Environmental Toxins

FDA Bans Chemical BPA From Sippy Cups And Baby Bottles

by JON HAMILTON July 17, 2012 1:52 PM Full Story:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/07/17/156916616/fda-bans-chemical-bpa-in-sippy-cups-and-baby-bottles It’s been years since manufacturers voluntarily stopped using the plastic additive BPA(Bisphenol A) in sippy cups and baby bottles. But now they have no choice. The FDA announced it has formally banned BPA from these products. It’s worth noting that the FDA ban comes in […]

Air Pollution and Traffic Increase Risk for Low Birth Weight

Ricki Lewis, PhD October 15, 2013 Full Story:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/812604 Exposure in utero to air pollution and particulates from traffic accounts for “a substantial proportion” (18%) of low birthweight (LBW) cases, according to a study of newborns in European citiespublished online October 15 in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Particulates (especially those smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter) in […]

Arsenic Tied to Heart Disease

Published: Sep 23, 2013 | Updated: Sep 24, 2013 By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today Full Story:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/41805 Chronic exposure to arsenic, even at low levels, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, researchers reported. In a prospective cohort study, over almost 20 years of follow-up, low levels of […]

Sudden Arrhythmia from an Underappreciated Danger

An underappreciated highway danger which has been shown to cause sudden cardiac arrest or clotting off of a coronary artery…

Woodland council ends fluoridation

“Everyone has the opportunity to use (fluoride) topically as a toothpaste if they wish,” he said. “Every doctor I go to knows they can’t force a patient to take a medicine without their informed consent.”

Food Packaging Tied to Metabolic Trouble in Kids

8/19/13 by Cole Petrochko  Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points Greater urinary concentration of BPA in children, commonly found in food and drink packaging, was significantly associated with higher risk of obesity, as well as greater odds of an abnormal waist circumference. Note that another study found that increased concentration of the plasticizer DEHP in the […]

Israel to Stop Adding Fluoride to Water Supplies in 2014 Due to Health Concerns

Citing health concerns, the Supreme Court of Israel has ruled that the nation will stop fluoridating its water supplies in 2014. It’s ironic that as one of the most developed nations in the world, the United States is slow to follow suit of other nations that recognize the dangers of feeding the population various foods […]

Autism Link to Mercury in Fish Not Supported

by Michael Smith  Action Points Mercury in fish does not appear to contribute to autism. The study contributes to the growing body of literature that suggests that exposure to mercury does not play an important role in autism. Mercury in fish does not appear to contribute to autism, researchers reported. The finding comes from analysis of […]

FDA Bans BPA in Infant Formula Packaging

7/11/13 by David Pittman Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today WASHINGTON — The FDA had decided to ban bisphenol A (BPA)-based epoxy resins as coatings in infant formula packaging, saying Thursday in aFederal Register announcement the use has largely been abandoned by manufacturers anyway. The action came in response to a March 2012 petition from then-Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), saying “manufacturers have intentionally […]

Chemicals Tied to Reduced Fertility in IVF

7/8/13 by Kristina Fiore Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with lower oocyte yield and increased odds of implantation […]

Researchers Find Cancer Risks Double When Two Carcinogens Present at ‘Safe’ Levels

6/28/2013 Texas Tech researchers have found low doses of arsenic and estrogen together can cause cancer in prostate cells. However, new research conducted by Texas Tech University scientists has found that low doses of both chemicals together – even at levels low enough to be considered “safe” for humans if they were on their own […]

Dental Amalgam and Urinary Mercury Concentrations

BMC Oral Health Dental Amalgam and Urinary Mercury Concentrations A Descriptive Study Alexandra Nicolae, Harry Ames, Carlos Quiñonez Disclosures BMC Oral Health. 2013;13(44) Abstract Background: Dental amalgam is a source of elemental and inorganic mercury. The safety of dental amalgam in individuals remains a controversial issue. Urinary mercury concentrations are used to assess chronic exposure […]

Even Low Lead Exposure Hinders Kids’ Reading

Published: May 13, 2013 | Updated: May 13, 2013 By Nancy Walsh , Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points This study, conducted in the state of Rhode Island, demonstrated worse reading readiness among kindergarten students with a history of elevated blood levels. Be aware that adjustment for socioeconomic and other factors were performed, but residual […]

BPA Linked to Drops in Kids’ Lung Function

Published: May 6, 2013 | Updated: May 6, 2013 By Joyce Frieden , News Editor, MedPage Today Action Points This study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. BPA exposure was associated with a modest decrease […]

Fluoride No Help in Osteopenia

Published: Apr 11, 2013 By Kristina Fiore , Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points This is a double-blind, placebo controlled trial designed to evaluate the bone effects of several doses of fluoride in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. The study found no effect of fluorides compared with placebo on bone mineral density.   Low-dose fluoride didn’t […]

Lead Levels in Half Million Kids Too High

Published: Apr 5, 2013 By John Gever , Deputy Managing Editor, MedPage Today Full Text Article PDF Action Points More than half a million young American children in 2010 had blood lead levels exceeding 5 mcg/dL, according to the CDC. Note that the researchers also found that mean blood lead levels in young children had […]

Widely used chemical linked to childhood asthma

Bisphenol A (BPA) is often used to line food and beverage cans as well as to keep plastics flexible, but a new study suggests the compound can leach into the foods we eat.

Asthma Risk Tied to Epigenetics, Chemicals

Asthma Risk Tied to Epigenetics, Chemicals Published: Feb 25, 2013 By John Gever , Senior Editor, MedPage Today Action Points Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Note that in this study […]

Phthalate Exposure and Allergy in the U.S. Population

Results From NHANES 2005-2006 Jane A. Hoppin; Renee Jaramillo; Stephanie J. London; Randi J. Bertelsen; Päivi M. Salo; Dale P. Sandler; Darryl C. Zeldin Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(10):1129-1134. Abstract Background: Environmental exposures to phthalates, particularly high-molecular-weight (HMW) phthalates, are suspected to contribute to allergy. Objective: We assessed whether phthalate metabolites are associated with allergic symptoms […]

Impact of fluoride on neurological development in children

July 25, 2012 — For years health experts have been unable to agree on whether fluoride in the drinking water may be toxic to the developing human brain. Extremely high levels of fluoride are known to cause neurotoxicity in adults, and negative impacts on memory and learning have been reported in rodent studies, but little […]