BPA (bisphenol-A), is and estrogen-like chemical compound that is widely used (3 million tons annually) in the production of plastic food containers, the resins that line food cans, and dental sealants. Research has shown that that BPA leaches out of products and may be absorbed into the body at low concentrations and animal studies have revealed that the chemical has potential health risks.

A new animal study, however, suggests that even at extremely low concentrations, BPA exposure in the womb may be harmful. Moreover, the study uncovered evidence that BPA may be a breast cancer risk factor because of its potential effect on the development of vulnerable and sensitive breast tissue.

West Nile virus, which had been active in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe for decades, first appeared in New York City in 1999.

Since then, the virus has spread across the United States and has accounted for 16,600 cases and 654 deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mosquito-borne illness is now considered a more serious health threat than previously believed.

For several years, West Nile was only regarded as a severe problem for the elderly and infirm and little more than a passing nuisance for the rest of the population. Today, however, West Nile has emerged as a serious threat to young, healthy people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Mild cases of the virus may impair people for weeks or months while more severe cases, though still rare, can cause varying degrees of paralysis and even respiratory failure. Dr. Henry Masur of the National Institutes of Health points out that even though West Nile is "fading" somewhat from public consciousness, there are still "more cases of paralysis (from West Nile) than there were in many years of polio."

The strain of West Nile in the United States is a more serious one than that found in much of the world where the virus has relatively mild symptoms and, as result, there is a higher percentage of cases with neurological complications similar to meningitis, encephalitis, and polio. This fact was not apparent to health officials early on. In fact, experts believe that some of the more severe symptoms are mistaken for a stroke or some other paralyzing illness.

Since there is no vaccine for West Nile, the best advice is to avoid contact with mosquitoes by using repellants, stay away from places which are likely mosquito habitats or breeding areas (like tall grass or damp, marshy areas), and not permit water to collect and stand in spots where mosquitoes can breed. If you experience a high fever, severe headache, confusion or difficulty thinking, severe muscle weakness, tremors, or a stiff neck, visit an emergency room or see a doctor immediately.

Hepatitis C is a particularly nasty virus for two reasons. The first is that it is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplants and complications related to the virus cause between 8,000 and 10,000 deaths each year.

The second is that symptoms of the virus may not appear until decades after a person is infected.

The virus is spread mostly through contact with contaminated blood from dirty needles and syringes shared by intravenous drug users (60%), blood transfusions (10%), and unprotected or risky sex (15%). Contaminated equipment used for tattoos, body and ear piercing, and manicures may also spread the virus. There have also been outbreaks of the virus in medical facilities with inadequate or failed infection-control procedures.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C which was only discovered in 1989. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80% of those infected never have symptoms. When symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and nausea do occur, it may not be for 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years after infection. In its later stages, the virus can cause cirrhosis of the liver and fatal end-stage liver disease requiring a liver transplant.

The CDC now estimates that, in the next 10 years, the number of deaths from complications of hepatitis C will triple. The sharp increase is expected among baby boomers infected in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of risky behavior. According to the CDC, two-thirds of those infected with hepatitis C are white, male baby boomers who live above the poverty line. Dr. Robert S. Brown, medical director for the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at New York Presbyterian Hospital states that: "The majority of my patients experimented with drugs during the ë60s and ë70s and now work on Wall Street.".

Personal Injury & Side Effects News

Using a number of sources, The Arizona Republic has compiled a list of 120 cases in the United States and Canada since 1999 where a death followed the use of a Taser stun gun.

The sources used included autopsy reports, computer searches, police reports, media accounts, and Taserís own records. To date, the research has shown that many of the deaths were "a cause, a contributing factor or could not be ruled out in someoneís death."

In several other cases, coroners and other officials reported that the use of the stun gun was not a factor in the death. In any event, the report lends strong support to the claim by many critics of the Taser that the so-called non-lethal weapon is far more dangerous than its manufacturer would have the public believe.

The Canadian government has admitted that soldiers stationed at a military base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, were harmed as a result of the use of the highly toxic defoliant, Agent Orange, at that base during the 1960s. Although these soldiers will now receive disability pensions from the government, no mention has been made of civilians who may also have been injured by exposure to the chemical. The United States sprayed enormous amounts of the herbicide to defoliate large sections of forest in Vietnam between 1961 and 1971 when it was discovered to contain dioxin, a known carcinogen.

A group of civilians, who lived in the vicinity of the plant, claim that Agent Orange is responsible for cancers and other medical problems among the local residents. A professor at the University of New Brunswick wants to study the claims with funding from the government in order to see "whether theyíve had cancer or a particular kind of cancer, whether they have children with learning disabilities or learning differences, whether thereís been a difference in terms of the number of children born prematurely or whatever.".

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Secondhand smoke has been proven to pose a number of extremely serious health risks to those who live or work with a smoker. Emphysema, cancer, decreased fertility, eye disorders, heart problems and death have all been attributed to this type of indirect exposure to the hazardous substances contained in cigarette smoke.

Now, researchers have found that a similar link exists between asbestos particles brought home by those who worked with the material and asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, developed by family members decades later.

A study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found a significant number of cases of the relatively rare cancer in family members of asbestos workers. According to the findings of Dr. Albert Miller of St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York, the cancer, which is mainly caused by exposure to airborne particles of asbestos, most often affects the wives and daughters of asbestos workers and may take over 40 years to develop.
A few cases involving sons and other relatives were also found, however.

The study concluded that exposure to particles of asbestos carried home on workersí £lothing and bodies was directly linked to 32 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in family members since 1990. About 90% of mesotheliomas in men have been attributed to asbestos because of their direct exposure to the material at work. In cases involving women, however, linking the disease to asbestos has proven to be more difficult. Based upon the stud results, Dr. Miller theorizes that many of these unexplained cases in women may be related to having lived with an asbestos-exposed worker at some point in their lives.Personal Injury & Side Effects News

The Canadian Dermatology Association is finding that people in their 20s are now starting to get a common form of skin cancer (basal cell) usually found in those over 50. Basal cell accounts for 80% of all skin cancers which is triggered by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Thus, frequent severe sunburns and intense exposure to the sun during childhood increase the risk of basal cell skin cancer later on. With children getting out in the sun at an earlier age, the potential for developing basal cell skin cancer is simply becoming a fact of life.

Even though basal cell skin cancer is the least dangerous form of skin cancer, it has the potential of causing disfigurement if left untreated. Warning signs include a sore or pimple-like growth that bleeds, crusts over and then reappears, a sore that does not heal within two months, or a small, red, scaling patch. Men are more likely to develop this type of cancer and those with fair skin and blonde or red hair are most at risk. Surgery, scraping, heating (electrodessication), and freezing are the most common forms of treatment..

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that wider use be made of a new meningitis vaccine known as Menactra and manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. The following categories of young people are the ones the CDC is most interested in seeing vaccinated: all 11- and 12-year-olds; high school freshmen or children under 15, whichever comes earlier, and college freshmen living in dormitories.

Each year about 3,000 people in the United States contract meningococcal disease. About 10% of these people die and another 15% may suffer serious permanent disabilities including loss of hearing, brain damage, or the loss of a limb. .

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As we reported on May 24, phthalates, a group of chemicals found in cosmetics, personal care products, and other common items have become the subject of debate with respect to their potential effect on humans. Products containing phthalates include hair sprays, deodorants, shampoos, nail polish, perfumes, body washes, skin creams, toys, vinyl flooring, inks, paints, Clingfilm, and medical equipment.

Until now, an indication that these chemicals might be harmful in some way to humans were test results that showed rats exposed to phthalates have a higher rate of birth defects related to the male reproductive system. Other studies only suggested possible links to early puberty in girls and decreased sperm counts in men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that phthalate levels in young women were much higher than average.

A new study, however, indicates that when four particular phthalates are found above certain concentrations in the urine of pregnant women, the reproductive systems of their infant boys are adversely affected. The abnormalities detected include smaller penises and scrotums, and less developed testicles. It appears that the chemicals suppress production of the male sex hormone testosterone. The researchers found 25% of the women in the United States have concentrations of these four phthalates at this concentration level.

The study involved scientists and doctors at a number of universities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Many experts, environmental groups, and consumer advocates have expressed concern over these findings and have called for the immediate implementation of strong regulations to eliminate this serious health threat.

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Since 2001, the NHTSA has warned that 15-passenger vans pose a serious rollover risk. The vans have a high center of gravity and tend to be unstable when operated at high speeds, with more than 10 occupants, or with improperly inflated tires. Federal law prohibits the sale of these vans for school-related transportation involving children of high school age or younger. This prohibition does not apply to college students or other passengers.

A new research report confirms that improper tire maintenance on 15-passenger vans is a significant cause of rollover accidents. Mis-inflated tires change the handling characteristics of the vehicle. Surprisingly, 74% of all 15-passenger vans were found to have significantly mis-inflated tires as opposed to only 39% of passenger cars. Failure to use available seat belts also contributes to the high number of injuries and deaths associated with this type of van. Thus, operators are strongly advised to insist that all passengers buckle-up before taking to the road..

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