Healthy World Watch March 19th 2010

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Kathryn Meigel

Friday, March 19, 2010

Top Tips

Never throw a broken crayon away again. Mom Goes Green has a wonderful recipe to reclaim those rogue crayons and turn them into cool new coloring creations.
Give your children more this year for their birthday; teach them the joy of giving while receiving. ECHOage is an online party service that manages monetary gifts, returning half of the money to your child to purchase a gift of their choice and donating the other half to a charity that they help select (Healthy Child is one of the charity choices!)
Here is a way to get kids interested in science. Wildlife Watch, a nature watch program from the National Wildlife Federation, is seeking participants to record observations of wildlife and plants in their home state. Findings will help scientists monitor the health and behavior of species nationwide and all ages can participate.
As we eagerly await spring’s arrival and the opportunity to open the windows and doors, The Daily Green has some helpful tips on how to make your own nontoxic cleaners and avoid those laced with dangerous chemicals.

Recent Research

Shared family mealtimes prove helpful for asthmatic children. A recent study found that supportive family interaction at mealtimes increases a child’s sense of security. “When children are less anxious, their lung function improves,” says Barbara H. Fiese, a University of Illinois professor of human and community development and director of the university's Family Resiliency Center. Fiese recommends health care providers “prescribe” regular supportive family mealtimes for parents to build trust and gain the opportunity to stay connected with their children.
Genes and lifestyle affect chemical sensitivities. Researchers have found that the extent of harm caused by certain common compounds could be influenced by a person’s genes and lifestyle. Two people exposed to the same amount of a chemical could have different levels in their blood and respond differently. The study looked at seven elements, which included arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc.
Newer gene test more accurate at detecting autism. The chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is considered more sensitive than standard genetic tests, searching the whole genome. Bai-Lin Wu, director of Children's DNA Diagnostic Lab, who led the research team, suggests the CMA test should be considered a part of routine diagnostic evaluation for people with autism based on increased detection in that hopes insurance companies will cover expenses. Autism spectrum disorders affect nearly 1 in 110 children in the United States.

Other News

Most power plants still spewing toxic mercury, report says. Many of America's coal-fired power plants lack widely available pollution controls for mercury, and mercury emissions recently increased at more than half of the country's 50 largest mercury-emitting power plants, according to a report Wednesday.
Report: EPA's focus on kids' environmental health lapses. During the past decade, the Environmental Protection Agency's commitment to keeping children safe from toxic chemicals has lapsed, according to a report released Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office.
In efforts to improve children’s health, First Lady Michelle Obama calls on the nation’s largest food companies to “entirely rethink the products you are offering.” At a meeting with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Mrs. Obama urged companies to stop marketing unhealthy foods to children and to clean up misleading food labels and portion sizing. Last week the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) called for a “set of rules” on how food is marketed to children. The food and entertainment industry spends nearly $2 billion dollars annually to make their products visible to younger consumers.
Nearly 60% of indoor floor dust comes from soil adhered to shoes. A joint study between Canadian and American researchers found outdoor contaminates, some which contain lead and arsenic once deposited on floors can recirculate in homes. Houses located close to industrial sites are found to contain even more harmful contaminants. Gary Holub, a spokesperson for Health Canada and Paloma Beamer, an environmental scientist at the University of Arizona note that children are most at risk to ill effects of these toxins due of their size and play activity which often includes hand-to-mouth play. Scientists hope these research efforts will promote healthier household environments, including leaving shoes at the front door.