ENJOY THOSE TOXIC CHICKEN NUGGETS, FOLKS

Factory farmed chickens are fed arsenic to make them grow faster. The FDA says that traces of the toxin are detectable in the meat. Tom Laskawy, writing in Grist:

It boggles my mind that the industry is so willing to risk consumer panic over this issue and wait for the media or government officials to force its hand. Instead of making smart business decisions and ending dangerous practices that might give consumers cause to avoid their product, they instead try to hold back the tide. One drug gets withdrawn while others remain. The FDA tests 100 chickens (as they did in this latest test), while millions are produced and sold every year.

It's no wonder that the so-called "ag-gag" bills remain popular among industrial farmers and their political lackeys. They can't seem to let go of consumer ignorance as a key business strategy. With arsenic in chicken, the FDA, the USDA, and the chicken industry seem to care far more about the perception of having acted rather than the reality of ensuring all chicken sold in the U.S. is free from this toxic substance.

Your EPA at work for YOU!

Group warns EPA ready to increase radioactive release guidelines

The EPA is preparing to dramatically increase permissible radioactive releases in drinking water, food and soil after “radiological incidents,” according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Watch this! If you don't watch another video today, watch this:

BURLINGTON LEAD PROGRAM SEEKS HOME FURNISHINGS

The request via my local Front Porch Forum:

The Burlington Lead Program (BLP) needs your help! Enrollment for BLP services has skyrocketed over the past several months and households undergoing Lead-Hazard Reduction activities require short-term housing during the lead-hazard reduction work. Since most of the tenants that we serve live in the Old North End and do not have access to private transportation, we decided to rent an apartment to provide safe and convenient housing for low-income families.

We will need to furnish this unit over the next few weeks and are asking for anyone who is willing to donate household items to contact us. Among other things, we will be needing beds, a pull-out sofa, a kitchen table and chairs (to name just a few). Any funding we don't need to spend on furnishings, is money that can be continued to be put towards making our community safer through outreach, education and Lead-Hazard Reduction activities.

We greatly appreciate the community's continued support in our efforts to make Burlington a lead-safe community. If you can donate any home furnishings, please contact us at 865-LEAD.

FDA GUIDELINES ADDRESS JOURNAL REPRINTS ON UNAPPROVED DRUG USE

The FDA has released guidelines concerning journal reprints distributed to physicians that cite the off-label use of drugs and devices. Although some welcome the guidelines as a way to help clear up the issues surrounding the practice, others say they may cause confusion about what should or should not be considered promotional.

Source: AMANews (subscription required)

BURLINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH VOTES AGAINST WATER FLUORIDATION

Burlington has fluoridated its drinking water since 1952.

In March, 2005 the Burlington Board of Health began investigations regarding the continuation of adding fluoride into the city's water. After two public forums the board voted 3-2 to continue the practice, but advised the city council to reduce the amount, which the council ordered (The amount was reduced to 1/ppm from 1.7.). Enough signatures were gathered in 2006 to have a ballot item to stop the addition of fluoride to the drinking water. That item failed at the City Election in March, 2006.

In November, 2008 the board received new information concerning water fluoridation.

Tonight, the board voted on a resolution to discontinue water fluoridaton in Burlington. Board members Fern Crete and I [I am a board of health commissioner] presented the following resolution:

In light of recent scientific developments indicating the potential for harm to certain subsets of the population, the Burlington Board of Health recommends immediately taking a precautionary stance by discontinuing the practice of water fluoridation. It is our opinion that drinking water should be pure and safe for all.

JUSTIFICATION

● In 2006 the National Research Council's published report entitled “Fluoride in Drinking Water” identified vulnerable subsets of the population who may be at an increased risk from the toxic effects of fluoride. These subsets include infants, diabetics, kidney patients, and those with impaired thyroid function.
● Following the NRC's report the American Dental Association recommended that infants (0 -6 months of age) not receive fluoridated water.
● In 2008 the National Kidney Foundation discontinued its support of community water fluoridation and stated that kidney patients should be notified of the potential risks from fluoride exposure.
● The chemical being added to Burlington's water supply is Hydrofluorosilisic Acid. It is a highly toxic industrial byproduct of phosphate fertilizer manufacturing. There are virtually no human health effects studies on these fluorosilicate compounds.
● The intended purpose of adding fluoridation chemicals to the water is to provide a medical benefit to the consumer by preventing tooth decay. While we do not use the public drinking water as a medium for delivering other medications, it is our opinion that fluoride should be no exception. As with any other drug, fluoride has side effects.
● It is the opinion of the Burlington Board of Health that the public water supply should be safe for all Burlington residents with emphasis on infants, kidney patients, diabetics, and those with impaired thyroid function.

This time the resolution to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water passed 3-2. The Board will send its recommendation to the city council.

UPDATE

From SWABVT: the media advisory on the board's vote.

Further reading: I referred to the National Research Council: Fluoride in Drinking Water in my motion last night.

INVITATION TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH

A message and invitation from the Burlington Board of Health [I'm a Commissioner] to the community--

To: All Concerned Parties, [...]

From: Burlington Board of Health

Re: School Inspections, in particular, the BHS Air Quality Case

The Burlington Board of Health represents both the citizens and the administration of Burlington . We are a voluntary group, appointed to serve by the City Council, and according to our City Charter Article 85 “The Board of Health created herein provided shall be for the said city in lieu of the local board of health provided for by the general laws of this state, and shall have the powers conferred by said laws upon the committee on health of the board of aldermen.” The authority of the Board of Health is further delineated in City Charter Articles 86 and 87; Burlington Ordinance Codes, Chapter 17, and Vermont Statute, Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 11. In particular, Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 11, § 608: Inspections of schoolhouses and public buildings provides power to the board for its oversight of any problem solving currently being conducted at Burlington High School .

In this case, the Burlington Board of Health wants to assist with finding a satisfactory solution. Like all of you, we believe that every inspection must be comprehensive, using current technological and scientific procedures and standards, and should be scheduled adequately to maintain continuing good health of the school environment. If an unhealthy or potentially unhealthy condition exists, the Board expects timely remediation of the condition(s).

In order to be current and effective in the matter, the board needs to hear the perspectives of all parties involved. We extend this invitation for you to send a representative to our Monday, April 7 meeting at the DPW office, conference room on Pine Street . The meeting will run from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and sufficient time will be allowed for receipt of comments and discussion of the BHS situation. Since our meetings are open to the public-at-large, it is anticipated that other citizens may attend to present their views. All concerned parties are welcome.

SICK BUILDINGS

First the state officials denied there was anything amiss in their office building in Bennington, then the authorities stonewalled any investigation. Now, after two years of institutional foot dragging, those effected will have to wait until 2009 for an 'official' investigation to take place.

The same 'sick building' scenario exists at Burlington High School. Although the Burlington case has been around for nearly as long as Bennington's, it was not public knowledge until Tuesday's school board meeting. I'm glad to say on Wednesday night, Burlington's Board of Health [I am a commissioner] got into the thick of it, too, and will carry out an investigation.

GAY BLOOD DONORS WANTED!

It's about time. -

San Jose, Calif. - The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to formally oppose a lifetime ban on gay male blood donors. The board did not go as far as San Jose State University's policy banning blood drives, because they say they ultimately want to increase the local supply of blood and blood donations.

Last year, the Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks called on the FDA to reverse the lifetime ban, citing the fact that in most parts of the country, blood supplies are running critically low. Most of the donated blood we use here in the bay area comes from the midwest – it is, therefore, very expensive. All the donated blood, regardless of its source, undergoes thorough testing for everything from anemia to HIV but the FDA’s rules are still being applied to blood bank operations across the country.

Link

Read AABB's joint statement on "behavior-based blood donor deferrals." [I love these euphemisms.]

AABB, ABC and ARC believe that the current lifetime deferral for men who have had sex with other men is medically and scientifically unwarranted and recommend that deferral criteria be modified and made comparable with criteria for other groups at increased risk for sexual transmission of transfusion-transmitted infections. Presenting blood donors judged to be at risk of exposure via heterosexual routes are deferred for one year while men who have had sex with another man even once since 1977 are permanently deferred.

I was deferred permanently due to Hepatitis B core antibody blood screening back in the late 1980's - one pint short of becoming a two gallon blood donor. If that were not the case, I'd still be permanently deferred because of my "behaviour." What do you all think of our local board of health introducing a (albeit symbolic) recommendation to the Burlington City Council in solidarity with the Santa Clara board? I know there have been concerns expressed on the UVM campus regarding these donor deferrals. I try to keep up on blood donor news and issues; I was not aware of the AABB/ARC recommendations a few years ago.

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES: FLUORIDE IN TAP WATER

Concerned about health safety of fluoride? Go:look here.

Wi-Fi Radiation Action Needed

Europe's top environmental watchdog is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile phones and their masts. It suggests that delay could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking and lead in petrol.

Study: Cell phone use in hospitals hazardous

Study: Cell phone use in hospitals hazardous: A Dutch study reported that the use of cell phones in hospitals is hazardous and causes electromagnetic interference in ventilators and pacemakers. Cell phones should be used at least one meter away from hospital beds and equipment, researchers suggested.

"Hidden mass medication upon the unsuspecting public". . .

Yes, we all know about fluoride, but a recent BBC report notes traces of Prozac in UK drinking water.