A young military family's move into military housing last fall resulted in serious illness, a court-martial hearing, and a job transfer. According to this story published by WRDW-TV in Augusta, Georgia:
Kourtney Shelton and her family just want to raise their children in a safe place. They came to Augusta last October, excited about where life's journey was taking them—but they never expected it would take a dark turn.
Kourtney Shelton has been living in Augusta for about seven months, and as she'll be the first to tell you, some of it hasn't been pleasant. "The last few months have just been horrible," Kourtney says.
Kourtney, her army husband, and their two children moved into military housing on Fort Gordon. For the first few weeks, she says, her family stayed sick.
"When we were out of the home we all felt better, so we started to think that maybe there was something going on inside our home," describes Kourtney.
It wasn't until they spotted spots on their walls and air conditioning vents that they started to get worried. "We had no idea at the time how big the problem was or anything," says Kourtney.
The family snapped pictures of the home. In them, you can see the A/C vent from the outside, and then from the inside. You can also see the air duct. In other places in the home you see paint peeling off the walls and water stains dripping from the breaker box. The family believes some of the pictures show mold. Kourtney says, "The pictures we took from our home are just disgusting."
Several months after moving in, 6-month-old Evelyn stopped breathing. "That was by far the most scary and most traumatizing moment of my life," says Kourtney.
Multiple doctors treated Evelyn, but they did not agree on exactly what caused her to stop breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says mold exposure can cause respiratory problems in kids and adults.
"I went and met with the housing manager and I said, 'We have a big problem here,'" describes Kourtney.
Like many military bases, Fort Gordon's on-post housing is contracted out to Balfour Beatty, a British construction company that builds and maintains homes like the Sheltons' for the U.S. Government.
"Perhaps it's ignorance, I don't know at that time I truly believed that the housing company would have been like...'Oh I'm so sorry, let's make this right, let's make the situation better. Like wow, we really failed your family, let's look into this and move on, let's help make things better.' That was not at all what happened," explains Kourtney.
Balfour Beatty says they did do a visual inspection and took moisture readings. In a statement Balfour Beatty says: "Our readings did not indicate any problems typically associated with excessive moisture or mold growth."
Balfour Beatty agreed to have the air ducts cleaned, the bathroom fans replaced, and some drywall repaired, but the source of moisture was never located. Kourtney and her family eventually moved off-post.
Because of an encounter with Balfour Beatty housing managers, Kourtney's husband was offered an Article 15 punishment. Instead he requested a court-martial hearing.
Last week SPC Shelton was found guilty and demoted by two ranks. However, the judge deemed the unit to have retaliated illegally against SPC Shelton and issued a sentencing credit. SPC Shelton is in the process of transferring to a new base, where the story will continue to unfold. In regard to his sentence, SPC Shelton says:
Guilty... guilty of choosing the safety and well-being of my family over the importance of being quiet when someone else is talking. I am accepting my punishment with my head held high, knowing that I was forced to take the moral right vs. the legal wrong. It is now time to get back to focusing on what is most important to me, to being a soldier, to being the best Papa I can be to my little ones, and the best husband I can be to the woman who inspires me and stands by me through it all.
Part 1 of WRDW-TV's special investigative report can be found here.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Covert Chicken Feet
I used to do one-stop grocery shopping. Stock up on macaroni and cheese, head down the meat aisle, and end with a few fruits or vegetables.
Times have changed. Embracing Hippocrates’ admonishment to make food our medicine, I joined an organic buying club and discovered farmers markets. Because I buy in bulk, I now "shop" for food in rather unconventional ways. At times I feel like I'm performing a CIA covert operation. The mission is not an easy one. Sometimes a shot of wheatgrass juice is all that keeps me going.
My suppliers, in order of appearance:
Marcia's soy-free eggs
Walking J Farm (best chicken feet in the world)
White Cane Sockeye Salmon
Fiore di Capra goat dairy
Times have changed. Embracing Hippocrates’ admonishment to make food our medicine, I joined an organic buying club and discovered farmers markets. Because I buy in bulk, I now "shop" for food in rather unconventional ways. At times I feel like I'm performing a CIA covert operation. The mission is not an easy one. Sometimes a shot of wheatgrass juice is all that keeps me going.
Special thanks to producer/director Reagan Fabry
and concept creator Sherry Parmelee.
and concept creator Sherry Parmelee.
My suppliers, in order of appearance:
Marcia's soy-free eggs
Walking J Farm (best chicken feet in the world)
White Cane Sockeye Salmon
Fiore di Capra goat dairy
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Back to School
We did our best to keep our kids in school during the 2007-2008 school year, but their health was failing and their symptoms increasing. One by one we took them out of school as our health grew worse. Within a month of vacating our home in October 2008, we knew our kids needed medical help. We put their education on the back burner.
We relocated to Arizona to get that help, and as the reality of the detoxification process took hold, I let go of any attempt to homeschool my children. I couldn’t prepare a meal, let alone teach math.
I contacted our school district and requested help. We tested the children and tried some online classes. When we realized we'd be staying in the district, I requested a tutor. I based my request on a letter from our treating physician at the time, Dr. Michael Gray. (See this previous post.)
The school district was more than accommodating. We drew up 504 plans for each of our five school-age children. The district provided two homebound tutors over the course of the next two years. Our 15-year-old attended one class at the local high school, in addition to the tutoring. Our 17-year-old completed her GED last spring.
What about the younger kids? Were they ready to try school? Our 7th-grade daughter tried an after-school club at our local middle school in April and loved it. But within a few hours her nose began to bleed and continued for 24 hours.
The school was an old building and routinely sprayed with pesticides. Our kids weren’t ready.
I called the local charter school. They were voted “Greenest Grade School in America” in 2008. Most schools use pesticides. Would they be different? To my surprise, the school had not been sprayed. Even more surprising, the buildings were newer construction. I couldn’t believe it when I learned that the middle school had openings and the 5th grade had room for one child: a boy. Brandon, who had missed most of 1st and 2nd grade, was entering 5th grade.
I hung up the phone and burst into tears.
Could our lives be turning a corner? Had this aimless wandering not been aimless after all? Were we placed in the “middle of nowhere” only to discover that just down the road was a school that would breathe new life into our family?
Air quality would be the key to our children’s success. The school allowed us to have the buildings inspected for mold. There was no apparent water intrusion and no hint of mold. Thermal imagining showed no hidden moisture. The district agreed to purchase one air purifier for each of the three classrooms. (Based on our mold specialist’s recommendation, we chose the Austin Health Mate.)
The school administrator even added this request to parents in the back-to-school newsletter:
We have a new family at the school and they are HIGHLY sensitive to chemicals and smells. They have asked us to help their kids succeed in this environment by being very aware of hair products, lotions, and perfumes. If everyone can refrain from wearing products that are highly chemical and with a fragrance, it would be a huge benefit to these kids.
School started this last Monday. On Sunday night, I drew apples on our front porch, the resurrection of an old tradition. Every year on the first day of school, I would use red and green chalk to commemorate the kids’ passage into a new year. Their grade number would appear prominently in the middle. The resulting picture of each child standing in their apple told the story of new backpacks, favorite outfits, and ever-changing faces.
This year’s “apple pictures” marked more than a passage into a new school year. They marked the beginning of a new season. And while our journey is far from over, we're not where we once were. As the poem by Joseph Morris reminds us:
Oh, the rewards of taking it one step at a time.
We relocated to Arizona to get that help, and as the reality of the detoxification process took hold, I let go of any attempt to homeschool my children. I couldn’t prepare a meal, let alone teach math.
I contacted our school district and requested help. We tested the children and tried some online classes. When we realized we'd be staying in the district, I requested a tutor. I based my request on a letter from our treating physician at the time, Dr. Michael Gray. (See this previous post.)
The school district was more than accommodating. We drew up 504 plans for each of our five school-age children. The district provided two homebound tutors over the course of the next two years. Our 15-year-old attended one class at the local high school, in addition to the tutoring. Our 17-year-old completed her GED last spring.
What about the younger kids? Were they ready to try school? Our 7th-grade daughter tried an after-school club at our local middle school in April and loved it. But within a few hours her nose began to bleed and continued for 24 hours.
The school was an old building and routinely sprayed with pesticides. Our kids weren’t ready.
I called the local charter school. They were voted “Greenest Grade School in America” in 2008. Most schools use pesticides. Would they be different? To my surprise, the school had not been sprayed. Even more surprising, the buildings were newer construction. I couldn’t believe it when I learned that the middle school had openings and the 5th grade had room for one child: a boy. Brandon, who had missed most of 1st and 2nd grade, was entering 5th grade.
I hung up the phone and burst into tears.
Could our lives be turning a corner? Had this aimless wandering not been aimless after all? Were we placed in the “middle of nowhere” only to discover that just down the road was a school that would breathe new life into our family?
Air quality would be the key to our children’s success. The school allowed us to have the buildings inspected for mold. There was no apparent water intrusion and no hint of mold. Thermal imagining showed no hidden moisture. The district agreed to purchase one air purifier for each of the three classrooms. (Based on our mold specialist’s recommendation, we chose the Austin Health Mate.)
The school administrator even added this request to parents in the back-to-school newsletter:
We have a new family at the school and they are HIGHLY sensitive to chemicals and smells. They have asked us to help their kids succeed in this environment by being very aware of hair products, lotions, and perfumes. If everyone can refrain from wearing products that are highly chemical and with a fragrance, it would be a huge benefit to these kids.
School started this last Monday. On Sunday night, I drew apples on our front porch, the resurrection of an old tradition. Every year on the first day of school, I would use red and green chalk to commemorate the kids’ passage into a new year. Their grade number would appear prominently in the middle. The resulting picture of each child standing in their apple told the story of new backpacks, favorite outfits, and ever-changing faces.
This year’s “apple pictures” marked more than a passage into a new school year. They marked the beginning of a new season. And while our journey is far from over, we're not where we once were. As the poem by Joseph Morris reminds us:
...we always think the load
May be greater than we've power to endure.
... For the climbing of a mountain takes but one step at a time...
May be greater than we've power to endure.
... For the climbing of a mountain takes but one step at a time...
Oh, the rewards of taking it one step at a time.
Monday, July 18, 2011
How to Create a Healthy, Non-Toxic Lawn
With the controversy surrounding the use of Roundup and other weed killers, getting back to nature may be the best bet for keeping our lawns healthy.
Beyond Pesticides offers an excellent factsheet titled Read Your Weeds – A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn, which states the following:
Weeds can tell you a lot about the condition of your lawn and indicate what you need to do to grow healthy grass that is naturally resistant to weeds and pest problems. Learn to read your “weeds” for what they indicate about your lawn care practices and soil conditions, and you’ll be on your way to creating a healthy lawn that will be less work in the long run.
Remember, many plants that are considered weeds have beneficial qualities. Try to develop a tolerance for some weeds. For instance, clover - considered a typical turf weed - thrives in soil with low nitrogen levels, compaction issues, and drought stress. However, clover takes free nitrogen from the atmosphere and distributes it to the grass, which helps it grow. Clover roots are extensive and extremely drought-resistant, providing significant resources to soil organisms, and clover will stay green long after turf goes naturally dormant. Crabgrass provides erosion control, dandelions’ deep roots return nutrients to the surface, and plantains are edible!
The factsheet offers the following suggestions for getting to the "root" of the weed problem.
ELIMINATE THE CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE WEEDS
Beyond Pesticides offers an excellent factsheet titled Read Your Weeds – A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn, which states the following:
Weeds can tell you a lot about the condition of your lawn and indicate what you need to do to grow healthy grass that is naturally resistant to weeds and pest problems. Learn to read your “weeds” for what they indicate about your lawn care practices and soil conditions, and you’ll be on your way to creating a healthy lawn that will be less work in the long run.
Remember, many plants that are considered weeds have beneficial qualities. Try to develop a tolerance for some weeds. For instance, clover - considered a typical turf weed - thrives in soil with low nitrogen levels, compaction issues, and drought stress. However, clover takes free nitrogen from the atmosphere and distributes it to the grass, which helps it grow. Clover roots are extensive and extremely drought-resistant, providing significant resources to soil organisms, and clover will stay green long after turf goes naturally dormant. Crabgrass provides erosion control, dandelions’ deep roots return nutrients to the surface, and plantains are edible!
The factsheet offers the following suggestions for getting to the "root" of the weed problem.
ELIMINATE THE CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE WEEDS
- Compaction – Compaction is an invitation for weeds. If your lawn is hard, compacted, and full of weeds, aerate to help air, water and fertilizer to enter. If you can’t stick a screwdriver easily into your soil, it is too compacted. Get together with your neighbors and rent an aerator. Once you have an established, healthy lawn, worms and birds pecking at your soil will aerate it for free!
- Mowing Height – Bad mowing practices cause many lawn problems. Mowing lower than 1 ½ to 1 ¾ inches can kill the root system by preventing photosynthesis, and mowing with a dull blade makes the turf susceptible to disease. A low mowing height also invites sunlight in for weeds to sprout.
While grass species vary across the country, most lawns are a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. Generally, you should keep a lawn at 3- 3 ½ inches. Mowing high allows the grass to develop deeper, drought-resistant root systems. For the first and last cut of the season, mow to 2 inches. Do not mow more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Keep your mower blades sharp to prevent the development and spread of fungal disease, or ask your service provider to sharpen their blades frequently. - Soil pH and Soil Testing – Low pH means acidic conditions and high pH indicates alkaline conditions. If the pH is too high, your grass cannot properly absorb nutrients. Ideal pH should be between 6.5-7.0, slightly acidic.
Generally, lime is added to raise the pH and sulfur is added to lower the pH, and adding compost can naturally correct your pH. A soil test is highly recommended to determine the soil pH and specific nutrient needs. Contact your extension service to find out how to take a soil sample. In addition to nutrients and pH analysis, ask for organic content analysis, and request organic care recommendations. Organic content should be 5% or higher. - Fertility - Soil testing is the best way to determine your soil’s specific nutrient needs. Fertilizing in early fall ensures good growth and root development for your grass. Nitrogen, the most abundant nutrient in lawn fertilizers, promotes color and growth. Adding too much nitrogen, or quick-release synthetic fertilizers, can weaken the grass, alter the pH, and promote disease, insect, and thatch build-up.
Your grass clippings contain 58% of the nitrogen added from fertilizers, improve soil conditions, suppress disease, and reduce thatch and crabgrass. So, leave the clippings on your lawn. You can use a mulching mower and leave the leaves too.
Compost is an ideal soil conditioner, adding the much-needed organic content to your soil, and suppressing many turf pathogens. In the fall and spring, preferably after aerating, spread ¼ inch layer of organic or naturally-based compost over your lawn. Compost tea and worm castings are also great additions.
Look for compost or organic slow-release fertilizers at your local nursery or order online. Some fertilizers, such as Ringer® Lawn Restore®, are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute. Other makers include North Country Organics, Harmony Farm, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, and Down To Earth's Bio-Turf.
Thatch is a dense layer of grass stems and roots on the surface of the soil. Thatch is a symptom of shallow watering and chemical fertilizer usage. When thatch layers become ½” or more, the roots will grow up within the thatch instead of in the soil, making grass susceptible to insects, disease, and weather stress. If your lawn feels spongy, you may have thatch buildup.
Thatch is reduced by aeration, topdressing with organic matter, or power raking. In healthy lawns, earthworms and soil microorganisms break down the thatch. - Watering and Poor Drainage – Drought conditions, excessive watering or poor drainage due to soil type are all invitations for weeds. Watering needs are very site-specific, but generally speaking, a deep watering of about one inch once a week in the early morning is best.
Your type of soil affects your drainage and is also site-specific. Once you establish a deep root system from mowing high, you will need less water. Check with your local nursery for more specific recommendations and your soil type. - Grass Seed and Seeding – Grass varieties differ enormously in their quality, resistance to certain pests, tolerance to climatic conditions, growth habit and appearance. Some weeds are the result of using poor quality grass seed.
Overseed with the proper grass seed for your region to promote a dense turf that out-competes weeds. Consult your extension service website to learn the best grass variety for your region and site conditions (sun or shade).
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Hidden Costs of a Weed-Free Lawn
Evidence continues to mount that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular weed killer Roundup, is potentially toxic. A recent report by Earth Open Source suggests that glyphosate causes birth defects in the embryos of laboratory animals.
Pesticide Action Network's paper on glyphosate suggests toxicity, as well.
Glyphosate is sprayed on numerous crops and plantations, including nearly 80% of genetically modified (GM) crops (canola, corn, cotton, soybean, sugar beet), with relatively high levels permitted as residues in food and animal feed. It is used as a pre-harvest desiccant, and because it is a systemic herbicide, it cannot be completely removed from food by washing, peeling, or processing. It is widely used in home gardens and public places including roadsides. Human exposure is widespread and constantly recurring.
. . .
Glyphosate is assumed by regulators to have no neurological effects—the US EPA did not require neurotoxicity studies to be carried out for the registration of Roundup. However, there is emerging evidence that glyphosate can affect the nervous system, and in particular, areas of the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease. In one case study glyphosate exposure was linked to "symmetrical parkinsonian syndrome." An epidemiological study of children identified a link with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, denies that any adverse health issues are associated with the use of glyphosate. In their blog post dated June 9, 2011, Monsanto says:
Regulatory agencies around the world have concluded that glyphosate is not a reproductive toxin or teratogen (cause of birth defects) based on in-depth review of the comprehensive data sets available. Additionally, we have anecdotal results from first-hand experience of millions of farmers and home gardeners who have used this product for decades. Roundup agricultural herbicide provides environmental and economic benefits of conservation tillage which are sustainable and provide effective weed management.
Information is often conflicting when it comes to chemicals and health. For those who choose to be cautious and eliminate the use of Roundup, alternatives do exist. In our next post we'll explore some safe, natural ways to create a healthy lawn without the use of chemical pesticides.
Pesticide Action Network's paper on glyphosate suggests toxicity, as well.
Glyphosate is sprayed on numerous crops and plantations, including nearly 80% of genetically modified (GM) crops (canola, corn, cotton, soybean, sugar beet), with relatively high levels permitted as residues in food and animal feed. It is used as a pre-harvest desiccant, and because it is a systemic herbicide, it cannot be completely removed from food by washing, peeling, or processing. It is widely used in home gardens and public places including roadsides. Human exposure is widespread and constantly recurring.
. . .
Glyphosate is assumed by regulators to have no neurological effects—the US EPA did not require neurotoxicity studies to be carried out for the registration of Roundup. However, there is emerging evidence that glyphosate can affect the nervous system, and in particular, areas of the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease. In one case study glyphosate exposure was linked to "symmetrical parkinsonian syndrome." An epidemiological study of children identified a link with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, denies that any adverse health issues are associated with the use of glyphosate. In their blog post dated June 9, 2011, Monsanto says:
Regulatory agencies around the world have concluded that glyphosate is not a reproductive toxin or teratogen (cause of birth defects) based on in-depth review of the comprehensive data sets available. Additionally, we have anecdotal results from first-hand experience of millions of farmers and home gardeners who have used this product for decades. Roundup agricultural herbicide provides environmental and economic benefits of conservation tillage which are sustainable and provide effective weed management.
Information is often conflicting when it comes to chemicals and health. For those who choose to be cautious and eliminate the use of Roundup, alternatives do exist. In our next post we'll explore some safe, natural ways to create a healthy lawn without the use of chemical pesticides.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Toxicity and Health
The longer I remain on this health journey, the more I realize that our story isn't just our story—it's everyone's. Toxicity is an issue that affects each one of us.
Dr. Thomas Levy is a board-certified cardiologist who now devotes himself to research and writing centering on the restoration or maintenance of good health in the face of the varying forms of toxicity. His dramatic improvement in health following a dental revision led him to write a book with leading mercury removal advocate, Dr. Hal Huggins. The book, Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care, empowers individuals to take an active role in their health. In it, Dr. Levy writes:
I quickly realized after my dental revision was completed that low-grade symptomatology tends to be ignored. Unless you are frankly ill, you consider yourself to be well, especially when your chronically compromised state of "normalcy" is shared with you by most of the population.... High blood pressure, migraines, diabetes, and arthritis are commonly accepted by most people as the penalty to be paid for reaching their forties. If they can take a handful of drugs and feel well, then that will satisfy their notion of being in good health.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If you are on prescription medicines you are not well, even if you are holding most symptoms at bay. Dying in your seventies after spending the last twenty to thirty years of your life with one or more chronic diseases may be the pattern shared by the majority of the population, but it is not good health, and you do not have to settle for it.
Dr. Levy has written books about Vitamin C, nutrition, maintaining antioxidant balance, and much more. Click here to view his website.
Dr. Thomas Levy is a board-certified cardiologist who now devotes himself to research and writing centering on the restoration or maintenance of good health in the face of the varying forms of toxicity. His dramatic improvement in health following a dental revision led him to write a book with leading mercury removal advocate, Dr. Hal Huggins. The book, Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care, empowers individuals to take an active role in their health. In it, Dr. Levy writes:
I quickly realized after my dental revision was completed that low-grade symptomatology tends to be ignored. Unless you are frankly ill, you consider yourself to be well, especially when your chronically compromised state of "normalcy" is shared with you by most of the population.... High blood pressure, migraines, diabetes, and arthritis are commonly accepted by most people as the penalty to be paid for reaching their forties. If they can take a handful of drugs and feel well, then that will satisfy their notion of being in good health.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If you are on prescription medicines you are not well, even if you are holding most symptoms at bay. Dying in your seventies after spending the last twenty to thirty years of your life with one or more chronic diseases may be the pattern shared by the majority of the population, but it is not good health, and you do not have to settle for it.
Dr. Levy has written books about Vitamin C, nutrition, maintaining antioxidant balance, and much more. Click here to view his website.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Mold in Baseball Gloves
Baseball and softball gloves manufactured in Vietnam were recalled this week due to mold. According to this press release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves
Units: About 131,000
Importer: Mizuno USA Inc., of Norcross, Ga.
Hazard: Some gloves were found to contain a variety of molds that could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems, or in individuals who have impaired immune systems.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled items are leather Mizuno baseball and softball gloves. The gloves have a sewn-in white label on the heel of the glove with the words “Made in Vietnam” and the model number. Supreme Series gloves affected are further identified by the date code imprinted on the heel of the glove near the thumb opening.
Sold at: Walmart and Target stores nationwide from April 2010 through May 2011 for between $24 and $60.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the gloves and contact Mizuno USA to receive a full refund.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves
Units: About 131,000
Importer: Mizuno USA Inc., of Norcross, Ga.
Hazard: Some gloves were found to contain a variety of molds that could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems, or in individuals who have impaired immune systems.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled items are leather Mizuno baseball and softball gloves. The gloves have a sewn-in white label on the heel of the glove with the words “Made in Vietnam” and the model number. Supreme Series gloves affected are further identified by the date code imprinted on the heel of the glove near the thumb opening.
Sold at: Walmart and Target stores nationwide from April 2010 through May 2011 for between $24 and $60.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the gloves and contact Mizuno USA to receive a full refund.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Cell Phones Pose Risk, According to WHO
The World Health Organization acknowledged recently that radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer. The agency now lists mobile phones in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.
According to this CNN news story appearing on May 31, 2011:
A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.
"The biggest problem we have is that we know most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray, but more like a very low-powered microwave oven.
"What microwave radiation does in most simplistic terms is similar to what happens to food in microwaves, essentially cooking the brain," Black said. "So in addition to leading to a development of cancer and tumors, there could be a whole host of other effects like cognitive memory function, since the memory temporal lobes are where we hold our cell phones."
The European Environmental Agency has pushed for more studies, saying cell phones could be as big a public health risk as smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline. The head of a prominent cancer-research institute at the University of Pittsburgh sent a memo to all employees urging them to limit cell phone use because of a possible risk of cancer.
"When you look at cancer development -- particularly brain cancer -- it takes a long time to develop. I think it is a good idea to give the public some sort of warning that long-term exposure to radiation from your cell phone could possibly cause cancer," said Dr. Henry Lai, research professor in bioengineering at University of Washington, who has studied radiation for more than 30 years.
Results from the largest international study on cell phones and cancer was released in 2010. It showed participants in the study who used a cell phone for 10 years or more had doubled the rate of brain glioma, a type of tumor. To date, there have been no long-term studies on the effects of cell phone usage among children.
"Children's skulls and scalps are thinner. So the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brain of children and young adults. Their cells are dividing at a faster rate, so the impact of radiation can be much larger," said Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
In February, a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health revealed radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells. The effects of brain activity being artificially stimulated are still unknown.
Neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says Tuesday's announcement, "dealt a blow to those who have long said, 'There is no possible mechanism for cell phones to cause cancer.' By classifying cell phones as a possible carcinogen, they also seem to be tacitly admitting a mechanism could exist."
Manufacturers of many popular cell phones already warn consumers to keep their device away from their body, and medical experts say there are other ways to minimize cell phone radiation.
The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says users' radiation exposure should not exceed FCC guidelines: "When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body."
BlackBerry Bold advises users to "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting."
The logic behind such recommendations is that the further the phone is from the body, the less radiation is absorbed. Users can also use the speakerphone function or a wired earpiece to gain some distance.
Users can text instead of talk if they want to keep the phone away from their faces.
Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving off more radiation. So users can avoid using their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce their exposure, experts say.
Educator Harrison Barritt writes an interesting commentary on this WHO study here.
The organization Environmental Working Group has ranked the radiation levels of top-selling cell phones. To see where your cell phone ranks, click here.
According to this CNN news story appearing on May 31, 2011:
A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.
"The biggest problem we have is that we know most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray, but more like a very low-powered microwave oven.
"What microwave radiation does in most simplistic terms is similar to what happens to food in microwaves, essentially cooking the brain," Black said. "So in addition to leading to a development of cancer and tumors, there could be a whole host of other effects like cognitive memory function, since the memory temporal lobes are where we hold our cell phones."
The European Environmental Agency has pushed for more studies, saying cell phones could be as big a public health risk as smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline. The head of a prominent cancer-research institute at the University of Pittsburgh sent a memo to all employees urging them to limit cell phone use because of a possible risk of cancer.
"When you look at cancer development -- particularly brain cancer -- it takes a long time to develop. I think it is a good idea to give the public some sort of warning that long-term exposure to radiation from your cell phone could possibly cause cancer," said Dr. Henry Lai, research professor in bioengineering at University of Washington, who has studied radiation for more than 30 years.
Results from the largest international study on cell phones and cancer was released in 2010. It showed participants in the study who used a cell phone for 10 years or more had doubled the rate of brain glioma, a type of tumor. To date, there have been no long-term studies on the effects of cell phone usage among children.
"Children's skulls and scalps are thinner. So the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brain of children and young adults. Their cells are dividing at a faster rate, so the impact of radiation can be much larger," said Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
In February, a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health revealed radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells. The effects of brain activity being artificially stimulated are still unknown.
Neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says Tuesday's announcement, "dealt a blow to those who have long said, 'There is no possible mechanism for cell phones to cause cancer.' By classifying cell phones as a possible carcinogen, they also seem to be tacitly admitting a mechanism could exist."
Manufacturers of many popular cell phones already warn consumers to keep their device away from their body, and medical experts say there are other ways to minimize cell phone radiation.
The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says users' radiation exposure should not exceed FCC guidelines: "When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body."
BlackBerry Bold advises users to "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting."
The logic behind such recommendations is that the further the phone is from the body, the less radiation is absorbed. Users can also use the speakerphone function or a wired earpiece to gain some distance.
Users can text instead of talk if they want to keep the phone away from their faces.
Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving off more radiation. So users can avoid using their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce their exposure, experts say.
Educator Harrison Barritt writes an interesting commentary on this WHO study here.
The organization Environmental Working Group has ranked the radiation levels of top-selling cell phones. To see where your cell phone ranks, click here.
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