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Newest additions to www.ProtectingOurHealth.org To
read the latest news articles about environmental health, visit:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Major risk factors include age, smoking, physical inactivity, diet, serum lipids/cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, gender, and family history (genetics). Scientific research also links cardiovascular disease to a number of environmental exposures, including air pollution, metals and solvents. Recent research on air pollution indicates that the annual health impacts in the US from particulate air pollution attributable just to diesel exhaust from cars, trucks, and construction equipment includes 21,000 premature deaths and 27,000 non-fatal myocardial infarctions, plus a range of other impacts. More... In a small prospective study, researchers in Japan report that bisphenol A levels are higher in women with a history of repeated spontaneous miscarriages. This research was based on proof that BPA causes meiotic aneuploidy in mice. Meiotic aneuploidy is the commonest cause of miscarriage in people. The researchers also followed the pregnancies of the women to completion, and found evidence of aneuploidy in several of the miscarried fetuses. Bisphenol A is widely used in consumer product, including polycarbonate water bottles, epoxy linings for food cans and coatings for papers. Almost all Americans carry measureable levels of BPA, at levels within the range known to cause changes in cellular responses. More... New research with rodents suggests that your infertility could be the result of an environmental exposure that your great-grandmother experienced while she was in her mother's womb. In laboratory experiments, exposure to two endocrine disrupting compounds at a key time in fetal development seriously impaired sperm count in almost all males in 4 subsequent generations, even though the exposure occurred only once. The changes appear not to be mediated by DNA mutation, but instead through epigenetic changes in DNA methylation. More... For the first time, researchers have identified an association between pregnant women’s exposure to phthalates and adverse effects on genital development in their male children. The pattern of genital changes seen in these baby boys is consistent with the "phthalate syndrome" previously observed in rodents prenatally exposed to phthalates. It is also suggestive of "testicular dysgenesis syndrome," a human health condition proposed to be linked to exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds. The adverse effects are seen at phthalate levels below those found in one-quarter of women in the United States, based on a nation-wide survey by the Centers for Disease Control. More... for audio files of an international teleconference with the scientists about these results Two estrogenic contaminants cause adverse effects in prostate development in mice at levels to which millions of Americans are exposed each year. The results raises questions about the possible contributions of these compounds, the birth control agent ethinylestradiol and the plastic monomer bisphenol A, in human prostate diseases, including prostate cancer. The study also shows the futility of predicting the developmental consequences of low-dose exposures based on high-dose experiments. More... Industry responses to new science and policy initiatives on bisphenol A, an endocrine-disrupting molecule that leaches from polycarbonate plastic, are based on highly flawed misrepresentations of current scientific knowledge. The compound is now linked by animal experiments to a wide array of health effects following exposure to extremely low doses. Public comments from the American Council on Science and Health and junkscience.com contain blatant errors that reveal either a lack of scientific understanding. More... A flood of new information about bisphenol A revealing both widespread human exposure and effects at extremely low doses sparks a call for a new risk assessment of the ubiquitous compound. Bisphenol A, the basic building block of polycarbonate plastic, alters development of the reproductive tract, the immune system, increases prostate tumor proliferation, changes brain chemistry and structure and affects an array of behaviors, including hyperactivity. Of 11 studies of the compound's effects at low doses, none funded by industry reported impacts. In contrast, 94 out of 104 government-funded studies found effects. This summary includes audio files of an international teleconference about bisphenol A. More... Research in Denmark finds that low sperm counts in an earlier study was not the result of sexual immaturity in the study population. In 2000, a Danish study of young military recruits reported that many of them had low sperm counts, lower than earlier Danish measurements from prior decades. One explanation offered for this observation was the possibility that they were not yet sexually mature. This new study finds that sperm count of a subset of these young men did not increase as they were tracked over the next four years. Hence the low sperm counts are unlikely to be due to sexual immaturity. More... A study in Connecticut finds that women with a specific form of a gene are at significantly greater risk to breast cancer if they are exposed to relatively higher levels of PCBs. The risk is even higher if they are also past menopause. Earlier studies of the same population that did not include information on genetic makeup found no elevation of risk, indicating that epidemiological studies lacking genetic information can miss impacts on vulnerable subpopulations. More... Rats exposed in the womb to a single low dose of a widespread brominated flame retardant become hyperactive and have decreased sperm counts. The effects are observed at an exposure level within the range of PBDE contamination that has been found in samples of breast milk from US mothers. More... Women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are likely to differ genetically from women without the condition, according to a study of several hundred women in Canada. The genetic differences were found in genes important to detoxifying chemicals. The largest differences were noted when two genes were studied simultaneously: women with MCS were more than 18-times more likely to have a specific genotype compared to controls. The results provide clear evidence for a physical basis for MCS and point toward more specific questions about its causes. More... Research in Iowa finds that children of farmers licensed to apply pesticides are at greater risk to cancer. Rates of lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma were twice as high compared to rates in the general population. Children whose fathers did not wear chemically resistant gloves faced twice the risk of developing cancer, compared to children whose fathers wore them. More... 2 October 2004. Epidemiological data link two persistent organic pollutants to an increased risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. People with higher levels of both heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with NHL. And with widespread bans of these and related organochlorine contaminants now yielding decreases in contamination levels in people, rates of NHL have slowed or stopped increasing, at least in some countries. More... 30 August 2004. Even at levels considered safe by the U.S. EPA, exposure very early in pregnancy to lawn care and farm chemicals resulted in serious developmental injury to mouse embryos. All but one of the 13 chemicals tested at very low doses on pre-implantation mouse embryos impaired normal development. All 6 mixtures tested caused damage. More... 23 August 2004 Gulf War veterans more likely to have fertility impairment. A large retrospective cohort study of UK veterans who served in the Gulf during the 1990-91 Gulf War finds a small increased risk of infertility and a longer time to conception compared to UK soldiers who did not serve in the Gulf. More... 3 August 2004 Exposure to phthalates is linked to three childhood allergic diseases: asthma, rhinitis and eczema. A study of children in Sweden reports a 2-3 fold increase in risk associated with phthalate levels found in bedroom dust. Effects differ among different phthalates studied. DEHP was linked to asthma while BBzP was linked to rhinitis and eczema. More... 24 July 2004. Exposure to common environmental pollutants at levels currently encountered in New York City can undermine fetal development. Birth weight and head circumference are lower with higher exposures to specific pollutants, birth outcomes which predict cognitive impairment later in life. The effect of one of the pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was seen only in subjects reporting exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. This result suggests impacts of contaminants may be hidden if interactions are ignored. More... 16 July 2004. Farming activities that entail exposure to diesel fumes and solvents are associated with higher risks of wheezing. Wheezing is a common respiratory symptom of asthma, a disease reaching epidemic proportions in regions throughout the US. The activities associated with increased risk including driving diesel tractors, painting, and repairing pesticide equipment. More... 8 July 2004. Low-level magnetic radiation within the range experienced by people in their homes and workplaces, and well-below maximum fields created by power transmission lines, causes DNA damage in rat brains and kills cells abnormally. The study provides clues to the mechanism by which this damage occurs, and suggests possible links to several neurodegenerative diseases in people, including ALS, Alzheimers and Parkinsons. More... 7 July 2004. Various environmental factors, including infectious and chemical agents, are known, suspected, or theorized to play a role in causation of autism. Autism prevalence is generally thought to be increasing, though changing diagnostic criteria and increased reporting are likely to be contributing somewhat to that increase. Genetic factors are important in the causation of autism but are not fully explanatory. More... 20 June 2004. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the US today result in the loss of the baby or a child born with a birth defect or chronic health problem. Genetic, nutritional, infectious, and other environmental factors, such as radiation, pharmaceuticals, and toxic chemicals, contribute to the total incidence of birth defects, but the percentage attributable to each is not known. More... 18 June 2004 The constant wave of new findings linking specific genes to specific diseases and disabilities are creating opportunities to prevent conditions that until very recently were not thought to be preventable. Most disease-gene links don't involve simple mutations. They may not even involve complex combinations of aberrant genes. Instead, often they are tied to changes in gene expression, with genes being silenced or activated inappropriately. Research is revealing that a surprisingly large number of contaminants are capable of interfering with gene expression at very low levels of exposure, and that the genes (and gene families) vulnerable to disruption are tied to a wide array of diseases and to very basic developmental processes. A high priority should be placed on identifying environmental agents that can disrupt gene expression and to begin implementing public health standards that reduce exposures. More... 15 May 2004 Pregnant women exposed to higher levels of two insecticides had smaller babies than other mothers, but after an EPA phase-out of the insecticides not only were exposures substantially lower but the association between newborn size and exposure disappeared. Newborn size is an important predictor of health later in life. These results demonstrate that public health steps taken by the EPA to reduce exposures can quickly yield positive results for health. More... 22 March 2004. Ovarian cancer is an uncommon but very serious form of cancer, much more common in women in North America or Europe than anywhere else. Hormonal, environmental and genetic factors play roles in the risk for developing the disease. Epidemiology points to some occupational exposures, including solvents in the graphics and printing industries. More... 17 February 2004 A review by CHE scientists of scientific publications on studies of human health has revealed links between approximately 200 human health conditions and exposures to contaminants. Many compounds in widespread use are implicated by these results. The strength of association varies widely, for example from well-understood causal links between asbestos and mesothelioma to recurring but weak patterns linking certain pesticides and chronic bronchitis. The summary identifies not only the linked exposures, but also provides an assessment the strength of the scientific evidence. More... 3 February 2004. The first prospective analysis of the effect of chemical exposures in the womb on adult mental condition suggests a link between adult schizophrenia and prenatal lead exposure. Analysizing materal serum that had been stored frozen for decades, researchers find indications of a greater risk of schizophrenia and related disorders in patients whose mothers had higher lead levels during the second trimester of pregnancy. While statistically inconclusive, the results hint that lead's pernicious effects on neurocognitive development continue beyond childhood, and should encourage further research into the consequences of fetal exposure for adult mental health. 19 January 2004. More... Farmed salmon contain much higher levels of organochlorine contaminants than wild salmon. A study of almost 2 metric tons of salmon from North and South America and from Europe revealed much higher levels of contaminants like PCBs, dieldrin, dioxins and toxaphene in farmed salmon than wild. Levels in Scottish and Faroe Island farmed salmon were high enough to suggest consumption should be limited to no more than one meal every other month, based solely on considerations of cancer risk. The risk assessment did not incorporate the beneficial effects of fish consumption, nor additional risks associated with organochlorine exposure such as immune, neurocognitive or reproductive effects. 19 January 2004 More... Infants exposed to herbicides and pesticides are much more likely to develop early persistent asthma. Children with early persistent asthma were 10 times more likely to have been exposed to herbicides during their first year of life than children without asthma. Exposures to pesticides, farm animals and farm dust are also associated with an increased risk of early persistent asthma. In contrast, exposure to several types of smoke as well as cockroaches were linked to early transient wheezing, but neither to early nor late persistent asthma. Several findings of the study contradict predictions made by the "hygiene hypothesis," which suggests that the asthma epidemic underway today is a result of fewer immune system challenges early in life. More... Risks of infertility higher in women using herbicides and fungicides. A study comparing infertile and fertile women in Wisconsin finds that women who were infertile were 27 times more likely to have mixed or applied herbicides in the two years prior to attempting conception than women who were fertile. The weight of animal and human evidence now clearly indicates that risks of infertility rise in association with current uses of agricultural chemicals. More... Testicular cancer linked to environmental exposures early in life. Finnish men who immigrate to Sweden are much less likely to develop testicular cancer than Swedish men, no matter how old they were when they emigrated from Finland nor how long they lived in Sweden. These findings implicate exposures in the womb as important determinants of testicular cancer, and are consistent with an emerging theory about the causes of a pattern of testicular maladies, testicular dysgenesis syndrome. More... Los Angeles Times: Researchers link flame retardants to hazards. Reporter Marla Cone examines new research on brominated flame retardants (BDEs) being presented at Dioxin 2003, an annual scientific meeting of toxicologists focused on persistent bioaccumulative contaminants. The new findings, presented in some 100 different scientific papers, broaden concern BDEs far beyond the current focus, on neurological development, to include impacts on male fertility and female ovary development. Data also indicate that a type of BDE used in electronic equipment, heretofore not thought problematic, can be toxic also. Largely unregulated, exposure to BDEs is set to rise substantially over the next decade. 25 August 2003. Chemical and Engineering News: Fluoride concerns rise once again. Reporter Bette Hileman describes a new effort by the EPA, with help from the National Research Council, to assess the risks and benefits of water fluoridation. New data heard at a public hearing on 12 August indicates that not only may the beneficial effects of fluoridation on teeth hygeine have been overestimated, the practice may harm other organs, particularly the skeletal system. Bone brittleness may increase, raising the chances of broken bones, especially problematic for older Americans. Evidence also suggests that fluoride may have neurotoxic effects. Phthalate linked to preterm birth. A study from Italy finds that not only are DEHP and MEHP detectable in most Italian newborns, but that those with higher levels of MEHP are more likely to be born prematurely. This result suggests that at least some of the scientific effort to understand why the incidence of premature birth in the US has increased 23% since the early 1980's should focus on environmental contaminants in the womb, and specifically on phthalates. More... New South Wales Sunday Telegraph: The healthier you are, the more likely you are to conceive. "In a modern world where toxins, pollutants, nicotine, fast food and sneaky chemicals such as xenoestrogens are everywhere, both men and women should be careful about what we touch, eat and breathe, pre- and post conception." Calculations suggest high adverse impacts of DDT use on infant mortality. Writing in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a publication of the US Centers for Disease Control, two scientists from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conclude that DDT may cause an increase in infant mortality comparable to the number of infant lives that are saved when DDT is used to control malaria in Africa. They base their calculations on research that has shown associations between DDE in mothers' blood and increased risks of preterm birth and decreased length of time spent breastfeeding, both of which cause increases in infant mortality. While far from definitive, their research opens a new chapter in the international debate about whether, when and where to use DDT. More... SF Chronicle: Editorial criticizes industry groups that hide allegiences. "We have no problem with any corporation making its best case for its products, in whatever forum. But it pollutes the arena of discourse when charitable organizations they create or support obscure their sources of funding while posing as objective sources of information." The Chronicle cites several examples of organizations that obscure their links to industry but promote industry causes with their financial backing, including the American Council on Fitness and Nutrition, the Center for Consumer Freedom and the American Council on Science and Health. According to the Chronicle, these organizations "are actually funded wholly or in part by corporate interests to defeat threatening legislation or discredit potentially damaging research." 10 August 2003. New York Times: California bans flame retardant chemicals. California became the first state in the country to ban two forms of brominated flame retardants, with Gov Davis signing AB 32 on 9 August. The ban was championed by Assembly Majority Leader Wilma Chan and supported by the California EPA, on the basis of scientific evidence showing both dramatic increases in PBDE levels in Americans and indications that PBDE exposure may have serious health implications, particularly for fetal development and infants. 10 August 2003. Hindustan Times: Pesticides in Coke and Pepsi in India. An analysis of 12 different types of soft drinks for sale in India, conducted by the Center for Science and Environment, finds that Coke and Pepsi products contain pesticides at levels 30 or more times higher than public health standards in Europe. The contamination appears to be a result of pesticides in the water used to make the softdrinks. The report has provoked widespread outrage in India, including bans on Pepsi and Coke in the Indian parliament and in some school systems. It is disputed by Pepsi and Coke. The Indian government commenced independent tests to confirm or refute the CSE report. 10 August 2003. New York Times: Op-ed calls for using DDT against West Nile Virus. Ignoring current research on human impacts of DDT, and rejecting data from wildlife as 'dubious,' a commentator from the conservative Hoover Institution calls for using DDT in the US against West Nile Virus. 7 August 2003 Green
tea extracts interfere with one way that dioxin increases cancer risk.
Research into the molecular activity of plant compounds in green tea shows
they suppress the ability of dioxin and related compounds to turn genes
on that are involved in the development of cancer. This new result provides
insight into earlier work with people and with animals suggesting that
green tea has beneficial health impacts. Brain growth patterns in autistic children differ from normal beginning in the womb. A study of growth rates of autistic children's heads reveals striking differences in how their heads and brains develop compared to normal children, beginning prior to birth. These results indicate that the causation of autism begins long before overt signs of autistic behavior are evident, suggesting that exposure to mercury in vaccines delivered at age 3-4 may not be the cause of autism. A role for such exposures, however, cannot be eliminated on the basis of these observations. More... Cadmium provokes estrogenic responses at extremely low levels of exposure. Research published in Nature Medicine reveals that cadmium provokes estrogenic responses in rats at levels much less than 1% of those traditionally used in toxicological studies. The effects include alterations in the uterus and mammary gland, increases in estrogen-controlled gene expression, and, following exposure in the womb, increases in adult weight and the speed of reaching sexual maturity. The authors call for more research on links between breast cancer and cadmium exposure. 15 July 2003. More... Research links herbicides used on wheat to birth defects in the Great Plains. A scientist from the US EPA finds that birth defects of several types are more common in babies born in wheat growing counties in the Great Plains, compared to rural counties in the same region where wheat is less common. Taken together with a wealth of data from others studies of people and experiments with rodents, this work strengthens the theory that chlorophenoxy herbicides like 2,4-D cause birth defects in people. 14 July 2003. More... Washington Post: Cadmium acts as estrogen mimic. In experiments with rats, researchers discovered that cadmium at low levels can mimic the effect of estrogen, altering the pattern of reproductive development and speeding progress toward puberty. The scientists commented that what they discovered "suggests a direct link between low dose cadmium exposure and increased risk of breast cancer ." 14 July 2003. San Jose Mercury News: California considers ban on flame redardant chemicals. Writing for the Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury News, reporter Don Thompson examines a process underway in California that would ban certain polybrominated diphenyl ethers from use as flame retardants. The compounds have been shown to interfere with thyroid action, raising concerns about their ability to alter normal brain development. Cal EPA head Winston Hickox expressed frustration at the lack of federal leadership. Quoted in the article, Hickox said that in the face of federal inaction, the state should ban chemicals that raise serious public health questions. In the legislature, Assemblywoman Wilma Chan said she hopes her proposed California ban ""will spark the rest of the nation to take action." 8 July 2003 Washington Post. Theory says disease tendencies begin in womb . Reporter Rob Stein describes an emerging scientific theory that points to events during fetal development as crucial to to causation of a range of adult diseases. The article quotes one of the leading world experts in the field of "fetal origins of adult diseases," Dr. David Barker of the University of Southampton in England: "When living things develop, and human beings are no exception, they are very sensitive to the environment. And that includes the environment inside the womb." 7 July 2003 Fetal exposures to persistent organic pollutants decline in eastern Canadian arctic. Analysis by Canadian health researchers documents sharp drops in umbilical cord blood levels of several persistent organic pollutants, including PCBs, DDT and HCB. Lead and mercury also declined. The researchers conclude the decreases are likely due both to long-term efforts around the world to reduce environmental releases (and thus contamination of the food chain) as well as to changes in the Inuit diet that shift away from contaminated native foods. 7 July 2003. More... Chemical and Engineering News: Daubert ruling challenges US courts. Better or worse for science and justice? A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1993 established guidelines for evaluating what scientific evidence would be admissible in court. This decision has had profound effects in the intervening years, dramatically tightening the standards and leading to exclusion of many experts and their data and interpretations. Critics assert that the application of "Daubert" has gone too far, preventing juries from hearing pertinent science, and that the process adds strong bias against cases in which plaintiffs are using scientific evidence to establish harm. 7 July 2003 Phthalate levels much higher than expected in people living in a southern German city. Twelve percent of the people studied studied by a team of scientists in Erlangen had exposures to the phthalate DEHP above levels considered safe by the European Union. Almost one-third exceeded US EPA standards. None of the people had been exposed occupationally to the reproductive toxicant. According to the scientists, their results "unequivocally prove that the general German population is exposed to DEHP to a much higher extent than previously believed." The prevalence of exposures above safety thresholds strongly indicates that current regulatory approaches to limiting DEHP exposures are insufficient to prevent harm. 6 July 2003. More... Integrated pest management (IPM) offers a cost effective way to decrease cockroach infestations, without dangerous pesticides. A study in east Harlem NY shows that over a six month period IPM can cut cockroach infestations dramatically, as or more cheaply than conventional chemical pesticide treatments. 6 July 2003 More... Falling rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Sweden may be due to decreased chemical exposures. Two Swedish scientific experts on the epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) propose that recent declines in the incidence of this cancer may be a result of bans and restrictions on certain chemicals that began to be put in place in the 1970s. Their theory rests on research consistently finding links between these chemicals and NHL, and reductions in exposures to the chemicals that now are clearly evident in body burden measurements. If true, this is one cancer on which we are starting to win the war for prevention. 4 July 2003. More... Modest increases in blood lead levels are associated with "essential tremor." Nearly 10 million people in the US suffer from essential tremor (ET), a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic tremor of a body part, most typically the hands and arms. A study in the New York area finds that ET patients have modest but statistically significant elevations in blood lead levels compared to controls. This finding opens a window for research into possible environmental causes of this common neurological impairment. 4 July 2003. More... Women exposed in the womb to DDT have more difficulty becoming pregnant. Research published in the Lancet reports a strong association between levels of DDT in a mother's blood at the time she gave birth to a daughter, and 'time to pregnancy' in the daughter, 30 years later. The longer the 'time to pregnancy,' the more likely a women is to experience impaired fertility. The study took advantage of serum samples stored in freezers since drawn, 1960-1963, linking them to information about the daughters' reproductive health. This is the first scientific report of a link between DDT and reproductive outcome in women exposed to the contaminant in the womb. Curiously, higher DDE levels were associated with a modest reduction in the effect. Posted 27 June. More... Florence Daily Times: Scandal envelopes EPA over Monsanto, Anniston PCBs. A former EPA lawyer, Janet MacGillivray, has revealed she was discouraged by high level EPA officials from testifying about her concerns that the legal agreements to settle Monsanto's liability over PCBs were too lenient. She felt "intimidated" after calls from the lead Dept of Justice attorney working the case. According to MacGillivray, "a high-ranking EPA official told her Anniston didn't make a list of national cleanup priorities because Monsanto, one of the companies found liable, didn't want it listed." BBC: Royal commission declares current chemical regulation "unacceptable." England's Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has released a new report condeming current regulatory approaches for synthetic chemicals in products. Sir Tom Blundell, chair of the commission and head of the department of biochemistry at the University of Cambridge observed to the BBC that "given our understanding of the way chemicals interact with the environment, you could say we are running a gigantic experiment with humans and all other living things as the subject." The report itself concludes that "continuing use of large numbers of synthetic chemicals will lead to serious effects..." Microwave radiation from cell phones damages rat brains at levels experienced commonly by users of mobile phones. A team of Swedish researchers has published research documenting significant damage in rat brains following one-time exposures to cell phone radiation. The damage involved decreases in the effectivness in the blood brain barrier and increases in neuron deformities. The scientists reporting this work expressed concern about possible human impacts, and the journal publishing the paper recommends that users use headsets. Posted 23 June 2003. More... EU chemical policies draw opposition from US, companies. An article in the New Jersey Star Ledger examines the debate about Europe's proposed changes to chemical regulation. Under current law, chemical manufacturers "get the benefit of the scientific doubt." If science is uncertain, government doesn't act to restrict exposures. Proposed changes in Europe that will require far more extensive testing on chemical safety are drawing the ire of the US government and chemical companies, because of the anticipated costs of the plan. Called "the most aggressive application yet of the Precautionary Principle," the changes will apply not only to manufacturing in Europe, but to products imported to Europe. Hence companies wanting to market in the EU will need to adhere. In response to criticism from the Bush administration, an EU spokesperson said: "If there is a scientific uncertainty as to the nature of a risk, we say to those in public office charged with protecting public health that they have a duty to respond and not wait until their fears are realized, until the worst is happening." Posted 22 June. More... Removed from market for toxic concerns, Scotchgard returns. Is it safer? The San Jose Mercury News reports on the toxics issues that forced Scotchgard off the market, and 3Ms efforts to bring a reformulated version back. Studies had revealed a key Scotchgard chemical, C8 or perfluorooctane sulfonate, to be extraordinarily persistent, bioaccumulative, and to cause adverse effects in animals. The new version of Scotchgard uses a chemical relative of C8 which 3M claims is safe. As yet they have been unwilling to share safety data with the public. More... Nitrogen dioxide beneath current regulatory thresholds exacerbates asthma symptoms. A study in England reveals that children ill with a respiratory virus will have more severe asthma symptoms if they experience higher levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a common air pollutant. Lung function in higher NO2 exposed children dropped by more than twice that of lesser exposed children. Adverse effects occurred at exposure levels one-third of current WHO standards for NO2, indicating they should be strengthened. Posted 21 June. More… Editor apologies for being duped by petrochemical industry. Will Swaim, editor of the Orange County Weekly, wrote a public apology for repeating lies about MTBE being promoted by the petrochemical industry. Swain had believed, and publicly repeated, industry claims that it should be shielded from MTBE liability because EPA had forced it to use the additive in gasoline. Detailed internal documents made available through lawsuits, however, make it clear industry knew that MTBE was a problem but that nonetheless it lobbied for MTBE use over EPA's preferred alternative, ethanol. Thousands of public and private water systems are now contaminated as a result. More... Strong link established between pesticide exposure and reduced sperm quality in mid-West men. Research in the US mid-West has discovered that men with elevated exposures to alachlor, diazinon and atrazine are dramatically more likely to have reduced sperm quality. The study is the first to show such a link for common, current-use pesticides, and its findings are particularly troubling because the most likely route of exposure is through drinking water. The three pesticides implicated by the research are widespread contaminants in mid-West water systems. More... American Academy of Pediatrics: More research needed to establish safety of phthalates. In a review of existing scientific literature about health risks of phthalates, a committee of the AAP concludes that too little information exists to ensure the safety of phthalates, particularly for vulnerable stages of development. Animal research clearly shows they harm fetal development, particularly of the male reproductive tract. And human data document widespread exposure. While cautious in its conclusions, the report clearly undermines industry assertions that decades of use of phthalates demonstrates their safety. 17 June 2003 Newsday: One in four children in Harlem have asthma. Preliminary finding reported last month as "buckled the knees of asthma research around the world." Asthma is now the leading cause of missing a school day in Harlem. Data indicate that from 1988 to 1997, asthma hospitalization rates rose 60% in children living in low-income housing in New York City. 15 June. 2003. [editor's note: these statistics are inconsistent with recent theories suggesting that the increase in asthma is due to (1) exposure to chlorine from indoor pools or (2) better infant health care, which has been suggested may expose the developing immune system to fewer challenges and thus lead it to hypersensitivity in childhood. These two theories are distractions.] Washington Post: Pressure on arsenic-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood containing arsenic has come under increasing attack over the past two years, because of health risks. While the wood treatment industry has agreed to a voluntary phase out of domestic manufacturing, sales continue at stores like Lowes and Home Depot. Questions are being raised about the wisdom of leaving existing playground and deck structures in place. Two DC-based advocacy organizations conclude that routine exposure to pressure treated wood elevates lifetime risks of cancer significantly. [editor's note: these calculations are based upon old scientific information about arsenic; they do not yet incorporate new data showing arsenic suppression of genes important to tumor suppression at much lower levels of exposure]. 14 June 2003. New York Times: 1 in 3 children in Brooklyn with dangerous lead levels. A study by the Pratt Area Community Council of 59 families in Bedford-Stuyvesant reports that "more than a third of the buildings tested were found to have at least one apartment with a hazardous amount of lead, and 32 percent of the individual apartments tested had dangerous lead levels ranging from 5 to 100 times the federal threshold. The Times interviewed an epidemiologist at the CDC, who said the results were not surprising. A study in Chicago last year found similar levels of lead hazards. Reuters Health. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls for more research on phthalate risks. After reviewing available evidence, the AAP's Committee on Environmental Health recommends that new research be launched to determine whether or not these common addititves to plastics are safe. Studies with animals show they can cause birth defects, and data from the Centers for Disease Control document widespread human exposure. The AAP's review, published in Pediatrics, finds that "no studies have been performed to evaluate human toxicity from exposure to these compounds." posted 7 June 2003. Washington Post: EPA report reveals that few are fined for polluting water. According to an internal EPA study, "About a quarter of the nation's largest industrial plants and water treatment facilities are in serious violation of pollution standards at any one time, yet only a fraction of them face formal enforcement actions." In the face of trivial fines, some companies and municipalities have illegally discharged toxic chemicals or biological waste into waterways for years without government sanctions. 6 June 2003. Los Angeles Times: Court orders EPA to consider data from human pesticide tests. "A federal appeals court Tuesday directed the government to resume considering the results of tests on human subjects as it determines acceptable exposure levels to toxic pesticides." EPA had halted use of human testing because of ethical questions and also because data from adults would not resolve questions about children's vulnerability. Hence the tests would not be useful in adjusting safety standards derived from animal studies so that they would better reflect human sensitivities. Industry argued that EPA had violated process in implementing the ban without proper consultation with interested parties. 5 June 2003 Wall Street Journal: Study links early puberty to higher breast cancer risk. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that women who reach puberty earlier are more likely to develop breast cancer. The study, conducted by scientists from UCLA, examined breast cancer rates in twins, comparing the risk in the first twin to reach sexual maturity against her sibling. "One thing stood out: For identical twins with cancer, the first twin to reach puberty was five times as likely to get the disease first. The link was even stronger when menstruation began early, before the age of 12." These data are consistent with previous studies showing that lifetime exposure to estrogen has an influence on breast cancer risk. And given that studies with laboratory animals show that environmental estrogens can speed sexual development in animals, they re-emphasize important questions about the role of contamination in breast cancer. 5 June 2003. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Birth control drugs in sewage may harm salmon reproduction. An article in the Seattle PI describes research results from the Batelle Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequiem, WA, revealing that a synthetic hormone widely used in birth control pills can impair fertility in adult male salmon. The compound, ethynil estradiol, is excreted in the urine of women taking birth control pills and reaches rivers after treated waste water is released from sewage treatment plants. The treatment process does not remove many pharmaceutical drugs or hormonally-active pesticides. Research by the lab was carried out with captive trout, close relatives of salmon. Batelle's scientists found that the lowest level they used, less than 1/80th the level found commonly in rivers, were sufficient to impair fertility. 4 June 2003. Bangor Daily News. Legislature bans arsenic treated wood in Maine. Despite fierce opposition from industry, the Maine legislature passed the first bill in the US to ban sale of CCA pressure treated wood for residential use. The governor is expected to sign the bill, which will take effect on 1 April 2004. The bill closes a loophole in current US EPA regulation of arsenic treated wood, which bans production of the product but not its sale, and hence encourages stockpiling of supplies that can be sold later. 4 June 2004. Los Angeles Times: Metal soot in air pollution aggravates allergies and asthma. Researchers working in East Germany have discovered that mice that breathe air laden with metal particles from industrial emissions are prone to more severe allergies and lung inflammations. The research suggests that tiny particles of zinc, cadmium, tin and copper—typical metals in smoke from factories and coal burning electricity plants—cause inflammation that leads to restrictions of air passages in the lungs. The findings offer important insights into why mortality rates increase on days when particle pollution increases. The research, on mice exposed to air from two East German cities, does not address what causes the sensitivity to the allergens in the first place. Hence while it can help understand why asthma becomes more severe in some places and people than others, it does not reveal why asthma has become so much more common over the past three decades. 30 May 2003. NY Times: EPA system for tracking water pollution deeply flawed, facilitating abuses. New report by EPA Inspector General concludes the computer system is "obsolete, full of faulty data and does not take into account thousands of significant pollution sources." Water scientist Dr Peter Gleick, quoted by the Times, argues "The problem is more than just a failure to collect and manage information on polluters, or to enforce compliance with pollution permits that have been issued. It is a failure of the administration to stop the thousands of polluters without permits." 27 May 2003. Atlanta Journa-Constitution: Atlanta air pollution rating going from "serious" to "severe." Only Los Angeles is worse. The reclassification has been forced by deterioration in air quality that has resulted from explosive growth in the region. The new rating will trigger fines for big polluters and more paperwork for small businesses. Air pollution in the region has already discouraged new businesses from relocating to Atlanta. 26 May 2003. Statesman Journal: Alaskan Senators meddle in organic labeling criteria, pushing to include wild fish even though it may be contaminated. They hope to help the Alaskan wild fisheries compete more effectively against farmed salmon. "A major retailer of organic foods, Whole Foods Market, considers the idea of organic wild fish 'totally ludicrous.'" There's no way to tell what waters wild salmon have swum through, and hence whether or not they would carry contaminants that would violate the spirit of organic labeling laws. 26 May 2003 Los Angeles Times: Eat a lot of fish, but not with mercury. Because nutrition experts recommend fish be a regular part of the diet, many adults and children may be unwittingly overdosing on mercury. These risks can be avoided by selecting species unlikely to carry excessive amounts of the neurotoxicant. 26 May 2003. Associated Press: Autism cases increase sharply in Virginia."According to the Autism Program of Virginia, the number of autism cases in the United States jumped 173 percent over the past decade. In Virginia, the number of cases has climbed by about 78 percent over the past three years, and now 2,702 children have autism in the state." 26 May 2003. New studies link environmental factors to impaired semen quality in men. Research in Denmark reveals a strong link between maternal smoking and a son's sperm concentration. Studies in Boston find higher phthalate and PCB levels in men with reduced sperm quality. A report from India also shows PCB and phthalate links. While none of these studies achieve scientific certainty about causation, they add to the weight of evidence that environmental factors are contributing to human infertility. Two invited commentaries published simultaneously in the scientific journal, Epidemiology,—one about phthalates, one about sperm count— place these new research results in a broader context. 25 May 2003. Cinncinatti Enquirer: Contamination forces builder to buy back homes in a new, upscale development. Homeowners in the development had launched suits against the developer after discovering that their backyards were contaminated by lead and arsenic and an investigation by the EPA led it to be declared a Superfund site. The development had been built on an old skeet range. "I thought I was buying a house we were going to live in for the rest of our lives," a homeowner interviewed by the Enquirer said. "When we signed the agreement to build our dream home, I didn't realize we were going to be living a nightmare." 23 May 2003. Toronto Star: Toronto bans cosmetic use of pesticides. Ban will phase in through 2005. Lawn care applicators expressed outrage. During the heated debate at city council, security guards removed several lawn operators amid cries of "fascist" and "it's a screw job." The bill passed by a wide margin, almost 26-16, despite aggressive lobbying by pesticide applicators. 23 May 2003. Wall Street Journal: Chemical manufacturers elude efforts to reduce terrorism risks. After 9/11, analysis revealed that if attacked by terrorists any one of 111 different chemical plants around the US could release chemicals that would kill over 1 million people. Efforts commenced to force manufacturers to shift toward different chemical processes that would be inherently safer. In 2002 the Senate passed strong legislation. But manufacturers mounted fierce resistance. Joined by conservative Republicans who resist government regulations of industry, the chemical industry has stymied further movement toward safer processes and reduced terrorism risks. posted 22 May 2003. A study of children in the Seychelles Islands indicates a mother's consumption of ocean fish with low levels of methyl mercury does not harm fetal brain development. This work conflicts with earlier research on the psychomotor impacts of methyl mercury. 20 May 2003. More... USA Today: Overheated Teflon causes bird deaths, sickens people. A petition to the Consumer Product Safety Council by the Environmental Working Group is seeking more effective warnings on Teflon products because of dangers to birds and people that result from modest overheating of the pans. Exposed birds die ("It's almost like a bomb blast."). People get "polymer fume fever, a short illness that mimics the flu with fever, chills, shivering, chest discomfort, cough and sore throat." 20 May 2003 Psychology Today. Parkinson's linked to pesticide exposure. "A daily diet that includes at lots of fruit or fruit juice has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of movement characterized by rigid muscles and tremors in the limbs. Pesticides or some other toxin in fruit may be the culprit." 20 May 2003. Pesticide applicators at greater risk to prostate cancer. A large study of pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina reveals a small but significant increase in prostate cancer risk compared to the general population. The results are consistent with previous findings of elevated prostate cancer risk in farmers. Use of methyl bromide and of chlorinated pesticides showed the clearest association with higher prostate cancer risk. 20 May 2003. More... New York Times: Precaution is for Europeans. Reporter Sam Loewenberg interviews OMB head John Graham, arch foe of the Precautionary Principle, about Bush administration concerns over Europe's willingness to employ the Precautionary Principle in regulations. Loewenberg's essay, in Week in Review, ends by highlighting the fact that the logic Bush used to justify invasion of Iraq was quintessential precaution. 18 May 2003. Boston Globe: High asthma rates in New England. A new report from the CDC reveals that New England states have highest average rates of asthma in the nation. 16 May 2003. Living on Earth: "The secret life of lead." In an hour-long special, LOE's host Steve Curwood examines the human and social implications of emerging research on the impacts of lead poisoning. Curwood interviews Cincinnati-based scientists Dr. Kim Deitrich and Dr. Bruce Lanphear and also visits some of the participants in the study whose lives have been profoundly altered by lead poisoning. One, now 22 and in the study since infancy, has had frequent problems with the law, a recurring pattern among youth exposed during development to low level lead. 14 May 2003. New York Times: California autism cases rise sharply. One out of 323 children in the state is now autistic, compared to one out of 2,500 in 1970. According to a state psychologist who oversaw the report, the new data rule out changes in diagnosis or increases in California's population as causes. 14 May 2003. Los Angeles Times: Autism in California almost doubles over past 4 years. A report from the California Department of Developmental Services documents the rapid growth of the neurological disability. The report focused only on cases of severe autism, making it unlikely that the change is due to changes in detection procedures. According to the report, the rate of increase is accelerating. 13 May 2003. Providence Journal: Lead paint warnings "an empty gesture." According to the Providence Journal, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynchwarnings to be posted about lead paint dangers "an empty gesture," "too little, too late." The warnings are part of an agreement between the lead paint industry and 45 state attorneys general, which will require paint manufacturers to place warnings on paint cans sold to consumers about the dangers of lead paint. Along with Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Missouri and South Carolina have not signed onto the agreement. Rhode Island is renewing a suit against the industry for damages. According to Lynch, industry is attempting to poison the judgment of potential jurors in the state's retrial of the lead-paint case." 13 May 2003. Reuters Health: Scientists warn against eating whale meat. A panel of Norwegian scientists is warning pregnant and nursing women not to eat whale meat, according to a story published by . Their analysis concludes that the meat contains sufficient contaminants like mercury and PCBs to harm fetal development, especially of the brain. 12 May 2003. Louisville Courier-Journal: Chemicals exceed levels seen as safe. Analysis of air quality data shows that residents living in and around Louisville KT are exposed to a range of air pollutants at levels dramatically above those considered safe. For example, at one elementary school butadiene levels in the air were up to 125 times above safe levels; at a middle school 540 times higher. Emissions from rubber manufacturing facilities in nearby "Rubbertown" are one source of the problem. This industrial complex began manufacturing synthetic rubber in WWII and now includes 11 different plants. 12 May 2003. New York Times,: Neighbors of vast hog farms say foul air endangers their health. Reporter Jennifer 8. Lee writes that "A growing number of scientists and public health officials around the country say they have traced a variety of health problems faced by neighbors of huge industrial farms to vast amounts of concentrated animal waste." Effects include neurological damage judged to be a result of hydrogen sulfide poisoning from industrial farms." Symptoms range from seizures to fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, poor memory, dizziness and other health problems." Bush Administration officials and hog industry representatives assert more science is needed to establish the links. 11 May 2003. 5 May 2003. The New York Times covers a story from Louisiana about vinyl chloride in the well water of a trailer park community that is forcing people from their homes. Criminal charges may be sought. State health officials knew about the contamination in 1997 but failed to tell residents. "Women who live here say that as many as 13 pregnancies ended in miscarriage in just the last few years, and say that their children burned and itched from bath water and wading pools." People living in Myrtle Grove Trailer Park, near Placquemine, believe the contamination comes from a nearby Dow Chemical facility nearby where vinyl chloride is manufactured. Dow disclaims responsibility. 5 May 2003. Writing in the Sacramento Bee, reporter Ed Fletcher describes a proposal by State Senator Deborah Ortiz to develop a biomonitoring program patterned after the CDC's national body burden survey. The program would give health and environmental officials in California information about contamination levels within residents of the state. Sponsors of the bill include CHE members Commonweal and The Breast Cancer Fund. The bill was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week, and moves on now for consideration by other committees. 4 May 2003. Marla Cone writes in the Los Angeles Times about a debate over new warnings issued to prevent people from consuming too much mercury-contaminated fish. After California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer sued seven grocery chains to force them to post mercury warnings next to fish known to contain mercury above safety threshold levels, signs went up beside some fresh and frozen fish, but not beside canned tuna, which can also contain excessive mercury. "The signs give no specific advice about canned tuna, saying only, in smaller type, that "mercury levels in canned tuna vary, but on average are lower than levels in many other fish." No signs are posted in aisles where canned fish is sold." The tuna industry and the California Restaurant Association oppose putting up detailed signs. 1 May 2003. Reuters Health reports on research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, which finds a link between pesticide use by farmers and their risk of prostate cancer. Previous work has identified farming as the occupation with the most consistent association with prostate cancer risk. 30 April 2003. Miguel Bustillo reports in the Los Angeles Times that EPA calculations on the economic value of life are drawing criticism of US seniors. The calculations are part of the process that EPA and other agencies use for cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulations, following guidelines developed by John Graham, controversial head of the Office of Management and Budget. "Graham's valuations, which place economic values on human life, have already helped to shape several Bush administration actions — including a study used to form the basis of the hotly disputed Clear Skies initiative to alter air pollution rules, and a new rule on air pollution from snowmobiles. In both studies, the dollar value placed on the lives of older Americans over 70 was 37% less than the figure used for younger adults." 27 April 2003. New research in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that current standards for lead poisoning do not protect children adequately from intellectual impairment. The article reveals a significant association between IQ point loss and blood lead level, even beneath the CDC's current level of concern. More... 23 April 2003. Writing in USA Today, reporter Elizabeth Weise describes new scientific findings that suggest we may be paying a health cost for the convenience of certain chemicals that are widely used in consumer products. In the article she covers the broiling controversies over the perfluorinated chemicals used in Teflon, Gore-Tex and related products, the health impacts of bisphenol A leaching from polycarbonate plastic, and the emerging data on health risks associated with brominated flame retardants. Collectively these data indicate that we allowed these chemicals to move into global production far too rapidly, and that people now are paying the price in a variety of disabilities and diseases. So what's the solution? Weise explores the controversy over using the Precautionary Principle to guide decisions about what products should be allowed into the marketplace, and when. 20 April 2003. Marla Cone examines scientific findings that are driving growing concerns about brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) in the environment, in a front page story in the Los Angeles Times. Experiments with animals show that PBDEs disrupt brain development, most likely because of their ability to interfere with thyroid hormone. Data from a diversity of sources show that PBDE levels are building very rapidly in North America, including in people. American body burdens of PBDEs are much higher than European, because Europe has banned two bioaccumulative types of PBDEs whereas the US has not. More on PBDEs... 20 April 2003. Articles in Science magazine and the New York Times (both by Madrid-based reporter Samuel Loewenberg) describe efforts underway in the European Union to strengthen policies on chemical health risks. The Science article focuses on changes in EU approaches to chemical regulation, based on the Precautionary Principle. New standards will require much more stringent testing of some 30,000 chemicals on the market today, and in addition will restrict use of 1,500 chemicals for which data now raise sufficient concerns about health effects. The New York Times article looks more broadly at EU business regulation, including chemical policies. In the Times, Loewenberg quotes U.C. Berkeley business professor David Vogel: "In this new generation of environmental issues the E.U. is moving quite aggressively, while U.S. policy is stalemated." The EU measures are designed to avoid harm before it occurs, whereas in the US, lobbying by corporations has created circumstances where policies only advance during crises. While many (if not most) industry representatives are predicting economic catastrophes as a result of these new policies, some expect the new policies to encourage innovation by forcing companies to find new chemicals that are less hazardous than those currently in use. 19 April 2003. A story in the New York Times describes the discovery of extraordinarily high asthma rates in children in Harlem. Approximately one in every four children living in central Harlem has this respiratory disorder. Data indicate that the incidence rate of asthma has doubled since 1980, but the cause is unknown. Not mentioned by the NY Times: The high prevalence of asthma in economically distressed urban areas in NY indicates that one of the hypotheses suggested for asthma's increase--that better early child care has reduced challenges to the immune system and led to susceptibility to asthma--is wrong. Something else is going on. 18 April 2003. The Guardian (UK) reports that a scientific study of over 15,000 people working at the Rocky Flats weapons plant outside Denver, Colorado, reveals a significant link between exposure to plutonium and the risk of lung and brain cancer. 7 April 2003. A scientific team from several federal agencies has concluded that roughly 8% of women of child-bearing age in the United States have mercury levels sufficient to raise concerns about impacts on neurocognitive development of their babies. The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, provide a more detailed analysis of recent survey data from the Centers for Disease Control about body burdens of people living in the US. More important than the details, however, is the implication in the paper that the US Food and Drug Administration is strengthening its standards on mercury exposure. More... 7 April 2003. Julie Wakefield writes in Environmental Health Perspectives about the children's environmental health summit convened by the National Institute on Environmental Health Sciences at NIH headquarters in Bethesda, MD, in late February. Several central themes were explored during the session, including the importance and opportunities for prevention through exposure reduction. The article quotes WHO scientist Terri Damstra: "Prevention of exposure is the single most effective means of protection against environmental threats." The importance of timing of exposure and acute sensitivity during fetal development was emphasized repeatedly. CHE chair Dr. Philip Lee stressed the need for more research focused on specific impacts on children, and also that new research has already identified opportunities for prevention that, as yet, have gone unfulfilled. And CHE scientist Pete Myers pointed out that despite revolutionary advances in scientific understanding of links between environment and health, the regulatory structure in place today is mired in the Jurassic. 4 April 2003. A story in the Mobile Register by Ben Raines gives the first public indication that the US Food and Drug Administration is changing its approach to evaluating mercury hazards in fish. This change will dramatically lower the level of mercury contamination that warrants fish advisories, and make the FDA's warnings consistent with those of the EPA. Now, for example, the FDA recommends that women and children can eat as much as two cans of tuna each week without running a health risk. The new standard will acknowledge that as little as half a can per week will push a child over the acceptable limit. The limit for a 130-pound woman will be one can per week. Scientists familiar with past FDA policies describe the new approach as "a sea change." 1 April 2003. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, reporter Marla Cone describes research carried out by scientists at Case Western Reserve that confirms, for the first time, an environmental contaminant causes a genetic error that in humans leads to spontaneous miscarriages and birth defects, including Down Syndrome. As Cone describes, the contaminant bisphenol A has its effect in mice at levels that occur today in people. "Toxicologists say the chemical leaches from plastic food and drink containers, including baby bottles and cookware, as they age, especially when they are microwaved or cleaned with harsh detergents. BPA also has been found at low levels in water supplies." The article quotes reproductive toxicologist Dr. Frederick vom Saal: "It looks like someone shot the chromosomes with a shotgun. They are totally disorganized. If you disorganize the chromosomes, it is a death sentence for an embryo. This is a stunning form of damage. It disrupts development of the cell that becomes your baby." For a detailed description of the study, see below and links there from 1 April 2003. According to an article in New Scientist Magazine, scientists are reporting that a smoking ban in Helena, Montana, has cut heart attack rates by more than half. Scientists summarized their findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology's Chicago. They believe the effect is due to elimination of second-hand smoke, and theorize that second hand smoke increases heart attacks by increasing the likelihood of formation of inappropriate blood clots in susceptible people.
BPA is the plastic monomer used to make polycarbonate plastic (the sort of rigid plastic from which baby bottles can be made, and large (not small) water bottles, including one variety being sold wholesale to health food stores because "it doesn't leach plasticizers." BPA is widely used to make a resin that lines food cans. Experiments show that BPA readily leaches out of this resin into the food within the cans. These results open a new window into understanding the cause of human birth defects, and significantly heighten pressure to reduce human exposures to bisphenol A. More...
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