Doctor Says Symptoms of Gulf War Illness and Oil Spill Illness Are 'Identical'
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/03/20/44836.htm
"RACELAND, La. (CN) - A bayou detoxification program is helping ill coastal residents, many of whom lack health insurance nearly 2 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. By most accounts the treatments have helped, and thanks to donors they are free. Michael Robichaux, an ear, nose and throat specialist, former state senator, and self-described "populist doctor" is running the clinic with chemical detox veteran Jim Woodworth of New York. Woodworth has provided the clinic with staff and funding. Robichaux, 65, told Courthouse News in an interview that identifying illness from chemical exposure is difficult: "Nothing shows up on blood work. Nothing shows up on brain scans, nothing shows up on MRIs, anything." Robichaux said what he is seeing appears identical to the reports of symptoms still haunting veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during the first Gulf War. "Identical - they are identical problems," Robichaux said, picking up a 2008 report on Gulf War illness. "The symptoms are coming from different chemicals, causing the same problems: 'Association with diverse biological alterations that most prominently affects the brain and nervous system,' - exactly what I'm seeing. 'Not explained by routine medical evaluations ... symptoms that typically include a combination of memory and concentration problems, persistent headaches, fatigue and widespread pain.'"
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tossing out toxins: Professor proposes to ban toxic dry-erase markers from classrooms
Tossing out toxins
http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/index.php/article/2012/03/tossing_out_toxins
"Professor proposes to ban toxic dry-erase markers from classrooms
After months of living in pain, associate professor of geography and development Marv Waterstone thinks he may have found the cause for the mysterious bouts of illness he experienced while teaching at the UA.
http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/index.php/article/2012/03/tossing_out_toxins
"Professor proposes to ban toxic dry-erase markers from classrooms
After months of living in pain, associate professor of geography and development Marv Waterstone thinks he may have found the cause for the mysterious bouts of illness he experienced while teaching at the UA.
Dry-erase markers."
Nanopollutants change blood vessel reactivity
Nanopollutants change blood vessel reactivity
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339240/title/Nanopollutants_change_blood_vessel_reactivity
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339240/title/Nanopollutants_change_blood_vessel_reactivity
"Exposure to nano-sized particles can impair the responsiveness of very tiny blood vessels, new animal studies show."
Chemicals in plastic linked to rise in obesity and diabetes
Chemicals in plastic linked to rise in obesity and diabetes
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/chemicals-in-plastic-linked-to-rise-in-obesity-and-diabetes-7578153.html
"Can-made chemicals present in homes, schools, offices, cars and food are probably contributing to the sharp rise in obesity and diabetes in western societies, according to a review of scientific literature published today."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/chemicals-in-plastic-linked-to-rise-in-obesity-and-diabetes-7578153.html
"Can-made chemicals present in homes, schools, offices, cars and food are probably contributing to the sharp rise in obesity and diabetes in western societies, according to a review of scientific literature published today."
Congress about MCS in Rome 19th April 2012
2012 - IDI - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity at Crossroads of Innovative Approaches in Environmental Medicine will take place in Rome on 19th April 2012. It is organized by the Dermopatic Institute of Immacolata of Rome with the support of AMICA. Brochure attacheced.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Scientists Warn of Low-Dos Risks of Chemical Exposure
Scientists Warn of Low-Dos Risks of Chemical Exposure
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/scientists_warn_of_low_dose_risk_of_endocrine_blocking_chemical_exposure/2507/
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/scientists_warn_of_low_dose_risk_of_endocrine_blocking_chemical_exposure/2507/
"A new study finds that even low doses of hormone-disrupting chemicals — used in everything from plastics to pesticides – can have serious effects on human health. These findings, the researchers say, point to the need for basic changes in how chemical safety testing is conducted."
GA Power removes Smart Meter and leaves elderly woman without power
GA Power removes Smart Meter and leaves elderly woman without power
http://thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com/2012/03/ga-power-removes-smart-meter-and-leaves.html
Key Words: multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivities, MCS, EI, environmental illness, sick building syndrome, idiopathic environmental intolerance, fibromyalgia, chronic fatiuge, FM, CFS, mold illness, clinical ecology, alternative medicine, environmental medicine, neuropathy, encephalopathy, toxic, chemical
Judith HIzer reads "Toxic Glamour," Artpost Poetry Marathon
VIDEO: Judith HIzer reads "Toxic Glamour," Artpost Poetry Marathon
http://thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com/2012/03/judith-hizer-reads-toxic-glamour.html
http://thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com/2012/03/judith-hizer-reads-toxic-glamour.html
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Up to 18 pesticides found in vegetables you buy
Up to 18 pesticides found in vegetables you buy
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-to-18-pesticides-found-in-vegetables-you-buy/240226-60-121.html
"HYDERABAD: If the adage 'you are what you eat' is true, Hyderabadis stand the risk of exposure to lethal pesticides in the vegetables they consume. A study carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has found that pesticide residues in some of the vegetables and fruits sold at Rythu Bazaars or by street vendors are above the internationally stipulated maximum residual levels (MRL)."
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-to-18-pesticides-found-in-vegetables-you-buy/240226-60-121.html
"HYDERABAD: If the adage 'you are what you eat' is true, Hyderabadis stand the risk of exposure to lethal pesticides in the vegetables they consume. A study carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has found that pesticide residues in some of the vegetables and fruits sold at Rythu Bazaars or by street vendors are above the internationally stipulated maximum residual levels (MRL)."
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Big News! European Parliament: Declaration on MCS &EHS 12Mar2012. Also, VicHealth publishes new MCS Hospital Guidelines.
Just a quick note to pass on the good news that
1) Victorian Department of Health publishes its MCS Hospital Guidelines.
In Australia we now have Government MCS guidelines for Hospitals for Country Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. By the end of the year there should be another set of new guidelines for another region too.
2) European Parliament Declaration for the recognition of MCS and EHS.
This is a major document, recommending, "that Member States of the European Union (EU) include MCS and EHS in their own International Catalogue of Disease (ICD) and in their ILO-based Lists of Occupational Diseases; suggests that the WHO Assembly include MCS and EHS in its upcoming ICD-11"
This document is now in a three month process to determine whether it will be acted on. If the appropriate number of EU parliamentarians sign onto the declaration it will then be forwarded by the President to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States of the EU.
Copies of the Declaration can be downloaded from here...
or Here...
Exposure to antibiotics linked to severity of allergic asthma: UBC research
Exposure to antibiotics linked to severity of allergic asthma: UBC research
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2012/03/16/exposure-to-antibiotics-linked-to-severity-of-allergic-asthma-ubc-research/
"Widely used antibiotics may increase incidence and severity of allergic asthma in early life, according to a University of British Columbia study.
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2012/03/16/exposure-to-antibiotics-linked-to-severity-of-allergic-asthma-ubc-research/
"Widely used antibiotics may increase incidence and severity of allergic asthma in early life, according to a University of British Columbia study.
The study, published today in the journal EMBO reports, shows that certain antibiotics that affect intestinal bacteria also had a profound impact on allergic asthma."
Are Fragrance-Free Products Safer?
Are Fragrance-Free Products Safer?
http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/031212_are_fragrance-free_products_safer1/
Have you noticed scents wafting throughout some stores and even airplanes? According to AdWeek, associating a scent with a brand is the latest retail trend.
It may seem you're smelling freshly-cut grass or a citrus delight but what you're really inhaling is a combination of natural and synthetic mystery chemicals, some of which aren't good for your health.
Manufacturers who use fragrance for personal care products won't tell you what's in their chemical mixtures, hiding that information as a highly guarded trade secret. The federal law governing ingredient disclosure for cosmetics explicitly exempts fragrance ingredients, which makes consumers unable to make informed choices about what they are putting onto their skin.
"We're spraying this stuff on our bodies and in our homes, and we have no idea what's in it," said Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of the book, "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry." "We do know that typical fragrances often contain hazardous synthetic chemicals."
Fragrance testing by advocacy organizations has revealed the average fragrance product has fourteen secret chemicals not listed on the label. Better known components of fragrance, including phthalates and DEP, are hormone disruptors. Other chemicals are sensitizers, which may set off allergic reactions.
According to one peer-reviewed study, 30% of people report adverse physical effects from fragrance exposure. The number is nearly 40% of people with asthma.
Strong reactions to chemical fragrances, plus a desire to bring fewer chemicals into the home have led consumers to demand manufacturers change their ways. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has identified 322 "Champions," companies that fully disclose their ingredients on labels.
"These companies are showing it can be done and this is the direction all companies need to be going," Said Malkan.
Other manufacturers have created fragrance-free product lines. But are these products a solution for people who want to lessen their chemical exposure?
Unfortunately not. According Malkan, there is no legal definition for fragrance-free, so it could mean that chemicals are used to mask scents or that the product has no perceptible odor but may contain chemicals that pose health risks.
'If a product claims to use "natural fragrance," then the type of essential oil should be listed on the label. If not, call the company and ask them to provide you with that information.
"We recommend avoiding or at least reducing fragrance exposure, including fragrances in laundry detergents, lotions and other household products. Also see the Skin Deep database to search for products with no added fragrance."
"But we can't just shop or way out of this problem," Malkan said. "We also have to pass smarter laws to require companies to stop using hazardous chemicals and to require them to be honest about their products.
Here are some tips to avoid or lessen your exposure to fragrance:
http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/031212_are_fragrance-free_products_safer1/
Have you noticed scents wafting throughout some stores and even airplanes? According to AdWeek, associating a scent with a brand is the latest retail trend.
It may seem you're smelling freshly-cut grass or a citrus delight but what you're really inhaling is a combination of natural and synthetic mystery chemicals, some of which aren't good for your health.
Manufacturers who use fragrance for personal care products won't tell you what's in their chemical mixtures, hiding that information as a highly guarded trade secret. The federal law governing ingredient disclosure for cosmetics explicitly exempts fragrance ingredients, which makes consumers unable to make informed choices about what they are putting onto their skin.
"We're spraying this stuff on our bodies and in our homes, and we have no idea what's in it," said Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of the book, "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry." "We do know that typical fragrances often contain hazardous synthetic chemicals."
Fragrance testing by advocacy organizations has revealed the average fragrance product has fourteen secret chemicals not listed on the label. Better known components of fragrance, including phthalates and DEP, are hormone disruptors. Other chemicals are sensitizers, which may set off allergic reactions.
According to one peer-reviewed study, 30% of people report adverse physical effects from fragrance exposure. The number is nearly 40% of people with asthma.
Strong reactions to chemical fragrances, plus a desire to bring fewer chemicals into the home have led consumers to demand manufacturers change their ways. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has identified 322 "Champions," companies that fully disclose their ingredients on labels.
"These companies are showing it can be done and this is the direction all companies need to be going," Said Malkan.
Other manufacturers have created fragrance-free product lines. But are these products a solution for people who want to lessen their chemical exposure?
Unfortunately not. According Malkan, there is no legal definition for fragrance-free, so it could mean that chemicals are used to mask scents or that the product has no perceptible odor but may contain chemicals that pose health risks.
'If a product claims to use "natural fragrance," then the type of essential oil should be listed on the label. If not, call the company and ask them to provide you with that information.
"We recommend avoiding or at least reducing fragrance exposure, including fragrances in laundry detergents, lotions and other household products. Also see the Skin Deep database to search for products with no added fragrance."
"But we can't just shop or way out of this problem," Malkan said. "We also have to pass smarter laws to require companies to stop using hazardous chemicals and to require them to be honest about their products.
Here are some tips to avoid or lessen your exposure to fragrance:
- Check ingredient list: look for products that don't have any fragrance (but remember to be wary of "fragrance-free" claims)
- Use less: If you can't cut fragrance out of your life altogether, look for places where you can make that switch – maybe fragrance-free detergents? Or lotions?
- Take action ! Let your elected officials know that you think your health is more valuable than fragrance trade secrets.
Poisoning is a Major Cause of Death from Injury in the U.S.
Poisoning is a Major Cause of Death from Injury in the U.S.
US Government raising awareness of accidental exposures during National Poison Prevention Week
"WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency is joining forces with its federal partners to raise awareness of the dangers of poisoning, especially to children, during National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24. In just the past year, America's 57 poison control centers fielded 4 million calls, treating 2.4 million human poison exposures and handling 1.6 million information calls."
US Government raising awareness of accidental exposures during National Poison Prevention Week
"WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency is joining forces with its federal partners to raise awareness of the dangers of poisoning, especially to children, during National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24. In just the past year, America's 57 poison control centers fielded 4 million calls, treating 2.4 million human poison exposures and handling 1.6 million information calls."
More information about poisoning prevention in your home: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm
Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
Fetal Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure From 800-1900 Mhz-Rated Cellular Telephones Affects Neurodevelopment and Behavior in Mice
http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/120315/srep00312/full/srep00312.html
http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/120315/srep00312/full/srep00312.html
Tamir S. Aldad1,2, Geliang Gan2, Xiao-Bing Gao2,3 & Hugh S. Taylor1,2,4
Scientific Reports. Article number: 312. doi:10.1038/srep00312. 15 March 2012
1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, 2Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, 3Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, 4Environment and Human Health, New Haven, CT.
ABSTRACT
Neurobehavioral disorders are increasingly prevalent in children, however their etiology is not well understood. An association between prenatal cellular telephone use and hyperactivity in children has been postulated, yet the direct effects of radiofrequency radiation exposure on neurodevelopment remain unknown. Here we used a mouse model to demonstrate that in-utero radiofrequency exposure from cellular telephones does affect adult behavior. Mice exposed in-utero were hyperactive and had impaired memory as determined using the object recognition, light/dark box and step-down assays. Whole cell patch clamp recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) revealed that these behavioral changes were due to altered neuronal developmental programming. Exposed mice had dose-responsive impaired glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto layer V pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex. We present the first experimental evidence of neuropathology due to in-utero cellular telephone radiation. Further experiments are needed in humans or non-human primates to determine the risk of exposure during pregnancy.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Air pollution 'will become bigger global killer than dirty water'
Air pollution 'will become bigger global killer than dirty water'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/15/air-pollution-biggest-killer-water
"OECD report says pollution will become biggest cause of premature death, killing an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/15/air-pollution-biggest-killer-water
"OECD report says pollution will become biggest cause of premature death, killing an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050"
'Pink slime' critics fight ammonia-treated meat
'Pink slime' critics fight ammonia-treated meat
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-03-14/Pink-slime-critics-fight-ammonia-treated-meat/53534628/1
"The stomach-turning epithet for ammonia-treated ground beef filler has suddenly become a potent rallying cry by activists fighting to ban the product from U.S. supermarket shelves and school lunch trays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to announce Thursday it will offer schools choice in ground beef purchases in response to requests from districts."
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-03-14/Pink-slime-critics-fight-ammonia-treated-meat/53534628/1
"The stomach-turning epithet for ammonia-treated ground beef filler has suddenly become a potent rallying cry by activists fighting to ban the product from U.S. supermarket shelves and school lunch trays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to announce Thursday it will offer schools choice in ground beef purchases in response to requests from districts."
Cadmium in diet is linked to higher breast cancer risk
Cadmium in diet is linked to higher breast cancer risk
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-cadmium-breast-cancer-20120315,0,4351883.story
"A study provides new evidence that environmental chemicals that mimic estrogen's effects may contribute to women's risk of certain cancers. In a finding that strengthens the link between environmental pollutants and rising rates of breast cancer, new research finds that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who ingest less of the industrial chemical in their food."
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-cadmium-breast-cancer-20120315,0,4351883.story
"A study provides new evidence that environmental chemicals that mimic estrogen's effects may contribute to women's risk of certain cancers. In a finding that strengthens the link between environmental pollutants and rising rates of breast cancer, new research finds that women whose diets contain higher levels of cadmium are at greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who ingest less of the industrial chemical in their food."
Persistent Lipophilic Environmental Chemicals and Endometriosis: The ENDO Study
Persistent Lipophilic Environmental Chemicals and Endometriosis: The ENDO Study
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1104432
Germaine M. Buck Louis, Zhen Chen, C. Matthew. Peterson, Mary L. Hediger, Mary S. Croughan, Rajeshwari Sundaram, Joseph B. Stanford, Michael W. Varner, Victor Y. Fujimoto, Linda C. Giudice, Ann Trumble, Patrick J. Parsons, Kurunthachalam Kannan
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1104432
Germaine M. Buck Louis, Zhen Chen, C. Matthew. Peterson, Mary L. Hediger, Mary S. Croughan, Rajeshwari Sundaram, Joseph B. Stanford, Michael W. Varner, Victor Y. Fujimoto, Linda C. Giudice, Ann Trumble, Patrick J. Parsons, Kurunthachalam Kannan
Abstract
Background: An equivocal literature exists regarding the relation between persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) and endometriosis in women, with differences attributed to methodologies.
Objectives: To assess the association between POPs and odds of an endometriosis diagnosis and the consistency of findings by biologic media and study cohort.
Methods: Using a matched cohort design, we assembled an operative cohort of women aged 18-44 years undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy at 14 participating clinical centers during 2007-2009, and a population-based cohort matched on age and residence within clinical centers' 50-mile catchment area. Endometriosis was defined as visualized disease in the operative cohort and as magnetic resonance imaging-diagnosed in the population cohort. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each POP in relation to an endometriosis diagnosis, with separate models run for each media (omental fat in the operative cohort; serum in both cohorts) and cohort. Adjusted models included age, body mass index, breastfeeding conditional on parity, cotinine, lipids, and remaining chemicals.
Results: Concentrations were higher in omental fat than serum for all POPs. In the operative cohort, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane was the only POP with a significant positive association with endometriosis (AOR=1.27; 95% CI=1.01, 1.59 per 1-standard deviation increase in log-transformed γ-HCH); beta-hexachlorocyclohexane was the only significant predictor in the population cohort (AOR=1.72; 95% CI=1.09, 2.72 per 1-standard deviation increase in log-tranformed β-HCH).
Conclusions: Using a matched cohort design, cohort- and biologic media-specific POPs were associated with endometriosis underscoring the importance of methodologic considerations when interpreting findings.
Citation: Buck Louis GM, Chen Z, Peterson CM, Hediger ML, Croughan MS, Sundaram R, et al. 2012. Persistent Lipophilic Environmental Chemicals and Endometriosis: The ENDO Study. Environ Health Perspect :-. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104432
Is the 'Household Chemical Purge' the New Baby-Proofing?
Is the 'Household Chemical Purge' the New Baby-Proofing?
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/is-the-household-chemical-purge-the-new-baby-proofing/
"Have you purged your home of bisphenol A (known as BPA) yet? How about polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? In a world with books with titles like "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things" and documentaries like "My Toxic Baby," it's hard not to mock the urge to eliminate chemicals from our children's environments, and equally hard not to see that we need to at least examine the chemicals in our children's environments.
This subject — the arguable toxicity, or at least the chemically altered status, of the world around us — is a difficult one for parents. As Michael Tortorello writes for The Times in his article "Is It Safe to Play Yet? Going to Extreme Lengths to Purge Household Toxins," most know, even as they search for "estrogenic hormones and neurotoxins and bioaccumulators," that their efforts are best captured by "a slogan from the David Foster Wallace novel 'Infinite Jest': 'Yes, I'm paranoid — but am I paranoid enough?' ""
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/is-the-household-chemical-purge-the-new-baby-proofing/
"Have you purged your home of bisphenol A (known as BPA) yet? How about polyvinyl chloride (PVC)? In a world with books with titles like "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things" and documentaries like "My Toxic Baby," it's hard not to mock the urge to eliminate chemicals from our children's environments, and equally hard not to see that we need to at least examine the chemicals in our children's environments.
This subject — the arguable toxicity, or at least the chemically altered status, of the world around us — is a difficult one for parents. As Michael Tortorello writes for The Times in his article "Is It Safe to Play Yet? Going to Extreme Lengths to Purge Household Toxins," most know, even as they search for "estrogenic hormones and neurotoxins and bioaccumulators," that their efforts are best captured by "a slogan from the David Foster Wallace novel 'Infinite Jest': 'Yes, I'm paranoid — but am I paranoid enough?' ""
Court denies appeal of school mold lawsuit
Court denies appeal of school mold lawsuit
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/03/15/court-denies-appeal-of-school-mold-lawsuit/
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/03/15/court-denies-appeal-of-school-mold-lawsuit/
"An appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against Suffolk Public Schools by a former teacher who alleged that mold in her classroom caused her illness.
Christina Hood taught fourth grade at Booker T. Washington Elementary School during the 2007-2008 school year. She originally filed suit in June 2009 claiming that the School Board knew about mold and humidity issues in the building and deliberately sought to cover up the problems."
Lead, Mold Contaminate Honolulu Hale
Lead, Mold Contaminate Honolulu Hale
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/03/15/15228-lead-mold-contaminate-honolulu-hale/
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/03/15/15228-lead-mold-contaminate-honolulu-hale/
"A new report says mold and lead dust has been found in Honolulu Hale, raising health concerns for those who work and do business at City Hall. Indoor mold, the report notes, proliferates in moist or humid areas and can induce "allergic respiratory disease" for some individuals. Lead, meanwhile, is often found in paint flakes and poses more of a concern for children younger than 6 than for adults. There are no rules that set limits for the amount of indoor mold, the report says, so instead mold was merely identified and noted when it was seen visually. The amount of lead-in-dust, however, is governed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clearance levels: 40 micrograms per square foot on the floor, or 250 micrograms per square foot on window sills. There are a million micrograms per gram, or about 500 million micrograms in one pound."
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Health and Ecosystem Issues Found With Popular Pavement Sealcoat
Health and Ecosystem Issues Found With Popular Pavement Sealcoat
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120314124209.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120314124209.htm
"A parking lot at the edge of the University of New Hampshire campus has contributed important research to an emerging concern for the environment and human health."
Protecting, nourishing fluid can also expose fetuses to chemicals
Protecting, nourishing fluid can also expose fetuses to chemicals
http://greatlakesecho.org/2012/03/15/protecting-nourishing-fluid-can-also-expose-fetuses-to-chemicals/
"A life-giving fluid necessary for fetal development and health could be directly exposing the unborn to flame retardant chemicals"
http://greatlakesecho.org/2012/03/15/protecting-nourishing-fluid-can-also-expose-fetuses-to-chemicals/
"A life-giving fluid necessary for fetal development and health could be directly exposing the unborn to flame retardant chemicals"
Is It Safe to Play Yet? Going to Extreme Lengths to Purge Household Toxins
Is It Safe to Play Yet?
Going to Extreme Lengths to Purge Household Toxins
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/garden/going-to-extreme-lengths-to-purge-household-toxins.html?_r=1
"LAURA MacCLEERY was four months pregnant when she parked herself on the couch and started an inventory of the chemicals in her Alexandria, Va., town house. First, Ms. MacCleery, 40, a lawyer and women's health advocate, collected 70 products in a pile: things like makeup, shampoo, detergents and sink cleaners. Then she typed the names of the cosmetics into an online database called Skin Deep, created by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org/skindeep), a research and advocacy organization.
Going to Extreme Lengths to Purge Household Toxins
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/garden/going-to-extreme-lengths-to-purge-household-toxins.html?_r=1
"LAURA MacCLEERY was four months pregnant when she parked herself on the couch and started an inventory of the chemicals in her Alexandria, Va., town house. First, Ms. MacCleery, 40, a lawyer and women's health advocate, collected 70 products in a pile: things like makeup, shampoo, detergents and sink cleaners. Then she typed the names of the cosmetics into an online database called Skin Deep, created by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org/skindeep), a research and advocacy organization.
The results were not comforting. Ms. MacCleery's $25 lipsticks contained a dizzying brew of chemicals, including ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, a possible endocrine disruptor. "When I bought them, I thought I was doing something special for myself," she said. "But then it turned out I was probably eating petrochemicals." The lipsticks went into the trash bag."
Opinion: 'There are no safe doses for endocrine disruptors'
Opinion: 'There are no safe doses for endocrine disruptors'
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/opinion-endocrine-disruptors-low-level-effects
"As a scientist, I am often asked what "proof" links hormone-altering chemicals to diseases and birth defects. One mother questions whether exposures during her pregnancy caused her child's autism. Another asks whether chemicals in the foods she ate could have caused her son's abnormal genitalia. The underlying question raised by these mothers is provocative: Do small amounts contribute to human health problems? My colleagues and I have concluded in a new report that there truly are no safe doses for hormone-altering chemicals. Academic, regulatory and industry scientists must work together to identify and replace such chemicals that are ubiquitous in everyday consumer products."
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/opinion-endocrine-disruptors-low-level-effects
"As a scientist, I am often asked what "proof" links hormone-altering chemicals to diseases and birth defects. One mother questions whether exposures during her pregnancy caused her child's autism. Another asks whether chemicals in the foods she ate could have caused her son's abnormal genitalia. The underlying question raised by these mothers is provocative: Do small amounts contribute to human health problems? My colleagues and I have concluded in a new report that there truly are no safe doses for hormone-altering chemicals. Academic, regulatory and industry scientists must work together to identify and replace such chemicals that are ubiquitous in everyday consumer products."
New Declaration Calls for Precautionary Oversight For the Emerging Field of Synthetic Biology
New Declaration Calls for Precautionary Oversight For the Emerging Field of Synthetic Biology
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/science-a-environmental/31617-new-declaration-calls-for-precautionary-oversight-for-the-emerging-field-of-synthetic-biology.html
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/science-a-environmental/31617-new-declaration-calls-for-precautionary-oversight-for-the-emerging-field-of-synthetic-biology.html
"Today a broad coalition of 111 organizations from around the world released The Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology, the first global civil society declaration to outline principles that must be adopted to protect public health and the environment from the risks posed by synthetic biology, and to address the field's economic, social and ethical challenges. Until these governance principles are in place, the coalition calls for a moratorium on the release and commercial use of synthetic organisms and products."
Exposure to electromagnetic fields from laptop use of "laptop" computers.
Exposure to electromagnetic fields from laptop use of "laptop" computers.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22315933
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22315933
Bellieni CV, Pinto I, Bogi A, Zoppetti N, Andreuccetti D, Buonocore G.
Arch Environ Occup Health. 2012 Jan;67(1):31-6.
Source
a Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
Source
a Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Portable computers are often used at tight contact with the body and therefore are called "laptop." The authors measured electromagnetic fields (EMFs) laptop computers produce and estimated the induced currents in the body, to assess the safety of laptop computers. The authors evaluated 5 commonly used laptop of different brands. They measured EMF exposure produced and, using validated computerized models, the authors exploited the data of one of the laptop computers (LTCs) to estimate the magnetic flux exposure of the user and of the fetus in the womb, when the laptop is used at close contact with the woman's womb. In the LTCs analyzed, EMF values (range 1.8-6 μT) are within International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, but are considerably higher than the values recommended by 2 recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development. When close to the body, the laptop induces currents that are within 34.2% to 49.8% ICNIRP recommendations, but not negligible, to the adult's body and to the fetus (in pregnant women). On the contrary, the power supply induces strong intracorporal electric current densities in the fetus and in the adult subject, which are respectively 182-263% and 71-483% higher than ICNIRP 98 basic restriction recommended to prevent adverse health effects. Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.
ABSTRACT Portable computers are often used at tight contact with the body and therefore are called "laptop." The authors measured electromagnetic fields (EMFs) laptop computers produce and estimated the induced currents in the body, to assess the safety of laptop computers. The authors evaluated 5 commonly used laptop of different brands. They measured EMF exposure produced and, using validated computerized models, the authors exploited the data of one of the laptop computers (LTCs) to estimate the magnetic flux exposure of the user and of the fetus in the womb, when the laptop is used at close contact with the woman's womb. In the LTCs analyzed, EMF values (range 1.8-6 μT) are within International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, but are considerably higher than the values recommended by 2 recent guidelines for computer monitors magnetic field emissions, MPR II (Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation) and TCO (Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), and those considered risky for tumor development. When close to the body, the laptop induces currents that are within 34.2% to 49.8% ICNIRP recommendations, but not negligible, to the adult's body and to the fetus (in pregnant women). On the contrary, the power supply induces strong intracorporal electric current densities in the fetus and in the adult subject, which are respectively 182-263% and 71-483% higher than ICNIRP 98 basic restriction recommended to prevent adverse health effects. Laptop is paradoxically an improper site for the use of a LTC, which consequently should be renamed to not induce customers towards an improper use.
PMID: 22315933 [PubMed - in process]
Low doses, big effects: Scientists seek 'fundamental changes' in testing, regulation of hormone-like chemicals
Low doses, big effects: Scientists seek 'fundamental changes' in testing, regulation of hormone-like chemicals
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/low-doses-big-effects
"Small doses can have big health effects. That is a main finding of a new report, three years in the making, published Wednesday by a team of 12 scientists who study hormone-altering chemicals. Dozens of substances that can mimic or block hormones are found in the environment, the food supply and consumer products, including plastics, pesticides and cosmetics. One of the biggest controversies is whether the tiny doses that most people are exposed to are harmful. Researchers led by Tufts University's Laura Vandenberg concluded after examining hundreds of studies that health effects "are remarkably common" when people or animals are exposed to low doses. "Fundamental changes in chemical testing are needed to protect human health," they wrote."
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/low-doses-big-effects
"Small doses can have big health effects. That is a main finding of a new report, three years in the making, published Wednesday by a team of 12 scientists who study hormone-altering chemicals. Dozens of substances that can mimic or block hormones are found in the environment, the food supply and consumer products, including plastics, pesticides and cosmetics. One of the biggest controversies is whether the tiny doses that most people are exposed to are harmful. Researchers led by Tufts University's Laura Vandenberg concluded after examining hundreds of studies that health effects "are remarkably common" when people or animals are exposed to low doses. "Fundamental changes in chemical testing are needed to protect human health," they wrote."
City Council Votes For Fire Ring Removal
City Council Votes For Fire Ring Removal
http://www.coronadelmartoday.com/26788/home/city-council-votes-for-fire-ring-removal/
"Beach fire rings should be banned, the Newport Beach City Council decided tonight in a unanimous vote.
The decision, following about an hour of public testimony, means that city staff will begin to work on a plan to remove the city's 60 rings, located at Big Corona State Beach and near the Balboa Pier. Before the rings are removed, a California Coastal Commission permit must be obtained, Coastal Commission staff has said.
Dozens of residents testified about the fire rings, mostly in support of a ban. They cited studies about the health hazards of wood smoke, the dangers of burning embers, unruly crowds and injuries."
http://www.coronadelmartoday.com/26788/home/city-council-votes-for-fire-ring-removal/
"Beach fire rings should be banned, the Newport Beach City Council decided tonight in a unanimous vote.
The decision, following about an hour of public testimony, means that city staff will begin to work on a plan to remove the city's 60 rings, located at Big Corona State Beach and near the Balboa Pier. Before the rings are removed, a California Coastal Commission permit must be obtained, Coastal Commission staff has said.
Dozens of residents testified about the fire rings, mostly in support of a ban. They cited studies about the health hazards of wood smoke, the dangers of burning embers, unruly crowds and injuries."
Global Food Fight Intensifies
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Twenty-two leading scientists, experts in pest resistance, have written an urgent letter to the EPA asking the agency to warn farmers about the hazards of Monsanto's genetically engineered Bt corn, planted on millions of acres across the U.S. and Canada. The corn has been gene-spliced with bacterial DNA that produces Bt insecticide in every cell of the plant. Monsanto's misleading promise was that farmers could plant Bt crops and not have to spray pesticides, but predictably, corn rootworms have begun to develop resistance. Scientists warn of massive yield loss and surging corn costs if the EPA doesn't act quickly to drastically reduce Bt crops' acreage and force Monsanto to make non-GMO varieties of its high-yielding hybrid corn available to farmers.
"You have a right to know what you eat, especially when it's better…After several months of debate, Europe has just adopted a new law for the labeling of food that comes from genetically engineered plants…We believe that products that come from biotechnology are better and that they should be labeled."
A petition targeting Michael Taylor, a former lawyer/lobbyist for Monsanto who currently serves as President Obama's Food Safety Czar, has made national news. Taylor was instrumental in the early 1990s in ramming through the controversial FDA policy that genetically engineered foods did not need to be labeled, utilizing the bogus argument that genetically engineered foods are "substantially equivalent" to non-GE foods. USA Today reported that the petition to fire Taylor had already gathered more than 400,000 signatures with the help of MoveOn.org. The petition, begun by Frederick Ravid, currently has nearly 427,000 names. The article gave equal time to Taylor's supporters, quoting a letter from food safety "experts" who called the petition a "factually untrue Internet smear campaign" and argued against the statement in Ravid's petition that biotech foods may be contributors to colon, breast, lymphatic, and prostate cancers. Reporter Elizabeth Weise let the criticism stand, failing to cite evidence that Monsanto's Bovine Growth Hormone, rBGH increases levels of IGF-1, a powerful growth hormone and cancer tumor promoter.
Popular TV health expert, Dr. Oz, recently covered the GMO issue, explaining to his viewers that they've probably been eating genetically engineered food without knowing it. Guests on the show included Jeffrey Smith of the Institute for Responsible Technology and Michael Hanson of the Consumers Union. Please watch the segment and then take action, asking your Congressional Representative to co-sponsor Rep. Dennis Kucinich's bill to label GMO foods.
After years of campaigning for GMO labeling laws, we are closer than ever to getting this issue on the ballot in California in November - and finally getting GE-tainted foods out of our nation's food supply for good.
The more than 30,000 attendees arriving at the Anaheim Convention Center Friday for Expo West, North America's largest trade show for the natural products industry, were greeted with activists in bio-hazmat suits. It was Occupy Monsanto's Genetic Crimes Unit on the look out for toxic contamination and genetic modification. The group sees this as a necessary civil defense against the unknown long-term effects of eating GMO foods. Their method is to identify GMO victims by asking them what they've eaten recently. If they've ingested non-organic soy, cotton, canola, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya, zucchini, squash, or animal products, they're considered contaminated and tagged with bracelets.
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