The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health

News highlights from March 29 – April 4, 2008

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

Michigan News

EPA sampling residential properties for dioxin

Midland Daily News, Thursday, April 3, 2008

“State and federal agencies are screening about 10 residential properties along the Tittabawassee River in Saginaw County for dioxin contamination in the soil….”

http://www.ourmidland.com/articles/2008/04/04/local_news/1040438.txt

EPA finds “elevated dioxin level” in sample

Saginaw News, Friday, April 4, 2008

“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials remain vague about details surrounding agency-sponsored soil sampling under way at 10 Saginaw homes near the Tittabawassee River.

A spokesman said a February disclosure about ''an elevated dioxin level found in a residential soil sample'' discovered by Midland's Dow Chemical Co. in November prompted the initiative….”

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1207318824
278590.xml&coll=9

Dow dioxin settlement draws closer, officials say

Bay City Times, Friday, April 4, 2008

“A large, monetary settlement from Dow Chemical Co. over pollution to the Saginaw Bay watershed will move a step closer on Monday. That's when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will release for public comment a draft Natural Resource Damage Assessment plan for the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers and Saginaw Bay in Midland, Saginaw and Bay counties. …”

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1207322123106330
.xml&coll=4

Pollutant removed from creek

Monroe News, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

“About 100 gallons of a diesel fuel-like material has been recovered so far from a spill Sunday into Smith Creek near Manheim Auto Auction in Flat Rock. The fuel was found coming from a city storm drain. Officials aren't sure where the fuel came from, though, said Flat Rock fire Chief William Vack…”

http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/
245000922

EPA grants help city, county offer seminar on lead hazards

Kalamazoo Gazette, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Article indicates that the city of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo county Department of Health and Community Services are sponsoring a seminar on April 8 about how to protect against lead exposure when renovating buildings.

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette_community_extra/2008/04/epa_grant_helps_city_
county_of.html

Environmentalists pan gold mining plan

Lansing State Journal, Monday, March 31, 2008

Article discusses a Canadian company’s exploration of the potential for sulfide mining near Stephenson, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080331/NEWS01/
803310328/1002/NEWS01

National News

EPA drops ball on danger of chemicals to children

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Saturday, March 29, 2008

Article covers in detail an EPA pilot program that looks into potential risks from chemicals in children’s products, the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=733566

States lead feds in toy safety

Stateline, Wednesday, April 2, 2008

“Reacting to an increase in toy recalls and consumer complaints, five states have targeted tainted toys in new laws that in some way regulate toy sales in their states. In total, 29 states have pursued legislation on toy safety…”

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=296845

Gregoire signs toughest toy law in U.S.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Article discusses final decision of Washington state governor to sign legislation setting standards for levels of lead, cadmium, and phthalates in children’s products while vetoing some sections of the legislation.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/357287_toys02.html?source=mypi

Small town store owners fear the worst with new state law

KEPR TV (Washington), Wednesday, April 2, 2008

“SEATTLE – It's a tough time to be a toy maker in Washington state. The new toy safety law the governor signed on Tuesday sets the most restrictive standards in the nation. Many praised the new restrictions as necessary in the wake of a string of toy recalls, but the cost of testing toys for safety threatens to put smaller toy stores out of business…”

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/17247584.html

Common organic compounds found in many household products may pose health risk to breast cells

Science Daily, Thursday, April 3, 2008

“Bisphenol A, a chemical that leaches into food and beverages from many consumer products, causes normal, non-cancerous human breast cells to express genes characteristic of aggressive breast cancer cells…”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401231554.htm

Chemical industry’s influence at EPA probed

Washington Post, Friday, April 4, 2008

“A congressional committee is investigating ties between the chemical industry and expert review panels hired by the Environmental Protection Agency to help it determine safe levels for a variety of chemical compounds…”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/03/AR200804
0304135.html

Inquiry into chemical industry’s role widens

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thursday, April 3, 2008

“A congressional committee is broadening the scope of its investigation to include how much influence the chemical industry has exerted on the federal government in considering the safety of certain consumer products…”

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=735017

EPA feels heat over flame retardant

Nature News (subscription required), Wednesday, April 2, 2008

“A much-anticipated report on the health hazards of a ubiquitous flame retardant has been delayed amid controversy over the removal of a respected toxicologist from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advisory panel reviewing the report…”

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080402/full/452513a.html

EPA rule seeks to shield children from lead paint

L.A. Times, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

“Contractors renovating U.S. homes built before 1978 must take special precautions to avoid exposing children to lead paint under a regulation announced Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency. Many physicians and scientists have criticized the EPA's long-awaited rule as inadequate to protect children who live in the estimated 38 million homes that contain old lead paint…”

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lead1apr01,0,4287297.story

Gadget recycling may be poisoning China’s children

New Scientist, Wednesday, April 2, 2008

“Think about this next time you upgrade your PC: toxic metals from old electronic goods are finding their way into school grounds in China. Seventy per cent of the world's discarded phones and computers are exported to China.”

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg19826505.700-gadget-
recycling-may-be-poisoning-chinas-children.html

FEMA trailer hazard precipitates new study

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), Wednesday, April 2, 2008

“Washington – Accused of taking months to correct a misleading report about the possible health risks of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers, a government agency announced Tuesday a five-year study of Gulf Coast children to determine the long-term effects of exposure to the fumes…”

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/120712514
418500.xml&coll=2

Weeding out toxic pesticides

Greenwich Citizen (Connecticut), Friday, April 4, 2008

Article discusses a Connecticut statute to ban the use of pesticides on school grounds and daycare facilities by summer, 2009 and one town’s consideration of a resolution to ban their use earlier and from additional recreational areas.

http://www.greenwichcitizen.com/localnews/ci_8798892

International News

Blame pollutants for hike in breast cancer: scientist

Gazette (Canada), Thursday, April 3, 2008

“Why are more women then ever being diagnosed with breast cancer? Jane Brody, an internationally renowned epidemiologist, suspects the culprits are everyday pollutants found in everyday areas - drinking water, the air, detergents, pesticides, plastics and cosmetics…”

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=cfd6a1e4-01e4
-4fae-907b-ca8b25376a25

Canada lags U.S. in reporting toy safety recalls

Edmonton Journal (Canada), Tuesday, April 1, 2008

“OTTAWA – Ottawa is on average five days slower at releasing information to parents about recalls of unsafe children's products than the U.S. government, a Canwest News Service survey has found…”

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=392c4ab2-684e
-4b12-ac09-2e4e04636cb3&k=52974

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

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