Global: HCWH at UN: Pollution Prevention = Disease Prevention
HCWH – HCWH participated in a hearing at United Nations headquarters in preparation for a High-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases that will be convened by the Secretary General in September. Noting that nearly 1/10th of preventable deaths were caused by toxic substances, UMass Lowell professor Molly Jacobs, representing HCWH told participants that for chronic disease preventions to be comprehensive, they must include the reduction of risks posed by industrial toxicants.  more

Vietnam: Waste Water From Hospitals Poisoning Local Residents
Diario Vanguardia – According to Dr Nguyen Dinh Tuan, Head of the HCM City Environment Protection Sub-department, every day, the city has 17,500 cubic meters of medical waste water discharging to the environment, 18 percent of which does not go through treatment. The latest surveys show that the quality of the water at Tham Luong – Vam Thuat, Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe, Tau Hu – Ruot Ngua canal, Te Canal on Can Giuoc River, Tan Hoa – Lo Gom had the organic pollution level higher than in the previous years.  more

Philippines: House Bill Setting Up Mercury Exposure Info Program
Philstar – The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a bill on the establishment of an information program on the adverse effects of mercury found in marine products.  more

Taiwan: Natural Beauty Fruit And Vegetable Powder Contaminated With DEHP
Bernama – The Health Ministry confirmed that a food product imported from Taiwan had been contaminated with the dangerous chemical, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the outcome of the analysis carried out by the ministry on two food products found that the product, Natural Beauty Fruit and Vegetable Powder was contaminated with the chemical.  more

UK: Giant Factory Pig Farms Aren't Just Morally Wrong. They're Making Us Ill.
Daily Mail – Half of all antibiotics in the UK are used on farm animals and 60 per cent of those are given to pigs. The overuse of antibiotics in intensive farming means that these creatures provide a breeding ground for the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of diseases such as MRSA, E.coli and salmonella, which pass from animals to humans.  more

US: Doctors Prepare Their Professions to Explain and Treat Climate-Related Symptoms
New Uork Times – Top medical associations are becoming a high-profile lobbying force for climate regulations, and "the foundation for more physician involvement may already be set. Several hundred health groups have banded together to boost physicians' knowledge on issues of environmental health – including climate change. The coalition, which calls itself Health Care Without Harm, has crafted PowerPoint presentations for clinicians and hospital administrators that offer advice about how to "green" hospitals and educate other doctors about this topic.".  more

US: New Program Opens Up Training and Advancement in Greener Careers for SEIU-UHW Members
SEIU – SEIU-UHW members at Kaiser are leading the way with a new initiative to ensure not only patients' health, but also our health, and that of our communities by greening our facilities. A new two-year program for SEIU members in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, and Maryland/DC is focusing on helping make sure clean also means green at Kaiser.  more

Notice: This material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes. Online articles and links might expire days after their release date.