Yourlawyer.com (Toxic Substances News)

Light Cigarettes Encourage Smoking

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Light cigarettes are not all they’re cracked up to be when it comes to quitting smoking, according to an emerging study, says WebMD. Experts found that the switch to what Web MD described as "light," "ultra-light," or "low-tar" cigarettes could actually undermine well-intentioned smoking cessation attempts.

Most cigarettes—about 84 percent, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—are labeled as lower in tar and nicotine, reported WebMD.

The study found smokers who switched from "full-flavored" cigarettes to lower tar or lighter cigarettes had to make more tries to quit and were unable to quit in about half of the cases, said WebMD. "We found that switching for any reason to a so-called lighter cigarette appears to be associated with a lower chance of quitting, especially when people switched with the intent of quitting smoking," study researcher Hilary Tindle, MD, PhD, told WebMD. Tindle and her team from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care looked at a 2003 survey of smokers sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute; the sample included some 31,000 current and former smokers, said WebMD.

According to WebMD, health officials have known that cigarette-packaging indicating lowered tar or nicotine or as being light, mild, or ultra-light, do not offer reduced opportunities for lung cancer, heart disease, or other smoking-related diseases. According to established evidence, smokers who smoke so-called lighter cigarettes generally smoke more and inhale more intensely, reported WebMD.

Until now, research has not determined switching to lighter cigarettes affected quit smoking rates, noted WebMD. The recent research found the following, said WebMD:

Of those surveyed, a little over 12,000—38 percent—said they had, at one time or another, switched to a lighter cigarette.
Of those who switched to lighter cigarettes, most—58 percent—were likelier to have attempted to quit smoking in the year just before taking the survey.
Of those who switched to lighter cigarettes—when compared to smokers who did not switch—the likelihood of quitting smoking was 46 percent decreased.
Those smokers who switched to lighter cigarettes to improve their health were the least likeliest to quit smoking.

Tindle concluded that switching to lighter cigarettes could actually hamper quit smoking efforts. "Unfortunately, a substantial proportion of smokers and nonsmokers still believe these cigarettes are healthier even though we have known for many years this is not true," quoted WebMD.

This June, President Barack Obama signed The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law allowing the federal government broad authority over tobacco products and regulators to control packaging and marketing and how much nicotine—the addictive component in cigarettes—is added in tobacco products, explained the Washington Post previously.

In addition to bans on flavored cigarettes and a number of other mandates, in July 2010, verbiage including the words “light,” “low,” or “mild” will be banned from tobacco product marketing. Sadly, according to Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, industry is trying to skirt the law, said WebMD. "The products will no doubt remain, but they will be called something else, Myers told WebMD. RJ Reynolds Tobacco spokesman David Howard said light cigarettes will be sold in blue packaging, while ultra-lights will be orange, a practice followed in other countries, said WebMD. Industry claims the color differentiations better enable consumers to determine what they are purchasing; however, critics disagree. Myers told WebMD the marketing change is simply another way to mislead consumers.

More Homeowners Filing Chinese Drywall Lawsuits

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

It seems thousands of United States homeowners claim that they are becoming sick as a result of defective Chinese drywall, claiming a “rotten egg” odor; headaches; nausea and vomiting; respiratory problems; and corrosion of metals in the home, including of jewelry, wiring, air conditioning units, and other appliances.

The Daily Herald points out that millions of gypsum sheets imported to the United States during the housing boom appear to have been contaminated with an array of sulfur compounds. The gypsum in drywall, which typically comes from mines, has recently come from a chemical process involving lime or limestone and gas from coal-fired power plants. Contaminants and sulfur found in power plant smokestacks are supposed to be removed in the process. Failure of proper removal is the cause of foul odors, respiratory complaints, and corrosion, according to some Chinese experts in building supplies. Others say phosphogypsum (calcium sulfate), a radioactive phosphorus substance, is to blame. Banned for use in U.S. construction in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says prolonged exposure to this radium-contained element can lead to a higher risk of lung cancer.

Many hundreds of lawsuits and complaints have been filed and many hundreds more are expected.

We have been writing about a time-sensitive, one-time offer made by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. that is expected to do much to streamline the process for suing the major drywall manufacturer. To take advantage of this one-time offer, Chinese drywall claimants must sign on to an omnibus class action lawsuit by December 2, 2009.

According to an earlier New Orleans Times-Picayune article, Knauf Plasterboard has agreed not to demand plaintiffs included in that lawsuit to abide by international rules in serving legal papers. Under the agreement, the omnibus lawsuit must be filed by December 9. The Times-Picayune pointed out that the December 2 deadline for filing is a hard deadline; there will be no second chances and the omnibus complaint will not be amended at a later date to add more people. Claimants will also face a second deadline–December 14–by which time they must have filled out a profile form.

To be eligible for the lawsuit, claimants must submit pictures or other proof that they have wallboard made by Knauf Plasterboard in their homes. Any Chinese drywall homeowner interested in becoming a party to this lawsuit must start now by contacting an attorney and arranging to have their home inspected.

Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, the first law firm to file a federal Chinese drywall lawsuit, is offering assistance to any homeowner interested in joining the Knauf Plasterboard lawsuit. Free consultations are available through the firm’s website at www.yourlawyer.com, or by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

Previously, Knauf Plasterboard required that service of process of any lawsuit be made through the Hague Convention, which sets forth the method for the service of process abroad. This had been a major obstacle to many Chinese drywall plaintiffs because The Hague Convention for the Service of Process Abroad requires claimants to pay approximately $15,000 per lawsuit, which allows for the translation of legal documents into Chinese and to have them presented to the appropriate authorities in China to obtain service on the Chinese drywall manufacturers.

An attorney representing Knauf Plasterboard told the Times-Picayune that the firm decided to waive the international rules in order to get a handle on the scope of the Chinese drywall claims it is facing. The company also hopes its action will spur other drywall manufacturers to take similar steps. Federal litigation involving defective drywall products has been consolidated in the multidistrict litigation, MDL 2047, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, before Judge Eldon E. Fallon. The offer applies to the consolidated federal litigation, not individual cases.

BPA Found in Canned Foods

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Bisphenol A—BPA—the ubiquitous, estrogen-mimicking chemical that hardens plastic has, according to another emerging study, been found in some popular canned foods, said FoxNews.

According to Consumer Reports’ December issue, it “tested soups, juice, tuna, and green beans,” said FoxNews, and discovered “19 name-brand foods” contain some level of BPA. As we have previously noted, BPA can be found in everything from baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, aluminum can linings, eyeglasses, and cars, to DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants. BPA can also be found in appliances and windshields; on recyclable bottles, BPA, as a component, can be verified if the item contains recycling number 7. We recently wrote that BPA has also been found to be present in common paper receipts. With BPA turning up in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers, its common usage has grown exponentially.

FoxNews noted that the canned foods found containing BPA included organic foods, that organic foods did not necessarily have lower levels of the toxin, and that some products contained the toxin despite labeling that the cans were BPA-free. The highest levels were seen in Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans Blue Lake, Progresso Vegetable Soup, and Campbell's Condensed Chicken Soup, as well as in Similac Advance Infant Formula and canned Nestle Juicy Juice, reported FoxNews.

"The BPA levels in our samples of Nestle Juicy Juice, at about 9 parts per billion, were not among the highest in the foods we tested. However, considering how many servings of juice young children may consume daily, a child still could exceed a level that Consumers Union thinks would provide an adequate margin of safety," said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of Technical Policy, at Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, quoted FoxNews. "The lack of any safety margin between the levels that cause harm in animals and those that people could potentially ingest from canned foods has been inadequately addressed by the FDA to date," Dr. Rangan added. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines say 50 micrograms of BPA for each kilogram of body weight is acceptable, said FoxNews.

In urine tests, BPA is found in the overwhelming majority of Americans, more than 93 percent. Despite this, industry has long argued that scientists and consumer advocates exaggerate the chemical’s adverse effects, continually citing two industry studies; however, at last count, over 900 peer-reviewed studies found links between BPA and health effects. The industry group, American Chemistry Council, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also maintain current levels are safe, said FoxNews. New FDA guidelines are expected, as we have been writing, at month’s end.

BPA has long been connected to increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than current FDA standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which some feel can be passed to future generations.

Laws are either in effect or coming into effect in a variety of states and counties in the United States in which the sale of certain products containing polycarbonate has been banned, for instance, in baby bottles, food containers, and sippy cups. Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin and some retailers and manufacturers have announced plans to stop making products containing the chemical. Other states are looking into similar measures and a federal ban has been proposed in Congress on all food contact material.

Southwest Airlines Faces Suit Over Toxic Airplane Air

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Southwest Airlines has been hit with a personal injury lawsuit over toxic airplane air. According to Courthouse News Service, the federal complaint was filed by two twin sisters who claim they and other passengers choked on toxic "super-heated" fumes that formed a "mist" in a Southwest airplane during flight.

The issue of toxic airplane air is a controversy that has dogged the airline industry for years. Earlier this year, a joint investigation by German and Swiss TV networks claimed to have found high levels of a dangerous toxin on board several planes. The chemicals found in the samples included high levels of tricresyl phosphate (TCP), an organophosphate contained in modern jet oil as an antiwear additive, which can lead to drowsiness, headaches, respiratory problems or neurological illnesses.

Critics of the airline industry claim that the system used to re-circulate air in airplanes does not remove fumes or vapors from the engine. The process involves combining re-circulated existing cabin air with air bled off the engines. The air pulled into the engines is cooled and compressed before it is pumped into the cabin. If this system malfunctions, chemical contaminants can end up circulating through the airplane, creating a so-called fume event.

The United Kingdom’s Committee on Toxicity said in 2007 that pilots reported such fume events in 1 percent of flights. The group also said that maintenance inspected and confirmed incidents in 0.05 percent of flights. According to the National Research Council, such fume events could occur on four out of every 1,000 flights.

Valerie and Victoria Vaughns' lawsuit claims that that one hour into their flight from Los Angeles, passengers began having trouble breathing. The pilot announced had been a malfunction, and as he engaged the engines for a steep ascent, "super-heated air" blew out of the ventilation system and a "mist" appeared to hang in the cabin. The plane made an emergency landing in Albuquerque, and a fire marshal escorted passengers off the plane, the complaint says.

According to Courthouse News Service, the Vaughns claim to have suffered pressure in their heads, nausea, rashes, fatigue, uncontrollable tremors, weight loss and central and peripheral nervous system damage as a result of the incident. The complaint alleges that toxic fumes emitted during the flight were bleed air that was contaminated with hot engine oil when the pilot put the engines on full thrust.

NIH Plans Major BPA Study

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The economic stimulus plan is one of the players involved in a large study of bisphenol A—BPA—the estrogenic chemical that has been making headlines over the myriad adverse effects that seem to be associated with its exposure.

USA Today wrote that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be funding some $30 million to study the controversial chemical’s safety and noted that nearly half of that money originates with the economic stimulus bill, citing Robin Mackar. Mackar is a spokeswoman for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

BPA, the commonly used plastic hardener and polycarbonate plastic byproduct that makes regular headlines for its links to a growing array of adverse health effects, as well as its growing ubiquity, made news recently in a Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel (JSOnline) report that said the United States government is stalling in its study of the toxin’s effects.

BPA has long been connected to increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than current FDA standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which some feel can be passed to future generations.

The NIEH sited these outcomes and studies and said the new study will also be looking into lower BPA exposures and links to “effects on behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers” and will also research the chemical being passed from parent to child, said USA Today.

In urine tests, BPA is found in the overwhelming majority of Americans, more than 93 percent. Despite this, industry has long argued that scientists and consumer advocates are exaggerating the adverse effects the chemical, continually citing two industry studies; however, at last count, over 900 peer-reviewed studies found links between BPA and health effects.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is also planning to release its own report, as we have been writing, at the end of next month.

"We know that many people are concerned about bisphenol A and we want to support the best science we can to provide the answers," said Linda Birnbaum, director of the NIEHS, quoted USA today. Jacob, a scientist at the Environmental Working Group, feels that the agency has more than enough data to restrict the chemical, specifically in children and expectant mothers. "We can always learn more about BPA, but we have scores of studies showing that low-dose exposure can increase risks," Jacob said, according to USA Today.

BPA can be found in everything from baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, aluminum can linings, eyeglasses, and cars, to DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants. BPA can also be found in appliances and windshields; on recyclable bottles, BPA, as a component, can be verified if the item contains recycling number 7. We recently wrote that BPA has also been found to be present in common paper receipts. With BPA turning up in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers, its common usage has grown exponentially.

Laws are either in effect or coming into effect in coming months in a variety of states and counties in the United States in which the sale of certain products containing polycarbonate has been banned, for instance, baby bottles, food containers, and sippy cups. Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin and some retailers and manufacturers have announced plans to stop making products containing the chemical. Other states are looking into similar measures and a federal ban has been proposed in Congress on all food contact material.

Formaldehyde Bill Would Limit Chemical In Furniture

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A bill is in the works to place federal limitations on formaldehyde in homes. Industry and environmental groups have backed the proposed bill, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Formaldehyde is an invisible gas known to cause cancer, can also cause other illnesses ranging from nosebleeds to chronic bronchitis, and can aggravate asthma. Commonly used in manufactured homes and furniture, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The International Agency for Research on Cancer is an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The chemical formaldehyde is used in the glues needed in the manufacture of composite wood products in the United States and internationally, noted the Journal. Composite woods are often used to make furniture. In application for decades, formaldehyde is considered by manufacturers to be economical, said the Journal. Of note, formaldehyde can also be found in other common products, such as cosmetics.

The bill, which is expected to increase consumer furniture prices was introduced in September by Senator Amy Klobuchar (Democrat-Minnesota) and Senator Mike Crapo, (Republican-Idaho), said the Journal, and seeks to lower indoor formaldehyde emissions. The proposed bill would apply a formaldehyde standard applicable to “particleboard, plywood, and medium-density fiberboard,” the Journal added.

The Journal pointed out that, generally, no federal standard exists for formaldehyde emissions in homes. According to the Journal, the Department of Housing and Urban Development does set limits on the chemical in plywood and particleboard; however, those standards only apply to materials used in the production of prefabricated and mobile homes. The proposed bill would mandate that composite woods sold in the U.S. meet emission standards for the chemical at approximately 0.09 parts per million (ppm). The legislation requires the standards be in place by January 2012, and, noted the Journal, the federal standards would emulate those drafted in 2007 and just adopted in California.

Senate bill proponents have expressed concern regarding other side effects from formaldehyde, many of which have come to light following the Toxic FEMA Trailer fiasco in which displaced hurricane Katrina victims were housed in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers found to be contaminated with high formaldehyde levels. Victims complained of a wide variety of adverse health effects typical of those experienced with exposure to formaldehyde.

The Journal explained that, a “volatile organic compound,” formaldehyde “vaporizes and turns into gas at room temperature.” According to David Jacobs, director of research at the National Center for Healthy Housing and an adjunct professor in environmental health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, products manufactured with the toxin can release dangerous gas into the air, a phenomenon described as “off-gassing,” reported the Journal. Because some energy efficient houses offer limited ventilation, this can be problematic, according to Dick Titus, executive vice president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, a cabinet manufacturers and suppliers trade group.

Lupus, RA Risk May Increase With Insecticide Exposure

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

New research has found that insecticides used in homes and gardens could raise the risk of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the women who use such products. According to an report on WebMD.com, the results of the study provide support for the idea that environmental factors may play some role in the development of autoimmune diseases in some individuals.

The study detailed by WebMD.com was conducted by researchers at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. The researchers used data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study of 76,861 postmenopausal, predominantly white women ages 50 to 79. Out of that group, 178 had RA, 27 had lupus an eight had both. The women were surveyed about farming and insecticide use, WebMD said.

The authors found that women who used insecticides six or more times a year had nearly two-and-a-half times the risk of developing RA or lupus than those who did not use bug sprays. The risk more than doubled among women who had used insecticides for more than 20 years, WebMD.com said. The study also found that hiring a gardener or commercial company to apply insecticides also doubles risks if they were used long-term. However, a history of working or living on a farm did not appear to increase risk of RA or lupus in the study.

One of the study authors told WebMD.com that insecticides are used in about 3/4 of all homes, and that such products were used in 20 percent of all homes in the past month. This type of exposure can be "quite persistent" because pesticides don't break down in homes.

Although the study doesn't prove cause and effect, the researches said that it illustrated a "need to start thinking about what chemicals or other factors related to insecticide use" could explain the findings.

The Acreage Cancer Cluster Meeting Yields Few Answers

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Few residents of The Acreage who attended a meeting on a possible cancer cluster in the Florida community were satisfied with what they heard. According to a report in The Miami Herald, many attendees were unhappy that an investigator from the Florida Department of Health was unable to provide much more information beyond what they already knew.

As we’ve reported previously, residents of The Acreage have been concerned about a cancer cluster since several children living in close proximity to each other were diagnosed with brain tumors. People in the area have speculated that a nearby Pratt & Whitney jet engine plant and/or citrus groves in the area, which used potentially dangerous pesticides for decades, may have tainted well water in the area. There were also concerns about soil contamination.

Earlier this summer, residents’ concerns prompted the Florida Department of Health to begin a study of cancer rates in the area. The results of the first phase were unveiled in late August. According to the Palm Beach Post, investigators found 1,369 cases of all types of cancer among residents in The Acreage between 1995 and 2007. A similar-sized area elsewhere in Florida could be expected to have 1,055 cases in that time, the Post said. The report revealed six cases of brain cancer in children 14 and younger from 1997 to 2007. Of those, three were diagnosed in 2008, the report said.

The Florida health department report was not clear as to whether or not the findings pointed to the existence of a “cancer cluster” in the community. However, the department decided to launch a second phase of its investigation of cancer rates in The Acreage.

On Monday evening, Florida State Rep. Carl Domino, R-Juno Beach, hosted a meeting for residents of The Acreage so that they could question the epidemiologist leading the state Department of Health investigation into the possible cluster. According to The Miami Herald, concern over excessive radiation in the community's wells was a major concern. At least 20 families in The Acreage have taken it upon themselves to arrange to have their wells tested for radiation.

So far, the Health Department has not found any man made contaminants in The Acreage. The department is getting ready to interview the families of 10 children who were diagnosed with brain tumors between 1995 and 2008. According to The Miami Herald, those interviews should start in the next few weeks.

This is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

WPCVA has announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared October 18-24 Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The move is part of the EPA’s efforts to heighten awareness to the toxin and its hazards, said WPCVA.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about half of all urban children world-wide and under the age of five test with blood lead levels higher than the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) safe limit.

Exposure to lead in children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune. Of particular concern is the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond.

As we have often written, lead is considered by many experts to be one of the most important chronic environmental illnesses affecting children today. Unfortunately, despite efforts to control lead exposure, serious cases still occur. Lead effects were first discussed in Australia in 1892, said the BBC, which added that in the United Kingdom, lead has been removed from paint and petrol (gasoline). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the BBC, dropped its “level of concern for blood” lead levels to 10 micrograms per deciliter.

WPCVA explained that lead can be in our homes, poisoning us without our ever being aware of its presence because it cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled and it does not break down. Lead has been removed, or mostly removed, from gasoline, plumbing, paint, and a variety of other products; however, precautions should be still be taken and consumers should be aware of the adverse effects of lead exposure, said WPCVA. As part of ongoing efforts to stave lead exposure and poisoning, WPCVA suggests the following:

Ensure children are tested for lead levels, regardless of physical appearance since lead poisoning is not generally apparent.
Reduce dust and dirt, which are known to contain lead, and ensure, for instance, toys, hands, pacifiers, floors, window frames, bottles, sippy cups, and surfaces, are routinely washed.
Reduce lead paint exposure, particularly in homes built before 1976, by watching out for peeling or chipping paint and keeping children away from chewable, painted surfaces, such as window sills.
Never attempt to remove lead paint and always hire a professional to do so.
Eat right, especially consuming sufficient iron and calcium, which absorb less lead.
Never store food or liquid in “lead crystal glassware or imported or old pottery,” said WPCVA. When using or reusing plastic bags, ensure the printing is on the bag’s exterior.

Under the new EPA rule effective next April, contractors renovating, repairing, and painting in such a way that lead-based paint is affected “in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978” must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent contamination, reported WPCVA. Until then, the EPA urges adherence to lead-safe work practices: “Contain the work area, minimize dust, and cleanup thoroughly,” said WPCVA.

New Agent Orange Policy Will Make Disability Benefits Available to More Vets

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A new proposal on Agent Orange health claims issued this week by the Department of Veterans Affairs will make it much easier for veterans injured by the toxin to make claims for disability payments and health care services. Under the proposal, three illnesses - B cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia; Parkinson's disease; and ischemic heart disease - will be added to the growing list of illnesses presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange.

Agent Orange was widely used during the Vietnam War as a defoliant to remove enemy hiding places. According to The New York Times, Agent Orange was the most common herbicide used in the war. It contained one of the most toxic forms of dioxin, which has since been linked to some cancers.

According to a VA press release, between January 1965 and April 1970, an estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in Vietnam were potentially exposed to sprayed Agent Orange. Many of those exposed to the toxin continue to suffer health problems.

The decision to add B cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease to the roster of presumed Agent Orange illnesses brings the total number of ailments on the list to 15. Other presumed Agent Orange illnesses include:

Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
AL Amyloidosis
Chloracne
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)
Hodgkin's Disease
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory Cancers, and
Soft Tissue Sarcoma (other than Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or Mesothelioma)

Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war and who have a "presumed" illness don't have to prove an association between their illnesses and their military service. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for benefits. According to the Times, it is estimated that about 200,000 veterans might seek benefits under the proposed change in policy.

According to The New York Times, the new Agent Orange policy will apply to some 2.1 million veterans who set foot in Vietnam during the war, including those who came after the military stopped using Agent Orange in 1970. It will not apply to sailors on deep-water ships, though VA says it plans to study the effects of Agent Orange on the Navy.

The decision to expand the list of presumed Agent Orange illnesses was based on an independent study released in July by the Institute of Medicine, the VA press release said.

Is EPA Stalling On Artificial Turf Study?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Although concerns with toxins in artificial turf continue to spark great controversy, it seems there is no federal report outlining the potential adverse health effects caused by tire crumble/ground rubber, which is used to pad turf, reported Philly.com.

In June we wrote that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was looking at its earlier endorsement of shredded tire use to cushion play areas from falls. The Environmental News Service cited EPA documents released by the environmental advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) in which the EPA stated additional research was called for on ground rubber safety.

A limited study was conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to look into the safety of the fibers found in the artificial product, but, said Philly.com, the agency announced this summer that turf is safe. Not everyone agrees.

Experts have long been criticizing the safety of tire crumb used nationwide in playgrounds and sports fields and its use has concerned politicians and consumer watchdog groups for some time over the potential health and environmental hazards that come from recycled tire rubber. Crumb rubber is used as artificial dirt between plastic blades of grass on many fields.

Use of artificial turf has grown exponentially in recent years and is seen as a way to cut costs and water use. But, lead chromate pigment is sometimes used to make the grass green and maintain its color in sunlight. It remains unclear how widely the compound is used; however, the New Jersey Health Department found lead in both of the nylon fields it tested earlier this year. Both were AstroTurf brand surfaces.

A year ago, said Philly.com, the EPA began its probe into artificial turf to determine what chemicals it releases and its impact on children. Artificial turf fields are opening at high rates in this country, about 800 annually; a concern that is forcing the federal government into announcing one way or another about turf’s safety, noted Philly.com. Of note, the Environmental News Service previously wrote that the First Family had tire crumb installed as a playing surface for their children.

Some believe the EPA is stalling, such as Jeff Ruch, director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), who said "If safeguarding children's health is a top priority at EPA, why can't this multibillion-dollar agency afford to take a hard look at what is in our playgrounds, schoolyards, and athletic fields?" quoted Philly.com. It is widely known that the substance can contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and dangerous hydrocarbons, as well as particulates, latex, fibers, and even volatile organic compounds and dyes; tests confirm humans can absorb lead in turf. Still, the artificial turf industry has long denied its products are dangerous, despite that recent tests conducted by New Jersey health officials found potentially hazardous lead levels on worn nylon and nylon-blend athletic fields. Those findings forced the EPA to take a look at turf, especially when it was revealed that about 25,000 tires are used to create a typical football field, noted Philly.com.

Some are concerned with what is being tested. Eric Wachter, an EPA official recently wrote that it was not "assessing the health effects" of crumble, but was "monitoring methods" for its testing, quoted Philly.com. Ruch expressed shock saying that, "EPA misled parents and the public into believing it was actually addressing potential toxic exposure risks to kids," reported Philly.com. Retired toxicologist and a former EPA employee, Suzanne Wuerthele, said she advised the agency about the crumb issue years ago and said there are tests, which can be used to determine the product’s safety.

Cost is clearly a concern. There are—citing the Synthetic Turf Council—some 5,000 turf fields in this country, at a cost of from $500,000 to in excess of $1,000,000 each. No small issue if a government agency publicly confirms the dangers with turf. Organic alternatives, for instance, pulverized coconuts, are seen as more expensive, explained Philly.com.

FDA Slammed Over Pace Of BPA Study

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

BPA (bisphenol A), the commonly used plastic hardener and polycarbonate plastic byproduct that makes regular headlines for its links to a growing array of adverse health effects, as well as its growing ubiquity, is making news again. No surprise. This time, the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel (JSOnline) is reporting that the United States government is stalling in its study of the toxin’s effects.

BPA can be found in everything from baby bottles, sippy cup, water bottles, aluminum can linings, eyeglasses, and cars, to DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants. BPA can also be found in appliances and windshields; on recyclable bottles, BPA, as a component, can be verified if the item contains recycling number 7. We recently wrote that BPA has also been found to be present in common paper receipts. With BPA turning up in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers, its common usage has grown exponentially.

JSOnline reported that millions of dollars are being unnecessarily dumped into more studies into the effects of BPA; given that an astounding number of studies—over 900—have been conducted and confirm the negative risks, the 33 BPA experts from the scientific community, find the multi-million dollar study redundant. Most of the scientists hail from universities and recently sent a letter to Margaret Hamburg, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with accusations that the agency is dragging on the issue and endangering consumer health, said JSOnline.

BPA has long been connected to a wide variety of adverse effects, including increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than current FDA standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which can be passed to future generations.

In urine tests, BPA is found in the overwhelming majority of Americans, more than 93 percent.

The agency has long announced that it is reassessing its earlier opinions and has scheduled to release its opinion at the end of next month. The researchers feel this is a time-waster. "FDA's plans to spend significant time and money on a very well researched chemical are disturbing," quoted JSOnline, citing the letter, which was signed by the scientists, all experts on BPA, with many having served on government teams. The FDA has been harshly criticized for ruling BPA as safe, basing its findings on two industry-sponsored studies.

Laws are either in effect or coming into effect in coming months in a variety of states and counties in the United States in which the sale of certain products containing polycarbonate has been banned, for instance, baby bottles, food containers, and sippy cups. Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin and some retailers and manufacturers have announced plans to stop making products containing the chemical. Other states, said JSOnline, are looking into similar measures and a federal ban has been proposed in Congress on all food contact material.

Man Raised at Camp Lejuene Blames Tainted Water for Cancer

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Cancer seems to be everywhere, and breast cancer is certainly always making news. Now a man raised at a Marine base has advised lawmakers that his breast cancer is a result of contaminated Camp Lejeune water, said CNN. Data indicates that less than 2,000 men each year are diagnosed with breast cancer, noted CNN.

Michael Partain (41) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and, speaking to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, pointed out that his parents were stationed at the Marine training base in North Carolina when he was born. No less than 40 more U.S. Marines or sons of Marines who lived at the Marine base have been diagnosed with the cancer that is considered relatively rare in men, said CNN.

Partain said that when his mother was pregnant with him, his family was subjected to high levels of tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride in Camp Lejeune’s tap water wrote CNN. "I am one of about 40 men who share this unique commonality of male breast cancer and exposure to contaminated tap water [at] Camp Lejeune," he told the Senate committee, quoted CNN. Partain said his illness has been a "traumatic, emotional and physical" ordeal for his family, reported CNN.

The committee hearing looked at military personnel exposure to hazardous materials in this country as well as in Japan and Iraq, reported CNN. Among areas of concern are toxic smoke from Iraqi burn pits and contaminated water, added CNN. The men diagnosed with the cancer either lived or served at the camp between the 1960s and 1980s, said CNN, which pointed out that, according to government records, Camp Lejueune’s water was contaminated for some 30 years.

The Marine Corps argues that no link has been made between the contaminated water and the resultant diseases, said CNN. Regardless, Richard Burr (Senator—North Carolina), the ranking Republican on the committee, along with Kay Hagan (Democratic Senator—North Carolina) are seeking legislation to mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs pay medical costs for Marines and their families exposed to the contaminated Camp Lejeune water. To date, the provision has passed the Senate and will amend the Navy from "disposing of water-contamination claims before critical scientific studies can be completed," quoted CNN.

According to MyFoxDC, the Camp's water was contaminated from 1957 to 1987 by a TCE, which is a degreasing solvent and PCE, a component used in dry cleaning. The government describes both TCE and PCE as possible carcinogens, said MyFoxDC, which noted that the water was likely tainted by a dry cleaner located next to the camp and so-called industrial activities that took place at Camp Lejeune.

Since it began its investigation in 2001 of the water at the Marine base, links have turned up between the chemically contaminated water and some cancers, said Fox.

According to CNN, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is conducting also tests to determine if the toxic water is linked to the health issues. Some water appears to have been toxically contaminated at significantly high concentrations, up to 280 times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers safe, said CNN.

Man Raised at Camp Lejuene Blames Tainted Water for Cancer

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Man Raised at Camp Lejuene Blames Tainted Water for Cancer

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

BPA Exposure from Sales Receipts

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

BPA—also known as bisphenol A—is making headlines nearly every day for its links to a growing array of adverse health effects, as well as its growing ubiquity. US News just reported that the toxin, which has been found in many consumer products, has also now been found to be present in common paper receipts.

A commonly used plastic hardener and polycarbonate plastic byproduct, BPA has been found in everything from baby bottles, sippy cup, water bottles, aluminum can linings, eyeglasses, and cars, to DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants. BPA can also be found in appliances and windshields; on recyclable bottles, BPA as a component can be verified if the item contains recycling number 7.

BPA has long been connected to a wide variety of adverse effects, including increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which can be passed to future generations.

With BPA turning up in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers, its common usage has grown exponentially. According to Science News, said US News, John C. Warner of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry found that the majority of receipts in use today are coated with BPA and feels exposure in this way is even greater than the exposure suffered from other products. “When people talk about polycarbonate bottles, they talk about nanogram quantities of BPA [leaching out],” Warner said. “The average cash register receipt that's out there and uses the BPA technology will have 60 to 100 milligrams of free BPA,” quoted US News. Free BPA is that BPA not “bound” into a polymer as it is in bottles and other products, which means it can be more easily ingested or inhaled into the body, said US News.

Warner noted that, “the biggest exposures, in my opinion, will be these cash register receipts,” said US News, which explained that once we touch a BPA-contaminated receipt, it can infiltrate our food. Warner also pointed out, reported US News, that the estrogen-mimicking toxin can be delivered into the body in the same way that time-released birth control patches work.

While not all receipt papers contained BPA, it is impossible—without testing—to determine which do and do not contain the toxin. Warner suggests, among other practices that pregnant women wash their hands after handling a receipt and that consumers opt for no receipts or sign-up for an electronic receipt service, which are also environmentally friendly, reported CNN.

Laws are either in effect or coming into effect in coming months in a variety of states and counties in the United States in which the sale of certain products containing polycarbonate has been banned, for instance, baby bottles, food containers, and sippy cups. Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin and some retailers and manufacturers have announced plans to stop making products containing the chemical.

EPA Reviewing Weed Killer

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is re-evaluating health outcomes linked to a commonly used pesticide, atrazine, that has been discovered in drinking water, said the Associated Press (AP). Atrazine is typically used on corn and other crops.

The AP noted that, based on research, rainstorm runoff can contaminate streams and rivers, contaminated water systems. The EPA looked at 150 drinking water systems in America’s Midwest because that is where the chemical is used most frequently, said the AP. The EPA has not detected atrazine at the levels that would prompt adverse health problems, such as cancer; however, emerging studies indicate that even at lower levels, atrazine’s presence in drinking water can result in “low birth weights, birth defects and reproductive problems,” said the AP.

In 2003, under the Bush administration, the EPA allowed atrazine to continue to be used with few restrictions. This is not the first time the former presidential administration has allowed use of dangerous toxins in the environment. Earlier this year, we wrote about how information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was allegedly covered up by the recent Bush Administration, citing a report by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org.

"We are taking a hard look at the decision made by the previous administration on atrazine," said Steve Owens, an assistant administrator, in a statement released Wednesday, quoted the AP. "Our examination of atrazine will ... help determine whether a change in EPA's regulatory position on this pesticide is appropriate," Owens added.

Environmental advocates are hoping the review will enable phase-out of atrazine and drinking water system operators from a variety of states have sued manufacturers in the hope of getting the chemical out of the water systems, noted the AP. Despite emerging evidence Syngenta, considered the largest maker of atrazine, defends its safety, reported the AP.

We have long been following links between pesticides and herbicides and adverse medical effects across various demographics. We recently wrote that another study found a link between pediatric cancer and household pesticides. That research discovered the associations occurred in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer that generally develops when children are between three and seven years of age, said ScienceDaily, previously. Prior research also pointed to links between pesticides and childhood cancers

Earlier this year we wrote about links between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease and prior to that we also wrote that researchers said that pesticide exposure might also be linked to an increase in Alzheimer’s disease risks.

Reuters also previously reported that the results of a study of 319 Parkinson’s patients and 200 nonParkinson’s-affected relatives found that people diagnosed with Parkinson’s are more than two times likelier to report pesticide exposure over people not diagnosed with the disease.

Prenatal BPA Exposure Linked to Behavioral Issues

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Bisphenol A—BPA—has, yet again, been linked to adverse effects, this time in young children. According to Science News, girls whose mothers were exposed to BPA in early pregnancy trimesters, were more aggressive than most, while boys exhibited more anxiety and were withdrawn. The emerging study is the first to link BPA exposure in early pregnancy with behavior issues, by gender, said Science News.

The girls, said the researchers, were more masculinized, while the boys had a similar effect and appeared more feminized, said Science News. It is possible that “gender-establishing hormones” were blocked, said the study leader, which is actually a defeminization of the girls and demasculinization of the boys.

BPA, a toxic component used in plastic manufacture that hardens the material, has long been connected to a wide variety of adverse effects, including increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which can be passed to future generations. Over 200 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to health problems.

According to Bruce Lanphear of Simon Faser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, said Science News, it remains unclear if the behavioral effects of BPA exposure on early development are long-term or not. Lanphear, an epidemiologist and study author, expressed concern that children would not grow out of the behaviors and that such behaviors could impact a wide cross-section of children and lead to delinquency, depression, or anxiety, reported Science News. As has been mentioned on this site previously, Science Daily noted that studies on lab rodent pups suggest links between BPA and aggression and hyperactivity.

The study, nicknamed HOME—Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment—has been conducted by Lanphear and colleagues at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for a number of years and has been primarily concerned with neurobehavioral risks resulting from lead exposures in early childhood, said Science News. The team looked at women in early pregnancy, following them through the births and into school; the children are now between three and five years of age, according to Science Daily.

As part of the research, Lanphear, with Joe Braun of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and their colleagues from Cincinnati and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked for BPA impacts in a subset of 249 randomly selected mother-infant pairs. Nearly all—over 99 percent—the women tested positive for BPA exposure during no less than one of three urine tests conducted during their pregnancies, said Science News, with 90 percent containing “detectible” levels. One woman’s levels spiked at a massive 1,250 for reasons that remain unclear, added Science News.

The study also pointed to IQ drops linked to environmental childhood lead exposures in the U.S., according to Lanphear, who noted that demographically, losses are significant, according to Science News. Also, said Science News, another study suggests BPA exposure is linked to a newly discovered, and somewhat surprising source: Thermally printed cash register receipts.

Results From Water Testing in The Acreage Released

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Water in The Acreage, a Florida community that some speculate is the site of a cancer cluster, is not contaminated with toxic chemicals, the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced. However, four wells had levels of alpha particles, radium-226 or radium-228, that exceed drinking water standards.

Radium-226 and radium-228 are naturally occurring radioactive metals that could cause cancer at elevated levels. According to the Palm Beach Post, the DEP noted that such radioactive contamination often occurs naturally.

As we’ve reported previously, residents of The Acreage have been concerned about a cancer cluster since several children living in close proximity to each other were diagnosed with brain tumors. People in the area have speculated that a nearby Pratt & Whitney jet engine plant and/or citrus groves in the area, which used potentially dangerous pesticides for decades, may have tainted well water in the area. There were also concerns about soil contamination.

Earlier this summer, residents’ concerns prompted the Florida Department of Health to begin a study of cancer rates in the area. The results of the first phase were unveiled in late August. According to the Palm Beach Post, investigators found 1,369 cases of all types of cancer among residents in The Acreage between 1995 and 2007. A similar-sized area elsewhere in Florida could be expected to have 1,055 cases in that time, the Post said. The report revealed six cases of brain cancer in children 14 and younger from 1997 to 2007. Of those, three were diagnosed in 2008, the report said.

The Florida health department report was not clear as to whether or not the findings pointed to the existence of a “cancer cluster” in the community. However, the department decided to launch a second phase of its investigation of cancer rates in The Acreage.

According to The Palm Beach Post, the DEP has now finished dozens of wells in The Acreage for 100 toxic substances, including pesticides, herbicides and metals such as lead and arsenic. While not all wells were tested for every substance, no evidence of such man-made pollution was found, the Post said.

The four wells where elevated levels of radium-225 or radium-228 were detected did not appear to be near the locations where residents have reported brain cancer in children. The DEP said the contamination may require homeowners with affected wells to install water treatment systems.

Only 10 private wells were tested for radium-226 and radium 228, the Post said. Drinking water from the Seminole Water Plant, which supplies water to most schools in The Acreage, didn't show levels of radium above drinking water standards.

NYC Lead Poisoning Cases Drop

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Although New York City is seeing some progress regarding a drop in lead poisoning cases, recent findings indicate children of color still suffer from lead poisoning at higher rates than other groups.

According to 2008 data, said EMaxHealth, 85 percent of the children identified as having been diagnosed with lead poisoning were either black, Hispanic, or Asian, with Hispanic and black children comprising the bulk of new cases. Regarding Asian children as compared to other groups, Asian children with lead poisoning tend to be older, born outside of the United States, and likely exposed to lead in other countries, said EMaxHealth.

Meanwhile, the overall number of lead poisoning cases in children dropped by 19 percent in New York City in 2008, according to information announced by the Health Department in its' annual report to the New York City Council, reported EMaxHealth. Last year’s figures indicate 1,572 newly identified cases of lead poisoning among children from six months and to six years of age pointed to a 92 percent decline since 1995; that year saw about 20,000 lead poisoning cases, according to EMaxHealth.

“The new number marks a new low for New York City,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City Health Commissioner, quoted EMaxHealth. “But it also shows that childhood poisoning remains a serious, preventable health problem. Lead paint is the main cause of lead poisoning, and young children are most at risk. It’s critically important that landlords safely repair peeling lead paint in homes with young children. It’s also the law,” Dr. Farley added.

Exposure to lead in children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune. Of particular concern is the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond.

EMaxHealth explained that lead poisoning is defined when blood levels are measured at 10 or more micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (ug/dl). State law mandates physicians test young children—one-to-two years of age—since patients with elevated lead levels may not always exhibit symptoms, added EMaxHealth.

Last year, of the 536 children newly diagnosed with blood levels at or exceeding 15 ug/dl, the majority—446—were between six months and six years of age, said EMaxHealth. This level is known as the Environmental Intervention Blood Lead Level, known as the EIBLL, explained EMaxHealth, which noted that, at this level, the Health Department intervenes to determine the origin of lead paint in the patient and mandates landlords repair any such hazards safely and quickly. There has been a 14 percent decline in EIBLL cases in the past two years—2007 saw 620—and a 69 percent decline from 1709 in 1995, said EMaxHealth.

EMaxHealth suggests parents remind doctors to test children for lead poisoning at one and two years of age, as well as older, at risk children; report peeling paint to landlords, and if no positive response is received, call 311; frequently wash floors, windowsills, hands, toys, and pacifiers; do not use food and consumer products known to contain lead; and use cold tap water, that has run for a few minutes, to make formula or cook and drink.

EPA To Reform Toxic Chemical Regulations

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced its plans to review six controversial toxic chemicals, Environmental Health News is reporting.

President Obama’s top environmental official—EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson—announced a plan to change how the United States regulates toxic chemicals that could present adverse effects to people and the environment, said Environmental Health News. Jackson said the currently followed 1975 law is “inordinately cumbersome and time-consuming” and that the Obama administration will promote a new chemical law in Congress that geared to place the onus on industry to prove the chemicals are safe, reported Environmental Health News.

In the interim, the agency plans on analyzing and regulating “six high-profile, widely used chemicals” said Environmental Health News, that have caused serious concerns among consumers and experts alike. Among the chemicals are bisphenol A—BPA—and phthalates, toxins about which we have been writing for some time. Brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, and some parafins will also be reviewed.

BPA is known for is plastic-hardening properties while phthalates are used to make plastics more flexible. Brominated flame retardants are often used in electronics; perfluorinates are known for being used in nonstick coatings; and parafins are found in lubricants, said Environmental Health news, which noted that benzidine dyes and pigments will also be addressed.

These chemicals, as readers of this blog are aware, are hormone mimickers that can interrupt fetal development, development in growing children, and have been linked to a wide array of serious disorders including cancer, diabetes, reproductive and genital disorders, and neurological and behavioral problems.

The move is a long hoped-for and welcome change following the industry-friendly Bush administration. Just three years ago said Environmental Health News, key EPA leaders testified before Congress, defending the Toxic Substances Control Act as being effective in keeping Americans safe from industrial compounds. Since, consumers, advocates, and scientific experts have come out with report after report detailing the serious dangers these chemicals have and can pose to humans and the environment.

Currently, about 7,000 chemicals are either produced or imported in amounts over 25,000 pound into this country annually, said Environmental Health News, citing industry figures. Of these, a mere five have been banned or restricted since the law was put in place over three decades ago, noted Environmental Health News. The law mandates the EPA prove a toxic substance "presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment," and look at the financial implications of stemming such use and decide on "the least burdensome" approach to regulate industry, quoted Environmental Health News. An example of how this law has failed is best seen with asbestos, which although mostly banned, was tossed out of court when manufacturers won a 1989 court battle in 1989; “The asbestos decision had a chilling effect” on the EPA, Jackson said, quoted Environmental Health.

Jackson said the agency will look at the six chemicals and develop an action plan containing strict deadlines for exposure limits, among other steps. More chemicals will be added after the initial six, said Environmental Health. About 80,000 chemicals, many commonly found, have no record of health and safety information.

EPA Tells Schools Caulk May be Toxic

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced that caulk found around windows and doors in hundreds of schools nationwide may contain PCBs, which are potentially cancer causing, reported the Associated Press (AP).

Boston.com wrote that the EPA urges building owners, such as school building owners, to test “brittle, aging masonry and window caulking” for PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), especially in older structures. The recommendation involves buildings built or renovated between 1950 and 1978; PCBs were banned in 1978, said Boston.com.

PCBs were used in electrical transformers that leaked into waterways and soil, creating pollution in a number of areas nationwide, said Boston.com. Because of their oily consistency, PCBs were combined with caulking to make it more flexible and mixed with “industrial paints and adhesives,” said Boston.com.

Although the EPA said the danger to children in not yet known, it noted that “we’re concerned about the potential risks associated with exposure to these PCBs, and we’re recommending practical, common-sense steps to reduce this exposure as we improve our understanding of the science,’’ said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, quoted Boston.com.

PCBs, which include about some 200 compounds, said Boston.com, can cause damage to the human “immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems,” said the AP. PCBs can also lead to cancer if a build up in the body occurs over time, said the AP.

The EPA suggests removing caulk if PCB levels are found to be high, said the AP. Testing is recommended by the EPA, not required, said Boston.com; however, materials found to contain levels of about 50 parts per million must be removed.

Jackson noted that the chemicals remain in schools and buildings build before PCBs were banned in 1978, said the AP. The EPA has said it would conduct new research into the link between airborne PCBs and the chemical in caulk, and will also conduct testing in schools, said the AP. It seems that the link between the chemical in the air and in caulk is not clear, added the AP.

According to Boston.com, when caulking ages, it often breaks into particles and vapors that can contain PCBs. The particles can end up in a variety of places, such as on the ground, windowsills, and ventilation systems, added Boston.com. The EPA recommended the following, according to the AP and Boston.com:

Clean air ducts
Open windows to enhance ventilation; use exhaust fans
Clean rooms to minimize dust; do not dry dust, use a wet or damp cloth
Vacuum using appliances with high efficiency particulate air filtration systems; do not dry boom;
Wash hands often and with soap and water, and always before eating and drinking; wash children’s toys often

Lawsuits are beginning to be reported and more are expected. According to the AP, a Bronx, New York mother sued New York City over PCBs in caulk at her daughter's public school. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month.

The EPA has set up a PCBs in caulk hot line that can be reached toll-free at 1-888-835-5372, and a Web site.

WHO Cuts Radon Limits after Studies Find More Danger Than Once Believed

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We recently wrote about how radon gas was linked to increases in lung cancer risks based on emerging studies. This is important because radon, an odorless and colorless gas, can be found in many homes.

Now, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has significantly reduced radon amounts derived from natural sources that are allowed to accumulate in buildings. The reduction applies worldwide, said the AP, and was made due to radon’s links to deadly lung cancer.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in buildings and reportedly causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States alone. Radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, and radon-induced lung cancer is thought to be the sixth leading cause of cancer death overall. The AP noted that radon gas can be found in “mines, caves and water treatment plants” but can also be “contained in rocks and soil” which can easily enter buildings, such as houses, through small fractures and gaps in the structures.

In 2005—two years after the EPA released its figures—the U.S. surgeon general issued a national health advisory warning about indoor radon, said the AP. The amount of radon in the air is measured in “picoCuries per liter of air,” or “pCi/L,” and the EPA said 4 pCi/L is the level of radon exposure that requires someone to take action. The EPA also said levels lower than that “still pose a risk” and “in many cases, may be reduced.” According to a 2008 New York Times article, 4 picoCuries is “about the same risk for cancer as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day.”

The WHO issued a new handbook that recommends countries establish home limits on the deadly gas at 100 becquerel per cubic meter, said the AP. The WHO’s limit, which was set in 1996, permitted radon exposure at 10 times that limit, added the AP.

"Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries," said Dr. Maria Neira, with WHO and a specialist on health and environment, quoted the AP. "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose exposures in people's homes," Dr. Neira added.

According to Wolfgang Weiss, UNSCEAR’s vice chairman, in a news conference, reported by Reuters last year, prior radon risk estimates were taken from studies of uranium miners who had been exposed to high radon levels, not of general consumers. This, in part, led to the move to establish improved standards.

Of concern, the WHO stated this week that, based on worldwide studies from 2005 and 2006, radon in homes is more dangerous that first believed and is a “significant” factor in 3-to14 percent of lung cancers globally, reported the AP.

Test kits are available for home use to inexpensively determine radon levels, said the AP, which added that, in the United States, it is recommended that home radon levels be tested every two years.

First Toxic FEMA Trailer Lawsuit Now Underway

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The first trial involving the allegedly toxic trailers the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distributed to Gulf Coast hurricane victims in 2005 got underway last week in New Orleans. According to the Associated Press, trailer maker Gulf Stream Coach Inc. and government contractor Fluor Enterprises Inc. are defendants in the case. The federal government is not a defendant, though it has been named one in thousands of other FEMA trailer lawsuits.

At one point, as many as 143,000 families left homeless following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were living in toxic FEMA trailers. As anyone who reads this blog knows, FEMA’s response to the toxic trailer debacle was less than stellar. By 2006 FEMA was getting reports from field workers along the Gulf Coast that residents of FEMA trailers where getting sick from the air in the toxic trailers. The first suspect was formaldehyde, an invisible gas that is known to cause cancer. It can also cause other illnesses ranging from nose bleeds to chronic bronchitis. Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

E-mails uncovered during a congressional investigation into the toxic trailers showed that FEMA lawyers told the agency to drag its feet on air quality testing. FEMA’s Office of General Council also advised the agency not to test the trailers because doing so “would imply FEMA’s ownership of the issue”.

In late 2007, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally conducted air quality tests of 519 trailers. The CDC tests confirmed that the FEMA trailers posed a serious danger to residents still living in them. The average formaldehyde levels found in the toxic trailers measured 77ppb (parts per billions), significantly higher than the 10 to 17 ppb concentration seen in newer homes. When it announced its findings, the CDC urged FEMA to move residents from the toxic trailers as quickly as possible, with priority given to families with children, elderly people or anyone with asthma or other chronic conditions.

Last Monday, the first "bellwether" trial began in federal court in New Orleans. According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit in this case was brought by a New Orleans woman who claims her son developed asthma because of his time living in formaldehyde-filled FEMA trailer. The lawsuit alleges Gulf Stream and Fluor Enterprises failed to warn about the trailers' potential risks.

According to Court House News Service, the Chairman of the Board of Gulf Stream testified at the trial via videotape. When Jim Shea Jr. was asked what "protocol" Gulf Stream told trailer residents to follow if they were "sensitive" to formaldehyde, Shea responded, "To turn on the air-conditioning full blast and open the window,' Court News Service said.

Shea insisted that Gulf Stream was not aware of the high levels of formaldehyde in the trailers. But according to Court House News Service, Shea acknowledged that his company sent a worker to New Orleans in March 2006 after the media had begun reporting on problems with the trailers. That employee - a Gulf Stream Vice President - complained about his eyes "tearing up" when he entered a FEMA trailer, Court House News Service said.

What's in Your Household Cleaner?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The makers of household cleaners are facing increasing scrutiny over the chemicals contained in their products. According to The New York Times, the industry - which includes companies like Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and S.C. Johnson - favors voluntary disclosure of product ingredients, but many consumer groups and lawmakers favor legislation that would require companies to come clean about the chemicals they use.

According to the Times, many of the chemicals in household cleaners have been associated with health problems, including birth defects. While most products contain only small amounts of a given chemical, the concern is that exposure to these small amounts over a lifetime could impact health Current government regulations only require that manufacturers disclose chemicals that pose an 'immediate' danger, The New York Times said.

Manufacturers of household cleaners worry about keeping the details of product formulas from competitors, but know consumers are worried about potential toxins. To ease such worries, the Consumer Specialty Products Association, an industry group, has been working with consumer advocates to devise a voluntary disclosure strategy, the Times said.

Starting in January, manufacturers will begin to disclose some ingredients through either toll-free numbers, Web sites, or product labels. Ingredients would be listed in order of highest concentration. But ingredients that are present in amounts of less than 1 percent would not have to be ranked. What's more, preservatives, fragrances and dyes would be exempt from disclosure, the Times said.

For critics of the industry, such a voluntary program does not go far enough. In New York state, consumer groups have filed lawsuit aimed at forcing more complete disclosure, and in California, one state legislator has threatened to seek a mandatory disclosure law if the industry plan doesn't go far enough, the Times said.

There's also movement at the federal level. According to The new York Times, a measure has been introduced in Congress seeking full disclosure of all product ingredients. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who introduced that bill, told the Times that it was "nonsensical that we have labels on food, but not on the cleansers on kitchen counters."

California BPA Ban Voted Down

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The California bill to ban bisphenol A—BPA—in baby bottles, sippy cups, and food containers that, twice, did not meet the required 41 votes, failed again and is being put off until next year. Although the bill, which narrowly passed in the state Senate and received a majority of votes both times in the California Assembly, simply did not muster the votes needed to pass.

PlasticsNews said that the bill fell six votes short for passage and was moved to an inactive file on September 11 for reconsideration in 2010. The request to move the bill was made by Assembly Majority Leader, Albert Torrico (Democrat-Fremont), said PlasticsNews.

The ban passed the Senate on June 2 with a 21-16 vote, said PlasticsNews and a majority vote of 35-31 twice in the Assembly on September.
BPA has been connected to a wide variety of adverse effects, including increased risks of brain, reproductive, cardiac, and immune system diseases and disorders; problems with liver function testing; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; links with serious health problems. Studies have overwhelmingly found BPA to have negative effects at doses lower than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) current standards; retention in the body longer than was previously believed; leeching into liquids being held in containers regardless of the containers’ temperature; and longer lasting damage, which can be passed to future generations.

Industry believes that scientists and consumer advocates are exaggerating the adverse effects of the plastic-hardening, estrogenic chemical, continually citing two industry studies. But, points out the LA Times, previously, over 200 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to health problems.

Opponents claim the California bill would adversely affect California’s 2008 green chemistry law that prioritizes substances requiring restriction or banning, said the LA Times, previously. The bill, had it passed, would have banned the production, sale, and distribution of “liquid, food or beverage … in a bottle or cup that contains more than parts per billion of BPA and is intended by use by children three or younger,” said PlasticsNews, adding that the bill would also have banned BPA “as a liner in powdered infant formula cans, but not liquid infant formula cans.”

“It is a shame that we have failed to protect our most vulnerable citizens” from BPA, said Senator Fran Pavley (Democrat-Santa Monica), referring to the effects of BPA on children, said PlasticsNews. Pavley is the bill’s co-sponsor and had called for a total BPA ban. That ban was amended in the Assembly to allow California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control additional time to determine if the chemical should be regulated under the green chemistry law, reported the LA Times, previously.

Connecticut, effective October 1, 2011; Minnesota, effective January 1, 2010; Chicago, Illinois, effective January 31, 2010; and Suffolk County, New York, already effective this July, have banned the sale of polycarbonate baby bottles, food containers, and cups containing the toxin, reported PlasticsNews. Limited BPA bans are in place in Schenectady County in upstate New York—a similar measure was recently passed by Albany County legislators and takes effect January 1. Twenty-four states have bills in the works to restrict the chemical; Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin. The Connecticut ban, noted PlasticsNews, applies to infant formula cans and reusable food and beverage containers, as well.

Thousands Stuck in Toxic FEMA Trailers Four Years After Katrina

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Four years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, some people in the region are still living in toxic trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to a report on CBS News, red tape is largely to blame.

At one point, as many 143,000 families in the hurricane zone were living in toxic FEMA trailers. As anyone who reads this blog knows, FEMA’s response to the toxic trailer debacle was less than stellar. By 2006 FEMA was getting reports from field workers along the Gulf Coast that residents of FEMA trailers where getting sick from the air in the toxic trailers. The first suspect was formaldehyde, an invisible gas that is known to cause cancer. It can also cause other illnesses ranging from nose bleeds to chronic bronchitis. Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

E-mails uncovered during a congressional investigation into the toxic trailers showed that FEMA lawyers told the agency to drag its feet on air quality testing. FEMA’s Office of General Council also advised the agency not to test the trailers because doing so “would imply FEMA’s ownership of the issue”.

In late 2007, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally conducted air quality tests of 519 trailers. The CDC tests confirmed that the FEMA trailers posed a serious danger to residents still living in them. The average formaldehyde levels found in the toxic trailers measured 77ppb (parts per billions), significantly higher than the 10 to 17 ppb concentration seen in newer homes. When it announced its findings, the CDC urged FEMA to move residents from the toxic trailers as quickly as possible, with priority given to families with children, elderly people or anyone with asthma or other chronic conditions.

But according to CBS News, some 2100 families along the Gulf Coast still call a toxic FEMA trailer home. Many of these families are waiting for assistance from FEMA to finish repairs on their own hurricane damaged homes, which was promised but has yet to arrive. More than one FEMA trailer resident described going through a bureaucratic run-around with FEMA that has left them confused, exhausted, and without the means to move on.

CBS News tried to ask FEMA about the red tape problems that are keeping so many families in their toxic trailers, but it seems the agency may have washed its hands of the whole mess. According to the report, FEMA responded that another agency, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), had taken over responsibility for long-term housing of disaster victims in June.

A spokesperson for HUD told CBS that the agency is working to lessen red tape road blocks so remaining FEMA trailer residents will have access to the programs that will help them move on. But understandably, many of those still stuck in FEMA trailers are skeptical of such promises - they say they've heard them before.

Tobacco Company Sues Over New Law

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

In late June, President Barack Obama signed The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law. The law will allow the federal government broad authority over tobacco products and will also allow regulators to control cigarette packaging and marketing as well as how much nicotine—the addictive component in cigarettes—is added in tobacco products, explained the Washington Post previously.

Now, some tobacco companies—R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Lorillard Inc.—are included in a group that just filed a federal lawsuit to block some of the provisions of the law, claiming it violates their rights to free speech under the U.S. constitution, reported Reuters. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is an arm or Reynolds American Inc., the maker of Camel and Winston brand cigarettes; Lorillard sells Newport cigarettes, said Reuters. Marlboro cigarettes are manufactured by the largest American tobacco company, Altria Group Inc., which is not involved in the lawsuit and supports the law, reported Reuters.

With the law in place, flavored cigarettes will be banned by this fall and shortly after—by January—tobacco manufacturers and importers will be required to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the ingredients used in their products, said USA Today previously. By April 2010, those makers will no longer be permitted to place their logos on “sporting, athletic or entertainment events, or on clothing and other promotional items,” said USA Today, adding that by July 2010, verbiage including the words “light,” “low,” or “mild” will be banned from tobacco product marketing. Finally, by 2011, all tobacco products must “carry larger and stronger warning labels,” reported USA Today.

The lawsuit alleges that the law places too many limits on the firms’ commercial rights to free speech given bans in place on television and radio ads said Reuters, which noted that the group is not arguing the agency’s right to regulate tobacco products. "Even prior to the act, plaintiffs had few avenues of communication for speaking to their adult consumers," the companies said in the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Kentucky. "The act imposes sweeping and unprecedented restrictions that effectively foreclose those avenues of communication that remain," Reuters quoted.

The companies are seeking an overturn of warning label bans, the ban on color and graphics in label and cigarette ads, and some of the bans on ads and sponsorship of sporting and other venues, said Reuters.

Some argue that 1st amendment issues were not appropriately addressed; however, proponents of the law cite the hundreds of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in health care linked to cigarette smoking annually. At the bill signing ceremony, President Obama said he is hoping to cut down the numbers of teens each day—estimated at about 1,000—who take up smoking. “I was one of these teenagers. And so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it’s been with you for a long time,” said Obama, quoted USA Today.

President Obama noted that the law’s focus is on ending kid-geared marketing, said USA Today. “The kids today don’t just start smoking for no reason. They’re aggressively targeted as customers by the tobacco industry. They’re exposed to a constant and insidious barrage of advertising where they live, where they learn, and where they play. Most insidiously, they are offered products with flavorings that mask the taste of tobacco and make it even more tempting,” President Obama said, quoted USA Today previously.

Toy Action Figures Recalled for Lead Paint

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

About 8,400 toy action figures that violate the federal lead paint standard are being recalled today by Liquidation Outlet, Inc., of Lakewood, Wash. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the products involved in this recall include Force Soldier Playsets, Pirate Expeditions with Parrot, and Pirate Expeditions with Treasure.

Consumers should take the recalled products away from young children immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange for another toy. For additional information, contact Liquidation Outlet, Inc. toll-free at (877) 257-5990 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or email info@loidistributing.com, or visit one of the Dollar Stores in person.

The Force Soldier playsets comes in a plastic bag with SKU number 70134 printed on the header card. The soldiers (two per bag) are 5” in height and come with an airplane, machine guns and a tropical tree. The Pirate Expeditions come in a blister packs in two styles with the SKU number 70136 printed on the header cards. Pirate Expedition figures are 6.5” in height and have assorted accessories including a parrot or a treasure chest. The recalled toys were sold in Dollar Stores in Washington and Oregon States from September 2007 through July 2009 for $1.

The CPSC is warning consumers that the recalled action figure toys have surface paints which contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Lead poisoning is considered by many experts to be one of the most important chronic environmental illnesses affecting children today. Exposure to lead in children and unborn children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm.

Once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune. Of particular concern is the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond.

The Acreage Cancer Scare: Tests Show Water, Soil at Two Schools OK

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Water and soil samples taken from two schools in The Acreage have tested negative for contaminants, according to a report on WPBF.com. Residents of The Acreage raised concerns earlier this summer that the Florida community might be the sight of a cancer cluster after several residents - including children - were diagnosed with brain tumors.

The water and soil testing at Western Pines Community Middle and Golden Grove Elementary was part of Palm Beach County's investigation into the cancer cases. According to WPBF.com, the samples were tested for chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. County Administrator Bob Weisman told WPBF.com that the water at the schools - which comes from a public water plant - was "remarkably clean".

The Florida Health Department is still waiting for the results from tests of water in area wells and water lines. Those test results could come back in about a month.

While the news of the favorable tests at the schools was met with relief by many residents of The Acreage, they told WPBF.com that they were still concerned that their community is a cancer cluster. Because of residents' concerns, the Florida Department of Health has been gathering basic information on people in the area who have had brain cancer. An investigation will be launched if cancer rates in The Acreage turn out to be higher than what is normal. The results of the Departments' probe should be available in about two weeks.

In June, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., called on both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate a possible cancer cluster after several children, all of whom live a few miles apart in The Acreage, developed brain tumors.

According to the CDC, a cancer cluster is defined as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time. Cancer cases are more likely to represent a cancer cluster if they involve (1) one type of cancer, (2) a rare type of cancer, or (3) a type of cancer in a group not usually affected by that cancer, such as a cancer in children.

Toxic Airplane Air Blamed for Illnesses

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A flight attendant who believes that she is the victim of "toxic airplane air" has filed a product liability suit against Boeing and McDonnell Douglas over her illness. According to a report on CNN, Terry Williams believes that a design flaw in an MD-82 aircraft left her unprotected from toxic air.

The issue of toxic airplane air is a controversy that has dogged the airline industry for years. Earlier this year, a joint investigation by German and Swiss TV networks claimed to have found high levels of a dangerous toxin on board several planes. The chemicals found in the samples included high levels of tricresyl phosphate (TCP), an organophosphate contained in modern jet oil as an antiwear additive, which can lead to drowsiness, headaches, respiratory problems or neurological illnesses.

Critics of the airline industry claim that the system used to re-circulate air in airplanes does not remove fumes or vapors from the engine. The process involves combining re-circulated existing cabin air with air bled off the engines. The air pulled into the engines is cooled and compressed before it is pumped into the cabin. If this system malfunctions, chemical contaminants can end up circulating through the airplane, creating a so-called fume event.

The United Kingdom's Committee on Toxicity said in 2007 that pilots reported such fume events in 1 percent of flights. The group also said that maintenance inspected and confirmed incidents in 0.05 percent of flights. According to the National Research Council, such fume events could occur on four out of every 1,000 flights.

According to CNN, Williams' ordeal allegedly began in April 2007, when she was working as a flight attendant on an American Airline flight. At one point during her shift, Williams noticed a "misty haze type of smoke" in the cabin. By the time the flight was over, Williams was suffering from symptoms she thought were the sign of an impending cold, including a sore throat, headache and cough. But her symptoms quickly grew worse, and according to CNN, came to include a nasal discharge that was a neon green color. After a few weeks, a neurologist diagnosed Williams as a victim of toxic exposure. Williams continues to suffer from migraine headaches, tremors, and blind spots in her field of vision, CNN said.

Other people have also reported symptoms similar to Williams' following fume events on airplanes. According to CNN, the University of Washington is currently analyzing blood and blood plasma samples from 92 people - mostly pilots and flight attendants - who suffered from tremors, memory loss, severe migraine headaches and other ailments following airplane fume events. Results from those tests are expected to be available within the coming months.

FDA Seizes Hand Sanitizers

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

At the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) request, U.S. Marshals have seized all skin sanitizers and skin protectants, including ingredients and components, at Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory’s Roy, Utah facility. The administration is also warning consumers not to use any Clarcon products because they contain harmful bacteria and are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds and damaged skin, and claim to protect against various infectious diseases, according to the FDA.

Clarcon has recalled the affected products, which are marketed under several different brand names, in June 2009, following an FDA inspection that revealed high levels of potentially disease-causing bacteria in the products. To date, no cases have been reported to the FDA.

The agency’s inspection also uncovered serious deviations from the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations, including poor practices that permitted the contamination. The FDA’s seizure of these products, along with their ingredients and any in-process or bulk materials, occurred after Clarcon did not agree to promptly destroy the products.

The FDA said it is working to protect consumers by preventing the recalled Clarcon products from entering the marketplace. “The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms that do not manufacture drugs in accordance with our current good manufacturing practice requirements,” said Deborah M. Autor, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance. “We will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect consumers from defective products,” Autor added.

Clarcon produced and distributed over 800,000 bottles of the involved products in multiple regions of the country since 2007. Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should dispose of them in their household trash.

Analyses of several samples of Clarcon’s topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, some of which can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues. Such infections may need medical or surgical attention and may result in permanent damage. Examples of products that should be discarded are:

Citrushield Lotion
Dermasentials DermaBarrier
Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer
Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment
Skin Shield Restaurant
Skin Shield Industrial
Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion
Total Skin Care Beauty
Total Skin Care Work

The FDA is urging health care professionals and consumers to report serious adverse events or product quality problems with the use of this product to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm); by regular mail (use postage-paid FDA form 3500 [the form can be accessed at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/] and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787); by fax (toll-free at 1-800-FDA-0178), or by telephone (toll-free at 1-800-FDA-1088).

Chinese Drywall Found in Foreclosed Homes

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

For months, we have reported on homeowner complaints regarding Chinese drywall. Now, it seems, homes known to contain the toxic drywall are being put up for sale.

According to WINK News, a never occupied home in Northwest Cape Coral—four bedrooms and two baths—is up for sale for just $19,800. Despite that the home has been contaminated with toxic Chinese drywall, consumers are expressing interest. According to WINK News, an investor from out-of-town is in contract on the house.

"We are probably experiencing anywhere between 10-15 calls a day in addition to email leads inquiring about property with Chinese drywall," Realtor Jennifer Pentico said, quoted WINK News. "A lot of these consumers don't know the ramifications of Chinese Drywall and what it's potentially going to take to remediate something like this," Pentico added.

Earlier this year, tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that Chinese-manufactured drywall contained elevated levels of strontium sulfide, as well as several organic compounds associated with the production of acrylic paint, which were not present in samples of U.S.-made drywall.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most of the 810 Chinese drywall complaints it has received since last December have come from Florida (621). The state with the second highest count is Louisiana (105). Others have come from consumers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Common features of the reports submitted to the CPSC from homes believed to contain problem Chinese drywall have been:

A “rotten egg” smell in homes.
Health concerns, such as irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and asthma attacks.
Blackened and corroded metal components in homes and the frequent replacement of components in air conditioning units.

Pentico says that potential home buyers should consider hiring an inspector and signing off when they are aware that they are purchasing a house containing toxic Chinese drywall, reported WINK News. For example, said Wink News, a couple who purchased a foreclosure said, "While we were down here on vacation it was all over the news about Chinese drywall, so we said to the builder, 'you would know if we had Chinese drywall in the house, wouldn't you?' And he said 'oh yeah, you don't have Chinese drywall',” quoting the couple. In that case, the air conditioning coil’s copper fittings were black, a symptom of exposure to defective Chinese drywall.

And, while WINK News was able to secure a copy of that house’s inspection, there is no indication that the problems are connected to defective Chinese drywall. WINK News said that based on its conversations with lenders and insurers, they are saying that loan or coverage approvals for Chinese drywall contaminated homes is difficult.

It’s estimated that more than 500 million pounds of possibly deficient Chinese drywall entered America between 2004 and 2008. An Associated Press report said that was enough material to build about 100,000 homes.

Pesticides Linked To Cancer In Children

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

An emerging study has found a link between pediatric cancer and household pesticides. Researchers at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that the urine of children with a specific type of cancer contains increased levels of common household pesticides, said ScienceDaily.

The research discovered the finding occurred in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer that generally develops when children are between three and seven years of age, said ScienceDaily. The study’s findings appear in next month’s issue of the journal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

The study took place from January 2005 to January 2008 with volunteers who live in the Washington metropolitan area and are from Lombardi and Children's National Medical Center, said ScienceDaily. The study was comprised of 41 pairs of children diagnosed with ALL and their mothers, which made up the Case group; the Control group consisted of 41 pairs of healthy children and their mothers. The two groups were matched by age, sex, and county of residence, reported Science Daily.

Researchers collected urine samples from all the pairs, which were analyzed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the presence of organophosphates (OP), said Science Daily. OP is, said ScienceDaily, the chemical name of some household pesticides.

While prior research in that area has pointed to links between pesticides and childhood cancers, this study is the first of its kind to be conducted in a large, metropolitan area.

"In our study, we compared urine samples from children with ALL and their mothers with healthy children and their moms. We found elevated levels of common household pesticides more often in the mother-child pairs affected by cancer," said study lead investigator, Offie Soldin, PhD, an epidemiologist at Lombardi, quoted ScienceDaily. "We shouldn't assume that pesticides caused these cancers, but our findings certainly support the need for more robust research in this area," Soldin added.

The research revealed that two common OPs—diethylthiophosphate (DETP) and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP)—tested higher in pediatric ALL patients versus children in the control group, said Science Daily. Also, said Science Daily, there was a higher incidence of Case mothers—33 percent—over Control mothers—14 percent—who reported household pesticide use.

"What this study suggests is an association between pesticide exposure and the development of childhood ALL, but this isn't a cause-and-effect finding," Soldin said, quoted Science Daily. "Future research would help us understand the exact role of pesticides in the development of cancer. We hypothesize that pre-natal exposure coupled with genetic susceptibility or an additional environmental insult after birth could be to blame," he added.

Earlier this year we wrote about links between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease. Earlier this month we wrote that researchers said that pesticide exposure might also be linked to an increase in Alzheimer’s disease risks.

Reuters also previously reported that the results of a study of 319 Parkinson’s patients and 200 nonParkinson’s-affected relatives found that people diagnosed with Parkinson’s are more than two times likelier to report pesticide exposure over people not diagnosed with the disease.

FEMA Too Slow to Respond to Toxic Trailers, Report Says

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "did not display a degree of urgency" when responding to reports of dangerous levels of formaldehyde in trailers used to house victims of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, according to a newly-released report from the Homeland Security Department inspector general.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, FEMA's response to the toxic trailer debacle was less than stellar. By 2006 FEMA was getting reports from field workers along the Gulf Coast that residents of FEMA trailers where getting sick from the air in the toxic trailers. The first suspect was formaldehyde, which is used in the manufacture of the trailers.

Formaldehyde is an invisible gas that is known to cause cancer. It can also cause other illnesses ranging from nose bleeds to chronic bronchitis. Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

E-mails uncovered during a congressional investigation into the toxic trailers showed that FEMA lawyers told the agency to drag its feet on air quality testing. FEMA’s Office of General Council also advised the agency not to test the trailers because doing so “would imply FEMA’s ownership of the issue”.

In late 2007, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally conducted air quality tests of 519 trailers. The CDC tests confirmed that the FEMA trailers posed a serious danger to residents still living in them. The average formaldehyde levels found in the toxic trailers measured 77ppb (parts per billions), significantly higher than the 10 to 17 ppb concentration seen in newer homes. When it announced its findings, the CDC urged FEMA to move residents from the toxic trailers as quickly as possible, with priority given to families with children, elderly people or anyone with asthma or other chronic conditions.

According to the Associated Press, the inspector general's report on FEMA's toxic trailer response is stinging in its criticism of the agency. Among other things, the report says FEMA took too long to tell hurricane victims about the risks they faced by living in the trailers.

"When they (FEMA officials) did learn of the formaldehyde problems, nearly a year passed before any testing program was started and nearly two years passed before occupied trailers were tested and the occupants were informed of the extent of formaldehyde problems and potential health threats," the report said.

A FEMA spokesperson told the Associated Press that the agency has made progress since the toxic trailer catastrophe to make sure trailers and mobile homes given to disaster victims are safe. The inspector general's report did note that the agency has instituted new designs for trailers and mobile homes and tests for formaldehyde in those units, the Associated Press said.

E-cigarettes Toxic FDA Says

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

So-called e-cigarettes may contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned yesterday.

E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The electronic cigarette turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. Because these products have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user.

According to the FDA, e-cigarettes are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. In addition, these products do not contain any health warnings comparable to FDA-approved nicotine replacement products or conventional cigarettes. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people.

According to a statement on its Website, The FDA’s Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis analyzed the ingredients in a small sample of cartridges from two leading brands of electronic cigarettes. The analyses found the following:

Diethylene glycol was detected in one cartridge at approximately 1%. Diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, is toxic to humans.
Certain tobacco-specific nitrosamines which are human carcinogens were detected in half of the samples tested.
Tobacco-specific impurities suspected of being harmful to humans—anabasine, myosmine, and β-nicotyrine—were detected in a majority of the samples tested.
The electronic cigarette cartridges that were labeled as containing no nicotine had low levels of nicotine present in all cartridges tested, except one.
Three different electronic cigarette cartridges with the same label were tested and each cartridge emitted a markedly different amount of nicotine with each puff. The nicotine levels per puff ranged from 26.8 to 43.2 mcg nicotine/100 mL puff.
One high-nicotine cartridge delivered twice as much nicotine to users when the vapor from that electronic cigarette brand was inhaled than was delivered by a sample of the nicotine inhalation product (used as a control) approved by FDA for use as a smoking cessation aid.

In its statement, the FDA said it has been examining and detaining shipments of e-cigarettes at the border and the products it has examined thus far meet the definition of a combination drug-device product under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA has been challenged regarding its jurisdiction over certain e-cigarettes in a case currently pending in federal district court. The agency is also planning additional activities to address its concerns about these products.

Lead Paint Prompts Body Board Recall

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Body boards imported by JGR Copa LLC, of Hollywood, Fla. have been recalled due to violations of the federal lead paint standard. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the recalled body boards should be taken away from children immediately.

This recall involves about 900 18” Kick Body Boards. The boards have various designs on the front including peace signs, white hibiscus, or yellow smiley face. A green lizard and “Big Lizard™ body boards” are printed on the underside in green. The boards were sold at Beachwear Outlet, Bargain Beachwear, Beach Village Inc., FJ Health & Beauty, Mor USA Inc., Shipwreck-Ocean Jewels, Walmart and Wilcor International Inc. from January 2009 through May 2009 for about $4.

According to the CPSC, the green surface coating of the screened logo “Big Lizard™ body boards” on the underside of the body board contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

The recalled body boards should be returned to their place of purchase, or consumers may contact JGR Copa for a full refund. For additional information, call JGR Copa at (800) 345-4408 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jgrcopa.com.

Lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems in children and unborn children. Even at very low levels, lead is harmful to children’s health and at elevated blood lead levels children experience neurological problems, anemia, lower IQ scores, and shortened attention spans. At elevated levels, children can suffer from comas, seizures, and death.

Chicago Bans BPA in Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

In February we wrote that despite U.S. Food and Drug and Administration’s (FDA) constant assertions that bisphenol A (BPA) exposure levels do not pose an immediate health risk to the general population, including infants and young children, Chicago disagreed and proposed a ban on the controversial, estrogenic toxin. This week, the ban became a reality with Chicago being the first city in the United States to ban BPA-containing baby bottles and sippy cups, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Last year, Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban the toxin and, earlier this year, Suffolk County, in New York’s Long Island, was the first in this country with Minnesota—the first state—passing its ban this month. The AP said a federal ban has been proposed and is pending in Congress to ban BPA in food containers; 24 states also have bills in the works to restrict the toxin.

Chicago’s BPA ban was approved by Chicago’s City Council with an overwhelming majority vote of 48-0, and will take effect January 31, 2010, said the AP, citing Mayor Richard M. Daley, who also plans on signing the ban. "This is an important step in a landmark consumer protection initiative. This legislation will protect Chicago's children and send a clear message to other jurisdictions considering similar legislation," said Alderman Manny Flores, co-sponsor of the proposal, quoted the AP.

The Chicago Tribune explained that, once in effect, any empty food or drink container containing BPA and meant for use by children less than three years of age will be banned. Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, one of the ban’s sponsors said, "We should err on the side of caution and not needlessly expose people to the harmful effects, especially children," according to the AP.

Burke and Flores pushed for the ban, but only after acquiescing from a stronger version meant to ban almost all children’s products made with BPA, said the Chicago Tribune. In opposition to the ban, the chemical industry hired former Alderman Terry Gabinski as a lobbyist against it.

Industry group, the American Chemistry Council, issued a statement arguing that Chicago's ban is not necessary, "The new Chicago law is contrary to the global consensus on the safety of BPA and ignores the expert evaluations of scientists and government bodies from around the world," it said, the AP quoted.

Despite industry’s arguments that the toxic chemical is safe at current dosages, BPA, a ubiquitous chemical estrogenic mimicker used to harden plastics, has been linked to a variety of diseases including an increased risk of diseases or disorders of the brain, reproductive, and immune systems. Recent studies link BPA exposure to problems with liver function testing, an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, and interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; BPA exposure has long been linked to hormonal disturbances.

BPA was also associated with serious health problems based on 130 studies conducted in the past 10 years, the Washington Post reported late last year, and newer research found BPA to have negative effects at “very low doses,” lower than the FDA’s safety standards currently in place. Most recently, studies revealed that BPA seems to stay in the body longer than previously believed. BPA is so ubiquitous, it can be found virtually everywhere and is present in detectable levels in just about every human body. The highest levels are seen, noted the Chicago Tribune, in the youngest Americans.

Meanwhile, the FDA continues to maintain that BPA is safe at current levels despite that it was relying solely on two industry-funded studies for its information, something for which the agency has long been criticized.

Workplace Formaldehyde Exposure Linked to Cancers

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) through its National Cancer Institute (NCI) issued a release stating that results from an ongoing study of workers employed at plants that used or produced formaldehyde are continuing to point to a likely link between formaldehyde exposure and deaths from specific cancers. The cancers involved include cancer of the blood and lymphatic system, particularly myeloid leukemia.

The report provides an additional decade of follow-up data that builds on prior findings from this study and appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"The overall patterns of risk seen in this extended follow-up of industrial workers, while not definitive, are consistent with a causal association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the blood and lymphatic system and warrant continued concern. Further studies are needed to evaluate risks of these cancers in other formaldehyde-exposed populations and to assess possible biological mechanisms," said lead author of the report, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Ph.D., NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.

The NIH/NCI explained that formaldehyde is widely used in industry and as a preservative and disinfectant. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies this chemical as a human carcinogen, based primarily on its association with nasopharyngeal cancer. In 1995, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimated that about 2.1 million U.S. workers were exposed to formaldehyde, said the NIH/NCI.

For over two decades, the NCI has studied cancer deaths among a group of 25,619 workers, it said. The workers are predominately white males, who were employed before 1966 in 10 industrial plants that produced formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin and that also used formaldehyde to produce molded-plastic products, decorative laminates, photographic film, or plywood. A prior report derived from this study and which included data on cancer deaths through 1994 found the risk of death from leukemias—specifically, myeloid leukemia—increased collaboratively with increased formaldehyde exposure.

Researchers found a statistically significant association between death from all blood and lymphatic cancers combined, and peak formaldehyde exposure. For instance, workers with the highest peak exposures had a 37 percent increased risk of death compared to those with the lowest peak exposures. This represents an excess risk of death from several specific cancers: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myeloid leukemia, which is most often associated with chemical exposure. The risk of death from myeloid leukemia was 78 percent higher among industrial workers with the highest peak exposures.

Excess risks of death from myeloid leukemia have also been reported among pathologists, embalmers, and other professionals who experience high-intensity peak exposures to formaldehyde. "We know that various groups of professionals who may experience high peak exposures to formaldehyde are at increased risk of leukemia, but the evidence from studies of industrial workers, among whom exposure levels and patterns may be more variable, has been conflicting. The fact that we see an excess in this study of industrial workers, which is both the largest and the one with the most extensive exposure assessment, is notable," said Beane Freeman. Of note, agents that cause leukemia are known to be associated with chromosomal aberrations in the peripheral blood cells of humans. This study is the first to report a statistically significant link between a chemical exposure and increased risk of death from Hodgkin lymphoma.

Face Paint Recall Prompted by Reports of Skin Rashes

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Children's Face Paints are being recalled today, following reports of adverse reactions such as skin rashes in children who used the paints. Like so many tainted products, the recalled face paints, which were distributed by the Oriental Trading Company, were made in China.

According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the face paints involved in this recall include the following:

Blue Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2077; UPC 8 8760048110 7
Purple Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2078; UPC 8 8760048112 1
Red Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2079; UPC 8 8760048114 5
Orange Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2080; UPC 8 8760048116 9
Black Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2081; UPC 8 8760048118 3
Green Face Paint, Item Number: 85/2082; UPC 8 8760048120 6

The FDA said it has learned of a cluster of adverse events in children exposed the face paint. All exposures occurred on the same day at an organized event and included rashes, itchiness, burning sensation, and swelling where the face paints were applied. Significant microbial contamination was indicated in most of the products in testing by an FDA laboratory.

The face paints, manufactured by Shanghai Color Art Stationery Company Limited, Shanghai, China, are being voluntarily recalled by Fun Express Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriental Trading Co.

The FDA is advising consumers to stop use of these products and discard them or return them to the retailer. The agency is also encouraging consumers and health care providers to report any adverse events from face paints to the FDA as well as to state and local health authorities.

Chinese imports have been the subject of safety concerns over the past several years. Since 2007, toys, tires, toothpaste, pet foods and dozens of other Chinese products have been recalled by various US government agencies for dangerous defects.

In 2008, heparin sourced from China was recalled after it was linked to serious adverse reactions and deaths. The heparin was eventually found to have been made with a counterfeit ingredient.

Right now, homeowners in Florida and across the country are dealing with tainted Chinese drywall that reportedly emits sulfur fumes. The fumes fill homes with a putrid odor and cause metals to corrode. Some homeowners also blame the drywall for causing sinus and respiratory problems.

Bush EPA Advisory on Toxic Chemical Criticized

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It seems that an 11th hour health advisory regarding the toxic chemical known as C8 issued by the former Bush Administration might have downplayed the chemical's dangers.

According to The Charleston Gazette, a study conducted by researchers from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Rutgers University found that the Bush Administration health advisory ignored how very low C8 exposure levels could result in adverse health effects. The study was just published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. According to the Charleston Gazette, the study confirmed earlier assessments in which it was found that the advisory “does not take into account possible long-term exposure from drinking C8-contaminated water.”

C8 is a perflurochemical or PFC and is also known as perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended that humans reduce consumption of water containing in excess of 0.4 parts per billion (ppb), reported the Charleston Gazette. C8 and other PFCs are turning up in humans at low levels around the world, said the Charleston Gazette, which explained that exposure can occur through contaminated drink or food, food packaging, and carpet and furniture stain-proofers. PFCs also appear in shampoo, clothes, upholstery, pesticides, and a wide array of common household and consumer products; C8/PFOA is used to make Teflon pans, Gore-Tex clothes, and to prevent food from sticking to paper packaging.

When heated, PFCs break down into compounds that can be absorbed into food and enter the bloodstream. In 2005, federal investigators found C8/PFOA to be a "likely carcinogen" and called for expanded testing to study its potential to cause liver, breast, testicular, and pancreatic cancers. The following year, the EPA invited all companies involved with C8/PFOA to join a voluntary "stewardship program" to reduce use and emissions of the chemical by 2010 and eliminate it by 2015. Of note, the EPA’s voluntary phase-out does not apply to Chinese companies, which are among the leading manufacturers of food packaging.

Prior studies link PFOS (another PFC) and C8/PFOA to adverse reactions in the livers, immune systems, and reproductive systems of animals, said Discovery in an earlier report. PFOS is present in most people's blood and accumulates over time; C8/PFOA has been found to be present in 98 percent of Americans' blood and 100 percent of newborns’ blood. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the chemical industry has long maintained that there is no reason to worry about C8/PFOA in our bloodstreams and regulators have been unable to impose a federal limit for emissions and exposure.

The Charleston Gazette reported that DuPont Co. used C8/PFOA for decades at its Washington Works plant for the manufacture of “Teflon and other nonstick and stain-resistant products.” Recently, DuPont and the EPA revised a settlement that mandates DuPont provide replacement water supplies when drinking water contains in excess of the 0.4 ppb level.

Dupont is very familiar with the harm caused by its toxins. To name one, last summer, following a protracted, 12-year legal battle, two families won confidential payouts from DuPont. The plaintiffs blamed the fungicide, Benlate, developed by DuPont, for their children's serious birth defects—one child born without eyes and with a double cleft palate, eye abnormalities—and deaths.

Coal Ash Cancer Risks Detailed in Suppressed Report

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Information pointing to “significantly higher cancer risks” for those living near coal-fired power plant ash dumps was covered up by the Bush Administration, according to a report just released by EnvironmentalIntegrity.org. Apparently, a 2002 report—EPA Risk Screening Report—was only finally released in 2009 after Barack Obama and his administration took office, said Environmental Integrity.

Although about three-dozen states were cited, 21 contain no less than five high-risk sites. The complete list can be found here.

Environmental Integrity accused the Bush Administration of dragging its feet for over five years on a “partial release” of data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that points to a very high risk of cancer for an alarming one out of every 50 Americans who live near ash and sludge dumps. There are over 200 landfills and wet ponds, said Environmental Integrity, that contained disposed “ash and scrubber sludge” which comes from coal-fired power plants in this country, based on the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and Earthjustice.

About 100 million tons of “toxic fly ash, bottom, ash, and scrubber sludge” are dumped into landfills and wet ponds, said Environmental Integrity, citing 2008’s catastrophic fly ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, which we have long been covering. On December 22, 2008, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) fly ash spill dumped a massive 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge in Tennessee’s Emory and Clinch rivers and 300 acres surrounding its Kingston plant.

Environmental Integrity accused the Bush-era EPA of making “a concerted effort to delay the release of the information about cancer, noncancer, and general environmental risks,” noting that partial information on coal ash sites was delayed for five years from 2002 to 2007, with the full report only being released after the Bush Administration exited. The report was only released following significant delays and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) pressure, said Environmental Integrity.

EIP and Earthjustice believe the Bush Administration was trying to hide information on 100 landfills and 110 surface impoundments that were examined by the EPA and that do not contain appropriate synthetic liners to prevent leaks, posing serious human health and ecosystems risks.

This new release points to significant, toxic, life-threatening responses to these sites pointing to frightening guarantees of developing cancer from drinking contaminated water and suffering damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and other organs as a result of toxic metal exposure, such as “cadmium, cobalt, lead, and other pollutants at concentrations far above levels that are considered safe,” said Environmental Integrity. The group also noted that the danger to wildlife and ecosystems is “off the charts, with one contaminant—boron—expected to leach into the environment at levels two thousand times thresholds generally considered to be safe.”

Numerous studies conclude that coal dumps leach dangerous toxins into the environment that can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health outcomes in water and wildlife populations, but the TVA, for example, claims that sampling results indicate its air and water quality tests meet government standards and that heavy metal levels are below hazardous waste classifications, said KnoxNews in a prior report. Water samples reveal mercury levels above and below the criteria for protecting fish for consumption and, while some tests indicated levels that passed the Chronic Water Quality Criteria test, they failed the domestic water supply test, said Volunteer TV/WVLT previously.

Feds Rescind Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Report

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

After more than a decade, a report that minimized the cancer threat of toxic water at Camp Lejeune has been discredited by the federal government. According to the Associated Press, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is withdrawing its report on Camp Lejeune's water because of omissions and scientific inaccuracy.

Lawsuits seeking $33 billion in damages have been filed by veterans who say the water at Camp Lejeune made them sick, the Associated Press said. These veterans and their advocates had long disputed the ATSDR's conclusion that chemicals in Camp Lejeune's water posed no health risks to adults.

According to a report on WaterTechOnline, chlorinated hydrocarbons as well as the chemicals tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a dry-cleaning solvent, and trichlrorehylene (TCE), a degreaser, were detected in the water which served housing, schools, other buildings and swimming pools at Camp Lejeune. The 1997 ATSDR report found that the contamination began in the 1950s and continued until wells were shut down in 1987. Health officials now are saying that as many as 1 million people may have been exposed to water toxins.

The discredited report significantly downplayed the risk of cancer faced by people living on the base, the Associated Press said. A table included in the document said adults faced no increased cancer risk from the water, while another portion of the report said the risk was "unlikely". In regards to children, the report states the cancer risk as being "unknown".

According to the Associated Press, ATSDR is pulling the report because:

• it omitted that high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene were found in a base well. Also, researchers never tried to verify whether benzene had reached the drinking water;
• contaminating solvents that officials focused on have been characterized by new science as even more likely to cause cancer;
• the study underestimated the extent of the contamination on the base housing areas due to inadequate information from the Marines.

According to the Associated Press, ATSDR has pulled the report from its website. The agency will redo its analysis with the new science that is now available.

Health officials are also continuing a separate study into whether fetuses might have been harmed by the water, the Associated Press said.

Lead-in-Paint Guidelines Released by CPSC

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just issued new guidelines for lead in paint. The Web site Playthings reported that the new standards involve testing protocols for paint and some painted products that verify lead limits on toys and children’s products. The definition of lead standards is contained in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and includes Toy Industry Association (TIA) recommendations.

The TIA said the new standards include composite testing for like and different toy parts and are based on a recommendation last month that was submitted by its Laboratory Testing Technical Working Group, said Playthings. The standards indicate that “composite testing for like parts is appropriate and, in some instances, may be necessary to obtain valid analytical results,” explained Playthings. Also, Playthings noted, adding that the protocol also “supports composite testing for different parts,” pointing out that testing must be conducted in order to ensure that the samples being tested “are not diluted to the point that excessive lead in a single paint would not be detected.”

“TIA is pleased that the CPSC has accepted our recommendation that composite testing is an acceptable protocol in the evaluation of lead testing requirements,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president, quoted Playthings. “We were able to convene an extremely knowledgeable and respected group of laboratory experts to develop input that is based on the most current scientific protocols. This was a truly collaborative effort, and we are pleased with its outcome,” Keithley added. Composite testing is an issue of concern because one part can be an element in a wide variety of toys.

We have long been covering the issue of lead exposure and poisoning, which is considered by many to be one of the most important chronic environmental illnesses affecting children today, with exposure leading to a variety of dangerous effects. Lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems in children and unborn children. In adults, lead is known to cause cancer, reproductive harm, and nervous system damage.

Lead poisoning is difficult to recognize because its symptoms are subtle and no specific indicators exist or point to contamination. Children with lead poisoning may experience irritability, sleeplessness or excess lethargy, poor appetite, headaches, abdominal pain with or without vomiting—and generally without diarrhea—constipation, and changes in activity level. A child with lead toxicity can be iron deficient and pale because of anemia and can be either hyperactive or lethargic. There may also be dental pointers, for instance, lead lines on gingival tissue.

Despite efforts to control lead and the success in decreasing lead poisoning, serious cases still occur. Once poisoned, no organ system is immune and of particular concern is the developing brain because of leads’ long-lasting effects, which can continue well into puberty and beyond.

The CPSC’s new paint testing standard guidelines document—CPSC-CH-E1003-09, "Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Lead in Paint and Other Similar Surface Coatings" (April 26, 2009)—can be accessed at: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/CPSC-CH-E1003-09.pdf

Bill Would Require FDA to Regulate Baby Products

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Last month we wrote about the possibility that carcinogens had made their way into a variety of baby products. Following the study that broke that news, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is taking steps to protect the nation’s children, said the Hudson Valley Press.

Baby shampoos, bubble baths, and lotions were reviewed by the nonprofit health advocacy group, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) and over half of the products tested came back positive for cancer-causing toxins, said the Washington Post in March. Now, Senator Gillibrand has taken steps with new legislation she wrote entitled “The Safe Baby Products Act,” said the Hudson Valley Press. The Act “directs” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “investigate and regulate … chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products marketed to and used by children,” said the Hudson Valley Press.

According to the CSC, Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion both tested positive for either 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, said the prior Washington Post article. Web MD noted at that time that the chemicals will likely not be listed on baby product labels, but not appearing on a label does not indicate the products are free of the dangerous chemicals; because the toxins are not intentional ingredients, the manufacturers do not have to list them, even when present.

Although restrictions do not exist for permissible levels of the chemicals in body care products in the United States, the new legislation will mandate the FDA to investigate product safety, report its findings, and establish production processes to minimize or eliminate the toxins, said the Hudson Valley Press. “Like many other mothers in New York, when I read the list of these products, I immediately began to worry that I had been using some of these same products for my own children,” said Senator Gillibrand adding, “This common sense legislation will ensure that we have all the facts about the baby soap and lotions that we use on our children,” quoted the Hudson Valley Press.

The study found that the majority of products tested contained 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde and about half tested positive for both. 1,4 dioxane is a known “eye and respiratory tract irritant,” said the Hudson Valley Press, and is “classified as a Group 2B carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)”; formaldehyde is a known skin irritant a “probable carcinogen.”

Many critics claim that the amounts of toxins and carcinogens are trace, thus creating negligible effects for children; however, Stacy Malkan, a CSC spokeswoman, pointed last month that regardless of how low the level, there are low levels of carcinogens in a wide variety of products, which increases actual aggregate exposures, reported the Washington Post, adding that no studies ever actually examined the effects of these chemicals on the susceptible and developing bodies of babies and children. The Hudson Valley press said that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates indicate that infants are anywhere from 10 to a staggering 65 times more vulnerable to cancer-causing toxins than adults.

In other countries, the chemicals are simply not allowed in such products: Formaldehyde is banned in cosmetics sold in Japan and Sweden; 1,4-dioxane is banned from cosmetic products in the European Union (EU), reported WebMD last month.

Senator Gillibrand has since written to Acting FDA Commissioner, Frank M. Torti, urging action on this issue, said the Hudson Valley Press.

Labor Department Plans New Regulations For Diacetyl, Industrial Dust

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Labor Department is finally making plans to suggest new rules aimed both at limiting exposure to the chemical diacetyl and preventing industrial dust accidents, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting. Diacetyl is the chemical that gives food—specifically, microwave popcorn—a buttery flavor and which has been linked to severe lung disease.

In February 2008, an explosion at an Imperial Sugar Company plant in Georgia that left many dead and injured was blamed on highly combustible industrial dust.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is expected to announce details about the plan today and is following up on a promise to increase OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) enforcement and develop safety rules where the Bush administration failed, said the AP. Solis is credited, said the AP, for working to stop an eleventh-hour Bush Administration move to delay setting diacetyl exposure limits for workers.

OSHA is the federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards and has been criticized for not fully protecting workers and inspecting work sites.

In February, the Department of Labor directed OSHA to speed up establishment of new rules to protect workers in the snack and flavorings industry from the threat of Popcorn Workers Lung, a potentially life threatening ailment, for which the only cure is a lung transplant. Also known as bronchiolitis obliterans, the disease has been linked to diacetyl. In 2003 and 2004, the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health found a link between diacetyl and the development of Popcorn Workers Lung among hundreds of workers at six Midwestern popcorn factories. In April 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that workers at food flavoring factories, as well as popcorn plants, were at risk for the disease.

Since the link between the disease and diacetyl has been established, hundreds of food industry workers have filed Popcorn Workers Lung lawsuits. In fact, one victim of Popcorn Workers Lung, and his wife, were recently awarded $7.5 million for his injuries. Unfortunately, the victim died from the illness one day before the verdict was rendered. According to an earlier AP piece, over $20 million has been awarded to victims of the disease.

Industrial dust can be extremely combustible. The Imperial Sugar explosion occurred in a silo where refined sugar was stored before being packaged. OSHA classifies plants where a lot of sugar dust is present as “hazardous locations,” the same classification as coal preparation plants and producers of plastics, medicines, and fireworks. Of note, when sugar dust is aerosolized, it can become ionically charged and ignite from just a bit of static electricity.

As we reported at the time, the fatal Imperial Sugar Company plant explosion was not the first-such incident at the Port Wentworth, Georgia refinery that year. According to investigators, just a few weeks prior to the massive plant explosion, a smaller blast occurred when dust became trapped in a piece of safety equipment. No injuries or damage where caused by that small blast, however, 13 people where killed and dozens injured—some critically—by the explosion, which took one week to extinguish.

Following a series of explosions in the 1980s, combustible dust standards were established for the grain industry; however OSHA has not yet implemented similar standards in other industries, said the AP, even though the U.S. Chemical Safety Board made a recommendation to do so in 2006.

Tainted Castor Oil in Cosmetics Causing Concern

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Tainted castor oil has caused at least one man to suffer from very serious, potentially deadly side effects that resulted in months of dialysis treatments. The National Kidney Foundation and Renal Business Today are both reporting that the young man was seeking an inexpensive alternative to buttock augmentation and received castor oil injections instead of silicone implants.

Castor oil is a highly emollient oil made from the beans of the castor plant and, in cosmetics, is used to bind waxes and fragrance together. In this case, the transgender man found an unlicensed “cosmetic” practitioner, who used ricinine-contaminated castor oil to perform the augmentation, said Renal News Today and the National Kidney Foundation. The tainted castor oil injections resulted in kidney failure and about four months of dialysis that were needed to return the man to normal kidney function, said The National Kidney Foundation and Renal Business Today .

“Silicone has been used to augment breast and buttocks in the past, but because of the cost … people have tried different alternatives, such as castor oil,” wrote Dr. Dharmeshkumar Sutariya and Dr. George Coritsidis in the abstract for their presentation at the National Kidney Foundation’s Spring Clinical Meeting, quoted both Renal News Today and the National Kidney Foundation. Both Sutariya and Coritsidis are affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Elmhurst Hospital Center in Elmhurst, New York.

“This 25-year-old man went to someone’s basement—he never did give the full address—where he paid $50 to have castor oil injected,” said Sutariya, reported both sites. The man was hospitalized two days following the injection and was complaining of buttock and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and blood in his urine; tests confirmed acute kidney failure with thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency causing blood in the tissues, bruising, and slow clotting), and liver failure, said the National Kidney Foundation and Renal News Today.

A toxicology report that was conducted on some of the injected material that was found at the patient’s home revealed ricinine, said both Renal News and the Kidney Foundation. Ricinine is an alkaloid of castor bean plants which, said both organizations, when ingested, can result in liver and kidney damage, convulsions, hypotension, and even death.

For anyone contemplating an augmentation procedure, Sutariya said, “Please seek a cosmetic physician’s advice before you do anything to your body”; Sutariya reminded clinicians to investigate acute kidney pain in patients and advise public health officials, if necessary, quoted both Renal News and the Kidney Foundation.

Studies Reveal How PCB Exposure Damages a Developing Brain

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Although it has long been known that PCBs—polychlorinated biphenyls—cause harm to the brain, it was never really understood how the environmental toxins actually wreaked damage, often causing behavioral and developmental problems in children, reported WebMD. Now, more clues as to how PCBs cause injury have been revealed in three recent studies.

PCBs negatively affect brain cell development and also, said WebMD, “make brain circuits ‘overexcited,’” which has been associated with developmental issues, according to Isaac N. Pessah, PhD, a researcher, professor of molecular biosciences, and director of the University of California Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health. "We think we have identified the way in which a broad class of environmental contaminants influences the developing nervous system and may contribute to neuro-developmental impairments such as hyperactivity, seizure disorders, and autism," said Pessah, quoted Web MD. Pessah is a co-author on the new studies.

The studies revealed that, in some cases, low PCB levels can be more dangerous than high levels, said WebMD, which noted that PCBs were “used in electronic components, pesticides, caulking, and flame retardants,” but have been banned in the United States since 1979. PCBs were banned because they are highly toxic and do not easily break down, said Science Daily. PCB toxins can be found in the “air, water, soil, and contaminated foods such as fish,” said WebMD, and accumulate in the bodies of animals said Science Daily.

WebMD cited one study in which it was found that low PCB levels in animals adversely affected their ability to learn to swim in a maze, which is a traditional animal training test, and also negatively impacted the animals’ dendrite plasticity. Dendrites, which are critical to learning, are the tiny projections that split off from the neurons that receive signals from the body. "This plasticity is very important for learning and memory," Pamela Lein, PhD, a study researcher and associate professor of neurotoxicology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said, quoted WebMD. Lein pointed out that this sort of a problem has been linked to “disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and mental retardation,” reported WebMD.

WebMD said the findings might enable scientists to look at the safety of chemicals that replaced PCBs. Science Daily explained that the studies could explain the links between PCB exposure to the developing nervous system and behavioral issues in children. "We've never really understood the mechanism by which PCBs produce neurobehavioral problems in children," said Pessah, reported Science Daily.

The studies were published within a month of each other and strengthen conclusions regarding how PCBs adversely affect neurological development, said Science Daily. One study revealed that, at low levels, PCBs in utero and neonatally affect brain cell development; another revealed how PCBs affected “brain cell circuits in the hippocampus—the brain area known to be damaged in a number of “complex neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory deficits, developmental delays, and mental retardation; and how PCBs affect ryanodine receptors, which “contributes to the over-excitations on neural circuits,” said Science Daily.

Scientists Rebuff FDA's Claim that BPA is Safe

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A group of experts from around the globe, including 58 scientists in industry, academia, and government, have rejected the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) long-maintained claims that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is safe. The “international consortium,” said ContraCostaTimes met in Germany in March and is collaborating on a “consensus statement” to be released in the next “few weeks.”

Although the meeting was closed to the public, McClatchy Newspapers—parent of the Contra Costa Times—interviewed a number of the scientists in attendance and has seen, it said, “several working versions of their agreement.”

The FDA continues to deem BPA safe for all consumers, even the most vulnerable infants, children, and pregnant women, despite that science keeps pointing to its dangerous health effects, even at low levels. A significant problem since BPA is highly ubiquitous and present in scores of consumer products such as some baby bottles, sippy cups, food and formula cans, CD cases, and eyeglasses, to name just some. BPA is a chemical used to strengthen plastic.

BPA has been found to be harmful to humans, especially to the growing bodies of infants and children. The Associated Press reported in an earlier article that the problem with BPA and young children is that younger, developing kidneys tend to retain the toxin in their bodies longer than the kidneys of older children and adults, a serious concern given the frequency with which babies are exposed to BPA from plastic products geared to the youngest consumers.

BPA, a chemical estrogen, has been linked to a variety of diseases including an increased risk of diseases or disorders of the brain, reproductive system, and immune system; problems with liver function testing; diabetes and heart disease; interruptions in chemotherapy treatment; and hormonal disturbances. BPA was also linked to serious health problems based on 130 studies conducted in the past 10 years, the Washington Post reported late last year, and newer research found BPA to have negative effects at “very low doses,” lower than current FDA safety standards.

But, despite overwhelming evidence presented by a wide array of experts saying that BPA is dangerous, and moves by major retailers and manufacturers to ban BPA from products—not to mention increasing U.S. and Canadian governmental moves to ban the chemical—the FDA continues to maintain that current BPA exposure levels do not pose an immediate health risk to the general population, including infants and young children.

Worse, it is widely known that the agency relied solely on two industry-funded studies for its information, something for which it has long been criticized. Now, said the ContraCostaTimes, the group questions those studies on which the FDA has based its findings, found that the studies did not look at serious BPA dangers, and is calling for a “broader” look at BPA. Meanwhile, a speaker at the conference—Rochelle Tyl—who authored the two studies, which were paid for by the American Chemistry Council, a BPA makers trade association, acknowledged that “there were errors and inconsistencies in the 2008 report that the FDA used as the foundation for its findings,” said the ContraCostaTimes.

According to Laura Vandenberg, a developmental biologist at Tufts University, "It is becoming undeniable that BPA is dangerous…. The FDA's standard for safety is reasonable certainty. It is no longer reasonable to say that BPA is safe," quoted the ContraCostaTimes. The group also questioned the European Food Safety Authority’s findings, which also relied on the two studies. The Safety Authority is the policymaker for all European Union countries, the ContraCostaTimes noted.

First Toxic FEMA Trailer Lawsuit Scheduled for September Trial

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The first lawsuit over toxic Hurricane Katrina trailers will go to trial in September. Like scores of others, the lawsuit claims that travel trailers the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supplied as temporary housing to Hurricane Katrina victims exposed residents to dangerous chemicals.

By 2006 FEMA was getting reports from field workers along the Gulf Coast that residents of FEMA trailers where getting sick from the air in the toxic trailers. The first suspect was formaldehyde, which is used in the manufacture of the trailers.

Formaldehyde is an invisible gas that is known to cause cancer. It can also cause other illnesses ranging from nose bleeds to chronic bronchitis. Commonly used in manufactured homes, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

E-mails uncovered during a congressional investigation into the trailers showed that FEMA lawyers told the agency to drag its feet on air quality testing. FEMA’s Office of General Council also advised the agency not to test the trailers because doing so “would imply FEMA’s ownership of the issue”.

In late 2007, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally conducted air quality tests of 519 trailers. The CDC tests confirmed that the FEMA trailers posed a serious danger to residents still living in them. The average formaldehyde levels found in the toxic trailers measured 77ppb (parts per billions), significantly higher than the 10 to 17 ppb concentration seen in newer homes. When it announced its findings, the CDC urged FEMA to move residents from the toxic trailers as quickly as possible, with priority given to families with children, elderly people or anyone with asthma or other chronic conditions.

Hundreds of people sickened by the trailers' fumes have since sued their manufacturers, as well as the federal government. According to the Associated Press, a lawsuit filed on behalf of a New Orleans woman and her son will be the first FEMA trailer lawsuit to go to trial. The trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 14 in federal court. The lawsuit names Gulf Stream Coach Inc. as a defendant.

This first trial will be followed by three others against that name different trailer manufacturers as defendants, the Associated Press said.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Welding Rod Fumes Toxic Lawyer

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Toxic torts involve exposure to harmful chemical or biological substances that can cause permanent injury or death. Exposure to asbestos, toxic mold, benzene, welding rod fumes, mercury and lead can cause life threatening injuries. The attorneys at Parker Waichman Alonso LLP have represented hundreds of victims of toxic substances with dignity and compassion. We aggressively strive for the best financial results, and we are always sympathetic to the needs of our clients. Please choose a toxic substance topic below to learn more about the legal remedies available to your family and you.