Rockingham County, Virginia Rejects Fracking
One Virginia county has become the latest to put a halt to any proposed hydraulic fracturing (fracking) drilling.
According to a report from The Washington Post over the weekend, supervisors in Rockingham County never voted on proposed special-use land permits submitted by Carrizo Oil and Gas, a company which had eyes on opening several fracking wells in Virginia’s small share of the massive Marcellus shale bed. The supervisors worry any fracking drilling in their portion of the state could result in localized water and air pollution, as has been experienced in neighboring states. Continue reading
Egg Salad, Sandwiches Recalled For Potential Listeria
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced two recalls over potential contamination with the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen, a dangerous and sometimes deadly food borne bacteria that thrives in cold temperatures and has an incubation period as long 70 days. Both companies say they have not received any reports of illness linked to these recalls; however, it is important to note that there is an extensive incubation period with Listeria contamination before which symptoms would appear.
Both recalls involve eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc. that are the subject of a previous recall over potential Listeria contamination. Michael Foods eggs were used in the following recalled products. Continue reading
Costa Concordia Passenger Files Suit Over Miscarriage
Another passenger from the grounded Costa Concordia cruise ship has filed a lawsuit; this time, over a miscarriage she suffered after the accident.
The woman, identified as Cristina M., was four months pregnant on January 13 when she boarded the Costa Condordia, said The Herald Sun. The Costa Concordia struck a rock off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio on Friday that night. The collision tore a 160-foot hole in the hull of the ship, and caused the vessel to capsize. Continue reading
Plavix-Aspirin Combo Won’t Stop Recurrent Strokes, May Pose Bleeding, Death Risks
A new study is raising more concerns about the safety and effectiveness of Plavix (clopidogrel), the blockbuster blood-thinner sold by Sanofi Aventis. A new study, presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012, has found that the combination of Plavix and aspirin is of little help in preventing recurrent small subcortical strokes, and may actually increase the odds that victims will experience a higher risk of bleeding and death.
The Plavix-aspirin combination is approved to prevent future heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events in people with acute coronary syndrome. The Plavix-aspirin arm of the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Trial (SPS3) was trying to determine if that combination could also prevent recurrences in people who had suffered a subcortical stroke. This type of stroke occurs when blood vessels deep in the middle of the brain are blocked, damaging small areas of brain tissue. People who suffer subcortical strokes are predisposed to dementia. Continue reading
Faxes, Printers Recalled For Fire, Burn Hazards
Faxes and printers have been recalled for fire and burn hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. The recalled printers were all manufactured in China.
Hewlett-Packard HP Fax 1040 and 1050 Machines
About 928,000 HP Fax 1040 and 1050 machines have been recalled in the United States; another 240,000 have been recalled in Canada and Mexico. The HP Fax 1040 and 1050 machines were imported by Hewlett-Packard Co., of Palo Alto, California, were sold at electronics, computer, and camera stores nationwide, and online at www.shopping.hp.com and other websites from November 2004 through December 2011 for between $90 and $120. Some recalled fax machines were replacement units for a prior recall conducted June 2008 that involved HP fax model 1010. Information on that recall can be accessed on the CPSC website. Continue reading
FDA Finds Unapproved Fungicide In Florida Orange Juice
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced that it discovered unapproved fungicide in Florida orange juice.
A recall will not be initiated; neither will be destruction of the juice. The agency confirmed that the levels of carbendazim discovered are well below dangerous levels and that the juice is safe to drink, according to The Associated Press (AP). The juice tested was combined with Brazilian juice. Continue reading
Pfizer Could Face Lawsuits Over Birth Control Pill Recall
Pfizer, maker of 1 million recently recalled birth control pill packages, could be facing lawsuits. A packaging problem could cause women to take an inadequate dose of their birth control pills, increasing risks for accidental pregnancy.
According to experts familiar with the matter, women who become pregnant after taking the defective birth control pills could sue Pfizer for their unwanted pregnancies, and could sue big, wrote My Health News Daily. Continue reading
DMAA Supplements Pulled from Army Comissaries Following Two Deaths
The U.S. military has pulled the popular supplement Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) from shelves of stores and commissaries on bases until it conducts a review of two recent deaths linked to its use.
According to a FoxNews.com report, DMAA was discovered during separate autopsies of soldiers who died following physical training sessions with fellow soldiers. It is believed DMAA is likely responsible for the untimely deaths. The dietary supplement is designed to help soldiers “meet the strong physical demands” of training sessions with the military, the report indicates. Continue reading
Upstate New York Mystery Illness Outbreak Grows
The mystery illness outbreak that has plagued a number of students in upstate New York appears to be growing, affecting a 36-year-old woman.
The illness, which manifests in tics and other Tourette’s-like symptoms has been seen in 17 upstate New York students, with 14 girls and one boy from Le Roy High School alone. The phenomena has caught national attention and the attention of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which recently offered a second opinion to the diagnosis provided by Dr. Mechtler. Dr. Mechtler has seen nine girls and one boy, diagnosing the teens with Conversion Disorder, which, as a group, is known as mass psychogenic illness. Continue reading
