International: WHO Fosters Solar-powered, Mercury-free Blood Pressure Device for Low-resource Settings
Mercury Free Health Care – Hypertension, the Journal of the American Heart Association reports on the creation and field testing of this solar-powered, user-friendly, accurate, and inexpensive device for measuring blood pressure. The device, which does not require observers to be trained in the auscultatory technique, will allow nonphysician health workers (who are the backbone of the primary health care system in many developing countries) to participate in the diagnosis and management of hypertension.  more

India: Hospitals Flouting Biomedical Waste Management Nnorms
Times of India – Despite several reminders from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the approach of the hospitals towards biomedical waste management is still noticeable as they are directly dumping or burning the used needles, syringes, human anatomical waste, contaminated cotton bandages and discarded medicines.  more

Nigeria: Minister of Environment Seeks Proper Disposal of Medical Waste
Independentngonline – Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday called on healthcare practitioners to join the crusade for adoption of best practices in the disposal of clinical wastes in the state. Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, John Odey, has also canvassed for proper management of clinical waste disposal, arguing that if wrongly managed, such materials could have adverse effects on the society at large. more

Israel: Hospitals Told to Stop Using Baby Bottles Containing BPA
Jerusalem Post – Health Ministry announces stricter measures on use of bottles made from polycarbonate plastics. After July 1 hospitals will no longer feed formula to infants whose mothers are not breastfeeding or to babies in pediatrics departments using bottles made from polycarbonate plastics – which contain the compound bisphenol A (BPA). more

Italy: Ban of Plastic Shopping Bags
Planetark – Italy, one of the top users of plastic shopping bags in Europe, is banning them starting January 1, with retailers warning of chaos and many stores braced for the switch. Italian critics say polyethylene bags use too much oil to produce, take too long to break down, clog drains and easily spread to become eye sores and environmental hazards. more

US: Skin-lightening Creams May Contain Mercury Says EPA
Food Consumer – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says beware of toxic metal mercury in several skin lightening creams being sold in the Chicago area. Retailers are being told not to sell skin products if the product is not labeled. more

International: The Coming Health Crisis
The Scientist – Indirect effects of global climate change threaten the health of hundreds of millions of people. According to Samuel S. Myers and Aaron Bernstein, the very uncertainty that shrouds this issue must serve as an organizing principle for adaptation to its ill effects.  more

Pakistan: Facing Burden of Infectious Diseases Consequence of Climate Chgange
The News – Pakistan needs to work out an extraordinary strategy for the challenges ahead in 2011, as it continued to witness double burden of diseases, the infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, in 2010. Climate change, which continued to endanger health and food safety were among major health issues that needs to be given more attention.  more

Vietnam: Toxic Eat
Jersualem Post – Israelis set to embrace an eco-friendly way of disposing of electronic devices, says Israel Union for Environmental Defense. Every year, Israelis produce dozens of tons of electronic waste – cell phones, computer monitors, fax and copy machines that contain lead, cadmium, mercury and other dangerous toxins. When buried in the landfills, these toxins leak into the soil, threatening human health. Now, a new proposal introduced to the Knesset is trying to turn things around. The proposal, drafted by Israel Union for Environmental Defense (IUED) is based on the European Union’s Directive for treatment of e-waste and calls for the creation of collection schemes where consumers can return their used e-waste easily and free of charge.  more

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