These bulletins are archived and searchable on our website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDIbulletins.html If you would like to join the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) and the LDDI Working Group, please complete the application on the CHE website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/application Joining CHE means receiving up to four email messages a month from the CHE National listserv. CHE costs nothing to join and the benefit is shared information and opportunities for further engagement, if you choose. Be sure to mark that you want to join the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative Working Group at the bottom of the application.
Companion bulletins are available for different audiences:
While there is overlap with this bulletin, there are some events and announcements unique to those bulletins.
1) LDDI Policy Consensus Statement released. Last week, LDDI published its new Policy Implications Based on the Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. This statement, signed by almost 100 scientists, health professionals and advocates nationally and internationally, provides policy recommendations based on the latest science regarding environmental contaminants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. To read the full press release, the policy statement or the scientific consensus statement on which the policy was based, please visit the LDDI website: http://www.iceh.org/LDDI.html
2) The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Environmental Health Initiative, an LDDI member, is presenting a teleconference, Environmental Contaminants and ADHD, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday October 7, 2008. Sponsored by The John Merck Fund, this free teleconference will have Daniel A. Axelrad leading the discussion. More information will be available at http://www.ehinitiative.org/Projects/tele_con.htm, or contact Laura Abulafia, 800-424-3688 or Laura@aaidd.org
3) The Institute for Children's Environmental Health, an LDDI member, is one of the sponsors of a free book signing, discussion and call to action. In Poisoned Profits: the Toxic Assault on Our Children, journalists Alice Shabecoff and Philip Shabecoff directly and definitively link industrial toxins to the current rise in childhood disease and death. The book was researched and written under the sponsorship of PSR-LA's sister chapter, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (GBPSR). Discussion of the evening will include how climate change will impact children's environmental health, the corporatization of scientific/environmental health research, and how to move the market and hold government accountable. Policy advocacy opportunities regarding climate change, chemical policy reform and pesticides will also be presented. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday October 14, 2008, at All Saint's Church, 132 North Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California. Please see the website: http://www.psrla.org/calendar.htm or contact Ana, 213-689-9170 or amascarenas@psrla.org
Online Calendar. With a large number of events listed in the coming month, you may prefer to use our online calendar to search by location, by type of event and by other criteria: http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchevents.cgi Upcoming events extending more than one month in the future are also listed.
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
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
Thursday and Friday, September 25 - 26, 2008
Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites, 1763 Comox Street
Sponsor: Interprofessional Continuing Education at the University of British Columbia
This conference will provide education and informative updates on psychiatric, behavioral and complex health components specific to individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as showcasing best practices in the field. The conference will address topics such as epilepsy, aging in Down Syndrome, Prader Willi Syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, sexual health; self injurious behaviour (SIB) and other challenging behaviors, as well as co-morbid health conditions such as dysphagia, pain and mobility issues. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: see http://www.peopleware.net/index.cfm?siteCode=1268
Website: http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/Developmental_Disabilities.html
Contact: Interprofessional Continuing Education, 604-822-6156 or liau@interchange.ubc.ca
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
Friday through Sunday, September 26 - 28, 2008
Charlotte, North Carolina
at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College Street
Sponsor: Saving Our Kids, Healing Our Planet; to see the complete list, see the website below.
This is a green expo with a focus on how to raise healthy children in a toxic world. Presentations and exhibits include how to prevent and many times reverse conditions like allergies, asthma, ADHD and autism using natural methods; how to identify and get rid of toxins in the home and school; safer vaccine schedules to minimize problems from a pediatrician's perspective; and much more.
Price: see http://registration.sokhop.com/
Website: http://www.sokhop.com/
Contact: Maureen McDonnell, RN, 828-689-8600
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
Sunday through Thursday, October 12 - 16, 2008
Pasadena, California
at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street
Sponsor: International Society for Environmental Epidemiology and International Society of Exposure Analysis; for the complete list see http://secure.awma.org/events/isee-isea/sponsor.htm
Join with participants from around the world to exchange ideas about exposure, health and epidemiology in our global environment. Topics include global transport of pollution; epidemiological studies of population health disparities; differential impacts of environmental hazards and risks in developing and industrial societies; changing patterns of exposures and diseases; and much more.
Price: unknown
Website: http://secure.awma.org/events/isee-isea/index.htm
Sunday through Thursday, October 12 - 16, 2008
Rochester, New York
at the Hyatt Regency & URMC
Sponsor: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and others; see the complete list at http://www.neurotoxicology.com/conf2008/Sponsorship.pdf
The conference theme is "Environmental Etiologies of Neurological Disorders: Scientific, Translational and Policy Implications."
Price: see http://www.neurotoxicology.com/conf2008/registration.pdf
Website: http://www.neurotoxicology.com/conf2008/conference.htm
Contact: Dr. Joan Cranmer, Conference Chair, CranmerJoanM@uams.edu
Sunday through Friday, October 12 - 17, 2008
Burlington, Vermont
at the University of Vermont's Davis Center
Sponsor: North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
The focus for the 23rd annual Hazardous Materials Management Association Conference is on household and small business waste. Tracts include school chemicals clean-out training, hidden hazards in two business sectors training, cleaning up our industrial past, and more.
Price: see http://www.nahmma.org/adminconvregsample.cfm?conventionnbr=5571&status=ignore
Website: http://www.nahmma.org/displayconvspecific.cfm?convnbr=5571
Contact: North American Hazardous Materials Management Association, 877-292-1403 or nahmma@imigroup.org
Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 - 16, 2008
Deira, Dubai United Arab Emirates
at the Al Nahdha Center for Consultation and Training
Sponsor: Ishara
The conference is intended to produce a blueprint of action to help governments and educational institutions design curricula, evolve interventional methods and build up training resources to address the problems of underachievers. We offer opportunities to the delegates to interact with specialists, initiate dialogue and network in order to harness the current knowledge and practices in this field.
Price: US $700
Website: http://www.isharaonline.com/ld/index.htm
Contact: Ishara, 971-4-295-5581 or info@isharaonline.com
Saturday October 18, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mahwah, New Jersey
at the Sheraton Crossroads
Sponsor: Holistic Moms Network
This promises to be a day to become informed and empowered, to renew your passion for holistic health and green living, and to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Holistic Moms Network community. Featured speakers are Barbara Loe Fisher, founder of the National Vaccine Information Center presenting "Vaccines & Chronic Illness: Staying Well in the New Epidemic" and Annie B. Bond, author and environmentalist, presenting "Ease Your Mind: Easy Tips for a Green and Healthy Home."
Price: $85 for members, $100 for nonmembers
Website: http://annualconference.holisticmoms.org:80/
Contact: Holistic Moms Network, 877-HOL-MOMS
Thursday October 23, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Springfield, Illinois
at Prairie Heart Institute, St. John's Hospital, 619 East Mason Street
Sponsor: Illinois Lead Program and St. John's Hospital Foundation
The objective of this conference is to empower attendees to examine ways to utilize legislators, health advocates, community health educators and lead industry contractors to reduce incidents of environmentally-related illnesses through public education, community outreach and safe work practices. Conference sessions will explore the correlation between the home environment and children's health issues, focusing primarily on exposure to lead poisoning and home toxicants and the short- and long-term outcomes of children's health as a result of these exposures. Continuing education credits are available.
Price: unknown
Website: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=82d9269b-b34e-4dda-ba16-d1bf620ae2fe
Contact: Vicky Ritz, vicky.ritz@illinois.gov
Most of the articles below come from Environmental Health News, http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Job opening, Bolinas, California. Commonweal is seeking an experienced and creative leader to fill the position of executive director. Commonweal has a capable staff of 30 and highly-regarded programs for cancer patients, health-care professionals, environmental health, ocean policy reform, juvenile-justice reform, permaculture gardening, adult education and more. The candidate must have at least five years of high-level nonprofit experience, strong leadership skills, demonstrated fundraising skills, a strong grasp of fiscal management, and excellent writing and speaking skills. Common sense, kindness and a sense of humor are essential. Start date is immediate.
http://www.commonweal.org/EDjobdescription
Environmental Health News expands. Award-winning environmental journalist Marla Cone has been named editor-in-chief of Environmental Health News (EHN), which has expanded to provide its own journalistic content. EHN will produce its own articles, and the website's new format is designed to highlight the day's best stories.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/
Drugs hint at potential reversal of autism. A scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has discovered a system in the brain that could change the lives of thousands of people with the genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome. Morning Edition, NPR, 23 September 2008.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94810949
Melamine in pesticides, human food chain -- experts. Melamine, a chemical that has tainted milk formula and made thousands of Chinese children ill, is used as an agricultural pesticide in China and may have been part of our food chain for a long time, experts said on Tuesday. Reuters, 23 September 2008.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG120043.htm
Nice prawns, shame about the chemical cocktail. Prawn farming is an ancient activity in tropical countries. But as Tiger or 'king' prawns have become a staple, the result has been ever-falling prices, increasing use of chemicals, and dropping quality. London Observer, England, 23 September 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/21/fooddrinks.food
Quiet please. There is growing evidence that noise-related stress is a significant public health hazard. It causes sleep disturbance, raises blood pressure and can lead to heart disease. Small wonder then that noise is slowly inching up the political agenda. London Guardian, United Kingdom, 23 September 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/sep/23/healthandwellbeing.pollution
Toilet trouble: Flushing meds contaminates water supplies. Fish in the Potomac River have ingested so many pharmaceuticals that males have developed eggs. And trace amounts of medications- have tainted the drinking water of at least 46 million Americans. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah, 23 September 2008.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10529094
EPA unlikely to limit perchlorate in tap water. The Environmental Protection Agency, under pressure from the White House and the Pentagon, is poised to rule as early as today that it will not set a drinking-water safety standard for perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel. Washington Post, 22 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/21/AR2008092102352.html?sub=AR
Atrazine found in lakes far from farm sources. The widely used weed-killer atrazine is showing up in pristine lakes in northern Minnesota far from farm country, and scientists believe the chemical is falling out of the sky. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota, 22 September 2008.
http://www.startribune.com/local/29171259.html
Mom's prenatal stress tied to child's brain power. Children whose mothers were exposed to even moderately severe stress during pregnancy may show the effects in their intellectual development, a new study suggests. Reuters Health, 22 September 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/09/19/eline/links/20080919elin002.html
Lead soil in urban gardens. More Americans have started planting their own gardens in recent years. But it turns out a lot of urban gardens are contaminated with lead. Great Lakes Radio Consortium, Michigan, 22 September 2008.
http://www.environmentreport.org/story.php3?story_id=4174
New law for lead in toys. A new federal law is forcing toy manufacturers to get the lead out of children's products. Consumer advocates are cheering the tougher guidelines. Great Lakes Radio Consortium, Michigan, 22 September 2008.
http://www.environmentreport.org/story.php3?story_id=4171
Ancient, but how safe? The health industry has questions about metals like lead, mercury or arsenic being found in ayurvedic supplements. New York Times, 21 September 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/fashion/18skin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Mobile phone use 'raises children's risk of brain cancer fivefold.' Children and teenagers are five times more likely to get brain cancer if they use mobile phones, startling new research indicates. London Independent, England, 21 September 2008.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/mobile-phone-use-raises-childrens-risk-of-brain-cancer-fivefold-937005.html
Study links some antibiotic use to cerebral palsy. A once-used practice of giving antibiotics [erythromycin, co-amoxiclav] to some women at risk of premature birth may have increased the odds their children will develop cerebral palsy and other problems, British researchers said on Thursday. Reuters Health, 19 September 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/09/18/eline/links/20080918elin010.html
Dietary trans fatty acids may be linked to fetal loss. Trans fatty acids -- the much maligned "solid" fats implicated as artery-clogging contributors to cardiovascular disease -- may also increase the risk of fetal death during pregnancy, study findings suggest. Reuters Health, 19 September 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/09/18/eline/links/20080918elin001.html
Chelation study for autism called off. Federal officials have abandoned a proposed study of a controversial alternative therapy for autism, leaving parents who believe in the treatment disappointed and angry about the move. WebMD, 19 September 2008.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20080918/chelation-study-autism-called-off
Potential environmental risks aren't part of chemical engineers' training. Chemists and chemical engineers have been taught everything they need to know about how to synthesize a substance or trigger a reaction. Yet most don't know the effects of chemicals on people or the environment. Los Angeles Times, California, 19 September 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greenchemside19-2008sep19,0,772775.story
Researchers link BPA exposure to health concerns. In the first large-scale human study of the chemical, some found with bisphenol A in their urine had more than double the normal risk of heart disease and diabetes. Los Angeles Times, California, 17 September 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-bpa17-2008sep17,0,2912437.story
[Editor's note: See a related article with a response from the US Food & Drug Administration at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MED_BISPHENOL_SAFETY?SITE=DCUSN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT ]
Chemicals around us pose a problem for youngest New Yorkers. Landrigan has worked to develop a field called environmental pediatrics, which seeks to protect kids from things like lead, pesticides, air pollution and plastics. New York Daily News, New York, 17 September 2008.
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2008/09/17/2008-09-17_chemicals_around_us_pose_a_problem_for_y.html
EPA ignoring children's health. The federal Environmental Protection Agency should be doing more to monitor and curb the effects of environmental hazards on children's health, according to a report released Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office. Salt Lake Deseret Morning News, Utah, 17 September 2008.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700259465,00.html
Coal plants, mines are biggest mercury polluters in NM. The New Mexico Environment Department has completed an inventory of mercury emissions in New Mexico for the year 2002 that indicates coal-fired power plants and mining are the largest sources of mercury pollution in the state. New Mexico Business Weekly, New Mexico, 17 September 2008.
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/othercities/albuquerque/stories/2008/09/15/daily16.html
NIEHS invests $21.25 million to find environmental causes of Parkinson's Disease. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced today that it will award three new grants totaling $21.25 million over a five-year period to study how environmental factors contribute to the cause, prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease and other related disorders. NIEHS, 16 September 2008.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2008/parkinsons.cfm
Autism 'may be missed in girls.' Girls with mild autism are less likely to be identified and diagnosed than boys, a study suggests. BBC, United Kingdom, 16 September 2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7616555.stm
Link found between environment, child disorders. Some of the modern products designed to make our lives easier, safer and cleaner may be threatening our health down the road. Seattle King 5 TV, Washington, 16 September 2008.
http://www.nwcn.com/health/stories/NW_091608ENVB_chemical_neurological_disorder_TP.8355eceb.html
Latest school of thought on fish: Eat up! Pregnant women who eat fish are doing their children a favor, a new study shows. Researchers found that the more fish a woman eats, the better her infant's physical and cognitive abilities are. Washington Post, 16 September 2008.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091202924.html
The real story on organic dry-cleaning. In everything from fruit to furniture, consumers have a choice between conventional or organic goods. And increasingly, the option is available in dry cleaning. New York Sun, New York, 16 September 2008.
http://www.nysun.com/style/the-real-story-on-organic-dry-cleaning/85914/
Program targets toxic waste in schools. The Environmental Protection Agency says outdated and unknown chemicals found in schools can cause fires and explosions. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, 15 September 2008.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/B91DCF3B98E3C6A3862574C50004C42C?OpenDocument
Health facilities flush estimated 250M pounds of drugs a year. U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities annually flush millions of pounds of unused pharmaceuticals down the drain, pumping contaminants into America's drinking water. Associated Press, 15 September 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-14-drugs-flush-water_N.htm
Federal agencies start summit on healthy homes. The U.S. government is ramping up efforts to promote the building of healthy homes free of lead, chemicals, mold, moisture and pests. USA Today, 15 September 2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-14-healthyhome_N.htm
A greener future. Innovations in designing green chemicals are emerging in nearly every U.S. industry, from plastics and pesticides to toys and nail polish. Some manufacturers are leading the charge, while others are lagging behind. Los Angeles Times, California, 14 September 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greenchem14-2008sep14,0,2276532.story
Just how safe are these synthetic turf fields? The National Center for Environmental Health, part of the Centers for Disease Control, announced on Sept. 2 that independent testing has found high levels of lead in the products of more than a dozen turf companies. Monterey County Herald, California, 14 September 2008.
http://www.montereyherald.com/sports/ci_10462131?nclick_check=1
Safety agency blasted on rules. Thanks to the recently passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, strict new standards protecting children from dangerous toys and other products will take effect in February. Until then, retailers and manufacturers may take a lax position on enforcement. Chicago Tribune, Illinois, 13 September 2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat_cpscsep13,0,899193.story
Smoking during pregnancy shows mixed effects. Smoking during pregnancy appears to affect children's birthweight, and possibly their risk of becoming overweight, but it may not directly harm other aspects of physical and cognitive development, a large study suggests. Reuters Health, 13 September 2008.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/09/12/eline/links/20080912elin001.html
New toxin discovered in S. Seattle neighborhood. Another dangerous toxin [dioxins] has shown up in a section of Seattle's South Park neighborhood that is already a Superfund site because of PCB contamination. Seattle King 5 TV, Washington, 13 September 2008.
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_091208WAB_toxin_seattle_neighborhood_KS.6ce3ae92.html
World wide web of pesticides can endanger consumers. Like books, cars and music, pesticides are available online more than ever, for purchase by both professional exterminators and unsuspecting consumers. Vendors and customers are now linked by a few clicks of the mouse, letting them circumvent regulations meant to protect people from harmful chemicals. US Center for Public Integrity, 12 September 2008.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/pesticides/articles/entry/703/
submitted to this bulletin by Steve Carpinelli
FDA issues warning on imported Chinese baby formula. Federal officials on Thursday warned consumers to avoid buying any infant formula imported from China -- citing reports of dozens of babies in that country who fell ill after drinking a brand called Sanlu. At least one death was reported. Los Angeles Times, California, 12 September 2008.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-formula12-2008sep12,0,1479701.story
[Editor's note: see an update regarding other tainted milk products from China: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4790866.ece ]
EPA to develop stricter standards for ocean water. Beachgoers will be told more about whether it's safe to go in the water under a court settlement between environmentalists and the EPA. Associated Press, 11 September 2008.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/northwest/story/544836.html
Have you had a dose of toxins today? We are under siege by minuscule traces of sinister chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, whose cumulative damage is unknown -- but which probably are responsible for the soaring rates of cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s, obesity, infertility, misbehaving children, and other scourges of Western civilization. Lake Oswego Review, Oregon, 11 September 2008.
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=122090794895274700
Congress to address dumping of sewage sludge. Consumer and food groups are taking their fight to Congress to put a stop to the dumping of toxic sewage sludge on U.S. farmland. Reuters, 11 September 2008.
http://www.stv.tv/articles/reuters/environment/Congress_to_address_dumping_of_sewage_sludge_132405
Are we screwing in the wrong bulbs? New research highlights a stark contradiction between two cherished green goals: fighting global warming and ridding the environment of toxic pollution [mercury]. Lake Oswego Review, Oregon, 11 September 2008.
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=122090777173654500
Information differs on effects of Scourge on humans. Scourge, the pesticide used by Nassau County, NY, to kill mosquitoes, is considered highly unlikely to have the same effect on humans, though the widely used concoction comes with lots of warnings and disclaimers. New York Newsday, New York, 11 September 2008.
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-liscou125839405sep12,0,2370973.story
Chromosome tests help study of kids' mental anomalies. New cytogenetic tests that can detect subtle alterations in genes and chromosomes are helping doctors better detail and more accurately diagnose complex developmental abnormalities [mental retardation, autism or congenital anomalies] in children, a new report shows. US News & World Report, 11 September 2008.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/09/10/chromosome-tests-help-study-of--kids-mental.html
Ag-mart workers testify. On Wednesday, parents of a child born with no legs and arms said that they were repeatedly exposed to pesticides while working on a North Carolina tomato farm run by Ag-Mart. Raleigh News & Observer, North Carolina, 11 September 2008.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1214475.html
EPA releases 2007 TRI data. To better inform communities about releases of toxic chemicals from industrial facilities in their area, EPA announced the availability of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facility-level data for 2007. TRI provides American communities with vital information on chemical releases including disposal of chemicals. In addition, TRI tracks releases of chemicals and industrial sectors specified by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986. US Environmental Protection Agency, 10 September 2008.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/202736D44CDEA3E9852574C000523A20
High calcium levels during pregnancy reduces fetal exposure to lead. Women who consume high levels of daily calcium supplements during pregnancy show a marked reduction in lead levels in their blood, according to a new study. Asian News International, South Asia, 10 September 2008.
http://www.newslocale.org/health/hnews/high_calcium_levels_during_pregnancy_reduces_fetal_exposure_to_lead_200809105013.html
States battle pesticides in groundwater. Should we be worried about pesticides in groundwater contaminating the water we drink and the food we eat? ABC News, 10 September 2008.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/SmartHome/story?id=5753073&page=1