SAFER WORLD  a private independent international internet information network www.safer-world.org/

10/08/27/2002

[ welcome ] [ address ] [ activ ] [ chemicals ] [ Countries ] [ disease ] [ literature ] [ topics ] [ newsletter ] [ speeches, articles ] [ Impressum/Disclaimer ] [ content ] [ search ]

search

international

home English

contact: info@safer-world.org

Dear subscribers, 
I thank again all who sent me information, and who mailed me information about a broken link. www.safer-world.org  grows with your help and your support.
When you want to unsubscribe this newsletter, please send me an email.
We all cross our fingers that there will be some success in Johannesburg.
Best wishes and good health
Ingrid Scherrmann
Fuchsfeldstr. 50, D-88416 Ochsenhausen
phone: + 49 7352 940529, fax: + 49 7352 4392
email:  info@safer-world.org, web:    http://www.safer-world.org
SAFER WORLD is a private independent international internet-network for a safer environment.

===================================================

AKTIV

CHEMICALS - ARSENIC

Autoimmunity by pesticides: a critical review of the state of the science. Fri, 23 Aug 2002, Toxicol Lett 2002 Feb 28;127(1-3):101-9 Autoimmunity by pesticides: a critical review of the state of the science. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgicmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12052647&dopt=Abstract

Website about ccawood http://www.noccawood.ca   

===================================================

CHEMICALS - ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDCs)
Chemical-related damage to wildlife support fears for human health
Washington, D.C.  -- World Wildlife Fund is calling for stricter controls on dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals after a new report for the World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nation agencies concludes that damage to wildlife substantiates concerns for human health. The WHO report, "Global Assessment of the State-of-the-Science of Endocrine Disruptors," recognizes the strong plausibility that adverse trends in human health are linked to these chemicals.

Many common household products like electrical goods, plastic food and drink containers, cleaning compounds, cosmetics, and perfumes contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with the function of the body's naturally occurring hormones. These substances disrupt reproductive and early developmental processes--particularly in offspring exposed in the womb or in the egg.

Since the 1970s, incidence of childhood cancers, learning disabilities, autism, diabetes, early puberty, and abnormal penile development has increased substantially.  At the same time, evidence linking these disorders with exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals has continued to mount. The WHO report acknowledges that the changes in human health trends in some areas are sufficient to warrant concern and make this area a high research priority.

The WHO report details a variety of effects in wildlife which have been linked to exposure to chemicals with hormone disrupting properties--including imposex in mollusk species (e.g. where female whelk grow penises), intersex in fish (where males produce eggs or ovarian tissue in the testis), reduced phallus size in male alligators, behavioral problems in birds, and compromised immune and reproductive systems in mammals.

WWF is urging governments to take a precautionary approach to EDCs as evidence of effects are often measurable long before a direct cause and effect is established. For example, there was a raft of evidence linking cigarette smoke to cancer decades before a causal mechanism was put forward. Similarly, action was taken against DDT before scientists could prove how the pesticide caused eggshell thinning in birds.

"WWF and WHO's expert panel agree that there is ample evidence of the chemical threats to wildlife and the worrisome links to human health effects, " said Dr. Theo Colborn, director of WWF's Wildlife and Contaminants Program. "We owe it to our children and to wildlife to act now to eliminate exposure to synthetic hormone disrupting chemicals."

WWF's critique of the WHO report is available at: http://www.wwfus.org/toxics/whatsnew/index.htm
The WHO report is available at: http://www.who.int/pcs/pcs_new.html

===================================================

CHEMICAL  - GENDER-BENDING CHEMICALS
Alarm at gender-bending chemicals By Lorna Duckworth Health Correspondent 12 August 2002 The World Health Organisation will urge governments today to establish an immediate inquiry into the effects of gender-bending chemicals on human and animal populations. Strong evidence links reproductive abnormalities and population declines in some species of birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians with the chemicals, known as hormone disruptors or EDCs (endocrine-disrupting chemicals). But concerns are also being raised that EDCs have contributed to the increase in breast, testicular and prostate cancers among humans and a decline in sperm counts. In response to the threat, the WHO will publish a report today, written by a team of scientists, calling for an international programme of research. The report details a large body of evidence pointing to the way wildlife has been harmed by exposure to EDCs, including industrial chemicals such as phthalates, alkylphenols, dioxins and PCBs, as well as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. But evidence that human health has been damaged by EDCs remains weak - largely because of the lack of sufficiently robust studies, the report is expected to say. This means that the effects on adults of low-level exposure to EDCs over a long period of time, and the impact on unborn babies and young children, are poorly understood. But the WHO is expected to conclude that recent health trends are sufficient to warrant concern. Concerns have been raised about a decline in human sperm quality in several countries, the increased incidence of a congenital malformation of the penis called hypospadias, and a trend towards earlier puberty. Increases in the incidence of cancer in hormonally sensitive tissues such as the breast, testes and prostate have also led to suggestions that environmental chemicals could be involved. Bu!
t no studies have established a link. Wildlife studies have, however, shown a link between exposure to hormone disruptors and changes in physiology, sexual behaviour and fertility. Female fish downstream from pulp and paper mills have developed male sex organs and try to mate with other females. After a chemical leak in Lake Apoka, Florida, male alligators developed abnormal hormone levels, small penises and feminised gonads that diminished their reproductive success. And fish-eating birds, including gulls and terns, have in the past few decades given birth to an excess of female chicks and chicks with birth defects.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?dir=505&story=323629&host=3&printable=1

===================================================

CHILDREN's EDUCATION

From P A N U P S, Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
Resource Pointer #288 (Children's Education)
August 14, 2002 For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.
*Who Wants to be an IPM Super Sleuth? 2001* Web site. http://www.ipminstitute.org/supersleuth.htm. IPM Institute of North America. An on-line, interactive web site including quizes, crossword puzzles, word searches, matching and other fun games for elementary grade students. Focuses on educating children about integrated pest management (IPM) solutions for pests in and around the home. Includes an extensive list of IPM educational resources. 114 pages. Download free print-version at http://www.ipminstitute.org/supersleuth.htm. Contact IPM Institute of North America, Inc., 1914 Rowley Ave., Madison WI 53726; phone (608) 232-1528; fax (608) 232-1530; email ipmworks@ipminstitute.org; Web site http://www.ipminstitute.org.
*Exploring Urban Integrated Management: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-6, 2001* Erica Jenkins, Michigan State University Pesticide Education Program. Curriculum guide for teaching school and community IPM. Includes teacher fact sheets, lesson plans, and student worksheets on topics including IPM steps and decision-making, insect and rodent pests, inspections, and control method choices. 76 pages. Download free at http://www.pested.msu.edu/CommunitySchoolIpm/curriculum.htm. Contact Community and School IPM, Michigan State University Pesticide Education Program, B18 Food Safety and Toxicology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824; email jenkinse@msue.msu.edu; Web site http://www.pested.msu.edu/.
*Environmental Health in Family Medicine: Curriculum for Teaching and Learning Environmental Health, 2001* Writen by physicians and environmental health specialists for health care professionals working with children and family medicine. Module topics cover lead, indoor and outdoor air quality, pesticides, water quality and persistent organic pollutants (POPS). 167 pages. Free. Download at http://www.ijc.org/. Also available on CD-ROM. Contact International Joint Commission, 234 Laurier Ave. W 22nd Fl., Ottawa K1P 6K6, Canada; email houstonj@ottawa.ijc.org ; Web site http://www.ijc.org/

*Join Our Pest Patrol, A Backyard Activity Book for Kids, 2000* Activity book and companion teachers' guide includes many educational activities designed for 3rd and 4th graders. Includes units on natural pest enemies, ecology, compost, caterpillars, cockroaches, ticks, mosquitoes and weeds. 24 pages. Download free at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/IPM/IPMPubs.html. Contact Integrated Pest Management Program, Agricultural Development Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 90 West Plato Boulevard, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107; phone (651) 297-3217; email jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us; Web site http://www.mda.state.mn.us/IPM/IPMPubs.html.
*Handbook of Pediatric Environmental Health, 2001* Ruth A. Etzel, ed. American Academy of Pediatrics. Discusses preventable environmental hazards, including tobacco, ultraviolet light, water pollution, pesticides, lead and mercury. Addresses issues such as nitrates in water, asthma triggers and food contamination and identifies specific settings in which children might be exposed to environmental hazards. Contact American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098; phone (847) 434-4000, fax (847) 434-8000; email pubs@aap.org; Web site http://www.aap.org.
We encourage those interested in having resources listed in the PANUPS Resource Pointer to send review copies of publications, videos or other resources to our office.
PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.
Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA), Email: panna@panna.org  Web:  http://www.panna.org

===================================================

CONGRESS

From: Asia Pacific Forum Of Environmental Journalists-HQ, August 08, 2002 

Dear News Editors and ej's,
APFEJ HQ is soliciting your support to publish the following news item on you print and electronic media publications.Thanks a lot.
Cheers, APFEJ Congress Director.
World Environmental Congress To Convene in Sri Lanka This Fall

The 14th World Congress of Environmental Journalists is expected to draw
100 participants from nearly 50 countries for its sessions in Colombo, the
capital of Sri Lanka, from October 27 to 31.
Participants are expected to include representatives of national
environmental journalists' organizations, environmental journalists, NGO
activists, government and United Nations officials, and media
professionals. The congress is organized by the Sri Lanka Environmental
Journalists Forum (SLEJF), the Commonwealth Environmental Journalists
Association (CEJA) and the Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists
(APFEJ).
The congress, which is supported by the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) and several development agencies, will deal with the role of media
concerning environment this century.
Journalists who plan to attend the event should submit a maximum 500-word
abstract in English. The theme for the abstract should deal with case
studies of media programs undertaken by government organizations,
non-governmental organizations and the private sector in developing
countries, particularly Asia-Pacific and the Commonwealth, on peace and the
environment. Papers from journalists, media NGOs and academia are
encouraged. The deadline for abstract submissions is August 31.
APFEJ is a world organization of professional environmental journalists
with over 8000 members from 91 countries. APFEJ programs include
specialized regional and international training workshops on environmental
reporting; publications, such as books on environmental reporting;
newsletters, and a clipping service.
For more information on the Congress please contact APFEJ
at P.O.Box 26, 434/3-Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka.
E-mail afej@sri.lanka.net  

===================================================

COUNTRIES - EUROPE

Scientific Committee on Food 

- Minutes of the 132nd Plenary Meeting of the Scientific Committee on Food held on 15/16/17 April 2002 in Brussels  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out132_en.pdf  

- Opinion on the safety of n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone residues in polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone) when used as food additives (adopted by SCF on 30 May 2001) (updated) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out87_en.pdf  

- Statement on a Report on 2alkylcyclobutanones (expressed on 2 July 2002) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out135_en.pdf

-Opinion on Food on quassin (expressed on 2 July 2002)  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out134_en.pdf 

- Opinion on pulegone and menthofuran (expressed on 2 July 2002) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out133_en.pdf

and other topics.

===================================================

COUNTRIES - PHILIPPINES

From: MASIPAG, MGA MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO PARA SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGHAM PANG-AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG)Monday, August 26, 2002 Masipag Statement on Farmers Rights

Adopted at the Workshop, Defend Farmers’ Rights From Threats of the  Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act 2002, Dona Jovita Resort, 2-4th  August 2002. (see also under AKTIV)

Collectively, farmers share the social responsibility to feed society.  For generations, they have nurtured and bred our food crops, and have  conserved and improved the genetic resources that form the basis of food  and agriculture. With farmers’ responsibility to feed society, and  stemming from their enormous contribution, comes farmers’ rights.

Farmers have rights over their innovations, practices, knowledge,  technologies and biological resources evolved through generations, over

the factors and processes of production (land, capital, technology,  inputs), and over legal and political decisions that undermine their  ability to produce food and conserve genetic resources.  The seeds, food, animals and associated knowledge that farmers have  conserved and developed are not the product of any single farmer but are  the collective products of many farming communities through many  generations. Farmers rights are thus collective rights and farmers are  not owners, but stewards, of our biodiversity and genetic resources.

Farmers must be free to produce food, and must be appreciated,  recognized, protected and strengthened in their work by their  inalienable and inviolable rights relating to seeds, production,  biodiversity and genetic resources, politics and decision-making,  culture and knowledge, land, information and research, and  sociopolitical factors as follows:

With respect to LAND farmers have the right to:

- Own land;

- Swift and just land redistribution programs;

- To use abandoned and unproductive lands (both public and private) for  the purposes of food production.

With respect to SEEDS AND GENETIC RESOURCES, recognizing that seeds are  the life of the farmer, farmers have the right to:

- Use, save, exchange, multiply, sell and improve their genetic  resources;

- Control seeds and planting materials including the right to refuse  access to the seeds and knowledge where such access will be detrimental  to farmers rights (such as to transnational corporations and

international research institutions as appropriate);

- Access seeds and genetic resources appropriate to their local  environment and to the capacity and needs of farmers in their  communities;

- Freely choose what seeds, plants and animals to use on his/her farm.

In PRODUCTION farmers have the right to:

- Appropriate technologies which are simple, practical and inexpensive  and do not harm the environment or human health;

- Abundant and safe water systems;

- Prevent technologies, policies, programs and institutions that have  the potential to destroy the resource base of farming, including the  land, the water, the air, and seeds;

- Control the products of the harvest and the benefits of production  including marketing and distribution;

- A fair price for their products.

On BIODIVERSITY farmers have the right to:

- Conserve and protect biodiversity and genetic resources including on  and off-farm biodiversity and watersheds which are an integral part of  farming systems;

- Prevent technologies, policies and institutions that destroy the  watershed and otherwise negatively impact on the ability of farmers to  produce food and conserve biodiversity (e.g. logging, mining, and  chemical based farming).

In POLITICS AND DECISION-MAKING farmers have the right to:

- Join, support and form institutions that protect the rights of  farmers;

- Meaningful participation in formulating policies, laws and programs  that affect farmers’ lives on local, national and international levels;

- Block laws, policies, programs and institutions that are contradictory  to sustainable agriculture or farmers’ rights;

- Government subsidies and support in agriculture including improved  traditional varieties and indigenous resources.

On CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE farmers have the right to:

- Control and use their own traditional knowledge free from the threat  of biopiracy;

- Freely express their local culture and knowledge, and to pass it on to  future generations;

- Respect for their way of life, their farming practices and their  knowledge;

- Live in a world free of privatized intellectual property rights.

In INFORMATION AND RESEARCH farmers have the right to:

- Independent and balanced information about seeds and agriculture in  order to make informed choices;

- Truth in advertising including the right not to be bombarded with  misleading or exaggerated statements designed to promote certain  varieties of seeds for profit;

- Updated, independent and balanced information on issues that affect  farmers’ rights;

- Undertake their own research and develop innovation;

- Provide direction for agricultural research.

In the SOCIOPOLITICAL area farmers have the right to:

- Organize and join organizations to protect and promote their rights;

- Promote sustainable agriculture and ecologically abundant agriculture;

- Live in a community that is peaceful and decent;

- Access safe and healthy food;

- A dignified and meaningful life;

- A viable and sustainable livelihood.

These rights aim to safeguard farmers against the negative effects of  globalization including the excessive power and influence of  transnational corporations. Farmers rights implicitly reject  intellectual property rights and genetic engineering which compromise  farmers’ ability to produce food and to fulfill their obligations as  stewards of genetic resources. Privatization of genetic resources  clashes with the very essence of farmers rights which implies collective rights and responsibilities. We call on governments and institutions to recognize and implement these rights at local, regional, national and international levels. Farmers have the right and duty to defend themselves, their knowledge, the land and genetic resources against any threat in whatever form it may take. Food security is only possible if we allow farmers to freely grow food and protect agrobiodiversity as has been their right and responsibility for generations. Recognition and implementation of farmers rights is essential not only to protect farmers in the present but in order to ensure the continuity of activities that are crucial for humanity at large.

[MASIPAG - Farmer Scientist Partnership for Development], MASIPAG, Farmers Fields, PHILIPPINES

===================================================

GM CROP

From: CBGnetwork, August 26th, Bayer in GM Crop Contamination Scandals
On 15th August it emerged that Bayer's new agricultural wing, Bayer CropScience (1), was responsible for the illegal planting of genetically modified (GM) oil seed rape (OSR) contaminated with an unauthorised GM crop line in field trials across the UK.

GM seed, planted at more than 20 farm scale trial sites in the UK since 1999, was contaminated with substantial quantities (up to 2.8%) of an unauthorised variety of GM OSR. The contaminating variety (also owned by Bayer), contains genes giving resistance to the antibiotics neomycin and kanamycin. The implications of this are potentially serious. Scientists have expressed concern that use of antibiotic resistance genes as marker genes in food crops may lead to the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Recent studies suggest that it is possible for modified DNA from GM crops to be taken up by bacteria in the human gut. Both neomycin and kanamycin are still used in the treatment of a number of potentially fatal diseases.

The whole contamination incident has once again illustrated that it is impossible to contain GM crops once they are released into the environment. The problem is particularly acute with GM OSR as it spreads its pollen over a wide area contaminating other OSR crops (2). This problem is especially serious in areas like northwestern Europe where OSR has many wild relatives, and the risks of GM crop traits escaping into the eco-system are therefore increased.

The case also shows the lack of regulatory controls surrounding the UK GM farm scale trials. Effectively it was left up to Bayer/Aventis to ensure the purity of the seed that they were using in trials. The contamination went unnoticed for 3 years by both Bayer and the UK regulatory authorities. The seed contamination was eventually discovered by the Scottish Agricultural College, in a trial they were conducting on behalf of Bayer CropScience.

It is interesting to note that although the contamination was initially reported to Bayer/Aventis on June 21st, it took almost two months for the story to be made public. It was then made public at the height of the holiday period, traditionally the best time to make a potentially disclosure. All of this adds to the feeling that these trials are a sham and that the UK government is colluding with the powerful biotech lobby.

Varieties of GM OSR similar to those found to be contaminated in the UK have also been grown in field trials in Belgium, France and Germany in recent years. However, the extent of the use of contaminated seed in Bayer crop trials in the rest of Europe remains unclear.

News of the contamination has caused an outcry in the UK. There have been widespread calls for the suspension of the last round of the winter OSR farm scale trials. These trials are due to be planted within the next few weeks. At present it seems unlikely that any 'suspension' resulting in the cancellation of these trials will occur. Any delays would set back the Farm Scale Trial process by a year and throw government and industry plans for GM crop commercialisation in the UK into turmoil.
It is possible that Bayer CropScience may even face criminal proceedings for failing to prevent the contamination. Unconvinced that any legal action taken against Bayer would result in the corporation being held accountable for its illegal activities, around 50 people partially decontaminated a Bayer OSR test site near Hilton in Dorset on August 18th. However, pulling up illegal GM crops was deemed to be more illegal than growing them in the first place and 14 people were arrested for criminal damage to the crop.

Meanwhile Bayer CropScience, the company who are now responsible for the mess, is doing a good job of hiding behind its old identity Aventis CropScience. Thus far Bayer's public image has remained fairly unscathed, ensuring that all negative publicity is directed towards Aventis, a company that no longer has any involvement in GM crops. Despite having become part of the new Bayer CropScience in early June, Aventis CropScience Ltd is not due to change its name until the autumn. Signs and flags at old Aventis CropScience factories and offices, as well as official letters all still bear the Aventis name, and when you ring them, the voice on the end of the phone still answers "Hello, Aventis".
(1) Bayer CropScience was launched on 4th June 2002 following Bayer AG's 7.25 billion euro purchase of Aventis CropScience.
(2) For example in Canada where GM oil seed rape/Canola has been grown for several years there have been several well publicised cases of organic/non-GM farmers having their contaminated with pollen from GM crops on neighbouring farms. Both Bayer (Aventis CropScience) and Monsanto are currently being sued for damages by Canadian organic farmers (see below)

Organic farmers gain key piece of evidence in class action http://www.saskorganic.com/

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada publicly released a study today on the Isolation Effectiveness in Canola Seed Production. The study discloses that growers producing Certified canola seed for the conventional canola market cannot prevent genetic contamination of their seed by Monsanto's Roundup Ready Canola and Aventis's Liberty Link genetically modified (GM) canolas. The contamination was so severe that the research scientists who did the study recomended that four varieties of canola seed sold in the conventional canola market be withdrawn or Breeder and Foundation seed sources for the varieties be cleaned up.

In 2000-2001 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) undertook a study for the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) to look at whether the isolation distances used by certified seed growers were effective in preventing genetic contamination by Round Up Ready and Liberty Link GM canola varieties. It took months of pressure on behalf of the Saskatchewan certified organic farmers engaged in a class action lawsuit against Monsanto and Aventis to obtain a copy of this important publicly-funded study.

Results show that even with the strict isolation distance and inspection standards required by certified seed growers, contamination occurs. In the case of one very experienced grower mentioned in the study, the contamination level was as high as 7.20%. This unusually high level of contamination led the researchers to conclude that the foundation seed itself was highly contaminated.

Seventeen of the 70 samples tested showed contamination that exceedee the purity required for Certified seed (99.75%) and 30 of the 70 samples exceeded the purity required for Foundation seed (99.95%). Only two of the 70 samples would be considered acceptable seed for organic production. The study concluded that "... the present isolation distance of 100m provides adequate but not complete protection from foreign pollen." And further, that the "... large number of canola seeds normally planted per acre plus the high probability that a small percentage of herbicide tolerant seeds will be present in most Certified seed lots has and will continue to result in significant herbicide tolerant plant populations in most commercial canola fields."

It follows that certified organic farmers, whose standards strictly prohibit contamination by GM varieties, are highly unlikely to be able to produce a crop free of RoundUp Ready or Liberty Link contamination, thus losing the opportunity to serve the lucrative certified organic canola market.

The CSGA maintains that the study was merely preliminary and not statistically significant. However, the research scientists who did the study do not say this. Furthermore, they state that the sample size was large enough to give a 99% confidence level that buyers would find the same level of contamination in the seed stocks.
AAFC and the CSGA initially refused to release the study when asked. After persistent pressure, AAFC finally agreed to release a copy of what it was already planning to release to the CBC pursuant to an existing Access to Information request. However when the document finally arrived, large tracts were missing and relevant portions were concealed as "confidential business information". It was only after the lawyer representing the organic farmers in the class action launched a court application to compel the disclosure of the full report that the AAFC and CSGA offered to publicly disclose the full report.

This study will be a key piece of evidence in the organic farmer's action because it provides scientific documentation of the widespread GM contamination that has all but wiped out their organic canola market. It further provides evidence that the contamination is from both the Roundup Ready and Liberty Link genes.

Coalition against BAYER-dangers, www.CBGnetwork.org , CBGnetwork@aol.com 
The Coalition against BAYER-dangers has been monitoring the BAYER Corporation for more than 20 years. Anyone who has information on possibly illicit activities of BAYER - please let us know.

===================================================

===================================================

SHORT INFORMATION

31 July, 2002 Hairdressing salon chemical alert Hairdressers are more likely to give birth to babies with major physical defects, a study suggests.Researchers in Sweden have also found that women who work in hairdressing salons have a slightly increased risk of having small babies, compared with the general population. The scientists suggest that the chemicals used to style hair, including colours and hairspray, could be responsible. More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2162508.stm

GM crop-testing suspended. Ministers suspend GM crop-testing  By Paul Kelbie and Marie Woolf , The Independent, 16 August 2002 . The Government's controversial GM crop-testing programme was thrown into disarray yesterday after it emerged that a number of fields had been contaminated with unauthorised seeds since the trials began three years ago. ... (More when you send me a private mail I can send you he whole article.)

Sleep apnea and occupational exposure to solvents
Heiskel H, Gunzenhäuser D, Seidler A, Volk S, Pflug B, Kauppinen T, Elsner G http://www.occuphealth.fi/e/dept/sjweh/current.htm

The Westward March of West Nile , August 16, 2002  http://www.panna.org

What's new on CBR's environmental estrogens and other hormones web site
Environmental Estrogens and Other Hormones Web Site http://www.som.tulane.edu/ecme/eehome/
Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities http://www.cbr.tulane.edu
Environmental Hormone 2002 Conference October 17-19, New Orleans, LA  http://e.hormone.tulane.edu

==================================================

end of newsletter/10/08/27/2002 of SAFER WORLD

Copyright© 1998-2008   SAFER WORLD. All rights reserved