A Chinese drywall expert is warning homeowners to take it slow when it comes to remediating their homes.

The warning was  issued by Spiderman S. Mulholland, senior forensic investigator and national consultant with US Building Consultants and US Building Laboratories Inc.  Mulholland is a leading forensic expert on building envelope, water intrusion, toxic mold, and Chinese drywall. (more…)

Colorado health officials have linked 19 cases of  hepatitis C to one surgical technician who  allegedly swapped sterile Fentanyl syringes with dirty—potentially hepatitis C-contaminated—saline-filled syringes.  According to the Associated Press, all of the hepatitis C victims had surgery at Rose Medical Center.

Yeserday, Kristen Diane Parker,  26, was indicted on 42 counts by a federal grand jury, 21 counts of product tampering and 21 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by deceit, reported the Denver Post. These charges, said the Denver Post, only relate to Parker’s alleged activities at Rose. Parker was also charged with three criminal counts earlier in the month that were connected to stealing Fentanyl, the Denver Post noted. (more…)

More trouble for Bayer’s contraceptive pill Yaz.  It has been named in several lawsuits that claim women suffered blood clots and strokes as a result of using Yaz.

As we have reported previously, in October 2008, the FDA cited two Yaz commercials for deceptive claims. In a warning letter, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) faulted Bayer for overstating the benefits of Yaz. The FDA warning letter  also said the television commercials minimized the risks posed by Yaz. The FDA  criticized the ads for containing fast-moving images and background music that might be distracting to viewers.  These elements were aired while information about potential Yaz side effects – including potentially life-threatening blood clots – was described.  (more…)

We have another All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) recall to report.  This time, Polaris is recalling more than 4,000 2009 Model Year ATVs because of a fire hazard.

The recall involves the following 2009 Model Year Polaris ATVs: (more…)

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned yesterday that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) may contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals.

In a statement on its Website, n its statement, the FDA said has been examining and detaining shipments of e-cigarettes at the border and the products it has examined thus far meet the definition of a combination drug-device product under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA has been challenged regarding its jurisdiction over certain e-cigarettes in a case currently pending in federal district court. The agency is also planning additional activities to address its concerns about these products. (more…)

At least 200 Florida homes built by WCI Communities Inc. could have  defective Chinese drywall.

“To date, and subject to further investigation and confirmation, the debtors have identified approximately 200 homes sold by the Debtors that may contain Chinese drywall,” WCI said in a disclosure statement filed July 2 in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware. WCI Communities first acknowledged using Chinese drywall early this year.  In January, it set aside $11 million to handle drywall claims. (more…)

UCLA is investigating the research of a top spine surgeon because he allegedly failed to disclose his financial ties to medical device makers whose products he studied.

According  to The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Jeffrey Wang received consulting fees and other compensation from Medtronic Inc., DePuy Spine Inc., Facet Solutions Inc., Paradigm Spine LLC, an entity related to another company in which Dr. Wang received options  stock; and FzioMed Inc. (more…)

Interim results of a study conducted by scientists at the University of Liverpool are raising more concerns about  the use of the epilepsy drug  valproate during pregnancy.

According to a press release posted on Science Daily, this latest valproate study, conducted in collaboration with Emory University in the US and the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom UK), tested more than 300 three-year-olds in the UK and US, whose mothers took one of four anti-epilepsy drugs during pregnancy. The results also took dosage, duration of pregnancy and mother’s consumption of folic acid while pregnant, into account. (more…)

If you own an elliptical exercise machine, you might want to check to see if it is one of  of the models recalled for a  fall hazard today.

The first recall involves 48,000 Orbitrek Elite and Orbitrek Elite Magnetic Elliptical Exercise Gliders distributed by Thane International Inc., of La Quinta, Calif. and manufactured by Utop Sporting Co., of China.   According to the recall notice, the written assembly  instructions incorrectly identify the proper location of the spring washer. An incorrectly installed spring washer can put undue stress on bolts, causing them to loosen, which poses a fall hazard to consumers. (more…)

If you are a Florida resident dealing with Chinese drywall in your home, you should consider attending a special town hall meeting being held tonight in Bonita Springs.  The event is being sponsored by Parker Waichman Alonso LLP and Morgan & Morgan, P.A., which together filed the first federal lawsuit on behalf of Chinese drywall victims.

Spiderman Mulholland, Senior Forensic investigator and national consultant with US Building Consultants, Inc. and US Building Laboratories, Inc., will be a featured speaker at the meeting.   A Certified Indoor Environmentalist Consultant and leading forensic expert on building envelope, water intrusion, and toxic mold, Spiderman Mulholland has logged over 600 hours in the past several months working on the defective Chinese drywall crisis. (more…)