The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health

News highlights from January 12 – January 21, 2008

A recap of the top stories on toxins in Michigan and National news.

Michigan News

Groups seeks ban on lindane

Lansing State Journal, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008

“The Michigan Environmental Council is pushing a statewide ban on lindane, a chemical known to cause health and environmental defects, that is used to treat head lice and scapies…”

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS01/
801200668/1001/news

Decision on UP mine lease on hold

Detroit Free Press, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Article discusses delay of the DNR decision about whether to allow a sulfide mine in the UP and indicates decision will probably not be made until after February.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS05/
801120341/1007/NEWS05

Phosphorus debate goes to Lansing

Bay City Times, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008

“Bay County's ban on phosphorus-based fertilizers may be catching on, and Saginaw Bay will benefit, supporters say. A Congresswoman [Rep. Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township)] is calling for statewide restrictions on phosphorus fertilizers, a group of bay area leaders plan to lobby for one in Lansing, and Democrats in the state House are readying legislation, officials say. ..”

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/
news-11/120032732760850.xml&coll=4

Recalled products draw union attention

Midland Daily News, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

“Toxic toys drew about 10 demonstrators to downtown Midland Wednesday as United Steelworkers union members shared their concerns about lead. The union workers stood outside the office of U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, and distributed free lead test kits for parents to use on toys in their homes…”

http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19207389&BRD=
2289&amp PAG=461&dept_id=472542&rfi=6

Protestors seek safety from foreign-made toxic products

Kalamazoo Gazette, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

“About 30 protesters showed up outside U.S. Rep. Fred Upton's Kalamazoo office Wednesday – many in biohazard suits and carrying signs – to urge him to co-sponsor legislation designed to ‘safeguard Americans against toxic food and products’ imported from other countries…”

http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/
news-27/1200585014207710.xml&coll=7

Many toys pass lead test

Saginaw News, Monday, Jan. 15, 2008

Article focuses on toy testing events and quotes Mike Shriberg discussing how toys can be tested for lead.

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-25/
120041045468350.xml&coll=9

Parents thankful for lead test

Detroit News, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Article discusses lead testing events being held by the Macomb County Health Department and being conducted by the Environmental Testing and Consulting of Romulus.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/METRO03/
801120344/1412/METRO03

Michigan toy law is great, but it’s really a job for Congress

Bay City Times, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

An editorial asking the CPSC to do more to safeguard toys.

http://www.mlive.com/columns/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-1/120058
6533279430.xml&coll=4

Testing finds lead in grandma’s toys

Macomb Daily, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Article discusses a lead testing seminar recently held by the Macomb County Health Department.

http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/011208/loc_n3001.shtml

Lead screening continues today

Grand Rapids Press, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008

Articles discusses lead screenings being conducted by the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-40/1200062
75730680.xml&coll=6

DEQ: Elevated radon found in 20% of homes

Ann Arbor News, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008

“Radon is present in elevated levels in about one in five homes in Livingston County, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality. That compares to an average of one in 15 homes nationwide…”

http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-10/
1200066219171740.xml&coll=2

Appeal court: State permitting of animal farms violate law

Detroit News, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008

Article briefly discusses a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that the state cannot allow CAFOs to set their own rules regarding the spreading of manure..

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/METRO/
801160451/1409/METRO

National News

How plastic we’ve become

Science News, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2008

Article on the prevalence of BPA and its breakdown products in people.

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20080119/food.asp

Baby products under scrutiny

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

“A congressional committee is launching an investigation into the use and safety of a chemical found in many children's and infant products, including the lining of liquid infant formula cans…”

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=708628

Banned toxin found in wood floor finishes

Reuters, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008

“A wood floor finish popular in the 1950s and 1960s may be a significant source of the banned, disease-causing pollutants known as PCBs, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday…”

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1665067220080117

Toys panel to study jewelry

Chicago Tribune, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Article discusses an industry/consumer private panel that was formed to examine the safety of magnets in toys, but does not indicate panel is addressing other concerns.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-magnets_satjan12,1,
5846933.story?ctrack=5&cset=true

Lead: an omnipresent poison

St. Petersburg Times (FL), Sunday, Jan. 13, 008

A comprehensive article detailing the testing of products in a parents-to-be rental home and discussing the potential effects of lead poisoning.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/13/Worldandnation/Lead__An_
omnipresent_.shtml

State legislators call for stricter toy safety regulations

The Olympian (WA), Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008

Article discusses the sponsorship by some Washington state legislator of a state bill to ban lead, cadmium, and phthalates in children’s products.

http://www.theolympian.com/legislature/story/333202.html

FDA to declare cold medicines too risky for children

Houston Chronicle, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

“WASHINGTON — Parents should not give sniffling babies and toddlers over-the-counter cough and cold medicines — they're too risky for tots so small, the government will declare today. The Food and Drug Administration still hasn't decided if the remedies are appropriate for older children to continue using, officials told The Associated Press…”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5462106.html

California chemicals

Chemical and Engineering News, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2008

Article discusses a report commissioned by the California EPA to UC Berkeley and UCLA to study the impact of diseases associated with chemical exposure of children, workers, businesses, and families – the study found that it costs California $2.6 billion/year.

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/86/i03/8603notw8.html

Coal power plants opposed

Las Vegas Sun, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

“Citing public health concerns, the Nevada chapter of the SEIU, the union that represents 17,500 nurses, technicians and county employees — including those of the Clark County air quality agency — today announced its opposition to construction of new coal-fired power plants…”

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/news/2008/jan/17/coal-power-plants-
opposed/

DEHC won’t test residents for mercury

The State (SC), Friday, Jan. 11, 2008

Articles discusses South Carolina health regulators decision to not test individuals for mercury although concerns over mercury-tainted fish has been a focus in the state recently.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/281308.html

Toymakers, buyers rebuild trust after China safety scares

AFP, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008

Article discusses actions of foreign toy companies in response to recalls.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hHAOgQKqZ9XcA4YhM_7AR5ttbA9g

Mercury in Alaska fish: Something else to worry about

Cordova Times (AK), Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008

Article indicates that mercury is showing up in Alaskan-caught fish, which previously were thought to have very little or no mercury.

http://thecordovatimes.com/news/story/1230

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Articles were researched and compiled by Diane Sherman, MNCEH Intern.

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