According to recent reports, the Labor Department is racing to complete and implement a new rule that was opposed by President-elect Barack Obama regarding benzene emissions. The new rule would supposedly make it harder for the government to regulate toxic substances to which employees are exposed to while on the job.

The rule is reportedly being strongly supported by business groups and states that in assessing how risky certain substances are to the workplace, federal agencies should gather and analyze evidence of the employees’ exposure during their working lives. In many cases, the proposal would add a step to the process of developing higher standards in regards to protecting the health of workers.

Benzene Rule Details

Public health officials worry that the rule will only delay much needed protections for workers across the country, which could ultimately result in more deaths and illnesses.  The Labor Department proposal is reportedly one of 20 highly debatable rules that the Bush Administration is trying to pass during his last weeks in office. The other rules cover a wide array of topics from abortion, to auto safety and the environment.
The one regarding benzene emissions at workplaces across the country is of importance due to the harm that benzene can cause to anyone exposed over an extended duration of time. Benzene is a toxic chemical that has been linked to leukemia and other cancers. It is typically used in gasoline, dyes, synthetic rubbers, and cigarettes. If this rule is passed and workers across the country aren’t protected from benzene and other toxic chemicals, more and more people could die and become ill from diseases linked to these substances.

The 9th Annual Chronic Illness and Disability conference will explore issues involving the transition from pediatric to adult-based care. The two day conference, which will be held at Baylor College of Medicine in November, is open to families dealing with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Parents, teens and young adults can attend the conference to hear leading experts speak about legal, educational and medical issues faced by transitioning disability patients. Topics to be covered include:

• Mental health and family support
• Considerations for young people with developmental disabilities
• Vocational transition services (during and after high school)
• Funding for transition services
• Insurance options and Medicaid appeals
• Political issues and advocacy

To find out more about the conference or to register, visit the Baylor College of Medicine website.

Very preterm birth - prior to 32 weeks gestation - is one of the greatest risk factors for cerebral palsy, and a new study suggests that the area where a pregnant woman lives may influence her risk of delivering preterm.

Black Women Face Greater Risk

Researchers looked at preterm birth rates among black, white and Hispanic women in 168 metropolitan areas in the U.S. with the goal of determining whether factors like city size and region have an effect on these rates.

The findings, published in the current issue of Public Health Reports, suggest that where a woman lives does influence her risk of very preterm delivery. Furthermore, the research showed that in each city, the risk for black women was two to three times what it was for white women.

A Clue for Reducing the Risk

Researchers have been aware of racial disparities in very preterm birth rates for decades but have not been able to fully explain the increased risk for black women. Now, researchers have a new possibility to consider in their attempts to understand and reduce women’s risk for very preterm birth: residential area.

I was over reading Glenda Watson Hyatt over at her Doitmyselfblog and found a couple of interesting posts.  I had blogged about her last year when she was competing for the blogger of the year competition.

• Sometimes Cerebral Palsy Means Spilled Cereal - (Photo credit: Peter Galbraith). Having cerebral palsy means never being quite sure what my body will do next. I can do something a thousand times without too much of a hassle, and then completely mess it up the next time. …
• Author with Cerebral Palsy Uses PowerPoint to Give Radio Interview - One advantage of being a solopreneur is having flexible “business” hours and days. I have put many late nights with my virtual book tour; this virtually touring requires much more work than I imagined. Yesterday, after recording the …