Healthy Children Project Monthly e-News

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Articles Related to Chemicals, Toxins & Pesticides

Sleeping with the Enemy: Indoor Airborne Contaminants.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/indoor-measure-of-airborne-contaminants/
New research studying household air in homes in Arizona found more than 400 chemicals ranging from pesticides to phthalates, confirming that indoor air can be heavily contaminated with pollutants. Pesticides, including diazinon, chlorpyrifos and DDT were found at surprisingly high levels, as were phthalates.
 

Opinion: Bills Would Help Spot Harmful "Toxic Toys"

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/04/30/opinion/doc49f96f8ed6f27789212399.txt

Legislation in the Michigan House would require manufacturers to disclose what their toys are made from. It sounds like a simple request. And while we’re not excited about more legislative regulations, this seems to be needed.

Justice in the Air: Tracking Toxic Pollution from America's Industries and Companies to Our States, Cities, and Neighborhoods
http://college.usc.edu/geography/ESPE/documents/justice_air_web.pdf
With climate change threatening our way of life, dirty air triggering asthma, and industrial pollutants causing cancer, the nation is more motivated than ever before to take a hard look at the problems we face and seek new approaches that can better secure the future of the planet and save lives. This report contributes to that lofty goal. In it, we go beyond tracking the country's biggest industrial polluters. And we go beyond saying which regions have the dirtiest air. While important, that's been done before.

Air Toxics: Transcending Boundaries - May 6-7, 2009 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/umrsc/registration_form
The 2009 Bernstein Symposium, Air Toxics: Transcending Boundaries - Better Science for Better Health, will focus on air pollution research and policy. Emerging air toxics challenges will be covered in sessions on the impact of new fuels, new engine and hybrid technology, linking exposures to health effects, and trans-border exposure issues. This symposium provides the ideal venue for increasing communication across disciplines and geographic boundaries. Internationally renowned experts will provide insight into current scientific findings and how these can be used to advance the public health and inform policymaking. Panel sessions will provide opportunities for the participants and speakers to discuss the scientific evidence and policy implications.

A Systematic Review of US State Environmental Legislation and Regulation with Regards to the Prevention of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Asthma
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/1/9
While much attention is focused on national policies intended to protect human health from environmental hazards, states can also prevent environmentally mediated disease through legislation and regulation. However, relatively few analyses have examined the extent to which states protect children from chemical factors in the environment.

Deca-BDE (Flame Retardant) Bill (Michigan)
Deca-BDE has been shown to cause memory, thyroid, reproductive problems, and cancer in lab animals. It is also present in Great Lakes fish. If passed, HB 4699, will phase out the use of this chemical in the production of mattresses and residential furniture by 2010 and in televisions and computers by 2012. There are safer alternatives available that are already widely being used. HB 4699 is currently before the House Committee on Great Lakes and Environment. Learn more at http://mnceh.org/campaigns.flame.php.
 

Lindane Bill Update (Michigan)
Although no longer used for military, veterinary, or agricultural purposes, Lindane is still being used to treat lice and scabies on the heads/bodies of children. It has been classified as a “priority pollutant” and an “extremely hazardous substance”. If passed, HB 4402 will restrict the use of pharmaceutical Lindane unless under a physician’s supervision in his or her office. HB 4402 passed 88-20 in the House on March 17th and is currently awaiting action by the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Reform. Learn more at http://mnceh.org/mnceh-LindaneFactSheet-2009.pdf or http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/LiceFactSheet.pdf.

State Lawmakers Tout Bills to Safeguard Kid Products
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990420041
Rubber ducky you’re the one, so long as you’re not full of mercury or arsenic. Beside a 20-foot-high inflatable rubber ducky dripping with rain, five state legislators huddled in a Roseville park gazebo this morning to promote a package of bills aimed at forcing manufacturers of children’s products to test for a wider range of harmful chemicals before the toys and other items, like baby blankets, can be sold in Michigan.

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Articles Related to Lead & Mercury

Lead From Mom's Bones Influences Baby's Gene Patterns
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/prebirth-lead-exposure-affects-childs-genes-disease/
Lead released from a woman's bones during pregnancy can affect her developing baby's DNA in ways that can alter gene expression and possibly increase the child's lifelong susceptibility to disease. This is the first study to show that lead can influence genetic programming in human cells, and hence, gene expression, throughout life.

Mercury Bills Pass House (Michigan)
On April 22nd, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a five-bill package that would put further restrictions on the use and presence of mercury. The package includes HB 4277 (prohibits placement of mercury in landfills or incinerators except for under limited circumstance and require labeling of mercury-added products), HB 4278 (requires manufacturers to paste a mercury warning label on their products), HB 4280 (requires mercury distributors to give a safety sheet to everybody to whom they sell their product), HB 4281 (bans mercury from thermometers and other products), and HB 4279 (would ban mercury from button cell batteries). Despite passage in the House, it's unclear whether the Senate will change the legislation or simply push it aside in favor of budget issues.

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Other Articles & Resources Related to Children's Health Issues

National Children's Study Briefing Call - Invitation to Participate

You are invited to participate in a National Children’s Study briefing call on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Michigan Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics President, Charlie Barone, is a co-principal investigator for Michigan of the large-scale, long-term study of environmental influences on children called the National Children's Study. He has offered to provide a special telephone briefing on this study for the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health and interested members/friends of the Network. To RSVP for this call and receive instructions, along with the PowerPoint Presentation, please email Gen Howe at gen@ecocenter.org. The call is expected to last no longer than 1 hour. Information on the National Children’s Study is included below. More information can be accessed online at http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov/Pages/default.aspx.

Online Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit Training
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/emes/subtopic/pediatrics.html
This training module is based on PSR’s Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit, which has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It introduces users to environmental health, instructs pediatric health care providers in the use of the toolkit, and discusses the best methods for delivering environmental health anticipatory guidance in the clinical setting.
 

Healthy Communities Grant Program
http://www.epa.gov/aging/grants/grant-list/2008_0710_grant_1.htm
EPA Region 1 is accepting proposals for the Healthy Communities Grant Program. Projects must benefit communities at risk (environmental justice areas of potential concern, places with high risk from toxic air pollution, urban areas) and sensitive populations (e.g. children, older adults, others at increased risk). One page proposals are due May 12, 2008. Full proposals are due July 10, 2008.
 

Conference Call: Metabolic Syndrome: At the Crossroads of the Western Disease Cluster 5/7/09 at 1 pm EST
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/partnership_calls/6019
Speakers: David Jacobs, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, Science Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network and CHE. Jill Stein, Ph.D, MD, co-founder of the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities and board member of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. Additional Resources: Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging Report: With a Closer Look at Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: http://www.agehealthy.org. This call will be moderated by Steve Heilig, MPH, Director of Public Health and Education at San Francisco Medical Society and CHE. It will last one hour and will be recorded for archival purposes.
 

Subscribe to "Toxic Times"

http://www.mnceh.org/toxictimes/news.php

"Toxic Times" is a weekly recap of the top stories on toxics from the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health.

CHE Partnership Calls

http://www.healthandenvironment.org/news/calls

You can also listen to previous calls, download documentation and view call blogs at this website.

LDA of Michigan's Healthy Children Project Offering Conference Co-Sponsorships

http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/conf.cosponsorships.pdf

LDA would like to co-sponsor up to three (3) statewide conferences of 501(c)3 non-profit organizations which are dedicated to children’s health issues and family memberships. Those selected will receive $500 from the LDA HCP to help support their overall conference. To learn more, download the PDF information sheet and Microsoft Word application form.

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Contact & Subscription Information

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