Just One Word: “Plastics!”

Just 3 more words: “Permanent fertility defects”

Exposure to BPA may cause permanent fertility defects, Yale researchers say

Remember the famous lines from The Graduate?  “I just want to say  one word to you! Just one word: Plastics!”

Isn’t it wonderful just how many uses we have found for plastics since the Graduate was screened in 1967? Plastics are now so ubiquitous even our oceans are filed with them!

Now Researchers at Yale School of Medicine say that “exposure during pregnancy to Bisphenol A (BPA), a common component of plastics, causes permanent abnormalities in the uterus of offspring, including alteration in their DNA. The findings were reported in the March issue of Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB J.).”

The study shows that BPA exposure permanently affects sensitivity to estrogen, says the study Led by Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale said.

“Taylor and his team used two groups of mice, one exposed to BPA as a fetus during pregnancy and another exposed to a placebo. They examined gene expression and the amount of DNA modification in the uterus. They found that the mice exposed to BPA as a fetus had an exaggerated response to estrogens as adults, long after the exposure to BPA. The genes were permanently programmed to respond excessively to estrogen.” A report said.

“The DNA in the uterus was modified by loss of methyl groups so that it responded abnormally in adulthood,” said Taylor. “The gene expression was permanently epigenetically altered and the uterus became hyper-responsive to estrogens.”

The exposure to BPA as a fetus is carried throughout adulthood, Taylor said. “What our mothers were exposed to in pregnancy may influence the rest of our lives. We need to better identify the effect of environmental contaminants on not just crude measures such as birth defects, but also their effect in causing more subtle developmental errors.”

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Citation: The FASEB Journal (Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Vol. 24, Issue 3 (March 2010)

Chaitén on a Clear Day

Chaitén Volcano Natural Color Satellite Image

Chaitén: Natural-color image of  the volcano taken at about 10:30 am local time on March 3, 2010 by ALI on EO-1 satellite. Credit NASA.

• Large image available for download (2 MB, JPEG)

An Earlier Image of  Chaitén

Chaitén: Natural-color satellite image, acquired by MODIS on Aqua satellite, February 25, 2010. Credit NASA.

Related Links

• Chaitén Still Awake!
• Chaitén: A New Phase of Activity?
• Chaitén explosion causes partial cone collapse
• Chaitén: Volcano with a Mission?
• Chaitén: Volcano that Doesn’t Sleep
• The Power of Chaitén Volcano
• Chaitén Volcano Still Active
• Chaitén Volcano: No End Seen to Second Massive Eruption

LHC IS FAULTY

Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Construction Flawed: Director

Dr Steve Myers LHC cannot be operated at full  potential for [at least] two years.

In September 2008 after about 100 of the LHC’s super-cooled magnets heated up to more than 100°C, the system was shut down. It took 14 months to repair.

Soon the machine must close down again for about a year to make the tunnel safe for high energy proton collisions.

“It’s something that, with a lot more resources and with a lot more manpower and quality control, possibly could have been avoided but I have difficulty in thinking that this is something that was a design error.” Myers said, BBC reported.

“The standard phrase is that the LHC is its own prototype. We are pushing technologies towards their limits.” He added.

“You don’t hear about the thousands or hundreds of thousands of other areas that have gone incredibly well. [REALLY?]

“With a machine like the LHC, you only build one and you only build it once.”

The $10 to $14 billion “White Elephant” is buried up to 100m below the French-Swiss border region.

Must Read Background:

• NO Big Bang, not even a little one, for 6 months!
• LHC Champaign Science & Three-Legged Chickens!
• Large Hadron Collider Crashes
• LHC: What will it do after the bang?Thought for the Day: The LHC and Earth
• God Particle

More Food Recalls

Salmonella Scare Prompts More Food Recalls

Previous Recalls:

• More Salmonella Food Recalls

• Salmonella Infected Additive Prompts Massive Food Recall

27. Herr Foods Inc. Recalls ‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips Because of Possible Health Risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 8, 2010 – As a precautionary measure and concern for our consumer safety, Herr Foods Inc of Nottingham, PA is voluntarily recalling ‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips. The product is being recalled because it contains HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) manufactured, distributed and recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. The ingredient from Basic Food Flavors has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Herr’s has a strong commitment to consumer safety and the highest quality standards. Salmonella has not been found in any Herr’s products and there are no known illnesses reported.

‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips were distributed nationwide through retail stores, distributors, and internet sales. These products were sold as individual bags. No other ‘Herr’s” products are involved with this recall.

Only the following products are being recalled:
‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips
With code dates FEB 27, 2010 up to an including May 15, 2010
Bag Net Weight 8.5 oz.       UPC 072600011519

‘Herr’s Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Flavored’ Kettle Style Potato Chips
With code dates FEB 27, 2010 up to an including June 12, 2010
Bag Net Weight 1.875 oz.       UPC 072600014909

Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them and should return them to the retailer where they were purchased for a full refund. Herr Foods and other retailers are removing recalled product from the retailers’ shelves. As a result, consumers can be assured that all other Herr’s products that remain on-shelf are safe and not subject to this recall. Consumers with questions may call 1-800-523-5030. Live assistance is available 9am- 5pm EST.

Herr’s will continue to monitor all related findings and act quickly to preserve the trust consumers place in our products.

RSS Feed for FDA Recalls Information¹ [

26. Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Inc. Announces a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Black Pepper and Products made with Black Pepper

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 9, 2010 – Myerstown, Pa – As a result of a recall of Black Pepper by Mincing Overseas Spice Company and distributed by Dutch Valley Food Distributors due to the possibility of contamination with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, a product recall is being issued. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for the following products with a Bulk Foods Inc. label:

5 Pound boxes of Seasoning Salt, item 808530, with a Mfg. date of 1/4/10 and 2/2/2010
5 Pound boxes of Perfect Pepper Seasoning, item 808399, with a Mfg. date of 1/4/2010
5 Pound boxes of Perfect Pepper Dip Mix, item 278115, with a Mfg. date of 12/7/2009
5 Pound boxes of Vegetable Dip Mix, item 278112, with a Mfg. date of 1/4/2010 and 2/2/2010
5 Pound boxes of Southwest Dip Mix, item 278109, with a Mfg. date of 2/2/2010

50 Pound boxes of Medium Black Pepper, item 808464 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3258 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
20 Pound boxes of Coarse Black Pepper, item 808465 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3258 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
25 Pound boxes of Fine Black Pepper, item 808466 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3258 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
50 Pound boxes of Fine Black Pepper, item 808467 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3258 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
25 Pound boxes of Whole Black Peppercorns, item 808468 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3358 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
20 Pound boxes of Medium Black Pepper, item 808469 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3358 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)
5 Pound pails of Whole Black Peppercorns, item 808470 with a lot number of 3309 (B, F, G, K, P and T) and 3358 (B, D, G, L, P, Q, R, T and X)

All items packaged and sold within the parameters mentioned are subject to this recall, including items sold on our website, www.dutchvalleyfoods.com¹. The items were distributed nationwide. Retailers are advised to remove all these products from store shelves based on lot number or manufacture dates. Consumers who have purchased these products are asked to destroy them. Consumers with questions regarding the products listed may call Dutch Valley Foods at 1-800-733-4191 and speak with customer service. For more information on FDA’s ongoing investigation, visit the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov².

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25. GNS Foods Voluntarily Recalls Snack Mixes Containing Honey Mustard/Onion Pretzels from National Pretzel Co. associated with Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc. because of the potential Salmonella contamination.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 8, 2010 – Arlington, TX – GNS Foods, Inc. is announcing a voluntary recall of mixes containing certain pretzels. The products contain the ingredient Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) being recalled by Basic Food Flavors because of the potential to contain salmonella. The manufacturer of these pretzels, National Pretzel Co. of San Francisco, CA, used this flavoring, and is voluntarily recalling its related pretzel products. GNS is voluntarily recalling snack mixes which include these pretzels.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov.¹

To date, no complaints or illnesses have been reported associated with the products listed below.

Consumers who recently have purchased the items listed below should not consume these products and should return them to the store of purchase for a full refund or replacement.

The items below were sold after January 26th, 2010 in six states through retail stores located in LA, MO, NM, OK, TX, WV.

This voluntary recall involves the following items:

12oz Bags of Honey Mustard Pretzels under the Great Nut Supply brand with a UPC code 726093 77132 and a Lot/Code of 61150/0280.

10oz Plastic Jars of Honey Mustard Pretzels under the brand Spec’s Wines & Fine Foods with a UPC code 000008 98072 and a Lot/Code of 61181/0330 or 210462/0320.

1 lb Bags of Bar Mix under the Great Nut Supply brand with a UPC code 726093 77111 and a Lot/Code of 61147/0260.

26oz Plastic Jars of Bar Mix under the brand Spec’s Wines & Fine Foods with a UPC code 000008 03247 and a Lot/Code of 61190/0330 or 210462/0320.

12oz Plastic Tubs of Bar Mix under the brand Rouses Louisiana’s Best with a UPC code 015418 00319 and a Lot/Code of 60998/0120.

10oz Plastic Jars of Honey Cheddar Mix under the brand Spec’s Wines & Fine Foods with a UPC code 000008 98049 and a Lot/Code of 61183/0330 or 210462/0320.

Consumers or customers who have questions about the above recall may contact GNS Foods toll-free at 800-882-6887 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm CST Monday through Friday. Additional information is available at http://www.gnsfoods.com

Related Links:

• Salmonella Infected Additive Prompts Massive Food Recall

• How old is your ecoli-burger?
• Calif Massive Food Recall
• U.S. FBI Cost $500 Per Head in Healthcare, Losses
• Listeria Prompts Food Recall
• Listeria Suspected, Cheese Recalled

• Premature births caused by Virgin Blue airline food

• Virgin Blue liable for chicken-wrap compensation: lawyer
• Airlines & Aviation Industry, Airline Safety, Air Travel …
• Imported Food Alert 22 Oct 2008
• Should You Be Afraid, Really Afraid?
• Outbreak of Dangerous Group A Streptococcus Bacterium in NZ

• Don’t Take the Kids To New Zealand

• Peanut butter scare changes lunchbox rituals
• General Mills recalls more peanut products
• Peanut butter scare changes lunchbox rituals [Video]
• Audit urged for FDA-state pacts after peanut scare
• Peanut Corporation of America Bites the Dust

• Peanut Corp of America widens salmonella recall

Other links

• 13 things you should know about the world before you depart prematurely!
• 10 Biggest Threats to the US National Security

Chile Earthquake Broke Earth’s Crust

Chile Earthquake: ‘A Complicated Fracture’

‘A jumping rupture process’

The Chilean M8.8 megaquake that struck offshore Maule region on 27 February,  was a “complicated rupture process” scientists at the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences say.

Quakes of this  magnitude break the entire Earth’s crust, they said. “After closer analysis of the seismic waves radiated by this earthquake during the first 134 seconds after start of the rupture, the researchers came to the conclusion that only the region around the actual epicenter was active during the first minutes. In the second minute the active zone moved north towards Santiago. After that the region south of Concepción became active for a short time. This rupturing trend agrees well with the distribution of the aftershocks during the following three days, as observed by the GEOFON-measuring network of the GFZ up to 03.03.2010.”

Rupture Propagation After Southern Chile’s Maule Earthquake. © GFZ. Click Image to Enlarge.

In 1960, the largest ever instrumentally-recorded earthquake, which  measured magnitude 9.5, originated at Valdivia, south of the Maule region. “The quake of 27 February connects directly to the rupture process of Valdivia,” said Professor Jochen Zschau, Director of Earthquake Risk and Early Warning Section at the GFZ. “With this, one of the last two seismic gaps along the west coast of South America might now be closed. With the exception of one last section, found in North Chile, the entire earth crust before the west coast of South America has been ruptured within the last 150 years.”

The Nazca plate which forms a part of the Pacific Ocean Floor moves eastwards at about 70mm per year, subducting the South American plate.  Thus producing very powerful earthquakes in the region. “In the course of about one century, the Earth’s ruptures completely in a number of strong quakes from Patagonia in the South to Panama in the North. Even Darwin reported, in his diary, of the strong earthquake in Concepción on 20 February 1835 and the resulting Tsunami.”

Chile Earthquake History. © GFZ. Click Image to Enlarge.

GFZ researchers have reportedly studied the collision of the Nazca plate and the South American Plate since 1994. “As a result of numerous expeditions and measuring campaigns in this area this Potsdam Helmholtz Centre avails of the probably the most dense data record on such a subduction zone. “Within the framework of the DFG Priority Programme “Deformation processes in the Andes”, and with the Geotechnology Project TIPTEQ we have just been able to collect a unique data record for the southern part of the Andes” says Professor Onno Oncken, Director of the Department Geodynamics and Geomaterials at the GFZ, and leader of these studies. The current quake puts us in the position to precisely compare the tectonics before and afterwards, a unique situation both internationally and in Earth science.”

GFZ is operating the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) in northern Chile, which they’ll hand over to Chilean researchers on 15 March 15, 2010.

Related Links:

• Chile Quake Moved Cities by 3m
• Another Strong Aftershock Srikes Chile
• Chile Earthquake Links Page
• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

Tropical Cyclone 18S Approaches Madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Hubert (18 S) Sauntering Toward  Madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Hubert  (TC 18S). Visible/ IR Satellite Image. Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Infrared image from NASA’s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, AIRS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows the high cold clouds (blue), which are starting to band, or wrap around the cyclone’s center of circulation. (March 8 at 10:23UTC). Credit: NASA JPL

Summary of Details

• Current Position: 20.3S 50.1E
• Location: 340 km (~ 185 NM) ESE of Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Movement: 270 degrees
• Forward Speed: ~ 4 km/hr (2 kts)
• Max Sustained Wind Speed: ~ 75 km/hr
• Wind Gusts:  ~90 km/hr

Reunion Satellite  Image by Meteo France

Other Images:

• IR Animation (GIF)
• Satellite Image Animation

Related Links:

• El Niño Update [8 March 2010]
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Chile Quake Moved Cities by 3m

Concepcion: The Roving City Moved by 305cm

The M8.8 megaquake that struck the coast of Chile on February 27, moved the city of Concepcion at least 3 meters (10 feet) to the west, shifting other parts of South America, and places as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil, researchers say.

Initial measurements, produced from data collected by researchers from four universities and earthquake monitoring centers, as well as geophysicists on the ground in Chile, who depicted the power behind the Chilean megaquake, listed as the fifth-most-powerful instrumentally-recorded earthquake ever.

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina  moved west by about 2.5cm (1 inch). And Santiago, the Chilean capital, moved about 28cm (11 inches) to the west-southwest. The cities of Mendoza and Valparaiso, located northeast of Concepcion, also moved by more than 13cm, and 27cm respectively.

This partial map of South America shows how far principal cities in Chile moved as a result of the February megaquake. Credit: University of Hawaii. Click Image to enlarge.

This map of South America shows movement of points on the continent as a result of the February megaquake. Credit: University of Hawaii. Click Image to enlarge

The megaquake occurred in a region of the Pacific Ocean which is known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area of major seismic activity. Major seismic stresses are caused because tectonic plates move press against each other at various fault zones, resulting in earthquakes which release built-up geologic stresses along these convergence zones.

The Chilean megaquake occurred where the Nazca tectonic plate subducted [plunged beneath] the neighboring South American plate.

Related Links:

• Another Strong Aftershock Srikes Chile
• Chile Earthquake Links Page
• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links