The University of Pennsylvania’s Oncolink website had an article by Carolyn Vachan on dietary supplements, which is often a sore spot with doctors and medical researchers even as they are very popular with the general public. Supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) make up a $23 billion industry in the United States, and they are largely unregulated. […]
Dietary Supplements Read More »
The Pump Handle blog had a post the other day by David Michaels (a professor at George Washington University) questioning government efforts in occupational exposure of beryllum. Chronic Beryllium Disease is an inflammatory lung disease. OSHA regulations are based on old data which has been superceded by new findings. The Department of Energy has already
Do OSHA regulations keep up with the science? Read More »
The American College of Physicians put out new guidelines for palliative care last week. The suggestions include regular assessment for pain and dyspnea for patients with a serious illness late in life, management of pain through accepted norms, and use of proven therapies to control dyspnea. More on this.
New guidelines on palliative care Read More »
The new year brings in establishment of a new asbestos management plan in the Australian state of Queensland. The rules was instituted in 2006, but employers were given time to meet the new code. Good news for everyone concerned with workplace safety.
New workplace asbestos rules in Queensland Read More »
The New York Times has a story about new experimental trials on cancer stem cells that drive tumor growth. Cancerous cells do not undergo apoptosis easily, which is why cancer is such a tough disease. But the new idea is that the bulk of cancer cells eventually die just like regular cells – the culprit
Stem cells and cancer Read More »
Quebec’s environment ministry says people living in the asbestos mining regions are not in danger from airborne fibers. Tests were conducted three years ago, but the results were just announced. The ministry used Ontario’s standards for outside air asbestos concentrations. Earlier a study in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health had said the
Environmental exposure of asbestos in Quebec Read More »
Interesting post over at Google’s Health Advertising Blog. They quote the consulting firm Prospectiv’s poll that shows the internet is the most trusted media for health information. 75% of those surveyed named the Internet as the place to get info, while 15% said broadcast media and 10% said magazines. The best places on the web
Getting health info from the Internet Read More »
The Associated Press reports that Chapter 11 embattled Dana Corp has filed papers in bankruptcy court. They are setting aside $2 million for asbestos claims resolution without litigation. Dana has received 150,000 claims of which 7 percent allege mesothelioma or another form of cancer.
Dana Corp agrees to asbestos settlement Read More »
The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) released a report claiming asbestos isn’t all that bad this week. Pretty lame. ACSH is well known as a biased think tank beholden to Washington conservatives. In the words of Sourcewatch, the organization “it takes a generally apologetic stance regarding virtually every other health and environmental hazard
American Council on Science and Health doubts Read More »
Via the National Health Information Center, we see October is both National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Healthy Lung Month. There is no week or month for mesothelioma because it is too rare, but the combination of a cancer and a lung month in October seem like some sort of sign.
Mesothelioma Month? Read More »