ANHE

This article was published in the February issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. Excerpt below.

Obesity is rising steadily around the world. Convincing evidence suggests that diet and activity level are not the only factors in this trend—chemical “obesogens” may alter human metabolism and predispose some people to gain weight. Fetal and early-life exposures to certain obesogens may alter some individuals’ metabolism and fat-cell makeup for life. Other obesogenic effects are linked to adulthood exposures.

Obesity has risen steadily in the United States over the past 150 years, with a marked uptick in recent decades. In the United States today more than 35% of adults and nearly 17% of children aged 2–19 years are obese. Obesity plagues people not just in the United States but worldwide, including, increasingly, developing countries. Even animals—pets, laboratory animals, and urban rats—have experienced increases in average body weight over the past several decades, trends not necessarily explained by diet and exercise. In the words of Robert H. Lustig, a professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, “[E]ven those at the lower end of the BMI [body mass index] curve are gaining weight. Whatever is happening is happening to everyone, suggesting an environmental trigger.”

Many in the medical and exercise physiology communities remain wedded to poor diet and lack of exercise as the sole causes of obesity. However, researchers are gathering convincing evidence of chemical “obesogens”—dietary, pharmaceutical, and industrial compounds that may alter metabolic processes and predispose some people to gain weight.

Read the full article here or download: Obesogens: An Environmental Link to Obesity

Toxic Flame Retardants Found In 85% of Baby Products Tested, Including Nursing Pillows and Car Seats
Health Advocates Urge State Ban On Toxic Tris Flame Retardants

Seattle, WA –Popular baby products, including nursing pillows and car seats, contain toxic flame retardants linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health effects, according to a new report released today by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States. Children and families are exposed to the compounds, called Tris chemicals, when they escape from household items and contaminate house dust and indoor air. 

“Parents shouldn’t have to worry about hidden toxic chemicals in their child’s nursing pillow or car seat. Unfortunately, our testing shows many items contain toxic flame retardants that aren’t good for children’s health,” said Erika Schreder, author of the report and science director for the Washington Toxics Coalition. 

The report, Hidden Hazards In the Nursery, found toxic flame retardants in 85% (17 of 20) of new baby and children’s products tested, including bassinet pads, nursing pillows, changing pads, and car seats. The most prevalent flame retardant found was chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a chemical voluntarily removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s when it was found to cause adverse health effects. Chlorinated Tris was present in 80% of the products (16 of 20). California recently classified chlorinated Tris as a carcinogen, and evidence links the chemical to neurotoxicity as well as hormone disruption.

Several children’s products did not contain Tris flame retardants, demonstrating it is possible to make products without Tris chemicals. Products that tested negative for Tris flame retardants were: Eddie Bauer Pop-up Booster Seat, Balboa Nursing Pillow, and First Years Co-Sleeper.  Other companies that are known to not use Tris flame retardants include Boppy, Orbit Baby, and Baby Bjorn.

Children’s health advocates are calling on the Washington State Legislature to pass the Toxic-Free Kids Act, which would ban the use of toxic Tris flame retardants in children’s products beginning July 1, 2014. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle), also addresses the problem of substituting one harmful chemical for another by requiring makers of children’s products that contain Tris chemicals to conduct thorough health and safety assessments of potential alternatives. The Toxic-Free Kids Act is one of three priorities of Washington state’s Environmental Priorities Coalition.

As nurses, we know that toxic flame retardants have no business being in products we bring into our homes, especially in items for kids who are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of chemical exposures. Makers of children’s products need to ensure their products do not contain chemicals that harm children’s health. 

A copy of the study is available online at www.watoxics.org/publications/hidden-hazards.

Tips for avoiding toxic flame retardants are available online at www.watoxics.org/toxicswatch/tips-to-avoid-toxic-tris.

Citizen Samples Confirm Neighboring Communities at Risk

From Global Community Monitor: El Cerrito, CA-- Citizen sampling of air quality near natural gas production facilities has identified highly unsafe levels of toxic chemicals near homes, playgrounds, schools and community centers in Colorado and New Mexico. A new report issued by Global Community Monitor, GASSED! Citizen Investigation of Toxic Air Pollution from Natural Gas Development, details the air sampling results, environmental and public health threats with living amid the natural gas boom.

A coalition of environmental and community based organizations in Colorado and New Mexico collected nine air samples that were analyzed by a certified lab. The lab detected a total of 22 toxic chemicals in the air samples, including four known carcinogens, as well as toxins known to damage the nervous system and respiratory irritants. The chemicals detected ranged from 3 to 3,000 times higher than what is considered safe by state and federal agencies. Sampling was conducted in the San Juan Basin area of Colorado and New Mexico, as well as Garfield County in western Colorado.

“Carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and acrylonitrile should not be in the air we breathe – and certainly not at these potentially harmful levels," said Dr. Mark Chernaik, scientist. “These results suggest neighboring communities are not being protected and their long-term health is being put at risk.”

"My husband, pets, and I have experienced respiratory and other health related problems during the twelve years we have lived on Cow Canyon Road in La Plata County, Colorado.  We believe these health issues are related to the air quality in our neighborhood and in the area,” said Jeri L. Montgomery, neighbor of natural gas development. Through the course of the pilot study, neighbors of natural gas production facilities documented chemical odors and sampled the air. Neighbors have appealed to local, state and national government agencies to investigate their air quality complaints, to limited recourse.

"We are very concerned about the total disregard for the health and welfare of the people "existing" near the sickening toxic oil and gas industry dumps located in neighborhoods such as the land farm on Crouch Mesa and the waste disposal facility in Bloomfield that are permitted and approved by the State of New Mexico and Federal EPA,” said Shirley McNall, member of San Juan County, NM Residents Worried About Our Health.

"Experts and agencies recognize more air monitoring is needed, but it's not happening," said Paul Light, co-chair of the Battlement Concerned Citizens. "Rather than wait for the government, we used the Bucket Brigade to collect much-needed air quality information." 

The community and environmental groups in the San Juan Basin and western Colorado worked with Global Community Monitor, which trains community members living near industrial operations to run their own “Bucket Brigade” to sample their air. The Bucket Brigade has been used in 27 countries internationally. The bucket uses EPA methods for testing and an independent lab for air sample analysis.

Complaints about air quality have also surfaced in other states around the country, including West Virginia, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming. Little information exists to educate and inform citizens about the chemicals being stored, emitted into the air, ground or water in close proximity to their homes. “People are getting gassed, and they don’t even know what is coming at them. The air monitoring provides crucial information in understanding what families are being exposed to on a day-to-day basis,” said Denny Larson of Global Community Monitor.

Federal loopholes in the Clean Air Act allow major corporations to circumvent basic protections that put public health first. US EPA is currently drafting new regulations to control and monitor air pollution from natural gas development. Congress is debating new legislation, such as the Bringing Reductions to Energies Air Born Toxic Health Effects (BREATHE) Act.

As regulation moves forward, GASSED! states that solutions are possible. The natural gas industry should invest in pollution controls to increase efficiency and reduce the amount of chemicals in the air. The report also calls for mandatory air monitoring at all natural gas operations and disclosure of chemicals used in the process to local residents.

In addition, the proximity of neighbors and wells is often too close. The report recommends a minimum quarter mile buffer zone between homes, schools and natural gas operations. This is similar to regulations enacted by Tulare County, CA on pesticide spray and St. Charles Parish, LA on industrial development. The report further states, “As the natural gas industry continues to grow, so will the number of families neighboring and affected by the emissions. Industry and government leaders have a unique opportunity to address public health and environmental issues. For coexistence between communities and gas industry to be possible, chemical exposure has to be immediately addressed.”

The full report can be downloaded at: Gassed! Full Report

Download the Appendix: Complete Air Samples Results Spreadsheet

Full Air Sample Data Interpretation Letter from Mark Chernaik, Phd

Policy/Advocacy Work Group Call

August 4, 2011 3pm – 4pm ET

Call in number: 1-866-906-9888; Access code: 9709137#

On today's call, we'll be discussing policy and advocacy on the topic of Hydraulic Fracturing, otherwise known as 'hydrofracking', or just 'fracking'. Our guest speaker is Kyle Ash, Senior Legislative Representative at Greenpeace USA. As Greenpeace’s Senior Legislative Representative, Kyle Ash is responsible for domestic and international climate change policy analysis and campaign strategy. Kyle will describe the negative potential (and historic) health and environmental impacts of fracking, federal policies that exempt this practice from regulations meant to protect health, and current efforts nurses can join to limit fracking and make it safer. Kyl recommended Fracking the Future: How unconventional gas threatens our water, health and climate Below is a map of where shale is found throughout the United States.

We have more information on fracking on our Hazards fracking page

We'll also hear updates on important climate and energy policy from Brenda Afzal,  learn about recent and planned actions on the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 from Kathryn Hall, and nurses will talk about their policy and advocacy advances from states across the country. 

You can view July's call at: http://envirn.org/pg/groups/7724/chemical-policy/

Safe Cosmetics Act Toolkit – also contains handouts from the July call.

Safe Chemicals Toolkit – also contains information on the August 10th event and handouts from the July call.

Information on the National Day of Action August 10th

The Climate Change and Health community is packed with information on climate change, clean air, toxic air pollution, and ways nurses can become involved.