Since I wrote a post titled “Autism: An urgent public “health challenge” or just another smoke screen?” I have spoken with an MD, a scientist and a pediatrician about it and suffice to say I feel a bit misunderstood. But one thing is sure: it is definitely difficult to write about the topic of vaccination without running the risk of being put into either the pro or the anti vaccination category. Continue Reading »

Does any Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD news report strike a chord within you? Are you feeling prompted to open the news link and read it in hope there is finally an answer or even the beginning of one? Or do you just avoid it fearing that you will emerge a lot more frustrated and confused than you were the last time you read about ASD? When I read about ASD, whether it is a – sad – story, a new research study, a governmental agency’s report (…) my first thoughts go to these hundred of thousands of children who have been diagnosed with ASD or other biochemical and psychological disorders, to their families that endure the heart breaking journey of raising and caring for these kids with special needs, feeling hopeless 9 days out of 10. I know almost certainly that this piece of news will make mention of a probable correlation between some vaccines and ASD and the most anticipated reality will strike again … “we do not know what is causing it” … is it so? Continue Reading »

Penta, deca, octa are not pets’ names but chemistry names (actually the number of bromine atoms per molecule of diphenyl ether) for a family of polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE) used to retard combustion of electrical and electronic equipment that would be caused by an internal ignition or a small external flame like a … candle. In an unprecedented move, the European Court of Justice restored the ban against decaBDE.
It might sound like a middle age battle, as the Kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark and Norway were fighting the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Besides this – amusing – detail of history, this episode translates the growing concerns of the hazardous impact of brominated and chlorinated halogens and hydrocarbons on human health and the environment. It is also a display of the PR and lobbying efforts of bromine manufacturers to make fire resistant testing always more stringent. The tactic is simple: fear and fact manipulation. On the other side, 120 distinguished scientists, biologists, researchers and physicians have come together to rebut these facts and warn the electrical and electronic community of the potentially harmful consequences of enabling this new standards. Click here to access the court order.

On May 2nd, 2008, Green Science Policy will hold its fifth session on flame retardants, which will focus on chemical policy reform in California and the EU, environmental remediation, and a proposed international standard for electronics that could triple use of FRs. I have been to the previous session and was so taken by the evidence that I decided to get involved. I feel it is critical to understand the domino effect of integrating toxic chemicals into products we use or are exposed to every day. See the agenda.

The Fire Retardant Dilemma is one of these issues that have started to receive some media and public attention for their short and long-term effects on our health and the environment. As I rediscovered last Friday at the 4th Symposium on this topic, the urgency of addressing the issue of fire retardant chemicals has to do with several upcoming meetings (1) that might seal the presence of brominated and chlorinated hydrocarbons in many household and office products for the next decade (or longer) all over the US. It is also an issue that could have a pervasive effect in how we address such issues: it is not about whether we are in favor or against fire retardants but rather which ones should be used to delay or prevent the ignition of such items as bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, TVs, VCRs, monitors, computers and so on. Continue Reading »