LS,
RN 15-16 September-October 2007
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(Peripheral) visual field loss primary component in risk of
falls for older adults
For each 10 percent loss in the visual field, people in this study
experienced an 8 percent higher chance of falling after adjustment for
other risk factors for falls. For example, persons with bilateral
glaucoma, who on average would miss 48 points in the total visual
field, would have 46 percent higher odds of falling.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172911.htm
Younger Veterans at Greater Suicide Risk
A study of U.S. veterans suffering from depression finds that the
risk for suicide appears highest among younger veterans -- the reverse
of what's seen in the general population and that veterans suffering
with post-traumatic stress disorder were actuallylessprone to suicide
than those not afflicted by the condition.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/30/AR2007103001317.html
Austria wins GM corn debate
Austria is allowed to ban two genetically modified corn varieties.
At a meeting held today in Luxemburg, the proposition from the European
Commission to stop the Austrian exceptional position was not backed
enough by other EU ministers.
http://www.allaboutfeed.net/news/id102-28123/austria_wins_gm_corn_debate.html
10,000 toxic chemicals need to be retested for human safety, warn
scientists
Approximately one-third of carbon-based chemicals currently in
commercial use may need to be retested, based on limitations of the
tests previously used to determine toxicity. The danger rests on a
class of chemicals referred to as "bio-accumulative," or "persistent
organic pollutants," which concentrate in the bodies of animals. The
concentrations of these pollutants tend to increase higher up in the
food chain, as animals absorb the toxins stored in the body of their
prey. Because of the health and ecological danger posed by persistent
organic pollutants, 12 varieties have been globally banned under the
Stockholm Convention, including DDT, dioxins and PCBs.
http://www.newstarget.com/022182.html
Playing with danger: From toys to paint
Lead is such a well-known health hazard -- perhaps even
contributing to the fall of the Roman Empire -- that it came as a shock
to discover that toys handled by children could contain this toxin.
Until 1978, lead paint was commonly used in homes. The U.S. Dept. of
Housing and Urban Development estimates that about 38 million homes in
the nation still contain some lead paint. Although paint that is intact
does not pose an immediate threat, paint that is allowed to deteriorate
creates a hazard. Since there is no safe level of this ubiquitous
element, the risk faced by children for lead poisoning and its
accompanying threat of learning disabilities and behavior problems is
substantial.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/11/05/hlsa1105.htm
'Nervous' birds take more risks
A University of Exeter research team studied zebra finches, which
had been selectively bred to produce three distinct types –
‘laid-back’, ‘normal’ and ‘stressed’ – based on their levels of stress
hormone. The group was surprised to find that the ‘stressed’ birds were
bolder and took more risks in a new environment than the group that was
usually more laid-back.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/10/27/nervous_birds_take_more_risks.html
Dozens of Species of Primates Are Under Threat
Mankind's closest living relatives -- the world's apes, monkeys,
lemurs and other primates -- are under unprecedented threat from
destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial
bushmeat hunting, with 29 percent of all species in danger of going
extinct. Poaching and deforestation in the tropics are imperiling
dozens of humans’ primate relations, with nearly a third of the 394
known species of apes, monkeys, lemurs and other groups listed as
threatened with extinction in a new report from the World Conservation
Union.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071026095223.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/science/27primate.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7063139.stm
Genetically modified foods are safe, but Europe is much stricter
than the U.S. in approving them
The European Union has much stricter controls on the release of GM
foods than does the U.S., and EU member states have almost always voted
against GM crops Harry Kuiper said, chairman of the Scientific Panel on
Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority.
Based on studies GM foods are "as safe as any other conventional food."
In fact, because of the detailed and wide-ranging tests done on GM
foods, Kuiper said he thinks they are the "best investigated foods
ever."
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct07/Kuiper.kr.html
Environmental failures 'put humanity at risk'
Humans are completely living beyond their ecological means, says a
550-page report from the UN Environment Programme. The human ecological
footprint is on average 21.9 hectares per person, but given the global
population, however, the Earth's biological capacity is just 15.7
hectares per person. The survival of humanity could be under threat by
the failure to address global problems such as climate change,
extinction of species and unsustainable development. The United Nations
Environment Programme's fourth Global Environment Outlook said the
response to cutting greenhouse gases from power and transport had been
"woefully inadequate" in the face of global warming.
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=1707922007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/26/climatechange
http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12834
AIDS vaccine may raise infection risk
More than 3,000 people who volunteered to receive an experimental
Merck and Co. AIDS vaccine are being told to come back and get extra
tests because the jab may itself raise the risk of infection.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2007-10-25T170500Z_01_N25403302_RTRUKOC_0_US-AIDS-VACCINE-MERCK.xml
EU approves GM corn for feed and food
Corn products containing the Herculex® RW Rootworm Protection trait
(also known as 59122 maize) and the Herculex® I insect protection trait
stacked with Roundup Ready® Corn 2 (also known as 1507xNK603 maize) are
now permitted for import into the European Union (EU).
http://www.allaboutfeed.net/news/id102-27617/eu_approves_gm_corn_for_feed_and_food.html
Exposure To Sunlight May Decrease Risk Of Advanced Breast Cancer By
Half
Women with high sun exposure -- which increases levels of vitamin D
in the body -- had half the risk of developing advanced breast cancer,
which is cancer that has spread beyond the breast, compared to women
with low sun exposure. These findings were observed only for women with
naturally light skin color. The researchers stressed that sunlight is
not the only source of vitamin D, which can be obtained from
multivitamins, fatty fish and fortified foods such as milk, certain
cereals and fruit juices. Women should not try to reduce their risk of
breast cancer by sunbathing because of the risks of sun-induced skin
cancer, they said.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071018171424.htm
No European Union agreement on genetically-modified potato
German chemicals giant BASF AG wants approval for the GM potato in
a proposal that would allow for a 0.9 percent tolerance for accidental
introduction into the human food chain. The potato is engineered to
produce more starch, which has industrial uses including making paper,
glue or textiles. The residue and skin would be used in animal feed. A
dozen EU countries voted against the GM potato: Austria, Cyprus,
Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland,
Romania and Slovenia.
http://potatogrower.com/?pageID=10&newsID=1001&page=1
Switzerland approves three experimentations in field with
genetically modified wheat
The experimentations objective is to appraise the aspects of bio
safety of the new plants and because of this they are permitted despite
of a moratory on the OGMs that in Switzerland has been in force for 5
years. The Swiss Confederation in fact voted in 2005 to forbid for a 5
years period the cultivation of plants genetically modified for
commercial purposes.
http://www.bioforum.it/news03.htm
P2P networks threaten home PC security
Users of peer-to-peer platforms, also known as P2P networks, may be
under attack from entertainment lawyers policing copyright violations,
but they can also be an easy target for identity thieves. And they may
never know about it if it’s their kids who load the software.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21364575/
The Nuclear Threat
Nine countries could kill many people on a moment’s notice by
launching missiles carrying nuclear warheads. A 10th, Iran, may be
weaponizing uranium. The U.S., Russia and China can bomb virtually any
country with long-range ballistic missiles and, along with France and
the U.K., could do the same using submarines. The effects of even one
bomb could far exceed the horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=8B5FD6F8-E7F2-99DF-3349E548E4D3AE3F
Pollution Killing Up To 25,000 Canadians Annually
The research is the first to measure the magnitude of adverse
health effects caused by exposure to environmental hazards such as air
pollution, pesticides, dioxins, heavy metals, flame retardants and
other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for Canada.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012143801.htm
NAS report offers new tools to assess health risks from chemicals
Determining how thousands of chemicals found in the environment may
be interacting with the genes in your body to cause disease is becoming
easier because of a new field of science called toxicogenomics. A new
report issued today by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS)
recognizes the importance of toxicogenomics in predicting effects on
human health and recommends the integration of toxicogenomics into
regulatory decision making.
http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/33522/NAS_report_offers_new_tools_to_assess_health_risks_from_chemicals.html
GE Corn A Threat To Waterways?
A widely planted variety of genetically engineered corn has the
potential to harm aquatic ecosystems since pollen and other plant parts
containing toxins from genetically engineered Bt corn are washing into
streams. Bt corn byproducts increased mortality and reduced growth in
caddisflies - aquatic insects that are related to the pests targeted by
the toxin in Bt corn.
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20070909023730data_trunc_sys.shtml
US lacks data on supply of minerals critical to economy, national
security
To make the products people use every day, from mobile phones and
computers to toothpaste, TVs, and cars, the United States relies on a
variety of nonfuel minerals that have limited global availability.
However, a new report from the National Research Council finds that
neither the federal government nor industry leaders have enough
accurate information to know how secure the supplies of these minerals
are.
http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/33425/US_lacks_data_on_supply_of_minerals_critical_to_economy_national_security.html
Using mobiles for a decade raises brain cancer risk
There's no sign of it, say many. But, if researchers in Europe are
to be believed, regular use of a mobile phone over more than a decade
raises the risk of brain cancer. Yes, according to Swedish researchers,
who carried out a study, long-term users have double the chance of
getting a malignant tumour on the side of the brain where they hold the
handset.
http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/008200710090321.htm
Antidepressants and painkillers - a dangerous combination
Taking antidepressants (such as selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors known as SSRIs) together with painkillers (such as
ibuprofen) can substantially increase the risk of bleeding from the
stomach. The findings are based on a meta-analysis of 4 studies
covering more than 153,000 patients, which estimates that over a period
of one year, one in every 106 patients taking SSRIs together with
painkillers will require hospital admission due to bleeding in the
stomach.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/uoea-aap100807.php
Codex proposes guidelines for non-approved GMOs
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is to create guidelines for
assessing the risk of imported food made with non-approved genetically
modified plant material, which would help relax trade barriers. The EU
currently applies a zero-tolerance policy for non-approved genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed imports. According to the
Commission report, most of these GMOs have suffered delays in the
approval system but have received regulatory approval in countries
outside the EU or have a positive safety assessment from the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=80340-odex-gm
New test could help consumers avoid surprise headaches from
chocolate, wine
The test is designed to detect the presence of so-called biogenic
amines, naturally occurring toxins that can trigger a wide range of
symptoms in sensitive individuals —from nasty headaches to
life-threatening episodes of high-blood pressure.
http://www.health.am/ab/more/avoid-surprise-headaches-from-chocolate-wine/
Silent victims of the sea: rising tides threaten archaeological sites
Coastal erosion is threatening thousands of ancient and important
archaeological sites around our coastline, with many already submerged.
Cahal Milmo reports on the race against the tide to save Britain's
disappearing history
http://environment.independent.co.uk/article3015288.ece
Smithsonian scientists working to save microscopic threatened species
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo recently acquired 12,000 new
animals—microscopic Elkhorn coral larvae harvested by National Zoo
scientists in Puerto Rico—as part of an international collaborative
program to raise the threatened species. National Zoo scientists hope
to one day return the animals, once they are grown, to their wild ocean
habitat.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/09/27/smithsonian_scientists_working_to_save_microscopic_threatened_species.html
Vitamin D Supplements Appear To Be Associated With Lower Risk Of
Death
Past studies have suggested that deficiencies in vitamin D might be
associated with a higher risk of death from cancer, heart disease and
diabetes--illnesses that account for 60 percent to 70 percent of deaths
in high-income nations. Individuals who take vitamin D supplements
appear to have a lower risk of death from any cause over an average
follow-up time of six-years, according to a meta-analysis of 18
previously published studies.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070910162408.htm
Mobile phones safe ... so far
MOBILE phones do not cause health problems if used for up to ten
years, but a long-term cancer risk cannot be ruled out since cancer
symptoms are rarely detectable until at least a decade after a
cancer-producing event.
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=1462072007
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070912111310.htm
Study finds smokers have higher risk of dementia
There is a well-known gene that raises the risk of dementia called
APOE4 or apolipoprotein E4. Smoking did not affect the Alzheimer's risk
for people who had that gene. But people who did not have the gene had
a 70 percent higher risk of Alzheimer's if they smoked.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=2007-09-03T021548Z_01_N02283272_RTRUKOC_0_US-DEMENTIA-SMOKERS.xml
(Greek) forest fires a major source of greenhouse gas?
Every year 13 million hectares of the world's forests disappear --
an area the size of Greece -- according to the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization which says deforestation accounts for 18
percent of CO2 emissions. Therefore "global emissions from
deforestation and the degradation of forests are the second single
source after coal," said Stefan Singer of the World Wildlife Fund.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2007-09-02T103313Z_01_L30464534_RTRUKOC_0_US-GREECE-FIRES-CLIMATE.xml
Red wine compound resveratrol shown to prevent prostate cancer (in
mice)
The study adds to a growing body of evidence that resveratrol
consumption through red wine has powerful chemoprevention properties,
in addition to its apparent heart-health benefits. However, the amounts
used in the mice studies were the equivalent of one person consuming
one bottle of red wine per day, which is not advisable.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070831131320.htm
1 in 8 World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers developed
post-traumatic stress disorder
Thousands of World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers are
still suffering serious mental health effects three years after the
disaster. New data has come from the World Trade Center Health
Registry's initial survey of nearly 30,000 rescue and recovery workers.
The respondents ranged from police officers and firefighters to clergy
and construction workers. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) varied significantly by occupation, with rates ranging
from 6.2% among police officers to 21.2% among unaffiliated volunteers
(those who were not working with an organization such as the Red
Cross). The prevalence of PTSD in the U.S. population is roughly 4% at
any given time.
http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/32584/1_in_8_World_Trade_Center_rescue_and_recovery_workers_developed_post-traumatic_stress_disorder.html
compiled by PBP
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