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.
The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI), a national working group of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, invites you to sign our newly-drafted policy consensus statement on environmental agents associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. This policy statement is based on the scientific consensus statement that LDDI published earlier this year and details specific policy initiatives to be taken to protect children from exposures that may contribute to learning and developmental disabilities and autism.
To sign the statement, you need to provide your name, credentials and affiliation (please note that we request signers who have a stated organizational affiliation). The policy statement, the scientific statement, and the signature form for the policy statement are all available on the LDDI website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDI.html Signatures are requested by Monday September 1st.
If you have any questions regarding the statement, please contact primary author Steve Gilbert, PhD, DABT, at sgilbert@innd.org or Nancy Snow, MS, at nsnow@iceh.org. Thank you for considering signing.
Wednesday through Thursday, September 3 - 4, 2008
Columbus, Ohio
at the Crowne Plaza North Hotel
Sponsor: The National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD) and others; for the full list see the website below.
At the completion of this conference, participants will be able to identify specific areas of pharmacologic management in which to use caution in a person with a dual diagnosis, describe the relationship between aggression and psychiatric illness in people with ASD and IDs, and much more. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: see http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/090308/register.shtml
Website: http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/090308/index.shtml
Contact: Lisa Christie, lchristie@thenadd.org
Tuesday September 9, 2008
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: The John Merck Fund through the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Initiative
Dr. Elizabeth A. Guillette will review pesticides and their action and suggested impacts on adults. She will then focus on the impacts on the neuromuscular and neuromental deficits found in the Yaqui Valley children and the meaning of these impacts to society.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, Laura@aaidd.org
Wednesday August 27, 2008
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Easters time
Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency
Participants will learn about the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Awards Program, how to translate your successful IAQ management program into an award winning model, and the process and components of previous award-winning applications. Speakers will be Jennifer Lemon of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division, and Past IAQ TfS award-winning programs.
Price: free
Website: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/591975066
Friday September 12, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Portland, Oregon
at the World Trade Center
Sponsor: Environmental Law Education Center
Topics include 1) federal & state policies & laws addressing toxics, 2) proposed legislation for the 2009 legislative session, 3) municipalities' responses, 4) water quality standards & fish consumption, 5) comprehensive chemical reform, 6) pesticides & pharmaceuticals, 7) recent research on toxics & public health, and 8) what approach should we take in addressing toxics?
Price: $450 early registration through August 29th, $495 after, with discounts for government and nonprofits
Website: http://www.elecenter.com/agenda_2008-09-12.htm
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
Job opening, Portland, Oregon. The Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) is seeking a community outreach manager to lead a variety of outreach projects that help individuals live green and to assist their program staff in mobilizing the public in support of public policies that protect the environment. The primary area of focus will be a suite a projects that help parents and caregivers protect children from exposures to toxic pollution. In addition, this position will build OEC's citizen activist networks and organize citizens in support of legislation that slows global warming and reduces toxins in our environment. Future outreach projects may support OEC's other strategic goals. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and an example of a communication piece you have developed by September 3rd.
http://www.oeconline.org/about-us/jobs
New Continuing Education modules from ATSDR. The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has issued four new continuing education modules to increase the primary care provider's knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to aid in the evaluation of potentially exposed patients. Continuing medical education (CME) for physicians, continuing nursing education (CNE) for nurses, continuing education units (CEU) for other professionals, and continuing education contact hours (CECH) for certified health education specialists (CHES) are offered in support of this series. The four new topics are 1) Beryllium Toxicity, 2) Cadmium Toxicity, 3) Tetrachloroethylene Toxicity, and 4) Taking an Exposure History.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.html
EPA's National Fish Advisory Program website. The new Fish Kids website uses interactive stories and games to teach kids from eight to 12 years of age about contaminants in fish and fish advisories.
http://www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/kids
Nominations sought for the Board of Scientific Counselors. The National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is soliciting nominations for possible membership to its Board of Scientific Counselors. This Board provides advice and guidance to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the director of the CDC and the director of NCEH/ATSDR, regarding program goals, objectives, strategies and priorities in fulfillment of the agencies' mission to protect and promote people's health. The Board provides advice and guidance to help NCEH/ATSDR work more efficiently and effectively with its various constituents and to fulfill its mission in protecting America's health. Nominees will be selected from experts having experience in preventing human diseases and disabilities caused by environmental conditions. Experts in the disciplines of toxicology, epidemiology, environmental or occupational medicine, behavioral science, risk assessment, exposure assessment, and experts in public health and other related disciplines will be considered. Consideration is given to representation from diverse geographic areas, gender, ethnic and minority groups, and the disabled. Members may be invited to serve up to four-year terms. Nominees must be US citizens. he following information must be submitted for each candidate: name, affiliation, address, telephone number, and current curriculum vitae. E-mail addresses are requested if available. Nominations should be sent, in writing, and postmarked by October 31, 2008, to Sandra Malcom, Committee Management Specialist, NCEH/ ATSDR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway (MS-F61), Chamblee, Georgia 30341. Telephone and facsimile submissions cannot be accepted.
New funding opportunity from EPA's Global Change Research Program. The US Environmental Protection Agency's Global Change Research Program is seeking applications proposing research to better understand the interactions of climate change, air pollution regulatory programs, greenhouse gas mitigation policies, and efforts to adapt to a changing climate, and how these interactions affect air quality.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2008/2008_star_adaptation.html#Synopsis
Lead may lurk in backyard gardens. As backyard vegetable gardens undergo a renaissance, environmental officials and scientists are warning homeowners to be careful before planting: There might be lead in the soil. Boston Globe, Massachusetts, 11 August 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/08/11/lead_may_lurk_in_backyard_gardens/
Lejeune water contamination bill could force EPA to establish standard. A bill prompted by water contamination at Camp Lejeune could force the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a public water standard to limit trichloroethylene (TCE). Jacksonville Daily News, North Carolina, 11 August 2008.
http://www.jdnews.com/news/water_58714___article.html/bill_tce.html
Dow's dioxins. Two rivers downstream of Dow Chemical's plant in Midland, Mich., are polluted with dioxins. Dow has cleanup work to be done. Everyone agrees on that. But not much else. This saga of pollution, politics, and struggle over cleanup has nationwide implications. Chemical & Engineering News, 11 August 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8632cover.html
Industry fights effort to ban baby product chemical. State officials and scientists are criticizing a chemical-industry campaign, saying its ads are misleading and designed to scare consumers into keeping products that could harm children on the market. Orange County Register, California, 10 August 2008.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bpa-products-chemical-2120038-food-safe
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome a largely overlooked problem. It is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects in the US. Researchers estimate that one in 100 children may be affected by some type of the disorder, making it more common than autism. Frederick News-Post, Maryland, 10 August 2008.
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=78626
Mercury in the Great Salt Lake is studied. The Great Salt Lake is so briny that swimmers bob in the water like corks. And, for reasons scientists cannot explain, it is heavily laden with toxic mercury. Associated Press, 9 August 2008.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hmurb7fDc-FqPFQV_JMjLXLU4hswD92EA1FO0
No matter what flame retardant is used, it shows up in the environment. Another chapter has been added to the troubled history of flame retardants. The latest compounds used to reduce the risk of fire have been found in household dust for the first time. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 9 August 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080809.ZOE09//TPStory/Environment
Controversial autism treatment. Parents looking for help for their autistic children are calling on researchers to test an unproven and controversial new treatment option, "chelation," which helps flush metals, including lead, out of the body. Sioux Falls KELO TV, South Dakota, 8 August 2008.
http://www.keloland.com/healthbeat/newsdetail6387.cfm?Id=0,72713
Dental experts defend fluoride in water; activists claim link to brain damage. Canadian dental experts defended the use of fluoride in drinking water Thursday as some environmental activists claimed international studies show the chemical can cause brain damage in children and called for an end to the "60-year experiment." Canadian Press, 8 August 2008.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9nBlrur47kQNc5C06L7HyVR8V8g
Toxins linger even in clean laundry. Scientists are beginning to realize the chemical ingredients used in traditional detergents are full of toxins that harm both people and the environment. Galveston County Daily News, Texas, 8 August 2008.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=eadbc1ce6448ee04
High temps on turf fields spark safety concerns. New York City has canceled contracts for turf that contains recycled tires, due to concerns that the rubber adds to the heat-absorbing effect. Morning Edition, NPR, 7 August 2008.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93364750
EPA continues work to understand potential impacts of pharmaceuticals in water. Today, EPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that will be used in a detailed study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals. EPA is seeking more information on the practices of the health care industry to inform future potential regulatory actions, and identify best management and proper disposal practices. EPA Newsroom, 6 August 2008.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/names/hq_2008-8-6_pharm?OpenDocument
Lead found in two brands of imported candy. Health officials issued a warning Tuesday about two types of candy from Mexico and Malaysia that are laced with lead and could cause severe medical problems. San Jose Mercury News, California, 6 August 2008.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10112715
Environmental justice in action. During Richmond's recent public hearings on expansion plans for the Chevron refinery, Dr. Henry Clark was there to speak on the potential health consequences of the project on residents around the oil processing facility, particularly people in disadvantaged communities. Contra Costa Times, California, 5 August 2008.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_10099443
The cell tolls for thee. When Vini Khurana, PhD, an Australian neurosurgeon, announced that the link between cell-phone use and cancer was irrefutable -- the result of his analysis of more than 100 studies -- it set off alarm bells around the world. MSN, 4 August 2008.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100211877&page=1
Dying to be beautiful! Are your beauty products killing you? You expect the food you buy to be safe, and there are huge public outcries when it isn't, yet the same stringent standards are not universally applied to cosmetics companies. Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 4 August 2008.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1041224/Dying-beautiful-Are-beauty-products-killing-you.html
Cleaning up the house. What you can't see could make you sick. While much environmental debate is over how fast the ice caps and forests will disappear, the great indoors look more likely to get to you first. Newsweek, 3 August 2008.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/150501/output/print
Congress sends Bush bill banning lead in toys. The Senate on Thursday passed and sent to the White House legislation that bans lead from children's toys and seeks to ensure that chemicals posing possible health problems will not end up on toys and articles that kids chew on and play with. Associated Press, 2 August 2008.
http://www.wibw.com/nationalnews/headlines/26183349.html
US inquiry claims 'safe' insecticides cause health problems. A class of insecticides derived from flowers -- long believed to be environmentally safe -- is in fact causing significant human health problems in the US, according to an inquiry released today by public-interest campaigners. London Guardian, England, 2 August 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/31/environment.usa
[Editor's note: read the report at http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/pesticides/ ]
Few rules on nanotech. As questions continue to grow about nanotechnology's potential dangers, so do concerns about how the small stuff should be regulated. Living On Earth, 2 August 2008.
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=08-P13-00031&segmentID=3
Bills target perchlorate, set standard. The federal government may have to set a drinking water standard limiting a common inland contaminant if a U.S. Senate committee gets its way. Redlands Daily Facts, California, 1 August 2008.
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sanbernardinocounty/ci_10062635
Cement kilns release 2 times more mercury than EPA thinks. Cement plants release more than two-times as much toxic mercury as the EPA estimates, according to a study by two watchdog groups. The Daily Green, 1 August 2008.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/mercury-cement-47073102
Oregon accounts for 40 million pounds of herbicides, insecticides. After a nine-year political scrum, Oregon released its first accounting of pesticide use Wednesday, cataloging more than 40 million pounds of 551 fumigants, herbicides and insecticides applied in 2007. Portland Oregonian, Oregon, 31 July 2008.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/oregon_accounts_for_40_million.html
Producing usable materials from e-waste. New technologies being developed in China and Eastern Europe may create usable materials from e-waste. Developing such technologies is challenging because of the toxicity of many electronics components. Environmental Science & Technology, 31 July 2008.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/esthag/asap/html/es801954d.html
Judge rules against selling pollution credits to power plants. In a lawsuit brought by the NRDC and other groups, a judge told the air quality district that it could not subsidize plants until it fully reported on the environmental effect under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Los Angeles Times, California, 31 July 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-powerplant31-2008jul31,0,4101262.story
5 tips to increase your cell phone safety. "I hope you're talking to me on a speakerphone," Devra Davis barks at me when I call her on my cell phone. "You'd better not be holding that phone up to your head." Cell phones do emit radiation. No one knows definitively whether it's enough to worry about. CNN, 31 July 2008.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/31/ep.cell.phones.cancer/
Is a dangerous pesticide sprayed near your home? A pesticide used to kill insects on farm fields across the United States -- diazinon -- has the OK of the federal government, but a coalition of farmworkers and environmentalists is suing to stop the use of the chemical. The Daily Green, 31 July 2008.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/diazinon-pesticide-47072906
Feds: Synthetic turf OK, kids 'not at risk' from lead exposure. Young children are "not at risk from exposure to lead" in artificial turf fields, according to a nationwide evaluation of the surfaces by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. USA Today, 30 July 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2008-07-29-artificial-turf_N.htm
Health Canada recalls plastic toys. Health Canada is recalling more than 7,500 plastic toy machine guns, binoculars and horseshoe magnets because they contain dangerous levels of lead paint. CanWest News, Canada, 30 July 2008.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=26c8f6cc-d561-4c47-9e70-8977d6705d38
Pre-pregnancy diabetes tied to more birth defects. Diabetic women who get pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with birth defects than other women, according to new government research. Associated Press, 30 July 2008.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MED_DIABETES_BIRTH_DEFECTS?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT