By Govind Singh •
August 10, 2009
Over half a dozen people have died in India with swine flu in the last one week. Newer cases are being reported by the hour even as a nation wide alert has been sounded. The Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) that was first reported in citizens returning from abroad has now spread in all parts of the country.
Cities that are worst hit are closing schools, shopping malls, theaters and other public places. Screening centers authorized for carrying out the H1N1 test are flooded with unwell people eager to get tested even as the Government struggles to keep panic at bay.
By Susie Kim •
June 8, 2009
We have been educating concerned parents about the effects of Phthalates here at Eco Child’s Play. Well studies now show that it is more harmful than what scientists have originally thought. According to Environmental Health News, Phthalates may soften and even weaken bones. “Phthalates used in plastics and beauty products can trigger bone cell death, finds this animal study. Phthalates provoke DNA damage that can lead to bone cell death”, researchers said in a study published by Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.
This study shows how a low-dose exposure to two types of commonly found phthalates has a profound effect on bone cells. Based on the results, long-term exposure to phthalates could have devastating effects on developing bones in young bodies and accelerate deterioration in aging bones. Estrogen deficiency is responsible for a number of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. For this reason, many are concerned about the effects of phthalate exposure on bone health.
Phthalates are plasticizers which are used to add flexibility to plastics. It has been the common ingredient in everyday items like food containers, baby bottles, and packaging for beauty products. Known as as a reproductive or endocrine disruptor; it is slowly being phased out by United States and European nations, but unfortunately, not quickly enough. Even more dangerous is the fact that Phthalates are used in a large variety of products including children’s toys. “Phthalate use is widespread. Phthalates are commonly found in household items made of plastics and in health and beauty products. Some products with phthalates include toys, vinyl flooring, plastic medical tubing, shower curtains and personal care products such as shampoo, hair sprays and detergents.”
By Dave Levitan •
April 27, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched an interesting campaign aimed at increasing citizens’ active efforts to help the environment: Pick 5 for the Environment. The idea is for people to choose five broad actions out of 10 listed on the EPA’s site to commit to, thus improving one’s overall environmental footprint. Don’t choose six, though; that’s one too many.
By Alex Felsinger •
February 19, 2009
In a ruling that could impact thousands of similar cases, a Florida jury has ordered Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the US, to pay the family of a lung cancer victim $8 million in damages.
Elaine Hess presented evidence to the jury showing that her husband Stuart had smoked three packs of cigarettes every day before dying of lung cancer at only 55. Philip Morris’ attorney argued that Hess had the free will to quit at any time, but the jury didn’t buy it.
By Alex Felsinger •
December 22, 2008
Today, thirty-nine environmental groups have petitioned Barack Obama to reject Bush’s new rule that will allow coal ash from power plants to be more easily dumped in abandoned mines, despite the known risks of water pollution.
Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal for electricity, is known to contain such toxins as mercury and arsenic, and is actually 100 times more radioactive than nuclear waste. While storing the waste in old mines does help prevent disasters like the one in Tennessee, the toxins still seep into the groundwater while sitting in the mine.
