Monday, January 31, 2011

Health department lists nine toxic chemicals in children's products

Health department lists nine toxic chemicals in children's products
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/31/list-of-toxic-chemicals-in-kids-products/

"The Minnesota Department of Health published a list Monday of nine toxic chemicals that are present in children's products."

'Toxic soup' of chemicals in everyday products: author

'Toxic soup' of chemicals in everyday products: author
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110131/toxic-soup-author-110131/

"Gillian Deacon was deep into researching her new book on the chemicals in body care products and their links to various forms of cancer when she had to confront her own dizzying health scare."

The Association of Ontario's Health Centres (AOHC) Scent Free Policy

The Association of Ontario's Health Centres (AOHC) Scent Free Policy
http://www.aohc.org/index.php?ci_id=3325&la_id=1

Cells' energy factories linked to damaging inflammation

Cells' energy factories linked to damaging inflammation
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2011/niams-31.htm

"Scientists have discovered that molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the energy factories, or mitochondria, in cells, may play a role in a rare inherited disorder in which uncontrolled inflammation damages the body's tissues. Their research in human and mouse cells suggests that blocking these molecules could reduce inflammation in TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) and possibly other inflammatory diseases."

Work Safe (BC) Scent Safety in the WorkPlace (2010)

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and the Law

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and the Law
http://www.gerbothlaw.com/2011/01/20/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-and-the-law/

QEESI - Quick Environemntal Exposure Survey

QEESI - Quick Environemntal Exposure & Sensivitity Indicator
 
The French Version of Claudia S. Miller's Quick Environemntal Exposure & Sensivitity Indicator (QEESI) is now available for download on her website
 
French Version
 
English Version
 

PETITION: Dirty Air Acts in Congress: Brought to you by big, corporate polluters

PETITION
Dirty Air Acts in Congress:
Brought to you by big, corporate polluters
https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1093&autologin=true&amp

"Congressional cronies of the nation's biggest polluters are at it again: They are hard at work authoring a wave of bills aimed at exempting their dirty energy friends from strong air pollution limits.
 
This league of Dirty Air Act authors in the Senate and House are looking to give their polluter pals free rein to dump carbon dioxide pollution into the air—at the expense of public health and the American quality of life.

On January 31, two of these legislative attacks were introduced in the Senate by Sen. John Barrasso and Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Meanwhile in the House, Rep. Fred Upton is crafting his own version. These attempts to weaken global warming pollution controls were written by special interests, for special interests.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is trying to do what it was created to do: protect Americans from pollution. There is currently no limit on the amount of carbon dioxide that polluters can pour into the air, so there is no way to hold the worst of them accountable.

Please tell your senators and representatives in Congress to oppose these attacks on clean air in America!"

Child Flu Vaccine Seizures?

[Comment:  This is no big surprise. It happened in Australia over our summer and the US ignored the warnings and forged ahead with planned vaccinations anyway.  As for clear links, we don't exactly hear parents saying their child coincidentally developed seizures after their first day of school, or after losing their first tooth, or after falling off their bike.  The commonallity is vaccines, not any other childhood experience.  There's never a clear link when you stick your head in the sand and don't look.  There mere fact that more febril seizures occur post vaccination than at any other time in a a child's life should be 'clear' enough!]
 
Child Flu Vaccine Seizures?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20029626-10391695.html

"According to a Vaccine Safety "update" issued by the FDA on Jan. 20, there's been an increase in reports of febrile seizures among infants and children following this year's flu vaccine. Febrile seizures are seizures associated with fever."

New Electricity Meters Stir Fears

 
"Pacific Gas and Electric's campaign to introduce wireless smart meters in Northern California is facing fierce opposition from an eclectic mix of Tea Party conservatives and left-leaning individualists who say the meters threaten their liberties and their health."

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Surprising reasons you're tired

Surprising reasons you're tired
http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/surprising-reasons-youre-tired/story-fn6cw92v-1225996485544

"The reason you're always tired might actually be something you'd never suspect and could easily fix."

VIDEO: Mobile tower radiation a major health hazard

VIDEO
Mobile tower radiation a major health hazard
http://thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com/2011/01/mobile-tower-radiation-major-health.html

Mobile tower radiation a major health hazard

Mobile tower radiation a major health hazard
http://thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com/2011/01/mobile-tower-radiation-major-health.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

Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month 2011 - Event Planning Kit for 2011 is now ready!

Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month 2011 - Event Planning Kit for 2011 is now ready!
http://www.mcs-america.org/emreventplanningkit.pdf

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month 2011 - Event Planning Kit for 2011 is now ready!

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month 2011 - Event Planning Kit for 2011 is now ready!
http://mcs-america.org/MCSAwarenessMonthEventPlanningKit2011.pdf

NEWSLETTER: MCS America News - February 2011

MCSA NEWS
February 2011, Volum
e 6, Issue 2

Entire PDF Edition: http://mcs-america.org/february2011.pdf (View, Download, and Print)


Direct Links to Articles Inside This Issue:

Coming to Terms with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg2345.pdf


Evidence of Leaking Macondo Prospect

The Gulf Oil Spill Continues

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg6789.pdf


Herbicide Found to Cause Coordination and Learning Difficulties

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg10.pdf


EPA Provides Access to Some Chemical Studies

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg11.pdf


Air Pollution Shown to Lead to Brain Damage

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg121314.pdf


Researchers Suggest that Sick Building Syndrome May Be Caused by Vaccinations

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg1516.pdf


Patient Support & Resources

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg1718192021222324.pdf


Community News

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg25.pdf


Featured Research Studies

http://mcs-america.org/february2011pg262728.pdf


Multiple Chemical Sensitivities America

http://www.mcs-america.org

admin@mcs-america.org


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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Childhood Leukemia, Brain Cancer on the Rise

Childhood Leukemia, Brain Cancer on the Rise
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20110126/childhood-leukemia-brain-cancer-on-the-rise

"Experts Say Exposure to Toxic Chemicals May Be Partially Behind the Increase"

Nation's Second Largest Refinery to Pay More Than $5.3 Million Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations

Nation's Second Largest Refinery to Pay More Than $5.3 Million Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations

More information on the Hovensa settlement:
www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/hovensa.html

Hidden Chemicals Linked To Increased Obesity Risk

Hidden Chemicals Linked To Increased Obesity Risk
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/26628274/detail.html

"Chemicals Called Obesogens Found In Everyday Items

With two-thirds of Americans now overweight or obese, new research suggests there may be more to it than poor diet and not enough exercise.

Hidden chemicals, called obesogens, are the building blocks of everyday household items. Researchers say they're wreaking havoc on our bodies by disrupting our hormonal systems, which affect fat cells and gene function."

Chemical in dispersants endured long after gulf oil spill, study finds

Chemical in dispersants endured long after gulf oil spill, study finds
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gulf-dispersants-20110127,0,2091566.story    

"The ingredient was found nearly 200 miles from the wellhead two months after BP stopped applying dispersants. Tests indicate the amount found wasn't toxic, but 'we don't really know what effect it had on the environment,' the lead researcher says."

Keratin hair treatments popular, but draw health warnings

Keratin hair treatments popular, but draw health warnings
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-x-n-keratin-hair-treatment-20110126,0,4722098.story

"Presence of formaldehyde has agencies issuing alerts about products, but some in the industry insist they are safe"

Does road traffic noise increase stroke risk?

Does road traffic noise increase stroke risk?
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/25/does-road-traffic-noise-increase-stroke-risk/

"Many people who live in cities or near highways are accustomed to a lullaby of cars whizzing by, but that noise may put them at increased risk of stroke, a new study suggests."

Medford state rep. supports chemical safety law

Medford state rep. supports chemical safety law
http://www.wickedlocal.com/medford/newsnow/x104388834/Medford-state-rep-supports-chemical-safety-law

"In response to continued public concern over the presence of dangerous chemicals in common household products and Congressional inaction on the matter, this week legislators in Massachusetts, including Rep. Paul J. Donato, D-Medford, and 29 other states announce legislation aimed at protecting children, families and workers from harmful chemicals."

A Tale Of Two Seed Farmers: Organic Vs. Engineered

A Tale Of Two Seed Farmers: Organic Vs. Engineered
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/25/133178893/a-tale-of-two-seed-farmers-organic-vs-engineered

"The Cold War phrase "peaceful coexistence" has been revived in a new context: as a potential solution in the clash between organic agriculture and genetic engineering."

F.D.A and Dairy Industry Spar Over Testing of Milk

F.D.A and Dairy Industry Spar Over Testing of Milk
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/business/26milk.html?_r=1

"Each year, federal inspectors find illegal levels of antibiotics in hundreds of older dairy cows bound for the slaughterhouse. Concerned that those antibiotics might also be contaminating the milk Americans drink, the Food and Drug Administration intended to begin tests this month on the milk from farms that had repeatedly sold cows tainted by drug residue."

Tell EPA to get pesticides out of your soap!

Tell EPA to get pesticides out of your soap!
http://action.panna.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5654
 
"Triclosan is the active ingredient in a wide range of antibacterial household and personal care products, from deodorant to toothpaste, trash bags to cleaning supplies. A hormone disruptor, the chemical interferes with estrogen, androgen and thyroid hormones, and can impact fetal development."

Organic Bytes: Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Do We Do Now?

 

 

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Read Past Issues | OCA Homepage | Donate

Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Do We Do Now?

#261, January 27, 2011

In this issue:

 
 
 

Essay of the Week

"Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto" by Ronnie Cummins

"The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well. True coexistence is a must." - Whole Foods Market, Jan. 21, 2011

In the wake of a 12-year battle to keep Monsanto's Genetically Engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation's 25,000 organic farms and ranches, America's organic consumers and producers are facing betrayal. A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it's time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have publicly admitted that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto's controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for "coexistence" with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack.

Read More

 
 
 

Poll of the Week

NPR Poll: 93% Want GE Food to Be Labeled

"Only a quarter of Americans say they fully understand what genetically engineered food is all about, according to a survey of more then 3,000 people conducted for NPR by Thomson Reuters last month.

"Press people a little further by asking them if genetically engineered foods are safe, and the uncertainty climbs higher. Only 21 percent of people are convinced the foods are safe. Most are unsure - 64 percent. The remaining 15 percent think the foods aren't safe.

"One thing everyone seems to agree on is that a food should say on its label if it's from some genetically modified animal or plant - 9 in 10 people surveyed said so."

Americans Are Wary Of Genetically Engineered Foods - Scott Hensley, National Public Radio

Read More

 
 
 

January Fundraising Appeal

Donate and Help OCA Mobilize Millions Against Monsanto and Factory Farms

The powerful antidote to corporate crime and villainy is mass grassroots awareness and grassroots action. GMOs, Factory Farms, and deceptively labeled consumer products pose a mortal threat to public health, the environment, climate stability, farm animals, and all living things. GMOs and organic crops, GMOs and biodiversity, cannot "coexist." As we speak, organic crops are being contaminated with Monsanto's GMOs. We need your financial support to educate and mobilize consumers, to protect and maintain strict organic and Fair Trade standards, and to pressure the entire food industry to adopt Truth-in-Labeling practices.

Please Donate

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

Mark Your Calendars! World Food Day 2011 is October 16!

Let's Deliver a 1,000,000-Person Petition to Monsanto!

Please join the Organic Consumers Association's Millions Against Monsanto campaign to truthfully label foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and/or come from factory farms (Confined Animal Feeding Operations, CAFOs) on World Food Day, October 16, 2011, when we will deliver 1,000,000 petition signatures from consumers who want mandatory "GMO" and "CAFO" food labels to Monsanto, the top food retailers and our elected officials.

 

How will we get 1,000,000 signatures?

2,300 Signatures X 435 Congressional Districts = 1,000,000

OCA needs a volunteer in every congressional district to coordinate the gathering of 2300 petition signatures between now and October 16, 2011. There are already signers in every district, but if we were starting from scratch, we would need to collect about 300 signatures in each district, each month between February and September.

Volunteer to coordinate signature gathering! Please use this form.

 

Start gathering signatures!

You can gather signatures online by distributing the online petition via e-mail and through social networking sites to friends, colleagues and like-minded groups.

You can gather signatures in person at grocery stores, farmers markets and sustainable agriculture events by printing this petition form.

 

What? We're going to spend the next 8 months just collecting petition signatures?

No! We're planning 8 months of Millions Against Monsanto actions and adventures that will only get more fun and more effective the more supporters we draw into the campaign through the petition.

Learn more about our plans for Monsanto in 2011

 
 
 

Alert Update

50,000 Against Monsanto's GMO Alfalfa

On Jan 24, 2011, the Organic Consumers Association filed over 50,000 comments from our members with the USDA, asking the agency to block Monsanto's new genetically-modified, herbicide-loving alfalfa and opposing Sec. Vilsack's idea that organic and GMOs can "coexist."

Thanks everyone, we'll keep you posted!

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

Don't Forget to Take Action...

Ban Triclosan! Take action by Feb.7, 2011

New York: Label Milk From Cows Given rBGH (Genetically Engineered Bovine Growth Hormone)!

California: Label GMO Salmon!

Nationwide: Get a GMO Labeling Bill Introduced in Your State

 
 
 

 

Internship Opportunities with the OCA!

Office Internship

We are offering an internship working in our national office in Finland MN, beginning in Late February, 2011 for 4 months, with the option to stay on longer. This is an unpaid internship but you will be provided with a place to stay and a small stipend for food and living expenses. The internship will consist of basic office tasks such as answering phones, interacting with members, data entry, work on our website, as well as specific projects that we will work with you to develop. Opportunities will also be provided for local community involvement, including visits to a local CSA, dairy farm, and other sustainable agriculture and community venues in the region.

Online Research Internships to help OCA's Fair World Project

FWP seeks online interns to conduct internet research to support our Fair Trade Procurement Campaign and our Database Research Project. Interns will locate and post news stories, campaigns, and events, and reach out to like-minded organizations and green businesses or collect contact information on natural food stores, CSAs, etc. Although these are unpaid internships, FWP is willing to work with students to arrange college credit for your work.

These are excellent opportunities to help the OCA while gaining experience in the workings of a international nonprofit campaigning for health, justice and sustainability.

For more information, to apply, and to see OCA's other internship offerings, please visit our internship page.

 
 
 

Video of the Week

Hundreds of Yankton, South Dakota Birds Poisoned By USDA

It's happened in places like Louisiana, Arkansas and Kentucky. Hundreds of birds mysteriously found dead.

Folks in Yankton, South Dakota, thought they were being added to the list after hundreds of dead birds were found there on Monday. Turns out the unpleasant feathered discovery has a solid explanation. They were poisoned.

Watch

 
 
 

Campaign of the Week

Fearless Food Policy

"We cannot continue to let the consolidation of corporate food production create a food system that values quantity over quality and refuses to take into account the true cost of production. We must consider the environmental and health problems that creating food in unsafe and inhumane ways causes, leading to outbreaks of foodborne illness, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and polluted drinking water. Big Ag is very effective in playing the insider game, constantly lobbying Congress and federal agencies.

"As Congress prepares for consideration of the farm bill next year, it is imperative that we have Fearless Leaders to speak up for the people when lawmakers hear from corporate interests prioritizing profits over health. The farm bill defines the federal government's role in the agricultural market, and we must fight to see that it supports family farms and sustainable farms that promote healthy foods. We need to take back food production; after all, we are what we eat."

- The Fearless Campaign

Learn More

 
 
 

Book of the Week

All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons

"Growing numbers of citizens-including many who never before questioned the status quo-now seem willing to explore new ideas that once would have seemed radical. Millions of Americans are now making shifts in their personal lives such as buying organic foods, using alternative medicine, collaborating online, and searching for something beyond consumerism that offers a sense of meaning in their lives. They may not yet be sprinkling their conversations with the word commons, but they are looking for changes in their lives.

"Now is the time to introduce a decisive shift in worldview. People everywhere are yearning for a world that is safer, saner, more sustainable and satisfying. There's a rising sense of possibility that even with our daunting economic and environmental problems, there are opportunities to make some fundamental improvements. Everyone deserves decent health care. The health of the planet should take precedence over the profits of a few. Clean water, adequate food, education, access to information, and economic opportunity ought to be available to all people. In other words, a commons-based society. Let's transform that hope into constructive action."

- Jay Walljasper, editor and chief author of All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons

Read More

 
 
 

Little Bytes

Food and Resource Revolts: The Year of Living Dangerously
READ MORE

At Oregon Sugar Beet Seed Farms, It's Organic Agriculture vs. Genetic Engineering
READ MORE

Stop Buying Antibacterial Soaps, Handwipes and Cleaning Agents
READ MORE

With Food-System Reform Slowed to a Crawl, Local Initiatives Come to Fore
READ MORE

Monsanto Launches Deceptive Ad Campaign in Desperate Attempt to Improve Image
READ MORE

 
 
 

LOCAL HI NEWS OF THE WEEK

HI - Get Involved Locally

  • Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in HI here.
 
 
 

Dr. Bronner's is Celebrating Our 60th Anniversary!

Marking the 60th Anniversary of the company, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is pleased to announce that all classic liquid & bar soaps are now not only certified under the USDA National Organic Program, but also certified Fair Trade! In addition, we are pleased to introduce a revolutionary new range of high-quality organic products, from hair rinses to shaving gels – all certified under the same USDA program that certifies organic foods.

Please visit us on the web at DrBronner.com

 
 
 

Become an OCA Sponsor!

Every issue of Organic Bytes now goes to 250,000 organic consumers with a thousand new subscribers each week. Please help us and your business by letting our subscribers know who you are and that you support the work of the OCA. Please contact us if you want more information!

 
 
 

empowered by Salsa

Is there a better way of assessing the risks which chemicals may pose to human health?

Is there a better way of assessing the risks which chemicals may pose to human health?
http://healthandenvironmentonline.com/2011/01/25/better-risk-assessment/

The adequacy of the process for assessing risk to human health posed by chemicals is coming under increasing scrutiny. In this month's feature article, we examine some of the criticisms of risk assessment and the relative merits of moving towards a more hazard-based approach to chemical regulation.
 

Legally Poisoned

Legally Poisoned
http://newsroom.ucr.edu/news_item.html?action=page&id=2533

"UC Riverside professor outlines risks of daily exposure to toxicants and advocates regulatory changes to protect public health"

Loud Road Noise Linked to Stroke in Older Adults

Loud Road Noise Linked to Stroke in Older Adults
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_108089.html

"Danish study finds stroke risk in seniors increased 27 percent for every additional 10 decibels"

HEPA Filter May Improve Air Near Wood-Burning Stoves

HEPA Filter May Improve Air Near Wood-Burning Stoves
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_107967.html

"Indoor pollution and cardiovascular health risks lower when filter was in use, study finds"

The Face of a Poisoned Man

The Face of a Poisoned Man
http://www.activistpost.com/2011/01/face-of-poisoned-man.html

"Yannick Chenet, a French winegrower, died after contracting leukemia, becoming the first farmer to have his illness officially linked to the pesticides he used for years on his crops. He is among 40 or so farmers in France whose illnesses have now been officially linked to their profession and the pesticides they have sprayed on the land. More than a quarter of the roughly 220,000 tons of pesticides used in Europe per year is sprayed onto French soil."

Defense Department helps pay for medical research

Defense Department helps pay for medical research
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/article_11c7f736-12a2-5317-b8fb-1a0b5f2faf14.html

"Dozens of scientists in local universities conduct medical research with grant money from the Department of Defense, but it's not for any war effort."

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.
Constant EL, Adam S, Gillain B, Lambert M, Masquelier E, Seron X.
Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2011 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Department of Psychiatry, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECT: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients report usually cognitive complaints. They also have frequently comorbid depression that can be considered a possible explanation for their cognitive dysfunction. We evaluated the cognitive performance of patients with CFS in comparison with a control group of healthy volunteers and a group of patients with MDD.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with CFS, 25 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 25 healthy control subjects were given standardized tests of attention, working memory, and verbal and visual episodic memory, and were also tested for effects related to lack of effort/simulation, suggestibility, and fatigue.
RESULTS: Patients with CFS had slower phasic alertness, and also had impaired working, visual and verbal episodic memory compared to controls. They were, however, no more sensitive than the other groups to suggestibility or to fatigue induced during the cognitive session. Cognitive impairments in MDD patients were strongly associated with depression and subjective fatigue; in patients with CFS, there was a weaker correlation between cognition and depression (and no correlation with fatigue).
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the presence of an objective impairment in attention and memory in patients with CFS but with good mobilization of effort and without exaggerated suggestibility.
PMID: 21255911 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Former North Carolina Teacher Files Suit Against School Over Alleged Harassment

Former North Carolina Teacher Files Suit Against School Over Alleged Harassment
http://www.avvo.com/news/former-north-carolina-teacher-files-suit-against-school-over-alleged-harassment-1252.html

"A former teacher with the Charlotte-Mercklenburg, North Carolina school system has filed a lawsuit claiming harassment and discrimination by students and administrators.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the federal suit, filed on behalf of 67-year-old Nada Feldman, claims the ex-teacher was also forced to resign after officials neglected to provide for her sensitivity to chemicals, which the suit claims is a medical condition."

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

New York State: 85 chemicals to avoid

New York State: 85 chemicals to avoid
http://www.ewg.org/comm/new-york-state-85-chemicals-avoid

"When someone with $8 billion a year in purchasing power tells the world what they don't want, marketers and manufacturers pay attention.

That's what's happened recently in New York, where state agencies operate 16,000 facilities and a fleet of 17,000 vehicles and generate more than 800,000 tons of waste a year. Those agencies are now working with an official policy that urges them, for the sake of public health, to avoid products, equipment and other items containing any of 85 toxic chemicals whenever safer, cost-effective alternatives are available. The goal is to minimize New Yorkers' exposure to these chemicals as much as possible and prevent them from ending up in the state's landfills."

Antidepressants found in fish

 
"St. Lawrence River fish are loaded with antidepressant drugs such as Prozac, leading scientists to wonder if the "happy hormone" is altering the lifestyle of the chronically grumpy-looking marine animals."

LYONS: A life scheduled by pesticide treatments

LYONS: A life scheduled by pesticide treatments
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110125/COLUMNIST/101251024/2055/NEWS?Title=Tom-Lyons-A-life-scheduled-by-pesticide-treatments

"Every month, Ann Mason leaves town for a week or two and does her best to make a budget vacation of it."

The International Coalition Against Wood Burning Pollution

The International Coalition Against Wood Burning Pollution
http://coalitionagainstwoodburning.com/

"This site is a gathering place for people around the world to come together to help clear our neighborhoods of wood smoke pollution.   Many investigations of wood smoke complaints are due to the continuing efforts of CAWB."
 

Monday, January 24, 2011

Goodbye, Phosphates

Goodbye, Phosphates
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/89/8904cover.html

"Struggling automatic dishwasher detergent manufacturers turn to chemical industry for help with phosphate-free formulas"

Bye Bye Blackbird: USDA acknowledges a hand in one mass bird death

Bye Bye Blackbird: USDA acknowledges a hand in one mass bird death
http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/357845

'One in a series of mysterious mass bird deaths in the past month was the product of a USDA avicide program, which began as operation Bye Bye Blackbird in the 1960s."

Avoiding Toxic Toys Isn't Child's Play

Avoiding Toxic Toys Isn't Child's Play
http://www.everydayhealth.com/kids-health/toxic-toys.aspx

"Toy safety is a top concern for all parents. Here's what you need to know about the hidden dangers in toxic toys."

China's organic farms rooted in food-safety concerns

China's organic farms rooted in food-safety concerns
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-01-24-chinafood24_ST_N.htm

"It's quite a shopping list — wine, mushrooms, bean curd, rice noodles, dairy drinks and cooking oil — but buyer beware. In recent months, fake or toxic batches of all these items have worried Chinese consumers nationwide and are a reminder that food safety is a major issue in a country where even government agencies have food grown for their staffs to avoid problems."

January 26, 2011

Confronting Toxics Webinar Series: Federal chemicals policy and the role of the healthcare professional in 2011
http://www.psr.org/news-events/events/confronting-toxics-webinar.html

"January 26, 2011, 3 pm EST. PSR will launch its Confronting Toxics Webinar Series with a federal policy overview from Richard Denison PhD, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund, and Lindsay Dahl, Deputy Director of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition. Join us to learn how health professionals can get involved in strengthening our chemical regulations."

Virginia House passes bill to end HPV vaccine mandate

[Comment:  Finally! A sensible decision based on the facts!]
 

"The Virginia House of Delegates approved a bill Friday that would eliminate the state's 2007 requirement that girls receive the vaccine against the human papillomavirus before enrolling in the sixth grade."

Nearly Half of Americans Still Suspect Vaccine-Autism Link

[Comment:  Well, of course! Spreading mass false news that a study was false to placate people into taking vaccines wasn't going to fly. We're not that stupid!  Many autistics are senstive to chemicals too.]

Nearly Half of Americans Still Suspect Vaccine-Autism Link
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/649031.html

'18% don't trust measles-mumps-rubella shot, and 30% are undecided, Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds"

Flu Vaccine: Infant Febrile Seizures Reported

[Comment:  Poor kids! Like seizures are perfectly safe?!  It's a wonder they have any health and quality of life at all.]
 
Flu Vaccine: Infant Febrile Seizures Reported
http://children.webmd.com/news/20110120/flu-vaccine-infant-febrile-seizures-reported

"But FDA Says Early Reports of Seizures Does Not Mean Vaccine Is Unsafe"

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Home fires: The world's most lethal pollution

Home fires: The world's most lethal pollution
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/home-fires-the-worlds-most-lethal-pollution-2192000.html

"The world's deadliest pollution does not come from factories billowing smoke, industries tainting water supplies or chemicals seeping into farm land. It comes from within people's own homes. Smoke from domestic fires kills nearly two million people each year and sickens millions more, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)."

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Dry cleaners lining up for green upgrade

Dry cleaners lining up for green upgrade
http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/114346289_Dry_cleaners_lining_up_for_green_upgrade.html

"Nearly 300 New Jersey dry cleaners have applied for grant money to upgrade their equipment and reduce the emissions of the carcinogenic solvent perchloroethylene into the air."

Unearthed toxin at Fort Wainwright likely injured workers

Unearthed toxin at Fort Wainwright likely injured workers
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/news/8404-unearthed-toxin-at-fort-wainwright-likely-injured-workers

"In summer 2006, as private construction workers bulldozed and excavated on a project at Fort Wainwright -- a U.S. Army base in Fairbanks, Alaska -- they unearthed something that more than four years later continues to haunt some of them. While preparing to build a new hangar and parking lot at a site where a previous hangar had burned down, a foul smell overtook the crew after a tractor operator dug through a layer of clay. Workers immediately became ill, four of whom remain disabled to this day, according to the watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility"

Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review

Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review

Annette Pruss-Ustun , Carolyn Vickers , Pascal Haefliger  and Roberto Bertollini
Environmental Health 2011, 10:9doi:10.1186/1476-069X-10-9

Published:21 January 2011

Abstract (provisional)
Background
Continuous exposure to many chemicals, including through air, water, food, or other media and products results in health impacts which have been well assessed, however little is known about the total disease burden related to chemicals. This is important to know for overall policy actions and priorities. In this article the known burden related to selected chemicals or their mixtures, main data gaps, and the link to public health policy are reviewed.
Methods
A systematic review of the literature for global burden of disease estimates from chemicals was conducted. Global disease due to chemicals was estimated using standard methodology of the Global Burden of Disease.
Results
In total, 4.9 million deaths (8.3% of total) and 86 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (5.7% of total) were attributable to environmental exposure and management of selected chemicals in 2004. The largest contributors include indoor smoke from solid fuel use, outdoor air pollution and second-hand smoke, with 2.0, 1.2 and 0.6 million deaths annually. These are followed by occupational particulates, chemicals involved in acute poisonings, and pesticides involved in self-poisonings, with 375,000, 240,000 and 186,000 annual deaths, respectively.
Conclusions
The known burden due to chemicals is considerable. This information supports decision-making in programmes having a role to play in reducing human exposure to toxic chemicals. These figures present only a number of chemicals for which data are available, therefore, they are more likely an underestimate of the actual burden. Chemicals with known health effects, such as dioxins, cadmium, mercury or chronic exposure to pesticides could not be included in this article due to incomplete data and information. Effective public health interventions are known to manage chemicals and limit their public health impacts and should be implemented at national and international levels.

Fungal exposure in homes of patients with sarcoidosis - an environmental exposure study

Fungal exposure in homes of patients with sarcoidosis - an environmental exposure study

Marjeta Tercelj , Barbara Salobir , Matevz Harlander  and Ragnar Rylander
Environmental Health 2011, 10:8doi:10.1186/1476-069X-10-8

Published:20 January 2011

Abstract (provisional)

Background
There is increasing evidence that exposure to moulds (fungi) may influence the development of sarcoidosis. To assess the influence of the environmental exposure, a study was undertaken to determine the exposure to fungi in homes of subjects with sarcoidosis.

Methods
Subjects were patients with clinically established sarcoidosis recruited during the period September 2007 till June 2010. Of these 55 were newly diagnosed and currently under treatment for less than one year, 25 had been treated and had no recurrence and 27 had been treated but had recurrence of the disease. Controls were healthy subjects without any respiratory symptoms (n=30). Samples of air (about 2.5 m3) were taken in the bedroom of the subjects using a portable pump and cellulose ester filters. The filters were analysed for the content of the enzyme N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) as a marker of fungal cell biomass, using a specific substrate and a fluorescent technique and expressed as NAHA units (U) /m3.

Results
Compared to controls, subjects undergoing treatment of the disease (newly diagnosed or with recurrence) had significantly higher activities of NAHA in their homes than controls (33.6 and 39.9 vs 10.0 U/m3, p<0.001 and <0.001). Among controls only 5 out of 30 subjects had levels of NAHA above the second quartile value (14 U/m3). In homes of subjects with newly diagnosed disease with treatment less than one year, values above 14 NAHA U/m3 were found among 35 out of 55 and among those with recurrent disease among 18 out of 27.

Conclusions
The higher activities of NAHA enzyme found in homes of subjects with active and recurrent sarcoidosis suggest that exposure to fungi is related to the risk of sarcoidosis. Further environmental studies to assess the importance of this exposure for subjects with sarcoidosis are warranted. The results suggest that remedial actions in homes with high levels of fungi may be justified.

Doctor plans to treat mold illness

Doctor plans to treat mold illness
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/doctor-plans-to-treat-mold-illness

"A Roswell doctor is giving up his family practice to treat people who've been sickened by mold. He got the idea after seeing a dramatic increase in the number of patients suffering from mold infection, the majority of whom spent a lot of time at Goddard High School."

Household Molds and Your Health

Household Molds and Your Health
http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-home/indoor-air-quality/mold-cleanup-guidelines.aspx

"Too much moisture can allow household molds to sprout on walls, floors, ceilings, and even in the furniture, resulting in health problems for your family. Make sure mold doesn't feel welcome in your home."

Gulf Oil Spill Blood Tests Reveal Alarming Levels Of Toxic Chemicals In Residents

Gulf Oil Spill Blood Tests Reveal Alarming Levels Of Toxic Chemicals In Residents
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/louisiana-local-news-gulf-oil-disaster/155166-gulf-oil-spill-blood-tests-reveal-alarming-levels-of-toxic-chemicals-in-residents.html

"Nine months have passed since the Gulf oil spill, and residents continue to see more and more negative outcomes from the tragedy."

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award

Coexposure to mercury increases immunotoxicity of trichloroethylene.

Coexposure to mercury increases immunotoxicity of trichloroethylene.
 
Gilbert KM, Rowley B, Gomez-Acevedo H, Blossom SJ.
Toxicol Sci. 2011 Feb;119(2):281-92. Epub 2010 Nov 17.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
 
Abstract
 
We have shown previously that chronic (32 weeks) exposure to occupationally relevant concentrations of the environmental pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE) induced autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in autoimmune-prone MRL+/+ mice. In real-life, individuals are never exposed to only one chemical such as TCE. However, very little is known about the effects of chemical mixtures on the immune system. The current study examined whether coexposure to another known immunotoxicant, mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)), altered TCE-induced AIH. Female MRL+/+ mice were treated for only 8 weeks with TCE (9.9 or 186.9 mg/kg/day in drinking water) and/or HgCl(2) (260 μg/kg/day, sc). Unlike mice exposed to either TCE or HgCl(2) alone, mice exposed to both toxicants for 8 weeks developed significant liver pathology commensurate with early stages of AIH. Disease development in the coexposed mice was accompanied by a unique pattern of anti-liver and anti-brain antibodies that recognized, among others, a protein of approximately 90 kDa. Subsequent immunoblotting showed that sera from the coexposed mice contained antibodies specific for heat shock proteins, a chaperone protein targeted by antibodies in patients with AIH. Thus, although TCE can promote autoimmune disease following chronic exposure, a shorter exposure to a binary mixture of TCE and HgCl(2) accelerated disease development. Coexposure to TCE and HgCl(2) also generated a unique liver-specific antibody response not found in mice exposed to a single toxicant. This finding stresses the importance of including mixtures in assessments of chemical immunotoxicity.

PMID: 21084432 [PubMed - in process]

Opinion: The toxic poisoning of America

Opinion: The toxic poisoning of America
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/302793

"Are Americans being deliberately poisoned by the U.S. government? As far-fetched as that may sound, evidence indicates that there is an insidious plot underway that threatens the health of every man, woman and child living in America."

Toxic Oil Spill Chemicals Showing Up In Gulf Coast Residents' Blood

Toxic Oil Spill Chemicals Showing Up In Gulf Coast Residents' Blood
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/01/toxic-oil-spill-chemicals-in-gulf-coast-residents-blood.php

"Nine months after the Gulf oil spill and the effects of exposure in Gulf residents is starting to show up in people's blood. The Institute for Southern Studies reports that the Louisiana Environmental Action Network has collected blood samples from 12 people between the ages of 10 and 66, finding that four of them had unusually high levels of benzene."

Legislation would minimize impact of dangerous chemicals

Legislation would minimize impact of dangerous chemicals
http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1103legislation_would_minimize_impact_of

"Two bills introduced in the current Alaska Legislature session would phase out certain toxic flame retardant chemicals known to cause health problems which are found in consumer products such as furniture and electronics."

Impact of the Return to School on Childhood Asthma Burden in New York State

Impact of the Return to School on Childhood Asthma Burden in New York State
Shao Lin, Rena Jones, Xiu Liu, Syni-An Hwang
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Vol 17, No 1 (2011)

Abstract
 
The public health impact of returning to school after vacations on children's asthma have not been well explored. In this study, we investigated the timing and magnitude of New York State asthma hospitalizations from 1991 to 2001. We used a generalized additive model to assess the risk associated with school return among children compared to adults and the elderly.
Hospital admissions on the first day of school were compared to days following four school breaks.  Exceedance admissions and both length and cost of hospital stay were estimated. A significant increase in hospital admissions for asthma (20% to 300%) was associated with school return after each break. The strongest associations were observed following summer vacation and for children age 5 to 11 years. Returning to school after vacations substantially increases the risk of hospital admissions for asthma in children, and this has considerable public health and economic impact.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Organic Bytes: A Million Against Monsanto

 

 

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A Million Against Monsanto

#260, January 20, 2011

In this issue:

 
 
 

Quote of the Week

Monsanto Voted Worst Corporation of 2010 - Again!

"Beating out a host of corporate criminals, including BP and Chevron, Monsanto garnered 38% of the vote to win the 2010 spot in the Corporate Hall of Shame. From the using aggressive legal tactics to intimidate and bankrupt local farmers to its reckless promotion of genetically modified organisms, the list of Monsanto's abuses is long, and the negative impacts to human rights and the environment are staggering."

"Add on a 40 year track-record of defiant production of dangerous and cancer causing chemicals - from Agent Orange and PCBs to RoundUp and rBGH - and we have ourselves a 'winner'. Electing a winner isn't enough. Thousands upon thousands agree - Monsanto must change its practices."

- Corporate Accountability International, January 20, 2011

Read More

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

435 Groups With 2300 Supporters = 1,000,000 Against Monsanto!

Calling all organic activists! The Organic Consumers Association needs 435 volunteers (one for each U.S. Congressional District) to coordinate a drive to gather 2300 petition signatures on our Truth-in-Labeling petition to strengthen our national network and to mobilize 1,000,000 people against Monsanto.

This is how we're going to build the grassroots power we need to recapture our right to know what's in our food.

As each of the 435 Millions Against Monsanto District groups gain their petition target of 2300 supporters, they'll join OCA's Million Member Club and get support from OCA's national office to launch grassroots campaigns for grocery stores to label foods that contain GMOs (including food from GMO-fueled factory farms), and for local, state and federal laws that would make GMO-labels mandatory.

So far, two Congressional Districts are leading the way in our Millions Against Monsanto and Factory Farms Truth-in-Labeling campaign:

* Colorado's 2nd district (Denver suburbs, Boulder, Vail, Grand Lake & Idaho Springs) has 3,047 Millions Against Monsanto supporters.

* North Carolina's 11th district (Western North Carolina and Asheville) has 2,469.

Please volunteer today to become a Truth-in-Labeling coordinator in your local area by e-mailing us at information@organicconsumers.org. When you do, let us know which congressional district you're in or give us your full address so we can look it up. Thanks!

 
 
 

January Fundraising Appeal

Donate and Help OCA Mobilize Millions Against Monsanto and Factory Farms

The powerful antidote to corporate crime and villainy is mass grassroots awareness and grassroots action. GMOs, Factory Farms, and deceptively labeled consumer products pose a mortal threat to public health, the environment, climate stability, farm animals, and all living things. GMOs and organic crops, GMOs and biodiversity, cannot "coexist." As we speak, organic crops are being contaminated with Monsanto's GMOs. We need your financial support to educate and mobilize consumers, to protect and maintain strict organic and Fair Trade standards, and to pressure the entire food industry to adopt Truth-in-Labeling practices.

Please Donate

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

Fair World Project Alert of the Week: Have a Heart Hershey! Go Fair Trade!

Valentine's Day is a major chocolate buying holiday, but your gifts for your sweetheart should not come at the expense of workers rights! Forced labor, child labor and trafficking continues in the cocoa industry in West Africa. Almost all major chocolate companies have begun to commit to using independent, third-party programs to certify that their cocoa suppliers comply with international labor standards, but Hershey continues to lag behind the industry.

As America's largest and oldest chocolate manufacturer, Hershey has the responsibility to lead the industry in ensuring workers' rights, from bean to bar. It's time for Hershey to "Raise the Bar" by tracing the sources of its cocoa, working to eliminate child and forced labor, and shifting to Fair Trade cocoa.

Send a letter to Hershey and tell them it is time to "Raise the Bar" and go Fair Trade

Go further: Host a The Dark Side of Chocolate screening! The Dark Side of Chocolate exposes the ongoing use of child, forced and trafficked labor in the West African cocoa industry.

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

Hemp History Week Is Coming Soon!

Industrial hemp has played a significant role in American history. In fact, in the early 1700's American farmers in Virginia were required by law to grow it. Today, healthy and sustainable hemp products are sold across the country, but American farmers are prohibited from growing this crop.

Hemp History Week seeks to celebrate America's rich history with industrial hemp and generate strong support for the re-legalization of hemp farming.

Get involved with Hemp History Week today!

Tell President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to Let U.S. Farmers Grow Hemp! Please sign the petition now!

 
 
 

Alerts of the Week

Don't Forget to Take Action...

Don't Let Monsanto's Alfalfa Contaminate Organic Dairy! Take action by Jan 24, 2011

Ban Triclosan! Take action by Feb.7, 2011

New York: Label Milk From Cows Given rBGH (Genetically Engineered Bovine Growth Hormone)!

California: Label GMO Salmon!

Nationwide: Get a GMO Labeling Bill Introduced in Your State

 
 
 

 

Internship Opportunities with the OCA!

Office Internship

We are offering an internship working in our national office in Finland MN, beginning in Late February, 2011 for 4 months, with the option to stay on longer. This is an unpaid internship but you will be provided with a place to stay and a small stipend for food and living expenses. The internship will consist of basic office tasks such as answering phones, interacting with members, data entry, work on our website, as well as specific projects that we will work with you to develop. Opportunities will also be provided for local community involvement, including visits to a local CSA, dairy farm, and other sustainable agriculture and community venues in the region.

Online Research Internships to help OCA's Fair World Project

FWP seeks online interns to conduct internet research to support our Fair Trade Procurement Campaign and our Database Research Project. Interns will locate and post news stories, campaigns, and events, and reach out to like-minded organizations and green businesses or collect contact information on natural food stores, CSAs, etc. Although these are unpaid internships, FWP is willing to work with students to arrange college credit for your work.

These are excellent opportunities to help the OCA while gaining experience in the workings of a international nonprofit campaigning for health, justice and sustainability.

For more information, to apply, and to see OCA's other internship offerings, please visit our internship page.

 
 
 

Book & Video of the Week

CAFO: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

In the United States and other parts of the world, livestock production is becoming increasingly dominated by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). In a CAFO, animals are crammed together by the thousands or tens of thousands in animal prisons or torture centers, force-fed Monsanto's GMO grains, often unable to breathe fresh air, see the light of day, walk outside, peck at a plants or insects, scratch the earth, or eat a blade of grass.

Over 50 billion food animals are raised and slaughtered every year (not including massive quantities of farmed fish). Grazing and growing feed for livestock now occupy 70 percent of all agricultural land and 30 percent of the ice-free terrestrial surface of the planet. If present trends continue, meat production is predicted to double between the turn of the 21st century and 2050. Yet already, the Earth is being overwhelmed by food animals that consume massive quantities of energy and resources, whose wastes foul waterways and farmlands, and when eaten excessively, degrade our health.

CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories is a powerful indictment of modern food production. But as the book shows, it doesn't have to be this way. Ultimately, CAFO offers a compelling vision for a healthier food system: one that is humane, sound for farmers and communities, and safer for consumers and the environment.

Watch

 
 
 

Song of the Week

"The Monsanto Rag" by Synister Dane

Well, come on all of you farmin' folks / Ole Monsanto's a blowin' smoke / They got genetic freaks and corporate greed / You can spray anything but you can't save seed / They're changin' Mother Nature's rules / There's new genes in the pool

Listen

 
 
 

Little Bytes

The 'Food Bubble' is Bursting and Biotech Won't Save Us
READ MORE

Africa, Food, and Biotechnology
READ MORE

Fresh Produce Buying Clubs Gaining Popularity
READ MORE

Joan Gussow, Mother of the Sustainable Food Movement
READ MORE

Mad Cow Disease 'Can Be Spread Through Air'
READ MORE

 
 
 

LOCAL HI NEWS OF THE WEEK

HI - Get Involved Locally

  • Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in HI here.
 
 
 

Dr. Bronner's is Celebrating Our 60th Anniversary!

Marking the 60th Anniversary of the company, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is pleased to announce that all classic liquid & bar soaps are now not only certified under the USDA National Organic Program, but also certified Fair Trade! In addition, we are pleased to introduce a revolutionary new range of high-quality organic products, from hair rinses to shaving gels – all certified under the same USDA program that certifies organic foods.

Please visit us on the web at DrBronner.com

 
 
 

Become an OCA Sponsor!

Every issue of Organic Bytes now goes to 250,000 organic consumers with a thousand new subscribers each week. Please help us and your business by letting our subscribers know who you are and that you support the work of the OCA. Please contact us if you want more information! (Note: select "Sponsorship Coordinator" from the dropdown menu)

 
 
 

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