Healthy World Watch September 3, 2010

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Friday, September 03, 2010

What’s happening on the interwebs this week related to health and toxic exposures? Here are the latest gleanings from our community. (And, remember, if there’s something you’d like to see included post a teaser [1-3 sentence summary] and link on our Facebook wall and if it fits our guidelines and mission, maybe you’ll be included, too!)

From our Healthy World Watchers:

Amie Throndson found an article claiming that the “Child Autism Epidemic is Linked Firmly to the Environment. The primary explanation for the 60-fold increase, since the 1970's, is toxic environmental exposure and gene-environment interactions. Read more about this recent research and then link to the CDC's report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals.”
Shelli Saleeb found that “studies show that fetuses and young children exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) may suffer permanent reproduction problems from exposure at levels lower than what the USDA and EPA considers safe. BPA is a type of estrogen that is naturally found in the environment and is known to act like a hormone in the body, which can cause an imbalance. Baby girls exposed to BPA may develop a uterus that is hypersensitive to estrogen causing permanent reproduction problems. Baby boys in may suffer testis dysfunction and low testosterone secretion. Fetuses and babies are highly sensitive to BPA exposure. Exposure at levels deemed safe might permanently affect reproduction. For information on baby bottle and formula safety go to: http://www.ewg.org/babysafebottles and http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_babyguide.pdf. For ways to avoid BPA go to: http://www.ewg.org/node/20944.”

Other general bits from our community:

Facebook friend, Nathalie, shared this on our wall: U.S. Grappling With Bedbugs, Misusing Dangerous Pesticides. A resurgence of bedbugs across the U.S. has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate measures to eradicate the tenacious bloodsuckers, with some relying on dangerous outdoor pesticides and fly-by-night exterminators.
Gina Rau, Founder of Feed Our Families, shared a link to her radio show talking about healthy school lunches, eating a rainbow and getting kids to eat healthy.
Jen from Next Kid Thing shares a site called Mini Social that offers flash sales – and notes that right now you can get some affordable sustainable toys.
Janet from Green Mom Review recently noticed that Eden Organics canned foods now say “BPA-free lining” on the label. Hopefully soon we see more brands offering the same peace of mind!
Derek from Natural Papa has a super-easy, natural snack idea for kids. Frozen grapes!

New Science

Silver nanoparticles stop sperm stem cell growth. Minute silver nanoparticles-- widely used in consumer products as antimicrobial agents-- can cause sperm cells to stop growing, according to a new study. The nanoparticles interrupt key cell signaling within the sperm cells as they develop. The biggest effects were caused by the smallest-sized nanoparticles tested.
Plants take up drugs, antibacterials from biosolids used as fertilizers. New research shows that the drugs and contaminants that often contaminate sewage sludge that is used as fertilizer can be taken up by the plants grown in fertilized fields and gardens. Also called 'biosolids,' these fertilizers are regularly applied to agricultural fields and are sometimes packaged as organic soil fertilizers sold in home improvement stores.
Home pesticides linked to childhood cancer. A new study of children and published in the journal Therapeutic Drug Monitoring links one form of childhood cancer to exposure to common organophosphate pesticides used around the home.

Did we miss anything? Share a link in the comments or post your teaser and link on our Facebook wall and maybe it’ll be selected for next week. Thanks!