2003 news releases on risk topics

UNICEF Names the Top Five Concerns for Children in 2004 - Overcoming the Challenges Facing Children Is Key to Human Progress (12/31/03, United Nations Children's Fund)

Survivors of Bam Earthquake Urgently Require Public Health Supplies and Medicines (12/31/03, World Health Organization)

U.S. Bans Consumption of Crippled Cows (12/31/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement on New Measures Against BSE (12/31/03, FDA); see Agriculture Secretary Announces Additional Protection Measures to Guard Against BSE

Center for Science in the Public Interest Reacts to New BSE Safeguards - Long Overdue, but Rules Could Go Further to Protect Public (12/31/03, CSPI)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administraion Publishes List of October, November 2003 Recalls (12/31/03, NHTSA)

New Trucking Hours-of-Service Rule Begins Sunday;
Transportation Officials Detail Education and Enforcement Plans (12/30/03, U.S. Department of Transportation)

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Withdraws Glycol Ethers Rulemaking Record - Agency Cites as Justification a Major Reduction in Use and Production Over Past Decade (12/30/03, OSHA)

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Withdraws Proposal on Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis - Respiratory Protection for TB Enhanced Through Use of the General Industry Standard (12/30/03, OSHA)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Issues Final Rule and Final Order Regarding Safety and Efficacy of Certain Licensed Biological Products Including Anthrax Vaccine (12/30/03, FDA)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Revises Safety Standards for Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material (12/30/03, NRC)

Confusion Reigns Over Suspected SARS Case (12/30/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Beef Producers Resist Banning of Crippled Cattle (12/30/03, New Scientist)

50,000 Feared Dead in Iran Quake (12/30/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Announces Plans to Prohibit Sales of Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra - Consumers Advised to Stop Using Ephedra Immediately (12/30/03, FDA)

United Nations Team Responds to Iran Earthquake (12/29/03, United Nations); also see United Nations Assess Quake Damage in Iran

European Union Constitution Row Could Spill into 2005 (12/29/03, EUobserver.com)

European Union of 25 Is Almost Full, Says External Relations Commissioner Patten (12/29/03, EUobserver.com)

European Commissioner for Trade Criticises Idea for a Reduced EU Budget (12/29/03, EUobserver.com)

Environment Canada's Top Ten Weather Stories for 2003 (12/29/03, Environment Canada)

2003: The Year in Technology, The Year in Biology and Medicine, and The Year in Space and Astronomy (12/29/03, New Scientist)

Consumers Are Logging On This Holiday Season to New Federal Web Site (12/24/03, CPSC)

Tests Confirm First U.S. Case of Mad Cow Disease (12/24/03, National Academies); read executive summary (PDF version) and full report of Advancing Prion Science: Guidance for the National Prion Research Program

Statement of Probable Case of BSE in Washington State (12/24/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

USDA Halts Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Because of BSE (12/24/03, USDA Risk Management Agency)

Agricultural Economist: Mad Cow Case Could Cost Beef Industry $2 Billion (12/24/03, Purdue University)

Center for Science in the Public Interest on Mad Cow Disease Found in U.S. (12/24/03, CSPI)

Keeping Control of Radioactive Sources: European Commission Welcomes New Legislation (12/23/03, European Union)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Makes Preliminary Diagnosis of BSE (12/23/03, USDA); also see transcript of Agriculture Secretary's news conference

Many Americans at High Risk from the Flu Have Not Gotten Vaccinated This Season (12/23/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Potential Genetic Links Discovered Between Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (12/23/03, EurekAlert)

Studying the Differences in Watersheds (12/23/03, Agricultural Research Service)

Navy Enlists Microbes to Cut Costs (12/22/03, Office of Naval Research)

Plasma Combustion Technology Could Dramatically Improve Fuel Efficiency (12/22/03, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Soot Worse for Global Warming Than Thought (12/22/03, New Scientist)

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Alerts Parents to Winter SIDS Risk (12/22/03, National Institutes of Health)

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Researcher Receives Grant to Study Broccoli-Derived Chemicals for Prostate Cancer Prevention (12/22/03, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)

New Hunger Maps Released - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Pinpoints Distribution of Chronic Under-nutrition Within Countries (12/22/03, FAO)

Comments Sought for Proposed Tolerance Actions on 61 Pesticides (12/22/03, U.S. EPA Pesticide Program)

Remarks by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary - National Threat Level Raised to High (12/20/03, DHS)

Health Canada Statement on the 2003-2004 Influenza Season (12/20/03, Health Canada)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Tools for Measuring Smallpox Readiness Will Aid Progress Toward Overall Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies (12/19/03, National Academies); read full report on line

Silver Cars Are the Safest on the Road (12/19/03, New Scientist)

Half a Million Patients Suffering from Tuberculosis to Get Free Life-saving Medicines (12/19/03, World Health Organization)

Old Europe Fails on Its Water Law (12/19/03, European Environment Bureau)

Teenage Pregnancy May Put Girls At Risk for Osteoporosis (12/18/03, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

Iran Signs Additional Protocol on Nuclear Safeguards (12/18/03, International Atomic Energy Agency)

Urgent Work Needed to Rebuild Health Care Systems (12/18/03, World Health Organization)

Statement of European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection on Possible vCJD Transmission by Blood (12/18/03, EU)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Urged to Reverse Course on Bioterrorism Regs - Center for Science in the Public Interest Says Watered-down Rules Fail to Protect Public (12/18/03, Center for Science in the Public Interest)

Desert Locust Threat Growing - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Locust Group Publishes New Report (12/18/03, FAO)

Environment Council Warned on Six Environmental Danger Points (2/18/03, European Environmental Bureau)

Air Quality Proposal to Deeply Cut Power Plant Emissions Is Signed (12/17/03, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

SARS Case in Laboratory Worker in Taiwan, China (12/17/03, World Health Organization)

Combined Drug Therapy Prevents Progression of Prostate Enlargement, Helps Men at High Risk Avoid Surgery (1 12/17/03, National Institutes of Health)

New-Generation Autonomous Helicopter to Create New Era of Human Safety (12/17/03, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Updates Physicians on Mortality Risks Associated with Aneurx Stent Graft System (12/17/03, FDA)

Stable Isotope Data Provide Evidence for Huge Global Methane Release about 600 Million Years Ago (12/17/03, National Science Foundation)

New Study Reports Large-Scale Salinity Changes in the Oceans (12/17/03, National Science Foundation)

"Humanised" Organs Can Be Grown in Animals (12/17/03, New Scientist)

Researchers Develop Nanoscale Fibers That Are Thinner Than the Wavelengths of Light They Carry (12/17/03, National Science Foundation)

Studies Show Global Warming Is Likely to Drive Big Changes in California's Coastal Waters (12/17/03, EurekAlert)

Biodegradable Particles Mimic White Blood Cells, Target Inflamed Tissue, New Study Finds (12/17/03, Ohio University)

Early Fitness Protects Middle Age Hearts (12/16/03, Northwestern University)

Air Pollution Increases Risk of Death from Heart Disease More Than Respiratory Disease (12/16/03 on American Heart Association)

Homeland Security and European Commission Reach Agreement on Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data (12/16/03, U.S. Department of Homeland Security); also see fact sheet

U.S. Government Warns Women, Children to Limit Tuna Consumption (12/16/03, National Academies)

Advice to Pregnant Women During the Lambing Season (12/16/03, UK Department of Health)

"Alcohol Facts" Label Proposed for Beer, Wine, and Liquor (12/16/03, Center for Science in the Public Interest)

Passive Tobacco Smoke Increases Complications in Children with Sickle Cell Disease (12/16/03 on EurekAlert)

Metabolic Syndrome Strongly Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke (12/16/03 on American Heart Association)

Tiny Nanowire Could Be Next Big Diagnostic Tool for Doctors (12/16/03, EurekAlert)

UK Scientists All Set for New Year Encounter with a Comet (12/16/03, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council)

Wind Tunnel Tests Could Lead to Healthier Towns and Cities (12/16/03, EurekAlert)

U-M Study: Children’s Doctors Say Parents’ Vaccine Concerns on the Rise, Making Accurate Information Crucial (12/16/03, Univ. Michigan Health System and Medical School)

Alarmists Exaggerating Threats to Canadian Children’s Health According to New Study (12/15/03, Fraser Institute); read The Reality of Children's Risk in Canada (executive summary or full report in PDF) by Kenneth Green, chief scientist and director of Fraser Institute's Risk & Environment Centre

Canadian Researchers Develop E. coli Vaccine for Cattle - Vaccine Could Significantly Reduce Human Disease and Associated E. coli Outbreaks (12/15/03, Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Pet Turtles Pose Risk of Salmonella Infection for Infants and Small Children (12/15/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Tunnel Linking Europe to Africa Planned (12/15/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Purchases Additional 375,000 Doses of Flu Vaccine, Negotiates Best Price for Flumist Purchases (12/15/03, HHS)

Parents Show Increased Concern About Vaccine Safety (12/15/03, Center for the Advancement of Health)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission To Discuss Concerns About Radiation Safety Programs at U.S. Food and Drug Facilities in Maryland and Washington, D.C. (12/15/03, NRC)

Agencies Allocated After Two Years of Talks (12/13/03, EUobserver.com)

Iraq: European Commission Releases First European Union Contribution for Reconstruction in Iraq (12/12/03, European Union)

New Book Demonstrates How Climate Change Impacts on Health (12/11/03, World Health Organization); find links to the Climate Change and Human Health - Risks and Responses summary in English and in Russian

The Health Academy - The First Step Towards a Virtual School to Promote Public Health World-wide (12/11/03, World Health Organization); also read Cisco Collaborates with the World Health Organization to Create a Global Health and Technology Network

Nutrition Facts on Food Labels and Guidelines for Fortifying Food Should Be Updated, Institute of Medicine Report Says (12/11/03, National Academies); read full report Dietary Reference Intakes: Guiding Principles for Nutrition Labeling and Fortification

Protection of Bees: European Commission Steps Up Measures Against Exotic Parasites (12/11/03, European Union)

Sun Gives Way to Greenhouse Gases as Major Influence on Earth’s Changing Climate (12/11/03, National Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

Department of Energy Launches Climate Change Website - www.climatevision.gov (12/10/03, DOE)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Announces Comprehensive Foods Advisory on Methylmercury (12/10/03, FDA)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Announces Preliminary Risk Assessment for Creosote (12/10/03, U.S. EPA); see creosote website and fact sheet

Gas Hydrates - Will They Be Considered in the Future Global Energy Mix? (12/10/03, U.S. Geological Survey)

Capturing the "Big One": Computer Modeling of Interacting Faults Near Los Angeles (12/8/03, U.S. Geological Survey)

NAS Asks U.N. to Avoid Total Ban on Cloning Research (12/8/03, National Academies); read NAS president's statement

Teenagers Face Health Timebomb (12/8/03, New Scientist)

Government of Canada To Ensure Reasonable Access to a Legal Source of Marihuana for Medical Purposes (12/8/03, Health Canada)

Mitigate To Reduce Future Flood Damage (12/8/03, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Department of Homeland Security Launches Listo Campaign (El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional Lanza La Campana Listo) (12/8/03, DHS); see www.listo.gov

National Center for Atmospheric Research Model Shows Decrease in Global Dust by 2100 (12/8/03, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

Smart Assistant Will Cut Driver Distraction (12/7/03, New Scientist)

GM Sugar Beet "Far More Environmentally Friendly" (12/6/03, New Scientist)

Packaging Recycling Goes Down in Flames--and Waste Hierarchy Goes with It! (12/6/03, European Environmental Bureau)

Major Study Finds Mixed Results in Review of Chemical Exposure to World Trade Center Firefighters - Research in Environmental Health Perspectives Finds Some Elevated Levels, Some Not (12/5/03, EHP Online)

Testing for Cervical Cancer Virus Could Save Lives (12/5/03, New Scientist)

Classical Swine Fever: New Test Approved (12/5/03, European Union)

Deadly Fungus Disease Hits UK Trees (12/5/03, New Scientist)

Potassium Iodide (KI) Should Be Available to People Living Near Nuclear Power Plants (12/4/03, National Academies); also see the KI distribution project website

Predicted Deaths from Mesothelioma (Cancer from Asbestos) (12/4/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Addresses Risk Perception Conference on "Irrational Fears or Legitimate Concerns - Risk Perception in Perspective" (12/4/03, European Union); read more about conference

New Power Plant Rule to Achieve Largest Emission Reductions in a Decade (12/4/03, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

First-ever Livestock Census in Afghanistan - Restocking of Farm Animals Could Take Many Years - Herds Decimated by Drought and War (12/4/03, UN Food and Agriculture Organization)

Proposed New Work at Height Regulations (12/4/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

U.S. Steel: European Union Welcomes Termination of U.S. Steel Safeguard Measure (12/4/03, European Union)

"Cat Scan"-Like Seismic Study of Earthquake Zone Helps Set Stage for Fault Drilling Project (12/4/03, U.S. Geological Survey)

World Health Organization Accused of Huge HIV Blunder (12/3/03, New Scientist)

Virus Deploys Sinister Trick Against Anti-spammers (12/3/03, New Scientist)

Origin of Multiple Myeloma Found in Rare Stem Cell (12/3/03, Johns Hopkins Medicine)

"No Doubt" Human Activity Is Affecting Global Climate, Top Scientists Conclude (12/3/03, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

Many Ski Resorts Heading Downhill as a Result of Global Warming (12/2/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

Domestic Measures Taken or Planned So Far Are Insufficient to Meet European Union Climate Emissions Targets, Projections Show (12/2/03, European Environment Agency); also see Most of Central and Eastern Europe on Track to Meet Kyoto Targets

World Health Organization and UNAIDS Unveil Plan to Get 3 Million AIDS Patients on Treatment by 2005 (12/1/03, WHO); also see WHO Adds New Fixed Dose Combinations to Its List of Quality Products for AIDS Treatment

Canada's Minister of Health Releases Canada's Report on HIV/AIDS 2003; Canada Makes Progress - More Work Lies Ahead (12/1/03, Health Canada)

Mapping the March of HIV/AIDS in Rural Africa - Study Examines Complex Impact of the Deadly Disease (12/1/03, Food and Agriculture Organization); also see Making Agricultural Policy "AIDS-proof"

Cut Off Time for Hand-Held Calls (12/1/03, UK Department for Transport)

FAO Director General: "More Financial Resources Are Essential to Meet the Challenges of the New Century" (12/1/03, Food and Agriculture Organization)

Chemicals: Research Key to New European Union Chemical Policy (12/1/03, EU)

First International Energy Agency Assessment of Renewable Energy (12/1/03, IEA)

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Launches Global "Culture of Security" Website (12/1/03, OECD)

Elderly Falls Linked to Vitamin Deficiency (12/1/03, New Scientist)

November 2003

Treaty on Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides Trade To Become Law - Rotterdam Convention Will Enter into Force on 24 February 2004 (11/27/03, Food and Agriculture Organization); see Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade website (homepage, English, Français, Español)

David Byrne, Renate Künast, and Miguel Arias Cañete To Open European Union Conference on Risk Perception (11/27/03, EU); find additional information at Risk Perception: Science, Public Debate and Policy Making, 4-5 December 2003, Charlemagne Conference Centre, Brussels

Europe's Water Quality Generally Improving but Agriculture Still the Main Challenge (11/27/03, European Environment Agency)

Climate Change Threat to Our [Australia's] Natural Resources (11/26/03, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

University of Southern California Chosen as First Homeland Security Center for Excellence (11/25/03, University of Southern California)

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Warns Holiday Shoppers About Hazardous Recalled Toys - New Federal Web Site Launched--www.Recalls.gov (11/25/03, CPSC)

Global Halt to Major Greenhouse Gas Growth (11/25/03, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

Global AIDS Epidemic Shows No Sign of Abating; Highest Number of HIV Infections and Deaths Ever - Rapid Increases in Newer HIV Epidemics in Asia and Eastern Europe Despite Improvements, Current Prevention and Care Efforts Are Inadequate (11/25/03, World Health Organization)

Humankind’s Closest Living Relatives on the Brink of Extinction (11/25/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Reports a Setback in the War Against Hunger (11/25/03, FAO)

Batteries: European Commission Requires Collection and Recycling of All Batteries (11/25/03, European Union)

National Fire Protection Association Discourages Use of Turkey Fryers (11/25/03, NFPA)

Weakening Growth in Investment and Increasing Brain Drain: Two Major Threats to the European Knowledge-based Economy (11/25/03, European Union)

Strategies to Help AIDS Patients Take Their Medicines Are Cost Effective (11/24/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Plutonium Management in the Medium Term (11/24/03, Nuclear Energy Agency)

Consumer Alert: Insecticide Voluntary Recovery Effort Underway - Consumers Urged to Follow Manufacturer's Instructions for Disposal and Full Value Replacement (11/24/03, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Canada's Minister of Health Proposes Measures to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Lead (11/24/03, Health Canada)

Health Canada Launches "Two Lives Affected by Tobacco" Cinema Ad (11/24/03, Health Canada)

Cinnamon Spice Produces Healthier Blood (11/24/03, New Scientist); also see Spicing Up Insulin Sensitivity (11/21/03, USDA Agricultural Research Service)

Solutions for Advancing Electricity Market Reform (11/24/03, International Energy Agency)

Scientists Launch San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (11/24/03, U.S. Geological Survey)

2003 Hurricane Season: U.S. Weather Research Program Research Led to More Accurate Track Forecasts (11/24/03, National Center for Atmospheric Research)

European Parliament Undermines Waste Prevention and Recycling (11/24/03, European Environmental Bureau)

Home Fires from Candles Reach 20-Year Peak Small Flames Led to 102 Deaths, 1,473 Injuries in 1999 (11/21/03, National Fire Protection Association)

Spicing Up Insulin Sensitivity (11/21/03, USDA Agricultural Research Service)

Thiamine Deficient Infant Formula (11/21/03, World Health Organization)

Although Challenges Remain "Unprecedented" Progess Made in Countering Biological, Chemical Terrorism (11/20/03, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

Reducing Medical Errors Requires National Computerized Information Systems; Data Standards Are Crucial to Improving Patient Safety (11/20/03, National Academies); read full report and public briefing opening statement; listen to briefing (download free RealPlayer)

FDA Today Issued the Following Statement To Clarify It's Actions on Imported Mexican Green Onions (Scallions) (11/20/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

"Preventable" Failures Caused U.S. Power Blackout (11/20/03, New Scientist); read report and U.S. Secretary of Energy's statement

Ebola "Suspect List" Drawn Up as Outbreak Hits (11/20/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Syphilis Rates Climb for Second Consecutive Year - Downward Trend Among African Americans and Women Offset by Increases Among Gay and Bisexual Men (11/20/03, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

US$ 341 Million Needed for Health of 45 Million People in Crises (11/19/03, World Health Organization)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Ebola Vaccine Enters Human Trial (11/18/03, National Institutes of Health)

Red List of Threatened Species Tops 12,000 (11/18/03, New Scientist)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness This Holiday Season (11/18/03, FDA)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Hotline: A Food Safety Resource for Millions (11/18/03, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)

Hydrogen Research Earns $5.1 Million in Global Climate and Energy Project Grants (11/18/03, Stanford University)

Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program Provides Psychological and Financial Safety Net for Home Owners, Business Owners, and Renters (11/18/03, FEMA)

James K. Hammitt Named New Director of the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (11/17/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Ahhhh! Better Than Red Wine or Green Tea, Cocoa Froths with Cancer-preventing Compounds, Cornell Food Scientists Say (11/17/03, Cornell University)

Height Sensitive: Rear Crash Protection Devices for Heavy Trucks (11/17/03, Pennsylvania State University)

Bush Administration Plan to Reduce Global Warming Could Devastate Sea Life - University of Rhode Island Marine Biologist Says CO2 Injection in Deep Sea Would Alter Ocean Chemistry, Affect Numerous Creatures (11/17/03, URI)

Early Evidence Suggests Current Flu Season Could Be Severe - Health Officials Say It's Not Too Late to Get a Flu Shot (11/17/03, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Collaboratory for Multi-scale Chemical Science (CMCS) Introduces Data-sharing Web Portal to "Change the Way Chemical Science Is Done" (11/17/03, Sandia National Laboratories)

Asbestos and Two Hazardous Pesticides Could Be Added to Trade Watch List - Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the Rotterdam Convention Meets (11/17/03, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

New U.S. Department of Transportation Data Show Rising Safety Belt Use Rates in Most States (11/17/03, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces New Food Safety and Security Guidelines for Consumers (11/17/03, USDA); download PDF files for Food Safety and Food Security: What Consumers Need to Know or Lo que Deben Saber los Consumidores Inocuidad Alimentaria y Seguridad Alimentaria: Lo que Deben Saber los Consumidores

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Publishes List of August, September 2003 Recalls (11/17/03, NHTSA)

U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dismisses Terror Threat of Pistol Disguised as Pen (11/17/03, Violence Policy Center)

Consumers Advised That Recent Hepatitis A Outbreaks Have Been Associated with Green Onions (11/15/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Georgia Tech's Hazardous Materials Training Program to Present 40-hour Hazmat Technician (HAZWOPER) Training December 1-5 and Two Technician Annual Refresher Courses (11/14/03, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Decision on Ozone Damaging Pesticide Methyl Bromide Deferred into 2004 (11/14/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

Diabetes Cases Could Double in Developing Countries in Next 30 Years (11/14/03, World Health Organization)

Latest Mimail Worm Has New Trick (11/14/03, New Scientist)

Draft Assessment on CCA-Treated Wood Released for Scientific Peer Review (11/13/03, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Los Alamos National Laboratory Launches Hepatitis C Database (11/12/03, LANL)

Latest Cancer Incidence Report Shows Prostate Leading Cancer Among Men, Breast Cancer Leads for Women (11/12/03, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

European Airspace Safety Rules "Flawed" (11/12/03, New Scientist)

Testosterone Therapy Studies Should Determine Benefits First, Then Risks; Study Participants Should Be Limited, Carefully Screened (11/12/03, National Academies); read full report Testosterone and Aging: Clinical Research Directions

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission To Provide Results of Inspection into September 15th Automatic Shutdown of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plants (11/12/03, NRC)

Choose the Tap, Not the Bottle, Say Dental Experts (11/10/03, Newcastle University)

Powerful Radioactive Source Secured in Côte d'Ivoire - IAEA Helps Remove Radioactive Material (11/10/03, International Atomic Energy Agency)

World Health Organization and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Announce Global Initiative to Promote Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables - Low Fruit and Vegetable Intake a Key Risk Factor for Conditions Such As Heart Disease, Cancer and Obesity, but Supply Needs To Be Improved to Meet Global Needs (11/10/03, WHO)

Iran To Sign Additional Protocol and Suspend Uranium Enrichment and Reprocessing (11/10/03, International Atomic Energy Agency)

European Commission Proposes Common Rules for Adding Vitamins and Minerals to Foods (11/10/03, European Union); read frequently asked questions about the proposal

US Kids Show Early Signs of Heart Disease (11/10/03, New Scientist)

FEMA Review of Deadly Texas A&M Bonfire Collapse Provides Insight into Lessons Learned (11/10/03, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Industrial Materials: Improving Pressure Equipment Safety in Europe (11/10/03, European Union)

Unsafe Injections Common Around World (11/7/03, New Scientist)

Energy Security Risks and Global Financial Markets To Be Reviewed at UN Forum by Industry Leaders (11/7/03, United Nations)

UN Postpones Global Human Cloning Ban (11/7/03, New Scientist)

"Dog-on-a-Chip" Could Replace Drug-Sniffing Canines (11/7/03, Georgia Institute of Technology)

State of Play on GMO Authorisations Under EU Law: What Is the EU Regulatory Framework for GMO Authorisation? (11/7/03, United Nations)

Presence of Persistent Chemicals in the Human Body - Results of European Commissioner for Environment's Blood Test (11/6/03, United Nations)

Toxic US Ghost Ships Should "Go Home" (11/6/03, New Scientist)

Placental Malaria Increases Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (11/5/03, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

US Crackdown on Bioterror Is Backfiring (11/5/03, New Scientist)

Global Search for SARS Vaccine Gains Momentum - Remarkable Progress but No Vaccine This Year Say Researchers (11/5/03, World Health Organization)

How Do We Deter Employers from Breaching Health and Safety If Not Through Proper Action and Tougher Fines? (11/5/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

Urban Rodent Control and the Safe Use of Rodenticides by Professional Users (11/5/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

New Strategy for International Chemicals Management To Be Launched in Bangkok (11/5/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

Peer Consulation on Acetone (11/5/03, TERA)

Occupational Exposure to Chemicals – A Review of Limits in Europe (11/4/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

Risk of Proliferation, Unauthorized Use of "Non-Strategic" Nuclear Weapons Addressed in One of Five Texts Approved by Disarmament Committee (11/4/03, United Nations)

Pregnant Women Who Smoke Heavily Increase the Risk That Their Children Will Also Smoke Heavily Later in Life (11/1/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

October 2003

Reanalysis of Mad Cow Disease Confirms Risk Is Low in the U.S. (10/31/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Unique Double Solar Punch Strikes Earth (10/31/03, New Scientist); also see Giant Solar Flare Slams into Earth (10/29/03)

United Nations Launches International Year of Rice (10/31/03, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

US Says Food from Cloned Animals Is Safe (10/31/03, New Scientist); also see FDA Issues Draft Executive Summary of Its Assessment of Safety of Animal Cloning; Current Voluntary Moratorium on Releasing Animal Clones Remains in Effect (10/31/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Plan to Make Human Cloning Safe Set Out (10/31/03, New Scientist)

Governments of Canada and Nunavut Sign the First Climate Change Memorandum of Understanding (10/31/03, Environment Canada)

Water 2025 Science and Technology Workshop (10/31/03, U.S. Geological Survey)

New Issue of Risk in Perspective: The Cost of Improving Health by Reducing Emissions from Public Transit Buses (PDF version) (10/31/03, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis)

Text Outlining "Path" to Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Approved in Disarmament Committee (10/30/03, United Nations)

North Korea Urgently Needs Food Aid - Millions of People at Risk (10/30/03, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

National Center for Environmental Assessment Updates Dioxin Reassessment Website (see entry for October 30) (10/30/03, NCEA); see Dioxin and Related Compounds website

Chemicals: European Commission Presents Proposal to Modernise European Union Legislation (10/29/03, European Union); read questions and answers on the new chemicals policy REACH and speech at press conference by European Commission member responsible for enterprise and the information society

US Develops Lethal New Viruses (10/29/03, New Scientist)

West Nile Cases Doubled in 2003 US Outbreak (10/29/03, New Scientist)

RIMS Posts Valuable Real Estate Risk Management Insight and Data Online (10/28/03, Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement on THG (Tetrahydrogestrinone) (10/28/03, FDA)

Institute of Medicine Initiative Seeks to Communicate Expert Health Findings and Recommendations to Local Communities (10/28/03, National Academies)

Save Your Home from Floods - Consider Elevating It (10/28/03, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory Entitled: Reports of Suicidality in Pediatric Patients Being Treated with Antidepressant Medications for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (10/27/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Debating the Right to Food - From International Law to National Policy (10/27/03, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

How Australia's New Noise Standards Impact on Industry (10/27/03, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Finds No Significant Environmental Impact from Proposed Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility at Diablo Canyon (10/27/03, NRC)

Financial Services: European Commission Sets Up Specialist Groups to Take Stock of Action Plan and Look to the Future (10/27/03, European Union); also see frequently asked questions about the Financial Services Action Plan assessment

Giant Sunspots Continue to Erupt (10/27/03, New Scientist)

About a Nickle a Day Helps Keep Global Warming Away (10/27/03, Environmental Defense)

Fighting Ozone Pollution: European Commission Welcomes Agreement in Council but Further Action Needed (10/27/03, European Union)

Summer 2003 Ozone Pollution Hits High; Levels Could Recur for Several More Years (10/24/03, European Environment Agency)

Solar Storm Reaches Earth; More Activity Expected (10/24/03, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Live Webcast Monday and Tuesday: Institute of Medicine Annual Meeting (10/24/03, IOM); also see news brief

International Labour Organization Reports Strong Job Growth in the Chemical Industries in East Asia (10/24/03, ILO)

Overhead Power Lines Hidden Killer for UK Farmers (10/24/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

Some LDL-Cholesterol Particles Are Worse Than Others (10/24/03, USDA Agricultural Research Service)

Seasons of Change: Evidence of Arctic Warming Grows and Recent Warming of Arctic May Affect Worldwide Climate (10/23/03, U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

Iran Provides Nuclear Declaration to the International Atomic Energy Agency (10/23/03, IAEA); for background, see IAEA Director General Comments on Nuclear Verification in Iran (10/21/03, IAEA) and pages on IAEA and Iran

Canada's Environment Minister Welcomes Entry into Force of Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (10/23/03, Environment Canada)

NASA Scientist Dives into Perfect Space Storm (10/23/03, U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

The Price of Better Health in Iraq: an Extra US$ 14 per Person per Year (10/23/03, World Health Organization)

Biggest Single Cause of Construction Accidents Is Simply Getting to the "Workface" (10/23/03, UK Health and Safety Executive)

Americans Can Use Their "Extra Hour" on Sunday to Reduce Their Risk of Dying in a House Fire by 50 Percent (10/23/03, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Removes Spent Nuclear Fuel from Its Final Aged Underwater Storage Basin; Reduces Risk to Aquifer (10/23/03, INEEL)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Issues Guidance on Evaluating the Safety of Antimicrobial New Animal Drugs to Help Prevent Creating New Resistant Bacteria (10/23/03, FDA)

Modifications to the Method for Imputing Priced-service Income from Clearing-balance Investments (10/23/03, Federal Reserve Board)

Asteroid Hermes, Lost for 66 Years, Is Found To Be Two Objects Orbiting Each Other, Astronomers Using Arecibo Telescope Report (10/23/03, Cornell University); also see Near-Earth Asteroid Hermes Re-spotted, 66 Years Later - Upon Close Observation Long-Lost Object Is Bright Binary (10/21/03, Lowell Observatory)

Death by Malaria Threatens 15 Million Ethiopians as UN Agencies Appeal for $5.8 Million to Avert Major Epidemic (10/22/03, United Nations)

Mass Immunization Campaign Launched to Protect 15 Million Children from Polio, as Outbreak in Nigeria Spreads Across West Africa - Experts Call Outbreak "Grave Public Health Threat" (10/22/03, World Health Organization)

European Commission Continues to Fight Landmines (10/22/03, European Union)

Risk Assessment Reinforces That Keeping Ready-To-Eat Foods Cold May Be the Key to Reducing Listeriosis (10/21/03, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

UN Report on HIV/AIDS Situation Records Worldwide Impact with Devastating Consequences for All Sectors (10/21/03, United Nations)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes to Promote Recycling of Hazardous Waste (10/20/03, U.S. EPA)

HIV/AIDS: European Research Provides Clear Proof that HIV Virus Cannot Pass Through Condoms (10/20/03, European Union)

European Commission Hails Council Agreement on Measures to Protect Workers Exposed to Electro-magnetic Fields and Waves (10/20/03, European Union)

Global Polio Eradication Initiative Welcomes the Organization of the Islamic Conference Decision to Step Up Effort to Eradicate Polio (10/20/03, World Health Organization)

Maternal Deaths Disproportionately High in Developing Countries (10/20/03, World Health Organization)

UN Food and Agriculture Organization Issues Desert Locust Alert - Mauritania, Niger, Sudan and Other Neighbouring Countries at Risk (10/20/03, FAO)

UN Environment Chief Challenges World's Financiers - UNEP Launches New Initiative to Shift Investment to Sustainable Energy (10/20/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statement Concerning Rumors About Recalled Lot of Influenza Vaccine (10/17/03, CDC)

Global Leaders Intensify Commitment to Prevent Leading Childhood Killer - Measles (10/17/03, World Health Organization)

More African Countries Back Lead-Free Petrol (10/17/03, United Nations Environment Programme)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Makes Final Decision on Dioxin in Sewage Sludge Used in Land Applications (10/17/03, U.S. EPA)

Harvard School of Public Health and Kennedy School of Government Launch BioTerror Preparedness Academy (10/17/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Climate Change, Disasters, Desertification Can Affect Security, Survival of Developing Countries, UN Second Committee Told - Delegates Underline Plight of Small Island States, Least Developed Countries (10/17/03, United Nations)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Proposes Steps to Assure the Safety and Efficacy of Certain Currently Unapproved Medicines (10/17/03, FDA)

Operations Researchers Say Delta Air Lines' Song™ Has Cut Turnaround Time of Aircraft by 25% (10/17/03, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Releases Draft Version of New SARS Plan (10/17/03, CDC)

Sandia Launches Chem/Bio Program Web Site (10/16/03, Sandia National Laboratory); see http://www.ca.sandia.gov/chembio/

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Introduces New Technology to Improve Food Security: Electronic Food Facility Registration Goes "Live," Allowing More Than 400,000 Facilities to Register in Minutes; FDA Reports on Progress in Developing Rapid Tests of Food Contamination (10/16/03, FDA)

NBC Today’s Katie Couric to Receive Highest Honor from Harvard School of Public Health for Colon Cancer Work (10/16/03, Harvard School of Public Health)

Drownings and Injury Could Be Spared Through New World Health Organization Risk Protection Plan - Beaches and Recreational Waters Could Be Much Safer (10/16/03, WHO)

Genetically Modified Crops Can Be Worse for Environment (10/16/03, New Scientist); see also Banning GM Crops Not Enough to Save Wildlife

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Vote to Recommend Influenza Vaccination for Children Aged 6 to 23 Months (10/16/03, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Independent Task Forces Release Recommendations on Community and Clinical Approaches to Preventing Skin Cancer (10/16/03, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Panel Recommends Approval of Silicone Breast Implants (10/16/03, National Academies)

Body Clock Disruption, Linked with Travel Across Time Zones, Seen in Study of Flight Attendants (10/16/03, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Sixteen Organizations Recognized for Significant Progress in Reducing Pesticide Risk (click here and scroll down to "sixteen") (10/16/03, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Issues 2003-04 Winter Outlook for the Nation (10/16/03, NOAA)

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries Struggle with Rising Demand for Health Spending (10/16/03, OECD)

Long-lost Near-Earth Asteroid Spotted (10/16/03, New Scientist); also see Orbit for Hermes Dynamically Linked from 1937 to 2003 (10/16/03, Near-Earth Object Program)

Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture: Benefits Dwindle as the Picture Sharpens (10/15/03, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

Los Alamos Discloses Improper PCB Disposal (10/15/03, Los Alamos National Laboratory)

U.S. Army Should Expedite Destruction of Chemical Weapons at Anniston (10/15/03, National Academies)

European Union Complies with World Trade Organisation Ruling on Hormone Beef and Calls on USA and Canada to Lift Trade Sanctions (10/15/03, European Union)

Some 38 Countries Worldwide Facing "Serious Food Shortages," United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Reports (10/15/03, United Nations)

Frozen IVF Embryos Linked to Ectopic Pregnancy (10/15/03, New Scientist)

China "Splendid Example of Progress" in Eliminating Iodine Deficiency, UN Secretary-General Says in Message to Beijing Meeting (10/15/03, UN)

Seat-Belt Reminder Systems Should Be Enhanced (10/14/03, National Academies)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Releases Study on Vehicle Weight, Safety (10/14/03, NHTSA)