HECANET August-September 2005 HECANET August-September 2005 ======A service provided for HECA by UNEP IN THIS ISSUE
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES * To reflect activities in the next issue of HECANET send information to [email protected]
(1) HECA Developments (2) Outcome of the 2005 World Summit (3) IPA/WHO/UNEP Workshop for African Pediatricians on Children’s Health and the Environment (4) WHO session on "Children's Health and the Environment - Educating for a healthier future" at the 3rd World Environmental Education Congress (5) New IFCS Video on Persistent Organic Pollutants: “Protecting Children” (6) Second International Conference on Children's Environmental Health: Healthy Environments Healthy Children: Increasing Knowledge and Taking Action (7) Workshop on Advances in the Use of Biomarkers in Children. (8) International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) (9) Policy Interpretation Network on Children's Health and Environment (PINCHE) (10) International Society of Doctors for the Environment Latin America/Argentinean Society of Doctors for the Environment (11) CEC report on indicators of children's health and environment in North America (12) The Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) (13) Mount Sinai School of Medicine and PEHSU Valencia: Curso Internacional De Formación On-Line En Salud Ambiental Pediátrica (14) The University of Kansas Medical Center- Mid-America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) (15) University of Minnesota President's 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference Series Promoting Healthy Communities for Children (16) Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment: Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment (17) Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) 8th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC - 2005)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
With the attention focused on the 2005 World Summit held at UN Headquarters in New York, the environment and health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were put in the spotlight, hence the number of articles related to water and sanitation this month. Added to this were a number of events with health and environment implications, including the hurricances that devasted the southern states of the US, which in turn amplified discussions in the media related to climate change.
There were also quite a few articles related to outdoor air pollution, including specific studies that considered the links between traffic/particulate pollution and the poor development of childrens' lungs and rates of childhood asthma. The focus was also on the unhealthy smoky haze that shrouded parts of Southeast Asia this month due to forest fires, forcing schools to close. With regard to chemicals and child health, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, which will provide a framework for global action on chemical hazards and enable governments and other stakeholders to collaborate more effectively on minimizing potential risks was being finalized at an intergovernmental meeting. A study by Greenpeace and WWF which found that chemicals in perfumes and cleaning products can cross the placenta and reach the baby in the womb attracted quite some media attention, as did a European Parliament decision to approve a ban on the plasticizer chemicals used in children’s soft plastic toys signals. There continued to be a large number of articles dealing with childhood lead poisoning, particularly in North America, but there were also interesting articles related to decreasing lead levels in Chinese children, Uganda’s move to ban leaded fuel, and the continued exposure of Roma gypsies in refugee camps to lead
file:///H|/HECA/Website/HECANET/HECANET%20Aug-Sept05webf.htm (1 of 21)2006-01-27 12:45:28 HECANET August-September 2005 from disused smelting operations. Meanwhile, another article dealt with the worserning health of children in certain Pakistani villages and their parents’ belief that it is caused by pesticides and their widespread misuse. There were quite a few articles that discussed exceptions in new EPA rules regarding testing pesticides on children, and the narrow defeat in the US Senate of an attempt to repeal a regulation that gives utilities until 2018 to reduce emissions of mercury, a contaminant that has been linked to birth defects and mental retardation. Other mercury articles dealt with the link between fish consumption and concentrations of methylmercury mercury, and vaccines and autism. Also in the US, researchers launched the biggest study of children, in which they hope to determine the causes of many common diseases like autism and diabetes. The study will follow 100,000 U.S. children from birth through adulthood. Scientists will try to find out whether there is a link between environment and diseases. Summaries of articles grouped under the following themes appear below, with links to their full texts:
(1) AIR POLLUTION: (a) Indoor air pollution, (b) Outdoor air pollution (c) Asthma (d) Environmental Tobacco Smoke/Smoking (2) CHEMICALS: (a) General, (b) Lead, (c) Pesticides, (d) Mercury (3) WATER AND SANITATION (4) MISCELLANOUS (a) Global (b) Climate Change (c) Americas (d) Asia (e) Middle East (f) Europe
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Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA) is a world-wide alliance to reduce environmental risks to children’s health that arise from the settings where they live, learn, play, and sometimes work, by providing knowledge, increasing political will, mobilizing resources, and catalysing intense and urgent action.
HECANET is an international mailing list dedicated to promoting healthy environments for children. The list provides updates on the activities of the Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA) and its members, as well as an overview of media coverage of children’s environmental health issues and relevant meetings, research findings and information and advocacy resources. * Past Issues * Subscribe ______
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
(1) HECA Developments Representatives from HECA-supported projects in Central African Republic, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda will participate in the training workshop on children's health and the environment that will be hosted by UNEP at its Headquarters in Nairobi from 12-14 October 2005 and organized in collaboration with the International Pediatric Association (IPA) and WHO (http:// www.ipa-world.org/init_envi.asp). HECA project representatives will also participate in a workshop on Children's Environmental Health Indicators that will take place on 11 October, also at UNEP Headquarters (http://www.who.int/ceh/ indicators/en/). These two workshops will strengthen the knowledge base on CEH issues among HECA project teams, and help build national capacities to address children's environmental health in countries and monitor results of their efforts.
Summaries of HECA-supported pilot projects, action plans, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and progress reports are now available for a number of countries on the HECA website. A different project will be spotlighted in each month's HECANET. This month's spotlight is on the HECA supported project being carried out by the Division of the Environmental Health of the Ministry of Health in Kenya. The objective of the project is to reduce the burden of disease from diarrhoeal diseases among children through settings-based environmental health improvements. A baseline survey of CEH issues, health status and knowledge of personal and environmental hygiene has been carried out and a number of activities initiated to promote personal and environmental hygiene in schools and communities, and to promote safe drinking water in homes and schools. For a progress report to date, and other materials from the project see the HECA website.
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The HECA Secretariat at WHO Headquarters and the WHO Regional Office for Africa are organizing an inter-regional consultation on "Improving Children's Environmental Health in Settings - Experiences and lessons for policies and action" in Entebbe, Uganda from 29 November to 2 December 2005. The objective of the meeting, which will bring together representatives from a number of HECA-supported pilot projects, is to identify and capitalize on the strengths of settings- based action to address environmental risks to children's health. The outcome will be used to move forward with HECA and other similar projects/programmes aimed at improving children's environmental health and using this to replicate and/or scale up actions. For more information contact the HECA Secretariat.
(2) Outcome of the 2005 World Summit The 2005 World Summit Outcome document, adopted by Heads of State and Government, who gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, contains a number of paragraphs which are of direct relevance to children’s environmental health issues. Below are a few select quotes:
“We reaffirm that development is a central goal by itself and that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities”. (para.10). “We are committed to creating a world fit for future generations, which takes into account the best interests of the child”. (para.12). “We will put into place policies to ensure adequate investment in a sustainable manner in health, clean water and sanitation, housing and education and in the provision of public goods and social safety nets to protect vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors of society”. (para. 25 b). “We are convinced that the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, particularly as they affect children, is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”. (para.46). “We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the goal of sustainable development, including through the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation…. Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development.” (para. 48). “In pursuance of our commitment to achieve sustainable development, we further resolve: To assist developing countries’ efforts to prepare integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans as part of their national development strategies and to provide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in accordance with the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including halving by 2015 the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and who do not have access to basic sanitation”. (para. 56 h). “In pursuance of our commitment to achieve sustainable development, we further resolve: To promote the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, aiming to achieve that by 2020 chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment using transparent and science-based risk assessment and risk management procedures, by adopting and implementing a voluntary strategic approach to international management of chemicals, and to support developing countries in strengthening their capacity for the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes by providing technical and financial assistance, as appropriate”. (para.56 k). “We commit ourselves to respecting and ensuring the rights of each child”. (para.142).
The statement of Achim Steiner, Director General of IUCN – The World Conservation Union at The High-level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 16 September 2005 is also noteworthy from a children’s environmental health perspective. He argued that, “rather than being a "tax on development", investing in environmental sustainability should be seen as an effective and efficient means to achieve development. To cite just one concrete example, replacing traditional biomass fuels used by the poor yields multiple benefits in terms of time savings for women and children, improved health through reduced indoor air pollution, reduced environmental damage from fuelwood cutting, and improved soil quality from increased dung available for fertilizer. This may seem an insignificant example in terms of global energy debates, but for two billion people this remains a daily reality”.
To inform deliberations at the Summit, the Poverty-Environment Partnership (PEP)—a network of more than 30 international development and environment agencies—launched the ‘Environment for the MDGs’ initiative to galvanize support for the significant scaling up of worldwide investment in environmental management to help win the fight against poverty and
file:///H|/HECA/Website/HECANET/HECANET%20Aug-Sept05webf.htm (3 of 21)2006-01-27 12:45:28 HECANET August-September 2005 achieve the MDGs. An “Environment for the Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs) High-level Policy Dialogue took place in New York on 14 September 2005. The Poverty-Environment Partnership event took as its theme, “Investing in the Environment to Fight Poverty: The Economic Case and Priorities for Action and Implications for the 2005 World Summit and Beyond.” During one of the policy dialogies on ‘The Case For Investing In Environment To Reduce Poverty’, Ian Johnson, Vice President for Sustainable Development of the World Bank, stressed the links between the MDGs on environment and health, noting that many health issues, such as infant mortality, are closely tied to the environment. Connie Hedegaard, Danish Minister for the Environment and Nordic Cooperation, also emphasized environment-health linkages, such as the impact of air pollution on human health.
As part of the “Environment for the MDGs’ initiative, PEP members, UNDP, UNEP, IIED, IUCN and WRI, prepared a series of papers, including a report on ‘Sustaining the Environment to Fight Poverty and Achieve the MDGs: The Economic Case and Priorities for Action’, which lays out the case for the economic importance of environment for poverty reduction and pro- poor growth, and also set out some key strategic options and priorities for scaled-up investment in environmental sustainability for helping to reach the MDGs. The paper stresses that the “world’s poor depend critically on fertile soil, clean water and healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods and well-being. This reliance creates complex, dynamic interactions between environmental conditions, people’s access to and control over environmental resources, and poverty. Understanding the nature of these relationships is a prerequisite for enduring success in the fight against poverty”. The paper underlines that “the health and well-being of all humans depends on clean water, clean air, fertile soils and other services provided by natural systems. Poor people also suffer greater loss of life and health from pollution and other environment-related causes”. “Developed by the World Health Organization, an indicator that adjusts life expectancies based on the burden of disease shows that, on average, 20 percent of the total loss of life expectancy in developing countries is attributable to environmental causes, versus only 4 percent in rich countries. Globally, lack of safe water and sanitation is the predominant environmental cause of loss of life expectancy, but poor air quality also is a major contributor. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to illness and death caused by indoor air pollution, which accounts for a greater share of lost life expectancy in developing countries than malaria, but receives little attention”. “Replacing the traditional biomass fuels used by the poor would yield multiple benefits in terms of time savings (for women and children who currently spend hours per day collecting fuel), improved human health (due to better indoor air quality), reduced environmental damage from fuelwood cutting, and improved soil quality (from returning animal dung to farmers’ fields rather than burning it). Besides fuel switching, improved household stove technology is another important means to reduce health-damaging indoor air pollution from cooking and heating. Available studies suggest very high returns on investment in terms of benefits to women’s and children’s health, with benefit-cost ratios ranging from 47 to 118 in Kenya, for instance”.
(3) IPA/WHO/UNEP Workshop for African Pediatricians on Children’s Health and the Environment An important workshop will be held on October 12-14, 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Pediatric Association (IPA) is sponsoring a 3-day workshop on Children’s Health and the Environment. During this workshop, which will be hosted by UNEP, providers will learn about the harmful effects of air pollution, water contamination and unsafe food on the health of children. The course is designed for African doctors who plan to teach other providers about children’s health and the environment. We will discuss how pediatricians from countries throughout Africa can work together to help improve the environment for tomorrow’s children. This issue is a cross-cutting one that may be every bit as important as nutrition in its overall impact on child health. Please contact IPA for additional information.
(4) WHO session on "Children's Health and the Environment - Educating for a healthier future" at the 3rd World Environmental Education Congress The World Health Organization organized a session on 4 October 2005 on the theme "Children's Health and the Environment - Educating for a healthier future" at the 3rd World Environmental Education Congress is taking place in Torino, Italy from 2- 6 October 2005. For more information please visit the web-site: http://www.who.int/heca/events/3rd_WEEC_WHOsession. pdf
(5) New IFCS Video On Persistent Organic Pollutants: “Protecting Children” The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) has posted on its website a video entitled, “Children, Health and
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Persistent Organic Pollutants: Protecting our Most Precious Resource.” The video was prepared by the Government of Uruguay, PAHO, WHO and IFCS, and is in Spanish with English subtitles. For more information and to view the video please visit the web-site: http://www.who.int/ifcs/champions/Children/Children.htm
(6) Second International Conference on Children's Environmental Health: Healthy Environments Healthy Children: Increasing Knowledge and Taking Action The Government of Argentina, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Argentine Pediatric Society are pleased to announce the Second International Conference on Children's Environmental Health (CEH): Healthy Environments Healthy Children: Increasing Knowledge and Taking Action to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 14 through 16 November 2005 at Hotel Crowne Plaza. This conference aims to strengthen collaborative research, increase awareness of children's environmental health, facilitate the sharing of experiences and instigate actions to improve the environments of children in the Americas and around the world. The conference will focus on science-oriented issues, research needs and capacity-building while addressing the concrete needs for action and policies at the community, country, regional and international levels.
This conference is expected to respond to calls for action concerning children's environmental health that will be made by the preceding Health and Environment Ministerial of the Americas (June 2005) and the Summit of the Americas (November 2005). Science, research and policy experts will be able to interact and set an agenda to weave research and science into policy discussions and vise-versa. Participants will include healthcare and environmental professionals, members of organizations, active community members, scientists, researchers, public health and environmental health policy experts, engineers and healthcare practitioners. All sectors will be represented through their presence, active participation or concrete presentations, including government, academia, non-governmental organizations, industry, and professional associations. This conference will also offer the opportunity for pre- and post-conference courses and workshop that will address specific CEH issues. Children are the main and most precious resource of countries. They should live, grow, learn and play in environments that are supportive of good health and well-being. This conference proposes to increase awareness, set forth action, and contribute worldwide to improve the status of children's health and their environments.
(7) Workshop on Advances in the Use of Biomarkers in Children. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) jointly announce the Workshop on Advances in the Use of Biomarkers in Children. This 1½ day workshop will be held on November 17-18 following the global conference, Healthy Environments, Healthy Children: Increasing Knowledge and Taking Action, at the Hotel Crowne Plaza in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
This workshop will convene experts from around the world to present and discuss the scientific advances made during the past decade in the availability and improvement of biomarkers in children. It will cover topics such as: The availability of biomarkers during the various development stages; Biomarkers of exposure to environmental chemicals; Discussion of biomarkers of susceptibility and effects; new technologies and their contribution to the development of new biomarkers in children; and How to incorporate biomarker data into risk assessment paradigms and risk communication. The agenda for this workshop will include presentations on biological tissues, major classes of chemicals and biomarkers of susceptibility and effect. It will discuss the incorporation of biomarker data into risk assessment and risk communication and present the role of new technologies in the development of biomarkers in children.
(8) International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) The INCHES website has moved to www.inchesnetwork.net. The INCHES Secretariat received quite a few factsheets or links to factsheets on the internet. These factsheets are mainly in the English language. INCHES is calling members to send their available factsheets on children’s environmental health in other languages to be added to the database we are forming. They could be in any language, ranging from lead poisoning, asthma, allergies, chemical, ventilation at school, etc. We are trying to build a very complete overview which we also share with the HECA network. So please send you electronic version or hard copy to the INCHES address: INCHES, pobox 163, 6950 AD Dieren, the Netherlands, or email to Peter van den Hazel.
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(9) Policy Interpretation Network on Children's Health and Environment (PINCHE) A conference entitled, ‘Child Health And The Environment: Results From EU Framework 5 PINCHE project (Policy Interpretation Network on Children's Health and Environment) and Plutocracy project (Placental Uptake and Transfer of Environmental Chemicals Relating to Allergy in Childhood Years), will be held from 23 to 25 November 2005. The meeting will take place in Central Brussels. At the conference, the final results and policy implications of the PINCHE and the Plutocracy projects will be presented, and oral and poster presentation in related scientific areas will be given. There is a special session with EU Parliamentarians. For more information on the Programme and the Call for Poster Abstracts: see the PINCHE website: www.pinche.hvdgm.nl. The PINCHE reports of the workpackages 1, 2, 3, and 5 have been completed, and are now available on the PINCHES web-site.
(10) International Society of Doctors for the Environment Latin America/Argentinean Society of Doctors for the Environment Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 12th-13th 2005: Organized by ISDE School, INCHES, and the Argentinean Society of Pediatrics (SAP); co-organized by the Argentinean Nursing Federation, under the technical advice of WHO and with the special support of the Tuscany Region the “Training for Health Care Providers on Children's Health and Environment” will take place as a Pre-conference activity of the “Second International Conference on Children’s Environmental Health: Healthy Environments, Healthy Children – Increasing Knowledge and taking actions”. The new material: “WHO Training Package for Health Care Providers on CEH” will be presented with modules in Spanish and health care providers will learn about the special situation of children in relation to environmental factors, the "windows of vulnerability" during the periods of development, the harmful effects of air, water and food pollution, children and chemicals. International speakers will participate at the conference. This is a training for leader trainers and WHO material presented will be given to participants. Registration is free but limited. The agenda and more information will be soon posted at the www.aamma.org.
Montevideo, Uruguay, October 30th to November 1st, 2005: AAMMA is invited as speaker to the XXV Uruguayan Congress of Pediatrics, 1st Uruguayan Congress of Neonatology, 1st Uruguayan Congress of Pediatric Nursery and 1st Workshop of Pediatric Residents of the Southern Cone, organized by the Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics (SUP): AAMMA will hold a Conference on “Neurodevelopment and Environment” and will lecture on “Persistent Organic Pollutants” at the panel “Current Scenario on Children Lead Poisoning”.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, August-December 2005: AAMMA – ISDE.LA organizes with the Direction of Education - Pediatrics Division - of Santojanni Hospital of the City of Buenos Aires, a 50 hours course addressed to pediatricians, health care providers and health administrators on “Impact of Environmental Changes on Children’s Health”. AAMMA – ISDE.LA expert’s team will lecture on “Children’s Special Vulnerability to Environmental Changes”, “Climate Change Health Effects”, “Urban Environment and Health”, “Healthy Hospitals”, “Children Chemical Safety” and “State of the World: International Negotiations and Documents”.
(11) CEC report on indicators of children's health and environment in North America Montreal, 20 September 2005 — For the 125 million children in North America, the physical environment where they live, learn and play is an important determinant of their health and well-being. The relationship between environmental risk and children's health is examined in the first-ever regional report on indicators of children's health and the environment, prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. The CEC is seeking public comments on the draft report, entitled Children's Health and the Environment in North America: A first report on Available Indicators and Measures. The report presents national data on thirteen indicators in three general areas-asthma and respiratory disease, the effects of lead and other toxics (including pesticides), and waterborne disease-and is derived from the material contained in "Country Reports" that were prepared by the national governments. The North American report and the individual Country Reports are available for review at http://www.cec.org/pubs_docs/documents/index.cfm?varlan=english&ID=1813. The goal of this new CEC report is to provide decision-makers and the public with information on the status of key parameters related to children's health and the environment in North America as a means of measuring and promoting change. This CEC-led effort also forms part of the Global Initiative on Children's Environmental Health Indicators as endorsed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Global Initiative is led by the World Health Organization, with support from the US Environmental Protection Agency. As such this report represents a significant regional learning opportunity that may inform similar projects
file:///H|/HECA/Website/HECANET/HECANET%20Aug-Sept05webf.htm (6 of 21)2006-01-27 12:45:28 HECANET August-September 2005 in other parts of the world. Please submit written comments no later than 20 October 2005, to Keith Chanon, program manager, CEC, by email: [email protected]. Include your name, firm or organization, address, telephone and fax numbers. Comments received will be posted on the CEC web site (unless otherwise directed by the submitter) in their original language.
(12) The Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) The Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) launched three new educational resources on 15 September. ‘Child Health and the Environment - A Primer’ is a 125 page, full-colour introduction to this large and vitally important issue. The Primer is summarized in an eight page brochure, ‘Playing it Safe: Childproofing for Environmental Health’. Both of these resources were developed in conjunction with a larger report by Toronto Public Health, ‘Environmental Threats to Children: Understanding the Risks; Enabling Prevention’. All three documents are available on the CPCHE website at www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca. For more information contact: Kathleen Cooper [email protected]
(13) Mount Sinai School of Medicine and PEHSU Valencia: Curso Internacional De Formación On-Line En Salud Ambiental Pediátrica El Primer Curso Internacional De Formación On-Line En Salud Ambiental Pediátrica En Español. Fruto de la colaboración con Mount Sinai School of Medicine y PEHSU Valencia Esta actividad cuenta con el apoyo y financiación del Programa de Capacitación en Salud Ambiental y Ocupacional del Mount Sinai Medical Center apoyado por el Fogarty International Center (NIH TW00640). Con materiales ORIGINALES en castellano. El plazo de matrícula está abierto desde el 25 de agosto 2005. La descarga de materiales disponible 1 de noviembre de 2005. La matrícula será obligatoria y gratuita. Fecha para completar y entregar materiales de evaluación: Abril de 2006. Dirección y Organización: Dra. Luz Claudio ([email protected] ), Dr. Juan Antonio Ortega García ([email protected]) y Dr. Josep Ferrís i Tortajada ([email protected] ). El curso tiene 2 módulos: Teórico: 13 tópicos y preguntas finales (Para obtener el certificado Superar 60% de las preguntas) y Práctico: Presentación de casos clínicos / discusión (Para obtener el certificado Superar 50%). El curso de interés internacional está dirigido a estudiantes y profesionales de habla hispana: pediatras, enfermería, auxiliares, clínicos de otras especialidades, técnicos medioambientales, toxicólogos y otras ramas biosanitarias, estudiantes.
(14) University of Kansas Medical Center - Mid-America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit The University of Kansas Medical Center is the home of the EPA Region 7 PEHSU, the Mid-America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit. The PEHSU is hosting a Pediatric Environmental Hazards Conference on December 9, 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri. The conference will offer instruction in taking a pediatric environmental health history, discuss why children are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards and where exposures take place, provide information regarding local hazardous waste sites, and explore some of the major environmental hazards to which children in our region are exposed. The keynote speaker will be Mark Miller MD, MPH, from University of California at San Francisco (one of Region 9 PEHSU sites), who has worked with Physicians for Social Responsibility to develop a Pediatric Environmental Toolkit for office physicians. To register and further information: http://www.kuce.org/kumc/mapeh/ Phone: 1-877-404-5823
(15) University of Minnesota Conference: Building Healthy Communities for Children: The Physical and Social Environments A President's Interdisciplinary Academic Initiative was held September 26-27, 2005. University of Minnesota Conference: Building Healthy Communities for Children: The Physical and Social Environments. This conference examined critical aspects of environments affecting the health and well-being of children, from pre-conception to adolescence. Conference plenary and concurrent sessions were organized around three broad themes, the natural environment, the built environment and the social environment, and around critical life stages. Special attention was given to the diverse social contexts in which children live, learn, and play.
The conference goals were to: Identify new research findings that profile both threats and protective factors in physical and social environments affecting children's health through various life stages; Describe ways to translate scientific evidence into actions to protect and promote children's health; Identify research gaps and potential intervention, research and policy collaborations to address these gaps; Describe ways to better communicate research evidence about risk and protective factors in children's environments to the general public, policymakers and community activists to prompt actions to promote and protect children's health; and Develop collaborations linking research, concerned citizens and communities to begin actions
file:///H|/HECA/Website/HECANET/HECANET%20Aug-Sept05webf.htm (7 of 21)2006-01-27 12:45:28 HECANET August-September 2005 steps and new research initiatives to improve children's natural, built and social environments. More information available on the conference web-site.
(16) Mid-Atlantic Center for Children¹s Health and the Environment: Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment A Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment was held on Saturday, October 1, 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference focused on: Emerging Issues in Children’s Environmental Health; Childhood Obesity & the Environment; School Environmental Health Problems; Asthma; Mold Issues; Outcomes of Environmental Exposures * birth defects, learning problems; Risk Communication; and the Resources of a Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit. CME or CEU credits for physicians or nurses can be earned. The Conference is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, and Region 3 Environmental Protection Agency. For more information contact Aurora Amoah at the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health & the Environment.
(17) Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) 8th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC - 2005) Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) will hold its 8th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC - 2005) from 7- 9 December 2005 in Islambabd. Pakistan. Technical sessions will be held on children’s health and environment.
Three pillars of the sustainable development are society, economy and environment; the “Heart” of the sustainable development is the future generation. Children represent the future of our societies, and therefore it is essential to protect the health of children and ensure that children live in safe environment, allowing them to reach their full potential. However, children happen to be the most vulnerable group to adverse health consequences of environmental factors such as polluted air, contaminated and polluted water, food and soil, radiation risks, chemicals, unhealthy housing, environmental noise, risks related to transport, and the consequences of armed conflict and environmental disasters and poverty. According to the WHO (2003) report, approximately 3 million children under the age of five years die every year due to environmental hazards. In South Asia, the average infant mortality rate (IMR) is about 70 per 1000 live childbirths (UNICEF 2000). The governments and stakeholders have a responsibility to take action to reduce the sources of chemical and other risks and prevent childhood exposure.
The Eighth SDC will look at the ways in which governments cooperate and exercise power over natural resource management (NRM) in their respective countries and in the region. The participants of the Conference will share their experiences and discuss national and regional environmental and health issues with a focus on the children’s health. These, among others, include monitoring and situation evaluation of children of different age groups and toxic chemicals, preventive and educational activities for promoting safe use of chemicals and national environmental and health policies.
Abstract: A soft and printed copy of the abstract of not more than 400 words should be submitted directly to Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja ([email protected]) by Monday, 15 August 2005. It should clearly state the title, theme, objectives, sources of data, and major expected findings. It should include the author’s full name, a brief bionote as author of no more than 30 words, complete contact address (email as well as postal), telephone and fax numbers. SDC 2005 details also available at the Eighth SDC web-site (www.sdpi.org). ______
ARTICLES
(1) AIR POLLUTION: (a) Indoor air pollution
Wood smoke: cozy, warm? Polluting The aroma of wood smoke wafting from chimneys on a crisp autumn morning carries a heavy price: air pollution. Exposure to fine particle pollution has been linked to a number of health problems. “The rise in the number of children with asthma seeking help is incredible and we’re not sure why.” James Straub. Ellsworth American, Maine. 15 September 2005.
Household dust bad for the brain It turns out giving the house a thorough cleaning can be good for kids' health. Dr. David
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McKeown, the city's medical officer of health, yesterday released a $70,000 report that summarizes scientific research on how children are affected by environmental threats. Zen Ruryk. Toronto Sun, Ontario. 16 September 2005.
(b) Outdoor air pollution
Traffic Makes Breathing Harder For Babies Traffic could be contributing to an increased amount of asthma cases among babies, according to a new study. University of Cincinnati researchers analyzed the effects of stop-and-go bus and truck diesel traffic, versus highway traffic, on infant respiratory health. San Diego 10News TV, California. 14 September 2005.
Study monitors children's breathing Dan Klepal. Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio. 29 August 2005.
A danger that swirls in the air of Europe WHO says relatively low levels of particulate pollution have been correlated with poor development of childrens' lungs, and tied to increasing hospital admissions for pneumonia and asthma. "These children don't die, but if their lungs are poorly developed it makes them more vulnerable for life." Elisabeth Rosenthal. International Herald Tribune. 21 September 2005.
EU tackles air pollution in multi-billion euro plan Wide-ranging proposals to clean up Europe's polluted air won approval from the EC. Air pollution can make breathing more difficult, exacerbate asthma and bronchitis, and is blamed for 370,000 premature deaths a year in the 25-nation EU. The new measures aim to reduce that figure to 230,000 by 2020. Jeff Mason. Reuters. 22 September 2005.
Research indicates health effects of air pollution are underestimated Air pollution may be a bigger health threat than previously believed, a 20-year study in Los Angeles indicates. Tracking the respiratory health of 208 children in 10 cities, the scientists determined that those youngsters who lived closer to highways were more likely to develop asthma. Sarah Graham. Scientific American. 21 September 2005.
Study finds cancer risk from air pollution An infant living near a bus station may be 12 times more likely to die of cancer in childhood than others, a British study shows. The just-published study, which looks at air pollutants from industry and vehicle exhausts, raises serious concerns about the impact of diesel fumes on babies and foetuses. Kamala Hayman. New Zealand Press Association. 17 August 2005.
Tailpipes hazardous to health Led by researchers at the University of Southern California, two studies suggest that air pollution - particularly from vehicles - may be worse for health than previously thought. Children are especially susceptible to air pollution because their bodies are still developing and they breathe more rapidly than adults. Kerry Cavanaugh. Los Angeles Daily News. 20 September 2005.
Air Pollution in Space and Time-Birth Outcomes Are Complicated by Exposure Variations The association between air pollution and adverse effects on human birth outcomes is drawing increasing attention. A study of L.A. mothers shows that more detailed exposure information is critical for accurately drawing links. Bob Weinhold. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
Local Variations in CO and Particulate Air Pollution and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Los Angeles County The results generally confirm our previous observations linking CO and particle exposures to term LBW and preterm birth. They confirm suspicions about having to address local heterogeneity for these pollutants in L.A. Michelle Wilhelm/Beate Ritz. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
In Asia, pollution is a regular killer A smoky haze that shrouded parts of Southeast Asia this month, forcing schools to close, is just one element of an air pollution problem that kills hundreds of thousands of people in the region annually, WHO said. Air pollution in Southeast Asian and Chinese cities contributes to the deaths of about 500,000 per year. Margie Mason. Associated Press. 11 September 2005.
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Malaysia urges drastic steps to end Indonesia’s haze-causing forest fires. Malaysia urged its neighbors to take more drastic steps to combat forest fires. Last month's haze was so bad that the government had to declare a state of emergency, shutting down schools and urging residents to remain indoors and away from the choking smoke for three days. Jim Gomez. Associated Press. 27 September 2005.
Vehicular fumes affecting our health Ghanan city dwellers are increasingly being exposed to the danger of large amounts of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere in recent times. Carbon monoxide emission from automobiles takes the lives of many people and additionally inflicts incalculable damage on the environment. Fauziyah Sai. GhanaWeb Online, Ghana. 15 September 2005.
Pacoima’s Lot: A deindustrialized L.A. imports its smog The transportation infrastructure needed for large-scale import has created new pollution and health problems. The particulate matter in smog, especially diesel-produced smog, is suspected of worsening the health of children and the elderly. Steven Mikulan. LA Weekly. 23-28 September 2005.
Clear and Present Danger: Air Angels Kaiser Permanente emergency-room physician John Miller sees the illness caused by pollution every day, and wants it to stop. During specific weeks they had to take their children to the emergency room. Diesel exhaust, he says, has been revealed as a trigger for, and cause of, asthma. Mehammed Mack and William J. Kelly. LA Weekly. 23-28 September 2005.
Clear and Present Danger: The Air That We Breathe Just when it looked like we might win the war on smog, a new and more deadly form of air pollution stalks Los Angeles. Ultrafine particles may be the most damaging to health. Levels of air pollution still send mothers and fathers racing their gasping, asthmatic children to emergency rooms in the night. William Kelly. LA Weekly. 22 September 2005.
Are school buses hazardous to kids' health? Researchers want to know if riding the school bus can be hazardous to children's health. Diesel particles are dangerous because they are so tiny they slip past the lung's natural defenses. Studies in other areas have found children may be exposed to substantial levels of diesel emissions. [Registration required]. Gary Chittim. King 5 TV, Washington. 24 August 2005.
Panel urges stricter emissions rules for L.A.'s school buses The South Coast Air Quality Management District on Wednesday urged the state to adopt strict emissions standards for Los Angeles' school bus fleet, saying continued exposure to diesel exhaust puts children's health at risk. [Registration Required]. Julie Cart. Los Angeles Times, California. 15 September 2005.
State Air Board Rejects Rule on School Bus Emissions The California Air Resources Board on Thursday declined to adopt a rule requiring Southern California's school buses to maintain strict emissions standards. [Registration Required]. Julie Cart. Los Angeles Times, California. 16 September 2005.
Filthy school buses Editorial. Long Beach Press-Telegram. 22 September 2005.
Bus firms OK Clean Air Pact 5 school bus companies have agreed to reduce air pollution. This will go a long way to reducing asthma, a growing problem among children in Harlem and the Bronx. In 2000, children living in New York City were twice as likely to be hospitalized for asthma as children in the rest of the country. Bill Egbert. New York Daily News. 27 September 2005.
ADEQ expands program to limit school bus diesel emissions The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's School Bus Idling Program is expanding. Idling school buses can expose children to harmful diesel exhaust on a daily basis. Diesel emissions can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as asthma and have been linked to heart and lung disease. Phoenix Business Journal, Arizona. 14 September 2005.
In California, agriculture takes center stage in pollution debate. San Joaquin Valley is smoggy, filled with air that has fostered
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Air pollution linked to sperm damage. Air pollution can damage sperm, potentially leading to birth defects or miscarriages, according to research published yesterday. Scientists said the results were a warning of the number of chemicals commonly present in the air that can cause damage to human DNA. Alok Jha. The Guardian, London. 27 September 2005.
Smog could damage male fertility Sam Bond. Environmental Data Interactive Exchange, UK. 30 September 2005.
(c) Asthma
Study Links Freeways to Asthma Risk The closer that children live to Southern California freeways, the greater their risk of being diagnosed with asthma, USC researchers have found in a study that bolsters growing evidence that air pollution can cause asthma. [Registration Required]. Deborah Schoch. Los Angeles Times, California. 21 September 2005.
Gasping for air Nearly 870,000 people in Michigan have asthma - about 9% of the population, a 15% increase from the late 1980s. Asthma is a growing problem in suburban areas, driven in part by high levels of pollution from industry. Yasser, whose son has asthma, believes the poor air quality in Detroit is the leading cause of his child's suffering. Gregg Krupa. Detroit News, Michigan. 18 September 2005.
State study links asthma to economic circumstances Children who live in wealthy communities north of Boston are not as likely to have asthma as those in congested cities because they often learn in newer schools and live in better-maintained houses where their parents are less likely to smoke, specialists said. Jennifer Fenn Lefferts. Boston Globe. 18 September 2005.
Program zeros in on what triggers asthma. A nonprofit has launched a free program to help eliminate asthma triggers in the homes of underprivileged children. Asthma affects about 5 million US kids. The organization addresses the rise in illnesses caused or complicated by indoor environmental hazards. Jennifer Bails. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 26 September 2005.
Polluted paradise With little fanfare, Sequoia-Kings Canyon has become America's smoggiest national park, with more smoggy days here than in Atlanta or New York City. The child suffered from asthma, but no one expected it to be triggered in the park. [Registration Required]. Gary Polakovic. Los Angeles Times, California. 13 September 2005.
(d) Environmental Tobacco Smoke/Smoking
Research shows secondhand-smoke exposure can harm a fetus New research suggests that secondhand smoke might be every bit as damaging to a fetus as if the mother were inhaling the smoke directly from a cigarette. Stuart Eskenazi. Seattle Times, Washington. 7 September 2005.
Kids in smokers' homes may get hooked later Absorbing nicotine from second-hand smoke in the home may make children physically more susceptible to getting hooked on cigarettes when they become adolescents, a Canadian study suggests. Sheryl Ubelacker. Canadian Press. 19 August 2005.
Second-hand smoke might boost leukemia risk It is possible that long-term exposure to environmental tobacco smoke may raise the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Canadian researchers report. David Douglas. Reuters Health. 30 September 2005.
(2) CHEMICALS: (a) General
A Global Strategy for Protecting Health & the Environment from Chemicals Risks Representatives are finalizing the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, which will provide a framework for global action on chemical hazards
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Unwanted gift for life: children exposed to hazardous chemicals before birth Unborn children are being exposed in the womb to potentially harmful man-made chemicals, according to new research commissioned by Greenpeace Netherlands and WWF. Research into maternal and umbilical cord blood was published in a study entitled A Present for Life. Press Release. Greenpeace. 8 September 2005.
Cleaning chemicals 'reach baby' Chemicals found in perfumes and cleaning products can cross the placenta and reach the baby in the womb, research shows. Tests of umbilical cord blood shows many chemicals, ranging from those used to make plastics and perfumes, are present. WWF-UK and Greenpeace want regulations to ban such substances in every day products. BBC, UK. 8 September 2005.
Poison experts attack 'hysteria' over chemicals British poison experts denounced groups for a 'hysterical, scaremongering' campaign about dangerous chemicals. But this was disputed by Greenpeace. 'Given we have huge uncertainties about these chemicals' biological activities at low concentrations, should we be exposing the unborn child to them?' Robin McKie. London Guardian. 18 September 2005.
Home toxins could be endangering your child According to environmental health experts, many common chemicals found in and around the average American home can be harmful to humans, especially to babies and young children. [Registration required]. Hampton Roads WVEC, Virginia. 23 August 2005.
PCB effects early in life still unclear The findings from a new study suggest that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the womb, via the mother's blood, reduces fetal growth, whereas those from another suggest no effect. Both studies are reported in the journal Epidemiology. Reuters Health. 22 September 2005.
EU bans phthalates in children's toys The European Parliament’s (EP) decision to approve a ban on the plasticizer chemicals used in children’s soft plastic toys signals the end of a bitter eight-year battle. The ban will come into force a year after new legislation is published, probably in the fall. Maria Burke. Environmental Science & Technology. 8 September 2005.
Healthy Schools Network Applauds Governor Pataki For Protecting Children's Health Governor Pataki signed legislation that protects children, teachers and all school personnel from toxic cleaning products commonly used by schools. Healthy Schools Network applauds the Governor for assuring that NYS schools will use healthy cleaning products. Press Release. Healthy Schools Network. 24 August 2005.
Early Environmental Origins of Neurodegenerative Disease in Later Life In this article we hypothesize that environmental exposures in early life may be of particular etiologic importance and review evidence for the early environmental origins of neurodegeneration. Philip Landrigan, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
Assessing Susceptibility from Early-Life Exposure to Carcinogens Early exposures to compounds with endocrine activity sometimes produce different tumors after exposures at different ages. These analyses suggest increased susceptibility to cancer from early-life exposure. Hugh Barton, et. al. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
Rocking the Cradle-Phthalate Exposure in NICU Infants Double jeopardy? Babies in neonatal intensive care units, already a high-risk group, are likely to have greater exposure to potentially harmful phthalates than other children. Julia R. Barrett. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
Analysis: Oregon breast milk contaminated The breast milk of Oregon women is contaminated with a high level of toxic flame retardants known as PBDEs, researchers say. 30% of the mothers tested in the Northwest study had higher levels of PBDEs than PCBs. Toxic flame retardants have emerged as a major environmental health concern. Associated Press.
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Sacramento Bee, California. 25 August 2005.
(b) Lead Lead levels in Chinese children decreasing. Due to improved environmental awareness, regulations, and the reduced use of leaded gasoline, lead levels in Chinese children’s blood systems are dropping, and are now below dangerous levels. "About 10 to 20 percent of children surpass 100 micrograms of lead in one liter of blood." Shanghai Daily, China. 27 September 2005.
Uganda to Ban Leaded Fuel Leaded petrol is to be phased out in Uganda by December 31. Children are susceptible to lead poisoning as they are likely to get contaminated dirt on their hands that they eventually ingest. Impoverished and undernourished children are especially at risk because their bodies absorb more lead. John Kasozi/Jennifer Austin. Kampala New Vision, Uganda. 14 September 2005.
New toxic additive in petrol When it was confirmed that leaded petrol would be phased out by 1 January, environmentalists and public health experts were delighted. Studies also show that children’s blood lead levels have dropped since the introduction of unleaded petrol. Olivia Rose-Innes. Health24.com, South Africa. 15 September 2005.
Farmers protest over alleged lead poisoning Chinese farmers staging a week-long protest against a factory they say causes lead pollution finally felt vindicated as the local government pledged to settle the problem yesterday. 58% of 1300 children tested had levels above 100 micrograms per liter; 5.5% above 250. Zhang Jianming/Shao Xiaoyi. China Daily. 25 August 2005.
U.N. admits doing little to halt Gypsy lead poisoning The children and their families are living here in 3 camps run by the UN, and the U.N. acknowledges it has failed to protect them from lead-related illnesses. Six years later the Roma are still living in the shadows of disused, smelting operations. [Registration Required]. Bruce Konviser. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. 29 August 2005.
Lead Exposure Plus Hypertension May Cause Cognitive Decline. Exposure to lead in childhood and adolescence may contribute to high blood pressure-related problems that can harm cognitive abilities later in life, a new study finds. Steven Reinberg. Health Day. 27 September 2005.
Keeping preschoolers from lead poisoning How good a job is San Francisco doing to keep small children away from lead paint and dust that can cause lifelong health and behavioral problems? "A small child will absorb roughly 50 percent of a lead exposure and retain it. Most of it's stored in their bones and tissues." Jo Stanley. San Francisco Examiner, California. 12 September 2005.
Some children's soft vinyl lunch boxes contain lead at levels far exceeding legal limits Levels of lead measured ran between two and ninety times the legal limits, with the highest level in the lining, where it could come in contact with food. Lead in children's lunch boxes. Press Release. Center for Environmental Health. 31 August 2005.
An unsavory addition to kids' lunchboxes: lead Along with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and juice boxes, some schoolchildren may be carrying something unexpected — and potentially hazardous — in their lunchboxes this fall. A study found harmful levels of lead in some lunchboxes made of soft vinyl. [Registration Required]. Shari Roan. Los Angeles Times, California. 12 September 2005.
Group finds lead in kids' lunchboxes Palm Beach Post, Florida. 20 September 2005. Lead found in children's lunchboxes Honolulu KHON TV, Hawaii. 20 September 2005. Toxic lead finds a new avenue Raleigh News & Observer, North Carolina. 16 September 2005. Officials warn of lead in lunch boxes Amy L. Ashbridge. Oneonta Daily Star, New York. 23 September 2005.
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Experts question lunchbox lead study results Some health experts have questioned the results of a study finding a high lead risk in children's lunchboxes, saying the levels were not high enough to cause harm. Raleigh NBC17 TV, North Carolina. 1 October 2005.
Lead risky, but cleanup expensive. While a ban removed lead from house paint in 1978, old paint remains in tens of thousands of Rochester's older homes and is especially dangerous when ingested in paint chips or dust. Children age 6 and younger are most at risk. Brian Sharp. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 27 September 2005.
Poisoned homes City and county leaders are inching their way toward regulations that protect more local children from the hazards of lead paint. The brain and organ damage they may suffer is irreversible. The community must do better. Editorial. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, New York. Editorial, 16 September 2005.
Lead paint testing ought to be required The decision to strike a mandatory testing requirement severely weakens a proposed ordinance that would make it easier to detect high lead levels in young children. Guilford County youngsters remain unacceptably vulnerable to lead-paint poisoning.Editorial. Greensboro News & Record, North Carolina. Editorial, 16 September 2005.
$3 million coming to New Britain for lead paint removal The city will receive a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help address the removal of lead paint from older homes and apartments around the city. This is good news for children, who risk blood poisoning from living in homes with lead paint. Herald Staff. New Britain Herald. 22 September 2005.
Grant given to make older homes lead-safe Lynchburg now has nearly $3 million to make older inner city homes safe from lead-based paint, thanks to a federal grant. Lynchburg’s program primarily affects the older houses in downtown neighborhoods, particularly ones with children 6 years old and under. Conor Reilly. Lynchburg News and Advance, Virginia. 23 September 2005.
Unit 5 investigates Chicago's lead problem Chicago considers itself the city that works, but when it comes to lead and children, the numbers tell a very different story. Carol Marin. Chicago NBC5 TV, Illinois. 30 September 2005.
Mayoral candidates see room to improve The mayoral candidates agree that there is much room for improvement when it comes to rehabilitating or demolishing abandoned houses, lowering the city's infant death rate, and reducing the number of buildings with lead paint. David Skolnick. Youngstown Vindicator, Ohio. 16 September 2005.
Judge orders EPA to review lead standards A federal judge has chastised EPA for failing to review its health standard for lead pollution in the air, and ordered the agency to do so. State officials reported that more than half of the children living within half a mile of the Doe Run smelter in Herculaneum had elevated levels of lead in their blood. Peter Shinkle. St. Louis Post- Dispatch, Missouri. 20 September 2005.
(c) Pesticides
Perils posed by pesticides grow Doctors in Pakistani villages seem uncertain over what is causing the worsening health in children - but grief-stricken parents are sure that it is caused by pesticides and their widespread misuse. While the arrival of modern pesticides has revolutionised agriculture, the health impact of the chemicals is a source of growing concern. UN IRIN. 21 September 2005.
Exceptions in new EPA rules would allow testing pesticides on children The EPA's new rules on human testing, which the agency said would "categorically" protect children and pregnant women from pesticide testing, include numerous exemptions - including one that specifically allows testing of children who have been "abused and neglected." Andrew Schneider. Baltimore Sun. 14 September 2005.
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EPA flunks ethics EPA's rewritten pesticide testing rules include exceptions, according to the Baltimore Sun, that would allow pesticide testing on "abused or neglected" children without permission from parents or guardians; and permit "ethically deficient" human research if necessary to "protect public health". Editorial. Toledo Blade, Ohio. 25 September 2005.
EPA pesticide regulations have a few bugs, too. The effects of pesticides are little understood. There are only correlations between pesticide exposure and disease, including reproductive and developmental hazards. How much of a learning problem should be attributed to neurological damage caused by doses of pesticides ingested in breast milk? Deborah Rich. San Francisco Chronicle. 24 September 2005.
Researchers surprised by participation in pesticide study Researchers were unsure how residents would react to a study that might turn up problems with the use of farm pesticides. The response surprised them. They are studying children ages 7 to 12. The researchers have found little scientific research on a possible link between pesticides and children's brain development. Associated Press. 25 August 2005.
Going Organic Can Shield Children From Pesticides Switching to organic foods provides children "dramatic and immediate" protection from pesticides that are widely used on a variety of crops, according to a study by a team of federally funded scientists. [Registration Required]. Marla Cone. Los Angeles Times, California. 3 September 2005.
Correlating Agricultural Use of Organophosphates with Outdoor Air Concentrations: A Particular Concern for Children Cellular, animal, and human evidence of toxicity, particularly in newborns, supports the public health concern of initial risk estimates. Agricultural applications of organophosphates are a probable source of exposures. Martha Harnly, et. al. Environmental Health Perspectives. September 2005.
JAMA Study of Pesticide Risks in Schools A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association underscores the risks of pesticide use in and around the nation's schools. Analyzing 2,593 reported pesticide poisonings in schools and childcare centers between 1998 to 2002, the study reported several troubling findings. Pesticide Action Network Updates Service. September 15, 2005
School food 'high in pesticides' Fruit and vegetables given to children in schools contain more pesticides than shop-bought produce, a report suggests. Chemical residues were found in 84% of fresh produce in schools compared with 57% in stores, the Soil Association said. The campaign group said it was "wrong" to provide lower quality food to "the most vulnerable in society". BBC, UK. 21 September 2005.
Baby in hospital after pesticide poisoning A baby boy has been rushed to hospital with organo-phosphate poisoning. One- year-old Sivuyile Mabandla of Philippi is in a stable condition in the Red Cross Children's Hospital intensive care unit. Phosphates are used in pesticides and are harmful to humans. IOL. Cape Argus, South Africa. 14 September 2005.
Law alerts parents to pesticide risks at school, day care. Parents should have received information about a new state law concerning notification requirements for the application of pesticides in and around their school or day care center. There is growing evidence that chemicals in the environment may be contributing to some illnesses. Kate Segal. Battle Creek Enquirer, Michigan. 25 September 2005.
(d) Mercury
US Senate Defeats Bid to Repeal EPA Mercury Rule The US Senate Tuesday narrowly defeated an attempt by Democrats to repeal a regulation that gives utilities until 2018 to reduce emissions of mercury, a contaminant that has been linked to birth defects and mental retardation. Reuters. 14 September 2005.
Senate Rejects Call on E.P.A. to Toughen Emission Rule [Purchase Required]. Michael Janofsky. New York Times. 14 September 2005.
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Senators back off mercury rule change Jim Abrams. Associated Press. 14 September 2005. U.S. Senate upholds EPA's power-plant mercury reduction rule Christopher Martin. Bloomberg News. 14 September 2005.
A mercurial vote The unusual 51-47 vote - with nine Republicans supporting repeal of EPA rules finalized last March - sends a strong message to the White House that swifter and tougher measures are needed to protect children and pregnant women from the debilitating effects of mercury emissions. Editorial. Eugene Register Guard, Oregon. Editorial, 15 September 2005.
Rising mercury On a narrow vote, the Senate rejected a resolution last week calling on the EPA to strengthen rules governing mercury emissions from power plants. A generation, or more, of American children are likely to pay the price. Editorial. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Florida. 18 September 2005.
Mercury pollution is never OK President Bush’s administration is even more cold-blooded in its indifference to the threat of toxic pollutants. Dr. Trasande cites new findings that women exposed to mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants give birth each year to 231 children nationwide with mental retardation. Idaho Mountain Express, Idaho. Opinion, 16 September 2005.
Mercury and clean air When the federal government won't provide appropriate protection from toxic pollutants, state leaders must step up. In New York, the Department of Health has already warned pregnant women and children to avoid eating most fish from the Adirondacks and Catskills because of mercury contamination. Editorial. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, New York. 19 September 2005.
Mercury activity. The US’s 600 coal-burning power plants pose a serious problem. They pump out 48 tons of mercury per year, which gets into the air, water, and fish. It can cause nerve damage. It is especially dangerous in pregnant women, as it can cause permanent memory and language problems in children. It has been linked to autism. Editorial. Keene Sentinel, New Hampshire. 26 September 2005.
Maintaining healthy environment. US/EPA says 16% of women of childbearing age have blood mercury levels that could result in fetal neurological damage. But in most cases, ultimate sufferers are developing countries that lack resources to deal with such problems. Birodh Pandey. Kathmandu Post, Nepal. 24 September 2005.
Women in Coastal Areas Are Found to Have Higher Mercury Levels Women in coastal communities have twice as much mercury in their blood as those inland, according to EPA. The findings provide fresh evidence of the link between fish consumption and concentrations of methylmercury, a neurotoxin that causes developmental problems in young children. Juliet Eilperin. Washington Post. 23 September 2005.
Moms-in-waiting should avoid tuna Women should avoid tuna and halibut during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Both fish contain the poison methyl mercury, which can harm unborn children and infants. The advice is based on a study by the German branch of Friends Of The Earth that indicated traces of more than 300 chemicals present in mother's milk. Pretoria News, South Africa. 13 September 2005.
Eat More Fish! Perhaps the most repeated refrain driving the mercury alarmism campaign is that "630,000 American babies are born each year" with elevated concentrations of mercury in their blood, with the potential for "permanent brain damage and learning disabilities." [Subscription Required]. Willie Soon and Robert Ferguson. Wall Street Journal. 15 August 2005. UR study suggests mercury in fish not dangerous. 15 years since researchers started scrutinizing 700 children from the Seychelles whose mothers ate great amounts of mercury-contaminated fish during their pregnancies. Researchers still have found no significant evidence that mercury is affecting children's abilities. Misty Edgecomb. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, New York. 27 September 2005.
Don’t Eat That Fish! More Mercury Will Be the Legacy of New Coal-Burning Plants The Fox River is one of the most PCB contaminated waterways, and is likely to have a high mercury content from coal-burning power plants and other sources.
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Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin known to cause arrested brain development in fetuses and young children. Kari Lydersen. Infoshop News. 22 September 2005.
Advocacy groups warn of mercury in fish Mercury levels in swordfish tested in Providence by an environmental advocacy group contained twice the level of mercury deemed acceptable by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a report released yesterday. [Registration Required]. Providence Journal, Rhode Island. 16 September 2005.
Tests find high mercury levels in some storebought fish Store-bought swordfish and tuna in 22 states contained mercury, with some showing levels above the legal limit. The government advises pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children to avoid fish with high levels of mercury: shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. [Registration Required]. Libby Quaid. Associated Press. 16 September 2005.
Of autism and vaccines: It's time to debunk the mercury myths. If mercury in vaccines didn't cause autism, then why did more than 10,000 autistic children this year receive the same chelation therapy? Although studies have answered the question of whether vaccines cause autism, scientists have done little to explain these studies to the public. Fredericksburg Free Lance- Star, Virginia. 25 September 2005.
Autism’s Razor: Epidemic’s cause found Where does mercury come from in babies? Vaccines; the air they breathe from industrial plants another. In researching data, articles and medical journals, I have come to one conclusion: Thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative used in many vaccines, is the culprit in Fridrik’s mercury poisoning. James Ottar Grundvig. Epoch Times, China. 30 September 2005.
Remove mercury from kids' flu shots Andover legislators are carrying a message to Beacon Hill this year: flu shots are hurting children. The US Environmental Protection Agency has labeled mercury as one of the most toxic chemicals known to man. Rita Savard. Andover Townsman, Massachusetts. 9 September 2005.
(3) WATER AND SANITATION
Dying for A Drink of Clean Water Ensuring access to safe water worldwide is imperative. Time spent hauling water robs women and girls of getting an education or engaging in work. It is a children's issue as water is essential for healthy development. A youngster dies every eight seconds from water-borne disease. [Registration Required]. Jan Eliasson/Susan Blumenthal. Washington Post. 20 September 2005.
Mauritania's deadly daily poverty Cholera is a disease of the poor, born of too many people living cheek by jowl without the infrastructure of a sewer system or clean drinking water. Cholera is a disease of the poor, born of too many people living cheek by jowl without the infrastructure of a sewer system or clean drinking water. Pascale Harter. BBC, UK. 8 September 2005.
Chad: Host communities threatened by disease and unsafe water In south-east Chad, the shortage of safe water has contributed to a hepatitis E outbreak. A girl holds a bottle of river water. The villagers have since received supplies for treating water to make it safe to drink, and have been educated in hygiene practices for keeping disease at bay. Jasmine Pittenger. UNICEF. 23 September 2005.
Toilets, a global health and environmental issue Some 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to toilets. Having no access to toilets has disastrous consequences for the spread of disease: some 6,000 children die every day from diarrhea caused by a lack of proper hygiene, according to international statistics. Agence France-Presse. 26 August 2005.
Millennium Goals: Down the pan? Why Toilets Matter: A child dies every 15 seconds from diarrhoeal disease, attributable mainly to poor water supply and/or sanitation. 443 million schooldays are lost each year from diarrhoeal disease. Failure to meet the MDG on water and sanitation is costing poor countries US$84bn per year. Richard Black. BBC. 15 September 2005.
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U.N. Urges World Leaders To Get Clean Water to the Billions Suffering Without "If we cannot provide for women and children suffering without ... a safe water source or a basic latrine, what hope do we have of reaching them with anti- retroviral drugs, malaria bed nets, vaccines or any of the other tools to save lives and reduce poverty?" Foster Klug, Associated Press. 15 September 2005.
Women, Water and Hygiene Are Key to Change in Africa Services for women & girls must be priority for water and sanitation. Women, water and basic hygiene are the key to creating lasting change in Africa, but national water and sanitation plans are still leaving women out. Lack of safe water and sanitation remains one of the most urgent health issues. Press Release. UNICEF. 14 September 2005.
Water, Water Everywhere... The crisis-weary African continent, which has two of the world's longest rivers is suffering from a virtual economic paradox: a shortage of water amidst potentially plentiful supplies. If the MDGs are not achieved by 2015, then the world will have failed to reach its goals to save 30 million children who would otherwise die. Thalif Deen. Inter Press Service. 23 August 2005.
Disease kills hundreds of children in India and Nepal An encephalitis outbreak has killed nearly 1,000 people, almost all children, in India and Nepal. The area is especially prone to the disease as it is a prime rice-growing region that breeds mosquitoes. Its geography allows little drainage after rains. Farmers often raise pigs close to where people live. Associated Press. USA Today. 20 September 2005.
Asia scrambles to tackle mosquito menace as dengue alerts go out. Singapore has been baffled by 10,000 cases this year of mosquito-borne dengue fever. Governments have turned to educational and preventive programs to curb the virus' spread: Thailand is teaching people to clear stagnant water by emptying containers around the home. Associated Press. 16 September 2005.
Project to tackle arsenic in water An amount of Rs 2200 crore has been allocated to eradicate the menace of arsenic polluted drinking water in the state within the next four years under the Bharat Nirman project. There are 5000 habitations (clusters) in the state, which are affected by arsenic contamination. New Delhi Business Standard. 22 September 2005.
Tap-Water Chemicals May Pose Little Pregnancy Risk Although some studies have suggested that certain chemical byproducts in tap water raise a woman's risk of miscarriage, new research suggests that the threat is small, if it exists at all. The chemicals are byproducts of the chlorination process used to kill disease-causing pathogens in the drinking-water supply. Amy Norton. Reuters. 17 August 2005.
DBPs not associated with miscarriage Rebecca Renner. Environmental Science & Technology. 15 September 2005.
Malaria has many tricks up its sleeve AIDS may command more headlines these days, but malaria still stands as the most persistent and lethal of the infectious diseases. It kills more than 2 million people every year, half of those children. Toronto Star, Ontario. 4 September 2005.
(4) MISCELLANEOUS (a) Global
Investing in the Environment Gives “Big Bang for Your Buck” World Summit Told Poverty and Environment Partnership Says Natural Capital Central to Development Goals. Every dollar spent on delivering clean water and sanitation is likely to give impressive rates of return. Economic benefits arise from reduced health care costs, and improved school attendance. Press Release. UNEP. 14 September 2005.
Major Report Stresses Natural Resources As Path Out Of Poverty The report, World Resources 2005: The Wealth of the Poor: Managing Ecosystems to Fight Poverty, stresses the urgent need to look beyond aid projects, debt relief and trade reform and focus on local natural resources to address the crisis of poverty in all parts of the globe. Press Release. UNEP/ UNDP/World Bank. 31 August 2005.
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The Environment Matters Poverty reduction can only succeed if we consider the links between human livelihoods and natural ecosystems. Large-scale land clearing means that poor, rural people, particularly women, need to walk for hours to gather firewood. Children are less likely to go to school. Claude Martin. Environmental News Service. 9 September 2005.
Environment may affect health more than thought According to professor Jacqueline McGlade from European Environment Agency, environmental exposure may play a more significant role in causing disease than previously thought. Current figures show that two to five percent of European mortality is attributable to environmental factors. Euractiv, Belgium. 16 September 2005.
If we mess with nature, it will mess with us I was preparing an opinion on the importance of the work of the NIEHS to the nation's public health and to the world's view of global environmental impact on health. Despite the detrimental health effects of lead exposure, one-fourth of children under 6 in this country have elevated levels of lead. Philip Iannaccone. Chicago Tribune, Illinois. 19 September 2005.
Rising threat to children Melanoma, a skin cancer, is showing up with increasing frequency in children. Melanoma is still a rare disease in children, but experts are alarmed by a steady increase in its prevalence. Some experts believe the rise in melanoma can be partly blamed on the thinning of the Earth's ozone layer. [Registration Required]. Susan FitzGerald. Philadelphia Inquirer. 26 September 2005.
Deserts, Drylands and Desertification Through the Eyes of Children Children are invited to express their hopes and fears about desertification in an International Painting Competition. Around 1/3 of the world's population live in drylands. Their degradation and desertification is a very real threat to people's lives and livelihoods. Press Release. United Nations Environment Programme. 23 September 2005.
(b) Climate Change
Pacific Rim at risk from climate Up to 10,000 people in the Asia-Pacific region could be dying each year as a result of factors associated with global warming such as severe weather and mosquito-borne disease, a World Health Organization expert said Thursday. This puts the lives of the regions children at risk. Associated Press. CNN. 22 September 2005.
Global warming brings health, security risks Rising world temperatures could cause a significant increase in disease across Asia and Pacific Island nations, leading to conflict a report compiled by the Australian Medical Association contends. "Climate change will damage our health. People will get sick as a direct result. People will die in larger numbers.” Taipei Times, Taiwan. 23 September 2005.
Climate Change hurts Africa most: scientists Extreme weather patterns, caused by climate change and leading to drought, will trigger deepening food shortages in Africa where most people rely on rain-fed crops to survive. Hunger and poverty will increase, affecting the lives of the most vulnerable such as children. Reuters. 22 September 2005.
Global warming: Adapting to a new reality Scientists and citizens are discovering that effects of warming are already upon us: increased summer deaths, changes in the sea, spread of disease vectors, increased floods and droughts. When Dr. Icardi’s nephew was ill after a day at the beach, global warming was not his first diagnosis. Elisabeth Rosenthal. International Herald Tribune. 12 September 2005.
(c) Americas
Children's environmental health at forefront Dr. McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, today released a report calling for urgent action to address children's environmental health. "Environmental Threats to Children: Understanding the Risks, Enabling Prevention" provides a summary of current science and outlines priority areas. Victoria Times Colonist,
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British Columbia. 16 September 2005.
The National Children's Study Awards Six Contracts to First Study Centers and One Coordinating Center The National Children’s Study today awarded contracts to six Study Centers and one Coordinating Center, signifying a major step in implementing the largest long-term study of children’s health and development ever conducted in the United States. E- Update. National Children’s Study. September 2005.
Researchers launch biggest study of US children Researchers hoping to determine the causes of many common diseases like autism and diabetes will follow 100,000 U.S. children from birth through adulthood in the largest ever study of its kind. In particular, scientists will try to find out whether there is a link between environment and diseases. Maggie Fox. Reuters. 30 September 2005.
First sites picked for child-health study Lauran Neergaard. Associated Press. 30 September 2005. Planned children's study may lack funds Jeff Nesmith. Cox News Service. 30 September 2005. An ambitious child-health study, with local ties Susan FitzGerald. Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Pennsylvania. 30 September 2005. U. to track kids' health Lois M. Collins. Salt Lake Deseret Morning News, Utah. 30 September 2005. Duplin kids part of national study Catherine Clabby. Raleigh News & Observer, North Carolina. 30 September 2005. How healthy is our state for kids? Carey Hamilton. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah. 30 September 2005. Waukesha County to live under microscope Susanne Quick. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin. 30 September 2005.
Floodwaters a Soup of Pathogens, EPA Finds Floodwaters in New Orleans contain extremely high levels of sewage-borne bacteria, posing an immediate health threat. "These [lead] levels are of greatest concern for children. This may seem obvious: No one should drink the floodwaters, especially children". [Registration Required]. Marla Cone. Los Angeles Times, California. 8 September 2005.
Toxic threat still vague but ominous, EPA says EPA has reported unsafe lead levels in floodwaters. The risk of cancer associated with a child drinking a liter of tainted water a day — so there is little immediate danger because people are not drinking the floodwaters. [Registration Required]. Marla Cone. Los Angeles Times, California. 15 September 2005.
EPA: Louisiana Floodwaters Are A Health Risk Young children are most susceptible to illness because their immune systems still are developing. However, the EPA said the amount of chemicals found in the water would pose a risk to children only if a child were to drink a liter of floodwater a day. Associated Press. 15 September 2005.
A black-green curtain of disease and destruction, grime and stench You cannot drink it, you cannot bathe in it, you can barely stand the smell of it. No child stands ankle-deep in it with plastic bucket. No preacher wades into it to baptize a sin-sullied flock. [Purchase Required]. Dan Barry. New York Times. 13 September 2005.
Next Threat: Illness Loss, hunger and mass displacement aren't the only predictable elements of a natural disaster. Respiratory illnesses, like diarrheal illnesses, pose a particular threat to small children, the elderly and the immune- compromised living in crowded conditions. [Registration Required]. Elizabeth Agnvall. Washington Post. 13 September 2005.
Protect children more in research, panel says A federal advisory panel released a report yesterday recommending extra protections for children in research experiments, saying its findings were prompted by a Baltimore lead-paint study blasted four years ago. Julie Bell. Baltimore Sun, Maryland. 20 September 2005.
Child-care facilities can be eco-certified Child-care providers in Oregon now can apply for their facilities to be certified as environmentally healthy places for children. The new program helps eliminate potential sources of toxins in and around child- care centers, including lead in drinking water and old paint, pesticides, mold, and poor indoor air. Salem Statesman Journal.
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22 September 2005.
(d) Asia
WHO warns increasing death due to environmental health risks WHO warned that up to one million people in the Western Pacific have died each year from environmental health risks. The risks include those that affect children: indoor smoke from solid fuels used for cooking and heating, urban air pollution, unsafe water and inadequate hygiene and sanitation. Xinhua News Agency. 22 September 2005.
Tempers flare in China. Throughout the countryside, farmers demand improved environmental controls, but change is slow. Some farmers have become seriously worried about their children's health and some could no longer grow rice and vegetables in nearby plots. Now peasant protests are a growing phenomenon. Jean-Françoise Temblay. Chemical & Engineering News. 26 September 2005.
China's Rising Tide of Protest Sweeping Up Party Officials The reason their river was going bad, the villagers were told, was that scores of mines containing an industrial metal known as molybdenum had started operating in the hills, sending waste down the river. Children started coming down with skin rashes after taking a dip. [Registration Required]. Edward Cody. Washington Post. 12 September 2005.
(e) Middle East
Pollution Proves Deadly to Iraqi Families Yousif’s death is one of many in Mosul linked to pollution and poor access to clean water. There are stinking swamps that cause illnesses in children. A pediatrician said most of his patients have respiratory, urinary and digestive problems linked to pollution. Sahar al-Haideri. Environment News Service. 21 September 2005.
(f) Europe
Scars on the Chernobyl landscape A UN report into the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident has concluded that the death toll will be lower than estimated. But many feel that much needs to be done. One woman says 3 of her 4 children are invalids. There are cancers, circulatory and heart disorders, and many handicapped children. Nick Thorpe. BBC, UK. 14 September 2005. ______
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