WASHINGTON The amount of heat-trapping pollution the world spewed rose again last year by 3 percent. So scientists say it's now unlikely that global warming can be limited to a couple of degrees, which is an international goal.The overwhelming majority of the increase was from China, the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluter. Of the planet's top 10 polluters, the United States and Germany were the only countries that reduced their carbon dioxide emissions.Last year, all the world's nations combined pumped nearly 38.2 billion tons ... more→
Category Archives: Health
Germiest Places at the Mall
While the health hazards of increasingly competitive holiday shopping now include stampedes and pepper-spraying, bargain hunters must also guard against more mundane hazards: other people's cold and flu viruses. Shopping centers that teem with people also teem with germs. But alcohol-based hand sanitizers and good hand washing can defeat most common microbes. "My wife won't go anywhere without hand sanitizer in her purse. I put some into my jacket pocket. You just use those frequently when you're out and about," said Dr. William Schaffner, ... more→
Report says FDA needs workforce improvements
The Food and Drug Administration’s mandate is too important to be compromised by a clunky personnel system. The FDA is charged with protecting the nation’s public health by ensuring the safety of food, drugs and medical devices, among other things. But in 2007, an agency panel found that the FDA’s “scientific workforce does not have sufficient capacity and capability” and the agency is “not positioned to meet current or emerging regulatory responsibilities.” The Pew Charitable Trusts wanted to know if that’s still the case, because “FDA is ... more→
Thanksgiving Diet Disasters to Avoid
Even if it's tough to prove the Calorie Control Council's claim that average Americans gorge themselves to the tune of 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day, no one can deny that it's a holiday on which most people stuff themselves like a turkey. Not that you're likely to choose Thanksgiving as a day to start your diet, but we thought you would appreciate knowing some ways to lighten things up. Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D., a contributor to Women's Health Magazine, lists the 7 worst caloric ... more→
Malaria vaccine a letdown for infants
By Maria Cheng, Associated Press An experimental malaria vaccine once thought promising is turning out to be a disappointment, with a new study showing it is only about 30 percent effective at protecting infants from the killer disease.That is a significant drop from a study done last year in slightly older children, which suggested the vaccine cut the malaria risk by about half — and even that is far below the protection provided by most vaccines. The three-shot regimen reduced malaria cases by about 30 ... more→
