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28-05/05/2004

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ACTIV

Call parents/advocates of MCS-children: Senator Kennedy's office is looking for personal stories/letters about the difficulty of receiving a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities.

Our letters need to be short and to the point; one page if possible and no more than two pages. Your story/letter should describe how your school district did not "comply" to various procedures specific to the laws of IDEA (regarding IEP's and "appropriate services"). Then describe what happened to your child (the consequences of school districts not being accountable according to federal law). Finally, describe the outcome...is your child still not getting services? Did you have to take out a 2nd on your home to privately fund your child's education, did you have to move to another district, did you file a due process hearing?

Children with MCS and related conditions are eligible under Other Health Impaired but almost NEVER get classified as such. We must make our elected officials aware of this struggle.

If this bill gets passed in May 2004, it will go to a conference committee and a small number of legislators will be assigned to determine what sections/language to take from HR 1250 and what to take from S1248.

Please fax your letter to: 202-224-5128 to:

Connie Garner

Democratic Policy Director

Disability and Special Needs Populations

Office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Email: Connie_Garner@labor.senate.gov

644 Dirksen Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-6390

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BOOKS

Whistleblowing Around the World: Law, Culture and Practic. editors Guy Dehn and Richard Calland

This is a book about governance and accountability in the twenty-first century. It looks at the role of whistleblowing and features four case studies from around the globe - Sherron Watkins was named Time Person of the Year for blowing the whistle as the world's biggest energy trading company, Enron, imploded. Victoria Johnson took on the corrupt political leadership of the City of Cape Town and revealed that her boss was party to a major attempt to deceive the public.

Dr Jiang Yanyong broke ranks in China, finally persuading his government to publicly reveal and confront the spread of SARS. Harry Templeton looked media magnate Robert Maxwell in the eye and challenged his plundering of pension funds.

As this book shows, despite the dilemmas that potential whistleblowers face, there are increasing numbers of people who are prepared to question corrupt or negligent acts in the workplace, challenging authority by speaking out - even where it may mean risking jobs, career or safety to do so.

A book for practitioners, policymakers, professionals and activists, Whistleblowing Around the World: Law, Culture and Practice examines American, Australasian, British, Japanese and South African legislation. It looks at what encourages and discourages legitimate whistleblowing in different cultures and evaluates the different policy models. It considers the roles of employees, employers, the state, the media, the law and civil society and offers practical advice.

As editors Guy Dehn and Richard Calland explain, only if the good intentions of any law are matched by a change in culture can a safe alternative to silence be created. Only then can the principle of accountability work in practice and protect the public interest.

224 pages, €35(inc post & packing) ISBN 1-919798-56-0 From - Public Concern at Work (PCaW); Suite 306; 16 Baldwins Gardens; London EC1 N7RJ; United Kingdom e-mail: whistle@pcaw.co.uk ; website: www.pcaw.co.uk

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CHEMICALS – ARSENIC

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency announces the publication of the final Public Health Goal (PHG) for arsenic.

The PHG of 4 ppt for arsenic in drinking water is based upon lung and bladder cancer in studies of hundreds of thousands of people in communities in Taiwan, Chile, and Argentina associated with arsenic-contaminated drinking water . Exposure to the PHG level in drinking water results in a risk of less than one additional case of these forms of cancer in a population of one million people drinking two liters daily of the water for 70 years. While the PHG is based primarily on data from cancer studies, no other adverse health effects are expected to arise from arsenic at the level of the PHG. http://www.oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/finalasphg.html

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CHEMICALS – PESTICIDES

Comprehensive Review of Pesticide Research Confirms Dangers Family doctors highlight link between pesticide exposure and serious illnesses and disease; children particularly vulnerable

TORONTO, April 23 /CNW/ -The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible after releasing a comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health. Released today, the review shows consistent links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases, among others. The study also shows that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticides. The review found consistent evidence of the health risks to patients with exposure to pesticides. "Many of the health problems linked with pesticide use are serious and difficult to treat - so we are advocating reducing exposure to pesticides and prevention of harm as the best approach", said Dr. Margaret Sanborn of McMaster University, one of the review's authors.

Principle Findings of the Review:

Pesticide Effects and Children:

What the Public Should Do:

What Family Physicians Should Do:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2004/23/c4416.html?view=print

For the full release go to the following url: Ontario College of Family Physicians Pesticide Hazards: Family Doctors to Release Comprehensive Review of Research Today http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp?s=1

see more under SCIENCE

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from Beyond Pesticides, April 26, 2004:

Physicians Warn Public To Avoid Pesticides The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) in Canada is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible, after releasing a comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health. Released on April 23, 2004, http://www.ocfp.on.ca/local/files/Communications/Current%20Issues/Pesticides/Final%20Paper%2023APR2004.pdf

Systematic Review of Pesticides Human Health Effects http://www.ocfp.on.ca/local/files/Communications/Current%20Issues/Pesticides/Final%20Paper%)shows

consistent pesticide links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases, among others. The study also shows that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticides.

TAKE ACTION: Download a copy of the Canadian report and share it with your doctor and with the local and state medical society in your state. For a list of the state medical societies in your state, go to the http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7630.html website directory of the American Medical Association (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7630.html) and click on your state. Please send Beyond Pesticides a copy of the letter you send to your state and local medical society and any response that you receive so that we can also follow up. Beyond Pesticides, info@beyondpesticides.org, www.beyondpesticides.org

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From P A N U P S (Pesticide Action Network Updates Service)

Resource Pointer #362 (Alternative Agriculture Techniques), April 29, 2004

50 Years Is Enough for the World Bank and IMF, April 23, 2004

Birth Weights Higher After Pesticide Ban April 16, 2004. A recent study in New York City reports a significant increase in infant birth weights after two commonly used insecticides were banned for home use. Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide manufactured by Dow Chemical, and diazinon, which is produced by Syngenta, were widely used against cockroaches and other household pests until most of these uses were banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 2001 and 2002. … Prenatal Insecticide Exposures, Birth Weight and Length Among an Urban Minority Cohort, Environmental Health Perspectives, April, 2004, (online March 22, 2004) http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2004/6641/abstract.html; Birth Weights Up After EPA Pesticide Ban, Study Finds, Washington Post, March 25, 2004.

Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA), 49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA, Phone: (415) 981-1771 Fax: (415) 981-1991 panna@panna.org Web: http://www.panna.org

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COUNTRIES – INDIA

From Joe Cherner:

India Implements Smokefree Workplace Legislation. India joins Ireland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, and Bhutan Parts excerpted from the BBC, 5/2/04

India implemented a new law today outlawing smoking in public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants. India joins Ireland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, and Bhutan with similar legislation. The law is part of India's Tobacco Control Act, which also eliminates tobacco advertising and selling tobacco to minors. Anyone caught breaking the law will be fined 200 rupees, officials said. "The law is largely intended for the benefit of future generations," said Digvijay Khandvilkar, the health minister of Maharashtra. The guidelines were originally issued in February and state governments were given three months to publicize and implement them, according to a health ministry spokesman. The guidelines call for owners of restaurants, hotels and other public places to display NO SMOKING signs, and that anyone violating the law could be fined. To win smokefree air where YOU live, go to http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php

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DISEASES – LINKS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH - EU

Commission cancer chemicals claim

Environment commissioner Margot Wallström on Monday said that between 25 and 33 per cent of all diseases affecting Europeans have been linked to the environment. Her comments come as she prepares a report on the links between the environment and health, focusing on children and the effects of chemicals exposure. The report will go under the name of SCALE and be presented to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June.

It follows on indirectly from last year’s commission proposal on chemicals registration, known as REACH. But the chemicals industry has this week voiced concerns that the report may just be a way of toughening up REACH – blasted by environmentalists for letting many chemicals off the hook. Wolfgang Gawrisch of the Henkel company told Handelsblatt that “SCALE is quite clearly a cover for the REACH directive”, implying that as Europe had so far rejected calls to ban many ‘hazardous’ chemicals, a more emotive report on children’s health might do the trick. The German daily reports commissioner Wallström as saying that Europe’s 157 million children were “victims of harmful environmental influences”. She cited asthma, leukaemia and cancer as examples of diseases brought on by exposure to harmful chemicals.

But evidence from Wallström’s homeland suggests that tightening chemicals legislation can in fact be counter-productive. In Sweden, cases of ‘multiple chemical sensitivity’ (MCS) soared in tandem with a high profile increase in chemical regulation. Kings College London research fellow Bill Durodié claims that people are far more likely to attribute any illness – from coughing to cancer – to chemicals exposure, once they become aware of high level concern over chemicals exposure.

Published: Mon, 19 Apr 2004

Author: Emily Smith http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200404/771376e7-5c8c-40a5-8b8f-a6bb36ba6864.htm

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FOOD - GENETICALLY ENGINEERED

30 April 2004: Friends of the Earth Europe, Coalition against BAYER-dangers, BUNDjugend

Today´s shareholder meeting in Cologne: Bayer urged to quit genetically engineered food

Today civil society groups from Germany and beyond, together representing more than a half million people, are organising several actions on the doorstep of Bayer’s annual shareholdersmeeting in Cologne. The protesters are strongly opposing Bayer’s involvement in genetically modified foods. The activists are also present inside the meeting. They have bought Bayer shares, which gives them the opportunity to personally address Bayer’s board and an estimated 7000 shareholders.

The protester want to make Bayer’s shareholders aware that the involvement of Bayer in GM foods over the last two and a half years has not delivered any of the promises made. Since Bayer entered the GM food business by taking over Aventis CropScience in early October 2001, these foods have brought the company nothing but trouble. Two of the most recent examples are:

· Just one month ago Bayer discontinued efforts to commercialize GM maize in the UK, after the government had placed “a number of constraints” on the maize. The news led to a drop of 1.9 % in Bayer’s share.

· In January the Belgian authorities rejected an application by Bayer for the commercialisation of GM oilseed rape, after it was demonstrated that the cultivation of the crop causes “a loss of biodiversity”.

Meanwhile, more and more questions are being raised over the safety of GM foods. Just three days ago EU agricultural ministers rejected an application for the import of GM maize during a meeting in Luxembourg. According to official EU data 70 % of EU citizens does not want to eat GM food. In March of this year the British Medical Association issued a statement saying that they “see the need for further debate about the social and health risks potentially associated with GM foods”.

Geert Ritsema of Friends of the Earth Europe said: “It is about time that Bayer faces reality. GM foods are a failure. They are a risk to human health and the vast majority of consumers in Europe does not want them. Bayer needs to quit producing and selling GM foods as soon as possible.”

Philipp Mimkes of the Coalition against BAYER-dangers: “Not only are GM foods bad for the environment, they are also a risk to investors. We are urging the shareholders today to use their influence to push Bayer out of genetically engineered food.”

Background: Bayer’s most controversial gm-foods

1) Genetically modified maize Chardon LL. Recently Bayer CropScience announced that it has decided to discontinue further efforts to commercialise its GM forage maize variety, Chardon LL, in the UK. The decision came after a wide range of civil society groups and individuals in the UK had protested for years against the placing of the maize on the National List of Agricultural Varieties (the Seed List). Over 220 groups (among them local governments, farmersorganisations and big environmental associations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and individuals submitted objections and over 60 appeared at the Chardon LL hearing, organised by the UK government, in 2000 and 2002. As a result of these citizens objections the commercialisation of Bayer’s maize was delayed and new and worrying facts about the safety of the maize and the regulatory process came to light for the first time. Independent scientists form Bristol University described the safety testing done by Aventis (that was later bought by Bayer) as follows: “the reporting and the design are wholly inadequate and this became really obvious after only five minutes of reading.”

2) Genetically modified oilseed rape MS8xRF3. In its application to the EU requesting the commercialisation of this oilseed rape Bayer has claimed that “Adaptations of cultivation and management techniques for the genetically modified oilseed rape are limited to changes in herbicide use, without any adverse environmental impact.” These claims have recently been proven false after the publication of peer reviewed and government sponsored studies in the UK. The results of these so called Farm Scale Evaluations show that Bayer’s genetically modified oilseed rape causes more damage to wildlife than conventionally grown oilseed rape. Biomass and seed rain of non-crop plants in the GM spring oilseed rape was five times less than it is found in conventional spring oilseed rape. This means that in and around fields where genetically modified oilseed rape is grown there will be less food for birds. The researchers who undertook the four year study concluded that “GMHT (Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant) cropping of beet and especially spring oilseed rape will provide fewer nectar recourses for pollinators and fewer weed seeds recourses for granivorous birds.” Meanwhile Bayer’s apllication to grow GM oilseed rape has been rejected by the Belgian authorities who are stating that it was demonstrated that the cultivation of the crop causes “a loss of biodiversity”. The EU approval process for Bayer’s oilseed rape is still pending, but the chances that it will get approved without severe restrictions can be considered very low.

3) Genetically modified rice LL62. Bayer’s EU application requesting the import of this rice for human and animal consumption is in an initial stage, but already heavily criticised by civil society groups and scientists. For example Friends of the Earth – after carefully scrutinizing Bayer’s own studies on the rice- have pointed out that a substantial increase in the amount of compounds responsible for allergic reactions have been found in LL62 rice. Objections to the rice are also raised by scientists from abroad. For example Dr Suman Sahai of Genecampaign (India) has recently written that Bayer’s GM rice could pose a “very critical threat of genetic contamination in rice diversity areas” and “jeopardise the principal food source” of Indian people. In the US, where LL62 rice has recently received an authorisation for commercial growing, problems for the rice are also mounting. Californian farmers are afraid they will be forced out of business, if Japanese consumers find out that GM rice is grown in the US. These fears seems real, after Japan’s consul in California has issued a statement saying that “Concerning California’s (genetically engineered) rice production issue, Japanese consumers have a serious concern in regards to food safety.”

Bayer´s sales in Bioscience only amount to 270 million euro in 2003. This is less than 1 % of Bayer’s total sales. From the Geschäftsbericht it is unclear if genetically engineered foods and crops are profitable for Bayer, but it is for sure that many recent investments (such as in GM maize in the UK) in this highly controversial area will not pay off in the foreseeable future

Geert Ritsema, Friends of the Earth Europe, http://www.foeeurope.org , geert.ritsema@foeeurope.org

Philipp Mimkes, Coordination gegen BAYER-Gefahren , http://www.CBGnetwork.org , CBGnetwork@aol.com

Yannick Jochum , BUNDjugend ,

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PRODUCTS

Health & Safety Information on Household Products from the Natl Institutes of Health and Natl Library of Medicine What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room? Do these household products pose a potential health risk to you and your family Find out what's in these products and what are the potential health effects, and other safety and handling information. ? http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

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Guide to Less Toxic Products: groundbreaking new publication from Nova Scotia group www.lesstoxicguide.ca, April 29, 2004

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21 Apr 2004 'Hidden Poisons in Household Goods' By Geoff Meade, Europe Editor, PA News in Strasbourg Dozens of chemicals in everyday use are invading the human body and threatening the health of future generations, it was claimed today.

Results of a survey of toxic contamination show the danger lurks in everyday goods from televisions and sofas, computer screen casings and plastic car trim to carpets, sofas, cosmetics, detergents and deodorants. http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2810420

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Dirty Disney: Recent tests have confirmed the fact that some Disney children's clothes contain toxic chemicals hazardous to human health and the environment. Disney does not think it should ensure its products are free of toxic chemicals. We need your help to pressure them to change. http://act.greenpeace.org/ams/e?a=1366&s=gen Find out more here: http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=455673 and discuss the issue here: http://act.greenpeace.org/1082123881/index_html

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RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH NEWS

Answering the critics of precaution, Part 2. #790

Last issue we began answering some of the criticisms of the precautionary principle. Of course, ours are not the only possible answers. http://www.rachel.org , April 29, 2004

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SCIENCE

The May issue of Environmental Health Perspectives http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2004/112-6/toc.html

December 2004 marks the 20-year anniversary of the accidental release of toxic gas from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, that killed and injured thousands of people. The Focus (p. A352) examines the lessons learned from that incident for chemical manufacturing safety and the state of the industry today

Table of contents.

Editorial Chemical Process Safety at a Crossroads. Carolyn W. Merritt, p. A 332

Commentaiy: Storage of Serum in Plastic and Glass Containers May Alter the Serum Concentration of Polychlorinated Biphenyls. Wilfried Karmaus and John F. Riebow p. 643

Commentary: Chemical Communication Threatened by Endocrine- Disrupting Chemicals Jennifer E. Fox p. 648

Articles:

Retrospective Time-Trend Study of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether and Polybrominated and Polychlorinated Biphenyl Levels in Human Serum from the United States Andreas Sjödin, Richard S. Jones, Jean-François Focant, Chester Lapeza, Richard Y. Wang, Ernest E. McGahee III, Yalin Zhang, Wayman E. Turner, Bill Slazyk, Larry L. Needham, and Donald G. Patterson Jr. p. 654

Synergistic Interaction in Simultaneous Exposure to Streptomyces californicus and Stachybotrys chartarum Kati Huttunen, Jukka Pelkonen, Kristian Fogg Nielsen, Ulla Nuutinen, Juha Jussila, and Maija-Riitta Hirvonen p. 659

Urinary 8-Hydroxy-2´- Deoxyguanosine as a Biomarker of Oxidative DNA Damage in Workers Exposed to Fine Particulates . Jee Young Kim, Sutapa Mukherjee, Long Ngo, and David C. Christiani p. 666

Phytoestrogen Signaling and Symbiotic Gene Activation Are Disrupted by Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Jennifer E. Fox, Marta Starcevic, Phillip E.Jones, Matthew E. Burow, and John A. McLachlan p. 672

Human Consumption of Methyleugenol and Its Elimination from Serum Arnold Schecter, George W. Lucier, Michael L. Cunningham, Kamal M. Abdo, Greg Blumenthal, Andrew G. Silver, Ron Melnick, Christopher Portier, Dana B. Barr, John R. Barr, Stephen B. Stanfill, Donald G. Patterson Jr., Larry L. Needham, Woodhall Stopford, Scott Masten, Jill Mignogna, and Kuang Chi Tung p. 678

Biochemical Effect Evaluation of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid-Contaminated Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) Philippe Tony Hoff, Jan Scheirs, Kristin Van de Vijver, Walter Van Dongen, Eddy Louis Esmans, Ronny Blust, and Wim De Coen p. 681

Magnetic-Field-Induced DNA Strand Breaks in Brain Cells of the Rat Henry Lai and Narendra P. Singh p. 687

Interlaboratory Comparison of Four in Vitro Assays for Assessing Androgenic and Antiandrogenic Activity of Environmental Chemicals
Wolfgang Körner, Anne Marie Vinggaard, Béatrice Térouanne, Risheng Ma, Carise Wieloch, Margret Schlumpf, Charles Sultan, and Ana M. Soto p. 695

Low-Dose Agrochemicals and Lawn-Care Pesticides Induce Developmental Toxicity in Murine Preimplantation Embryos Anne R. Greenlee, Tammy M. Ellis, and Richard L. Berg p. 703

Backward Estimation of Exposure to Organochlorines Using Repeated Measurements Wilfried Karmaus, Christopher Fussman, Jyotsna Muttineni, and Xiaobei Zhu p. 710

Maternal Stress Modulates the Effects of Developmental Lead Exposure. Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, Miriam B. Virgolini, Mona Thiruchelvam, Doug D. Weston, and Mark R. Bauter. p. 717

Workgroup Report : Health and Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Disaster. Philip J. Landrigan, Paul J. Lioy, George Thurston, Gertrud Berkowitz, L.C. Chen, Steven N. Chillrud, Stephen H. Gavett, Panos G. Georgopoulos, Alison S. Geyh, Stephen Levin, Frederica Perera, Stephen M. Rappaport, Christopher Small, and the NIEHS World Trade Center Working Group. p. 731

Association between Hemochromatosis Genotype and Lead Exposure among Elderly Men: The Normative Aging Study Robert O. Wright, Edwin K. Silverman, Joel Schwartz, Shring-Wern Tsaih, Jody Senter, David Sparrow, Scott T. Weiss, Antonio Aro, and Howard Hu . p. 746

Case Report Medications as a Source of Human Exposure to Phthalates. Russ Hauser, Susan Duty, Linda Godfrey-Bailey, and Antonia M. Calafat p. 751

Predictors of Personal Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposures among Pregnant Minority Women in New York City. Cathryn C. Tonne, Robin M. Whyatt, David E. Camann, Frederica P. Perera, and Patrick L. Kinney, p. 754

Early-Life Environmental Risk Factors for Asthma: Findings from the Children's Health Study. Muhammad Towhid Salam, Yu-Fen Li, Bryan Langholz, and Frank Davis Gilliland, p. 760

Probability Estimates for the Unique Childhood Leukemia Cluster in Fallon, Nevada, and Risks Near Other U.S. Military Aviation Facilities
Craig. Steinmaus, Meng Lu, Randall L. Todd, and Allan H. Smith p. 766

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Comprehensive Review of Pesticide Research Confirms Dangers

The Ontario College of Family Physicians has just published a very ambitious review of studies of the human health impacts of pesticides.

a link to the study is available on their website at: http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp?s=1

the report itself is over 1MB in size and comes in PDF format

Family doctors highlight link between pesticide exposure and serious illnesses and disease; children particularly vulnerable.

Toronto, April 23, 2004 The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible after releasing a comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health. Released today, the review shows consistent links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases, among others. The study also shows that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticides.

The review found consistent evidence of the health risks to patients with exposure to pesticides. Many of the health problems linked with pesticide use are serious and difficult to treat, so we are advocating reducing exposure to pesticides and prevention of harm as the best approach, said Dr. Margaret Sanborn of McMaster University, one of the reviews authors. Principle Findings of the Review: Many studies reviewed by the Ontario College show positive associations between solid tumours and pesticide exposure, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer, among others. Previous studies have pointed to certain pesticides, such as 2,4-D and related pesticides, as possible precipitants of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and the findings of the College’s review are clearly consistent with this. It is clear from the review that an association exists between pesticide exposure and leukemia. According to the College, the implication of pesticides in the development of leukemia warrants further investigation and also, political action. The review team uncovered a remarkable consistency of findings of nervous system effects of pesticide exposures. Occupational exposure to agricultural chemicals may be associated with adverse reproductive effects including: birth defects, fetal death and intrauterine growth retardation. more 2 Pesticide Effects and Children: Children are constantly exposed to low levels of pesticides in their food and environment, yet there have been few studies on the long-term effects of these exposures. Nevertheless, the College reviewed several studies that found associations between pesticide exposures and cancer in children. Key findings include:

An elevated risk of kidney cancer was associated with paternal pesticide exposure through agriculture, and four studies found associations with brain cancer.

Several studies in the review implicate pesticides as a cause of hematologic tumours in children, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia. Some children have overall increased risk of acute leukemia if exposed to pesticides in utero or during childhood, especially for exposure to insecticides and herbicides used on lawns, fruit trees and gardens, and for indoor control of insects.

What the Public Should Do:

Given the wide range of commonly used home and garden products associated with health effects, the College’s overall message to patients is to avoid exposure to all pesticides whenever and wherever possible. This includes reducing both occupational exposures, as well as lower level exposures that occur from the use of pesticides in homes, gardens and public green space.

The College also advocates exposure reduction techniques such as: Researching and implementing alternative organic methods of lawn and garden care and indoor pest control. Proper use of personal protection equipment, including respirators for home and occupational exposures.

Education on safe handling, mixing, storage and application when pesticide use is considered necessary.

What Family Physicians Should Do:

In the wake of this systemic review, the College is advocating that family physicians take the following measures: Screen patients for pesticides exposure at a level that may cause significant health problems, and intervene if necessary. Take patient pesticide exposure history when non-specific symptoms are present â€” such as fatigue, dizziness, low energy, rashes, weaknesses, sleep problems, anxiety, depression. Focus efforts on prevention rather than on researching the causes of chronic or terminal disease. Consider high-risk groups (e.g. children, pregnant women, seniors) in their practices.

Advocate reduction or pesticide risk/use to individual patients. Advocate reduction of pesticide risk/use in the community, schools, hospitals and to governments. The Ontario College of Family Physicians is a provincial chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and is a voluntary, not-for-profit association that promotes family medicine in Ontario through leadership, education and advocacy. The OCFP represents more than 6,700 family physicians providing care for remote, rural, suburban, urban and inner-city populations in Ontario.

The OCFP is the voice of family medicine in Ontario. At the heart of the organization is the building and maintenance of high standards of practice and the continuous improvement of access to quality family practice services for all residents of Ontario.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml#SUPPLS1

The Vulnerability, Sensitivity, and Resiliency of the Developing Embryo, Infant, Child, and Adolescent to the Effects of Environmental Chemicals, Drugs, and Physical Agents as Compared to the Adult

Robert L. Brent, Susanne Tanski, and Michael Weitzman A Pediatric Perspective on the Unique Vulnerability and Resilience of the Embryo and the Child to Environmental Toxicants: The Importance of Rigorous Research Concerning Age and Agent Pediatrics 2004; 113: 935-944.]

Robert W. Miller: How Environmental Hazards in Childhood Have Been Discovered: Carcinogens, Teratogens, Neurotoxicants, and Others Pediatrics 2004; 113: 945-951.

Jonathan M. Samet Risk Assessment and Child Health. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 952-956.

Robert L. Brent. Environmental Causes of Human Congenital Malformations: The Pediatrician’s Role in Dealing With These Complex Clinical Problems Caused by a Multiplicity of Environmental and Genetic Factors Pediatrics 2004; 113: 957-968.

D. Gail McCarver. Applicability of the Principles of Developmental Pharmacology to the Study of Environmental Toxicants Pediatrics 2004; 113: 969-972.

Gary Ginsberg, Dale Hattis, Richard Miller, and Babasaheb Sonawane. Pediatric Pharmacokinetic Data: Implications for Environmental Risk Assessment for Children Pediatrics 2004; 113: 973-983.

Robert L. Brent. Utilization of Animal Studies to Determine the Effects and Human Risks of Environmental Toxicants (Drugs, Chemicals, and Physical Agents) Pediatrics 2004; 113: 984-995.

Jacqueline Moya, Cynthia F. Bearer, and Ruth A. Etzel Children’s Behavior and Physiology and How It Affects Exposure to Environmental Contaminants Pediatrics 2004; 113: 996-1006.

Joseph R. DiFranza, C. Andrew Aligne, and Michael Weitzman Prenatal and Postnatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Children’s Health Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1007-1015.

David C. Bellinger. Lead. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1016-1022.

Philip W. Davidson, Gary J. Myers, and Bernard Weiss. Mercury Exposure and Child Development Outcomes. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1023-1029.

Bernard Weiss, Sherlita Amler, and Robert W. Amler. Pesticides. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1030-1036.

Joel Schwartz. Air Pollution and Children’s Health Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1037-1043.

Raman Sreedharan and Devendra I. Mehta Gastrointestinal Tract. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1044-1050.

Michael E. Trigg. Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1051-1057.

Suzanne M. Mone, Matthew W. Gillman, Tracie L. Miller, Eugene H. Herman, and Steven E. Lipshultz Effects of Environmental Exposures on the Cardiovascular System: Prenatal Period Through Adolescence Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1058-1069.

Helmut A. Greim The Endocrine and Reproductive System: Adverse Effects of Hormonally Active Substances? Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1070-1075.

Patricia M. Rodier. Environmental Causes of Central Nervous System Maldevelopment Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1076-1083.

Michael J. Solhaug, Philip M. Bolger, and Pedro A. Jose The Developing Kidney and Environmental Toxins. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1084-1091.

Jacob N. Finkelstein and Carl J. Johnston Enhanced Sensitivity of the Postnatal Lung to Environmental Insults and Oxidant Stress Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1092-1096.

Víctor M. Piñeiro-Carrero and Eric O. Piñeiro Liver. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1097-1106.

Stephen J. McGeady. Immunocompetence and Allergy. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1107-1113.

Anthony J. Mancini. Skin. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1114-1119.

Ronald J. Billings, Robert J. Berkowitz, and Gene Watson. Teeth. Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1120-1127.

Russell W. Chesney and Michael L. Christensen. Changing Requirements for Evaluation of Pharmacologic Agents Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1128-1132.

Robert L. Brent and Michael Weitzman. The Current State of Knowledge About the Effects, Risks, and Science of Children’s Environmental Exposures Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1158-1166.

Robert L. Brent and Michael Weitzman The Pediatrician’s Role and Responsibility in Educating Parents About Environmental Risks Pediatrics 2004; 113: 1167-1172.

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Drug firms 'hid risks to children' By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent The Telegraph. (Filed: 23/04/2004) Drug companies were accused yesterday of refusing to release evidence that anti-depressants can be harmful to children. Researchers preparing new National Health Service guidelines for childhood depression said they were astonished by the lack of co-operation from the manufacturers of SSRIs, the family of drugs that includes Lustral, Seroxat and Prozac. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/23/ndrug23.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/04/23/ixnewstop.html

23 April 04: New Scientist on Anti-depressants Unpublished data reverses risk-benefit of drugs. Unpublished studies on the effects of anti-depressant drugs on children suggest some are both ineffective and potentially harmful, according to a new review of research. The unpublished data contradict published results, fuelling the debate on how pharmaceutical companies reveal trial data http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994920

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Pharmaceutical companies accused of manipulating drug trials for profit By Jeremy Laurance Health Editor, The Independent. 23 April 2004 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=514317

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The link between industry, authors and their results By Jeremy Laurance. The Independent. 23 April 2004 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=514316

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Amid health concern, nail-polish makers switch formulas. Wall Street Journal By Thaddeus Herrick, Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, April 19, 2004; Page B1

At least two major cosmetics makers are phasing out use of a common chemical in nail polish that has emerged as a health concern, especially for women in their childbearing years. … http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108233580487586231,00.html

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Chemicals may boost hormone activity to hazardous levels By Randolph E. Schmid: Associated Press; Published on: 04/19/04

WASHINGTON - Women considering hormone therapy should be screened for exposure to a common chemical and a widely used drug, both of which can boost hormone activity to potentially dangerous levels, researchers suggest. http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/0404/20hormone.html

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20 April, 2004, Solvent 'raises risk of cancer'. Some cancers are linked to hormones.

A solvent found in varnishes, paints, dyes and fuel additives may raise the risk of cancer among women taking hormone treatments, say researchers. They found the chemical, ethylene glycol methyl ether (EGME) boosted the activity of hormones used in HRT and the contraceptive pill. This may increase the risk of breast or ovarian cancer for some women. The study, by Duke University, is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3639501.stm

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Effect of exposure to volatile organic compounds on plasma levels of neuropeptides, nerve growth factor and histamine in patients with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity.

1: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2004 Feb;207(2):159-63.

Kimata H. Department of Allergy, Ujitakeda Hospital, 24-1, Umonji, Uji, Uji-City, Kyoto Prefecture, 611-0021, Japan. unitikah@m12.alphanet.ne.jp

Plasma levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide and nerve growth factor, but not histamine, were elevated in patients with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity (sMCS). Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) increased plasma levels of all parameters in these patients, while it had no effect in normal subjects or patients with atopic eczema/ dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). Exposure to VOC also enhanced skin wheal responses induced by histamine in patients with sMCS, while it failed to do so in normal or AEDS subjects. These results indicate that exposure to VOC may enhance neurogenic inflammation with concomitant enhancement of histamine-induced responses. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15031958

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