Healthy Children Project Monthly e-News

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Articles Related to Chemicals, Toxins & Pesticides

HealthyStuff.org Launches September 16, 2009
http://www.healthystuff.org/
Sign up and be the first to receive new ratings for pet products, cars, children's products, and toys. Visit the website to vote on which items should be tested next.
 

The Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/852/t/2088/signUp.jsp?key=4410
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) is proud to announce the release of our Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies to help you make healthy shopping choices that are safer for your kids, your community and the environment. Many children’s school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC—a toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment. This guide lists the most common back-to-school supplies made out of toxic PVC and suggests safer PVC-free products in over 20 product categories.
 

Guide to Picking Plastics Carefully
http://www.ewg.org/healthy-home-tips-04
Our homes are filled with plastics, and most of us don't really know what they're made of -- or whether they're safe. Environmental Working Group has put together these tips to help you choose better plastics and plastic alternatives for your family.
 

Complete Results of Health Canada’s Study of BPA in Non-polycarbonate Plastic
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/complete-results-of-health-canada-study-of-bpa-in-non-polycarbonate-plastic/
Health Canada released the full results of their Bisphenol-A testing of non-polycarbonate baby bottles and bottle liners last night, emphasizing as they did that the trace amounts of BPA detected were not of concern to them. Here's our first take on everything new we now know. Just how little BPA is in non-PC baby bottles?

Brain Images Suggest Childhood Lead Exposure Linked to Faulty Brain Wiring
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/childhood-lead-exposure-can-permanently-rewire-brain/
Childhood lead exposure can result in abnormalities in the wiring of the brain that persist into adulthood. Exposure to low to moderate levels of lead before birth and as a child can permanently change the brain's structure in a way that may alter if and how it transmits messages, a new study finds. The conclusions are based upon comparisons of images of the brain's nerves and their protective coverings – collectively called white matter.
 

Lead-laden Paint Still Widely Sold Around the World
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57O64G20090825
Even as the US lowers the lead levels allowed in paint dramatically, paint with dangerously high lead levels is still being sold for household use worldwide, putting hundreds of millions of young children at risk of permanent brain damage, research out this month in the journal Environmental Research shows.
 

Guide on How to Avoid Fire Retardants
http://www.ewg.org/healthy-home-tips-03
Chemical fire retardants have become common in consumer products, particularly in highly flammable synthetic materials. Some of the most toxic are brominated fire retardants (BFRs), which include chemicals known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Environmental Working Group suggests that you avoid toxic fire retardants when you can. Choose products made from less flammable natural materials, or made by manufacturers who use safer alternatives.
 

Pesticides in Your Peaches: Studies Find Pesticides, Some in Excess of EPA Rules
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-0812-peaches-pesticides_mainaug12,0,2494206.story
Latest government report shows more than 50 pesticides on the fruit. How can you avoid the risks.

Groups Demand That GM Fulfill Its Obligation to Recover Mercury From Old Vehicles
http://www.ecocenter.org/newsletter/ecolink/aug09/index.php#mercury
Recently, environment groups expressed concern and dismay with the "new" General Motors (GM) claim that it's not responsible for funding the recycling of mercury switches from its old vehicles. The groups are demanding that the company continue meeting its obligations to fund legacy mercury recovery costs from GM end-of-life vehicles. "GM should not be hiding behind a bankruptcy proceeding as an excuse for not meeting its on-going obligation to fund a vital program for keeping mercury out of the environment," said Charles Griffith, Director of the Ecology Center's Clean Car Campaign.
 

Chemicals Can Turn Genes On and Off; New Tests Needed, Scientists Say
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/epigenetics-workshop
A National Academies workshop examined the evidence of epigenetic effects and considered whether the thousands of chemicals in use today should be tested for them. Some pollutants and chemicals don't kill cells or mutate DNA. Instead, they may be more subtle, muting genes or turning them on at the wrong time, which can lead to diseases that are passed on for generations. Asthma in New York City children exposed to traffic exhaust is an example, experts say
 

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Other Useful Information & Resources

greenUp Michigan Green Chemistry Conference
When/Where: September 25, 2009 at the Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby/Detroit Downtown
Description: At the Michigan Green Chemistry Conference, you will hear leading experts in the field of technology, chemistry, engineering, and business process improvement inspire and inform as they introduce ways to advance and sustain green products and processes in Michigan.
For More Info: Visit http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3308_3333_4169-213380--,00.html to learn more or to register.

AAIDD's Next Research and Science Teleconference on Neurotoxins

When: September 25, 2009 from 2-3pm ET
Description: AAIDD’s Environmental Health Initiative (EHI) is proud to announce the next teleconference in our Research and Science teleconference series, sponsored by the John Merck Fund, titled “A Tale of Three Neurotoxins: Lead, Tobacco, and Maternal Depression,” presented by Michael Weitzman, MD. Participation in this call is free.

For More Info: The PowerPoint will be available to view or print the week of the teleconference, at http://www.ehinitiative.org.

26th Annual NADD Conference and Exhibit Show
When/Where: October 21 - 23, 2009, New Orleans, LA

Description: A preconference symposium on "Mental Health and Environmental Exposures: The Emerging Evidence" is planned for the conference. Elise Miller, MEd, is the preconference chair, and she is being joined by Theodore Slotkin, PhD, and Cheryl Beseler, PhD.

For More Info: Visit the conference website at http://www.thenadd.org/pages/conferences/26th/index.shtml.
 

Download the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign Brochure

http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/saferchems-brochure.pdf

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is a national coalition effort to help shape and promote reform of toxic chemical policies, with an eye toward legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.

Subscribe to "Toxic Times"

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

"Toxic Times" is a periodic 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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