In the Spotlight
US EPA Launches New Application That Provides Quality of Thousands of Local Water Bodies— The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) recently launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or desktop computer. Available on the US EPA website, the How’s My Waterway app and website uses GPS technology or a user-entered zip code or city name to provide information about the quality of local water bodies.
The release of the app and website helps mark the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which Congress enacted on October 18, 1972, giving citizens a special role in caring for the nation’s water resources. Visit the website to see the app or for more information.
US EPA and Industry Join together in Challenge for Safer Management of Used Electronics—Earlier this fall, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) launched its Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge to help repurpose or safely dispose of cell phones and other electronic devises. A number of electronics manufacturers have joined the challenge and have committed to sending 100 percent of the used electronics they collect to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers and to increase the amount of used electronics they collect.
During the 51st SOT Annual Meeting, a group of SOT scientists held a lengthy session entitled, “E-Waste: Global health and Environmental Impact of E-Waste Recycling.” Panelists explored the scope of the problem, talked about the contaminants, and revealed preliminary results of ongoing epidemiological studies that are being conducted in third world countries where a majority of the electronic wastes are being shipped. Listen to one of the panelists, Bruce Fowler of ICF International, talk about this growing problem in an interview with radio host, Christopher Springmann producer of Life, Love and Health.
Dietary Supplements Adulteration and the Impact on Human Health—James Griffiths, longtime SOT member of US Pharmacopeia, talked at length with radio host Christopher Springmann, producer of Life, Love, and Health about the market for dietary supplements and how those products can become adulterated exposing people to prescription drugs and other possibly harmful ingredients without their knowledge. Listen to the entire interview.
US FDA is Examining Arsenic Levels In Rice—Arsenic is a chemical element distributed in the Earth’s crust. It is released from volcanoes and from the erosion of mineral deposits. It is found throughout the environment—in water, air and soil. For that reason, it is inevitably found in some foods and beverages. Human activities also add arsenic to the environment. They include burning coal, oil, gasoline and wood, mining, and the use of arsenic compounds as pesticides, herbicides and wood preservatives.
The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has been monitoring arsenic levels in rice for more than 20 years. Its analysis thus far does not show any evidence of a change in total arsenic levels. The change is that researchers are better able to measure whether those levels represent more or less toxic forms of arsenic. Learn more…
US Environmental Protection Agency: Pesticides—New information about pesticides and pesticide exposures. For more information go to the MedlinePlus Pesticides webpage.
US EPA Releases Tool to Provide Public with Information about Water Pollutants—The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has recently released a tool that gives the public information about pollutants that are released into local waterways. Read more…
SOT Releases Paper on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill—The SOT Council is pleased to announce the release of an issue statement on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, which was the largest accidental release of crude oil in modern history. Read more…
Effects of Environment on Human Health—Television Pioneer Walter Cronkite Airs Program on Effects of Environment on Human Health. Watch the video online.
Study Shows Accidental Medication Poisonings On the Rise—The American Association of Poison control Centers recently released a study that shows that between 2001 and 2008 accidental medication poisonings by children aged five and under has increased by 22 percent. Read more…
Dr. Robert Kehoe, Cars, Lead and Smoke—Just as the mass production of cars got underway in the United States, Thomas Midgley Jr. and Charles F. Kettering made a very lucrative discovery. They found that adding ethyl fluid to gasoline improved the antiknock properties of fuel, improved gas mileage, and made cars run more smoothly. Their company, General Motors, knew this improved fuel would be in high demand, and estimated that profits would be over $60 million per year, in 1923 dollars. When several workers who handled the material became ill and died, GM faced the possibility of losing enormous potential profits. With the hopes of saving their product, the GM research team went to the University of Cincinnati for help. Dr. Marin H. Fischer, chairman of the Department of Physiology, wasn’t interested in the project, but referred them to a young investigator in his department, Dr. Robert A. Kehoe…Read More
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Meet SOT’s Leaders
SOT is led by a group of full-time board members, called Councilors, who are elected by ballot by the full membership and who manage the affairs of SOT. Learn more about SOT’s leaders.
Calendar of Events
SOT’s Calendar of Events is a comprehensive listing of all the scientific meetings that are happening over the next several months domestically and abroad.
What Toxicologists Say
Several of SOT’s past presidents talked recently about toxicology and their experiences as members of SOT.
View what these Toxicologists had to say.
Toxicology Topics
The following series of articles are written by toxicologists who are members of the Society of Toxicology but do not necessarily represent the views of the Society. SOT has made every effort to provide the public with balanced, informational pieces to share our expert knowledge more broadly.
View the list of topics.
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