Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
In the News:
In Pittsburgh, Public Art Doubles as a Sanctuary for Breast-Feeding Moms - The “milk truck”, a converted ice cream truck complete with a 3 ft fiberglass boob on top created as part of an art exhibition, will make its rounds in Pittsburgh providing a place for women to breastfeed and pump.
Remote Controls Aren’t Toys: Lithium Batteries Prove Deadly to Kids - Kids love adult electronic devices, but unfortunately, most do not have child-resistant battery compartments. In 2010, 3,400 children swallowed lithium batteries, and the number of critical injuries has quadrupled in the past five years. One mom shares her story.
One Sperm Donor, 150 Offspring - Websites connecting donor siblings are highlighting concerns about ethics and regulation in the fertility industry. There is no limit on how many children a donor can father in the U.S., and some are finding they have 50, 70, or 100+ raising concerns over incomplete health history, spread of genetic diseases, accidental incest between donor siblings, to name a few.
Judge Blocks Florida Law Curbing Doctors’ Questions About Guns - A federal judge in Florida blocked a state law that would have prevented doctors from asking about guns in the home and discussing the risks with their patients.
BPA, Methylparaben Block Breast Cancer Drugs
In a study performed by researchers in California, BPA and methylparaben not only caused noncancerous breast cancer cells to start behaving like cancer cells, but they also interfered with the treatment. When tamoxifen, a drug designed to prevent or treat cancer, was introduced to cells exposed to the two chemicals, they continued to grow.
IUDs Lower Cervical Cancer Risk
For reasons that aren’t fully understood, IUDs have been associated with a lower risk of cervical cancer. In a study funded by the WHO and several other government and philanthropic organizations, an analysis of data from 20,000 women from around the world found that women who use IUDs are roughly half as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who have never used one. An editorial accompanying the study notes, however, that HPV testing and Pap smears already reduce risk by 80 to 90%.
Antidepressants Associated with Autism
Mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – the most commonly prescribed antidepressants – during the year before delivery or during the first trimester of pregnancy were at increased risk to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The risk of autism doubled in those whose mothers took SSRIs during the year before pregnancy and quadrupled for those who took them during the first trimester of pregnancy. This study provides the first look at the relationship between SSRI use and autism risk.
More Accidental Drug Poisonings in Children
The growing use of prescription drugs by adults has led to more accidental drug poisonings in children. A review of national poison control data on children under 5 who visited the ER between 2001 and 2008 for accidental drug poisoning found that the number of poisonings increased 22 percent over the time period. The authors of the study said the best solution would be to design new packages for both adult and pediatric drugs that would not only be difficult to open but also make it more difficult for a young child to ingest large quantities.
Back Off, Mom. Parents Who Hover Impede Kids’ Activity
Researchers observing how children play in parks found that children whose parents hung around monitoring them closely were only about half as likely to engage in high levels of physical activity as kids whose parents granted more freedom. The study was intended to help park designers create parks that better entice kids to run around and play, but the researchers found some interesting things along the way.
Recalls, September 13 – September 19:
CPSC Child Product Recalls
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
- FDA warns consumers not to eat Rocky Ford Cantaloupes shipped by Jensen Farms
- Jensen Farms Recalls Cantaloupe Due to Possible Health Risk
- Del Bueno Recalls Queso Fresco Casero Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk
- Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Issues a Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Oral Contraceptives
- Strong America Ltd Issues Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Huipu Chinese Wolfberry
- Sanith Ourn Farm Issues Voluntary Recall of Fresh Hot Basil Due to Potential Salmonella Risk
- Fine Mexican Food Products, Inc. Recalls 2.2 lb. Frozen Avocado Pulp & 3 lb. IQF Avocado Halves From Peru Because of Possible Health Risk
- Falcon Trading Company, Inc./SunRidge Farms Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Milk Chocolate Cranberries
- Chocolate Decadence Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Multiple Lines of Chocolate Products
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Jasmine & Heather