The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health

News highlights from February 2 - February 8, 2008

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

Michigan News

Methane latest toxin discovered at park

Detroit News, Friday, Feb. 2, 2008

“WESTLAND – Methane gas has been discovered under Central City Park, adding to myriad toxins that have closed the once-popular park built atop a former dump. The discovery of methane comes along with high levels of lead, arsenic and other toxins in the soil of the park off Ford between Wayne and Newburgh…”

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080202/METRO01/
802020345/1410

Toxic cleanup fund empty; DEQ may seek statewide bond

Bay City Times, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

The state Department of Environmental Quality has run out of money for toxic site cleanups and brownfield redevelopment projects. Thousands of contaminated sites in the Saginaw Bay area and elsewhere will sit unaddressed until a new funding source is found, said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester…”

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/
news-11/1202487319260030.xml&coll=4

State plan to reduce mercury depends on finding money

Capital News Service, Friday, Feb. 1, 2008

“LANSING – The Department of Environmental Quality plans to eliminate the use and release of mercury in Michigan - if it has the money…”

http://blog.mlive.com/cns/2008/02/state_plan_to_reduce_
mercury_d.html

State looking for ways to break down, remove dioxin

Midland Daily News, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

“The state is looking at treatments that break down dioxins or make the contaminants easier to remove from soils and sediments…”

http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19276632&BRD=
2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472542&rfi=6

National News

Baby care products: Possible sources of infantile exposure to phthalates

Environmental Health News, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

Article details study about infant exposure to phthalates through personal care products.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/
2008-0204sathyanarayanaetal.html

Articles about above study:

Phthalate chemicals found in infants

Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s The Environment Report, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

http://www.environmentreport.org/story.php3?story_id=3882

Study sees hazards in baby powder and lotions

Washington Post, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/
AR2008020103284.html

Study finds high levels of chemicals in infants using baby cosmetics

LA Times, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-babies4feb04,0,1463634.story

Effects of baby products studied

Baltimore Sun, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-te.baby04feb04,0,3158518,
full.story

Baby toiletries linked to chemical risk

USA Today, No date

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-03-baby-lotion_N.htm

Element in lotion may enter babies’ skin

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=714181

Phthalates under fire

Kansas City Star, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/474259.html

Chemicals in baby products raise concerns

Associated Press, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20080203/47a69bd0_
3421_13345200802041682906611

Inadvertent contamination

Chemical and Engineering news, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008

“A preliminary investigation of wastewater sludge and dust samples from U.S. and New Zealand research bases in Antarctica reveals unexpectedly high concentrations of polluting flame retardants, at levels comparable with those in U.S. urban centers…”

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/86/i05/8605notw1.html

Group says feds are hiding data on Great Lakes health concerns

Duluth News Tribune, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

“A nonprofit public interest group says a report that charts human health problems near Great Lakes toxic sites has been hidden by the U.S. government for seven months because the findings might be too controversial…”

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=59863&section=
News&freebie_check&CFID=4133393&CFTOKEN=55713567&jsessionid=
8830b58cb66c66a66513

Getting the lead out of jewelry

LA Times, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

Article discusses lack of enforcement for California’s law banning 600 ppm of lead in kids’ jewelry.

http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-consumer3feb
03,0,5247901.story

New state law targets lead levels in jewelry

Oakland Tribune, Saturday, Feb. 2., 2008

“Get the lead out – of jewelry? On March 1, a law takes effect tightly regulating levels of lead in adult jewelry sold in California. The new rule follows a law enacted Sept. 1 with even tighter restrictions on lead levels in children's jewelry…”

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_8149508

Nonprofit finds big problems in kids’ toys

Oakland Tribune, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

Article discusses the Center for Environmental Health’s work on children’s products.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_8156820

Lead testing law may carry unforeseen results

Des Moines Register, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

“A new law that requires all Iowa youngsters to be tested for lead by the time they enter kindergarten could swamp state and local taxpayers in ways lawmakers did not foresee, health and housing officials warn…”

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/
NEWS/802030343/-1/SPORTS09

Lawmakers wrestle with lead legislation

Burlington Free Press, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008

Article discusses legislation being proposed in Vermont about lead paint in houses.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/
NEWS02/802030325/1007

Household exposure to pesticides and risk of childhood haematopoietic malignancies: the ESCALE study (SFCE).

Environmental Health News, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2008

Article details study about childhood cancer and exposure to household pesticides.

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0205
rudantetal.html

Wal-mart, Target and other chains continue to sell baby bottles made with controversial chemical BPA

ABC News, Friday, Feb. 8, 2006

“Despite more than two years of warnings about the possible dangers of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), manufacturers continue to widely use it to make baby bottles, toys and beverage containers, and stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys "R" Us continue to carry the products, according to a new study from the Center for Health Environment and Justice, a Virginia-based environmental activist organization…”

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4258352&page=1

Is toxic perchlorate in Utah’s food?

ABC 4, Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008

“SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – For sixty years, Rocket testing in the state of Utah has been a point of pride. Such testing has been a creator of high-paying, high-tech jobs and a hub for military research and development. Now, half a century later, we're learning these tests have come at a price; the ultimate costs, no one quite knows…”

http://www.abc4.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=d106e67e-0ec9-4833
-b5a6-b97740f6c43f

International News

Common flame retardants could hurt unborn children, researcher warns

Vancouver Sun (Canada), Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008

“Common flame retardants that are supposed to make everyday consumer items safer could adversely affect pregnancies and impede the development of the fetus, according to a Quebec researcher. Environmental toxicology specialist Larissa Takser says the effects on humans of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are still sketchy but lab tests on gestating animals have had an impact on the fetus that should at least press governments to ban their use…”

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=8ce30dd7-627e-
4084-8250-494bc563e338&k=73097

Pesticide linked to childhood cancer, local physician says

The Guardian (Canada), Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008

The province should invoke the precautionary principle and ban cosmetic pesticides, a local physician urged the standing committee on environment Thursday. Pesticides have been linked to childhood cancer, said Dr. John DeMarsh in a submitted video presentation to the legislative committee…”

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=104418&sc=98

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

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