The air quality in and around your home may have negative effects on your child’s intelligence, according to a study by Columbia University Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH).

The study, released a week ago by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), found that children exposed to chemical pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in the air, water, and soil scored lower on IQ tests than children with lower exposure.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are chemical pollutants that can be found in the air, water, and soil. PAHs are typically released from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, diesel, oil, gas, etc.), tobacco and other natural substances. Auto emissions are a major source of PAHs in the United States, especially in heavily trafficked urban areas.

Doctor Frederica Perera, lead author and professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, compares the exposure to such pollutants to low-level lead exposure. “These findings are of concern because these decreases in IQ could be educationally meaningful in terms of school performance,” she says. “IQ is an important predictor of future academic performance.”

A child’s developing fetal and nervous system is more vulnerable than an adult’s, and PAHs have been associated with higher cancer risk, asthma, allergies, low birth weight, and a reduced head circumference. Reduced head circumference, according to CCCEH, is connected with lower cognitive functioning and academic performance. In this study, the first of its kind, researchers hoped to study the relationship of in utero PAH exposure on a child’s intelligence.
 
Participants were non-smoking black and Dominican-American women, aged 18-35, residing in Washington Heights, Harlem and South Bronx, N.Y.—areas with higher pollutant exposure. During pregnancy participants regularly completed questionnaires and were asked to wear monitors that measured PAH levels.

Researchers followed the children, measuring IQ levels at age three and again at age five using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of the Intelligence. Of the 249 children, 140 had higher than the average 2.26 n/m3 level of exposure. The mean score for all children was 98.72, with a mean score of 96.6 for children whose exposure was classified as “high” and 101.6 for children with lower exposure. Scores differed by 4.67 on the verbal and 4.31 points on the full-scale test.

Researchers will continue to follow children to age 11 to learn more about the effects of PAHs on intelligence and child development. “It should serve as a warning bell to us all,” says Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of NIEHS. “We need to do more to prevent environmental exposures from harming our children.”

Want more information about health during pregnancy? Visit Healia's Pregnancy Community or take the Healia Pregnancy Quiz!

Pesticides are frequently used to help improve the yield of fruits and vegetables grown both domestically and abroad. While these chemicals do a good job of controlling insect infestation, little is known about the long-term effects of exposure to them. Some data suggest that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can adversely affect people, especially during fetal development and childhood. In general experts recommend reducing your exposure to pesticides as much as possible.

However, you can’t tell which fruits and vegetables may have a high pesticide load by just looking at them. Thus, in their publication Food News, the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a list of the most pesticide-laden produce in America. The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the EWG based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. They calculated a pesticide score based on criteria which included the percent of samples that tested positive for pesticides, the percent of samples with more than one pesticide, the average amount of pesticide found on each type of produce, and the total number of different pesticides found on all samples of a given type of produce. The top 10 worst offenders follow, with their pesticide score listed in parentheses.

The top 10 most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables are:

1. Peaches (100)
2. Apples (96)
3. Sweet Bell Peppers (86)
4. Celery (85)
5. Nectarines (84)
6. Strawberries (83)
7. Cherries (75)
8. Lettuce (69)
9. Grapes – Imported (68)
10. Pears (65)

The EWG suggests washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly to reduce pesticide exposure, but they also note that these test results were largely based on produce that has already been washed. When possible, it is a good idea to eat organic produce that is grown without conventional pesticides, especially for the produce with the highest pesticides scores.

Want to provide your input on about food safety and nutrition? Join the Healia Health Community for Diet and Nutrition and share your views.

_{Source: Environmental Working Group, Food News, Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce. http://www.foodnews.org/fulldataset.php}

_{Photo: theilr, Flickr, Creative Commons}

On December 31^st, 2008, asthma inhalers are set to go “green” – in more ways than one. Rescue inhalers containing fast-acting medications such as albuterol that are used to ease symptoms of an asthma attack will no longer use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as a propellant. Instead, by year's end, all albuterol inhalers must be powered by the more eco-friendly chemical hydrofluoroalkane (HFA).

While these green inhalers use propellant that is gentler on the ozone layer, they also cost a lot more, even though the medicine they contain is identical to older, CFC-powered inhalers: $30 to $60 for green inhalers compared to as little as $5 or $10 for the older CFC inhalers. What’s more, HFA inhalers must be used differently than the older CFC versions. Patients report that the medicine feels and tastes different, despite claims that the two types of inhalers work equally well.

While most of the nation’s 20 million asthma patients have already made the switch, about 20% of albuterol prescriptions were still being filled with the old CFC inhalers in mid-November. When these asthma sufferers go to refill their rescue inhaler prescriptions after the end of the year, they will find that not only does it cost a lot more, it also works differently. Pharmacists may not even notice the switch since the medication contained within is the same. This can leave patients on their own to figure out how to use the new inhalers.

Rescue inhalers containing albuterol are for quick relief of wheezing, not for daily asthma management. Patients also need daily medication to control their asthma and prevent flare-ups. If you are using your albuterol inhaler more than a few times a month, your asthma is not well-controlled. Talk to your doctor about adjusting your daily asthma control medications.

Recent research suggests only one in five children has their asthma under good control and no one knows how many adults have uncontrolled asthma. Find out more about asthma control by taking the Healia Asthma Quiz or by reading our guide, the Healia Health Guide on Uncontrolled Asthma.

Quick tips about the new HFC inhalers:

• Expect a softer puff instead of the older version's cold blast of air in the back of the throat.
• The new inhalers clog more often because HFA makes the drug stickier. Clean the hole weekly, following the specific instructions for each brand.
• Never get the whole device wet.

If you have asthma and have not been properly instructed on how to use the new HFA inhalers, make an appointment with your doctor or ask your pharmacist to show you how to use them. To find out more about asthma, see the Healia Health Guide on Asthma or join the Healia Health Community for Asthma.

 

_{Photo: spcummings, Flickr, Creative Commons}

How dangerous is the chemical known as bisphenol A (BPA)? According to an independent panel of scientific advisers, it’s much more dangerous than a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report suggested.

BPA is a chemical used to harden plastics and is found in several products including baby bottles, plastic food packaging, and the lining of food cans.

The panel charges that the FDA ignored scientific evidence and used flawed methods when it issued its draft risk assessment of BPA in August stating that an “adequate margin of safety” existed for BPA exposure. The FDA stated that the small amounts of BPA that migrate from food containers into the food they hold are not dangerous to infants or adults.

The panel, set up specifically to review the FDA's risk assessment of BPA, said that the FDA had relied on industry-funded studies and ignored a mountain of data including more than 100 scientific studies that have linked BPA to health problems in laboratory animals including breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, hyperactivity and reproductive problems. The panel also questioned the methods used in the FDA studies to determine the levels of BPA in infant formula, concluding that the FDA report "creates a false sense of security” and recommending that the agency redo its risk assessment.

Environmental groups want to ban BPA in infant products because the chemical can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen and interfere with their development. Infants may be at increased risk of exposure because their kidneys do not eliminate the chemical from the body as fast as adults. Babies can be exposed to BPA through bottles and through baby formula packaged in containers made with the chemical, including cans.

If you want to lessen your family’s exposure to BPA, you can avoid eating foods from plastic containers labeled with the number 7 (usually found on the bottom of the container, inside the recycle symbol), which often contain BPA. You can also limit your use of canned foods and infant formula, most of which come in cans lined with BPA.

Have more questions about BPA and other food contaminants? The members and health experts of Healia Health Communities are waiting to help you.

 

_{Photo: iMorpheus, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to avoid any infant formula imported from China because of potential contamination with melamine. Melamine was the chemical that contaminated pet food last year, resulting in thousands of poisoning cases in dogs and cats. There is no evidence that any tainted formula is being sold in the U.S. In China, the implicated formula has been associated with dozens of cases of kidney stones in infants and one death.

Manufacturing of baby formula is strictly regulated in the U.S. and it is illegal to import baby milk from China or any unapproved sources. But several years ago, in at least one case, a Chinese brand of formula was found in a New York store.

To be safe, parents should only purchase infant formula from reputable retail sources.

Have questions about about infant formula? Healia Communities members can help.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)  are fire retardant chemicals that are added to plastics and foam products so that they become more fire resistant. They are widely used in electronics, furniture, and other products in the home. A small pilot study conducted by the Environmental Working Group has found that levels of PBDEs in toddlers were typically about three times higher than levels in their mothers.

There is some concern from scientists that PBDEs, which are hormone-disrupting chemicals that build up in the blood and tissues, may cause brain damage in animals and hyperactivity in children. However, the health effects of PBDEs in people are unclear. It is not surprising that this chemical was found in higher levels in young children compared to their mothers given that children frequently put their hands and objects into their mouths.

Some tips for parents to reduce their child’s exposure to PBDEs and other similar environmental contaminants include:

• Minimize a child’s direct contact with products that may have PBDEs, such as TVs, stereos, upholstered furniture, and mattresses
• Wash a child’s hands before every meal
• Keep your home as dust free as possible with regular dusting and vacuuming
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

For more advice about how to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, ask a Healia Health Expert or Community member. 

With summer grilling season upon us, you may want to consider how “well-done” you like your poultry, meat, and fish. Research has shown that cooking certain meats at high temperatures creates chemicals that are not present in uncooked meats. A few of these chemicals may increase cancer risk, such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs are carcinogenic chemicals formed from the cooking of animal muscle such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish.

Temperature is the most important factor in the formation of HCAs. Methods such as frying, broiling, and barbecuing produce the largest amounts of HCAs because the meats are cooked at very high temperatures. One study conducted by researchers from NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics found a link between individuals with stomach cancer and the consumption of cooked meats:

The researchers assessed the diets and cooking habits of 176 people diagnosed with stomach cancer and 503 people without cancer. The researchers found that those who ate their beef medium-well or well-done had more than three times the risk of stomach cancer than those who ate their beef rare or medium-rare. They also found that people who ate beef four or more times a week had more than twice the risk of stomach cancer than those consuming beef less frequently.

Additional studies have shown that an increased risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer is associated with high intakes of well-done, fried, or barbequed meats. Further research is needed to clarify the possible role of meats cooked at high temperatures in the development of certain cancers and to determine recommended maximum daily HCA intake.

If you are concerned about HCAs in your food, you can reduce your exposure by varying your cooking methods. For example, microwave meats more often (especially before frying, broiling, or barbecuing) and refrain from making gravy from meat drippings. For more information, ask an expert on Healia Communities.

heterocyclic amines HCAs BBQ foods

The U.S. Government announced today that a chemical known as bisphenol A, or BPA, may impact human development. Bisphenol A is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and can be found in food and drink packaging as well as compact discs and some medical devices and dental sealants/composites.

Although there is no direct evidence that exposure to BPA adversely affects reproduction or development, studies with laboratory rodents show that exposure to high dose levels of BPA during pregnancy and/or lactation can reduce survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life, and delay the onset of puberty in males and females. The National Toxicology Program said laboratory rodents exposed to BPA levels similar to human exposures developed precancerous lesions in prostate and mammary glands - National Toxicology Program

The National Toxicology Program also stated that more research is needed and the possibility that BPA may impact human development cannot be dismissed. For more information on BPA, please visit healia.com or review the National Toxicology Program brief. If you have questions about BPA, also consider joining Healia Communities and ask a health expert.

bisphenol A BPA National Toxicology Program

Over the past few years, cases of a rare lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans have become increasingly common in workers at popcorn plants. Indeed, the disease is commonly known as "popcorn lung." Workers appear to have acquired the disease by breathing in the chemical diacetyl, which is a commonly used ingredient in artificial butter flavoring.

When the media first started discussing this phenomenon five years ago, it was believed that popcorn lung only affected workers with heavy exposure to diacetyl.

However, recent findings indicate that popcorn lung might pose a threat to consumers who frequently prepare microwave popcorn. A man who had eaten microwave popcorn twice a day for ten years began developing symptoms similar to those suffered by victims of popcorn lung. A doctor noted:

When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much....That’s heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers’ studies is the highest risk.

As a result, ConAgra and Pop Weaver -- the two largest suppliers of microwave popcorn -- have announced that they will stop using diacetyl as a flavor additive.

To learn more, search Healia:

• food additives
• artificial flavor
• lung disease

popcorn lung diacetyl microwave popcorn flavor additive

Most office workers think their biggest occupational health risk is a paper cut. Apparently, however, some home and office laser printers may release as much particulate matter as a cigarette smoker inhales! A study, published in yesterday's online edition of the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science&Technology (ES&T) journal, measured particulate matter emissions of 62 laser printers, including models from Canon, Hewlett-Packard, and Ricoh.

Studying an open office floor plan, the researchers found that newer toner cartridges released more particles than older ones, and that more particles were emitted from printing toner-heavy documents such as graphics. It is believed that the airborne particles are from toner, which is composed of finely-ground powder.

Inhaling particulate matter can cause health problems, including respiratory irritation, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. The researchers’ recommendations include making sure that rooms with printers have adequate ventilation to disperse printer particles. And it’s probably not a good idea to wait next to the printer while your document finishes printing.

laser printers respiratory health occupational health toner particulate matter