Bulletin Board - mirror.chemwatch.netmirror.chemwatch.net/bulletin/2006/08/250806/060825-Bulletin.pdfCalcium hydroxide 7 LEGISLATION ... Bulletin Board 2. ... Prostate cancer in US

August 25 2006

Contents

Contact us

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Emergency +61 3 9573 3112

70 Bambra Rd Caulfield North Victoria 3161 Australia

While Chemwatch has taken all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication it is not intended to be comprehensive or to render advice Websites rendered are subject to change

(click on page numbers for links)

TECHNICAL NOTES ENVIRONMENTAL 4

MEDICAL 4

OCCUPATIONAL 4

PUBLIC HEALTH 4

SAFETY 5

ARTHURrsquoS ADVICE LINE

Secondary Searching 6

HAZARD ALERT

Calcium hydroxide 7

LEGISLATION

ASIA PACIFIC

Discussion on RoHS policy in Australia commenced 9

Voluntary OHS improvement program for businesses 9

Australian Dangerous Goods Code - 7th Edition 9

Safety law in sorry state 9

Draft Code of Practice for the design and construction of flammable liquids tank wagons 10

Environmental auditor guidelines for conducting environmental audits revised 10

EUROPE

EU Ministers Agree Rules to Prevent Flooding 11

Turkey needs to invest 70 billion euros in the environment 11

Exemption from the provisions of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations 11

International Carriage by Rail (COTIF 1999) rule enters into force 1 July 2006 12

Bulletin Board

1

AMERICA

House Passes Bill Ending Ban On Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling 12

New Ohio air quality law draws mixed reviews 12

EPA Pesticide tolerance Insignificant contributors to the N-methyl carbamate cumulative risk now reassessed 13

Most Home uses of the Organophosphate Pesticide DDVP-No Longer Permitted 13

US Navy in sonar ban over whales 14

Senate fight threatens chemical watchdog bill 14

How Dangerous Is My Science 14

FDA Welch Allyn PIC 50 Automated External Defibrillators 15

JANETrsquoS CORNER - NOT TOO SERIOUSLY

Russian 16

GOSSIP

Dioxin diminishes in market meats 17

Emerging toxics from drinking-water treatment 17

Barbituratesrsquo environmental legacy 18

Evidence Increases For Toxicity Of TCE 19

New consequences of household pesticides 19

EPA Is Faulted On Regulation Of Air Toxics 20

Drug trial debacle leaves victims facing cancer 20

Synthetic fragrances perfume lake sediments 21

New Sunscreen 22

Australia takes steps to reduce GHG emissions 22

Sniffer wormsrsquo recoil helps drug hunters 23

Unions Seek Standard For Diacetyl Exposure 23

FDA Warns Consumers Against Drinking High- Strength Hydrogen Peroxide For Medicinal Use 24

Nitric oxide cuts brain damage risk in premature babies 24

Dioxin Less Dangerous 25

Drug lsquodoes not haltrsquo mad cow disease 25

To heal a wound turn up the voltage 26

Contents

Bulletin Board

2

Health effects should be systematically recorded for industrial and transport accidents involving chemicals 26

China chemical plant risk warning 27

Contents

Bulletin Board

3

ENVIRONMENTAL

Time serial concentration of phthalate esters and bisphenol-A contaminated from spring water containerrsquos cap and seal film

Molecular vs culture methods for the detection of bacterial faecal indicators in groundwater for human use

MEDICAL

Inhibitory effect of deoxynivalenol on TAP-1 expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro

Metabolic activation of bladder procarcinogens 2-aminofluorene 4-aminobiphenyl and benzidine by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other human endogenous bacteria

Biomonitoring Human Exposure to Organohalogenated Substances by Measuring Urinary Chlorophenols Using a High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Immunochemical Method

Sensitization of Empynase (pronase B) in exposed hospital personnel and identification of the Empynase allergen

Citrate anticoagulation for single-needle hemodialysis Safety and efficacy

Safety pharmacokinetics and influence on the intestinal flora of BAY 12-8039 (moxifloxacin hydrochloride) after oral administration in healthy male subjects

Sequential versus alternating administration of cisplatinetoposide and topotecan as first-line treatment in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer preliminary results of a phase III trial of the Hellenic Oncology Research Group

Topotecan in the treatment of elderly patients with relapsed small-cell lung cancer

OCCUPATIONAL

Prostate cancer in US Air Force veterans of the Vietnam War

Chrysotile asbestos exposure associated with removal of automobile exhaust systems (ca 1945-1975) by mechanics results of a simulation study

Occupational asthma related to aescin inhalation

Olfactory toxicity long-term effects of occupational exposures

Physical Characteristics and Health Effects of Aerosols from Collapsed Buildings

Antagonistic combinations of occupational carcinogens

Determination of the time weighted average concentration of isopropyl alcohol butyl alcohol and amyl alcohol in workplace air

Respiratory Protection from Isocyanate Exposure in the Autobody Repair and Refinishing Industry

Biomarkers of Exposure Effect and Susceptibility in Workers Exposed to Nitrotoluenes

PUBLIC HEALTH

Personal monitoring of benzene in Perth Western Australia The contribution of sources to non-industrial personal exposure

Transdermal fentanyl in the management of children with chronic severe pain results from an international study

Technical NotesNote Open your Web Browser and click on Heading to link to section

4

Arsenic in the etiology of cancer

Lead in saliva and its relationship to blood in the residents of klity village in Thailand

Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air of Buildings in Nuclear Power Plants Taiwan

Lead levels in blood and saliva in a low-income population of Detroit Michigan

SAFETY

Agricultural chemical safety assessment a multisector approach to the modernization of human safety requirements

IEC 61511 and the capital project process - A protective management system approach

Harnessing data mining to explore incident databases

Database management systems for process safety

Case study Flame arresters and exploding gasoline containers


5

Arthurrsquos Advice Line 68

6

Secondary Searching

Secondary searches to help refine large search results For example if a user searches for ldquothinnersrdquo a list of 866 close matches can be found Selecting the ldquo2nd Searchrdquo button typing ldquoWattylrdquo and pressing search again will pick out just the Wattyl thinners from that list Give it a try

Health Effects [2]

Inhalation Causes irritation to the respiratory tract Symptoms may include coughing shortness of breath Can cause chemical bronchitis

Ingestion Gastric irritant Ingestion may be followed by severe pain vomiting diarrhea and collapse If death does not occur in 24 hours esophageal perforation may occur as evidenced by fall in blood pressure and severe pain A narrowing of the esophagus may occur weeks months or years after ingestion making swallowing difficult

Skin Contact Corrosive May cause severe burns and blistering depending on duration of contact

Eye Contact Corrosive May produce severe irritation and pain May induce ulcerations of the corneal epithelium Can cause blindness

Chronic Exposure Prolonged or repeated skin contact may produce severe irritation or dermatitis

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions Persons with pre-existing skin problems or impaired respiratory function may be more susceptible to the effects of this substance

Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide

Calcium hydroxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2 It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is created when calcium oxide (called lime or quicklime) is slaked with water It can also be created by mixing an aqueous solution of calcium chloride and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide A traditional name for calcium hydroxide is slaked lime or hydrated lime If heated calcium hydroxide decomposes into calcium oxide and water A suspension of fine calcium hydroxide particles in water called lime water (or milk of lime) is a medium strength base that reacts violently with acids and attacks many metals in presence of water [1]

Uses [1]

Because of its strong basic properties calcium hydroxide has varied uses such as

bull A form of lime in water and sewage treatment and improvement of acid soils

bull An ingredient in whitewash mortar and plaster

bull An alkaline used as a lye substitute in no-lye hair relaxers

bull A reagent

- In the reef aquarium hobby for adding bio-available calcium in solution for calcium-using animals such as algaes snails hard tube worms and corals (often referred to as Kalkwasser mix)

- In the tanning industry for neutralization of extra acid

- In the petroleum refining industry for the manufacture of additives to oils (alkilsalicatic sulphatic fenatic)

- In the chemical industry for manufacture of calcium stearate

- In the food industry for processing water (for alcoholic and soft drinks)

- For clearing a brine of carbonates of calcium and magnesium in the manufacture of salt for food and pharmacopoeia

- In Native American and Latin American cooking calcium hydroxide is called ldquocalrdquo Corn cooked with cal becomes nixtamal which is considered tastier and easier to digest

bull A filler

- In the petrochemical industry for manufacturing solid oil of various marks

- In the manufacture of brake pads

- In the manufacture of ebonite

- For preparation of dry mixes for painting and decorating

- In manufacturing mixes for pesticides

- In manufacturing a drug called ldquoPolikarrdquo for fighting decay (due to fungus) of fruits and vegetables during storage

bull A paste used to fill the inside of a tooth during a root canal procedure left in for a period of weeks to disinfect and reduce inflammation in surrounding material

Personal Protection [2]

Personal Respirators (NIOSH Approved)

If the exposure limit is exceeded and engineering controls are not feasible a full facepiece particulate respirator (NIOSH type N100 filters) may be worn for up to 50 times the exposure limit or the maximum use concentration specified by the appropriate regulatory agency or respirator supplier whichever is lowest If oil particles (eg lubricants cutting fluids glycerine etc) are present use a NIOSH type R or P filter For emergencies or instances where

7

Hazard Alert

the exposure levels are not known use a full-facepiece positive-pressure air-supplied respirator WARNING Air-purifying respirators do not protect workers in oxygen-deficient atmospheres

Skin Protection

Wear impervious protective clothing including boots gloves lab coat apron or coveralls as appropriate to prevent skin contact

Eye Protection

Use chemical safety goggles andor full face shield where dusting or splashing of solutions is possible Maintain eye wash fountain and quick-drench facilities in work area

1 httpenwikipediaorgwikiCalcium_hydroxide2 httpwwwjtbakercommsdsenglishhtmlc0407htm

8

Asia Pacific

Discussion on RoHS policy in Australia commenced 2006-08-03

On 19 May 2006 the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) commissioned the Australian RoHS Policy Preliminary Environment and Economic Assessment A private company in consultation with stakeholders who are requested to register their interest will undertake this The final report is expected to be submitted to the DEH at the end of June 2006 and will examine the potential restriction to the use of hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment

Enhesa Update June 2006

Voluntary OHS improvement program for businesses 2006-08-03

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) in May 2006 launched the OHS Business Commit program This is a no cost voluntary program open to all Australian businesses where signatories commit to the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy 2002-2006 The ASCC has released a publication entitled ldquoOHS Business Commit Business Leading Safetyrdquo to outline the program and participation


Australian Dangerous Goods Code - 7th Edition2006-08-03

At the recent Hazmat 2006 conference in Melbourne some details of the content of the new 7th edition of the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code emerged The Pesticide List in Appendix 9 will be dropped and environmentally hazardous substances being carried by truck to Tasmania will have to be placarded in accordance with the IMDG Code Other local peculiarities will remain in the Code the definition of lsquoPlacard Loadrsquo will remain unchanged and the exemption from licensing for the carriage of up to 3000 litres in IBCs will continue Emergency Information Panels will be retained for IBCs and environmentally hazardous substances being carried by road or rail in IBCs (other than to Tasmania) will not need to be labelled as dangerous goods

Hazardous Cargo Bulletin 29 June 2006

Safety law in sorry state2006-08-03

Thousands of New Zealand businesses are in breach of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act despite a deadline for compliance An Employers amp Manufacturers Association spokesman said the act had been fraught with delays and frustrations Passed in 1996 but not mandatory till this month the act made New Zealand a world leader in health and safety laws It came into force for hazardous substances in July 2001 and after a five-year transition period the new controls were supposed to be in place by yesterday Some test certifiers said the regulations were unfair and in some cases impractical For example the emergency management regulations state fire extinguishers should be able to douse flames over a 6 sq m area but certifiers found none could do the job Officials for the Environmental Risk Management Authority say 10000 premises require a location certificate for the safe handling packaging and storage of hazardous goods but only 2400 have been issued Those locations holding solely notified toxic substances

This is a no cost voluntary program open to all Australian businesses where signatories commit to the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy 2002-2006

Legislation

9

have until January 2008 to get certified Test certifiers say the regulations for gaining a certificate are unnecessarily complex and costly Businesses whose premises house certain quantities of hazardous substances must train their employees to gain handlersrsquo certificates and have emergency and site plans drawn up -which can be costly Farmers must attend different training courses for each class of substance on their properties Those who failed to comply could face fines of up to $500000 or up to three months imprisonment Test certifier Alex McKenzie of Rotorua-based Haz-Subs Solutions said the number of industries requiring certificates and the number of skilled test certifiers had been greatly underestimated Some sites he had visited had been certified as safe but were not compliant with the new regulations Companies were also at fault for not making themselves aware of the certification requirements There are concerns that the cost of compliance will not translate to major ssafety benefits for industry

Stuff News 2 July 2006

httpwwwstuffconz

Draft Code of Practice for the design and construction of flammable liquids tank wagons 2006-08-03

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) in New Zealand has released the draft Code of Practice for the design and construction of vehicles for the transportation of flammable liquids by road This Code provides a standard for the design and construction of tank wagons for the conveyance of bulk flammable liquids by road and aims to ensure that bulk flammable liquids are securely contained and safely transported thereby reducing the risks and helping to prevent accidental damage or injury to people property and the environment

Upon finalization this code will become part of the Code of Practice under Sections 78 and 79 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 to set out means for meeting the Hazardous Substances (Tank Wagons and Transportable Containers) Regulations 2004 in respect of tank trucks trailers and semi trailers that are used for the bulk transport of flammable liquids


Environmental auditor guidelines for conducting environmental audits revised 2006-08-03

The Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has released the Environmental Auditor Guidelines For Conducting Environmental Audits Publication 9531 to replace Publication 953 of June 2004 The guidelines apply to statutory environmental audits conducted under Part IXD of the Environment Protection Act 1970 where the Environmental Auditor must have regard to any guidelines issued by the EPA The guidelines for conducting environmental audits is an overarching reference for all environmental auditors containing information on their roles responsibilities independence engagement of auditors imminent environmental hazard and notification and use of the auditorrsquos expert support team The guidelines are primarily prepared to assist environmental auditors but may also be useful for audit clients those subject to audits and the community


The Environ-mental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) in New Zealand has released the draft Code of Practice for the design and construction of vehicles for the transportation of flammable liquids by road

Legislation

10

Europe

EU Ministers Agree Rules to Prevent Flooding2006-08-03

The European Union ministers have agreed on new rules in order to fight the increasing frequency of floods caused by climate change Environment ministers from the 25 EU member states endorsed a proposal requiring them to assess flood risks in their river basins and coastal areas develop hazard maps for high-risk areas and set out flood-management plans Floods in Europe have caused about 700 deaths and at least 25 billion euros (US$315 billion) in ldquoinsured economic lossesrdquo since 1998 according to the European Commission which authored the draft legislation Austrian Environment Minister Josef Proell whose country currently holds the EUrsquos rotating presidency said the rules aimed to improve coordination between member states so nations located upstream on a river do not take flood prevention measures that would hurt countries downstream such as Germany and the Netherlands on the Rhine

Under the agreement states must complete flood-risk assessments by December 2012 and the end of 2015 must do the management plans The European Parliament must still approve the rules

Planet Ark News 28 June 2006

httpwwwplanetarkorg

Turkey needs to invest 70 billion euros in the environment2006-08-03

Anne Burrill vice president of the European Union Commission Environment General Directorate Enlargement and Neighboring States said Turkey needed to invest 70 billion euros in order to harmonize with the EUrsquos environment regulations Burrill said Turkey needed to allocate significant resources for environmental harmonization The investment Turkey needs to make is around 70 billion euros and most of this will be financed by the private sector An investment strategy needs to be prepared with clear and set priorities and if they harmonize with the environmental criteria the country will become more attractive for investors She went on to say that the EU see Turkey as a partner and improving the standards is their common objective It is very important for the private sector to join the efforts to harmonize with the EUrsquos environmental criteria Turkey has improved its standards on noise pollution and waste treatment but it was noted that there was still a lot to do in certain sectors on chemicals water and air pollution Izmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu said Izmirrsquos pollution problem could not be solved without first addressing the problem of pollutants being disposed into the Gediz River 40 percent of Izmirrsquos water supply came from the Tahtali region the best protected area in the country

Turkish Daily News 28 June 2006

httpwwwturkishdailynewscomtr

Exemption from the provisions of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations2006-08-03

The UK Department of Transport (DfT) has extended the authorisation exempting the carriage of UN 1202 diesel gasoil and heating oil from the provisions of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations for one year Authorisation No 33 will now run until June 30 2007 The consultation document on the 2007 regulations will include a thorough review of all authorisations due to run past January 1 and those that are considered still

Legislation

Turkey has improved its standards on noise pollution and waste treatment but it was noted that there was still a lot to do in certain sectors on chemicals water and air pollution

11

necessary will be reissued


International Carriage by Rail (COTIF 1999) rule enters into force 1 July 20062006-08-03

A new rule concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF 1999) gas came into force on July 1 The revised Convention includes new rules regarding international rail freight contracts (CIM) and a new legal framework for the use of rail freight wagons (CUV) In addition international railway associations have developed a new General Contract of Use for Wagons (GCU) which will be used across Europe by more than 400 railway undertakings and wagon owners Hazardous Cargo Bulletin 7 July 2006

America

House Passes Bill Ending Ban On Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling2006-08-03

A 25-year-old moratorium has come to an end with the House approving a bill on offshore oil and gas drilling Amid high oil and gas prices the idea of allowing more offshore oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf had widespread support in the House The measure would let firms drill anywhere within 50 miles of US coastlines while forcing states that want to keep drilling 100 miles off their own shores to pass legislation every five years States could also ask the federal government to allow drilling closer Perhaps the most controversial section of House bill would divert from the federal government to coastal state governments large portions of royalties from drilling in federal waters This would apply to both new leases and existing offshore oil and gas production In a policy statement yesterday the Office of Management and Budget said that the Bush administration ldquoagrees with the goalrdquo of expanding oil and gas production and supported passage of the House measure ldquoto advance the legislative processrdquo But OMB also said that the administration ldquostrongly opposes revenue sharing provisionsrdquo that would not create incentives for new production and would have ldquoadverse long-term consequences on the federal deficitrdquo Unlike the House bill which would open up all US coasts to exploration the Senate version which supporters hope will be voted on next month would open up only 8 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Washington Post News 30 June 2006

httpwwwwashingtonpostcom

New Ohio air quality law draws mixed reviews2006-08-03

A new state law that changes how the Ohio EPA issues permits and how state requirements dovetail with the federal Clean Air Act takes effect in August The bill also allows the state to set acceptable levels for toxins not listed in the federal act and gives the Ohio EPA authority to regulate toxic emissions from new sources State officials and other interested parties will begin compiling a list of compounds not regulated by the clean air act that must be regulated by the state In addition officials will determine what kind of work - such as land grading or clearing and construction of buildings and foundations - that small air pollution sources can complete before they get a permit In addition the new rules will make it faster and cheaper for companies

Legislation

Amid high oil and gas prices the idea of allowing more offshore oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf had widespread support in the House

12

to secure permits for projects subject to environmental guidelines

Dayton business Journal 30 June 2006

httpdaytonbizjournalscom

EPA Pesticide tolerance Insignificant contributors to the N-methyl carbamate cumulative risk now reassessed2006-08-03

As part of its ongoing work to complete the cumulative assessment of the N-methyl carbamate (NMC) group of pesticides EPA has determined that 144 of the NMC tolerances - or maximum permissible levels of pesticide residues in food - are insignificant contributors to the overall risks from the NMCs These commoditychemical combinations when considered together make such a minor or negligible contribution to the cumulative risk of the NMCs that adding or subtracting those uses would have no measurable significance and therefore no impact on whether the NMCs as a group meet the federal safety standard In addition these uses add no meaningful risk by themselves and will have no effect on retaining or revoking other NMC tolerances EPA found that each of the 144 tolerances meets the federal food safety standard and has issuued an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) These tolerances will be maintained regardless of the outcome of the NMC cumulative assessment and any potential regulatory action taken as a result of that assessment Accordingly EPA believes it is appropriate The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 requires EPA to consider available information concerning the cumulative effects on human health resulting from exposure to multiple chemicals that have a common mechanism of toxicity In 2001 EPA concluded that the N-methyl carbamates share a common mechanism of toxicity and therefore require a cumulative assessment under FQPA The 10 pesticides in the NMC common mechanism group are aldicarb carbaryl carbofuran formetanate hydrochloride methiocarb methomyl oxamyl pirimicarb propoxur and thiodicarb

EPA Pesticides Update 3 July 2006

httpwwwepagovpesticides

Most Home uses of the Organophosphate Pesticide DDVP-No Longer Permitted2006-08-03

EPA has determined that DDVP will be eligible for reregistration pending the completion of the organophosphate cumulative assessment EPA has reviewed the remaining uses of DDVP and has determined that risks do not exceed levels of concern and therefore no additional risk mitigation measures are necessary at this time EPA is releasing an Interim Reregistration Decision document (IRED) on the organophosphate pesticide DDVP (or dichlorvos) that no longer permits most uses in and around homes The home-related uses that remain are pressurized aerosol spray cans pet collars and a limited use of DDVP pest strips which remain because the Agencyrsquos most recent analyses show these can be used safely Various foggers crack and crevice lawn turf and ornamental plant uses are no longer permitted Two sizes of pest strips will also be taken off the market through a phase-out plan

EPA Pesticide Update 3 July 2006


Legislation

EPA has determined that DDVP will be eligible for reregistration pending the completion of the organo-phosphate cumulative assessment

13

US Navy in sonar ban over whales 2006-08-03

A federal judge in California has ordered the US Navy to temporarily stop using sonar equipment because it might harm whales and other sea mammals Environmentalists applied for the restraining order to cover a Pacific warfare exercise off Hawaiirsquos coast Previously the navy had been exempted from the law aimed at protecting sea mammals against the use of sonar equipment by the US Department of Defense Government lawyers were reviewing the ruling a naval spokesman said Some scientists believe the powerful sound waves emitted by underwater sonar equipment can harm sea mammals On Friday the US Department of Defense for the first time gave the navy a six-month exemption from the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow the use of its sonar equipment But California district judge Florence-Marie Cooper based her order on the National Environmental Policy Act after campaign group the Natural Resources Defense Council challenged the military exercise

BBC News 4 July 2006

httpnewsbbccouk

Senate fight threatens chemical watchdog bill2006-08-03

Legislation requiring chemical plants to develop better security plans has come to a halt in the Senate because of a dispute about whether the federal government will force companies to switch to less toxic compounds Sen Susan Collins R-Maine drafted the legislation calling on the Department of Homeland Security to require companies to develop security plans based on the types of hazardous materials they have and how vulnerable they may be to terrorist attacks The Homeland Security Committee that Collins heads unanimously approved the bill June 15 Tougher standards would apply for more dangerous locations The chemical industry generally supports the effort in order to avoid a patchwork of state laws However Sen James Inhofe R-Okla is blocking it as he is concerned the bill could force a company to switch chemicals because of safety concerns The dispute puzzled Collins because her committee defeated such an amendment from Sen Joseph Lieberman D-Conn His provision would have required the riskiest chemical facilities to use safer chemicals storage and operations if the strategy was cost-effective feasible and would enhance security The strategy is called employing ldquoinherently safer technologyrdquo Collins said she might support legislation for switching to safer chemicals in the future but as an environmental bill not part of a security bill Martin Durbin managing director of federal affairs for the American Chemical Council told a House subcommittee last week that companies should be allowed to develop their own security strategies

Maine Today News 5 July 2006

httppressheraldmainetodaycom

How Dangerous Is My Science2006-08-03

How can biomedical researchers tell whether their work might be misused by terrorists A US government-appointed panel has come up with some broad guidance on the question and suggested that in some cases scientists should not publish the results of such ldquodual-userdquo research The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)--was set up by the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) two years ago to help the government develop safeguards against the wrongful application of life sciences research Itrsquos first step has been to lay down the standard

Legislation

Legislation requiring chemical plants to develop better security plans has come to a halt in the Senate because of a dispute about whether the federal government will force companies to switch to less toxic compounds

14

for identifying research that might have potential for misuse defining it as ldquoresearch that based on current understanding can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge products or technologies that could be directly misapplied by others to pose a threat to public health agriculture plants animals the environment or materielrdquo The definition covers research leading to insights that among other things could be used to ldquoenhance the harmful consequences of a biological agentrdquo ldquoenhances the susceptibility of a host populationrdquo or ldquoreconstitute an eradicated or extinct biological agentrdquo

Guidelines have also been finalized by the board for communicating findings from such projects recommending that authors reviewers and journal editors carry out a risk-benefit analysis before deciding whether to publish any work or whether to eliminate any details of a planned publication Recommendations on how federal agencies and campus officials might implement the panelrsquos guidelines are still being drafted

Science Now 17 July 2006

httpsciencenowsciencemagorggt

FDA Welch Allyn PIC 50 Automated External Defibrillators2006-08-03

MRL Inc has issued a Class I recall of Welch Allyn PIC 50 Automated External Defibrillators manufactured from March 2002 through October 2004 An electrical contact problem may result in the devicersquos failure to provide a defibrillation shock which could result in delay or failure to resuscitate the patient This failure may be accompanied by various error messages on the display panel including the ldquoDefib Commrdquo error message

Medwatch update 7 July 2006

Legislation

15

Russian

The couple was delighted when their long wait to adopt a baby came to an end The adoption center called and told them that there was a wonderful Russian baby boy available and the couple took him without hesitation

On the way home from the adoption center they stopped by the local college so they each could enroll in night courses

After they filled out the forms the registration clerk inquired ldquoWhat ever possessed you to study Russianrdquo

The couple said proudly ldquoWe just adopted a Russian baby In a year or so when he begins to talk we want to be able to understand himrdquo

Janetrsquos Corner - Not Too Seriously

Please note articles for Janetrsquos Corner are not original and come from various sources Authorrsquos credits are supplied when available

16

Dioxin diminishes in market meats2006-08-01

According to the results of a new survey conducted by the US Department of Agriculture meats on the market today may have less dioxin than they did a decade ago however beef still doesnrsquot make the cut Data from a series of surveys conducted from 1994 to 1996 were standardized by researchers for comparison with a comprehensive survey conducted from 2002 to 2003 The more recent survey included ldquodioxin-like compoundsrdquo such as PCBs In poultry and hogs dioxin levels declined 20-80 during the period between the surveys in large part because of efforts to eliminate dioxin in feedstocks But cattle dioxin levels either stayed the same or barely decreased over that same time period Inspectors for the USDA traced high dioxin levels (gt2 pgg lipid weight) in 2 hogs back to farms ~100 miles apart that used the same dioxin-containing mineral feed which was subsequently removed from the market But the history of the cows with high dioxin levels proved more difficult to track The researchers say more investigation is necessary to uncover the reasons for the variation in the animals which could include background deposition from power-plant emissions or even the animalsrsquo ages when they were slaughtered

Environmental Science amp Technology News 26 July 2006

httppubsacsorgjournalsesthagindexhtml

Emerging toxics from drinking-water treatment2006-08-01

A survey of drinking-water utilities across the US has revealed the occurrence of new disinfection byproducts Alternative methods to disinfect water without chlorine have created a whole new suite of byproducts that might affect human health A study on US drinking-water treatment systems in regions with compromised source waters documents 28 new disinfection byproducts (DBPs) Researcher and author of the study Stuart Krasner from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California researchers at the University of North Carolina and the US EPA tracked the occurrence of emerging DBPs Many of the substances they found were not included when EPA designed DBP regulations for drinking-water utilities Where possible utilities that use different methods to treat the same water where chosen for the study The input and output waters were examined and after synthesizing standards for many of the new DBPs and optimizing analytical methods the team documented several trends They concluded that source waters high in total organic carbon or bromide (or both) tend to lead to potential problems with the finished water in sometimes unexpected ways Bromide-laden waters treated with pre-ozonation had an increased level of trihalonitromethanes for example One utility that produced a lot of iodinated compounds used chloramine for treatment with little to no free chlorine In addition the utilityrsquos source water started out with levels of iodide that were higher than those usually observed

The chemistry that gives rise to iodinated DBPs from chloramines was further clarified in studies performed by Urs von Gunten of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) says Philip Singer of the University of North Carolina Singer who assisted in selecting sites used in the EPA study says that the research identifies areas of concern ldquoThis work needs to be followed up with a comprehensive survey to see how widespread the occurrence of these DBPs is on a truly nationwide basisrdquo he says in addition to ldquoa study of the underlying chemistry that contributes to the formation of these DBPsrdquo Eva Nieminski a water-treatment-plant specialist at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality says that these DBPrsquos are already under investigation She notes that the work is

Gossip

According to the results of a new survey conducted by the US Department of Agriculture meats on the market today may have less dioxin than they did a decade ago however beef still doesnrsquot make the cut

17

of excellent quality and valuable but agrees that it is limited in its scope ldquoPicking the utilities with compromised poor-quality water sources helped in understanding the kinetics of the formation of these byproducts but yielded much higher concentrations of emerging DBPs than might be averagerdquo Nieminski warns Any conclusions about the new DBPsrsquo significance require a nationwide study of their occurrence in treatments of both high- and low-quality source waters she says



Barbituratesrsquo environmental legacy2006-08-01

A new study by scientist in Germany has found that although the use of barbiturates peaked more than 3 decades ago the drugs are still being detected in surface water and groundwater Scientists report that some pharmaceuticals can linger in the environment well past their date of use Thomas Knepper of the Europa University of Applied Sciences Fresenius (Germany) and author of the study said that this is the first time that barbiturates in the environment have been investigated ldquoSince these compounds are polar-therefore donrsquot adsorb to soils-and are hardly biodegradable we suspected that they could still be aroundrdquo he adds All barbiturates are derivatives of pyrimidine heterocycle barbituric acid and depress the central nervous system For decades these drugs were extensively used as hypnotics anesthetics anticonvulsants and sedatives (eg Veronal) These drugs were replaced in the 1970rsquos with benzodiazepines (eg Valium) due to increased concern about addiction and the increasing number of deaths through accidental overdose In the study Knepper and colleagues screened various wastewater river and groundwater samples for barbiturates with a newly developed gas chromatographymass spectrometry method They detected several barbiturates including phenobarbital in groundwater samples at sites that had been infiltrated by wastewater several decades ago Pentobarbital butalbital and phenobarbital were also detected at concentrations of up to several micrograms per liter in the Mulde River Knepper says that these results strongly suggest a point source from either a defective landfill or possibly current production Based on the findings the researchers recommended that aquifers next to landfills be monitored for barbiturates In addition none of the barbiturates were found to be degraded biotically or abiotically

Michael Oehme a professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Basel Switzerland recently helped chemical companies in the basel region monitor and control water leaching from landfills containing barbiturates ldquoThe potential contribution of landfills to the release of drugs into the environment has been widely recognizedrdquo says Andreas Hartmann head of Global Pharma Environment at Novartis Pharma AG in Basel He says that many companies have reduced or halted the landfilling of pharmaceutical waste However Oehme says that large quantities of pharmaceutical waste were also landfilled at non-industrial sites and he recommends more widespread monitoring The barbiturate concentrations reported in the study are too low to be of immediate concern for humans or the environment says ecotoxicologist Thomas Knacker Knacker is the coordinator of a large EU research project ERAPharm which is concerned with the risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the environment He cautions that no data appears to exist on the chronic ecotoxicity of barbiturates Hartmann predicts that the situation will improve in the near future because of new guidelines authorized by the European Medicines Agency which evaluates and supervises medicinal products throughout the EU These new environmental guidelines for pharmaceuticals which become effective on December 1 2006 are

A new study by scientist in Germany has found that although the use of barbiturates peaked more than 3 decades ago the drugs are still being detected in surface water and groundwater

Gossip

18

considered the strictest in the world Extensive data on chronic toxicity and environmental behavior are mandatory for all newly registered or re-registered human pharmaceuticals



Evidence Increases For Toxicity Of TCE2006-08-01

A new report released by the National Research Council has provided enough evidence for the Environmental Protection Agency to now complete a risk assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE) The evidence on cancer and other adverse health effects from TCE exposure has strengthened since 2001 the report notes The EPA released a draft risk assessment in 2001 on TCE a solvent used as a degreasing agent The assessment triggered a storm of controversy between EPA and the Departments of Defense and Energy EPA was accused that it had used ldquojunk sciencerdquo in its risk assessment As a result NRC was asked to evaluate the evidence for health risks from TCE The NRC report found that TCE is a potential cause of kidney cancer and that it may cause reproductive and developmental problems impaired neurological function and autoimmune disease Recommendations by the panel who wrote the studies suggested further studies were required to understand the mechanisms by which TCE causes cancer and other health problems and to identify which populations are most sensitive to the effects of TCE In addition it urged the EPA and other federal agencies to complete their risk assessments of TCE soon using ldquocurrently available datardquo

Chemical amp Engineering News 28 July 206

httppubsacsorgcennews

New consequences of household pesticides2006-08-01

A chemical that boosts pesticidesrsquo killing power also increases the toxicity of legacy pesticides in stream sediments Don Weston adjunct professor of ecotoxicology at the University of California Berkeley found toxic levels of pyrethroids in creeks flowing through Sacramento California PBO is a chemical commonly added to pyrethroid sprays because it stops cellular enzymes from breaking down the insecticides increasing their lethality Pyrethroids are less toxic to humans than the organophosphates that they have replaced in consumer insecticides However pesticide manufacturers have not adequately tested whether pyrethroids are harmful to small crustaceans living in stream sediment where the pesticides are now building up after washing off suburban lawns Weston first became interested in the effects of PBO on environment in 2005 when Sacramento County begun an aerial spraying campaign to combat West Nile virus The pesticide was a mix of 60 PBO and 6 pyrethrins Pyrethrins are natural insecticides produced by certain species of the chrysanthemum plant and pyrethroids are their synthetic counterparts Weston wanted to know the resulting effect on local creeks when the PBO washed off the streets

The mechanism by which a pesticide might interact with legacy pesticides has never been previously studied Samples taken from the creeks flowing through the sprayed area showed the occurrence of PBO at concentrations of 2-4 ppb Sediment from the creeks was taken back to the lab where he mixed the samples with clean mud to cut the toxicity Then the samples were spiked with 4 ppb of PBO and introduced hyalella small bottom-dwelling crustaceans that are sensitive to pesticides He found that adding the PBO doubled the mortality rate Weston says that the interaction between a

A new report released by the National Research Council has provided enough evidence for the Environmental Protection Agency to now complete a risk assessment of trichloro-ethylene (TCE)

Gossip

19

relatively benign ingredient like PBO and pesticides already in the creek is something that the US EPA has not addressed in its regulations EPA Spokeswomen Enesta Jones reported that the EPA does not have any data providing evidence that the addition of PBO to a water body increases the toxicity of any pesticide already present Mary-Ann Warmerdam from the Department of Pesticide Regulation says local water boards and pesticide manufacturers must work together to protect the environment To do so California is beginning a reevaluation of 600 pyrethroid products



EPA Is Faulted On Regulation Of Air Toxics2006-08-01

A report released by the Government Accountability Officer (GAO) has revealed that the EPA has fallen short of regulating hazardous air pollutants as required by the Clean Air Act Through the Clean Air Act Congress directed EPA to control emissions of some 190 chemicals designated as hazardous air pollutants often called air toxics These substances which include benzene and asbestos can cause cancer or other health problems GAO the investigative arm of Congress finds that the agencyrsquos air toxics program primarily has set limits on emissions from large industrial facilities including chemical manufacturing plants But EPA lacks data to assess how well these actions have reduced health risks from hazardous air pollutants GAO says The report says the EPA has failed to meet requirements in the Clean Air Act to control air toxics released from vehicles and commercial facilities such as dry cleaners The report recommends that EPA set a schedule for meeting statutory mandates for controlling air toxics and determine how much money the agency will need to do so EPA also should improve its inventory of air toxic emissions and how it measures costs and benefits of air toxics reductions GAO adds Sen Olympia J Snowe (R-Maine) says ldquoEPA must develop a plan for improving the management of its air toxics program by taking the necessary regulatory actionsrdquo Jeffords ranking member of the Senate Environment amp Public Works Committee says Congress needs to get involved ldquoWe need comprehensive oversight of this program and a plan for getting it back on track immediatelyrdquo he says



Drug trial debacle leaves victims facing cancer2006-08-01

According to a new scientific report commissioned by their lawyer four men who suffered adverse reactions in a drug trial that went wrong now face developing cancer or serious autoimmune diseases The four are among six healthy young men who were given an experimental drug called TGN1412 in its first human trial to test for safety in London Within minutes the six men who took the drug were reportedly writhing in pain Two others who took a placebo were unaffected All six suffered multiple organ failure An official investigation later confirmed that the devastating reactions were due to the ldquounpredicted biological action of the drug in humansrdquo Experts have suggested that TGN1412 in stimulating the immune system accidentally provoked a super-immune response in the human subjects The men have slowly recovered but an assessment commissioned by the law firm representing four of the six victims now suggests they face serious medical consequences ldquoThe most significant thing was that they have all been told that they are more likely than not to sustain one of the serious autoimmune diseases or lymphatic cancerrdquo says Martyn Day of Leigh Day and Co in

A report released by the Government Accountability Officer (GAO) has revealed that the EPA has fallen short of regulating hazardous air pollutants as required by the Clean Air Act

Gossip

20

London One of the men is apparently already showing signs of lymphatic cancer and another signs of the debilitating autoimmune disease lupus Immunologist Richard Powell at the Queenrsquos Medical Centre Nottingham UK performed the tests Powell was hoping the initial test results were ldquojust the beginningrdquo and that things would improve over time However this was not the case The study also showed that the men had very low numbers of a type of white blood cell called regulatory T cells This subgroup of T cells is important in regulating the bodyrsquos immune response Powellrsquos report states that in healthy men between 3 and 5 of T cells are of the regulatory variety But ldquoin the four individuals treated [] these cells have remained low (less than 1) hence reduced immune regulation may allow the development of autoimmune and allergic problems as the immune system is a very tightly controlled interlinking networkrdquo He concluded that three of the four have more than a 50 chance of developing a serious autoimmune disease and one more than a 75 chance Day says the firm has sent a letter regarding the assessment to the company which ran the drug trial Parexel and is hoping to reach a settlement without going to court

News Scientist News 31 July 2006

httpwwwnewscientistcom

Synthetic fragrances perfume lake sediments2006-08-01

The scent of perfume behind the ears has timeless allure but perfume raises scientific eyebrows when it persists in the environment New research has documented for the first time a historical profile of synthetic-fragrance concentrations in lake sediment The results show a dramatic rise in environmental exposure over the past 15 years-a potential concern if these persistent contaminants turn out to have biological effects experts say HHCB (Galaxolide) the most common fragrance compound as a high-production-volume chemical-gt1 million lbyear are imported or produced In addition synthetic fragrances persist in the environment accumulate in animals and have an affinity for fat-all traits of persistent organic pollutants It is these properties that have concerned researchers who have begun tracking the environmental and biological effects of synthetic fragrances In the study Keri Hornbuckle an environmental engineer at the University of Iowa and her colleagues dated two sediment cores from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and analyzed the concentrations of five polycyclic and two nitro musk fragrances They found that HHCB concentrations actually declined slightly from 1979 to 1990 however from 1990 to 2003 levels of HHCB doubled Honbuckle says that the results mirror the consumption of all fragrances in the US market including synthetic musks terpenes and other compounds

The researchers were unable to gain exact consumption data for individual fragrances from the industry Honbuckle said that this research shows that the sewer is the primary route in which fragrances end up in Lake Michigan after application to skin hair and clothing In addition levels of fragrances were detected in rural air at levels higher than those of the most commonly used pesticides The European Chemical Bureau has concluded that HHCB and AHTN [Tonalide a polycyclic musk]are not PBTs [persistent bioaccumulative and toxic substances] and the European Scientific Committee for Cosmetics and Non-Food Products has affirmed their continued safe use in consumer productsrdquo says Dan Salvito an environmental scientist at the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials an industry association However Europe has phased out nitro musks over concerns that they are carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting says Roland Kallenborn an environmental chemist at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS Norway) Recent studies have indicated that polycyclic musks may

The scent of perfume behind the ears has timeless allure but perfume raises scientific eyebrows when it persists in the environment

Gossip

21

have sublethal effects in fish they bind to estrogen receptors and act as an antagonist to vitellogenin an egg yolk precursor protein Metcalfe says



New Sunscreen2006-08-01

LrsquoOreal has received approval from the FDA for a new sunscreen formula that includes the first new organic UV-blocking molecule the agency has cleared since 1988 The molecule ecamsule is the only photo-stable filter approved in the US for protection against short UV-A waves (320-340 nm) It will be used in a broad-spectrum formula that also contains avobenzone and octocrylene two previously approved filters The formula will protect users from both UV-A the wavelengths that can cause skin cancer and UV-B the rays that cause skin to burn LrsquoOreal plans to offer the new formula Anthelios SX only in its own products David Steinberg who heads an eponymous consulting firm says one drawback of ecamsule is that it is water soluble and thus not useful at the beach FDA approved avobenzone 18 years ago Since then ingredient makers have eagerly sought US approval of a new generation of improved organic molecules for sun protection European Union regulators permit formulators to use 28 sunscreens compared with the 17 now allowed in the US



Australia takes steps to reduce GHG emissions2006-08-01

With greenhouse gas emissions still on the rise Australianrsquos have urged the government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol Australia is the second largest exporter and the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) per capita But according to new Government figures released the country is on track to meet its 2012 target in the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change Australia as yet has not agreed to participate in the protocol however public support is growing for its ratification and scientists and public-health experts are increasingly expressing concern over soaring emissions from the energy and transport sectors Currently the country produces 14 of global GHG emissions with recent figures showing net emissions increased by 23 between 1990 and 2004 Under Kyoto Australia is permitted to increase its emissions by 8 by 2012 above 1990 levels However emissions from the energy sector have risen by 43 since 1990 and transport emissions by 23 Scientist along with experts from both the health and insurance industries have appealed to the Government for more action For example in 2004 the Australian Climate Group recommended that Australia commit to reducing GHG emissions by 60 by 2050 and suggested that the country develop an emissions trading scheme by 2007 These experts point out how vulnerable Australia is to climate change with impacts such as increasing severity of bushfire and drought more frequent heavy rainfall in areas already prone to flood and changing rainfall patterns that will affect agriculture

Various campaigns have been launched by the Government to tackle climate change such as preparing a risk management guide that urges businesses to prepare for a future involving more severe droughts and storms as well as changing rainfall patterns Government officials have promised to invest $18 billion in measures to tackle emissions such as testing renewable energies and promoting the use of solar panels and energy-efficient technologies The government has provided gtAus$38 million in tax rebates

Gossip

Australia is the second largest exporter and the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) per capita

22

for gt6700 households and communities to convert sunlight into electricity under the Photo Voltaic Rebate Programme and has approved almost 600 wind turbines According to green groups Australia can achieve the Kyoto targets due to the special deal struck when the treaty was created Australia is allowed to use one-off or one-time reductions in land-clearing to offset GHG emissions and in so doing take advantage of its huge forests Michelle Braunstein of Friends of the Earth Australia said she ldquodoubts whether the government will be persuaded to ratify It is plain why We are the worldrsquos largest coal exporter Our status as the second worst per capita greenhouse polluters in the world may also be contributing to our governmentrsquos inertiardquo



Sniffer wormsrsquo recoil helps drug hunters2006-08-01

A new method of discovering potent drugs has been found Nematode worms turn and flee when they encounter substances they donrsquot like the taste of Two nerves located on their head that act like ldquotaste budsrdquo and either attract or repel the worms from substances they encounter John McCafferty and his colleagues at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge UK decided to genetically engineer these nerves to produce receptor proteins normally found on the surfaces of human cells They could then test whether a substance activates the human receptors by placing a patch of the test substance in a lab dish between the engineered nematodes and another substance they are known to be attracted to If the test substance activates the human receptors the worms recoil ldquoThey wonrsquot cross it because theyrsquore hard-wired to be repelled by itrdquo says McCafferty Existing tests rely on engineered cells from mammals which require sterile conditions pure mixtures of the test substances and complex detection systems



Unions Seek Standard For Diacetyl Exposure2006-08-01

Two unions-the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Food amp Commercial Workers-have petitioned the Occupational Safety amp Health Administration demanding an emergency temporary workplace standard for diacetyl a flavoring agent This chemical is used in artificial butter for microwave popcorn dog food and other foods According to several studies diacetyl has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans an irreversible lung disease that has sickened and killed workers at factories that manufacture popcorn and flavorings Scientists and occupational health experts have also sent letters to Labor Secretary Elaine L Chao urging OSHA to set an emergency standard Health experts have also written to the EPA requesting the status of a study on health effects from chemicals released when microwave popcorn is prepared at home The EPA has said that the study is currently undergoing internal and industry review and will be available in October Health experts argue that the study should not be subjected to industry review before its results are released to the public The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association notes that it has not had time to review the unionsrsquo petition But it ldquosupports any appropriate action that is based on sound science including the establishment of a permissible exposure limitrdquo for diacetyl



Gossip

Nematode worms turn and flee when they encounter substances they donrsquot like the taste of

23

FDA Warns Consumers Against Drinking High-Strength Hydrogen Peroxide For Medicinal Use2006-08-01

Warnings have been issued by the FDA for consumers not to purchase or use high-strength hydrogen peroxide products including a product marketed as ldquo35 Percent Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxiderdquo for medicinal purposes because they can cause serious harm or death when ingested FDA recommends that consumers who are currently using high-strength hydrogen peroxide stop immediately and consult their health care provider The FDA is currently trying to stop companies selling high-strength hydrogen peroxide from making illegal medical claims about their products These claims are illegal because these products do not have FDA approval and are therefore being sold illegally for medical indications without any proven clinical value These products have the ability to instead cause significant harm Warning Letters have been sent to two firms illegally selling ldquo35 percent hydrogen peroxiderdquo products on Web sites for the treatment of AIDS cancers emphysema and other serious and life-threatening diseases ldquoThis concentration is not approved by FDA for any purposerdquo said Dr Steven Galson Director of FDArsquos Center for Drug Evaluation and Research ldquoNo one has presented any evidence that hydrogen peroxide taken internally has any medical value In fact consuming hydrogen peroxide in the manner touted by these websites could lead to tragic resultsrdquo This high-strength hydrogen peroxide - more than 10 times stronger than the solution used in over-the-counter drugs to disinfect minor cuts - is highly corrosive Ingesting hydrogen peroxide can cause gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration Intravenous (IV) administration of hydrogen peroxide can cause inflammation of the blood vessel at the injection site gas embolisms (bubbles in blood vessels) and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions

Science Daily News 31 July 2006

httpwwwsciencedailycom

Nitric oxide cuts brain damage risk in premature babies2006-08-01

Two new studies have found that giving premature babies low doses of nitric oxide gas via their ventilators reduces their risk of brain damage and lung problems The approach could halve the number of some of the debilitating complications suffered by infants that weigh only about 1 kilogram at birth say the researchers Premature babies have under developed lungs and are often placed on ventilators to assist them to breathe and ensure that sufficient oxygen reaches other organs such as the brain heart and liver It has been found that this type of assisted breathing can stress the babyrsquos lungs and contribute to the development of a disorder known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) One-third of babies born weighing 125 kg (275 lbs) or less develop BPD While most babies recover from the condition some become more prone to respiratory infections such as pneumonia and high blood pressure in the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs Premature babies also face a high risk of brain damage which could be linked to their underdeveloped lungs Trails conducted by two research teams have assessed how well inhaled nitric oxide could protect against these risks The trial involved a total of 37 medical centres making its scope much wider than previous studies In one study conducted by John Kinsella at the University of Colorado in Denver US and colleagues administered the nitric oxide to about 400 premature babies within 48 hours of birth with another 400 receiving a harmless placebo of nitrogen gas Premature babies are defined as those having spent less than 37 weeks in the womb and full term is 38 to 40 weeks The results showed that the premature infants

Gossip

This high-strength hydrogen peroxide - more than 10 times stronger than the solution used in over-the-counter drugs to disinfect minor cuts - is highly corrosive

24

receiving nitric oxide had a reduced risk of brain damage 175 compared with 239 of those who did not receive the gas Overall the treatment did not appear to offer any protection against the development of BPD or against death However among the sub-group of premature babies that weighed more than 1 kg the risk of BPD dropped from 60 to 30 with treatment Studies in animals have suggested that inhaled nitric oxide reduces certain inflammatory compounds in the blood and this may be why the treatment had a beneficial effect on some infants say the researchers some of whom have ties to a company called INO Therapeutics which manufactures nitric oxide for medical use The second study also partially supported by INO Therapeutics Roberta Ballard and colleagues at the Childrenrsquos Hospital of Philadelphia Pennsylvania US examined the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on premature babies between 7 and 21 days of age They found that premature babies who received treatment within the second week of life had a 49 chance of surviving to at least 36 weeks after their conception without acquiring BPD Without the treatment this chance dropped to just 28 Due to the expense of the nitric oxide therapy some experts say that it is difficult to justify its use until its benefit is proven with long-term follow-up studies

New Scientist News 26 July 2006


Dioxin Less Dangerous2006-08-01

According to a draft risk assessment released by the EPA low doses of dioxin may not be as carcinogenic according to a panel of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) In the analysis the panel called on EPA to clarify uncertainties and better justify some assumptions about the danger of dioxin Historically found in herbicides and industrial waste the main source of dioxins today come mainly from incineration of municipal trash Emissions have dropped by about 90 since 1987 yet the compounds have contaminated soils and water worldwide and have made their way through the food chain by accumulating in animal fat In lab animals dioxins cause tumors birth defects and many other problems But the risks to the general public from long-term low-dose exposure are difficult to establish The EPArsquos first risk assessment of dioxins in 1985 called the compound a ldquoprobable human carcinogenrdquo The more data that has become available has seen this assessment revised A key finding of the 18-member committee is that EPA should not simply assume a linear relationship between low doses and cancer risk That ldquois not the most scientifically justified approachrdquo says toxicologist David Eaton of the University of Washington Seattle who chaired the panel Rather EPA should consider a nonlinear dose response with a threshold below which dioxin has no impact on cancer Further evidence comes from a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciencersquos National Toxicology program A nonlinear dose response would imply a lower cancer risk although the panel did not calculate the amount The panel also said the agency should quantify the uncertainties surrounding the risks of cancer and other health problems

Science Now News 11 July 2006

httpsciencenowsciencemagorg

Drug lsquodoes not haltrsquo mad cow disease2006-08-01

According to a new study an experimental treatment for vCJD which has been hailed as a wonder drug does not halt the disease Families of those struck down by the incurable condition have credited Pentosan Polysulphate (PPS) with saving the lives of their loved ones Research for the Medical

Gossip

In the analysis the panel called on EPA to clarify uncertainties and better justify some assumptions about the danger of dioxin

25

Research Council found that patients taking the blood-thinning drug were living for ldquounusually long periodsrdquo However no evidence could be found that PPS stopped vCJD Professor Ian Bone a consultant neurologist at Glasgowrsquos Southern General Hospital observed seven patients for the study He said ldquoThe drug does not appear to halt the progression of the disease Loss of brain function continues after treatment has started and where measured by imaging loss of brain tissue also continuedrdquo Patients with vCJD usually live no more than 14 months however the study found those treated with PPS were outliving this timeframe although researchers found no conclusive link between survival and the treatment

The Scotsman News 12 July 2006

httpnewsscotsmancom

To heal a wound turn up the voltage2006-08-01

It has been found that electric currents applied to the skin could potentially speed up wound healing Ironically though the phenomenon was reported 150 years ago by the German physiologist Emil Du Bois-Reymond it has been ignored ever since Now Josef Penninger of the Austrian Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Vienna and Min Zhao of the University of Aberdeen UK have demonstrated that natural electric fields and currents in tissue play a vital role in assisting the wound-healing process by attracting repair cells to damaged areas In addition genes responsible for controlling the process have been identified Cells and tissues essentially function as chemical batteries with positively charged potassium ions and negatively charged chloride ions flowing across membranes This creates electric field patterns all over the body When tissues are wounded this disrupts the battery effectively short-circuiting it Penninger and his colleagues realised that it is the resulting altered fields that attract and guide repair cells to the damaged area In the study layers of mouse cells and larger tissues such as corneas were grown in the lab

After ldquowoundingrdquo these tissues they applied varying electric fields to them which resulted in either an acceleration or complete halt the healing process depending on the orientation and strength of the field The next step was to isolate the genes involved in this process by looking at those already known to make repair cells migrate under the influence of chemical growth factors and attractants They found that their level of expression could be influenced by electric fields The gene expression of several types of repair cells was affected including neutrophils and fibroblasts One particular gene known to prepare cells for migration and another that halts the process became the focus of the study When the team knocked out the migration ldquopromoterrdquo gene wounds exposed to electric fields healed more slowly They healed faster when the migration ldquoblockerrdquo was knocked out Further research is now required to investigate ways of manipulating the phenomenon to accelerate healing says Mark Ferguson a wound-healing specialist at the University of Manchester UK



Health effects should be systematically recorded for industrial and transport accidents involving chemicals2006-08-01

Up to now there has been no systematic recording or documentation of data for the long-term assessment of the health effects of industrial and transport accidents involving chemicals in Germany This is confirmed by 2000 notifications of health impairments submitted to BfR since 1990

Gossip

It has been found that electric currents applied to the skin could potentially speed up wound healing

26

concerning 60 in some cases major chemical accidents Since exposure situations have not been adequately documented important information is missing on possible symptoms suffered by those affected local residents or emergency staff Normally what is missing is the data on exposure type and scale of contact between the persons involved in an industrial or transport accident and a chemical ldquoWe would like to close this gap as far as possible by systematically recording health datardquo explains BfR President Professor Dr Dr Andreas Hensel

Hensel reported that a special form has been developed that will allow the collection of health data in conjunction with industrial and transport accidents These notification forms will collect data on the concentration of substances released into the air and their spread in addition to the intoxication symptoms that occurred The intake route (dermal inhalational or oral) is to be described the protective measures taken and the results of measurements of substances in blood and urine samples are to be recorded The distance of the persons affected from the centre of the industrial or transport accident and the length of exposure will also be recorded All these elements are essential in order to reliably estimate the long-term health consequences for the individuals affected

This group includes fire fighters as well as emergency response and security staff residents children playing in the vicinity or personnel involved in the cleaning up and decontamination work The data on the individual exposure situation provide important insight into whether health damage that occurs at a later stage in various groups (adults children old people pregnant women etc) could possibly be linked to the incident These forms will allow the generation of a solid database which can contribute to estimating the health risks of the affected persons as accurately as possible Up to now only the technical data of incidents of this kind were comprehensively and systematically documented The form package put together by BfR consists of a plan listing the individual organisational phases for handling industrial and transport accidents the existing notification form for intoxications pursuant to szlig16e Chemicals Act and a questionnaire on exposure It also contains a plan for systematic measurements of the environment after industrial or transport accidents that also takes account of the geographical and meteorological features of the site The forms are designed to facilitate the review process and follow-up of crises of this kind by public health officers occupational health specialists emergency doctors and other health care staff They can be downloaded from the BfR website (German version) under ldquoIntoxicationsrdquo

BfR News 10 July 2006

http wwwbfrbundde

China chemical plant risk warning2006-08-01

Chemical leaks are not uncommon in China In a report by Chinarsquos State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) it said that nearly half of Chinarsquos chemical plants pose ldquomajor environmental risksrdquo SEPA warned of an increase in pollution incidents if safety was not improved Gas or chemical leaks blamed on poor construction are a common occurrence in China Forty-five percent of the countryrsquos chemical and petro-chemical plants posed ldquomajor environmental risksrdquo SEPA said Out of 7555 facilities surveyed across China 81 were located along rivers and lakes or in densely populated areas the environment agency said If ldquoeffective measuresrdquo were not taken ldquothe trend of surging environmental incidents in the country would not be checkedrdquo the agency warned This report was released only days after a chlorine gas leak left 160 people in hospital in the northwestern city of Yinchuan The leak was blamed on a break in a rusty pipe and the victims

Gossip

Normally what is missing is the data on exposure type and scale of contact between the persons involved in an industrial or transport accident and a chemical

27

of the toxic fumes were reportedly mainly children and elderly people who lived nearby Pollution risks have risen up the political agenda since a major incident in November An explosion at a chemical factory in the northeastern province of Jilin resulted in the release of 100 tonnes of the carcinogens benzene and nitrobenzene into the Songhua River The chemicals spread hundreds of kilometres downstream Water supplies had to be cut in the town of Harbin leaving some of its 38 million people without water for five days It was reported in January by the Chinese environment chief Zhou Shengxian that the governmentrsquos priorities were changing ldquoThe Chinese government has made a very timely and determined decision to stop the conventional approach of development which could be characterised as lsquopollution and destruction first treatment laterrsquordquo he told a news conference


httpnewsbbccoukhienglishhealth

Gossip

28

AMERICA

House Passes Bill Ending Ban On Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling 12

New Ohio air quality law draws mixed reviews 12

EPA Pesticide tolerance Insignificant contributors to the N-methyl carbamate cumulative risk now reassessed 13

Most Home uses of the Organophosphate Pesticide DDVP-No Longer Permitted 13

US Navy in sonar ban over whales 14

Senate fight threatens chemical watchdog bill 14

How Dangerous Is My Science 14

FDA Welch Allyn PIC 50 Automated External Defibrillators 15

JANETrsquoS CORNER - NOT TOO SERIOUSLY

Russian 16

GOSSIP

Dioxin diminishes in market meats 17

Emerging toxics from drinking-water treatment 17

Barbituratesrsquo environmental legacy 18

Evidence Increases For Toxicity Of TCE 19

New consequences of household pesticides 19

EPA Is Faulted On Regulation Of Air Toxics 20

Drug trial debacle leaves victims facing cancer 20

Synthetic fragrances perfume lake sediments 21

New Sunscreen 22

Australia takes steps to reduce GHG emissions 22

Sniffer wormsrsquo recoil helps drug hunters 23

Unions Seek Standard For Diacetyl Exposure 23

FDA Warns Consumers Against Drinking High- Strength Hydrogen Peroxide For Medicinal Use 24

Nitric oxide cuts brain damage risk in premature babies 24

Dioxin Less Dangerous 25

Drug lsquodoes not haltrsquo mad cow disease 25

To heal a wound turn up the voltage 26

Contents

Bulletin Board

2



Contents

Bulletin Board

3

ENVIRONMENTAL



MEDICAL









OCCUPATIONAL










PUBLIC HEALTH




4





SAFETY







5


6

Secondary Searching


Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








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18












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19











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20








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22












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23







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24










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25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28



Contents

Bulletin Board

3

ENVIRONMENTAL



MEDICAL









OCCUPATIONAL










PUBLIC HEALTH




4





SAFETY







5


6

Secondary Searching


Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

ENVIRONMENTAL



MEDICAL









OCCUPATIONAL










PUBLIC HEALTH




4





SAFETY







5


6

Secondary Searching


Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28





SAFETY







5


6

Secondary Searching


Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28


6

Secondary Searching


Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

Health Effects [2]







Hazard Alert

Calcium hydroxide


Uses [1]





bull A reagent








bull A filler











7

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

Hazard Alert


Skin Protection


Eye Protection



8

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

Asia Pacific













Legislation

9



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28



httpwwwstuffconz









Legislation

10

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

Europe





httpwwwplanetarkorg







Legislation


11





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28





America







Legislation


12












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28












Legislation


13




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28




httpnewsbbccouk







Legislation


14








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28








Legislation

15

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28

Russian







16








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28








Gossip


17








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28








Gossip

18












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28












Gossip

19











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28











Gossip

20








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28








Gossip

21











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28











Gossip


22












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28












Gossip


23







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28







Gossip


24










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28










Gossip


25



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28



httpnewsscotsmancom








Gossip


26





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28





http wwwbfrbundde



Gossip


27




Gossip

28




Gossip

28

Documents

Bulletin Board - mirror.chemwatch.netmirror.chemwatch.net/bulletin/2006/08/250806/060825-Bulletin.pdfCalcium hydroxide 7 LEGISLATION ... Bulletin Board 2. ... Prostate cancer in US