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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
various dates in March, April and May 2008
various times
at six locations throughout Multnomah County, Oregon
Sponsor: Multnomah County Health Department
Join Multnomah County in learning how your health is more than health care or personal choice. Each episode of the PBS documentary Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? will sound the alarm about America's glaring socio-economic and racial inequities in health, and search for root causes. The county is asking the community, especially those who have historically been left out of decision-making, to help them understand what actions they should take to address these challenges.
Price: free and open to the public
Website: http://www.mchealth.org:80/healthequity/calendar.shtml
Contact: Health Equity Initiative, 503-988-3030 ext. 22068 or health.equity@co.multnomah.or.us
Tuesday through Saturday, April 22 - 26, 2008
San Francisco, California
Sponsor: SF Environment, UC Berkeley Extension, EcoCity Builders, Blue Practice, Green Century and Helen and William Mazer Foundation
The International Ecocity Conference Series brings together the key innovators, decision makers, technologists, businesses and organizations shaping the conversation around ecological and sustainable city, town and village design, planning and development. We intend to put these issues on the economic and environmental agenda for 2008 and beyond: people, nature, sustainable development, economies & technologies, and incentives & support structures.
Price: see http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=130178
Website: http://www.ecocityworldsummit.org/index.htm
Contact: 510-419-0850
Thursday April 24, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Part three of a six-part series, the goal of this course is to enable health assessors to perform a knowledge-based preliminary evaluation of environmental radiation data that have been obtained at hazardous waste sites. Topics include instrumentation and radiation measurement/detection, basic statistics needed for radiation evaluation and issues associated with detection and measurements. NCEH/ATSDR staff and NCEH/ATSDR partner staff who prepare public health products or conduct community involvement/health education/health intervention activities as part of the health assessment process are invited to attend. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://app2.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi
Contact: Erin Dopfel, 781-674-7229 or erin.dopfel@erg.com
Thursday April 24, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Portland, Oregon
at the Doubletree Hotel-Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah
Sponsor: Oregon Environmental Council
Obesity is generally thought of as an individual problem, an offshoot of the couch-potato syndrome, in which people eat too much while exercising too little. But now scientists are asking about the ways that exposure to low levels of contaminants may predispose people to obesity. Research from an increasing number of studies suggests that minute exposures to common chemicals might pre-program people to be obesity-prone.
Price: $35, $25 for members and nonprofit or governmental agency employees
Website: http://www.oeconline.org/events
Contact: Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 or info@oeconline.org
Thursday April 24, 2008
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Palo Alto, California
at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road
Sponsor: Arcterra, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and the Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Part of the Palo Alto Reproductive Health and the Environment Lecture Series, this thought-provoking discussion will feature Sarah Janssen, MD, PhD, MPH, a practicing physician and science fellow with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Dr. Janssen, a new mom, is an expert in endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can detrimentally impact pregnancy, fertility and the developing fetus.
Price: free
Website: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/mar-monte/california-lecture-series-in-palo-alto.htm
Contact: Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, ehrh@ppmarmonte
Sunday April 27, 2008
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the Greenlake PCC Natural Market classroom, 7504 Aurora Avenue North
Sponsor: Washington Action for Safe Water
Join Washington Action for Safe Water in its efforts to educate our community about the toxicity of fluoridation.
Price: unknown
Contact: Washington Action for Safe Water, safewater@comcast.net
Monday April 28, 2008
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
Central to CHPS's mission is providing technical information to school design and maintenance professionals on techniques for creating healthier learning environments. CHPS will present their essential toolkit for school and student health advocates. Participants will learn how to use CHPS's free resources to make healthy schools a reality for all students.
Price: free
Website: http://www.chps.net/
Contact: Miranda Leonard, 415-957-9888 or miranda@chps.net
Tuesday April 29, 2008
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
London, United Kingdom
at the Royal College of Physicians, 11 Saint Andrews Place
Sponsor: Royal College of Physicians
This conference will explore the growing UK debate on global health, with updates on communicable and chronic disease. Coming after the publication in 2007 of Lord Crisp's "Global health partnerships" and Sir Liam Donaldson's "Health is global: proposals for a government-wide strategy," the conference will discuss their impact and the latest Government initiatives. Drawing together experts from the clinical and policy worlds, it will examine the role the UK has to play through the prism of its foreign policy. The conference will offer an opportunity for people from different fields to interact in lively and informative debate.
Price: 150 GBP
Website: http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/event/details.aspx?e=1012
Contact: Dr. Michael Pelly, 020 7935 1174 x 252/300/436 conferences@rcplondon.ac.uk
Wednesday April 30, 2008
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lynnwood, Washington
at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th Street Southwest
Sponsor: The Breast Cancer Fund and the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington
Instructors Sandra Steingraber, PhD, and Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, will present an in-depth look at the links between toxic chemicals in our environment, breastfeeding and breast cancer. This conference is intended for physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, registered dieticians, and other health professionals. Online registration for this conference ends on Monday April 21st.
Price: physicians $100, others $85, luncheon only $30
Website: http://www.breastcancerfund.org/lookingupstream
Contact: Pam Tazioli, 206-524-4405 or pamela@breastcancerfund.org
Thursday May 1, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Part four of a six-part series, the goal of this course is to enable health assessors to perform a knowledge-based preliminary evaluation of environmental radiation data that have been obtained at hazardous waste sites. Topics include terminology and the concepts of radiation exposure, radiation dose, critical organ and external and internal dosimetry models. NCEH/ATSDR staff and NCEH/ATSDR partner staff who prepare public health products or conduct community involvement/health education/health intervention activities as part of the health assessment process are invited to attend. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://app2.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi
Contact: Erin Dopfel, 781-674-7229 or erin.dopfel@erg.com
Thursday May 1, 2008
3:30 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington School of Public Health, Hogness Auditorium, A-420 Health Sciences
Sponsor: Dean's Office, School of Public Health
David Cay Johnston will deliver this 2008 Stephen Stewart Gloyd Endowed Lecture. Mr. Johnston's latest book is titled "Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill)." He also wrote the 2004 best seller "Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich--and Cheat Everybody Else."
Price: unknown
Website: http://apps.sphcm.washington.edu/envhlth/cal/cal.asp?mo=5&dd=All+Days&yr=2008&calendar=envhlth
Contact: Holly Weese, 206-685-6643
Thursday and Friday, May 1 and 2, 2008
Washington, DC
at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street, Northwest
Sponsor: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This forum provides a venue for leaders of innovative and successful community-based asthma programs to tell their stories, describe their outcomes and evaluation methods, and present key elements of their programs. The forum also gives community-based asthma programs from across the country the opportunity to review the findings of the University of Michigan Asthma Health Outcomes Project (AHOP)
Price: $210
Website: http://www.epaasthmaforum.com/Index.aspx
Contact: National Asthma Forum, info@epaasthmaforum.com
Wednesday May 7, 2008
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Palo Alto, California
at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road
Sponsor: Arcterra, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and the Reproductive Health Technologies Project
As part of the Palo Alto Reproductive Health and the Environment Lecture Series, Charlotte Brody of Commonweal and Renee Sharp from the Environmental Working Group will join Susan Kegley from the Pesticide Action Network North America to share resources that you can use to protect your family from the harmful effect of pesticides. From food shopping to household cleaning supplies to local pesticide policies, pick up some everyday tips and tools to use and share.
Price: free
Website: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/mar-monte/california-lecture-series-in-palo-alto.htm
Contact: Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, ehrh@ppmarmonte
Thursday May 8, 2008
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Research
Numerous questions exist regarding the health effects, heterogeneity, composition and sources of PM10-2.5 characteristic of specific locations and comparisons between locations, especially rural versus urban areas. EPA's National Center for Environmental Research, Science To Achieve Results (STAR) grantees will meet to discuss research plans, methods and early results with scientists from EPA, state agencies, other Federal agencies and industry. The workshop will be open to the public.
Price: unknown
Website: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/events/#may08
Contact: Sherri W. Hunt, 202-343-9644 or hunt.sherri@epa.gov
Thursday May 8, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Part five of a six-part series, the goal of this course is to enable health assessors to perform a knowledge-based preliminary evaluation of environmental radiation data that have been obtained at hazardous waste sites. Topics include typical environmental concentrations of radioactive materials, common materials that may contain radioactive elements and environmental pathway analyses. NCEH/ATSDR staff and NCEH/ATSDR partner staff who prepare public health products or conduct community involvement/health education/health intervention activities as part of the health assessment process are invited to attend. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://app2.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi
Contact: Erin Dopfel, 781-674-7229 or erin.dopfel@erg.com
Thursday May 15, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Final part of a six-part series, the goal of this course is to enable health assessors to perform a knowledge-based preliminary evaluation of environmental radiation data that have been obtained at hazardous waste sites. Topics include the importance of chemistry, radiation biology and example evaluations of environmental radiation data. NCEH/ATSDR staff and NCEH/ATSDR partner staff who prepare public health products or conduct community involvement/health education/health intervention activities as part of the health assessment process are invited to attend. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://app2.erg.com/registration/course_listing.cgi
Contact: Erin Dopfel, 781-674-7229 or erin.dopfel@erg.com
Thursday May 22, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Portland, Oregon
at the Doubletree Hotel-Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah
Sponsor: Oregon Environmental Council
Girls have their first periods today, on average, a few months earlier than girls did 40 years ago, but their breasts begin to develop one to two years earlier. Over the course of a few decades, the childhoods of United States girls have been significantly shortened. What does this mean for girls today and their health in the future?
Price: $35, $25 for members and nonprofit or governmental agency employees
Website: http://www.oeconline.org/events
Contact: Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 or info@oeconline.org
Online Calendar. Upcoming events extending more than one month in the future are listed in a searchable calendar: http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) established the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program (EJSG) to support and empower communities that are working on local solutions to local environmental and/or public-health issues. The EJSG Program is designed to assist recipients in building collaborative partnerships that will help them understand and address the environmental and/or public-health issues in their communities. EPA has announced the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities and nonprofit organizations working on, or planning to work on, a project that addresses a local environmental and public-health issue within an affected community.
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Pre-drug heart tests urged for ADHD kids. Children should be screened for heart problems with an electrocardiogram before getting drugs such as Ritalin to treat hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder, the American Heart Association recommended yesterday. Associated Press, 22 April 2008.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.adhd22apr22,0,7202024.story
Toxins in the carpet: Chemicals a threat to pets, babies. Pet owners may want to think twice before they let Fido snooze on the new couch, or sprawl on the wall-to-wall carpet. Foster's Daily Democrat, New Hampshire, 22 April 2008.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/GJNEWS_01/774578135/-1/FOSNEWS
Brain damage link to cancer drug. A drug widely used to treat cancer may cause brain damage, with the effects lasting for years after the end of treatment, research suggests. The drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-RU), is used, alongside others, to treat cancers of the breast, ovaries, colon, stomach, pancreas and bladder. BBC, UK, 22 April 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7360127.stm
Environmental exposures can have an impact on whether men's 'boys' can swim. Certain environmental exposures -- including heavy metals, organic solvents and some pesticides such as DDT -- may affect both the quantity and the quality of sperm. Canadian Press, 22 April 2008.
http://www.thecanadianpress.com/english/online/OnlineFullStory.aspx?filename=x042108A&newsitemid=53620028&languageid=1
Pesticide ban launches on Earth Day. Earth Day will be the backdrop for Premier Dalton McGuinty today as he announces long-awaited legislation to ban cosmetic use of pesticides across Ontario. Toronto Sun, Ontario, 22 April 2008.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2008/04/22/5353601-sun.html
Consumers clean up their act. Natural, organic, hypoallergenic and biodegradable products to clean your home and your body have made their way from health food and specialty stores to mainstream retailers. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 22 April 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080422.SRGREENPRODUCTS22//TPStory/Environment
Research suggests breathing in pollution could trigger brain cancer. Dr. Julia Ljubimova found something disturbing when she probed the brains of rats exposed to air pollution: The dirty air appeared to trigger changes indicating the earliest stage of brain tumors. Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee, 21 April 2008.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/21/airborne-illness/
Bug repellent found in Chicago's drinking water. Millions of Americans cover themselves with the powerful repellent DEET as part of their summer routine. But after we shower and wash our clothes, DEET winds up in rivers and lakes -- and it's in our drinking water. Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois, 21 April 2008.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/905720,CST-NWS-water21.article
The 'green' way to dump electronic junk. Are you trying to rid your house of unwanted technology? Here's help. MSNBC, 21 April 2008.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24163506/
What do pollution numbers mean? For each company industrial site, a concerned member of the public can surf through federal data [in the Toxics Release Inventory} to determine the amount in pounds of various reportable chemicals that site releases into the air and waterways. Munster Times, Indiana, 21 April 2008.
http://nwi.com/articles/2008/04/21/special/water/doc480a92ed44f92816963445.txt
We all can do something to help Mother Earth. As scientists document global warming's impact and model what could happen, public health leaders are identifying strategies to help prepare for and mitigate the potential health consequences. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 21 April 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=741084
U.S. investigates artificial turf's lead levels. Artificial turf fields may be popular with players and managers. But now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is beginning to investigate whether they contain lead that could pose health hazards. Washington Post, 20 April 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041901668.html
Doctors worry more child vaccine exemptions could cause health risks. Growing numbers of parents in Colorado, and across the nation, are choosing not to have their children immunized, believing that vaccines are dangerous. Denver KUSA TV, Colorado, 20 April 2008.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=90262
New law to make cleaning schools more environmentally friendly. The Green Clean Schools Act will soon require some Illinois schools to use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Moline Dispatch, Illinois, 20 April 2008.
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=383521
Infertility: handle with care. Can these everyday household items really be blamed for an alarming rise in infertility? More and more scientists would say yes. London Daily Telegraph, England, 20 April 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/04/20/st_infertility.xml
Global warming cancer warning. Global warming could lead to higher rates of skin cancer by amplifying the harmful effects of the sun's rays, scientists said. Press Association, 20 April 2008.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gCBCVybx2KhBXxJ_jDeftZnmudvQ
Study probes First Nations risks from seafood toxins. In the first major comprehensive study to look at the diet of coastal First Nations, researchers investigate the effects of pollutants in natives' traditional fish-rich diet. Victoria Times Colonist, British Columbia, 20 April 2008.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=01518f34-d131-4b93-afd5-6df78d635f0c&k=21902
Lead paint, it may be closer than you think. Many people who threw away toys over fears they might be contaminated with lead paint might not realize they could be living in homes painted with similar materials. Florence Times Daily, Alabama, 19 April 2008.
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080419/NEWS/451066635/1011
Caution needed when using pressure-treated wood. The new, arsenic-free, pressure-treated lumber presents hidden hazards that too few people realize. Edmonton Journal, Canada, 19 April 2008.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/homes/story.html?id=23a1217b-9527-4ebb-81f1-97cf362d841d
Lack of regulation raises threats of lead, asbestos. The D.C. government's regulation of lead and asbestos removal is ineffective, insufficient and may increase health risks for District residents undertaking renovation projects, according to an alert issued by the D.C. Inspector General. DC Examiner, District of Columbia, 19 April 2008.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1349436~IG__Lack_of_regulation_raises_threats_of_lead__asbestos.html
Canada leads way with ban on baby bottles containing bisphenol A. The government announced Friday that Canada will be the first country to ban plastic baby bottles with bisphenol A after concluding the chemical is toxic. CanWest News, Canada, 19 April 2008.
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=deed5ab1-c1e2-4a2f-b60c-9ae087ba3a7e&k=30469
[Editor's note: see a related article about businesses' response to BPA regulation at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5713860.html ]
Study confirms Parkinson's-pesticides link. Results of a family-based, "case-control" study support a relationship between exposure to pesticides and the development of Parkinson's disease. Reuters Health, 19 April 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/04/18/eline/links/20080418elin027.html
Panel ups the standards for carcinogens in water. Environmentalists won a victory Friday with the state Environmental Management Commission's vote to cut the amount of cancer-causing substances that can be dumped into rivers and streams by Alabama industries. Huntsville Times, Alabama, 19 April 2008.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1208596515127870.xml&coll=1
EU says China top source of risky goods. China is the main source of risky products in Europe and toys are the item most commonly found to pose a risk to consumers, the European Commission said Thursday. Agence France-Presse, 18 April 2008.
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_says_China_top_source_of_risky_goods_999.html
Study links incontinence drugs with memory problems. Commonly used incontinence drugs may cause memory problems in some older people, a study has found. Associated Press, 18 April 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500ap_incontinence_drugs_memory.html
PFOS alters immune response at very low exposure levels. Perfluorinated compounds previously in stain repellents may be affecting the human immune system, according to new research. Mice were affected at levels found in the general human population. Environmental Science & Technology, 17 April 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/apr/science/cc_turtles.html
Hard to swallow. A report saying that certain dietary supplements may do more harm than good has prompted howls of outrage from the vitamin and health-food lobby. So who exactly should we believe? London Guardian, England, 17 April 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/17/health.healthandwellbeing
ALS linked to formaldehyde exposure. A study has found that people exposed to formaldehyde were 34% more likely to develop Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS) than those who were not exposed. The Daily Green, 17 April 2008.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/formaldehyde-als-47041633
Mapping fluoride and arsenic hot spots. New probability maps on naturally occurring fluoride and arsenic have the potential to provide red flags on contaminated drinking-water sources, particularly in developing countries where on-the-ground data are lacking. Environmental Science & Technology, 17 April 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/apr/science/nl_fluoride.html
Short-term effects of outdoor pollution levels on asthma symptoms and lung function in children. A new study reports that inner-city children with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to air pollution at levels below current air quality standards. News-Medical.net, 17 April 2008.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=37408
Go green at home and protect the family from harmful chemicals. Nicole Brubaker, a former elementary school teacher, brings a white binder to play dates. Inside is neatly highlighted and organized pages on bisphenol A, sodium lauryl sulfate and petrolatum and the health problems they cause. Palm Springs Desert Sun, California, 17 April 2008.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/LIFESTYLES03/804170347/-1/newsfront
EPA must regulate chemicals in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency must write regulations to monitor the increasing levels of pharmaceuticals getting into the nation's drinking water supply, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg said at a hearing Tuesday. Gannett News Service, 16 April 2008.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS03/804160429/1007/NEWS03
Chemical in plastic may harm human growth. A controversial, estrogen-like chemical in plastic could be harming the development of children's brains and reproductive organs, the National Toxicology Program concluded in a report released Tuesday. Los Angeles Times, California, 16 April 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-plastic16apr16,1,2522881.story
submitted to this bulletin by Jim DiPeso
[Editor's note: see a related article titled "'Toxic' plastic could remain in use" at http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1aaf8ca3-a969-4f41-9023-f68982899d1e&k=99266 ]
How to limit your BPA exposure. Consumers anxious to reduce their exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) following a new federal government report warning the chemical may be linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer and other health problems won't find the going easy. Washington Post, 16 April 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041502161.html
Iron pellets offer solution to arsenic in water. Officials at Superior Water Co., believe they have a solution to arsenic problems at one of their Pa. water wells. Pottstown Mercury, Pennsylvania, 16 April 2008.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/Daily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FPTM%2FHome&r21.content=%2FPTM%2FHome%2FTopStoryList_Story_1901686
Europe tightens air quality rules. EU countries adopt new regulations calling for a 20% reduction in air pollution between 2010 and 2020. The directive is designed to simplify current legislation. Business Week, 16 April 2008.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080415_364853.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories
Mercury emissions not tallied by state. There's no legal limit to the amount of mercury that the New York's three cement plants can eject into the air. Glens Falls Post Star, New York, 15 April 2008.
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/04/14/news/local/doc48039dcfbdcae728571096.txt
New study links pneumonia deaths with pollution. Thousands of people have died in recent years from pneumonia caused by pollution, a study out today suggests. There is a 'strong correlation' between the deaths, engine exhaust fumes and other transport-related substances, it said. Press Association, 15 April 2008.
http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/health_and_wellbeing/reports/your_health_and_fitness/pollution_pneumonia_exhaust_news_article_557_136465.jsp
Is industrial pollution making America fat? Researchers have identified a new suspect in the obesity epidemic: pollutants that trigger a dramatic amount of fat in a person's body. Portland Tribune, Oregon, 15 April 2008.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=120793680532167700
Alcohol may boost breast cancer risk. A new study has found that women who drink even moderate amounts of alcohol face a substantially increased risk -- up to 50 per cent higher -- of developing a common type of breast cancer. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 15 April 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080414.wlcancer14/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
Sludge fertilizer program spurs concerns. Scientists using federal grants spread fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes on yards in poor, black neighborhoods to test whether it might protect children from lead poisoning in the soil. Associated Press, 14 April 2008.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1338183~Sludge_Fertilizer_Program_Spurs_Concerns.html?cid=sec-promo
[Editor's note: see related articles at http://www.examiner.com/a-1343288~NAACP_seeks_probe_into_sludge_spreading_in_black_communities.html and http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.sludge22apr22,0,3183695.story ]
Fake Teletubbies danger alert. A warning has gone out to parents [in the UK] who may have bought counterfeit "Teletubbies" [containing potentially dangerous levels of lead and chromium]. Great Yarmouth Mercury, United Kingdom, 14 April 2008.
http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/content/yarmouthmercury/news/story.aspx?brand=GYMOnline&category=news&tBrand=GYMonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED14%20Apr%202008%2013%3A49%3A52%3A830
Greener dry cleaners in North Jersey? There are no state or federal standards -- voluntary or mandatory -- that would help distinguish the truly green dry cleaners from the posers. Bergen County Record, New Jersey, 14 April 2008.
http://www.northjersey.com/environment/environmentnews/Dry_cleanings_greener_trend.html?c=y&page=1
Workshop on poverty-environment relationship. Although Bhutan is still clean and intact, a growing population and the increasing development activities are putting the pressure on the fragile Himalayan environment. Kuensel, Bhutan, 14 April 2008.
http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10199
Global warming could affect patient symptoms. The American Medical Association promotes programs that prevent or reduce the human and environmental health impact from global climate change and environmental degradation. American Medical News, 14 April 2008.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/21/hlsa0421.htm
Plastic water bottles are an ocean menace. Research shows that not only are plastic bottles bad for the environment, especially the ocean, but that they may present a health risk to the public as well. Santa Cruz Sentinel, California, 13 April 2008.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_8909976
Wireless communication vs. health worries. The universal presence of wireless devices has carried with it a nagging concern, leaving many wondering about long-term health effects. Santa Rosa Press Democrat, California, 13 April 2008.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/EarlyEdition/article_view.cfm?recordID=9085&publishdate=04/13/2008
Pesticide ban placed on town fields. Just in time to prevent the annual application of a toxic pesticide, Greenwich CT officials have banned the use of all such chemicals on all its athletic fields. Greenwich Time, Connecticut, 13 April 2008.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_8907890
Schools commit to green building. Low gas-emitting paint and carpeting, lights tripped by motion sensors, solar roof fabric and waterless urinals are just some of the environmentally friendly staples that will be found in new Palm Beach County schools. Palm Beach Post, Florida, 13 April 2008.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/04/13/s1c_greenskuls_0413.html
Government seeks input on vaccine-safety questions. The government began an unprecedented effort yesterday to give vaccine critics a say in shaping how the nation researches safety questions surrounding immunizations. Associated Press, 12 April 2008.
http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/20080412_Government_seeks_input_on_vaccine-safety_questions.html
Lawsuit claims CSI toy kits contain asbestos. A California asbestos awareness group sued CBS Corp, a toy maker and several retailers on Friday, claiming they sold toy crime-scene kits based on the hit CBS series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" that contained the cancer-causing substance. Reuters, 12 April 2008.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1141698220080412
Toxins in artificial turf prompt concern. As the use of artificial turf has increased in popularity, there is growing concern that a component in some turf might be hazardous to the health of people and the environment. Hartford Courant, Connecticut, 12 April 2008.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-artificial0412.artapr12,0,3110275.story
Ease up on use of plastic; activists seek changes for Earth Day. Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario has appointed a scientific panel to focus on toxic reduction legislation and has made the study of Bisphenol A a priority. Sarnia Observer, Ontario, 12 April 2008.
http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=983669
FEMA sets formaldehyde limits on its trailers. FEMA is setting strict new limits on formaldehyde levels in the mobile homes it buys for disaster victims. Associated Press, 12 April 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/04/12/fema_sets_formaldehyde_limits_on_its_trailers/
Fuss about drugs in drinking water unnecessary, scientists say. Despite the sudden clamor about contaminants in drinking water, many water-quality researchers kept doing what they had done for years: nothing. McClatchy Newspapers, 12 April 2008.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/572522.html
Trans-fats linked to breast cancer risk in study. Trans-fats, which are being phased out of food because they clog arteries, may raise the risk of getting breast cancer, European researchers reported on Friday. Reuters Health, 12 April 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/04/11/eline/links/20080411elin010.html
[Editor's note: See a related article about how high blood levels of an estrogen-like compound found in soy may be connected to a lower risk of developing breast cancer at http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/04/11/eline/links/20080411elin002.html ]
Health officials warn of radon, mold. Health officials were meeting with local officials and the public Thursday to remind them of the dangers posed by radon and mold, which can contaminate the air in people's homes with potentially deadly results. Durango Herald, Colorado, 12 April 2008.
http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080411_5.htm
Welcome for new curb on artificial food colourings. Campaigners welcomed the Food Standards Agency's decision to seek a voluntary ban on six food additives yesterday and vowed to seek a review of their use in medicines. London Guardian, England, 11 April 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/11/health.children
Clearing the air over asbestos. Researchers may have cracked the mystery of how asbestos causes life-threatening lung damage and cancer. Science, 11 April 2008.
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/410/1
Health experts can't link spraying to illness. State environmental health authorities said they are unable to determine whether respiratory problems reported by hundreds of citizens were linked to an aerial spraying. Critics attacked the report as a "whitewash." San Francisco Chronicle, California, 11 April 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/11/BA4R103Q3D.DTL
Cubist finds its antibiotic cubicin is tainted. Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it has warned the Food and Drug Administration that one of its antibiotic drugs, Cubicin, has been tainted with a potentially harmful industrial chemical. Wall Street Journal, 10 April 2008.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120779390778403867.html
Good for the environment, but not for you. New research by German scientists suggests that backyard composters could be putting their health at risk. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, 10 April 2008.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/good-for-the-environment-but-not-for-you/2008/04/11/1207856795008.html
Planes and ships really stink. The state's top environmental official said Wednesday that New Jersey must work to reduce toxic fuel emissions that are causing health problems near shipping ports and airports. Bergen County Record, New Jersey, 10 April 2008.
http://www.northjersey.com/environment/17451529.html
Cancer cases rise for inhaled-insulin patients. Pfizer Inc. reported an increase of lung cancer among patients who used its discontinued inhaled insulin Exubera, another setback for developers of needle-free diabetes treatments. Bloomberg News, 10 April 2008.
http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2008/04/10/cancer_cases_rise_for_inhaled_insulin_patients/
Infant heart defects tied to maternal smoking. A woman who smokes during pregnancy increases the risk that her child will be born with a heart defect, a new study published in Pediatrics shows. Reuters Health, 10 April 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/04/09/eline/links/20080409elin004.html
Infant cough medicines 'a health risk.' More than a dozen infant cough and cold medicines will be restricted to prescription-only status for children under two, after drug safety experts ruled that they did little good and might pose health risks. Sydney Australian, Australia, 10 April 2008.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23514926-23289,00.html
In wake of beef recall, more slaughterhouses found to have problems. A federal audit of slaughterhouses licensed to provide beef to the nation's schoolchildren found animal-handling problems at four of the 18 plants, including one that was shut down briefly. Riverside Press-Enterprise, California, 9 April 2008.
http://www.pe.com/politics/goad/stories/PE_News_Local_D_beef09.36b3e46.html
Group finds phthalates in children's products. The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine has found high levels of chemicals that can cause health problems in children's toys and products. Associated Press, 9 April 2008.
http://www.wmtw.com/news/15822869/detail.html
Study: disinfection of drinking water creates toxic byproducts. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant says that the disinfection of drinking water has virtually eliminated water-borne illnesses in much of the world but that the disinfecting process has lead to its own set of concerns. Chesterton Tribune, Indiana, 9 April 2008.
http://www.chestertontribune.com/Environment/489%20study_disinfection_of_drinking_w.htm
Daily commute might be worse than you think. A recent study by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and the California Air Resources Board found that up to half of Los Angeles residents' total exposure to dangerous air pollutants occurs while driving. Austin News 8, Texas, 9 April 2008.
http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=205114&SecID=2
