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September 28, 2006
Religious groups in Canada declare war on bottled water
Water and the rights to it have fueled many debates in the past. Recently several churches in Canada have been advocating against consumption of bottled water, citing ethical, social, and theological reasons. The United Church, for example, has urged its almost 600,000 members to boycott bottled water because of their commitment to “supporting municipal water sources wherever they exist in the country, and strengthening those."
Cleaning up tap water supplies is a must for all countries. More information about tap water in the U.S. is available here.
September 26, 2006
Do National Geographic & freelancer David Duncan have an integrity problem?
This week, the October 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine is hitting newsstands and mailboxes with an important, ground-breaking feature story:
"Pollution Within." The piece chronicles the pollution of author David Ewing Duncan’s body with hundreds of industrial chemicals.
What National Geographic is not telling readers is that its piece makes extensive use of Environmental Working Group (EWG) intellectual property. The reason for this omission, offered by Duncan, is that EWG is an advocacy group. That's not the point. The research on which this reporting is based closely follows the research protocols, structure and design of a series of studies first developed by EWG and communicated to Duncan and his assistants over the better part of a year of research, analysis and fact checking. Duncan and National Geographic did quote a lobbyist from the chemical industry trade association. Are they really under the impression that the American Chemistry Council is not an advocacy group?
In its 13 years, EWG has assisted journalists from thousands of organizations in their reporting; everything from vetting results to briefing journalists on internal company documents of some of the biggest global polluters, or just answering questions. Many have cited or quoted us. Many have not, and while EWG enjoys the profile that being cited has developed, it’s far more important to us that the public’s interest is served by in-depth, accurate journalism.
This is different. National Geographic’s actions raise serious questions of journalistic integrity. Duncan's story was not just sparked and informed by EWG. The research was based squarely on our intellectual property--EWG’s ground-breaking body burden analyses, coupled with many hours of scientific guidance, advice and review of study results by six members of EWG’s staff. Yet in neither the print or online versions of the story are readers told anything that would not lead them to the conclusion that National Geographic came up with the study on its own.
In this case, an extensive email and phone log trail shows EWG provided Duncan with:
* A complete roadmap to the science and techniques of biomonitoring. The extensive blood draws and state of the art chemical testing needed for this type of work are not available at standard commercial labs and can be conducted by only a few select labs under specific, exacting conditions. At the time Duncan requested EWG’s help, it was among a handful of organizations that could provide this level and breadth of technical consultation on this issue. EWG provided contacts and introductions at labs that would draw blood and ship to a third party lab for analysis (most commercial labs will not do this.) We instructed Duncan’s assistants, who had no training, on how to handle samples of blood and urine for shipping and how to establish a legitimate chain of custody record. We put the magazine in touch with contacts at facilities that could analyze specific chemicals, such as the one lab in the world that could analyze blood for a specific flame retardant.
* At least 46 e-mails document the exchanges over the course of the research. These include 16 e-mails and 2 extended phone conversations with EWG Director of Public Affairs Lauren Sucher, 25 e-mails between her and a fact checker at National Geographic, at least five e-mails with EWG Senior Analyst Renee Sharp, including one in which Sharp sent to Duncan’s assistant Sally Wilson a detailed spread sheet that included median blood concentrations and abbreviations for about 60 chemicals important to Duncan’s work. Duncan also conducted two extended interviews with Vice President for Research Jane Houlihan during which Houlihan provided detailed interpretation of Duncan’s results, something she was particularly qualified to do having directed more human biomonitoring studies in the past five years than perhaps anyone in the world.
Draft of NGS infographic covered with EWG edits. Click to view full-size PDF.
* Contacts and introductions with the women and their children who participated in EWG’s 2003 breast milk study. There was no other way for Mr. Duncan to locate individuals who had been biomonitored in this manner, and the article features a photograph of one the participant’s children, Ruby Alcorn. National Geographic omitted all mention of the fact that she participated in EWG’s study and that EWG was responsible for facilitating contact of this person.
Two National Geographic editors, Science Editor Tim Appenzeller and Environment Editor Dennis Dimick, wrote (full text below) to EWG President Ken Cook to privately acknowledge the significance of EWG’s role in the story:
“Your pioneering 'Body Burden' project was a catalyst in our pursuing this story, and when our environment editor Dennis Dimick originally proposed our story in early 2004 he repeatedly cited EWG's Body Burden work and the work of the CDC.”
Dimick and Appenzeller admitted that they were “remiss” in leaving EWG out of the story, but seem to feel that the issue is that we weren’t quoted in the story. But it’s not a matter of whether our opinion on toxic chemicals in people was included; we provided the objective material that made the story possible. The research protocols we developed are not biased. The results merely report which chemicals were found and at what level. Then anyone, from EWG to the American Chemistry Council to National Geographic is free to make of the numbers what they will.
APPENDIX:
Correspondence between Lauren Sucher (EWG) and David Ewing Duncan [PDF]
Edits made to NGS infographic by Lauren Sucher (EWG) [PDF]
Correspondence between Renee Sharp (EWG) and Duncan's Assistant [PDF]
Letter From National Geographic magazine to EWG President Ken Cook:
September 19, 2006Dear Mr. Cook:
David Duncan told us about your unhappiness with our October article "The Pollution Within." We're very sorry to hear it. You and others at the Environmental Working Group gave invaluable advice and guidance to David, to our photographer, Peter Essick, and to our graphic artists.
We're well aware of the key role EWG has played in raising awareness of the "body burden" of industrial chemicals and are grateful to you for that work. Your pioneering "Body Burden" project was a catalyst in our pursuing this story, and when our environment editor Dennis Dimick originally proposed our story in early 2004 he repeatedly cited EWG's Body Burden work and the work of the CDC.
The Web component of our October issue includes a prominent link to EWG's Body Burden pages. But we were remiss in not mentioning your organization in print. We can only hope that by publishing this story we have helped increase public sensitivity to the issue, and in effect raised the profile of the valuable work you do at EWG.
Sincerely,
Tim Appenzeller, science editor
Dennis Dimick, environment editorNational Geographic Magazine
1145 17th St, NW
Washington, DC 20036
ph. 202-828-6626
Project Censored Exposes Hushed News
Every year, for last 30 years, Project Censored at Sonoma State University has been collecting and reporting on news that corporate media doesn’t cover. The issues that don’t make it to the corporate media usually involve social justice, human rights, corporate greed and the environment. Some environmental titles that made this year’s list include:
- Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger
- Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed
- Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines
- The US plans to resume production of antipersonnel landmines
- Chemical Industry is EPA’s Primary Research Partner
- Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever
- Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem
- Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers
Tips for planning your vacation
When planning your holiday travels, think about the following ideas
- travel with your bike- think of the pollution and money that you will be saving + getting in shape
- take a hike- for all the above reasons
- take a train – doing so can have up to 90 percent less impact on the environment, according to Friends of the Earth
- if you must fly, choose an airline that uses young planes which are less polluting; fly during the day because those flights are less polluting and go to countries that really need your money.
- buy and use one water bottle instead of buying (and throwing away) four or six or eight bottles a day
While some of the travel trips might not be the safest alternative here in US, like hitchhiking, there is still a lot you can do when traveling to help environment.
Nanotechnology risks unknown
From The Washington Post:
The United States is the world leader in nanotechnology -- the newly blossoming science of making incredibly small materials and devices -- but is not paying enough attention to the environmental, health and safety risks posed by nanoscale products, says a report released yesterday by the independent National Research Council.
[snip]"There is some evidence that engineered nanoparticles can have adverse effects on the health of laboratory animals," the congressionally mandated report said, echoing concerns raised by others at a House hearing last week. Until the risks are better understood, "it is prudent to employ some precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment."
[snip]
About 300 consumer products already contain nanoscale ingredients, Maynard said, including several foods and many cosmetics, with little or no research to document their safety.
September 25, 2006
Protests in Shanghai over toxic US-Japanese cosmetics
SHANGHAI (AFP) - Hundreds of angry Chinese women have taken to the streets of Shanghai demanding refunds for US-Japanese cosmetics after authorities detected banned chemicals in some of the products.[snip]
Chinese authorities had found chromium and neodymium ions in several [Proctor & Gamble] SK-II products imported from Japan, including powder, foundation, lotion and cleansing oil.
Chromium can cause eczema, while neodymium irritates the skin and can damage the lungs and liver if inhaled.
[snip]Procter and Gamble announced last week it would provide a refund after customs officials in Hong Kong and China's southern Guangdong province said they would launch an investigation into nine SK-II beauty products.
[snip]
Dang Fang, a consumer who said she had been using SK-II cosmetics since 1998 said: "We don't really care about the money, we are just worried that the product might have damaged our skin."
[ Source ]
Unsafe levels of pesticide residues in food
From The Guradian (UK):
Consumers are being routinely exposed to unsafe levels of pesticide residues in their food which are nevertheless still within legal limits, campaigners warn today.Here's a handy wallet guide listing produce items that are most and least likely to retain unsafe levels of pesticide residue after washing and preparation.More than 5% of fruit, vegetables and other foods carried harmful pesticide residues which posed "appreciable" health risks to consumers. One pesticide, Imazalil, exceeded the safe limit on 79% of oranges sampled, according to the Pesticide Action Network.
[snip]
The government report generally focuses on the legal limits of pesticides in food, which are set by the EU. Yet this limit, known as the maximum residue level, does not actually relate to how safe the pesticide is.
FDA is faulted for drug-safety process
The nation’s system for approving and monitoring the safety of medicines is inadequate and needs far-reaching reforms, and the Food and Drug Administration is plagued with poor management and persistent internal squabbling, according to a long-anticipated study of the agency. The study, requested by the FDA, was carried out by the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit organization created by Congress to advise the federal government on health issues. The report is likely to intensify a debate about the safety of the nation’s drug supply and the adequacy of the F.D.A.’s oversight. The debate began in earnest in September 2004 when Merck withdrew its popular arthritis drug, Vioxx.
[ Source : New York Times ]
Honda unveils diesel system to rival gasoline cars
Honda announced Monday its plans for releasing a new and simple diesel powertrain that is as clean as gasoline-fuelled cars. The new cars are slated to hit the U.S. market by 2009. Diesel engines are traditionally known for emitting high exhaust levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), a greenhouse gas, but Honda's new diesel drivetrain is designed to generate and store ammonia within a two-layer catalytic converter to turn nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen.
To learn how much your particular vehicle contributes to poor air quality, check out our Auto Asthma Index.
[ Reuters ] [ Green Car Congress ] [ AutoblogGreen ]
September 22, 2006
What goes into crisps goes into who?
Children who eat a bag of potato chips (35g) daily, consume 5 liters (1.3 US gallons) of cooking oil every year. That’s the message the British Heart Foundation is looking to spread via their new ad campaign. According to BHF, “nearly a fifth of children eat two packets of crisps per day.”
BHF is also calling for a ban on the marketing of junk food products to children, and advocating for cooking skills to become a compulsory part of schooling.
[ BBC Survey: Does anti-crisp advert go too far? ]
[ Via : BBC ]
In the news: September 22, 2006
Autism: The continuing debate over whether vaccines play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders is more than academic, with children's health and industry wealth hanging in the balance.
British billionaire Sir Richard Branson said yesterday he plans to invest $3 billion in technologies to help combat global warming. The investment, valued in 2006 dollars, will be made over the next 10 years in biofuels and other environmentally friendly ways to replace oil and coal.
Food for Chickens, Poison for Man:A widespread farming practice is adding arsenic to the food chain.
People are being exposed to toxic chemicals through the food they eat, according to a World Wide Fund for Nature report. Traces of man-made pollutants linked to health problems including cancer and foetal deformities, were found in every one of 27 food products tested. The results found synthetic chemicals ranging from phthalates in olive oil, cheeses and meats, artificial musks and organotins in fish and flame retardants in meats and cheeses.
September 21, 2006
Spinach growers are victims of E. coli, not culprits
While sensationalists and those fond of chemical-intensive farming were ready to hang the organic industry at the first mention of an E coli outbreak, NYT farm and food columnist Nina Planck says the culprit is not spinach growers at all, but rather industrial beef and dairy farmers.
E. coli O157:H7, the virus strain responsible for making humans ill, is not found in the intestines of cattle fed a natural diet of grass and hay. The virus thrives in the acidic stomachs of cattle fed on grain, the typical feed on industrial farms.
In 2003, The Journal of Dairy Science noted that up to 80 percent of dairy cattle carry O157. (Fortunately, food safety measures prevent contaminated fecal matter from getting into most of our food most of the time.) Happily, the journal also provided a remedy based on a simple experiment. When cows were switched from a grain diet to hay for only five days, O157 declined 1,000-fold.This means that even if beef cattle were switched to a natural grass diet several days before slaughter, cross-contamination by manure in meat packing plants would be drastically reduced. It would take a lot longer to reduce contamination of groundwater and rivers, used to irrigate spinach farms. But Planck has an idea: Instead of USDA paying 75 percent of the cost for manure containment ponds and only treating the symptoms, how about they try treating the disease by switching cattle over to a natural diet.
Link: NYT, Leafy Green Sewage, Nina Planck, 9.21.2006
British Royal Society: Exxon misrepresents climate issues
Britain’s Royal Society, of which both Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were members, has asked Exxon Mobil to stop financing groups that create a “false sense somehow that there is a two-sided debate going on in the scientific community,” about the effects of global warming.
Spokespeople for Exxon deny having control in the disinformation campaigns of front groups like the Competitive Enterprise Institute, International Policy Network, and the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change. But Exxon also played innocent when it’s PR firm DCI got busted creating the “homemade” video, "Al Gore’s Penguin Army." The Wall Street Journal blew the cover on that one by tracing the IP address of the video’s creator. If my PR firm did something that careless, I’d want my millions back.
Additional Reading:
Exxon Secrets: How ExxonMobil Funds the Global Climate Change Skeptics
In the news: Quote of the Day
“It really shows how peer review has just turned into some form of pixie dust that is sprinkled over studies so that they can save companies money when they run into regulatory problems.”
--Former EPA assistant administrator Lynn Goldman, and professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University, after reading RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. documents bragging about the money saved from architecting an EPA study to squash regulation of a toxic fumigant.
From: "Journals feel pressure to adopt disclosure rules". Environmental Science & Technology, 20 Sep 2006
September 20, 2006
White House and Science
True democracy can take place only when all people have access to all information. The Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy and Center for Science in the Public Interest for years have advocated for freedom of information about scientific and environmental issues.
Now, a new Salon piece reveals that the Bush administration was changing message on the subject of climate change and is allowing only certain scientists to give interviews. While the administration denies involvement in managing media requests for interviews, e-mails obtained by Rep. Henry Waxman show the opposite.
You smell so good its killing me!
Several schools and institutions are instituting fragrance-free policies to reduce unnecessary incidence of migraines and respiratory irritation. Yep. Those fancy, sweet smelling fragrances that can cost 50 bucks a bottle contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which contribute to poor indoor air quality and can trigger headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation, and nausea. Fragrances may also contain certain phthalates, suspected of disrupting hormones and linked to reproductive problems.
“But the fragrances I use are subtle. They couldn’t harm or annoy anyone.”
According to an article published in Flavour and Fragrance Journal you may not be the best judge of what is “subtle”:
The sense of smell can detect very low concentrations of odorants. However, it cannot detect the same odor at the same concentration for an extended period of time.Those that use scented products on a regular basis may not be able to detect their own fragrance shortly after applying it. They may apply increasing amounts or reapply frequently so that they can smell the fragrance. In many instances they are totally oblivious that their fragrance is often overwhelming and intrusive to others.
There are over 5,000 different chemicals used in making fragrances, and any given fragrance may have as many as 600 different chemical ingredients. Yet only a fraction of those chemicals have been tested for their health effects.
Thanks, but no thanks, Esté Lauder--I'd rather not be your guinea pig!
Useful Link: What steps should I take when implementing a scent-free policy in the workplace?
John Kerry: "this administration couldn't care less"
about minority and low-income neighborhoods
The [EPA] is not conducting required reviews to ensure that low-income and minority neighborhoods get the same environmental protection as other communities.The report by the EPA's inspector general, made public Tuesday, says senior EPA officials have not required regional offices and department heads to conduct environmental justice reviews despite a requirement for such reviews dating back to 1994.
A survey by the IG's office found 60 percent of the respondents - regional offices and program departments - had not conducted the reviews and 87 percent said they had not been asked to do them, according to the report.
[snip]
Kerry, D-Mass., said the report shows "this administration couldn't care less" about minority and low-income neighborhoods that often are the site of industrial zones, refineries and power plants.
[ Via AP : Link ]
September 19, 2006
The Nation calls for action on 2007 Farm Bill
Do you think current farm policy favor corporations over small farmers and consumers? The Nation does, and they want you to weigh in on the drafting of the 2007 Farm Bill. An action alert page on their site makes it easier than ever. All you have to do is enter your name and address to have the nation send their [completely customizable] form-letter to your representative.
Read the suggested text after the jump--or click right through to the site.
I make educated choices about what I eat, because I’m aware of how these choices affect my health as well as the environment and the economy. I am also an active citizen, and would like to add my voice to the discussion about the upcoming Farm Bill.As you may know, the Farm Bill of 2002 greatly benefited the corn and soybean industries, which received large federal subsidies.
The artificially reduced prices of corn and soy products have negatively impacted both the health of consumers and the financial operations of small farmers. Consumers, especially those with limited budgets, find it most affordable to purchase the least nutritious and most fattening foods. At the same time, small farmers are forced to compete in a marketplace where the balance is tipped in the favor of their giant competitors. These locally-oriented, low-output farmers tend to be the ones who employ the most sustainable farming methods.
Lobbyists for the food and agriculture industries would like to see the 2007 Bill redesigned to weaken global trade barriers, while maintaining the status quo that ensures billion-dollar subsidies for them.
But the Farm Bill of 2007 could instead help usher in an environmentally sound, economically equitable and health conscious approach to agriculture.
This would be easily accomplished by allocating higher commodity payments to small farmers, who represent over 90 percent of American farms. Currently, most small farms operate at a loss, supplemented by alternative income sources like farmers’ second jobs.
The Farm Bill of 2007 should also devote more funding to support research, consumer nutrition programs and marketing that foster a diverse assortment of grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts in the marketplace.
It is my hope that as my elected representative, you will join the call for a Farm Bill that includes the aforementioned considerations, and ensure its passage in Congress when the time comes.
Study: Hostility may lead to decreased lung function
Are you an angry, hostile man? A recently published study finds that you may have some decreased lung function in your future. (This is in addition to the hardships of having your house ransacked on halloween, eating restaurant food with spit in it, and spending the last days of your life hoping to have visitors at the nursing home.)
[ Via : NYT ]
September 18, 2006
Natural Selection Foods: Organic spinach not to blame
Contrary to claims of those sympathetic to chemical-intensive farming, all cases of this most recent outbreak of E. coli have been traced back to packages of non-organic spinach, according to Natural Selection Foods—the manufacturer, which produces both conventional and organic spinach.
But this current outbreak brings to light a possibility that is all too easily capitalized on by big agribusiness and its PR people, front groups, etc. What if the E. coli poisonings had been traced back to organic spinach? Would that prove that organic produce is more susceptible to deadly strains of viruses? The answer is no, but the negative buzz just from that suggestion does plenty of damage to the organic movement and to consumers who are misled by such claims.
The most popular junk theories are derivative versions of the following: ”Organic farmers rely more heavily on natural manure products, so their crops are more likely to carry deadly strains of E. coli.” Not so. Both conventional AND organic farmers use manure as a part of regular fertilization programs. Certified organic farmers, however, must maintain a farm plan detailing the methods used to build soil fertility, including the application of manure, as mandated by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the National Organic Program rule of December 2000. All manure must be composted as well.
The CDC acknowledges the absence of a correlation between E. Coli risk and organic produce:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not conducted any study that compares or quantitates the specific risk for infection with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and eating either conventionally grown or organic/natural foods.
Once federal officials have pinpointed the source of the contamination and lifted their current advisories, Spinach will remain one of the vegetables most highly contaminated with pesticide residues--including DDT--even after washing.
[ Link: E. Coli Facts : Organic Trade Association ]
September 15, 2006
Alums have a bone to pick with Harvard
Harvard professor cleared of ethics charges is million dollar donor
It looks like Environmental Working Group aren’t the only ones that have a bone to pick with Harvard. At least 17 Harvard alumni, including several leading public health experts, have voiced serious concerns about the ethics inquiry of Dr. Chester Douglass by the university. Douglass has been accused of misrepresenting the research of one of his graduate students that linked fluoride to bone cancer in boys. Why might he do this? Douglass is an employee of Colgate toothpaste, a leading advocate of fluoride.
While the Harvard alums that are outraged aren’t sure Douglass is guilty, they are sure of one thing: a closed-door investigation by his peers raises more questions than it answers. And here’s the latest: It turns out Douglass is one of only six million-dollar donors behind Harvard’s newest dental school building-- a fact that only darkens the shadow of dubiousness surrounding Douglass’s treatment by the secret review board.
[ Link: Fox TV coverage ]
Respected journal brings public to peer-review process
The scientific journal Nature has added a new element to its system of reviewing articles for publication---posting submissions online and allowing feedback from recognized scientists and institutions. The posting of pending research is meant to support, not replace, the traditional peer-review process, which has come under increased scrutiny as of late for failing to weed out shoddy or even fraudulent research. Nature’s editors hope that poorly drawn conclusions and flaws in experimental design, will be more easily flagged with more eyes reviewing them.
The move is a nod to the growing accountability of scientists, public officials, and legislators, to the online community and to the increasing popularity and usefulness of user-generated content. This could become a useful tool for exposing conflicts of interest which have become a hotly contested topic as of late.
[Link: Wall Street Journal (subscription only)]
September 13, 2006
McDonald's ad chief resigning in McHummer shame?
Oh no! According to Forbes, McDonald’s marketing chief Bill Lamar may be resigning soon amidst the “dubious call of putting toy Hummer replicas in Happy Meals.”
That's odd. In a post last Friday, I wrote of the Hummer promo that “the marketing experts who conceived it are out looking for new jobs.” It was just a joke, of course, but now I'm worried about the second part of my speculation--the part about the poor guy having a heart attack from all the Hummer backlash.
I'm hopeful that last one doesn't come true, and as long as he ate more McSalads than McGriddles (both of which are his brainchildren) then he should be alright.
September 12, 2006
Voodoo and Mercury
Mercury is believed to attract love, luck or riches and can protect against evil. It is also known to cause permanent damage to developing children's brains and have numerous harmful effects on the nervous system of adults.
Its uses in religious practices can be debated under First Amendment, but its dangers should not. A good starting point for education about the safe limits of mercury is EWG's tuna calculator where personalized information about safe levels of tuna is available.
McDonald's allowing comments after 5 days of criticism
After more than 5 days--and critical posts on TreeHugger, AdWeek, Fast Company, Emergence Marketing, Church of the Customer blog, AutoBlogGreen, TriplePundit, CityHippy, BlogHer and Viral Garden--McDonald’s is unable to ignore the buzz calling into question the authenticity of its corporate blog. Last night, VP Bob Langert began allowing comments, but has yet to respond to any of them. Langert still needs to respond to live up to his blog’s name, “Open for Discussion.”
Scientific integrity cartoon contest
