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 February 13, 2008
6:30 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 does an application of ecological economics mean to the Puget Sound region? The region currently serves as a major case study for a whole-system-based analysis by the Gund Institute. The effort is headed locally by Earth Economics, where Mr. David Batker is the founder and director. He will give an overview of the critical concepts of ecological economics with specific application to the Puget Sound watershed and present ideas and solutions for our region. Using the cost of diseases due to environmental factors as an example, Dr. Katherine Davies, director and faculty member of the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University in Seattle, will expand our understanding of the ecological economics framework and highlight the connection between our health, environment and economy. Together, Mr. Batker and Dr. Davies will touch upon many of the elements necessary to sustain human well-being, including the vital importance of health and the environment, and present ideas for transforming the economy to support a healthy future in the Puget Sound region
Note: A lecture by Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food, scheduled for Town Hall at 7:30 the same evening, is sold out. For those who already have tickets to the Pollan event and who would like to also attend the environmental health lecture which begins one hour earlier, we will create a time and space for you to exit and go upstairs to join the Pollan lecture.
This is the second of a four-lecture series. A $10 fee applies to the each of the remaining three lectures if paid in advance (or $25 for the series until February 1st). Admission at the door is $15 for each lecture. Dates and topics of the last two lectures:
Details are on the CHE-WA website: http://washington.chenw.org/lectures.html
1) The next CHE-WA quarterly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 5, 2008, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Antioch. The meeting will focus on children's environmental health, with special guest speakers Dr. Elaine Faustman and Dr. Steve Gilbert (and Dr. Margaret Shield of the Toxic Free Legacy Coalition will likely have interesting related news to report from the state legislative session).
2) Notes from the CHE-WA December quarterly meeting are now posted with meeting handouts on the website: http://washington.chenw.org/meetings.html
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 January 31, 2008
12:30 - 1:20 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington, Health Sciences Center, Room T-435
Sponsor: University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
Harry Papadopoulos, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Nutrition at Central Washington University, will speak.
Price: unknown
Website: http://depts.washington.edu/envh580/
Contact: Sarah Fischer, fischs@u.washington.edu
Thursday and Friday, January 31 - February 1, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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
Tuesday February 12, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the REI downtown store, 222 Yale Avenue North
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center and REI
Led by Joshua Skov, principal of the Good Company, this one-day workshop for small organizations will provide knowledge, tools and immediate next steps for climate action planning and reducing carbon emissions. Continuing education credits available.
Price: $65 before January 21, $85 thereafter
Website: http://www.nwetc.org:80/sust-401_02-08_seattle.htm
Contact: 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Tuesday February 12, 2008
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The quality of our indoor environments affects our well-being and productivity. In addition, the risk of disease is increased by factors such as indoor air pollutants, toxins and microbes on surfaces, and human contact. The seminar starts with a brief summary of our current understanding of ambient air pollution health concerns. Contrasting outdoor air to indoor air as a public good, it is seen that the policy debate about regulating indoor environments is still quite confused. A pollutant-specific framework rather than a comprehensive framework has characterized public and private responses to indoor air quality to date. Examples include formaldehyde, asbestos, radon and now molds. Contemporary topics of molds and synthetic organic compounds illustrate the continuing concerns about the health of indoor environments. John D. Spengler, PhD, professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation at Harvard University's School of Public Health, will speak.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
Wednesday February 13, 2008
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon, Washington
at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op Room 309, 202 South First Street
Sponsor: Skagit Valley Food Co-op
Learn about resources that have been developed to help retailers and customers learn about and avoid some of the most toxic ingredients used in the manufacturing of toys, and learn about legislation being proposed to provide some regulations here in Washington State. Bring a toy to be tested.
Price: free
Website: http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com/workshops.htm
Contact: 360-336-9777 or svcoop@skagitfoodcoop.com
Thursday through Saturday, February 14 - 16, 2008
times and locations vary by day
Seattle, Washington
Sponsor: City of Seattle, Catholic Community Services, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, IWASIL Boys & Girls Club, World Kulturz, Community Coalition for Environmental Justice, Seattle University
With a theme of Indigenous Healing Solutions, this series features Elder Healers from various tribal traditions bringing teachings and ceremony together to create Mother Earth healing circles.
Price: free
Website: http://www.elcentrodelaraza.com/Northwest%20Climate%20Change%20Summit.pdf
Contact: Kim Camara, 206-683-9804 or worldkulturz@yahoo.com
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: Seattle Washington. Washington Toxics Coalition seeks a dynamic, resourceful, proven leader to guide this Seattle-based nonprofit organization. The executive director must be a highly strategic thinker with a strong capacity to guide staff in managing and implementing programs, while building upon the entrepreneurial, bold and fast-paced nature of the organization's work. Consideration of resumes will begin Monday, February 11th. WTC highly values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer.
http://www.watoxics.org/about/employment/executive-director-job-announcement
Job opening: Seattle, Washington. The Northwest Toxic Communities Coalition (NWTCC) is a network of nongovernmental and community organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state working to clean up toxic sites. We work to increase oversight, involvement and leadership among affected people in order to serve the public interest and environmental justice. We are seeking an individual to strengthen the coalition and lead it in its efforts to educate the public and elected officials on the need and benefit of hazardous waste clean-ups, assist the public in making the connection between human health impacts and health care costs, support Superfund reauthorization and the Superfund Ombudsman position, and communicate our message to the public. Please see the complete job posting on Craig's List.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/npo/548895194.html
Campaign for Safe Cosmetic Action Alert. Email Wal-Mart or bring a letter to your local store manager asking that the retailer add triclosan to the list of hazardous chemicals addressed under its new Business Sustainability Plan.
http://action.safecosmetics.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=14374
SHARP Network. Scientists and Engineers for America has just launched the Science Health And Related Policies (SHARP) Network. The SHARP Network is a wiki-based system that will allow the public to track the positions their elected officials have taken on critical science and health issues.
http://sefora.org/2008/01/16/sea-launches-the-sharp-network/
Master Home Environmentalist Training. The American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW) is now accepting applications for the Master Home Environmentalist Spring 2008 Volunteer Training. Classes are held March 11th through May 13th at ALAW's Seattle office. This free 35-hour training meets Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and occasional Saturdays.
http://www.alaw.org/air_quality/master_home_environmentalist/home_environmentalist_training.html
Cold meds send 7,000 kids to hospitals. Cough and cold medicines send about 7,000 children to hospital emergency rooms each year, the U.S. government said Monday in its first national estimate of the problem. Associated Press, 29 January 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-cold-medicines,1,2221800.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
What are we drinking? It causes cancer. In extremely high doses, it can poison a person. No one seems to argue that [about arsenic]. Twin Falls Times-News, Idaho, 29 January 2008.
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/01/29/news/local_state/129627.txt
Fish oil: a cure for young offenders? A major trial is to be launched to see whether giving young offenders nutritional supplements reduces anti-social behaviour in prison. Its authors believe this could prove a seminal piece of research with major implications for the criminal justice system. BBC, UK, 29 January 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7213499.stm
Study: FEMA ignored evidence in determining long-term effects of formaldehyde in trailers. The Federal Emergency Management Agency manipulated scientific research in order to play down the danger posed by formaldehyde in trailers issued to hurricane victims, according to an investigation by congressional Democrats released Monday. Associated Press, 29 January 2008.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/14580387.html
Truck exhaust ups risk of heart attack, research shows. New research shows that exposure to air pollution such as particulate matter in diesel truck exhaust elevates your risk of heart attack and stroke. Windsor Star, Ontario, 29 January 2008.
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=257d5594-7a8e-40c5-87ca-c499d21acc08&k=90612
Folic acid's trade-offs of concern. Some scientists are asking whether mandating folic acid in foods has lead to unforeseen trade-offs for the population as a whole -- including thousands of additional colon cancer cases each year and a bump-up in prostate cancer. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, 28 January 2008.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.folic27jan27,0,229970.story
Breast milk 'may be allergy key'. A study may have discovered why breastfeeding might help protect children against allergies such as asthma, scientists have said. BBC, UK, 28 January 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7208941.stm
Manure a breath of fresh air in cancer fight. Farmers can breathe easy after scientists discovered that working with manure can drastically reduce chances of developing lung cancer. Perth West Australian, Australia, 28 January 2008.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=158&ContentID=56138
Dust, air, water sources of lead. The dangers of lead in some toys are well-known, but there are plenty of other ways people can be exposed to the metal. Associated Press, 27 January 2008.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ga_85zk5c0qGS2Df4qxxiEcFWX0gD8UEBV2O0
The chemicals within. Many common household products contain compounds that could be affecting our health. Newsweek, 27 January 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/105588
Biggest and best tuna tend to have the most mercury, experts say. Higher priced foods usually mean healthier options -- but that may not be the case with tuna, new studies suggest. International Herald Tribune, 27 January 2008.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/25/healthscience/tuna.php
Can beauty be dangerous? Lipstick tainted with lead. Mascara that contains mercury. A hair-straightening treatment that slicks your tresses with protein . . . and formaldehyde? As three recent controversies show, sometimes the world of beauty can be downright ugly. Washington Post, 27 January 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012402135.html
Type 2 diabetes may be linked to pesticide exposure. Cambridge University scientists are advocating more research into the possible links between environmental pollution and type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. Environment News Services, 26 January 2008.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-25-04.asp
Green groups target toxic toys. Sandra Armington is worried about children who play with rubber duckies, and joined others at the Capitol to back five bills requiring manufacturers to disclose the use of certain chemicals in toys and other children's products. Waterville Morning Sentinel, Maine, 25 January 2008.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4692595.html
EU backs return of banned drug. Europe's drug regulators on Thursday recommended approval of thalidomide to treat bone marrow cancer, nearly 50 years after the medicine was withdrawn because it caused thousands of children to be born with birth defects. Financial Times, England, 25 January 2008.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f55dd23a-cad3-11dc-a960-000077b07658.html
Global health at risk from climate change. Climate change is putting global human health at risk and requires an "urgent response," according to a new paper. London Daily Telegraph, England, 25 January 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/01/25/eahealth125.xml
Mercury danger found in fresh tuna. Potentially dangerous mercury levels in fish and sushi were found in a wide range of places -- including randomly selected restaurants and Publix. Miami Herald, Florida, 24 January 2008.
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/391294.html
Pipe scales release hazardous metals into drinking water. Mobilization of mineral deposits within the distribution system can contaminate treated water [with contaminants including arsenic, cadmium and mercury] before it reaches the tap. Environmental Science & Technology, 24 January 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/jan/science/rr_pipescales.html
Long-ago lead exposure, and possibly other pollutants, may hasten old-age mental decline. Could it be that the "natural" mental decline that afflicts many older people is related to how much lead they absorbed decades before? Associated Press, 24 January 2008.
http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=234614
Hormones in drinking water. It's no longer the fluoride we have to worry about in a twist on the Dr. Strangelove paradigm, there is growing concern over hormones in the food we eat and the water we drink. Reno News and Review, Nevada, 24 January 2008.
http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=615915
Port vows to cut air pollution from ships, cargo gear. By 2010 the Port of Seattle, Washington, would cut toxic soot by 70 percent for docked ships and 30 percent for equipment on shore that hauls cargo. The ports of Tacoma and Vancouver, B.C., have agreed to similar goals. Seattle Times, Washington, 23 January 2008.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004139753_portair23m.html
Diet soda takes a hit in U study. University of Minnesota researchers have found that red meat, fried foods and diet soda all appear to raise the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a condition that often paves the way for diabetes and heart disease. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota, 23 January 2008.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/13980721.html
Some immigrant children fed lead, mercury. An alarming number of Toronto-area children are being given traditional remedies containing lead and other heavy metal toxins, a leading Hospital for Sick Children poison expert said yesterday. Toronto Star, Ontario, 23 January 2008.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/296591
[Editor's note: see related articles: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgIDiEQReinssqIEJFoOYB6cYt7QD8UAREKG0 and http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/chi-recall_24jan24,1,7911788.story]
Bill aims to increase lead testing for children. As concerns grow that toys and candy from China and Mexico are exposing children to lead, a bill in the Washington Legislature seeks increased testing for lead in children younger than six. Portland Oregonian, Oregon, 23 January 2008.
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/01/bill_aims_to_increase_lead_tes.html
Studies link other ills to mercury. In the past few years, several studies have concluded that elevated mercury levels may be associated not only with neurological problems but with cardiovascular disease among adults as well. New York Times, 23 January 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/dining/23sbox.html
Plastic ingested, study finds. Scientists furious at conclusions reached by a federal panel charged with assessing the safety of a common household chemical, bisphenol A, have retaliated. And they're using science as their weapon. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 23 January 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710303
Makeup of makeup. On any given day, the average woman uses as many as 25 products, containing hundreds of chemical compounds. Albany Times Union, New York, 22 January 2008.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=657177&category=LIFE&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=1/22/2008
[Editor's note: see a related article: http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1295942033]
Drinking coffee 'can double miscarriage risk.' Drinking as little as two cups of coffee a day while pregnant doubles the risk of miscarriage, a new study has warned. London Daily Telegraph, England, 21 January 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/health/21caffeine.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Mobiles linked to disturbed sleep. A new study, funded by mobile phone companies, suggests radiation from the handset can cause insomnia, headaches and confusion. BBC, UK, 21 January 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7199659.stm
Warnings for energy drinks? After screening 300 chemicals under CA Prop 65, 11 of those were found to cause cancer, birth defects or harm to animals. Caffeine was one of them. San Bernardino County Sun, California, 20 January 2008.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_8029403
Doctors warn bacteria are racing past drugs. With disturbing regularity, the list of available treatment options grows shorter as bacteria once tamed by antibiotics evolve rapidly into forms that practically no drug can treat. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 20 January 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/20/MNSTUGD68.DTL
State lawmakers call for stricter toy safety regulations. Millions of toys have been recalled in the past year because they contain lead, but that doesn't mean your child's toy box is safe yet. Tacoma News Tribune, Washington, 20 January 2008.
http://www.theolympian.com/legislature/story/333202.html
Study children and cellphones, US experts advise. Researchers should study more children and pregnant women in trying to figure out if cell phones or other wireless devices could damage health, the U.S. National Research Council advised on Thursday. Reuters, 19 January 2008.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4151580
Girl, you'll be a woman sooner than expected. The first visible sign of puberty, breast budding, is arriving ever earlier in American girls. Los Angeles Times, California, 19 January 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-puberty21jan21,1,6376765.story?ctrack=3&cset=true
Warning issued on lead-laced candies. The California Department of Public Health on Friday warned people not to eat INDY Mini Dedos Spicy and Sour candies imported from Mexico after tests by the department found levels of lead that could cause health problems. Santa Cruz Sentinel, California, 19 January 2008.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?storySection=Local&sid=65031
How plastic we've become. Today, the planet is awash in products spawned by the plastics industry. Residues of plastics have become ubiquitous in the environment—and in our bodies. Science News, 19 January 2008.
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20080119/food.asp
Baby products under scrutiny. A congressional committee is launching an investigation into the use and safety of a chemical -- bisphenol A -- found in many children's and infant products, including the lining of liquid infant formula cans. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 18 January 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=708628
China says its seafood is safer. China's Ministry of Agriculture says a recent nationwide crackdown on the use of illegal veterinary drugs has already significantly improved the quality and safety of the country's seafood production. International Herald Tribune, January 18, 2008.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/18/business/17cndfish.php
Mercury in Alaska fish: Something else to worry about. For the most part, most Alaska fish species have relatively low levels of mercury, but recent studies have cast doubt. Cordova Times, Alaska, 17 January 2008.
http://thecordovatimes.com/news/story/1230
Banned toxin found in wood floor finishes. A wood floor finish popular in the 1950s and 1960s may be a significant, continuing source of the banned, disease-causing pollutants known as PCBs, 50 years after the floors were installed. Reuters, 17 January 2008.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1665067220080117
"Natural" supplements caused cancer in two men. Many supplements marketed as "safe" and "natural" could contain unknown and potentially dangerous ingredients, and noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has little authority to regulate them. Reuters, 17 January 2008.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=natural-supplements-cause
Is your home making you sick? Studies of human exposure to air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. San Mateo Daily Journal, California, 17 January 2008.
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=86076
Mom's depression boosts asthma risk in kids. A new study at the University of Manitoba, Canada, has found that kids whose mothers suffer prolonged depression or anxiety have a higher rate of asthma than their peers, independent of other risk factors. Asian News International, South Asia, 16 January 2008.
http://www.thecheers.org/news/Science/news_7731_Moms-depression-boosts-asthma-risk-in-kids.html
USDA recommends that food from clones stay off the market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday asked U.S. farmers to keep their cloned animals off the market indefinitely even as Food and Drug Administration officials announced that food from cloned livestock is safe to eat. Washington Post, 16 January 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/15/AR2008011501555.html
Organic foods prove more nutritious. A new study has found that food grown organically - -- particularly fruits, vegetables and milk - -- are more nutritious than those produced by conventional methods. Pottstown Mercury, Pennsylvania, 16 January 2008.
http://ptm.jrcinteractive.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily;jsessionid=92bTHNhbY762JnqBtFy3qR7J2N68DxfsGwCBKFTW9lGTJQy3n8Rq!2060854463?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FPTM%2FLife&r21.content=%2FPTM%2FLife%2FHeadlineList_Story_1419911
Iron nanobeads can control immune system. Rat cells' immune response has been switched on and off with a magnetic field -- a technique that could control treatment of allergies and other illnesses more precisely. New Scientist, England, 16 January 2008.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726385.900-iron-nanobeads-can-control-immune-system.html