Recalled Drugs,Toxins, and etc

Recalled Drugs

This information is a little dated but you may want to check your medicine cabinet just to make sure.

All drugs containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) are being recalled. Please read this CAREFULLY, as I know that some of you may USE some of these drugs (Alka Seltzer Plus for one).

Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children"s Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltze! r Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine Effervescent
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Deep Chest Cold & Congestion Relief
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Contac Day & Night 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head Congestion
Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

The person who sent this email to me added this:

"I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

3D Orange Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
3D Cold & Cough Berry
3D Cough Relief
3D Yellow Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the
box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they
will also issue you a refund.

If you know of anyone else with small children, PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following URL:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm#top

TOXIC WASTE LANDFILLS POSE BIRTH DEFECT RISKS

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 25, 2002 (ENS) - Women living within three kilometers (two miles) of a hazardous waste landfill site have a 40 percent greater risk of conceiving a child with a chromosomal birth defect, such as Down's syndrome, concludes a new study published today in the medical journal "The Lancet."

For full text and graphics visit:

http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01-25-03.html

FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICAL FOUND IN FISH, HUMANS

By Pat Hemminger

NEW YORK, New York, January 31, 2002 (ENS) - Freshwater fish in Virginia have been found to contain the highest reported levels in the world of a common but controversial flame retardant, penta bromo diphenyl ether. The chemical, which is showing up in animals and humans around the globe, has been linked in laboratory animal studies to behavioral problems, but little is known about its effects on humans.

For full text and graphics visit

http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01-31-07.html

Altered Algae Soaks Up Toxic Metals

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 14, 2002 (ENS) - Genetically altered algae is being used to clean up trace metals such as mercury, cadmium and zinc in the contaminated sediments of Lake Erie. Toxic metals from area industry accumulate in Lake Erie sediment and pose a risk to human health and to wildlife. Bio-remediation researchers supported by Ohio Sea Grant funding are now further enhancing genetically altered algae to maximize its ability to pick up trace metals.
The researchers say the algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a common unicellular algae that responds well to genetic engineering and grows fast into large quantities. Previous research by Ohio State University researcher Richard Sayre found the algae to be more effective, less expensive and safer than using chemical extraction methods to remove the metals. Now, Sayre and his team have found further ways of altering the algae to increase the algae's ability to attach itself to heavy metals in Lake Erie sediment. They used three approaches of genetic alteration, and found that each enhanced the cell's ability to bind with the metals.
The most effective method involved attaching metallothionen, a protein that binds heavy metals, to the outside of the algae cell. It picked up five times more metal than a regular cell and grew three times faster when surrounded by high concentrations of heavy metals. Research will continue to study how much of each trace metal binds to the Chlamydomonas cell. Sayre will also work with engineering firms to test pilot facilities for treatment of contaminated wastes and sites.
"By increasing the algae's ability to attach to trace metals, we believe this research will be an important step in the identification of the best strategies for reducing heavy metal pollution and the remediation of contaminated sites and waters of the Great Lakes," said Sayre.

NORTH AMERICA SHIFTS POLLUTION FROM AIR TO LAND

MONTREAL, Canada, May 31, 2002 (ENS) - Factories, electric utilities, hazardous waste management facilities and coal mines in the United States and Canada generated almost 3.4 million metric tonnes of toxic chemical waste in 1999, shows an annual report from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America. The wastes included 269,000 tonnes of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive problems.

The report, "Taking Stock" is based on reports submitted to the national pollutant release and transfer registers of Canada and the U.S. by industry, and includes data on 210 chemical substances. This year, the study also presents the first five year analysis of pollution releases and management.

The five year trend shows a slight overall change in the total of toxic chemicals generated, but big changes in how those pollutants are handled. The North American manufacturing sector's 25 percent (153,000 tonnes) reduction in releases to air was offset by a 25 percent (33,000 tonnes) increase in on site releases to land and a 35 percent (58,000 tonnes) increase in off site releases, mostly to landfills.

Releases to lakes, rivers and streams also increased during this period by 26 percent (24,000 tonnes).

"'Out of the air, into the water and land' emerges as a major trend from our five year analysis," said Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) executive director Janine Ferretti. "North America's progress in reducing toxic releases to air must continue but it also must be matched by reductions in water and land releases."

The CEC is an international organization created by Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. The Agreement complements the environmental provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The CEC was established to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the enforcement of environmental law. Its annual report on chemical wastes helps NAFTA partners set goals for reducing chemical pollution.

"Overall, the total reported amount of chemicals released changed little over the five years," Ferretti added. "The findings in this new report should prompt all of us - industry, government, environmental groups and citizens - to ask what can be done to get all of the trends pointing in a downward direction."

The CEC report signals a general decrease in on site releases - chemicals put into the air, water or otherwise disposed of inside a facility's fence - and a corresponding increase in amounts of chemicals transferred for disposal. Ferretti said that the growing shipment of toxic substances off site could indicate a desire to send wastes to locations that are better equipped to manage them.

Or, she said, it could signal that most companies are still reluctant to prevent pollution at its source instead of managing pollutants after they are already produced.

Among other findings in the report: Total releases for 1999 include 269,000 tonnes of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive problems. Release of all cancer causing chemicals fell by just three percent between 1995 and 1999, compared to a six percent decrease for all chemicals. More than 13,000 tonnes of ozone depleting chemicals were released from Canadian and U.S. industrial facilities in 1999. Between 1991 and 1999, releases of these substances in the U.S. were reduced by over 90 percent. Electrical utilities report the largest releases - over 450,000 tonnes - of any North American industry. More than a million tonnes of chemicals were sent for recycling in North America in 1999. The difference in average releases and transfers per facility between Canada and the United States is narrowing. In 1995, releases and transfers from Canadian facilities were 1.7 times the US average but this was down to 1.5 in 1999. Average amounts of chemicals sent to recycling by Canadian facilities in 1999 were 1.4 times the U.S. average.

Cros