tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post2906339596150944182..comments2008-08-06T15:48:44.287-07:00Annanoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-54463868675426894902008-07-28T17:54:00.000-07:002008-07-28T17:54:00.000-07:00Dawn,<BR/><BR/>You might be interested in the Collaborative on Health and the Environment's working group on learning and developmental disabilities. They are connected to the most cutting edge autism research and you might find resources to help your students through CHE's partners. Good luck!<BR/><BR/>http://www.healthandenvironment.org/Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535347391805913280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-90367316501710670602008-07-28T12:34:00.000-07:002008-07-28T12:34:00.000-07:00Great article and best of luck! The BPA controversy is even more interesting when you research (even a little) the relationship between the industry, the firm responsible for the safety testing of BPA, and the US Government. Though we don't have definitive evidence either way, why not just use BPA-free alternatives? How long did it take us to recognize the toxicity of mercury and asbestos?<BR/><BR/>More reading on BPA:<BR/>http://hubpages.com/hub/Bisphenol-A-in-Plastic-Bottles-Play-It-Safe-with-Alternatives<BR/><BR/>http://www.squidoo.com/bisphenol-Abopsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09444985784159597291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-82079310389865694072008-07-27T21:56:00.000-07:002008-07-27T21:56:00.000-07:00Keep up the good work!Fat Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429905086403314965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-9531582133607922752008-07-27T16:45:00.000-07:002008-07-27T16:45:00.000-07:00To explain a little more about my concern in the rise in children with autistic characteristics, I am a special education teacher and have been for quite some time, I have experienced the rise in children with autism first hand, many without a diagnosis but the symptoms are present. It seems logical to consider the days where there were glass bottles for babies and simple homemade products. I have also touched upon some of the articles Marcus mentioned in his response to my question, very interesting - maybe the solution to the problem with single use plastics is to get an advocacy group involved that focuses on the direct health of children, namely behavioral and developmental links to autism. Joel and Marcus you guys are amazing!<BR/>Dawn PaschalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-81035907698564493912008-07-27T12:02:00.000-07:002008-07-27T12:02:00.000-07:00On the thread about autism: One way that epidemiologists discern whether environmental factors (such as mercury emissions to the air from coal-fired power plants, vaccines, diet, or any of the myriad other exposures that are being examined) might be causing autism is to look for unusually high numbers of cases within defined geographical boundaries. They compare the cases (those with autism) to controls (those without autism). This article discusses high rates of autism among Somali refugees in Minnesota. It is interesting that the author reports that this disease is extremely rare in Somalia, and is only occurring in the US-born children. Learn more at:<BR/><BR/>http://cbs13.com/health/somali.community.autism.2.780617.html<BR/><BR/>More on bisphenol-A: Substitutes are available to replace bisphenol-A in the epoxy resin lining cans. After scientists found alarming levels of BPA leaching from beverage cans in Japan, the government ordered industry to find alternatives. Follow-up studies documented the achievement of a 95% reduction in the BPA levels in cans. <BR/><BR/>Since Health Canada declared BPA toxic this spring, retailers such as REI and Wal-Mart have pledged to pull many products made with BPA from their shelves (in Canada...Wal-Mart is delaying such action in the US at least one year). Federal legislation has been introduced in the US (the BPA-Free Kids Act 2008) to address these concerns. Follow the bill's progress at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2928.<BR/><BR/>A major source of bisphenol-A exposure to consumers is handling thermal, carbonless paper products, such as gas station receipts, which are coated in BPA. These paper products enter the recycling stream and can contaminate it. See Ozaki et al, "Chemical analysis and genotoxicological safety assessment <BR/>of paper and paperboard used for food packaging" (Food and Chemical Toxicology 42 (2004) 1323–1337). The pending legislation would not address this route of exposure.Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04535347391805913280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-76609334820830085302008-07-26T16:55:00.000-07:002008-07-26T16:55:00.000-07:00Ack! The moment I finished typing up my comment I new I screwed something up. It's 933 degrees <I>Kelvin</I>, not Celsius (~660). Sorry, I tend to think in Kelvin these days.The Chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970398885870679916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-66572257886403966912008-07-26T16:48:00.000-07:002008-07-26T16:48:00.000-07:00With the recent hysteria surrounding surrounding supposed vaccine-autism links, I'm exceedingly wary of people claiming a rise in the incidence of autism instead of a rise in the diagnosis. This is what the original question seemed to posit. However you didn't really touch on autism in your answer.<BR/><BR/>That said, the question of Bisphenol A and the harmfulness of plastics as vessels for food is disconcerting. I happen to know that my water pipes are primarily PVC.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and if you're concerned about aluminum on aluminum action, I'm note sure what structures are doing it, but Al has a melting point of about 930 degrees which means that you can use an environmentally friendly hydrogen torch to weld the pieces together if necessary. Just be careful about burn-through. The hydrogen can reach temperatures twice as hot as the melting point. Just a suggestion.The Chemisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970398885870679916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-26089231895957525602008-07-26T04:47:00.000-07:002008-07-26T04:47:00.000-07:00Ditto with the the other commenter! I'm no sailor, but I love the practical reality of your protest. People like you set an example to others not just to sulk and whine about the state of the world but to actually act and put their energies into raising awareness. For many, protest just means signing a petition or debating in the local pub. For you, the protest is defining your way of life. I'm not saying your extreme is for everyone, but I hope it inspires others and we take another baby step towards the ideal democracy because of it.<BR/><BR/>P.S. I'll keep an eye on you guys and spread the word. Hope your mast doesn't fall down between now and your next post! Touch wood! Can't help being superstitious when it comes to sailing.Alex Touchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03901696913419312439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-6828385405904752812008-07-26T01:16:00.000-07:002008-07-26T01:16:00.000-07:00Wow, you guys are like the A-team of environmental sailing! What a great adventure, thanks again for sharing it with us.Ed T.http://modernartquotes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467181064012642969.post-86617803924187380432008-07-25T21:13:00.000-07:002008-07-25T21:13:00.000-07:00I just found this blog and I find the idea of what you are doing quite interesting and brilliant :)shakespeare in the alleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516044051692546033noreply@blogger.com