Proclamation "May 2012 is Asthma Awareness Month in the City of Mobile," signed by Mobile, Alabama Mayor Samuel L. Jones.

Proclamation

WHEREAS, Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting almost 25 million people; and 

WHEREAS, Asthma is one of the leading causes of childhood hospitalizations, long-term illness, and school absenteeism, accounting for nearly 10.5 million missed school days each year; and 

WHEREAS, Each year nearly 2 million people are rushed to the emergency room from asthma; and

WHEREAS, Asthma is a long-term, inflammatory disease in which the airways of the lungs constrict, causing wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing; and

WHEREAS, Exposure to allergens and irritants such as dust mites, mold, cockroaches, pet danger, and secondhand smoke can bring on an asthma episode; and 

WHEREAS, Secondhand smoke worsens children's asthma in up to one million children; and

WHEREAS, There are simple steps people can take to reduce their exposure to environmental asthma triggers; and

WHEREAS, The City of Mobile and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are encouraging Americans to identify and reduce their exposures to environmental triggers in homes and schools, and incorporate environmental controls into their asthma management plans; now therefore let it be

RESOLVED, That I, Samuel L. Jones, Mayor of the City of Mobile, along with the Mobile City Council, do hereby proclaim May 2012 as

ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH

in the City of Mobile.

Done at the City of Mobile Alabama This 22nd day of May 2012,

Samuel L. Jones, Mayor

For more information about

• Children's EPA, sponsor of the above proclamation, visit http://www.childrensepa.org,
• Asthma Community Network, sponsor of May is Asthma Awareness Month, visit http://www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org/
• Toxic Justice: A teacher's true story of her toxic injury and epic battle for justice, visit http://www.toxicjustice.com and the book Toxic Justice visit Toxic Justice - Nancy Swan
• Toxic Justice: Chapter One, visit  Toxic Justice Chapter 1 - Nancy Swan

Please join Children's EPA by clicking the "Join" button in the top right corner of this page. Children's EPA is an international educational organization that provides the public, educational and public officials with news, research, events, and opportunities to support legislation or actions to prevent injury to children from environmental and chemical hazards, and opportunities to comment and participate. 

Requests to become a Children's EPA state chairperson or country representative through  cepaorg@gmail.com.

Thank you for visiting the blog for Children's EPA,
Nancy Swan,
Director, Children's Environmental Protection Alliance ( Children's EPA)
Author, Toxic Justice, soon to be published
 

Diseases: Cryptococcus | CDC Healthy Pets Healthy People

Diseases: Cryptococcus | CDC Healthy Pets Healthy People

What is Cryptococcus infection (cryptococcosis)?
Cryptococcosis (Krip-toe-coc-o-sis) is a fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. Most people do not get sick with cryptococcosis, but some people are more likely than others to get this disease. For these people, cryptococcosis can cause serious symptoms of lung, brain and spinal cord disease, such as headaches, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and night sweats.

Can animals transmit cryptococcosis to me?

Not directly. Cryptococcus neoformans is found in the droppings of wild birds (such as pigeons). When dried bird droppings are stirred up, this can make dust containing Cryptococcus neoformans go into the air. People can stir up this dust and then breathe it in . . .

Read more- http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/crptococcus.htm

Is Your Water Bottle Giving You Cancer? | Healthy Child Healthy World

Is Your Water Bottle Giving You Cancer? | Healthy Child Healthy World

The chemical easily leaches out of plastic, and is either consumed by humans, or it can be absorbed through the skin. Estimates show that in the U.S., humans consume about 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight everyday. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that, at any given time, 93% of Americans have measurable amounts of BPA in their systems.

Read more: http://www.healthychild.org/blog/comments/060512_is_your_water_bottle_giving_you_cancer/#ixzz1xNOdEXBr

ScienceDirect.com - Environmental Research - Organophosphate pesticide levels in blood and urine of women and newborns living in an agricultural community

ScienceDirect.com - Environmental Research - Organophosphate pesticide levels in blood and urine of women and newborns living in an agricultural community

CT Scans in Childhood Can Triple the Risk of Cancer | Healthland | TIME.com

CT Scans in Childhood Can Triple the Risk of Cancer | Healthland | TIME.com
 

Children who underwent multiple CT scans had three times the risk of brain cancer and leukemia later on. Overall, however, researchers say the risk of cancer is still small, while getting a necessary scan can potentially save a child's life.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/07/ct-scans-in-childhood-can-triple-the-risk-of-cancer/?xid=newsletter-healthland#ixzz1x817chNL

Do you think parents should be advised of this risk?

Chagas Disease | 4 Diseases Scarier than Flesh-Eating Necrotizing Fasciitis | Healthland | TIME.com

Chagas Disease | 4 Diseases Scarier than Flesh-Eating Necrotizing Fasciitis | Healthland | TIME.com

In case necrotizing fasciitis — the flesh-eating disease recently making headlines — hasn't got you freaked out enough, here are four other scary diseases you might not know about.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/05/4-diseases-scarier-than-flesh-eating-necrotizing-fasciitis/?xid=newsletter-healthland#chagas-disease#ixzz1x808Kl6C