These bulletins are now 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.
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
Tuesday January 8, 2008
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' (AAIDD) Environmental Health Initiative and the John Merck Fund
Carol Westinghouse, specialist in Cleaning for Health, will discuss the health effects of ingredients in conventional cleaning products, the components of a Cleaning for Health program and how anyone can help implement this program in their schools. Please call a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. EST. Call toll free: 1-800-868-1837, or call direct: 1-404-920-6440
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
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
Saturday January 12, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Northwest Environmental Education Council (NWEEC), 650 S. Orcas Street, Suite 220
We invite those passionate about working cooperatively to join us. Wešll use a process called Open Space Technology that invites each of us to take responsibility for what we love and care about. We'll organize ourselves, creating an agenda based on the topics of interest to each of us. In other words, the meeting is guided by what each of us believes is important to pursue, so bring your ideas and be prepared to lead and participate. For a longer description of Open Space Technology, see http://openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?AboutOpenSpace The day will be facilitated by Peggy Holman, http://www.opencirclecompany.com/bio.htm
Price: suggested donation is $5.00; no one will be turned away
Website: http://www.wiserearth.org/event/view/d5fc6817ec71ddbcea5095255a57da9a/group/ecoapril
Contact: Jon Ramer, 206 526-2323 or jramer@interraproject.org
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
January 14 - March 7, 2008
Sponsor: Teleosis Institute
Sustainable medicine recognizes that human health and the environment are inextricably linked. This online course is designed to prepare health professionals as leaders in sustainable medicine. Learn about cost-effective health care, renewable treatment methods and preventive self-care education.
Price: $495
Website: http://www.teleosis.org/index.php
Contact: 510-558-7285 or info@teleosis.org
Wednesday January 23, 2008
Olympia, Washington
Sponsor: Priorities for a Healthy Washington, People for Puget Sound
Last year's legislative session was a banner year, as we successfully passed all four priorities. Lobby Day is a great way to get involved, learn more and connect with hundreds of others.
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.environmentalpriorities.org/
Thursday January 31, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington Husky Union Building
Sponsor: Focus the Nation and others listed on the website
Focus the Nation is a major educational initiative coordinating teams of faculty, students and staff at over a thousand colleges, universities and high schools in the United States, to collaboratively engage in a nationwide, interdisciplinary discussion centered around the theme of "Global Warming Solutions for America." The project culminates January 31, 2008, in the form of one-day, national symposia held simultaneously on campuses across the country. A number of local climate groups are collaborating to translate this event into meaningful political action, and we need volunteers to help. Please contact Phil Mitchell to sign up: phil@2people.org
Price: unknown
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/uwfocus/
Contact: uwfocus@u.washington.edu
Thursday and Friday, January 31 - February 1, 2008
8:30am - 5:00pm
Lacey, Washington
at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Avenue SE
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
This introductory course provides participants with an understanding of the foundations of aquatic toxicology and how these concepts are applied to managing pollutants in aquatic environments. The course covers terminology, common test designs, and endpoints such as lethality, cancer, and endocrine disruption. Important legacy and emerging pollutants of concern such as heavy metals, organic pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products will also be presented. Continuing education units are available.
Price: $495 tuition, $395 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/etox-410_01-08_lacey.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
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/
New Member. CHE-Washington welcomes a new member:
For a searchable database of organizations with which CHE-WA members are affiliated, please visit the CHE-WA website: http://washington.chenw.org/members.html
Action Alert: Ask Bath & Body Works to make safe products. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has published an action alert for consumers interested in safe cosmetics. They have provided a sample message on their website that you can edit, copy and paste into the company's online contact form.
http://safecosmetics.org:80/action/bbworks.cfm
Protecting our children by monitoring and preventing lead exposure. Kids run better unleaded. Unfortunately even small amounts of lead rob children of their intellectual potential by decreasing their IQ and reading ability, and permanently damaging their nervous systems. Seattle Voter, January 2008.
http://www.seattlelwv.org/sites/default/files/Web%20Jan08Voters.pdf (pages 14-16)
This year resolve to update cosmetics to eco-friendly brands. Every adult American uses an average of 10 personal care products a day containing 100 or more unique chemicals--some of them harmful to human health, according to a report bythe Environmental Working Group. Salem Monthly, Oregon, 1 January 2008.
http://willamettelive.com/story/This_year_resolve_to_update_cosmetics_to_ecofriendly_brands148.html
Citizen warns of dangers of natural gas drilling. Teresa Kehagias was an analyst for the natural gas industry, examining the sociopolitical impact of leasing mineral rights in communities like the one she is trying to protect today. Wayne Independent, Pennsylvania, 1 January 2008.
http://www.wayneindependent.com/news/x469065959
New labels balance nutrition pros and cons, give each food a score. Scientists will introduce a new labeling system that they say will help consumers easily identify the healthiest foods in a grocery store - every product will be rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 going to the most nutritious products. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 31 December 2007.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/31/MN7RU2UJL.DTL
Mercury emissions fuel cremation fight. Health officials are concerned about what they see as a potential health risk to the living - mercury being released into the atmosphere from dental fillings of the cremated. Boston Globe, 30 December 2007.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/30/mercury_emissions_fuel_cremation_fight/
Men who smoke prone to impotence. If heart disease, stroke and certain cancers haven't been reason enough for men to quit smoking, consider this: The habit also increases the risk of erectile dysfunction. Medline Plus, 30 December 2007.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_59488.html
Farm women at greater risk of asthma: Study. Farm women, who are exposed to some commonly used pesticides in farm work are at a greater risk of developing allergic asthma, according to a new study. HealthDay News, 29 December 2007.
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/12/28/hscout611311.html
UK tells pregnant women to boost vitamin D intake. The British government has told pregnant and breastfeeding women to increase their intake of vitamin D during the darker winter months to reduce the risk of seizures and the bone disease rickets in their children. Reuters Health, 29 December 2007.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2007/12/28/eline/links/20071228elin017.html
How green are eco-friendly cleaning products? The cleaning-product aisles at our local supermarkets are starting to look like Earth Day parades. Words like "organic," "biodegradable" and "environmentally-friendly" are everywhere. Fox News, 29 December 2007.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318832,00.html
Dry cleaner takes safer, less smelly route. Pressed pants and shirts hang in tidy alphabetized rows, the concrete walls and floors have been scoured, and the warm, moist air smells clean, not heavy with dry-cleaning chemicals. Anchorage Daily News, Alaska, 29 December 2007.
http://www.adn.com/news/environment/story/249314.html
[Editor's note: see a similar article about dry cleaners in Albuquerque at http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/dec/31/albuquerque-dry-cleaning-business-touts-environmen/]
Radon: Is it in your home? Radon, a radioactive gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America. It claims the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year, but exposure to it is preventable. Carson City Nevada Appeal, Nevada, 29 December 2007.
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071229/HOMEGARDEN/838917525
Are nitrite and nitrate's bad rep undeserved? Found in fruits, vegetables and cured meats, the chemicals may reduce risk of heart disease, a study finds. Los Angeles Times, California, 29 December 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-eat31dec31,1,2521450.story?ctrack=8&cset=true
Social factors eyed in disparity. Health officials weren't surprised when lead paint poisoning spiked in this mostly black city of Civil War-era homes. More striking was one of the causes. Washington Times, 28 December 2007.
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071228/METRO/544539936/1004
Mold in the home linked to mood swings, depression. People living in a moldy home may be more likely to suffer from depression, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the Brown School of Medicine in Providence, R.I., and published in the American Journal of Public Health. News Target.com, 28 December 2007.
http://www.newstarget.com/022427.html
House dust: Toxic and on your table. Forget lead paint in toys. Canadians may be exposed to a much wider variety of metals, chemicals and pesticides on a daily basis as the result of a seemingly harmless domestic nuisance: house dust. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 28 December 2007.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071227.wl_dust1228/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
The science, history behind this year's lead scare. The story of the year in Christmas-giving seemed to be lead in toys. It's the latest twist in a health problem that has perplexed society since the Roman civilization. Chicago Daily Herald, Illinois, 27 December 2007.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=102362&src=2
Allergy diagnosis controversial. The World Health Organization is coordinating worldwide studies on electromagnetic hypersensitivity, although it says it is not a medical diagnosis. Yet Sweden recognizes it as a physical disability, just like blindness. Edmonton Journal, Canada, 27 December 2007.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=12092d34-bfc3-4e0b-84ce-b493345c9bbd
EPA ruling renders state's emission standards useless. Connecticut environmentalists and lawmakers are angered and disappointed by an EPA decision made last week that renders two Connecticut emission laws moot and may negatively affect the state's air quality. Stamford Times, Connecticut, 27 December 2007.
http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/26560713864740.php
Secondhand smoke may raise child allergy risk. Young children who were exposed to cigarette smoke as babies may be more likely to suffer certain allergies, a new study suggests. Reuters, 27 December 2007.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKLAU66791820071226
Bacon, hot dogs could damage the lungs. Men who smoke may be increasing their risk of developing emphysema and chronic bronchitis if they eat lots of cured meat, new research shows. Reuters Health, 26 December 2007.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2007/12/25/eline/links/20071225elin002.html
A new way to tap into health info. A new text messaging service that uses government advisories and scientific studies to provide environmental information is part of an emerging wave of technology that allows consumers to get instant health information through their cell phones. Wall Street Journal, 24 December 2007.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=99286&src=120
Pesticide effects on sex last generations in rats. Pesticides and other hormone-disrupting chemicals not only may harm those who have close encounters with them, they may also affect mating behavior in later generations. Discover, 23 December 2007.
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jan/pesticide-effects-on-sex-last-generations-in-rats
Germ warfare. Public schools often fail to keep student restrooms clean, operational and stocked with basic supplies, making hand washing more of a hardship than a help in the fight against germs. Sacramento Bee, California, 23 December 2007.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/587884.html
Progress, but not enough. The Clean Water Act set out to "virtually eliminate" discharges to U.S. waterways by 1985. Merrillville Post-Tribune, Indiana, 23 December 2007.
http://www.post-trib.com/news/710067,lakedump.article
Everyday items, complex chemistry. Holiday shoppers this season may still worry if the toys they buy contain lead, but some scientists are urging consumers to focus on the lack of hazard information on the chemicals in everyday products. New York Times, 22 December 2007.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/business/22chemicals.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin
For some, fluoridated water still hard to swallow. Malibu, CA, has begun the largest fluoridation project in US history. Los Angeles Times, California, 22 December 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fluoride22dec22,1,2338669.story?ctrack=5&cset=true
Very few children here tested for lead poisoning. Lead seems to be lurking everywhere these days. Seattle Times, Washington, 22 December 2007.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004085648_leadkids21m.html
Debate escalates over chemical in plastic bottles, cans. Colorful, clear, hard plastic bottles are standard issue among people who want to stay hydrated while not destroying the planet; recent debate over the safety of the bottles, however, has changed that. Eugene Register Guard, Oregon, 21 December 2007.
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=38348&sid=1&fid=1
Lasting genetic legacy of environment. Environmental factors such as stress and diet could be affecting the genes of future generations leading to increased rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. BBC, UK, 20 December 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7151739.stm
High lead levels found in kids' jewelry. Laboratory tests commissioned by The Seattle Times reveal that some of the baubles for sale in local stores are tainted with dangerous amounts of lead. Seattle Times, Washington, 20 December 2007.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004083834_lead20m.html
More flame retardants found in house dust. Two flame retardants used in consumer goods have been found at very high levels in some homes suggesting that people in the developed world may be exposed to significant concentrations of flame retardants beyond what previous research has indicated. Environmental Science & Technology, 20 December 2007.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2007/dec/science/kb_hbcddust.html
More non-white students lack vitamin D: Study. A study of vitamin D levels in more than 100 University of Toronto students has found a much higher proportion of non-white participants had insufficient levels of the vitamin in their blood compared to white students. Canadian Press, 20 December 2007.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/287156
House votes to raise safety-agency funding. The House unanimously approved a landmark bill to increase funding for the beleaguered Consumer Product Safety Commission, strengthen its enforcement powers, step up testing of products and reduce lead limits in children's toys. Wall Street Journal, 20 December 2007.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119811758303341395.html
Where is mercury coming from? The main source of the large mercury plume is 25 gold mines located in a relatively small area of northern Nevada. Idaho Mountain Express, Idaho, 19 December 2007.
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005118490