvc,0,2321498.story
Chemical in infant formula cans sparks concern. The FDA has suggested that bisphenol A is safe at low levels. Some public health experts disagree. ABC News, 13 December 2007.
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3968851
No 'One-size-fits-all' arsenic remedy. Recent work by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers on arsenic-tainted wells has found that appropriate treatment varies depending on the source of the contamination. Waste and Wastewater News, 13 December 2007.
http://wwn-online.com/articles/56638/
UNICEF: Without action, children in poor countries will be very hard hit by climate change. Climate change is expected to exacerbate three of the biggest health issues that kill children worldwide: malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition. Associated Press, 12 December 2007.
http://iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/12/asia/AS-MED-Bali-Child-Health.php
Dirty secret: How healthy is your office? Office workers spend eight hours a day marinating in carcinogens and chemical substances. Photocopiers emit ozone. Printers spew ultrafine particulates. Furniture and computers stew in brominated flame-retardants. CanWest News, Canada, 11 December 2007.
http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=158724
Waterborne carbon increases threat of environmental mercury. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and a worrisome environmental contaminant, but the severity of its threat appears to depend on what else is in the water. Science Daily, 11 December 2007.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071210162850.htm
Weight and pregnancy. Numerous studies confirm that obese women are at higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that can threaten the life of both the mother and the fetus. Hartford Courant, Connecticut, 10 December 2007.
http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-obesemoms.artdec10,0,1427321.story?page=1&coll=hc_tab01_layout
Discarded cosmetics 'threat to drinking water.' Drinking water in Britain is under threat from drugs and cosmetics being flushed down the drains in millions of households, chemists have warned. London Daily Telegraph, England, 10 December 2007.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/12/10/eawater110.xml
Getting lead out is a dirty job. Once parents have finished vetting toys for the holiday season, they should take at least one more precaution to safeguard their children from exposure to lead: Remove their shoes. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 9 December 2007.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-lead_thinkdec09,1,5940121,full.story?ctrack=3&cset=true
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, 9 December 2007.
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MjMxNzYz
High weed killer levels found in river checks. Atrazine, the second most widely used weed killer in the country, is showing up in some streams and rivers at levels high enough to potentially harm amphibians, fish and aquatic ecosystems, according to the findings of an extensive EPA database that has not been made public. Washington Post, 9 December 2007.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120801451.html
Contaminant collects in breast milk. Scientists have discovered the mechanism by which a chemical known as perchlorate can collect in breast milk and cause cognitive and motor deficits in newborns. Health Day News, 8 December 2007.
http://www.statesman.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/envm/610559.html
Lead linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Even minute levels of lead in the blood -- lower than levels previously believed to cause no harm -- have been linked to ADHD. The Daily Green, 7 December 2007.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/lead-attention-deficit-47120702
Controversial chemical found in infant formula. New research from a U.S. environmental group reveals the potentially carcinogenic chemical bisphenol A is in the lining of most cans of liquid baby formula and often leaches into the liquid at what they say are dangerous levels for babies. Toronto Star, Ontario, 7 December 2007.
http://www.thestar.com/article/283101
Give your home a breath of fresh air. There are lots of things you can do to make the atmosphere in your house cleaner and healthier. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 7 December 2007.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071207.HOLMES07/TPStory/Environment
State orders massive cleanup of PCB-tainted shoreline. A PCB-tainted stretch of Columbia River shoreline will be cleaned to the highest level that’s technically feasible, state regulators announced Thursday. Clark Columbian, Washington, 7 December 2007.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12062007_State-orders-massive-cleanup-of-PCB-tainted-shoreline.cfm
Common household chemical could raise breast cancer risk. A chemical [BBP] found in many plastic products used in households caused accelerated breast development and genetic changes in newborn female lab rats, a condition that might predispose the animals to breast cancer later in life, a new study says. Health Day News, 7 December 2007.
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/071206/6120615AU.html
Diesel traffic makes asthma worse. Air pollution from diesel traffic can worsen lung function in people with asthma, a team of international researchers has said. BBC, UK, 6 December 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7129024.stm
The real dangers of air pollution. A growing pile of research suggests that even relatively low levels of air pollution may be more harmful than previously realized, to both heart and lungs. US News & World Report, 6 December 2007.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/12/05/the-real-dangers-of-air-pollution.html
Obese kids face higher risk of heart disease in adulthood. Adding fuel to the claim that childhood obesity is becoming a major public-health threat, a large new study shows a strong link between children's weight and their risk of developing coronary heart disease in adulthood. Wall Street Journal, 6 December 2007.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119689037142114890.html
Environmental groups release guide to toys containing toxins. Tests on more than 1,200 children’s products, most of them still on store shelves, found that 35 percent contain lead, many with levels far above the federal recall standard used for lead paint. Associated Press, 6 December 2007.
http://www.reporterherald.com/Top-Story.asp?ID=13570
Durbin wants more federal regulation of toy safety. Sen. Dick Durbin called Wednesday for tighter federal regulation of toy safety, saying holiday shopping has become like playing "Chinese roulette." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, 6 December 2007.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/washington/story/7F7311433DCC9B1F862573A9001307B1?OpenDocument
Which is better? Antibacterial scrubbers vs. soap. If cleanliness is next to godliness, modern America is the land of the faithful -- fighting the good fight against today's so-called superbugs with sparkling countertops and well-washed hands. Seattle Times, Washington, 5 December 2007.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2004052358_soap05.html
Tests on 1,200 toys in U.S. find 35 percent tainted by lead. Tests on more than 1,200 children's products, most of them still on store shelves, found that 35 percent contain lead -- many with levels far above the U.S. federal recall standard used for lead paint. Associated Press, 5 December 2007.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/05/business/toys.php