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.
The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI), a national working group of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, invites you to sign our newly-drafted policy consensus statement on environmental agents associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. This policy statement is based on the scientific consensus statement that LDDI published earlier this year and details specific policy initiatives to be taken to protect children from exposures that may contribute to learning and developmental disabilities and autism.
Everyone is encouraged to sign the statement no later than Monday, September 1st. We will need your name, credentials and affiliation (note that we will not take those without a stated affiliation). The policy statement, the scientific statement, and the signature form for the policy statement are all available on the LDDI website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDI.html
If you have any questions regarding the statement, please contact primary author Steve Gilbert, PhD, DABT, at sgilbert@innd.org or Nancy Snow, MS, at nsnow@iceh.org. Thank you for considering signing.
Friday August 1, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle, 7755 Seaview Avenue Northwest
Sponsor: The Northwest Environmental Training Center
The following sampling course is designed for anyone collecting ambient water samples for low-level total and dissolved trace metals. This one-day course will include a half day in the classroom with lectures covering the circumstances in which low-level detection limits would be desired or required, potential routes of metals contamination, necessary sampling supplies, various sampling techniques, proper handling and preservation of samples, and field-quality assurance sample collection requirements. During the second half of the day, students will engage in hands-on field exercises, in which they will be given the opportunity to practice several surface-water sampling protocols using various sample-collection methods and following the "Clean Hands/Dirty Hands" sampling techniques. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $295, $250 reduced tuition is available to those who qualify
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/chem-305_08-08_seattle.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or rsobol@nwetc.org
Tuesday August 5, 2008
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Initiative
We are seeing increases in incidence of adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm delivery and low birthweight. Existing and emerging data show that prenatal exposure to chemicals in our environment are likely to explain some portion of adverse birth outcomes. In addition, adverse birth outcomes can presage further adverse effects during child or adulthood. This talk will present findings from the epidemiologic literature on prenatal exposures to environmental contaminants and their implications for short-and long-term consequences. The speaker will be Tracey Woodruff, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco and the director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
Thursday August 7, 2008
11:30 a.m.
Bend, Oregon
at St. Charles Center for Health and Learning, 2500 NE Neff Road
Sponsor: Oregon Environmental Council
Last fall, the Oregon Environmental Council released "Pollution in People," a first-of-its kind study examining the levels of toxic pollutants in Oregonians. The diverse group of 10 women and men who volunteered for the study came from all over the state. Unfortunately, they all had one thing in common with each other -- and probably all Oregonians -- the presence of hazardous chemicals in their bodies. Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, MPH, PhD, will be discussing the results of the study and its implications for Oregon. As program director of the Oregon Environmental Council, she will also provide in-depth background on the nature of prevention, potential healthy impacts of toxins and how we can now begin to track our exposure to these chemicals.
Price: $13.00 for City Club members and $25.00 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased on the City Club website. Preregistration is required by August 4th.
Website: http://www.cityclubofcentraloregon.com/
Thursday August 7, 2008
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Bend, Oregon
at St. Charles Center for Health and Learning, 2500 NE Neff Road, Conference Room A
Sponsor: Health Care Without Harm, Oregon Environmental Council and Oregon Center for Environmental Health
Join us to learn about what pollution is doing in the bodies of Oregonians and the associated health costs, and the role of health care in reducing exposures and protecting the health of their communities. Speakers will be Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Environmental Health Program director of the Oregon Environmental Council; Emma Sirois, Health Care Without Harm Program director with the Oregon Center for Environmental Health; and Mark Petersen, director of hospitality and liaison to Hospital Green Team at St. Charles Medical Center. Space is limited, so please RSVP by August 1, 2008.
Price: free
Contact: Emma Sirois, 503-233-1510 or emma@oregon-health.org
Monday through Friday, August 11 - 15, 2008
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine
Sponsor: Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
Network with other scholars who bring knowledge and experience from many perspectives, including epidemiology, communications, emergency preparedness, environmental health, program planning, evaluation, program management, leadership and other public health disciplines. In morning plenary sessions, experts will present their best thinking on climate change, built environment and communicable disease. In your course, you will learn methods, tools, and best practices in public health.
Price: $1200 if paid by June 21st, $1500 after June 21st, plus $100 GIS materials fee
Website: http://www.nwcphp.org/training/summer-institute/index_html
Contact: Northwest Center for Public Health Practice 206-685-1130 or nwcphp@u.washington.edu
Tuesday August 26, 2008
noon - 1:00 p.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: University of Washington Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
The presenter will be Mack Sewell, DrPH, MS, state epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health Office of Epidemiology.
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.nwcphp.org/training/hot-topics
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/
Job opening, Eugene, Oregon. The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) seeks a dynamic leader to work with our energetic and committed staff and board to continue and expand our efforts to protect the health of people and the environment in the Pacific Northwest by advancing alternatives to pesticides. Our ideal candidate is a skilled communicator and visionary with significant fundraising and nonprofit experience who can take on the multiple tasks required to lead an established nonprofit organization. The executive director is a full-time, professional staff person whose primary responsibility is to manage the operation and growth of the organization. Contact Karen Murphy, kmurphy@pesticide.org. Application period closes on September 24, 2008, for a position to start in January 2009.
http://www.pesticide.org/jobs.html
America's Children and the Environment website updated. This website from the US Environmental Protection Agency has recently been updated with the most current data available (from 2006) for measures of contaminants, body burdens and illnesses important for children's environmental health. Data relates to air-quality standards, concentrations of cotinine, asthma, AD/HD, and other measures of children's environmental health.
http://www.epa.gov/envirohealth/children/index.htm
New executive director at the Washington Toxics Coalition. Les Welsh, who is joining the WTC staff as executive director, has been professionally engaged in environmental and social change work for the last 28 years. His past campaign- and nonprofit-management experience includes working or consulting for such groups as Greenpeace, the American Indian Movement, Pacific Whale Foundation, LightHawk and other organizations. Contact lwelsh@watoxics.org or call 206-632-1545.
Lawmakers agree to ban toxins in children's items. House and Senate lawmakers agreed to permanently ban three types of phthalates from children's toys and to outlaw three others pending a study of their health effects. Washington Post, 29 July 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802586.html
How independent are vaccine defenders? For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism. Many independent experts have sided with government officials who say there's no possible connection. But how "independent" are they? CBS News, 29 July 2008.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/25/cbsnews_investigates/main4296175.shtml
Cut children's fluoride exposure, report urges. An expert panel says the government should cut the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water, encourage children to use low-fluoride toothpaste and have makers of infant formula reduce levels in their products. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 29 July 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080729.wfluoride29/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home?cid=al_gam_mostview
Creating a Healthy Home Environment: Mold and Mildew Free. Some 10% of the U.S. population is sensitive to mold, and invisible mold spores cause countless allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and sinus infections. Biloxi Sun Herald, Mississippi, 29 July 2008.
http://www.sunherald.com/prnewswire/story/711234.html
Secondhand smoke raises spouse's stroke risk: study. Nonsmokers married to smokers have a greatly increased chance of having strokes, according to a U.S. study published on Tuesday. Reuters, 29 July 2008.
http://www.nationalpost.com/life/health/story.html?id=2fbaf4b4-f93e-49e5-b4bb-0d237ec53977
These nipples are dangerous. The Consumer Education and Research Society tested a range of pacifiers, teethers and nipples for the presence of migrated heavy metals lead, cadmium and chromium. The findings are alarming. Calcutta Telegraph, India, 28 July 2008.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080728/jsp/atleisure/story_9610775.jsp
Mobile emissions sniffer finds pollution hot spots. A Ministry of the Environment truck carrying an array of measuring instruments is part of an innovative mobile monitoring research project that's attracting international interest. Hamilton Spectator, Ontario, 28 July 2008.
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/410243
Is your makeup killing you? U.S. lax on banning ingredients that could be harmful to human health. Palm Springs Desert Sun, California, 26 July 2008.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/LIFESTYLES03/807260306/1059/lifestyles03
Kilns contribute to mercury emissions. Eighteen years after the federal Clean Air Act mandated regulation of industrial mercury emissions, the nation's 150 cement kilns still emit nearly 23,000 pounds of mercury per year. Frederick News-Post, Maryland, 26 July 2008.
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=78027
[Editor's note: See a related article about an agreement with a cement company in Oregon: http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=6991 ]
New car smell. There's more than meets the nose when it comes to the scent inside a new car. The ingredients of that new-car smell have been linked with cancer, endocrine disruption and neurologic, immune and reproductive system disorders. Poughkeepsie Journal, New York, 26 July 2008.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/LIFE12/80725026/1005/LIFE
Warming is harder on minorities, report says. African-Americans are more likely to be hurt by global warming than other Americans, according to a report issued Thursday. Nashville Tennessean, Tennessee, 25 July 2008.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/NEWS08/807250423/1025/NEWS01
U.S. tries to put together system to trace food items from field to fork. When there's an urgent need to trace fruits and vegetables in a crisis like the salmonella outbreak, a lot of the pieces for a rapid-response system already exist, but nobody has quite figured out how to put them together to operate seamlessly in the vast American marketplace. Canadian Press, 25 July 2008.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hasR327kGUUYsDDbDSdsaYpM3Sqw
In surprise move, EPA bans carbofuran residue on food. The EPA announced yesterday that it will no longer allow residue of the toxic pesticide carbofuran on domestic or imported food, a decision that would effectively remove the chemical from the U.S. market. Washington Post, 25 July 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/24/AR2008072403495.html
Farmers told organic is way to grow. Agricultural experts and officials are urging farmers to stop using chemical pesticides and start growing organic, non-genetically modified produce for export to European markets. Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia, 25 July 2008.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008072520997/National-news/Farmers-told-organic-is-way-to-grow.html
Veterans get ALS disability. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs plans to provide full disability payments for Lou Gehrig's disease, tacitly acknowledging for the first time a link between the fatal neurological disorder and military service. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, 25 July 2008.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.als25jul25,0,7448073.story
Choose a sunblock then soak in the fun, not sun. Whether you go with all-natural sunblock or regular sunscreen, stay safe with tips from Michel McDonald, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center dermatologist who treats skin cancer patients. Gannett News Service, 25 July 2008.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/LIFE02/807250306/1082/LIFE02
Agencies asked to ease safety rules. In its final days in power, the Bush White House is rushing to have federal agencies water down the regulation of hazardous substances, lawmakers and public health experts say. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 24 July 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371959_asbestos24.html
Cancer expert wants kids kept off cellphones. The head of a U.S. cancer centre is urging that children not use cellphones, except in emergencies, because of a growing body of literature pointing to possible adverse health effects, including cancer. Toronto Star, Ontario, 24 July 2008.
http://healthzone.ca/health/article/466403
ADHD increasingly common in older kids, CDC says. More older children are being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder while the rate is holding steady for children under 12, according to a government report released Wednesday. Associated Press, 24 July 2008.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/health/5903733.html
What's lurking in your countertop? As the popularity of granite countertops has increased, so have reports that some are emitting radiation and radon at surprisingly high levels. New York Times, 24 July 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Cancer survival depends on where you live. Your odds of surviving cancer depend on which country you live in--and, in the United States, it also depends on whether you're black or white, a new study finds. Health Day News, 23 July 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=617550
Fresh scent may hide toxic secret. Common household items such as dryer sheets, fabric softeners, detergents, and solid, spray and plug-in air fresheners are potentially exposing your family and friends to dangerous chemicals, a new study finds. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 23 July 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371779_toxicfragrance23.html
Epilepsy drug Topamax linked to birth defects. Other epilepsy drugs that have been studied have also been found to increase the risk of such defects, suggesting that the entire class of drugs may interfere with the reproductive process. Los Angeles Times, California, 22 July 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-defects22-2008jul22,0,1044025.story
Health matters: secondhand smoke: what is it? Secondhand smoke, known technically as environmental tobacco smoke, is a mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals generated during the burning of tobacco products. Needham Times, Massachusetts, 22 July 2008.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/needham/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1346889069/Health-Matters-Secondhand-Smoke-What-is-it
2nd annual guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats. Overall, several auto manufacturers showed improvement over last year's findings, including Mazda, General Motors and Nissan. General Motors, whose average vehicle ranking improved by 27%, showed the most improvement of the domestic automakers. Average child car seat scores improved by 28% overall, proving that toxic chemicals are not required for the manufacturing of child car seats and interior automobile components. Published by Ecology Center of Michigan. 22 July 2008.
http://www.healthycar.org/press.releases.php
Bottled water stokes fluoride, cavity debate. On the long list of cavity culprits, soda pop and sugary fruit juices rank high. Now public health officials are pointing the finger at bottled water. Houston Chronicle, Texas, 21 July 2008.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/health/5897757.html
Sludge to be studied for health concerns. It happens. Tons of it, accumulating with every toilet flush. But agreement on wastewater residuals -- what's left of sewage after treated water is discharged back into rivers and streams -- pretty much stops there. Raleigh News & Observer, North Carolina, 21 July 2008.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1148502.html
Skin cancer fear 'may harm bones.' Worries over skin cancer mean that some people are shunning the sun altogether -- which could endanger their health, a poll has found. BBC, UK, 21 July 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7514197.stm
Public health experts rally to keep EPA from easing asbestos risk rules. From top doctors and scientists to widows, public health experts are mustering to try to keep the EPA from watering down regulations determining the cancer-causing danger of asbestos exposure. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 21 July 2008.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/secretingredients/archives/143926.asp
Class action over lead in lipstick. Class action against a manufacturer of women's perfumes and makeup has been given the green light to proceed. The legal action is against LVMH and concerns lipstick produced for Dior which has been found to contain unacceptably high levels of lead. News-Medical.net, 21 July 2008.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=40114
Mother's risks last child's lifetime. Wisconsin leads the nation in reported drinking among women of childbearing age. Appleton Post-Crescent, Wisconsin, 21 July 2008.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/APC0101/80718110/1979/APC0404
San Francisco women with higher PCB levels are less likely to give birth to boys. Women becoming pregnant in the San Francisco Bay area during the 1960's were a third less likely to give birth to a baby boy if their PCB levels were relatively high. Environmental Health News, 20 July 2008.
http://environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0717hertz-picciottoetal.html
Is China's pollution poisoning its children? Federica Perera, a pioneer of molecular epidemiology, is studying the impact of air pollution on children in China. The lessons should apply in the US, Europe and Japan as well. Scientific American, 20 July 2008.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=chinas-children-of-smoke
How your behaviour can change your children's DNA. Can DNA can be modified or imprinted with the experiences of your parents and grandparents? London Times, England, 20 July 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4364054.ece
Scientist cites dangers of U.S. food supply. Dependence on foreign food and massive commercial agriculture place Americans at greater risk than dependence on foreign oil. Peoria Journal Star, Illinois, 20 July 2008.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1816442704/Scientist-cites-dangers-of-U-S-food-supply
Hidden dangers in home could impact child development. Over the past few decades, researchers have begun to focus on environmental exposures as contributing factors to the decline in children's health. Denver ABC7 TV, Colorado, 19 July 2008.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/16925484/detail.html
Disease prevention called a better bet. A report from the Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit health advocacy group, found that programs encouraging physical activity, healthy eating and no smoking were a better investment than those concentrating primarily on treatment. Washington Post, 18 July 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071700990.html
Fluoride still in the news: risks noted for kidney patients, children, seniors. The National Kidney Foundation recently withdrew its longstanding support for fluoridation of public water supplies. Topango Messenger, California, 18 July 2008.
http://www.topangamessenger.com/articles.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=3114
First-trimester asthma flares tied to birth defects. Asthma flare-ups early in pregnancy may raise the risk of birth defects, a new study suggests -- highlighting, researchers say, the importance of good asthma control in pregnant women. Reuters Health, 18 July 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/07/17/eline/links/20080717elin022.html
Heart group issues 1st guidelines on strokes in kids. In releasing its first scientific statement on the subject Thursday, the American Heart Association noted that strokes are more common in children than previously thought and that the causes, risks and symptoms differ greatly from those in adults. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 18 July 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-baby-strokes-web-18-jul18,0,1604128.story
Climate change to cause 'irreversible' health risks. An Environmental Protection Agency report released Thursday warns that global warming will increase disease and other health problems nationwide in coming decades. USA Today, 18 July 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2008-07-17-climate-health-report_N.htm
Plants promote health. Houseplants look good, smell fresh and, according to some studies, can actually make your home a healthier place to live. Tigard Times, Oregon, 17 July 2008.
http://www.tigardtimes.com/features/story.php?story_id=121622339222764200
Color me concerned. New research indicates that artificial food dyes can disrupt some children's behavior, and activists and consumer groups are asking for bans or limits on the dyes. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, 17 July 2008.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-to.hs.additive17jul17,0,6973489.story
Eating too many nuts in pregnancy could put babies at risk of asthma. Women who eat a lot of nuts during pregnancy may be putting their children at greater risk of asthma, scientists warned yesterday. London Guardian, England, 17 July 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/16/health
NTP brief on BPA receives mixed peer review. Peer reviewers of a federal agency's draft on bisphenol A agreed with concerns over some human-health impacts, but they suggested lowering levels of concern. And they pointed to missing exposure data for the most vulnerable. Environmental Science & Technology, 17 July 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/esthag/asap/html/es801811y.html
Government scientists wrangle with White House over climate health dangers. U.S. government scientists have warned of a rising death toll from heat waves, wildfires, disease and smog caused by global warming, in a study the White House repeatedly tried to bury to avoid regulating greenhouse emissions. London Times, England, 16 July 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4337877.ece