The Journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has published a study on lingering tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).  Researchers in Berkeley, California (say no more Berkeley) have found “substantial” concentrations of toxins upon substances exposed to tobacco products.

What sort of substances? Clothing, furniture and wallpaper for starters.   [...]]]> Source:  BBC Health; PNAS (no laughing) Journal

The Journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science has published a study on lingering tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).  Researchers in Berkeley, California (say no more Berkeley) have found “substantial” concentrations of toxins upon substances exposed to tobacco products.

What sort of substances? Clothing, furniture and wallpaper for starters.   The researchers have suggested that third hand smoke is an unappreciated health hazard and have called for a ban on home and vehicular smoking -where TSNA’s can concentrate in unhealthful amounts.  The largest at risk group? Young children who touch and put everything in their mouths.

The director of the Brit smoker’s lobby group Forest (Freedom Organization for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco) (Yes, everyone has a lobby group nowadays!) was not-surprisingly skeptical, referring to the study as “propaganda dressed up as science.”  Oh, lest I be accused of bias, they have a website too.  http://www.forestonline.org/output/home.aspx

So is the risk of third hand smoke overstated?  Well, maybe.  However, one should consider that over 4000 chemical compounds are created by burning a cigarette, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia are all present in cigarette smoke. 43 known carcinogens are in mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke, or both. For a complete list of toxins in tobacco, go to http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotineinhaler/a/cigingredients.htm

And bear in mind that way back when asbestos was hailed as the new “wonder substance” finding it’s way into everything including bakelite jewelery (look it up, I’m not lying) it was felt to be safe.  Now years later we know that asbestos fibers can cling to everything, much like, well, third hand smoke.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

I know, I know…Let them sleep on their backs…No wait, only on their stomachs…No wait, on their backs but no pillows…or blankets…No smoking…No pets…Never in bed with you…

Perhaps it’s no wonder why the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics is constantly revising guidelines [...]]]> Source:  U.S. National Institutes of Health; Journal of the American Medical Association, February 3, 2010

I know, I know…Let them sleep on their backs…No wait, only on their stomachs…No wait, on their backs but no pillows…or blankets…No smoking…No pets…Never in bed with you…

Perhaps it’s no wonder why the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics is constantly revising guidelines for infant sleep.  There is a wealth of information seemingly linking SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) with, well, everything.  The latest?  Serotonin. Huh?  Okay, back to biochemistry class we go.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, don’t worry about what kind, it’s presence or absence in sufficient quantities is  broadly responsible for the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction, and some cognitive functions including memory and learning. Modulation of serotonin at synapses is thought to be a major action of several classes of pharmacological antidepressants.  As an interesting aside (well interesting to me anyway) certain foods, carbohydrates mostly -pasta, chips also seem to have a serotonin level response.

So why all the chemistry talk? Because researchers studying the brains of infants who have died from SIDS have found that they were producing low levels of serotonin. No, they weren’t depressed, well not emotionally anyway.  However, to the extent that serotonin may be responsible for breathing they may be onto something.  How much lower?  26% lower according to this study. Measures of an enzyme required to manufacture serotonin (tryptophan hydroxylase for those of you playing the home game) were also 22% lower in the brains of the SIDS death infants studied.

Yes, they are still currently recommending the whole back sleeping thing. For a complete list of sleeping guidelines see http://www.nicdh.nih.gov/sids/ or speak with your pediatrician or obstetrician.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

Admittedly it was a small, focused study of 36 newborns, 17 of whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.  It is, however, alarming and instructive.  Babies that had been exposed to cigarette smoke in utero (While in Mommy’s belly) demonstrated abnormal heart rates and blood pressures.

But that’s not all. . .rather than [...]]]> Source:  BBC Health; Karolinska Institute (Sweeden)

Admittedly it was a small, focused study of 36 newborns, 17 of whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.  It is, however, alarming and instructive.  Babies that had been exposed to cigarette smoke in utero (While in Mommy’s belly) demonstrated abnormal heart rates and blood pressures.

But that’s not all. . .rather than dissipate with age, the abnormalities appear to have worsened from one week to age one. According to lead researcher, Dr. Gary Cohen, “Babies of smokers have evidence of persistent problems in blood pressure regulation that start at birth and get worse over time” and “[E]arly life exposure to tobacco can lead to long lasting reprogramming of the infant blood pressure control mechanism.”

And Dr. Cohen adds, this might be the mechanism which explains why infants of smokers are at increased risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or “Cot death” as it is known in the UK.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

It’s cold out here in most of the United States.  Really cold.  So why aren’t your seasonal allergies taking a rest? Your indoor air quality may still qualify you for three more months of stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes and asthma.

With the windows closed tight and the [...]]]> Source:  U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH Medline; HealthDay

It’s cold out here in most of the United States.  Really cold.  So why aren’t your seasonal allergies taking a rest? Your indoor air quality may still qualify you for three more months of stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes and asthma.

With the windows closed tight and the dry heat circulating the dust mites, pet daner, smoke, household chemicals and sprays are all closed in tight with you.  While not breathing for three months is likely not an option for the majority of you, here are some tips to help you through it:

1.  Keep the humidity level low (below 35%).  I don’t know how you are supposed to measure it but if it feels cold and damp, you’re doing it all wrong.

2.  Use your bathroom exhaust fan or just open the window while showering.  Refreshing and better for the air.

3.  Make sure you change your furnace filter regularly. Your what?  That paper boxy thing the inspector showed you during your initial home purchase inspection while your eyes glazed over.  Most last no more than 3 months and get filled up with dust, pet and human hair that you would normally be breathing.  Don’t keep re-breathing it.

4.  Clean your house with less chemicals. All stores now carry natural products.  Read the labels though.

5.  Vacuum more in the winter months. Or better still, lose the carpet altogether for another option.  Wood or tile with under-the-floor heating can be just as cozy and hey, no more carpet burns…er stains…moving on…

~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

The UK (that’s the United Kingdom or Great Britain for the slower ones) where, largely due to prior colonial influence, one can still get a really good curry take out has some interesting news.

An extract of tumeric (the yellow spice in curry) called curcumin has shown promise in killing of cancer cells. [...]]]> Source:  Cancer Research UK

The UK (that’s the United Kingdom or Great Britain for the slower ones) where, largely due to prior colonial influence, one can still get a really good curry take out has some interesting news.

An extract of tumeric (the yellow spice in curry) called curcumin has shown promise in killing of cancer cells. A research team from Cork (Google it) has found that within 24 hours curcumin began killing cells containing cancer.

This follows an earlier study (2006) by University of Arizona researchers which found that curcumin had an anti-inflammatory effect on osteoarthritis sufferers. Those researchers posited that tumeric compounds may have application to other inflammatory disorders including asthma, Multiple Sclerosis and in a moment of pure irony -IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

So can you get the same effect from your local curry house? Probably not at this point, but interesting stuff, notwithstanding, no?

~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

United States Federal Prosecutors have been directed to stop marijuana-related prosecutions in the current States (14 of them) in which the medical use of marijuana has been “legalized.”

The Federal Government has wisely (legally speaking anyway) decided that it is antithetical and a waste of funding to interfere with State [...]]]> Source:  US Department of Justice Press Release

United States Federal Prosecutors have been directed to stop marijuana-related prosecutions in the current States (14 of them) in which the medical use of marijuana has been “legalized.”

The Federal Government has wisely (legally speaking anyway) decided that it is antithetical and a waste of funding to interfere with State Legislation on the issue.  Since most of you are dying to know, the States which currently permit medical usage of marijuana are: Alaska; California; Colorado; Hawaii; Maine; Michigan; Montana; Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Rhode Island; Vermont; and Washington.

Yes that’s 13. The 14th, Maryland, merely permits reduced possession penalties for those using the drug for a medical purpose.  In the words of Bob Marley, “Legalize it. No, don’t criticize it.”  And in the words of former President Bill Clinton, “Don’t inhale.”

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire.

A study of more than 1,000 children in the UK, leads researchers to conclude that a fairly common genetic variant Arg16, alters the efficacy (the chance that it will work) of salbutamol, found in many rescue inhalers. 70% of children with the gene experienced asthma attacks unaided [...]]]> Source:  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; BBC Health

A study of more than 1,000 children in the UK, leads researchers to conclude that a fairly common genetic variant Arg16, alters the efficacy (the chance that it will work) of salbutamol, found in many rescue inhalers. 70% of children with the gene experienced asthma attacks unaided by their rescue inhaler vs. 45% of children without the gene.

Testing for the gene is easily performed using a simple mouthwash.

Parents of children with asthma who take medication are advised to monitor their child’s use of their rescue inhaler.  If there is an increase in frequency then perhaps testing is in order.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

I know, as parents we need another reason to feel guilty over the damage we do raising our children. It’s not bad enough that they aren’t getting the best nutrition available or the best education, now we can also apparently stress them into developing health conditions!

Results of [...]]]> Source: From across the pond (BBC) and back

I know, as parents we need another reason to feel guilty over the damage we do raising our children. It’s not bad enough that they aren’t getting the best nutrition available or the best education, now we can also apparently stress them into developing health conditions!

Results of University of California Studies and Asthma UK researchers suggest that children from “stressful” households are more susceptible to reacting to airbourne (I had to do that) irritants resulting in asthma. For you mothers who smoke, here’s double the guilt, you are apparently compounding the risk.

Somehow stressed out parents, who described their lives in terms like “Unpredictable,” “overwhelming” and “out of control,” pass this stress to their children in the form of increased inflammatory response to pollutants. While the majority of this focuses upon stress while pregnant (Yes, that cig and glass of merlot really wasn’t a good idea) the implications are further reaching.

The answer? Oh that’s simple. Just stop stressing out and your kids will breathe better. Don’t you wish everything was that easy? (Don’t stress over that. No. Seriously. . .)

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.