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/roles/register?&phase=registerform 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.
1) CHE-WA has recently launched an online searchable calendar of meetings, lectures, trainings, teleconferences and other events related to environmental health and justice. The calendar on the CHE-WA website lists events accessible without leaving the Pacific Northwest: http://www.chenw.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi Events during the upcoming month or so are usually listed in this bulletin; to learn about future events, please visit the online calendar. For environmental health events from around the world, please see the companion calendar on the ICEH website: http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi To submit an event to either calendar, please send details to ICEH: iceh@iceh.org
2) The next quarterly CHE-WA meeting will be held Friday September 14th from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Antioch University Seattle. Michael Lerner, PhD, founder and president of Commonweal and co-founder of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, will be our featured guest speaker.
Tuesday August 7, 2007
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center Level 2 North, Room 2AB, 800 Convention Place
Sponsor: Office of the Governor and the Washington Department of Ecology
Priority recommendations for Washington to reduce carbon emissions will be decided. The last hour will be open for public comments.
Website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/cat_meetings.htm
Contact: Nelsa Brodie, 360-407-7139 or nebr461@ecy.wa.gov
Tuesday August 14, 2007 (rescheduled)
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
This lecture will present new evidence that ethanol impairs brain development by interfering with how proteins move in the cell and offers a technique for identifying infants who've been exposed to ethanol in utero. The speaker will be Cynthia F. Bearer, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics, neurosciences, and environmental health sciences at Case Western Reserve University and an attending neonatologist at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
Thursday August 30, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Camp Long Environmental Learning Center Main Building, 5200 35th Ave. SW
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Education Council
Ecological Design: Inventing the Future covers the philosophical and aesthetic issues of industrial design with admirable insight. This is an example of first class filmmaking; it is a unique survey of the fields of contemporary architecture and city planning. The views are as controversial as they are deep. Even when one disagrees, the film never fails to be intellectually challenging." from Theodore Roszak, author of The Voice of the Earth and director of the Ecopsychology Institute at California State University
Price: free, but donations will be accepted
Website: http://www.nweec.org/ea.htm
Contact: sluoma@nweec.org
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
New Member. CHE-Washington welcomes this new member:
For a searchable database of organizations with which CHE-WA members are affiliated, please visit our website: http://washington.chenw.org/members.html
Job Announcement. Publications and Website Manager, Seattle, Washington. Washington Toxics Coalition is seeking a talented, hard-working publications and website manager. This is a full-time position whose primary responsibility is to produce high quality publications and manage a top-tier website for the organization. Applicants should email a cover letter, resume and list of three references to Gregg Small at gsmall@watoxics.org by August 6th. Please see the full announcement at the link below.
http://www.watoxics.org/about/publications-website-manager
World Wide Science gateway. WorldWideScience.org is a global science gateway, accelerating scientific discovery and progress through a multilateral partnership to enable federated searching of national and international scientific databases. It was developed by the US Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information in partnership with the British Library and other sources.
http://www.worldwidescience.org/
New bill targets sulfur pollution. Efforts to clean up air pollution in the largely unregulated steamship industry have moved from local boardrooms to Capitol Hill, with California's two veteran senators leading the way with a new federal bill. Long Beach Press-Telegram, California, 31 July 2007.
http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_6503748
A new reason to drink coffee: it could help block skin cancer. A daily cup of coffee and regular exercise may help prevent the sun-induced skin damage that can lead to cancer, according to a study by a research team at Rutgers University. Bergen County Record, New Jersey, 31 July 2007.
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTc2MDg5JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mw==
New technology sweeps across industry and may forever change your corner dry cleaner. Clothing cleaners are adopting new technology as California phases out the industry's chemical of choice, perchloroethylene, or perc, which is linked to a host of cancers, leukemia and other health problems. Oakland Tribune, California, 31 July 2007.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_6499494
Lead less toxic to the well-read. Good reading ability may help protect the brain from damage linked to toxic lead, a new study shows. HealthDay News, 31 July 2007.
http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/07/30/hscout606768.html
Bisphenol A alters epigenetic programming in fetal mice, and the effect can be reversed by genistein. Exposure to bisphenol A during development changes gene behavior in mice, causing genetically identical animals to develop differently. Environmental Health News, 30 July 2007.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2007/2007-0730dolinoyetal.html
Early exposure to DDT increases risk of breast cancer later in life by five-fold. In a unique, new study, scientists report that women exposed to relatively high levels of DDT prior to mid-adolescence are 5 times more likely to develop breast cancer later in life than women with lower exposures. Environmental Health News, 30 July 2007.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2007/2007-0730cohnetal.html
Evidence indicates climate change could affect individuals, in addition to planet as whole. The potential dangers for the planet posed by global warming are well known. But what about possible health effects on individuals? CBS News, 30 July 2007.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/30/earlyshow/contributors/emilysenay/main3109722.shtml
Activists threaten suit over lead-laden items. The Sierra Club has notified 10 U.S. companies that imported or distributed toys, children's jewelry and other products from China containing potentially hazardous levels of lead that it will sue if the firms don't file reports with the EPA. Wall Street Journal, 30 July 2007.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118574896987781671.html
Violence is in the air, some say. Manganese, an essential nutrient long suspected of causing violent behavior in high doses and long the focus of research into violent behavior, is once again getting the Legislature's attention. Riverside Press-Enterprise, California, 30 July 2007.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_manganese30.3d57581.html
Study suggests link between pesticides, autism. Women who live near California farm fields sprayed with organochlorine pesticides may be more likely to give birth to children with autism, according to a study by state health officials to be published today. Los Angeles Times, California, 30 July 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-autism30jul30,0,6609909.story?coll=la-home-center
Exposed! The theory behind 'multiple chemical sensitivity' is that vague symptoms such as fatigue, depression, memory loss, headaches, confusion and difficulty concentrating are triggered by either one large chemical exposure such as a pesticide application or low-level exposure to everyday chemicals in the environment. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 29 July 2007.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northwest/chi-0701_chemical_jump_n_k_hjul01,0,7847493.column
Sunshine 'protective' against MS. People who spend more time in the sun as children subsequently have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a US study shows. BBC, United Kingdom, 29 July 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6906712.stm
Electronic smog linked to respiratory disease, study shows. Electrical fields from computers, televisions and other everyday equipment can give people asthma, influenza and other respiratory diseases, a startling new study suggests. London Independent, England, 29 July 2007.
http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2814749.ece
'Baby bling' pacifiers recalled. Almost 15 million pieces of children's jewelry have been recalled over the past two years for excessive lead content. Savannah Morning News, Georgia, 28 July 2007.
http://www.savannahnow.com/node/333364
Environmental hazards kill 4 million children a year. Four million children under the age of five die every year due to environmental hazards including polluted air or water, or exposure to chemicals, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday. Reuters, 28 July 2007.
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL27432250.html
State to clear arsenic from more schools' soil. The state Department of Ecology plans to spend nearly $3.5 million to continue cleaning up Puget Sound-area child care centers and schools that were found to have elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 28 July 2007.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/325431_soil28.html
Childhood growth stages determine what harm pollution does. An increased risk of cancer, heart and lung disease in adults can result from exposures to certain environmental chemicals during childhood, the World Health Organization said today. This finding is part of the first report ever issued by the agency focusing on children's special susceptibility to harmful chemical exposures at different stages of their growth. Environmental News Service, 27 July 2007.
submitted to this bulletin by Jim DiPeso
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2007/2007-07-27-02.asp
Dirty Kilowatts. Nationwide, the power plants that provide electricity to run our homes, businesses, and factories also account for 40 percent of carbon dioxide, roughly two thirds of sulfur dioxide, 22 percent of nitrogen oxides, and roughly a third of all mercury emissions (in the U.S.). The Environmental Integrity Project has a searchable online database of power plant pollution data. Users can search for the dirtiest plants overall, by state or by pollutant: mercury, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxides. Environmental Integrity Project, 27 July 2007.
submitted to this bulletin by Jim DiPeso
http://www.dirtykilowatts.org/
Pollution-cholesterol link to heart disease seen. New research suggests that people with high cholesterol are especially vulnerable to heart disease when exposed to diesel exhaust and other ultra-fine particles that are common urban air pollutants. Los Angeles Times, California, 26 July 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-heart26jul26,0,2928424.story
Organic meat and dairy linked to better quality breast milk. The breast milk of mothers consuming organic meat and dairy contains higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, and has an overall improved quality, suggests new research. NutraIngredients.com, Europe, 25 July 2007.
http://www.nutraingredients.com:80/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=78471
Breast cancer drop linked to hormone therapy decline. Patient treatment records from a large HMO show that the recent decline in breast cancer rates is linked to a sharp drop in use of hormone replacement therapy and not to reductions in the percentage of women getting mammograms, as many scientists had speculated, researchers said Tuesday. Los Angeles Times, California, 25 July 2007.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-breast25jul25,1,6279173.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
Theories tying human health, climate gain ground. People are finally listening to physician Paul Epstein, who claims that climate change could lead to all sorts of health problems -- from more allergies to more infectious diseases to more starvation. National Public Radio, 24 July 2007.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12178339
'Holy grail' drug reverses devastating symptoms of Alzheimer's. A revolutionary drug that reverses the devastating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is being developed by British scientists. Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 24 July 2007.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=470295&in_page_id=1774
Hazard warning on home cleaners. Dozens of common household cleaning products contain hidden toxic chemicals linked to fertility disorders in lab animals, according to data gathered by a women's research group. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 24 July 2007.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/24/MNG0QR5P191.DTL
Dispelling pregnancy myths. Mercury from eating certain kinds of seafood is just one of many nutrition-related hazards that can confront a pregnant woman or one who wishes to become pregnant. New York Times, 24 July 2007.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/health/nutrition/24brody.htm
Sugary or sugar-free, soda pop linked to increased metabolic risk. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increased among middle-aged adults who regularly drink carbonated soft drinks, regardless of how the drinks are sweetened, new research suggests. Reuters Health, 24 July 2007.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2007/07/23/professional/links/20070723clin011.html
Avoiding the dangers down in the garden. This year is shaping up as a particularly nasty one for poison ivy, and evidence suggests that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air have contributed to bumper crops with a more potent toxin. New York Times, 22 July 2007.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/health/17brod.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1185103713-MjbZnejgeO7b3BTrTiusdw&oref=slogin
Ban smoking and save lives, including innocent ones. A national attitude adjustment -- where tobacco is concerned -- is well under way. Bristol Herald Courier, Tennessee, 22 July 2007.
http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/opinions.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-07-22-0006.html
MU study looks at nanotech dangers. A new study has begun to explore the effects that nanotechnology might have on the environment, 22 July 2007.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/07/22/mu-study-looks-nanotech-dangers/
Jones introduces seafood bill. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) introduced legislation this week that would tighten safety controls on seafood imported into the United States. The Foreign Seafood Safety Act of 2007 (HR 3077) creates a safety certification program for seafood imports. Outer Banks Sentinel, North Carolina, 22 July 2007.
http://obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com/articles/2007/07/21/business/bus1631.txt
Doctor's studies links dairy to cancer risk. While dermatologists routinely advise patients to get their vitamin D from dietary sources instead of sunlight, Dr. Robert Bibb doesn't want them getting it from yogurt and cheese. Myrtle Beach Sun News, South Carolina, 22 July 2007.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/123/story/135790.html
Group eyes possible link between MS, Gulf War. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is keeping an eye on Persian Gulf War veterans. If Gulf War vets do have an increased risk of MS, it could lead researchers to a specific environmental trigger for the incurable disease. Hampton Roads Daily Press, Virginia, 22 July 2007.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-89068sy0jul22,0,7109620.story
Fat: a middle-class issue. Middle-class mothers who work long hours increase the risk of their offspring being overweight or obese, according to an astonishing new study. London Independent, England, 22 July 2007.
http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2790964.ece
China not only worry on imported food. Mexican cantaloupe irrigated with water from sewage-tainted rivers. Candy laced with lead. Chinese toothpaste is not the only concern for U.S. consumers wary of the health risks posed by imported goods. Associated Press, 21 July 2007.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1102AP_Mexico_Tainted_Food.html?source=rss
Research with mice definitively links allergic rhinitis to exposure to low levels of toluene diisocyanate. New research exposing mice to a chemical used to make polyurethane foam and paints provides the first experimental confirmation that the compound causes respiratory tract disease. Environmental Health News, 20 July 2007.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2007/2007-0720johnsonetal.html
Study: NY smoking ban worked. New York's statewide smoking ban cut secondhand exposure and lowered levels of a nicotine byproduct in nonsmokers, a result that probably will reduce the number of deaths from heart disease and lung cancer, researchers reported. Bloomberg News, 20 July 2007.
http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/0719biz-smokingban19-ON.html
Healthy weight link to longevity. Keeping a healthy weight may help people live longer by limiting brain exposure to insulin, say US scientists. BBC, United Kingdom, 20 July 2007.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6906377.stm
Naturally dangerous? It has been claimed that chemicals in beauty products can harm our health. But, say experts, going barefaced may be a far greater hazard. London Times, England, 19 July 2007.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article2073171.ece
Take the ozone pledge. If you mow your lawn with an old, gas-powered lawn mower, you are part of the air pollution problem now plaguing the metro area. Denver Post, Colorado, 19 July 2007.
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6406329
Global warming exacerbating allergies. Experts warn that allergies are on the rise and could be far worse by 2050. The Daily Green, 18 July 2007.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/2007/07/18/global-warming-exacerbating-allergies/4019/
Poorly ventilated, overcrowded homes linked to Inuit kids' infections. Inadequate ventilation and overcrowding appear to contribute to the high incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in young Inuit children, according to a new study. CBC Canada, Canada, 18 July 2007.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/07/16/inuit-homes.html
Parkinson's, factory air pollution linked. A University of Toronto study has drawn a link between Parkinson's disease and the industry-generated pollutant manganese. United Press International, 18 July 2007.
http://www.upi.com/Consumer_Health_Daily/Briefing/2007/07/17/parkinsons_factory_air_pollution_linked/8403/
Extra fruit, veggies don't seem to keep breast cancer away. It doesn't hurt to indulge cravings for an extra glass of carrot juice or another serving of rutabaga, but it won't prevent a return of breast cancer, say Bay Area researchers who studied an experimental diet in several thousand women. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 18 July 2007.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/18/MNG4DR2G451.DTL
Not exactly a Safe way to talk about persistent chemicals. Dr. Stephen H. Safe has never really played it, well, safe when talking about dioxins, PCBs and PBBs. Midland Daily News, Michigan, 18 July 2007.
http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18594531&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472539&rfi=6
FDA may regulate tobacco industry. The federal agency charged with keeping food and drugs from harming people may soon be asked to take a consumer product that kills more than 400,000 people a year and make it safer. Associated Press, 18 July 2007.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.tobacco17jul17,0,6877943.story