2015 News & Views Archives

2015 News

Esri Maps Provide Geographic Context on Earthquakes Around the World.
Esri publishes interactive maps about earthquakes and aftershocks around the world, such as the earthquake that struck Nepal earlier this year. The maps are available for readers to embed or share as part of ongoing coverage. The Earthquake Public Information Map shows continuously updated information about earthquake locations and intensities and can be embedded in web sites and blog postings with the following code: <iframe width=”100%” height=”640px” src=”http://www.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=de7c7b077c0144149fe5f9dd7857361d” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

Esri also publishes story maps that explain the history of seismic activity in earthquake epicenters. In response to the earthquake this spring in Nepal, for example, Esri published the 2015 Nepal earthquake story map. You can embed this map with the following code:
<iframe width=”100%” height=”800px” src=”http://story.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/?appid=34934c03445649cd9fcb422a2a7279c7” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>
~ RiskWorld editorial staff (posted 4/27/2015)

2015 Releases

End of Ebola Transmission in Guinea (12/29/15, World Health Organization)

Mitigating Risks of Urban Planning with Palisade’s @RISK (12/17/15, Palisade Corporation)

30th Annual Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves (11/24/15, U.S. Public Interest Research Group)

The First Great Chemical Cancer Scare? Cranberries, Thanksgiving 1959 (11/23/15, American Council on Science and Health)

Dunbar Introduces 360° Managed Security Service for Both Cyber and Physical Threats, Opens Advanced Security Operations Center (PDF) (11/17/15, Dunbar) Dunbar’s Cybersecurity, Security Systems, and Protective Services business lines are integrated under the new Dunbar Security Solutions division.

Improving Public Alerts in Emergency Situations (11/13/15, International Organization for Standardization) Two recently published ISO standards will help organizations responsible for public warning at the local, national or international level to put in place a structured emergency response informing a targeted risk population.

Feeding At-Risk Infants Gluten Increases Risk of Developing Celiac Disease (11/12/15, American Gastroenterological Association) CGH research finds that gluten ingested at an early age plays a role in disease course.

Lead Exposure Impacts Children’s Sleep (11/12/15, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing) Novel finding from Penn Nursing research shows that lead exposure in early childhood increases risk for sleep problems and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Launch of the FIA High Level Panel for Road Safety with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (11/11/15, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile)

NIST Study of Colorado Wildfire Shows Actions Can Change Outcomes (11/9/15, National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Assessing Approaches to Updating the Social Cost of Carbon – Public Meeting and Webcast, Nov. 13, 2015 (11/6/15, National Academies) See the agenda.

Schulz in Lesbos: “People Are Really Running for Their Lives” (11/5/15, European Parliament) EP President Martin Schulz traveled to the Greek island of Lesbos in order to visit a refugee registration and identification centre where almost 2,500 people are recorded on a daily basis.

New Report Finds Human-Caused Climate Change Increased the Severity of Many Extreme Events in 2014 (11/5/15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Read the report Explaining Extreme Events of 2014 from a Climate Perspective, published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

DONG Energy Joins LR to Enhance Oil Recovery Decision Making (11/3/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy)

Multistate Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Sicken Thousands, Highlight Need for Action (11/3/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Government and food industries can work together to make food safer, according to the CDC Vital Signs monthly report Safer Food Saves Lives.

CDC Challenge: Find Better Ways to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Blood Clots (11/3/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

New Tool Rates Stream Vulnerability to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development (11/3/15, U.S. Geological Survey) USGS coauthored study looks at natural and man-made factors.

Risk Assessment, for the Birds (11/2/15, National Science Foundation)

Tuberculosis Mortality Nearly Halved Since 1990 (10/28/15, World Health Organization) But TB ranks alongside HIV as a leading cause of death worldwide.

Health Care Costs for Dementia Found Greater Than for Any Other Disease (10/27/15, National Institutes of Health)

NRC Accelerates Schedule for Earthquake Risk Analysis at U.S. Reactors (10/27/15, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

The USA Pavilion at The World’s Fair in Milan Launches Time Capsule Project (10/27/15, PR Newswire) The virtual Time Capsule, hosted by Amazon, will store recipes, literature, and artwork from the American public on topics including food sustainability, security, and deliciousness. Go to pavilion website.

Many Young Heart Attack Patients, Especially Women, Unaware of Risk (10/26/15, Yale University)

New UN Report Links Processed Meats to Cancer in Humans; Red Meat Also Likely to Cause the Disease (10/26/15, United Nations)

Strong El Niño Will “Test” Disaster Resilience in Hazard-prone Pacific Region, UN Warns (10/26/15, United Nations)

Pilot Implementation of First Malaria Vaccine Recommended by WHO Advisory Groups (10/23/15, World Health Organization)

NRC Issues Operating License for Watts Bar Unit 2, Oversight Continues (10/22/15, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

New Report Identifies Four Ways to Reduce Health Risks from Climate Pollutants (10/22/15, World Health Organization)

Despite Progress, Road Traffic Deaths Remain Too High (10/19/15, World Health Organization)

Wayne State Scientists Make Advancements That May Lead to New Treatments for Parkinson’s (10/16/15, Wayne State University)

Excessive Alcohol Use Continues to Be Drain on American Economy (10/15/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Strong El Niño Sets the Stage for 2015-2016 Winter Weather (10/15/15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Acetaminophen Recall Is More Than a Headache (10/15/15, American Council on Science and Health)

Lower Systolic Blood Pressure Reduces Risk of Hypertension Complication (10/13/15, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)

ISA Releases Advance Program for Its 2015 Process Control & Safety Symposium (10/13/15, International Society of Automation) The program places emphasis on improving safety and security in chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas processing.

Use of E-cigarettes and Alternative Tobacco Products May Lead to Increased Tobacco Use (10/13/15, EurekAlert!) Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center sound the alarm in the Journal of the American Medical Association on a burgeoning public health crisis.

UH Research Sheds New Light on the Great Recession (10/13/15, University of Houston) Corporate bond “fire sales” rippled through the economy and lasted for years.

IBHS Urges Americans to Participate in Great Shakeout Oct. 15 (10/12/15, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety) IBHS Consumer Guide recommends six inexpensive projects to reduce earthquake damage.

Veridos with Focus on Combining Security and Convenience at ICAO Symposium in Montreal (10/12/15, Veridos GmbH)

Adult High Blood Pressure Risk Identifiable in Childhood (10/9/15, University of Otago)

Unvaccinated Children in Ukraine at Heightened Risk of Polio, UN Agencies Warn (10/9/15, United Nations)

Cyber and Reputation Risks Remain Top Concerns, According to Marsh and DRI International Survey (10/8/15, Disaster Recovery Institute International )

New NIH Breast Cancer Research to Focus on Prevention (10/8/15, National Institutes of Health)

Federal Truck Size and Weight Study Falls Short of Congressional Requirements, Says New Report (10/8/15, National Academies) Read Review of U.S. Department of Transportation Truck Size and Weight Study – Second Report: Review of USDOT Technical Reports.

ISA’s 62nd International Instrumentation Symposium Issues Call for Papers (10/8/15, International Society of Automation) The deadline for abstract submission is January 15, 2016. The conference will be held jointly with the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology.

Forest Service Chief Reviews Fire Season, Calls for Two-Part Solution to Fire Budget (10/8/15, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) Program Reaches 8,000 Designees (10/7/15, International Risk Management Institute, Inc.)

Airport X-ray Screening Systems Comply with Health and Safety Standards for Radiation Exposure (9/29/15, National Academies) Read Airport Passenger Screening Using Backscatter X-Ray Machines: Compliance with Standards (2015).

The “Garden of Eden” in Iraq Now Internationally Protected as Wetlands of International Importance (9/29/15, The Ramsar Convention)

How Two Dogged Clean Air Sleuths Exposed Massive VW Deceit (9/23/15, Environmental Working Group)

Urgent Change Needed to Improve Diagnosis in Health Care or Diagnostic Errors Will Likely Worsen, Says New Report (9/22/15, National Academies) Read Improving Diagnosis in Health Care (2015).

All Countries Must Contribute to Solving Global Refugee Crisis, Says UN General Assembly President (9/21/15, United Nations)

El Niño and La Niña Will Exacerbate Coastal Hazards Across Entire Pacific (9/21/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

WHO/UNICEF Report: Malaria MDG Target Achieved Amid Sharp Drop in Cases and Mortality, but 3 Billion People Remain at Risk (9/17/15, World Health Organization)

New Report Examines Implications of Growing Gap in Life Span by Income for Entitlement Programs (9/17/15, National Academies) Read The Growing Gap in Life Expectancy by Income: Implications for Federal Programs and Policy Responses (2015).

IBHS Commends Congress on Passage of Wind Research Legislation (9/17/15, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety)

National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2014 (Preliminary Results) (9/17/15, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

AMGA 2015 Medical Group Risk Survey Finds Members Are Transitioning to Risk-Based Payments, but Significant Impediments Exist (9/17/15, American Medical Group Association)

Predicting Pesticides in Streams and Rivers: Where Is Water Quality at Risk? (9/16/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

New Guidance Notes for Risk Based Analysis: Cryogenic Spill (9/10/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy) Accidental release of cryogenic liquids such as LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) poses a significant risk to personnel and assets on oil & gas installations.

FAO Food Price Index Registers Sharpest Fall Since December 2008 (9/10/15, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Global cereal production for 2015 is up.

Close to 8,000 People Killed in Eastern Ukraine Since Mid-April 2014, Says UN Human Rights Report (9/8/15, United Nations)

NRC Ends Work on National Academy of Sciences Cancer Risk Pilot Study (9/8/15, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Implementing the EU Offshore Safety Directive in the UK North Sea (9/8/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy) On 19 July 2015, the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case, etc.) Regulations 2015 (SCR) came into force in the UK, implementing the requirements of EU Directive 2013/30/EU.

New ASTM International Standard Will Help Improve Safety of Liquid Detergent Laundry Packets (9/4/15, ASTM International)

Call for Submissions – 2016 SBCA Conference and Workshops (posted in RiskWorld 9/3/15, Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis) See listing in RiskWorld Events.

This First Week of National Preparedness Month, Make a Plan for Floods (9/2/15, Federal Emergency Management Agency) Also see National Preparedness Month overview.

FDA’s Welcome Action: Caffeine Is a Drug (9/2/15, American Council on Science and Health)

IBHS Advises Home and Business Owners to Take Four Steps to Prepare for Disaster During National Preparedness Month (9/2/15, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety)

National Preparedness Month Kicks Off on September 1 (9/1/15, Federal Emergency Management Agency) Read Presidential Proclamation: 2015 National Preparedness Month.

Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit to Unite Leaders From Around the World (9/1/15, National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

Insitu Conducts Successful Fire Monitoring Demonstration with Unmanned Aircraft in Olympic National (9/1/15, Insitu Inc.)

Avoiding War in Europe: How to Reduce the Risk of a Military Encounter Between Russia and NATO (8/26/15, European Leadership Network)

2015 ISA Process Control & Safety Symposium Features Three Acclaimed Keynote Speakers, Extensive Technical Program, Valuable Training Courses (8/25/15, International Society of Automation) The 2015 ISA Process Control & Safety Symposium will be held November 9–12 in Houston, Texas.

ICRC President Says the World Must Wake Up to the Suffering in Yemen (8/11/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Melting Ice Sheets, Genomic Studies, and Deep-Space Observations Are Top Priorities for Next Decade of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research (8/11/15, National Academies) Read A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research (2015).

The Pendulum Swings: Prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy 13 Years After the Women’s Health Initiative Study (8/2/2015, posted 8/11/2015, American Council on Science and Health)

New Guidance Notes Released on Risk Based Inspection of Hull Structures (8/10/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy) A well-structured risk based inspection scheme will help operators reduce downtime and facilitate continuous operation by focusing inspection and resource on critical risk elements.

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Atomic Blasts Still Echo, 70 Years On (8/6/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Bank of Tanzania and MetricStream Awarded “Best Governance, Risk, and Compliance Project in Africa” at the Asian Banker Middle East and Africa Technology Implementation Awards 2015 (8/6/15, MetricStream, Inc.) The two companies were recognized for building a robust and integrated program for governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance, supported by MetricStream GRC Apps.

MAST Security Update: Yemen & Libya (8/6/15, Maritime Asset Security and Training)

GelTech’s FireIce Continues to Impress This Wildland Fire Season (8/5/15, GelTech Solutions, Inc.)

Natural Disaster Automation and Mass Notification by Alert Systems Group, LLC (8/5/15, Alert Systems Group, LLC)

Massive Dead Zone Announced, EPA Sidesteps Goal (8/4/15, Mississippi River Collaborative) See Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium press release “Summary.” [RiskWorld editor’s note: See also The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone, by Monica Bruckner, Montana State University.]

Obama Administration Takes Historic Action on Climate Change—Clean Power Plan to Protect Public Health, Spur Clean Energy Investments and Strengthen U.S. Leadership (8/3/15, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Also see The Final Clean Power Plan: More Ambitious, More Achievable for States and Six Things Every American Should Know About the Clean Power Plan

Fact Sheet: President Obama to Announce Historic Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants (8/3/15, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The Clean Power Plan is a landmark action to protect public health, reduce energy bills for households and businesses, create American jobs, and bring clean power to communities across the country.

NSF Awards Grants for Study of Nepal Earthquake (8/3/15, National Science Foundation) The research aims to help people in Nepal and beyond become more resilient in natural disasters.

World on the Verge of an Effective Ebola Vaccine (7/31/15, World Health Organization)

Nation’s Top Ten Consumer Complaints 2014 (7/29/15, Consumer Federation of America) Identity theft tops the list of fastest-growing complaints. Read the report (in PDF).

Improving Accountability, Transparency and Professional Practice in Procurement – A Joint Statement from The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (7/29/15, CIPS)

Africa Risks Large Meningitis Outbreak (7/28/15, World Health Organization) International partners call for immediate increase in vaccine production to ward off danger.

Yemen: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Condemns the Shooting at an Ambulance in Taiz (7/28/15, International Committee of the Red Cross) Also see Yemen: Intensified Ground Fighting Heightens Civilian Suffering (7/24/15)

Ukraine: Staying Safe, Despite Mines and Explosive Remnants of War (7/27/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Community-Based Flood Insurance Offers Potential Benefits, Faces Many Challenges (7/24/15, National Academies) Read A Community-Based Flood Insurance Option (2015).

Keynote Speakers Announced for the 2015 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (7/21/15, International Risk Management Institute, Inc.)

Piper Planes and ACR Electronics Beacons Make for Safe Partners in the Sky (7/20/15, ACR Electronics, Inc.)

New Report Presents Framework to Establish Standards for Psychosocial Interventions Used to Treat Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (7/14/15, National Academies) Read Psychosocial Interventions for Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A Framework for Establishing Evidence-Based Standards (2015).

Low Vitamin D Linked to Osteoarthritis in the Knee (7/14/15, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service)

Philadelphia Insurance Companies Offers Online Tool to Build (7/13/15, Philadelphia Insurance Co.)

OSHA Directive Updates Inspection Procedures for Protecting Workers from Tuberculosis in Healthcare Settings (7/13/15, United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration)

South Sudan: Patients Dying After Fighting Compels Medical Staff to Leave Hospital (7/10/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

CDC versus Ebola: The Road to Zero (7/9/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) CDC responders describe the battle against Ebola in the multimedia report The Road to Zero: CDC’s Response to the West African Ebola Epidemic, 2014–2015.

“Safer” Replacements for Harmful Chemical in Plastics May Be as Risky to Human Health, Studies Suggest (7/8/15, New York University Langone Medical Center) NYU Langone Medical Center researchers call for stronger regulations and more testing.

Three Out of 4 American Adults Favor Making 21 the Minimum age of Sale for Tobacco Products (7/7/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Seven in 10 cigarette smokers favor raising the age of sale.

New Research Reveals the Trends and Risk Factors Behind America’s Growing Heroin Epidemic (7/7/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Heroin use is seen increasingly in most demographic groups.

WHO: Stepped Up Government Tax Action Needed to Curb Tobacco Epidemic (7/7/15, World Health Organization)

Food Contact Materials: Updating the Science for Safety Assessments – Public Consultation (7/7/15, European Food Safety Authority) Also see Public Consultation on Draft Scientific Opinion on “Recent Developments in the Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Food and Their Potential Impact on the Safety Assessment of Substances Used in Food Contact Materials”

Hank Campbell, Founder of Science 2.0, Named ACSH President (7/7/15, American Council on Science and Health)

Typically Disregarded Brain Lesions May Warn of Heightened Stroke Risk (7/6/15, EurekAlert)

EPA Finalizes Rule to Reduce Climate-Damaging Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (7/2/15, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Young People and Political Crisis in Burundi (7/1/15, Small Arms Survey )

Preemies at High Risk of Autism Don’t Show Typical Signs of Disorder in Early Infancy (7/1/15, Washington University in St. Louis)

FAO Director-General Highlights Role of Trade in Food Security and the Use of Public Standards to Ensure Food Safety (7/1/15, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

New Websites for National Academy of Medicine and Institute of Medicine (7/1/15, National Academies)

Welcome to NAM.edu (7/1/15, National Academy of Medicine)

Translate Your World Launches Groundbreaking Software for Across-Language Conversation in 25 Languages (7/1/15, Translate Your World International) Language barriers are shattered by the first complete software for real-time conversation between people of different languages. Just go to a webpage and talk.

Lack of Sanitation for 2.4 Billion People Is Undermining Health Improvements (6/30/15, World Health Organization)

OCC Report Discusses Risks Facing National Banks and Federal Savings Associations (6/30/15, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Department of the Treasury) Read OCC Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2015 (PDF)

U.S. Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates Around 6 Percent for Those Occurring Outside of a Hospital; New IOM Report Recommends Strategies to Improve Survival Rates (6/30/15, National Academies) Read Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival:
A Time to Act.

Study Shows Increase in Problem Drinking (6/29/15, National Institutes of Health) A nationwide survey revealed that alcohol use disorder is becoming more common, but few people seek treatment. The study highlights the need for renewed efforts to educate the public about problem drinking and its treatment.

IAEA Reviews Nigeria’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development (6/29/15, International Atomic Energy Agency)

PM’s Remarks After Laying the Foundation Stone of Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Jharkhand (6/28/15, Web Site of Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi) Also see PM Calls for Second Green Revolution (6/29/15, The Times of India)

Urgently Needed Aid Shipment Arrives in Yemen (6/24/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

New Online Captive Insurance Courses Offer CE and CPE Credit (6/22/15, International Risk Management Institute, Inc.) Courses include Captives as Risk Retention Mechanisms, Property and Casualty Reinsurance Fundamentals (available in July), and Captives as Risk Transfer Mechanisms (added in August).

White House Summit Underscores Health Impacts of Climate Change (6/23/15, American Lung Association) Read A Declaration on Climate Change and Health by a coalition of public health, disease advocacy, and medical organizations.

Submit an Abstract for the WEAI Conference (due July 8) (6/23/15, Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis) Western Economic Association International’s 12th International Conference will be held January 7–10, 2016, in Singapore.

Registration Is Now Open for the 2015 IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference in Des Moines, Iowa (6/22/15, International Risk Management Institute, Inc.)

Smoking Around Your Toddler Could Be Just as Bad as Smoking While Pregnant (6/22/15, Université de Montréal)

New Report Examines Options for Tying Insurance Rates to Flood Risk for Low-lying Structures (6/19/15, National Academies) Read Tying Flood Insurance to Flood Risk for Low-Lying Structures in the Floodplains (2015)

Prevention and Early Treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Arizona May Save Millions by Preventing Premature Death and Disability – Several Arizona American Indian Communities Are Severely Impacted by Outbreak, CDC/IHS Study Finds (6/18/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Analysis Used by Federal Agencies to Set Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards for U.S. Cars Was Generally of High Quality; Some Technologies and Issues Should Be Re-examined (6/18/15, National Academies) Read Cost, Effectiveness and Deployment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles (2015).

Study: Third of Big Groundwater Basins in Distress (6/16/15, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

New Report Shows That 400 Million Do Not Have Access to Essential Health Services (6/12/15, World Health Organization)

Expertise in Risk and Emergency Preparation to the World’s First Floating Wind Farm (6/10/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy) Statoil has awarded Lloyd’s Register Energy’s consulting business a contract to perform a risk and emergency preparedness analysis for the Hywind Scotland pilot park project.

South Sudan: Starvation Threatens Unless Urgent Action Is Taken (6/10/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

2015 ISA Water/Wastewater Symposium Offers Attendees 2.0 CEUs for Attending (ISA, FSAWWA and FDEP-approved) (6/9/15, International Society of Automation) Also see Training Courses at WWAC2015 Now Offer DEP-approved CEUs for State-licensed Water & Wastewater Operators

Iraq: Thousands Face Difficult Conditions After Fleeing Ramadi (6/9/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

EPA Releases Draft Assessment on the Potential Impacts to Drinking Water Resources from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities (6/4/15, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Assessment shows hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts to drinking water resources and identifies important vulnerabilities to drinking water resources

South Sudan: Preventing Hunger and Reducing Malnutrition (6/4/15, International Committee of the Red Cross) See a video and an article titled ICRC Calls for Urgent Action to Avert Disaster (6/8/15).

Business as Usual for Small Arms Exports to “Arab Spring” States (6/1/15, Small Arms Survey)

Western Diet May Increase Risk of Death After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (6/1/15, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

USDA Announces Restart of Biomass Crop Assistance Program for Renewable Energy (6/1/15, United States Department of Agriculture)

NHTSA Safety Advisory: Reducing Crashes Caused by Pedal Error (5/29/15, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 24–30, 2015 (5/28/15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Hydraulic Fracturing (Frac) Sand Sources and Production in the United States (5/27/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

NOAA: Below-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season Is Likely This Year (5/27/15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Hurricane forecasting is evolving with new storm surge products and upgraded modeling.

Hurricane Season Begins June 1—Are You Ready? (5/22/15, Federal Emergency Management Agency) Visit FEMA’s www.ready.gov/hurricanes for step-by-step information and resources for what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.

First Scientific Results from the TARA Oceans Expedition—Plantonic World: The New Frontier (5/21/15, Tara Expeditions)

Nigeria: Massive Long-term Effort Needed to Tackle Humanitarian Crisis in North (5/21/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine Announce Major Initiative to Guide Decision Making on Research Involving Human Gene Editing (5/18/15, National Academies)

More Isn’t Always Better (5/13/15, University of California Santa Barbara) A study by UCSB anthropologists connects increased diabetes risk and higher levels of testosterone to prostate enlargement.

Defense Security Information Exchange Formalized as Named Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (5/13/15, PR Newswire) See Executive Order 13961.

Iraq: ICRC Launches 36 Million Swiss Francs Appeal to Significantly Increase Aid (5/11/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Mass Murder, Mental Illness, and Men (5/11/15, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers) The mental health problems most common in mass murderers and why men at risk are so difficult to identify before they can carry out mass killings are discussed in the compelling article “Mass Murder, Mental Illness, and Men” in the peer-reviewed journal Violence and Gender, from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Violence and Gender website until June 11, 2015.

South Sudan: Tens of Thousands Flee Fighting, Face Critical Food Shortages (5/9/15, International Committee of the Red Cross )

Preliminary Economic Impact of Nepal Earthquake May Reach $5 Billion (5/7/15, Aon plc) Losses from the disaster could equal as much as 25% of Nepal’s GDP.

Syria: More Access Needed as Situation Deteriorates (5/7/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

People Smuggling in the Mediterranean Could Be the Tip of the Iceberg (5/7/15, Mast—Maritime Asset Security and Training)

The Interplay Between Risk Management and Social Responsibility for Oil and Gas Pipelines in the Middle East (5/7/15, PRWeb) International Research Networks (IRN) interviewed three experts in the industry—the Business Development Director of LPD Risk Management, the Cyber-Security Expert of ILF Consulting Engineers, and the Chief Executive Officer of Send Word Now—to take some insights on the physical security challenges security managers currently face in the region.

NOAA Announces New Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Searchable Database Web Tool (5/4/15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Called DIVER for “Data Integration, Visualization, Exploration, and Reporting,” the new online tool brings together multiple scientific data and analysis sets for the public and researchers in one location.

FAA Should “Reset Expectations” for Next Generation Air Transportation System (5/1/15, National Academies) Read A Review of the Next Generation Air Transportation System:
Implications and Importance of System Architecture (2015).

Aquifer Storage and Recovery Not Ready for Large-Scale Implementation in Everglades, but Could Be Phased In to Help Resolve Uncertainties, Offer Some Benefits (4/29/15, National Academies) Read Review of the Everglades Aquifer Storage and Recovery Regional Study (2015), and register to attend a free webinar about the report on Wednesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. EDT, featuring a presentation and Q&A session with committee chair James Saiers of Yale University and committee members William Hopkins of Virginia Tech, R. David G. Pyne of ASR Systems, and Elizabeth Screaton of the University of Florida.

Institute of Medicine to Become National Academy of Medicine (4/28/15, National Academies)

International Committee of the Red Cross Says Nuclear Weapons Are “Unacceptable Risk” and Must Be Scrapped (4/27/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Horn of Africa: New Effort to Reunite Families Caught Up in South Sudan Violence (4/27/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

Laundry Packets Voluntary Standard Moves to Next Stage (4/27/15, Consumer Federation of America) Consumer groups urge additional provisions to protect consumers.

Nearly One Million Children Require Urgent Humanitarian Assistance After Nepal Earthquake (4/26/15, UNICEF) Also read UNICEF Mobilized to Assist Children in Nepal Affected by Powerful Earthquake (4/25/15).

Migration: ICRC Calls for Expanded Search and Rescue, Monitoring of Humanitarian Impact (4/24/15, International Committee of the Red Cross)

The Future of the Insurance Industry Is a Present Concern (4/24/15, The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research)

NLM Launches Two New Traveling Exhibitions: “Pick Your Poison: Intoxicating Pleasures & Medical Prescriptions” and “Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Collection” (4/23/15, National Library of Medicine)

Reducing Costs, Improving Batteries, and Enhancing Consumer Information Will Improve Consumer Adoption of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (4/22/15, National Academies) Read Overcoming Barriers to Deployment of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (2015).

Electronic Cigarettes Are Not a “Safe Alternative” for Young People (4/21/15, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers) The article “Electronic Cigarettes: Vulnerability of Youth,” published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, is available free on the journal’s website until May 21, 2015.

The Revision of ISO 22000 on Food Safety Management Is Underway (4/20/15, International Organization for Standardization)

Landmines: A Legacy of War (4/2/15, International Committee of the Red Cross) The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed throughout the world on April 4 every year.

BPA Exposure During Pregnancy Linked to Mothers’ Future Diabetes Risk (4/1/15, Endocrine Society) A new animal study published in the Endocrine Society’s journal Endocrinology finds bisphenol A (BPA) associated with reduced glucose tolerance and beta cell dysfunction.

Night Owls Face Greater Risk of Developing Diabetes than Early Risers (4/1/15, Endocrine Society) Natural sleep preferences are also linked to fat mass and muscle mass, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Report Offers Blueprint to Improve Professional Care and Education of Children from Birth to Age 8 (4/1/15, National Academies) Read Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation (2015).

EU Restricts the Use of Plastic Bags to Protect the Environment (3/31/15, European Parliament)

New Report Describes Options for Providing Affordable Flood Insurance Premiums (3/26/15, National Academies) Read Affordability of National Flood Insurance Program Premiums: Report 1 (2015).

War Pushing Water Shortages to Breaking Point in the Middle East, Says ICRC Report (3/25/15, International Committee of the Red Cross) With heavy fighting continuing to tear apart Syria and Iraq, and many communities still recovering from conflicts in Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the region’s water resources and aging delivery systems are reaching their breaking point, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Space Radar Helps Track Underground Water Pollution Risk (3/19/15, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

CPSC Joins Global Effort to Prevent Child Poisonings (3/17/15, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Raising Minimum Age to Buy Cigarettes to at Least 21 Will Reduce Smoking Prevalence and Save Lives, Says IOM (3/12/15, National Academies) Read Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products (2015) and the report brief.

NRGene and International Researchers Team to Map Key Wheat Genome (PDF) (3/10/2015, NRGene) Hardier varieties are key to securing the world food supply.

Are Current Water Treatment Methods Sufficient to Remove Potentially Harmful Engineered Nanoparticles? (3/10/2015, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers)

PEI Publishes Recommended Practices for CNG Vehicle Fueling Facilities (3/4/2015, Petroleum Equipment Institute) Preview Recommended Practices for the Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Fueling Facilities, or purchase the report

Spring Has Sprung! Get Ready for Some of America’s Wildest Weather (3/1/2015, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather-Ready Nation) “Don’t let this dangerous season catch you unaware. Get ready for spring with just a few simple steps: Know Your Risk, Take Action, and Be a Force of Nature.”

Stronger Construction Standards Can Reduce Tornado Destruction, Says IBHS (2/25/2015, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety)

More Than 2 Hours of TV a Day Increases High Blood Pressure Risk in Children by 30 Percent (2/25/2015, EurekAlert!) This new research was led by the Universities of Zaragoza (Unizar) and São Paulo (Brazil).

CDC, Federal Partners Develop Improved Method for Attributing Foodborne Illness (2/24/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Read the report (PDF) by the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) Project.

IPCC Agrees on Acting Chair After R.K. Pachauri Steps Down (PDF) (2/24/2015, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Read a letter from R.K. Pachauri (PDF) and Reuters news coverage.

Study Finds Peanut Consumption in Infancy Prevents Peanut Allergy (2/23/2015, National Institutes of Health) The NIH-funded trial compares the consumption and the avoidance of peanuts.

Study: Formula Poses Greater Arsenic Risk Than Breast Milk (2/23/15, Dartmouth College)

NOAA’s Growing Weather Observations Database Goes into Full Operations (2/19/2015, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Available Evidence Suggests That Possible Regulation of Cigarettes Not Likely to Significantly Change U.S. Illicit Tobacco Market (2/19/15, National Academies) Read Understanding the U.S. Illicit Tobacco Market: Characteristics, Policy Context, and Lessons from International Experiences (2015).

Deadline Extended for Lithium Battery Ground Shippers (2/17/15, Lion Technology Inc.) Also read Countdown to New, Tougher Lithium Battery Shipping Rules (12/19/14).

Industry Recognizes Whitebox Security as the Driving Force in Data Access Governance (2/17/15, Whitebox Security)

RiskBusiness Launches Risk Intelli Set Report Writer (2/13/15, RiskBusiness International Limited)

CSRM: 10 Years of Excellence in School Risk Management Education (2/11/15, National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research)

Exposure to Mercury, Seafood Associated with Risk Factor for Autoimmune Disease (2/10/15, University of Michigan Health System) Among women of reproductive age, exposure to mercury at levels generally considered safe may be associated with markers of immune system disorders.

A Business-as-Unusual Outlook for Oil in the Medium Term (2/10/15, International Energy Agency) IEA report sees a transformed market, with supply more responsive to prices than in the past – and demand less so.

Climate Intervention Is Not a Replacement for Reducing Carbon Emissions; Proposed Intervention Techniques Not Ready for Wide-Scale Deployment (2/10/15, National Academies) Read Climate Intervention: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Reliable Sequestration (2015) and Climate Intervention: Reflecting Sunlight to Cool Earth (2015).

Immune Biomarkers Help Predict Early Death, Complications in HIV Patients with TB, Penn Study Finds (2/9/15, Penn Medicine) Measuring biomarkers with currently available blood test may help better stratify patients, guide future research and treatments before HIV treatment begins.

New Guidance Notes for Calculating Explosion Loads (2/9/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy) Guidance Notes for the Calculation of Probabilistic Explosion Loads provides recommended practices to help engineers, operators and designers to define blast and explosion loads to control and mitigate risk measures in offshore operations.

World Cancer Day: How Thousands of Lives Could Be Saved (2/4/15, European Parliament) Also read European Code Against Cancer—12 Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk.

58 Million Nonsmokers in U.S. Are Still Exposed to Secondhand Smoke (2/3/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Two of every five children—including seven in 10 black children—are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Value of U.S. Mineral Production Increases Despite Lower Metal Prices (1/30/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

Sugar Key to Lowering Osteoarthritis Risk (1/28/15, The University of Edinburgh) People at risk of osteoarthritis following orthopaedic surgery could be helped by a new way to protect cartilage from damage.

Farmers in Malawi Need Urgent Help After Heavy Flooding (1/28/15, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Prompt access to seeds and livestock will help reboot local food production.

Historical Hydraulic Fracturing Trends and Data Unveiled in New USGS Publications (1/27/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

Data Protection Starts with Everyone (1/26/15, Infosecurity Magazine) Opinion written by Roy Peretz of Whitebox Security.

First of Its Kind Guide Launched to Enable True Valuation of Ecosystems in Some of the World’s Smallest and Most Vulnerable Economies (1/26/15, United Nations Environment Programme)

Better, Smarter, Healthier: In Historic Announcement, HHS Sets Clear Goals and Timeline for Shifting Medicare Reimbursements from Volume to Value (1/26/15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Natural Breakdown of Petroleum Underground Can Lace Arsenic into Groundwater (1/26/15, U.S. Geological Survey)

Got Bees? Got Vitamin A? Got Malaria? Research Shows Loss of Pollinators Increases Risk of Malnutrition and Disease (1/26/15, The University of Vermont)

Study of Former NFL Players Reveals Specifics of Concussive Brain Damage (1/26/15, Johns Hopkins Medicine) Research results support calls for better player protections.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap on Non-plastic Food Contact Materials (1/23/15, European Food Safety Authority)

Sea-Level Rise, Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems, and Geohazards Are Among Priorities for Ocean Science Over Next Decade (1/23/15, National Academies) Read Sea Change: 2015-2025 Decadal Survey of Ocean Sciences (2015).

Opioid Painkillers Widely Prescribed Among Reproductive Age Women (1/22/15, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Opioid exposure during pregnancy increases risk of some birth defects.

Academy Honors Four for Major Contributions in Neuroscience, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences (1/22/15, National Academies) Note: The recipients include Scott D. Sagan, Caroline S. G. Munro Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, who has received the 2015 William and Katherine Estes Award, which recognizes basic research in any field of cognitive or behavioral science that uses rigorous formal and empirical methods to advance our understanding of issues relating to the risk of nuclear war.

NIH Researchers Tackle Thorny Side of Gene Therapy (1/20/2015, National Institutes of Health) Pre-clinical studies in mice reveal ways to reduce cancer risk with modified treatment.

Joint Industry Project (JIP) Launched to Facilitate Diagnosis and Decision-making for Nuclear Emergency Management (1/20/15, Lloyd’s Register Energy)

Review of Human Health Risk Assessments at California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (1/20/15, National Academies) Read Review of California’s Risk-Assessment Process for Pesticides (2015).

Soil Science Society of America Wants You to Know That “Soils Support Urban Life” (1/20/15, Soil Science Society of America)

Dutch Rally Support for a Europe Wide Microplastic Ban (1/16/15, United Nations Environment Programme)

IOM Report Proposes Professional Standards for Responsible Sharing of Clinical Trial Data; Recommends Data That Support Results Should Be Shared No Later Than Six Months After Publication (1/14/15, National Academies) Read Sharing Clinical Trial Data: Maximizing Benefits, Minimizing Risk (2015).

Up to 5,000 Europeans Joined jihad, Europol Chief Says (1/14/15, EU Observer)

Improving Rail Tank Car Safety, Commercial Trucking, Among the NTSB’s Most Wanted List for 2015 (1/13/15, National Transportation Safety Board)

Report Offers a Framework to Help Policymakers, Researchers, and Other Stakeholders Analyze the Effects of Potential Changes to the U.S. Food System (1/13/15, National Academies) Read A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System.

Transboundary Animal Diseases: What Are the Risks in the EU and What Does EFSA Do? (1/13/15, European Food Safety Authority)

Panel Cites Need for Individualized, Patient-centered Approach to Treat and Monitor Chronic Pain (1/12/15, National Institutes of Health)

A New Toolbox to Rank Risks (1/9/15, European Food Safety Authority)