HIGHWAYS AND HEALTH: WHAT HOUSTON’S NEW TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS COULD MEAN FOR OUR HEALTH
by Sarah Morgan

Air pollution from vehicles adds to the risk of a wide range of adverse health effects, from asthma to lung cancer, according to a new Sierra Club report released this week.

The report, "Highway Health Hazards," contains results from 27 scientific studies that link health risks with highway pollution, and asks the government to take a closer look at health risks before expanding highways in urban areas near homes and schools.

One study conducted by the Journal of American Medical Association links soot or fine particulate matter (PM 10) to lung cancer, cardiopulmonary disease, and other causes of death. This study also found that, during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, increasing public transportation and introducing other traffic control measures reduced acute asthma attacks by up to 44 percent, and reduced ozone concentrations by 25 percent. The report also includes studies linking pollution to premature and low birth weight babies. The Sierra Club hopes that figures like these will encourage the Bush administration to increase funding for clean transportation choices instead of reducing funding for public transit. Currently, the administration is proposing to cut the available federal funds for public transportation from 80 percent to 50 percent, while continuing to fund other highway projects at the 80 percent level.

"Today, more than half of all Americans – 137 million, according to the Environmental Protection Agency – live in places where the air is unhealthy to breathe," according to a Sierra Club press release announcing the new report.

In Texas, implications of the Sierra Club report are difficult to ignore. The report references the heavily-traveled Katy Freeway, serving 200,000 vehicles a day, saying that the plan to widen the highway to 18 lanes could pose major health threats to surrounding communities and schools. One stretch of highway, the report notes, will run by Robert E. Lee Elementary, widening the highway to 17 lanes from 12 lanes.

Another Houston project in the works is the highly controversial Grand Parkway, a $4 billion highway loop that would cut through many rural communities including Kingwood, Alvin, and Spring. The report argues that such a project would bring more dangerous pollutants like benzene and diesel exhaust to these areas. The report also references the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, which contains 73 extensions, expansions, or new road projects, including toll lanes.

According to the report, all of these new projects pose serious health risks. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl.

FDA APPROVAL MEANS NO LAWSUIT, SAYS BUSH ADMINISTRATION
by Sarah Morgan

The Bush administration seems to be striking a blow to what some call patients’ rights by blocking lawsuits against prescription drugs and medical devices that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

An article in this week’s "New York Times" cites several recent cases in which the Bush administration argued that the FDA should be the definitive word on the safety of a product, saying that private lawsuits threaten the system of drug regulation. Furthermore, the administration contends that the threat of such lawsuits could discourage manufacturers from promoting products that could be beneficial, or could force them to issue new warnings that could cause the public to reject a beneficial product.

But others feel that the right to sue is a basic part of the checks and balances system.

"The system we have, for the most part, is working OK," said Winifred Hamilton, director of the Environmental Health Section at Baylor College of Medicine. She feels that the FDA is doing the best job it can, but she acknowledges that the notion of exempting a product from a lawsuit on the sole basis that it was FDA approved is not the best policy.

"It’s always risk-benefit," she said, " Any drug could have a bad effect for a certain percentage of people."

The FDA acknowledges that "no regulated product is totally risk-free," and that they base their approval on "whether a new product's benefits to users will outweigh its risks."

Sometimes these risks are life threatening, prompting some public interest groups like the Public Citizen Health Research Group to form letter writing campaigns and file petitions with the FDA.

Most recently, the FDA-approved drug Crestor has been under fire for its potential to cause kidney failure and to destroy muscles. The drug was approved less than one year ago to treat high cholesterol, but some US insurance providers have already decided not to reimburse customers for the drug due to adverse side effects, according to Public Citizen. Recently, several FDA-approved antidepressants have been questioned including Serzone, Wellbutrin, and Zoloft, with some patients and their families worried about an increased risk of suicide while taking the drugs.

The Bush administration claims that to sue manufacturers encourages judges and juries to "second-guess" the experts at the FDA, according to the "New York Times," but Hamilton notes that in some cases products with FDA approval can lose that approval later, suggesting that the FDA is not perfect.

As for the approval process itself, the FDA says it does not test drugs or medical devices, but instead reviews the results of laboratory, animal, and human testing done by other companies. Also, the FDA says it has streamlined its review process in recent years to get new treatments to patients faster. Whereas product approval could used to take up to ten years in some cases, the FDA says that now the average review time for certain drugs is only six months, sometimes less.

For patients, Hamilton said that some responsibility falls on the patient and that an important part in drug safety is the patient-doctor relationship.

"They’re all toxic chemicals," Hamilton said. "When in doubt, do the precautionary thing."

PROPOSED TOLL ROAD FOR TEXAS HIGHWAY 249
by Sarah Morgan

The Texas Department of Transportation is considering converting Texas 249 into a toll road from Beltway 8 to FM 1774.

This proposed toll road would run through northwest Harris County and Montgomery County, covering a 19-mile area that could affect many residents including those in Spring Cypress, Pinehurst, and Tomball.

The driving force behind the conversion is simply funding, according to TxDOT. The funds generated from the tolls would be used to pay for expansions and improvements to Texas 249, which, according to TxDOT, could be constructed much faster with toll revenue than if the department had to wait for other funding. Though estimates have not been finalized, TxDOT is projecting that drivers will pay 10 cents to 12 cents per mile for tolls.

This new proposal is part of a wave of new toll road projects popping up across Texas, the most recent in Austin where many Austinites voiced their disapproval to no avail.

Concerned residents in the Houston area can attend a TxDOT meeting on August 5, where the proposal will be presented to the public, outlining environmental considerations and accepting public comments. For more information on the meeting, visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/hou/newsrel/020-2004.htm.

HOUSTON NEEDS CLEAN AIR

Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention is an environmental organization that focuses on improving the Houston region’s hazardous air through public education and by participating in the state and federal planning process. A recent news alert from John Wilson, executive director of GHASP, reminds Houstonians that the Houston region is three years away from its deadline to meet federal health standards for ozone air pollution. For those interested in participating, there is a Houston Clean Air Plan public hearing Monday, August 2, at 1:30pm, and one at 5:30pm at Houston City Hall Council Chambers 901 Bagby. For more information and to read the complete news alert visit http://www.ghasp.org/issues/2004sip.html.

THE ARTIST BOAT PROGRAMS ARE A SUCCESS

The Artist Boat is an organization that provides education experience by combining science and art for exploration and appreciation of coastal habitats. They will celebrate their first year of operation this summer. With the helping hands of others, the Artist Boat provides many successful programs like Eco-Art Workshop in schools, Eco-Art Adventure via kayak, and Eco-Art Residency, together serving more than 2,204 participants. Tina Proctor, executive science director for the Artist Boat, reminds participants of "one more chance to join us on the kayaking Eco-Tour Adventure before we take a break from the heat." The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 at 9am in Galveston. To rent a kayak and gear, the fees are $20 to $40. For more information, contact the Artist Boat at (409) 770-0722 or email kklay@houston.rr.com.

THE GULF COAST REFUGE EXPANDS WITH THE HELP OF TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND

The Trust for Public Land, or TPL, recently announced that together with Brazoria County, an addition of approximately 100 acres of bottomland hardwood forest to the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge was purchased. These wetland tracts have vast amounts of coastal live oak trees, neotropical migratory songbirds and other wildlife species that live in the forest. TPL purchased and conveyed the land to the US Fish and Wildlife Services through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.9 million acres of land in 45 states, and in Texas they have protected more than 26,000 acres in areas around Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. TPL also provides technical, planning, programming, and grant-writing assistance and will offer a Texas Conservation Finance Workshop "How to raise new public money for parks and open space," Monday, August 30, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Johnny Arolfo Civic Center, 400 W. Walker, League City. To learn more about the workshop, contact Linda Shead, Houston/Galveston program director, at (713) 703-1123 or visit
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=15655&folder_id=264.

HOUSTON ZOO AFRICAN EXHIBIT

A new exhibit at the Houston Zoo Inc. is currently underway and will provide the experience and adventure of Africa. A recent article from the "Houston Chronicle," said that the African forest exhibit will occupy 13 acres and cost $80 million. The Houston Zoo Inc., hopes to have the project completed some time in 2007 or 2008. For more information about the African exhibit visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/Index.asp?page_ID=168.

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE 2004 URBAN FORESTRY PARTNERSHIP GRANT

The Texas Forest Service, the agency responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's forest resources, offers financial assistance in the form of challenge grants. The Partnership Grants are designed to start or improve a local urban forestry program or to educate the public about the importance of urban trees. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 and must be matched dollar-for-dollar (except for the application for a new professional staff position, for up to $30,000). Applicants may include any local or state government entity, schools, or nonprofit groups. Application deadline is July 15, 2004. To apply, e-mail the program secretary at lscasta@tfs.tamu.edu, or visit: http://www.texasforestservice.tamu.edu
Go to the Urban Forestry page and click the link for grants.

CONSUMER GUIDE DETAILS ILLS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMON PRODUCTS

A free online consumer guide published in March by the Worldwatch Institute describes the environmental, social, and health harms associated with a wide range of products, including appliances, baby products, DVDs, clothing, cell phones, and food. The guide takes a behind the scenes look at how products are made, and offers simple advice and alternatives that enable people to reduce some of the ills associated with the things they buy.
For each product, the guide also describes successful efforts by governments, businesses, and nonprofit groups around the world to reduce negative impacts associated with common products.
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff

NEW REPORT IN PARKS FOR PEOPLE SERIES

The Trust For Public Land’s Parks for People initiative works in cities across America to ensure that everyone--in particular every child--enjoys access to a park, playground, or open space. A new Parks for People report by Peter Harnik, director of TPL's Center for City Park Excellence, highlights the need for parks in Newark, New Jersey. The report's release follows by several months the publication of TPL's Parks for People white paper, which makes the case for new city parks nationwide. Upcoming Parks for People publications will focus on other US cities.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=13843&folder_id=175

A HANDBOOK FOR ACTIVISTS

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Wilderness Forever has created a handy-dandy guide to taking action. Learn how to draft your own action letters, organize enjoyable activism events, and get in touch with local media.
To obtain your own tree-free version of the guide:
http://www.wildernessforever.org/action/index.html
Learn more about the Wilderness Act:
http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Wilderness/act.cfm

EPA SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

The EPA Summer Opportunities for Students website is now up and running. The site provides a web portal through which students may enter to learn about EPA programs, offices, and summer employment opportunities. They also will be able to submit a job application directly to the EPA location where there is a vacancy.
http://www.epa.gov/ohros/student