Webinar: How to Create Greener and Healthier Schools for Children and Teachers

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Webinar:  How to Create Greener and Healthier Schools for Children and Teachers

WHEN: Thursday May 23 – 4:30pm – 5:45 pm
WHERE: Free Webinar From Your Home/Computer

RSVP online at: http://bit.ly/healthyschoolswebinar

Healthy schools that are free from toxic chemicals are critical to children's health. Unfortunately school building materials and products can contain chemicals harmful to children's health that have been linked to asthma, learning and developmental disabilities, cancer and other serious health problems on the rise.  For example, hazardous chemicals and materials like mercury, phthalates, vinyl and halogenated flame retardants have been found in lighting, flooring, office supplies, and/or other products in schools. The good news is safer and affordable alternatives are available for schools and parents to use and purchase.

Learn how you can encourage your school to be greener and healthier by launching an environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) program.

Join this free webinar sponsored by NYS United Teachers (NYSUT), the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and the Green Schools Alliance.

RSVP online at: http://bit.ly/healthyschoolswebinar

Questions? Contact mike@chej.org / 212-964-3680.
Funding provided by the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute through a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.   Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Environmental Conservation

Mike Schade, Markets Campaign Coordinator
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
212.964.3680 / mike@chej.org
http://www.chej.org

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City of Portland sued over workplace fragrances

City of Portland sued over workplace fragrances
http://www.king5.com/news/local/207458291.html 
 

"PORTLAND – A Bureau of Maintenance employee has sued the City of Portland, claiming she was sickened by personal fragrances.

 

Julie Reynolds' suit claims that she suffers from a condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), that is triggered by a wide variety of chemicals contained in scent-bearing products like perfume and hand lotion.

The lawsuit states that one of Reynolds' co-workers wore a scented product that triggered a severe reaction, and that Reynolds' doctor warned the city that workplace exposure could be "life-threatening" to Reynolds."

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'Pacific Fatigue Lab' (Workwell) Continues On After University Cuts Them Loose

'Pacific Fatigue Lab' (Workwell) Continues On After University Cuts Them Loose
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=18072

 

"Working Well For ME/CFS (Still) – 'Pacific Fatigue Lab' (Workwell) Continues On After University Cuts Them Loose

By Cort Johnson 

WORKING WELL FOR ME/CFS

Our goal is to facilitate an understanding of the biological basis for fatigue and provide objectively determined therapeutic interventions that will improve quality of life for this population. Staci Stevens, Program Director for Workwell"

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International Awareness Day, May 12th 2013: Worldwide Protests and Events

International Awareness Day, May 12th 2013: Worldwide Protests and Events
http://phoenixrising.me/archives/16915

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Chemical Sensitivity: Pathophysiology or Pathopsychology?

Chemical Sensitivity: Pathophysiology or Pathopsychology?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23642291

 

Genuis SJ.  Clin Ther. 2013 May 1. pii: S0149-2918(13)00175-6. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.04.003. [Epub ahead of print]

Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: sgenuis@ualberta.ca.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Escalating numbers of people throughout the world are presenting to primary care physicians, allergists, and immunologists with myriad clinical symptoms after low-level exposure to assorted everyday chemicals such as smoke, perfumes, air fresheners, paints, glues, and other products. This clinical state is referred to by various diagnostic labels, including multiple chemical sensitivity disorder, environmental intolerance, chemical sensitivity (CS), and sensitivity-related illness, and has been the subject of much controversy within the health care community.

OBJECTIVE:
The goal of this study was to provide a brief overview of the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management of CS. An evaluation of the medical community's response to this emerging diagnosis was also explored.

METHODS:
This review was prepared by assessing available medical and scientific literature from MEDLINE, as well as by reviewing numerous books, toxicology journals, conference proceedings, government publications, and environmental health periodicals. A primary observation, however, is that there is limited scientific literature available on the issue of CS. The format of a traditional integrated review was chosen because such reviews play a pivotal role in scientific research and professional practice in medical issues with limited primary study and uncharted clinical territory.

RESULTS:
The sensitization state of CS seems to be initiated by a significant toxic exposure, occurring as a 1-time event, or on surpassing a threshold of toxicity after toxicant accrual from repeated lower-level exposures. Once sensitized through a toxicant-induced loss of tolerance, individuals exposed to inciting triggers such as minute amounts of diverse everyday chemicals may experience various clinical and immune sequelae, sometimes involving lymphocyte, antibody, or cytokine responses. Precautionary avoidance of inciting triggers will prevent symptoms, and desensitization immunotherapy or immune suppression may improve symptoms in some cases. Sustained resolution of the CS state occurs after successful elimination of the accrued body burden of toxicants through natural mechanisms of toxicant bioelimination and/or interventions of clinical detoxification. Despite extensive clinical evidence to support the veracity of this clinical state, many members of the medical community are reluctant to accept this condition as a pathophysiologic disorder.

CONCLUSIONS:
The emerging problem of ubiquitous adverse toxicant exposures in modern society has resulted in escalating numbers of individuals developing a CS disorder. As usual in medical history, iconoclastic ideas and emerging evidence regarding novel disease mechanisms, such as the pathogenesis of CS, have been met with controversy, resistance, and sluggish knowledge translation.

PMID: 23642291 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher

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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How Chemical Exposures May Be Affecting Your Health

VIDEO

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How Chemical Exposures May Be Affecting Your Health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8lCXbPwg1k

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City of Independence, Ohio signed an MCS Resolution delcaring the month of May of each year Whole Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month!

City of Independence, Ohio signed an MCS Resolution declaring the month of May of each year Whole Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month!

http://www.mcs-america.org/IndependenceOH2012MCS.pdf

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