Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Lawyer Who Became Dupont's Worst Nightmare


"Rob Bilott was a corporate defense attorney for eight years. Then he took on an environmental suit that would upend his entire career — and expose a brazen, decades-long history of chemical pollution."

By NATHANIEL RICH, New York Times, Jan. 6, 2016

Another in-depth report in the tradition of Steven Brill's brilliant account of America's Most Admired Lawbreaker, Nathaniel Rich paints a riveting portrait and account of corporate attorney Rob Bilott taking the case of a cattle farmer who called about his cows mysteriously dying. Years of digging let to discovery of the cause: wide scale poisoning from PFOA-tainted water from DuPont's landfill from Teflon production. Long after DuPont learned of PFOA's health hazards, they buried the data and denied the links - and the responsibility. Federal, state and local regulators repeatedly sided with DuPont's claims of safety over citizens' and scientists' claims of harm. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is now recognized by EPA as a health risk. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Breaking News: Genetic Health Risks of Dental Mercury

Dental Group Defends Mercury Fillings Amid Mounting Evidence of Risks
Greg Gordon, McClatchy January 5, 2016 

HIGHLIGHTS
Researchers: Brain effects threaten up to 4 in 10 people with certain genetic traits
Food and Drug Administration defends safety of mercury dental products
Thirteen years after issue arose, EPA yet to order controls on dental mercury discharges

EXCERPT
"THE ADA OWES NO LEGAL DUTY OF CARE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM ALLEGEDLY DANGEROUS PRODUCTS USED BY DENTISTS. THE ADA DID NOT MANUFACTURE, DESIGN, SUPPLY OR INSTALL THE MERCURY-CONTAINING AMALGAMS. ... DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY DOES NOT CREATE A DUTY OF CARE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM POTENTIAL INJURY."American Dental Association response to a patient lawsuit

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article53118775.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: Dental Group Defends Mercury Fillings Amid Mounting Evidence of Health Risks

Tests Suggest Mercury in Air at Some Dental Clinics 

Greg Gordon, McClatchy DC, January 5, 2016


Highlights
Firm finds soaring mercury levels in visits to dental offices
Dental workers among those sickened by toxin
‘There are kids running around everywhere. . . . It’s nuts’

Read more here: Tests Suggest Mercury in Air at Some Dental Clinics



Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Add More Protection to the Protect Bill! - March 12, 2014

My Comment on Venture Beat's blog, March 12, 2014: We Need to Return to Delivering Health Information, Anne Wojcicki

"The Protect Bill also needs... respect for biocompatibility and impact of toxins like mercury off-gassing from dental amalgam.  

Dental amalgam is scientifically and clinically proven to harm genetically susceptible children and adults who have gene types that do not clear mercury well. At least a half dozen gene glitches have been identified impair methylation (important to nerves) and detoxification (important to toxins) pathways. 

There are impacts for many of us as we age with these glitches, as our protective hormones and immune systems weaken.  The largest of these affects 20%+ of the population, 63M people.  In addition, 67M people have enough amalgams to exceed the FDA's "safe" reference dose, which doesn't take into account gene type. 

There are impacts for boys with CPOX4 from amalgam immediately - changes in kidney markers and neurobehavioral deficits.  James S. Woods, lead researcher of the initial CAT study of dental amalgam in children, retracted his findings of amalgam safety from the Children's Amalgam Trial in Portugal twice, in 2012 and 2013. Google to find the articles which the media ignored.

Animal studies show immediate distribution of mercury from installation of dental amalgam to the brains, kidneys and livers of sheep and monkeys.

The Net, Google, social media, courageous doctors, biologic dentists, scientists, Health IT, new tests, engaged people and parents and patients, and 23andMe helped save my health, my life, my family, my finances and my future after 20 years of chronic disease, and a year of serious, escalating health problems.

The FDA protects dated, dangerous products and industries over people and health. Protectionism is bad in the economy.  It is even worse in health, where the consequences are deadly, and incredibly costly to families, employers, health plans, and governments.   

The IAOMT sued the FDA March 5th for not responding to a petition for reconsideration of its flawed 2009 Class II ruling for amalgam after 54 months.  The Administration has not yet agreed to a request for a Surgeon General Report on Dental Amalgam and Mercury Health Risks.  Congress has not yet shown interest or leadership on this issue since its shining lights retired.

23andMe'ers, this is our time. Promote use and understanding of genetic information, and end genetic discrimination in medical and dental care.  Many of us require labels and protection from synergistic toxins like dental mercury which are ubiquitous and federally sanctioned, not labeled nor disclosed to us as patients or parents, and for which we do not get the basic human and medical right of written informed consent."

Friday, April 4, 2014

From Silent Spring to Hidden River: Guest Post on Independent Minds Blog - May 21, 2012

2012 MAY 21

by Rick Holmes
A guest post by Laura Henze Russell:
Fifty years ago, Rachel Carson ignited the environmental movement by
publishing, Silent Spring. Highlighting the impact of pesticides in
damaging birds’ reproductive cycles, Silent Spring sounded a trumpeter
swan’s call to remove species-killing substances from the environment.
Earth Day was organized in communities across the nation, the EPA
created, and the Clean Air, Clean Water and Toxic Substance Control Act
passed.
Fast forward fifty years. Countless new chemicals and  bioengineered
substances have been developed. Laws have not kept pace with rapidly
advancing technology that has gone beyond our wildest imaginations. New
processes like fracking for natural gas are harming the air, water
supply and food chain in new ways. Old poisons like mercury persist in
being put permanently into people’s mouths, and get a free pass by being
labelled a ‘medical device’ in silver-colored amalgam fillings. Flame
retardants are showing up in alarming levels in young children’s blood
samples.
Our immune systems and neurological systems are under constant assault.
When they give way, we become increasingly sensitive, and increasingly
sick. Babies, children, adults, boomers and older adults are all at risk
across the age spectrum, these are equal opportunity toxins.
It is time to shine a bright, penetrating light on the Hidden River of
chemicals, biologicals, bioengineered nanosubstances and toxic metals
and elements running through us. Pass the Safe Chemicals Act, ban dental
mercury amalgam use, and get up to speed on bioengineering risks before
we bet and buy the farm. Not only will we bankrupt the health care
system, we will have a very silent planet.
Laura Henze Russell is part of the MA delegation, Alliance for a Healthy
Tomorrow, attending the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Rally in
Washington DC on May 22nd.