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Health
Bird Flu Spreads in Asia, Jump in Indonesia Cases
January 16, 2007 12:00 AM - Mita Valina Liem, Reuters
An Indonesian hospital was on Monday overwhelmed with patients suffering bird flu symptoms while the virus spread further among flocks in Vietnam and flared anew in Thailand.
Health Experts Call on EU to Impose Total Ban on Use of Mercury
January 11, 2007 12:00 AM - Constant Brand, Associated Press
Health and environmental experts called on the European Union on Wednesday to push for a global ban on the use of mercury, warning that the highly toxic chemical continues to pose severe health risks.
Warm Europe Winter Has Pollen Lingering
January 11, 2007 12:00 AM - William J. Kole, Associated Press
Europe's unseasonably mild winter is nothing to sneeze at. Or maybe it is. Experts warned Austrian allergy-sufferers on Wednesday that some species of trees are already flowering and about to release pollen.
Studies Find Northeast Mercury Hotspots
January 10, 2007 12:00 AM - Philip Elliott, Associated Press
Mercury levels near some coal-burning power plants are five times higher than previous government estimates, calling into question how the Environmental Protection Agency identifies biological hotspots and prompting a Maine senator to propose a national monitoring system.
EPA Rejects Proposed Lumber Treatment
January 9, 2007 12:00 AM - H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday rejected an industry request to use a chromate-based wood preservative for lumber in decks and playground equipment, saying it poses a risk of cancer and other health problems.
U.S. Approves Weight-Loss Drug for Obese Dogs
January 7, 2007 12:00 AM - Susan Heavey, Reuters
The first prescription weight-loss drug to treat Americans' increasingly plump pooches won U.S. approval Friday, aimed at millions of overweight dogs with busy, treat-giving owners.
E. Coli Outbreaks Have Industry, Government Increasing Safety Efforts
January 2, 2007 12:00 AM - Linda A. Johnson, Associated Press
In light of food poisoning outbreaks involving spinach and lettuce, the U.S. government and the produce industry are scrambling to make leafy greens safer before the spring planting season.
Cloned Hamburger Meat Still Seen a Long Way Off
December 29, 2006 12:00 AM - Bob Burgdorfer, Reuters
It may be years before consumers will be buying fast-food hamburgers or grilling T-bone steaks made from cloned cattle because the cloning process is too expensive and currently is not commercially viable.
FDA Set to OK Food From Cloned Animals
December 28, 2006 12:00 AM - Libby Quaid, Associated Press
The government has decided that food from cloned animals is safe to eat and does not require special labeling. The Food and Drug Administration planned to brief industry groups in advance of an announcement Thursday morning.
WWII-Era German Submarine Loaded with Poisonous Cargo Still Haunting Norway
December 21, 2006 12:00 AM - Doug Mellgren, Associated Press
The rusting wreckage of a U-864, sunk off the coast of Norway in a desperate mission to supply Japan with advanced weapons technology, now poses a major environmental threat due to its poisonous cargo: 70 tons of mercury.