US: A Day Minus Meat
The Philadelphia Inquirer – At last count, 34 US hospitals and health-care institutions had signed onto the Balanced Menu Challenge, a commitment to reduce meat purchases by 20% within a 12-month period. The program is one of many projects coordinated by Health Care Without Harm.  more

Kashmir: State of Health, Biomedical Waste
Kashmir Life – A research commissioned by the health department found the biomedical waste management in Kashmir as primitive and highly hazardous for public health and environment. The Government of India, through the five year plans has expanded infrastructure and health services through Primary Health Centres and Sub-centres. However, the efficacy is still a question because of understaffing, poor supply of medicines and equipment, and basic awareness about the concept of healthcare at all levels especially about the management of biomedical waste. more

Hawaii: Medical Waste Spreads Down Coast
Star Advertiser – Medical waste and other trash continued to soil Leeward Coast beaches yesterday, washing ashore in spots farther down the shore from where the debris was initially found. more

Nigeria: UN Urges Federal Government to Prevent Lead Poisoning
The Nation – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report calling on Nigerian authorities to prevent further lead poisoning in northern Nigeria. more

Canada: Phthalates to be Restricted in Children's toys
CTV.ca – Health Canada has announced new restrictions on the use of six phthalates in children's toys and products used in the care of children. more

US: Common and Banned Chemicals Found in Nearly all Pregnant Women Studied
SFGate – The study, conducted by researchers at University of California - San Francisco, analyzed data for 163 chemicals among 268 pregnant women, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The women were part of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. more

US: Climate Change Reveals Disease as National Security Threat
Vancouver Sun – One of the most worrisome national security threats of climate change is the spread of disease, among both people and animals, US intelligence and health officials say.  more

US: Hospitals Can Go Green
Herald Tribune – For hospitals, going green can be a challenge. However, the health care industry has been making important changes so that facilities become not only stewards of patients, but also stewards of the earth.  more

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