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.
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 September 15, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cincinnati, Ohio
at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way
Sponsor: University of Cincinnati (UC) Center for Environmental Genetics and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Local scientists will present recent data on hazards in the home, including lead, plastics, second-hand smoke, mold and traffic exhaust. UC experts will also offer practical ideas for how residents can improve the health of their communities and individual families by assessing environmental exposures. The event is open to the public. Registration is required and must be received by Friday September 5, 2008.
Price: $15
Website: http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story.aspx?content_id=7e5b49c5-5dc7-4606-9042-33c20b923841
Contact: Elizabeth Kopras, 513-558-3625 or koprasej@uc.edu
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
Four Tuesdays from September 16 through October 14, 2008
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: National Collaborative Work Group on Green Cleaning and Chemical Policy Reform in Schools; for a list of all sponsors, please see the web address below
The four presentations are targeted at different audiences: all audiences, parents and communities, schools, and workers.
Price: free
Website: http://www.cleaningforhealthyschools.org/documents/training_schedule.pdf
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
begins Friday September 26, 2008
Sponsor: Teleosis Institute
In this eight-week, flexible online format course, health care professionals will learn the newly emerging discipline of sustainable medicine. The course will review the most up-to-date theory and research behind sustainable medicine and introduce participants to the best practices for initiating green health care, including greening their offices, offering affordable and renewable medical treatments, and promoting community and environmental health.
Price: Teleosis member $445, nonmember $495, student $250
Website: http://www.teleosis.org/ghcp.php
Contact: Nina, 510-558-7285 or nina@teleosis.org
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
five individual days from Saturday September 27 through Sunday October 5, 2008
various times
at five locations throughout the UK
Sponsor: Autism Treatment Center of America, The Son-Rise Program
Director of the Autism Treatment Center of America, Raun K. Kaufman will share the story of his own full and complete recovery from autism. Mr. Kaufman will lead interactive lectures about the key principles of The Son-Rise Program. The principles discussed are designed for parents caring for children challenged by autism, autism spectrum disorders and other related developmental difficulties. The lecture will include specific strategies that can be used immediately at home, by parents working with children with special needs.
Price: free, but pre-registration is required
Website: http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/uk
Contact: Rachel, 0161 870 2585 or rachel@option.org
Tuesday October 7, 2008
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Sponsor: The John Merck Fund through the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Initiative
Daniel A. Axelrad will lead this discussion. More information will be available at the website below.
Price: free
Website: http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm
Contact: Laura Abulafia, 800-424-3688 or Laura@aaidd.org
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. Josiah Hill Clinic seeks a full-time program coordinator in environmental health, one of two staff positions within this small, local nonprofit. This position leads and supports project delivery in the Portland Metro area. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator that is skilled at multitasking and thrives in a fast-paced grassroots environment. The coordinator develops/updates culturally appropriate trainings on green cleaning and healthy homes, conducts healthy home checkups/indoor air quality assessments, conducts outreach at community events and fairs, and performs other tasks. A bachelors degree and three years of related professional experience are required. To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and three references to erin@jhillclinic.org Please list Program Coordinator in the subject line. The application deadline is Friday September 19th, 2008.
http://www.jhillclinic.org/
Job opening, Eugene, Oregon. The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) seeks a dynamic leader to work with our energetic and committed staff and board to continue and expand our efforts to protect the health of people and the environment in the Pacific Northwest by advancing alternatives to pesticides. Our ideal candidate is a skilled communicator and visionary with significant fundraising and nonprofit experience who can take on the multiple tasks required to lead an established nonprofit organization. The executive director is a full-time, professional staff person whose primary responsibility is to manage the operation and growth of the organization. Contact Karen Murphy: kmurphy@pesticide.org Application period closes on September 24, 2008, for a position to start in January 2009.
http://www.pesticide.org/jobs.html
"Poisoned Profits" published. In this book, journalists Alice Shabecoff and Philip Shabecoff directly and definitively link industrial toxins to the current rise in childhood disease and death.
http://www.poisonedprofits.com/index.php
Funding opportunity: Novel Approaches for Assessing Exposure for School-Aged Children in Longitudinal Studies. EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program is soliciting applications proposing research to develop and evaluate novel, innovative approaches for classifying exposure for children two to less than 11 years of age to toxic chemicals in their environment for use in large-scale longitudinal exposure assessment and epidemiological studies. Applications are due November 18, 2008.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2008/2008_star_novelapproaches.html
Request for Information (RFI). Priorities for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Services Subcommittee for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is interested in receiving input and ideas about high-priority questions and issues surrounding services and supports to people with ASD of all ages, as well as specific research initiatives on ASD services and supports. The deadline is September 19, 2008.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-016.html
IACC draft Strategic Plan for ASD research available for comment. The purpose of this time-sensitive RFI is to seek comments on the draft Strategic Plan from ASD stakeholders such as individuals with ASD and their families, autism advocates, scientists, health professionals, therapists, educators, officials of state and local programs for ASD, and the public at large. The deadline is September 30, 2008. Please see the official RFI notice NOT-MH-08-021.
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-08-021.html
National Children's Study launches newly redesigned national website. In preparation for the start of recruitment, the National Children's Study has launched a new national website with enhanced content, new sections, and an updated look and feel. The study redesigned its website to communicate new and updated information to its numerous key stakeholders, the largest of which will be its participants, and to better represent the progress it has made to date.
http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov
State Environmental Health Legislation Database updated for 2008. The National Conference of State Legislatures has updated its database on state legislation related to environmental health for 2008. The database covers legislation on issues affecting environmental health including asbestos, asthma, biomonitoring, children's environmental health, indoor air quality, lead, mercury, outdoor air quality, pesticides, toxics, tracking and surveillance.
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/environ/envhealth/cehdb.cfm
Parents demand lead risk guide after water scare. Parent groups have called for the swift distribution of a lead poisoning symptoms guide so they can check whether children have suffered from contaminated school tank water. Sydney Daily Telegraph, Australia, 9 September 2008.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24314169-5006009,00.html
Aging: Lack of B12 linked to brain shrinkage. Low levels of the vitamin B12 may lead to a reduction in brain volume. New York Times, 9 September 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/health/09agin.html
Using mobiles during pregnancy 'increases risk of child's behavioural problems.' Women who use mobile phones while they are pregnant increase the chances of giving birth to children with behavioural problems by 80 per cent, it has been claimed. London Daily Telegraph, England, 8 September 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2700266/Using-mobiles-during-pregnancy-increases-risk-of-childs-behavioural-problems.html
Certain flame retardants may make us sick. A common group of flame retardants used since the 1970s and credited with saving lives [PBDEs] is proving to be a pervasive contaminant in the environment that may be harmful to human health. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania, 8 September 2008.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20080908_Certain_flame_retardants_may_make_us_sick.html
Avoid toxic cleaning products in your home. While much of the research is mixed or inconclusive, a variety of human and animal studies have linked chemicals common in household cleaning products with a wide range of health risks. The Daily Green, 8 September 2008.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/intro-green-cleaners-460908
Movement wants fewer PVC office products. It's part of nearly every back-to-school shopping list: the colorful, durable three-ring vinyl binder. But it may not be on those lists in the future. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 7 September 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/06/BUIS12MQCD.DTL
Women warned of herbal remedies risk in pregnancy. Thousands of pregnant women could be risking the health of their unborn babies by taking herbal remedies without knowing the risks. Edinburgh Scotsman, Scotland, 7 September 2008.
http://news.scotsman.com/health/Women-warned-of-herbal-.4466412.jp
L.A. residents ferret out toxic sites for researchers. A cadre of San Fernando Valley residents have begun to catalog the location of industrial businesses and their proximity to gathering places for young and elderly residents, who could be most affected by contamination. Los Angeles Times, California, 7 September 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pollute7-2008sep07,0,7047992.story
State finds 7 pesticides in Oregon groundwater. Seven pesticides have been identified in Oregon groundwater or streams that could pose a risk to human or environmental health. Associated Press, 7 September 2008.
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-26/122073414936820.xml&storylist=orlocal
New York Governor signs renters notification law. State Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo and state Sen. Thomas W. Libous tried to get two previous governors to approve a measure that would warn tenants about indoor air contamination. Gov. David Paterson signed the bill into law today. Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, New York, 6 September 2008.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/NEWS01/809050380/1001
Great Lakes pollution can't be tied to health woes, review finds. After a six-month study, an independent review panel said a 2007 report that warned nine million people living in the Great Lakes were at risk from contaminated sites in and near the lakes was flawed. Detroit Free Press, Michigan, 6 September 2008.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/NEWS06/80905040/1008/NEWS06
FDA to list drugs being investigated. The Food and Drug Administration will begin posting every three months a list of drugs whose safety is under investigation because of complaints brought to the agency's attention by drug companies, physicians and patients. Washington Post, 6 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/05/AR2008090503409.html
Oil refineries underestimate release of emissions, study says. It is likely that all refineries in Canada and the United States are seriously undercounting emissions because they follow an estimating protocol developed by the American Petroleum Institute and the US EPA. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 6 September 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080906.POLLUTANTS06/TPStory/Environment
Schoolchildren at risk from toxic chemical dust on whiteboards, scientists warn. Young pupils are being exposed to a cocktail of chemicals at levels which are higher than those found in homes, offices or cars, researchers found. Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 5 September 2008.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1052717/Schoolchildren-risk-toxic-chemical-dust-whiteboards-scientists-warn.html
Fire retardant chemical found in children. A fire retardant chemical [PBDEs] used in electronics, toys and furniture has been detected in children's blood at triple the levels found in their mothers, the Environmental Working Group reported on Thursday. Reuters, 5 September 2008.
http://www.ewg.org/node/27076
Why mercury tuna is still legal. The Bush FDA helped industry suppress the bad news about mercury. Still want fish for dinner? Mother Jones, 4 September 2008.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/09/exit-strategy-tuna-surprise.html
Study finds no autism link in vaccine. A common vaccine given to children to protect them against measles, mumps and rubella is not linked to autism, a study concludes, contradicting earlier research. Washington Post, 4 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303396.html
Chemical in plastic is connected to health problems in monkeys. Researchers have linked bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic, to problems with brain function and mood disorders in monkeys -- the first time the chemical has been connected to health problems in primates. Washington Post, 4 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303397.html
The chemistry of beauty. What's in all those beauty products? The truth isn't pretty. Sacramento News and Review, California, 4 September 2008.
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=721266
Bisphenol-A in plastics could harm you. Two weeks after the Food and Drug Administration declared the controversial plastics chemical bisphenol-A safe, the National Toxicology Program has finalized its very different conclusion. The Daily Green, 4 September 2008.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bisphenol-a-47090306
Suits filed over lead in artificial turf. Six artificial-turf companies are breaking state law by not warning the public of exposure to dangerous amounts of lead from the fake green grass. San Francisco Chronicle, California, 3 September 2008.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BAK012MTOM.DTL
Schoolchildren show addiction to caffeine. Schoolchildren have been showing signs of caffeine addiction after consuming energy drinks such as Red Bull, health campaigners have cautioned. London Times, England, 3 September 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article4663859.ece
Breast cancer drug not tied to cognitive decline. Contrary to previous study results, the cancer prevention drug anastrozole does not appear to cause impairment of cognitive performance, a new study found. HealthDay News, 3 September 2008.
http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=618974
Depression in schoolchildren linked to low birth weights. Children are more likely to experience psychiatric difficulties during their school years if they are underweight at birth, scientists have found. London Guardian, England, 2 September 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/02/psychology.children
Lack of testing puts children at risk for lead. Health inspectors can't legally enter a home or test for lead unless a child there has been poisoned. Springfield News-Sun, Ohio, 2 September 2008.
http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/02/sns090208leadpaintinside.html
The real health effects of hurricane Gustav. Hurricane Gustav has landed in Louisiana and Dr. Manny Alavarez, detailed Monday morning the short- and long-term health effects that residents will face in the aftermath. Fox News, 2 September 2008.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414562,00.html
Australians reach for organic alternatives. Australians are turning in ever increasing numbers to organic food as worried consumers become more aware of the health and environmental benefits of chemical-free fruit and vegetables. Abu Dhabi National, UAE, 2 September 2008.
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080901/FOREIGN/555587690/1015/NEWS&Profile=1015
Long-term ills tied to bad food. Over the past decade, as medical experts have sought out the source of certain chronic illnesses, they have increasingly found links to episodes of food poisoning. Washington Post, 2 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082902519.html
Tackling toxins. Despite how hard it might seem to stay safe and healthy, a few small steps can go a long way. St. Joseph News-Press, Missouri, 2 September 2008.
http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/sep/02/tackling-toxins/?diem
Maine's anti-smoking law for cars kicks in. On Monday, Maine joins other U.S. states and Canadian provinces that have made it illegal to smoke in a car while children are present. Canadian Press, 1 September 2008.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ibbWd7_szC6DGrJ9HrcQU_RKMWNw
'Gender bending' chemicals found in beer and wine. Worried about eating too much "gender-bending" soya? It turns out a host of other foods also contain high levels of oestrogen-like chemicals, including beer, wine and roasted peanuts. New Scientist, England, 1 September 2008.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14627-gender-bending-chemicals-found-in-beer-and-wine.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news2_head_dn14627
Women warned not to wear perfume during pregnancy. Pregnant women have been advised to avoid using perfumes or scented body creams after research suggested the products can cause unborn boys to suffer infertility or cancer in later life. Edinburgh Scotsman, Scotland, 31 August 2008.
http://news.scotsman.com/health/Women-warned--not-to.4443471.jp
Exposure to lead speeds aging by up to six years. Millions of people will grow old faster than they should because of past exposures to lead in petrol, a startling series of studies indicates. London Independent, England, 31 August 2008.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/exposure-to-lead-speeds-ageing-by-up-to-six-years-913917.html
DEQ, Brown support ban on flame retardant. A long-awaited report from a state Department of Environmental Quality panel supports a ban on "deca-BDE," the only remaining commercial type of the flame retardant, which has been linked to cancer and other health problems in humans and laboratory animals. Bay City Times, Michigan, 31 August 2008.
http://blog.mlive.com/watershedwatch/2008/08/deq_brown_support_ban_on_flame.html
Sierra Club opposes plant. Clean power or major polluter? Job creator or health threat? The debate over those questions has raged for almost a year and a half since plans were unveiled for a massive tires-to-energy plant in east Erie, Pennsylvania. Erie Times-News, Pennsylvania, 31 August 2008.
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/NEWS02/808310374/-1/NEWS
Public involvement usually leads to better environmental decision making. When done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment, says a new report from the National Research Council. Science Daily, 31 August 2008.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080822120140.htm
submitted to this bulletin by Marnie Boardman
Study: Women living in mercury's shadow. The nation's first region-by-region analysis of mercury in women's blood shows vast differences based on where they live, with the highest levels found in the Northeast. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 30 August 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-080830-mercury-women,0,5597039.story
Why a recall is no simple matter. The Consumer Product Safety Commission faces a balancing act as it tries to get companies to recall products without putting them out of business, which leaves consumers with no remedy. Washington Post, 30 August 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082903258.html
U.S. appeals court bars meatpacker tests for mad cow. The Agriculture Department is within bounds to bar meatpackers from testing slaughter cattle for mad cow disease, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel said in a 2-1 ruling on Friday. Reuters, 30 August 2008.
http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/08/29/2008-08-29T184401Z_01_N29284508_RTRIDST_0_USA-MADCOW-TESTS.html
Arsenic found in Twin Cities picnic tables. More often than not, when tested, wood picnic tables contain arsenic, chromium and copper. Minneapolis WCCO TV, Minnesota, 30 August 2008.
http://wcco.com/health/arsenic.picnic.tables.2.806356.html
Too good to waste? Reports that sludge from sewage plants is routinely used to fertilise edible crops have caused outrage. Is this simply a prudent use of so-called 'biosolids' or a grave threat to our health? London Guardian, England, 29 August 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/29/waste.recycling
The price of being well. Is it time for a new paradigm for health and development? A heavyweight panel with an egalitarian ideology claims to have found one. Economist, 29 August 2008.
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12009974
Toxic chemicals lurk in school supplies. Many school supplies from plastic backpacks to binders contain chemicals now under fire from environmental groups, large retailers and recently the government for possible health risks. Salem Statesman Journal, Oregon, 29 August 2008.
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS/808290342/1001/NEWS
Calif. bill sets limits on DuPont chemical. Lawmakers in California have voted to limit the amount of a controversial DuPont-produced chemical in food-packaging products. Wilmington News Journal, Delaware, 29 August 2008.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/BUSINESS/808290336
Hot dogs spark patriotism row in US. An advertising campaign linking hot dogs with colonic cancer in children has prompted a heated debate about an American cultural icon. London Daily Telegraph, England, 28 August 2008.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2633467/Hot-dogs-spark-patriotism-row-in-US.html
Just how harmful are bisphenol A plastics? Patricia Hunt, a geneticist, discovered that a single breach in protocol had turned the safe environs for her laboratory mice into acutely toxic habitats. Her unnerving discovery, in 1998, led her to speak out on the possible human health threats of BPA. Scientific American, 28 August 2008.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=just-how-harmful-are-bisphenol-a-plastics
Contamination threatens health, environment, and economy. According to the feature article in the latest issue of UC Berkeley's Health Research for Action Perspectives, public health officials are struggling with the dilemma between promoting consumption of high-protein fish and safeguarding the public from the growing risk of seafood contamination. University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health News, 27 August 2008.
http://sph.berkeley.edu/news/2008/hra_fish.html
"Autistic" mice may help study genetics of the disorder. Researchers have found all the signs of autism in a strain of noisy laboratory mice that are used to diagnose human beings, a finding that may help them study the complicated genetics of the disorder. Asian News International, South Asia, 27 August 2008.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/autistic-mice-may-help-study-genetics-of-the-disorder_10089124.html
Study finds toxins in some herbal medicines. Traditional herbal supplements used by thousands of Americans may contain dangerously high levels of lead and other toxins, a study shows. USA Today, 27 August 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-08-26-ayurvedic-medicines_N.htm
Panic in the lunch box. First it was peanut butter on the endangered sandwich list. Then tinned albacore tuna. Now it's cold cuts, benched by the continuing listeriosis crisis. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario, 27 August 2008.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080827.wlunch27/BNStory/lifeFoodWine/home
[Editor's note: see a September 2nd update on this issue at http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=117&art_id=nw20080829072543766C918529 ]
EPA's sluggish response. Pesticides known as pyrethrins and pyrethroids, long considered "safe," have exploded in popularity over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, so has the number of reported poisonings from exposures to these chemicals. Hartford Courant, Connecticut, 27 August 2008.
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-epa.artaug27,0,268297.story