From kal0303@doh.wa.gov Sun Apr 18 07:41:43 1999 Received: from mxu4.u.washington.edu (mxu4.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.02/8.9.3+UW99.01) with ESMTP id HAA122322 for ; Sun, 18 Apr 1999 07:41:42 -0700 Received: from smtp.doh.wa.gov (hub.doh.wa.gov [192.230.1.5]) by mxu4.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.02/8.9.3+UW99.01) with SMTP id HAA14685 for ; Sun, 18 Apr 1999 07:41:42 -0700 Received: from Connect2 Message Router by smtp.doh.wa.gov via Connect2-SMTP 4.00; Sun, 18 Apr 99 07:44:03 -0700 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <9D7E804A014C3700> Date: Sun, 18 Apr 99 7:40:21 -0700 From: "Lukens-Bull, Katryne A." Sender: "Lukens-Bull, Katryne A." To: ph-assess@u.washington.edu Subject: ASTHO Newsletter X-mailer: Connect2-SMTP 4.00 MHS to SMTP Gateway THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH OFFICIALS (ASTHO) THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NEWS **April 1999** IN THIS ISSUE: *Children's Health *Food Safety and Nutrition *Global Climate *Regulatory Reform *Toxic Substances/Waste *Water Quality *Other Information *Upcoming Events -------------------------------- Children's Health -------------------------------- AIR POLLUTION HARMING CHILDREN'S LUNGS Preliminary results from a continuing 10-year study of 3,600 Southern California grade school children, conducted by the University of Southern California's Environmental Health Sciences Center, show that air pollution affects girls' breathing more than boys'. Boys, however, get respiratory diseases at younger ages. The study indicates that air pollution may produce chronic effects on children's lungs, contributing to breathing problems, possibly asthma. ASTHMA ATTACKS IN CHILDREN INCREASE WHEN AIR POLLUTION INCREASES A new study reported in the March 13, 1999 issue of The Lancet supports a direct link between asthma attacks in children and air pollution. The study evaluated 632 children and found that those children whose lungs already were hyper-responsive tended to have asthma attacks when air pollution increased. ------------------------------------ Food Safety and Nutrition ------------------------------------ PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON FOOD SAFETY STARTS WEBSITE The President's Council on Food Safety has established an Internet website at http://www.foodsafety.gov/presidentscouncil to provide information on Council activities and food safety issues. The new website offers the latest food safety news, including recall information and consumer advice, and provides consumers with instructions on reporting possible foodborne illnesses and related product complaints. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GOOD AGRICULTURE PRACTICES The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be hosting an International Conference on the Good Agriculture practices entitled "Enhancing the Safety of Fresh Produce at the Source: Training Modalities and Methods, Needs, and Opportunities" on April 26-28, 1999 at the Inn and Conference Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Please contact Bernice Friedlander at 202-260-8683, FSI staff, for more information. FOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT HEARING The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry has set a public hearing for April 22, 1999 on Agency Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) implementation. For more information, visit the House Agriculture Committee webpage at http://www.house.gov/agriculture. EPA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON TWO DRAFT SCIENCE POLICY PAPERS EPA's Office of Pesticide Program seeks public comment on two draft science policy papers: "Choosing a Percentile of Acute Dietary Exposure as a Threshold of Regulatory Concern" and "Data for Refining Anticipated Residue Estimates Used in Dietary Risk Assessments for Organophosphate Pesticides." Both drafts can be found on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/trac/science/. Comments are due by June 7, 1999. PEST MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES RESEARCH GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE Proposals are invited for competitive grant awards under the Special Research Grants Program titled "Pest Management Alternatives Program: Addressing Food Quality Protection Act Issues for Fiscal Year 1999." This program addresses anticipated changes in pest management on food, feed, livestock, and ornamental commodities resulting from implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). Proposals are due June 1, 1999. For more information, contact Steve Yaninek, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mail Stop 2220; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20250-2220. Telephone:(202) 401-6702; fax number: (202) 401-6869; e-mail address: syaninek@reeusda.gov. CAMPAIGN TO LABEL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS Biotech opponents have formed a "Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods" in the U.S. The campaign is a newly formed non-profit political advocacy organization which is calling on activists to hold public demonstrations about genetically engineered foods on or around Earth Day, April 22. The intent is to secure media coverage and raise public attention about the problems with genetically engineered foods and to push for national labeling legislation. More information can be found on the Internet at http://www.thecampaign.org. -------------------------------- Global Climate -------------------------------- EPA WEBSITE PROVIDES "STATE BY STATE" IMPACT ASSESSMENT MAPS EPA's Global Warming website provides a summary of climate change issues organized by Human Health, Agriculture, Coastal Areas, Water Resources, Forests, and Ecosystems for each state. The site, which is located at http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/stateimp/index.html, also provides links to the state climate change database and a full text report on state climate change. -------------------------------- Regulatory Reform -------------------------------- THOMPSON DROPS REGULATORY REFORM BILL Resurrecting a failed measure from last year and in an effort to gain broader support from Capitol Hill Democrats and the Clinton administration, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) last week introduced a comprehensive regulatory reform bill that now incorporates new provisions requested by the White House. The purpose of the legislation is to provide a framework for transparency to the federal rulemaking process so that interested parties can see the "thinking" behind rulemaking decisions, the bill's sponsors said. In order to do so, the bill would require federal agencies to perform risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses for major rules and would provide for limited judicial review. A hearing on the new bill is expected as early as April, Senate sources say. WHITE HOUSE OBJECTS TO REGULATORY ACCOUNTING BILL H.R. 1074 is a regulatory accounting bill that would require the White House Office of Management and Budget to provide an annual accounting statement detailing the costs and benefits of federal regulatory programs. It was the subject of a March 24 hearing in the Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs. Although the Clinton administration says it supports the right-to-know purpose of the bill and in the past has supported regulatory accounting legislation, it has expressed concern that the language is too prescriptive and would give a bias toward regulatory costs over health and safety benefits. -------------------------------- Toxic Substances/Waste -------------------------------- ATSDR AND DOJ ACTIVITIES AT SUPERFUND SITES The U.S. General Accounting Office has issued a report titled "Superfund Program: Activities of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Department of Justice." A copy of the report is posted to the Internet at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/rc99085.pdf or call GAO at 202-512-6000 to request a copy. HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ATSDR is seeking research grant applications from state public health agencies to fill gaps in the knowledge regarding human health effects of hazardous substances. The focus is on birth defects and reproductive disorders, cancers (selected anatomic sites), immune function disorders, kidney dysfunction, liver dysfunction, lung and respiratory diseases, and neurotoxic disorders. For more information, contact Dr. Jeffrey Lybarger, Director, Division of Health Studies, at 404-639-6200 or e-mail JAL2@cdc.gov. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY WITHIN TRIBAL COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ATSDR has announced a program to build environmental public health capacity within Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU). The purpose of the program is to undertake capacity building activities that will assist TCU programs and TCU graduates in addressing human health issues related to exposures to hazardous substances released into the environment which may affect American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. More information can be found in the Federal Register Notice from April 1, 1999. HEALTH ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED AT ABANDONED SUPERFUND DISPOSAL SITES ATSDR has published a list of completed public health assessments conducted during the time period of October 1998 through December 1998. The list includes sites that are on or proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List, and includes sites for which assessments were prepared in response to requests from the public. For additional information, contact Robert Williams, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation at 404-639-0610. Please refer to the March 30, 1999 Federal Register Notice for information on how to order the assessments from the National Technical Information Service. PRESSURE FOR BROAD SUPERFUND BILL LESSENS, CALLS FOR BROWNFIELDS BILL INCREASE Many legislators at a March 23 Finance and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing on Superfund indicated that there is little hope that a broad rewrite of the program will be achieved and that legislators should instead focus on targeted fixes to the program, in particular language to facilitate brownfield cleanup. The Clinton administration, many congressional Democrats, and many constituent groups have advocated targeted reforms to the Superfund program and especially reforms for brownfields, but many Republican legislators have argued against anything short of a comprehensive rewrite of the toxic waste cleanup law. BOEHLERT INTRODUCES "MODEST" BROWNFIELDS, SUPERFUND LIABILITY BILL Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) has introduced with Rep. James Barcia (D-Mich.) a "modest" bill focusing on facilitating brownfields cleanups and providing certain liability relief under Superfund. The bill, H.R. 1300, provides language to remove barriers to brownfields redevelopment and alleviate developers' liability concerns for brownfields; and includes provisions to exempt small businesses, municipalities, and recyclers from liability. PESTICIDES ARE AMONG TOP 5 ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF ILLNESS Pesticides are among the top five environmental causes of human illness, according to Kenneth Olden, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Olden pointed to research his institute has conducted that found low doses of methoxychlor caused reproductive problems and that tebuconazol causes learning deficiencies in rodents. WOMEN'S EXPOSURE TO ORGANIC SOLVENTS SHOULD BE MINIMIZED DURING PREGNANCY Women exposed at work to organic solvents during pregnancy have an increased risk of major fetal malformations, according to an article in the March 24/31 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Sohail Khattak, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., of The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto in Canada, and colleagues studied the occurrence of fetal malformations in 125 pregnant women who were exposed to organic solvents at work during the first trimester of pregnancy. There were also 125 women in a control group. The researchers found that there were 13 major malformations in the fetuses of women exposed to organic solvents and one in the control group. Twelve of the fetal malformations occurred among the 75 women who had symptoms associated with their exposure to organic solvents - irritation of the eyes or respiratory system, breathing difficulty and headaches - while none occurred among the 43 women exposed to the organic solvents who did not have symptoms. -------------------------------- Water Quality -------------------------------- SOME BOTTLED WATER CALLED UNSAFE While there have been no confirmed reports in the past 37 years of illness or disease linked to bottled water in the United States, a report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) shows that not all bottled water is free of bacteria and chemicals in amounts considered unsafe for human consumption. The council tested 1,000 samples of bottled water sold under 103 brand names. The International Bottled Water Association, which performs its own industry water quality testing, found similar results. The council is advocating for stricter FDA regulations on bottled water. They are also advocating for the transfer of jurisdiction to the EPA, which regulates tap water. For NRDC's full report, visit its website at http://www.nrdc.org. EPA NEEDS MORE STRINGENT STANDARD FOR ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER EPA should develop a stricter standard for allowable levels of arsenic in the nation's drinking water supplies as soon as possible, says a new report by a committee of the National Research Council. Arsenic has long been identified as a toxicant, and in drinking water it has been associated with skin cancer and other disorders. But recent studies suggest that drinking water with high levels of arsenic also can lead to bladder and lung cancer, which are more likely to be fatal. New data and more precise models for estimating risk suggest that the likelihood of developing cancer from drinking water that contains the maximum allowable amount of arsenic greatly increases when lung and bladder cancers are included. Pre-publication copies of "Arsenic in Drinking Water" are available from the National Academy Press at 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242. The cost of the report is $55.00 (prepaid) plus shipping charges of $4.50 for the first copy and $.95 for each additional copy. The report is also available online at http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/. RADON COSTS COULD MAKE WATER UNAFFORDABLE Implementing a radon standard in drinking water could put too much financial strain on small water systems in rural areas, according to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) regulatory staff. EPA published a health risk reduction and cost analysis document in the February 26, 1999 Federal Register, which estimates costs up to 1 percent of annual income. For households served by small water systems, EPA estimated the rule could cost from about $34 a year for small public systems to $489 annually for private water systems. HOUSE SET FOR DOUBLE MARKUP OF CLEAN BEACHES BILL H.R. 999, legislation aimed at making beaches cleaner and safer, is set to be marked up by the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee the morning of April 15, 1999 and by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the afternoon. Introduced by Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) March 4 and having gained 10 co-sponsors since then, the bill amends the Clean Water Act to require states to adopt water quality criteria for coastal recreation waters consistent with those published by EPA. Its intent is to establish uniform criteria for testing, monitoring water quality, and notifying beach users to protect public safety and the environment. --------------------------------- Other Information --------------------------------- CDC ISSUES REPORT ON PREVENTION CDC has released a report titled "An ounce of prevention...what are the returns?" The report presents a literature-based review of evidence demonstrating that prevention can be an effective and wise use of resources. This is the second edition of the report and is published in the April 1999 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The paper is available on the AJPM website at http://www-east.elsevier.com/ajpm/. GAO PRESENTS TESTIMONY ON BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM The U.S. General Accounting Office presented congressional testimony titled "Combating Terrorism: Observations on Biological Terrorism and Public Health Initiatives" before the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriation. The testimony was presented on March 16, 1999 by Henry L. Hinton, Jr., Assistant Comptroller General for National Security and International Affairs. A copy of the report, GAO Number T-NSIAD-99-112 is available from GAO at 202-512-6000. FEDERALLY SPONSORED PANEL TO LOOK AT DATA ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF PLASTICIZERS The federal government's new reproductive risk evaluation center today announced its first review -- a look at the possible reproductive risks to plastics workers and consumers from seven phthalates found widely in consumer products and the environment. Phthalates are chemical plasticizers used in making flexible vinyl products such as shower curtains, medical devices such as tubing and IV bags, upholstery, raincoats, balls, and soft squeeze toys. The new NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction will assemble a dozen or more scientists with applicable expertise to evaluate the substances in public sessions, which are tentatively planned for August 1999 in the Washington, D.C. area. ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CADMIUM EXPOSURE A team of European researchers has reported their findings of a study on the health effects caused by long-term exposure to cadmium in the April 3rd issue of The Lancet. A copy of the research report is available on the Lancet site at http://www.thelancet.com/newlancet/reg/issues/vol353no9159/menu_NOD3.html. A subscription is needed to access the article. U.S. PANEL SEES POTENTIAL FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA A panel of scientists convened by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine has issued a report on its review of the medical use of marijuana. The panel said that "the active substances in marijuana may be `moderately' useful for treating such problems as pain, nausea and appetite loss, but smoked marijuana has little future as a medicine." The scientists warned of the risks of lung damage associated with smoked marijuana. They advocated research into developing an inhalation device that would allow patients to take in the drug's active ingredients but would not deliver tar and other unwanted substances. SCRUTINY FOCUSES ON COST OF NEW LIVESTOCK FEEDING REGULATIONS Concerned that the financial hardships of livestock producers will worsen under new regulations announced by the vice president, 52 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives - including Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest, Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Joe Skeen and Majority Leader Richard Armey - have asked Vice President Al Gore for a detailed breakdown of expenses to producers and the taxpayers. The letter to the vice president requests details of how the Clinton Administration intends to monitor and implement the voluntary and regulatory programs within the Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations, known as "the Strategy." Chairman Combest has expressed concern about the added expense and workload for USDA to oversee the new regulatory burdens, and the diversion of time and money that should instead be spent on the needs of all producers served by the Department of Agriculture. BIOAEROSOLS: ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL PUBLICATION AVAILABLE Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, written by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc. (ACGIH) Bioaerosols Committee, offers a comprehensive guide to the assessment and control of bioaerosols in the full range of contemporary workplaces. The Guidelines notebook, originally published by ACGIH in 1989, offered 100 pages of information. The new volume is more than quintuple the size of the earlier version. Although the indoor environment remains a focus of concern, much of the information in the fourth publication has application beyond office environments. For more information or to order this publication, visit ACGIH's website at http://www.acgih.org/catalog/pubshow1.asp?prod=3180. NEW COMMUNICATION NEWSLETTER FROM OPEA "Communication Station" is ATSDR's new Office of Policy and External Affairs (OPEA) monthly electronic newsletter that covers useful tips and tactics to enhance communications. The "writing tips" department in the new newsletter is similar to OPEA's former newsletter, "The Red Pen Alert." "Communication Station" expands the content of "The Red Pen Alert" to cover not only editorial issues but also other specialized types and channels of communication. For more information, please contact Kathy Skipper at bos1@cdc.gov. --------------------------------- Upcoming Events --------------------------------- LIVE SATELLITE TELECONFERENCE WITH FDA COMMISSIONER As part of the Agency's ongoing conversation with stakeholders, Dr. Jane Henney, FDA Commissioner, and Dr. Linda Suydam, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Management, will be available to consumers, health providers, and industry representatives in a nationally broadcast, interactive television program to discuss the opportunities and challenges to the modernization of this essential public health agency. The teleconference will take place on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern time. For more information, please consult the FDA web page at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7modact.html. SAVE THIS DATE ASTHO's Annual Meeting will take place September 28 to October 1, 1999 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. For more information, contact Jason Hohl at 202-371-9090 or e-mail Jhohl@astho.org. ---------------------------------- Points of Contact ---------------------------------- Policy and technical comments/questions should be directed to Timothy O'Leary, Director, Environmental Health Policy, toleary@astho.org Legislative questions should be directed to Jacalyn Bryan, Associate Director for Government Relations, jbryan@astho.org ****************************************************** Articles and Information from public health officials or other interested parties are welcome at Environmental Health News, Attn: Mindy Criser, ASTHO, 1275 K STREET, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005-4006. Fax: 202-371-9797. Phone: 202-371-9090. E-mail: mcriser@astho.org. ****************************************************** ************************************************************ Mindy Criser Analyst, Environmental Health Policy Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005-4006 Phone: (202) 371-9090 x225 Fax: (202) 371-9797 e-mail: mcriser@astho.org web site: http://www.astho.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Katryne Lukens Bull, MPH, CHES Phone: (360) 236-4063 Washington State Department of Health Fax: (360) 586-7424 Office of Planning Pager: (360) 971-0586 1112 SE Quince St. E-mail: kal0303@doh.wa.gov PO Box 47890 Olympia, Wa 98504-7890 .