Chemicals could be making you gain weight

Chemicals could be making you gain weight
http://www.timescall.com/lifestyles/ci_24291927/chemicals-could-be-making-you-fat

"Everyone knows Americans are fat and getting fatter, and everyone thinks they know why: more eating and less moving.
But the "big two" factors may not be the whole story. Consider this: Animals have been getting fatter too. The National Pet Obesity Survey recently reported that more than 50 percent of cats and dogs — that's more than 80 million pets — are overweight or obese. Pets have gotten so plump that there's now a National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. (It was Wednesday.) Lap dogs and comatose cats aren't alone in the fat animal kingdom. Animals in strictly controlled research laboratories that have enforced the same diet and lifestyle for decades are also ballooning."

Nurses and doctors educate lawmakers on the dangers of chemicals

Nurses and doctors educate lawmakers on the dangers of chemicals
http://www.psr.org/news-events/news-archive/nurses-and-doctors-educate.html

 

"PSR joined forces recently with the American Nurses Association to present an informational briefing to the US Senate on the health hazards of chemicals in consumer products and the environment. Chaired by Catherine Thomasson, MD, PSR's executive director, the briefing focused on chemicals known as endocrine disruptors which interrupt the body's hormone system."

Study ties chemical to possible miscarriage risk

Study ties chemical to possible miscarriage risk
http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/Study-ties-chemical-to-possible-miscarriage-risk-4892532.php

"BOSTON (AP) — New research suggests that high levels of BPA, a chemical in many plastics and canned food linings, might raise the risk of miscarriage in women prone to that problem or having trouble getting pregnant."

The "Gulf War syndrome". Is there evidence of dysfunction in the nervous system?

The "Gulf War syndrome". Is there evidence of dysfunction in the nervous system?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1073905/

G A Jamal, S Hansen, F Apartopoulos, and A Peden

Abstract
In a pilot study, 14 Gulf War veterans were randomly selected from a large list of those with unexplained illness, to compare the functional integrity of the peripheral and central nervous system with a group of 13 healthy civilian control subjects using predetermined outcome measures. The controls were matched closely for age, sex, handedness, and physical activity. Outcome measures included scoring of symptoms and clinical neurological signs, quantitative sensory testing of heat, cold and vibration sensibilities, motor and sensory nerve conduction studies on upper and lower limbs, needle EMG of distal and proximal muscles and multimodality evoked potential (visual, brainstem, and somatosensory) studies. Three measurements, all related to peripheral nerve function (cold threshold (P = 0.0002), sural nerve latency (P = 0.034), and median nerve sensory action potential (P = 0.030) were abnormal in the veterans compared with the controls. There may be a dysfunction in the veterans but more studies are required to investigate the findings further and to characterise the dysfunction if confirmed.

Can Radiation From Wi Fi Cause Fertility Problems, A.D.H.D. & Cancer? Hear Dr. Martin Pall (of Portland) & U.K. Microwave Expert Prof. Barrie Trower Speak

Can Radiation From Wi Fi Cause Fertility Problems, A.D.H.D. & Cancer? Hear Dr. Martin Pall (of Portland) & U.K. Microwave Expert Prof. Barrie Trower Speak
http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/can_radiation_from_wi_fi_cause_fertility_problems_adhd_cancer_hear_dr_martin_pall_of_portla

Homesick: Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

Homesick: Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
https://www.createspace.com/382645

 

Disclosure:  NFI

Study to track firefighter exposure to chemicals

Study to track firefighter exposure to chemicals
http://www.kjonline.com/news/Study-to-track-firefighter-exposure-to-chemicals.html

"The times have changed, and research now shows firefighters are at a greater risk of developing cancer because of exposure to toxic chemicals while fighting fires."

Asthma related to cleaning agents: a clinical insight -- Vandenplas et al. 3 (9) -- BMJ Open

Asthma related to cleaning agents: a clinical insight -- Vandenplas et al. 3 (9) -- BMJ Open
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/9/e003568.full?sid=e2e75ce0-58ff-4e13-b51d-75a73f839193

BMJ Open 2013;3:e003568 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003568
Occupational and environmental medicine

Olivier Vandenplas, et al.

 

Abstract

Objective To determine the agents causing asthmatic reactions during specific inhalation challenges (SICs) in workers with cleaning-related asthma symptoms and to assess the pattern of bronchial responses in order to identify the mechanisms involved in cleaning-related asthma.

Design A retrospective case series analysis.

Setting The study included all participants who completed an SIC procedure with the cleaning/disinfection products suspected of causing work-related asthma over the period 1992–2011 in a tertiary centre, which is the single specialised centre of the French-speaking part of Belgium where all participants with work-related asthma are referred to for SIC.

Results The review identified 44 participants who completed an SIC with cleaning/disinfection agents. Challenge exposure to the suspected cleaning agents elicited a ≥20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in 17 (39%) participants. The cleaning products that induced a positive SIC contained quaternary ammonium compounds (n=10), glutaraldehyde (n=3), both of these agents (n=1) and ethanolamines (n=2). Positive SICs were associated with a significant decrease in the median (IQR) value of the provocative concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) from 1.4 (0.2–4.2) mg/mL at baseline to 0.5 (0.4–3.0) mg/mL after the challenge and a significant increase in sputum eosinophils from 1.8 (0.8–7.2)% at baseline to 10.0 (4.1–15.9)% 7 h after the challenge exposure while these parameters did not significantly change in participants with a negative SIC. Overall, 11 of 17 participants with positive SICs showed greater than threefold decrease in postchallenge histamine PC20 value, a >2% increase in sputum eosinophils, or both of these outcomes.

Conclusions These data indicate that a substantial proportion of workers who experience asthma symptoms related to cleaning materials show a pattern of bronchial reaction consistent with sensitiser-induced occupational asthma. The results also suggest that quaternary ammonium compounds are the principal cause of sensitiser-induced occupational asthma among cleaners.

Green Cleaning Toolkit for Child Care Providers

Green Cleaning Toolkit for Child Care Providers
http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/childcare/toolkit/green_cleaning/main.cfm

Fukushima Watch: Stemming One Leak Causes Another

Fukushima Watch: Stemming One Leak Causes Another
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/10/03/fukushima-watch-stemming-one-leak-causes-another/

"It seems the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is destined to lurch from one blunder to another. In the latest unfortunate episode Wednesday, it ended up causing a leak as it attempted to prevent another leak elsewhere."

Dangerous levels of radioactivity found at fracking waste site in Pennsylvania

Dangerous levels of radioactivity found at fracking waste site in Pennsylvania
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/02/dangerous-radioactivity-fracking-waste-pennsylvania

"Scientists have for the first time found dangerous levels of radioactivity and salinity at a shale gas waste disposal site that could contaminate drinking water. If the UK follows in the steps of the US "shale gas revolution", it should impose regulations to stop such radioactive buildup, they said."

FDA's Voice of the Patient Report on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveals Disease Impact and Areas for Progress

FDA's Voice of the Patient Report on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveals Disease Impact and Areas for Progress
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/03/5791682/fdas-voice-of-the-patient-report.html

"GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PANDORA Org and other patient organizations say a recent report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the agency must take further action to open up opportunities for ME/CFS drug development. Titled "The Voice of the Patient," this report is a detailed summary of an April 25 FDA Patient-Focused Drug Development meeting, the first of its kind, where patients explained the reality of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). "

Highway proximity associated with cardiovascular disease risk: the influence of individual-level confounders and exposure misclassification

Research

Highway proximity associated with cardiovascular disease risk: the influence of individual-level confounders and exposure misclassification
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/12/1/84/abstract

 

Doug Brugge, Kevin Lane, Luz T Padró-Martínez, Andrea Stewart, Kyle Hoesterey, David Weiss, Ding Ding Wang, Jonathan I Levy, Allison P Patton, Wig Zamore and Mkaya Mwamburi
Environmental Health 2013, 12:84 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-84
Published: 3 October 2013

Abstract (provisional)

Background
Elevated cardiovascular disease risk has been reported with proximity to highways or busy roadways, but proximity measures can be challenging to interpret given potential confounders and exposure error.

Methods
We conducted a cross sectional analysis of plasma levels of C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha receptor II (TNF-RII) and fibrinogen with distance of residence to a highway in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Distance was assigned using ortho-photo corrected parcel matching, as well as less precise approaches such as simple parcel matching and geocoding addresses to street networks. We used a combined random and convenience sample of 260 adults >40 years old. We screened a large number of individual-level variables including some infrequently collected for assessment of highway proximity, and included a subset in our final regression models. We monitored ultrafine particle (UFP) levels in the study areas to help interpret proximity measures.

Results
Using the orthophoto corrected geocoding, in a fully adjusted model, hsCRP and IL-6 differed by distance category relative to urban background: 43% (-16%,141%) and 49% (6%,110%) increase for 0-50 m; 7% (-39%,45%) and 41% (6%,86%) for 50-150 m; 54% (-2%,142%) and 18% (-11%,57%) for 150-250 m, and 49% (-4%, 131%) and 42% (6%, 89%) for 250-450 m. There was little evidence for association for TNF-RII or fibrinogen. Ortho-photo corrected geocoding resulted in stronger associations than traditional methods which introduced differential misclassification. Restricted analysis found the effect of proximity on biomarkers was mostly downwind from the highway or upwind where there was considerable local street traffic, consistent with patterns of monitored UFP levels.

Conclusion
We found associations between highway proximity and both hsCRP and IL-6, with non-monotonic patterns explained partly by individual-level factors and differences between proximity and UFP concentrations. Our analyses emphasize the importance of controlling for the risk of differential exposure misclassification from geocoding error.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.

Special: Toxic gases choke Hyderabad

Special: Toxic gases choke Hyderabad
http://www.asianage.com/india/special-toxic-gases-choke-hyderabad-055

"Hyderabad: It is not just nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that causes pollution in the city. A new study claims to have found high levels of toxic benzene in Hyderabad's air."

Utah doctors call for year-round ban on burning wood

Utah doctors call for year-round ban on burning wood

http://fox13now.com/2013/10/02/utah-doctors-call-for-year-round-ban-on-burning-wood/

 

"SALT LAKE CITY — As the weather gets cooler and many Utahns are firing up their wood burning stoves and fireplaces, some Utah doctors are calling for policy that will ban wood burning year round, not just on certain red-air days.

Dr. Brian Moench, president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said it's a necessary action.

"We don't have a lot of options," he said. "We can accept our air pollution is not solvable, we can stop driving all our cars, we can tell industry to shut down, or we can stop burning wood.""