Tag: Challenges

  • Chemours challenges EPA health advisory for GenX

    Chemours challenges EPA health advisory for GenX

    By Trista Talton

    Coastal Review Online

    The Chemours Company is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for its recent health advisory for GenX, one of the contaminants discharged for years into the Cape Fear River from the company’s plant in Fayetteville.

    Chemours is challenging the EPA’s review of the agency’s health advisory for hexafluoropropylene oxide dime acid, or HFPO-DA (GenX), arguing the agency failed to use the best available science when making its determination.

    “Nationally recognized toxicologists and other leading scientific experts across a range of disciplines have evaluated the EPA’s underlying analysis and concluded that it is fundamentally flawed,” according to a Chemours release. “EPA’s own peer reviewer called aspects of EPA’s toxicity assessment (which serves as the basis for the health advisory) ‘extreme’ and ‘excessive.’ The agency disregarded relevant data and incorporated grossly incorrect and overstated exposure assumptions in devising the health advisory. The EPA’s failure to use the best-available-science and follow its own standards are contrary to this administration’s commitment to scientific integrity, and we believe unlawful.”

    The suit filed Wednesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia specifically names EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who is also former secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

    Chemours warned it might take legal action against the EPA after the agency’s assistant administrator for water, Radhika Fox, announced the final health advisory June 15.

    Fox made the announcement at the third National PFAS Conference held in downtown Wilmington, a city and surrounding region thrust into the national spotlight five years ago when the news broke that Chemours’ Fayetteville Works Facility had for decades been discharging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances into the Cape Fear River, air and ground.

    The EPA’s final health advisory for GenX is 10 parts per trillion, or ppt and, for perfluorobutane sulfonic acid, or PFBS, at 2,000 ppt. PFBS has not been found in significant concentrations in samples in North Carolina, according to DEQ.

    The agency also issued updated interim health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS.

    GenX was created to replace PFOA, which was voluntarily phased out of production more than 10 years ago in the U.S.

    Chemours states in its news release that HFPO-DA is not a commercial product and does not pose human health or environmental risks “when used for its intended purpose.”

    Health studies of animals that ingested GenX show health effects in the kidneys, blood, immune system, liver and developing fetuses, according to the EPA’s toxicity assessment.

    Chemours argues that the GenX toxicity assessment issued October 2021 was “materially different” from a draft assessment published in November 2018 and that the EPA did not provide public notice or allow for public comment on the new assessment.

    What are PFAS?

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and an estimated 5,000 types of PFAS, none of which are federally regulated. PFAS have been manufactured and used by industries worldwide since the 1940s, used in everything from Teflon pans to raincoats to dental floss. They are also used in firefighting foams.

    The two most extensively produced and studied, PFOA and PFOS, have been phased out in the U.S., but they don’t break down easily and can accumulate in the environment and in the human body. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.

    “Upon review of the October 2021 Toxicity Assessment, Chemours and external experts identified numerous material scientific flaws, including its failure to incorporate available, highly relevant peer-reviewed studies and that it significantly overstates the potential for risk associated with HFPO-DA,” according to the release.

    The EPA did not respond to an email request for comment Wednesday.

    EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator Benita Best-Wong defended the GenX toxicity assessment in a letter to a law firm representing six North Carolina health and environmental groups, stating the assessment “was subject to two rigorous independent peer reviews by scientists who were screened for conflicts of interest in 2018 and 2021.”

    Best-Wong went on to write that the agency asked the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Toxicology Program to conduct an independent review of the liver histopathology slides from two studies.

    The agency published detailed responses to comments from both peer reviews and the assessment was put out for public review and comment for 60 days, she wrote.

    That letter was in response to the groups’ call for the EPA to order Chemours to conduct health studies on 54 PFAS. Those groups, including Cape Fear River Watch, Center for Environmental Health, Clean Cape Fear, Democracy Green, the NC Black Alliance and Toxic Free NC, filed a lawsuit against the EPA for failing to require Chemours to conduct the studies.

    The EPA’s health advisory for GenX replaces the state’s 2018 provisional drinking water health goal of 140 ppt.

    A consent order between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and Chemours requires the company to provide whole house filtration for households that rely on private water wells where GenX concentrations are above the health advisory.

    “We expect Chemours to meet their obligations under the Consent Order and to the communities impacted by the PFAS contamination,” Sharon Martin, DEQ deputy secretary for public affairs, said in an email Wednesday.

    Cape Fear River Watch Executive Director Dana Sargent said in a telephone interview she was “shaken” by the lawsuit.

    “This is going to be seriously infuriating for the community to hear this news and to still be looking at commercials and this nonsense saying (Chemours) are good neighbors,” she said. “I think Chemours needs to recognize that they can’t continue to claim that they’re good neighbors while suing the nation’s regulatory agency based on their assessment of the GenX toxicity level, which was done under strict calculations based on available science on the health impacts of GenX. The science is science.”

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  • Tips for Parenting Healthy Habits in Kids with Mental Health Challenges | SBM

    Tips for Parenting Healthy Habits in Kids with Mental Health Challenges | SBM

    SBM: tips-for-parenting-healthy-habits-in-kids-with-mental-health-challenges

    April Bowling, MA, ScD, Merrimack Higher education, and James Slavet, PhD, Marblehead Higher School

    About a person in each and every 5 US youth has a identified mental well being affliction. Many a lot more struggle with symptoms of stress and anxiety or despair. The good thing is, analysis has proven that receiving everyday movement and adequate sleep can meaningfully enhance kids’ psychological overall health.

    Creating healthy slumber and work out habits in young children can be demanding. Dad and mom are generally pulled in numerous directions at after, splitting their concentration and forcing them to prioritize the treatment they offer. Parenting youngsters with mental wellness problems can be primarily taxing, in this regard.

    When mothers and fathers have to “pick their battles,” they often report that increasing bodily action and sleep practices just really do not make the slash. This partly occurs out of the misconception that their kids require to make substantial, unrealistic alterations for it to make a distinction. In reality, little, manageable modifications can assistance establish existence-lengthy healthier behavior that can make psychological wellbeing circumstances a great deal far more workable. 

    Tip #1: Begin with what they already appreciate.

    Yoga is not for anyone. Neither is managing. And which is alright! Standard, vigorous physical action is the objective, regardless of what sort it requires. Sometimes the greatest kind of workout is a little something we don’t imagine of as exercising at all.

    For case in point, if your kid is genuinely into online video video games, have them check out video online games that have to have motion to perform. There are free, enjoyment possibilities accessible for smartphones and tablets. For an additional bonus, participate in the games collectively! Be innovative and persuade your child to feel considerably less about “exercise” and much more about obtaining much more enjoyable movement.

    Idea #2: Keep exercising brief, enjoyable, and regular.

    60 minutes of physical exercise just about every working day is a typical advice for children. That is not constantly realistic. For youngsters with psychological well being problems, it may well be not possible. 

    Quick bouts of light and moderate actual physical activity–including walking the dog, mountaineering, or riding a bike–also increase temper, target, stress and anxiety, depression, and rest. Taking a 10-moment walk following college is a ton a lot less overwhelming than working 3 miles. It’s also more very likely to become a regular, healthier routine.

    Tip #3: Make the relationship in between training, rest, and mental wellbeing.

    Support your child hold an effortless log where by they monitor workout, rest, and temper. This can aid them join nutritious habits with experience far better, like recognizing that they slide asleep much easier on times that they get work out. 

    Viewing healthful designs improve can help create inside commitment to preserve up the conduct change. Apps and equipment like a FitBit can be beneficial for some youngsters. A number of monitor temper as nicely as physical exercise and rest. 

    Suggestion #4: Get the angst out of imperfect slumber.

    Support your baby build superior rest routines rather of worrying about the total or high quality of snooze, which is largely outdoors your child’s command. Be concerned can make falling asleep really tricky, in particular for young children with a psychological health condition that heightens anxiety. The far more we fear about obtaining more than enough snooze, the additional difficulty we have falling asleep.

    Attempt to aid and fortify your child’s attempts. More youthful young children may like a sticker chart for next a bedtime plan, although teenagers might react far more to precise, steady praise. But no make any difference what, really don’t include to fret about how nicely or extensive they slumber. Make it about practising healthy slumber behaviors.

    Idea #5: Aid your kid build a reasonable rest plan.

    Four points are critical for kids to get ample snooze: a good slumber atmosphere, a healthy sleep plan, managing caffeine, and physical exercise through the day. A good snooze ecosystem means reducing mild and audio, maintaining the home comfortably great, and reducing screens in the place though sleeping. A wholesome sleep regimen is shorter (10-20 minutes), stress-free and easy to adhere to, doesn’t contain screens, and aims at the same bedtime just about every night time. 

    An example rest regimen may be getting a heat shower, brushing tooth, studying for 10 minutes, and then turning off the light and taking three deep breaths. Although teens appreciate to rest in on the weekends, a constant waking time can also support them fall asleep more simply at night.

    Lots of teens and pre-teenagers also assert to be evening owls. In reality, they may be so worn out that they are getting difficulty disengaging from social media, gaming, and texts at night. 

    Validate your child’s inner thoughts that these activities and connections are crucial though encouraging smaller modifications that clearly show them that they can tune out with out missing out. For case in point, if your teen usually commences their nighttime routine at midnight, encourage them to start it at 11:45pm and perform to an earlier bedtime more than time. 

    Idea #6: Place these ideas into action for you.

    As moms and dads, we normally come to feel the have to have to focus on our children’s well being right before our possess, specifically when parenting children with psychological wellness difficulties. Starting up with your individual well being behaviors will strengthen your psychological and actual physical wellbeing and ability to guardian. 

    You’ll also position product being “healthy enough” for your child. Really don’t try to reach best exercising and sleep behaviors all at once. Having compact techniques over time is how you establish lasting adjust. This is necessary to setting up healthful routines.

    For even more practical, study-based suggestions on parenting balanced habits in children with mental overall health and neurodevelopmental difficulties, listen to the authors’ podcast Healthier Plenty of.

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  • Monday Mind Talks: Tips from expert to help your child navigate the challenges of autism spectrum disorder

    Monday Mind Talks: Tips from expert to help your child navigate the challenges of autism spectrum disorder

    Every little one has different discovering specifications, but children with autism spectrum disorder, also regarded as ASD, need to have a little far more supervision and care. It truly is essential to comprehend what a baby with autism requires and how you can assistance their mastering, whether you happen to be a mum or dad or teacher. There are basic, commonplace matters that can make a big difference in addition to the clinical care and therapies you may perhaps set up for your boy or girl. Now, Dr. Chitra Sankar, a developmental paediatrician guide at Manipal Healthcare facility, Bangalore, offers some advice on how to assistance youthful small children with autism spectrum condition navigate selected cases.

    She describes, “Autism is a advanced mind-dependent ailment that affects a child’s social abilities, capacity to interact with folks and the surroundings, communication making use of words and phrases and gestures and conduct. This situation is getting to be widespread and is found a lot more routinely in boys than women.”

    Symptoms of autism

    What are the signs or symptoms?

    Industry experts cautiously analyse the kid’s indications and indicators just before producing an ASD diagnosis. Mother and father could choose some time to explore indications and indicators, which often turn out to be obvious in the second calendar year. 

    Right here are a handful of early indications of autism:

    1. Speech hold off.

    2. Not responding to name.

    3. Not interested or getting minimal techniques in participating in with friends.

    4. Lousy eye speak to.

    5. Prefers to perform by itself, not engaging with other little ones or does not know how to play in a group.

    6. Repetitive speech, ritualistic styles of behaviour or flapping palms, toe strolling, spinning or hand and finger mannerisms.

    7. Not using gestures this kind of as pointing with the index finger to connect.

    8. Having upset or masking ears due to sensitivity to specified seems or mouthing toys or looking for smells.

    treatment

    What is the remedy?

    The family members might experience a great offer of worry and fret just after obtaining the prognosis of autism. There is no universally helpful cure for autism spectrum dysfunction. By easing symptoms of autism spectrum issue and selling growth and understanding, remedy aims to enhance your child’s capacity for perform.

    A little one with autism spectrum condition (ASD) can facial area a wide range of challenges, but there are a lot of matters you can do to guidance them. The advice, treatments, and solutions mentioned below are useful for mother and father.

    1. Get the child assessed by a Developmental paediatrician to establish the child’s current requirements, strengths and worries and to establish a program for the guidance providers that he needs.

    2. Test to glance by trustworthy websites for facts on the dysfunction so that you can fully grasp the disorder much better. This will help you to help your kid as a result of his issues better.

    3. Moms and dads can assist the child’s advancement at house during the day in limited segments long lasting several minutes adding up to a good deal without having far too a lot strain for both child or guardian.

    4. Make use of home routines to develop child’s communication, working and independence in self-treatment actions like consuming, dressing and toileting. 

    5. Be part of and take part in child’s engage in routines at house and establish child’s vocabulary, interactions and play competencies. 

    6. Treatment is pretty crucial for the youngster. Don’t postpone it. Carry on to assistance your child’s enhancement by performing with the therapist as a team.

    7. There is a good deal of data on the internet on solutions. Prior to embarking on any of them, chat to your child’s specialist to know if it is dependent on proof. Really don’t go by world-wide-web endorsements on your own. 

    8. Medicines can be utilized in some children to assistance your child’s indications. Talk to your child’s expert if there are persistent snooze problems, irritability, self-injurious behaviours and stress.

    9. Devote some time to choose treatment of your very own physical and mental well being. Make certain to devote some time with your partner and with other family customers.

    10. At current there are no medications or therapies to treatment the affliction. Nonetheless, a great deal can be completed to assist the child’s growth and progress. Obtain the appropriate industry experts and re-evaluate the child’s progress with your child’s developmental expert at frequent intervals and adjust the remedies.

    For people today with ASD, other therapies may be available. To master additional, talk to a physician or other healthcare skilled.

    Also Go through: Monday Intellect Talks: Find out the difference between positive and adverse styles of tension

  • a16z-Backed Sprinter Health Helping In-Home Care Agencies with Census Challenges

    a16z-Backed Sprinter Health Helping In-Home Care Agencies with Census Challenges

    Sprinter Overall health – an on-desire cellular health and fitness startup – has raised a large amount of income because it was started at the commencing of very last calendar year.

    The business, which companions with household-based mostly treatment companies, has taken a gradual-and-regular solution to paying that funds as it figures out what is effective in the residence and what doesn’t. Of the almost $38 million it has raised, it hasn’t used additional than $5 million of it.

    Co-founder and CEO Max Cohen has located price in enjoying the extensive video game, irrespective of whether it has to do with deploying capital or discovering the suitable dwelling wellbeing and house care companions.

    “We did not want to go too considerably much too fast. The purpose for that is you can close up having an thought that becomes a solution that isn’t in fact validated,” Cohen explained to Dwelling Health Treatment News. “We are a Silicon Valley organization. And in that globe, you speak a ton about a little something referred to as PMF [product-market fit], which is earning certain that the market place demands the merchandise that you’ve developed, and the selling price place you can deliver it at will work.”

    The business has previously described alone to HHCN as “DoorDash for your next blood draw.” It sends nurses and phlebotomists into the property for lab draws, very important checks, COVID-19 testing and extra.

    Its direct trader is a16z. Supplemental contributors in its funding rounds include things like Normal Catalyst, Accel and Google Ventures, amid some others.

    Right before it started off to invest revenue, Sprinter wished to hone in on a handful of partnerships to test its model. Now, it’s finally commencing to unfold out in a far more significant way.

    “Anecdotally, what we’ve been explained to by these residence wellbeing organizations is that they are capable to enhance their census due to the fact we had been in a position to free up their time,” Cohen said. “Their nursing staff is serving to when persons have to have nurses. And when persons just will need something simple like vitals or blood draws, they send out us and we have upcoming-working day availability that just will make it less difficult.”

    Sprinter has partnered with at least 20 home-based treatment businesses in the Bay Location at this place. The company is also live in Los Angeles and Sacramento, and searching to increase to San Diego this year. Shortly ample, it hopes to be in other states as well, such as New Jersey, Texas and Florida.

    “We’re beginning to bring these other partnerships on-line that are extra of a countrywide scale,” Cohen mentioned. “The product is one thing that is truly replicable in distinct geographies. We can convey our technological innovation system with us. We have nationwide partners like Naveris that have wants all about the place. And so we can convey that organization with us as very well. So now we’ll commence to faucet into that progress funding to let us to go a little little bit a lot quicker.”

    Massachusetts-centered Naveris and Sprinter declared a partnership at the commencing of February. Naveris uses proprietary technological know-how to detect early symptoms of most cancers in the patients it serves. Sprinter’s nurses and phlebotomists will be enlisted to draw blood on behalf of Naveris in patients’ households.

    There are a great deal of innovative, scientifically driven businesses out there who really don’t have the time or resources to just take their design and deliver it to patients’ homes. That is exactly where Sprinter will come in.

    “Their excellence is not likely to be all-around the logistics of minimizing a person’s travel time and having them to the proper residence,” Cohen explained. “We say, ‘Let us choose on that technologies resolution aspect.’ Then they can fear about processing the samples, and frankly, generating additional value for their clients [elsewhere].”

    Addressing staffing and fairness in health and fitness care

    However some of Sprinter Health’s most important associates are household health and dwelling treatment agencies, it is, in a feeling, also a home-based mostly treatment corporation by itself. That indicates it is topic to the turbulent staffing ecosystem as well.

    To steer clear of as several of all those woes as feasible, the business deviates from the path that other health and fitness treatment companies businesses have taken. Its nurses and phlebotomists are entire-time staff.

    “It essentially drives expense down if you have substantial utilization,” Cohen mentioned. “Because what that implies is that, if you are hectic all working day, you’ve got a established of fixed fees and you don’t have to spend a middleman cost to e-book a person that can complete that check out. And in our design of acquiring total-time employees, it guarantees that we’re essentially heading to abide by by with it we’re not going to terminate the appointment. And when we get there, the personnel are going to be trained continuously.”

    Possessing that comprehensive-time team also offers off a notion of dependability to likely associates.

    On top of that, that dependability implies much better service for the clients, quite a few of which have been victims of an inequitable U.S. overall health care method, Cohen reported.

    “We’ve been speaking about health fairness permanently, but it looks that there is basically an energy to set some dollars behind it now,” he reported. “We’re viewing a wish where by we’re last but not least declaring, ‘Let’s not just produce concierge treatment for the most affluent. Let us uncover a way to meet people in which they’re at.’ And I’m setting up to see companions essentially be inclined to invest in that extra closely. That is an intriguing tailwind, and I want to see where by that goes, because I’m quite optimistic about that.”

    Some insurers are also commencing to attempt to deal with those well being equity problems, but at the area stage. For instance, they are sending distant affected person monitoring (RPM) devices, lab exams and other items to beneficiaries.

    But that is not generally profitable, Cohen added.

    “I do surprise how lots of of these individuals are heading to get explained unit and depart it in the packaging, mainly because it’s overwhelming,” he said. “So a single aspect of our company that we can establish out is the skill to in essence be ready to go in and teach individuals how to use these products – how to established it up, configure it and make positive it has been hooked up appropriately. I believe which is an region that’s heading to nonetheless require a human in the loop for at minimum the subsequent 10 to 20 a long time.”