2004 news releases on risk topics

Reminder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Issues Final Reminder of "Stop Sale" Date for Diazinon (12/31/04, U.S. EPA); scroll down to item 2 here

U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Assessing Damage in Countries Devastated by Tsunamis in South Asia - Poor Farming and Fishing Communities Need Urgent Assistance to Restart Productive Activities (12/29/04, FAO)

USDA Releases Rule to Establish Minimal-Risk Regions for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - Recognizes Canada as Minimal-Risk Region, Making It Eligible to Export to the United States (12/29/04, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

First Contracts Issued for Environmentally Responsible Computer Disposal Throughout Federal Government (12/29/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

15-Year Study Shows Strong Link Between Fast Food, Obesity, and Insulin Resistance (12/30/04, EurekAlert); also see Eating at Fast-food Restaurants More than Twice Per Week is Associated with More Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance in Otherwise Healthy Young Adults (12/30/04, National Institutes of Health)

Alert to Pilots: Wing Upper Surface Ice Accumulation (12/28/04, National Transportation Safety Board)

Flame Retardant Exposure Linked to House Dust (12/28/04, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Quake Leaves Thousands Dead, Millions Homeless (12/28/04, National Academies)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory's LandScan Helps Tsunami Relief (12/28/04, ORNL)

New Year's Resolutions to Keep You Safe - USDA Checklist for Family Cooks and "Take-Out" Consumers (12/27/04, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)

Possibility of an Earth Impact in 2029 Ruled Out for Asteroid 2004 MN4 (12/27/04, NASA Near Earth Object Program); see earlier release Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 MN4 Reaches Highest Score To Date On Hazard Scale

Endangered Pacific Salmonid Assessments Completed for Remaining Seven Pesticide Active Ingredients (12/23/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Radon Gas in Homes Increases Lung Cancer Risk (12/23/04, European Union)

First Cloned Pet Revives Ethical Debate (12/23/04, New Scientist)

High-Enriched Uranium Removed from Czech Research Reactor - IAEA, United States, Russia Help Remove Highly Enriched Uranium Fuel (12/23/04, International Atomic Energy Agency)

Countries Agree on Steps for Reducing Accidental Deaths of Endangered Sea Turtles in Fisheries - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization To Develop Policy and Management Guidelines, Provide Technical Assistance (12/22/04, FAO)

International Atomic Energy Agency Selects Collaborating Centres in Nuclear Science, Technology - China´s Institute of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences at Zhejiang University Participates (12/22/04, IAEA)

"Conclusive" Study of Cellphones Fuels Controversy (12/21/04, New Scientist)

Flaw in Google Desktop Search Exposed Data (12/21/04, New Scientist)

Kyoto Target Within EU's Grasp If All Planned Measures and Projects Are Implemented, Projections Show (12/21/04, European Environment Agency)

European Commission and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Extend Food Security Programme - Some 20 Countries To Benefit from New Agreement (12/21/04, FAO)

Eliminating Iodine Deficiency Worldwide Is Within Reach (12/21/04, World Health Organization)

Latest Institute of Medicine Gulf War Report Confirms Link Between Lung Cancer and Combustion Products; Evidence on Other Health Problems Is Inconclusive (12/20/04, National Academies); read full report Gulf War and Health: Volume 3. Fuels, Combustion Products, and Propellants

Draft Metals Risk Assessment Framework Released (scroll down to title here) (12/20/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency); also see Framework for Inorganic Metals Risk Assessment (External Review Draft) (12/20/04, U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment)

Pfizer Painkiller May Triple Heart Attack Risk (12/20/04, New Scientist)

Climate Change Issues Clouded by Ozone (12/20/04, New Scientist)

Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations Look Troubled (12/20/04, New Scientist)

Aspirin Underused to Reduce Heart Disease Risk in Diabetic Women and Young Adults (12/20/04, EurekAlert)

U.S. Department of Energy Launches New Web Site with Government-Wide Energy Saving Tips (12/20/04, DOE)

National Institutes of Health Halt Use of COX-2 Inhibitor in Large Cancer Prevention Trial (12/17/04, NIH)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement on the Halting of a Clinical Trial of the Cox-2 Inhibitor Celebrex (12/17/04, FDA); also see FDA Statement on Celebrex DTC Promotion

CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Expands Priority Groups for Inactivated Influenza Vaccination - Adults Aged 50-64 and Close Contacts of Persons in High-risk Groups Will Be Eligible for Influenza Vaccination in Areas Where Vaccine Supply Is Sufficient to Meet Demand (12/17/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

U.S. EPA Announces Final Designations for First Fine Particle Standard (12/17/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

"Polymeal" Could Slash Heart Attack Risk (12/17/04, New Scientist)

New UCLA Study Develops Links Between Socioeconomic Status and Poor Health (12/16/04, EurekAlert)

Help Shape Public Policy in Washington, DC: AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs (12/16/04, AAAS)

Data on Firearms and Violence Too Weak to Settle Policy Debates; Comprehensive Research Effort Needed (12/16/04, National Academies); read full report Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review

Extreme Weather Losses Soar to Record High for Insurance Industry - Insurance Industry Facing $35 Billion Plus Bill for 2004 ( 12/15/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

UN Launches Web Site on Humanitarian Early Warning ( 12/15/04, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

U.S. EPA Issues Final Reminder of "Stop Sale" Date for Diazinon (scroll down to item 2) (12/15/04, U.S. EPA Pesticide Program)

List of Priority Conditions for Research Under Medicare Modernization Act Released (12/16/04, released 12/15/04, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

Statement on Oral Contraceptive Study from Director of the Women's Health Initiative and Acting Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (12/15/04, National Institutes of Health)

Small Variations in Genes Can Determine Risk of Developing Breast Cancer (12/15/04, National Institutes of Health)

EBDCs Risk Assessments, Preliminary Risk Reduction Options Available for Comment (12/15/04, U.S. EPA Pesticide Program)

Stressful Deadlines Boost Heart Attack Risk (12/14/04, New Scientist)

2003 Particle Pollution Report Shows Major Improvements in Air Quality (12/14/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Forests and Wetlands: Suppliers of Clean Water and First Line of Defence Against Floods (12/14/04, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

University of California, San Diego, Researcher Finds Death Toll Climbs at Winter Holidays (12/13/04, UCSD)

Countries Handle Rising Volumes of Radioactive Waste for Safe Disposal - International Atomic Energy Agency Symposium in Spain Seeks to Share Experience, Knowledge (12/13/04, IAEA)

First U.S. SARS Vaccine Trial Opens at NIH (12/13/04, National Institutes of Health)

Turkey Warns of Terror Wave If European Union Membership is Rejected (12/13/04, EUobserver)

New Environmental Assessment Launched at Danube Ministerial Meeting (12/13/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue Moderate Growth (12/13/04, Energy Information Administration)

Silent Risk of Osteoporosis in Men with Prostate Cancer (12/13/04, EurekAlert)

New Crash Test and Rollover Ratings for Select Model Year 2005 Now Available on SaferCar.Gov (12/13/04, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Captan Amended RED Available for Comment; Cancer Classification Changed (12/13/04, U.S. EPA Pesticide Program)

International Agency for Research on Cancer Study Shows Increasing Cancer Rates in Children in Europe (12/10/04, IARC)

Non-Rechargeable Lithium Battery Shipments Banned on Passenger Aircraft (12/10/04, U.S. Department of Transportation)

Smoking Is Bad for the Brain (12/10/04, New Scientist)

New Study Links Lead Exposure with Increased Risk of Cataract (12/10/04, National Institutes of Health)

International HapMap Consortium Widens Data Access - Mapping of Human Genetic Variation Will Speed Search for Disease Genes (12/10/04, National Institutes of Health)

Molecular Test Can Predict Both the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence and Who Will Benefit From Chemotherapy (12/10/04, National Institutes of Health)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Debuts Safety and Health Page on Chemical Reactivity Hazards (12/9/04, OSHA)

Status Report on the Minimal Risk Region Rule (12/10/04, released 12/9/04, U.S. Deparment of Agriculture)

Long-Run Energy Outlook Examines Impact of Alternative Crude Oil Price Trends (12/9/04, Energy Information Administration)

Bextra Label Updated with Boxed Warning Concerning Severe Skin Reactions and Warning Regarding Cardiovascular Risk (12/9/04, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Deep Tremors Under San Andreas Fault Could Portend Earthquakes (12/9/04, University of California, Berkeley)

Cellphone Sniffs Out Dirty Bombs (12/9/04, New Scientist)

Hot Laptops May Reduce Male Fertility (12/9/04, New Scientist)

AHRQ Issues New Report on the Safety and Effectiveness of Melatonin Supplements (12/8/04, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

EPA Releases Preliminary Risk Assessment for Pentachlorophenol (12/8/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Announces Upgraded Rule To Require Lap/Shoulder Safety Belts for Rear Center Seats in Passenger Vehicles (12/8/04, NHTSA)

Hunger Costs Millions of Lives and Billions of Dollars - FAO Hunger Report; Chronic Hunger Plagues 852 Million People Worldwide (12/8/04, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

Trojan Program Poses as Anti-spam Screensaver (12/8/04, New Scientist)

Space Shuttle Should Conduct Final Servicing Mission to Hubble Space Telescope (12/8/04, National Academies)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Announces Upgraded Rule for Head Restraints in Vehicles (12/7/04, NHTSA)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Issues Final Rule on the Establishment and Maintenance of Records to Enhance the Security of the U.S. Food Supply Under the Bioterrorism Act (12/6/04, FDA)

U.S.-Born Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites at Increased Risk for Psychiatric Disorders - Findings Raise New Questions About Influence of Culture (12/6/04, National Institutes of Health)

Report on Fire in the United States Now Available (12/6/04, U.S. Fire Administration)

New Web Site Pinpoints Harmful Chemicals in Communities (12/3/04, National Institutes of Health); visit TOXMAP

Department of Homeland Security Announces Over $2.5 Billion in Grants Nationwide (12/3/04, U.S. Department of Homeland Security)

Officials Convene to Sign Great Lakes Declaration (12/3/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Landmines Pose Gravest Risk for Children (12/2/04, UNICEF)

UN Secretary-General Welcomes Recommendations on a More Secure World and Strengthened United Nations (12/2/04, United Nations); read full report A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility

Canada Ratifies the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the World's First Public Health Treaty (12/2/04, Health Canada); also see Canada's Health Minister Tables Regulations to Reduce Fire Risk of Cigarettes

DOE Announces Environmental Review of the Proposed Consolidation of Nuclear Operations Related to the Production of Radioisotope Power Systems (12/2/04, U.S. Department of Energy)

Reregistration Decisions Announced for Three Pesticides (12/2/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Removing Land Mines Is Critical for Long-term Economic Development, United Nations Development Programme's Taft Tells Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World (12/2/04, UNDP)

WHO Tobacco Treaty Set to Become Law, Making Global Public Health History (12/1/04, WHO)

European Commission Authorises Aid for the Disposal of Risk Material and to Counter the Effects of BSE in Italy in 2001 (12/1/04, EU)

Study: Changes in Motorcycle-Crash Mortality Rates, by Blood Alcohol Concentration and Age -- United States, 1983-2003 (12/1/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

New Data Show Rates of US HIV/AIDS Diagnoses Are Steady; Racial Disparities Persist - HIV Testing Rates Are Higher Among CDC-recommended Groups Than General Population (12/1/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

November 2004

DOE Researchers Demonstrate Feasibility of Efficient Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Energy (11/30/04, U.S. Department of Energy)

HIV/AIDS: Risk to Young Europeans Increasing Says European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection (11/30/04, European Union); also see December 1 Is World AIDS Day

U.S. EPA Releases Notice of Data Availability for Clean Air Mercury Rule (11/30/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

CT Scans Explain Mysterious 9/11 Cough (11/30/04, New Scientist)

The Deadly Rise of Urban Malaria (11/30/04, New Scientist)

Keeping Air Pollution in Check Can Add Two Years to Your Life (11/29/04, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

Chlorimuron Ethyl TRED Available for Comment (11/29/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Canada and the United States To Improve Weather Forecasts (11/29/04, Environment Canada)

December 1 Is World AIDS Day (11/29/04, National Academies); read on line the forthcoming title Public Financing and Delivery of HIV/AIDS Care: Securing the Legacy of Ryan White

Stem Cells Rebuild Bladder Control (11/29/04, New Scientist)

Nutrition and Ageing - Showcasing European Research Projects (11/29/04, European Union)

Sprawling Systems Teeter on IT Chaos (11/27/04, New Scientist)

Revisions to Policy on Payments Systems Risk Addressing Risk Management in Payments and Securities Settlement Systems (11/27/04, Federal Reserve Board)

Use of Key Chemical in the Treatment of Commodity Crop Exports (11/27/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

German Farmers To Be Liable for GM Contamination (11/26/04, New Scientist)

Spyware Floods PCs from a Single Web Page (11/25/04, New Scientist)

The Economic Case for Nuclear Energy Is Compelling (11/25/04, Nuclear Energy Agency)

Java Bug Could Hit PC Operating Systems (11/24/04, New Scientist); also see United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team Vulnerability Note VU#760344

Planning for Extreme Events by Understanding Risk (11/24/04, National Institute of Standards and Technology); read full report titled Risk Analysis for Extreme Events: Economic Incentives for Reducing Future Losses (PDF version), by Howard Kunreuther, Robert Meyer, and Christophe Van den Bulte of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School

UN Food and Agriculture Organization Council Adopts Right to Food Guidelines (11/24/04, FAO)

Number of Women Living with HIV Increases in Each Region of the World (11/23/04, World Health Organization)

Canada's Transport Minister Warns Against Unruly Behaviour on Aircraft (11/23/04, Transport Canada)

New Data Show Rising Safety Belt Use Rates in Most States (11/23/04, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Announces Enhancement to Isotretinoin Risk Management Program (11/23/04, FDA)

Statement by Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service Deputy Administrator: BSE Inconclusive Screening Test Sample Has Tested Negative for BSE on Confirmatory Testing (11/23/04, USDA)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Revises Regulations for Structures, Systems, and Components for Nuclear Power Plants (11/23/04, NRC)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clarifies Compliance Sampling Requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule (11/23/04, U.S. EPA)

Early Release of 2003 Toxics Release Inventory Data (11/23/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Obesity Linked to Dementia in Women (11/23/04, New Scientist)

Cows Could Be Getting Too Much Protein (11/23/04, USDA Agricultural Research Service)

School Bus Travel in Canada To Be Safer (11/22/04, Transport Canada)

Statement By U.S. Department of Agriculture Press Secretary Regarding BSE Inconclusive Test Result (11/22/04, USDA)

New NOAA Web Site Keeps an Eye on the Arctic (11/22/04, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Persistent Coughs Melt Away with Chocolate (11/22/04, New Scientist)

Iran Halts Uranium Enrichment Programme (11/22/04, New Scientist)

Obesity Tied to Increased Risk for Dozens of Conditions (11/22/04, Center for the Advancement of Health)

National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics Offers Recommendations to Occupational Safety & Health Administration (11/19/04, OSHA)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Proposes Draft Guidance for Industry for New Plant Varieties Intended for Food Use (11/19/04, FDA)

Nation's Most Comprehensive Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report Shows Prostate Leading Newly Diagnosed Cancer Among Men; Breast Cancer Leads for Women (11/19/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); also see fact sheet U.S. Cancer Statistics: 2001 Incidence and Mortality

U.S. EPA's Pesticide Program Ready for Soybean Rust Threat to U.S. Food Security (11/19/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program); also see USDA Confirms Soybean Rust in United States

Cornell Sociologist's Statistical Sampling Method To Be Used by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Track HIV-risk Behavior Among Drug Rsers in 25 Cities (11/19/04, Cornell University)

Accounting Standards: European Commission Endorses International Accounting Standard No. 39 (11/19/04, European Union); also see frequently asked questions on "IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement"

Hopkins Institute for Global Tobacco Control Receives Elite Recognition from PAHO/WHO (11/18/04, JHSPH)

Portion Distortion Web Site: Learn How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain by Watching Portion Sizes (11/18/04, National Institutes of Health)

New Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Consumer Tool Puts Quit Plan in a Smoker's Hands (11/18/04, AHRQ)

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Acting Director's Statement Regarding November 18, 2004, Committee on Finance of the U.S. Senate Hearing on Drug Safety and the Worldwide Withdrawal of Vioxx by Merck & Co., Inc. (11/18/04, FDA)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator Announces Major Step Toward Saving Lives Worldwide (11/18/04, NHTSA)

Kyoto Protocol To Enter into Force 16 February 2005 (11/18/04, United Nations Environment Programme); also see Russia’s Ratification of the Kyoto Climate Treaty "Historic" Says Kofi Annan

World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations Establishes the First Global Technical Regulation for Motor Vehicle Safety (11/18/04, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

United Nations Launches International Year of Microcredit 2005 - Microentrepreneurs Ring in Year by Opening Stock Exchanges Around World (11/18/04, Year of Microcredit 2005)

Inconclusive Result from BSE Screening Test: Statement by U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Associate Deputy Administrator (11/18/04, USDA)

After Extensive Analysis, U.S. EPA Removes Chemicals from Lists of Regulated Pollutants (11/18/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Clouds of Pollution Pictured from Space (11/18/04, New Scientist)

"Early Warning" System Tracks Global Public Health Threats 24/7 - GPHIN II Collects and Disseminates Alerts in Seven Languages (11/17/04, Public Health Agency of Canada)

UK "Should Admit Gulf War Syndrome Exists" (11/17/04, New Scientist)

First International Standard for Common Genetic Test Approved by World Health Organization (11/17/04, WHO)

European Environment Agency Unveils First Digital Map of Europe's Changing Landscapes (11/17/04, EEA)

Policy-makers Should Enhance Selection Process for Presidential Science and Technology Appointments, Federal Advisory Committee Membership To Ensure the Best Science and Technology Advice for the Nation (11/17/04, National Academies); see project information, read full report, listen to briefing (requires free RealPlayer)

Rise in Threatened Species Is Accelerating (11/17/04, New Scientist)

Gathering Information for Watershed Ecological Assessments: a Review of Ten Watershed Assessments (11/17/04, U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement on Vioxx and Recent Allegations and the Agency's Continued Commitment to Sound Science and Peer Review (11/17/04, U.S. FDA)

Black Box Warning Added Concerning Long-Term Use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection (11/17/04, U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Study Assesses Tomato Oil Effect on Prostate (11/16/04, Northwestern University)

Ground-Level Ozone Linked to Increased Mortality (11/16/04, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

Montreal Protocol Talks on Protecting the Ozone Layer (11/16/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

UK White Paper Sets Out New Moves on Smoking, Obesity, and Sexual Health (11/16/04, UK Department of Health); read Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier (PDF version)

Diabetes Among Older Adults (U.S.) Imposed An Estimated $133.5 Billion Cost in 1990's (11/16/04, National Institutes of Health)

National Institute on Drug Abuse Study Offers New Clues About Connection Between Cocaine Abuse, Thinking, and Decision-making (11/16/04, National Institutes of Health)

International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs Programme Finds Smokeless Tobacco Is Carcinogenic to Humans (11/16/04, IARC)

European Court of Auditors President Presents 2003 Annual Report to the European Parliament Budgetary Control Committee on 16 November 2004 in Strasbourg (11/16/04, European Union); also see frequently asked questions on Court of Auditors annual report, the court's note on expenditures to control foot and mouth disease and note on the audit of the common market organisation (CMO) in raw tobacco, and questions and answers on the European Commission’s management of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak and on the CMO of the tobacco market

Study Links Ozone, Mortality in Urban Areas (11/16/04, Yale University)

Disrupted Sleep Causes Worker "Burnout" (11/16/04, New Scientist)

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Director-General To Participate in European Nuclear Assembly 2004 Debate on "Nuclear: A Persuasive Economic Option" (11/16/04, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency)

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Weight Management Expert Offers Tips for Health Holiday Cooking and Eating: You Can Eat Right and Enjoy It, Too (11/16/04, UPMC)

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Report on Iran Nuclear Verification Sent to Agency's Board (11/15/04, IAEA)

Computer Models to Simulate Hypothetical Outbreak of Avian Flu (11/15/04, National Institutes of Health)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Launches Expanded Flu Web Site for the Media (11/15/04, National Institutes of Health)

Births to Youngest Teens at Lowest Levels in Almost 60 Years (11/15/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

How To Solve America's Health Care Crisis and Why Canada Isn't the Answer (11/14/04, American Council on Science and Health); editorial by ACSH President Elizabeth Whelan, published in The Washington Times

Office of Pesticide Programs Solicits Pesticide Safety Proposals to Assess or Reduce Pesticide Exposure Risks(11/12/04, U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs)

Domestic Ducks Could Pose a New Avian Influenza Threat (11/11/04, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization)

New Online Tool Kit on HIV/AIDS Prevention for Sex Workers (11/11/04, World Health Organization)

IRIS Chemical Assessment Tracking System Is Now Available (11/10/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Deadlock Over World’s First Nuclear Fusion Reactor (11/10/04, EUobserver)

Shell Opens a Hydrogen Refueling Station in the Nation's Capital (11/10/04, U.S. Department of Energy)

Five New EU Member States in "Big Bang" Approach to Join Euro (11/10/04, EUobserver)

New WHO Report Calls for a New and Innovative Approach to Health Systems Research (11/10/04, World Health Organization)

Senior Citizens at Risk for Pneumonia (11/10/04, Infectious Diseases Society of America)

Study Shows High-Dose Vitamin E Supplements May Increase Risk of Dying (11/10/04, Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and States Announce Plan to Distribute 10.3 Million Flu Shots Nationwide; Public Health Officials Call Allocation Fair and Aimed at Most Vulnerable Americans (11/10/04, CDC)

Carbaryl RED Available for Comment (11/10/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Monitoring Life, One Breath at a Time -- Respiratory Sensor May Provide New Tool for Emergency Responders (11/10/04, National Science Foundation)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Announces New Initiatives to Help Americans Quit Smoking (11/10/04, HHS)

Health Canada Committed to Reducing Youth Access to Tobacco (11/9/04, Health Canada)

U.S. EPA Statement on Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study (11/9/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Ranbaxy Withdraws All Its Antiretroviral Medicines from WHO Prequalification (11/9/04, World Health Organization)

U.S. Department of Energy Awards Battelle Energy Alliance Contract to Establish World-Class Nuclear Energy and Technology Lab in Idaho (11/9/04, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory)

U.S. EPA Reaches Agreement with Major Airlines to Implement New Aircraft Water Protocols (11/9/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

National Transportation Safety Board Calls for Greater Oversight of Drivers with High Risk Medical Conditions (11/9/04, NTSB)

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Addresses Global Security and Nuclear Issues at Conference in Sydney (11/8/04, IAEA)

U.S. Calls NAFTA Environmental Report "Flawed, Unscientific" (11/8/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Sustainable Transportation Planning Software Tool Released (11/8/04, Transport Canada)

Half of European Bird Species in Danger (11/8/04, New Scientist)

UK Government "Obstructing" Open-access Publishing (11/8/04, New Scientist)

Report Examines Future of U.S. Water Supply (11/8/04, National Academies)

Maintaining Stable Weight, Even in the Obese, Reduces Heart Risks (11/7/04, EurekAlert)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Establishes National Center for Computational Toxicology and Announces Grant Awards and Solicitation for Bioinformatics Center (11/5/04, U.S. EPA)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Acts to Strengthen the Safety Program for Marketed Drugs (11/5/04, FDA)

Vioxx Heart Risks Apparent for Years (11/5/04, New Scientist)

Training Video to Help Health Care Providers Prevent Potential Drinking Water Health Risk (11/4/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Announces Major Initiatives for Dietary Supplements (11/4/04, FDA)

Nominations Sought for Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (corrected) (11/4/04, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service); deadline for nominations is December 4

Global Warming: Britain and Germany Chart the Way Forward (11/4/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

Environmental Health Perspectives To Publish Paper Outlining New Model for Calculating Safe Levels of Mercury Consumption (11/4/04, EHP online)

Certain PCBs Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer - Study in Environmental Health Perspectives Suggests that Exposure to Mono-ortho PCBs May Cause Colorectal Cancer (11/4/04, EHP online)

United States in U-turn Over Gulf War Syndrome (11/3/04, New Scientist)

World Health Organization Global Forum on Chronic Diseases Focuses Attention on Worldwide Prevention Efforts (11/3/04, Health Canada)

"Phishing" Email Covertly Redirects Web Browsers (11/3/04, New Scientist)

Arctic Warming at Twice Global Rate (11/2/04, New Scientist)

Threatened Species May Spiral into Oblivion (11/2/04, New Scientist)

Eating Fruits and Vegetables Associated with Reduction in Cardiovascular Disease, but Not Cancer (11/2/04, EurekAlert)

Annual Vaccination Against Influenza Associated with Decreased Risk of Death in Elderly (11/2/04, EurekAlert)

Smokers with Psychiatric Disorders Including Nicotine Dependence Consume Most U.S. Cigarettes (11/1/04, National Institutes of Health)

EPA Releases Final Science Review Document of Clean Air Standards for Particulate Matter (11/1/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

World Health Organization Warns of Flu Risk (11/1/04, National Academies)

Companies Fail to Identify Key Social and Environmental Risks - Company Boards Fail to Identify Key Social and Environmental Risks, but Major Progress Reported by International Survey of Top Corporate Sustainability Reports (11/1/04, UN Environment Programme)

Climate Uncertainty with CO₂ Rise Due to Uncertainty About Aerosols (11/1/04, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel to Meet to Discuss Refinement of Carbaryl Risk Estimates and N-Methyl Carbamate Cumulative Risk Assessment Strategies and Methodologies (11/1/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Studies Link Obesity to Increased Frequency of Heartburn Symptoms; Greater Risk of Esophageal Cancer (11/1/04, American College of Gastroenterology)

Smoking Increases Risk of Colon Polyps (11/1/04, American College of Gastroenterology)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Allows Qualified Health Claim to Decrease Risk of Coronary Heart Disease (11/1/04, FDA)

Showing Florida How to Oust an Invasive Pest (11/1/04, USDA Agricultural Research Service)

October 2004

European Commission To Strengthen Its Efforts in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (10/29/04, European Union); also see EU Action Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 2000-2005

Working Together to Reduce the Risk of Industrial Accidents (10/29/04, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

Psychotherapy, Meds Best for Youth With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (10/29/04, National Institutes of Health)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Warns Consumers About Risks Associated with Unpasteurized Juice (10/29/04, FDA)

Federal Trade Commission Issues Final Rules on FACTA Identity Theft Definitions, Active Duty Alert Duration, and Appropriate Proof of Identity (10/29/04, FTC)

Forest Service Announces National Strategy to Combat Invasive Species (10/28/04, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service)

Europe Needs REACH: Dutch Government Concludes Impact Assessments (10/28/04, European Environmental Bureau)

Avian Flu: Illegal Imports of Birds of Prey from Asia - Possible Exposure of Flight Passengers (10/28/04, European Union)

Canadian Exporters Fear Growing Protectionism in the States According to New Survey (10/28/04, Fraser Institute)

Nicotine's Addictive Hold Increases When Combined with Other Tobacco Smoke Chemicals, University of California, Irvine, Study Finds (10/28/04, UCI)

European Commission Submits French Research Findings on TSE in a Goat to Expert Panel (10/28/04, European Union); also see questions and answers on TSE in goats

United States Boosts E-voting Software Security (10/28/04, New Scientist)

Record Year for Cleanup at the INEEL (10/28/04, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory)

Infectious Diseases Society of America Recommends Ways to Strengthen U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Pandemic Influenza Plan (10/28/04, IDSA)

Accounts: European Commission Proposes Collective Board Responsibility and More Disclosure on Transactions, Off-balance Sheet Vehicles, and Corporate Governance (10/28/04, European Union); also see frequently asked questions on European Commission proposal for amending the Accounting Directives

Limiting Medical Interns' Work to 16 Consecutive Hours Can Substantially Reduce Serious Medical Errors in Intensive Care Units (10/27/04, HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

Compounded Errors Caused New York Crash (10/27/04, New Scientist); also see National Transportation Safety Board Says Pilot's Excessive Rudder Pedal Inputs Led to Crash of American Flight 587; Airbus Rudder System Design and Elements of Airline's Pilot Training Program Contributed (10/26/04, NTSB)

National Institute of Standards and Technology's World Trade Center Investigators Release Latest Research Findings (10/27/04, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Global Health Leaders Join the World Health Organization to Announce Accelerated Efforts to Improve Patient Safety (10/27/04, WHO)

Americans Slightly Taller, Much Heavier Than 40 Years Ago (10/27/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Location of Body Fat in Elderly Women Important in Predicting Heart Attack Risk (10/27/04, EurekAlert)

United Nations' Internal Oversight Office Launches 2004 Annual Report at Headquarters (10/27/04, United Nations)

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Announces the Availability of Nearly $500 Million in Disaster Assistance to Restore Farmland, Forests - $5 Million in Grants Available to Aid Farm Workers (10/27/04, USDA)

Chlorimuron Ethyl TRED Available for Comment (10/27/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Comments Sought on Federal Computer Security Guide (10/27/04, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Comments Requested on Proposed Retail Credit Risk Guidance (10/27/04, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Sunspots More Active Than for 8000 Years (10/27/04, New Scientist)

Report Calls for Economic Valuation in Environmental Policymaking (10/26/04, National Academies); read full report Valuing Ecosystem Services: Toward Better Environmental Decision-Making

First Group of Model Year 2005 Crash Tests and Rollover Ratings Available on SaferCar.Gov (10/26/04, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Idaho Completion Project Completes Disposal of Backlog Mixed Waste (10/26/04, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory)

Scientists Raise Concerns about Second Wave of "Mad Cow" Prion Infection - Leading Experts Address Need to Reduce Risk to Global Blood Supply (10/25/04, Pall Corporation)

Research Confirms That vCJD Prions Can be Removed from Blood - New Pall Technology Reduces Risk of Human-to-Human “Mad Cow” Transmission by Transfusion (10/25/04, Pall Corporation)

Basel Convention Conference: Meeting the Global Waste Challenge (10/25/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

United Nations Human Cloning Vote Stalls Yet Again (10/25/04, New Scientist)

Canadians Forego Billion-dollar Benefit from Deregulating Electricity (10/25/04, Fraser Institute); read Power Jolt Required: Measuring the Impact of Electricity Deregulation

Minister of the Environment Makes Recommendations on Adding New Species to the Species at Risk Act (10/22/04, Environment Canada)

More Than 3 Million Influenza Vaccine Doses Shipped This Week to Health Providers Serving High-Priority Groups (10/22/04, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Researchers Discover Gene Mutations for Parkinson's Disease (10/22/04, National Institutes of Health)

Father's Age Linked to Schizophrenia Risk (10/22/04, New Scientist)

U.S. Department of Energy Announces New Partnership with Pittsburgh Schools on Nuclear Science and Technology Education (10/22/04, DOE)

Caucasus - Transforming Risks into Co-Operation; New Report Outlines Environment and Security Threats and Opportunities for the Southern Caucasus Region (10/22/04, United Nations Environment Programme)

Russia's Parliament Passes Kyoto Protocol (10/22/04, New Scientist)

World Trade Center Indoor Air Quality Sampling Proposal Circulated - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Seeks Public Comment (10/21/04, U.S. EPA)

Harvard School of Public Health Raises Alarm on Persistent Smoking Threat (10/21/04, HSPH)

Comment Period Being Extended on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals White Paper (10/21/04, U.S. EPA Pesticides Program)

Experts Fear Escape of 1918 Flu from Lab (10/21/04, New Scientist)

United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency Warns Consumers About Chicken Contaminated with a Banned Veterinary Medicine (10/20/04, UK FSA)

New Measures Against Terrorism - Enhancing the Prevention and Consequence Management of Terrorist Attacks (10/20/04, European Union); also see New Measures Against Terrorism - The Protection of Critical Infrastructure Against Terrorist Attacks

Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative Report Now Available (10/20/04, U.S. Fire Administration)

Risks from Low-level Radiation Reassessed (10/20/04, New Scientist)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory System Eliminates Perchlorate, Helps Scientists Trace Source (10/20/04, ORNL)

Better Analyses of Wind, Damage Models Would Help Insurers Anticipate Hurricane Costs, University of Central Florida Professor, Georgia Colleague Say (10/20/04, UCF)

Leading Scientists to Discuss Research Applications for Therapeutic Cloning in Regenerative Medicine (10/20/04, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)

University of Pittsburgh Survey Shows Sinusitis, Bronchitis Account for More Than 30 Million Missed Workdays Each Year (10/20/04, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)

Latest Findings from National Institute of Standards and Technology World Trade Center Investigation Released - Leading Collapse Sequence for Each World Trade Center Tower Defined (10/19/04, NIST)

Expert Panel Offers Preliminary Report on Health Effects of Assisted Reproductive Technologies - Recommendations Made for New Research to Settle Questions (10/19/04, Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in Your Home: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Urges Annual Furnace Inspection to Prevent CO Deaths (10/19/04, CPSC)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Says Supply of Flu Vaccines, Medicines Will Help Keep People Safe During Coming Flu Season (10/19/04, HHS)

Sister Study Opens Nationwide - 50,000 Sisters of Women with Breast Cancer Needed To Help Find Causes of the Disease (10/18/04, National Institutes of Health)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sends Review Draft of Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds to National Academy of Sciences (10/18/04, U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment)

Errors in Medicine: The Patient's Perspective (10/18/04, EurekAlert)

New Trees Cancel Out Air Pollution Cuts (10/17/04, New Scientist); read more about this research at Biogenic VOC and Ozone

U.S. EPA Administrator Appoints Advisors to Lead Science Panels (10/15/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency); M. Granger Morgan of Carnegie Mellon University To Chair Science Advisory Board

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Public Health Advisory: Suicidality in Children and Adolescents Being Treated with Antidepressant Medications (10/15/04, FDA); also see FDA Launches a Multi-Pronged Strategy to Strengthen Safeguards for Children Treated with Antidepressant Medications

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Issue Joint Statement on Broadband Over Powerline (10/14/04, FERC)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Joins in Launch of Federal Financial Education Toolkit and Web Site (10/14/04, FDIC)

By 2020, One in Two Americans Over Age 50 Will Be At Risk for Fractures from Osteoporosis or Low Bone Mass - The Surgeon General Issues First-ever Report on Nation's Bone Health (10/14/04, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Grants Awarded to Develop Pesticide Risk Reduction Programs (click here and scroll down to title) (10/14/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Employment Opportunities in U.S. EPA's National Center for Environmental Asessment (10/14/04, NCEA)

Mining Waste: European Commission Welcomes Political Agreement in the Council on New Rules to Prevent Pollution and Accidents (10/14/04, European Union)

Sulphur Mountain Radar Is Effective at Forecasting Flash Floods, but National Weather Service Could Improve Use of "Next Generation Radars" (10/13/04, National Academies); read full report Flash Flood Forecasting Over Complex Terrain: With an Assessment of the Sulphur Mountain NEXRAD in Southern California

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Aventis Pasteur Announce Allocation Plan to Address Influenza Vaccine Shortages (10/12/04, CDC)

World's Pollution Hotspots Revealed from Space (10/12/04, New Scientist)

New Radioactivity Limit Could Sink Shellfish (10/12/04, New Scientist)

Nuclear Equipment Vanishes in Iraq (10/12/04, New Scientist)

"Science of Better" Convenes Operations Researchers in Denver (10/11/04, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences)

Investigation into BSE Testing Failures Report Published (10/11/04, UK Food Standards Agency)

European Commission Proposes Revised Rules on Food Additives Reducing Nitrates and Nitrites Levels (10/11/04, European Union)

World Food Day 2004 Points to the Vital Role of Biodiversity for Food Security - Keynote Speech by the President of Hungary (10/11/04, UN Food and Agriculture Organization)

Kyoto Protocol Is Just the Beginning (10/11/04, New Scientist)

Raft International Launches Version 2.0 of raft credit at the International Energy Credit Association Annual Conference 2004 - Consolidates Raft’s Position as the Leading Provider of Enterprise-wide Credit Risk Management Solutions to the Energy Markets (PDF version) (10/11/04, Raft International)

Pollution: Even More Information for the Public (PDF) (10/8/04, European Pollutant Emission Register)

Debate on Nuclear Energy Sparks Significant Interest (10/8/04, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency)

One Million Polio Vaccinators, 80 Million Children, 23 Countries: Africa Launches Largest Ever Immunization Campaign (10/8/04, World Health Organization)

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dell Inc. Announce Recall of AC Adapters for Notebook Computers (10/8/04, CPSC); look for “DELL” and “P/N 9364U,” P/N 7832D” or “P/N 4983D” printed on the back of the adapter

Smoking and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis (10/8/04, EurekAlert)

New Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Report on Treatment for Extremely Obese Americans Who Suffer Life-Threatening Illnesses Finds Weight-Loss Surgery More Effective (10/8/04, AHRQ)

Shingles: A Replay of an Old Virus (10/8/04, National Institutes of Health)

International Atomic Energy Agency Chief ElBaradei Calls for Stronger Global Security Framework (10/7/04, IAEA)

New Risks for Bladder Cancer Identified by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Team (10/7/04, MIT)

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service Announces a Public Meeting To Discuss Salmonella Risk Assessments (10/7/04, FSIS)

Endangered Species Workshop to Be Held October 20, 2004 (10/7/04, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Breathing Problems During Sleep May Affect Mental Development in Infants and Young Children (10/7/04, National Institutes of Health)