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
Thursday September 4, 2008
10:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
As the President's Cancer Panel begins its series of four hearings on different aspects of cancer and the environment, the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE), in collaboration with organizational partners like the Breast Cancer Fund and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, is taking action to make sure the panel gets the message: Preventing cancer requires more than encouraging people to quit smoking.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/articles/che-events/4220
Thursday through Sunday, September 4 - 7, 2008
Austin, Texas
at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel, 9515 Hotel Drive
Sponsor: US Autism and Asperger Association (USAAA). For the complete list, see http://www.usautism.org/2008_conference_austin/2008_usaaa_conference_exhibitors_sponsors.htm#IHA
With over thirty of the world's leading autism spectrum disorder speakers and 32 sessions, the USAAA 2008 International Conference is packed with information including treating physicians, educational therapies, nutritional interventions, sensory-related issues and more.
Price: see http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1201&EID=2633
Website: http://www.usautism.org/2008_conference_austin/2008_usaaa_conference_overview2.htm
Contact: US Autism and Asperger Association, 888-9-AUTISM
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
Monday through Wednesday, September 15 - 17, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Baltimore, Maryland
at the Baltimore Hilton and Conference Center, 401 West Pratt Street
Sponsor: US Department of Housing and Urban Development
The conference will gather a broad community of experts to discuss regulatory, policy, research and outreach needs and their implications in the development of comprehensive, integrated approaches linking health and housing to ensure safe, healthy and efficient housing. The conference will examine the lessons learned from our national lead-poisoning-prevention strategy and the current state of the art as we begin building the framework needed to develop a national healthy housing agenda.
Price: free
Website: http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/2008NHHC.cfm
Contact: US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 202-708-1112
Tuesday through Thursday, September 16 - 18, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Lansing, Michigan
at the Radisson Hotel, 111 North Grand Avenue
Sponsor: Residential Options, Inc.
Dr. Vincent J. Carbone will present this training as the first in his series of workshops on the treatment and education of children with special needs. This workshop includes how to teach communication skills to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities using a behavioral approach; B.F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior; research of Michael, Sundberg, Partington, and others; and more.
Price: $325
Website: http://www.residentialoptionsinc.com/id22.html
Contact: Michael, 517-374-8066 or michael.roi@sbcglobal.net
Friday through Sunday, September 24 - 26, 2008
Mystic, Connecticut
at the Hilton Mystic, 20 Coogan Boulevard
Sponsor: Connecticut Environmental Health Association (CEHA)
The Yankee Conference is a gathering of environmental health professionals from throughout the Northeast. Its purpose is to provide the latest information on topics such as environmental leadership, food protection, preparedness, recreational health, onsite sewage disposal, water and air quality and other current environmental health issues. In addition to offering attendees networking opportunities unavailable anywhere else in the area, every year the Yankee Conference offers a variety of educational sessions for both newer and experienced environmental health professionals. The theme of this year's conference is "Inspiring Excellence in Environmental Health."
Price: see the website below
Website: http://www.cteha.org/
Contact: Rob Guerrera, 203-256-3020 or rguerrer@town.fairfield.ct.us
Thursday September 25, 2008
9:00 a.m. Pacific time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
In late July, lawmakers in the United States passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which includes provisions banning three types of phthalates (plastics softeners) and temporarily banning three other types from certain children's products. The ban is based on limited data suggesting that phthalates act as endocrine disruptors. The CPSI Act, as well as the 2007 European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation, are landmark examples of a precautionary, rather than reactionary, approach to public health. How do REACH and the phthalates ban fit into a larger movement toward the precautionary approach? What constitutes "proof of harm" in light of emerging knowledge about the complexity of disease causation? Just how does new science become new policy? This a special CHE Policy Education Call will explore these important and timely questions.
Price: free
Website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/4236
Friday and Saturday, September 26 - 27, 2008
Los Angeles, California
at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Sponsor: The Help Group
An in-depth and thought-provoking one-and-a-half-day conference for professionals and parents. This conference features leading researchers, educators and clinicians in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's Disorder, Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Price: unknown
Website: http://www.thehelpgroup.org/conf.htm
Contact: The Help Group, 877-943-5747
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/
Autism's cause remains mystery. Pediatricians do not know what causes autism or autism spectrum disorders, but we do understand the frustration of families who want to know the answers. San Angelo Standard Times, Texas, 26 August 2008.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/aug/26/autisms-cause-remains-mystery/
EPA fails to collect chemical safety data. The failure of the EPA's High Production Volume Challenge to make good on its promises is the latest example of how the agency's lax policies favor chemical makers over public demand for information. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 24 August 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=786626
Chronic lead poisoning from urban soils. Chronic lead poisoning -- from playing in contaminated dirt -- affects more U.S. children than acute lead poisoning from imported toys, researchers said. UPI, 23 August 2008.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/08/22/Chronic_lead_poisoning_from_urban_soils/UPI-13261219462696/
Cleaning House. An inspection uncovers an array of chemical toxins in every room — but you can get rid of them. Buffalo News, New York, 23 August 2008.
http://www.buffalonews.com/185/story/421327.html
Dry cleaner safety. Dry Cleaners are regulated by Georgia's Environmental Protection Division. High on the EPD's safety checklist is the proper use of a chemical called Perchloroethylene, or Perc. Savannah WSAV TV, Georgia, 23 August 2008.
http://www.wsav.com/midatlantic/sav/news.apx.-content-articles-SAV-2008-08-22-0053.html
Mercury pollution investigation shuts down Nevada gold mine near Idaho border. A Nevada mine that had been sending thousands of pounds of mercury into Idaho has suddenly shutdown leaving hundreds of workers without jobs and an uncertain future. Boise Idaho Statesman, Idaho, 23 August 2008.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/479209.html
Fearful Chip residents stay out of the water. An independent study found levels of arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, known carcinogens, are not only dangerously high north of oil sands sites, but are quickly rising. Fort McMurray Today, Alberta, 23 August 2008.
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1168957
Officials push for cleaner rivers, less risk to those who eat fish. To gauge the risk from toxic chemicals in the fish we eat, water quality standards in Oregon and most of the nation assume our diet includes about a crackerful of fish a day. Portland Oregonian, Oregon, 22 August 2008.
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/officials_push_for_cleaner_riv.html
Measles cases grow in number, and officials blame parents' fear of autism. Many parents say they believe vaccines cause autism, even though multiple studies have found no reputable evidence to support such a claim. New York Times, 22 August 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/health/research/22measles.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
[Editor's note: See a similar article in the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-vaccine-suspicion_26aug26,0,7718636.story ]
New law restricts lead in products. Turf fields were not included in the ban, but the Synthetic Turf Council has volunteered to follow the new standards, which will all but eliminate lead in turf fields made in the United States. Currently about 10 percent of turf fields use pigment that contains lead. Salem Statesman Journal, Oregon, 22 August 2008.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/NEWS/808220374/1001
Consumers warned not to eat Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice. Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers not to eat the candy after tests by CDPH found elevated levels of lead. Salinas Californian, California, 22 August 2008.
http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS01/80821013/1002
MD wants codeine banned at hospital. Canada's obstetricians say a study showing how a popular pain reliever can turn a mother's milk into a toxic brew for newborns has raised warning bells, with one doctor asking the country's busiest maternity hospital to yank the product off its shelves. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 22 August 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wcodeine22/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
Are your dental fillings containing mercury safe? Millions of people have them in their mouths, yet their widespread use in treating cavities is one of the more contentious issues in dentistry. US News & World Report, 21 August 2008.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/living-well-usn/2008/08/20/are-your-dental-fillings-containing-mercury-safe.html
Lead wheel weights to be phased out in California by end of 2009. Lead wheel weights, widely used to balance vehicle tires and considered a threat to drinking water, will be phased out in California by the end of next year. Los Angeles Times, California, 21 August 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wheels21-2008aug21,1,1502658.story
5 ways to keep your kids safe at home. The new law reforming federal consumer protections has been hailed as the best improvement in child safety laws since the 1970s. But the law's protections don't kick in right away--and there are ways to keep your kids safe right now. US News & World Report, 20 August 2008.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/childrens-health/2008/08/18/5-ways-to-keep-your-kids-safe-at-home.html
State advises anglers to limit bass consumption. Idaho health officials have taken the unprecedented step of advising women of childbearing age, women who are pregnant or nursing and children 15 years of age and younger to limit their consumption of bass caught in state waters. Idaho Mountain Express, Idaho, 20 August 2008.
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005122217
Diabetes onset, severity tied to cognitive problems. Earlier onset, longer duration and greater severity of diabetes may increase the risk for mild cognitive impairment, according to Mayo Clinic researchers. HealthDay News, 20 August 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=618298
New test scans beef for mad cow disease. The first test for instantly detecting beef that's been contaminated with tissue from a cow's brain or spinal cord during slaughter has been developed by U.S. researchers. HealthDay News, 20 August 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=618250
California assembly rejects chemical ban in baby items. California lawmakers rejected restrictions on two chemicals--one used in baby bottles and canned formula, and another used to keep food from sticking to packaging--despite consumer safety concerns. Associated Press, 19 August 2008.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10239774?nclick_check=1
Natural beauty. As the popularity of organic personal-care products grows, standards for the industry remain unclear. Indianapolis Star, Indiana, 19 August 2008.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080819/LIVING01/808190313/1083/LIVING01
Natives unite to fight oil sands. Aboriginal leaders vow to go to court to stop what they say is the destruction of their land and the poisoning of their water. Chiefs from three provinces and the Northwest Territories made the joint declaration Sunday at the conclusion of a water conference in Fort Chipewyan. Edmonton Journal, Canada, 18 August 2008.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=7f3d1b99-e6c8-479c-a7ad-bfe7319bbc5f&p=1
South Korea to tighten quarantine inspections on Nebraska beef. South Korea will conduct tightened quarantine inspections of all beef imported from a U.S. slaughterhouse that has been ordered to recall its products, the government said Sunday. Yonhap News Service, Korea, 18 August 2008.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/080817/4/3nsbr.html
Raytheon's cleanup history is a bit spotty. More than 90 federal lawsuits have sought to stick Raytheon with the cost of removing or cleaning up tainted soil. St. Petersburg Times, Florida, 17 August 2008.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article773579.ece
Food costs 'to soar' after pesticide ban. The EU says it wants to ban a range of up to 50 chemicals for use on crops because of their potential hazard to human health. Farmers' leaders in Scotland predict it will cause rises of up to 50% on some staple items such as cereals, potatoes and fruit. Edinburgh Scotsman, Scotland, 17 August 2008.
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk/Food-costs-39to-soar39-after.4398728.jp
Controversial chemical bisphenol A is safe, FDA says. A draft document released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declares that a chemical commonly found in baby bottles and aluminum can linings is safe. It was immediately embraced and condemned. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, 16 August 2008.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783953
[Editor's note: See a related article in which the FDA announces a public meeting on BPA next month: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1535737420080815?sp=true ]
Lafarge among worst mercury polluters. According to the latest numbers from the National Pollutant Release Inventory, Canada's legislated inventory of pollutants, the Lafarge Canada cement plant that sits in the midst of prime agricultural land and along the banks of the Fraser River is among the worst mercury polluters in the country. Richmond Review, British Columbia, 16 August 2008.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/news/Lafarge_among_worst_mercury_polluters.html
Bush signs consumer bill to cut lead in toys. Legislation aimed at improving US consumer product safety after millions of Chinese-made toys were recalled last summer was signed into law by President Bush yesterday. The bill also boosts CPCS funding and partially bans several phthalates. Reuters, 15 August 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/08/15/bush_signs_consumer_bill_to_cut_lead_in_toys/
Playworld to stop using vinyl. In an effort to become more environmentally friendly and create safer conditions for employees, Playworld Systems Inc. will soon abandon the use of polyvinyl chloride plastic in its products. Sunbury Daily Item, Pennsylvania, 15 August 2008.
http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_228081357.html?keyword=topstory
Living near highway tied to adverse birth outcomes. Living near a highway in Canada may raise a pregnant woman's risk of premature delivery or having a low birth weight baby and, counterintuitively, affluent moms-to-be seem to be more vulnerable to highway pollution than their less well-off counterparts. Reuters,15 August 2008.
http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINCOL47064520080814
Updated produce safety guide issued. Continuing its efforts to protect infants and children from exposure to pesticides in their food, a coalition of King County hazardous materials specialists have reissued a shopper's guide to safe produce. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington, 14 August 2008.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374842_foodhealth14.html
Pregnant quitters still face higher baby risks. Women who quit smoking during their first pregnancy still have a higher risk of giving birth to small or premature babies, even if their second baby is born three years after they have given up cigarettes, researchers have found. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia 14 August 2008.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/health/pregnant-quitters-still-face-higher-baby-risks/2008/08/13/1218307006714.html
Underground FEMA fuel tanks could leak. The government owns hundreds of underground fuel tanks -- many designed for emergencies back in the Cold War -- that need to be inspected for leaks of hazardous substances that could make local water undrinkable. Associated Press, 13 August 2008.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/nationandworld/ci_10177847?nclick_check=1
Study looks at health of farmworkers. The life of farmworkers is physically demanding and exposes them to dust and other environmental hazards. Their health is key to helping provide a safe and secure domestic food supply, says new research. Fresno Bee, California, 13 August 2008.
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/790546.html