bulletin board - chemwatchmirror.chemwatch.net/bulletin/2005/12/051223-bulletin.pdfcure for cow...

Dec 23 2005

Contents

Contact us

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Emergency +61 3 9573 3112

70 Bambra Rd Caulfield North Victoria 3161 Australia

While Chemwatch has taken all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication it is not intended to be comprehensive or to render advice Websites rendered are subject to change

TECHNICAL NOTES ENVIRONMENTAL 4

MEDICAL 4

OCCUPATIONAL 4

PUBLIC HEALTH 5

SAFETY 5

ARTHURrsquoS ADVICE LINE

Reporting Options in Manifest 6

HAZARD ALERT

Caprolactam 7

LEGISLATION

ASIA PACIFIC

Federal building and construction OHS accreditation 9

NSW RTA under attack on truck safety 9

Tasmania Pain and suffering to be claimable after death 9

Victoria Sustainability Victoria Act 2005 establishes Sustainability Victoria 9

NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Regulation 2004 amended 10

Discussion paper on the need for and scope of a national approach for the reuse and recycling of industrial wastes 10

AMERICA

EPA releases revised pesticide worker protection standard How-to-Comply Manual 10

International trade of radioactive materials regulated 11

Carbon Fund in Argentina regulated 11

Order adding two substances to the list of toxic substances adopted 11

Offset System for Greenhouse Gases Overview Paper and Technical Background Document issued 11

Bulletin Board

North Carolina creates commission to study global warming and carbon economy 12

EUROPE

HSE publishes new guidance on whole body vibration 12

Exploding the myths on ageing 12

Revised draft EU chemicals legislation debated (REACH) 12

Commission scraps 68 pending legislative proposals 13

Commission issues Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation 13

JANETrsquoS CORNER - NOT TOO SERIOUSLY

The Ultimate Scientific Dictionary Pt 1 14

GOSSIP

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NovoSeven 15

Exams postponed for World Cup 15

Climate change lsquowill dry Africarsquo 15

Phthalate linked to lupus in mice 15

Ecological change life lessons 16

Fly the environmentally friendly skies 16

A loan for Colombia 17

Wave power in the works 17

Study Wine heart benefit lsquosmallrsquo 17

Cox-2 inhibitors not safer for stomach 18

Chemical used In food containers disrupts brain development 18

Cure for cow flatulence cooked up by scientists 19

100000 Gallons of gas spilled from tank 19

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NeutroSpec 19

Stress lsquohinders healing processrsquo 20

Scientist hopes for CO2 storage 20

Researchers say estrogen can kill breast cancer cells once fueled by the hormone 21

Unexpected link between gene in liver and iron overload 21

A new sort of CAT scan reveals effects on lungs 21

PCBs furans may be associated in risk of non- Hodgkin lymphoma 22

Contents

Bulletin Board

Research Arsenic Discharged From Landfills 22

Insects trained to sniff out poisons explosives 23

Study Lead poisoning killed Beethoven 23

Chemists detect toxic emissions linked to catalytic converters in US 24

rsquoBurying the evidencersquo killer chemicals responsible for thousands of deaths a year says TUC 24

DuPont launches new TYCHEM(r)C2 and TYCHEM(r)F2 chemical and biological protection clothing 24

Workplace asbestos exposure linked to colon cancer 25

Contents

Bulletin Board

ENVIRONMENTAL

Safety evaluation on pollution of Xiang River valley in Hunan Province

Assessment of soil heavy metals pollution in the chemical industrial areas of Nanjing peri-urban zone

Health effects of cadmium exposure in the general environment in Japan with special reference to the lower limit of the benchmark dose as the threshold level of urinary cadmium

MEDICAL

Study on radiation transfer in human skin for cosmetics

Safety studies of aceclofenac

Determination of dioxins in human hair estimation of external and internal exposure to dioxins

Acute Inhalational Exposure to Chlorodifluoro-methane (Freon-22) A Report of 43 Cases

Effects of aging on cadmium and tubular dysfunction markers in urine from adult women in non-polluted areas

Association of criteria pollutants with plasma hemostaticinflammatory markers a population-based study

Thyroid hormones in pregnancy in relation to environmental exposure to organochlorine compounds and mercury

Prognostic significance of low serum levels of Clara cell phospholipid-binding protein in occupational aluminum neurotoxicity

GB toxicity reassessed using newer techniques for estimation of human toxicity from animal inhalation toxicity data New method for estimating acute human toxicity (GB)

Lindane-induced immunological alterations in human poisoning cases

Acetaldehyde disrupts tight junctions and adherens junctions in human colonic mucosa Protection by EGF and L-glutamine

OCCUPATIONAL

Effect of dimethylformamide on sex hormones in male workers

Survey on HSP70 level in lymphocytes of cold storage workers

Dusts containing chrysotile asbestos and dusts containing chrysotile asbestos and other fibrous minerals except crocidolite Documentation of proposed permissible values of occupational exposure

Cytogenetic instability in titanium-magnesium production workers in relation to working conditions

Indicators of mancozeb exposure in relation to thyroid cancer and neural tube defects in farmersrsquo families

On the Use of Different Measures of Exposure-Experiences from a Case-Control Study on Testicular Cancer and PVC Exposure

Effects of pesticides on the peripheral and central nervous system in tobacco farmers in Malaysia studies on peripheral nerve conduction brain-evoked potentials and computerized posturography

Technical NotesNote Open your Web Browser and click on Heading to link to section

Pesticide Contamination Inside Farm and Nonfarm Homes

Examination of urinary mercury levels in dentists in Turkey

Investigation of health of workers occupationally exposed to cooking oil fume

Immunomodulatory effects of the fungicide Mancozeb in agricultural workers

Chromosome aberrations in tunnel workers exposed to acrylamide and N-methylolacrylamide

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public health and economic consequences of methyl mercury toxicity to the developing brain

Time changeability in radon concentration in one-family dwelling houses in the northeastern region of Poland

Study on the characteristics of the cases of poisoning in emergency departments of general hospitals

Groundwater pollution and its health impact on Kafr Hakim village Giza Governorate west of Nile Valley Egypt

Evaluation of Potential Adverse Health Effects Resulting from Chronic Domestic Exposure to the Organophosphate Insecticide Methyl Parathion

Neurotoxicity of inhaled manganese Public health danger in the shower

Blood lead levels and relation to body iron quality in children

SAFETY

H2O2 well cleanout leads to explosion

Minimum amount of flammable gas for explosion within a confined space


Arthurrsquos Advice Line 68Reporting Options in Manifest

When viewing the list of materials in your store selecting the REPORTS button will display 3 options which will allow the MSDS Mini MSDS or Summary reports to be printed for a list of displayed materials in this screen The FILTER and SORT buttons can also be incorporated to bring extra flexibility to the list of reports that are printed

For example if you wish to print the MINI MSDS for all Hazardous substances in your section area location or entire organisation select the appropriate store select the FILTER button and select only the HAZARDOUS substances Then select Reports and Mini MSDS

If you want to print reports in order of highest to lowest hazard you can select the SORT option and chose HAZARDOUS If you wanted the list of reports printed alphabetically you would select ALPHABET from inside the SORT menu

Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects

bull Acute (short-term) exposure to caprolactam may result in irritation and burning of the eyes nose throat and skin in humans

bull Headaches malaise confusion and nervous irritation have been observed in workers exposed to caprolactam by inhalationD

bull Dermatitis fever and grand mal seizures were reported in a man exposed to high levels of caprolactam for 3 days no CNS abnormalities were detected

bull Tests involving acute exposure of animals such as the LC50 and LD50 tests in rats mice and rabbits have demonstrated caprolactam to have high acute toxicity from inhalation and dermal exposure and moderate acute toxicity from ingestion

Hazard Alert

Caprolactam

Caprolactam is primarily used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers (especially Nylon 6) Caprolactam is also used in brush bristles textile stiffeners film coatings synthetic leather plastics plasticizers paint vehicles cross-linking for polyurethanes and in the synthesis of lysine [1]

Caprolactam is produced as clear liquid form and as a crystalline form Caprolactam is a raw material (monomer) for the polyamide-6 production with a wide application in the artificial fibre industry as well as a structural material in the motorization and electrotechnics industry [2]

Environmental and Occupational Exposure [1]

The most probable routes of exposure to caprolactam are by dermal contact and inhalation of workers involved in the manufacture and use of this compound Caprolactam may be released to the environment in emissions and effluents from its manufacturing and use facilities Caprolactam has been detected in water Small segments of the general population may be exposed by the ingestion of contaminated drinking water

Health Effects [3]

Chronic Effects (Noncancer)

bull Chronic (long-term) exposure of workers to caprolactam has been observed to cause peeling of the hands and some eye nose and throat irritation but no other effects on general health

bull Neurological gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects and dermatological and immunological changes were reported in workers chronically exposed to caprolactam among other chemicals High noise levels temperature and humidity were noted and may have also affected the workers

bull Weight gain depression and increased liver and kidney weights have been observed in rats chronically exposed to caprolactam in their diet

bull EPA has not established an RfC for caprolactam

bull The RfD for caprolactam is 05 mgkgd based on reduced offspring body weight in rats

bull EPA has high confidence in the study on which the RfD was based because the threshold for the most sensitive reproductive effect reduced body weight of offspring was clearly identified high confidence in the database because subchronic and chronic dietary studies identified no effect levels for kidney effects in rats another critical effect in the most sensitive species and the carcinogenicity and developmental and reproductive toxicity have been adequately studied and consequently high confidence in the RfD

bull EPArsquos Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards for a hazard ranking under Section 112(g) of the Clean Air Act Amendments has evaluated caprolactam for chronic toxicity and has given it a composite score of 9 (scores range from 1 to 100 with 100 being the most toxic) These scores are nonlinear and are the product of two ratings a rating based on the minimal-effect-dose and a rating based on the type of effect

ReproductiveDevelopmental Effects

bull Gynecological effects have been reported in women occupationally exposed to caprolactam and other chemicals These effects include dysmenorrhea menorrhagia oligomenorrhea and obstetrical complications including postpartum hemorrhage toxemia of pregnancy premature birth and inadequate uterine contractions during labor

Hazard Alert

bull Depressed fetal body weights have been observed in rats and mice exposed to caprolactam in their diet and in rabbits exposed by gavage (experimentally placing the chemical in the stomach) An increased incidence of fetal resorptions was reported in rats exposed by gavage

bull Adverse effects on spermatogenesis have been observed in rats following inhalation exposure

Personal Protection [4]

OSHA 1910132 requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation

Clothing

bull Avoid skin contact with Caprolactam Wear protective gloves and clothing Safety equipment suppliersmanufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective gloveclothing material for your operation

bull Caprolactam may require handling in the molten state therefore heat resistant gloves and clothing are recommended

bull All protective clothing (suits gloves footwear headgear) should be clean available each day and put on before work

Eye Protection

bull Wear splash-proof chemical goggles and face shield when working with molten Caprolactam unless full facepiece respiratory protection is worn

bull Wear dust-proof goggles and face shield when working with powders or dust unless full facepiece respiratory protection is worn

Respiratory Protection

IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS

Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a written program that takes into account workplace conditions requirements for worker training respirator fit testing and medical exams as described in OSHA 1910134

bull If while wearing a filter cartridge or canister respirator you can smell taste or otherwise detect Caprolactam or in the case of a full facepiece respirator you experience eye irritation leave the area immediately Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good If it is replace the filter cartridge or canister If the seal is no longer good you may need a new respirator Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace You may need a combination of filters prefilters cartridges or canisters to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals

bull Where the potential for high exposure exists use a MSHANIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

1 httpwwwepagovttnatwhlthefcaprolachtml2 httpchemicalland21competrochemicalCAPROLACTAMhtm3 httpwwwweblakescomtoxicCAPROLACTAMHTML

Asia Pacific

Federal building and construction OHS accreditation2005-12-09

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations the Hon Kevin Andrews MP has launched the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme At stage one from 1 March 2006 provisional accreditation will become mandatory for companies contracting for directly funded Australian Government projects with a value of $6 million or more Full accreditation will be mandatory from October 1 Contractors are on a short time line - applications are sought for Stage one accreditation by January 31 to ensure that assessments can be completed by March 1

Safety Bulletin 186 Newsletter 1 December 2005

NSW RTA under attack on truck safety2005-12-09

Following the death of a 52-year-old driver the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has been criticised for the vast reduction in the number of physical checks of trucks In the area relevant to the accident the number of vehicles being weighed has dropped from tens of thousands to thousands The authority argues that it can now rely on new safety cam and truck cam technology meaning weigh stations are less important than they once were


Tasmania Pain and suffering to be claimable after death2005-12-09

Tasmanian Attorney General Judy Jackson has tabled an Administration and Probate Amendment Bill 2005 that will allow the families of victims of dust-related diseases to recover damages - for the pain and suffering the victim experienced Tasmanian law currently does not allow families to claim for the pain and suffering of the victim if he or she dies before a court determines the matter The amendment may persuade victims not to lsquorush to court and may also ensure that defending parties do not seek to lsquodrag matters outrsquo


Victoria Sustainability Victoria Act 2005 establishes Sustainability Victoria2005-12-09

On 1 October 2005 the Sustainability Victoria Act 2005 entered into force This establishes Sustainability Victoria as the successor of the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria and EcoRecycle Victoria It also amends the Environment Protection Act 1970 to repeal the provisions relating to EcoRecycle Victoria and transfer its functions and powers to Sustainability Victoria and repeal the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria Act 1990 This follows the announcement by the Victorian Minister for the Environment on 20 April 2005 of the intention to form Sustainability Victoria to deliver an integrated approach to environmental sustainability The objectives of this body are to provide a vehicle to support the tangible delivery of the Governmentrsquos Framework for Environmental sustainability focus on changing behavior by providing advice and assistance to inform decision-making by individuals businesses governments and communities to act in a more environmentally sustainable way and support the development of

Contractors are on a short time line - applications are sought for Stage one accreditation by January 31 to ensure that assessments can be completed by March 1

Legislation

technologies and processes that will produce change that may not otherwise garner support Sustainability Victoria is a statutory agency accountable to the Minister for Environment that will work closely with the Department of Sustainability and Environment the Department of Infrastructure the Commissioner for Sustainability and Environment the Environment Protection Authority and other agencies where appropriate

Enhesa Update October 2005

NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Regulation 2004 amended2005-12-09

On 1 September 2005 the Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Amendment (Clean Air) Regulation 2005 amended the Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Regulation 2004 This substitutes the penalties from the now repealed Clean Air (Plant and Equipment) Regulation 1997 and replaces them with penalties under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2002 as it was amendment on 1 September 2005 The Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Regulation 2004 was passed on 27 August 2004 to replace the Protection of the Environment Operations (Penalty Notices) Regulation 1999 The Regulation was issued under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 to set out the machinery for issuing penalty notices for penalty offences and the amount of the penalty


Discussion paper on the need for and scope of a national approach for the reuse and recycling of industrial wastes2005-12-09

On 15 September 2005 the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) Standing Committee released the discussion paper ldquoDevelopment of a National Approach - Principles and Guidance for Assessing the Beneficial Reuse of Industrial Residues to Land Management Applicationsrdquo The EPHC recognises that applying certain industrial residues to land can be beneficial in reducing the environmental impact of waste and even valuable for their soil conditioning and fertiliser properties However as there is no clear guidance and limited knowledge on this topic there is a potential for chemical contaminants to have adverse effects on the environment agriculture and human health This paper aims to seek comment on the possible elements for a proposed national approach on this waste reduction option Submissions on the paper close on 4 November 2005


America

EPA releases revised pesticide worker protection standard How-to-Comply Manual2005-12-09

EPA has released its revised 2005 Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides How-to-Comply Manual -- a compliance assistance tool that has been updated to reflect amendments to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) a regulation designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers The revised manual provides detailed information on who is covered by the WPS and how to meet regulatory requirements The updated manual will facilitate better protection of pesticide workers and

The EPHC recognises that applying certain industrial residues to land can be beneficial in reducing the environmental impact of waste

Legislation

handlers in agriculture from the potential risks of pesticides agency officials said in a December 1 statement

The document states that you probably need to comply with the WPS if you are a manager or owner of a farm forest nursery or greenhouse labor contractor for a farm forest nursery or greenhouse custom (for-hire) pesticide applicator or independent crop consultant hired by a farm forest nursery or greenhouse operator

Occupational Health and Safety News December 2005

httpwwwohsonlinecom

International trade of radioactive materials regulated2005-12-09

On 27 September 2005 the Public Income Federal Administration in Argentina adopted Resolution 1946 on radioactive material international trade This Resolution establishes a procedure for importexport of radioactive materials or products containing ionizing sources


Carbon Fund in Argentina regulated2005-12-09

On 1 September 2005 the President of the Republic adopted Decree 10702005 which creates the Carbon Fund of Argentina (FAC) aimed at promoting clean development projects at national level Clean development mechanism (CDM) is a Kyoto Protocol flexibility mechanism established in its article 12 These projects aim to contribute to the sustainable development of those nations not subject to binding greenhouse gas emission restrictions under the Kyoto Protocol (eg Argentina)


Order adding two substances to the list of toxic substances adopted2005-12-09

On 21 August 2005 Environment Canada published an Order adding two toxic substances tetrachlorobenzene (CAS Number 12408-10-5) and pentachlorobenzene (CAS Number 60893-5) to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environment Protection Act 1999 which so far contains 68 toxic substances


Offset System for Greenhouse Gases Overview Paper and Technical Background Document issued2005-12-09

On 11 August 2005 the Offset System for Greenhouse Gases Overview and Technical Background Document was released for public consultation As a result of an earlier consultation process which started in 2002 when the Climate Change Plan for Canada first envisioned such a system meetings were held in June 2003 to discuss design options for a Canadian offsets system for greenhouse gases (GHGs) The offset system would award offset credits for verified emissions reduction or removals for eligible projects during the 2008-2012 commitment period Participation would be voluntary The system is a key element of the Government of Canadarsquos plan to honour its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol


Legislation

These projects aim to contribute to the sustainable development of those nations not subject to binding greenhouse gas emission restrictions under the Kyoto Protocol

North Carolina creates commission to study global warming and carbon economy2005-12-09

On 27 September the North Carolina Governor signed legislation creating a commission to study issues related to global warming and the ldquoemerging carbon economyrdquo The purpose of the Commission is to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of global warming and potential actions that could be taken to address the impacts


Europe

HSE publishes new guidance on whole body vibration2005-12-09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published further guidance on Whole Body Vibration (WBV) The guide ldquoWhole Body Vibration The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005rdquo gives advice to employers of what can be done to reduce and control the risks of WBV under the Control of Vibration Work Act 2005 which came into being earlier this year

The new guidance will be helpful to those who operate off-road machinery and construction vehicles as well as industries where drivers can be exposed to shocks and jolts while travelling over rough ground like mining and quarrying The book is a detailed plain language guide of the regulations as they apply to whole-body vibration together with chapters giving practical advice on a number of issues like how to do risk assessments estimating vibration exposure and arranging health surveillance

Europe OHS 7 December 2005

httpwwweurohseucom

Exploding the myths on ageing2005-12-09

Older adults are often discriminated against in the workplace on the basis of stereotypes about ageing Many of these stereotypes may not be accurate or recognise the benefits of employing older workers although they may influence the recruitment and retention of older individuals The government has supported the European Employment Directive on Equal Treatment and made a commitment to introduce legislation covering employment and vocational training before the end of 2006

This review is part of a National Guidance Campaign (NGC) being taken forward by the Age Partnership Group (APG) working with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) The NGC aims to raise employersrsquo awareness of and ability to adopt flexible employment and retirement opportunities in order to increase the recruitment retention and training of older workers prior to the implementation of the age legislation The report forms part of a range of information and guidance products which aim to provide practical information and age diversity employment practices


httpwwweurohseucom

Revised draft EU chemicals legislation debated (REACH)2005-12-09

On 6 September 2005 the British Presidency of the European Union issued an informal revised proposal for a regulation on the Registration

Legislation

The new guidance will be helpful to those who operate off-road machinery and construction vehicles as well as industries where drivers can be exposed to shocks and jolts while travelling over rough ground like mining and quarrying

Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) This compromise text is supposed to reflect the positions of the Member States on this issue following nearly two years of continued negotiations Important innovations in the UK Presidency document include the lsquoOne Substance One Registrationrsquo concept and a modification of the authorisation requirements to ensure substitution to less harmful substances is a priority On 29 October 2003 the European Commission issued its latest proposal for a Regulation concerning the Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals establishing a European Chemicals Agency and amending Directive 199945EC and Regulation (EC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants REACH would place a duty on companies which produce or import more than 1 tonne of a chemical to assess the risks arising from the use of the chemical and to take appropriate measures that manage any risk identified The proposal would replace 40 pieces of current legislation on chemicals The 1200 pages of proposed legislative text are largely made up of technical annexes that are not new requirements as well as a range of brand new procedures In April 2005 two studies on the impact assessment of Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) were issued concluding that the costs of the reform would be manageable


Commission scraps 68 pending legislative proposals2005-12-09

On 27 September 2005 European Commission published a Communication on the outcome of the screening of legislative proposals pending before the Legislator The Commission came up with the initiative because the industry complained about the costs of over regulation The Lisbon Strategy aims to make the European Union ldquothe most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the worldrdquo by 2010 The Commission wants to improve the quality of regulation in Europe while meeting the objectives of the EU policies The outcome of the screening exercise identified 68 proposals which will be withdrawn by the Commission as well another 78 proposals which will be re-considered The withdrawn proposals concern environmental health and safety issues enlargement enterprise and industry and other areas


Commission issues Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation2005-12-09

On 27 September 2005 the European Commission issued a communication outlining its views on the options available to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from airplanes The communication examines a variety of economic instruments with a view to lowering the significant greenhouse gas emissions from airlines operating from EU airports The communication concludes that including the aviation sector in the EU emissions trading scheme is the best way forward and outlines the next steps that need to be taken on a European Scale


Legislation

The Ultimate Scientific Dictionary Pt 1

Activation Energy The useful quantity of energy available in one cup of coffee

Atomic Theory A mythological explanation of the nature of matter first proposed by the ancient Greeks and now thoroughly discredited by modern computer simulation Attempts to verify the theory by modern computer simulation have failed Instead it has been demonstrated repeatedly that computer outputs depend upon the color of the programmerrsquos eyes or occasionally upon the month of his or her birth This apparent astrological connection at last vindicates the alchemistrsquos view of astrology as the mother of all science

Bacon Roger An English friar who dabbled in science and made experimentation fashionable Bacon was the first science popularizer to make it big on the banquet and talk-show circuit and his books even outsold the fad diets of the period

Biological Science A contradiction in terms

Bunsen Burner A device invented by Robert Bunsen (1811-1899) for brewing coffee in the laboratory thereby enabling the chemist to be poisoned without having to go all the way to the company cafeteria

Butyl An unpleasant-sounding word denoting an unpleasant-smelling alcohol

Chemical Engineering The practice of doing for a profit what an organic chemist only does for fun

Clinical Testing The use of humans as guinea pigs

Compound To make worse as in 1) A fracture 2) the mutual adulteration of two or more elements

Computer Resources The major item of any budget allowing for the acquisition of any capital equipment that is obsolete before the purchase request is released

Eigen Function The use to which an eigen is put

En The universal bidentate ligand used by coordination chemists For years efforts were made to use ethylene-diamine for this purpose but chemists were unable to squeeze all the letters between the corners of the octahedron diagram The timely invention of en in 1947 revolutionized the science

Evaporation Allowance The volume of alcohol that the graduate students can drink in a yearrsquos time

Exhaustive Methylation A marathon event in which the participants methylate until they drop from exhaustion

Janetrsquos Corner - Not Too Seriously

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NovoSeven2005-12-09

Novo Nordisk and FDA notified healthcare professionals of revisions to the WARNINGS and ADVERSE REACTIONS sections of the prescribing information for NovoSeven to provide updated safety information on thrombotic and thromboembolic adverse events based on clinical studies in non-hemophilia patients and on post-marketing safety surveillance A clinical study in elderly non-hemophiliac intracerebral hemorrhage patients indicated a potential increased risk of arterial thromboembolic adverse events with use of NovoSeven including myocardial ischemia myocardial infarction cerebral ischemia andor infarction

MedWatch Newsletter 2 December 2005

Exams postponed for World Cup2005-12-09

Exams in Saudi Arabia are being postponed next year so football mad youngsters can enjoy the World Cup The Saudi Education Ministry announced changes to school and university timetables in order to make way for the football tournament in Germany In a statement it said it would be a shame if students were unable to enjoy the competition properly because of their exams It added that it would also be detrimental to their grades if they spent too much time in front of the TV instead of studying Instead they have rearranged the exam timetables to prevent clashes with final exams at the end of June and beginning of July

Ananova News 2 December 2005

httpwwwananovacomnews

Climate change lsquowill dry Africarsquo 2005-12-09

Two new studies predict that climate change will make dry regions of Africa drier still in the near future Computer models of the global climate show the Sahel region and southern Africa drying substantially over the course of this century Sahel rainfall declined sharply in the late 20th Century with droughts responsible for several million deaths

ldquoOur model predicts an extremely dry Sahel in the futurerdquo said Dr Isaac Held of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) whose team publishes its research in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) ldquoIf we compare it against the drought in the 1970s and 80s the late 21st Century looks even drier - a 30 reduction in rainfall from the average for the last centuryrdquo he said

Southern Africa has fared better than the Sahel but research by another Noaa group led by Marty Hoerling also projects a drier future for this region ldquoBetween 1950 and 1999 there has been about a 20 decline in summer rainfall over southern Africardquo he said ldquoOur modelling indicates much more substantial ongoing drying with the epicentre for drought in Africa effectively moving further southrdquo Dr Hoerlingrsquos study has been submitted to the Journal of Climate for publication

BBC News 29 November 2005

httpnewsbbccoukhienglishhealth

Phthalate linked to lupus in mice2005-12-09

No one knows to what degree genetics or environmental agents cause lupus

Gossip

A clinical study in elderly non-hemophiliac intracerebral hemorrhage patients indicated a potential increased risk of arterial thrombo-embolic adverse events with use of NovoSeven

an autoimmune disorder that affects the skin joints and internal organs including the kidneys However researchers at Indiana State University may have strengthened the environmental evidence by discovering that phthalates trigger lupus antibodies in a mouse model Phthalates are found in adhesives cosmetics fragrances vinyl flooring polyvinyl chloride pipe and certain toys and medical supplies According to a report out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Toxicology Program published in the October 2000 issue of EHP phthalate exposure is more extensive than previously suspected especially in women aged 20-40 years Other studies have pointed to possible links with asthma rhinitis and eczema in children as well as altered genital development in male infants The new lupus findings add to a growing list of potential health effects caused by these chemicals

In lupus the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and the bodyrsquos own cells and tissues The immune system makes antibodies against the body itself causing inflammation tissue injury and pain While investigating the gene sequence of a monoclonal antibody used as a marker for tumor growth biochemist Swapan Ghosh interim chair of the Life Sciences Department at Indiana State University noticed that it shared 98 similarity with an antibody protein component (light chain) made by NZB mice a popular model for autoimmune diseases In lupus such antibodies attack DNA in the kidneys heart and lungs

Environmental Health Perspectives December 2005

httpehpnet1niehsnihgov

Ecological change life lessons2005-12-09

ldquoAll global environmental change eventually ends up as a human health problemrdquo said Eric Chivian director of the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment opening the August 2005 First International Conference on Health and Biodiversity in Galway Ireland Speaker after speaker showed how careless disregard for the environment and its variety of life forms squanders potential new medicines endangers our food security and exposes us to new risks of infectious disease

Many frequently prescribed drugs are derived from or patterned after compounds in natural sources Chivian noted For example ziconotide--a pain killer 1000 times more powerful than morphine--comes from marine cone snails that inhabit narrow ranges in coral reefs and thus are increasingly endangered by coral bleaching mostly from global warming How many other useful species are lost without our ever recognizing their potential Species loss may also mean the loss of valuable models for medical research said Chivian Black bears which hibernate for several months over the winter without losing bone mass could provide a clue to the cause of osteoporosis an enormous public health problem But bear populations in many parts of the world are threatened by habitat destruction and overhunting



Fly the environmentally friendly skies2005-12-09

In June 2005 the British airline industry unveiled a 15-year initiative to make itself more environmentally friendly The industry wants to improve its fuel efficiency reduce perceived external noise and lower carbon dioxide emissions on new planes by 50 and nitrogen oxide emissions by 80

Speaker after speaker showed how careless disregard for the environment and its variety of life forms squanders potential new medicines endangers our food security and exposes us to new risks of infectious disease

Gossip

Also planned are ways to give travelers information on the amount of fuel used and pollutants emitted on routes that they travel The industry may also prohibit foreign carriers from flying older more-polluting aircraft into the United Kingdom



A loan for Colombia2005-12-09

In June 2005 the World Bank announced it was granting a $150 million loan to Colombia to help that nation integrate sustainability principles into its environmental programs and policies and meet the UN Millennium Development Goals including halving the number of people without adequate water and sanitation facilities The monies are earmarked for three areas development of a framework for planning and monitoring the progress toward meeting the UN goals increased interinstitutional cooperation and public participation in environmental decision making and development of laws and policies related to air and water quality solid waste management and environmental licensing Bank officials hope the work financed by the loan will also decrease child mortality rates related to respiratory and diarrheal diseases



Wave power in the works2005-12-09

Just off the northern coast of Portugal is the site of the worldrsquos first commercial wave-generated electric plant The contract was signed in May 2005 for the $96 million project under which three wave energy converters will be built at the site The long hinged converters move with the flow of tidal currents pumping fluid to hydraulic motors that drive generators The wave power plant is expected to provide electricity for more than 1500 Portuguese households while displacing more than 6000 metric tons of carbon dioxide produced each year by conventional power plants If this first phase proves successful 30 additional wave converters will be ordered by the end of 2006



Study Wine heart benefit lsquosmallrsquo2005-12-09

Drinking two to three glasses of wine a day may not be such good medicine for the heart after all a team of experts say in a leading medical journal Under a heading ldquono such thing as a free lunchrdquo The Lancet says experts in a new study have concluded that ldquocoronary protection from light to moderate drinking will be very smallrdquo Various studies published in the 1970s and 1980s suggested that small to moderate alcohol consumption had a protective effect on coronary artery disease says the report

One suggests that having up to three drinks a day each containing about 10 grams of alcohol can reduce heart attack risk by a quarter But the celebrations may be premature according to Dr Rod Jackson and three colleagues from the University of Auckland in New Zealand Writing in The Lancet they suggest that the apparent protective effect of alcohol may be largely due to ldquoconfused researchrdquo Instead they say any benefit from light

Drinking two to three glasses of wine a day may not be such good medicine for the heart after all a team of experts say in a leading medical journal

Gossip

to moderate drinking is probably small and unlikely to outweigh the harm to health caused by alcohol If anything the evidence of heart protection is more convincing for heavy drinkers say the experts Post mortem studies show that dead alcoholics have relatively ldquocleanrdquo arteries But for this group the dangers of alcohol abuse greatly outweigh any benefit from alcohol

CNN News 2 December 2005

httpwwwcnncomhealth

Cox-2 inhibitors not safer for stomach 2005-12-09

Painkillers called cox-2 inhibitors have long been touted as safe for your stomach but a new study says thatrsquos just not so There is no evidence to support the claims that these drugs are less harmful to the stomach lining than many traditional anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin British researchers state in a report in the December 3 issue of the British Medical Journal In the study researchers at the University of Nottingham looked at 367 general practices for cases of upper gastrointestinal events such as stomach ulcer or bleeding They matched cases with up to 10 control patients For all patients the researchers looked for prescriptions for anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin in the three years before the study

Of 9407 patients 45 percent had received a conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and 10 percent had been given a cox-2 inhibitor the newer generation of anti-inflammatory Of 88867 control subjects 33 percent had been given an NSAID and 6 percent had received a cox-2 inhibitor The researchers found an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems associated with using both cox-2 inhibitors and other NSAIDs Even after adjusting the data to account for other factors the risk remained significantly high for the cox-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) and the NSAIDs naproxen and diclofenac (Voltaren) However the risk was slightly reduced for celecoxib (Celebrex) Celebrex is the only cox-2 inhibitor that remains on the market after Vioxx and Bextra were pulled from store shelves within the past year because of concerns over cardiovascular side effects

Google News 1 December 2005

httpnewsgooglecomnewsgnhealthleftnavhtml

Chemical used In food containers disrupts brain development2005-12-09

The chemical bisphenol A (BPA) widely used in products such as food cans milk container linings water pipes and even dental sealants has now been found to disrupt important effects of estrogen in the developing brain A University of Cincinnati (UC) research team headed by Scott Belcher PhD reports in two articles in the December 2005 edition of the journal Endocrinology that BPA shows negative effects in brain tissue ldquoat surprisingly low dosesrdquo

The research was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation ldquoThese new studies are also the first to show that estrogenrsquos rapid signaling mechanisms are active in the developing and maturing brain in regions not thought to be involved with sexual differences or reproductive functionsrdquo Dr Belcher said

Science Daily 3 December 2005

httpwwwsciencedailycom

Painkillers called cox-2 inhibitors have long been touted as safe for your stomach but a new study says thatrsquos just not so

Gossip

Cure for cow flatulence cooked up by scientists2005-12-09

Cows belching and breaking wind cause methane pollution but British scientists say they have developed a diet to make pastures smell like roses -- almost ldquoIn some experiments we get a 70 percent decrease (in methane emissions) which is quite staggeringrdquo said biochemist John Wallace Wallace leader of the microbial biochemistry group at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen added the secret to sweeter-smelling cows is a food additive based on fumaric acid a naturally occurring chemical essential to respiration of animal and vegetable tissues

A 12-month commercial and scientific evaluation of the additive has just begun but he said if it proves successful it could be a boon to cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions ldquoIn total around 14 percent of global methane comes from the guts of farm animals It is worth doing something aboutrdquo Wallace said Other big sources of methane are landfills coalmines rice paddies and bogs Scientists in Australia and New Zealand have also been working to develop similar products amid growing concern about greenhouse gas emissions from cattle and sheep

Reuters News 3 December 2005

httptodayreuterscomnews

100000 Gallons of gas spilled from tank2005-12-09

More than 100000 gallons of unleaded regular gasoline has spilled and seeped into the ground at a fuel distribution company in East Toledo A storage tank at Delta Fuel was overfilled November 25 causing gasoline to spill onto the property said John Dimartini the companyrsquos general manager They began immediately to clean up the problem but it got worse when they realized four days later that a containment wall had been breached and the gasoline spread beyond their facility Mr Dimartini said They are still investigating what caused the containment wall to fail Delta Fuel is working with the US Environmental Protection Agency the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency the cityrsquos environmental services division and construction crews The cleaning process involves digging holes to collect the gas so that it can be vacuumed up and disposed of Mr Dimartini said ldquoThis is the way thatrsquos most effective but itrsquos also the most time consumingrdquo he said Most of the spill was contained on the companyrsquos property and gas has not spread into the Maumee River or underground pipes he said

DG amp HazMat Newsletter 3 December 2005

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NeutroSpec2005-12-09

Mallinckrodt Palatin Technologies and FDA notified healthcare professionals of postmarketing reports of serious and life-threatening cardiopulmonary events following the administration of NeutroSpec [Technetium (99m Tc) fanolesomab]a radiodiagnostic agent consisting of a murine IgM monoclonal antibody formulated to be labeled with technetium indicated for scintigraphic imaging of patients with equivocal signs and symptoms of appendicitis who are five years of age or older Onset of these events generally occurred within minutes of injection and included two deaths attributed to cardiopulmonary failure within 30 minutes of injection Additional cases of serious cardiopulmonary events including cardiac arrest hypoxia dyspnea and hypotension required resuscitation with fluids vasopressors and oxygen

More than 100000 gallons of unleaded regular gasoline has spilled and seeped into the ground at a fuel distribution company in East Toledo

Gossip

Any patient who receives NeutroSpec should be closely monitored for at least one hour following product administration Resuscitation equipment and appropriately trained personnel must be readily available during this time Patients with underlying cardiopulmonary conditions may be at higher risk for serious complication NeutroSpec administration to these patients should only follow careful consideration of the known and potential risks and benefits including the possibly higher risks


Stress lsquohinders healing processrsquo 2005-12-09

The stress caused by a 30-minute row with a spouse is enough to slow wound healing by a day US researchers say The Ohio State University team focused on 42 married couples and found wounds on hostile couples healed at 60 of the healing rate for non-hostile couples The team told the journal Archives of General Psychiatry the findings showed hospitals should try to minimise stress for patients ahead of surgery This could lead to shorter hospital stays and save money they added

The researchers focused on a group of 42 married couples who had been together an average of at least 12 years Analysis showed wounds took a day longer to heal after the arguments than they did after the initial supportive discussion

Wounds on the hostile couples healed at only 60 of the rate of couples considered to have low levels of hostility Blood samples from those highly hostile couples showed differences as well Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) a key immune system chemical that controls wound healing were also particularly elevated in the hostile couples High IL-6 levels are linked to long-term inflammation which in turn is implicated in a range of age-related illnesses including cardiovascular disease and arthritis

BBC News 5 December 2005


Scientist hopes for CO2 storage 2005-12-09

Mankindrsquos only hope of staving off catastrophic climate change is burying CO2 emissions underground says the UKrsquos chief scientist Sir David King told the BBC carbon capture and storage technology was the only way forward as China and India would inevitably burn their cheap coal This would be disastrous unless they were persuaded to put CO2 from power stations into porous rocks he said It is thought carbon capture and storage would add 10-15 to fuel bills The process is currently being developed by an international consortium of energy firms It involves removing carbon dioxide from emissions by one of three scientific methods The carbon dioxide is then pumped at pressure into porous rocks where it is expected to stay for 1000 years or more By then it is anticipated that carbon-free energy sources will have been developed Professor King has often spoken of his deep concerns about climate change and has warned of a catastrophe if we keep emitting carbon at current levels By 2030 Chinarsquos CO2 emissions from coal use alone are expected to have doubled



Gossip

Mankindrsquos only hope of staving off catastrophic climate change is burying CO2 emissions underground says the UKrsquos chief scientist

Researchers say estrogen can kill breast cancer cells once fueled by the hormone 2005-12-09

Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers say some breast cancer cells once fueled by estrogen can be killed by the same hormone This raises the possibility that estrogen therapy after estrogen deprivation may overcome the cellsrsquo eventual resistance to hormone therapy The finding by V Craig Jordan PhD D Sc and his colleagues at Fox Chase is published in the December 7 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Many breast cancer cells (called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers) require estrogen for survival Women with these types of breast cancers are treated with drugs that that block estrogen such as tamoxifen fulvestrant or aromatase inhibitors causing the cells to die in a process called apoptosis However over time these cancer cells learn to adapt and become resistant to this therapy

The study demonstrates that these same breast cancer cells die when they re-introduced to estrogenrdquo The mechanism by which estrogen promotes apoptosis is not well understood To understand this process Jordan and his colleagues developed a line of breast cancer cells called MCF-75C These cells already are resistant to estrogen withdrawal When the researchers treated MCF-75C cells with very small concentrations of estradiol they underwent apoptosis The researchers also tested these cells in mice to see how this process might influence existing tumors Again the exposure to estradiol caused the cancer cells to die

Biocom News 6 December 2005

httpwwwbiocom

Unexpected link between gene in liver and iron overload 2005-12-09

A new study in the December Cell Metabolism reveals an unexpected connection between a tumor suppressor gene in the liver and the normally careful control over the amount of iron absorbed from the diet The surprising finding demonstrates a critical role for the liver in iron metabolism The discovery also suggests a new avenue for the treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis an iron-overload disease that is one of the most common genetic disorders among Caucasians according to researchers

Chu-Xia Deng from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and his colleagues report that mice lacking the SMAD4 gene in the liver only suffer from a toxic buildup of iron particularly in their liver kidneys and pancreas--symptoms similar to those exhibited by humans with hemochromatosis In other respects the animals appeared remarkably normal the researchers found ldquoUnexpectedly the liver-specific knockout of SMAD4 does not have a major impact on liver development instead it results in a dramatic accumulation of iron in the liver of mutant micerdquo Deng said ldquoIn addition several other organs with intact SMAD4 including pancreas kidney eye and brain also exhibit accumulation of iron starting from 2 months of age ldquoOur work not only creates a new animal model for the study of hemochromatosis but also clearly indicates that the liver is a physiological center for regulation of iron homeostasisrdquo he added


httpwwwbiocomgt

A new sort of CAT scan reveals effects on lungs2005-12-09

Exposure to cat dander can impair lung function in people with asthma for up

Gossip

A new study in the December Cell Metabolism reveals an unexpected connection between a tumor suppressor gene in the liver and the normally careful control over the amount of iron absorbed from the diet

to 22 hours according to a new study Cat allergen is a common irritant for many of the 15 million Americans with asthma Often the exposure doesnrsquot trigger an asthma attack directly but contributes to inflammation of the small airways that if left untreated leads to severe asthma attacks later This extended inflammatory lung reaction often brings no detectable symptoms and is hard to observe using conventional lung-function tests

But researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles developed a new high-resolution computed tomography (CT) imaging technique that allows them to see the function of airways deep inside the lungs ldquoWe studied cat allergen because itrsquos an extra-fine particle that is both airborne and capable of penetrating deep into the small airwaysrdquo said Jared Allen a researcher at UCLArsquos David Geffen School of Medicine and lead author Allenrsquos team did baseline tests on 10 people with known allergies to cats After being exposed to cat allergens the patients were studied for three days All of them showed a significant and prolonged decrease in lung function well after any outward symptoms had faded By clinical measures all the patients appeared to have recovered by 22 hours after exposure But in the CT scans they still ldquoshowed significant air trapping suggesting that constriction and inflammation of the small airways remain long after initial exposurerdquo Allen said

Newsday 6 December 2005

httpwwwnewsdaycomnewshealth

PCBs furans may be associated in risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma2005-12-09

Scientists have found some additional evidence that environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to a study By comparing blood levels of PCBs in 100 pairs of healthy volunteers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients Anneclaire De Roos PhD assistant professor of epidemiology Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and colleagues determined that high levels of three specific molecular forms of PCBs are linked to an increased risk of developing cancer that starts in patientsrsquo lymph tissue The research also disclosed a potential increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with high blood levels of total dibenzofurans Furans form as a by-product of waste incineration and other industrial processes and are also present in the environment at lower levels than PCBs

Environmental Protection December 2005

httpwwweponlinecom

Research Arsenic Discharged From Landfills 2005-12-09

A group of researchers at Dartmouth College have studied the concentrations of toxic metals at the former Coakley Landfill in North Hampton NH Theyrsquove found that while the level of iron and some other contaminants decreased the level of arsenic slightly increased The researchers detail their calculations regarding the geochemical processes at this site over the last ten years in a paper published online on November 23 by Environmental Science and Technology a journal of the American Chemical Society

This research could shed light on how arsenic pollutes groundwater near landfills especially in areas where the landfillrsquos organic material mixes with naturally occurring iron oxides This process also may explain the high level of arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh and other areas of Southeast Asia ldquoUnfortunately arsenic appears to come from the interaction of microbes with iron oxides carrying arsenic in the underlying rocksrdquo said Benjamin Bostick a coauthor on the paper and an assistant professor of

Gossip

Scientists have found some additional evidence that environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to a study

earth sciences at Dartmouth ldquoIn the Coakley Landfill it appears that these microbes increase arsenic concentrations by consuming organic wastes and creating a lsquoreducing conditionrsquo where the oxygen concentration is very low which is conducive to arsenic release We think that arsenic contamination caused by the natural degradation of other toxic organic material might be widespreadrdquo


httpwwweponlinecom

Insects trained to sniff out poisons explosives2005-12-09

Scientists say a species of non-stinging wasps can be trained in only five minutes and are just as sensitive to odors as manrsquos best friend which can require up to six months of training at a cost of about $15000 per dog With the use of a handheld device that contains the wasps but allows them to do their work researchers have been able to use the insects to detect target odors such as a toxin that grows on corn and peanuts and a chemical used in certain explosives

ldquoTherersquos a tremendous need for a very flexible and mobile chemical detectorrdquo said US Department of Agriculture entomologist Joe Lewis who has been studying wasps since the 1960s ldquoOur best devices that we have currently are very cumbersome expensive and highly fragilerdquo The ldquoWasp Houndrdquo research by Lewis and University of Georgia agricultural engineer Glen Rains is part of a larger government project to determine if insects and even reptiles or crustaceans could be recruited for defense work That project has already resulted in scientists refining the use of bees as land-mine detectors

Pest Control Technology News 6 December 2005

httpwwwpctonlinecomgt

Study Lead poisoning killed Beethoven2005-12-09

Scientists at the Argonne National laboratory near Chicago say theyrsquove conclusively determined composer Ludwig van Beethoven died from lead poisoning Researchers from the US Energy Departmentrsquos lab used the western hemispherersquos most powerful X-ray beam on six of Beethovenrsquos hairs and a few pieces of his skull The finding confirms lead caused Beethovenrsquos decades of poor health which culminated in a long and painful death in 1827 at age 56

ldquoTherersquos no doubt in my mind he was a victim of lead poisoningrsquorsquo said Bill Walsh chief scientist at the Pfeiffer Treatment Center in Warrenville Ill who led the study with Energy Department researcher Ken Kemner The source of the lead is still not known Beethovenrsquos hair samples contained lead at 60 parts per million or about 100 times higher than normal The hair samples were from an authenticated lock of Beethovenrsquos hair purchased by a collector from Sothebyrsquos several years ago the Post said The skull relics are the property of Paul Kaufmann a Danville California businessman who inherited them from his great-great uncle who was a doctor in Austria



Gossip

Scientists at the Argonne National laboratory near Chicago say theyrsquove conclusively determined composer Ludwig van Beethoven died from lead poisoning

Chemists detect toxic emissions linked to catalytic converters in US2005-12-09

A study scheduled for publication in the December 15 issue of the American Chemical Societyrsquos journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that for the first time toxic metals emitted from automotive catalytic converters have been detected in urban air in the United States The research was done by Swedish scientists working in collaboration with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The researchers found high concentrations of platinum palladium rhodium and osmium in air over the Boston metropolitan area Although these particles - known as platinum group elements - are not yet considered a serious health risk evidence suggests they potentially could pose a future danger as worldwide car sales increase from an estimated 50 million in 2000 to more than 140 million in 2050 Finding ways to ldquostabilizerdquo these metal particles within the converters ldquoshould be a priority to limit their potential impactrdquo says lead researcher Sebastien Rauch PhD of Chalmers University of Technology in Gˆteborg In addition to the United States - where catalytic converters were first introduced - scientists have also detected elevated concentrations of these elements in Europe Japan Australia Ghana China and Greenland Catalytic converters reduce emissions of carbon monoxide hydrocarbons nitrogen oxides and other pollutants



rsquoBurying the evidencersquo killer chemicals responsible for thousands of deaths a year says TUC2005-12-09

Britain is facing an occupational cancer epidemic that could be killing up to 24000 people every year four times official estimates according to a TUC report just published The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that just four per cent of the UKrsquos annual cancer death toll (one in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime one in four will die from it) is as a result of exposure to carcinogens at work which it says is equal to 6000 deaths a year

However the lsquoBurying the evidencersquo report by Hazards the TUC-backed health and safety magazine concludes that the incidence of occupational cancer in the UK is much higher and suggests that it is between 12000 and 24000 deaths a year (the equivalent of 16 per cent of all cancer deaths in the UK) Although there are limits regarding exposures to hazardous chemicals such as crystalline silica radon diesel engine exhaust benzene and lead compounds in the UK the TUC believes that many employers are risking the future well-being of their employees by not adhering strictly to the rules More inspections of workplaces would make it difficult for employers to get away with needlessly exposing their staff to toxic substances says the TUC


httpwwweurohseucom

DuPont launches new TYCHEM(r)C2 and TYCHEM(r)F2 chemical and biological protection clothing2005-12-09

A recent study by the International Labour Office (ILO) indicates that

Gossip

More inspections of workplaces would make it difficult for employers to get away with needlessly exposing their staff to toxic substances says the TUC

every year more than 22 million people die from work-related accidents or illnesses This estimate has increased 10 in comparison with 2002 To help reduce these accidents DuPont Personal Protection a specialist in personal protection against chemicals heat cuts and abrasions has assigned its Research and Development Department the task of providing new solutions designed to increase safety and comfort in the workplace At A+A Dupont Personal Protection launched two new heavy-duty suits for reliable protection against numerous chemicals and biological agents TYCHEM(r)C2 and TYCHEM(r)F2

The new TYCHEM(r) suits which are available in the UK from early 2006 are ideal for use in many industries and applications where people may be exposed to oil chemicals biological agents and other hazardous substances With Type 3 protection (against pressurised liquid chemicals) Type 3B (against infectious agents) Type 4 (against liquid aerosols) Type 5 (against solid airborne chemical particles) and Type 6 (limited protection against liquid spray) the new TYCHEM(r)C2 and TYCHEM(r)F2 suits combine lightness flexibility and durability thus affording safe and reliable chemical and biological protection in a single garment

The materials of which the protective suits TYCHEM(r)C2 and TYCHEM(r)F2 are made meet the requirements of standard EN 141262003 (protection against infectious agents) in the highest resistance category and provide protection against radioactive particle contamination according to EN 1073-2 The TYCHEM C2 and TYCHEM F2 protective suit material has also been subjected to anti-static treatment on the inside to avoid the build-up of electrostatic charges where humidity exceeds 25 complying with the requirements of standard EN 1149-1


httpwwweurohseucom

Workplace asbestos exposure linked to colon cancer2005-12-09

Men whorsquove been exposed to asbestos run a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer according to US researchers Dr Mark Cullen from Yale University School of Medicine and colleagues used data from a cancer prevention trial to investigate the risk of colorectal cancer among nearly 4000 men They compared a non-asbestos-exposed heavy-smoker subgroup of participants with an asbestos-exposed lsquosmoker-eligiblersquo subgroup Writing in the American Journal of Epidemiology they say men in the asbestos-exposed group were 36 per cent more likely to develop colorectal cancer than were men in the heavy-smoker but not asbestos-exposed cohort Participants with 21 to 30 years of exposure had a 74 per cent increased risk of colorectal cancer compared with those with less than 10 years of exposure


httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip

North Carolina creates commission to study global warming and carbon economy 12

EUROPE

HSE publishes new guidance on whole body vibration 12

Exploding the myths on ageing 12

Revised draft EU chemicals legislation debated (REACH) 12

Commission scraps 68 pending legislative proposals 13

Commission issues Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation 13

JANETrsquoS CORNER - NOT TOO SERIOUSLY

The Ultimate Scientific Dictionary Pt 1 14

GOSSIP

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NovoSeven 15

Exams postponed for World Cup 15

Climate change lsquowill dry Africarsquo 15

Phthalate linked to lupus in mice 15

Ecological change life lessons 16

Fly the environmentally friendly skies 16

A loan for Colombia 17

Wave power in the works 17

Study Wine heart benefit lsquosmallrsquo 17

Cox-2 inhibitors not safer for stomach 18

Chemical used In food containers disrupts brain development 18

Cure for cow flatulence cooked up by scientists 19

100000 Gallons of gas spilled from tank 19

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program NeutroSpec 19

Stress lsquohinders healing processrsquo 20

Scientist hopes for CO2 storage 20

Researchers say estrogen can kill breast cancer cells once fueled by the hormone 21

Unexpected link between gene in liver and iron overload 21

A new sort of CAT scan reveals effects on lungs 21

PCBs furans may be associated in risk of non- Hodgkin lymphoma 22

Contents

Bulletin Board








Contents

Bulletin Board

ENVIRONMENTAL




MEDICAL












OCCUPATIONAL














PUBLIC HEALTH








SAFETY








Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects





Hazard Alert

Caprolactam





Health Effects [3]











Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip








Contents

Bulletin Board

ENVIRONMENTAL




MEDICAL












OCCUPATIONAL














PUBLIC HEALTH








SAFETY








Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects





Hazard Alert

Caprolactam





Health Effects [3]











Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip

ENVIRONMENTAL




MEDICAL












OCCUPATIONAL














PUBLIC HEALTH








SAFETY








Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects





Hazard Alert

Caprolactam





Health Effects [3]











Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip






PUBLIC HEALTH








SAFETY








Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects





Hazard Alert

Caprolactam





Health Effects [3]











Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip





Health Effects [3]

Acute Effects





Hazard Alert

Caprolactam





Health Effects [3]











Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip

Hazard Alert





Clothing




Eye Protection









Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip

Asia Pacific













Legislation









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip









America




Legislation




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip




httpwwwohsonlinecom













Legislation





Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip




Europe





httpwwweurohseucom





httpwwweurohseucom



Legislation










Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











httpwwweurohseucom



Gossip






httpwwweurohseucom




httpwwweurohseucom

Gossip









Legislation
































Gossip














Gossip
















Gossip



httpwwwcnncomhealth












Gossip












Gossip













Gossip






httpwwwbiocom





httpwwwbiocomgt



Gossip









httpwwweponlinecom




Gossip




httpwwweponlinecom











Gossip











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