Previous News Stories
This section includes stories that have previously been featured on the Lastest News page.
Asthma
A new way of treating asthma by altering the structure of airways in the lungs has the potential to reduce the amount of medication used by sufferers, and help them lead active lives with less fear of an attack. Professor Paul Corris of the University of Newcastle (one of the specialists involved) said: “The results have been very successful and this is a real breakthrough for the treatment of this widespread problem." (29/03/07) Read more here... (opens new window)
... or you could take Aspirin... (16/01/07) Read more here... (opens new window)
Women who lead a couch potato lifestyle are condemning their unborn children to an increased risk of asthma in later life, scientists believe. Two studies show that vitamin D levels in mothers-to-be have a pronounced effect on the chances of their children developing the condition. (12/11/06).
Read more here... (opens new window)
Exposure to certain animals may prevent rather than trigger asthma and allergies. A team from Imperial College, London, found fewer allergic reactions in lab workers who frequently handled animals.(12/04/06). Read more here...
An international study has shown that an antibiotic, Telithromycin, may help reduce the symptons of asthma, usually treated using steroids. Recovery times from attacks were also shortened (12/04/06). Read more here...
Some asthma medicine may be banned in the United States because it contains CFC chemicals known to damage the Earth's atmosphere. CFCs are already banned in most other products (26/01/06). Read more here...
Taking children swimming in heavily chlorinated pools before the age of 2 may double the risk of asthma and other chronic lung problems (19/1/06). Read more here...
Xolair, a new medicine for asthma, approved for use in the UK since November 2005. Xolair can reduce asthma attacks by 55% (7/11/05). Read more here...
Water
"In the next 24 hours, diarrhoea caused by unclean water and poor sanitation will claim the lives of 4,000 children" (08/03/06 - Read this...). Is anyone doing anything about it? Yes, read on...
The Chlorine Chemistry Council
has partnered with Procter & Gamble (P&G), Save The Children US and Population Services International to distribute P&G's PUR® Purifier of Water sachets to area schools in Ethiopia. Children will also receive 2 sachets a week to take home (04/12/06)
Read more here... (opens new window, and you'll need to scroll down to the third story on the page to find this article)
According to the World Health Organisation, promises to halve the number of people without clean water or proper sanitation by 2015 will be broken unless there is dramatic increase in work and investment (05/09/06). Read more here...
Climate experts have warned that nearly a third of the world's land surface may be at risk of extreme drought by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on farmland and water resources and leading to mass migrations of "environmental refugees" (04/10/06). Read more here...
“Once we can secure access to clean water and to adequate sanitation facilities for all people, a huge battle against all kinds of diseases will be won." Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General, World Health Organization. Read more here...
Hosepipe ban in the South-East of the UK? That's nothing compared with the water problems faced by other parts of the world. Read more here...
Most of Britain's rivers are currently too polluted with farm chemicals and animal waste to meet new European directives, due to come into force in 2015 (20/12/05).
Read more here...
A survey involving over 4 million Chinese citizens has highlighted drinking water their main environmental concern (28/7/05). Read more here...
Risk
The importance of assessing risks according to science, rather than emotion, is illustrated by the decision of the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) to re-introduce DDT to control malaria, nearly 30 years after phasing it out. (15/09/06) Read more here...
Low levels of man-made chemicals in basic foods such as brown bread, butter and milk could combine to harm humans, a conservation charity has warned. ... However, some scientists have questioned whether the small quantities involved present a danger to health (21/09/06). Read more here...
Far from being the best forms of nutrition, medicine or cosmetics on the market, natural products can pose serious health risks, Britain's leading chemists will warn this week (22/01/06). Read more here...
Coffee has been identified as a source of the cancer-causing chemical acrylamide in people's diet, along with chips, french-fries and crisps (15/1/06).Read more here...
The European Parliament has approved a law to force companies to prove that chemicals are safe before they are sold (18/11/05). Read more here...
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