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1) Medical Approaches in Autism: Clinical Implications of Environmental Toxicology for Children's Neurodevelopment in Autism. To be held Friday February 8, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the UCSF Laurel Heights Conference Center, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, California. This symposium will be a source of current information for physicians, clinicians and other healthcare professionals who work with children with or at risk for neurodevelopment disorders. Educated parents and members of the general public who have an interest in learning more about the latest information on environmental implications in the diagnosis and treatment of autism will also benefit from scientific and clinical information provided at the symposium. Speakers include Martha Herbert, MD, PhD; Mark Noble, PhD; Judy Van de Water, PhD; Issac Pessah, PhD; Robert Hendren, DO; Derrick MacFabe, MD; Kenneth Bock, MD; and Bryan Jepson, MD. Sponsors are New Paradigms in Autism Research and Treatment, Collaborative on Health and the Environment, Commonweal, San Francisco Medical Society and UC Davis MIND Institute. The price is $50, with a limited number of scholarships available. For more information, contact NPART Symposium Coordinator, aut_sym@mac.com or see https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1002917
2) LDDI partner American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities will present a teleconference -- Indoor Air Quality and Health on Tuesday February 12, 2008, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. The quality of our indoor environments affects our well-being and productivity. In addition, the risk of disease is increased by factors such as indoor air pollutants, toxins and microbes on surfaces, and human contact. The seminar starts with a brief summary of our current understanding of ambient air pollution health concerns. Contrasting outdoor air to indoor air as a public good, it is seen that the policy debate about regulating indoor environments is still quite confused. A pollutant-specific framework rather than a comprehensive framework has characterized public and private responses to indoor air quality to date. Examples include formaldehyde, asbestos, radon and now molds. Contemporary topics of molds and synthetic organic compounds illustrate the continuing concerns about the health of indoor environments. John D. Spengler, PhD, professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation at Harvard University's School of Public Health, will speak. Contact Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org for details. Information about this free teleconference is on the AAIDD Environmental Health Initiative website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Wednesday January 30, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
New York, New York
at the Fordham University Lincoln Center, 113 West 60th Street
Sponsor: Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, National Association for the Dually Diagnosed
For a description of the schedule, see http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/013008/schedule.shtml
Price: see http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/013008/register.shtml
Website: http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/013008/index.shtml
Thursday through Sunday, February 14 - 17, 2008
Orlando, Florida
at the Caribe Royale, 8101 World Center Drive
Sponsor: Autism Today and US Autism and Asperger Association
The conference theme is "Autism through the Lifespan." Twenty-two autism experts will speak on topics covering the full range of topics about autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan.
Price: $250, with discounts for additional guests
Website: http://www.autismorlando.com/index.html
Contact: Karen Simmons, 780-482-1555 or congress@autismtoday.com
Online Calendar. Upcoming events extending more than one month in the future are listed in a searchable calendar: http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
EPA to promote healthy school environments. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by President Bush on Wednesday December 19, 2007, includes Subtitle E -- Healthy High-Performance Schools. Subtitle E grants new authority for EPA, in consultation with other federal agencies, to conduct a range of activities to promote healthy school environments. Examples of the many provisions related to schools include authority for EPA (in consultation with the Department of Education) to provide grants to states to provide technical assistance for EPA school programs, specifically including IAQ Tools for Schools and HealthySEAT; and develop and implement state school environmental health programs that include standards for school building design, construction and renovation; and identification of school building environmental problems and solutions.
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c110:6:./temp/~c110PLH6Vu:e601385:
Rule would cut pollution at Bay ports. Worried that air pollution from ports is threatening neighbors' health, the Bay Area's clean air agency has proposed its first comprehensive rule to reduce emissions from the ports of Oakland, San Francisco, Richmond, Benicia and Redwood City. Contra Costa Times, California, 14 January 2008.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_7966888?nclick_check=1
Home inspections: More intricate, more valuable. Home buyers are again asking about lead in the paint and water, asbestos, radon, indoor air quality, and mold -- questions many appeared to put aside when competition for houses was the stuff of bidding wars. Philadelphia Daily News, Pennsylvania, 13 January 2008.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/real_estate/20080113_Going_under_the_microscope.html
Clean air, water and soil a civil rights issue. Equality means all people have a right to clean air, water and soil, say civil rights activists working in the environmental justice movement. Kansas City Star, Missouri, 13 January 2008.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/440468.html
Toys panel to study jewelry. A panel of consumer and toy industry officials working to tighten controls over deadly magnets in toys agreed Friday to examine regulations for magnetic jewelry. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 13 January 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-magnets_satjan12,1,5846933.story
Mercury law means putting in additional effort to save energy. Switching to those new energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs is a great idea. Unless you break one, that is: As of last week, it's illegal to throw it away. Nashua Telegraph, New Hampshire, 11 January 2008.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080111/NEWS01/197628572/-1/OPINION02
Fighting pollution the poplar way: trees clean up Indiana site. Purdue University researchers are collaborating with Chrysler LLC in a project to use poplar trees to eliminate pollutants from a contaminated site in north-central Indiana. Terra Daily, 11 January 2008.
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Fighting_Pollution_The_Poplar_Way_Trees_To_Clean_Up_Indiana_Site_999.html
Genes -- not vaccines -- linked to autism. On Thursday, scientists reported that 1 percent of people with autism share a variation on chromosome 16. US News & World Report, 10 January 2008.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/01/09/on-parenting-genes--not-vaccines--linked-to-autism.html
Agency to scrutinize oft-criticized findings that chemical poses little risk. A controversial report on chemicals found in baby bottles and hundreds of other household products [bisphenol A] is under intense review by the National Toxicology Program after the agency was swamped with complaints that the authors were unduly influenced by the chemical industry. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 10 January 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=705538
China bows to public over chemical plant. In an unusual capitulation to public pressure, Beijing is to relocate a controversial billion-dollar chemical plant away from the picturesque seaport of Xiamen in southeast China. Nature, 10 January 2008.
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080109/full/451117a.html
FDA cracks down on makers of 'bioidentical' hormones. The Food and Drug Administration ordered seven pharmacies Wednesday to stop making "false and misleading" claims about custom-made "bioidentical" hormones for menopausal symptoms. USA Today, 10 January 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-01-09-bioidentical-hormones-fda_N.htm
State air-quality enforcers target Ace Hardware — again. The Air Resources Board has fined Ace Hardware $850,000 for selling windshield wiper fluid throughout the state that failed to meet California air-quality standards. The action marks the ARB’s largest consumer product settlement. Sacramento Capitol Weekly, California, 10 January 2008.
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=wth1dmangkgrj2
Chemical linked to Parkinson's disease. Researchers at the University of Kentucky have linked industrial use of trichloroethylene to Parkinson's disease. Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky, 9 January 2008.
http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/280762.html
Do perfluoropolymers biodegrade into PFOA? DuPont scientists find that their fluoropolymer degrades too slowly to be a current source of PFOA in the environment, but others aren't so sure. Environmental Science & Technology, 9 January 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/jan/science/rr_fluorotelomer.html
Shell sued by environmental groups over air pollution. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe's largest oil company, is being sued by environmental groups Environment Texas and Sierra Club over alleged illegal air pollution in Texas. Bloomberg News, 9 January 2008.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0108shell-ON.html
Hazardous homes part III: The plastic problem. Many people pride themselves on toting reusable hard plastic bottles for their drinking water instead of buying bottled water. Madison Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin, 9 January 2008.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/index.php?ntid=266128&ntpid=1
Hazardous homes part II: Household products that may be harmful. Though most of us think of our home as a place where we are safe from what seems an increasingly dangerous world, we are more often filling our houses with products and chemicals that may threaten our health. Madison Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin, 8 January 2008.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/index.php?ntid=265938
Spanish study feeds into pesticide controversy. New research shows that all Spaniards are affected by at least one type of pesticide, fungicide or insecticide classified internationally as potentially harmful to human health. Euractiv, Belgium, 8 January 2008.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/environment/spanish-study-feeds-pesticide-controversy/article-169400
Toxic report card for business proposed. Toronto would become a North American leader if it adopts a plan, unveiled today, that would force businesses to reveal how much toxic material they use and release into the environment. Toronto Star, Ontario, 8 January 2008.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/291803
Colville tribes can sue Canadian mining firm. A Canadian mining company that dumped waste into the Columbia River just north of the U.S. border is liable for pollution cleanup under the federal Superfund law, the U.S. Supreme Court said Monday. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 8 January 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346448_mine08.html
Pollution leads to smaller foetus sizes. Exposure to air pollution significantly reduces foetus size during pregnancy, according to a new study by Brisbane scientists. Maroochydore Sunshine Coast, 7 January 2008.
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jan/07/pollution-leads-smaller-foetus-sizes/
California bans phthalates in plastic toys. In the last decade, environmental groups have called attention to the potential dangers of phthalates, pointing to animal studies that link exposure to birth defects, hormonal disruptions, and cancer. Discover, 7 January 2008.
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jan/california-bans-phthalates-in-plastic-toys
The baby bottle blues. As recently as 2006, few consumers thought twice about the materials used to make baby bottles. Now many parents with young children are wrestling with concerns about the safety of plastics. And they're bringing about a major shift in the marketplace. Newsweek, 6 January 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/84533
South Carolina boat landings to get signs warning about mercury in fish. Amid rising concerns about mercury pollution, health officials plan to put up warning signs at boat landings across the state. They also are considering a first-ever program to test people's mercury levels. Charleston Post and Courier, South Carolina, 6 January 2008.
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/jan/05/s_c_boat_landings_get_signs_warning_abou26734/
Images offer autism insight. Brain scans are delivering a new perspective on autism and Asperger syndrome, providing a greater understanding of what is behind the characteristic repetitive behaviour. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, 6 January 2008.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/images-offer-autism-insight/2008/01/05/1198950128083.html
Don't dish big fish to kids. Parents have been warned against feeding large fish species such as swordfish, marlin and shark to young children because of the danger of mercury poisoning. Sydney Daily Telegraph, Australia, 6 January 2008.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23014172-5001021,00.html
Strict lead law targets toys. The New Year brings a new warning to toy retailers and wholesalers in Michigan. Effective immediately, a package of state laws calls for fines of up to $50,000 against companies that sell toys containing high levels of lead. Grand Rapids Press, Michigan, 6 January 2008.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-39/1199457944187510.xml&coll=6
Hundreds of health complaints followed apple moth spraying. The number of people who suffered burning eyes, scratchy throats and other ailments after the state sprayed Santa Cruz and Monterey counties for the light brown apple moth might be much higher than previously believed. San Jose Mercury News, California, 6 January 2008.
http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_7896012?nclick_check=1
Not much region can do about mercury problem, officials say. State advisories against eating mercury-contaminated fish from local ponds and lakes will remain in effect until the federal government enacts tougher mercury emissions standards for states outside the Northeast, according to a New England water agency. New Bedford Standard-Times, Massachusetts, 5 January 2008.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/NEWS/801050315/-1/NEWS06
The possible perils of being thirsty while being green. The trouble with reusing those plastic bottles is that each time they are washed and refilled they become a little more scratched and crinkly, which can lead them to degrade. New York Times, 5 January 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/05shortcuts.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin
Organic makeup gets a closer look. Cosmetics and their ingredients are not required to undergo government approval before hitting the store shelves, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gannett News Service, 5 January 2008.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/LIFESTYLE01/801030323
Putting smoking in cars to the test. California demonstration promotes the state's new ban on tobacco use in cars with minors. Smoking a cigarette in a car makes the air inside 10 to 30 times more toxic than the air outdoors on one of Southern California's most polluted days. Los Angeles Times, 4 January 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-me-smoking4jan04,1,682125.story
Teenage smokers risk badly wired brains. Exposure to nicotine as a teenager may cause the brain's white matter to develop abnormally, suggest researchers. New Scientist, England, 3 January 2008.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726370.200;jsessionid=FMKPDIJJLHFC
How safe are cell phones? More Americans are giving up their landlines for cell phones, but new research indicates that there may be health risks associated with long-term wireless use. What's a mobile addict to do? Newsweek, 3 January 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/80966
Traffic fumes are still damaging children's brains. Removing lead from petrol was supposed to prevent damage to children's mental development. Now it seems that traffic fumes may still be impairing their learning - because of the soot particles it contains. New Scientist, 3 January 2008.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726371.000;jsessionid=HEBLOJIMBLAC
What's gotten into your genes? There is some new fascinating research that shows that by controlling our exposures to certain environmental chemicals, and also by ensuring that we get the nutrients we need, we may be able to reduce our risk of certain diseases, including some cancers. Portsmouth Herald, 3 January 2008.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/LIFE/801030328/-1/life06
Lead link To Alzheimer's Disease? Lead poisoning in infancy may make Alzheimer's disease more likely decades later, a new study shows. Lead poisoning is a well-known danger, especially for young children. Months or years of lead poisoning can stunt children's growth and damage their brain, kidneys, hearing, and mental development. CBS News, 3 January 2008.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/02/health/webmd/main3668022.shtml
Call for crackdown on deadly cadmium poison. Researchers have called on the government to crack down on the widespread release in China of a chemical listed by the US as one of the most poisonous substances in the world. China.org.cn, 3 January 2008.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200801/20080103/article_343759.htm
Students launch toxic chemical awareness campaign. Students from El Colegio Charter School in Minneapolis stand before a classroom of mothers and toddlers at an Early Childhood and Family Education, or ECFE, class. The kids are there to teach them about BPA. Minnesota Public Radio, Minnesota, 2 January 2008.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/12/bpaawareness/
Bringing green homes within reach: Healthier housing for more people. To everyone's benefit, green homes link sustainable materials and practices with better human and environmental health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2 January 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/116-1/focus.html
Local legislator takes aim at dangerous toys. Legislation filed by Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is designed to protect children from dangerous toys on the shelves at local retailers. The Florida Toy Safety Act requires manufacturers to identify which children's products do not meet the safety standards set by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Tampa Bay Newspapers, 2 January 2008.
http://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/content_articles/010208_pco-03.txt
Second thoughts on fluoride. Today almost 60 percent of the U.S. population drinks fluoridated water, including residents of 46 of the nation’s 50 largest cities. New research indicates that a cavity-fighting treatment could be risky if overused. Scientific American, January 2008.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=second-thoughts-on-fluoride
How environmental and genetic factors combine to cause autism: A redox/methylation hypothesis. Autistic children exhibit evidence of oxidative stress and impaired methylation, which may reflect effects of toxic exposure on sulfur metabolism. This article reviews the metabolic relationship between oxidative stress and methylation. NeuroToxicology, January 2008.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W81-4PWKSH2-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2008&_rdoc=25&_fmt=full&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236641%232008%23999709998%23678402%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6641&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=25&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9ba04c8c5bf9389ac6349bbb14f28141
submitted to this bulletin by Hana Kuncova