Threat of toxic playgrounds

Threat of toxic playgrounds
http://www.smh.com.au/national/threat-of-toxic-playgrounds-20120121-1qb5s.html

"THE health of thousands of children may be at risk from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals from artificial turf that has become a popular replacement for grass on sporting ovals and school playgrounds around the country."

Thousands of women could be at risk from 'silent Thalidomide'

Thousands of women could be at risk from 'silent Thalidomide'
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/thousands-of-women-could-be-at-risk-from-silent-thalidomide-6292889.html

"A drug intended to prevent miscarriage is blamed for causing cancer in the daughters – and possibly even granddaughters – of women who took it decades ago."

Documentary examines how toxic water at the nation's largest Marine base damaged lives

Documentary examines how toxic water at the nation's largest Marine base damaged lives
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/documentary-reveals-how-contaminated-water-at-the-nations-largest-marine-base-damaged-lives/2012/01/10/gIQAfpy4GQ_story.html

"Mike Partain didn't believe the rumors about a place called Baby Heaven until he visited a Jacksonville, N.C., graveyard and wandered into a section where newborns were laid to rest.

Surrounded by hundreds of tiny marble headstones, he started to cry. A documentary film crew that followed him for a story about water contamination at Camp Lejeune heard his whimpers through a microphone clipped to his clothes. The crew dashed from another part of the graveyard and found him asking, "Why them and not me?""

Dumb and Dangerous: The Problems with Smart Grids

Dumb and Dangerous
The Problems with Smart Grids
http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/03/18/the-problems-with-smart-grids/

"How is it that so many intelligent, inside-the-beltway environmentalists are buying into an eco-health-safety-finance debacle with the potential to increase energy consumption, endanger the environment, harm public health, diminish privacy, make the national utility grid more insecure, cause job losses, and make energy markets more speculative?

Answer: by not doing their homework.

Welcome to the Smart Grid – a government-funded money machine capable of intruding into every aspect of our lives. Smart Grid technologies – initially funded to the tune of $3.4 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and slated to cost $11 billion through 2011 – are enough to make even diehard liberals demand a claw back of misspent tax dollars.

On the surface, Smart Grids sound  'green' – with promises of saving energy, creating new power-line corridors run on wind and solar, way-stations to power-up electric vehicles, energy-efficient upgrades to an aging power infrastructure, and real-time customer knowledge of electricity use.

And there's the enticing communications factor: a nationwide high-speed broadband information technology barreling down high-tension electric corridors called Broadband-Over-Power-Lines (BPL). What could be more perfect for communicating facts about the planet, funding enviro-candidates, pushing legislation, and organizing Earth Days?

But few who actually study how these new systems functionwant anything to do with them. Other than those who stand to make enormous profits and the physicists or engineers who dream up such stuff, Smart Grids are giving knowledgeable people the willies."

Dry-cleaning chemical can increase risk of bipolar disorder: study

Dry-cleaning chemical can increase risk of bipolar disorder: study
http://www.thestar.com/article/1118524--dry-cleaning-chemical-can-increase-risk-of-bipolar-disorder-study

"A new study has found early exposure to a chemical commonly used in dry-cleaning can increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress syndrome."

Easy ways to clear your indoor air

Easy ways to clear your indoor air
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/home/sc-home-0116-indoor-air-20120120,0,7822753.story

"According to the EPA, most of us spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. And although there are plenty of laws and regulations about outdoor air pollution, most of us don't give a second thought to the air in our homes.

But we should: "… a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors," advises the EPA."

Pathway Genes belong to Major Targets of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Adipose Cells.

Pathway Genes belong to Major Targets of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Adipose Cells.

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.1104282

Kim MJ, Pelloux V, Guyot E, Tordjman J, Bui L-C, Chevallier A, et al. 2012. Inflammatory Environ Health Perspect :-. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104282

Background: Epidemiological studies emphasized the possible role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. These pollutants are stored in adipose tissue (AT).

Objectives: To study the effects of POPs on human adipose cells and rodent AT.

Methods: Using the human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem (hMADS) cells, we carried out large scale gene expression analysis to identify the major pathways modified by TCDD, PCB126 and PCB153 and to evaluate their toxic effects. The effect of TCDD on gene expression and AT histology was also assessed in mice.

Results: The most significantly regulated genes in both precursor cells and adipocytes were those involved in the inflammatory/immune response, cancer and metabolism pathway. Interestingly, the fold induction and the number of modulated genes were higher in precursors than in adipocytes suggesting that the former could be more sensitive to the effect of pollutants. When cells were treated by combinations of pollutants, the effects of the AhR ligands, TCDD and PCB126, were dominant when compared to those of the non dioxin-like PCB153. The effects of AhR ligands were reduced by the AhR antagonist alpha-naphtoflavone. The regulation of inflammatory pathway was observed in wild type AT but not in AhR knock-out mice.

Conclusions: Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that adipose cells were targets of AhR ligands and suggested that inflammation was one of the main regulated pathways. These observations suggest a possible contribution of pollutants to the low-grade AT inflammation which accompanies the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases.

Dump Toxic Fragrances

Dump Toxic Fragrances
http://www.coronadonewsca.com/opinion/article_8e172540-42de-11e1-bf0c-0019bb2963f4.html

"I was shocked to learn about all the chemical poisons in scented products. Look at this: The Environmental Health Association of Ontario lists (just for scented candles) these chemical ingredients: Acetone, Benzene, 2-Butanone, Carbon Disulfide, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cresol, Chlorobenzene, Carbon Monoxide, Cyclopentene, Ethylbenzene, Lead, Mercury Phenol, Styrene Tetrachloroethene, Toluene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethan, Trichloroethene, Trichlorofluoromethane, and Xylene. Studies show that these toxins are being off-gassed without the candles being lit."

Association found between phthalates and obesity in young children

Association found between phthalates and obesity in young children
http://www.labmate-online.com/news/microscopy-and-microtechniques/4/breaking_news/association_found_between_phthalates_and_obesity_in_young_children/18248/

"A link has been found between exposure to phthalates and obesity in young children, which included increased BMI and waist circumference.

The research, conducted by the Children's Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, found that the man-made chemicals can mimic hormones in the body."

Eating mercury-tainted fish affects essential stress hormones in children.

Eating mercury-tainted fish affects essential stress hormones in children.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/12/2011-1227-mercury-fish-lowers-kids-cortisol/

"Eating fish can raise mercury levels that alter hormones and increase chronic stress and immune responses in children, despite the heart benefits of fish consumption.

A study raises concern about children's exposure to mercury through fish eating, tying it for the first time to hormone changes that increase chronic stress and associated immune system dysfunction."

The Indoor Pollution Threat You May Not Have Known Existed

The Indoor Pollution Threat You May Not Have Known Existed
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/19/the-indoor-pollution-threat-you-may-not-have-known-existed/

"Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, but have you ever thought about the purity of the air that you are breathing as you sit inside your home, office or even a restaurant?

Indoor air quality is considered to be the fourth greatest pollution threat to Americans by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Even if you can never see, and can't always smell, the chemicals inside your home, they are there.  It comes from cleaning products, drycleaning chemicals, plastic products like computer keyboards, furniture, paint, carpeting and more.

With the help of the Greenguard Environmental Institute, part of Underwriters Laboratories, "Good Morning America" set out to investigate exactly what kind of threat indoor air pollution posed to the average person by setting up a child's nursery with a new crib, changing table, rocker and decorations.

Seven days of testing later, the results were in.  The air in our new nursery contained 300 different chemicals  — compared to just two right outside the same house."

Kaiser Permanente converting to safer IV equipment

Kaiser Permanente converting to safer IV equipment
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/kaiser-permanente-to-use-safer-iv-equipment/2012/01/17/gIQArdLs9P_story.html

"Kaiser Permanente, one of the country's largest health-care providers, plans to announce Thursday that it is converting its intravenous equipment to more eco-friendly alternatives free of two chemicals that have been shown to harm humans and the environment, officials said."

Beware of air fresheners

Beware of air fresheners
http://news.hjnews.com/opinion/article_5b162e12-4251-11e1-aa26-0019bb2963f4.html

"A neighbor of mine is quite concerned with health issues. When I was in his house I noticed it was very clean and very fragrant. He and his wife had plug-in fragrance emitters and candles. I told him of the dangers of perfumes and fragrance products, but he seemed to think I was looney. Perhaps if he and others read this, it may help spread the information and create an opportunity to discuss the health dangers of "nice" smells."

School board will enact perfume policy

School board will enact perfume policy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MCS-America/95671789291

"New rules regulating synthetic scents, such as perfumes and body sprays, worn by students and teachers at Greater Essex County District School Board schools are in the works.

Trustee Julia Burgess said synthetic fragrances cause some people to have allergic reactions. She raised the issue at Tuesday night's school board meeting."

Dirty freeway air puts Southern California health at risk, say activists

Dirty freeway air puts Southern California health at risk, say activists
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19754442

"A growing body of science has confirmed common-sense instinct that dirty freeway air is seriously bad for health, and that research is now spurring Los Angeles activists and regulators to consider new ways of addressing pollution."

Perfume ban among N.H. bills in 2012

Perfume ban among N.H. bills in 2012
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120117/NEWS/201170361/-1/NEWSMAP

"With hundreds of bills filed every legislative session, they don't all get noticed by the general public. However, wading through all the bills for 2012, there are some that stand out and might be considered unusual.

One of those bills, House Bill 1444, seeks to prohibit state employees who work with the public from wearing fragrances or using scented products during regular business hours."

Kicked out of the courtroom? That stinks

COMMENT:  Common sense says not to wear scents in public places, just like common sense says not to smoke in public.  It's no different.  Both are TOXIC to everyone, not allergic.

Kicked out of the courtroom? That stinks
http://qctimes.com/news/local/kicked-out-of-the-courtroom-that-stinks/article_43dd7440-40ca-11e1-8563-0019bb2963f4.html

""We were told to stay in the hallway and not attend the proceedings, because we were all wearing perfume!" Liby said. "It seems that the court reporter inside the courtroom was allergic to perfumes and lotions."

Scent Free Workplace - Circulation Department Wiki

Scent Free Workplace - Circulation Department Wiki
http://2717.wikidot.com/scent-free-work-place

 

Raising a stink about the contents of fragrances

Raising a stink about the contents of fragrances
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ecoconsumer/2017234419_ecoconsumer14m.html

"Fragrances evoke emotions and bring back memories, and we all have our favorites. But when they come in a bottle or a box, the reality is not so romantic. More than 3,000 different chemicals are used to create fragrances in cosmetics, household cleaners and other consumer products."

Herbicides have no place in home garden care

Herbicides have no place in home garden care
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/13/HO811MKQET.DTL

"Q: In a recent column (Nov. 13) you answered a reader who was reluctant to use the herbicide Roundup to combat Japanese anemone. Why? Is it poisonous? I thought it was a salt that got into the plant root and destroyed it. I found it great to control my neighbor's bamboo from invading my yard. I cut the stalk when approximately 18-24 inches tall, then squirt some Roundup down the hole in the stalk. Within a week or so, the bamboo dies. (Until another stalk shoots up!)"

Toxic sofa killed our puppy

Toxic sofa killed our puppy
Settee was sprayed with fabric protector

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4060253/Puppy-is-put-down-after-inhaling-furniture-spray.html

"A PUPPY died after a sofa treated with a toxic spray to protect the fabric DESTROYED its lungs."

Two Voorhees residents to receive the Camden County Freedom Medal

Two Voorhees residents to receive the Camden County Freedom Medal
http://sj.sunne.ws/2012/01/13/two-voorhees-residents-to-receive-the-camden-county-freedom-medal/
 
"Thirteen Camden County residents have been chosen to receive the 2012 edition of the Camden County Freedom Medal for their unselfish contributions to improving their community.  The award, created in 2001, is presented to civic leaders who demonstrate the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Coalition picks Toxics-Free Kids Act as first priority

Coalition picks Toxics-Free Kids Act as first priority
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/14/1948472/coalition-picks-toxics-free-kids.html

"The environmental community has just one priority bill – a ban on toxic flame retardants in baby and children' s products – in a 2012 legislative session consumed by the state budget crisis."

Nurses' miscarriages linked to chemicals at work

Nurses' miscarriages linked to chemicals at work
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-nurses-miscarriages-idUSTRE80C1N720120113

"(Reuters Health) - Nurses who worked with chemotherapy drugs or sterilizing chemicals were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as their colleagues who didn't handle these materials, in a new study."

Pollution tied to disease risk in L.A. black women

Pollution tied to disease risk in L.A. black women
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-pollution-disease-risk-idUSTRE80C1TP20120113

"(Reuters Health) - In a study of more than 4,000 black women in Los Angeles, those who lived in areas with higher levels of traffic-related air pollution were at increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure."

Are schools making kids sick?

Are schools making kids sick?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/health/school-indoor-air-pollution/index.html

"As a third-grader in Winsted, Connecticut, last year, Matthew Asselin was sick -- a lot. He was lethargic and plagued with a persistent wet cough, respiratory infections and painful headaches.

As the school year wound down, Matthew's health worsened. He was out for two weeks in the spring with pneumonia and then developed a sinus infection so severe he needed to spend the night at the hospital, where he received intravenous antibiotics and breathing treatments.

In all, Matthew missed 53 days of school.

But over the summer, a strange thing happened. Matthew was healthy. He was energetic. He could ride his bike for hours at a time.

"When we put him back in school this year, within three weeks, he missed 10 days with a respiratory infection," Melissa Asselin said. That's when Matthew's mother had an a-ha moment."

Plastizer increases miscarriage risk.

Plastizer increases miscarriage risk.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/12/2012-0111-phthalates-miscarriage/ 
 
"In the first study of its kind, scientists studied couples trying to conceive a child for the first time and found that women with greater exposure to a phthalate associated with plastics were more likely to experience a pregnancy loss."

Chemical found in deodorants, face cream and food products is discovered in tumours of ALL breast cancer patients

Chemical found in deodorants, face cream and food products is discovered in tumours of ALL breast cancer patients
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2085585/Parabens-Chemical-everyday-items-needs-investigation-scientists-discover-tumours-ALL-breast-cancer-patients.html

"Parabens are a chemical compound found in everyday toiletry products

'The fact that parabens were present in so many of the breast tissue samples does justify further investigation,' say study leaders

A chemical widely used as a preservative in cosmetics, food products and pharmaceuticals has been found in tissue samples from 40 women with breast cancer."

Lupus. 2012;21(2):140-5.

Still's disease, lupus-like syndrome, and silicone breast implants. A case of 'ASIA' (Shoenfeld's syndrome).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/222350%2044

 

Jara Lj, Medina G, Gómez-Bañuelos E, Saavedra M, Vera-Lastra O.

Lupus. 2012;21(2):140-5.

Source
1Direction of Education and Research, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Medico La Raza, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.

Abstract
In recent years, four conditions, siliconosis, Gulf War syndrome (GWS), macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (MMF) and post-vaccination phenomena, were linked to a previous exposure to an adjuvant, suggesting a common denominator, and it has been proposed to incorporate comparable conditions under a common syndrome entitled Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA). We report a case of a female who at the age of 11 years was diagnosed with Still's disease. At the age of 22 she underwent silicone breast implants and presented with a transient lupus-like syndrome. Then, at 25 years old she had a severe activation of Still's disease in association with rupture of silicone breast implants. When the prostheses were removed, the clinical picture improved. This case fulfills the criteria for ASIA and complements seven previous reports of Still's disease in association with silicone breast implants.

PMID: 22235044 [PubMed - in process]

Gulf War Syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvant (ASIA).

Gulf War Syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvant (ASIA).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22235052

Israeli E.  Lupus. 2012;21(2):190-4.

Source
The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

Abstract
Gulf War syndrome (GWS) is a multi-symptom condition comprising a variety of signs and symptoms described in the literature, which not been fully resolved. The various symptoms of the condition include muscle fatigue and tiredness, malaise, myalgia, impaired cognition, ataxia, diarrhoea, bladder dysfunction, sweating disturbances, headaches, fever, arthralgia, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal and sleep disturbances. In addition, excessive chemical sensitivity and odour intolerance is reported. The aetiology of the condition is unclear, but many reviews and epidemiological analyses suggest association with pyridostigmine bromide (PB), certain vaccination regimes, a variety of possible chemical exposures, including smoke from oil-well fires or depleted uranium from shells, as well as physical and psychological stress. Recently, Shoenfeld et al. suggested that four conditions - siliconosis, macrophagic myofaciitis (MMF), GWS and post-vaccination phenomena - that share clinical and pathogenic resemblances, may be incorporated into common syndrome called 'Autoimmune (Autoinflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants' (ASIA). Symptoms and signs of the four conditions described by Shoenfeld et al. show that at least eight out of ten main symptoms are in correlation in all four conditions. Namely, myalgia, arthralgias, chronic fatigue, neurological cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, skin manifestations and appearance of autoantibodies. Regardless of the aetiology of GWS, be it exposure to environmental factors or chemical drugs, vaccinations or the adjuvants in them, GWS fits well with the definition of ASIA and is included as part of 'Shoenfeld's syndrome'.

PMID: 22235052 [PubMed - in process]