Talk of treaty ban on mercury concerns scientists

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LONDON (AP) — Scientists are warning officials negotiating a global treaty on mercury that banning the deadly chemical completely would be dangerous for public health because of the chemical's use in vaccines.

The ban option is one of several proposals on the table for a meeting later this month in Nairobi, but a final treaty isn't expected until 2013.

According to the World Health Organization, mercury is one of the top 10 chemicals of public health concern and is highly toxic. Most of the worry is centered on mercury emissions from burning coal, gold mining and people eating mercury-tainted fish.

Mercury in small amounts is also found in many products including light bulbs, batteries and thermometers. WHO advises such products to be phased out, suggesting for example, that health systems switch to digital thermometers instead.

The problem is that a proposed ban might include thiomersal, also known as thimerosal, a mercury compound used to prevent contamination and extend the shelf life of vaccines, many scientists say. It is used in about 300 million shots worldwide, against diseases including flu, tetanus, hepatitis B, diptheria and meningitis.

"Not being able to use mercury is not a viable option," said David Wood, a WHO vaccines expert.

Wood said there isn't a viable alternative to thiomersal at the moment. If banned, pharmaceuticals would likely have to switch to preservative-free vaccines, which would complicate the supply chain and vaccination campaigns in poor countries, since the injections would have a much shorter shelf life. Costs would also spike since manufacturers would need to reconfigure their factories.

In 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme, or UNEP, began working on a legally binding global treaty on mercury. At the end of October, the third of five meetings to hammer out a treaty will take place in Nairobi.

"The document is a draft at the moment, so some of these proposals have to be taken with a grain of salt," said Tim Kasten, head of the chemicals branch at UNEP. Kasten said the amount of mercury in vaccines is so minute it doesn't threaten the environment. He said there could be provisions to allow mercury for certain uses, such as in dental fillings and vaccines.

But according to an annex in the draft document, there is currently no "allowable use exemption" for mercury products in pharmaceutical products, putting vaccines in the same category as banned mercury-containing paints and pesticides.

"That would be a terrible idea," said Paul Offit, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Pennsylvania. "It would be another tragic example of us not being able to explain to the public where the real risk lies."

Thiomersal has mostly been removed from childhood vaccines in the U.S. and Canada. In some European countries, including Norway and Sweden, manufacturers have been encouraged to make thiomersal-free vaccines — and no other uses of mercury as a medical preservative are allowed.

Fears about thiomersal in vaccines were raised after a flawed medical study in 1998 linked a common childhood injection to autism. Even though that study didn't involve mercury, it ignited fears about vaccines in general, including those containing thiomersal.

Concerns were also heightened after the U.S. decided to largely remove thiomersal from many injections as a precautionary measure in the 1990s. Numerous studies have found no sign the mercury compound is risky but many anti-vaccine groups still believe it may be linked to autism and other health problems.

Experts hope countries won't go overboard in their attempts to control the substance.

"Provided you know the risks and it's handled properly, there isn't a problem," said Andrew Nelson, a toxicology expert at the University of Leeds. "The health of so many millions of children benefit from vaccines containing mercury that an absolute ban is ridiculous."

___

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www.unep.org

www.who.int

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Talk of treaty ban on mercury concerns scientists

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
LONDON (AP) — Scientists are warning officials negotiating a global treaty on mercury that banning the deadly chemical completely would be dangerous for public health because of the chemical's use in vaccines.

The ban option is one of several proposals on the table for a meeting later this month in Nairobi, but a final treaty isn't expected until 2013.

According to the World Health Organization, mercury is one of the top 10 chemicals of public health concern and is highly toxic. Most of the worry is centered on mercury emissions from burning coal, gold mining and people eating mercury-tainted fish.

Mercury in small amounts is also found in many products including light bulbs, batteries and thermometers. WHO advises such products to be phased out, suggesting for example, that health systems switch to digital thermometers instead.

The problem is that a proposed ban might include thiomersal, also known as thimerosal, a mercury compound used to prevent contamination and extend the shelf life of vaccines, many scientists say. It is used in about 300 million shots worldwide, against diseases including flu, tetanus, hepatitis B, diptheria and meningitis.

"Not being able to use mercury is not a viable option," said David Wood, a WHO vaccines expert.

Wood said there isn't a viable alternative to thiomersal at the moment. If banned, pharmaceuticals would likely have to switch to preservative-free vaccines, which would complicate the supply chain and vaccination campaigns in poor countries, since the injections would have a much shorter shelf life. Costs would also spike since manufacturers would need to reconfigure their factories.

In 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme, or UNEP, began working on a legally binding global treaty on mercury. At the end of October, the third of five meetings to hammer out a treaty will take place in Nairobi.

"The document is a draft at the moment, so some of these proposals have to be taken with a grain of salt," said Tim Kasten, head of the chemicals branch at UNEP. Kasten said the amount of mercury in vaccines is so minute it doesn't threaten the environment. He said there could be provisions to allow mercury for certain uses, such as in dental fillings and vaccines.

But according to an annex in the draft document, there is currently no "allowable use exemption" for mercury products in pharmaceutical products, putting vaccines in the same category as banned mercury-containing paints and pesticides.

"That would be a terrible idea," said Paul Offit, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Pennsylvania. "It would be another tragic example of us not being able to explain to the public where the real risk lies."

Thiomersal has mostly been removed from childhood vaccines in the U.S. and Canada. In some European countries, including Norway and Sweden, manufacturers have been encouraged to make thiomersal-free vaccines — and no other uses of mercury as a medical preservative are allowed.

Fears about thiomersal in vaccines were raised after a flawed medical study in 1998 linked a common childhood injection to autism. Even though that study didn't involve mercury, it ignited fears about vaccines in general, including those containing thiomersal.

Concerns were also heightened after the U.S. decided to largely remove thiomersal from many injections as a precautionary measure in the 1990s. Numerous studies have found no sign the mercury compound is risky but many anti-vaccine groups still believe it may be linked to autism and other health problems.

Experts hope countries won't go overboard in their attempts to control the substance.

"Provided you know the risks and it's handled properly, there isn't a problem," said Andrew Nelson, a toxicology expert at the University of Leeds. "The health of so many millions of children benefit from vaccines containing mercury that an absolute ban is ridiculous."

___

Online:

www.unep.org

www.who.int

Associated Press

Technology

News

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Child health 'contrast' concerns

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2 October 2011 Last updated at 10:54 GMT 'Prioritisation of community child health services is vital,' says Andrew Jones, public health official The contrast between the health of babies born in poor and more affluent areas of north Wales has been branded as "unacceptable" by a public health chief.

A report from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) shows people born in deprived parts of Rhyl can expect to die seven years earlier than those in areas like nearby Conwy.

It also shows a "stark" variation in the number of babies born with low birth weights, linked to poverty.

The report author is calling for action to end the "health inequalities" to create a "fairer society".

Rates of stillbirth, admissions to neonatal units, infant and child mortality, injuries and teenage pregnancy are higher in areas with high levels of deprivation, according to Andrew Jones.

He is the executive director of public health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) which manages the region's health services.

Continue reading the main story

Giving every child the best start in life is the highest priority. This is the key to reducing health inequalities and creating a fairer society.”

End Quote Andrew Jones Executive director of public health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board He says the annual report focuses on the early years because scientific evidence shows influencing the development of children to maximise their health is most effective when done as early as possible.

'Vital'

"There is also a strong economic case as return on investment in the early years is higher than at any other stage," he says.

Mr Jones says current financial challenges highlight the importance of using resources wisely.

"Whilst there is a risk that we may wish to focus on the short term, the simple fact is that we cannot afford to ignore the evidence and the opportunity to improve health outcomes now and into the future," he said.

His report highlights 11 key areas to reduce the "inequity" across the region.

These include:

More support for vulnerable familiesReduce smoking in pregnancyReduce maternal obesity.

While the percentage of babies born with low birth weight in north Wales is slightly lower (5.5%) than the average for Wales (5.8%), the report says there is "considerable variation" across the region and a "stark geographical variation".

The highest percentage of low birth weights in north Wales is in Rhyl south west in Denbighshire, at 8.2%, compared to the lowest, 2.9%, found in Llandrillo yn Rhos, Conwy.

"Giving every child the best start in life is the highest priority," says Mr Jones.

"This is the key to reducing health inequalities and creating a fairer society. Prioritisation of community child health services is vital."

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Concerns over A&E blood testing

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23 September 2011 Last updated at 00:06 GMT By Adam Brimelow Health Correspondent, BBC News Can doctors take a blood sample? Scientists say doctors need better training to avoid mistakes in blood samples taken in hospital A&E departments.

The warning from the Association for Clinical Biochemistry follows an audit at Birmingham City Hospital.

The trust has put in place extra training, but the ACB says this is a problem across the UK.

The College of Emergency Medicine says it is essential that staff use the right technique to collect blood.

Blood test results are often key to assessing patients when they arrive in A&E. But staff are frequently working under extreme pressure.

The ACB is worried that this contributes to errors when they take blood samples.

The concerns are highlighted by the Birmingham audit of samples collected by a range of junior doctors and nurses.

Urgent cases

In the study, published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, the researchers followed the collection of 50 samples from some of the most urgent cases, over a two week period.

More than half were taken using the wrong equipment. They should normally by collected into vacuum tubes with special needles rather than using syringes which can damage fragile blood cells.

The researchers also found that about half the samples were mishandled for testing, raising the risk of contamination.

Continue reading the main story

It sounds a bread and butter procedure but it is very important that it is done correctly, safely and consistently. We need to ensure there is the right level of expertise. ”

End Quote Dr John Heyworth President, College of Emergency Medicine The trust has arranged extra training and guidance for its A&E staff. The director of pathology at the hospital, Dr Jonathan Berg, who helped to carry out the study, says good technique is vital to ensure the tests reflect the true status of the patient.

"Junior doctors have surprisingly little training in taking blood and have a love of still using syringes which cause major problems and this is very easy to correct with a simple training programme. This is an issue right across the country".

The director of scientific affairs at the ACB, Dr Robert Hill, says there is a need for better training.

"The compromises to specimen quality made in A&E when attempting to rush through investigations clearly put some patients at risk, so fixing the problem requires more than just identifying a culprit.

"Solutions must include monitoring the competence of those taking blood during their training period and discouraging those whose lack of practice prevents them from doing it properly."

'Bread-and-butter' procedure

The study is being presented at the annual conference of the College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The college's president, Dr John Heyworth, says the paper is "universally relevant" to all A&E departments.

"It sounds a bread-and-butter procedure but it is very important that it is done correctly, safely and consistently. We need to ensure there is the right level of expertise.

"I think it is always seen as so routine, there is not enough focus on it as a technique for formal review and training."

The chairman of the BMA's Junior Doctor Committee, Dr Tom Dolphin, also welcomed the study.

"Emergency Departments are high pressure environments where junior doctors have to take blood in an efficient, timely manner.

"Bloods can be taken in a variety of ways and this study highlights some consequences of the choices faced by junior doctors when taking blood.

"Incorporating the findings of this research into training for junior doctors and medical students would be helpful if we are to reduce some of the issues that can arise from blood sampling."

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

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Concerns over A&E blood testing

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
23 September 2011 Last updated at 00:06 GMT By Adam Brimelow Health Correspondent, BBC News Can doctors take a blood sample? Scientists say doctors need better training to avoid mistakes in blood samples taken in hospital A&E departments.

The warning from the Association for Clinical Biochemistry follows an audit at Birmingham City Hospital.

The trust has put in place extra training, but the ACB says this is a problem across the UK.

The College of Emergency Medicine says it is essential that staff use the right technique to collect blood.

Blood test results are often key to assessing patients when they arrive in A&E. But staff are frequently working under extreme pressure.

The ACB is worried that this contributes to errors when they take blood samples.

The concerns are highlighted by the Birmingham audit of samples collected by a range of junior doctors and nurses.

Urgent cases

In the study, published in the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, the researchers followed the collection of 50 samples from some of the most urgent cases, over a two week period.

More than half were taken using the wrong equipment. They should normally by collected into vacuum tubes with special needles rather than using syringes which can damage fragile blood cells.

The researchers also found that about half the samples were mishandled for testing, raising the risk of contamination.

Continue reading the main story

It sounds a bread and butter procedure but it is very important that it is done correctly, safely and consistently. We need to ensure there is the right level of expertise. ”

End Quote Dr John Heyworth President, College of Emergency Medicine The trust has arranged extra training and guidance for its A&E staff. The director of pathology at the hospital, Dr Jonathan Berg, who helped to carry out the study, says good technique is vital to ensure the tests reflect the true status of the patient.

"Junior doctors have surprisingly little training in taking blood and have a love of still using syringes which cause major problems and this is very easy to correct with a simple training programme. This is an issue right across the country".

The director of scientific affairs at the ACB, Dr Robert Hill, says there is a need for better training.

"The compromises to specimen quality made in A&E when attempting to rush through investigations clearly put some patients at risk, so fixing the problem requires more than just identifying a culprit.

"Solutions must include monitoring the competence of those taking blood during their training period and discouraging those whose lack of practice prevents them from doing it properly."

'Bread-and-butter' procedure

The study is being presented at the annual conference of the College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The college's president, Dr John Heyworth, says the paper is "universally relevant" to all A&E departments.

"It sounds a bread-and-butter procedure but it is very important that it is done correctly, safely and consistently. We need to ensure there is the right level of expertise.

"I think it is always seen as so routine, there is not enough focus on it as a technique for formal review and training."

The chairman of the BMA's Junior Doctor Committee, Dr Tom Dolphin, also welcomed the study.

"Emergency Departments are high pressure environments where junior doctors have to take blood in an efficient, timely manner.

"Bloods can be taken in a variety of ways and this study highlights some consequences of the choices faced by junior doctors when taking blood.

"Incorporating the findings of this research into training for junior doctors and medical students would be helpful if we are to reduce some of the issues that can arise from blood sampling."

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Read More