Bisphenol A—BPA—the ubiquitous, estrogen-mimicking chemical that hardens plastic has, according to another emerging study, been found in some popular canned foods, said FoxNews.

According to Consumer Reports’ December issue, it “tested soups, juice, tuna, and green beans,” said FoxNews, and discovered “19 name-brand foods” contain some level of BPA. As we have previously noted, BPA can be found in everything from baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, aluminum can linings, eyeglasses, and cars, to DVD and CD cases and some dental sealants. BPA can also be found in appliances and windshields; on recyclable bottles, BPA, as a component, can be verified if the item contains recycling number 7. We recently wrote that BPA has also been found to be present in common paper receipts. With BPA turning up in carbonless copy and thermal imaging papers, its common usage has grown exponentially. (more…)

Emergency responders who participated in Ground Zero rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks tend to suffer from asthma at about a two-fold rate compared to the rest of the U.S. population, according to a new study detailed by Science Daily.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers presented the new asthma data, said Science Daily, at CHEST 2009, which is the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), in San Diego, California. (more…)

A significant breakthrough in Chinese drywall litigation was announced this week that will do much to streamline the process for suing a major drywall manufacturer. To take advantage of this one time offer made by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., Chinese drywall claimants must sign on to an omnibus class action lawsuit by December 2, 2009.

According to The New Orleans Times- Picayune, Knauf Plasterboard has agreed not to demand that plaintiffs included in that lawsuit abide by international rules in serving legal papers. Under the agreement, the omnibus lawsuit must be filed by December 9. (more…)

Some face paints have been found to contain lead, the Environmental News Service (ENS) just announced, citing the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. A problem given that Halloween is tomorrow. ENS described lead as a neurotoxin that can cause problems in the brain, even at low doses.

Some of the paints that underwent laboratory testing contained heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, and chromium—allergens, noted ENS. Some of the products which are advertised as “non-toxic” and “hypoallergenic,” also tested with these metals, which is of concern given that parents shopping—or who have already shopped for Halloween make-up—may have purchased products that contain toxins. Also, it seems that the only way to test if a product contains lead or other heavy metals, is to have the product tested at a lab, said ENS. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said the tests run about $270 per sample. (more…)

Southwest Airlines has been hit with a personal injury lawsuit over toxic airplane air. According to Courthouse News Service, the federal complaint was filed by two twin sisters who claim they and other passengers choked on toxic “super-heated” fumes that formed a “mist” in a Southwest airplane during flight.

The issue of toxic airplane air is a controversy that has dogged the airline industry for years. Earlier this year, a joint investigation by German and Swiss TV networks claimed to have found high levels of a dangerous toxin on board several planes. The chemicals found in the samples included high levels of tricresyl phosphate (TCP), an organophosphate contained in modern jet oil as an antiwear additive, which can lead to drowsiness, headaches, respiratory problems or neurological illnesses. (more…)

U.S Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, expressed frustration yesterday that preliminary results from Chinese drywall testing have failed to answer some pressing questions. According to The Miami Herald, Sen. Nelson was angered not only by the lack of answers, but by the slow pace of the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s (CPSC) Chinese drywall investigation.

The CPSC has received about 1,897 reports from residents in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico concerning Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)

The economic stimulus plan is one of the players involved in a large study of bisphenol A—BPA—the estrogenic chemical that has been making headlines over the myriad adverse effects that seem to be associated with its exposure.

USA Today wrote that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be funding some $30 million to study the controversial chemical’s safety and noted that nearly half of that money originates with the economic stimulus bill, citing Robin Mackar. Mackar is a spokeswoman for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). (more…)

Chinese drywall victims might finally get some answers this week. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is expected to release the results of initial testing on Chinese and domestically produced drywall any day now. An additional two reports should be ready next month.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, the CPSC has received over 1,700 complaints regarding Chinese drywall from homeowners across the country. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)

A building inspections expert claims Chinese drywall is infested with bacteria, fungus and even fecal matter. According to a report on the Broward-Palm Beach New Times Web site, Spiderman S. Mulholland, owner of U.S. Building Consultants Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, says such contaminants are likely causing health problems for people living in homes built with the defective Chinese drywall.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received over 1,700 complaints regarding Chinese drywall from homeowners across the country. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)

A top U.S. regulator has called on the Chinese to do “what is fair and just” in its response to the crisis over Chinese drywall. According to The Wall Street Journal, the head of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) made the appeal while attending the U.S.-China product safety summit that was held in Beijing beginning Thursday.

The CPSC has received over 1,700 complaints regarding Chinese drywall from homeowners across the country. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)