Tiny particles of silver — potent anti-microbial agents that can kill bacteria on contact — are becoming increasingly popular in consumer goods. But nanosilver washes down drains and is discharged into waterways, where fish and other aquatic life are exposed.

No one would choose to eat polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs — yet we unwittingly do. And a new study finds that the cost of their pervasive contamination of our food supply can be high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease.

PCBs comprise a family of 209 related, colorless and oily compounds. Discovered more than a century ago, they quickly won widespread adoption as the electrical insulator of choice throughout the electric power industry. Being chemically stable and heat resistant, PCBs also found use in other applications: as lubricants, as additives to make plastics more pliable, in adhesives, even as a component of some inks.

Over the years, the toxicity of PCBs has slowly emerged. Some have been designated not only as probable carcinogens, but also as agents that diminish immunity and pollutants that lower birth weight and IQ. Now, researchers with the Anniston, Ala., Environmental Health Research Consortium report that these toxic pollutants also appear to impair vascular health.

In these days of hybrid cars and carbon credits, it is common knowledge that substances exhaled by autos and coal plants are harmful to our respiratory system. What may be surprising is the degree to which they may harm the brain—in some instances, as much as exposure to lead. A recent string of studies from all over the world suggests that common air pollutants such as black carbon, particulate matter and ozone can negatively affect vocabulary, reaction times and even overall intelligence.

High levels of workplace exposure to Bisphenol-A may increase the risk of reduced sexual function in men, according to a NIOSH-funded study by Kaiser Permanente appearing online in the journal Human Reproduction, published by Oxford Journals (www.oxfordjournals.org/news/dep381.pdf).

Capping off a busy week for climate policy in the U.S. and internationally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent to the White House Friday its final carbon dioxide endangerment finding on the threat greenhouse gas emissions pose for human health.

The Office of Management and Budget has 90 days to respond, although the agency hopes the review will be conducted quickly, Reuters reported. A final finding declaring carbon dioxide contributes to air pollution that endangers public health would clear the way for the EPA to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Back in the chemistry class days, we had pH strips that changed colour according to whether a liquid was an acid or base. Now scientists at Hamilton, Ontario’s McMaster University have come up with a cheap and fast way of finding out if there are pesticides in your food and drinks, by using an inkjet printer to build up layers of “bio-ink”. You just dip the strip and in minutes, the paper changes colour according to which pesticide is causing the contamination.

Health Problems Heat Up: Climate Change and the Public’s Health
Source: Trust for America’s Health

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) released a new report today that finds only five states have published a strategic climate change plan that includes a public health response. This includes planning for health challenges and emergencies expected to develop from natural disasters, pollution, and infectious diseases as temperatures and sea levels rise.

The Health Problems Heat Up: Climate Change and the Public’s Health report examines U.S. planning for changing health threats posed by climate change, such as heat-related sickness, respiratory infections, natural disasters, changes to the food supply, and infectious diseases carried by insects.

+ Full Report

Report Examines Hidden Health and Environmental Costs Of Energy Production and Consumption In U.S.
Source: National Research Council

A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates “hidden” costs of energy production and use — such as the damage air pollution imposes on human health — that are not reflected in market prices of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity and gasoline produced from them. The report estimates dollar values for several major components of these costs. The damages the committee was able to quantify were an estimated $120 billion in the U.S. in 2005, a number that reflects primarily health damages from air pollution associated with electricity generation and motor vehicle transportation. The figure does not include damages from climate change, harm to ecosystems, effects of some air pollutants such as mercury, and risks to national security, which the report examines but does not monetize.

Read full report for free online. (National Academies Press)

Hazardous Chemicals in Health Care: A Snapshot of Chemicals in Doctors and Nurses (PDF; 2 MB)
Source: American Nurses Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Health Care Without Harm
From press release (PDF; 58 KB)

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in partnership with American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) released the “Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care” report today, detailing the first investigation ever of chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals. The inquiry found that all of the 20 participants had toxic chemicals associated with health care in their bodies. Each participant had at least 24 individual chemicals present, four of which are on the recently released Environmental Protection Agency list of priority chemicals for regulation. These chemicals are all associated with chronic illness and physical disorders.

“After years of delay, EPA is aggressively moving forward by ordering the testing of a number of pesticide chemicals for hormone effects,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. “These new data will be carefully evaluated to help identify potential hormone disruptor chemicals.”

On Oct. 21, EPA made available the battery of scientific assays and test guidelines for conducting the assays, as well as a schedule for issuing test orders to manufacturers for 67 chemicals during the next four months. The data generated from the screens will provide robust and systematic scientific information to help EPA identify whether additional testing is necessary, or whether other steps are necessary to address potential endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Testing, conducted through the agency’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, will eventually expand to cover all pesticide chemicals. Now that screening is under way for the first group of chemicals, EPA is preparing to review the responses, evaluate the data, determine the potential of endocrine interaction, and whether additional testing is necessary to guide further regulation.

The EDSP is the most comprehensive mandated testing program for hormone effects in the U.S. The program is the result of a multi-year effort that includes validation of the science through a transparent scientific review process.

More information about the screening program: http://www.epa.gov/endo

New research suggests a link between women’s exposure to household insecticides — including roach and mosquito killers — and the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

The scientist did not find a direct cause-and-effect relationship between insecticide exposure and the illnesses, and it’s possible that the women have something else in common that accounts for their higher risk. But epidemiologist Christine Parks, lead investigator of the study, said the findings do raise a red flag.

Burning coal and oil adds up to about $120 billion a year for the United States in health costs, including those tied to thousands of premature deaths from air pollution, researchers say.

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in partnership with American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) released the “Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care” report today, detailing the first investigation ever of chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals. The inquiry found that all of the 20 participants had toxic chemicals associated with health care in their bodies. Each participant had at least 24 individual chemicals present, four of which are on the recently released Environmental Protection Agency list of priority chemicals for regulation. These chemicals are all associated with chronic illness and physical disorders.

Employees working in green buildings (defined as being LEED-certified at any level or bearing the Energy Star label) are more productive than those working in non-green buildings, according to a study by the University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and real estate services company CB Richard Ellis. Researchers surveyed more than 500 tenants in 154 green buildings managed by CBRE nationwide. The majority of the buildings surveyed were midtown or suburban, and 94 percent of them were multi-tenant. Under the microscope across the board: employee measured sick days and self-reported productivity changes after moving into a new building.

Saying that the public is “understandably anxious and confused” about chemicals in their bodies and in their environment, President Obama’s top environmental official announced on Tuesday a new push to transform the way the nation regulates industrial compounds.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man-made chemicals that persist in the environment and were widely used in construction materials and electrical products prior to 1978. PCBs can affect the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system and endocrine system and are potentially cancer-causing if they build up in the body over long periods of time.

“PCBs have been banned for the last 30 years for most uses,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “But unfortunately high levels of PCBs are present in many buildings and facilities constructed prior to the PCB ban, including most recently some schools. We’re concerned about the potential risks associated with exposure to these PCBs and we’re recommending practical, common sense steps to reduce this exposure as we improve our understanding of the science. For building owners and administrators who want to take added and more aggressive immediate steps, EPA is providing additional guidance to help them identify the extent of potential risks and determine whether mitigation steps are necessary. Local communities and governments have constrained resources that make this a particularly challenging and sensitive situation.”

The agency has created a website, http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk, with updated information on this issue. Concerned parties can also call an EPA hotline toll free at 1-888-835-5372.

Although Congress banned the manufacture and most uses of PCBs in 1976 and they were phased out in 1978, there is evidence that many buildings across the country constructed or renovated from 1950 to 1978 may have PCBs at high levels in the caulk around windows and door frames, between masonry columns and in other masonry building materials. Exposure to these PCBs may occur as a result of their release from the caulk into the air, dust, surrounding surfaces and soil and through direct contact. EPA has calculated prudent public health levels that maintain PCB exposures below the “reference dose” – the amount of PCB exposure that EPA does not believe will cause harm. Those levels vary depending on the age group and use assumptions about potential PCB exposures from other sources, such as diet.

Although this is a serious issue, the potential presence of PCBs in buildings should not be a cause for alarm. If buildings were erected or renovated between 1950 and 1978, EPA recommends that owners implement steps to minimize exposure to potentially contaminated caulk in the following ways:

• Cleaning air ducts
• Improving ventilation by opening windows and using or installing exhaust fans where possible
• Cleaning frequently to reduce dust and residue inside buildings
• Using a wet or damp cloth or mop to clean surfaces
• Not sweeping with dry brooms and minimizing the use of dusters in areas near potential PCB-containing caulk
• Using vacuums with high efficiency particulate air filters
• Washing hands with soap and water often, particularly before eating and drinking
• Washing children’s toys often

EPA also recommends testing peeling, brittle, cracking or deteriorating caulk directly for the presence of PCBs and removing the caulk if PCBs are present at significant levels. Alternately, the building owner can assume the PCBs are present and proceed directly to remove deteriorating caulk.

Building owners and facility managers should also consider testing to determine if PCB levels in the air exceed EPA’s suggested public health levels. If testing reveals PCBs in the air above these levels, building owners should be especially vigilant in implementing and monitoring ventilation and hygienic practices to minimize exposures. Owners and managers are encouraged to retest PCB levels in air to determine whether these practices are reducing the potential for PCB exposures. Should these practices not reduce exposure, caulk and other known sources of PCBs should be removed as soon as practicable.

There are several unresolved scientific issues that must be better understood to assess the magnitude of the problem and identify the best long-term solutions. For example, the link between the concentrations of PCBs in caulk and PCBs in the air or dust is not well understood. The agency is doing research to determine the sources and levels of PCBs in buildings in the U.S. and to evaluate different strategies to reduce exposures. The results of this research will be used to provide further guidance to building owners as they develop and implement long-term solutions.

Where buildings were constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1978, EPA recommends that PCB-containing caulk be removed during planned renovations and repairs (when replacing windows, doors, roofs, ventilation, etc.). It is critically important to ensure that PCBs are not released to the air during replacement or repair of caulk in affected buildings. EPA is recommending simple, commonsense work practices to prevent the release of PCBs during these operations. More information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk

EPA will work directly with owners and managers facing serious problems to help them develop a practical approach to reduce exposures and prioritize the removal of caulk.

Anyone seeking technical guidance should contact the EPA at 1-888-835-5372.

More information on PCBs in caulk: http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk

More information on PCBs in the U.S.: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh or http://www.cdc.gov/atsdr

Household dust is an important source of exposure to a lesser known – but ubiquitous and potentially toxic – flame retardant, reports a study from Belgium. Exposure to dust contaminated with hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), a flame retardant used to prevent polystyrene insulation and textiles from catching on fire, was strongly correlated with blood concentrations in people. This study is the first to examine the relationship between dust, diet and serum concentrations of HBCDs. Results are consistent with studies of other better known flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and suggest that indoor sources may contribute most to exposure to these chemicals.

Farm waste, the biggest polluter of American rivers, is largely unregulated by many of the laws designed to prevent pollution and protect drinking water.

A survey of fish in rivers and streams around the country shows that a large percentage of male bass have acquired feminine characteristics.

Scientists say it’s the biggest survey of this gender-bending condition in U.S. waters. And while they can’t be sure of the cause, they suspect industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals are the culprit.

More than 50 common purses and some 100 pet toys and accessories contain high levels of lead, and numerous school supplies are made with a wide range of chemicals of concern, according to new website HealthyStuff.org.

The site, launched today, was created by the Michigan-based Ecology Center, which also runs HealthyToys.org, and lists the amount of lead, mercury, chlorine (PVC), bromine and arsenic found in more than 900 school supplies, purses, car seats, automobiles and pet products.

EPA Punts on Risks to Children From Playground Tire Crumb
Source: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

Contrary to its public statements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is not conducting studies on potential health effects to children from contact with shredded tires on playgrounds, according to correspondence released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Despite serious concerns raised by its own scientists about health risks to children, the agency continues to endorse use of ground rubber (called “tire crumb”), on playgrounds without examining the extent of childhood exposure from ingestion or inhalation of toxic chemicals found within tires.

Every year millions of pounds of tires are recycled into and placed on playgrounds to reduce injuries from falls. In fact, tire crumb was added to the White House playground constructed for the Obama children.

Records obtained earlier this year by PEER under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document EPA scientists strongly urging the agency to immediately “assess toxicological risks of tire crumb in situations where children are exposed.” On May 29, 2009, PEER wrote EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking her to 1) revoke her agency’s endorsement of tire crumb until research shows it is safe for children; 2) issue an interim public health advisory; and 3) coordinate with other agencies in a risk assessment.

+ Look at EPA scientists’ concerns about tire crumb risk
+ Read the EPA response to PEER (PDF; 56 KB)
+ View EPA admission that it is not conducting tire crumb health effects studies (PDF; 58 KB)

Once large enough to be mistaken for terrorist bombs, portable air pollution monitors are now being shrunk into smaller and smaller wearable devices that can be easily dispatched for environmental detective work: Is black carbon soot emitted by school buses contributing not just to warming global temperatures, but raising childhood asthma rates, too? These new pocket-size sensors could provide more practical and powerful detection of such potential public health risks.

The initiative, which is monitoring 63 schools in 22 states, is designed to help EPA and the states determine whether long-term exposure to toxics in the outdoor air poses health concerns for children and staff at the schools.

EPA Region 5 also announced that first sets of air toxics monitoring data from three schools in the region have been posted on the agency’s Web site. The schools are: Lincoln Park Elementary School, Muskegon, Mich.; Minnesota International Middle Charter School, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Whitwell Elementary School, Ironton, Ohio. The data is posted at http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/schools.html.

The key pollutants of concern from each school are:

• Lincoln Park Elementary School: Hexavalent chromium, or chrome 6, a metal commonly used in manufacturing, is the pollutant most likely to be of concern based on the best available information about emissions and sources of pollution in the area.
• Minnesota International Middle Charter School: Hexavalent chromium; cobalt, an element used in industrial processes; and nickel, a metal released in combustion processes and used in industrial processes, are the pollutants most likely to be of concern based on the best available information about emissions and sources of pollution in the area.
• Whitwell Elementary School: Manganese, a metal commonly used in manufacturing; benzene, a chemical emitted by mobile sources and used in industrial processes; and benzo(a)pyrene, a chemical formed during the incomplete combustion of coal, are the pollutants most likely to be of concern based on the best available information about emissions and sources of pollution in the area.

The first results show that levels of the key hazardous air pollutants at these three schools are well below levels of short-term concern. EPA scientists warn against drawing conclusions at this point as the study is designed to determine whether long-term, not short-term, exposure poses health risks to school children and staff. Once monitoring is complete, the full set of results from all of the schools will be analyzed to evaluate the potential for health concerns related to long-term exposure to these pollutants. EPA will post this analysis to the Web once it is complete.

Outdoor air at each of the schools will be monitored for 60 days, and air quality monitors will take a minimum of 10 daily samples during the sampling period. EPA will use the information gathered in the initiative to help determine next steps, which could include additional monitoring or enforcement action where appropriate.

Other schools being monitored in EPA Region 5 are Saint Josaphat School, Chicago; Pittsboro Elementary School, Pittsboro, Ind.; Lincoln Elementary School, Warsaw, Ind.; Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, East Chicago, Ind.; efferson Elementary School, Gary, Ind.; Spain Elementary School, Detroit, Mich.; La Croft Elementary School, East Liverpool, Ohio; Elm Street Elementary School, Wauseon, Ohio; Life Skills of Trumbull County and the Academy of Arts and Humanities, Warren, Ohio; The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and Warren Elementary School, Marietta, Ohio.

• Additional proposed requirements to protect children from lead-based paint
• A new effort to ban the manufacture of lead in tire weights
• A lead poisoning prevention video contest, asking people to submit videos demonstrating steps that can be taken to prevent childhood lead poisoning

“As both EPA Administrator and as a mother, my highest priority is protecting our children from environmental threats in the places where they live, play and learn. Lead is still present in many of our neighborhoods, but we can limit exposure to children and adults by working together on comprehensive actions like these,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re committed to giving our nation’s children the fullest protection possible, and giving parents clear assurance that their children are safe from harm.”

The additional requirements on lead-based paint that EPA intends to propose are the result of a settlement of litigation brought by the Sierra Club, the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning and other stakeholder groups in 2008. The settlement calls for proposed revisions to the 2008 rule governing lead safe work practices used during repair, remodeling and renovations to reduce exposures to lead-based paint hazards for young children, the most sensitive population, as well as for older children and adults.

EPA will propose to expand lead safe work practices and other protective requirements for renovation and painting work involving lead paint to most buildings built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned for residential use. Under the proposed requirements, renovation firms would have to conduct tests to ensure that lead levels in dust comply with EPA’s regulatory standards after certain renovation, repair, and painting activities are performed and provide information to building occupants on the lead safe work practices utilized during renovations.

The agency is proposing that lead safe work practices be required at the vast majority of residential buildings and public and commercial buildings undergoing exterior renovations that involve lead-based paint. EPA will determine whether renovations in the interior of public and commercial buildings create hazardous levels of lead dust.

EPA will undertake at least three separate rulemakings to expand coverage and strengthen requirements of the 2008 Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, which will be available for public comment.

EPA will also pursue a ban on the manufacture and distribution of lead tire weights in response to a 2009 petition from the Ecology Center, the Sierra Club and other NGOs requesting that the agency establish regulations prohibiting the manufacture, processing, and distribution of lead tire weights. Lead weights are used predominately in the tire replacement market to balance tires of autos and light trucks in the United States. They can fall off tires and then break down and contaminate soil, wash into sewers, or end up being transported to municipal landfills or incinerators.  EPA estimates that 2,000 tons of lead from tire weights are lost from vehicles and ultimately end up in the environment each year.  Tire weights without lead are already being used and can be effectively substituted.

Finally, in order to further educate the public on the potential dangers of lead poisoning, EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are soliciting creative videos from the public for a lead poisoning prevention video contest.

The three agencies are interested in videos that convey easy, low-cost steps that can be taken to prevent childhood lead poisoning and inspire individuals and communities to change their behavior to prevent exposure to this harmful chemical. Examples of possible video topics include:

• Educating the public about the dangers of lead poisoning in children
• Steps you can take to prevent children from lead dust poisoning if they spend time in older homes, schools, or child care settings
• The importance of hiring a trained professional to conduct safe renovation, repair or painting work that involves lead-based paint
• Simple safe work practices to follow when renovating a home with lead-based paint
• The importance of getting your child tested for lead if you live in an older home.

The deadline for entries is October 1, 2009 12:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The winners will be awarded cash prizes in the amount of $2,500 (1st prize), $1,500 (2nd prize) and $1,000 (3rd prize). Winning videos will be featured on EPA, CDC and HUD’s Web sites. Winners will be announced during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 25-31, 2009.

Lead causes a variety of adverse health effects, including brain and nervous system disorders, high blood pressure and hypertension, and reproductive problems.  For children, even low levels of exposure to lead can cause a host of developmental effects such as learning disabilities, decreased intelligence, and speech, language, and behavioral problems, which can impact children for a lifetime.

More information on today’s announcements: http://www.epa.gov/lead/

The Winnipeg Free Press reported some disturbing news today [ed. note: July 30, 2009 -- I'm behind on e-mail]. Tests by the Canadian government, it said, have found that some plastics labeled as being free of bisphenol A — an estrogen-mimicking chemical — actually contain the potentially toxic substance.

Canwest News Service unearthed the new government data along with correspondence from government researchers through use of the Access to Information Act — the Canadian equivalent of the Freedom of Information Act.

A study linking a pesticide in fish to diabetes adds to the growing chorus of studies suggesting that environmental contaminants may play a role in the widespread disease.

Health Canada scientists have found bisphenol A leaching into liquid in plastic baby bottles marketed to parents as being free of the toxic chemical.

The study says “traces” of the toxin were found in “BPA-free” bottles while internal correspondence between a department official and the lead scientist went further, characterizing the amounts in two brands as “high readings.”

Manufacturers of non-polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, however, were quick to challenge the “shocking” results, saying there must be a problem with the way the agency conducted the research.

Two pesticides used in highly populated agricultural areas of California appear to be killing frogs that live and breed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, according to results from a study published in the August 2009 issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

The study examined how chlorpyrifos and endosulfan used in the Central Valley of California affect amphibians that breed in the mountains to the east. Toxicity was measured to larval Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla) and foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii), which are among the amphibians with declining populations that often live and breed in meadows surrounding the Sierra Nevada. Winds blow insecticide residues into the mountains, and they fall as rain or snow. In these regions, insecticides have longer half-lives because of cooler temperatures and can be spread by melting snow to areas where amphibians live and breed.

As outlined in the article, “Toxicity of Two Insecticides to California, USA, Anurans and Its Relevance to Declining Amphibian Populations” by Donald W. Sparling and Gary M. Fellers, the study used laboratory testing to examine how the insecticides affected the two frogs at environmentally realistic concentrations. During testing, tadpoles were observed at various stages of development to see how the insecticides affected their growth and health.

Hypospadias, one of the most common birth defects among baby boys, apparently is not increasing in the U.S., casting doubt on whether boys are harmed by phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals thought to trigger reproductive abnormalities.

Researchers have reported that the hypospadias rate stayed the same in New York State between 1992 and 2005. An earlier study also found no increase in California boys between 1984 and 1997.

From baby bottles to shower curtains, iPods to lipstick, and “new car smell” to non-stick frying pans, thousands of news stories have warned the American public about the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals in everyday items. But a new survey of scientists specializing in toxicology calls into question the risks associated with many of these chemicals as they are routinely depicted in the media. Majorities of toxicologists rate most government agencies as accurately portraying chemical risks, but they rate leading environmental activist groups as overstating risks, according to the survey by George Mason University researchers.

According to survey director Robert Lichter, Ph.D., “This survey suggests that the public doesn’t get a full and balanced picture of chemical risk.” SOT Vice-President Michael Holsapple, Ph.D., adds, “Ultimately, the media and scientists share the responsibility for how chemical risks are portrayed to the public.”

To view the survey online, go to http://stats.org/stories/2009/are_chemicals_killing_us.html

The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognize ASHRAE guidance as a means for creating healthy homes.

Earlier this month, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes, calling for Americans to prevent disease and promote healthy environments in homes. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, was recommended as an effective way to reduce indoor air pollution through ventilation in the CDC’s and HUD’s supporting guidance for builders and homeowners.

Researcher Eric Johnson recently revealed that charcoal grills leave a much larger carbon footprint than their gas-powered counterparts. On what may be the busiest grilling day of the year, Guy Raz speaks with Johnson about his study.

From cell phones and computers to bicycle helmets and hospital IV bags, plastic has molded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. But the synthetic material also has left harmful imprints on the environment and perhaps human health, according to a new compilation of articles authored by scientists from around the world.

Despite being a centerpiece of celebrations the world over, fireworks displays often release toxic chemicals into the environment, from heavy metals to perchlorate…

But researchers are developing a new generation of fireworks that can shine just as brightly without having the same impact on the environment or human health. In an article in Chemical & Engineering News, a publication of the American Chemical Society, Bethany Halford says these nitrogen-rich formulas also use fewer color-producing chemicals, dramatically cutting down on the amount of heavy metals used and lowering their potentially toxic effects.

Climate Change Trade Measures: Considerations for U.S. Policy Makers. GAO-09-724R, July 8.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-724R

Bottled Water:  FDA Safety and Consumer Protections Are Often Less Stringent Than Comparable EPA Protections for Tap Water, by John Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  GAO-09-861T, July 8.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-861T

Climate Change Trade Measures:  Estimating Industry Effects, by Loren Yager, director, international affairs and trade, before the Senate Committee on Finance.  GAO-09-875T, July 8.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-875T

Scientists are beginning to find a connection between bizarre deformities in water animals and abnormalities in humans.

Hat tip to Thom Moore for the link.

Insecticides used in and around homes — including products voluntarily removed from the market years ago — were measured on the floors of U.S. residences, according to the first study large enough to generate national data on pesticide residues in homes.

The study was slated for publication in the June 15 issue of the American Chemical Society’s semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology. Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development collected samples with surface wipes from U.S. kitchen floors. Additionally, occupants were surveyed regarding pesticide use and housing factors.

The scientific statement “Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement,” which was announced at a news conference June 10 by Robert M. Carey, M.D., president of The Endocrine Society, and published in the journal Endocrine Reviews, marks an important step forward for research on endocrine disruption. The article reviews the data on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and human health and identifies research needs and data gaps. This statement was developed because of the society’s belief that there is concern for human health from exposures to EDCs (see related story).

The July 1 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) develops the theme “Climate Change Is Here,” with a Focus article on climate change abatement strategies and a Spheres of Influence feature exploring the challenge of adapting to climate change already underway.

Highlights from the issue include the following studies:

• Toxicology — Examining prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke and risk of cardiovascular disease later in life
• Infectious Disease — Modeling the impact of warmer temperatures, elevated humidity and heavy precipitation on the spread of West Nile Virus in the U.S.
• Reproductive Health — Evaluating the association of arsenic exposure and increased risk for development of gestational diabetes
• Health Policy — Reporting a cost-benefit analysis of measures to reduce lead paint exposures in terms of reduced cost for healthcare, crime control, special education and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatment
• Exposure Science — Measuring serum perfluorooctanoic acid levels in residents near a Teflon manufacturing plant in the Ohio valley

Toxicogenomics — Using genomewide analysis to characterize the aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulatory network in the presence and absence of xenobiotic stimulation

Used in gardens, farms, and parks around the world, the weed killer Roundup contains an ingredient that can suffocate human cells in a laboratory, researchers say.

The government’s latest snapshot of air pollution across the nation shows residents of New York, Oregon and California faced the highest risk of developing cancer from breathing toxic chemicals.

The results, compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, represent the most sweeping analysis to date of the state of the nation’s air. The analysis is based on emissions from 2002, the latest year for which the EPA had detailed estimates of pollution from across the nation.

See also The Smokestack Effect, a USA Today special report on air pollution.

A grant from the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) has produced a novel and comprehensive “Life Cycle Impact Assessment” to measure the benefits on human health that might result from a switch to biofuels.

Although a number of uncertainties must be addressed for a more accurate picture, these early results show that a biofuel eliminating even 10-percent of current gasoline pollutant emissions would have a substantial impact on human health in this country, especially in urban areas.

Summer is the time for picnics, going to the beach, and barbecues. Unfortunately, it’s also the time for indoor pests. Commercial pest control is full of nasty chemicals, even though there are natural ways to fight off many pests.  Here are some ideas for ridding your home of creepy crawlies, without needing a hazmat suit (and of course, saving you some money).

Remember: The number one rule to keeping many bugs out is keeping the house clean. So don’t let your dirty dishes pile up, make sure to sweep and vacuum, etc.  Prevent any need for nontoxic pest control by using nontoxic household cleaners or even make your own homemade cleaners.

Safety of Shredded Tires in Playgrounds Under Question
Source: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is having second thoughts about the safety of shredded tires as fill in playgrounds, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). EPA admits that it does not know the extent of childhood exposure from ingestion or inhalation of an array of toxic chemicals found within tires.

Every year millions of pounds of tires are recycled into ground rubber, (called “tire crumb”) and placed on playgrounds to reduce injuries from falls. Both EPA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have endorsed the use of tire crumb for years but neither agency ever investigated the potential toxicity to children from direct contact with tire ingredients, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and a number of dangerous hydrocarbons. Despite these huge knowledge gaps, both agencies still endorse use of tire crumb, which is increasingly being marketed for backyard use.

Documents obtained by PEER under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that –

• EPA lacks the information to “assess toxicological risks of tire crumb in situations where children are exposed” but has recommended tire crumbs for public recreational use since 1991;
• Agencies are issuing contradictory advice to consumers. In June 2008, for example, the Centers for Disease Control issued an advisory for potential lead exposure from artificial turf, while weeks later, CPSC issued a press release downplaying the lead risk based on very limited testing; and
• EPA plans to conduct its first field monitoring studies but admits that these limited tests will leave many questions unanswered.

+ Read the 2008 warning memo on “Potential Risks of Tire Crumbs” from EPA Region 8 (PDF; 226 KB)
+ View the June 2008 EPA PowerPoint presentation summarizing issues (PDF; 2.1 MB)
+ See the July 2008 EPA draft talking points to answer public and press inquiries (PDF; 157 KB)
+ Look at the weaknesses and limitations in EPA’s planned testing (PDF; 43 KB)
+ Peruse PEER letter to Lisa Jackson (PDF: 10 KB)

Biomonitoring:  EPA Needs to Coordinate Its Research Strategy and Clarify Its Authority to Obtain Biomonitoring Data.  GAO-09-353, April 30.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-353
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09353high.pdf

BPA, Chemical Used to Make Plastics, Found to Leach from Polycarbonate Drinking Bottles Into Humans
Source: Environmental Health Perspectives (via Harvard School of Public Health)

A new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that participants who drank for a week from polycarbonate bottles, the popular, hard-plastic drinking bottles and baby bottles, showed a two-thirds increase in their urine of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Exposure to BPA, used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and other plastics, has been shown to interfere with reproductive development in animals and has been linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in humans. The study is the first to show that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increased the level of urinary BPA, and thus suggests that drinking containers made with BPA release the chemical into the liquid that people drink in sufficient amounts to increase the level of BPA excreted in human urine.

The study appears on the website of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and is freely available at:
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2009/0900604/0900604.pdf. (PDF; 140 KB)