Environmental Toxins: March 2007 Archives

Marrow Disease Not Epidemic

San Diego county is investigating an increase in cases of aplastic anemia, which is a rare bone marrow disease that has been linked to exposure to certain environmental toxins. Since October, seven people in San Diego county have been diagnosed with the disease, four of whom are children, said Jeffrey Johnson, who works as a senior epidemiologist for San Diego Public Health Services. Johnson says the county public health office is worried about real or perceived disease clusters. “We want to take this seriously and begin the investigative process,” he said.

Marrow disease is not epidemic, hospital says

Aplastic anemia is a rare disease that occurs when bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells. It is only seen in one or two people out of every million in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Between 300 and 600 new cases of the disease are reported each year. Symptoms of the disease include exhaustion, increased risk for infection, and uncontrolled bleeding. Risk factors for aplastic anemia include exposure to high doses of radiation and chemotherapy treatment, illegal drug use, toxic chemical exposure, autoimmune disorders, and viruses. Chemicals that increase the risk for the disease include benzene, which is found in gasoline, mothballs, paint, varnish removers, and household cleaners.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:54 PM | Permalink

Is Obesity Linked to Environmental Toxins?

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs, have been produced since the 1960s and are found in carpeting, upholstered furniture, computers, and hair dryers. American consumers are believed to come in contact with up to 100 products containing PBDEs each day; this is of concern because PBDEs are emerging as having a negative effects on human health. The persistence of PBDEs in the environment is similar to that of banned substances DDT and PCBs.

Obesity and Environmental Chemicals Linked?

A recent study suggests that human exposure to PBDEs might be linked to the increased rates of human obesity. PBDEs can act as phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones. This is of concern because by acting as these molecular messengers, PBDEs may make cells more likely to develop into fat cells. Gale Carey, a professor of nutrition who has studied the effects of PBDEs, says that "everything I do has to do with how changes in signaling result in changes in gene expression." Deena Small, a colleague of Carey, adds that There’s much more to obesity than eating too much McDonald’s and not exercising. PBDEs may be one of the confounding factors to obesity.”

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:01 PM | Permalink

Nissan Versa Tops the List of Interior Toxins

The Ecology Center, a non-profit environmental group, found that the Nissan Versa, the Chevy Aero, and the Scion xB are the most dangerous cars to be stuck inside. Using an X-Ray Fluorescence device that measures that "elemental composition of any material," the group tested for toxins such as arsenic, bromine, chlorine, and mercury that are found in all components of the interior of a car.

Your Nissan Versa is trying to kill you, with interior toxins

The cars with the safest interiors are the Chevy Cobalt, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the Honda Odyssey.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:48 PM | Permalink

Kalamazoo Concerned with EPA Plan

Kalamazoo, Michigan city commissioners said Monday that anything from civil disobedience to a lawsuit would be justifiable in preventing a federal plan to dump 132,000 cubic yards of sediment containing more than two tons of toxic waste into a Kalamazoo landfill that officials say is not even cleared to accept regular household waste. Bruce Merchant, the Kalamazoo public services director, said that the federal Environmental Protection Agency officials have admitted not considering the contamination risk to underground aquifers that provide water to about 100,000 customers in the Kalamazoo metro area. Kalamazoo city leaders also say that the EPA's plan to dispose of Kalamazoo River sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls; the EPA plans to ship the sediment to a local landfill.

City to fight PCB dumping EPA to bring contaminated soil from Kalamazoo River to landfill in Milwood neighborhood

The EPA's cleanup plan online says that PCBs are "a hazardous substance and probable human carcinogen." Ken Collard, the City Manager, says that it is "disconcerting" that the EPA has decided to dispose of the toxins without public hearings.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:20 PM | Permalink

Lawsuit Filed Against EPA Over Mercury

Nine U.S. states and several environmental groups plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for putting into place a rule that refuses to regulate mercury emissions and other toxins from cement plancts. The petition has been signed by Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York and was filed on February 16 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Sierra Club, Downwinders at Risk, Desert Citizens against Pollution, and Monatanans against Toxic Burning support the lawsuit.

Nine US states sue EPA over mercury emissions

In the United States, cement plants are the main source of mercury emissions. In December 2006, the EPA announced new limits on mercury emissions but allowed loosened rules for plants built prior to December 2005. James Pew, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, says that the relaxed rules are unacceptable because "the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to limit mercury from all cement plants, not just the new ones."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 02:50 PM | Permalink

Chemical Leak in Hadleigh

An industrial area in Hadleigh has re-opened after around 25 firefighters cleaned up more than 1,000 liters of dangerous chemicals that had leaked from containers. Firefighters in protection suits cleared away dangerous chemicals, which is believed to have leaked from a 25 liter container of sodium hydrochloride and mixed with hydrochloric acid and creosote.

Chemical leak at Hadleigh

Thieves possibly may have damaged containers, leading to the leak. The warehouse manufacturers chemicals for swimming pools, farms, and cleaning. A police spokeswoman said of the situation: “It was only when officers arrived on scene that they noticed the chemical spill. Officers contacted the fire brigade and dealing with that was our priority. However, we will now be talking to the manager of the business to establish whether there had been a break-in.”

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:12 AM | Permalink

EPA Testing Gives Approval to Nonroad Diesel Equipment

The Environmental Protection Agency has completed their first emissions tests for construction, agriculture, and industrial diesel-powered engines to confirm environmental data supplied by engine manufacturers are correct. These nonroad diesel engines must meet the requirements of the EPA's Clean Air Nonroad Fuel as soon as 2008.

EPA Testing Shows Nonroad Diesel Equipment Meets Tough New Limits

Nonroad diesel engine testing is a part of the EPA's responsibility to make sure that the rules set forth by the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule are met. The Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule was finalized in 2004 and is speculated to prevent an estimate 12,000 premature deaths each year and hundreds of thousands fewer cases of respiratory problems.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:43 PM | Permalink

Lead Paint Dangers Continue

Those who live in homes painted with lead-based paint must use extra caution when their children are young, crawling on floors and sticking their fingers in their mouths. However, a new study of children found that extra caution shouldn't stop after the children get older. Seven-year-old children with higher levels with high levels of lead in their blood were found to be more likely to suffer IQ deficits and exhibit undesirable personality traits, such as aggression.

Lead Paint Risk Ongoing

No correlation was made between children's lead levels at age two and their behavior at age seven. This suggests that part of the problem at age seven is because of the continued exposure to lead, said Jerilynn Radcliffe, study coauthor. "We can never stop cleaning out houses thoroughly," Radcliffe said. "We can never stop worrying about flaking paint in the old houses so many of us live in." Lead has been implicated in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and in criminal behavior later in life.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 03:01 PM | Permalink

Lawmakers Could Sabotage Houston Efforts to Clean Up

Houston Mayor Bill White has diligently been working to clean up Houston's air. White and the city council have been devising a plan that would allow Houston to fine any industrial plant in the area that produces unhealthy amounts of certain pollutants. However, Representative Wayne Smith and Senator Mike Jackson are working to make it illegal for any municipality to create an ordinance that could affect those outside its borders.

Legislation Could Derail Houston Efforts to Clean Up Pollution

The legislation would block municipalities from using a nuisance ordinance in order to reduce air pollution from outside their boundaries. Smith says that air pollution controls "should be addressed by those that have responsibility," such as federal and state environmental agencies, and not by city governments. "We wouldn't be doing this ... if the city of Houston wasn't trying to impose its regulations and ordinances on other surrounding cities and counties," Jackson added.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 02:36 PM | Permalink

Officials Watch Former Plant for Water Contamination

Government officials are watching the area around a former creosote plant in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania for possible water contamination. Tests have shown that groundwater was contaminated with benzene at levels about 80 times higher than federal drinking water standards. Cleanup work of the plant began in October, 2002.

Officials Monitor Former Plant for Water Contamination

Benzene is a petroleum byproduct and is an established carcinogen. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency say that these findings are not cause for major concern; the benzene level still is lower than what many people are exposed to daily.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:27 PM | Permalink

California Law Seeks to Ban Furniture Foam

A new California law looks to change the way in which flame-retardant foam is made for upholstered furniture sold in California. Mark Leno, a California state representative, has introduced legislation that would ban the use of halogenated flame retardants in products such as furniture and mattresses. Mounting evidence suggests that halogenated compounds accumulate and remain in the environment. Andy Counts, the CEO of the American Home Furnishings Alliance, says that many flame retardant compounds "have been coming under increasing scrutiny as carcinogens and environmental toxins and have been banned or restricted in Europe. California has been expected to address these chemicals, and other states are considering similar measures.”

California Proposes Flame Retardant Foam Regulation

The Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with Great Lakes Chemical Co., took penta-bromodiphenyl ether, another widely used flame retardant, off the market. Research into less toxic flame retardants has been ongoing. Counts said that “we will urge the EPA to revisit this project in light of the new legislation so that non-halogenated alternatives can be evaluated.”

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:41 AM | Permalink

Gas Station Linked to MTBE Leak

A West Hempstead, New York gas station is being blamed by state regulators for having contaminated the West Hempstead public water supply last summer with the fuel additive MTBE. OK Petroleum operates the station and the company has long suffered environmental complaints: the president has been convicted of evading federal gasoline taxes and was also convicted of violating New York State's environmental conservation law.

Troubled gas station linked to MTBE leak

The gasoline drip from OK Petroleum's gas station led to the largest MTBE-related public health alert on Long Island to date. The Department of Environmental Conservation seeks reimbursement of cleanup from OK Petroleum, as well as interest and penalties. John Musacchia, OK Petroleum's president denies his company is responsible for the spill and says that "the DEC is a pain in the ass. It's not my spill."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:51 AM | Permalink

DCE in Water Could Be Consequence of TCE Breakdown

Chemical contamination found in wells along Ridge Pike, Pennsylvania may have been created in the environment by the breakdown TCE, a chemical found in the air. TCE has been found in above-average levels in the air and it is believed that DCE, a water pollutant, can be formed when TCE breaks down. DCE is a chemical used to make packaging materials and flexible films, such as Saran Wrap, and flame retardant coating for fiber and carpet backing.

DCE in wells could be a breakdown of TCE found in area’s air

Both TCE and DCE can enter the body through food, water, or skin contamination. While there is not yet enough information about the health effects of breathing DCE for the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry to accurately evaluate the risk, at high levels DCE can cause fainting and death. DCE currently is classified as a "possible human carcinogen."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:06 AM | Permalink

PCBs Found in Excrement of Hatchery Fish

PCBS have been found during testing of excrement from fish from the Big Springs Trout Hatchery in Montana. While other recent tests of the trout from the hatchery have showed negative results, the most recent positivie result is of much concern to state officials. Don Skaar from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks says that he is "dumbfounded" by the results. While PCB levels are not high enough to merit disposing of the fish, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will make the final decision about the fishes's fate.

Tests find PCBs in excrement of hatchery fish

Skaar says that the contaminated fish likely were exposed to PCBs through their water supply. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are a mixture of synthetic and organic compounds that were used in many products until a congressional ban in 1977. Most Americans have detectable amounts of PCBs in their blood.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:46 AM | Permalink

The Top Environmental Toxins

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leader of the U.S. wellness movement and founder of Mercola.com, has created a list of the ten most common environmental toxins. While the list is not all-inclusive, it offers an idea of the prevalence of toxins that humans are exposed to on a daily basis. The list notes PCBs, pesticides, mold, phthalates, volatile organic compounds, dioxins, asbestos, heavy metals, chloroform, and chlorine as being the most commonly encountered environmental toxins.

href="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=57586947-9466-4fcf-bb1b-2c464dd19e5c">Top 10 most common environmental toxins

In order to avoid environmental toxins, Mercola recommends several actions: eat as much organic produce as possible, eat purified fish or cod liver oil instead of fish, avoid processed foods, use natural cleaning products, use natural toiletries, avoid using air fresheners, avoid food additives, and have tap water tested for contaminants.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:15 PM | Permalink

NRDC Sues EPA for Not Banning Toxic Pesticides

A lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) alleges that the Environmental Protection Agency did not product the public from exposure to two highly toxic pesticides: DDVP and carbaryl. Both chemicals are found in common household products and have been shown to cause severe neurological and developmental harm. The lawsuit says that the EPA missed a deadline to finalize a comprehensive reevaluation of carbaryl, did not adequately review DDVP, and did not respond to a petition that called for a ban on the chemicals.

NRDC Sues EPA for Failing to Ban Two Highly Toxic Pesticides

Dr. Jennifer Sass, an NRDC senior scientist, said that the "EPA is needlessly jeopardizing the health of our children. The agency should ban DDVP and carbaryl. There are safer alternatives on the market today and we urge consumers to avoid any products that use either of these two pesticides." DDVP is found in pest strips, aerosol sprays, and pet collars. It already has been banned in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden. Carbaryl is a highly toxic pesticide used in large-scale agriculture, lawn products, commercial garden centers, and pet products. It acts as a teratogen. The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:30 PM | Permalink

Study Links Allergy Risk and Exhaust

A new study out of the University of Cincinnati says that a new model measuring children's exposure to diesel exhaust helps predict a child's risk of wheezing. Pat Ryan, the lead author of the study, says that the model could help establish the link between pollutant, allergies and asthma. While researchers still have not made a concrete link, earlier data from an ongoing asthma and allergy study shows that babies who are exposed to high levels of elemental carbon, a part of diesel exhaust, were more than twice as likely as babies who were exposed to lower levels.

UC Research Links Allergy Risk, Exhaust

Ryan says that the most widely used methods of calculating exposure to diesel exhaust do not consider the wide range of pollutants that babies in urban areas are exposed to. The new method takes more variables into consideration and can better predict an individual's exposure. Ryan says that these variables can be as specific has a building's elevation, which can affect how much exhaust reaches a child. "It can be a school. It can be a day care. It can be whatever. You look at the roads and the traffic patterns and the numbers of trucks or buses, and calculate the exposure," he said. Study results strongly suggest that early exposure to diesel and pollutants increases a child's risk for developing allergies and asthma.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:04 PM | Permalink

Oklahoma Town is Toxic Waste Site

Picher, Oklahoma is in the middle of one of the United States' worst environmental disasters. Children and houses have been lost in cave-ins and sinkholes, the creek in the town runs with orange water, and the air and soil are polluted with lead dust. High lead levels have been found in the blood of local children. Thousands of residents already have left the town over safety concerns and many more are expected to follow suit. However, the residents who remain are tough and plan to stay in Picher. 81-year-old Orval "Hoppy" Ray said of his town's problems: "There's nothing here in this town that can't be fixed. Ninety-nine percent of the people who write about the mines don't know squat about mining. They never wore a hard hat."

Oklahoma Town is Toxic Waste Site

Picher is at the center of the Tar Creek Superfund Site, which also includes some areas of Missouri and Kansas. The area was one of the world's most productive producers of lead and zinc and provided raw materials in both world wars. The mines closed in 1970 and the area has since become one of the largest Superfund cleanup sites in the country.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:50 AM | Permalink

Five Western States Plan to Reduce Emissions

Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and California have announced plans to adopt anti-global warming laws. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger says that the action is showing "the power of states to lead our nation addressing climate change."

Five Western States Announce Effort to Reduce Emissions

However, many of the goals of the program are lofty and unenforceable and Arizona and New Mexico still are considering building high-polluting power plants. V. John White, of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, says that the announcement may prove to be "more sizzle than steak."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 04:01 PM | Permalink

County with DuPont Plant Has High Cancer Rate

Tennessee's Humphreys County, home of a DuPont plant, has some of the state's highest rates of lung and breast cancers. However, it is now known whether Dioxins are to blame for the increased cancer rates.
"If I were a health official in Tennessee and this was a concern to me, one of the first things I would do is a little bit of bio-monitoring,'' said Christopher Portier, who is the director of the Office of Risk Assessment Research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

County with DuPont plant has one of the highest cancer rates in state

All people have some dioxins present in their bodies. The chemicals are both natural and man-made and exposure can come from food sources. Dioxins have been linked to a wide range of health problems, from cancer to diabetes, to birth defects. Portier says that the possibility of dioxin exposure shouldn't be of immediate concern to anyone: "If it's a problem now, it's been a problem for a long time," he said.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 03:39 PM | Permalink

Lunchbox Safety Tests Questioned

Government scientists tested 60 soft, vinyl lunchboxes in 2005 and found that one in five contained amounts of lead that were considered unsafe and several of the lunchboxes had over ten times the lead concentration considered dangerous. However, scientists told the public differently: they said they had found "no instances of hazardous levels." Additionally, the scientists did not release their actual test results to the public, saying that releasing the data would violate the privacy of lunchbox manufacturers. However, the data was released a year ago to the Associated Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Lunchbox safety tests questioned

The data of the test showed that 20 percent of the lunchboxes had more than 600 parts per million of lead, this is the federal safe level for paint and other products. The highest level found was 9,600 parts per million, more than 16 times the federal standard. However, Julie Vallese, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said that these data were irrelevant: "When it comes to a lunchbox, it's carried. The food that you put in the lunchbox may have an outer wrapping, a baggie, so there isn't direct exposure. The direct exposure would be if kids were putting their lunchboxes in their mouth, which isn't a common way for children to interact with their lunchbox." Representative Hanry Waxman, D-California, disagreed: "I am concerned that the CPSC has failed to protect children from an unnecessary hazard they have known about for some time. We should protect our children by banning lead in all children's products."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:29 PM | Permalink

Industry Leaders Endorse Fight Against Climate Change

Leaders from nearly 100 companies, including representatives from General Electric, Volvo, and Air France called for quick and decisive action on climate change caused by the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide. The companies are endorsing a formal statement as a part of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change to fight for clean energy and against climate change caused by people and businesses.

Industry leaders endorse fight against gas-caused climate change

Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, which created the Global Roundtable, said that climate control "is an issue that requires action now but will not be solved immediately." The joint statement released by the international business community said that "climate change is an urgent problem that requires global action ... in a time frame that minimizes the risk of serious human impact on the Earth's natural systems." Tomas Ericson, president of Volvo Group of North America says that "we feel we are part of the problem, and we feel we need to be part of the solution."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:08 PM | Permalink

March 30, 2007

Marrow Disease Not Epidemic

March 29, 2007

Is Obesity Linked to Environmental Toxins?

March 28, 2007

Nissan Versa Tops the List of Interior Toxins

March 27, 2007

Kalamazoo Concerned with EPA Plan

March 26, 2007

Lawsuit Filed Against EPA Over Mercury

March 23, 2007

Chemical Leak in Hadleigh

March 22, 2007

EPA Testing Gives Approval to Nonroad Diesel Equipment

March 21, 2007

Lead Paint Dangers Continue

March 20, 2007

Lawmakers Could Sabotage Houston Efforts to Clean Up

March 19, 2007

Officials Watch Former Plant for Water Contamination

March 16, 2007

California Law Seeks to Ban Furniture Foam

March 15, 2007

Gas Station Linked to MTBE Leak

March 14, 2007

DCE in Water Could Be Consequence of TCE Breakdown

March 13, 2007

PCBs Found in Excrement of Hatchery Fish

March 12, 2007

The Top Environmental Toxins

March 09, 2007

NRDC Sues EPA for Not Banning Toxic Pesticides

March 08, 2007

Study Links Allergy Risk and Exhaust

March 07, 2007

Oklahoma Town is Toxic Waste Site

March 06, 2007

Five Western States Plan to Reduce Emissions

March 05, 2007

County with DuPont Plant Has High Cancer Rate

March 02, 2007

Lunchbox Safety Tests Questioned

March 01, 2007

Industry Leaders Endorse Fight Against Climate Change