Cali town's birth defect rate 'not unusual'

Expansion of toxic waste facility OK'd by board despite increased rate of birth defects, infant deaths in Kettlemen, CA-a town of mostly Spanish-speakers

By GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press


California State health officials said Tuesday they found nothing unusual about the rate of infant birth defects in an impoverished San Joaquin Valley farm town located next to the West's largest toxic waste dump. The officials told a packed meeting of the Kings County Board of Supervisors that they had discovered no common cause for the birth abnormalities and facial defects among children in Kettleman City, prompting anguished comments from the audience.

"It's important to keep in mind that this is a preliminary finding, and we are going to be in the community gathering additional information," said Kevin Reilly, chief deputy director of the California Department of Public Health."Our interest is trying to find some answers for these families if we can." California's two U.S. senators pressed for answers as well, calling for a halt to the proposed expansion of the Chemical Waste Management Inc. landfill until a cause is found for the birth defects.

"I am very concerned about the recent surge in birth defects," Sen. Dianne Feinstein said in a statement. Sen. Barbara Boxer also said the health concerns deserved a closer look. Kettleman City saw an average of 1.09 birth defects per 100 live births between 1987 and 2008, Reilly said. The rate was not unusually high when compared to a rate of 0.94 for the surrounding five-county region between 1987 and 2007, he added. Regional data for 2008 is not yet available.

A survey done by Greenaction, an environmental justice group, found that of 20 children born in the area from September 2007 to November 2008, five had defects including clefts in their palates or lips. County officials recently said a sixth child was born with birth defects in roughly the same period. Community members blasted officials for drawing conclusions before interviewing mothers whose children have undergone surgeries to repair cleft palates.

"This was a bunch of guys up at the state fiddling around with statistics on the computer and slapping it together in a rough report," said resident Maricela Mares-Alatorre, whose niece's son was born two years ago with severe birth defects."This wasn't an in-depth look at anything going on in town." Many residents have said the health problems were caused by the hazardous waste landfill and have rallied to stop its proposed expansion, which needs state and federal approval.

Officials of Chemical Waste Management Inc. said they welcomed the state scrutiny and were confident it would show their operation was not causing health problems. "Our Kettleman Hills facility is safe, and we are proud of our 30-year legacy of safety and environmental stewardship," company spokeswoman Helen Herrera said. "With so many other potential environmental exposures in the area, this is just the first step in an ongoing process."

The landfill is one of the largest employers in the largely Spanish-speaking community of 1,500 people along Interstate 5, the main artery linking Northern and Southern California. Every day, thousands of diesel trucks pass by Kettleman City on the highway. In addition, the town is bisected by high-tension power lines, and many residents work in nearby fields sprayed with pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Last month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the health department and the state EPA to conduct a full investigation, including interviews with residents, and reviews of soil samples and medical records. Reilly said his team planned to speak with relatives of children with birth defects. Last week, Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, visited the area, toured the dump and promised to ensure all regulatory, enforcement and permitting procedures had been properly followed. The EPA did not immediately comment on the state health study.

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Third-hand smoke endangers child health

A new study shows increased vulnerability in babies, toddlers to effects of carcinigenic residue from third-hand smoke
by Kathleen Blanchard RN
emaxhealth.com

A new study warns that third hand smoke is especially dangerous for children. Parents need to be aware of how toxins in extinguished cigarettes intermingle with fabrics, skin, hair, and other surfaces where children can easily get a dose of poison from third hand smoke that lingers.

The findings come from researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) and colleagues. Jonathan Winickoff, MD, MPH, assistant director of the MGHfC Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy warns that smoking anywhere – outside or when babies and children are not in the home – still puts them at health risks because they come in contact with toxins in cigarettes.

Children are especially vulnerable to third hand smoke as they crawl, touch and put their mouths on potential neurotoxins found in cigarettes that can also lead to cancer. "When you come into contact with your baby, even if you're not smoking at the time, she comes in contact with those toxins. And if you breastfeed, the toxins will transfer to your baby in your breast milk”, says Winickoff who also clarifies that breast milk is still preferable to bottle feeding.

Some of the chemical in cigarettes include toluene, used in paint thinner, lead, a known neurotoxin, chromium that might increase risk of lung cancer, polonium-210 that is a potent cancer causing chemical, and arsenic that is also cancer causes and can cause a variety of health related problems.

The scientists investigated how members of households perceive the dangers of third hand smoke. A survey of 1500 households showed that 95.4 percent of nonsmokers, but only 84.1 percent of smokers said they know about the health harm that could occur to children from third hand smoke. Non smokers were most likely to have stricter rules about smoking inside.

The researchers say education is needed to make people aware that third hand smoke is especially dangerous to children and lingers in the environment. Clinicians are urged to teach parents, and anti tobacco campaigns should also include information about the health dangers of toxins from third hand smoke to promote smoking bans in the home and give people another reason to quit smoking altogether.

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Mekodshet Announcement

The Prophetic Priesthood
at Jerusalem

Shalom beloved family!

We are pleased to announce that the following couples have now entered into the sacred and holy cycle of Mekodeshet:


Ahk Chashavyah Ben Israel (Texas extension) & Akhote Oreet Baht Yehuda

Ahk Nisiel Ben Israel & Ahkote Ameetiyah Baht Aviav

Ahk Aminome Ben Israel & Ahkote Matanyah Baht Yaaziel (Both of the Atlanta extension)

Ahk Odayd Ben Israel & Ahkote Zoheret Baht Israel (Both of the Southern Eden extension)

Ahk Nahkoom Ben Israel & Ahkote Tseedkeeyah Baht Israel (Both of the Southern Eden extension)

Ahk Shamah Ben Israel (Antigua extension) & Ahkote Maskelah Baht Shlomo


Please govern yourselves accordingly upon the hearing of this special announcement.


HalleluYah!!!
Yah Khai!!!