Article Archives > Environmental Issues in the News
Environmental Issues in the News
The OE Newsletter this month highlights environmental articles in the news during recent months. These are articles that did not receive main stream media attention, but call attention to important issues that affect our health.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050714/hl_nm/chemicals_dc
Unborn Babies Carry Pollutants, Study Finds.
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
Washington (Reuters) - "Unborn US babies are soaking in a stew of chemicals including mercury, gasoline byproducts and pesticides, according to a report released on Thursday. Although the effects on the babies are not clear, the survey prompted several members of Congress to press for legislation that would strengthen controls on chemicals in the environment. The report by the Environmental Working Group is based on tests of 10 samples of umbilical-cord blood taken by the American Red Cross. They found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFPA."
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050224_rocket_fuel.html
Rocket Fuel Found in Breast Milk of Women in 18 States.
By Robert Roy Britt Feb 2005
"A toxic component of rocket fuel has been found in breast mild of women in 18 states and store bought milk from various locations around the country. The chemical, perchlorate, can impede adult metabolism and cause retardation in fetuses, among other things. It leaches into groundwater from various military facilities. Previous studies have found perchlorate in drinking water, on lettuce and in cow's milk. The new research, announced this week suggests perchlorate is a bigger problem than thought, scientists said. Texas Tech University researchers studied 36 samples of breast milk from women in 18 states and 47 samples of cow's milk purchased from stores in 11 states. Every sample of breast mild contained perchlorate, as did all but one sample of dairy milk."
http://financialtimes.com
Us Poised to Rule on Cloned Livestock
By Clive Cookson in Philadelphia
Published June 22/2005
"Meat and milk from cloned farm animals is about to be declared safe for human consumption by the US Food and Drug Administration, one of the world's most powerful regulatory bodies. A favorable risk assessment from the FDA is expected to start the commercial exploitation of cloning to improve livestock quality around the world."
http://dukemednews.duke.edu/news/healthtip.php?id=5656
Use Caution When Using DEET
By Mohamed Abou-Donia, PhD; Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer
Biology, Professor of Neurobiology
Every year, approximately one-third of the US population uses insect repellants containing DEET toward off mosquitoes and other pests. At present, DEET is used in more than 230 products with concentrations up to 100%. However, DEET should be used with caution due to its possible damaging effects on brain cells. Studies have shown that DEET causes brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats after frequent and prolonged use. This exposure causes neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration. Rats treated with an average human dose of DEET (40mg/kg body weight) performed far worse when challenged with physical tasks requiring muscle control, strength and coordination. These findings are consistent with reported human symptoms following DEET's use by the military in the Persian Gulf War. With heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides, humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath. These symptoms may not be evident until months or even years after exposure.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/l/hi/business/4153635.stm
BBC News
Monsanto Fined $1.5million for Bribery. The US agrochemical giant Monsanto has agreed to pay a $1.5m fine for bribing an Indonesian official
"Monsanto admitted one of its employees paid the senior official two years ago in a bid to avoid environmental impact studies being conducted on it's (Genetically Modified) cotton. In addition to the penalty, Monsanto also agreed to three year close monitoring of its business practices by the American authorities."
http://www.naturalfoodsmerchandiser.com/asp/articleDisplay.asp?strArticleId=1492&strSit
Natural Foods Merchandiser
Leaked Monsanto Report Discloses Possible Harm from GM Crops
Hilary Oliver
"New concerned about the safety of genetically modified crop consumption erupted last week after The Independent, a London newspaper, stated that Monsanto Co. discovered its GM corn had potentially harmful effects on rats in a privately conducted test, but didn't disclose the information. Monsanto spokesman Chris Horner said the information about the effects of GM corn on rats was not published because it contains sensitive business material that Monsanto did not want competitors to access. But for those already aware of the effects of GM crops, Monsanto's defense does not stand."
""That's what you have a patent for," said Craig Winters, president of The Campaign, a political advocacy group for the labeling of GM foods. Winters said there was no good reason for Monsanto to keep from publishing the research, which the Independent said found the differences in kidney size and blood composition in rats fed the GM corn.""
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html
Monsanto Brings Small Family Dairy to Court
"Oakhurst Dairy has been owned and operated by the same Maine family since 1921, and Monsanto recently attempted to put them out of business. Oakhurst, like many other dairy producers in the US, has been responding to consumer demand to provide milk free of rBGH, a synthetic hormone banned (for health reasons) in every industrialized country other than the US. Monsanto, the number one producer of the rBGH synthetic steroid, sued Oakhurst, claiming they should not have the right to inform their customers that their dairy products do not contain the Monsanto chemical. Given the intense pressure from the transnational corporation, Oakhurst was forced to settle out of court, leaving many other dairies vulnerable to similar attacks from Monsanto."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=632444
GM Industry Puts Human Gene Into Rice
By Geoffrey Lean- Environmental Editor
April 24, 2005
"Scientists have begun putting genes from human beings into food crops in a dramatic extension of genetic modification. The move, which is causing disgust and revulsion among critics is bound to strengthen accusations that GM technology is creating "Frankenstein foods" and drive the controversy surrounding it to new heights."
www.cornucopia.org
August 24, 2005
Organic Farmers Lose Patience with USDA
WASHINGTON, D.C.: "Organic dairy farmers from around the nation once again converged on Washington for the semiannual meeting of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board. The dairy producers attended the August 15-17 meeting to protest the growing number of factory farms that are keeping their cows in confinement conditions while producing organic milk. These family farmers are again expressing frustration over the lack of action by the USDA to enforce the requirement of pasture for organic cattle."
"We want to know if the powerful corporations that are representing the factory-farm milk as organic are improperly influencing USDA policy behind closed doors," said Kastel. Our farmer-members need a full explanation as to why this agency continues to put their futures at risk while ignoring the overwhelming sentiment of the organic community that wants America's strong organic standards enforced."
I hope the articles in this issue of the Organic Excellence Newsletter inform you about issues that you may not have been aware of. It is important for all of us to be as informed as we can be about the ingredients in the products that we use daily and in our food.
If you would like more information about Genetically Modified Foods, I urge you to listen to my August Internet Radio Show. My guest was Jeffrey M. Smith, the author of the book, Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating and the founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology. The show is archived several places for your listening convenience. First on the Organic Excellence Website:
www.OrganicExcellence.com, second on www.ContactTalkRadio.com under the Chemical Free Living Show.
Copyright 2005 by Cynthia Drasler, MBA. Permission is granted by Cynthia Drasler to reproduce this newsletter in whole or in part if Cynthia Drasler and www.OrganicExcellence.com are cited as the source of this newsletter.
