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Coordinated nationally by the Institute for Children's Environmental Health |
These bulletins are archived and searchable on the Partnership's website: http://www.partnersforchildren.org/bulletins.html To join the Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment (PCHE) and receive this bulletin, please complete the form on our website: http://www.partnersforchildren.org/members.html#member
Companion bulletins are available for more specific audiences:
While there is overlap with this bulletin, there are some events and announcements unique to those bulletins.
Online Calendar. With a large number of events listed in the coming month, you may prefer to use our online calendar to search by location, by type of event and by other criteria: http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi Upcoming events extending more than one month in the future are also listed.
Wednesday through Friday, November 19 - 21, 2008
Tampa, Florida
Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences (NIEHS)
The objective of this interagency nano-grantees meeting is to highlight the latest research results on a variety of engineered nanomaterials. Grantees from the EPA, the NSF, NIOSH and NIEHS will present research results exploring the potential effects these materials may have on human health and the environment. A secondary objective of this meeting is to facilitate communication among stakeholders in this area and to stimulate researchers and others involved in this area to consider the potential environment impacts of their work.
Price: unknown
Website: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/events/#nov1908
Contact: Nora Savage, 202-343-9858 or savage.nora@epa.gov
Thursday November 20, 2008
1:00 p.m. Eastern time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
This call initiates the new CHE Café -- informal conversations on environmental health. This call will feature a free-ranging conversation with the authors of two powerful new books: 1) Nancy A. Nichols, author of Lake Effect: Two Sisters and a Town's Toxic Legacy, described as "provocative" by the Pittsburgh City Paper; and 2) Alice and Philip Shabecoff, authors of Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children, which Science News called a "powerful investigative work." There's no need to RSVP for a CHE Café call -- you can drop in any time. Questions can be submitted either to the email address below or to the call blog, available on the website.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/articles/che-events/4697
Contact: shelby@healthandenvironment.org
Thursday November 20, 2008
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at Antioch University Seattle, Room 100
Sponsor: Antioch University Seattle Center for Creative Change
Water 1st's mission is to serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation and health education. The lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitary latrines is the top public-health problem in the world and the number-one killer of children in the world. Lack of access to clean water has a devastating effect on women and girls who are traditionally responsible for water collection. Marla Smith-Nilsen, executive director of Water 1st International and co-founder of Water Partners International, will speak.
Price: free
Website: http://www.antiochseattle.edu/events/index.html
Thursday and Friday, November 20 - 21, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Entrix Inc. Conference Room, 200 First Avenue W, Suite 500
Sponsor: The Northwest Environmental Training Center
There is a growing trend of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations issuing triple bottom line reports. Accountability for environmental, social and economic impacts of a company is increasingly becoming a part of every manager or governmental official's job. However, there is much uncertainty and inconsistency in the field. Triple bottom line reporting is emerging as an important and necessary part of an organization's disclosure. Two main issues addressed are 1) what a triple bottom line report is and 2) the areas addressed in a triple bottom line report. The first issue involves establishing an understanding of the triple bottom line and a structure for accountability. The second issue deals with identifying boundaries, a methodology for reporting and development of an understanding of the issues around subject areas in reporting. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $320 business rate, $275 government rate, $220 for Native American tribes, students and employees of nonprofits
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/sust-404_11-08_seattle.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Monday through Friday, December 1 - 5, 2008
Foshan, Guangdong, China
at the Foshan Sanshui Garden Hotel, 39 GuangHai Road Central, Sanshui, Foshan
Sponsor: BIT Life Sciences
The Congress will be the largest meeting devoted exclusively to the research on vaccines and associated technologies for disease prevention and treatment. Both international and domestic experts will lead sessions and panel discussions on topical areas of basic science, product development, clinical testing, regulation and other aspects of vaccine research. Opportunities for networking and scientific collaboration critical to advancing vaccine science and development will be available through audience discussions, poster presentations, sponsored exhibits and evening ceremonies and receptions.
Price: see http://www.bitlifesciences.com/wcv2008/Registration.htm
Website: http://www.bitlifesciences.com/wcv2008/index.htm
Contact: Annie Sun, 86-411-84799479 or annie@vaccinecon.com
Tuesday through Thursday, December 2 - 4, 2008
Washington, DC
at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1530 P Street, Northwest
Sponsor: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The meeting will consist of a series of presentations by EPA researchers and researchers funded through EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants program. Additional presentations will be given by researchers from other US academic institutions and the US Geologic Survey, and by other internationally-recognized researchers.
Price: free, register at http://www.scgcorp.com/groundwater/Registration.asp
Website: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/events/#dec0208
Contact: Angela Page, 202-343-9826 or page.angelad@epa.gov
Wednesday and Thursday, December 3 - 4, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at NWETC Headquarters, 650 South Orcas Street, Suite 220
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
This course provides an overview of the vapor intrusion exposure pathway including its scientific foundation, regulatory framework, and the technical aspects of investigating and remediating contaminated vapor sites. The class will cover topics such as: screening sites for potential vapor intrusion concerns, conducting field investigations, sampling techniques, data analyses, exposure point calculations, the Johnson and Ettinger predictive model, vapor intrusion risk assessment, vapor intrusion mitigation, and remediation. Participants will work through practical problems and typical site scenarios based on case studies of established vapor intrusion sites. This course provides a comprehensive introduction for those new to the field, and will also provide insights, data analysis techniques, and the latest research for more advanced participants.
Price: $495 or $395 for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members
Website: http://nwetc.org/vaqm-401_12-08_seattle.htm
Contact: 206-762-1976 info@nwetc.org
Thursday December 4, 2008
Charleston, South Carolina
at the Doubletree, Historic District, 181 Church Street
Sponsor: US National Cancer Institute
The US National Cancer Institute will hold four public meetings of the President's Cancer Panel. This year the panel's focus is "Cancer and the Environment." This meeting's topic is titled "Indoor/Outdoor Air Pollution and Water Contamination." These meetings offer a unique opportunity for interested individuals to tell the panel and the American people what we have learned about the environmental causes of cancer. Each meeting will explore a different set of environmental contributors to cancer causation. The agenda for each meeting includes official testimony by 12 invited experts and 15 to 20 minutes of open public comment.
Price: free and open to the public
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/articles/doc/4199
Contact: Karen Parker, 301-451-9462 or klparker@mail.nih.gov
Tuesday through Thursday, December 4 - 6, 2008
Washington, DC
at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street Northwest
Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency; for the complete list, see http://www.iaqsymposium.com/partners.html
This symposium brings together teachers, school nurses, maintenance and custodial staff, school decision makers, school administrators, parents, school and health association members and community leaders from across the country to discuss the importance of developing effective indoor air quality management practices and how the indoor environment relates to teaching and learning. Educational programs include the latest issues in environmental health, including radon and mold; asthma management; effective risk communication and much more.
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.iaqsymposium.com/index.html
Contact: Symposium Coordinator, 703-247-6194
Friday December 5, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Washington, DC
at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives, 1201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
The program is designed for those who may have little background in toxicology yet must deal with chemicals in the home, at work or at school. Anyone interested in better understanding chemicals and their health effects, or who wants a refresher course on toxicology, is encouraged to attend. The course identifies potential health hazards of toxic chemicals and methods for preventing exposure. Chemicals we encounter in everyday life are used as examples to evaluate the hazards and risk of exposure and put them into perspective. It is designed as an overview of basic toxicology, tools for assessing the toxicology of chemicals, effects of chemicals on the body and why some people are more sensitive to chemicals than others.
Price: $150, $95 for Native American tribes, nonprofits or students
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/etox-510_12-08_washingtondc.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Tuesday December 9, 2008
1:00 p.m. Eastern time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
Do the people who grow and harvest America's food -- and the many others exposed to harmful substances used in agriculture -- face a special risk of cancer? Overall cancer incidence and mortality rates are low among farmers relative to the general population, but studies of farming populations routinely reveal elevated risk for several specific types of cancer. Some farm workers face disproportionate exposure levels to various chemicals. While a variety of substances either created by or used in agriculture may increase cancer risk -- including solvents, fuels, nitrates in fertilizers, and engine exhaust -- the bulk of research to date has focused on pesticides. Farmers and farm workers are not the only ones exposed to these substances. Join us for a call featuring speakers from the recent President's Cancer Panel hearing on agriculture and cancer: Dr. Tyrone Hayes, Heather Logan and Dr. Marion Moses.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/4715
Tuesday December 9, 2008
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: The Environmental Health Initiative of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the John Merck Fund
There are 12 pediatric environmental health specialty units (PEHSUs) in the US, Canada and Mexico. In the US, there is one unit in each of the 10 regions of the country designated by the US EPA. The goals of the units are to disseminate information about children's health and the environment and to consult with those who have questions about known or suspected environmental impacts on the health of individual children or a group of children. This teleconference will describe the PEHSUs in detail and will focus on case presentations involving concerns about 1) neurotoxicants, 2) specific cases involving individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities, and 3) community-level partnerships.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
Thursday December 11, 2008
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington, Hogness Auditorium
Sponsor: Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, the University of Washington Department of Global Health
After three years of international research and collaboration, the World Health Organization and UNICEF will release the World Report on Child Injury Prevention in December 2008. This landmark report, edited by an international group of experts, including Dr. Fred Rivara of the University of Washington, focuses on preventing child injuries and deaths caused by burns, drowning, road traffic crashes, falls and poisoning in low-and middle-income countries. Worldwide, injury is a leading cause of death for children. This forum will provide an overview of children's injuries worldwide, and discuss new strategies for action. Featured speakers will include international injury experts from Bangladesh, Ghana, Mexico and the US, joined by representatives from the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.
Price: free, but advance registration is required
Contact: Hyun Rae, 206-744-9430 or hiprc2@u.washington.edu
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Sign the Consensus Statement on Cancer and the Environment. Members of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) are invited to voice support for a stronger, science-based cancer prevention agenda by signing the Consensus Statement on Cancer and the Environment. The statement is being presented on January 27, 2009, to the President's Cancer Panel, which reports directly to the President of the United States on the development and execution of the activities of the National Cancer Program.
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/cancersignon
Special journal issue on children's health and the environment. This special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Health is devoted to children's environmental health. Fifteen articles discuss a range of health issues including particulate pollution, smoking, dioxin and mercury, plus collaborations and intervention programs.
http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=142&year=2008&vol=2&issue=3/4
Children's Environmental Health 2008 Highlights. This report from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education highlights the Agency's recent work on protecting the health of children by addressing the environments where they live, learn and play.
https://ncsl.org/programs/environ/envHealth/EPAehreport2008.htm
EU, China and US in toy safety accord. Officials from China, the US and the European Union on Monday agreed to work towards synchronising safety standards for children's toys in the first trilateral summit on product safety. London Financial Times, United Kingdom, 18 November 2008.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/23979da0-b4d7-11dd-b780-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
[Editor's note: Read a related article about revisions to an EU toy safety directive: http://www.neurope.eu/articles/90496.php ]
Future hazy for cleaner school buses. The nation's aging fleet of half a million school buses spews out tons of soot and carcinogens. But while pollution-fighting technologies are available, school budgets are plummeting, so fledgling efforts to clean the buses up may stall. Environmental Health News, 18 November 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/future-hazy-for-cleaner-school-buses
Smoking, drinking linked to throat, stomach cancer. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes appear to increase the risk of certain common throat and stomach cancers, Dutch researchers reported on Monday. Reuters Health, 18 November 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/11/17/eline/links/20081117elin011.html
Health alert over sunbed worshippers who are now injecting themselves with illegal tanning drug. The medicines watchdog has warned against using Melanotan as lack of research meant not enough was known about possible side-effects. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 18 November 2008.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1086635/Health-alert-sunbed-worshippers-injecting-illegal-tanning-drug.html
Living near heavy traffic increases chances of miscarriage and newborn death. Women living in areas with heavy traffic flow are 1.5 times more likely to lose their babies during late gestation or have their newborns die compared to those who live in areas with less traffic, according to a Brazilian study. Environmental Health News, 18 November 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/living-near-heavy-traffic-increases-the-chance-of-miscarriage-and-newborn-death/
Panel finds widespread Gulf War illness. At least one in four U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffers from a multisymptom illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during the conflict, a congressionally mandated report being released Monday found. Cox News Service, 17 November 2008.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news936004.html
Study bolsters link between Parkinson's disease, pesticide. For years, researchers have suspected commercial pesticides put people at risk for Parkinson's disease. Now evidence in the San Joaquin Valley suggests it's true. Fresno Bee, California, 17 November 2008.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1016795.html
The ongoing debate over fluoridation. Controversy has dogged fluoridation ever since scientists determined in the 1930s that tiny amounts of the naturally occurring mineral added to water can guard against tooth decay. Wall Street Journal, 17 November 2008.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=250693&src=120
Manufacturing uncertainty. With names like the Center for Consumer Freedom, Foundation for Clean Air Progress, International Society for Regulatory Toxicology & Pharmacology, and Council on Water Quality, you might think these groups are out to protect public health and the environment. Think again. Chemical & Engineering News, 17 November 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/books/86/8646books.html
BPA leaches from 'safe' products. Products marketed for infants or billed as "microwave safe" release toxic doses of the chemical bisphenol A when heated, an analysis by the Journal Sentinel has found. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 16 November 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/34532034.html
[Editor's note: A companion article describes how the tests were conducted: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/34532039.html , a related article discusses BPA's effects on reproduction: http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2008/11/13/hscout621313.html , and an article discusses responses from state and federal lawmakers: http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/34623239.html ]
Kids teaching kids about healthy eating. In Chicago, a consortium of groups has recruited high schoolers to teach younger children about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle to combat childhood obesity. Chicago children are obese at about twice the national rate. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, Wisconsin, 16 November 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-hol-giving-children-bd16nov16,0,4898220.story
Diabetes link to germ-free environment. Work funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the US backs the theory that the Western world's germ-free environment is leading to increased rates of some diseases. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, 16 November 2008.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/health/diabetes-link-to-germfree-environment/2008/11/15/1226318995787.html
10 major miscues. When the Department of Health and Environmental Control missteps, South Carolinians' lives and property can be at risk. Here are 10 high-profile examples of agency missteps over the past 20 years, ranging from leniency for polluters to withholding information from residents. Columbia State, South Carolina, 16 November 2008.
http://www.thestate.com/news-extras/story/591479.html
No proof of cancer link, but don't talk too long. It is not scientifically proven that radiation from the use of cellular phones can lead to the growth of brain tumors. However, there is one piece of advice -- don't talk too long on the phone. Daily Express, Malaysia, 16 November 2008.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=60916
Portland's low-income neighborhoods are city's 'food deserts.' Where we live determines where we buy food, which influences what we eat, factors into whether we're fat and can seal whether, someday, we get diabetes or have a heart attack. Portland Oregonian, Oregon, 16 November 2008.
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2008/11/living_in_a_food_desert.html
Practical prevention: moderate your dietary intake of acrylamide. The baking, grilling or frying of starchy foods can create a harmful substance called acrylamide. Kitsap Sun, Washington, 16 November 2008.
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/16/practical-prevention-moderate-your-dietary-of/
Campaigner wins seven-year battle to force rethink on use of pesticides. The high court ruled that Georgina Downs, who runs the UK Pesticides Campaign, had produced "solid evidence" that people exposed to chemicals used to spray crops had suffered harm. London Guardian, United Kingdom., 15 November 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/15/activists-pollution-pesticides-toxins-defra
Traffic pollution hurts kids with asthma. Traffic pollution, especially in cities, adversely affects respiratory health in children with asthma, a team of researchers in Mexico said. United Press International, 15 November 2008.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/11/14/Traffic_pollution_hurts_kids_with_asthma/UPI-30901226717239/
[Editor's note: Read a related article about the effects of seasonal haze on health: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Haze_could_lead_to_asthma_attacks_allergic_reactions/articleshow/3714788.cms ]
Parents want shampoo banned. Parents say no more children should face the risk of the adverse side effects of Gambex, a lice treatment that can be bought over the counter at pharmacies. Cape Argus Independent, South Africa, 15 November 2008.
http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fSectionId=3571&fArticleId=vn20081115093219754C816528
Bring kids for lead tests, health officials urge. Seven of the first 41 kids tested by the public health department have enough lead in their blood to cause permanent developmental damage. Hamilton Spectator, Ontario, Canada, 15 November 2008.
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/466935
Asbestos risk to children in 13,000 schools, MPs warn. The lives of pupils and teachers are being put at risk because the Government is "burying its head in the sand" over the dangers of asbestos in as many as 13,000 schools, MPs and medical experts have warned. London Independent, United Kingdom, 15 November 2008.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/asbestos-risk-to-children-in-13000-schools-mps-warn-1019504.html
Seminar searches for cancer links. It's one of those thorny issues that keeps cropping up among scientists, health-advocacy groups and the public: do the myriad pesticides that farmers use to grow our food cause cancer? Canadian Press, 15 November 2008.
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/lifetimes/article/480669
Buried secrets: Is natural gas drilling endangering US water supplies? Over the last few years, a series of contamination incidents have ignited a debate over whether the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing may threaten the nation's increasingly precious drinking water supply. ProPublica, 14 November 2008.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/buried-secrets-is-natural-gas-drilling-endangering-us-water-supplies-1113/#When:13:00:00Z
U.S. undercuts clean-air rule. Last month, the U.S. EPA approved a tough new rule aimed at clearing the nation's air of lead, to help fight childhood lead poisoning. But the Bush administration quietly weakened a key monitoring provision at the last minute, federal documents show. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 14 November 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-lead-14nov14,0,4744216.story
CA loses $28 billion yearly due to health effects of pollution. The California economy loses about $28 billion annually due to premature deaths and illnesses linked to ozone and particulates spewed from hundreds of locations in the South Coast and San Joaquin air basins. Los Angeles Times, California,13 November 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pollute13-2008nov13,0,3895359.story
Why eating GM food could lower your fertility. A long-term feeding trial commissioned by the Austrian government found mice fed on GM corn or maize had fewer offspring and lower birth rates. The results have triggered Greenpeace to call for a recall of all GM food crops currently on the market worldwide. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 13 November 2008.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1085060/Why-eating-GM-food-lower-fertility.html
Red flag raised on vitamin A in cod liver oil. A group of prominent vitamin D researchers has issued a commentary that cautions against consuming large amounts of the supplement because it may lead to excessive exposure to vitamin A. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, Canada, 13 November 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081113.LCOD13/TPStory/?query=Martin%20Mittelstaedt
What is nanotechnology and do we put the world at risk by adopting it? The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has just published a report on novel materials and has looked at the case of nanotechnology, which describes the science of the very small. London Independent, United Kingdom, 13 November 2008.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-big-question-what-is-nanotechnology-and-do-we-put-the-world-at-risk-by-adopting-it-1015518.html
[Editor's note: See a related article about nanoparticles in beauty creams: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083102/The-beauty-creams-nanoparticles-poison-body.html ]
Public, loggers urged to avoid trees treated with pine-beetle pesticide. The B.C. forests ministry has produced a map of thousands of trees that the public and loggers are urged to avoid due to arsenic residue from the application of a pine-beetle pesticide no longer used in Canada. Vancouver Sun, British Columbia, Canada, 13 November 2008.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b9332bbb-1b27-46c1-89a5-026f1378af63
Enviro health scientists, chemists join forces to promote safe chemicals. Leaders in environmental health and green chemistry met at University of California, Irvine, to draft a consensus statement designed to offer advice and overcome obstacles to creating new industrial compounds that won't endanger public health or the environment. Environmental Health News, 12 November 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/enviro-scientists-chemists-join-forces-to-promote-safe-chemicals
Poverty may aggravate asthma. Lack of money may literally alter genes related to asthma, according to Canadian researchers. HealthDay News, 12 November 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=621161
Under-16 car smoking ban. Smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 16 will be banned under tough new laws passed by the Australian State Parliament today. Maroochydore Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia, 12 November 2008.
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/nov/12/under-16-car-smoking-ban/
Smoking ban tied to a gain in lives. Nearly 600 fewer Massachusetts residents have died from heart attacks each year since legislators banned smoking in virtually all restaurants, bars, and other workplaces four years ago, some of the strongest evidence yet that such laws save lives, a new report finds. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, 12 November 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/12/smoking_ban_tied_to_a_gain_in_lives/
[Editor's note: Read an article showing a correlation between smoking and malnourished children: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=620897 ]
Toys, kid stuff may contain banned chemicals. Buyer beware: toys made with plastic chemicals [phthalates] banned this summer by the government will be plentiful this holiday season. Rochester WHAM TV, New York, 11 November 2008.
http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=43e149ae-63e6-4f6f-aee8-e7042e486515
[Editor's note: Read a related article about vendors' efforts to relax restrictions on lead in products: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122696993087535701.html ]
Lead fragments in venison raise health concerns. A new message is going out to venison eaters this year: Fragments from lead bullets have been found in processed venison. Hunters are also being advised to use nonlead ammunition such as copper. Madison Capital Times, Wisconsin, 12 November 2008.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/313891
[Editor's note: See a related article about North Dakota's safety recommendations: http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=23908 ]
Radon second as cause of lung cancer. In honor of national Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place each November, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is seeking to bring to light the lung cancer dangers associated with radon gas. Decatur Herald & Review, Illinois, 12 November 2008.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2008/11/12/life/features/1036951.txt
Greener neighborhoods better for kids' waistlines. Children living in city neighborhoods with higher "greenness" ratings seem to gain less weight over time than their counterparts living in areas with less green space, a new study suggests. Reuters, 11 November 2008.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4AA6DB20081111
Fields safe: parks report. Delta's four artificial turf playing fields may contain some lead but they're still safe, assure municipal officials. Surrey Now, British Columbia, 11 November 2008.
http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=c9e41fb6-0ee9-4fdc-b46f-4a6613291cbc
South Seattle has 'poor air quality.' A study that seemed buried or lost showed up on the Internet and confirmed what people have thought for a long time -South Seattle had an air pollution problem. West Seattle Herald, Washington, 11 November 2008.
http://www.westseattleherald.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/local_news/news02.txt
Agent Orange exposure linked to doubled risk of prostate cancer. A study of Vietnam War era veterans shows that exposure to Agent Orange is associated with a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer, earlier disease onset, and more aggressive features. Reuters, 10 November 2008.
http://www.asco.org/ASCO/News/Cancer+News?&reuterview=detail_view&reutersid=11800
Study finds increased use of medical imaging, raising costs and health concerns. A dramatic rise in the use of the medical imaging tools like CT scans are increasing health care costs and patients' exposure to radiation, according to a new study. San Jose Mercury News, California. 10 November 2008.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10928755
Comparing apples to organic apples. The unfortunate truth is that, from a hard-nosed science point of view, it's still unclear how much better, if at all, organic food is for human health. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, 10 November 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/11/10/comparing_apples_to_organic_apples/?page=full
Prescription drugs can deliver high doses of phthalates. For millions of people, medicines are a little-known, major source of the compounds, which are linked to reproductive abnormalities. Scientists warn "of the potential for high delivered doses of phthalates to vulnerable segments of the population, particularly pregnant women or young children." Environmental Health News, 10 November 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/prescription-drugs-can-deliver-high-doses-of-phthalates
The disappearing male. The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer. CBC Canada, Canada, 9 November 2008.
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/disappearingmale/
Pregnancy has room for a little wine or beer, new studies show, but caffeine is a growing concern. The largest and most rigorous studies on low levels of alcohol or caffeine to date may once again shift the advice given to pregnant women. Los Angeles Times, California, 9 November 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-closer10-2008nov10,0,2157022.story
Breastfeeding beneficial despite presence of pollutants in human milk. Mothers reluctant to breastfeed their infants following the threat of the exposure to chemical agents measured in human milk might be putting their kids at a greater health risk, say researchers. Asian News International, South Asia, 9 November 2008.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/breastfeeding-beneficial-despite-presence-of-pollutants-in-human-milk_100116779.html
NY cracks down on urban truck and bus pollution. New York is launching a statewide program to crack down on truckers and bus drivers who violate laws intended to reduce health problems from diesel fumes. Associated Press, 8 November 2008.
http://www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1226074152247450.xml&storylist=simetro
Call for ban on chemicals in cosmetics, cleaners. Twelve national health and environmental organizations are calling on Health Canada to speed up the process it uses to deal with toxins under the Chemical Management Plan and promote safer alternative products. Toronto Star, Ontario, 8 November 2008.
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/533204
Pollution can be deadly, panel says. Air pollution is killing people in Utah and elsewhere around the world, according to panelists who spoke Friday at the University of Utah's medical school. Salt Lake Deseret Morning News, Utah, 8 November 2008.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705261591,00.html
[Editor's note: See a related article about a call for greater coordination between agencies that address the environment and those that address public health: http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705263915,00.html ]
Nasty formaldehyde. Formaldehyde. The word instantly conjures up the pungent smell of high school biology labs ringed with jars of pickled pig fetuses awaiting dissection. Turns out that formaldehyde does more than just help preserve lab samples. And some of what it does isn't nice. Ottawa Citizen, Ontario, 8 November 2008.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/homes/story.html?id=df9f94c3-164d-4938-a8af-42fbd13fec2d
Biosolids battle. Some Virginia farmers use the materials left over after human waste is treated to fertilize fields. Richmond CBS 6 - WTVR, Virginia, 8 November 2008.
http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=9313538
Low-VOC paints help you and yours breathe easier. One of the big moves toward more environmentally friendly products has been in the paint and finishes industry: green paints, varnishes and paint strippers that are excellent, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health. Detroit News, Michigan, 8 November 2008.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081108/OPINION03/811080305/1038/LIFESTYLE01
Shifting Seas Part 5: The challenge facing consumers. Mislabeling raises issues of public health, consumer fraud, and environmental sustainability. And the increasing globalization of seafood makes it all the more difficult for consumers to know what they're getting. Vancouver Sun, British Columbia, 7 November 2008.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=fc7c1f9c-f6a5-4891-9ff1-0a85317c1cad
New addition to Canada's toxic substance list. Just days after the last ballot was cast in the 40th federal election, the Tory minority government has jumped into the international spotlight by being the first nation banning the use of bisphenol A (BPA). Leduc Representative, Canada, 7 November 2008.
http://www.leducrep.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1284672
Life near a city park can be as healthy as out in the country. Access to green spaces has an independently beneficial impact on health and health-related behaviour which counteracts the effects of poverty and inner-city deprivation, the research by scientists found. London Independent, United Kingdom, 7 November 2008.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/life-near-a-city-park-can-be-as-healthy-as-out-in-the-country-998212.html
Society spells out environmental links to cancer in online handbook. The Canadian Cancer Society has launched an online handbook that details the environmental substances known to or suspected of causing cancer and what people can do to limit their exposure. Canadian Press, 7 November 2008.
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1286150
In a unique study, researchers show that exposure to PCBs in rats interferes with learning by stopping the brain from forming complex nerve networks essential for memory and intellect. This effect could underpin some of the impacts that PCBs have on children's ability to learn, 7 November 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/pcb-exposure-may-affect-nerve-development-and-the-ability-to-learn/
EPA targets Columbia's 4 key pollutants. Ridding toxic pollution from the Columbia River will start by targeting four pollutants that permeate the great river of the West [PCBs, the pesticide DDT, mercury, and PBDEs], according to a river-pollution report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Clark Columbian, Washington, 7 November 2008.
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/711079954
Researchers raise alarm after chemical leak found in common plastic. Medical researchers at the University of Alberta say that two chemicals [quaternary ammonium biocides and oleamide] leaking from plastic laboratory equipment were so biologically active they ruined a drug experiment. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 7 November 2008.
http://www.ewg.org/node/27344
Obama expected to bolster FDA oversight. The Food and Drug Administration, bedeviled by a salmonella outbreak and tainted medicine from China, is likely to monitor imports and fresh produce more closely under an Obama administration. Associated Press, 7 November 2008.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/11/07/1107fda.html
New assessment highlights effective mercury-free alternatives. There are alternatives to mercury, according to a just-released preliminary assessment of the uses of elemental mercury in a number of products. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that switches, relays, button cell batteries, non-fever thermometers, and measuring devices, such as thermostats, don’t have to contain mercury. US Environmental Protection Agency, 6 November 2008.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/ADFFF48F0EDEC134852574F900649BE5
Threat from infectious diseases growing. Globalization, increased drug resistance, and climate change are among the factors contributing to the growing threat from infectious diseases, according to a report. HealthDay News, 5 November 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=620740
Epigenetics and the embodiment of race: Developmental origins of US racial disparities in cardiovascular health. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences to the US black-white disparity in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is hotly debated within the public health, anthropology, and medical communities. American Journal of Human Biology, 16 October 2008.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18925573
Environmental health and developmental disabilities: A life span approach. Prenatal and childhood environmental exposures are an underrecognized primary cause of intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Family & Community Health, October/December 2008.
http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=814366
