The Canary Report

In the news: Newborns, homeland security, and chemicals

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Media/Videos, News, Susie Collins

Red and Black reports newborns inspire toxicity research.

Global Security Newswire reports House Democrats on Friday pushed through a bill that would place new security requirements on facilities across the country that use or store dangerous chemicals after defeating a handful of GOP amendments. The bill, approved 230-193, would renew and broaden the authority of the Homeland Security Department to require chemical facilities to use safer technologies and processes as one of several ways to enforce chemical security regulations.

Delaware Online reports on momentum gathering to strengthen the government’s primary mechanism for banning harmful chemicals or limiting their use in consumer products, the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act.

The Tehran Times, Iran’s leading international daily, reports on five ways to improve indoor air quality. It’s snitched from WebMD, but it’s a lot more progressive than a lot of articles we see regurgitated in the US that advocate for toxic household cleansers and air fresheners. (Thanks, Linda!)

One of my favorite journalists, Nicholas Kristof, reports in an Op/Ed in the New York Times on Chemicals in Our Food, and Bodies. Better know for his reporting on Darfur, sexual enslavement and trafficking of young women, it’s exciting to see Kristof report on BPA and other toxic chemicals; he’s mainstream and he adds heft to the urgency of this topic.

Tags: Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, Environmental Health, Home, Indoor Pollution, Policy, Toxic