An ongoing investigation by the Associated Press (AP) has found cadmium and lead, both known carcinogens, in the enamel used in the designs of many novelty drinking glasses. In response, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that they will be launching an investigation of their own. The CPSC declared that drinking classes … Continue reading “Federal Investigation of Lead Levels in Drinking Glasses”
With the high cost of health insurance, many people have been tempted to buy into a medical discount card program. For a monthly fee the cards give you access to discounted rates that the card company negotiates with health care providers. However, the cards are not insurance and will not protect you against expensive medical … Continue reading “State Issues Warning About Medical Discount Cards”
In light of the two recent H1N1 vaccine recalls some parents might be concerned about safety. However, the FDA and the CDC have determined that children who received the vaccine are not in any danger. The vaccines were recalled because they had lost some of their potency, not because of safety concerns. Drug manufacturers MedImmune … Continue reading “Recent H1N1 Vaccine Recalls Are Nothing to Fear”
Recently the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned that cheap metal jewelry could expose children to high levels of toxic metals like lead and cadmium. The agency recommended that parents take cheap jewelry away from children after The Associated Press found high levels of cadmium in bracelet charms sold at national and regional stores, including Walmart … Continue reading “Parents Warned to Take Cheap Metal Jewelry From Their Children”
On the news you may have heard about the 800,000 H1N1 vaccines that were recalled because they had lost some of their potency. The good news is that the vaccines are still perfectly safe. Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of the recalled vaccine, conducts routine stability testing to make sure vaccines don’t lose their potency over … Continue reading “Recent H1N1 Vaccine Recall is Nothing to Fear”
With the cold and flu season upon us we know you probably have plenty of questions, especially about the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. To help with some of the confusion we put together some answers to the most common questions. Why is it so hard to get my child vaccinated for H1N1? The CDC has … Continue reading “Answers to Your Questions About H1N1 and the Flu”
There has been a lot of coverage in the media about swine flu, but there is still a lot of confusion about what it is and whether or not we should be worried. Rest assured that Utah Valley Pediatrics is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health officials … Continue reading “Five Simple Answers to Five Simple Questions About Swine Flu”
A recent study by the National Toxicology Program (download PDF) has shown that a chemical called BPA (bisphenol A) that is used in many plastic products may interfere with normal neural and behavioral development in fetuses and infants. A spokesman for the FDA (read full article in Reuters) claims that exposure levels from products like … Continue reading “BPA Warning: Problem Plastics”
A recent study disproves any link between autism and the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is used to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. It was first introduced in 1963 and has reduced the rate of infection for measles from up to four million people newly infected each year to only 55 cases reported during … Continue reading “Autism is Not Linked to the MMR Vaccine”
More measles cases have been reported in the United States since January 1, 2008 than during the same period in any year since 1996, according to a report recently released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, 131 cases were reported to … Continue reading “Failure to Vaccinate Leads to the Most U. S. Measles Cases Reported Since 1996”