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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 and Thursday, November 5 - 6, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana
at The Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center, 1801 West 86th Street
Sponsor: Improving Kids' Environment (IKE)
This year's conference will include tried-and-true sessions as well as new and timely information from experts in the field of lead-poisoning prevention, childhood asthma, health care and other healthy-homes issues. Sessions being planned include Lead Poisoning 101; Asthma Basics; Environmental Health Data -- What Information Exists in Indiana and How Can You Find It?; Local Authorities, Ordinances and Strategies for Healthy Homes; New Federal Regulations for Lead Safety for Renovators and Contractors; Integrated Pest Management: What Is It and How Do I Do It?; and more.
Price: $135, $95 each additional person from the same organization
Website: http://www.ikecoalition.org/Lead_Conf_2008/Conf_Preview_2008.htm
Contact: Janet McCabe, 317-902-3610 or mccabe@ikecoalition.org
Wednesday and Thursday, November 5 - 7, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m.
San Antonio, Texas
at the Radisson Hill Country Resort & Spa, 9800 Westover Hills Boulevard
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
This exciting and informative meeting will address the issues and discuss the technology of the quality and supply of the world's most valuable resource -- water. This conference will intertwine five tracks through many workshop sessions in this three-day conference. The theme is "Emerging Issues and Technology for Managing Water Quality and Supply in the 21st Century."
Price: see website below for prices
Website: http://nwetc.org/hyd-550_11-08_san_antonio_save_the_date.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Thursday and Friday, November 6 - 7, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Las Vegas, Nevada
at the Palace Station Hotel and Conference Center, 2411 West Sahara Avenue
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 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/sust-404_11-08_las-vegas.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Thursday and Friday, November 6 - 7, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Lacey, Washington
at the Lacey Community Center, Woodland Creek Community Park, 6729 Pacific Ave SE
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
The third of a three-course series, this course provides participants with an overview of the science and best practices for implementing monitored natural attenuation. The course sections focus specifically on monitored natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons, fuel oxygenates and chlorinated hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater. Software tools for natural attenuation analysis and methods for enhancing natural attenuation will also be discussed. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $495, $395 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify.
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/ghyd-410_11-08_lacey.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
Monday November 10, 2008
8:30 a.m - 5:30 p.m.
Irvine, California
at the Beckman Center of the National Academies, 100 Academy
Sponsor: Advancing Green Chemistry, Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Both green chemistry and environmental health sciences are essential to help effect a broad-scale shift away from an economy dependent on toxic chemicals. We need the environmental health sciences to help us better understand the mechanisms by which chemicals interact with biological systems. We need green chemistry to help us design products with this knowledge built in to the very molecules. And we need those two cutting edge fields to work together.
Price: free
Website: http://www.gcandehs.org/Site/Home.html
Contact: UC Irvine's Program in Public Health, 949-824-6725
Tuesday November 11, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Columbia, Maryland
at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Drive
Sponsor: INFORM, Howard Community College, and the Center for Health, Environment and Justice
Carol Westinghouse, a leading national expert on green cleaning, will lead this educational and hands-on training. Cleaning for a Healthy Environment is a workshop on how to implement a green cleaning program. This workshop is a great opportunity to learn what green cleaning really means, why implementing a green cleaning program is so important and how to evaluate your current cleaning routine in order to make healthier purchasing decisions. Lunch will be provided; please RSVP.
Price: free
Contact: Pamela Bauer, pbauer@howardcc.edu
Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 - 13, 2008
Toronto, Ontario Canada
at the Marriott Yorkville Bloor Hotel, 90 Bloor Street East
Sponsor: Canadian Cancer Society
Experts from world-renowned organizations such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization and the US National Cancer Institute will lead discussion on the state of the science on pesticides and cancer. Conference objectives include presenting the body of evidence about adult and childhood pesticide exposure -- at work, in communities, in what we eat -- and its association with cancer risk; presenting precautionary-based policy alternatives to minimize pesticide exposure; and more.
Price: $450
Website: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=PEST_CAN_home&s_locale=en_CA pesticidesconference@cancer.ca
Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 - 13, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Honolulu, Hawaii
at the Honolulu Community College, 847 Dillingham Boulevard
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center (NWETC)
This course is the first part of a two-part series and is designed for participants who wish to gain beginning to intermediate skills in designing, implementing and testing Microsoft Access relational database applications. This comprehensive class using Access 2003, covers in depth the table, query, form, report, page and macro objects and how to use them through extensive hands-on exercises. These database subjects are taught using real-world examples with actual field data. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $495, $395 reduced tuition is available to those who qualify
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/comp-401_11-08_honolulu.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
Wednesday through Friday, November 12 - 14, 2008
Reston, Virginia
at the Hyatt Regency Reston
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)
Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is a major issue in children's health worldwide. The developing human nervous system is susceptible to many toxicants, and chemical exposure during development may cause lasting neurological deficits. CAAT's first TestSmart DNT meeting, held in March 2006, sought to identify the concerns relating to the science and policy of DNT and to developing alternative testing methodologies. DNT2 will assess progress made in developing DNT alternatives, reassess the priorities and recommendations established at DNT1, and establish ways to use in vitro data in decision making.
Price: see http://caat.jhsph.edu/dnt2/register.htm
Website: http://caat.jhsph.edu/dnt2/
Thursday and Friday, November 13 - 14, 2008
West Springfield, Massachusetts
at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1080 Riverdale Street
Sponsor: Lead & Healthy Homes Conferences
This is an educational and networking conference for certified lead professionals; public-health, housing and community development officials; lead and healthy-homes program administrators; health educators and community advocates; environmental consultants and contractors; facility owners and managers. The two educational program tracts include 1) Lead Poisoning Prevention, Lead Hazard Controls and Healthy Homes; and 2) Detecting and Combating Environmental Hazards in Housing and Commercial Buildings.
Price: $250, reduced rates are offered for addition people from the same organization
Website: http://leadmoldconferences.com/events2/
Contact: Lead & Healthy Homes Conferences, 800-590-6522
Friday November 14, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Honolulu, Hawaii
at the Honolulu Community College, 847 Dillingham Boulevard
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center (NWETC)
This is the second part of the Managing Data with Microsoft Access for Professionals training class. In the introductory class, the students learned the basic elements of database design and implementation. Now they build on and deepen those skills while being introduced to more advanced Access topics such as PivotCharts, PivotTables, Data Access Pages and SQL. This second class is highly recommended to complete the comprehensive Access training series. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $250, $195 reduced tuition is available to those who qualify
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/comp-402_11-08_honolulu.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
Saturday November 15, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
at Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Avenue South, Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus
Sponsor: Healthy Legacy, Learning Disabilities Association Minnesota and America, Arc Greater Twin Cities, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Minnesota Department of Health
This conference will focus on assessing environmental impacts to children's health. Come learn more about how eliminating exposure to toxic chemicals can help your children grow to their fullest potential. Parents, educators, health professionals and more are encouraged to participate. Registration is strongly recommended.
Price: free; lunch and parking validation will be provided
Website: http://www.healthylegacy.org/healthyliveshealthyminds/
Contact: Marianne Reich at Arc Greater Twin Cities, 952-920-0855 or mariannereich@arcgreatertwincities.org
Sunday November 16, 2008
Tampa, Florida
at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, 700 South Florida Avenue
Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Since 2005, the EPA STAR grant program has provided $7.6 million for 13 research studies to develop methods to monitor endocrine disruptors in complex mixtures and to characterize the impact of hormones in waste from animal feeding operations. Studies that are developing innovative behavioral, molecular and biosensor methods for detecting endocrine disruptors and hormone activity in environmental media such as wastewater effluent are nearing completion. This meeting provides the opportunity for researchers to discuss recent findings, common methodological issues, and upcoming investigations on endocrine disruptors in the environment.
Price: unknown
Website: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/events/#oct0708
Contact: Susan Laessig, 202-343-9617 or laessig.susan@epa.gov
Monday November 17, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Honolulu, Hawaii
at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, 2552 Kalakaua Avenue
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. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $250, $195 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify.
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/chem-403a_11-08_honolulu.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Education Council, 206-923-1980
Wednesday through Friday, November 18 - 20, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Denver, Colorado
at the Carl Park Community Center, 5401 Meade Street
Sponsor: The Northwest Environmental Training Center
This course provides an overview that will cover the basic terms, concepts, and logic that underlie modern scientific sampling. Much of the class will be devoted to the understanding of how to apply the basic concepts of probability to sampling problems and how to use probability to measure the effectiveness of the sampling process. We will discuss the difference between purposive and random sampling and discuss why random sampling (and its many variations) is so frequently used in manufacturing, science and government. Continuing education units are available.
Price: $595, $495 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify.
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/stat-403_11-08_denver.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
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
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
8:30 a.m. - 5:10p.m.
Guangzhou, China
at the Baiyun International Convention Center
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
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
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
New Member. The Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment welcomes this new member:
For a searchable database with a wealth of information about PCHE members, please visit the PCHE website: http://www.partnersforchildren.org/members.html
Job opening, Portland, Oregon. The Josiah Hill III Clinic is looking for a Provider Health Educator to develop and implement a training focused on lead-poisoning prevention and blood-lead testing. The target audience(s) for the training are nurses, health providers and/or public health professionals. Once trained, participants will be able to provide lead-poisoning prevention education to their networks, encourage blood lead testing and increase awareness about local resources to reduce lead exposure. This position is budgeted for 50 hours from December 2008 through March 2009 at $15 to $25 per hour depending on experience. Please submit a letter of interest and your resume/CV to Erin McNally via email: erin@jhillclinic.org
Report proposes new legal mechanisms to protect future generations from environmental degradation. Models for Protecting the Environment for Future Generations describes how ombudsmen, guardians, and other legal instruments could help guarantee a habitable planet for future humans. The report is a collaborative effort of the International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) of Harvard Law School, the Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN), and the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN).
http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/documents/Models_Future_Generations.pdf
Green chemistry survey. The Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network (GLGCN) has prepared a short survey to identify awareness and activity related to green chemistry in our target sectors: industry/business, academia, government and nongovernmental organizations. Respondents do not have to live or work in the Great Lakes in order to fill out the survey. Although the focus is on the Great Lakes, all data collected will define the work that is necessary to promote green chemistry in the region and beyond.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=U_2bnxyrTtH0_2fGM7v_2fBOVnRg_3d_3d
US state-level chemicals policy database. The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell launched a new State Chemicals Policy Database for legislators, policy makers, researchers and advocates that houses more than 700 state and local legislative and executive branch policies from all 50 states from 1990 to the present.
http://chemicalspolicy.org/uslegislationsearch.php
Green schools buying guide launched. Green Schools Initiative is launching a new Green Schools Buying Guide to help schools make purchasing decisions that will protect children's health and the environment. Schools spend billions of dollars annually on facilities, energy and water, office and school supplies, cleaners and pesticides, food, and play equipment. The Guide is based on four pillars: 1) Strive to Be Toxics Free, 2) Use Resources Sustainably, 3) Green Schoolyards & Healthy Food, and 4) Curriculum.
http://greenschools.live.radicaldesigns.org/display.php?modin=50
Climate Change and Health: A Resource Guide. Climate change is one of the most challenging issues of our time and health-care providers can play an important role in addressing the effects of climate change. This resource guide has been developed to help health care providers take actions or advise others to act to affect issues related to climate change.
http://ehnursing.org/pmwiki.php?n=Main.ClimateChangeAndHealthAResourceGuide
Healthiest Nation Alliance. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) The Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) and the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) are the founding members of a new movement -- Healthiest Nation Alliance -- that aspires to help create an America where an integrated national system values health, prioritizes prevention and protects from emerging threats.
http://www.healthiestnation.org:80/
Genetically modified food. On September 18, 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed guidelines to allow genetically modified (GM) animals in the food supply. In addition, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently proposed new regulations for GE crops designed to produce pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. PCC Natural Markets has a web page with links to submit comments to the FDA and USDA.
http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/issues/gm/
submitted to this bulletin by Dennis L. Weaver
Conflicting studies on possible health threats send mixed signals to cell phone users. Almost 80 percent of American teens have a mobile device, mostly provided by a parent with safety in mind. But are they safe? Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio, 4 November 2008
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2008/11/conflicting_studies_on_possibl.html
[Editor's note: Read a related article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081024.LCELLPHONE24/TPStory ]
Autism shown higher in children living in rainy areas. A study of kids in California, Oregon and Washington suggests an environmental trigger to the disorder and calls for research to determine possible explanations. Los Angeles Times, California, 4 November 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-autism4-2008nov04,0,3503547.story
Mom's diabetes tied to kid's language deficits. Children of mothers who developed diabetes while pregnant are prone to persistent delays in language, investigators in Canada report. Reuters Health, 4 November 2008
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/11/03/eline/links/20081103elin028.html
Even a little caffeine may harm fetus, study finds. Pregnant women who consume caffeine -- even about a cup of coffee daily -- are at higher risk of giving birth to an underweight baby, researchers said on Monday. Reuters Health, 4 November 2008
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/11/03/eline/links/20081103elin019.html
When a 'curly' light bulb breaks. Add to the list of things no parent especially wants to hear: "Mom, my reading lamp fell over, and the light bulb broke. It was one of those curly ones." Washington Post, 3 November 2008
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/11/when_a_lightbulb_breaks.html
Asbestos and mesothelioma: A younger generation now at risk. Everyone knows the dangers of asbestos. What was once commonplace in factories and the construction industry has caused a slew of health problems to those who have been exposed. Glen Saint Mary North Florida News Daily, Florida, 3 November 2008
http://www.northfloridanewsdaily.com/News/2008/1103/health_and_fitness/185.html
Poisons cloud air at Iraq base. An open-air "burn pit" at the largest U.S. base in Iraq may have exposed tens of thousands of troops, contractors and Iraqis to cancer-causing dioxins. Gannett News Service, 3 November 2008
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=735751
A controversial new pesticide. The EPA has given final approval for use of methyl iodide, a new pesticide that its developer James J. Sims and manufacturer Arysta LifeScience think should replace the now banned methyl bromide in the strawberry fields of California. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 3 November 2008
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/chrongreen/detail?&entry_id=31834
Does FDA OK give pharmacies a free pass? Does Food and Drug Administration approval guarantee safety? If the Supreme Court rules as expected, patients might have no legal recourse if they are harmed by an FDA-approved medicine. People's Pharmacy, 3 November 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6090966.html
Choking on construction dust. For most of us, the dust kicked up by a construction site seems like a minor nuisance. But it can be a health hazard. Construction dust is one source of air pollution that's largely been ignored. Great Lakes Radio Consortium, Michigan, 3 November 2008
http://www.glrc.org/story.php3?story_id=4218
Study delayed on Katrina trailers. A government study to track the health of children who lived in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina is still stuck in the planning stages, three years after families first began complaining about health problems related to formaldehyde in their temporary homes. ProPublica, 2 November 2008
http://www.propublica.org/article/government-study-on-children-living-in-katrina-trailers-muddled-by-delays-c/
Clearing the indoor air. As director of the Montana chapter of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes program, Michael Vogel, of Bozeman, Mont. (pop. 27,509), knows a thing or two about clean air. American Profile, 2 November 2008
http://www.americanprofile.com/article/29882.html
As Fairbanks shifts to economical wood heat, pollution problem hangs in air. A widespread layer of yellow haze hung over the Fairbanks area Saturday, the product of stagnant air and the shift to wood heat. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Alaska, 2 November 2008
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/02/fairbanks-shifts-economical-wood-heat-pollution-pr/
[Editor's note: Read a related article: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20081026/NEWS02/810260312/1009/NEWS01 ]
The horror of U.S. depleted uranium in Iraq threatens the world. American and British use of DU is a crime against humanity which may, in the eyes of historians, rank with the worst atrocities of all time. Tehran Times, Iran, 2 November 2008
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=181303
Foods to prevent disease? Eating tomatoes to help prevent cancer, garlic to prevent AIDS or drinking fruit juice to ward off Alzheimer's? Despite a bevy of research, the impact of food on killer diseases remains to be proved. Agence France-Presse, 2 November 2008
http://news.smh.com.au/world/foods-to-prevent-disease-20081102-5g6x.html
Linking TB and the environment: An overlooked mitigation strategy. For centuries, TB has been linked anecdotally with environmental risk factors that go hand-in-hand with poverty: indoor air pollution, tobacco smoke, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and excessive alcohol use. Now scientists are presenting convincing evidence to back these associations. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2 November 2008
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/116-11/focus.html
BPA substitutes sought. With public pressure mounting and the Food and Drug Administration reconsidering the safety of bisphenol A, manufacturers said Friday that they would intensify their efforts to find a substitute for the controversial plastic baby bottle ingredient. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 1 November 2008
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/33678809.html
Tainted toys get another turn. More than 20 million toys were recalled last year due to problems ranging from toxic lead paint to magnets lethal when swallowed. Some toy makers abandoned their products, but some just relaunched the toys with new names. Wall Street Journal, 31 October 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122541224721086433.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace
Lead warning in Halloween makeup. The makeup is sold at Target stores in the region, but, despite the warning, it meets Federal safety standards and is not in danger of being recalled. Sioux Falls KSFY TV, South Dakota, 31 October 2008
http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/33620279.html
[Editor's note: See another article about Halloween hazards at http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4456554 ]
Danger lurking in your bottle of red. Wines from 13 different countries contain potentially hazardous levels of metals, according to a chemical analysis by British scientists. London Times, England, 30 October 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5044013.ece
Working together for a green new deal. I came to understand that the answer to our social, economic and ecological crises can be one and the same: a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The Nation, 29 October 2008
http://www.thenation.com:80/doc/20081117/jones
NAFTA challenge won't stop Ont. from going ahead with pesticide ban. Ontario won't back down from its plan to prohibit the cosmetic use and sale of weed killer 2,4-D despite a NAFTA challenge to Quebec's pesticide ban, Ontario's environment minister said Tuesday. Canadian Press, 29 October 2008
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iDPiDw8euHlXpBHrQEKb4x1emmeQ
[Editor's note: Read a related article describing the views of groups who oppose Dow's challenge: http://www.thestar.com/article/522707 ]
Smokers banned from becoming foster parents. Smokers will be banned from fostering children under radical measures to be introduced in London. London Evening Standard, England, 29 October 2008
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23579454-details/Smokers%20banned%20from%20becoming%20foster%20parents/article.do
Athletes kick up hidden toxic chemicals from artificial turf. In a study of artificial turf, scientists found harmful chemicals in virtually every sample tested, including PAHs, chromium and lead. Environmental Health News, 29 October 2008
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/new-yorkers-are-kicking-up-toxic-chemicals-on-artificial-turf/
Md. hospitals, care facilities working to cut their use of toxic pesticides. Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center and nearly a dozen other health care and retirement facilities are working to eliminate toxic pesticides from their pest control efforts, the first like it in the country. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, 28 October 2008
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-md.pesticides28oct28,0,3769126.story
Number of lead-contaminated yards climbs in Omaha. The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed spending an additional $255 million and cleaning up an estimated 10,000 more yards in eastern Omaha. Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska, 28 October 2008
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10471819
Imprint of famine seen in genes of Second World War babies 60 years on. Malnourishment in the womb causes genetic changes that can still be seen when people reach middle and old age, according to new research that shows how strongly environmental influences can interact with the human genome to shape health. London Times, England, 28 October 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5029679.ece
Green neighborhoods may reduce childhood obesity. Researchers report that children living in inner city neighborhoods with higher "greenness" experienced lower weight gains compared to those in areas with less green space. Science News, 28 October 2008
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/10/28/green.neighborhoods.may.reduce.childhood.obesity
A rise in kidney stones is seen in U.S. children. The increase in the United States is attributed to a host of factors, including a food additive that is both legal and ubiquitous: salt. New York Times, 27 October 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/28kidn.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
submitted to this bulletin by Aimee Boulanger
21-Year study of children set to begin. Researchers will begin recruiting pregnant women in January for an ambitious nationwide study that will follow more than 100,000 children from before birth until age 21 to gain a better understanding of the effects of a wide array of factors on children's health. New York Times, 27 October 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/research/28chil.html
Male, interrupted. At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the genitalia of roughly 300 baby boys are repaired every year -- about double the number from 30 years ago. Chemicals called phthalates, found in dozens of consumer products, may be to blame. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania, 27 October 2008
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20081027_Male__interrupted.html
Methyl iodide saga continues. At the beginning of October, the EPA approved the use of the highly toxic and controversial fumigant methyl iodide primarily for strawberry and tomato fields. California is still assessing the risks, however. Chemical & Engineering News, 27 October 2008
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/86/8643gov2.html
State proposes strict air rules for big rigs. State officials on Friday released a toughest-in-the-nation plan to cut emissions of air pollutants from the roughly 1 million heavy-duty diesel trucks that travel California's roads. Sacramento Bee, California, 27 October 2008
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1342332.html
Coal's time bomb. Every year, South Carolina's power plants burn enough coal to fill 10 large football stadiums, leaving behind a stadium-size pile of toxic ash. Charleston Post and Courier, South Carolina, 26 October 2008
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/oct/26/coals_time_bomb59266/
Hattiesburg collaboration to boost lead-poisoning education. The University of Southern Mississippi will collaborate with local organizations this year to address the problem of Hattiesburg having the highest proportion of children with elevated blood lead levels in the state. Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi, 26 October 2008
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081026/NEWS/810260357/1001/news
Controversy over new lead regs. The Environmental Protection Agency lowered the acceptable level of lead in the air for the first time in thirty years. Lead expert Dr. Bruce Lanphear, who served on the advisory panel to the EPA, says the new standard, ten times lower than the previous level, still isn't low enough. Living On Earth, 25 October 2008
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=08-P13-00043&segmentID=1
Fire retardant costumes pose Halloween danger. Halloween costume shopping is now a bit trickier for parents who are worried about flame retardants. Nearly all Americans tested have trace levels of the chemicals [PBDEs] in their blood. So what's a concerned consumer to do in the meantime? NBC News, 25 October 2008
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=94800&catid=8
Could anesthesia cause developmental disorders? Researchers this week presented a study showing a possible link between exposure to anesthesia and behavioral and developmental disorders in young children. Scientists say the new research is in no way conclusive. But the study's lead author says this is "something we can't ignore." Newsweek, 25 October 2008
http://www.newsweek.com/id/165041
Report shows environmental risks to kids' health. According to a new study, children in Maryland are being made sick by the environments they live in. Annapolis WJZ TV, Maryland, 25 October 2008
http://wjz.com/local/health.environmental.risks.2.848186.html
Canada's asbestos time bomb. Every year, Canada ships thousands of tonnes of asbestos to developing countries -- a potential catastrophe in the making. Ottawa Citizen, Ontario, 25 October 2008
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/features/asbestos/index.html
[Editor's note: Read a related article about Ottawa's refusal to reveal its position on chrysotile: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081026.wasbestos1027/BNStory/Front/home ]
Iraq's environment scarred. Long after the shooting and bombing stops, Iraqis will still be dying from the war. Reuters, 25 October 2008
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=142974
Protect yourself from paint poison. That fresh paint smell could be hazardous to your health. Santa Clarita Signal, California, 25 October 2008
http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/5176/
Critics slam chemical report. Lawmakers, scientists and advocacy groups intensified their criticism Thursday of a government report declaring bisphenol A to be safe. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 24 October 2008
http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=809667
[Editor's note: See an article with a response from FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122546346918387999.html ]
Environmental threats to healthy aging. As the baby boom generation gets older the number of people with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is expected to increase substantially. A new report suggests that the environment may play a bigger role than previously thought. Today Show, NBC, 24 October 2008
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/18424824#27336587
Toxic toys, jewelry recalled. Health Canada has ordered thousands of toys and children's costume jewelry items off store shelves after a Star investigation found they contained dangerously high levels of lead. Toronto Star, Ontario, 24 October 2008
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/523696
Arsenic levels in baby rice expose loophole in federal safety regulations. After testing three common brands of baby rice consumed in the United States and Europe, scientists in Scotland discovered alarmingly high levels of arsenic. Washington DC Examiner, District of Columbia, 23 October 2008
http://www.examiner.com/x-764-Baby-and-Toddler-Examiner~y2008m10d22-Arsenic-levels-in-baby-rice-cereal-expose-loophole-in-federal-safety-regulations
Toys containing banned plastics still on market. A flood of toys containing phthalates are hitting the markets before they are banned on February 10. The law has ended up sanctioning a grace period that allows toy makers to sell off soon-to-be banned toys, rather than forcing disposal. Wall Street Journal, 23 October 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122472242723860917.html
South Seattle residents criticize cancer risk study. A new government study that documented an elevated cancer risk across most of South Seattle came under fire Tuesday night from residents and environmental activists who complained it underestimated the true risks. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 22 October 2008
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/384414_airpollution22.html
Interventions to promote breast-feeding succeed. Doctors, nurses, hospitals and health systems should encourage and promote breast-feeding, says a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. HealthDay News, 22 October 2008
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/21/interventions-to-promote-breast-feeding-succeed.html
Resolving environmental injustice on a local level. Localized pollution is the leading contributing factor to disability and disease in communities across the world. Even in the U.S., air pollution and contaminated water sources result in death, persistent illness and neurological impairment for millions of people. Newsweek, 22 October 2008
http://www.newsweek.com/id/165013
Poisoned promises. FEMA promised the mobile homes coming into Iowa were safe. They said there would be no more toxic trailers, like the ones that made so many sick on the Gulf Coast. But tests reveal dangerous levels in FEMA trailers in Iowa. Cedar Rapids KGAN TV, Iowa, 22 October 2008
http://www.kgan.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kgan_vid_1501.shtml
Workmen 'ignoring asbestos risk.' Some 4,000 people a year are dying from the effects of asbestos and that figure is likely to increase, the Health and Safety Executive has said. BBC, United Kingdom, 22 October 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7682295.stm
Nicotine may spur breast cancer's spread. Nicotine may help push breast cancer cells from the original tumor to other parts of the body -- contributing to the metastasis that so often kills patients. HealthDay News, 22 October 2008
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=620335
Acrylamide doesn't raise gastrointestinal cancer risk. A large Dutch study finds no link between the chemical acrylamide -- found in French fries and coffee -- and the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer. HealthDay News, 22 October 2008
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=620440
