These bulletins are archived and searchable on our website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDIbulletins.html If you would like to join the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) and the LDDI Working Group, please complete the application on the CHE website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/application Joining CHE means receiving up to four email messages a month from the CHE National listserv. CHE costs nothing to join and the benefit is shared information and opportunities for further engagement, if you choose. Be sure to mark that you want to join the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative Working Group at the bottom of the application.
1) Parkinson's Disease consensus statement published. The Parkinson's Disease Working Group of CHE has published its consensus statement, Parkinson's Disease and the Environment. A collaborative effort of disease researchers, clinicians, representatives from advocacy organizations and people living with PD, the statement provides a scientific road map of where we've been and where we need to go in the future to stop PD. For more information, please visit the PD Working Group website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/wg_parkinsons_news/4661
2) The Learning Disabilities Association of America's Healthy Children Project (HCP) is gearing up for a new year of "mini-grants" to LDA state and local affiliates interested in getting involved with children's environmental health issues related to learning disabilities. The deadline for applying is November 14th. Funding is earmarked each year as part of the John Merck Fund's grant to the HCP. Please contact Maureen Swanson at mswanson@ldaamerica.org for more information.
3) NADD is holding its 25th annual conference entitled: "A Quarter Century of Awareness: Assessment, Treatment and Policy Advances" on November 12 - 14, 2008, at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. LDDI members AAIDD and LDA will have representatives presenting on environmental health at the conference. For more information, please see http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/25th/index.shtml or contact Robert Fletcher at rfletcher@thenadd.org
4) AAIDD, LDA and ASA members in Minnesota are co-sponsoring a forum on environmental contributors to disabilities on Saturday November 15th in Minneapolis. For more information, please see http://www.healthylegacy.org/healthyliveshealthyminds/ or contact Maureen Swanson at mswanson@ldaamerica.org or Laura Abulafia at Laura@aaidd.org
5) New Members. The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative welcomes these new members:
For a full list of LDDI members, please visit the LDDI website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDImembers.html
Thursday November 6, 2008
New York, New York
at Columbia University, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway
Sponsor: Birch Family Services
The theme for this year's conference is "Getting the Social Stuff Right." The conference is geared toward professionals, parents and other family members working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Presenters will address triumphs and challenges with helping individuals with ASD understand and maneuver social interaction with others. Information will be presented regarding working with children, adolescents and adults with ASD.
Price: $145, $160 after September 17th
Website: http://www.birchfamilyservices.org/conference/index.html
Contact: Birch Family Services, 212-616-1800
Friday and Saturday, November 7 - 8, 2008
Boston, Massachusetts
at the Hyatt Regency Boston, One Avenue de Lafayette
Sponsor: Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation (SPDF)
This is SPDF's 7th International Symposium, and it will feature two days of presentations by top researchers and leading clinicians. Program highlights include four keynote presentations spotlighting the latest SPD research, one keynote presentation on the status of the DSM-V initiative, and separate break-out tracks for research and treatment.
Price: $425
Website: http://www.spdfoundation.net/symposium2008/index.html
Contact: Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, 303-794-1182
Tuesday November 11, 2008
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Columbia, Maryland
at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Drive
Sponsor: INFORM, Howard Community College, and the Center for Health, Environment and Justice
Carol Westinghouse, a leading national expert on green cleaning, will lead this educational and hands-on training. Cleaning for a Healthy Environment is a workshop on how to implement a green cleaning program. This workshop is a great opportunity to learn what green cleaning really means, why implementing a green cleaning program is so important and how to evaluate your current cleaning routine in order to make healthier purchasing decisions. Lunch will be provided; please RSVP.
Price: free
Contact: Pamela Bauer, pbauer@howardcc.edu
Wednesday through Friday, November 12 - 14, 2008
Reston, Virginia
at the Hyatt Regency Reston
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)
Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is a major issue in children's health worldwide. The developing human nervous system is susceptible to many toxicants, and chemical exposure during development may cause lasting neurological deficits. CAAT's first TestSmart DNT meeting, held in March 2006, sought to identify the concerns relating to the science and policy of DNT and to developing alternative testing methodologies. DNT2 will assess progress made in developing DNT alternatives, reassess the priorities and recommendations established at DNT1, and establish ways to use in vitro data in decision making.
Price: see http://caat.jhsph.edu/dnt2/register.htm
Website: http://caat.jhsph.edu/dnt2/
Thursday through Sunday, November 13 - 16, 2008
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa, 250 Racquet Club Road
Sponsor: Care Clinics
From cutting-edge research of environmental toxics to dietary interventions, legal and legislative strategies to estate planning, the world's most renowned experts will gather to share their knowledge and expertise with parents and practitioners.
Price: see http://www.nationalautismconference.org/registration.htm
Website: http://www.nationalautismconference.org/
Contact: National Autism Association, 877-NAA-AUTISM or naa@nationalautism.org
Friday November 14, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at Antioch University Seattle Denny Building, Room 250B, 2200 Sixth Avenue
Sponsor: Antioch University Seattle
These disorders, although differentiated, are grouped together in the DSM-IV TR because individuals with these diagnoses are developmentally affected in three common areas: communication, both verbal and non-verbal; social interaction; and repetitive and/or perseverative behavior. Although researchers agree the deficits are genetic, biological and neurological, they are defined by symptoms. Certain interventions and strategies can effectively reduce the symptoms and enable these individuals to develop self-regulatory skills. Participants will develop a practical definition of the three areas of development affected by these disorders and the challenges they present, examine self-regulation, learn "The Four A's" and the strategies to address them, understand how executive functioning deficits impact these individuals, learn techniques to overcome them and discuss the impact of these disorders on families and the way providers can assist them. The speaker will be Pat Martinelli, MS, LMHC, CMHS, program manager for the Children's High Intensity Treatment Program at Compass Health.
Price: $120.00 for Antioch alumni, staff and faculty; $130.00 for the general public
Website: http://www.antiochseattle.edu/events/index.html
Contact: Debra Alderman, ce@antiochseattle.edu
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
9:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), 400 North High Street
Sponsor: Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP), Autism Society of America (ASA), and Autism Pro
NATTAP is pleased to present full-day pre-conference sessions from recognized leaders in the field. Take advantage of their expertise and experiences through sessions designed to immerse you in a full day of idea and practice exchange.
Price: $100
Website: http://www.nattapconference.org/view.php?nav_id=68
Contact: 2008 NATTAP Conference, 866-886-2254
Wednesday through Friday, November 18 - 20, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Denver, Colorado
at the Carl Park Community Center, 5401 Meade Street
Sponsor: The Northwest Environmental Training Center
This course provides an overview that will cover the basic terms, concepts, and logic that underlie modern scientific sampling. Much of the class will be devoted to the understanding of how to apply the basic concepts of probability to sampling problems and how to use probability to measure the effectiveness of the sampling process. We will discuss the difference between purposive and random sampling and discuss why random sampling (and its many variations) is so frequently used in manufacturing, science and government. Continuing education units are available.
Price: $595, $495 reduced tuition is available for those who qualify.
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/stat-403_11-08_denver.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
Wednesday through Friday, November 19 - 21, 2008
Columbus, Ohio
at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), 400 North High Street
Sponsor: Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP), Autism Society of America (ASA), and Autism Pro
The second annual NATTAP Conference will gather educators, service providers and parents from across the United States and from around the globe. The objectives of the conference are to review current systems models for addressing the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), promote use of best practices in research and intervention and provide methods for capacity building - all of which contribute to the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for individuals ages three to 21. The 2008 NATTAP Conference will provide a forum for the continued exchange of ideas and promising practices that will provide common solutions to the common problems in ASD.
Price: see http://www.nattapconference.org/view.php?nav_id=2
Website: http://www.nattapconference.org/view.php?nav_id=1
Contact: 2008 NATTAP Conference, 866-886-2254
Saturday November 22, 2008
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Marietta, Georgia
at the Holt Road Baptist Church, 675 Holt Road
Sponsor: HANDLE Institute and Morning Star Montessori
This is a community-information presentation.
Price: free, but preregistration is requested
Website: http://www.handle.org/index2.html
Contact: HANDLE Institute International, 206-204-6000 or frontdesk@handle.org
Monday November 24, 2008
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Dalton, Georgia
at the Discovery Program of Georgia, 2104 Fiber Park Drive
Sponsor: HANDLE Institute, National Institute for Learning Development, and Discovery Program of Georgia
This is a community-information presentation.
Price: free, but pre-registration is requested
Website: http://www.handle.org/index2.html
Contact: Discovery Program of Georgia, 706-529-5639 or frontdesk@handle.org
Wednesday through Friday, December 3 - 5, 2008
Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu India
Sponsor: Holy Cross College, Department Of Rehabilitation Science
This is an international forum to bring like-minded professionals and persons with disability to share and exchange experiences, knowledge, expertise and developments in the field of special education and rehabilitation of persons with disability. More information will be available soon at the website below.
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.conferencealerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=ca1xa6a0
Contact: Sheila Christopher, PhD, siljub2008@gmail.com
Tuesday through Thursday, December 4 - 6, 2008
Washington, DC
at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street Northwest
Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency; for the complete list, see http://www.iaqsymposium.com/partners.html
This symposium brings together teachers, school nurses, maintenance and custodial staff, school decision makers, school administrators, parents, school and health association members and community leaders from across the country to discuss the importance of developing effective indoor air quality management practices and how the indoor environment relates to teaching and learning. Educational programs include the latest issues in environmental health, including radon and mold; asthma management; effective risk communication and much more.
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.iaqsymposium.com/index.html
Contact: Symposium Coordinator, 703-247-6194
Friday December 5, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Washington, DC
at the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives, 1201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center
The program is designed for those who may have little background in toxicology yet must deal with chemicals in the home, at work or at school. Anyone interested in better understanding chemicals and their health effects, or who wants a refresher course on toxicology, is encouraged to attend. The course identifies potential health hazards of toxic chemicals and methods for preventing exposure. Chemicals we encounter in everyday life are used as examples to evaluate the hazards and risk of exposure and put them into perspective. It is designed as an overview of basic toxicology, tools for assessing the toxicology of chemicals, effects of chemicals on the body and why some people are more sensitive to chemicals than others.
Price: $150, $95 for Native American tribes, nonprofits or students
Website: http://www.nwetc.org/etox-510_12-08_washingtondc.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976 or info@nwetc.org
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Job opening, Portland, Oregon. The Josiah Hill III Clinic is looking for a Provider Health Educator to develop and implement a training focused on lead-poisoning prevention and blood-lead testing. The target audience(s) for the training are nurses, health providers and/or public health professionals. Once trained, participants will be able to provide lead-poisoning prevention education to their networks, encourage blood lead testing and increase awareness about local resources to reduce lead exposure. This position is budgeted for 50 hours from December 2008 through March 2009 at $15 to $25 per hour depending on experience. Please submit a letter of interest and your resume/CV to Erin McNally via email: erin@jhillclinic.org
Report proposes new legal mechanisms to protect future generations from environmental degradation. Models for Protecting the Environment for Future Generations describes how ombudsmen, guardians, and other legal instruments could help guarantee a habitable planet for future humans. The report is a collaborative effort of the International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) of Harvard Law School, the Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN), and the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN).
http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/documents/Models_Future_Generations.pdf
Green chemistry survey. The Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network (GLGCN) has prepared a short survey to identify awareness and activity related to green chemistry in our target sectors: industry/business, academia, government and nongovernmental organizations. Respondents do not have to live or work in the Great Lakes in order to fill out the survey. Although the focus is on the Great Lakes, all data collected will define the work that is necessary to promote green chemistry in the region and beyond.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=U_2bnxyrTtH0_2fGM7v_2fBOVnRg_3d_3d
US state-level chemicals policy database. The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell launched a new State Chemicals Policy Database for legislators, policy makers, researchers and advocates that houses more than 700 state and local legislative and executive branch policies from all 50 states from 1990 to the present.
http://chemicalspolicy.org/uslegislationsearch.php
Green schools buying guide launched. Green Schools Initiative is launching a new Green Schools Buying Guide to help schools make purchasing decisions that will protect children's health and the environment. Schools spend billions of dollars annually on facilities, energy and water, office and school supplies, cleaners and pesticides, food, and play equipment. The Guide is based on four pillars: 1) Strive to Be Toxics Free, 2) Use Resources Sustainably, 3) Green Schoolyards & Healthy Food, and 4) Curriculum.
http://greenschools.live.radicaldesigns.org/display.php?modin=50
Climate Change and Health: A Resource Guide. Climate change is one of the most challenging issues of our time and health-care providers can play an important role in addressing the effects of climate change. This resource guide has been developed to help health care providers take actions or advise others to act to affect issues related to climate change.
http://ehnursing.org/pmwiki.php?n=Main.ClimateChangeAndHealthAResourceGuide
Healthiest Nation Alliance. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) The Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) and the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) are the founding members of a new movement -- Healthiest Nation Alliance -- that aspires to help create an America where an integrated national system values health, prioritizes prevention and protects from emerging threats.
http://www.healthiestnation.org:80/
Genetically modified food. On September 18, 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed guidelines to allow genetically modified (GM) animals in the food supply. In addition, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently proposed new regulations for GE crops designed to produce pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. PCC Natural Markets has a web page with links to submit comments to the FDA and USDA.
http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/issues/gm/
submitted to this bulletin by Dennis L. Weaver
Conflicting studies on possible health threats send mixed signals to cell phone users. Almost 80 percent of American teens have a mobile device, mostly provided by a parent with safety in mind. But are they safe? Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio, 4 November 2008.
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2008/11/conflicting_studies_on_possibl.html
Autism shown higher in children living in rainy areas. A study of kids in California, Oregon and Washington suggests an environmental trigger to the disorder and calls for research to determine possible explanations. Los Angeles Times, California, 4 November 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-autism4-2008nov04,0,3503547.story
Mom's diabetes tied to kid's language deficits. Children of mothers who developed diabetes while pregnant are prone to persistent delays in language, investigators in Canada report. Reuters Health, 4 November 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/11/03/eline/links/20081103elin028.html
Even a little caffeine may harm fetus, study finds. Pregnant women who consume caffeine -- even about a cup of coffee daily -- are at higher risk of giving birth to an underweight baby, researchers said on Monday. Reuters Health, 4 November 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/11/03/eline/links/20081103elin019.html
When a 'curly' light bulb breaks. Add to the list of things no parent especially wants to hear: "Mom, my reading lamp fell over, and the light bulb broke. It was one of those curly ones." Washington Post, 3 November 2008.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/11/when_a_lightbulb_breaks.html
A controversial new pesticide. The EPA has given final approval for use of methyl iodide, a new pesticide that its developer James J. Sims and manufacturer Arysta LifeScience think should replace the now banned methyl bromide in the strawberry fields of California. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 3 November 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/chrongreen/detail?&entry_id=31834
Does FDA OK give pharmacies a free pass? Does Food and Drug Administration approval guarantee safety? If the Supreme Court rules as expected, patients might have no legal recourse if they are harmed by an FDA-approved medicine. People's Pharmacy, 3 November 2008.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6090966.html
Study delayed on Katrina trailers. A government study to track the health of children who lived in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina is still stuck in the planning stages, three years after families first began complaining about health problems related to formaldehyde in their temporary homes. ProPublica, 2 November 2008.
http://www.propublica.org/article/government-study-on-children-living-in-katrina-trailers-muddled-by-delays-c/
Clearing the indoor air. As director of the Montana chapter of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes program, Michael Vogel, of Bozeman, Mont. (pop. 27,509), knows a thing or two about clean air. American Profile, 2 November 2008.
http://www.americanprofile.com/article/29882.html
As Fairbanks shifts to economical wood heat, pollution problem hangs in air. A widespread layer of yellow haze hung over the Fairbanks area Saturday, the product of stagnant air and the shift to wood heat. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Alaska, 2 November 2008.
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/02/fairbanks-shifts-economical-wood-heat-pollution-pr/
[Editor's note: Read a related article: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20081026/NEWS02/810260312/1009/NEWS01 ]
The horror of U.S. depleted uranium in Iraq threatens the world. American and British use of DU is a crime against humanity which may, in the eyes of historians, rank with the worst atrocities of all time. Tehran Times, Iran, 2 November 2008.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=181303
Foods to prevent disease? Eating tomatoes to help prevent cancer, garlic to prevent AIDS or drinking fruit juice to ward off Alzheimer's? Despite a bevy of research, the impact of food on killer diseases remains to be proved. Agence France-Presse, 2 November 2008.
http://news.smh.com.au/world/foods-to-prevent-disease-20081102-5g6x.html
BPA substitutes sought. With public pressure mounting and the Food and Drug Administration reconsidering the safety of bisphenol A, manufacturers said Friday that they would intensify their efforts to find a substitute for the controversial plastic baby bottle ingredient. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 1 November 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/33678809.html
Tainted toys get another turn. More than 20 million toys were recalled last year due to problems ranging from toxic lead paint to magnets lethal when swallowed. Some toy makers abandoned their products, but some just relaunched the toys with new names. Wall Street Journal, 31 October 2008.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122541224721086433.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace
Lead warning in Halloween makeup. The makeup is sold at Target stores in the region, but, despite the warning, it meets Federal safety standards and is not in danger of being recalled. Sioux Falls KSFY TV, South Dakota, 31 October 2008.
http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/33620279.html
[Editor's note: See another article about Halloween hazards at http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4456554 ]
Danger lurking in your bottle of red. Wines from 13 different countries contain potentially hazardous levels of metals, according to a chemical analysis by British scientists. London Times, England, 30 October 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5044013.ece
ADHD tied to more severe nicotine dependence. Young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be particularly vulnerable to serious nicotine addiction if they start smoking, a new study suggests. Reuters Health, 30 October 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/10/30/eline/links/20081030elin005.html
Working together for a green new deal. I came to understand that the answer to our social, economic and ecological crises can be one and the same: a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The Nation, 29 October 2008.
http://www.thenation.com:80/doc/20081117/jones
NAFTA challenge won't stop Ont. from going ahead with pesticide ban. Ontario won't back down from its plan to prohibit the cosmetic use and sale of weed killer 2,4-D despite a NAFTA challenge to Quebec's pesticide ban, Ontario's environment minister said Tuesday. Canadian Press, 29 October 2008.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iDPiDw8euHlXpBHrQEKb4x1emmeQ
[Editor's note: Read a related article describing the views of groups who oppose Dow's challenge: http://www.thestar.com/article/522707 ]
Smokers banned from becoming foster parents. Smokers will be banned from fostering children under radical measures to be introduced in London. London Evening Standard, England, 29 October 2008.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23579454-details/Smokers%20banned%20from%20becoming%20foster%20parents/article.do
Athletes kick up hidden toxic chemicals from artificial turf. In a study of artificial turf, scientists found harmful chemicals in virtually every sample tested, including PAHs, chromium and lead. Environmental Health News, 29 October 2008.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/new-yorkers-are-kicking-up-toxic-chemicals-on-artificial-turf/
Md. hospitals, care facilities working to cut their use of toxic pesticides. Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center and nearly a dozen other health care and retirement facilities are working to eliminate toxic pesticides from their pest control efforts, the first like it in the country. Baltimore Sun, Maryland, 28 October 2008.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-md.pesticides28oct28,0,3769126.story
Number of lead-contaminated yards climbs in Omaha. The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed spending an additional $255 million and cleaning up an estimated 10,000 more yards in eastern Omaha. Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska, 28 October 2008.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10471819
Imprint of famine seen in genes of Second World War babies 60 years on. Malnourishment in the womb causes genetic changes that can still be seen when people reach middle and old age, according to new research that shows how strongly environmental influences can interact with the human genome to shape health. London Times, England, 28 October 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5029679.ece
21-Year study of children set to begin. Researchers will begin recruiting pregnant women in January for an ambitious nationwide study that will follow more than 100,000 children from before birth until age 21 to gain a better understanding of the effects of a wide array of factors on children's health. New York Times, 27 October 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/research/28chil.html
Methyl iodide saga continues. At the beginning of October, the EPA approved the use of the highly toxic and controversial fumigant methyl iodide primarily for strawberry and tomato fields. California is still assessing the risks, however. Chemical & Engineering News, 27 October 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/86/8643gov2.html
State proposes strict air rules for big rigs. State officials on Friday released a toughest-in-the-nation plan to cut emissions of air pollutants from the roughly 1 million heavy-duty diesel trucks that travel California's roads. Sacramento Bee, California, 27 October 2008.
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1342332.html
First-born children of older parents are more likely to be autistic. A major US study has provided the strongest evidence yet that older mothers and fathers are more likely to have a child with autism. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom, 26 October 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3260060/First-born-children-of-older-parents-are-more-likely-to-be-autistic.html
Coal's time bomb. Every year, South Carolina's power plants burn enough coal to fill 10 large football stadiums, leaving behind a stadium-size pile of toxic ash. Charleston Post and Courier, South Carolina, 26 October 2008.
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/oct/26/coals_time_bomb59266/
Hattiesburg collaboration to boost lead-poisoning education. The University of Southern Mississippi will collaborate with local organizations this year to address the problem of Hattiesburg having the highest proportion of children with elevated blood lead levels in the state. Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi, 26 October 2008.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081026/NEWS/810260357/1001/news
Controversy over new lead regs. The Environmental Protection Agency lowered the acceptable level of lead in the air for the first time in thirty years. Lead expert Dr. Bruce Lanphear, who served on the advisory panel to the EPA, says the new standard, ten times lower than the previous level, still isn't low enough. Living On Earth, 25 October 2008.
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=08-P13-00043&segmentID=1
Fire retardant costumes pose Halloween danger. Halloween costume shopping is now a bit trickier for parents who are worried about flame retardants. Nearly all Americans tested have trace levels of the chemicals [PBDEs] in their blood. So what's a concerned consumer to do in the meantime? NBC News, 25 October 2008.
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=94800&catid=8
Could anesthesia cause developmental disorders? Researchers this week presented a study showing a possible link between exposure to anesthesia and behavioral and developmental disorders in young children. Scientists say the new research is in no way conclusive. But the study's lead author says this is "something we can't ignore." Newsweek, 25 October 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/165041
Report shows environmental risks to kids' health. According to a new study, children in Maryland are being made sick by the environments they live in. Annapolis WJZ TV, Maryland, 25 October 2008.
http://wjz.com/local/health.environmental.risks.2.848186.html
Iraq's environment scarred. Long after the shooting and bombing stops, Iraqis will still be dying from the war. Reuters, 25 October 2008.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=142974
Protect yourself from paint poison. That fresh paint smell could be hazardous to your health. Santa Clarita Signal, California, 25 October 2008.
http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/5176/
Critics slam chemical report. Lawmakers, scientists and advocacy groups intensified their criticism Thursday of a government report declaring bisphenol A to be safe. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 24 October 2008.
http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=809667
[Editor's note: See an article with a response from FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122546346918387999.html ]
Environmental threats to healthy aging. As the baby boom generation gets older the number of people with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is expected to increase substantially. A new report suggests that the environment may play a bigger role than previously thought. Today Show, NBC, 24 October 2008.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/18424824#27336587
Toxic toys, jewelry recalled. Health Canada has ordered thousands of toys and children's costume jewelry items off store shelves after a Star investigation found they contained dangerously high levels of lead. Toronto Star, Ontario, 24 October 2008.
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/523696
Arsenic levels in baby rice expose loophole in federal safety regulations. After testing three common brands of baby rice consumed in the United States and Europe, scientists in Scotland discovered alarmingly high levels of arsenic. Washington DC Examiner, District of Columbia, 23 October 2008.
http://www.examiner.com/x-764-Baby-and-Toddler-Examiner~y2008m10d22-Arsenic-levels-in-baby-rice-cereal-expose-loophole-in-federal-safety-regulations
Toys containing banned plastics still on market. A flood of toys containing phthalates are hitting the markets before they are banned on February 10. The law has ended up sanctioning a grace period that allows toy makers to sell off soon-to-be banned toys, rather than forcing disposal. Wall Street Journal, 23 October 2008.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122472242723860917.html
Interventions to promote breast-feeding succeed. Doctors, nurses, hospitals and health systems should encourage and promote breast-feeding, says a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. HealthDay News, 22 October 2008.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/21/interventions-to-promote-breast-feeding-succeed.html
Resolving environmental injustice on a local level. Localized pollution is the leading contributing factor to disability and disease in communities across the world. Even in the U.S., air pollution and contaminated water sources result in death, persistent illness and neurological impairment for millions of people. Newsweek, 22 October 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/165013
Poisoned promises. FEMA promised the mobile homes coming into Iowa were safe. They said there would be no more toxic trailers, like the ones that made so many sick on the Gulf Coast. But tests reveal dangerous levels in FEMA trailers in Iowa. Cedar Rapids KGAN TV, Iowa, 22 October 2008.
http://www.kgan.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kgan_vid_1501.shtml