Posts Tagged "national academy of sciences"

Mercury in Fish Threatens Unborn

Posted by on Oct 11, 2011

Mercury in Fish Threatens Unborn

Pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tile fish because they could contain levels of mercury that could lead to brain damage in a developing fetus according to a Food and Drug Administration advisory. The advisory came on the heels of an extensive report issued by the National Academy of Sciences, which estimates that each year 60,000 children may be born in the United States with neurological problems as a result of exposure to methylmercury in the womb. According to the NAS report, “humans are exposed to methylmercury primarily through the consumption of contaminated fish, particularly large predatory...

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Arsenic – Poisonous Wood

Posted by on Sep 6, 2011

Arsenic – Poisonous Wood

Most of the pressure-treated, “outdoor” wood used in playground equipment, decks and picnic tables is preserved with the arsenic containing compound known as CCA (chromated copper arsenate). The U.S. EPA has announced the phase-out of arsenic treated wood for residential uses, responding to health concerns from unnecessary exposures, especially to children, and demands from citizen advocacy organizations. National Academy of Sciences reports that arsenic can affect every system in our bodies. Arsenic, even in very small amounts, is known to cause skin, lung and bladder cancer and is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other health effects. Therefore, we...

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