09/07/30/2002

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09/07/30/2002

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SAFER WORLD is a private independent international internet-network for a safer environment.

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CHEMICALS - ARSENIC

Below is pasted a link to an abstract on an article at Cancer Research. They are working with the idea that arsenic causes celluar changes and using that to attack cancer cells. The same mechanisms that cause arsenic to destroy our good cells or alter them is being used to try and kill off cancer cells.

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/62/14/3893

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CHEMICALS - CCA WOOD

Thanks to Deborah who gives the permission to publish her paper.

Information Package for Day Cares and Schools

Industry, which promised in 1984 in the United States, to warn consumers about the dangers of CCA wood and did not, is being given another chance. Instead of banning this wood the EPA and the PMRA are phasing it out. Allowing companies to continue to manufacture it and sell their remaining stocks until December 31 2003. After that time it will no longer be allowed to be used in residential use or boardwalks, fences or play ground equipment.

I have attached the warnings from Dr Cushman of Ottawa for daycare centres on this issue that were sent out last fall. The City of Ottawa has now banned the further purchase of CCA wood and is addressing the playground issue.

Check these links out for complete details.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/cca_evaluating.htm

The Commission has been particularly concerned with the link between arsenic and skin cancer, given that children playing outside in the sun without sunscreen already have a elevated risk. Combine the two and they are quite concerned. They consider the risk unacceptable.

In Canada, I have unpublished studies and drafts by a government scientist talking about the ability of children to absorb arsenic through the skin. Something that is not admitted by them publicly.

There has been no action by federal governments in Canada and the USA to address the existing CCA structures. I believe every home should be sent a warning of the possible dangers and symptoms of arsenic poisoning along with an explanation of how difficult it is to diagnose.

I also have documents where the Canadian Federal government addresses the fact that there is no legislation in place, which allows them to deal with the safety issues of this wood. At the moment everything is voluntary on the part of industry. Having tested the law personally to get help, I can verify the complete lack of protection one receives.

It seems the good people of Quebec who began pesticide legislation have the right idea. Municipalities may have to take the lead on this issue. Some are beginning to.

People should also be made aware of where they can get their soil and wood tested for contamination. Sealing the wood can prevent much of the leaching but will not address in ground contamination, splinters or even the safety of the sealing agents. A recent lawsuit quoted here now, by Eric J. SAVITZ of the Barrons reveals the dangers of splinters " In April, a woman who had to have her fingers partially amputated after they

became badly infected by splinters of CCA-treated wood, settled a lawsuit that she had filed in federal district court in Salt Lake City. She received $150,000 from Osmose and other defendants. Osmose didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. Says McCrea, who has cases currently pending in Indiana and Michigan: "Every deck, every fence, every play set, there's exposure, and there's liability."

I have also attached a power point presentation from the environmental working group with their permission. If you use it please send them a thank you note so they may keep track its use at renee@ewg.org

Test kits for soil and structures can be purchased at the links below at cost. http://www.ewg.org or http://www.healthybuilding.net

Check this link for information on older wood that can be more dangerous than new. http://www.ccaresearch.org/

David Stilwell's power point presentation on sealing wood is attached. This was presented to the EPA, by him in October 2001, at the SAP panel.

Here is an excerpt from a study on decks found at the care research link

The study "metal Concentrations in Soils...". Page 32/96 11.6 Results from Soil Core Samples

"The results from the cores collected below decks... suggest that the CCA treated decks impact at least the upper 3 inches of soil below the decks." And "Data indicates that the maximum concentration of arsenic were found within the first 2 inches of the soil within all the cores." See graph p. 33 and Table p34.

Now, I would like to tell you a few things that we do know about arsenic.

As there is no test for low level long term poisoning, we can not even speculate the real danger. All we can do is look at what we know.

We know that about 3/4 of arsenic leaves our body within about three days very hard on the organs that process it.

We know the remaining, approx. 1/4 is stored in our brains bone and tissue.

We know that it is metabolised by our body into, what has been recently discovered as more dangerous chemicals forms

We know that no level of arsenic is safe

Quote from the government of Canada " in 1993 Environment and Health & Welfare Canada stated that arsenic is a "non-threshold toxicant" (i.e., a substance for which there is believed to be some chance of adverse health effects at any level of exposure) (Environment Canada, 1993; ref. Amdur et al., 1991;"

We know it is leaching

We know that moments after we take it in, it begins cellular changes that can lead to cancer, diabetes and other health problems down the road

We know it is an endocrine disrupter and can be passed on through damaged DNA

We know that hexavalent chromium is also on the woods surface

We know children are a vulnerable subgroup

We know it is carcinogenic, neurotoxic and more

We know most doctors have no idea how to find the contamination or to treat it.

We know there is no medical coverage for treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

We know it may take years for health issues to arise from low level contamination.

What we don't know is why governments are protecting the industry, instead of our children.

Finally, I have attached a news item by Dr.Sandra Steingraber who speaks her mind on this issue and has opted to protect her children

Any statements I have made here can be backed up with data. I invite you to email me for references or to ask me any questions you have on the issue of CCA wood. Or view my website at www.noccawood.ca

Our children are our future. Please protect them

Take care and please, keep safe

Deborah Elaine Barrie, Canada email: deborahbarrie@hotmail.com , web: http://www.noccawood.ca

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CHEMICALS - WOODSMOKE

The toxicology of inhaled woodsmoke

27.07.2002Judith T. Zelikoff A1, Lung Chi Chen A2, Mitchell D. Cohen A3, Richard B. Schlesinger A4

A1, A2, A3, A4 New York University School of Medicine, Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA

Abstract:

In addition to developing nations relying almost exclusively upon biomass fuels, such as wood for cooking and home heating, North Americans, particularly in Canada and the northwestern and northeastern sections of the United States, have increasingly turned to woodburning as an alternate method for domestic heating because of increasing energy costs. As a result, the number of households using woodburning devices has increased dramatically. This has resulted in an increase in public exposure to indoor and outdoor woodsmoke-associated pollutants, which has prompted widespread concern about the adverse human health consequences that may be associated with prolonged woodsmoke exposure. This mini-review article brings together many of the human and animal studies performed over the last three decades in an attempt to better define the toxicological impact of inhaled woodsmoke on exposed children and adults; particular attention is given to effects upon the immune system. General information regarding occurrence and woodsmoke chemistry is provided so as to set the stage for a better understanding of the toxicological impact. It can be concluded from this review that exposure to woodsmoke, particularly for children, represents a potential health hazard. However, despite its widespread occurrence and apparent human health risks, relatively few studies have focused upon this particular area of research. More laboratory studies aimed at understanding the effects and underlying mechanisms of woodsmoke exposure, particularly on those individuals deemed to be at greatest risk, are badly needed, so that precise human health risks can be defined, appropriate regulatory standards can be set, and accurate decisions can be made concerning the use of current and new woodburning devices.

http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/link.asp?id=5W0D5R5FCHAU7UFV p. 269Judith T. Zelikoff, Lung Chi Chen, Mitchell D. Cohen, et al.

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CHEMICALS - PESTICIDES

Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

Group Petitions EPA to Send Billions of Board Feet of Arsenic-Treated Wood to Hazardous Waste Landfills

(Washington, DC, July 22, 2002) A national environmental group today petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the disposal of billions of board feet of arsenic-treated wood with ordinary community waste and require that it be sent to hazardous waste landfills. Beyond Pesticides, a Washington-based environmental and public health group, told EPA that the waste should be treated as hazardous and disposed in lined landfills to prevent leaching of arsenic.

"The disposal of arsenical-treated wood with ordinary community waste, allowed under the current exclusion from hazardous waste regulation, constitutes an warranted public health and environmental threat and is in violation of the agency’s standards," according to Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides.

The petition, filed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), cites the failure of EPA to regulate arsenic in accordance with its own hazardous waste regulations. The wood fails EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), intended to simulate conditions in a landfill. The petition urges the agency to reverse a twenty-two year old exemption of arsenic-treated wood and wood products that was promulgated as a "temporary" exclusion. The petition says, "The rule was promulgated in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act’s notice and comment requirements. Even assuming that the rule was valid for a short-term temporary exemption from RCRA, it certainly cannot legally support the permanent exemption from RCRA regulation is has become."

EPA entered into an agreement with the manufacturers of arsenic-treated wood February 12, 2002 that began a two-year phase-out of some uses of the treated wood. Beyond Pesticides and over a dozen other organizations have previously petitioned to ban all the heavy duty wood preservatives, filing a formal petition in December, 2001 to ban chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and pentachlorophenol, and then filing another petition to ban creosote in February, 2002. The groups maintain that the hazards of continued use are too great and safer alternative products and materials are now widely available in the marketplace.

The petition filed today challenges arsenic-treated wood’s exemption from the hazardous waste classification, and points to mounting evidence of improper disposal and a dramatic increase of arsenic-treated wood entering the waste stream. Annually, over 138 million pounds of CCA are used to treat approximately 5.4 billion board feet of lumber, timbers, utility poles and other products, according to recent figures.

Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, 701 E Street, SE, Washington DC 20003 202-543-5450 (voice), 202-543-4791 (fax) info@beyondpesticides.org , www.beyondpesticides.org

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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

July 25, 2002. IHDP update (the quarterly newsletter of the IInternational human Dimensions programme on global environmental change (IHDP) is available now at www.ihdp.org (go to Publications or click on the box on the home page).

This quarterly journal includes reports on global environmental change (GEC) research by the international research community. MONITORING AND OBSERVATION of GEC is the focus of the latest issue (2/2002), including articles on Conflicting Demands: Confidentiality Promises and Data Availability, by Ronald Rindfuss, University of North Carolina

Monitoring Coral Reefs: Ecosystems in Crisis, by Arthur Lyon Dahl, Director of the Coral Reef Unit at UNEP, Geneva

Integrated Environmental Monitoring of the Asia-Pacific Region by Masata Watanabe et al, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan

Sustainable Development Indicators for Taiwan, by Jiunn-Rong Yeh and Ling-Ling Lee, National Taiwan University Geoscope-Geomind-Geoaction, Interview with Carlo Jaeger of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany

Taking the Pulse of the Carbon Cycle, by Philippe Ciais, CEA-CNRS, France

Observation: A challenge to Sustainability Science by Wolfgang Lucht, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

Environmental Sustainability Indicators, by Tanja Srebotnjak, UN Statistics Division, New York.

Check out past journals such as No 1/2002, focussing on Global Change and Mountains and issued in recognition of the International Year of Mountains, or No 4/2001, covering the Rio+10 Process and a number of articles related to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, 2002.

The IHDP is an international and non-governmental research programme that promotes and co-ordinates research on the human dimensions of global environmental change. Human dimensions are the ways in which individuals and societies: a) contribute to global environmental change; b) are influenced by global environmental change; and c) mitigate and adapt to global environmental change.

For further information, please contact: Elisabeth Dyck, IHDP Information Officer, e-mail: elisabeth.dyck@chello.at phone & fax: +43 1 888 09 60. For a free printed copy of UPDATE write to staff.ihdp@uni-bonn.de .

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GRAIN QUALITY

July 8, 2002, Prof. Joe Cummins "Pharmaceutical traits in crops will spread sickness"

Recently the Quality Task Force on Grain Quality Purdue University released a fact sheet expressing concern over the open field testing of grain crops modified with genes for pharmaceutical products (1).

The Purdue fact sheet dealt with a biotechnology company, ProdiGene®, College Station, TX (www.prodigene.com), through a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has produced a transgenic corn variety that contains a protein found on the surface of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The company's intent is to utilize such corn in the future as an oral delivery system for an AIDS vaccine, through corn-based products such as breakfast cereals. This transgenic corn variety apparently has been grown on enough acres already to produce sufficient quantities of grain to begin animal studies during the summer of 2002, to determine whether ingestion of this corn elicits an immune response. Five other transgenic corn hybrids from Prodigene® have been released commercially via Stauffer Seeds®, Omaha, NE , and have been grown by a select group of farmers on a few hundred acres primarily in the western Corn Belt, much of it in western Iowa and on irrigated acres in Nebraska. These hybrids contain: . Aprotinin - a protease inhibitor . Avidin - a protein that binds with biotin to make useful products for the medical and biochemical . Laccase - an industrial enzyme used for adhesives . Brazzein - a low calorie, intense natural sweetener . Trypsin - a protease enzyme Additional protein-based drugs and industrial Various seed companies that are partnering with biotechnology firms are already recruiting farmers, and in some instances crop acres have been acquired by foreign biotechnolgy companies . The Institute of Science in Society (ISIS) has been gravelly concerned with the heedless field testing of crops genetically modified with genes for pharmaceutical products for some time. Dr. MaeWan Ho commented "But a company in Texas, Prodigene, is putting gp120 into GM maize as a cheap, edible oral vaccine against HIV . This will surely lead to widespread contamination of our food crops with disastrous consequences. Not only is this extremely hazardous for human beings. It will affect all organisms in the food chain and multiply the opportunities for this gene to recombine with bacteria and viruses in the environment, of which 99% cannot be cultured and are hence completely unknown" (2). A report on Pharm crops modified with interleukin 10, a powerful immune suppressant, questioned not only the spread of the modifying transgenes to major farm crops and weeds but also pointed out that surface and ground water resources would be polluted with the powerful pharmaceutical products (3). Turning to the products being field tested along with the AIDS vaccine, Aprotinin, is a valuable aid to surgery by reducing blood loss but its original approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out "Its use should be reserved for high risk patients, however, because severe allergic reactions can result from using it more than once in a patient. Kidney toxicity was also a problem in some patients in the trials." Clearly contamination of corn for human or animal feed will cause sever allergy and farm workers exposed may experience health risk. Production of Avidin, Laccase, Brazzein and Trypsin in corn released to the environment for field testing were neither well studied for their impact on humans and the environment before being released to the environment for filed testing. On top of the health and environment concerns exploitation of Brzzein has been implicated in biopiracy (5) It seems incredible that United States regulators are allowing field tests of crops modified with genes such as the aprotinin gene that is recognized to cause allergy on repeated exposure and to cause kidney damage. Concern about the spread of pollen from modified corn to unmodified crops is full justified. Modified corn will release pollen that fertilizes unmodified crop. Because corn seed has persistent endosperm , double fertilization will result in corn kernels that mainly triploid endosperm with a cells manufacturing aprotinin in the triploid endosperm. Production of the drug will begin the plants that have been fertilized by chance. For all intents and purposes chance pollinations will take place and the products of such pollinations may be amplified rapidly because each plant will produce many seeds. Along with chance pollination , there is a high likelihood that surface and groundwater will be polluted with the pharmaceutical products. Once polluted, groundwater that has little or no microbial activity will store the pollutant indefinitely. Finally, there seems no need to field test crops producing pharmaceutical products in the field. The crops can be grown adequately in contained production environments such as large greenhouses. References 1. Maier,D. Task Force GRAIN QUALITY Fact

Sheet #47 July 2, 2002 Purdue University http://www.GrainQuality.org 2. Ho,M "Doubts Deepen over Safety of AIDS Vaccines" 2001 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/full/ddosoavFull.php 3. Cummins,J. "poison pharm crops near you" 2002 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/DeadlyPharm.php 4 Cruzan, S "Food and Drug Administration News 12/30/1993 P93-48 " http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00453.html 5.RAFI "Brazzein sweetener in biopiracy Biopiracy Update: A Global Pandemic" http://www.rafi.org/text/txt_article.asp?newsid=206

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SHORT INFORMATION ( with URL)

In addition, about 50% of Japanese people have a genetic mutation which affects the metabolism of alcohol. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2124000/2124980.stm

15 July, 2002, Even moderate drinking 'could harm' http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2131000/2131953.stm

15 July, 2002, Sleep 'key to longer life' The scientists studied the effects of missing two hours' sleep per night on 25 men and women aged in their 20s. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2129000/2129578.stm

Health checks after 1988 water poisoning Water at the treatment plant was seriously polluted Families who had small children at the time of England's worst water poisoning incident are being urged to come forward so the youngster's health can be assessed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2129000/2129911.stm

Secret U.S. Biopharms Growing Experimental Drugs WASHINGTON, DC, July 16, 2002 (ENS) - Experimental plants engineered to produce pharmaceuticals are being grown at over 300 secret locations nationwide, a new report has revealed. Biotechnology firms are conducting experiments with corn, soy, rice and tobacco that are genetically manipulated to produce drugs designed to act as vaccines, contraceptives, induce abortions, generate growth hormones, create blood clots, produce industrial enzymes and propagate allergenic enzymes. complete story and link to report at: http://www.mapcruzin.com/news/bte071602a.htm

Free Natural Resource & Environmental, GIS Mapping and Database Program http://www.mapcruzin.com/free_gis/

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From CBGnetwork

July 25, 2002 Bayer Impotence Drug Delayed; FDA finds violation of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act

German drug giant Bayer AG said Wednesday that the U.S. launch of its new product Vardenafil will be delayed pending more clinical data, dealing another blow to its ailing pharmaceuticals division. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked for additional clinical pharmacology studies before it grants final approval. Bayer is under pressure to fill its gaping pipeline after the highly publicized withdrawal of its anticholesterol drug Baycol last year, and threatened by generic competition.

The FDA also found a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by Bayer (see letter below).

To Mary Ellen Evanich

Bayer Corporation, West Haven

As part of its routine monitoring and surveillance program, the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) has identified certain promotional activities by Bayer Corporation (Bayer) that are in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act). Specifically, Bayer is promoting its investigational new drug, vardenafil, as safe or effective for erectile dysfunction at its promotional exhibit booth at the 96th annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim.

Section 21 CFR 312.7 states, among other things, that an investigational new drug may not be promoted as being safe or effective for the uses under investigation. Your exhibit booth at AUA includes posters describing the safety or effectiveness of vardenafil, an investigational treatment for erectile dysfunction. For example, you present claims including, but not limited to, "[v]ardenatil was generally safe and well tolerated and had no clinically significant influence on physical examination, vital signs, or electrocardiogram and laboratory parameters," "...investigators concluded that there was convincing evidence that the clinical activity of vardenafil was consistent with its high selectivity and had a favorable adverse event profile," "[v]ardenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of PDE5," and "...compared with placebo, oral treatment with 20 or 40 milligrams of vardenafli resulted in earlier, longer-lasting erections with better rigidity and tumescence following visual stimulation." These claims concerning the safety or effectiveness of your investigational product are violative.

Moreover, your representatives are disseminating a poster book and an audiocassette at your exhibit booth that include the same or similar violative claims and representations.

In order to address these objections, DDMAC requests that Bayer immediately discontinue the use of these, and all promotional materials and activities for vardenafil that contain the same or similar violations. Bayer's written response, indicating its intent to comply with this request, should be received on or before June 20, 2001. This response should include a list of all similarly violative promotional materials and your method for discontinuing their use.

Sincerely,

Mark W. Askine, Branch Chief, Division of Drug Marketing,, Advertising, and Communications, Coalition against BAYER-dangers, www.CBGnetwork.org CBGnetwork@aol.com Fax: (+49) 211 333 940 Tel: (+49) 211 333 911 please send an e-mail for receiving the English newsletter Keycode BAYER free of charge.

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.

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ONE MONTH TO JOHANNESBURG

Still Hope For The Earth Summit?

From Friends of the earth, 26th July 2002

FoE campaign "Don´t let big business rule the world" reaching climax in Johannesburg

26th July 2002, Brussels/Amsterdam/Berlin

One month before the Earth Summit gets underway in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friends of the Earth Europe and Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) call on governments to intensify efforts to salvage this crucial United Nations conference. Friends of the Earth warns that so far no positive actions have been agreed and governments risk falling behind the commitments made in Rio in 1992. Friends of the Earth specifically accuses the United States, Australia and Canada to stand in the way of international agreements for people and the planet and calls on other governments to ignore the obstructions by this "axis of environmental evil".

Instead of using the Earth Summit to respond to global concerns over deregulation and liberalisation, governments are rebranding the WTO´s free trade agenda as sustainable development. Corporations are likely to be given a free hand by governments in Johannesburg, despite a groundswell of support for Friends of the Earth´s call for binding global rules for corporations (2). Industrialised nations are also unlikely to acknowledge their massive ecological debt to the developing world (3). The USA, Australia, Canada and OPEC countries have continuously fought against any new commitments to emerge from the Earth Summit. At recent informal meetings (4) the EU and developing countries at long last stood up to these wreckers. Friends of the Earth calls on them to stand firm and move ahead without the United States if necessary. A global target on renewable energy of at least 10% new renewable energy could then be agreed.

Friends of the Earth International is preparing to bring the "people´s voice" to Johannesburg. At local actions in more than 15 countries, FoEI has already collected several thousand demands to world leaders (5). For every demand collected, Friends of the Earth International will deliver a small figurine designed by local South African artists to the conference centre in Johannesburg in early September. This major art installation, which will also feature a 6 metre high "corporate giant", will have a clear message to governments: "Don´t let big business rule the world!"(6).

FoEI is collecting messages for the Joahnnesburg action via its own Radio station, Radio Earth Summit (7) and via the Internet (8). Indian activist writer Arundhati Roy, and pop icons Radiohead have already contributed their own demand. Daniel Mittler, Campaign Coordinator for FoEI, comments: „Governments must act fast to deliver meaningful action for people and the planet at Johannesburg. Bush and his corporate cronies do not care for the future of our planet. But ordinary people all over the world do.

Friends of the Earth International will make sure their voices are heard loud and clear at the Earth Summit." Friends of the Earth International´s comments on the latest negotiation text (June 12th), which will form the basis of discussions in Johannesburg, are available at www.rio-plus-10.org or www.foei.org/wssd .

Contact: Daniel Mittler, Earth Summit Campaign Coordinator, +49 173 923 4747 (in Johannesburg from August 21st)

Notes

(1) The official summit website is at www.johannesburgsummit.org .

(2) FoEI has launched a global campaign for binding corporate accountability rules: http://www.rio-plus-10.org/en/positions/26.php , which is supported by civil society worldwide, see http://www.foei.org/corporates/index.html .

(3) More on FoEI´s ecological debt campaign at http://www.foei.org/ecodebt/index.html .

(4) Informal consultations between a groups of more than 25 countries known as the "Friends of the Chair" took place in New York on July 17th.

(5) Local actions also feature a corporate giant, see www.foeeurope.org/events/giant.htm .

(6) Further information on the action, see http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/

(7) "Radio Earth Summit": www.radioearthsummit.org works with community radios all over the world and will bring testimonies and sounds to FoEI´s major art installation.

(8) http://www.rio-plus-10.org/en/action.php?a=a1&lang=en

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WATER - CENTRALASIA

The report of the two-day meeting on "Water, Climate, and Development Issues in the Amudarya Basin," sponsored by the Office of Global Programs (NOAA) and the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group (National Center for Atmospheric Research) is now available at the following website: http://www.esig.ucar.edu/centralasia/

This report contains background information and addresses some of the fundamental environmental problems in the region. The overriding objective of this meeting was to enhance understanding about "climate, water and equity" interactions, with a special focus on a major river basin in Central Asia — the Amudarya. As a result, consideration by participants in this meeting on water, climate, climate-related development issues in Central Asia's Amudarya (river) basin centered on, as well as exposed, several concerns about equity (defined here as fairness) within as well as among countries in the region.

The report includes a summary of Afghanistan's present environment, the climate perspective in Greater Central Asia, water law and regulations in the Aral Basin, global warming, Karakalpakstan's water and health issues, water scarcity in the Lower Amudarya, the Aral Sea, and many other topics.

For more information, please feel free to contact me at the address below. The report is also available in hard copy upon request.

D. Jan Stewart (Ms.), Publications Editor/Program Development, Environmental and Societal Impacts Group, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3450 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301 USA voice: 303-497-8134, fax: 303-497-8125, Email: jan@ucar.edu

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EUROPE

FOOD SAFETY

Speeches

- Speech by David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, "FVO: an excellent example of the practical work to protect consumer health", Opening of the new premises of the Food and Veterinary Office in Grange, Co Meath, Grange, 19 July 2002 http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.kshp_action.gettxt=gt&doc=SPEECH/02/352|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

Press release

- New building for Commission's Food and Veterinary Office officially opened in Ireland, 19 July 2002

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.kshp_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1100|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

- Commission proposes reduction of sweetener cyclamate in food, 19 July 2002

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press243_en.pdf

- BSE: Export rules under the Date-Based Export Scheme changed, 18 July 2002

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/press/press242_en.pdf

- Food additives (updated)

(de) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/additives/index_de.html

(en) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/additives/index_en.html

(fr) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/additives/index_fr.html

- Food Flavourings (updated)