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.
Companion bulletins are available for different audiences:
While there is overlap with this bulletin, there are some events and announcements unique to those bulletins.
1) LDA 46th Annual International Conference
Wednesday through Sunday, February 25 - 28, 2009
Salt Lake City, Utah
at the Grand American Hotel, 555 Main Street
Sponsor: Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
This is the largest meeting on learning disabilities in the world, featuring over 300 workshops and exhibits. Discover the latest in LD research; learn effective teaching techniques and strategies; hear from leading experts in the LD field; network with colleagues and make new friends; learn about critical policy issues; earn graduate and/or continuing education credits (CEUs) and much more. A presentation on Wednesday will look at research, intervention and prevention, exploring the connections between toxic chemicals, low-level lead exposure and the incidences of ADHD and learning disabilities, the impact of food additives and other environmental factors on children with ADHD and learning disabilities.
Price: see the pdf download on the website below
Website: http://www.ldaamerica.org/conference/index.asp
Contact: Learning Disabilities Association, 412-341-1515 or info@LDAamerica.org
1) Elements of a successful program: A case study from the Boston Housing Authority
Wednesday February 11, 2009
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Asthma Regional Council of New England, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Housing Authority
Presented by tenant representatives and housing officials from the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), this webinar is the second in the three-part series, "Implementing an Effective Pest Control Program using Integrated Pest Management." This webinar will detail the process of planning, implementing and evaluating an IPM program in public housing facilities, and it will describe BHA's challenges and accomplishments in implementing IPM.
Price: unknown
Website: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/260795469
2) Society of Toxicology 48th Annual Meeting
Sunday through Thursday, March 15 - 19, 2009
Baltimore, Maryland
at the Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street
Sponsor: Society of Toxicology (SOT)
This meeting will include the latest scientific advances of the past 12 months, with five scientific themes: Biomarkers, Epigenetics, Inflammation and Disease, Nanotechnology, and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Price: see http://www.toxicology.org/AI/MEET/AM2009/registration.asp
Website: http://www.toxicology.org/AI/MEET/AM2009/am.asp
Contact: SOT, 703-438-3115 or sothq@toxicology.org
Online Calendar. All upcoming events 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/
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) resource. IPMopedia in the latest addition to the Toxipedia resource website. IPMopedia offers free and up-to-date integrated pest management advice direct from green gardening experts.
http://toxipedia.org/wiki/display/ipmopedia/IPM+Education+Project
National Healthy Schools Day. National Healthy Schools Day is a day to promote and celebrate healthy school environments that are conducive to learning and protect occupant health. This year's activities are scheduled for April 27th.
http://www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org/
International film competition. The International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) is launching an International Film Competition on Health and Environment. The competition, called "Focus on Children in a Healthy Environment" and centered on the themes "Climate" and "Environmental Health", will run until September 1, 2009 and is open to all nationalities and ages.
http://www.inchesnetwork.net/filmcompetition.html
New lead rule released. Beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. US Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
Online tutorial offers help to governments, groups seeking Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grants. Local governments and community groups eligible for funding from EPA's Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program are being alerted to a new online tutorial aid that offers help in completing their 2009 grant applications.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/C2FFB5DCF3C793CC8525755400691026
Growing Up Healthy in the Red River Valley Photovoice Exhibit. The aim of this photovoice project was to understand concerns women may have about pesticides (or other chemicals) used in their homes and communities.
http://redriverkids.blogspot.com/
Toward a new U.S. chemicals policy: Rebuilding the foundation to advance new science, green chemistry and environmental health. Existing policies have produced a U.S. chemicals market in which the safety of chemicals for human health and the environment is undervalued relative to chemical function, price and performance. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0800404/abstract.html
Groups want lead out of lipstick. The US Food and Drug Administration has yet to release the results of its own testing for lead in lipstick, despite pressure from senators and repeated calls from health groups, officials of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported. United Press International.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/09/Groups_want_lead_out_of_lipstick/UPI-12721234224388/
State appeals ruling blocking mercury emissions rules. The state Department of Environmental Protection has appealed a Commonwealth Court ruling blocking the continued implementation of state regulations that would quickly reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09041/948002-454.stm
[Editor's note: See a related article about the Obama administration's efforts to strengthen rules on mercury: http://www.startribune.com/nation/39209087.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ, another about the EPA's decision not to fight a New Jersey rule: http://www.northjersey.com/environment/EPA_will_stop_fighting_NJ_on_tighter_mercury_pollution_controls.html and a third article about California's challenge to warnings about mercury in canned tuna: http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_11567805?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com ]
Mediterranean diet 'can protect from Alzheimer's.' Eating a Mediterranean diet can protect the brain against developing Alzheimer's and other memory problems, a new study suggests. London Daily Telegraph, England.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4569592/Mediterranean-diet-can-protect-from-Alzheimers.html
Maryland may ban food additives linked to ADHD. Maryland is poised to become the first state in the nation to require food packaging to include warning labels if the product is made with certain food coloring additives that have been linked to ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Daily Green.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/food-colorings-47020907
Growth hormone could help reverse autism-like condition in girls. A hormone that promotes brain development could serve as a possible treatment for Rett syndrome, the most common form of autism-like symptoms in girls, new research claims. London Daily Telegraph, England.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/4570525/Growth-hormone-could-help-reverse-autism-like-condition-in-girls.html
Retailers face penalties for selling toxic toys. A federal law regulating toxic chemicals in children's products goes into effect Tuesday, putting pressure on retailers to clear the shelves of toys containing illegal amounts of lead and other toxic compounds. San Francisco Chronicle, California.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/09/BAP115NMEH.DTL
[Editor's note: Read related articles: http://www.syracuse.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-6/123396774135000.xml&storylist=topstories, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toys6-2009feb06,0,4793143.story and http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-consumer-lead31-2009jan31,0,309448.story ]
Ohio drops lead-paint suit as unwinnable. Ohio gave up its legal fight against lead-paint manufacturers Monday after Attorney General Richard Cordray concluded that the state wasn't likely to win the suit. Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090210/NEWS01/902100328/1055/NEWS
The dioxin debate. A group of one hundred organizations is calling on the government to release a twenty-year-old report on a toxic group of chemicals called dioxins. Environment Report, Michigan.
Monday, February 09, 2009.
http://www.glrc.org/story.php?story_id=4342
Toxic contamination starts at home: Study. When women from 120 middle-class homes learned their bodies contained low levels of toxic chemicals, most of them blamed chemical spills, waste dumping or secret military experiments. They were stunned to learn the truth was closer to home. Canwest News Service, Canada.
Monday, February 09, 2009.
http://www.canada.com/Health/story.html?id=980710
A new window into hormone-altering chemicals. A new interactive database, including a timeline showing how human fetuses develop, displays scientific data about controversial chemicals in a graphic way. Environmental Health News.
Monday, February 09, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/critical-windows
Burning controversy. In these hard economic times, an increasing number of homeowners are installing outdoor wood boilers to heat their homes. In Maine, where wood is plentiful and burning wood is a tradition, smoke from the devices ignited a firestorm of controversy, pitting neighbor against neighbor. Living On Earth.
Sunday, February 08, 2009.
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=09-P13-00006&segmentID=6
Biomonitoring facility could link chemicals to diseases. Biomonitoring involves sampling human fluids and tissues to find out the chemicals to which people been exposed and see if the levels fluctuate over time. The types of diseases the subjects develop is noted in hopes of matching certain chemicals and levels with health outcomes. Canwest News Service.
Saturday, February 07, 2009.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Health/Biomonitoring+facility+could+link+chemicals+diseases/1265778/story.html
State to test effect of firefighting foam on water, soil. Minnesota Department of Health will sample drinking water supplies at sites around the state where firefighting foams may have resulted in perfluorochemicals (PFCs) seeping into the ground. Fox 9 Minnesota News.
Saturday, February 07, 2009.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/MPCA_MDH_Test_Firefighting_Foam_Water_Feb_6_2009
'Environmental justice' sought. A few lawmakers are making a determined effort to help Marylanders become better informed about industrial and other potentially undesirable projects proposed in their communities. Annapolis Capital, Maryland.
Saturday, February 07, 2009.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/02_06-39/ENV
Does colloidal silver boost immunity or overall health? Considered potentially toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, silver enjoys a lustrous reputation in alternative health circles. Proponents believe that silver in its many forms can kill germs, boost the immune system and generally improve health. Los Angeles Times.
Saturday, February 07, 2009.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-skeptic9-2009feb09,0,2063918.story
State law limits truck idling to save fuel. Truckers who travel Pennsylvania's highways must comply with a new law that restricts heavy-duty diesel engines from idling more than five minutes per hour. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pennsylvania.
Saturday, February 07, 2009.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_610639.html
[Editor's note: Read a related article about Staten Island's decision to fine drivers idling engines near schools: http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1233233106129430.xml&coll=1 ]
Children's Environmental Health: an underrecognised area in paediatric health care. The recognition that adverse environments can significantly and specifically affect the growth and development of a child from early intrauterine life through to adolescence, as well as impact their health later in adulthood, is relatively recent and has not fully reached health care providers involved in paediatric care.
Friday, February 06, 2009.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/9/10/abstract
Living near big power line may up Alzheimer's risk. Older people living within 50 meters of major power lines are at increased risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia, research from Switzerland shows. Reuters Health.
Friday, February 06, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/02/05/eline/links/20090205elin004.html
Is recycling coal fly ash at farms environmentally safe? Tons of coal fly ash -- the same substance that caused a massive emergency in Tennessee -- are recycled in soil, raising questions about buildup of arsenic and other toxic substances in food crops. Environmental Health News.
Friday, February 06, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/recycling-coal-waste-at-farms
Toddlers less able to detox arsenic than infants. As babies grow into toddlers, their ability to alter arsenic into less harmful forms changes, leaving them less able to get rid of the cancer-causing metal and perhaps, more susceptible to its effects. Environmental Health News.
Friday, February 06, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/toddlers-less-able-to-detox-arsenic
Children's illnesses from pollutants cost Mainers $380 million. A hefty $380.9 million -- that's the annual cost in Maine of childhood illnesses caused by exposure to toxic chemicals and other pollutants, according to a new report from a University of Maine researcher. Bangor Daily News, Maine.
Friday, February 06, 2009.
http://www.bangornews.com/detail/98887.html
Keep you, your unborn baby safe. Steer clear of these pregnancy no-no's to help keep you and your baby safe and healthy. Don't use chemicals. Products including herbicides, pesticides, paint, stains and some cleaning solutions may be harmful to your baby. Wilmington News Journal, Ohio.
Thursday, February 05, 2009.
http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?SectionID=45&SubSectionID=142&ArticleID=173285&TM=71335.35
Not just HFCS and peanut butter: Here are 10 other risky foods. As if we don't have enough to be worried about already. In the midst of food safety scares from salmonella in peanut butter and mercury in high fructose corn syrup, Sprig has produced a list of 10 other foods that can be dangerous. US News & World Report.
Thursday, February 05, 2009.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2009/02/04/not-just-hfcs-and-peanut-butter-here-are-10-other-dangerous-foods.html
[Editor's note: Read a related article about contaminated peanut butter going to schools and disaster victims: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-salmonella-fema6-2009feb06,0,1907573.story ]
6 surprising sources of air pollution in your home. The most widely quoted statistic about air quality is this: the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air can be two- to five-times more polluted than the air outdoors. The Daily Green.
Thursday, February 05, 2009.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/indoor-air-pollution-47020404
Child care goes 'green.' The Oregon Environmental Council endorses day-care providers who strive to reduce a wide range of environmental toxins -- such as pesticides and lead. Now the Oregon program, the first of its kind in the nation, is launching pilots in seven states. Salem Statesman Journal, Oregon.
Thursday, February 05, 2009.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090205/NEWS/902050347/1001
Oakland port truck pollution burdens public health, study says. Air pollution from diesel trucks visiting the Port of Oakland places an economic burden on the Bay Area by increasing the risk of people getting sick; missing work, school and other activities; and even dying prematurely Contra Costa Times, California.
Thursday, February 05, 2009.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_11629867?nclick_check=1
Study: Radiation levels high for cardiac CT scans. Patients are receiving the equivalent of 600 chest X-rays when they get CT scans for heart disease and not enough clinics are using known ways to reduce this exposure, researchers reported yesterday. Reuters.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/04/study_radiation_levels_high_for_cardiac_ct_scans/
Groups sue Pittsburgh company over chromium pollution. by New Jersey environmental regulators for chromium pollution was sued in federal court today by an environmental group and a community organization claiming a stalled clean-up at a former industrial site that poses health risks for people in Jersey City. Newark Star-Ledger, New Jersey.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/chromium_ppg_industries.html
Older autos source of flame retardants. Dust in used cars contains high levels of potentially toxic flame retardant chemicals, known as PBDEs, reports a study that measured them in older autos found at US dealerships. Environmental Health News.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/older-autos-flame-retardants/
Smoking in pregnancy cuts blood flow to the fetus. Smoking during pregnancy reduces blood flow to the developing fetus and, in turn, retards growth, new research suggests. Reuters Health.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/02/03/eline/links/20090203elin028.html
Ottawa slaps toxic designation on chemicals used in shampoos, conditioners. The federal government is placing on its list of toxic substances two silicon-based chemicals widely used in shampoos and conditioners [D4 and D5], where they help give hair the silky, smooth feeling often played up in advertisements. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090203.CHEMICALS03//TPStory/Environment
Green bulbs undergo safety testing. Yellowhead County will continue to hand out CFL light bulbs unless they are proven to be harmful by Health Canada. Health Canada is currently testing certain types of CFL bulbs following a British health warning that some of the bulbs can emit higher than normal UV radiation levels. Edson Leader, Canada.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.edsonleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1416246
Indonesia to ratify Stockholm Convention. After around nine years of delay, the government looks finally set to ratify an international convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants this month. The Stockholm Convention on POPs attempts to curb the production and use of hazardous chemicals and pesticides around the world. Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/03/indonesia-ratify-stockholm-convention.html
Stimulant drugs cause cocaine-like brain changes. A common stimulant drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can cause brain changes in mice similar to those seen in cocaine addiction, U.S. researchers said on Monday. Reuters.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0247127820090202
Study links children's lead levels, SAT scores. Could a decades-long drop in the concentration of lead in children's blood help explain rising SAT scores? A Virginia economist who pored over years of national data says there's an "incredibly strong" correlation, which adds to a growing body of research on lead's harmful effects. USA Today.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-02-02-lead-SAT_N.htm
Heavy metals found in kids' face paints. Health Canada has found heavy metals in children's face paints exceeding the government's own proposed impurity limits, but can't take action because the standards aren't in place yet, internal documents show. Canwest News Service, Canada.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Business/Heavy%20metals%20found%20kids%20face%20paints/1245378/story.html
Idaho lab develops arsenic removal technique. The Idaho National Laboratory has developed a technique for removing arsenic from water that is seven times more effective than anything currently available, Energy Department officials say. Associated Press.
Monday, February 02, 2009.
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/745359.html
Public employees warn Obama about Dow dioxin cleanup deal. A watchdog group of government employees charged last week that a Michigan dioxin cleanup deal under negotiation between Dow Chemical and the U.S. EPA would set a precedent-setting abdication of public health protection to a polluter. Michigan Messenger, Michigan.
Monday, February 02, 2009.
http://michiganmessenger.com/12518/public-employees-warn-obama-about-dow-dioxin-cleanup-deal
Hoosier streams still have high levels of mercury. Levels of mercury remain high in several Indiana streams and rivers, despite years of effort to reduce the contaminant, which can cause neurological damage. Indianapolis Star, Indiana.
Monday, February 02, 2009.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090202/LOCAL18/902020350
Numerous items recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. High School Musical Manicure Kits are being recalled by Fantas-Eyes due to risk of lead exposure. JAKKS Pacific has recalled Spa Factory Aromatherapy kits because they could explode. Wheeling WTRF TV, West Virginia. Monday, February 02, 2009.
http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=51167
Thyroid hormone levels of pregnant Inuit women and their infants exposed to environmental contaminants. While this study provided little evidence that the environmental contaminants analysed in this study [PCB congener 153, HO-PCBs, PCP and HCB] affect thyroid hormone status in Inuit mothers and their infants, the possibility that PCP may
decrease thyroxine levels in neonates requires further investigation. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Sunday, February 01, 2009.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0800219/abstract.html
Ask AP: Does road salt affect human, environmental health? Road-salt dust would fall into a larger category of air pollution known as particulate matter. That includes dust stirred up by highway traffic and released into the air by industries such as rock quarrying and gravel mining. Associated Press.
Sunday, February 01, 2009.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090130/LIFESTYLE14/901300435
Parkinson's link to manganese. Manganese, a metal that is naturally present in the human body, may contribute to Parkinson's disease when defective genes interact to enhance its toxicity, according to a study published on Sunday. Agence France-Presse.
Sunday, February 01, 2009.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Tech%2Band%2BScience/Story/STIStory_332966.html
Petition calls for ban of popular herbicide. The New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban the sale of 2,4-D, the common name for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and products containing the herbicide. Florence Times Daily, Alabama.
Sunday, February 01, 2009.
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090201/ARTICLES/902010346/1011/NEWS?Title=Petition_calls_for_ban_of_popular_herbicide
Fungicide maker in birth defect storm. The DuPont chemical linked with fish abnormalities and a possible cancer cluster on the Sunshine Coast has been at the centre of a storm over genetic defects in children born overseas. Brisbane Times, Australia.
Sunday, February 01, 2009.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/fungicide-maker-in-defect-storm/2009/02/01/1233423016011.html?s_rid=smh:top5
Retrofitting begins on diesel school buses. Thousands of diesel-powered school buses in the state are being retrofitted to reduce fumes that fill cabins. Bergen County Record, New Jersey.
Saturday, January 31, 2009.
http://www.northjersey.com/environment/38684992.html
Lead poisoning declines. Highland Park and Detroit's east side have the highest incidence of lead poisoning in the state, but prevention efforts are working -- resulting in a 35 percent reduction in child lead poisoning statewide since 2003, according a study released Friday. Detroit News, Michigan.
Saturday, January 31, 2009.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090131/METRO/901310379/1409/METRO
Birth defects soar due to pollution. Every 30 seconds, a baby is born with physical defects in China, thanks to the country's degrading environment, an official of the National Population and Family Planning Commission has said. China Daily.
Saturday, January 31, 2009.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-01/31/content_7433211.htm
Compact fluorescent light bulbs: Do energy savings outweigh mercury hazard? Many people are turning to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. But there is also a concern because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. US Environmental Protection Agency.
Friday, January 30, 2009.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/00C07CCB32CF4FAB8525754D0073D8D1
Silent stalker: Household mold can cause damage to health and wallet. All mold's tiny spores need are water and food. Thousands grow naturally outside, but it's when they become house guests that these molds present problems for the structure and its inhabitants. Northern Virginia Daily.
Friday, January 30, 2009.
http://www.nvdaily.com/lifestyle/2009/01/silent-stalker-household-mold.html
Quick, cheap test for mad cow. North American and German researchers announced a breakthrough on Friday toward a cheap, fast blood test for BSE, or so-called 'mad cow disease' in livestock. Agence France-Presse.
Friday, January 30, 2009.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20090130-118315.html
Home renovations by affluent families can unleash lead threat. Home renovations, repairs and painting can lead to elevated lead levels in children and are changing the dynamics of lead-poisoning risk among children, according to a new U.S. study. HealthDay News.
Friday, January 30, 2009.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/01/29/home-renovations-by-affluent-families-can-unleash.html
Analysis finds toxins high in contained ash spill. High levels of arsenic and elevated levels of radioactive radium have been found in the sludge released in a massive coal ash spill at a Tennessee power plant, Duke University scientists reported Wednesday. Associated Press.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.fayobserver.com/article_ap?id=139464
Canada first country to ask companies to report use of nanomaterials. Canada is poised to become the first government to require companies to provide information about their use of potentially harmful nanomaterials in products. Canadian Press.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1409797
Nonprofit group addresses pollutants with residents. Residents from across the cape region met with members of the Citizens for Clean Power this week to address environmental and public health concerns in the First State relating to air and water pollutants. Salisbury Daily Times, Maryland.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090129/DCP01/901290356
Study finds moms share phthalates with their babies. Researchers in Taiwan find that phthalates can pass from pregnant women to their unborn babies and affect reproductive development in their daughters. Environmental Health News.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/phthalates-in-moms-and-babies/
Warnings Botox can cause birth defects. Botox can cause birth defects, women contemplating the anti-wrinkle treatment have been warned. The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) on Tuesday urged its members to stick to national guidelines for the use of Botox. Australian Associated Press.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/lifematters/warnings-botox-can-cause-birth-defects/2009/01/27/1232818427668.html
Water-cleanup experiment caused lead poisoning. Lead concentrations spiked in many children living in the nation's capital after the local water authority altered the treatment used to disinfect drinking water. Science News.
Thursday, January 29, 2009.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/40275/title/Water-cleanup_experiment_caused_lead_poisoning
Bisphenol A data in NHANES suggest longer than expected half-life, substantial non-food exposure, or both. This study investigated the relationship between urine BPA concentration and fasting time in a population-based sample. Overall, BPA levels did not decline rapidly with fasting time in this sample. Environmental Health Perspectives.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0800376/abstract.html
Pollutants remain in Americans' blood despite bans. Researchers have found that levels of some of the most troublesome contaminants for human health are lower than in previous years but persist in most Americans' blood, even decades after being banned. Environmental Science & Technology.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es803694d?cookieSet=1
GE loses to EPA in ruling on river dredging. Environmentalists are heralding a federal court decision rejecting General Electric Co.'s challenge of a federal Superfund law requiring it to clean up polluted sites, including a much-anticipated one along the Hudson River. Lower Hudson Valley Journal News, New York.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
http://www.lohud.com/article/2008901280361
MPCA issues air quality alert. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a health advisory for the southern two-thirds of Minnesota. Rochester Post-Bulletin, Minnesota.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=382273
It's closer to you than you think. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) somehow affect every person's life in the United States, maintains Jody Allen Crowe, an educator who's become an expert on the subject. Crookston Daily Times, Minnesota.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
http://www.crookstontimes.com/news/x1722733640/It-s-closer-to-you-than-you-think