These bulletins are now 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.
Wednesday May 7, 2008
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Palo Alto, California
at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road
Sponsor: Arcterra, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and the Reproductive Health Technologies Project
As part of the Palo Alto Reproductive Health and the Environment Lecture Series, Charlotte Brody of Commonweal and Renee Sharp from the Environmental Working Group will join Susan Kegley from the Pesticide Action Network North America to share resources that you can use to protect your family from the harmful effect of pesticides. From food shopping to household cleaning supplies to local pesticide policies, pick up some everyday tips and tools to use and share.
Price: free
Website: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/mar-monte/california-lecture-series-in-palo-alto.htm
Contact: Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, ehrh@ppmarmonte
Thursday May 8, 2008
10:00 a.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Occupational Hazards
This teleconference is part of the Occupational Hazards Safety WebExpo & Conference. The field of green chemistry focuses on the design, manufacture and use of chemicals, products and processes to reduce or eliminate adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. This presentation by Michael P. Wilson, PhD, MPH, and Megan R. Schwarzman, MD, MPH, will present the findings of their recent report to California EPA, "Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California". They will address the long-standing weaknesses in federal policy that have produced a flawed chemicals market in the US, new European Union policies and efforts that are opening possibilities for a new approach to chemicals policy in the US, and implications of green chemistry for occupational and environmental health.
Price: free
Website: http://www.occupationalhazards.com/Events/Default.aspx?TYPE=0&Archive=0
Thursday May 8, 2008
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at the University of Washington Health Sciences Room T 74
Sponsor: Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) in collaboration with University of Washington Student Chapter of WPSR and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility; supported by grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 and John Merck Fund
This training explores the links between exposures to environmental contaminants, such as metals and endocrine disruptors, and childhood disorders, including learning disabilities and reproductive effects. Clinical tips for diagnosis and prevention will also be discussed. The program addresses potential trends in rising incidences of disease linked to environmental factors, ramifications of developmental disabilities, health effects of developmental neurotoxins and the latest scientific research. The training includes selected provider and patient materials in English and Spanish from the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Space is limited; RSVP requested.
Price: free
Website: http://www.wpsr.org/
Contact: 206-354-2170 or nancyd@wpsr.org
Thursday through Saturday, May 15- 17, 2008
San Diego, California
at the Catamaran Hotel, 3999 Mission Boulevard
Sponsor: University of California at San Diego School of Medicine and California Department of Developmental Services
Experts in the field of autism will update participants on early diagnosis and management of this disorder through several lectures and an intensive workshop. In addition, the etiologies and management of early childhood hearing loss will be explored in depth by an audiologist and an otolaryngologist. Pediatric subspecialists in various disciplines, including ophthalmology, infectious diseases and dermatology, will present updates in their fields with relevance to practitioners delivering primary care to children.
Price: see http://cme.ucsd.edu/pediatrics/reg.html
Website: http://cme.ucsd.edu/pediatrics/index.html
Contact: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 858-534-3940 or ocme@ucsd.edu
Wednesday May 21, 2008
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency
Learn how to download, install, customize and use EPA's free Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT) to plan for and conduct environmental and safety assessments of school facilities. For more information on HealthySEAT, visit http://www.epa.gov/schools
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat/webconferences.html
Wednesday and Thursday, May 28 - 29, 2008
Washington, DC
at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Sponsor: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The focus is on "The New Professional: Leadership in Science, Practice, Policy and Advocacy."
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.aaidd.org/Events/2008_Meeting.shtml
Friday May 30, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
at REI Downtown, 222 Yale Avenue North, Second Floor, South Room, Room B
Sponsor: Northwest Environmental Training Center (NWETC)
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. Learn the basic principles of 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. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: $150 early bird special until May 5, $245 thereafter, $175 reduced tuition is available to those who qualify
Website: http://nwetc.org/etox-510_05-08_seattle.htm
Contact: Northwest Environmental Training Center, 206-762-1976
Tuesday through Friday, June 3- 6, 2008
Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
at the University of British Columbia
Sponsor: Environmental Studies Association of Canada
The conference is being held as part of the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The theme of the congress is "Thinking beyond Borders -- Global Ideas: Global Values."
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.esac.ca/events/
Contact: Chris Ling, chris.ling@royalroads.ca
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/
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
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program (EJSG) Funding Opportunity. The purpose of this grant program is to support and empower Communities that are working on local solutions to local environmental and/or public-health issues. The EJSG Program is designed to assist recipients in building collaborative partnerships that will help them understand and address the environmental and/or public-health issues in their communities. Successful collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders involve well-designed strategic plans to build, maintain and sustain the partnerships, and to work towards addressing the local environmental and/or public-health issues.
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Environmental Health Disparities Fact Sheets. The US Environmental Protection Agency has published four new fact sheets on children's environmental health disparities. These address disparities in secondhand smoke exposure and asthma among African American and Hispanic American children. Each fact sheet includes important information on actions parents can take to protect their children and positive actions EPA and other organizations are taking to address each specific environmental health issue.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/publications2.htm#2
Abstracts Invited for Healthy Homes Conference. Abstract submissions are sought for the 2008 National Healthy Homes Conference on the following tracks/themes: 1) marketing healthy housing, 2) educating the public and practitioners, 3) mainstreaming healthy housing principles, 4) creating healthy housing through research, 5) building capacity to deliver healthy housing, and 6) developing enforcement and regulatory strategies. The deadline for abstract submissions is May 15, 2008.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/2008NHHC.cfm.
Second Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder: Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photography Contest. The US EPA in partnership with Generations United and the Rachel Carson Council Inc., invite submissions for this contest. Using the title of one of Carson's books, "The Sense of Wonder," the contest is seeking submissions from intergenerational teams "that best express the "Sense of Wonder" that you feel when observing the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes." Winners in each category will be determined by the public, who will have an opportunity to vote online in July and August for their favorite submission in each category. The deadline for entries is Monday June 16, 2008.
http://www.epa.gov/aging
National EPA-Tribal Science Council: Adding Children's Health to Tribal Science Priorities. The Tribal Science Council (TSC) is currently working to incorporate children's environmental health into its National Tribal Science Priorities document.
http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes/tribal/SciencePriorities.pdf
Comments Sought on National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Lead. The EPA Administrator proposed to revise the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead of 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air to a level within the range of 0.10 to 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter. The agency is taking comment on alternative levels within a range from less than 0.10 to 0.50 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA will accept public comment for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. The agency will hold two public hearings on June 12, 2008: one in St. Louis and one in Baltimore. EPA must issue a final decision on the lead standard by Sept. 15, 2008.
http://www.epa.gov/air/lead
Breeding toxins from dead PCs. Thousands of discarded computers from western Europe and the US arrive in the ports of west Africa every day, ending up in massive toxic dumps where children burn and pull them apart to extract metals for cash. London Guardian, England, 6 May 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/06/waste.pollution
High formaldehyde levels found in some baby furniture. In a report published today, Environment California found a half dozen products -- out of 21 nursery furnishings it tested -- emitted formaldehyde at levels high enough to trigger allergy and asthma attacks in children. Sacramento Bee, California, 6 May 2008.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/915385.html
Remodelers to face 'white-glove' test on lead. Remodeling contractors will have to pass a "white-glove" test under a new U.S. rule to prove their work doesn't stir up dangerous dust and debris from lead paint. Washington Post, 6 May 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/05/AR2008050502444.html
What's autism? Symptoms vary among people with disorder. With the prevalence of diagnosed children exploding -- the population soared more than 500 percent, according to one 10-year government estimate -- a lot of autistic children fall outside the traditional narrow definition. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 6 May 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/361732_autismdefined05.html
Study links breast-feeding to higher IQ scores for children. A new study provides some of the best evidence to date that breast-feeding can make children smarter, an international team of researchers said yesterday. Reuters, 6 May 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/06/study_touts_benefits_of_breast_feeding/
Sleeping with danger. We lock our doors at night, but the killer may already be inside our homes, sleeping with us in the same bed: poisonous chemicals [boric acid] just below your sheets. Cincinnati WCPO, Ohio, 6 May 2008.
http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/localshows/iteam/story.aspx?content_id=F1CF6683-DD13-4156-952B-7AF7F585C771&gsa=true
Web site warns of toxins in beauty products. When you wash your hair or put on makeup, are you getting a dangerous dose of toxic chemicals in the process? Seattle KOMO, Washington, 6 May 2008.
http://www.komotv.com/news/18680399.html
Fluoridation set to start; lawsuit also to proceed. The manager of a Blount County water supplier says his utility will proceed with fluoridating its product, irrespective of a citizen action group's request that a court halt the move. Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee, 6 May 2008.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/06/fluoridation-set-to-start-lawsuit-also-to/
School age children at greater risk from lead exposure. School age children are at greater risk from lead exposure than toddlers, according to a Cincinnati Children's Hospital study. Indo-Asian News Service, South Asia, 5 May 2008.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/school-age-children-at-greater-risk-from-lead-exposure_10045248.html
Study links child's autism, parents' mental illness. In another sign pointing to an inherited component to autism, a study released on Monday found that having a schizophrenic parent or a mother with psychiatric problems roughly doubled a child's risk of being autistic. Reuters, 5 May 2008.
http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-33402020080505
Uranium mining booms in Western U.S. Record prices for uranium have sparked a mining boom in the Western states. A green advocacy organization says runoff from the mining could contaminate the Colorado River, which supplies water to 25 million people. Jeremy Hobson has more. MarketPlace, 5 May 2008.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/05/uranium
Avoiding a mouldy mess in the courts. The environmentally friendly building materials used in construction over the last two decades are proving especially susceptible to mould growth. Ottawa Business Journal, Canada, 5 May 2008.
http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/368265646775477.php
Going green to clean schools. Requiring 'green' cleaning products is part of a move to reduce toxic chemicals in schools across Illinois and in turn improve indoor air quality. It's now mandated by a state act affecting 5,659 schools across Illinois. Chicago Daily Herald, Illinois, 4 May 2008.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=184833
Breast milk contains C8, study concludes. C8 and related chemicals used in nonstick pans and stain-resistant fabrics have been found in human breast milk, according to the first major U.S. study to examine breast-feeding as a possible exposure route. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia, 4 May 2008.
http://wvgazette.com/News/200805030359
Health Canada issues three recalls on children's products. Health Canada issued recalls Friday on three children's products, two that contain high levels of lead and one that is easily flammable. CanWest News, Canada, 3 May 2008.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=c540994c-a6de-43bd-8c35-8d6b3f985d02&k=7338
Unwelcome guest: PBDEs in indoor dust. Researchers have known for years that house dust is a major exposure route for lead and certain pesticides. Now attention is turning to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 3 May 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/116-5/focus.html
EPA plans tougher airborne lead limit. After adopting a standard 30 years ago that led to a 98% drop in airborne lead, the agency plans a dramatic further reduction that has been long awaited by environmentalists. Los Angeles Times, California, 2 May 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lead2-2008may02,1,792059.story
Health officials concerned over upswing in measles. The U.S. is on track to report its highest incidence of measles since 2001, in part due to people opting out of the vaccine due to religious beliefs or fears of a purported link to autism. Los Angeles Times, California, 2 May 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vaccine2-2008may02,0,6944471.story
California ban on toxic chemical passes Senate health committee. The Senate Health Committee voted 6-3 to approve and send to the floor a bill that bans any detectable level of the toxic chemical BPA from all toys and child care products sold in California. Beverly Hills California Chronicle, California, 1 May 2008.
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/60421
European court bans widely used flame retardant. The EU's highest court banned the use of Deca BDE flame retardant, the only PBDE now used in Europe and North America. The ban takes effect July 1. Some think it could impact flame retardants used in North American tvs. Environmental Science & Technology, 1 May 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/apr/policy/kb_decabdeban.html
One in five rooms is 'highly contaminated' with hidden mold. Almost one in five rooms studied with no visible mold was in fact “highly contaminated” by fungus which could aggravate conditions such as asthma. Science Daily, 1 May 2008.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430123552.htm
Corzine boosts lead dust rules, says kids need greater protection. With a new report showing thousands of New Jersey's poorest children still getting lead poisoning each year, Gov. Jon Corzine signed an executive order meant to reform the system that failed them. Newark Star-Ledger, New Jersey, 30 April 2008.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/topstories/index.ssf/2008/04/corzine_toughens_lead_dust_rul.html
Smog rules stiffen; will locals act? A new, tougher standard for smog means the state and federal governments could force Athens factories and drivers to pony up for measures to reduce pollution unless locals deal with the problem themselves. Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia, 30 April 2008.
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/043008/news_2008043000214.shtml
Scientists fret over arsenic levels in British baby rice. Levels of arsenic in rice formula for babies are worryingly high, according to an investigation published Wednesday into products widely sold in British stores. Agence France-Presse, 30 April 2008.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g39Md5aJ0i-q8nxBFThrQyvd0Ayg
Politics keeping EPA from toxin warnings? A new government report says non-scientists play an increasing role in EPA decisions. It even suggests that political pressure may be putting the health of Americans at risk. CBS Evening News, 29 April 2008.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/28/eveningnews/main4052923.shtml
A local first: Environmental justice. Cincinnati could be among the first cities in the country to pass a law protecting poor people and minorities from businesses that pollute their neighborhoods. Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio, 29 April 2008.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/NEWS01/304280140/1056/COL02
Cleaning green at home. With consumers becoming more aware of the negative effects of chemicals on their health and on the environment, many are turning away from chemical-laden household cleaners in favour of natural alternatives. Ottawa Citizen, Ontario, 29 April 2008.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f06df87b-31d3-40b0-af76-fdb99821d5d0
[Editor's note: see a related article about possible health effects from "green" cleaners at http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-green28apr28,1,5738574.story ]
Studies on chemical in plastics questioned. Despite more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that have raised health concerns about a chemical compound that is central to the multibillion-dollar plastics industry, the FDA has deemed it safe largely because of two studies, both funded by an industry trade group. Washington Post, 27 April 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/26/ST2008042602242.html
Homeowners get out from under pesticide fog. Amid a new wave of environmentalism, eco-savvy consumers are realizing they no longer need to rely on traditional pesticides -- which may pose health risks -- to combat rodents and insects Associated Press, 27 April 2008.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_564518.html
The FDA needs help. The heparin scare revealed problems that the FDA says it can fix. But it won't tell Congress how much that will cost. Washington Post, 27 April 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601662.html
Ashland professor warned of lead in keychains 16 months before recall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission faces a new challenge with an Ohio professor's claim that the agency waited 16 months before recalling a product with an alarming level of lead. Solon Herald Sun, Ohio, 26 April 2008.
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1209198722136090.xml&coll=2
Idaho denies group's request for tougher mercury standards. State officials have rejected a request from an environmental group that sought to limit mercury emissions in Idaho, saying there isn't enough information available to make a decision. Associated Press, 26 April 2008.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/144639.html
Paterson Orders State Agencies To 'Go Green.' Gov. David Paterson signed an executive order Saturday that establishes the "Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program." The programs goals are to conserve precious natural resources, protect the public health and prevent pollution in order to improve the quality of life for all of New York state's residents. WNBC, 26 April 2008.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/16008969/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news
How much do chemicals affect our health? In the forefront of battles to eliminate environmental toxins since he was sent by the CDC to Texas to study the effect of a lead smelter on children, Dr. Philip Landrigan has helped show the relationship between asbestos, pesticides, and benzene and human disease. Discover, 25 April 2008.
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/25-how-much-do-chemicals-affect-our-health
Autism risk linked to distance from power plants, other mercury-releasing sources. A newly published study shows statistically significant links between pounds of industrial released mercury and increased autism rates. Science Daily, 25 April 2008.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424120953.htm
The other place bisphenol A lurks: our teeth. Just when they thought they could breathe easy after years of controversy concerning mercury-based fillings, dentists are finding themselves at the centre of a new debate over the safety of the alternatives. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 25 April 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wldental24/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
Planned Ontario ban on cosmetic use of pesticides to be toughest in North America. The legislation, introduced on Earth Day, will take effect more quickly and go further than a similar law in Quebec, the only other Canadian province to have banned pesticides. Canadian Press, 23 April 2008.
http://www.eastottawa.ca/article-cp29348020-Planned-Ont-ban-on-cosmetic-use-of-pesticides-to-be-toughest-in-North-America.html
The dirty truth about plastic. Present in everyday items like panty hose and perfume, computers and catheters, baby rattles and billiard balls, plastics are so ubiquitous we seldom give them a second thought. Yet they pose problems both familiar and unfamiliar. Discover, 18 April 2008.
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/18-the-dirty-truth-about-plastic