Studies and news reports that expand the scope of Environment & Human Health, Inc.'s (EHHI) research reports about health and the environment.

EHHI responds to the new New York Synthetic Turf Study
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) comments on a new synthetic turf study released in May 2009. The New York Synthetic Turf Study tested two fields, and concluded that the "levels of chemicals in air at the Thomas Jefferson and John Mullaly Fields do not raise a concern for non-cancer or cancer health effects for people who use or visit the fields." Based on this conclusion, press releases have declared synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber to be safe. Click here for EHHI's response to the study.

EHHI's Op-Ed in response to ground-up used rubber tires in toddler playgrounds
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) remains remains extremely concerned about the ground-up rubber tire mulch that is being placed in our youngest children's environment––their playscapes. Amid worries by government scientists reported in the Los Angeles Times about the safety of using recycled tires for playgrounds, the federal government is concluding a limited study of air and surface samples at four fake-surface fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires. Click here for OpEd.

EHHI's Op-Ed in response to schools and towns installing artificial turf fields containing ground-up rubber tire in-fill
Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI) is concerned about synthetic turf fields that are being installed by schools and towns all over the United States. Many newspaper articles are reporting an increase of MRSA infections among football players playing on synthetic turf fields. According to a company website, "installation of a FieldTurf field eliminates the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, while at the same time, removes over 40,000 tires from landfill sites." Because small crumbs of rubber tire are loosely spread over dyed green grass-like blades, they can be easily picked up by shoes, socks and even ears and hair. Click here for OpEd.

Air pollution elevates cancer risk in 600 neighborhoods
People living in nearly 600 neighborhoods across the country are breathing concentrations of toxic air pollutants that put them at a much greater risk of contracting cancer, according to new data from the Environmental Protection Agency, which last published its National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment in 2002. Click here for story.

Connecticut governor signs bill banning bisphenol-A in food containers
Connecticut joined a growing number of state and local governments banning the sale of plastic baby bottles, food containers and cups containing bisphenol-A (BPA). Connecticut's new law will take effect Oct. 1, 2011. Click here for story.

Blumenthal: chemical industry tried to kill legislation
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says the chemical industry used "confusion and concealment" and possibly violated Connecticut law in its unsuccessful attempt to kill legislation banning the use of bisphenol-A in baby bottles and infant food jars. Click here for story.

FDA relied on chemical industry lobbyists to discredit scientific studies warning of BPA risks
Emails obtained by the Wisconsin Journal Sentinel show FDA asked chemical industry to study BPA.

Chicago becomes first municipality to ban BPA in baby bottles and cups containing BPA
Chicago's ban on the sale of baby bottles and cups containing BPA will take effect in January 2010. Click here for story.

Rats are fat after long-term exposure to lower levels of atrazine
Much of the water in the Midwest is contaminated with the agricultural pesticide atrazine. A new study in Environmental Health News suggests a mechanism to explain prior studies that found high prevalence of obesity in areas of the United States with heavy atrazine use. This study also shows that high-dose experiments do not predict low-dose results, which calls into question many federal safety standards presumed to protect human health. Click here for news story.

Study links formaldehyde to more common cancers
Formaldehyde has long been linked to rare tumors of the nasopharynx, which includes the back of the throat, but new research links the chemical compound to cancers of the blood and lymphatic system. Click here for story.