Click a headline or scroll down the page
Preventing
short-sightedness
Illegal timber
Antibiotics
everywhere
Never
too late for exercise
Cycling
is good for the heart
Antibacterial
backlash
10% world defence expenditure would provide healthcare for all
Enzyme hangover - alcohol detoxifying chemical
is itself toxic
Moderate web use reduces social activity by up
to 25%
Walking health benefits
Exercise reduces breast cancer
Dangers of microwave ovens
Preventing short-sightedness
Myopia (short-sightedness) is a leading cause of loss of vision throughout
the world, and its prevalence is increasing.When a child is born, s/he
does not see in focus. The ability to focus tightly according to the distance
of the object viewed develops right through to age 4-5, by which time
most people focus well. Arguably, except in severe cases, interfering
before this time by giving children glasses may not be productive. Some
people never develop the ability to focus well across the full range of
distances, becoming naturally short or longsighted, requiring corrective
glasses or contact lenses.
Most researchers agree that myopia is largely genetic, but can also be
caused by lifestyle. Research suggests that prolonged reading, or the
retinal blur caused by prolonged near work, are principal causes, thus
confirming the warnings against reading in the dark, in a moving car,
or holding the book too close. Furthermore, people whose professions entail
much reading during either training or the performance of their occupation
(lawyers, physicians, microscopists, and editors) have higher rates of
myopia. Myopia is almost unknown in aboriginal peoples but, when they
adopt book-based Western education methods, rates quickly rise to those
in more industrially developed countries.
Myopia can develop not just in early life but throughout peoples’
20s and 30s.Whilst also acknowledging and wishing to promote the joy of
reading, Douglas Frederick recommends that people can reduce the risk
of becoming myopic by ensuring adequate light and a healthy element of
physical activity in their lives.
Ed.- One implication is that children should not be encouraged to read
books up close before age 5-6.
(8997) Douglas R. Frederick. British Medical Journal 2002;324:1195-99
UK world’s worst
rainforest pirate
According to a MORI survey conducted for Greenpeace, 87% of the British
public want their Government to ban imports of illegal woods from tropical
forests. It would make a significant difference. The UK remains the world’s
largest importer of illegal wood. The Brazilian Government has recently
banned all uncertified mahogany logging. Greenpeace call on the Government
to support this ban by seizing all uncertified mahogany either bound for
the UK or already in UK shops and warehouses.
80% of the world’s forests have now been destroyed and an area the
size of a football pitch is razed to the ground every two seconds. Greenpeace
wants Governments to create a Global Ancient Forest Fund to pay for forest
protection.
ACTION - To ask Tony Blair to protect ancient forests, email him from
Greenpeace’s ‘Save or Delete’ website (www.saveordelete.com)
or write to him at 10, Downing Street, London.
(9052) Building for a Future 1.6.02 p8
UK takes first step
The Indonesian and UK Governments have made a historic agreement to combat
the trade in illegal timber products between the two countries. It is
the world’s first ever intergovernmental agreement on illegal timber
trading, and the first the UK’s Labour government has signed on an
environmental matter. Other governments are interested in devising similar
agreements.
Friends of the Earth estimates that 73% of logging in Indonesia is illegal,
contributing to the destruction of two million hectares of primary forest
each year (the size of Belgium). The UK is Europe’s biggest importer
of Indonesian timber. Sixty per cent of this is of illegal timber (approximately
540,000 cubic metres per year, worth £76 million).
Friends of the Earth recently exposed the UK corporations profiting from
the destruction of Indonesia’s forests. These included Barclays,
HSBC and Morgan Stanley. In 1999 it revealed that the UK Ministry of Defence
was purchasing illegally-sourced Brazilian mahogany for panelling warships,
leading to a change in UK Government timber purchasing policy.
(9108) Friends of the Earth 18.4.02
Antibiotics everywhere
Six national Swedish agencies have called for a ban on the “unnecessary
use” of antibiotics in toiletries, cosmetics and household cleaners
and implements (e.g. kitchen cutting boards). The call came after traces
of the antibiotic (or ‘biocide’) Triclosan, which is commonly
used in toothpastes, turned up in breast milk. Scientists are concerned
that Triclosan is very persistent and can accumulate in the environment,
where it has been found in fish. They note that it has already been shown
to inhibit the human enzyme ENR, which helps the body synthesise fatty
acids, and are concerned it could develop further antibiotic-resistant
bacteria.
(7389-90) ENDS 1.5.00 p11
back
to the top
Never too late for exercise
An increasing number of studies have proven that exercise prevents a wide
variety of ‘modern illnesses’ - from heart disease to depression.
What was not firmly established was whether it was exercise taken in earlier
life or current exercise levels which were protective. Good news for couch
potatoes - it’s never too late to fight back. A 16 year study of
5209 men and women could find no evidence for present benefit from activity
earlier in life but huge present benefit in present activity (40% improvement
overall).
(7565-66) Greenfiles 1.4.00 p10
back
to the top
People who cycle regularly usually have the average
fitness level of people ten years younger. According to Government research,
people who take up cycling:
• improve their aerobic fitness by 11%
in just six weeks
• improve leg strength by 8% in 5-6 weeks and by 16% in 4-5 months
• reduce body fat levels and improve muscle mass.
The National Heart Forum suggests that five 30-minute cycle rides a week can almost halve the risk of heart disease by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and fat. Half an hour's pedalling uses up 120-150 calories. Cycling is a lot kinder to your joints than other sports (Ed.- especially jogging).
(6867-68) Robert Chesshyre. Daily Telegraph 29.5.00 p12
"Just as a child needs lots of exercise to develop strong bones and muscles, a child's immune system needs a rigorous work-out to develop normal resistance to infections throughout life" - Dr. Stuart Levy, a microbiologist at Tufts University (US).
Dr. Levy urges people to resist the current fashion for antibacterial products. He believes that these will upset the natural order of our environment, leaving us with underdeveloped immune systems facing new strains of superbugs which have developed resistance to all the antibacterials used in such products. He argues that, for most people, a good scrub with soap and hot water is perfectly sufficient and that antibacterial products are only necessary when someone in the house is seriously ill or has low immunity. He also called on people to stop putting pressure on their GPs to prescribe antibiotics for every minor illness.
(7086-87) Reuters News Service 18.7.00
"If we channelled just $40 billion each year away from armies into anti-poverty programmes, in ten years' time all the world's population would enjoy basic social services - education, healthcare and nutrition, drinkable water and sanitation. Another $40 billion a year over ten years would provide each person on this planet with an income level above the poverty line in their country. "This life-giving $80 billion annually would represent only 10% of world defence expenditure ($780 billion in 1997 alone)". - Dr. Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Costa Rica gave up its army in 1949. As a result of Dr. Arias' peace diplomacy, Panama and Haiti have followed Costa Rica's example.
(5926-27) Positive News 1.11.99 p2
Although a glass or two of red wine a day is thought to be beneficial, excessive alcohol consumption - perhaps defined as that which produces a hangover - can increase the risk of cancer. The body produces acetaldehyde to detoxify the ethanol in alcohol, but acetaldehyde is 'toxic' as well. It can damage certain stretches of DNA, causing mutations leading to cancer. The body also produces an enzyme to protect itself against acetaldehyde, but production capacity is limited. It is when production of acetaldehyde exceeds production of the enzyme that the risk of cancer increases. Excessive alcohol consumption is linked particularly to cancers of the liver, larynx and oesophagus.
(5714-15) Aisling Irwin. Daily Telegraph 21.1.99 p9
The largest study to date on the social effects of the internet quizzed 4113 adults in nearly 3,000 households across America. Its author, Professor Nie from the Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society in America, is very concerned that even moderate use (5-10 hours a week) can reduce personal social activities by up to 25%. These moderate users spent on average 8% less time attending social events, 13% less time with family and friends, and 26% less time talking to people on the phone. One good thing, though. For 60% of the time people are on the net they would, apparently, have been watching TV.
(6412-13) Cherry Norton. Independent 28.2.00 p9
Steve Bird and colleagues at Canterbury Christ Church University College in Kent decided to compare the health benefits of different approaches to walking. 56 couch potatoes were put through one of three daily walk patterns and compared to 56 matched controls (who stayed on the sofa). The walk patterns were: a 20-40 minute hike a day, two short 10-15 minute walks a day, three 5-10 minute stints a day.
The health measures used were: reductions in heart rates and decreases in blood lactates, both measures of fitness, and blood levels of apolipoprotein II - a 'bad' blood fat linked to heart disease. After eighteen weeks the 20-40 minute hikers had, on average, reduced their apolipoprotein-II levels by an average 0.05 grams per litre. This was more than twice the drop experienced by the 2 x 10-15 minute walkers and five times that of the 'frequent, short walkers'. The 20-40 minute hikers also experienced increased levels of apolipoprotein-I, a 'good' blood fat linked with unclogged arteries. All the walkers experienced drops in blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (another 'bad' blood fat).
In terms of increased fitness there was little difference between the groups, but marked improvements compared to the couch potato controls. So the overall conclusion is that walking is good for you. Try and fit in a long walk each day. If you can't, shorter bursts of walking are still beneficial.
(6112-14) New Scientist 8.1.00 p10
Research shows that cooking or heating food in microwave ovens can cause it severe molecular damage which, when eaten, leads to abnormal changes in human blood. These changes can cause deterioration of the immune system.
In this small but well-controlled trial eight people were given either normally cooked or microwaved food over a few days. Blood samples were taken before and at several intervals after meals. Whereas the blood samples of those eating normally cooked food showed little change, the blood of those who had eaten microwaved food showed a drop in lymphocytes, the white blood cells critical to immune system activity.
(491) Tom Valentine. Nexus 1.4.95 p25-29
Exercise reduces breast cancer
Vigorous physical training can sometimes interrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle, thus reducing the woman’s cumulative exposure to oestrogen and progesterone. Increases in breast cancer have been linked to increased exposure to these hormones from (e.g.) the Pill and other environmental oestrogenics.
Norwegian researchers therefore examined possible links between physical activity and breast cancer. The 14 year study found that regular physical activity reduced the risk. Of regularly exercising women, the reduction in risk was greater in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women and lowest of all in lean women who exercised at least four hours a week.
(2042) Thune, I. New England Journal of Medicine 1.5.97
home
• contact
us • free sample
• links
The Environment-Health Trust