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.
1) Seminar Series: Seeking Sustainable Solutions
Wednesday February 11, 2009
Reception 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Seminar 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Post-seminar networking 8:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
Downstairs at Town Hall on Eighth and Seneca (1119 Eighth Avenue)
Sponsor: Sustainable Path Foundation, along with Antioch University Center for Creative Change, ShoreBank Pacific and the Sequoia Foundation
The series opens with a seminar titled "Energy and Water in the West: Priorities for a Healthy Washington" that highlights a major dilemma as our nation seeks to reduce its reliance on oil: the burden placed on our limited water supplies through the development of many renewable energy sources. In the second part of this seminar, we will bring these issues home to Washington State, as we discuss environmental legislative priorities and what our state is doing now to meet the changing needs of our region. With Michael Hightower and Joan Crooks. The two other lectures will be "Climate Change and Water: Local Perspectives on a Global Problem" on March 25th and "Exploring Energy & Design: Smart Solutions for the Built Environment" on May 13th.
Price: $5-15; see the website
Website: http://sustainablepath.org/category/seminar-series/
Contact: 206-443-8464 or info@sustainablepath.org
2) Save the Date! Northwest Children's Environmental Health Forum and Fair. To be held in Tukwila October 1 - 3, 2009, this Forum and Fair will feature a Science and Policy Forum on Thursday and Friday, followed by a free Community Fair on Saturday. The Forum and Fair is organized by CHE-WA's Children's Environmental Health Working Group and is now inviting sponsors and exhibitors. See the CHE-WA website: http://washington.chenw.org/CEHforum.html.
3) Center for Creative Change Open House. Join us to find out how the Center’s programs can help you learn to lead positive change wherever you are -- in a community, business or nonprofit organization. Building on Antioch’s tradition of working for social justice, the Center’s programs bring students from different disciplines together to design and implement solutions to the problems facing society today. What unites all of the programs is a commitment to creating a better world for everyone. Thursday January 29th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Antioch University Seattle, 2326 Sixth Avenue.
4) New Members. CHE-Washington welcomes these new members:
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
1) Creating Laws to Protect Public Health: Working Toward a Toxic-free Future
Wednesday January 28, 2009
9:00 a.m. Alaska time/10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is the primary law in the United States that regulates production and use of industrial chemicals. Now thirty years old, the law does not reflect the current science concerning low-dose effects of synthetic chemicals on human health. Toxic chemicals from everyday products contaminate the bodies of every person in this country, including newborns. TSCA has not been effective in eliminating dangerous chemicals in products or lessening the harmful effects to human health and environment. Evidence linking environmental contaminants with learning disabilities, endocrine disorders, cancers and other health effects provides the necessity to transform chemicals policy in order to protect public health. While federal reform is clearly needed to adequately address chemicals in commerce, a number of individual states have begun to reform chemicals policy in order to fill the gaps left by the lax federal system. This teleconference seminar will feature two environmental-health advocates who have played key roles in the enactment of landmark legislation in Maine and California. Gretchen Lee of the Breast Cancer Fund will discuss efforts on the national level to enact legislation to prevent exposures to harmful chemicals. Matt Prindiville of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, was instrumental in the work to pass landmark environmental health legislation in Maine, including a first-in-the-nation law to ban toxic flame retardants widely used in consumer products. The Alaska State Legislature opened on January 20th. Alaskans now have an opportunity to support bills that would protect people from exposure to harmful chemicals in our products, schools, workplaces, and homes.
Price: free
Contact: Alaska Community Action on Toxics, 907-222-7714 or colleen@akaction.org
2) CHE Partnership Call -- Cumulative Risk Assessment: The National Academy of Sciences Report on Phthalates and Male Reproductive Health
Thursday January 29, 2009
10:00 a.m. Pacific time/ 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Enivornment
This call will feature a lineup of expert speakers to explain the findings of the National Academy of Sciences report on phthalates and male reproductive health and comment on their significance. Speakers will be Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana of the University of Washington, and Marla Cone, editor-in-chief of Environmental Health News.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/5358
Contact: CHE, info@healthandenvironment.org
3) The Concern Over Perfluorinated Chemicals
Thursday January 29, 2009
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington Department of Environmental Sciences, Room T-625
Sponsor: Department of Environmental Sciences
Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, PhD, will present. More information is available at the website below.
Price: unknown
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/envh580/
Contact: Sarah Fischer, fischs@u.washington.edu
4) Occupational Medicine in the Construction Industry: Intersection of Work with Chronic Disease and Aging
Thursday February 5, 2009
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Room T-625
Sponsor: University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
The speaker will be Laura S Welch, MD, medical director of the Center for Construction Research and Training in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Price: unknown
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/envh580/
Contact: Sarah Fischer, fischs@u.washington.edu
5) The First Annual Northwest Environmental Health Conference: Bridging Research, Care, and Policy
Friday and Saturday, February 6 - 7, 2009
Portland, Oregon
at Oregon Health & Science University Biomedical Information Communication Center Gallery, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Sponsor: Northwest Health Foundation
The First Annual NW Environmental Health Conference brings together health-care professionals -- physicians, nurses, naturopathic physicians and public-health practitioners -- to deepen our understanding of environmental health, build knowledge of tools and resources and create a foundation for institutional and public policies that protect the health of our patients, employees and community. Leading scientists, researchers and health-care professionals in the field of environmental health will stimulate a robust dialogue regarding the impact of the environment on health and health-care practices. The first day will cover the emerging science of environmental health, new approaches to patient care and facilities management, and policy issues surrounding environmental health for current health-care professionals. The second day is for students only and will address the growing need for the education of students about environmental-health topics at the global, community and individual levels.
Price: see https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/587/t/7256/event/checkOut.jsp?event_KEY=46797
Contact: 503-222-1963 x110 or reneep@oeconline.org
6) CHE Partnership Call -- Critical Windows of Development: A Conversation with Dr. Theo Colborn
Tuesday February 10, 2009
1:00 p.m. Eastern time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: sponsor
This call featuring Dr. Theo Colborn, with Drs. Linda Giudice and Pete Myers, will highlight a new tool developed by Dr. Colborn that demonstrates the importance of environmental impacts to critical windows of development. The product serves as an educational model, illustrating normal development and what can happen when environmental contaminants are introduced during crucial developmental periods. The moderator of this call will be Steve Heilig.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/5082
7) Environmental Impacts on Neurodevelopment: A Case Study from Ecuador
Tuesday February 10, 2009
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: AAIDD's Environmental Health Initiative
The World Health Organization reports that the global use of pesticides has doubled every decade since 1945, and this trend is expected to continue. About half of the increase in pesticide use in developing countries has occurred through use in large-scale agricultural industry. Industrial agriculture is taking on an increasingly important role in the economies of developing countries, with a large percentage of the products being imported into the United States. Young women of reproductive age have become an integral part of the labor force of these industries. As a result, the impact of job stress, poor working conditions, and occupational pesticide exposure on the health of women and their children is a pressing global public-health concern. This seminar will describe the adverse impacts of pesticide exposure on neurodevelopment and will present the results of Dr. Handal's preliminary research on the complex relationships between maternal occupation in the Ecuadorian cut-flower industry, potential pesticide exposure and child development.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
8) Web Conference and In-class Training: Radiation and Health
six Tuesdays from February 10 - March 31, 2009
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Atlanta, Georgia
at the CDC/ATSDR Chamblee Building 106, Room 1B, 4770 Buford Highway Northeast
Sponsor: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
The series describes the nature and origins of environmental radiation (Part 1: Atomic Structure and Isotopes and Part 2: Radioactive Elements and Their Decay), accurate measurement of radioactive isotopes in environmental media (Part 3: Radiation Detection and Measurement and Part 4: Introduction to Radiation Dosimetry), and how to identify possible pathways of radiation exposure and calculate exposure doses (Part 5: Radioactive Materials in the Environment and Part 6: Environmental Pathways and Radiation Health Effects). Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://app2.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi
Contact: Erin Dopfel, 781-674-7229 or erin.dopfel@erg.com
9) Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment Conference
Thursday February 12, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Washington State Convention Center
Sponsor: University of Washington Climate Impacts Group
The conference will provide an opportunity to learn more about the results of the WACCIA assessment and to discuss implications for Washington's communities and ecosystems. Updates on global climate change science, resources for building adaptive capacity for climate change, and state-level actions to address climate change will also be discussed.
Price: $100 through January 30th, $135 thereafter
Website: http://cses.washington.edu/cig/outreach/waccia/#Home
Contact: Debra Bryant, 206-616-1902 or debryant@u.washington.edu
10) Ports, Movement of Goods, and Respiratory Health
Thursday February 12, 2009
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Room T-625
Sponsor: University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and NIEHS Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health
The speaker will be Andrea Hricko, MPH, cirector of the Community Outreach and Education Program at the Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center at the University of Southern California, and Edward Avol, MS, professor of Clinical Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Price: unknown
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/envh580/
Contact: Sarah Fischer, fischs@u.washington.edu
11) Human Health Risk Assessment Workshop: Practical Approaches to Estimating Risk and Developing Site-specific Cleanup Levels
Thursday and Friday, February 12 - 13, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Kirkland, Washington
at the Kirkland Computer Lab
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
This class is hands-on, covering all the steps in a risk assessment. Emphasis will be placed on fate and transport modeling to estimate exposure point concentrations. RISC software will be used for classroom exercises, however the principles learned are readily applicable to other risk assessment software. Each participant will have their own computer workstation throughout the class.
Price: $895 ($845 reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members).
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/rem-402_02-09_kirkland.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
12) Fundamental Contaminant Chemistry
Monday February 23, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bellevue, Washington
at 1100 112th Ave NE, West Building Conference Room
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
This course provides participants with an overview of key chemistry concepts associated with environmental contamination and provides a foundation for understanding contaminant transport and fate. This material is intended for environmental professionals who are not chemists, but who require a fundamental understanding of chemistry principles for their work. This course is recommended for all environmental professionals working with contaminated soil and water with minimal formal training in the subject. It is also recommended for project managers seeking a review of the subject.
Price: $250, or $195 reduced tuition available for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members
Website: http://nwetc.org/chem-403a_02-09_bellevue.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1979 or info@nwetc.org
13) Chemical and Heavy Metal Toxicity Seminar
Friday through Sunday, February 27 - March 1, 2009
Seattle, Washington
Sponsor: Klinghardt Academy of Neurobiology
Chemical and heavy metal toxicity is at the core of many medical issues (cancer, neurological illnesses, fatigue, MS and others). This seminar focuses on solutions. What are the relevant diagnostic tests and safe, effective, reliable and affordable strategies to deal with the body burden of chemicals and metals? Please check the website below for more information.
Price: $675, $425 students
Website: http://www.klinghardtneurobiology.com/calendar.htm
Contact: Klinghardt Academy of Neurobiology, 303-499-4700
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 State Alliance for Federal Reform of Chemicals Policy (SAFER) is a strategic national campaign with the goal of establishing a new chemical regulatory system that protects the environment and public health from toxic chemicals, and transitioning to a cleaner, greener economy. SAFER is hiring a federal policy director to be responsible for directing the daily Washington, DC, activities of a sustained federal campaign to achieve comprehensive progressive safer chemical policy reform.
http://www.saferstates.com/2009/01/now-hiring-safe.html
Call for presentations: EPA Community Involvement Training Conference. To be held August 18 - 20, 2009. in Seattle, Washington, this conference invites presentations focusing on challenges and opportunities within communications, institutional/organizational, or behavioral and emotional boundaries that can can pose challenges to effectively solving environmental problems. Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://www.epa.gov/ciconference/
EPA seeks comment on CAFO permit. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is proposing a general permit regulating concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) located on State lands in New Mexico.
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/14865FB94FFC977B85257545006F87EF
EPA proposes revisions to Air Quality Index for particle pollution. Under the proposed changes, the AQI would reach "code orange -- unhealthy for sensitive groups -- when particle pollution levels reach 35.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3). The changes also would mean air quality reaches the "unhealthy" category at a lower particle pollution level. Environmental Protection Agency.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A12E62E07006A9A68525753F0066ED3D
Call for proposals: Climate Change: Environmental Impact on Human Health This FOA solicits investigator-initiated applications from applicant organizations that assess regional environmental impact and climate change effects on human health.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/EH09-001.htm
Call for proposals: Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved. This FOA solicits research project grant applications that propose research on health promotion, disease prevention, and health disparities that is jointly conducted by communities and researchers and targets medically underserved areas (MUAs) and medically underserved populations (MUPs). National Institutes of Health.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-075.html
Call for proposals: Community Participation in Research. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits research project grant applications that propose intervention research on health promotion, disease prevention, and health disparities that communities and researchers jointly conduct. Examples include, but are not limited to, promotion of physical activity-friendly neighborhoods; tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse prevention among youth; a community-led action plan for cancer, hypertension and cardiovascular disease prevention and control in minority populations; establishing safer work practices among agricultural workers in rural areas; nutrition and reducing childhood obesity; HIV/AIDS and STD prevalence among young adults; promoting infant mental health; and reducing health disparities. National Institutes of Health.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-074.html
Call for proposals: Research to Action: Assessing and Addressing Community Exposures to Environmental Contaminants. This FOA solicits applications designed to collect information on community exposures to environmental or occupational agents or exposure-related diseases and use this new information to support environmental public health action. National Institutes of Health.
http://grants.nih.gov:80/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-09-001.html
Call for proposals: Novel approaches to improving air pollution emissions information. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications. Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (includes public institutions of higher education and hospitals) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (includes private institutions of higher education and hospitals) located in the US, state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and US territories or possessions are eligible to apply. The closing date is April 21, 2009.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/2009_star_air_pollution.html
Call for proposals: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by NIEHS and EPA solicits grant applications for Research Centers to support a multidisciplinary program of basic and applied research to examine the effects of environmental factors on children's health and well-being. The closing date is April 30, 2009.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-08-002.html
Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans This study found a significant increase in verbal memory scores after caloric restriction in healthy, normal- to overweight elderly subjects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/01/26/0808587106
What you should know about EPA lead cleanup. Children -- not adults -- are primarily at risk. Lead poisoning can affect intelligence and has been linked to behavioral problems. Children ages 6 and under, whose neurological systems are still developing, are considered most susceptible. Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10548336
Health Canada recalls Disney lipstick, lip gloss. Disney-branded Princess lipstick and lip gloss packs marketed to girls at Dollarama stores across the country were recalled on Monday after Health Canada found excessive levels of lead in the decorative sticker glued on the external cap. Canwest News Service, Canada.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Life/Health%20Canada%20recalls%20Disney%20lipstick%20gloss/1220001/story.html
Sunglasses, play yards, rattles recalled. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued three recalls. Children's Sunglasses were recalled because surface paint on the recalled sunglasses can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. Syracuse Post-Standard, New York.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://blog.syracuse.com/family/2009/01/sunglasses_play_yards_rattles.html
Monkeys hand humans fat clue. Eating junk food during pregnancy might have a bigger impact on childhood obesity, liver disease and diabetes than whether a mother is overweight. Denver Post, Colorado.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11560032
Mercury in corn syrup? Food made with ingredient may have traces of toxic metal. Researchers say they have detected traces of the silvery metal in samples of high-fructose corn syrup, a widely used sweetener that has replaced sugar in many processed foods. Chicago Tribune, Illinois.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-mercury-corn-syrupjan27,0,2801323.story
Economic gains from gulf fish farms and pollution fears compete. Federal regulators are poised to expand fish farming to open ocean, with the Gulf of Mexico as an experimental laboratory, stirring controversy. St. Petersburg Times, Florida.
Monday, January 26, 2009.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/article970480.ece
Study adds to evidence of safety of mercury and vaccines. A new study from Italy adds to a mountain of evidence that a mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines doesn't hurt children, offering more reassurance to parents. Associated Press.
Monday, January 26, 2009.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090125/NEWS02/701259836
[Editor's note: See a related article about a physician who turns away parents who refuse to vaccinate their children: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/lifestyles/health_family/1382057,on-vaccine-011509-s1.article ]
Drywall sulfur levels not a health risk, toxicologist says. A toxicologist evaluating potential health risks in connection with troubled Chinese drywall found that the levels of sulfur-containing chemicals in homes are too low to be considered a public health concern. Naples Daily News, Florida.
Sunday, January 25, 2009.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/22/drywall-sulfur-levels-not-health-risk-toxicologist/
Sealed homes open possibility of illness. Experts say that dangerous pollutants can build up and linger in homes that have been sealed too tightly against the elements, especially during the cold-weather months. Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
Sunday, January 25, 2009.
http://dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2009/01/25/INDOOR_AIR.ART_ART_01-25-09_I1_2NCIIBB.html?sid=101
[Editor's note: See a related article about increased risk of lead poisoning during winter months: http://www.marionstar.com/article/20090116/NEWS01/901160314 ]
Darkness, melatonin may stall breast and prostate cancers. To stay healthy, the body needs its zzz's. But independent of slumber, human health also appears to require plenty of darkness -- especially at night. Or so suggests a pair of new cancer studies. Science News.
Saturday, January 24, 2009.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/40170/title/Darkness%2C_melatonin_may_stall_breast_and_prostate_cancers_
EPA a failure on chemicals, audit finds. The Environmental Protection Agency's ability to assess toxic chemicals is as broken as the nation's financial markets and needs a total overhaul, a congressional audit has found. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.
Saturday, January 24, 2009.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/38260974.html
Chemical used in making rubber linked to cancer. A chemical commonly used to make rubber products -- known as MBT -- may cause cancer in people exposed to fumes during the manufacturing process, according to British researchers. Reuters Health.
Friday, January 23, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/01/22/eline/links/20090122elin015.html
Scientists develop test for melamine in milk. U.S. researchers have developed a quick way to test milk for the presence of melamine, an industrial chemical found last year in milk in China that killed at least six children and made thousands sick. Reuters.
Friday, January 23, 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE50K6VJ20090121
Coal-tar seal coats pollute nearby soil and water. Parking lots treated with coal-tar-based seal coats are a major source of cancer-causing contaminants that can pollute air, soil, water and wildlife, posing a significant health risk to humans who may breathe, drink or eat them in fish and other food. Environmental Health News.
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/coal-tar-sealcoats-release-pahs/
The ugly side of cosmetics. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) -- the industry's self-policing safety panel -- does not look at the effects of exposures to multiple chemicals linked to negative health impacts; the cumulative effect of exposures over a lifetime; the timing of exposure, which can magnify the harm for the very young and other populations; or worker exposures, in both beauty salons and manufacturing plants. Portsmouth Herald, New Hampshire.
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090122-LIFE-901220330
It's not just lung cancer, smoking 'is tied to 70% of ALL male cancer deaths.' Smoking contributes to a substantial 70 per cent of male cancer deaths, twice as many as previously thought, researchers reveal. London Daily Mail, England.
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1126530/Its-just-lung-cancer-smoking-tied-70-ALL-male-cancer-deaths.html
[Editor's note: See an article about how smoking death rates have fallen in all but one state: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN22134520090122 and another about the health effects of quitting smoking: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99652538 ]
Study: Cleaner air adds 5 months to US life span. Cleaner air over the past two decades has added nearly five months to the average life expectancy in the United States, according to a federally funded study. Researchers said it is the first study to show that reducing air pollution translates into longer lives. Associated Press.
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ggonOxJeUkHyC1JiFh-TCbkKEprgD95RQAI80
EPA floats advisory for chemical exposure. Federal environmental regulators are issuing a health advisory on drinking water contaminated with a toxic chemical used to make carpet stain resistant and nonstick pans slick [PFOA]. Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tennessee.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
http://northgeorgia.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jan/20/dalton-epa-floats-advisory-chemical-exposure/?South-Pittsburg
Can changing your lifestyle protect you from breast cancer? Thousands of cases of breast cancer could be prevented over the next 20 years if women make some changes to their lifestyle, according to new research. London Guardian, England
Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2007/oct/04/can-changing-your-lifestyle-protect-you-from-breast-cancer
[Editor's note: See a related article about using a database to assess your breast cancer risk: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=618891 and another about how tea may cut the risk of breast cancer: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4310418/Three-cups-of-tea-can-cut-breast-cancer-risk-by-a-third.html ]
Stressed kids at risk of asthma in adulthood. Children who suffer physical abuse, death of a parent or other childhood adversity and are anxious or depressed are at increased risk of developing asthma in adulthood, a study suggests. Reuters.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE50J6U520090120
[Editor's note: See a related article about a possible tie between mothers' depression and their children's asthma: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2008/jan/15/could-depression-in-mothers-be-linked-to-asthma-in-their ]
Living with a smoker hard on tiny infants. Infants born at very low birth weights are at increased risk of lung ailments in the first 12 months of life, and a new study suggests that modifiable indoor respiratory triggers, namely exposure to cigarette smoke and pests in the home, may be at least partly to blame. Reuters Health.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/01/19/eline/links/20090119elin021.html
Response: Our research was not about prenatal screening for autism. Your front-page article about our new study that found a correlation between levels of foetal testosterone and the number of autistic traits a child shows at the age of eight included several inaccurate statements. London Guardian, England.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/20/research-autism-health-response-comment
Africa: climate change threatens food security. Climate change will have a significant impact on southern Africa's already compromised food security, environmental experts warned at the fifth Alexander von Humboldt International Conference at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Inter Press Service.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200901190949.html
Recession raises risks for mothers, babies. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the world's economic woes could set back huge public health campaigns meant to eliminate diseases, tackle the root causes of poverty and save the lives of mothers and babies. Reuters.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/01/19/eline/links/20090119elin006.html
Early babies 'exposed to toxins.' Some medicines routinely given to premature babies expose them to potentially harmful levels of chemicals, British research suggests. BBC.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7837024.stm
Dumping of banned toys from US feared. A waste and pollution watchdog on Monday called on the government, particularly the Bureau of Customs, to prevent the entry of banned toys from the United States which may be dumped into the country because of new US laws about lead and phthalates. BusinessMirror, Philippines.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4820:dumping-of-banned-toys-from-us-feared
Women in coastal areas have higher mercury levels. Where a woman lives, how much she makes for a living, and her ethnicity may all be linked to the amount of mercury in her blood, a new survey says. US News & World Report.
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/01/19/women-in-coastal-areas-have-higher-mercury-levels.html
Unease over tungsten. As the filament in an incandescent light bulb, tungsten can illuminate a room, but it hasn't been spotlighted as an environmental contaminant. Recent studies, however, indicate that some forms of tungsten can leach into groundwater, and induce greater biological effects than previously known. Chemical & Engineering News.
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/87/8703sci2.html
Common chemical increases risk of boys genital deformity. Pregnant women exposed to phthalates through hairspray and other sources at work have a greatly increased risk of delivering a son with a common reproductive birth defect known as hypospadias. Taking folate supplements might reduce this risk.
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/phthalates-increase-hypospadias-risk/
[Editor's note: See a related article: http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/artandculture/-/1222/514500/-/item/0/-/fnmc15z/-/index.html and a related journal article about a correlation between phthalates and hormone levels in men: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/phthalates-and-mens-lower-hormone-levels]
Class provides help identifying household health risks. The grass-roots, volunteer-driven program helps people learn about the health risks posed by common pollutants found in the home and about free or inexpensive ways to reduce those risks. Longview Daily News, Washington.
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/01/19/top_story/doc49741fad3eb5d103671562.txt
Gender-bending chemicals in our rivers grow more potent. The cocktail of gender-bending chemicals [bisphenol A, phthalates, PBDEs and estrogen] entering rivers and streams is more potent and harmful than anyone realised, it has been revealed. London Daily Mail, England.
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1121283/Gender-bending-chemicals-rivers-grow-potent.html
Winter ozone levels a concern. A surprising discovery shows high levels of ozone pollution -- usually associated with hot summer days in the city -- around remote natural gas fields in wintertime. Ozone pollution could be more widespread, both geographically and seasonally, than previously thought. Denver Rocky Mountain News, Colorado
Monday, January 19, 2009.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/19/winter-ozone-levels-a-concern/
The real story behind bisphenol A. How a handful of consultants used Big Tobacco's tactics to sow doubt about science and hold off regulation of BPA, a chemical in hundreds of products that could be harming an entire generation Fast Company.
Sunday, January 18, 2009.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/132/the-real-story-on-bpa.html
[Editor's note: See a related journal article about bisphenol A's effects on the female reproductive tract later in life: http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0800045/abstract.html and another about Canada's failure to follow through on regulating BPA: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090116.BPANEW16/TPStory/Environment ]
Old ordnance under the sea may be toxic -- study. Unexploded munitions lying under the sea leak cancer-causing toxins, a new study shows. Halifax Chronicle Herald, Canada.
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1101147.html
U.S. warns of Teflon chemical in water. Less than a week before the Bush administration leaves office, federal environmental regulators are issuing a controversial health advisory on drinking water contaminated with a toxic chemical [PFOA] used to make Teflon and other non-stick coatings. Chicago Tribune, Illinois
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-teflon-chemical-16,0,6305635.story
[Editor's note: See a related article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/16/AR2009011604415.html ]
EPA to regulate mercury from cement plants. Federal regulators have settled a lawsuit with environmental activists and nine states over standards for mercury emissions from cement plants, the plaintiffs announced Friday. Associated Press.
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5htKhfJXH4C52GM6Syuh7TQVs_8ZQD95OKBC00
FDA urges people to avoid peanut butter products. What began as an investigation of bulk peanut butter shipped to nursing homes and institutional cafeterias has broadened with the Kellogg Co. recalling 16 products and federal officials confirming salmonella contamination at a Georgia facility. Associated Press.
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/01/17/kelloggs_recalls_more_peanut_butter_products/
[Editor's note: See a follow-up article about an expanded list of recalled products: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/20/AR2009012003654.html ]
South Koreans find new way to remove lead from blood. South Korean scientists may have found a way to remove dangerous heavy metals such as lead from blood by using specially designed magnetic receptors. Reuters Health.
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/01/16/eline/links/20090116elin007.html
Livestock manure stinks for infant health. The manure generated by thousands of cows or pigs doesn't just stink -- it may seriously affect human health. Science News.
Saturday, January 17, 2009.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/39990/title/Livestock_manure_stinks_for_infant_health
FDA announces formal guidelines for genetically engineered animals. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced formal guidelines to govern the approval of genetically engineered (GE) animals. Capital News Service.
Friday, January 16, 2009.
http://topnews.us/content/22539-fda-announces-formal-guidelines-genetically-engineered-animals
[Editor's note: See a related article about Japan's Food Safety Commission conclusions about cloned meat: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200901200367.html ]
Columbia River pollutants at unacceptable levels, EPA says. Contamination in the Columbia River basin poses an "unacceptable risk" to people, fish and wildlife, the US EPA said Thursday after issuing its first comprehensive report on toxic pollution in the massive Columbia system. Portland Oregonian, Oregon.
Friday, January 16, 2009.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/columbia_river_toxins_at_unacc.html
[Editor's note: See the Columbia River Basin State of the River Report for Toxics: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/ecocomm.nsf/Columbia/SoRR/ ]
Working with pesticides impacts women's fertility. Women with potential exposure to pesticides at work or at home took longer to get pregnant than women without pesticide connections. Environmental Health News.
Thursday, January 15, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/pesticide-exposure-may-impact-female-fertility/
Diesel truckers air concerns to port. By 2010, the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy requires that drayage trucks seeking to access the Seattle seaport meet emission standards of trucks made in 1994 or later. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington.
Thursday, January 15, 2009.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/396141_port15.html
Nontoxic slumber. Flame retardants, which are suspected carcinogens, are required in mattresses by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, although people with allergies or chemical sensitivities can get flame retardant-free mattresses with a prescription. The Sleep Shop's organic offerings are made from organic cotton and use organic wool as a flame retardant. Reno News and Review, Nevada.
Thursday, January 15, 2009.
http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=896304
Fish oil cuts risk of mental delay in early babies. Mothers nursing premature babies can halve the risk that their child will have significant developmental problems if they take fish oil supplements to fortify their breast milk. Sydney Australian, Australia.
Thursday, January 15, 2009.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24914407-23289,00.html
A third of teens at risk of coronary disease: study. Almost one-third of young teens show physical signs that raise their risk of heart disease later in life, according to an Australian study that revises estimates of the future health toll of inactivity and weight gain in children. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia.
Thursday, January 15, 2009.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/teens-at-risk-of-coronary-disease-study/2009/01/14/1231608794605.html
Health Matters: Less stress better life. Men with less demanding jobs have a smaller risk of a stroke. Obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol also increase the person's chances. WCTV, Tallahassee, Florida.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.wctv.tv/healthmatters/headlines/37585494.html
Researchers advise replacing plastic with other materials. It seems like hardly a day goes by without some new report about the health hazards of plastics. Trying to tell the polycarbonates from the polyvinyl chlorides is enough to make your head spin. The first bit of advice from two experts: Don't panic. McClatchy Newspapers.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090114/FEATURES01/901140379
Hormone therapy affects brain mass: Study. Hormone treatments commonly used by menopausal women appear to accelerate brain shrinkage, according to two new studies released on Monday. Agence France-Presse.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=nw20090113051056350C528886
Coal ash disposal rules vary from state to state. Despite growing concerns about the risk from coal combustion waste, there are no national standards for its storage and disposal. The U.S. EPA does not consider the waste "hazardous," even though it contains harmful metals such as lead and arsenic. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/42A7DA741E02BAF78625753E00163ADC?OpenDocument
Smoking when pregnant affects thyroid for both -- study. Here's another thing that smoking while pregnant can do -- it can damage both the mother's and the baby's thyroid function, British researchers reported on Tuesday. Reuters.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1339642620090113
[Editor's note: See a related article about the US failure to protect citizens from tobacco smoke: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=623020 ]
Largest-ever study of U.S. child health begins. Scientists begin recruiting mothers-to-be in North Carolina and New York this week for the largest study of U.S. children ever performed--aiming eventually to track 100,000 around the country from conception to age 21. Associated Press.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28640577/