CHE News Feed

New report: Cell Phones: Technology, Exposures, Health Effects.

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:22:08 -0800

Environment & Human Health, Inc. has published a report that reviews the science on health risks due to cell phone technology and issues policy recommendations in addition to precautionary health recommendations for individuals.
[See a related article: Why iPads and iPhones are not kids’ toys]

Did you know . . . six facts about cancer.

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:55:37 -0800

Starting in 1979, scientists noted that children who live near power lines or transformers have a greater risk of developing leukemia and that this leukemia is associated with the strength of the magnetic field. Prevent Cancer Now.

Poor, minority residents face most health risks with climate change.

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:46:08 -0800

Poor, urban and minority residents are most at risk for health problems linked to climate change, according to a new California Department of Public Health analysis of Los Angeles and Fresno counties. California Watch.
[See another article about climate change: India's panel price crash could spark solar revolution]

High levels of mercury found in North Shore babies.

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:43:25 -0800

One in 10 babies along Minnesota's North Shore are born with unhealthy levels of mercury in their bodies, according to a new report on contamination around Lake Superior, the first to look for the pollutant in the blood of U.S. infants. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota.

Is your orange juice safe?

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:37:58 -0800

Low levels of a banned pesticide found in orange juice imported from Brazil is safe for sale in the domestic supply, says the Food and Drug Administration after conducting new tests. The juice is tainted with the fungicide carbendazim, and will soon reach American grocery stores. ABC News.

Cadmium may affect newborn girls more than boys: maternal exposure linked to smaller birth size.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:10:53 -0800

A new study shows that maternal cadmium exposure is associated with reduced head circumference and birth weight in newborn girls. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See the study referenced in the article: Maternal cadmium exposure during pregnancy and size at birth: a prospective cohort study]

EPA launches improved website for beach advisories and closures.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:02:44 -0800

Users will have access to mapped location data for beaches and water monitoring stations, monitoring results for various pollutants such as bacteria and algae, and data on public notification of beach water quality advisories and closures.

Nation’s overall health not improving, assessment finds: Obesity, diabetes stalling U.S. progress.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:46:51 -0800

Despite modest decreases in tobacco use, coronary heart disease and preventable hospitalizations, the nation’s overall health is not improving, a recent national report finds. The Nation's Health.

Associations between organochlorine pesticides and vitamin D deficiency in the U.S. population.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:41:23 -0800

The current study suggests that the background exposure to some OC pesticides leads to vitamin D deficiency in human. PLoS One.

Health labels may stem tobacco company rights.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:21:31 -0800

A federal rule requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising may violate the free speech rights of tobacco companies, a U.S. district court judge said at a hearing on Wednesday. Reuters.

Study: air in Alexandria bars 36 times cleaner with smoking ban.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:20:15 -0800

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living released the results of the study of air quality levels at 12 city bars on Jan. 6. The report also shows a reduction of 97 percent of the particulate matter in the air. Alexandria Town Talk, Louisiana.

India sets cell phone radiation limits.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:17:33 -0800

The government on Wednesday set a September 1 deadline for mobile handset makers to conform to new radiation emission norms which limit specific absorption rate (SAR) levels for mobile phones to 1.6 watt/kg over six minutes of talking time. India Today, India.

Nuclear accidents pose little risk to health: NRC.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:15:08 -0800

The risk to public health from a severe nuclear power plant accident in the United States is "very small" because reactor operators should have time to prevent core damage and reduce the release of radioactive materials, US nuclear regulators said in a study on Wednesday. Reuters.

Dioxin report delayed.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:14:01 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency has missed its own deadline to release a major report on the health effects of dioxins, a class of toxic chemicals. People in central Michigan have lived with dioxin pollution for more than three decades. Environment Report.

Public health: the toxic truth about sugar.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:08:56 -0800

Authorities consider sugar as 'empty calories' -- but there is nothing empty about these calories. A growing body of scientific evidence is showing that fructose can trigger processes that lead to liver toxicity and a host of other chronic diseases. Nature (subscription required).

New study calculates years of life lost to extreme temperature.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:07:29 -0800

In one Australian city, researchers have calculated how many years of life were lost due to heat waves and cold snaps. Using this information, scientists also projected how a climate change scenario would affect life expectancies. ClimateWire.

Multiple procedures requiring anesthesia linked to ADHD in young children.

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:06:04 -0800

Young children who undergo multiple procedures requiring anesthesia could be at higher risk for developing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later on, according to a new study published in the current issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. ABC News.

Decoding neurodevelopment: findings on environmental exposures and synaptic plasticity.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:06:27 -0800

Of special interest are key discoveries by investigators at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) about some of the basic mechanisms involved in synaptic plasticity, and work by other investigators that explores the hypothesis that environmental toxicants that disrupt synaptic plasticity at critical periods play a role in disorders that have roots in early brain development, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Who adopts improved fuels and cookstoves? A systematic review.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:37:05 -0800

Adoption studies of improved cookstoves or clean energy are scarce, scattered and of differential quality, even while global distribution programs are quickly expanding. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Armstrong discusses endocrine disruption of synaptic plasticity.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:34:40 -0800

The Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program (ITEHP) at Duke University hosted a Jan. 13 presentation by NIEHS senior investigator David Armstrong, PhD, reporting on new findings about the regulation of synaptic plasticity by endocrine modulators. NIEHS Environmental Factor.

Women's health takes the spotlight.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:31:55 -0800

NIEHS welcomed leading scientists to a meeting Jan. 20 to lay the foundation for a consortium focused on advancing research in women's reproductive health. NIEHS Environmental Factor.

Obesogens: an environmental link to obesity.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:26:13 -0800

Researchers are gathering convincing evidence of chemical "obesogens" -- dietary, pharmaceutical, and industrial compounds that may alter metabolic processes and predispose some people to gain weight. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See a related article: Role of environmental chemicals in diabetes and obesity: a National Toxicology Program workshop report]

Folic acid supplementation dysregulates gene expression in lymphoblastoid cells -- implications in nutrition.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:17:12 -0800

Excessive folic acid supplementation may require careful monitoring in women who are planning for, or are in the early stages of pregnancy. Aberrant expression of genes during early brain development may have an impact on behavioural characteristics. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

Environmental officials call public meeting on downtown Wichita water cleanup plan.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:54:32 -0800

A public meeting scheduled for Wednesday marks what environmental health officials call a milestone in cleaning up groundwater contamination that has been lingering downtown for three decades. Wichita Eagle, Kansas.

Clean air advocates cheer court decision on Kansas coal plant expansion.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:52:57 -0800

Judge Emmett Sullivan, in the federal district court today, effectively blocked an 895-MW coal-fired power project in western Kansas -- the notorious Sunflower expansion -- until a thorough environmental review of the project is finalized. The decision emphasized the significant impacts to human health that would arise if the project was constructed. ENews Park Forest.

EPA, agency settle migrant complaint.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:49:00 -0800

As part of a settlement agreement signed in December, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry agreed to help people with limited English understand their rights and protections as migrant workers after an unsuccessful attempt by such workers to complain about repeated exposure to pesticides. Baton Rouge Advocate, Louisiana.

E-cigarette trade booming, but...

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:45:11 -0800

Concern is rising over the use of electronic cigarettes -- or e-cigarettes -- that produce an aerosol mist for inhaling rather than tobacco smoke and are used by many smokers to help kick the habit. Warnings are becoming increasingly loud, leading some countries to ban the devices. Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany.

India’s air the world’s unhealthiest, study says.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:42:13 -0800

India’s has the worst air pollution in the entire world, beating China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, according to a study released during this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos. New York Times.

New silica rules languish in regulatory black hole.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:35:49 -0800

Any job that involves breaking up rock or concrete can potentially expose workers to dangerous silica dust, and last year it looked like OSHA was about to put stricter controls in place to limit this health hazard. But for almost a year, the proposed regulations have been stalled at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Morning Edition, NPR.
[See a related article: Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources won't regulate silica]

No big Fukushima health impact seen: U.N. body chairman.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:32:17 -0800

The health impact of last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan appears relatively small thanks partly to prompt evacuations, the chairman of a U.N. scientific body investigating the effects of radiation said on Tuesday. Reuters.

"Skin deep" in more ways than one.

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:30:27 -0800

Very little if any media attention or research has looked at the possible connections between African American beauty salons, the personal care products utilized primarily by Black women and adverse health outcomes, specifically in the area of reproductive health. But that has begun to change. San Francisco Bay View, California.

Serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations and liver function biomarkers in a population with elevated PFOA exposure.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:17:00 -0800

These results show a positive association between PFOA and PFOS concentrations and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) level, a marker of hepatocellular damage. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Relationship between physicochemical characterization and toxicity of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected in Dakar city (Senegal).

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:14:53 -0800

In agreement with the physicochemical characterization, urban PM2.5 samples caused greater biological responses in BEAS-2B cells than the rural one. Variable concentrations of transition metals (i.e. Fe, Al, Pb, Mn, Zn) and organic compounds (i.e. PAHs) founded in the three PM2.5 samples might be firmly involved in a time- and/or dose-dependent toxicity, relying on inflammatory processes. Environmental Research.

Fluxes, variability and sources of cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury in dry atmospheric depositions in urban, suburban and rural areas.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:10:56 -0800

Seasonal variations of metals differed: Pb and As were dominated by fossil fuel combustion, Cd was related to industrial pollution, and natural source controlled Hg levels. Environmental Research.

Effect of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy on infants’ allergies in first year of life: randomised controlled trial.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:54:25 -0800

N-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy did not reduce the overall incidence of immunoglobulin E associated allergies in the first year of life, although atopic eczema and egg sensitisation were lower. British Medical Journal.

Overweight mothers who smoke while pregnant can damage baby's heart, study finds.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:52:50 -0800

Mums to be who both smoked and were overweight, with a BMI of 25 or more, were more than 2.5 times as likely to have a child with a congenital heart defect as women who either smoked or were overweight, but not both. ScienceDaily.

New website: IOM Perspectives.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:50:20 -0800

The Institute of Medicine hosts Perspectives to provide leading experts with the opportunity to offer their observations and opinions on innovations and challenges in health and health care.

Tanzania: leaders help address climate challenges.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:45:36 -0800

The absence of renewable energy in place of fuel wood has accelerated deforestation which in turn has contributed to climatic changes currently being felt all over the world, according to a Tanzanian minister of the environment. All Africa.

PCBs could harm babies' immune system.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:35:20 -0800

PCBs may interfere with immune system development in infants exposed in the womb and early in life, report researchers from the United States and Slovakia. Infants with higher PCB exposure during gestation and as newborns had smaller thymus organs at birth and at 6 months of age but not at 13 months. Environmental Health News.

Smoking exemptions concentrated in high-risk communities.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:33:14 -0800

During Tobacco-Free Awareness Week, community leaders came together to draw attention to a significant problem for St. Louis County - exemptions to the 2011 Clean Air Act. St Louis American, Missouri.
[See another article about tobacco regulation: California Assembly votes to outlaw smoking on hospital campuses]

Chicago water sampling shows high levels of lead.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:07:03 -0800

In a new round of water testing by the Environmental Protection Agency, half of the 29 Chicago homes visited yielded at least one sample containing more than 15 parts per billion of lead, a level that can trigger regulatory action if detected during routine screening. Chicago Tribune, Illinois.
[See another article about water quality: China cadmium spill threatens city water supplies]

The value and benefits of trees in the landscape.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:05:27 -0800

Most of us probably do not consider the value trees add to our homes and neighborhoods. Trees can help lower heating and cooling costs, help reduce air pollution and storm water runoff and provide valuable habitat for birds and other animals. Batavia Daily News, New York.

Dr. Richard Jackson to be on PBS.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:51 -0800

The UCLA professor and host of the PBS series Designing Healthy Communities describes what it truly means to build a healthy community. PBS Tavis Smiley Show.

National Public Health Week, April 2 - 8, 2012.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:46 -0800

This year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) will continue its broad vision to make America the healthiest nation in one generation by addressing the importance of prevention and wellness through the theme "A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement."

A new target in fighting brain disease: metals.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:50:26 -0800

Research into how iron, copper, zinc and other metals work in the brain may help unlock some of the secrets of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Wall Street Journal.

Soaps, makeup and other items contain deadly ingredients, say consumer advocates.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:45:23 -0800

According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, cosmetics and other personal care products contain numerous ingredients -- such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehye and diethanolamine -- that we should be wary of. Washington Post.
[See a related article: Maker of Brazilian Blowout hair products agrees to settle Calif. lawsuit with labeling changes]

Research opens up scientists' concern over effects of controversial chemical BPA.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:39:31 -0800

Are you really doing enough to avoid the controversial chemical bisphenol-A, BPA for short? Probably not. Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio.
[See a related article: MU's Frederick vom Saal wants FDA to ban BPA, endocrine disruptors]

Call for comments: TSCA paperwork and regulatory burdens.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:08:33 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Inventory which requires manufacturers, processors and importers to provide production volume, plant site information and site-limited status information. Comments are due by March 26, 2012.

Call for comments: Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR).

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:06:45 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking additional public comments on the paperwork and regulatory burdens associated with the administration of its regulatory program under which manufacturers, importers and processors of chemical substances and mixtures must maintain records and submit reports to EPA. Comments are being accepted until February 27, 2012.

Call for comments: NIEHS

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:54:16 -0800

NIEHS seeks comments on the new draft mission statement, vision statement, and strategic pillars by February 5th.

State of the Union 2012 highlights.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:42:45 -0800

In Tuesday's State of the Union address, the President touched on important issues facing our country. Reports from the National Academies can inform debate and guide decision making in areas of public policy, science, engineering, and education.

Q&A with Michael Taylor, part II: antibiotics, orange juice & consolidation.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:38:41 -0800

Part II of a conversation with Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on a variety of issues facing the agency. Food Safety News.

New website on health literacy.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:35:57 -0800

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a website: Health Literacy: Accurate, Accessible and Actionable Health Information for All. The site provides information and tools to improve health literacy and public health.

Pipeline will not cross Dene Nations land, elders vow.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:23:16 -0800

Nearly a dozen band members signed onto the "Save The Fraser" declaration Friday, pledging to protect the Dene water and lands from future industrialization, including the northern Gateway pipeline. CNews.com.

9 in 1,000 at risk of contracting cancer in Zimbabwe capital.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:15:01 -0800

Nine people in every 1,000 in Harare are at risk of developing colon or liver cancer from eating contaminated fish harvested from Lake Chivero and other water bodies around Harare, local scientific studies have indicated. Harare Standard, Zimbabwe.

Sunscreen concern reaches into the school grounds.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:13:08 -0800

As they prepare for a new batch of students, teachers will be receiving 50,000 leaflets from environmental group Friends of the Earth, thanks to a resolution passed by the Australian Education Union last year. The leaflets encourage use of sunscreens that don't include nanoparticles -- an ingredient the Theraputic Goods Administration has deemed to be acceptable in sunscreens. Australia ABC News, Australia.

Alzheimer's-like brain changes seen in young who breathed polluted air.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:12:18 -0800

Children and young adults from areas with highly polluted air in Mexico had physical and genetic changes in their brains akin to those found in adults with Alzheimer's disease. The changes seen are surprising because they are not supposed to occur in younger brains. Environmental Health News.

Busted fluorescent lamps' dangers cited.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:11:40 -0800

Environment-health advocates on Monday warned the public against improper disposal of busted fluorescent lamps as it releases toxic mercury into the environment that endangers the health of the people. Manila Bulletin, Philippines.

Fructose effects.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:36:22 -0800

There is now some new research evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is present in the blood of adolescents who consume a lot of fructose, a scenario that worsens in the face of excess belly fat. Environmental News Network.

Pesticides blamed for bee decline.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:24:26 -0800

Compelling new evidence from the US government's top bee expert that modern pesticides may be a major cause of collapsing bee populations led to calls yesterday for the chemicals to be banned. London Independent, United Kingdom.

Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:56:53 -0800

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the proteome of cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe in Balb/c mice following long-term whole body irradiation. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine.

Herbicide-tolerant corn subject of regulation debate.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:43:38 -0800

Dow Agrosciences wants its herbicide-resistant corn to be deregulated, despite resistance from sustainable-agriculture and environmental groups. HobbyFarms.com.

Obesity tops list of 'winnable' health battles.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:39:58 -0800

Last week, the state health department issued its list of 10 winnable battles -- public and environmental health problems that can be improved in three to five years through collaborative efforts among the private, nonprofit and public sectors. Obesity’s on the list. So are oral health, clean air, clean water, infectious disease prevention, mental health and substance abuse, food safety, tobacco prevention and unintended pregnancy. Colorado Springs Gazette.
[See another article about obesity: Don't blame C-sections for fat children: study]

Partnership to introduce children’s environmental health information into Boys and Girls Clubs’ educational programs.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:32:06 -0800

EPA is partnering nationally and locally with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to introduce children’s environmental health information into the youth service organization’s educational programs.

'Green' burials gain traction at Indiana cemeteries.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:25:49 -0800

Green burials have been called a movement, not a fad. Advocates say green burials protect the environment and ecology by reducing use of toxic chemicals, non-biodegradable materials and fossil fuels. Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky.

Smoking leading killer in Japan, accounting for 129,000 deaths in 2007.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:20:27 -0800

An estimated 129,000 adult Japanese died in 2007 of health complications caused by smoking, the nation's biggest lifestyle killer, according to studies by the University of Tokyo and other research organizations. Asahi Shimbun, Japan.
[See a related article from China: Poisonous gift and one from the UK: 'Toxic' risk of counterfeit cigarettes sold in Sussex]

EPA will test Susquehanna County water supplies for fracking contamination.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:19:29 -0800

The federal government was to begin testing water supplies for 61 homes in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, as soon as Jan. 20 in a dramatic expansion of the EPA's current investigation into potential contamination by natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing. McClatchy Newspapers.

AAEM urges the California Public Utilities Commission to call for an immediate moratorium on wireless "smart meters" and for hearings on the health impact on wireless "smart meters."

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:19:08 -0800

The Board of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine opposes the installation of wireless "smart meters" in homes and schools based on a scientific assessment of the current medical literature (references available on request).

Groups call on NYC to comply with green purchasing laws to reduce dioxin releases

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:12:41 -0800

Nearly a dozen leaders of business, health, labor, environmental and community organizations will testify at a New York City Council oversight hearing today, Friday, January 27th to urge the city to comply with existing green purchasing laws, and phase out purchasing of toxic products that needlessly endanger public health and the environment. Paramus Post, New York.

Don't fear tap water.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:04:57 -0800

Quick! What's the deadliest chemical in tap water? DDT? PCBs? BPA? Try DNA, says Steve Hrudey, a retired professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Alberta. St. Albert Gazette, Alberta.

Drive-by scanning: officials expand use and dose of radiation for security screening.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:33 -0800

U.S. law enforcement agencies are exposing people to radiation in more settings and in increasing doses to screen for explosives, weapons and drugs. In addition to the controversial airport body scanners, now deployed for routine screening, various X-ray devices have proliferated at the border, in prisons and on the streets of New York. ProPublica.

Fetal armor: how the placenta shapes brain development.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:55:32 -0800

The placenta has been vastly underappreciated. Scientists are taking a closer look and finding that it is much more than a simple conduit: it actively protects the fetus and shapes neurological development. Scientific American.

First attempts to limit farm chemicals.

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:54:49 -0800

Use of highly toxic pesticides and other farming chemicals in Chile is rampant, posing serious health risks and damages for the farmers who use them. In response, on Dec. 19, the Agriculture Ministry banned the import, export and sale of several of these substances that could cause cancer among other diseases. But dozens of other dangerous chemicals are still on the market. Latin America Press.

Cadmium exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in U.S. children.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:04:07 -0800

These findings suggest that children who have higher urinary cadmium concentrations may have increased risk of both LD and special education. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Prostate cancer and toxicity from critical use exemptions of methyl bromide: Environmental protection helps protect against human health risks.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:01:41 -0800

Both the epidemiological evidence and toxicological data suggest a possible link between methyl bromide exposure and serious health problems, including prostate cancer risk from occupational and community exposure. Environmental Health.

An ecological quantification of the relationships between water, sanitation and infant, child, and maternal mortality.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:24 -0800

Our analyses suggest that access to water and sanitation independently contribute to child and maternal mortality outcomes. Environmental Health.

Hazardous Chemicals in Health Care available in Spanish.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:32 -0800

The report, written with the American Nurses Association and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), details the first investigation of environmental chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals.

NIH Study shows caffeine consumption linked to estrogen changes.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:42:42 -0800

Asian women who consumed an average of 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day -- the equivalent of roughly two cups of coffee -- had elevated estrogen levels when compared to women who consumed less, according to a study of reproductive age women by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. NIH News.

Eye on Earth Network.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:39:29 -0800

In December 2011 the European Environment Agency (EEA), Microsoft, and technology company Esri launched the Eye on Earth network, a "cloud computing" platform that maps air, water, and noise pollution across Europe based on government data and information uploaded by users.

State health officials investigate skin-lighteners for dangerous mercury.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:19:42 -0800

There could be a dark side to skin-lightening creams often found in stores that cater to ethnic communities. New America Media.

Wood smoke adds billions to health bill, says report.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:17:27 -0800

The smoky haze from wood fires is Sydney's biggest source of air pollution in winter, and wood smoke will add $8 billion to the health budget by 2030, says an independent report commissioned by the state government and kept secret for six months. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia.

Military: investigation into S. Korea Agent Orange is over.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:14:44 -0800

For the last nine months the U.S. Army has drilled, tested and analyzed soil and water at Camp Carroll military base in South Korea for traces of Agent Orange. The result of the roughly $4 million investigation is a 58-page report, in which the Army claims no traces of Agent Orange were found. An environmental expert disagrees. KPHO Phoenix, Arizona.

Job opening: Tacoma, Washington.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:59:14 -0800

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department seeks a program coordinator to lead a project to reduce and prevent chronic disease due to tobacco use, poor nutrition and/or lack of physical activity. The closing date is January 29th.

EPA releases new tool with information about water pollution across the U.S.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:41:06 -0800

Developed under President Obama’s transparency initiative, the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool brings together millions of records and allows for easy searching and mapping of water pollution by local area, watershed, company, industry sector, and pollutant.

UCLA Law report urges California to take action to protect public from toxic consumer products.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:36:07 -0800

A new report published by the UCLA School of Law's Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment assesses California's new chemical regulatory program and concludes that the state must strengthen its program in significant ways in order to adequately protect public health. UCLA Newsroom.

High animal fat diet increases gestational diabetes risk, study finds.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:26:28 -0800

Women who consumed a diet high in animal fat and cholesterol before pregnancy were at higher risk for gestational diabetes than women whose diets were lower in animal fat and cholesterol, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University. ScienceDaily.

National Research Council issues new nanotechnology risk report.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:17:18 -0800

Without a coordinated research plan to help guide efforts to manage and avoid potential risks, the future of safe and sustainable nanotechnology is uncertain, says a new report ("A Research Strategy for Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials") from the National Research Council. Nanowerk.

Dumping dioxin on Dixie.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:13:43 -0800

As environmental health advocates call on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to release a long-awaited report on the health impact of dioxins, an analysis by Facing South finds that Southern communities bear a disproportionate burden of industrial dioxin pollution. Facing South.

Major study finds child immune risks from chemicals.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:57:33 -0800

Children exposed to the same common household chemicals that have contaminated groundwater near a number of 3M Co. sites in the St. Paul suburbs have weakened immune systems that make them more vulnerable to infections, according to research published this week. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota.

Federal agencies fail to address BPA, report says.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:52:12 -0800

A report being released Thursday says federal agencies have not taken effective steps to protect the public from the dangers of BPA, a commonly used chemical found in food packaging that has been linked to health problems, including cancer, asthma and heart attacks. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.

Obama calls for disclosure of fracking chemicals, but activists say that's not enough.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:49:39 -0800

As President Obama catches up, at least rhetorically, with drilling critics who have pushed for public disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemicals, activists are stressing that disclosure is not enough. Greenwire.

Gas cooking emissions may stifle infant development.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:48:33 -0800

A new study from Spain reports that infants born to mothers who cooked with gas stoves had slightly lower intelligence scores at ages 1 and 2 than those in homes without gas cookers. In homes with gas, infant scores were better if there was an exhaust fan above the stove. Environmental Health News.

L.A. County takes step to promote exercise, reduce obesity.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:38:07 -0800

Los Angeles County supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday that requires new developments to have wider sidewalks, bicycle parking and other changes to promote exercise and reduce obesity. Los Angeles Times.
[See related articles: U.S. states and cities ranked for biking, walking habits and Wide-ranging obesity prevention programs urged for First Nations]

Asthma rates due to traffic related air pollution are higher than expected.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:35:37 -0800

A research team out of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst has found that asthma rates and the costs from traffic related air pollution are much higher than once believed. Springfield WGGB TV, Massachusetts.
[See another article about air pollution: Study: old Port of Oakland trucks out, cleaner air in]

Judge Chambers blocks health studies from mine permit case.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:34:38 -0800

A federal judge has sided with Alpha Natural Resources in the company's effort to keep testimony about West Virginia University studies linking mountaintop removal to birth defects and cancer among coalfield residents out of a legal challenge to one of Alpha's new mining permits. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.

Washington State Green Ribbon Schools applications due February 15th.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:37:39 -0800

The US Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program is a comprehensive recognition program that celebrates schools that have made significant achievements towards increasing environmental and sustainability literacy, reducing the school's environmental footprint and creating a healthy community for students and staff.
[For information regarding other states' applications, see the Department of Education website.]

Cancer and environment: definitions and misconceptions.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:47:20 -0800

Our findings emphasize the discrepancies in reporting environmental causation of cancer and the limits of inference in interpreting environmentally attributable risk estimates. Environmental Research.

Fish consumption, low-level mercury, lipids, and inflammatory markers in children.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:45:59 -0800

This study of a pediatric population is the first to document an association between blood mercury, systemic inflammation, and endocrine disruption in humans. Environmental Research.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) mediates diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced feminization of the seminal vesicle in male mice.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:37:57 -0800

These data suggest that DES-induced seminal vesicle toxicity and feminization is primarily mediated by ERα; however, some aspects of androgen response may require the action of ERβ. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Report: water of millions in peril from nuclear plants.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:30:05 -0800

Environmental activists said in a report Tuesday that nearly 3.3 million New Jerseyans drink water from supplies at risk of contamination if there is a leak or accident at a nuclear plant. Asbury Park Press, New Jersey.

Your slick new office could be making you sick.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:29:04 -0800

A new study suggests that your indoor office air -- particularly in newly renovated offices -- could be making you sick by exposing you to harmful PFCs, or polyfluorinated compounds. Agence France-Presse.

Shale gas a bridge to more global warming.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:28:12 -0800

Hundreds of thousands of shale gas wells are being "fracked" in the United States and Canada, allowing large amounts of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, to escape into the atmosphere, new studies have shown. Inter Press Service.

Titan project would cost millions in health care, report says.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:26:09 -0800

Pollution from the proposed Titan cement plant project could cost residents of the Cape Fear region around $6.5 million in health-care costs in a five-month period, according to a report presented in Wilmington on Tuesday night. Wilmington Star-News, North Carolina.

Vitamin D awareness in decline, say doctors.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:24:43 -0800

England's chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, is concerned that young children and some adults are not getting enough vitamin D. According to the BBC, she is to contact medical professionals about government guidelines which recommend that some groups, including under-fives, may require daily vitamin D supplements. The Guardian, United Kingdom.

More kids seek tans as they age, may raise skin cancer risk.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:24:07 -0800

As children go from elementary to junior high school, the desire to tan grows stronger while the habit of using sunscreen goes out the window, according to a survey -- potentially raising the risk of getting deadly skin cancer later on. Reuters.

Arsenic cancer risk still high decades later in Chile region.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:23:12 -0800

People exposed to very high levels of arsenic in Chilean drinking water back in the 1950s and 60s are still showing a higher-than-normal risk of bladder cancer -- years after the arsenic problem was brought under control, a new study shows. Reuters.

America's health threat: poor urban design.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:20:48 -0800

In 2001, while still at the CDC, Dr. Jackson was a co-author of an article published by Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse that contended that poorly planned built environments had adverse effects on air quality, physical activity, and public safety, among other things. Chronicle of Higher Education.

Relationships of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate serum concentrations between child-mother pairs in a population with perfluorooctanoate exposure from drinking water.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:36:28 -0800

Concentrations of both perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) tended to be higher in children than their mothers. This difference persists until they are about 12 years for PFOA and at least until 19 years of age for PFOS. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Evidence on the human health effects of low level methylmercury exposure.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:34:32 -0800

Studies targeted at identifying potential mechanisms of low level methylmercury (MeHg) effects along with characterizing individual susceptibility, sexual dimorphism and non-linearity in dose-response would help guide future prevention, policy, and regulatory efforts surrounding MeHg exposure. Envirornmental Health Perspectives.

Understanding differences in the body burden-age relationships of bioaccumulating contaminants based on population cross-sections versus individuals.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:32:15 -0800

We used a mechanistic modeling approach to reproduce concentration versus age relationships and investigate factors that influence them. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Study: chemicals reduce effectiveness of some childhood vaccines.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:21:54 -0800

Scientists looked specifically at PFCs, perfluorinated compounds, widely used in products that repel water, grease and stains. Children with higher levels of PFCs in their bodies did not get optimal protection from their vaccines, according to the study. CNN.

Terrific new advice for preventing breast cancer.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:05:44 -0800

The Institute of Medicine’s concise message: "Limit or eliminate your exposure to chemicals that are plausible contributors to breast cancer risk." San Francisco Examiner, California.

High fructose consumption by adolescents may put them at cardiovascular risk.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:02:59 -0800

Evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is present in the blood of adolescents who consume a lot of fructose, a scenario that worsens in the face of excess belly fat, researchers report. ScienceNewsline.

Obesity and air pollution: global risk factors for pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:59:14 -0800

The two main universal risk factors for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity and air pollution, have broad adverse health effects, and reducing their prevalence will help abate the serious health problems associated with pediatric NAFLD. Hepatitis Monthly.

Job opening: San Francisco, California.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:47:39 -0800

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a project of the Breast Cancer Fund, needs a grassroots coordinator to cultivate and grow relationships and expand their network of over 100,000 online and on-the-ground supporters, growing the movement for safer chemicals and a green economy. The deadline for receipt of materials is February 10, 2012.

Job opening: San Francisco, California.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:42:42 -0800

The Breast Cancer Fund seeks a seasoned organizer/advocate/campaigner to coordinate the organization’s education and outreach efforts as a program coordinator. The deadline for applications is February 6, 2012.

Thresholds of toxicological concern: evaluating an initiative to reduce animal testing. Part one.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:31:52 -0800

By waiving detailed toxicological testing, in particular tests using animals, thresholds of toxicological concern (TTCs) fast-track substances through the risk assessment process, cutting time to market approval from as much as four years down to potentially as little as a few months. Health and Environment.

Chemicals used during medical imaging test may damage thyroid, study finds.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:26:22 -0800

Patients injected with contrast material were about twice as likely as those who didn’t get the chemical to develop hyperthyroidism, when the gland produces too much thyroid hormone and can cause rapid or irregular heart rates, according to a study today in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Results also showed an increased risk for hypothyroidism. Bloomberg.

Breast cancer screening cannot be justified, says researcher.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:36:28 -0800

Breast cancer screening can no longer be justified, because the harm to many women from needless diagnosis and damaging treatment outweighs the small number of lives saved, according to a book that accuses many in the scientific establishment of misconduct in their efforts to bury the evidence of critics and keep mammography alive. London Guardian, United Kingdom.

National Public Health Week.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:28:25 -0800

With the recent release of the National Prevention Strategy, this is an opportune time to champion partners to help disseminate the message that preventing disease before it begins is critical. The American Public Health Association will host a special partnership webinar on Friday January 27th to highlight ways in which partner organizations can disseminate prevention and wellness messages to local communities, showcase events taking place across the US in celebration of NPHW, and utilize tools and resources available from APHA.

Chemical manufacturers, advocates split on EPA approach to high-volume chemicals.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:19:54 -0800

Environmental health advocates strongly support the Environmental Protection Agency's October proposal to couple two regulatory approaches to secure information about 45 high-production-volume chemicals. Chemical manufacturers, however, object to the agency's proposed approach. Bloomberg BNA.

US Supreme Court blocks California slaughterhouse law.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:16:52 -0800

The Supreme Court on Monday overturned a California law that would require euthanizing downed livestock at federally inspected slaughterhouses to keep the meat out of the nation's food system. Associated Press.

Babies born into poverty are damaged forever before birth.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:08:28 -0800

Stressful conditions experienced by expectant mothers in impoverished areas because of poor lifestyle choices could impact on their children’s DNA -- leaving them with an increased chance of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Edinburgh Scotsman, United Kingdom.

Many baby products have toxic flame retardants, analysis finds.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:05:23 -0800

Children's health advocates are calling on state legislatures to ban flame retardants in baby's products after testing found the toxic chemicals in 85 percent of items it tested. Baltimore Sun, Maryland.

Metals found in water at coal plants.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:04:15 -0800

Elevated levels of metals have been found in groundwater near ash basins at all 14 N.C. coal-fired power plants, state regulators say after intensified monitoring. Charlotte Observer, North Carolina.

Bhopal plant toxic waste still stuck in limbo.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:01:25 -0800

It has been 27 years since the gas leak in Bhopal that led to thousands of people dying -- but 350 tonnes of toxic waste still remain at the old Union Carbide plant, with various agencies unable to find a way to dispose of it safely. Live Mint, India.

As the climate dries, Mexico's milk region faces arsenic threat.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:15:59 -0800

Mexico’s Laguna Region is famed as the country’s largest milk-producing area. But overexploitation of groundwater resources combined with the effects of climate change have contaminated remaining water supplies with arsenic, and related cancer rates are high. Reuters.

25,000 unsafe toys seized at Port of Houston.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:59:53 -0800

Consumer safety inspectors at the Port of Houston have seized more toys deemed unsafe for children - largely because of choking hazards and lead paint - than almost any other consumer product imported to the United States, second only to fireworks. Houston Chronicle, Texas.

Free e-book: A Small Dose of Toxicology, 2nd Edition.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:19:18 -0800

The book is available for iPad, Kindle or as a PDF. All the chapters have been updated and several new chapters added with links to Toxipedia.

New video: Rapid Aging Syndrome.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:14:25 -0800

Dr. Magda Havas has posted a short video with information about the harmful effects of electrosmog and the beneficial effects of pulsed electromagnetic devices.

Fuelling Ireland’s public health problems.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:43:18 -0800

High risks of hazardous chemical contamination of ground water is the main but not sole reason why Genon Jenson, director of the Health and Environmental Alliance, calls fracking the next big environmental health challenge. Irish Medical Times.

The rise of antibiotic resistance: consequences of FDA's inaction.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:32:08 -0800

With the occasional exception, FDA has failed for decades to take meaningful action on the misuse of antibiotics in food animal production -- misuse that directly contributes to the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and compromises our ability to treat bacterial infections. The Atlantic.

Crime and Courts: further fast-tracked 'tort reform' would work retroactively.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:14:15 -0800

When Republicans passed their far-reaching tort reform bill last year, they did away with the effects of a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling that made six paint manufacturers potentially responsible for a Milwaukee boy's lead poisoning. Now, in a move that raises constitutional questions, Republicans want to apply the new court standards to cases already in court. Madison Capital Times, Wisconsin.
[See a related article: The realities of real estate: ruling on lead paint law rocks the rental market]

Check your child for elevated blood lead level.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:13:06 -0800

Is your child not able pay attention to studies or to your instruction? Is he facing a problem with learning and reading or is he getting irritable or hyperactive? If you have observed all these symptoms in him, then he could be suffering from moderately elevated blood lead level. Indian Express, India.

SmartMeter moratorium.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:07:26 -0800

Given the broad concern about SmartMeter technology and your Board's desire to go on record, this offce and County Counsel believe that notwithstanding the enforcement challenges, that it is in the best interest of public health, safety, and welfare for your Board to adopt the attached ordinance implementing a temporary moratorium on the installation of SmartMeters in or on any home, apartment, condominium or business within the unincorporated area of the County [of Santa Cruz].

Exposure to chemical found in personal care products may contribute to childhood obesity.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:51:43 -0800

Researchers from the Children’s Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York have found an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children -- including increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Stone Hearth News.

Surge in cancer cases in Italy linked to illegal dumping of toxic waste.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:42:59 -0800

Across Italy, on average, 14 males in every 100,000 die of liver cancer; In the 'Triangle of Death,' it was 35.9. The incidence of bladder cancer was nearly twice as high, of leukaemia 30 per cent higher. The cause? Some point to the massive illegal dumping of waste by the Naples Mafia. London Independent, United Kingdom.
[See other articles about contaminated sites: 40 years later, toxic waste still haunts pockets of DuPage County; Contamination fight heats up and Russia makes progress cleaning up pollution, but hot spots remain]

Threat of toxic playgrounds.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:41:00 -0800

Australian scientists have raised the alarm over the potential dangers of the fake grass, and called for a moratorium on its use until its safety can be established. Sydney Morning Herald.

Documentary reveals how contaminated water at the nation's largest Marine base damaged lives.

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:39:39 -0800

Mike Partain didn’t believe the rumors about a place called Baby Heaven until he visited a Jacksonville, N.C., graveyard. Surrounded by hundreds of tiny marble headstones, he started to cry. Washington Post.

Thousands of women could be at risk from DES, the 'silent Thalidomide.'

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:37:43 -0800

Tens of thousands of British families are to be asked if they are victims of diethylstilbestrol -- DES -- a drug given to pregnant women which can cause fatal illness in the second, and possibly even third, generations. Some women given the drug in this country have already obtained compensation in America. London Independent, United Kingdom.

Is your office making you sick?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:43:35 -0800

Indoor office air is an important source of worker exposure to the potentially toxic substances known as PFCs, or polyfluorinated compounds, according to a new study. WebMD.

Scientists agree to halt work on dangerous bird flu strain.

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:50:05 -0800

Researchers working on the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus have voluntarily agreed to stop their studies for 60 days over concerns that their data could provide a bioterror threat. In December, scientists from two independent groups reported that they had successfully manipulated H5N1 to make it more virulent. Time Magazine.

Disposal of fracking wastewater polluting Pennsylvania rivers.

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:45:48 -0800

Polluted fracking water is filled with chemicals and is 5 times saltier than seawater. Before they began pumping Pennsylvania’s fracking waste into Ohio wells much of it ended up in rivers and streams, and posed a risk to drinking water. Living On Earth.
[See other articles about pollution from energy production: Toxics from Suncor refinery spill still seeping into water; Colorado vows to "accelerate" response and Environmentalists to sue over coal ash rules delay]

Kids' leukemia risk rose near French nuclear plants.

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:43:50 -0800

In a study titled, "Childhood leukemia around French nuclear power plants -- the Geocap study, 2002-2007," researchers from the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (French Institute of Health and Medical Research) found that the risk of acute leukemia doubled for children living within 3 miles of French nuclear power plants during that five-year period. Orange County Register, California.

Effects of coarse particulate matter on emergency hospital admissions for respiratory diseases: a time series analysis in Hong Kong.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:43:53 -0800

Coarse particles (PMc: PM between 2.5 and 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter) was associated with emergency hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in Hong Kong independent of PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Inflammatory pathway genes belong to major targets of persistent organic pollutants in adipose cells.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:42:46 -0800

Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that adipose cells were targets of AhR ligands and suggested that inflammation was one of the main regulated pathways. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Variability of urinary phthalate metabolite and bisphenol A concentrations before and during pregnancy.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:40:57 -0800

Urinary phthalate metabolites and BPA concentrations were variable before and during pregnancy, but the magnitude of variability was biomarker specific. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:39:41 -0800

This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with signs of impaired PNS function among pesticide applicators. Environmental Health Perspectives.

The impact of heat waves on mortality in 7 major cities in Korea.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:30:01 -0800

Our findings support evidence of mortality impacts from heat waves and have implications for efforts to reduce the public health burden of heat waves. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See another article about climate and health: An ill wind? Climate change, migration and health]

Study finds antibiotic resistant bacteria in retail pork.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:18:38 -0800

Researchers say they have found that a serious antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is becoming more prevalent in retail pork products. Public News Service.

Campaign and documentary series: The Weight of the Nation.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:14:45 -0800

Institute of Medicine joins HBO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente in developing "The Weight of the Nation," a new national campaign tackling the obesity crisis. The series premiers in May 2012.

BP oil cleanup workers join up with health study.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:59:55 -0800

Farmer was among 100 people -- mostly oil spill cleanup workers and volunteers -- who showed up at a community workshop in Gulf Breeze on Wednesday to learn about the Gulf Study, a long-term study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on potential health impacts of the BP oil spill. PNJ.com.

Maryland court reverses $2.6M lead paint judgments against Baltimore housing authority.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:58:39 -0800

Baltimore's housing bureau does not have to pay a $2.6 million jury award to two siblings who say they were poisoned by lead paint when they lived in public residences as toddlers, a Maryland intermediate appellate court ruled Thursday. Baltimore Sun, Maryland.
[See another article about a settlement over hazards: $350,000 settlement in suit over lead, phthalates in kids products]

Easy ways to clear your indoor air.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:55:30 -0800

According to the EPA, most of us spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. And although there are plenty of laws and regulations about outdoor air pollution, most of us don't give a second thought to the air in our homes. McClatchy Newspapers.

Harmful banned pesticide slowly leaving the Great Lakes environment.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:54:45 -0800

A long-banned pesticide remains in the Great Lakes environment but is on the decline, scientists say. Toxaphene was a heavily used pesticide in the U.S. until people realized how toxic it was in 1982, the year it was banned in the Great Lakes region and most other places. Great Lakes Echo, Michigan.

US indoor tanning tax having mixed effects.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:46:04 -0800

Although a 2010 federal excise tax was meant to deter customers from using indoor tanning salons, only a minority of the businesses taking part in a new survey reported a drop in clients, and most said their customers did not seem to care. Reuters.

Dry-cleaning chemical can increase risk of bipolar disorder: study.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:42:54 -0800

A new study has found early exposure to a chemical commonly used in dry-cleaning, tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE), can increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress syndrome. Toronto Star, Ontario.

Kaiser Permanente converting to safer IV equipment.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:37:48 -0800

Kaiser will buy IV solution bags that are 100 percent free of PVC and DEHP and intravenous tubing that is free of DEHP. Washington Post.

Canada's cancer rate on the rise: Statscan.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:32:27 -0800

The number of people living with cancer is on the rise, according to a major new report from Statistics Canada. Globe and Mail, Ontario.

The indoor pollution threat you may not have known existed.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:31:01 -0800

"Good Morning America" set out to investigate exactly what kind of threat indoor air pollution posed to the average person by setting up a child’s nursery with a new crib, changing table, rocker and decorations. Seven days of testing later, the results were in. The air in our new nursery contained 300 different chemicals -- compared to just two right outside the same house. ABC Good Morning America.

Manganese in well water may be harmful.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:29:57 -0800

Once considered a nuisance, the presence of manganese in well water in sufficient concentrations may affect human health, Environmental Protection Agency officials say. New Bedford Standard-Times, Massachusetts.

Earth's nitrogen cycle profoundly affected by humans.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:27:57 -0800

Nitrogen pollution is becoming one of the most pervasive global environmental problems, with nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff and sewage leading to coral diseases, bird die-offs, fish diseases, human diarrheal diseases and vector-borne infections transmitted by insects. Summit County Citizens Voice, Colorado.

Agricultural chemicals hurting kids.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:27:01 -0800

A 2006 UNICEF report estimates that 3.3 million children worldwide work in the agricultural sector. In rural areas, children work under deplorable hazardous conditions that are detrimental to their physical, mental and social well-being. Kampala Observer, Uganda.

Exercise engagement as a moderator of the effects of APOE genotype on amyloid deposition.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:42:24 -0800

The primary objective here was to examine whether physical exercise moderates the association between APOE genotype and amyloid deposition in cognitively normal adults. Archives of Neurology.

The estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and obesity.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:31:31 -0800

The focus of this review is on the developmental effects of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and more specifically on effects of exposure to the estrogenic EDC bisphenol A (BPA), on adipocytes and their function, and the ultimate impact on adult obesity. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

Call for proposals: Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:45:44 -0800

The purpose of this program is to address significant disparities in Perinatal health including disparities experienced by Hispanics, American Indians, African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and immigrant populations. The application deadline is January 27, 2012.

Reuse of municipal wastewater has significant potential to augment future U.S. drinking water supplies.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:53:34 -0800

New analyses suggest that the possible health risks of exposure to chemical contaminants and disease-causing microbes from wastewater reuse do not exceed, and in some cases may be significantly lower than, the risks of existing water supplies. National Academies News.

Pre-release draft: Healthy Homes Program Guidance Manual.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:51:09 -0800

Based on proven approaches and techniques and the most current research, the manual is written for everyone interested in developing or expanding a Healthy Homes program.

Report: Wind turbines don't cause health problems.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:19:00 -0800

There is little to no evidence that wind turbines pose a risk to the health of residents living near them, a panel of independent scientists and doctors found in a report commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Boston Globe, Massachusetts.

US obesity rates have leveled off -- but why?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:12:26 -0800

Americans may be as heavy as they’re going to get -- at least for now, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult waistlines haven’t expanded since 2003, according to the study. Wall Street Journal.

Cleaner air in L.A. ports comes at a cost to truckers.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:07:05 -0800

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest in the nation. They also have some of the dirtiest air, thanks to thousands of cargo trucks that pass through each day. But this month marks the beginning of a new era, as tighter emissions standards go into effect. National Public Radio.
[See other articles about air quality: Air pollution monitors could come to L.A. freeways and Gasp, it's worse than we thought]

Have regulatory efforts to reduce organophosphorus insecticide exposures been effective?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:08:35 -0800

Human exposure to organophosphorus insecticides as assessed by urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) concentrations has decreased since the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), although we cannot be certain that EPA actions in response to the FQPA directly caused the decrease in DAP concentrations. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See another article about pesticide use: Global trends in the use of insecticides for vector-borne disease control]

No increase in brain tumours in the Nordic countries.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:03:34 -0800

The incidence of glioma -- the most common form of brain tumour -- is not increasing in the Nordic countries, contradicting the claim that mobile phone use is a cause of the disease. HealthCanal.com.

Maternal asthma medication use and the risk of selected birth defects.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:57:43 -0800

Positive associations were observed for anorectal atresia, esophageal atresia, and omphalocele and maternal periconceptional asthma medication use, but not for other defects studied. Pediatrics.

Daily aspirin is not for everyone, study suggests.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:55:46 -0800

Nearly a third of middle-aged Americans regularly take a baby aspirin in the hope of preventing a heart attack or a stroke or lowering their cancer risk. But new research shows that aspirin is not for everyone, and that in some patients this so-called wonder drug is doing more harm than good. New York Times.

Healthy children, safe homes a winning combination.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:43:36 -0800

Researchers at the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City offer some simple steps to help keep your children healthy and your home safe. USA Today.

The impact of temperature on years of life lost in Brisbane, Australia.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:52:55 -0800

Here we use years of life lost to provide a novel measure of the impact of temperature on mortality in Brisbane, Australia. We also project the future temperature-related years of life lost attributable to climate change. Nature Climate Change.

Green chemist: A Q&A with departing EPA science advisor Paul Anastas.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:50:34 -0800

During an interview with Jane Kay of Environmental Health News, Anastas, who will remain at his post for another month or so, said there has been a "growing realization across EPA" that green chemistry "can meet environmental and economic goals simultaneously."

Study on fracking health risks reinforces call for moratorium.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:32:21 -0800

A new study, titled "The Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health," shows that fracking fluids, methane gas exposure and other gas-drilling related contamination can have a serious impact on the health of both humans and animals. Athens News, Ohio.
[See a related article: America’s hidden 60 million barrel a day industry]

Lead still a problem in Muskegon County children's blood, not enough tested.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:31:09 -0800

Proposed new federal guidelines could classify more children as having too much lead in their blood, health officials said. Fewer kids are being tested because of cuts in public health budgets, Public Health Muskegon County Director Ken Kraus said. Muskegon Chronicle, Michigan.

Dirty freeway air puts Southern California health at risk, say activists.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:28:02 -0800

Growing scientific evidence has confirmed common-sense instinct that dirty freeway air is bad for health -- and that research is now spurring Los Angeles activists and regulators to consider new ways of addressing pollution. Los Angeles Daily News, California.
[See other articles about air quality: Captured by NASA space satellite: thick blanket of pollution covering much of China and Indoor pollution levels greater in Augusta bars that allow smoking, according to researchers]

Republicans attack 'regulatory reign of terror.'

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:10:07 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency, charged with the monumental task of keeping the air pure and the streams clear, is under persistent attack this campaign season for contributing to the nation's economic woes through what one would-be president characterized as a "regulatory reign of terror.'' Evansville Courier & Press, Indiana.

The 10 best ways to prevent breast cancer.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:26:24 -0800

Though the report authors recommend high-priority research on endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins and flame retardants because of the "provocative, but as yet inconclusive" evidence of an association with breast cancer, they weren't able to say definitively that chemicals were culpable in causing the disease, citing a lack of reliable scientific literature. Mother Nature Network.

Building for health: improving our cities, homes, and lives.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:23:16 -0800

How does where we live impact our health? It’s a big and complex question, but Richard Jackson, MD, MPH, is leading the way towards answers -- and interventions. San Francisco Chronicle.

The debate in Canada: what is a 'safe' level of radiation?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:13:16 -0800

The fallout from Fukushima has sparked debate about how Canada monitors radiation and how it decides what is a "safe" level of radiation. Montreal Gazette, Quebec.

Processed meat 'linked to pancreatic cancer.'

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:11:46 -0800

A link between eating processed meat, such as bacon or sausages, and pancreatic cancer has been suggested by researchers in Sweden. They said eating an extra 50g of processed meat, approximately one sausage, every day would increase a person's risk by 19%. BBC.

UC system banning smoking from all campuses.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:09:58 -0800

The University of California is banning cigarettes and all other tobacco products from its campuses over the next two years, in a move designed to both protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke and prevent young people from developing the bad habit. San Francisco Chronicle, California.
[See another article about tobacco use: Lawmakers get tough on smoking]

EPA sees risks to water, workers in New York fracking rules.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:07:33 -0800

New York's emerging plan to regulate natural gas drilling in the gas-rich Marcellus Shale needs to go further to safeguard drinking water, environmentally sensitive areas and gas industry workers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has informed state officials. ProPublica.

Nurses' miscarriages linked to chemicals at work.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:06:53 -0800

A new study reports that nurses who worked with chemotherapy drugs or sterilizing chemicals were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as their colleagues who didn't handle these materials. Reuters.

Are schools making kids sick?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:00:27 -0800

Figures are hard to come by, but studies have estimated that a third or more of U.S. schools have mold, dust and other indoor air problems serious enough to provoke respiratory issues like asthma in students and teachers. CNN.

Light at night not a 'bright' idea.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:33:53 -0800

Natural nighttime light is also healthier than harsh artificial light -- especially LED (light-emitting diodes) white light, which suppresses the brain's night time production of melatonin needed to regulate our biological clocks, behavior and health. Environmental News Network.

Internet addiction linked to white matter differences in teen brains.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:29:10 -0800

Researchers in China who compared the brain scans of 18 teenagers diagnosed with Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) with those of 18 non-addicted teenagers found differences in white matter density in over 20 brain regions. Medical News Today.

Sex-specific reporting of scientific research -- workshop summary.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:26:56 -0800

On August 30, 2011, the IOM’s Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice hosted a workshop to address the recommendation in Women’s Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise that journals should adopt a guideline that, where appropriate, articles report the outcomes of clinical trials report on men and women separately.

The microbiome and disease: gut bacteria influence the severity of heart attacks in rats.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:25:17 -0800

New research published online in the FASEB Journal suggests that the types and levels of bacteria in the intestines may be used to predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack, and that manipulating these organisms may help reduce heart attack risk. ScienceDaily.

Judge rules innovative Bay Area development guidelines are flawed.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:14:53 -0800

Development review guidelines meant to cut air pollution, the first of their kind when approved in 2010, are in limbo after a judge ruled their adoption by the region's air board was flawed. Contra Costa Times, California.

Judge puts onus on California to prove it considered methyl iodide alternatives.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:11:07 -0800

The lawsuit over California's approval of a controversial pesticide may hinge on a seemingly straightforward question: Did regulators ever ask themselves what would happen if they didn't approve methyl iodide? San Francisco KQED, California.

Dairy air program lauded, attacked.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:08:16 -0800

A nearly yearlong pilot program that regulators say proved its ability to reduce emissions from dairies likely will become permanent March 1. But opponents continued to criticize the plan. Yakima Herald Republic, Washington.

Chemical found in deodorants, face cream and food products is discovered in tumors of all breast cancer patients.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:03:38 -0800

Parabens, a chemical compound widely used as a preservative in cosmetics, food products and pharmaceuticals, have been found in tissue samples from 40 women with breast cancer. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom.

Bush meat can be a viral feast.

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:59:34 -0800

A new study now finds that meat from nonhuman primates -- from chimps to monkeys -- can host potentially dangerous viruses. Tested samples were confiscated at U.S. airports. Science News.

2010 greenhouse gas emissions data from large facilities now available.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:15:23 -0800

For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through EPA’s GHG Reporting Program.

Which chemicals are making us fat?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:59:09 -0800

In her book 'The 21st Century is Making you Fat' former Ecologist Editor Pat Thomas details the full range of industrial and everyday chemicals known to encourage us to get fat. The Ecologist.
[See a related article: Programmed to be fat: everyday chemicals linked to obesity and diabetes]

Diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:19:16 -0800

Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar. ScienceDaily.
[See a related article about obesity: Exercise hormone may fight obesity and diabetes and another about diet and health: Dietary protein sources and the risk of stroke in men and women]

Plasticizer increases miscarriage risk.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:39:15 -0800

In the first study of its kind, scientists in Denmark report that women exposed near the time of conception to relatively common levels of a particular phthalate are more likely to experience early pregnancy loss compared to women with lower exposures. Environmental Health News.

Judge rules for Alliant in coal ash landfill case.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:38:18 -0800

A Sheboygan judge has ruled that the Town of Wilson overstepped its authority last year when it instituted tighter environmental regulations on Alliant Energy's coal ash landfill near Interstate 43 because the town's new regulations were pre-empted by state statutes regulating coal ash landfills. Sheboygan Press, Wisconsin.

Coatings influence nanoparticle toxicity.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:36:36 -0800

To understand the toxicity of nanoparticles, most scientists have focused on the materials’ metal cores. But now researchers have shown that the chemicals that decorate silver nanoparticle surfaces can change their toxicity. Chemical & Engineering News.

FDA halts orange juice imports for test.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:35:49 -0800

The U.S. has temporarily halted shipments of imported orange juice from all countries while they’re being tested, and said it will destroy or ban products containing even low levels from a banned fungicide. Bloomberg News.

Cadmium-laced jewelry removed from stores.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:34:51 -0800

More than a dozen of the most popular retailers have stopped selling jewelry that contains more than trace levels of a toxic metal called cadmium, accepting a new standard that consumer advocates say is tougher than the one endorsed by Washington. Washington Post.

Battle over methyl iodide resurfaces in Monterey County.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:32:42 -0800

Groups advocating against methyl iodide gathered in Salinas Wednesday, urging action against the pesticide within Monterey County and drawing attention to today's court hearing challenging state approval of the soil fumigant. Salinas Californian, California.

States slow to act against New England polluters.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:27:38 -0800

An investigation by the New England Center for Investigative Reporting shows that regulators in Maine and nearby states have taken months and even years to sanction facilities violating the Clean Air Act -- even those the government itself has called "high priority violators." Center for Public Integrity.
[See another article about air pollution regulation: Factbox: EPA's looming clean air rules]

Television series: Designing Healthy Communities.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:49:14 -0800

The host of the series is Dr. Richard Jackson, pediatrician, former CDC head of environmental science, top public health official in California, and current UCLA Department Chair and Professor of Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health.

Statins associated with significant increase in diabetes risk.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:30:44 -0800

According to a new study, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may significantly increase the risk of diabetes in postmenopausal women. EmaxHealth.

Male fertility linked to omega fatty acids found in tuna, salmon: new study.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:27:39 -0800

A University of Illinois study reports that a certain omega-3 fatty acid is necessary to construct the arch that turns a round, immature sperm cell into a pointy-headed super swimmer with an extra long tail.

Study: No lung danger from casual pot smoking.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:54:05 -0800

Add one more data point to the decades-old debate over marijuana legalization: A new study concludes that casual pot smoking -- up to one joint per day -- does not affect the functioning of your lungs. CBS News.

Bay Area's urban planning must address public health, study says.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:52:22 -0800

According to a recent analysis by Oakland’s Pacific Institute and a group of public health and air-quality advocates, California’s efforts to build sustainable communities as mandated by the state law could unintentionally threaten the health of Bay Area residents. California Watch.

Nicotine 'may aid memory in early dementia.'

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:54 -0800

Nicotine patches may improve the memory of elderly people experiencing the earliest symptoms of dementia, researchers suspect. The patches appear to give a cognitive boost to people with mild memory impairment. BBC.

Programs to screen, treat lead poisoning in children face budget axe.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:06:22 -0800

With a steep budget cut buried deep in the $1 trillion spending measure Congress passed before the holidays, Congress quietly slashed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's lead prevention grant program by 94 percent. Public health advocates and scientists say the cut will have a devastating effect on local health programs. Greenwire.
[See a related article: EPA: Lead in shipyard housing jeopardized military families and another from India: 18% kids have high lead levels in blood]

Danger in every breath.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:05:19 -0800

Researchers have warned children are being exposed to far higher levels of dangerous particles than thought if their parents smoke -- even if they open windows or smoke at the door. Glasgow Evening Times, United Kingdom.
[See a related article: Chilean restaurants’ smoke pollution 37 times endorsed level]

3M turns the tables in Mississippi River pollution lawsuit.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:02:34 -0800

In a counterclaim filed Monday, the company said that if it is found liable for polluting the Mississippi River, the Metropolitan Council also should pay, because the planning agency dumps chemicals into the river from its seven waste treatment plants. St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota.

India's children reap the bitter harvest of endosulfan.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:46:16 -0800

In some Keralan villages half the families have a severely disabled child or adult: the legacy, locals say, of spraying endosulfan pesticide. London Guardian, United Kingdom.

U.S. EPA orders world’s largest metals and electronics recycler to immediately cease illegal discharge of toxic pollutants to San Francisco Bay.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:53:23 -0800

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Sims Metal Management, located at the Port of Redwood City, Calif., to comply with federal Clean Water Act laws following inspections that found evidence of unlawful discharges of PCBs, mercury, lead, copper and zinc into San Francisco Bay.

New blog: A Healthy Environment and Healthy Aging.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:48:38 -0800

AARP has launched a regular weekly blog on healthy aging and the environment. All are encouraged to post comments to the blog to support this important new step by AARP to reach out to their 35 million members with critical information on environmental influences on healthy aging.

CNN spotlights indoor air quality’s impact on student learning.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:43:08 -0800

CNN will shine the national spotlight on indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools across America with a segment airing on Saturday January 14th at 8 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET. The program will replay again at the same times on Sunday January 15th.

Researchers identify that environmental exposure to organochlorines may impact male reproduction.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:24:07 -0800

Researchers found that men with higher levels of DDE and PCBs had significantly higher rates of sperm abnormalities. Newswise.

CDC scientist: tests needed on gas drilling impact.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:21:32 -0800

One of the government's top scientists says much more research is needed to determine the possible impacts of shale gas drilling on human health and the environment. Associated Press.
[See a related article: Fracking moratorium urged by U.S. doctors until health studies conducted and a call for comments that expires on January 11th: Revised draft SGEIS on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program]

Chinatown participates in Tufts study on health risks of living near highway.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:14:50 -0800

In Chinatown, it’s almost impossible to escape traffic. Drivers stuck bumper to bumper down Washington Street beep their horns. Trucks, cars, and busses whiz past on the Mass Pike and Route 93. These vehicles are emitting more than just noise. Boston Globe, Massachusetts.

Preventing cancer through helping the environment.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:12:02 -0800

There are ways to reduce environmentally induced cancer, and to that end, members of Cobourg's Health Hazards Committee want Mayor Gil Brocanier and his council to take responsible actions like those outlined in the book entitled: "Cancer - 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic." Northumberland Today, Ontario.

EPA's Toxics Release Inventory doesn't offer full picture of pollution.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:10:21 -0800

The EPA has unveiled its analysis of the 2010 Toxics Release Inventory, a database on the disposal or release of 650 potentially dangerous chemicals used by almost 21,000 facilities. But it provides only a snapshot of the pollution produced by American industry, and estimates in some cases dramatically understate the extent of pollution. Center for Public Integrity.
[See a related article: Toxic releases up in 2010 IDEM says and a related research article: The exposure data landscape for manufactured chemicals]

Quit smoking: a new case for going cold turkey.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:09:41 -0800

A new study suggests cigarette smokers who quit after using over-the-counter medication such as nicotine patches are just as likely to relapse as smokers who go "cold turkey," casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of such products. Wall Street Journal.

Higher temperatures, extreme weather coming.

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:08:40 -0800

An Environmental Protection Ministry climate change report predicts that over the next decade, the country will see an annual decrease in rainfall, and increases in temperature, southern desertification, heat waves, periods of torrential rains and flooding. Jerusalem Post, Israel.

Economic burden from health losses due to foodborne illness in the United States.

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:23:06 -0800

The resulting aggregated annual cost of illness was $77.7 billion (90% CI, $28.6 to $144.6 billion) and $51.0 billion (90% CI, $31.2 to $76.1 billion) for the enhanced and basic models, respectively. Journal of Food Protection.

Questions remain about organic foods grown in China.

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:09:52 -0800

It's no secret that China has a tainted food problem. The USDA samples less than 1 percent of all regulated products. It regularly refuses shipments of purportedly organic foods because of pesticide residues or unsafe food additives -- not because the food does not meet organic standards, but because they do not meet standards for any food. Seattle Times, Washington.

Did moms of the 1950s spur obesity epidemic?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:52:19 -0800

One fitness expert thinks obesity rates soared because a generation of young women smoked, spurned breast-feeding and restricted their weight during many, closely spaced pregnancies. Los Angeles Times.

Widespread BPA contamination in paper products, study suggests.

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:50:25 -0800

Bisphenol A seems impossible to avoid. It contaminates food, thermal receipts and drinks served in certain plastic bottles. A new study finds its reach goes even further. Researchers detected trace amounts of BPA in a wide variety of paper products most of us touch every day. Environmental Health News.

Soil, groundwater at airports found to be contaminated.

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:49:00 -0800

After finishing the first ever pollution investigation of 30 operational units at Taiwan’s airports, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday said that soil or groundwater at seven of the 11 airports had been contaminated. Taipei Times, Taiwan.

Boston lawsuit claims DES-breast cancer link.

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:45:55 -0800

Fifty three women from around the country are suing drug companies who made and promoted synthetic estrogen DES (diethylstilbestrol) for millions of pregnant women from about 1938 to the early 1970s. Associated Press.

The GOP presidential race and the environment.

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 22:48:57 -0800

This election season, no Republican candidates seem to embrace the values of green Republicans, on issues from climate change to the role of the EPA. But a movement among anti-abortion Christians who see a link between environmental contaminants and birth defects may force candidates to soften their positions. Living On Earth.

Study: plume vapors linked to birth defects.

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 22:18:47 -0800

A new study links congenital heart problems, low birth weight and other birth defects to soil vapors from industrial contaminants that have lurked beneath Endicott -- and in subterranean pockets across upstate New York -- for decades. Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, New York.

New discussion course: Healthy Children -- Healthy Planet.

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 21:14:16 -0800

This course from the Northwest Earth Institute is a seven-session discussion course book that addresses how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.

Diet in womb linked to diabetes: new study.

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 20:45:47 -0800

Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council have shown one way in which poor nutrition in the womb can put a person at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other age-related diseases in later life. Stone Hearth News.

Upcoming events.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 14:24:30 -0800

CHE's online calendar shows events in the next week related to fracking and shale gas production, about public health policy, about obesity, about childhood cancer and health, about exposures in schools, about cumulative impacts and complexity, and about agriculture and food science.

Call for abstracts: The Contribution of Epigenetics in Pediatric Environmental Health.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 14:21:39 -0800

On May 30th - June 1st, 2012, CEHN will convene a research conference in San Francisco. Abstracts of late-breaking research are invited through March 2nd.

Effects of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209) in regulation of growth and apoptosis of breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer cells.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 13:17:58 -0800

The current data demonstrate that PBDE-209 is able to promote proliferation of various cancer cells from the female reproductive system and normal ovarian CHO cells. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See another article about breast cancer: Drinking red wine in moderation may reduce breast cancer risk]

Depression linked to vitamin D deficiency, study says.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 13:00:52 -0800

Depression is likely to occur more often in people who get less vitamin D, a recent report has found. Epoch Times.

Unreported cases of food poisoning reflect a gap in food supply safety net.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:53:29 -0800

In what appears to be a gap in the food supply safety net, there is no requirement for restaurants to report when their diners are affected by food-borne illnesses even when large numbers of people get sick. New York Times.

Natural gas, oil boom spurs sand mining in Midwest.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:41:31 -0800

Largely overlooked in the national debate over fracking is the emerging fight in the U.S. heartland over mining "frac sand," which has grains of ideal size, shape, strength and purity. Mining companies say the work provides good jobs in rural areas, but some residents fear the increase in mining could harm human health and the environment. Associated Press.

Tougher U.S. lead limit could strain local abatement efforts.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:36:07 -0800

A federal panel is recommending lowering the threshold for lead poisoning in children at the same time that funding shortages are threatening St. Louis' lead abatement program. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri.
[See another article about lead exposure: Your home's age important for child lead exposure]

Toxic releases rose 16 percent in 2010, EPA says.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:34:07 -0800

The amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment nationwide in 2010 increased 16 percent over the year before, reversing a downward trend in overall toxic releases since 2006, according to a report released Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency. Washington Post.

Study finds air pollution linked to diabetes and hypertension in African-American women.

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 12:27:56 -0800

Researchers assessed the risks of incident hypertension and diabetes associated with exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM2.5) in a cohort of approximately 4,000 African American women living in Los Angeles. Medical Xpress.
[See other articles about air pollution: Pittsburgh tries to clear the air on pollution and Delhi witnesses 30 per cent rise in respiratory diseases due to high pollution and chill]

Public health effects of fracking need study, CDC scientist says.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:03:41 -0800

The U.S. should study whether hydraulic fracturing used to free natural gas from wells is a hazard to people or food sources, a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Bloomberg Business Week.

Radon's role in lung cancer? It depends.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:53:43 -0800

The radioactive gases come up through the soil, then into homes, where they can accumulate. That's why House, Ebel, as well as the U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA among others, recommend radon testing in every home. Newark Advocate, Ohio.
[See a related announcement: EPA recognizes National Radon Action Month]

When it comes to heart health, how much is too much vitamin D?

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:50:17 -0800

New research by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests that vitamin D, long known to be important for bone health and in recent years also for heart protection, may stop conferring cardiovascular benefits and could actually cause harm as levels in the blood rise above the low end of what is considered normal. Johns Hopkins Medicine.

EPA watchdog: nano efforts lacking.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:48:08 -0800

In a blunt new report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog finds that the agency lacks both the data and the administrative ability to effectively deal with the challenge posed by super-small materials that are increasingly finding their way into consumer products. New Haven Independent, Connecticut.

Citing drug resistance, U.S. restricts more antibiotics for livestock.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:45:16 -0800

Federal drug regulators announced on Wednesday that farmers and ranchers must restrict their use of a critical class of antibiotics in livestock because such practices may have contributed to the growing threat in people of bacterial infections that are resistant to treatment. New York Times.

Ecological and evolutionary functional genomics--how can it contribute to the risk assessment of chemicals?

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:31:08 -0800

In the age of genomics, the biological effects of toxicants as well as their action as drivers of evolution, can be assessed in a new way. Environmental Science and Technology.

Cancer death rates in U.S. keep falling: report.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:27:00 -0800

Cancer death rates are continuing to fall, according to the American Cancer Society's annual report on cancer statistics released on Wednesday. But new cases of seven less-common cancers rose in the past decade, suggesting more could be done in America's 40-year war on cancer. Reuters.

Was Lou Gehrig’s ALS caused by tap water?

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:21:34 -0800

Could a toxic molecule found in pond scum trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s? Miller-McCune.

Students in low-income neighbourhoods exposed to more pollution -- SFU study.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:41:51 -0800

Students attending schools in low-income neighbourhoods are more likely to be exposed to air and noise pollution because of the proximity of major roads, says a Simon Fraser University study published today. Vancouver Sun, British Columbia.

Grumpy goat cheese recalled for possible listeria contamination.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:39:55 -0800

Bekkum Family Farms LLC of Westby is recalling "Grumpy Goat Shreds" cheese because it may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.

Panel urges lower cutoff for child lead poisoning.

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:38:28 -0800

For the first time in 20 years, a federal panel is urging the government to lower the threshold for lead poisoning in children. If adopted, hundreds of thousands more children could be diagnosed with lead poisoning. Too much lead is harmful to developing brains and can mean a lower IQ. Associated Press.

Fine particulate matter constituents and cardiopulmonary mortality in a heavily polluted Chinese city.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 17:10:00 -0800

Our findings suggest that PM2.5 constituents from the combustion of fossil fuel may have an appreciable influence on the health impact attributable to PM2.5 in Xi’an. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See related articles: Reducing personal exposure to particulate air pollution improves cardiovascular health in patients with coronary heart disease and "Polluted" marathon sparks intense protest]

Lead, cadmium, and balance and vestibular dysfunction among adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 17:08:17 -0800

Our findings suggest that blood lead and cadmium levels may be associated with balance/vestibular dysfunction in a general sample of U.S. adults. Environmental Health Perspectives.

EPA seeks nominations for annual Environmental Quality Awards.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 17:02:37 -0800

Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honors individuals, businesses and organizations that have contributed significantly to improving the environment and protecting public health in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indian Nations over the past year. EPA is now seeking nominations for this annual award.

New online training: Life Course Nutrition: Maternal and Child Health Strategies in Public Health.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 16:59:05 -0800

This module, based on a life course framework, is designed to help public health leaders describe the role of maternal and child nutrition in population health and identify actions they can take to create equitable access to healthy foods and food environments.

Eight lazy ways to lose weight.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 16:53:03 -0800

Forget dieting. Shedding a few pounds could be as easy as having a lie-in, turning down the lights and getting vaccinated. New Scientist.

Ubiquitous bisphenol A linked to adult obesity, insulin resistance.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:53:54 -0800

High urinary levels of bisphenol A in older adults are associated with increased weight and waist size, both indicators of obesity that can lead to serious illness and disease. Environmental Health News.
[See a related article: The association between urinary concentrations of dichlorophenol pesticides and obesity in children]

Patterns: trace elements and pancreatic cancer risk.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:51:59 -0800

A new study has found that high bodily levels of the trace elements nickel and selenium may be associated with reduced risk for pancreatic cancer, and that high levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead may increase the risk. New York Times.

National Public Health Conference explores shale gas production.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:45:52 -0800

Public health experts, physicians and epidemiologists from across the nation will attend a conference Jan. 9 on the public health aspects from the natural gas drilling method of hydrofracking. Canandaigua Messenger Post, New York.
[More events are listed in CHE's calendar]

Few US vets trained to treat organic livestock.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:29:57 -0800

The lack of chemicals used in organic production has created a challenge for farmers in caring for their animals: Few veterinarians are trained to treat livestock without antibiotics or other modern drugs. Associated Press.

A conversation with air pollution expert Dr. Gunasekar.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:26:36 -0800

Dr. Arunachalam Gunasekar tracked air pollution levels in Delhi over several weeks this winter, and found them "phenomenally high," sometimes five times the W.H.O.’s guidelines. New York Times.

British Columbia launches health review of oil and gas industry practices.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:21:07 -0800

The BC government has launched a review to determine if controversial practices by the oil and gas industry, such as fracking and flaring, pose a threat to human health. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario.

Drug research routinely suppressed, study authors find.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:18:56 -0800

Drug research, even from clinical trials sponsored by the federal government, routinely is suppressed, harming patients and increasing health care costs, according to new data highlighting an ethical controversy that continues to plague the field of medicine. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.

Bracing for the fake sugar rush.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:18:20 -0800

As consumer demand for artificial sweeteners increases, some are concerned with how they may affect health. One reason Truvia is so appealing is its position as a "natural" alternative to aspartame, saccharin and other chemically derived sugar substitutes. But some concerns linger. Wall Street Journal.

Food industry wary of dioxin guidelines.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:16:29 -0800

Farmers and the food industry are asking the Obama administration to ease coming federal guidance that will advise consumers to minimize their intake of dioxins, chemicals that may be harmful at certain levels. Wall Street Journal.

Diabetes during pregnancy may raise ADHD risk.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:13:57 -0800

Young children are far more likely to experience attention and hyperactivity problems if their mother develops diabetes during pregnancy and they are born into a poor or lower-middle-class household, a new study suggests. children with both risk factors had a 14-fold increased risk of ADHD compared to children with neither risk factor. Health.com.

Tests find no link between baby illnesses and formula.

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:12:20 -0800

Testing by multiple government agencies has failed to find a connection between infant formula and recent cases of rare bacterial infections that killed two newborns and severely sickened two others. USA Today.

Call for comments: EPA Strategic Plan Information on Source Water Protection (Renewal).

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:38:18 -0800

Any additional comments on this Information Collection Request (ICR) should be submitted to EPA and OMB on or before January 26, 2012.

Call for proposals: Public Health Conference Support Program.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:30:34 -0800

The CDC/ATSDR announces the pending availability of appropriated fiscal year 2012 funds for the CDC/ATSDR Public Health Conference Support Program. This program addresses the "Healthy People 2020" focus areas of Environmental Health. Letters of intent are due February 2, 2012.

Holian discusses lung inflammation caused by nanoparticles.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:13:15 -0800

NIEHS grantee Andrij Holian, Ph.D., (http://cehsweb.health.umt.edu/users/andrij-holian) a toxicologist and director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences at The University of Montana, presented the latest results from his experiments on the health and safety aspects of ENMs Dec. 6, as part of the Institute’s Keystone seminar series. NIEHS Environmental Factor.

Better profits through green chemistry.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:00:50 -0800

Construction Specialties is a supplier of building materials to some of the largest industrial and commercial enterprises in the U.S. Like a growing number of companies around the country, it is adopting a 'healthy chemicals' strategy. This isn't just out of altruism, according to a company official. Customers were calling for safer products. Forbes.

Fuel additive in banned PIP breast implants -- report.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:00:02 -0800

A fuel additive untested in clinical trials was used in breast implants that have since been banned, French radio station RTL reports. BBC.
[See a related article: Experts call for implants to be removed as fears grow over ruptures]

A thing or two about twins.

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 13:46:00 -0800

To biomedical researchers all over the world, twins offer a precious opportunity to untangle the influence of genes and the environment--of nature and nurture. Because identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, they share virtually the same genetic code. Any differences between them--one twin having younger looking skin, for example--must be due to environmental factors. National Geographic Magazine.

EPA asked to delay dioxin assessment.

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 09:49:17 -0800

The American Chemistry Council, a chemical industry group, is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to change course on its assessment of the most potent form of dioxin. Such a move could further prolong completion of the assessment, which has been under way for more than 20 years. Chemical & Engineering News.

Mesothelioma on the rise in Wales.

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 09:48:35 -0800

More than 150 people have died in Gwent, Wales, over the last 25 years from a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. South Wales Argus, United Kingdom.

Hookahs' hidden risks cited.

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 09:39:07 -0800

Hookahs are commonly perceived as a less-toxic alternative for tobacco use, but researchers say the ancient smoking method, which has its roots in the Middle East and India, may actually pose great health risks, including carbon-monoxide poisoning. Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky.
[See other articles about tobacco use: Children feeling the effects of 2nd-hand smoke; Revolution in smoking aims to stub out cigarettes -- with the help of tobacco firms and Japanese smoking culture proves hard to snuff out]

Potential contamination causes Green Valley recall.

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 09:29:43 -0800

Green Valley Food Corp. is recalling approximately 35,159 cases of a variety of products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. North Country Gazette, New York.

Associations of early childhood manganese and lead coexposure with neurodevelopment.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 22:02:28 -0800

We observed evidence of synergism between lead and manganese, whereby lead toxicity was increased among children with high manganese coexposure. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Remediating soil lead with fish bones.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:52:31 -0800

Fish bones are made of the phosphate mineral apatite, which readily combines with lead to form pyromorphite, a stable crystalline mineral that can’t be absorbed by the human digestive system. Now researchers are using fish bones and other phosphate-rich amendments to remediate lead in urban soils. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Summit ties sustainability to improved public health.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:48:53 -0800

Over the course of the 2-day summit, the attendees discussed and fine-tuned a list of suggestions addressing the 3 pillars of the sustainability paradigm as defined by the United Nations -- society, environment, and economy. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Can indoor swimming alter hormones in boys?

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:45:29 -0800

The boys who swam the most in indoor chlorinated pools had concentrations of inhibin B and total testosterone about 20% lower than those of boys who swam in the pool disinfected with copper-silver ionization, and the former were about 3 times more likely than the latter to have abnormally low concentrations of these hormones. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and DNA damage in Mexican children.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:21:11 -0800

The data indicate that children living in the surroundings of petrochemical industrial areas are exposed to high PAH levels, contributing to DNA damage and suggesting an increased health risk; furthermore, data suggest that polymorphisms affecting activation enzymes may modulate PAH metabolism and toxicity. Mutation Research.

Loudest threat to hearing: MP3 players.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:18:28 -0800

Nine out of ten city dwellers may have enough harmful noise exposure to risk hearing loss, and most of that exposure comes from leisure activities. Futurity.

New China food safety scandal widens to oil, peanuts.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:11:04 -0800

Chinese authorities in a southern boomtown have detected a cancer-causing toxin in peanuts and cooking oil that was only recently discovered in milk, in the nation's latest food safety scandal. Agence France-Presse.

Red meat lovers have more kidney cancer.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 21:07:24 -0800

Researchers found that middle-aged adults who ate the most red meat were 19 percent more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer than those who ate the least. A higher intake of chemicals found in grilled or barbecued meat was also linked to increased risk of the disease. Reuters.

Alzheimer's: diet 'can stop brain shrinking.'

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 20:58:14 -0800

A diet rich in vitamins and fish may protect the brain from ageing while junk food has the opposite effect, research suggests. BBC.

Essroc Cement Corp. agrees to add pollution controls costing $33 million following alleged violations.

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 20:55:30 -0800

Essroc also has promised to pay a $1.7 million fine under the agreement, which would settle a clean air violation investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency. Harrisburg Express-Times, Pennsylvania.
[See other articles about air pollution: Phoenix-area no burn days hard to enforce and Study raises alarm over silent killer]

Bisphenol A in thermal paper receipts: an opportunity for evidence-based prevention.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:36:11 -0800

BPA is found in receipt paper and appears to transfer readily from receipts to skin and to be absorbed transdermally. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Mixed metals exposures in children, with Robert O. Wright.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:26:47 -0800

In this podcast host Ashley Ahearn discusses the neurodevelopmental effects of metals mixtures with researcher Robert O. Wright. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Job opening: Washington, DC.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:20:53 -0800

The United Nations Environment Programme has an opening for a team assistant to work with the regional director, programme assistant and staff of the Regional Office for North America in day-to-day activities. The closing date for applications is January 4th.

WHO "deeply concerned" by mutated birdflu research.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:09:23 -0800

The World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Friday to scientists who have engineered a highly pathogenic form of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, saying their work carries significant risks and must be tightly controlled. Reuters.

Latest China food safety scandal widens to oil.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:45:50 -0800

Chinese authorities have recalled cooking oil products made by three companies after finding they contained the same type of cancer-causing toxin recently found in milk, state media said Thursday. Agence France-Presse.

Threat of water pollution vaults oil and gas 'fracking' into public consciousness.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:44:35 -0800

This was the year that "fracking" became a household word. For the first time, independent scientific investigations linked the drilling technique with water pollution, and a variety of federal and state agencies responded to the growing apprehension about water contamination with more studies and more regulation. ProPublica.

Protecting babies from neurotoxins.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:39:56 -0800

For each dollar spent reducing mercury and hazardous air pollutant emissions under the new rule, the EPA projects up to $9 in health benefit savings by preventing an estimated 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks each year. CNN.

Hopkins to study genetics of asthma in African-Americans.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:23:12 -0800

In the largest study to date, researchers will map the genetic code for asthma in people of African descent in hopes of better understanding why the disease disproportionately afflict that population. The disease is exacerbated by environmental factors such as poor air quality. Baltimore Sun, Maryland.

Destructive gold fever takes the shine off tourism.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:22:04 -0800

Once dubbed an 'eco resort,' the Indonesian island of Lembok is threatened by mercury contamination in water, soil and food as 6,000 locals engage in rampant small-scale illegal gold mining using toxic processing methods. Sydney Australian, Australia.

CHE working group call: Science and Action to Protect Public Health: How Healthcare Professionals Are Changing Chemicals Policy.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:37:37 -0800

Join executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles (PSR-LA), Martha Arguello for a one hour discussion examining our broken chemical safety system and offering solutions to protect our health and the environment. January 11th at 10 am Pacific / 1 pm Eastern time.

Call for presentations: Pro Walk/Pro Bike® 2012.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:09:43 -0800

The face of the conference, however, is working to make communities safer and more attractive places for walking and bicycling. Submissions are due by February 1, 2012.

New report: The Federal Food Safety Working Group Progress Report.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:05:49 -0800

In March 2009, President Obama created the Food Safety Working Group (FSWG), whose core mission is to strengthen federal efforts and develop short-term and long-term strategies to improve food safety.

Fracking, fluoride top health care scare list.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:41:56 -0800

A scientific organization based in the United States has put hydrofracking and fluoridation on its top 10 list of unfounded health scares in 2011. Saint John Telegraph-Journal, New Brunswick.

Row over cancer risk of mobiles.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:40:36 -0800

Australian brain surgeon Charlie Teo is one of 16 world experts who have accused a global newspaper of publishing "technical errors and misleading statements" in an article that rejected the idea that mobile phones cause cancer. Sydney Australian, Australia.

California pesticide use rises after years of decline.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:39:06 -0800

Pesticide use in California rose in 2010 after declining for four consecutive years, according to state data released Wednesday. Associated Press.

Critics brand asbestos as Canada's latest global sin.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:38:26 -0800

After the oilsands and the seal hunt, asbestos has become Canada's new sin, tarred as an evil at home and abroad. In just three years, asbestos went from being one of the country's great exports. supported by all political parties at the House of Commons, to being vilified by politicians of all stripes, including some Conservatives. Postmedia News.

Fatty food linked to brain damage, new study shows.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:34:37 -0800

Eating too much fatty food causes brain damage linked to obesity, according to new research. US scientists found a sudden change to a high-fat diet triggered inflammation in a key area of rodent brains responsible for regulating body weight. Sydney Australian, Australia.

Efforts to clean up Agent Orange contamination in Vietnam.

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:29:15 -0800

Agent Orange has left a long and poisonous legacy, causing birth defects in children born long after the war ended. But it took until June this year for the United States to begin a project to clean up some of Vietnam's worst contaminated sites. Radio Australia, Australia.

New working group call January 12th: Analyzing and Addressing Cumulative Impacts Using an Ecological and Complexity Model.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:43:49 -0800

On this call, Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, CHE Science Director, and Science Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, will propose a general, higher-level, qualitative ecological model, focusing on several fundamental dimensions, that may be helpful in analyzing and addressing cumulative impacts.

Smoking linked to skin cancer in women.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:40:54 -0800

The study found that women who had squamous cell skin cancer were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease. And those who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop cell skin cancer, a less aggressive form of skin cancer than melanoma. HealthDay.
[See another article about smoking: Smokers targeted in 2012 campaign]

New report: Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:35:22 -0800

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked the IOM to summarize the current state of scientific understanding of the effects of climate change on indoor air and public health, and to offer priorities for action.

Research provides first proof of epigenetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:27:14 -0800

The results demonstrated the unique abilities of this novel research approach by revealing a clear-cut, disease-predisposing DNA methylation signature. News-Medical.Net.

Call for comments: Withdrawal of Notices of Opportunity for a Hearing; Penicillin and Tetracycline Used in Animal Feed.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:23:53 -0800

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is withdrawing two 1977 notices of opportunity for a hearing (NOOH), which proposed to withdraw certain approved uses of penicillin and tetracyclines intended for use in feeds for food-producing animals based in part on microbial food safety concerns.

Job opening: Aspen, Colorado.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:09:18 -0800

The city of Aspen has an opening for a professional-level position that plans, coordinates and supervises the overall functions and activities of the Environmental Health Department and Local Public Health Agency. Applications are due January 3rd.

New legislation seeks to eradicate PCBs in NY schools.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:52:49 -0800

Mayor Bloomberg signed legislation today relating to the notification and reporting of the possible presence of PCBs in city schools. The presence of toxic PCBs in schools has been a hot button issue for parents for a long time. New York WCBS TV, New York.

In Peru, gold rush leads to mercury contamination concerns.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:48:53 -0800

Rising global demand for gold has also fueled demand for a far less prized metal, mercury. The toxic metal is used by millions of miners every day to separate and collect gold from rocks and soil. Miners say mercury is easy to use, readily available, and cheap. PBS NewsHour.
[See another article about pollution from mining: Ethnic conflict flares over Chinese nickel mine pollution]

Breast implants need lifetime of care.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:45:49 -0800

The Internet and women's magazines are filled with enticing adverts for breast implant surgery, but experts and regulators have varying views on how long they last and possible risks. Reuters.

County in Texas sues over toxic storage on river.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:38:57 -0800

Angered that a riverside industrial waste pit leached potent chemicals into the San Jacinto River for almost half a century, the Harris County Attorney's Office is asking that those responsible be fined as much as the law allows - $25,000 a day - all the way back to the site's 1965 opening. Houston Chronicle, Texas.

The haves' children are healthier than the have-nots'.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:34:52 -0800

An analysis of state data by The Bay Citizen revealed a large variation in how fifth graders in Bay Area elementary schools perform on the physical fitness test. The schools that performed the best have few students from low-income families, for reasons that experts say are not surprising. New York Times.

Call for abstracts: International Academy on Nutrition and Aging 2012.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:16:03 -0800

The deadline for presentations is January 24th for this symposium to be held July 12-13th in Albuquerque.

Call for proposals: Asthma in Older Adults.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:53:32 -0800

This FOA is intended to stimulate research to address knowledge gaps and research opportunities in asthma in later life. Cycles of deadlines will continue until September 8, 2013.

Call for proposals: Behavioral and Social Genomics of Aging: Opportunities in the Health and Retirement Study.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:01:25 -0800

This FOA encourages applications taking advantage of the newly available genetic data to advance our understanding of how genetic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors affect the health and well-being of older Americans. Cycles of deadlines will continue until September 8, 2014.

Drug take-back day April 28th.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:34:47 -0800

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Lead concentrations in relation to multiple biomarkers of cardiovascular disease: the Normative Aging Study.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:26:22 -0800

Blood lead may be related with cardiovascular disease through its association with tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNF-R) in healthy older men. In addition, the magnitude of the association of blood lead with TNF-R increased with age in the study population. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Groups opposed to waste-burning plan.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:43:13 -0800

A coalition of environmental and health groups is coming out against tentative plans by a local cement plant to fire its kilns by burning a mix of nonrecyclable waste like laminated papers, cardboard, textiles, Styrofoam, plastics and packaging. Albany Times Union, New York.

Chinese milk producer promises tougher measures following scare.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:39:44 -0800

China's largest dairy company by sales vowed on Tuesday to increase oversight of its suppliers after inspectors found elevated levels of a carcinogen in a batch of its milk, a finding it blamed on spoiled cow feed. Wall Street Journal.

Chinese turn to US for clarity in smog data.

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:35:31 -0800

The doubts about official pollution data keep piling up for China's government, as green activists, celebrity bloggers and ordinary citizens increasingly demand action and information to halt the environmental fall-out from decades of breakneck economic growth. USA Today.

Doctors, moms take on No. 1 polluter in Utah.

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:27:02 -0800

When winter comes to Utah and atmospheric conditions trap a soup of pollutants close to the ground, doctors say it turns every resident in the Salt Lake basin into the equivalent of a cigarette smoker. ScienceDaily.

Vietnam still doesn't have regulations to treat electronics waste.

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:05:26 -0800

Hung said that in Vietnam, most of the electronics waste, such as electrical home appliances, audio-visual products, electronic toys, telecommunications, medical electronics ..., all have the toxic chemicals which harm the nervous system, or cause lung cancer. VietNam Net.

Relative risk, one result at a time.

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:46:19 -0800

When research suggests that a single chemical may cause harm, public concern rises, as it has for the plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA) in recent years. But many more of the 83,000 or so humanmade chemicals used in the United States receive little attention. The possible effects of chemicals in combination get still less scrutiny, even though the potential that some chemicals will interact is high, given their numbers. American Scientist.

New film: Toxic Baby.

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:42:41 -0800

Having discovered the issue of chemical toxicity and it's effects on young children, filmmaker Penelope Jagessar Chaffer submits herself to a barrage of toxicity tests and then seeks out some of the best environmental doctors and scientists to discover what lurks in our blood and the effects that is thought to have on young children across the world, leading her to ask "Are we raising the most polluted generation in the history of the planet?"

Light switch: old-fashioned incandescent bulb to be phased out, but is it better for your health?

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:36:36 -0800

Research has shown that the disruption of circadian rhythms, such as by the blue light given off by fluorescent and LED lamps, can lead to a number of health problems, including sleep deprivation and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Hartford Courant, Connecticut.

Smuggled plastic industry health risk.

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:34:47 -0800

Unlicensed factories in an east China village have been exposed making plastic out of waste smuggled from abroad, causing serious pollution. Shanghai Daily, China.

Add vitamin D to Scotland's food: experts.

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:28:51 -0800

International experts are calling for food in Scotland to be fortified with vitamin D in an attempt to cut the large numbers of people who develop multiple sclerosis at sunshine-deprived northern latitudes. London Guardian, United Kingdom.

Effects of particulate air pollution on blood pressure in a highly exposed population in Beijing, China: A repeated-measure study.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:00:48 -0800

Our results indicate delayed effects of ambient PM10 on BP. Lack of associations with exposure groups and personal PM2.5/EC indicates that PM effects are related to background levels of pollution in Beijing, and not specifically to work-related exposure. Environmental Health.

Call for proposals: Maternal Nutrition and Pre-pregnancy Obesity: Effects on Mothers, Infants and Children.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:40:16 -0800

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of Nursing Research encourages R01 applications to improve health outcomes for women, infants and children, by stimulating interdisciplinary research focused on maternal nutrition and pre-pregnancy obesity. The earliest submission date is January 5, 2012, with cycles of deadlines through 2014.

Call for proposals: Limited Competition: Planning Grants for Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Global Environmental and Occupational Health.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:31:20 -0800

This request for proposals is intended to support paired consortium exploratory awards led by one Low and Middle Income Country (LMIC) institution and one US institution to plan research, research training, and curriculum development activities that address and inform priority national and regional environmental and occupational health policy issues. Letters of intent are due February 7, 2012.

100,000 female nurses being recruited to join Nurses Health Study 3.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:29:31 -0800

Female nurses or student nurses 20-46 years old in the US and Canada are invited to contribute to groundbreaking research on lifestyle, environment, nurses' worklife, and women's health by giving one hour of your time online a year.

Pregnant women advised to stay cool for baby's sake: Australian study.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:15:01 -0800

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) world-first research has found a link between increases in temperature and the incidence of stillbirth and shorter pregnancies. ScienceDaily.

U.S. approves Monsanto drought-tolerant GM corn.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:13:21 -0800

Monsanto's genetically engineered, drought resistant corn is deregulated, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Thursday, clearing the variety for sale. Reuters.

Funding cuts threaten public health disaster preparedness, study finds.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:08:17 -0800

Public health funding cuts are undermining programs that protect Americans from infectious disease outbreaks, bioterrorist attacks, and natural disasters, according to a Trust for America’s Health report released on Tuesday. National Journal.

Former Bush official touts 'market-based' air toxics regulation.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:06:55 -0800

The biggest impediment to clean air control over the past few decades has been litigation and delay, according to James Connaughton, the man some call 'the next EPA administrator' if Romney wins the White House. Center for Public Integrity.

Dismal pollution survey prompts Taiwan's doctors to take action.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:04:37 -0800

Taiwan's air quality ranked an abysmal 35 out of 38 countries surveyed by the World Health Organization, with Taipei at number 551 out of the 565 cities profiled, boasting an air quality on par with "smoker's paradise" Lebanon. Asia News Network.

Lead exposure linked to hearing loss in youth.

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:48:57 -0800

Teens exposed to higher-than-normal levels of lead are more likely to have trouble hearing, suggests a new study that links the hearing problems to lead levels well below those considered "safe" by current standards. Reuters.
[See another article regarding lead hazards: Target recalls children's suitcases for lead paint]

Call for proposals: Activities that Reduce Global Anthropogenic Methane Emissions

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:30:19 -0800

EPA solicits proposals for investigation, survey, study, training, and demonstration projects (eligible projects) that advance international near-term, cost-effective methane abatement and/or recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Global Methane Initiative. Deadline for proposals is January 19th.

Review of the Department of Labor's Site Exposure Matrix (SEM) Database.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:13:36 -0800

The IOM will review the scientific rigor and organization of the Department of Labor’s Site Exposure Matrix (SEM) database. The focus will be on how workplace chemical usage and exposure link to certain diseases as well as the NIH’s and National Library of Medicine's (NLM) review process for Haz-Map, the database that helps link jobs and hazardous tasks with occupational diseases and their symptoms.

Call for proposals: Brownfields Conferences Co-Sponsorship 2013-2017.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:00:47 -0800

EPA solicits proposals from eligible entities and nonprofit organizations for financial assistance to assist nonfederal personnel (states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, industry and community groups) in participating in three national Brownfields conferences to be planned and held over a five-year period, beginning in 2012.

New report: Plan EJ 2014: Legal Tools.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:53:13 -0800

This report reviews legal authorities under the environmental statutes administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency that may have contributive application in the effort to advance environmental justice.

EPA rolls out new mercury limits.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:52:40 -0800

The EPA on Wednesday moved to limit mercury, arsenic, selenium, cyanide, and other harmful emissions from coal-fired power plants for the first time. Politico.
[See other articles about regulation of air pollution: Industry wields sway over air pollution rules, enforcement and Obama puts personal stamp on EPA rules as Republicans pounce]

Journal retracts study linking a virus to ME.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:45:06 -0800

A study linking a virus to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as ME, has been withdrawn by the journal which published it. BBC News.

Do you hear what I hear? Noise exposure surrounds us.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:44:06 -0800

Nine out of 10 city dwellers may have enough harmful noise exposure to risk hearing loss, and most of that exposure comes from leisure activities. Historically, loud workplaces were blamed for harmful noise levels. ScienceDaily.

Consumer safety groups file first lawsuit on risks of nanotechnology.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:43:06 -0800

Concerned by the growing body of scientific reports cautioning against the unregulated use of nanotechnology in consumer products, a coalition of nonprofit consumer safety and environmental groups sued the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today. The case is the first lawsuit over the health and environmental risks of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Nanotechnology Now.
[See another article about nanotechnology: Trojan horse causes nanoparticle allergy]

A holiday debate: clean air vs. full wallets.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:35:38 -0800

It's hard to spoil the Christmas or Hanukkah spirit at New York City's popular holiday bazaars, but all those stalls, lights and heaters are powered by diesel-fuel generators, which environmental groups say emit fumes that can aggravate lung and heart ailments and cause problems in children’s developing bodies. New York Times.

Melting glaciers mean double trouble for water supplies.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:32:49 -0800

Mountain glaciers long have been known to be in retreat as the planet warms. But the process is occurring even more rapidly than previously believed, scientists said earlier this month in San Francisco at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union. National Geographic News.

Health fears over suspect French breast implants spread abroad.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:19:58 -0800

Health officials in at least a half-dozen countries are grappling with the intense anxiety of tens of thousands of women who received breast implants that were made in France with substandard silicone -- and that have been rupturing at unusually high rates. New York Times.

Further dioxin delays sought.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:19:10 -0800

In light of just-passed federal legislation, a chemical industry group is asking the EPA to change course on its assessment of the most potent form of dioxin. Such a move by the agency could drag out completion of the assessment, which has been underway for 20 years. Chemical & Engineering News.

Ministry seeking lower radiation levels for infants.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:12:32 -0800

Concerned about children and their exposure to radiation, Japan's health ministry is considering significantly lowering the safety standard levels for infant food and milk to half the level for food, while setting the benchmark for drinking water in line with the World Health Organization. Asahi Shimbun, Japan.
[See another article about radiation effects: New take on impacts of low dose radiation]

New partnership call: Gut Microbiota and Environmental Chemicals in Diabetes and Obesity.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:22:27 -0800

This CHE Partnership call is scheduled for Thursday January 19th at 10 am Pacific / 1 pm Eastern time.

New report: Strengthening a Workforce for Innovative Regulatory Science in Therapeutics Development - Workshop Summary.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:11:33 -0800

At the workshop, speakers considered opportunities and needs for advancing innovation in the discipline of regulatory science for therapeutics development through an interdisciplinary regulatory science workforce and examined specific strategies for developing a discipline of innovative regulatory science through the development of a robust workforce within academia and industry and at FDA.

Mexico ignores warnings about bisphenol A.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:44:47 -0800

Mexican scientific experts on bisphenol A are concerned that the country has taken no measures to protect against exposure in Mexico. They worry that products banned in other countries are being sent to developing countries like Mexico. Tierramérica, Latin America.

How is climate change affecting Africa's development?

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:43:12 -0800

After each international meeting, climate change warnings get more dire, with Africa declared the most vulnerable continent. As yet another UN summit fails to reach its target, what can Africans do so they don't pay the price? Tehran Press TV, Iran.

Toxic releases rise 44 percent.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:42:00 -0800

Tooele County remains No. 2 among Utah’s counties for industrial pollution, and the amount of toxic releases local companies emit rose 44 percent last year, according to data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Tooele Transcript, Utah.

Metro Vancouver to crackdown on diesel.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:08:50 -0800

Owners of older backhoes, forklifts and other diesel-powered non-road machines will have to register each item starting Jan. 1 under stricter Metro Vancouver air pollution regulations. Vancouver Sun, British Columbia.

Chinese protest against power plant, citing pollution fears.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:08:02 -0800

According to reports, thousands of people in Haimen township in Guangdong province have faced off against riot police amidst demands that a coal-fired plant not be constructed in the area, citing that the region already has a high incidence of cancer stemming from other industrial facilities. International Business Times.
[See another article about pollution from a coal-fired power plant in South Carolina: DHEC pollution deal raises questions]

Lower asthma risk in chubby tots who slim down.

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:04:41 -0800

Overweight preschoolers who keep the extra pounds have a heightened asthma risk at age seven, but the baby fat doesn't seem to matter for kids who slim down, a new study suggests. Reuters.

Estimated short-term effects of coarse particles on daily mortality in Stockholm, Sweden.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:12:39 -0800

Our analysis shows an increase in daily mortality associated with elevated urban background levels of coarse particles. Regulation of the coarse particle fraction should be considered, along with actions to specifically reduce coarse particle emissions, especially road dust suspension, in cities. Environmental Health Perspectives.

A strategy for comparing the contributions of environmental chemicals and other risk factors to children's neurodevelopment.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:10:00 -0800

A method for comparing the relative contributions of different risk factors provides a rational basis for establishing priorities for reducing neurodevelopmental morbidity in children. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See other articles about exposures and children's health: Outbreak of fatal childhood lead poisoning related to artisanal gold mining in northwestern Nigeria, 2010 and Polyfluoroalkyl compounds in Texas children from birth through 12 years of age]

Call for abstracts: Environmental Justice Journal.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:52:00 -0800

A special issue will address the following theme: "Environmental Justice and Healthy Communities." This theme, arising from the APHA 2011 Conference theme, is intended for academicians, practitioners, and community collaborators who work on environmental justice issues in diverse urban and/or rural communities across the globe so that evidence-based and best-practices that have improved the health of their populations can be shared. Submissions are due no later than January 30th.

Call for abstracts: Obesity Interventions with Underserved US Populations.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:46:46 -0800

A book, Obesity Interventions with Underserved US Populations: Evidence and Directions, to be published in early 2013 by Johns Hopkins University Press, will be a collection of papers in the area of obesity/overweight prevention/reduction in underserved communities in the US. The editors welcome submissions that establish the state of the art for some part of the obesity/overweight epidemic in underserved US communities. Abstracts are due Monday January 23rd.

Call for abstracts: Inaugural National Health Impact Assessment Meeting.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:25:30 -0800

Proposals for presentations are due January 18th for this meeting to be held in Washington, DC, April 3 - 4, 2012.

Human-created mercury vapor rises to upper atmosphere, circles globe multiple times, lands on Earth, ends up in fish: UW study.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:58:17 -0800

Humans pump thousands of tons of vapor from the metallic element mercury into the atmosphere each year, and it can remain suspended for long periods before being changed into a form that is easily removed from the atmosphere. Sone Hearth News.

New report: Aging in Place.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:57:17 -0800

This report from the National Conference of State Legislatures and AARP's Public Policy Institute offers state legislators and officials concrete examples of state laws, policies and programs that foster aging in place.

Do bad times promote good health?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:46:55 -0800

An assistant professor of urban and environmental policy and planning in the School of Arts and Sciences, Davis found a direct correlation between rising unemployment and declining air pollution, likely due to accompanying slowdowns in commercial trucking, commuting, driving to shopping centers and stores and recreational travel. HealthCanal.com.

Study warns of health and environmental hurdles to uranium mining in Virginia.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:25:45 -0800

A company lobbying lawmakers to unearth in Southside Virginia what is thought to be the nation’s largest uranium deposit needs to overcome significant health and environmental obstacles before the site is mined, according to a long-awaited study released Monday. Washington Post.

Education Dept. must tell parents about plans to rid schools of PCB-tainted lights, Council says.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:23:39 -0800

The City Council's Education Committee unanimously approved two laws pushing the Education Department to better inform the public of PCB contamination in schools. New York Daily News, New York.

Eating less could save brain from aging.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:21:21 -0800

Eating less may keep the mind young, according to Italian scientists who say they have discovered the molecular process by which a strict diet may save the brain from the ravages of age. Agence France-Presse.

Activists celebrate the closing of polluting plant.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:19:54 -0800

Community activist Martha Sanchez announced Monday the end of an eight-year battle to close a metal finishing plant that residents say has contaminated their South Los Angeles neighborhood, making their children and teachers sick. Los Angeles Times, California.

Anti-radiation garments may be 'harmful.'

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:17:09 -0800

Anti-radiation clothing, one of the must-haves for pregnant women in China, could be doing more harm than good, scientists have warned. Shanghai Daily, China.

Studies suggest an acetaminophen-asthma link.

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:16:18 -0800

The sharp worldwide increase in childhood asthma over the past 30 years has long perplexed researchers, who have considered explanations as varied as improved hygiene and immunizations. Over the last decade, however, a new idea has emerged. New York Times.

New issue of Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology online.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:47:21 -0800

Free full-text articles are now available from the January/February 2012 issue.

Call for abstracts: International Conference on Occupational Health and Safety Summit.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:36:22 -0800

The main goal of this program is to foster a safe work and working environment. The first round abstract deadline is February 20, 2012, for this conference to be held August 27-29, 2012, in Northbrook, Illinois.

Call for abstracts: APHA Annual Conference.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:31:47 -0800

The theme of the American Public Health Association conference is "Prevention and Wellness Across the Lifespan." Submission deadlines are mostly in February, depending on section, for the conference to be held in San Francisco October 27-31, 2012.

Argentina: poison from the sky.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:27:27 -0800

Argentina's soy boom has been a major source of foreign exchange. But the other side of the coin is the toxic effects among the rural population, from spraying agrochemicals. Upside Down World.

Nursing visits tied to improved environmental health.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:23:57 -0800

The findings, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health, demonstrated that rural low-income parents who received visits from public health nurses were more likely to take precautionary environmental health steps than those who only received published health literature. WSU News, Washington.

High-fat diet leaves its mark on sperm.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:22:39 -0800

Obese male mice tend to sire unhealthy offspring. And it seems diet is to blame, causing tiny changes in sperm that may lead to metabolic disorders in mouse pups. The discovery brings us closer to understanding how lifestyle choices affect the health of future generations. New Scientist.

TSA apparently is moving away from X-ray type body scanners.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:19:55 -0800

Pat-downs continue to rankle some passengers. But other passengers say they are more concerned about the radiation from body scanner X-ray machines the government employs at many airports. Sacramento Bee, California.

Selenium, nickel may cut cancer.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:38:30 -0800

High levels of the trace elements selenium and nickel may help cut the risk of deadly pancreatic cancer, according to new research. The elements, which are found in certain foods, appear to offer a protective effect against the disease. Australian Associated Press.

2011 science news of the year.

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:22:59 -0800

Some of the year’s revelations were downright unnerving: Sea level is rising at an accelerating rate and Arctic ice cover continues its long-term decline. But there are reasons for optimism, too. Science News.

Scientists discover anti-inflammatory polyphenols in apple peels.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:53:35 -0800

Here's another reason why "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" -- according to new research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, oral ingestion of apple polyphenols (antioxidants found in apple peels) can suppress T cell activation to prevent colitis in mice. ScienceDaily.

Consumer website lists chemicals in children's toys.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:48:32 -0800

Parents can check the amount of BPA -- bisphenol A, the same toxic chemical already banned in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups -- in 650 brand name toys on HealthyStuff.org, a Michigan-based Web site. Observer & Eccentric.
[See a related article about a new report: Poison in Paint, Toxics in Toys and another article about BPA: BPA: a threat to health that's hard to avoid]

Ethanol plants add to pollution in South Dakota.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:45:22 -0800

Chronic pollution is less of a concern in a rural state such as South Dakota than in other states, but toxins emitted from the state’s expanding ethanol industry are becoming more significant, a federal environmental data shows. Sioux Falls Argus Leader, South Dakota.

Increasingly, smoking indoors is forbidden at public housing.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:43:55 -0800

In 2004, the Auburn Housing Authority became the first authority in Maine and one of the first in the country to ban smoking in public housing, and it has served as a model. Similar policies are being adopted with increasing frequency across the country as cities move aggressively to restrict smoking in more public places. New York Times.

Children would be protected from pesticides under advancing legislation.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:43:02 -0800

Legislation that would protect children from exposure to potentially harmful pesticides at child care centers and certain schools, playgrounds and recreational fields was released recently by an Assembly committee. Gloucester County Times, New Jersey.

Cancer from fetal exposure to carcinogens depends on dose, timing.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:18:43 -0800

The cancer-causing potential of fetal exposure to carcinogens can vary substantially, a recent study suggests, causing different types of problems much later in life depending on the stage of pregnancy when the fetus is exposed. ScienceDaily.
[See another article about cancer: Irish town in shadow of toxic dump has 40 percent higher cancer rate]

Juvenile obesity and its association with utilisation and costs of pharmaceuticals - results from the KiGGS study.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:13:21 -0800

This is the first study to estimate excess drug costs for obesity based on a representative cross-sectional sample of the child and adolescent population in Germany. The results suggest that obese children should be classified as a priority group for prevention. BMC Health Services Research.

Outwit the Grim Reaper by walking faster.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:12:01 -0800

Men aged 70 and older can elude the Grim Reaper by walking at speeds of at least 3 miles (or 5km) an hour, finds a study in the Christmas issue published on bmj.com today. EurekAlert!

Large dairies, feed lots linked to air pollution.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:10:57 -0800

A recent scientific study that took place in the Yakima Valley has linked large-scale dairies and animal-feed lots to air pollution, providing what environmentalists hope will be a useful tool for enforcing air-quality regulations on such operations. Seattle Times.

Water boards attempt to manage California's nitrate problem.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:08:22 -0800

It started in 2001, and mostly affected the very young and the very old. Peoples’ hair would fall out, their skin would break out in rashes and their eyes would turn red after showers. HealthyCal, California.

EPA ordered to do outside reviews of toxicology database.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:02:47 -0800

Congress has directed the Environmental Protection Agency to document improvements to its process of drafting regulatory standards for toxic chemicals and to ask the academies to review up to three of its toxicity assessments. Science.

Evangelicals, Catholics back mercury limits.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:00:12 -0800

Mercury from power plants can be harmful to developing fetuses. In an unusual alliance that has the potential to shift pollution politics, Catholics and evangelical Christians opposed to abortion are joining forces with child health advocates to lobby for stricter limits on mercury pollution. Living On Earth.
[See another article about mercury limits: Illinois coal plants ahead of EPA mercury rule]

Wood smoke now a major Northwest air polluter.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:58:08 -0800

The warning label on the wrapping of neatly split firewood is one we're more accustomed to seeing on cigarettes or heavy-duty chemicals: "known... to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm." But in fact, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, asthma attacks and premature death -- in addition to cancer -- all are linked to wood smoke pollution. National Public Radio.

Call for abstracts: Childhood Cancer 2012.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:54:16 -0800

The theme of this conference to be held April 24 - 26, 2012, in Westminster, UK, is "early exposures and childhood cancer." Submissions are due by January 12th.

Relation between dietary cadmium intake and biomarkers of cadmium exposure in premenopausal women accounting for body iron stores.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:51:45 -0800

Our results indicate that measured dietary cadmium intake can reasonably well predict biomarkers of both long-term kidney accumulation (urine) and short-term exposure (blood). The predictions are improved when taking data on the iron status into account. Environmental Health.

Study shows sugarcane ethanol production causes air pollution.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:40:51 -0800

UC Merced researchers show burning of sugarcane fields prior to harvest can create more pollution than previously thought, detracting from benefits of the alternative fuel source. HealthCanal.com.

'Food insecurity' blocks menstrual cycle in young girls.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:37:36 -0800

Girls with limited access to food enter into their first menstrual cycle at slower rates and up to a year later than those who have not consistently gone hungry, according to a long-term study of Ethiopian girls. Environmental Health News.

Are you inhaling secondhand coke?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:29:37 -0800

We've all seen those color-coded air-quality charts on the news --warnings about smog, ozone, and pollen. Now it may be time to add a new alert to the list: illegal drugs. Researchers have found that regions with greater cocaine and marijuana use have higher levels of these drugs in the surrounding atmosphere. Science.

EPA allowed unsafe handling of asbestos, inspector general says.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:28:59 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency has allowed the use of unapproved methods to demolish buildings containing asbestos, threatening public health and possibly violating worker safety rules, the EPA’s inspector general has concluded. Center for Public Integrity.

EPA says Omaha lead cleanup hit big milestone.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:26:49 -0800

The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that it has cleaned up lead contamination from 10,000 Omaha yards but still has about 4,100 more to do before completing the 13-year-old project. Associated Press.

International tribunal finds six agrochemical companies 'guilty' of violating human rights.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:24:00 -0800

The Permanent People’s Tribunal laid down a guilty verdict in Bangalore, India against six of the world’s biggest agrochemical companies "responsible for gross, widespread and systematic violations of the right to health and life, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as of civil and political rights, and women and children’s rights." Quezon City Bulatlat, Philippines.

Death-by-air in Beijing exposes untold heart risk.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:23:14 -0800

As smog grounded hundreds of flights from Beijing last week, emergency doctors at Peking University People’s Hospital faced a rush of patients. Lungs weren’t the problem, says Ding Rongjing, the hospital’s deputy head of cardiology. Bloomberg News.

Identification of phthalates in medications and dietary supplement formulations in the U.S. and Canada.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:08:10 -0800

Numerous prescription (RX) and non-prescription (OTC) drug products and supplements from a wide range of therapeutic categories may use DBP or DEP as excipients in oral dosage forms. Environmental Health Perspectives.

EPA approves three alternative refrigerants to replace hydrofluorocarbons in commercial and household freezers.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:05:35 -0800

Replacing older refrigerants will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 600,000 metric tons by 2020, equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 75,000 homes, and will help protect people’s health and the environment.

New tool: Feasibility Planning for Public Health Business Plans.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:00:50 -0800

This module will take you through the process of creating a feasibility plan, a necessary step before writing a full business plan, to determine whether your idea is worth pursuing.

Mothers' weight before and during pregnancy affects baby's weight.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:55:37 -0800

A new study published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS) reveals that both pre-pregnant weight (body mass index, BMI) and weight gain in pregnancy are important predictors of babies' birthweight. This is important since high birthweight may also predict adult overweight. ScienceDaily.

Army program aims to build troops' mental resilience to stress.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:29:03 -0800

In 2009, the Army launched a program designed to help the country's 1.4 million people in uniform cope after tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the goals of the $140 million Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, and the controversy it has created. PBS News Hour.

Environmental health threat.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:26:38 -0800

Brahadeesh Chandrasekaran, Research Associate at Frost & Sullivan, voices concern over the threats to health posed by long-term exposure to radiofrequency. Public Service, UK.

People on India's Bihar-UP border suffer serious disorders due to water contaminated by arsenic.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:20:00 -0800

Underground water contamination along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border of the Ganga belt has been chronic for decades and people in this area continue being poisoned by arsenic-rich water. India Today, India.

Bad rock: How mountaintop removal mining can damage streams.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:18:58 -0800

Recent examinations of the health and environmental impacts of mountaintop mining has the practice looking pretty guilty. It apparently spikes birth defects, worsens chronic conditions like heart disease, and ruins land, and it doesn’t look like it will be clearing its name anytime soon. Time Magazine.

EPA produces plan to reduce air haze.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:18:09 -0800

Environmental groups applauded the announcement Wednesday by federal regulators of a plan to reduce air pollution in Oklahoma, which the state’s top lawyer plans to challenge in court. Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Oklahoma.

Children's leukemia risk tied to father's smoking: study.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:14:11 -0800

Children whose fathers smoked around the time of their conception have at least a 15 percent higher risk of developing the most common form of childhood cancer, a type of leukemia, according to an Australian study. Reuters.

Job opening: King County, Washington.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:10:25 -0800

The Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has an opportunity for a part-time communications coordinator to work from a home office, ideally in or near King County.

New report: Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:03:50 -0800

In order to market a modified risk tobacco products (MRTP), manufacturers must submit to the FDA scientific evidence to demonstrate the product has the potential to reduce tobacco related harms as compared to conventional tobacco products.

Special journal issue on endocrine disruptors.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:54:46 -0800

The October 2011 issue of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology focused on endocrine disrupting chemicals. A number of the articles discuss obesogens, in addition to many other relevant topics.

Environmental Health News: email, Facebook, Twitter and a website archive.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:38:15 -0800

EHN and its sister site, The Daily Climate, offer a wealth of valuable information each day at no cost to subscribers. The daily email subscriptions and the 350,000-item news archive have recently been supplemented by a Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Super hospital disinfection.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:36:15 -0800

A Queen’s University infectious disease expert has helped in the development of a disinfection system that may change the way hospital rooms all over the world are cleaned as well as stop bed bug outbreaks in hotels and apartments. Environmental News Network.

Maine manufacturers forced to report use of BPA and other toxic chemicals in toys, paints.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:34:15 -0800

Environmental health advocates on Tuesday called for congressional action to outlaw certain chemicals after the release of a report identifying more than 650 brand name products that contain the toxins. Bangor Daily News, Maine.

Arsenic in water near coal-fired US plants: monitor.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:30:47 -0800

An environmental monitor Tuesday identified 19 new sites across the United States where groundwater near coal-ash dumps from power plants was found to be contaminated with arsenic and other pollutants. Agence France-Presse.

Seafood revealed as biggest source of dangerous toxins.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:29:58 -0800

Seafood is the largest source of potentially harmful dioxin-based toxins in the diet of Hongkongers, according to a major food study conducted by the Centre for Food Safety. The highest levels were found in mandarin fish, followed by oysters and pomfret. South China Morning Post, China.

Farmers slow to adopt new pesticide.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:28:58 -0800

A year after environmentalists lost a regulatory battle to keep the controversial pesticide methyl iodide off the California market, they appear to be winning the ground war against the chemical. HealthyCal, California.

We Energies to reduce emissions.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:25:21 -0800

We Energies has committed to trimming emissions of pollutants linked to respiratory illnesses next year and will consider converting the Valley Power Plant to burn natural gas instead of coal by 2017 or 2018. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.

Environmental injustice: EPA neglects discrimination claims from polluted communities.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:23:56 -0800

Three years into Lisa Jackson’s tenure as head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than a dozen formal complaints alleging air pollution is disproportionately harming low-income, minority communities remain unresolved. Center for Public Integrity.

Did smokefree legislation in England reduce exposure to secondhand smoke among non-smoking adults? Cotinine analysis from the health survey for England.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:06:12 -0800

England’s smokefree legislation impacted on secondhand smoke exposure above and beyond the underlying long-term decline demonstrating the positive effect of the legislation. Environmental Health Perspectives.
[See another article about tobacco use: Teens swapping cigarettes for flavored mini cigars]

The banning of BPA.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:02:44 -0800

The banning of BPA in California further widens the gap between state and federal health laws and regulations. Environmental News Network.

NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:17:56 -0800

The new recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road. CNN.

Coal byproduct, hazardous waste?

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:38:38 -0800

It was the largest release of toxic fly ash in U.S. history. Three years ago, just three days before Christmas in the middle of the night, a giant holding pond ruptured in Kingston, Tennessee. Since then, the EPA has proposed tough new rules for fly ash and has received almost half a million responses from the public. Fly ash is one of the most heavily produced and unregulated energy wastes. Living On Earth.

EPA to unveil stricter rules for power plants.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:36:56 -0800

More than 20 years ago, Congress ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate toxic air pollution. It's done that for most industries, but not the biggest polluters -- coal and oil-burning power plants. The EPA now plans to change that later this week, by setting new rules to limit mercury and other harmful pollution from power plants. Morning Edition, NPR.

Study: indoor tanning linked with early onset of skin cancer.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:33:00 -0800

Given that indoor tanning beds were officially classified as a human carcinogen in 2009 -- up there with cigarettes and asbestos -- it should be fairly obvious that frequent tanning-booth exposure would increase your risk of skin cancer. Time Magazine.

Healthiest US states ranked.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:26:34 -0800

Where do you live? Good health depends on a confluence of factors: behavior, genes, community environment, access to care and not least of all, where you live. Americans in the deep South, in states with high poverty rates and low access to high-quality medical care, rank at the bottom. Time Magazine.

Sick soil in Cedar Rapids.

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:24:59 -0800

Chemicals banned decades ago -- polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordanes -- persist in soil throughout the city, but experts are divided on the risk they pose to people living in Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids Gazette, Iowa.

New lesson: Lettuce Explore Perchlorate in Food.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:07:37 -0800

This lesson for students in grades 10-12 is based on the Environmental Health Perspectives news article Perchlorate Exposure: Tip of the Iceberg?

Call for comments: Water Quality Standards Regulations.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:54:43 -0800

Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act requires states and authorized tribes to establish water quality standards, and to review and, if appropriate, revise their water quality standards once every three years. The Act also requires EPA to review and either approve or disapprove the new or revised standards, and to promulgate replacement federal standards if necessary. Comments may be submitted on or before January 6, 2012.

Call for proposals: Building Capacity for Health Impact Assessments at State/Territorial Health Agencies

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:45:50 -0800

ASTHO), in conjunction with CDC/NCEH/HCDI will fund and support up to two state or territorial health agencies to conduct one Health Impact Assessment (HIA) or conduct one HIA training. Proposals are due December 30th.

Neuroprotection by spice-derived nutraceuticals: you are what you eat!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:35:05 -0800

Extensive research over the last 10 years has indicated that nutraceuticals derived from such spices as turmeric, red pepper, black pepper, licorice, clove, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cinnamon target inflammatory pathways, thereby may prevent neurodegenerative diseases. How these nutraceuticals modulate various pathways and how they exert neuroprotection are the focus of this review. Molecular Neurobiology.

Brief, high-intensity workouts show promise in helping diabetics lower blood sugar.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:33:06 -0800

Researchers at McMaster University have found that brief high intensity workouts, as little as six sessions over two weeks, rapidly lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics, offering a potential fix for patients who struggle to meet exercise guidelines. Newswise.

How developing nations can protect children from hazardous chemical exposures while sustaining economic growth.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:27:43 -0800

We describe present and potential costs of environmental exposures and discuss policy options to protect future generations of children in a sustainable development context. Health Affairs.

Diabetes meds, pancreatitis & prescribing habits.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:24:26 -0800

The ongoing concern that some diabetes meds -- such as Byetta and Januvia -- are linked to pancreatitis and, possibly, pancreatic cancer - is having an effect how doctors view the meds and their subsequent prescribing habits. Pharmalot.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: fact or fiction?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:14:18 -0800

This paper offers a review of the sparse literature on this perplexing condition and a discussion of the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the EHS diagnosis. Recommendations are provided to assist health professionals in caring for individuals complaining of EHS. Science of the Total Environment.

Stress in early pregnancy can lead to shorter pregnancies, more pre-term births and fewer baby boys.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:12:13 -0800

Although it has been known for a while that stress may affect the duration of pregnancy, until now, no study has looked at the impact of both the timing of the stress and the effect that stress might have on the ratio of male-to-female births. e! Science News.

Chronic disease and the shifting focus of public health: is prevention still a political lightweight?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:10:35 -0800

This article examines the structural disadvantage faced by those who advocate for public health policies and practices to reduce chronic disease related to people’s unhealthy lifestyles and physical environments. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.

Fracking: pollution finding could hurt gas drilling.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:05:42 -0800

Fracking -- a modern method to extract oil and gas -- may be contaminating drinking supplies in Wyoming. But a new EPA report on the impact of fracking is not conclusive. It contradicts industry claims that fracking fluids have never contaminated drinking water. Reuters.

Water district: DDT tests are needless despite harmful levels at south end of Lake Okeechobee.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:02:38 -0800

Despite the high levels -- often twice the amount known to harm wildlife -- the South Florida Water Management District is asking the state to let it stop monitoring for the pesticides in the soil at six sites around the lake following budget cuts. Palm Beach Post, Florida.

Thousands of sugar cane workers die as wealthy nations stall on solutions.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:01:37 -0800

Chronic kidney disease is cutting a swath through one of the world’s poorest populations, along a six-country stretch of Central America’s Pacific Coast. Its victims are manual laborers, mostly sugarcane workers. Is it caused by heat stress, or exposure to some unknown contaminant? Center for Public Integrity.

Brominated battle: Soda chemical has cloudy health history.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:59:54 -0800

Patented as a flame retardant for plastics, and banned in food throughout Europe and Japan, a brominated chemical called BVO has been added to sodas for decades in North America. Now some scientists have a renewed interest in this little-known ingredient, found in 10 percent of sodas in the United States. After a few extreme soda binges -- not too far from what many video gamers regularly consume -- a few patients have needed medical attention for skin lesions, memory loss and nerve disorders, all symptoms of overexposure to bromine. Environmental Health News.

Possible net harms of breast cancer screening: updated modelling of Forrest report.

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:03:10 -0800

This analysis supports the claim that the introduction of breast cancer screening might have caused net harm for up to 10 years after the start of screening. British Medical Journal.

Loopholes make environment law enforcement weak.

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:01:10 -0800

The Ministry of Justice has found out from its surveys in the cities and provinces of Hanoi, HCM City, Nghe An, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong, that the loopholes in the legal framework on environment protection have led to the ineffective enforcement of the laws. VietNam Net.

Autism boom: An epidemic of disease or of discovery?

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:58:35 -0800

Nearly 1% of U.S. children have some form of autism, 20 times the prevailing figure in the 1980s. The increase has stirred parents' fears and mobilized researchers to pinpoint why the disorder appears to be affecting so many more. Los Angeles Times, California.

Top-selling insulin associated with increased cancer risk.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:40:46 -0800

A presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium revealed an increased risk of cancer in association with insulin glargine, the world's top-selling long-acting insulin analog which is marketed under the brand name Lantus®. In contrast, use of the antidiabetic drug metformin, available as a low-cost generic, was associated with an impressive reduction in cancer risk. LifeExtension.

Weak Dutch tobacco controls to cost lives: experts.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:38:29 -0800

Leading cancer, asthma and heart health experts accused the Dutch government on Friday of "all but closing down" its tobacco controls and said such lax policies could lead to 145,000 preventable deaths by 2040. Reuters.

Ecology department offers advice, assistance for arsenic contaminated soil from Tacoma Plume.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:37:15 -0800

Efforts by the state Department of Ecology are continuing to deal with soil contaminated in the Highline area and elsewhere by arsenic and lead blown for over a 100 years from a smoke stack at the ASARCO copper smelter in Ruston. Burien Highline Times, Washington.

DEQ issues air quality warning.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:34:36 -0800

The Department of Environmental Quality and Bureau of Community and Environmental Health are urging houses that utilize wood-burning stoves to exercise extra caution this winter. Kellogg Shoshone News Press, Idaho.

Half of Fukushima examinees exposed to radiation above annual limit.

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:28:33 -0800

Hundreds of residents in Fukushima Prefecture checked for radiation exposure after the nuclear accident there had levels exceeding what the government says is the safe annual limit. Asahi Shimbun, Japan.

CHE-Alaska call December 14th.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 16:47:50 -0800

The call topic is "The Role of Environmental Chemicals in the Development of Diabetes and Obesity", and speakers will be Bruce Blumberg, PhD, and David O. Carpenter, MD.

Cumulative Impacts Working Group call December 15th.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 16:47:34 -0800

The call topic is "Community Benefits Agreements: Tools for Improving Public Health." Dr. Tom Musil at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, will present an overview of CBA advocacy groups, enforcement, land use regulatory issues and more.

Estimated acute effects of ambient ozone and nitrogen dioxide on mortality in the Pearl River Delta of southern China.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 16:44:13 -0800

We found consistent positive associations between ambient oxidants and daily mortality across the Pearl River Delta cities. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Call for abstracts: Childhood Cancer 2012.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:56:38 -0800

Abstracts on topics relevant to the conference theme of early exposures and childhood cancer will be considered for both poster and platform presentation. Submissions are due by Thursday January 12, 2012, for the conference to be held April 24th to 26th in Westminster, London, UK.

Intermittent, low-carbohydrate diets more successful than standard dieting, study finds.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:54:32 -0800

An intermittent, low-carbohydrate diet was superior to a standard, daily calorie-restricted diet for reducing weight and lowering blood levels of insulin, a cancer-promoting hormone, according to recent findings. ScienceDaily.

IBM, drug firms donate chemical data to life sciences researchers.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:50:52 -0800

IBM Corp. and four major drug manufacturers have donated to the National Institutes of Health a huge database of chemical data extracted from patents and scientific literature. Health Data Management.

City schools rife with PCBs linked to cancer and more.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:47:59 -0800

The majority of schools across New York City -- and roughly 70 percent of schools in Brooklyn -- are contaminated with toxic PCBs, according to figures supplied by the School Construction Authority -- and experts warn that the chemical may be affecting the health of babies that haven’t even been born yet. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York.

EPA connects 'fracking' to water contamination.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:47:08 -0800

For the first time, a government study has tied contamination in drinking water to an advanced drilling technique commonly known as "fracking." All Things Considered, NPR.

U.S. finds no link between Vieques bombings and health risks.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:45:52 -0800

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released the results of a review that confirmed a conclusion reached by the agency in 2003 that heavy metals and explosive compounds in the island’s soil, groundwater, air and fish posed no health hazards. The report was immediately challenged. New York Times.

Lead from old US batteries sent to Mexico raises risks.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 14:43:14 -0800

The spent batteries Americans turn in for recycling are increasingly being sent to Mexico, where their lead is often extracted by crude methods that are illegal in the United States, exposing plant workers and local residents to dangerous levels of a toxic metal. New York Times.

Studies link pollution to lower IQs, increased Alzheimer's risk.

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:33:27 -0800

Several new studies in recent months have added new complications that can be linked to over-exposure to pollution from automobile traffic. Studies in New York, Beijing, Boston, and Krakow, Poland show that children in high traffic areas perform worse on intelligence tests and have more emotional problems than children who breath cleaner air. Public Radio International.

Call for abstracts: the contribution of epigenetics in pediatric environmental health.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:44:42 -0800

The conference will be held May 30 - June 1, 2012, in San Francisco. It will highlight the role of epigenetics in determining the impact of the environment on pediatric disease and children's current and future health.

Bone resorption and environmental exposure to cadmium in children: a cross-sectional study.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:42:39 -0800

Even in young children, low-level environmental exposure to cadmium is associated with evidence of bone resorption, suggesting a direct osteotoxic effect with increased calciuria. These findings might have clinical relevance at older age. Environmental Health.

Call for support for the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:25:35 -0800

Women's Voices for the Earth has a petition to ask your Representative to co-sponsor the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act to require companies to list all ingredients on the label.

Women advised to avoid ZEN bust-enhancing supplements because of possible cancer risk.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:18:37 -0800

Women who use bust-enhancing dietary supplements containing the mycoestrogen zearalenone (ZEN), a naturally occurring toxin that widely contaminates agricultural products, could be increasing their risk of breast cancer. ScienceDaily.

Public meeting and request for public comments: Carcinogen and Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) Policy Assessment

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 15:11:06 -0800

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces a public meeting to review its approach to classifying carcinogens and establishing recommended exposure limits (RELs) for occupational exposures to hazards associated with cancer. The meeting is December 12, 2011, and written comments to NIOSH Docket number 240 will be accepted until December 30, 2011.

Maternal care influences brain chemistry into adulthood, animal study shows.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:57:31 -0800

A collaborative research group including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg has demonstrated using mice that intensive maternal care during infancy promotes the effect of NPY in the brain. ScienceDaily.

Vitamin D deficiency in obese children and its relationship to glucose homeostasis.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:54:57 -0800

Vitamin D deficiency is common in children in this southern United States location and is significantly more prevalent in obese children. Lower 25(OH)D level is associated with risk factors for type 2 diabetes in obese children. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Africa: women face greater threat from climate change.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:47:42 -0800

Women face disproportionately high risks to their livelihoods and health from climate change, according to a new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). BuaNews, South Africa.

Almost half of Americans oppose x-ray body scanners.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:22:07 -0800

Even if X-ray body scanners would prevent terrorists from smuggling explosives onto planes, nearly half of Americans still oppose using them because they could cause a few people to eventually develop cancer, according to a new Harris Interactive poll conducted online for ProPublica. ProPublica.

Heavy metals in child products.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:19:59 -0800

More than a third of 500 children's products bought in five cities in China contained at least one type of toxic heavy metal, according to a report by environmental groups. Shanghai Daily, China.

FDA to decide whether to ban BPA in food packaging.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:19:25 -0800

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will decide by March 31 whether to ban the chemical BPA in food packaging. The agency's promise, announced Wednesday, settles a lawsuit brought in August by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin.

Questioning the rise of mobile phone towers.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:18:35 -0800

Western New South Wales is seeing a growing number of mobile phone towers pop up. But some locals have been battling to block the installation of such towers in their neighbourhoods on the grounds of potential health impacts. Australia ABC News, Australia.

Risk, hazards, exploitation: welcome to the Central Valley.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:17:01 -0800

Which came first -- the environmental hazard or the socially vulnerable community? According to UC Davis’ new report on the inequities of the San Joaquin Valley, the two are closely related and the key to addressing the region’s history of exploitation and neglect. Sacramento Capitol Weekly, California.

Scientific panel finds few clear environmental links to breast cancer.

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:15:45 -0800

The most consistent data suggest that women can reduce their risk by avoiding unnecessary medical radiation, forgoing hormone treatments for menopause that combine estrogen and progestin, limiting alcohol intake and minimizing weight gain, the report found. New York Times.

New website: Toxics tools and resources.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:45:52 -0800

Environmental Health Policy Institute highlights some of our favorite tools and resources for health professionals and others concerned about the health effects of industrial chemicals.

New report: Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:42:46 -0800

The report from the Institute of Medicine urges a life-course approach to studying breast cancer because new information suggests that women and girls might be more susceptible to some risk factors during certain life stages.

Assessment of prenatal mercury exposure in mother-neonate pairs in an urban immigrant community.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:39:05 -0800

This study highlights data gaps in the assessment of environmental risk factors related to mercury exposure in urban immigrant communities. Findings may help target interventions with respect to fish consumption habits during pregnancy and appropriate handling and disposal of mercury sources in the home. Epidemiology.

US Tox21 to begin screening 10,000 chemicals; NIH, EPA, and FDA collaborate to move science forward.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:29:16 -0800

A high-speed robotic screening system, aimed at protecting human health by improving how chemicals are tested in the United States, begins today to test 10,000 compounds for potential toxicity. Newswise.

Rotating night shift work linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in women.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:16:36 -0800

Women who work a rotating (irregular) schedule that includes three or more night shifts per month, in addition to day and evening working hours in that month, may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes when compared with women who only worked days or evenings, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). ScienceDaily.

Climate-related disasters lead to increase in human trafficking--report.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:12:16 -0800

A new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme indicates that women, particularly those living in mountain regions in developing countries, are experiencing increased incidents of human trafficking due to disasters connected to climate change. Ghana Business News, Ghana.
[See another article about climate change: Chris Huhne: tax on shipping to help poor countries fight climate change]

First phase of cancer risk study completed.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:09:51 -0800

The first phase of a second study investigating environmental factors for elevated cancer rates in Millsboro is complete. An earlier study showed that people living near the Indian River Power Plant had a cancer rate 17 percent higher than the national average. Salisbury Daily Times, Maryland.

Chinese lose patience with pollution.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:05:43 -0800

After enduring more than a month of choking, soupy smog, millions of people in North East China lost their patience yesterday, turning to the internet to vent their anger at the Chinese government. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom.

Over 40 percent of cancers due to lifestyle, says review.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 10:02:20 -0800

Nearly half of cancers diagnosed in the UK each year - over 130,000 in total - are caused by avoidable life choices including smoking, drinking and eating the wrong things, a review reveals. BBC.

Banned pesticide spikes in breast milk after spraying resumes, study finds.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:15:54 -0800

Levels of DDT -- a mostly banned pesticide still allowed for malaria control in some tropical regions -- increased three-fold in breastfeeding mothers after one indoor spraying, finds a study in Mozambique. Environmental Health News.

Definition of "normal" aluminum in kids varies.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:15:15 -0800

Some parents want their children to be tested for aluminum, but there's no agreement on what "normal" levels of the metal are, a new study finds. Reuters.

Chemicals from 3M Co. pollution down sharply in east metro Minneapolis residents.

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 09:13:43 -0800

The concentrations of three potentially dangerous PFC chemicals in the blood of east metro residents exposed to 3M Co. pollution have fallen significantly since 2008, state health officials reported Wednesday. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota.

Measuring the success of community science: The Northern California Household Exposure Study.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:55:24 -0800

An appropriate evaluation strategy can demonstrate how CBPR projects can advance science, support community empowerment, increase environmental health literacy, and generate individual and policy action to protect health. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Rising number of parents opting out of vaccines for children.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:40:10 -0800

A rising number of parents in more than half of states are opting out of school shots for their kids. And in eight states, more than 1 in 20 public school kindergartners do not get all the vaccines required for attendance, an Associated Press analysis found. Associated Press.

Young women may reduce heart disease risk eating fish with omega 3 fatty acids, study finds.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:32:45 -0800

Researchers used a Danish nationwide population based pregnancy cohort to examine whether or not eating more fish might reduce cardiovascular disease risk in the young women. ScienceDaily.

New resource: Toxics-free child care.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:28:07 -0800

Discover ways to make your child care facility safer by using chemicals carefully and choosing less-toxic products. Get started today with Metro's videos, posters and hands-on tools.

Regulators plead: don't light that fire.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:21:31 -0800

"Wood smoke is a major source of soot, the most harmful air pollution in the Bay Area in terms of its impact on public health," Jack Broadbent, the district's executive director has said in a statement. Bay Citizen, California.

Study looks at human health effects of 'green housing.'

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:13:14 -0800

It is thought that the benefits of the green movement could go beyond environmental sustainability to directly impact human health. A new University of Cincinnati (UC) study seeks to measure the potential health benefits of "green" practices in housing. Health Canal.

Chemical agents in beauty products, plastics, meats can harm child health, Mt. Sinai experts claim.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:57:44 -0800

Exposure to certain chemicals used in everyday items can wreak havoc on children’s hormonal systems and set them up for a lifetime of poor health, child health experts from Mount Sinai Medical Center said Monday. New York Daily News, New York.

Panel links C8 to high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:56:27 -0800

A three-person team of scientists has found a "probable link" between C8 and high blood pressure among pregnant women the team announced Monday. The findings are the first major conclusions of their six-year study of the DuPont Co. chemical. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.

New study focuses on arsenic in rice.

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:55:54 -0800

A new federally-funded study of more than 200 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in the New Hampshire area reports a link between rice consumption and elevated levels of arsenic in urine, suggesting that many people in the United States may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of arsenic through rice consumption. Consumer Reports.
[See a related article: Researchers call for monitoring of arsenic levels in rice]

Maternal exposure to tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene through soil vapor intrusion and adverse birth outcomes in New York State.

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:40:55 -0800

Maternal residence in both areas was associated with cardiac defects. Residence in the TCE area, but not the PCE area, was associated with low birth weight and fetal growth restriction. Environmental Health Perspectives.

HUD offers $114 million in grants to clean up lead and other housing-related health hazards.

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:36:43 -0800

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it is making approximately $114 million in grants available to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint hazards from lower income homes in order to protect young children from lead poisoning; help local communities set up programs to control other housing health and safety hazards; and conduct research on improving control methods.
[See a related news article: Funding for lead poisoning prevention may be cut]

New video presentation: Wi-Fi in Schools is Safe: True or False?

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:30:50 -0800

Dr Magda Havas has made this video available to discuss how the Wi-Fi routers used in schools differ from those in homes. Learn about studies that have documented the adverse effects of this radiation on rats, blood cells, the heart, cancer; learn about alternatives to wireless routers that are cost effective, energy efficient and that don't emit microwave radiation.

Vegetables, fruits, grains reduce stroke risk in women.

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:28:50 -0800

Swedish women who ate an antioxidant-rich diet had fewer strokes regardless of whether they had a previous history of cardiovascular disease, in a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. e! Science News.

Without emissions pact, hungry will go hungrier.

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:17:24 -0800

The number of people going to bed hungry every night is rising again, international aid agency Oxfam warned at a forum on climate change communication in Durban on Friday. IOL News, South Africa.

Scientists ready for East Chicago dredging to begin.

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:09:47 -0800

A long-delayed dredging of the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal is scheduled to begin next summer, and researchers are expanding their study to measure amounts of toxic chemicals from the polluted channel that may wind up in the bodies of city children. Northwest Indiana Times, Indiana.

How exercise benefits the brain.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 23:07:47 -0800

To learn more about how exercise affects the brain, scientists in Ireland recently asked a group of sedentary male college students to take part in a memory test followed by strenuous exercise. New York Times.

Violent video games alter brain function in young men, says documented evidence from Indiana University School of Medicine.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:55:20 -0800

Sustained changes in the region of the brain associated with cognitive function and emotional control were found in young adult men after one week of playing violent video games, according to study results presented by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Stone Hearth News.

7 foods you should never eat .

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:52:11 -0800

We decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe--or not--to eat. Fox News.

Risk assessment: science has a hard time gauging the danger posed by carcinogens.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:22:30 -0800

About two in five Americans will get cancer. But for most individual cases, pinpointing a specific cause is impossible. So scientists focus on risks: exposures, behaviors and conditions that increase your odds of getting cancer. But a growing body of evidence suggests there's more to all this than smoking, genes and where you work. Pittsburgh City Paper, Pennsylvania.

Smart meters are the latest electronic devices generating debate about possible health risks.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:21:39 -0800

From baby monitors to cell phones and wireless internet access, a continuing wave of gadgets and gizmos attempt to make life easier. But do these conveniences come with a risk? Prescott Daily Courier, Arizona.

EPA tweaks proposed boiler rule, zeroes in on largest emitters.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:20:32 -0800

The U.S. EPA released a reworked package of proposed rules to tackle toxic emissions from 201,000 of the largest boilers and incinerators nationwide. The industrial boilers are one of the largest U.S. sources of harmful air pollution. Greenwire.

Arsenic in water tied to breathing issues.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:19:12 -0800

People in Bangladesh exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water were more likely to report shortness of breath in a new study than those who drank water with safer arsenic concentrations. Reuters.

Mercury fillings 'filled' with controversy.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:14:23 -0800

Silver amalgam fillings, which have plugged American cavities for more than 150 years, have lost their luster over the last couple of decades thanks to the rise of more attractive tooth-colored fillings and concerns about the environmental and health impact of their chief ingredient: mercury. Chicago Tribune, Illinois.
[See another article about mercury: Group points blame at mercury]

How the food industry eats your kid’s lunch.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:12:32 -0800

An increasingly cozy alliance between companies that manufacture processed foods and companies that serve the meals is making students -- a captive market -- fat and sick while pulling in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. New York Times.

Soft-pedaling prevention.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:07:42 -0800

We celebrate those who beat cancer ... but ignore efforts to prevent it. In 2010, the National Cancer Institute spent $364 million on prevention programs -- and $1.16 billion on treatment research. Treatment is likewise the focus of the vast majority of funds raised by your average "race for the cure" fundraiser. Pittsburgh City Paper, Pennsylvania.
[See related articles in a series: Runaway growth; Risk Assessment: Science has a hard time gauging the danger posed by carcinogens and Coming clean: can we solve the problem of carcinogens in the environment?]

Even low pollen levels trigger kids' asthma.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:04:48 -0800

Kids with asthma and pollen allergies were more likely to wheeze, cough and have shortness of breath and other asthma symptoms, even when pollen levels were considered "low" in a new study that suggests parents need to be careful in all seasons. Reuters.

Children from Chernobyl disaster smile for calendar.

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 22:03:39 -0800

Photojournalist Ryuichi Hirokawa's 17th annual calendar depicting the smiling children who live near the doomed Chernobyl nuclear plant is particularly poignant and meaningful this year, carrying powerful messages. Asahi Shimbun, Japan.

New EMF resources.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:47:37 -0800

CHE's Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Working Group has created a list of peer-reviewed articles related to EMFs and fertilty/reproduction, plus a Practice Prevention column for general audiences (parents, teachers, employers) on the effects of EMFs and how to minimize exposures.

CHE Partnership call: Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:45:28 -0800

Join CHE on December 16, 2011 at 10:00 am Pacific / 1 pm Eastern for a discussion of this report from the Institute of Medicine and its implications.

Full of beans? Early soy exposure associated with less feminine play in girls.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:44:15 -0800

A new study reports an association between early soy feeding and less female-typical play behavior in young girls. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Arsenic exposure and hypertension: a systematic review.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:38:59 -0800

This systematic review identified an association between arsenic and the prevalence of hypertension. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Associations between the quality of the residential built environment and pregnancy outcomes among women in North Carolina.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:37:43 -0800

Five built environment indices (housing damage, property disorder, tenure status, vacancy status, and nuisances) were associated with each of our five outcomes (preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), low birthweight (LBW), continuous birthweight and birthweight-percent for gestational age). Environmental Health Perspectives.

Request for NACEPT nominations.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:31:03 -0800

EPA is inviting nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). Nominations are requested by December 9th.

Brain development dependent on thyroid hormone.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:21:34 -0800

Scientists at NIEHS have discovered a new mechanism for how this important hormone also regulates brain development. NIEHS Environmental Factor.

Neurotox27 focuses on environmentally triggered disorders.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:15:13 -0800

The time for characterization of the role of environmental factors in neurodevelopmental disorders has come. NIEHS Environmental Factor.
[See another meeting summary: Duke symposium tackles later life consequences of early life exposures]

Panel peer reviews NTP low-level lead draft.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:13:40 -0800

The panel concurred with the overall NTP conclusion that "there is sufficient evidence for adverse health effects in children and adults at blood Pb [lead] levels below 10µg/dL [micrograms per deciliter] and below 5 µg/dL as well." NIEHS Environmental Factor.
[See a related article: Effects of lead exposure on obesity and bone loss]

Report: Proposed mercury standards would benefit Maine waterways, fish.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:46:10 -0800

Nearly 20 years after mercury contamination forced the state to issue fish consumption health advisories, a Maine environmental group says new federal regulations on mercury emissions could reduce that risk. Maine Public Broadcast Network, Maine.

Meeting told how air quality damages health of youngsters exposed to busy main roads.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:45:06 -0800

Children's lungs have been badly affected before they have developed properly because of high levels of pollution that often breaches European and World Health Organisation guidelines. Islington Tribune, United Kingdom.

Panel to release first C8 'probable link' findings.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:41:02 -0800

A three-person panel studying the health effects of the toxic chemical C8 will release the first in a series of "probable link" decisions on Monday, the group said. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia.

Leaching pipes linked to drug use on Cape Cod.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:39:16 -0800

Cape Codders exposed early in life to drinking water contaminated by solvents were more likely to eventually use illicit drugs, according to a newly released study by Boston University's School of Public Health. Cape Cod Times, Massachusetts.
[See other articles about water contamination: Water treatment turns common chemicals toxic, says report and Salts from drilling, a drinking water danger, still showing up in rivers]

Weed killer linked to gender-bending in animals.

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:36:37 -0800

Exposure to atrazine, a commonly used weed killer, increases the risk of reproductive problems in a wide range of animals, says a new review study that analyzed research from around the world. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario.
[See a related article: Testes hit by herbicides]

New events posted.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 13:09:05 -0800

While there are 84,000 synthetic chemicals in circulation, the vast majority haven't been fully tested for health risks, and only a handful have been banned. But it's not up to industry to prove its chemicals are safe -- it's effectively up to everyone else to prove that they're dangerous. Pittsburgh City Paper, Pennsylvania.

OSHA expands pilot chemical facilities process safety emphasis program nationwide.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:22:10 -0800

The pilot chemical facilities emphasis program has been expanded nationwide in an effort to reduce catastrophic releases of hazardous chemicals, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Nov. 30. Bureau of National Affairs.

Climate change, crop yields, and undernutrition, with Sari Kovats.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:18:19 -0800

In this podcast, host Ashley Ahearn discusses the connection between climate change and undernutrition with researcher Sari Kovats. Environmental Health Perspectives.

New healthy child care website.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:14:01 -0800

EPA's healthy child care web-based resource directory was developed with three target audiences in mind: childcare providers, parents, and state and local agencies; the information it contains is arranged to be easily accessible for these three distinct audiences.

Scientist seeks answers about manganese toxicity, Parkinson's disease news.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:09:37 -0800

People exposed to manganese in occupational settings such as welding may not see signs for years that the element is toxic to their nervous systems, but new medical imaging techniques being developed and tested by a Purdue University professor could help reveal toxicity before symptoms indicating irreversible brain damage begin to occur. Domain-b.com.

"Organic" personal care products lawsuit partially settled.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:03:27 -0800

The Center for Environmental Health lawsuit alleged that 34 manufacturers of shampoo, conditioners, toothpaste and lotion, among other products, were violating a state law requiring that personal care products promoted as "organic" contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients, meaning they were grown without pesticides or chemicals. Contra Costa Times, California.

GOP, Dems in dustup over EPA's reach.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 11:59:22 -0800

GOP, Dems in dustup over EPA's reach. The House Energy and Commerce Committee operated on the Clean Air Act on Wednesday, passing legislation that would cut into the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate particulate matter in numerous situations. Politico.

Smog sparks debate over Beijing air standards.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 11:58:18 -0800

Officially, Beijing’s air quality is improving. But the choking air that regularly descended on the Chinese capital in October and November has given fresh impetus to a growing public debate over air quality in the city, whose 20 million residents are increasingly worried. Agence France-Presse.

FDA examines level of arsenic in apple juice.

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 11:57:18 -0800

The Food and Drug Administration is considering tightening restrictions for the levels of arsenic allowed in apple juice after consumer groups pushed the agency to crack down on the contaminant. Associated Press.