Are Your Silver Fillings Making You Sick? | The Dr. Oz Show

VIDEO
Are Your Silver Fillings Making You Sick? | The Dr. Oz Show
www.doctoroz.com/episode/are-your-silver-fillings-making-you-sick

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Hypercleanliness may be making us sick

Hypercleanliness may be making us sick
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hypercleanliness-may-be-making-us-sick/2013/03/25/9e6d4764-84e9-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story_1.html

 

[COMMENT:  Right end result, but missing one key point.  None of these studies ever look at the toxicity of the chemicals and cleansers used to "clean" and the role they play.  Cleaning need not involve dangerous chemicals.  Most cleaning jobs are well done with a wet rag or mop.]

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French fashion firm develops suit that blocks electromagnetic waves

French fashion firm develops suit that blocks electromagnetic waves
http://www.thenewage.co.za/88780-9-53-French_fashion_firm_develops_suit_that_blocks_electromagnetic_waves

"French fashion label Smuggler on Thursday said it had produced a suit that can block electromagnetic waves produced by mobile phones.

"This is the first use of technological materials in every day men's clothing that doesn't cause discomfort," said Benjamin Anin of the company's research and development department.

"Until now this type of very specific material was more rudimentary and only used by certain professionals who were particularly exposed," he added."

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Effectiveness of Flu Vaccine Raises More Red Flags

Effectiveness of Flu Vaccine Raises More Red Flags
http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/March-2013/effectiveness-of-flu-vaccine-raises-more-red-flags.aspx

"The news may be well known now about the influenza vaccine being only 56 percent effective overall and 9 percent effective for the type A H3N2 strain in adults aged 65 years or older during the 2012-13 flu season. 1 The latest buzz, however, is about how getting a flu shot year after year may make people more susceptible to getting influenza."

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Trying to change minds in smart-meter debate

Trying to change minds in smart-meter debate

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-22/business/bs-bz-jonathan-libber-smart-meters-20130317_1_maryland-smart-meter-awareness-analog-meters-jonathan-libber

Retired EPA attorney leads the opposition in Maryland

"Concerns about utility smart meters are frequently dismissed as tinfoil-hat paranoia. But it's not so easy to dismiss Jonathan Libber.  The Baltimore man delivers his arguments against the wireless devices in the calm manner of an attorney. He is, in fact, an attorney — retired from the Environmental Protection Agency, a point he notes when he reminds people of the country's spotty record of figuring out environmental hazards before they're widespread."

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Letter from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine concerning High-Powered WiFi Systems in Schools

Letter from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine concerning High-Powered WiFi Systems in Schools
http://aaemonline.org/images/LettertoLAUSD.pdf
 

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Secondhand smoke during pregnancy alters children's behavior.

Secondhand smoke during pregnancy alters children's behavior.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2012/12/2013-0219-passive-smoke-pregnancy-child-behavior/

Liu, J, PWL Leung, L McCauley, Y Ai and J Pinto-Martin. 2012. Mother's environmental tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and externalizing behavior problems in children. NeuroToxicology http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2012.11.005.
Synopsis by Glenys Webster

"Mothers who breathe secondhand smoke are twice as likely to have children with attention and aggression problems, a study from China reports. While it is known that smoking during pregnancy can affect a child's behavior, this is one of the first studies to show a link to secondhand smoke. Women can be exposed at home or at work when they breathe the smoke from a burning cigarette or smoke exhaled by a smoker."

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Remodeling causes crisis for North Bend couple

Remodeling causes crisis for North Bend couple

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/remodeling-causes-crisis-for-north-bend-couple/article_9ddbb046-924b-11e2-b68c-0019bb2963f4.html

 

"Sickened by materials used in remodeling their public housing complex, a North Bend couple say they feel trapped and left for dead."

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Killingsworth Hopeful for MCS Cure

Killingsworth Hopeful for MCS Cure
http://www.ahherald.com/columns-mainmenu-28/disabilities-week/15223-killingsworth-hopeful-for-mcs-cure

"Scott Killingsworth's experience with disability began in 1998 as a 27-year-old graduate assistant at Georgia Tech studying industrial organizational psychology.  "We had a termite problem in my office," said Killingworth. "The university called in a termite exterminator and sprayed the pesticide Dursban (which has since been banned by the Environmental Protection Agency). I immediately started feeling very ill. I was dizzy, disoriented, and nauseous, and had intense flu-like symptoms.""

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Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) corrects chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) acquired following exposure to water-damaged building

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) corrects chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) acquired following exposure to water-damaged building
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=28586

Shoemaker, R. , House, D. and Ryan, J. (2013) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) corrects chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) acquired following exposure to water-damaged buildings. Health, 5, 396-401. doi: 10.4236/health.2013.53053.

ABSTRACT
Exposure in water-damaged buildings (WDB) to airborne bioaerosols including metabolic products of toxigenic fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes; and inflammagens, can lead to a persistent innate immune inflammatory illness. This illness, termed a chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS-WDB), is systemic with symptoms acquired from multiple organ systems. Treatment of CIRS-WDB has progressed rapidly as a better understanding of the inflammatory pathophysiology has led to targeted, sequential therapies. The fundamental basis of uncontrolled innate immune responses, the humoral deficiency of regulatory neuropeptides melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), seen in over 98% of pa tients, has not consistently responded to any treatment modality. Use of replacement VIP has been attempted anecdotally; VIP replacement therapies show promise in short term studies but longer therapies have not been attempted. Here we report an open label trial of 20 patients with refractory CIRS-WDB illness who took replacement VIP in a nasal spray for at least 18 months with confirmation of durable efficacy and absence of significant side effects. These 20 patients were similar in symptoms and lab find- ings to three previously published cohorts in- volving 1829 patients and 169 controls. Dosage of VIP was titrated downwards from four to zero doses a day to determine minimum effective dose, and retitrated upwards for maximum improvement over time. The trial showed that VIP therapy safely 1) reduced refractory symptoms to equal controls; 2) corrected inflammatory parameters C4a, TGF beta-1, VEGF, MMP9; 3) corrected estradiol, testosterone and 25-OH Vitamin D; 4) returned pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) during exercise to normal; and 5) enhanced quality of life in 100% of trial patients. Subsequent identification of correction of T-regulatory cell levels supports the potential role of VIP in both innate and adaptive immune function.

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Medical community divided over 'chemical sensitivity' ailment

Medical community divided over 'chemical sensitivity' ailment
http://kbia.org/post/medical-community-divided-over-chemical-sensitivity-ailment

"Debbie Lose-Kelly says she spends her entire life in avoidance of the everyday chemicals like fragrances, shampoos or laundry detergents. She lives with severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity — an illness that most in the medical community aren't convinced is an actual disease."

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Google Employees Face Health Risks From Superfund Site's Toxic Vapors

Google Employees Face Health Risks From Superfund Site's Toxic Vapors
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Google-Employees-Face-Health-Risks-From-Superfund-Sites-Toxic-Vapors-199176411.html

"For at least two months, Google employees were exposed to excessive levels of a hazardous chemical after workers disabled a critical part of the ventilation system at the company's new satellite campus on a Superfund toxic waste site, records show."

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Increased Brain White Matter Axial Diffusivity Associated with Fatigue, Pain and Hyperalgesia in Gulf War Illness.

Increased Brain White Matter Axial Diffusivity Associated with Fatigue, Pain and Hyperalgesia in Gulf War Illness.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058493 (full text)

 

Rayhan RU, Stevens BW, Timbol CR, Adewuyi O, Walitt B, et al. (2013)
PLoS ONE 8(3): e58493. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058493

Abstract

Background
Gulf War exposures in 1990 and 1991 have caused 25% to 30% of deployed personnel to develop a syndrome of chronic fatigue, pain, hyperalgesia, cognitive and affective dysfunction.

Methods
Gulf War veterans (n = 31) and sedentary veteran and civilian controls (n = 20) completed fMRI scans for diffusion tensor imaging. A combination of dolorimetry, subjective reports of pain and fatigue were correlated to white matter diffusivity properties to identify tracts associated with symptom constructs.

Results
Gulf War Illness subjects had significantly correlated fatigue, pain, hyperalgesia, and increased axial diffusivity in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. ROC generated thresholds and subsequent binary regression analysis predicted CMI classification based upon axial diffusivity in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. These correlates were absent for controls in dichotomous regression analysis.

Conclusion
The right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus may be a potential biomarker for Gulf War Illness. This tract links cortical regions involved in fatigue, pain, emotional and reward processing, and the right ventral attention network in cognition. The axonal neuropathological mechanism(s) explaining increased axial diffusivity may account for the most prominent symptoms of Gulf War Illness.

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Mold Contaminated Medication Prompts FDA Recall

Mold Contaminated Medication Prompts FDA Recall
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257960.php

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautioned doctors and hospital staff on Monday about a nationwide recall of all medications made by a New Jersey compounding pharmacy because of a potential mold contamination.

The recalled medications from Med Prep Consulting Inc. included many pain relievers, antibiotics, and drugs used in labor and surgery. The medications were put in infusion bags, glass vials, and plastic syringes and given out in regional hospitals in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey."

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Researchers tie Gulf War illness to brain damage

Researchers tie Gulf War illness to brain damage

http://www.tallahassee.com/usatoday/article/1982817

 

"WASHINGTON - Researchers say they have found physical proof that Gulf War illness is caused by damage to the brain - and that proof may ultimately help civilians who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Using fMRI machines, the Georgetown University researchers were able to see anomalies in the bundle of nerve fibers that interpret pain signals in the brain in 31 Gulf War veterans. The research will be published Wednesday in PLOS ONE journal.

The findings are "huge," because an fMRI allows doctors to diagnose a person with Gulf War illness quickly, said James Baraniuk, senior author and professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. The research, he said, also shows that Gulf War illness is not psychological."

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Birds, Bees, And Aquatic Life Threatened By Gross Underestimate Of Toxicity Of World's Most Widely Used Pesticide Birding Group Study Says

Birds, Bees, And Aquatic Life Threatened By Gross Underestimate Of Toxicity Of World's Most Widely Used Pesticide Birding Group Study Says
http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/3/19/246936/Birds-Bees-And-Aquatic-Life.aspx

"As part of a study on impacts from the world's most widely used class of insecticides, nicotine-like chemicals called neonicotinoids, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has called for a ban on their use as seed treatments and for the suspension of all applications pending an independent review of the products' effects on birds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and other wildlife."

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Chemical industry opposes toxic substances bill

Chemical industry opposes toxic substances bill
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020587424_aportoxicchemicalschildren.html

"The American Chemical Council has come out against an Oregon bill to track and phase out substances shown to be toxic to children."

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Some resolutions about wi-fi health hazards dropped at BCTF meeting

Some resolutions about wi-fi health hazards dropped at BCTF meeting

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Some+contentious+resolutions+about+health+hazards+from/8115544/story.html

 

"Only one resolution made it to the floor and was passed by a 366-259 vote. It called on the union to support members "who are suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity by ensuring that their medical needs are accommodated in the workplace.""

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Tributyltin promotes obesity in mice generations.

Tributyltin promotes obesity in mice generations.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2013/01/2013-0212-prenatal-tributyltin-obesogen-mice-three-generations/
 
"Prenatal exposure to the pesticide tributyltin increased obesity in mice for several generations by permanently changing how fat cells develop, mature and store fat, according to a new study. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of pregnant mice that drank the chemical had bigger fat cells, more fat deposits and the start of liver disease. Low levels are measured in people. Its use as an anti-fouling agent on ship's hulls is restricted because of its persistence in the environment and toxic effects on marine life, but it is still used to kill fungus or other microbes in some building materials, wood coatings, textiles and other products."

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Fish lose sense of smell in polluted waters

Fish lose sense of smell in polluted waters
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2013/fish-smell

"Fish in lakes tainted with metals are losing their sense of smell, stoking concern among experts that the problem could devastate populations. But if the fish can just get into cleaner water – even if they've been exposed to pollutants their whole life – they start sniffing things properly again, according to new research out of Canada. Fish use their sense of smell to find mates and food, and to avoid getting eaten. It helps them navigate their often murky world, and it is necessary for their growth and survival. But when metals contact fish nostrils, the neurons shut down to protect the brain. "We've tested everything from leeches to water fleas to several species of fish," said Canadian scientist Greg Pyle. "Every species and every metal we've observed has had effects at low, environmentally relevant concentrations.""

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Secret Scents: The Hidden Chemicals in Fragrance

Secret Scents: The Hidden Chemicals in Fragrance
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/secret-scents-the-hidden_b_2907073.html

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Wireless Industry Safety Failure Introduction

Key Words: multiple chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivity, chemical sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivities, MCS, EI, environmental illness, sick building syndrome, idiopathic environmental intolerance, fibromyalgia, chronic fatiuge, FM, CFS, mold illness, clinical ecology, alternative medicine, environmental medicine, neuropathy, encephalopathy, toxic, chemical

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What is in fragrance? The content of perfume.

What is in fragrance? The content of perfume.

http://anneliemolin.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/what-is-in-fragrance-the-content-of-perfume/

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Wireless Industry Safety Failure Introduction

VIDEO:  Wireless Industry Safety Failure Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8oICZOtMwPo#at=11

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Colorado docs chafe at secrecy oath needed for access to chemical list

Colorado docs chafe at secrecy oath needed for access to chemical list
http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_22827696/colorado-docs-chafe-at-secrecy-oath-needed-access

 

"Colorado doctors are challenging a confidentiality pledge they must sign to get information on chemicals used by the oil and gas industry — information they may need to treat patients and protect public health.  A state requirement that doctors sign Form 35, developed last year by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, aims to protect industry trade secrets while also letting doctors fulfill duties.  But the Colorado Medical Society contends the form does not protect doctors from punishment for sharing information about chemicals with other medical professionals and public health authorities. No doctor has signed the form.

"I would have very mixed feelings about signing a form that tells me I could not be proactive about sharing this information with the health department," Dr. Michael Pramenko, a family physician in Grand Junction and former president of the 7,000-member medical society. "To me, if there's a chemical in the environment and there are potentially other people being exposed, it does not make sense, from a health standpoint, to not be sharing that information."

The issue is complex because it pits oil and gas companies protecting trade secrets against residents' health and doctors' diagnoses of ailments."

 

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2013 Governor Awareness Proclamations to Date

Cuyahoga, OH - MCS
Cuyahoga, OH - Pesticide
Michigan - EH
Nebraska - PP
Nebraska - Autism
US Presidential - PP 
Wisconsin - GWI

 

Links to indvidual proclamations at http://mcs-america.org/index_files/proclamations.htm.

 

To request a governor proclamation in your state, see the information on page 4 in our MCS Awareness Month Event Kit:

http://mcs-america.org/MCSAwarenessMonthEventPlanningKit2012.pdf

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[Occurrence of synthetic musks in human milk samples collected from Beijing].

[Occurrence of synthetic musks in human milk samples collected from Beijing].
[Article in Chinese]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22043712

Wang H, Yin J, Zhang J, Wu Y, Shao B.

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2011 Sep;40(5):605-7.

Capital Medical University, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Beijing 100069, China.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the occurrence of 13 kinds of synthetic musk and triclosan in breast milk samples collected from Beijing, and to estimate the exposure of breastfed infants.

METHODS:
Target compounds in 65 milk samples collected from 4 districts of Beijing in 2004 were analyzed by means of gas chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (GC - MS/MS) and quantified by internal standards. The exposure of infants was analyzed statistically by SPSS software.

RESULTS:
HHCB, AHTN, OTNE, MT and Triclosan were detected in milk samples in the range of 0.6 - 174.1 ng/g lipid, with some difference in 4 districts. It is estimated that the intake of synthetic musks and triclosan for each infant from breast milk would be 13.5 - 3917 ng/d.

CONCLUSION:
Commonly used synthetic musks and tricloson were generally detected in breast milk. Further study should be focused on monitoring and tracing the possible source of pollution.

PMID: 22043712 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Pathologies currently identified by exhaled biomarkers.

Pathologies currently identified by exhaled biomarkers.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23485801

Mazzatenta A, Di Giulio C, Pokorski M.

Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2013 Feb 26. pii: S1569-9048(13)00047-5. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2013.02.016. [Epub ahead of print]

Source
Sensory Physiology Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University of Chieti-Pescara 'G. d'Annunzio', Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Center of Research, Pisa, Italy.

Abstract
Ancient Greek physicians already knew that the smell of human breath could provide a clue to the pathology. Nowadays, volatile breath biomarkers are known to be released in a broad range of diseases. However, their identification, isolation, and quantification as indicative of relevant alterations in clinical status have required the development of new techniques and analytical methods. Breath sample analysis encounters several obstacles. Particularly, there is a need of a system that could work in a continuous manner, with the low concentration and small volume of a sample. Herein we review, in the light of literature and our experience, clinical applications of the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor for breath analysis to distinguish between health and disease in some conditions, e.g., diabetes, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) syndrome, or in tracing the central neural fatigue resulting from cognitive performance. We submit that exhaled breath analysis holds promise in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic or neurodegenerative diseases which involve cognitive derangements.

PMID: 23485801 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Exposure to fogger trucks and breast cancer incidence in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project: a case-control study

Exposure to fogger trucks and breast cancer incidence in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project: a case-control study
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/12/1/24/abstract

Alexandra J White, Susan L Teitelbaum, Mary S Wolff, Steven D Stellman, Alfred I Neugut and Marilie D Gammon
For all author emails, please log on.
Environmental Health 2013, 12:24 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-24
Published: 15 March 2013

Abstract (provisional)

Background
Few studies have supported an association between breast cancer and DDT, usually assessed with biomarkers that cannot discern timing of exposure, or differentiate between the accumulation of chronic low-dose versus acute high-dose exposures in the past. Previous studies suggest that an association may be evident only among women exposed to DDT during biologically susceptible windows, or among those diagnosed with estrogen receptor/ progesterone receptor-positive (ER+PR+) breast cancer subtypes. Self-reported acute exposure to a fogger truck, which sprayed DDT prior to 1972, was hypothesized to increase the risk of breast cancer, particularly among women exposed at a young age or diagnosed with ER+PR+breast cancer.

Methods
We examined these possibilities in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project (LIBCSP) (1,508 cases, 1,556 controls), which included exposure assessment by structured questionnaire and serum samples collected between 1996--1998, using adjusted logistic and polytomous regression to estimate ORs and 95% CIs.

Results
Women with ER+PR+breast cancer had a 44% increased odds of ever seeing a pre-1972 fogger truck compared to other subtypes (OR = 1.44; 95%CI 1.08-1.93). However, there was little variation in the observed increase in breast cancer risk when considering all women who reported seeing a fogger truck at their residence (OR = 1.16; 95% CI 0.98, 1.37), or during hypothesized susceptible windows. Self-reported acute exposure was not correlated with serum concentrations, a biomarker of long-term exposure.

Conclusions
These findings support the hypothesis that seeing a fogger truck, a proxy measure for acute DDT exposure, may be associated with ER+PR+tumors, the most commonly diagnosed breast cancer subtype among American women.

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Minimal Fragrance Policy on Flowers

Minimal Fragrance Policy on Flowers

http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=55480

"Orillia's Soldiers Memorial Hosptial out with a reminder to people about flowers.  The Hospital is asking people not to forget its minimal fragrance policy, particularly in regards to flowers, and personal care products.  Hospital spokesperson Terry Dyni says they are doing this because of the negative impact strong scents can have on the health of patients and staff, especially those who may be allergic or asthmatic.  He says the smallest amount of certain fragrances or scents can trigger a reaction that could incapacitate someone or require them to avoid normal activities."

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'Muzzling' of Canadian government scientists sent before Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault

'Muzzling' of Canadian government scientists sent before Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/03/15/muzzling_of_canadian_government_scientists_sent_before_information_commissioner_suzanne_legault.html

 

"One civil servant calls situation "absolutely embarrassing"; 128-page report detailing the communication barriers Canadian government scientists face now in front of Information Commissioner"

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'Muzzling' of Canadian government scientists sent before Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault

'Muzzling' of Canadian government scientists sent before Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/03/15/muzzling_of_canadian_government_scientists_sent_before_information_commissioner_suzanne_legault.html
"One civil servant calls situation "absolutely embarrassing"; 128-page report detailing the communication barriers Canadian government scientists face now in front of Information Commissioner"

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Air quality, genetics 'influence asthma'

Air quality, genetics 'influence asthma'
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/air-quality-genetics-influence-asthma/story-e6freuz0-1226598021567

"SYDNEY'S air pollution could boost the chances of developing childhood asthma, especially if children are already genetically predisposed to it, a study has found.  Researchers at the University of NSW have conducted the first study on the effects of Sydney's air pollution on the development of asthma.  Their study found pollutants in the air damage developing airways through oxidative stress, which can then cause an allergic response when combined with exposure to allergens."

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[A case of lyme disease requiring over 1 year to diagnose at an infectious-disease clinic].

[A case of lyme disease requiring over 1 year to diagnose at an infectious-disease clinic].
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23484378

[Article in Japanese]
Iwata K, Shimada T, Kawabata H.
Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2013 Jan;87(1):44-8.

Source
Division of Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Hospital.

Abstract
A 42-year-old woman presenting with years of fever and vague symptoms could not be satisfactorily diagnosed in physical examination or conventional workups. She was presumptively diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and treated symptomatically. Fourteen months after the initial visit, she developed left facial palsy. Lyme disease serology was positive. Four weeks of oral amoxicillin ameliorated symptoms. Only 5 to 15 cases of Lyme disease are reported annually in Japan, mostly from the northeastern-most island of Hokkaido. It may occur anywhere in Japan, however; probably is underdiagnosed. Lyme disease may cause fevers of unknown origin. Astute clinical suspicion and appropriate workups are thus needed to diagnose this infection.

PMID:  23484378  [PubMed - in process]

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Smart Meters - What We Know Measurement Challenges and Complexities

Smart Meters - What We Know Measurement Challenges and Complexities

http://etandt.com/documents/SmartMeter-WhatWeKnow.pdf

 

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Brain Dysfunction as One Cause of CFS Symptoms Including Difficulty with Attention and Concentration

Brain Dysfunction as One Cause of CFS Symptoms Including Difficulty with Attention and Concentration
http://www.frontiersin.org/Integrative_Physiology/abstract/34964

Benjamin H. Natelson1*
1Department of Pain Medicine & Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, USA

We have been able to reduce substantially patient pool heterogeneity by identifying phenotypic markers that allow the researcher to stratify chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients into subgroups. To date, we have shown that stratifying based on the presence or absence of co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis leads to a group with evidence of neurological dysfunction across a number of spheres. We have also found that stratifying based on the presence or absence of comorbid fibromyalgia leads to information that would not have been found on analyzing the entire, unstratified patient group. Objective evidence of orthostatic intolerance may be another important variable for stratification and may define a group with episodic cerebral hypoxia leading to symptoms. We hope that this review will encourage other researchers to collect data on discrete phenotypes in CFS to allow this work to continue more broadly. Finding subgroups of CFS suggests different underlying pathophysiological processes responsible for the symptoms seen. Understanding those processes is the first step toward developing discrete treatments for each.

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Electrosmog: how to protect yourself

Electrosmog: how to protect yourself
http://maisonsaine.ca/electromagnetic-fields-how-to-protect-yourself/

"Last December 12, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made history. The non-profit group representing more than 60 000 physicians supported H.R. 6358, the Cell Phone Right to Know Act, introduced by Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). It hence became the first major American medical body to state : "It is essential that any new standards for cell phones or other wireless devices be based on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable populations to ensure they are safeguarded through their lifetimes.'' While the Republican-dominated Congress probably will not adopt the bill, it reflects a growing view in scientific circles that exposure standards for electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as radiofrequencies (RFs) emitted by wireless devices should be reexamined to consider non-thermal effects such as cancer. The law would also require warning labels applied on cell phones to indicate the amount of radiation they emit and financing a national research program to examine their health consequences, especially on children, pregnant women and other vulnerable populations. New standards, AAP president Dr Thomas K. McInerny wrote Rep. Kucinich, "will enable parents to better understand the potential dangers of RF energy exposure and protect their children". McInerny's letter gives additional credence to the growing number of studies indicating the exponential increase in RF exposure in recent years may be a major public health threat. And it is powerful counterweight to industry's and mainstream media's attacks on the credibility of these studies and their authors."

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Biophysical Evaluation of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Effects on Male Reproductive Pattern

Biophysical Evaluation of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Effects on Male Reproductive Pattern
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12013-012-9414-6

Kavindra Kumar Kesari, Sanjay Kumar, Jayprakash Nirala, Mohd. Haris Siddiqui, Jitendra Behari.  March 2013, Volume 65, Issue 2, pp 85-96

Abstract
There are possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone on the human reproductive pattern. It is more effective while keeping mobile phones in pocket or near testicular organs. Present review examines the possible concern on radio frequency radiation interaction and biological effects such as enzyme induction, and toxicological effects, including genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, testicular cancer, and reproductive outcomes. Testicular infertility or testicular cancer due to mobile phone or microwave radiations suggests an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Though generation of ROS in testis has been responsible for possible toxic effects on physiology of reproduction, the reviews of last few decades have well established that these radiations are very harmful and cause mutagenic changes in reproductive pattern and leads to infertility. The debate will be focused on bio-interaction mechanism between mobile phone and testicular cancer due to ROS formation. This causes the biological damage and leads to several changes like decreased sperm count, enzymatic and hormonal changes, DNA damage, and apoptosis formation. In the present review, physics of mobile phone including future research on various aspects has been discussed.

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Whistleblower: Veterans Affairs Covered Up Data on Mental Health, Gulf War Syndrome

Whistleblower: Veterans Affairs Covered Up Data on Mental Health, Gulf War Syndrome
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/13/whistleblower-veterans-affairs-covered-up-data-on-mental-health-gulf-war-syndrome.html

"A former Veterans Affairs researcher turned whistleblower tells Congress the department repeatedly withheld data on Gulf War syndrome and neglected suicidal vets. Jamie Reno reports."

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Anti-inflammatory Compound Helps Woman With CFS Return to Work

Anti-inflammatory Compound Helps Woman With CFS Return to Work
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=17925

"Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protects tissues from enzymes of inflammatory cells, especially neutrophil elastase. It is excreted by neutrophils and macrophages during inflammation, and destroys both bacteria and host tissue."

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B.C. chronic disease clinic overwhelmed by applicants in first weeks

B.C. chronic disease clinic overwhelmed by applicants in first weeks
http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/597949/b-c-chronic-disease-clinic-overwhelmed-by-applicants-in-first-weeks/

 

"Canada's first specialized clinic for patients with hard-to-treat chronic diseases has been flooded with phone calls and emails from prospective patients since it opened its doors this month.  The new clinic at B.C. Women's Hospital focuses on research and treatment of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.  More than 500 people have added their names to the wait list for the Complex Chronic Disease Program since March 4, the centre's medical director, Dr. Alison Bested said."

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Chemicals pollutants threaten health in the Arctic

Chemicals pollutants threaten health in the Arctic

http://phys.org/news/2013-03-chemicals-pollutants-threaten-health-arctic.html

 

"Chemicals pollutants threaten health in the Arctic Studies uncover risks and threats to Arctic inhabitant's health that might be due to contaminants brought by warmer air and sea water currents resulting from climate change."

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Food bloggers target yellow dyes in Kraft Mac & Cheese

Food bloggers target yellow dyes in Kraft Mac & Cheese
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57573286/food-bloggers-start-petition-to-drop-yellow-dyes-from-kraft-mac-cheese/

"Are the colored additives used in Kraft's popular Macaroni & Cheese products dangerous?  That's what two food bloggers are alleging in their petition to Kraft Foods to remove Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 from the blue-boxed pantry staples.
Yellow Nos. 5 and 6 are used to color beverages, dessert powders, candy, ice cream, custards and other foods.  Vani Hari, from the blog Food Babe, and Lisa Leake, from 100 Days of Real Food, have taken to Change.org to petition Kraft's management to remove the dyes, saying they may potentially cause health problems and are not included in Kraft's Mac & Cheese products sold in the United Kingdom."

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Combined effects of perchlorate, thiocyanate, and iodine on thyroid function in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-08

Combined effects of perchlorate, thiocyanate, and iodine on thyroid function in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–08
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935113000091

 

Craig Steinmausa, Mark D. Millera, Lara Cushingb, Benjamin C. Blountc, Allan H. Smithd,
Environmental Research. Available online 7 March 2013.  In Press, Corrected Proof

Abstract
Perchlorate, thiocyanate, and low iodine intake can all decrease iodide intake into the thyroid gland. This can reduce thyroid hormone production since iodide is a key component of thyroid hormone. Previous research has suggested that each of these factors alone may decrease thyroid hormone levels, but effect sizes are small. We hypothesized that people who have all three factors at the same time have substantially lower thyroid hormone levels than people who do not, and the effect of this combined exposure is substantially larger than the effects seen in analyses focused on only one factor at a time. Using data from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, subjects were categorized into exposure groups based on their urinary perchlorate, iodine, and thiocyanate concentrations, and mean serum thyroxine concentrations were compared between groups. Subjects with high perchlorate (n=1939) had thyroxine concentrations that were 5.0% lower (mean difference=0.40 μg/dl, 95% confidence interval=0.14–0.65) than subjects with low perchlorate (n=2084). The individual effects of iodine and thiocyanate were even smaller. Subjects with high perchlorate, high thiocyanate, and low iodine combined (n=62) had thyroxine concentrations 12.9% lower (mean difference=1.07 μg/dl, 95% confidence interval=0.55–1.59) than subjects with low perchlorate, low thiocyanate, and adequate iodine (n=376). Potential confounders had little impact on results. Overall, these results suggest that concomitant exposure to perchlorate, thiocyanate, and low iodine markedly reduces thyroxine production. This highlights the potential importance of examining the combined effects of multiple agents when evaluating the toxicity of thyroid-disrupting agents.

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Triple half marathon challenge for ME charity - Local News - Rye and Battle Observer

Triple half marathon challenge for ME charity - Local News - Rye and Battle Observer
http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/triple-half-marathon-challenge-for-me-charity-1-4881080

"A BROTHER is running three half marathons to raise money for charity Action for ME after his younger sister was diagnosed with the illness in 2010.   Max Sztyber, 22, of Whatlington Road, Battle, completed the Eastbourne Half Marathon last Sunday and will also run the Hastings Half on Sunday March 24 and the Richmond Half in London on Sunday March 31.  ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), affects around 250,000 people in the UK alone."

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Vaccination horror stories featured at Vancouver forum

Vaccination horror stories featured at Vancouver forum
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/03/10/bc-vaccine-stories-forum.html

"Joel Lord, founder and director of The Vaccine Resistance Movement, says the summit will feature the first-hand stories of parents whose children suffered adverse reactions, and will also feature doctors and other experts who question the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.  "The forum is primarily designed to enable parents to begin to navigate their way out of the toxic labyrinth of Western allopathic medicine," Lord said."

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Israeli scientists find possible link between cellphone use, thyroid cancer

Israeli scientists find possible link between cellphone use, thyroid cancer
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-scientists-find-possible-link-between-cellphone-use-thyroid-cancer.premium-1.507552

"Israeli scientists find possible link between cellphone use, thyroid cancer.  Findings are 'first evidence of chang    es in thyroid cells in response to electromagnetic radiation' says researcher, 'but drawing sweeping conclusions ... is still far off.'  Israeli scientists have reported preliminary findings of a possible link between the radiation from cellphones and thyroid cancer. There has been a steep rise in rates of thyroid cancer in recent years in Western countries."

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Acute electroencephalographic effects from repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic remedies in individuals with self-reported chemical sensitivity.

Acute electroencephalographic effects from repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic remedies in individuals with self-reported chemical sensitivity.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23341426

Bell IR, Brooks AJ, Howerter A, Jackson N, Schwartz GE.

Altern Ther Health Med. 2013 Jan-Feb;19(1):46-57.

Source
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, AZ, USA. ibell@email.arizona.edu

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Homeopaths report that individuals with heightened self-reported environmental chemical intolerance (CI) exhibit increased reactivity to homeopathic remedies. Persons high in CI sensitize their electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha responses to repeated intermittent chemical exposures.

PRIMARY STUDY OBJECTIVE:
The present feasibility study explored interactions between CI and one of two specific homeopathic remedies over time (Sulphur or Pulsatilla nigricans [Pulsatilla]).

DESIGN:
This study used a two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled repeated measures design. Intervention Participants underwent a series of three once-weekly sessions during which they repeatedly sniffed one remedy (6c, 12c, 30c; one potency per week) matched to their Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ) type and two solvent controls (distilled water and a waterethanol [95%] solution). Within sessions, remedies and control solvents were administered via 2-second sniffs (eight sniffs of each of four different succussion levels per potency, in randomized order).

PARTICIPANTS:
Participants were college student volunteers (N = 96, ages 18-30, both sexes), screened for good health and relatively elevated Sulphur or Pulsatilla symptom pattern scores on the Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ). Participants also completed a validated trait CI scale.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES:
Average 19-lead relative EEG alpha power (alpha 1 8-10 Hz; alpha 2 10-12 Hz).

RESULTS:
Trait CI interacted significantly with time factors for each remedy (both over visit weeks and over sniff cycles during sessions). The patterns were nonlinear and differed between the two remedies. Individuals high in CI showed greater variability over time in remedy EEG alpha effects than did those low in CI.

CONCLUSION:
The data suggest that CI, with an underlying susceptibility to time-dependent sensitization and oscillatory responses, could contribute to nonlinear dose-response patterns and inconsistent reproducibility of homeopathic clinical care and research.

PMID: 23341426 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Major Grocer to Label Foods With Gene-Modified Content

Major Grocer to Label Foods With Gene-Modified Content
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/09/business/grocery-chain-to-require-labels-for-genetically-modified-food.html?_r=0

 

"Whole Foods Market, the grocery chain, on Friday became the first retailer in the United States to require labeling of all genetically modified foods sold in its stores, a move that some experts said could radically alter the food industry."

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