Gulf Oil Spill: Dispersants Have Potential to Cause More Harm Than Good

/PRNewswire/ -- The chemical dispersants being used to break up the oil leaking into the gulf following the explosion of British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig have the potential to cause just as much, if not more, harm to the environment and the humans coming into contact with it than the oil possibly would if left untreated.

That is the warning of toxicology experts, led by Dr. William Sawyer, addressing the Gulf Oil Disaster Recovery Group, a group of lawyers working to protect the rights and interests of environmental groups and persons affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The group represents the United Fishermen's Association and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), among others.

Various publications from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council show that baseline data on the environmental and ecologic fate of petroleum spills and their effects in the marine environment is substantially deficient, said Dr. Sawyer. The lack of substantial research in these areas makes many of the decision-making processes pertaining to successful major spill containment and remediation rife with speculation.

The ongoing discharge of petroleum from the BP site, with a concurrent substantial use of surface and deep-water dispersants, demonstrates an environmental release of toxicants into the marine, marsh and beach environments in an unprecedented way, said Lead Counsel Stuart Smith for Gulf Oil Disaster Recovery Group. Mr. Smith was the first to challenge British Petroleum on the failure of its cofferdam cap on the DEEPWATER HORIZON and has won two successful injunctions requiring British Petroleum to respect fishermen's legal rights and protect their health in all areas impacted by the Gulf oil spill.

"The dispersants used in the BP clean-up efforts, known as 'Corexit 9500' and 'Corexit EC9527A,' are also known as deodorized kerosene," said Dr. Sawyer. "With respect to marine toxicity and potential human health risks, studies of kerosene exposures strongly indicate potential health risks to volunteers, workers, sea turtles, dolphins, breathing reptiles and all species which need to surface for air exchanges, as well as birds and all other mammals. Additionally, I have considered marine species which surface for atmospheric inhalation such as sea turtles, dolphins and other species which are especially vulnerable to aspiration toxicity of 'Corexit 9500' into the lung while surfacing."

The "Corexit 9500" dispersant is designed to breakup the slick at the water's surface, sending the oil into the water column, and from there, to the bottom of the seabed where bottom residing organisms such as shrimp, crabs and oysters reside. One concern with the usage of such dispersants is that, aside from being themselves toxic, they do little more than hide the problem, said Mr. Smith. Many leading experts, doctors and environmentalists have discredited the use of Corexit as a tool for oil spill clean up.

"Toxicity of the petroleum products is increased when it is dissolved into the water by dispersants," said Co-Counsel Robert McKee, Gulf Oil Disaster Recovery Group. "In essence, this activity is making aquatic organisms more exposed to chemicals' harm. The attempt to make these floating tars and oils disappear from view by the use of dispersants increases the likelihood of poisonous effects in these oil polluted waters."

Mr. McKee added, "The use of dispersants, without knowing the cascade of toxic events which may flow from the practice, mandates that those who may be forced to prove their losses in a court of law obtain competent and environmentally knowledgeable legal representatives who can establish the pre-damage baseline ecology now, in order to compare to post-oil spill contamination effects seen later. Without that immediate effort, victims who did not seek that type of early assistance may lose their ability to prove a full accounting of their rightful compensation for losses they actually sustain. The use of dispersants not only hides the amount of oil actually being discharged from view, but also serves to undermine damage proof for the unwary victim who chooses to wait to see what is going to happen."

"What, if any, published testing data has BP used to understand and quantify the long term and short term risks presented to marine environments and fisheries populations by the ongoing spillage of petroleum? What facts supported the decision that dispersants would effectively protect shorelines without significantly impacting the water column and benthic marine populations of the Gulf?" said Mr. Smith. "BP must answer the many questions that arise from the usage of dispersants and be accountable for its actions and the harmful effects they have on marine life, the coastline and the livelihood of those who make their living off the fisheries and tourism industry."

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TYLENOL Recall Confirms Congress, FDA Must Regulate Wood Pallets to Prevent Threats to U.S. Food, Drug Supply

/PRNewswire/ -- The expanded recall of TYLENOL Arthritis pain reliever is fresh evidence of the need for Congress and the FDA to regulate wood pallets used to transport food and pharmaceuticals in the United States because of the dangers they pose to human health.

The move earlier this week by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and FDA to expand the voluntary recall to include all lots of TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles comes on the heels of independent scientific studies showing wood pallets harbor deadly food poisoning bacteria and pathogens.

"How much more evidence does Congress and the FDA need? The TYLENOL recall proves wooden pallet shipping platforms are a dangerous threat to the pharmaceuticals we depend on, while recent independent studies we've commissioned in four cities demonstrate the dangers they pose to our food supply," said Bob Moore, Chairman & CEO, Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company LLC).

"The one to two billion wood pallets in circulation in the United States are the common denominator in the supply chain - practically every product we ingest is shipped on a wood pallet. Congress and FDA cannot afford to overlook them any longer as they consider ways to strengthen our national food safety law."

Chemicals used to treat wood pallets were cited as causing a moldy, musty or mildew-like odor in the TYLENOL product that caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain in consumers. Wood pallets made with "engineered wood" components also contain urea formaldehyde - a known carcinogen - which may come into contact with food under a variety of scenarios when it is stored and shipped on wooden pallets. Formaldehyde is also released into the air when it off-gases from pallets in storage and transportation compartments, posing a risk to the health of workers and consumers.

Wood pallets pose other dangerous risks to food safety. Wood pallets are susceptible to insect infestation and require heat treatment or fumigation before they can be moved cross-border. Fumigation is often performed with methyl bromide, a highly toxic, ozone-depleting chemical. Rusty nails and wood shards that can penetrate food packaging are also a risk.

Recent tests commissioned by iGPS have found Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and extremely high bacteria counts on scores of wood pallets pulled at random from pallet depots in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Portland, ME. Listeriosis is responsible for approximately 2,500 illnesses and 500 deaths in the United States annually and is the leading cause of death among food borne bacterial pathogens, with fatality rates exceeding even Salmonella and Clostridium Botulinum.

The iGPS test results are consistent with similar findings by USDA and FDA. A new USDA study found salmonella-causing bacteria can be harbored on wooden shelving carts used for transporting eggs into processing plants. The FDA has also drawn attention to the health risks that wood pallets present. According to the FDA's Guidance for Industry: Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Refrigerated or Frozen Ready-To-Eat Foods (February, 2008), "In areas where RF-RTE [refrigerated-ready to eat] foods are processed or exposed, we recommend that you use pallets that can be easily cleaned and keep them in good condition, and that you not use wood pallets in areas where RF-RTE foods are processed or exposed or in other areas for wet processing and storage."

A trip to virtually any wood pallet depot reveals thousands of wood pallets stacked outdoors, sitting in mud and water-logged (some even serving as nests for rodents) -- a clear violation of industry "best practices" calling for wood pallets to be stored in dry indoor locations.

"This is an industry that openly ignores its own safety rules and transports our food supply on deplorably unsanitary platforms," said Moore. "We call on Congress and the FDA to take a comprehensive look at the role wood pallets play in contaminating our food and drug supplies - and to take action."

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Toxic Chemicals in Bodies Report From Centers for Disease Control: Environmental Health Advocates Respond

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) expected to be released today by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is on the right track with a focus on testing people's bodies for chemical contamination, say environmental health advocates working on chemical exposure issues.

According to Pamela K. Miller, executive director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, "While we are very relieved the CDC is stepping up its focus on chemical exposure with important monitoring of toxics in people's bodies, we'd like them to collect data to reflect geographic location in order to assess regional exposure patterns." In Alaska, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - chemicals that can take many years to break down - drift North on wind and water and impact Indigenous people. Alaska has one of the highest rates of birth defects in the nation. Some scientists believe that the gender imbalance of more girls being born than boys in the Arctic is due in part to exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals that drift North.

Sharyle Patton, program director at Commonweal, says, "CDC should make individual results available to those they have tested. As the European Union begins its pilot biomonitoring study, it will be making plans to do just this, given EU legal support for the right to know. In the interests of transparency and access, and as leaders in national biomonitoring programs, surely we can do the same."

Margaret Reeves, Ph.D., senior scientist with Pesticide Action Network North America, who works with farmworker and rural communities says, "It is necessary for CDC to link time of year of specimen collection and the occupations of those tested to see patterns with pesticide applications and other exposures."

Peter Orris, MD, MPH, Professor and Chief of Service, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center welcomes the report as important: "I would hope that CDC will continue to collect information and will also look at intergenerational comparisons to help protect women of child bearing age from those chemicals that may damage the developing fetus."

"Biomonitoring studies provide direct evidence that people are exposed to harmful chemicals, and these studies should be linked with policy actions to reduce and prevent exposures," according to Davis Baltz, M.S., a Senior Associate working on chemical policy issues with Commonweal.

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Poll Finds Americans Very Concerned About Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

/PRNewswire/ -- A poll conducted in August by Lake Research Partners found Americans very concerned with how chemicals are regulated for consumer use in the U.S. The findings come as overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will be introduced soon in both Houses of Congress.

Voters are concerned that, under TSCA, chemicals in existence prior to 1976 were grandfathered in to be used and produced in the U.S. without testing or regulation. (87 percent were somewhat or very concerned). Eighty percent of voters were concerned that the EPA was unsuccessful in banning asbestos under current law. Eighty-four percent were concerned that the EPA has mandated testing of barely 200 out of the over 80,000 on the market since 1976.

"Voters across almost all demographic and political groups said that regulations on chemicals were not strong enough," said pollster Celinda Lake. "People definitely are not confident about how chemicals are currently regulated, but they're ready to give the EPA authority to protect consumers."

Hundreds of recent scientific studies associate chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are used in baby bottles, pacifiers, canned foods and toys, with a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma, increased risk of certain types of cancer and infertility.

"The public is aware of a growing body of science linking common chemicals to chronic diseases and they're waking up to the fact that the existing law isn't working," says Andy Igrejas, director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition. "Americans are doing their best to shop smart, but we can't protect our families without help, and without strong reforms to put common sense limits on toxic chemicals."

Majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans say they would support legislation that would take toxic chemicals off the market if they have been detected in babies at birth or in infants, and exposure to other known toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, that have been extensively studied, will be reduced to the maximum extent possible.

The poll was commissioned by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The poll was conducted among 1,000 registered voters nationwide Aug. 25 to 31, 2009. More detailed poll results available at www.saferchemicals.org.

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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Again Fails to Stand for Better Safety Rules for America's Workers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Several international unions representing hundreds of thousands of chemical and food industry workers today again criticized the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) for not recommending strong standards to prevent deadly explosions in factories handling combustible dusts, despite the board’s prior endorsement of such a step.

The unions reacted to the CSB’s new report on the deadly sugar dust explosion on Feb. 7, 2008, at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The explosion killed fourteen people, injured scores of others and severely damaged the plant.

“The Imperial Sugar tragedy is compelling evidence of the need for stricter OSHA regulation on combustible dust,” said Steve Sallman, Health and Safety Specialist from the United Steelworkers (USW). “Without a regulation, upper management will typically not commit the resources needed to achieve compliance, or, more importantly, to protect their employees.”

“As recently as 2006, the CSB recommended to the Congress that OSHA adopt a comprehensive new standard on combustible dust, but today they let that ball drop,” said Eric Frumin, Health and Safety Coordinator, Change to Win.

"The CSB’s leadership is a remnant of the Bush administration’s dangerous legacy for America’s workers," said Jackie Nowell, Occupational Safety and Health Director for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). “If the Board continues to ignore its obligation to oversee the scope of our safety regulations, it will require new leadership to assure that its mission is accomplished.”

In a November 2006 report, the CSB pointed out serious deficiencies in OSHA’s various standards on combustible dust hazards. That report identified hundreds of combustible dust incidents over the last 25 years, causing nearly 120 deaths and hundreds more injuries.

On Feb. 19, 2008, immediately following the Imperial Sugar explosion, the UFCW and International Brotherhood of Teamsters petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to immediately issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for combustible dust in general industry noting that “workers who are employed in facilities where uncontrolled combustible dust emissions are present face ‘grave danger’ of experiencing fatalities or serious injuries as a result of dust explosions and resultant fires.” To this date, no standard has been set to protect America’s workers.

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Toxic Chemicals in Children's Bath Products Trigger International Outcry

/PRNewswire/ -- The governments of China and Vietnam are conducting their own safety tests on some baby bath products found to be contaminated with formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in a report issued March 12 by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Some major Chinese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese retailers have pulled these products from their shelves. The Israeli Health Ministry has stated that U.S. baby products with carcinogenic contaminants are not sold in Israel.

In the U.S., Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have called for greater oversight of the $50 billion cosmetic industry in response to this report. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has demanded that FDA investigate contaminants in personal care products marketed for babies and young children. In a press release, Gillibrand says, "As a mother of two young children, I expect the baby and child products my family uses to be safe. I find it to be unacceptable that the FDA does not regulate personal care products, as it does food and drugs."

Contrary to industry statements, the U.S. has no safety standards for formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in personal care products, nor does it limit the amount of these chemicals in products or require that they be listed on labels. The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane from personal care products and has recalled products found to contain the chemical. Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden, and restricted in the EU and Canada.

"Once again, the U.S. is lagging when it comes to protecting children's health," said Lisa Archer of the Breast Cancer Fund and coordinator of the Campaign. "The lack of safety standards in the U.S. is disadvantaging American companies. We need updated laws to ensure that American products meet the highest bar of safety and are free of toxic chemicals."

The Campaign's report is the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in children's bath products, including Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Sesame Street Bubble Bath.

Since the report release last Thursday, at least 20,000 people have contacted their congressional representatives to demand strengthened FDA oversight and regulation of the cosmetics industry. To date, no action has been reported on the part of the U.S. government or retailers.

Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are known to cause cancer in animals and are listed as probable human carcinogens by the EPA. Formaldehyde can also trigger skin rashes in people who are sensitive to the chemical, at levels found in many of the products tested for the study. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that babies are 10 to 65 times more vulnerable to cancer-causing chemicals than adults.

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Watchdog and Russell Jones & Walker Provide Sofa Injury Claims Update

TT Note: Wow. Who knew that sitting on a leather sofa has the potential to land you in the hospital? Now, this is a story to make you go "hmmm."

24-7 - Back in February, the BBC's Watchdog programme exposed a story about leather sofas, sold by a number of leading high street retailers, which had caused severe skin reactions in some people. The Chinese manufactured sofas, the majority of which were purchased from Land of Leather, Argos and Walmsleys, were thought to contain a chemical which was causing extreme allergic reactions in some people, including rashes and blistering that resulted in hospitalisation for some.

Watchdog reported on 12 May 2008 that, in conjunction with Russell Jones & Walker (RJW), it has since discovered that the cause of these 'sofa burns' is Di-methyl Fumarate (DMF), a chemical known to cause skin irritation. This fungicide is contained within a sachet which is placed inside the sofas in order to protect against mould during storage, transit and everyday usage. Argos' independent investigations have also now confirmed these results.

A team of Solicitors led by Richard Langton and Christian Shotton of RJW is currently representing [url=http://www.rjw.co.uk/"]injury claims[/url] on behalf of more than 500 people who have suffered due to the affected sofas, and this number is continuing to grow. Around 1000 individuals are now launching a group action in the high court to sue the retailers who sold the sofas for damages.

The majority of the sofas have now been recalled, but a list of known affected sofa batch numbers has been compiled on the RJW Solicitors site in order to enable worried consumers to check whether their sofa might be one of those affected.

In light of the ongoing problem, RJW Solicitors has also advised that anyone who has experienced similar skin problems, even if their sofa's batch number does not appear in the list, should still contact the retailer where they originally purchased the sofa from.

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Companies Agree To Cut Cancer-Causing Chemicals In Potato Chips

TT Note: NO! It's just horrible to think that potato chips can contribute to cancer. Read the story and see what they are saying--

The state of California has settled lawsuits against Heinz, Frito-Lay, Kettle Foods and Lance Inc. after the companies agreed to slash levels of the cancer-causing chemical.....

Read the story.

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Toxic Chemicals in Products

Thought you might be interested in the following newsletter. Links at the bottom if you're interested in signing up with them - TT

Executive Director's Letter
Investors Focus on PVC in Packaging and Products

Eleven (11) of the 43 resolutions investors have filed on toxic chemicals and product safety during the last three proxy seasons have focused wholly or partly on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in packaging, toys, and other products. Investors have been in contact with an additional 22 companies regarding their use of PVC. Prompted by potential consumer marketplace impacts of major campaigns by environmental health advocacy organizations in the US and overseas, investor inquiries to companies and shareholder resolutions have surfaced important information about corporate policies and have encouraged companies to move along the PVC reduction and phase-out path. These engagements signal that a PVC packaging tipping point has passed in the marketplace, as other materials are increasingly being sought by both retailers and their suppliers and as use of alternatives grows.

PVC is a problem substance throughout its lifecycle. It’s manufactured from carcinogenic vinyl chloride monomer, posing an occupational hazard. Depending on how it’s being used, it can contain lead and other chemicals that pose a hazard, particularly to children. PVC is not readily recyclable as are other plastics. PVC can be a reputational or litigation hazard for major firms: Wal-Mart and other companies have had to pull lead-tainted bibs and children’s lunchboxes from their shelves.

Sears published a PVC phase out policy in November 2007 following a year of consultations with both investors and environmental activists. These conversations followed withdrawal of a November 2006 shareholder resolution requesting a sustainability report from the company. When filing the resolution, the shareholders had raised PVC as a particular concern. At Target, shareholders did not file a resolution, but spoke to the company behind-the-scenes during the course of a high profile activist campaign focused on PVC. Activists raised PVC issues during the company’s annual meeting, and the company ultimately announced plans to phase out PVC from various product lines and to further explore alternatives.

At Bed Bath and Beyond, shoppers can now find prominent displays of “chlorine free” shower curtains. Bed Bath and Beyond managers discussed this and other initiatives with investors, in the aftermath of a 22% yes vote on a shareholder resolution raising questions about the company’s policies regarding PVC and other chemicals.

Wal-Mart and other companies have made very public commitments to phasing out PVC packaging, and are making progress in doing so, but other companies have been reducing reliance on PVC more quietly. For example, during the course of withdrawing a resolution at Costco on safer chemicals policies, investors were informed that the company had been working to reduce use of PVC, but had not said much publicly about it.

Additional companies have shared information with investors about their PVC progress and goals in response to inquiries, even in the absence of formal resolutions. For example, in the past year, Schering Plough, Logitech, Motorola and Nokia have provided such details. Schering-Plough signaled that its move from PVC for some of its consumer products was influenced by Wal-Mart’s interest in PVC reduction.

Companies clearly are responding to growing consumer interest in going PVC-free. A February 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal story on PVC toys noted that PVC-free plastic toys are attracting venture capitalist interest, and that Mattel and Hasbro are testing a corn-based plastic for their toys. Markets are moving away from PVC both for packaging and specific product lines, providing opportunities for both fast-moving companies and their investors.
Richard A. Liroff, Ph.D Executive Director

Proxy Update—36.1% Yes Vote on First Resolution of the Season

In January, the first toxic chemical/product safety resolution of the 2008 proxy season was voted upon at the annual meeting of medical device manufacturer Becton, Dickinson. The resolution, asking the company to report on how it is addressing likely tightening of regulations on medical devices in the European Union, received a 36.1% Yes vote from shareholders. Two proxy voting advisory services—Institutional Shareholder Services and PROXY Governance, urged support of the resolution.

Toxic Chemicals and Safer Products in the News

'Thomas' toymaker settles suit over lead for $30M Julie Schmit, USA Today January 23, 2008 The maker of Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys has agreed to a $30 million class-action settlement stemming from last year's recalls, the first in what's expected to be a wave of settlements.

The chemicals within Anne Underwood, Newsweek February 4, 2008 Many common household products contain compounds that could be affecting our health and can be found in our bodies, according to the recently released "Is it in Us?" report.

Retail goes green, from ground up Ngoc Nguyen, Sacramento Bee January 28, 2008 Kaiser-Permanente reports cost-savings from working with manufacturers to create polyvinyl chloride-free carpeting and IV bags and from a phase-out of mercury in medical devices.

Greener Cleaners Michael McCoy, Chemical & Engineering News January 21, 2007 Consumer demand for environmentally friendly cleaning products has changed the game for chemical suppliers. This new interest is proving to be a wake-up call to chemical companies that supply the cleaning products industry. Clorox has introduced a family of natural cleaners sold under the Earth-friendly name Green Works.

State to probe development of 'green' chemicals Marla Cone, Los Angeles Times January 31, 2008 In an effort to reduce industry's reliance on toxic compounds, state environmental officials today will lay out a framework for transforming California into a leader in the development and use of "green" chemicals.

Chemical-related illnesses cost stateTerence Chea, The Associated Press January 16, 2008 A new study by University of California researchers details the economic, environmental and public health effects of industrial chemicals and calls for state policies to phase out dangerous substances and promote safer alternatives. Toxic chemicals cost the state an estimated $2.6 billion annually in medical expenses and lost wages. The report is available here.

The Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) is a collaborative partnership of investmentmanagers, advised by nongovernmental organizations, concerned about the market and health risksassociated with corporate toxics policies. It serves as an informational resource and secretariat forinvestors working to reduce portfolio risk related to toxic chemicals. For more information, visit us onthe internet at http://www.iehn.org/ or contact RLiroff@iehn.org.

Corporate-NGO Partnerships to Advance Safer Chemicals

Companies are forging important collaborative linkages with NGOs concerned about safer chemicals policies. For example, there is increasingly close technical cooperation between advocate Health Care Without Harm on the one hand and health care leaders such as Consorta and Kaiser-Permanente on the other. Likewise, the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has created a Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), comprised of corporate leaders from multiple sectors and environmental health NGOs, all engaged in sharing innovations and generating useful tools. Another example is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics working with the more than 750 corporate signatories to its Compact for Safe Cosmetics on useful tools to speed the elimination of carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, and other chemicals of concern from cosmetics. Finally, the NGO Clean Production Action has produced “The Green Screen for SaferChemicals” that it has shared with companies, including Wal-Mart, as a tool for screening and ranking chemicals.

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