Editorial

They just keep coming - Child health alerts, and recalls. It is important to keep up to date to keep your children safe.

Nitrite Additives in Hot Dogs Form Carcinogens.

Peters et al. studied the relationship between the intake of certain foods and the risk of leukemia in children from birth to age 10 in Los Angeles County between 1980 and 1987. The study found that children eating more than 12 hot dogs per month have nine times the normal risk of developing childhood leukemia. A strong risk for childhood leukemia also existed for those children whose fathers' intake of hot dogs was 12 or more per month.

Researchers Sarusua and Savitz studied childhood cancer cases in Denver and found that children born to mothers who consumed hot dogs one or more times per week during pregnancy has approximately double the risk of developing brain tumors. Children who ate hot dogs one or more times per week were also at higher risk of brain cancer.

Bunin et al, also found that maternal consumption of hot dogs during pregnancy was associated with an excess risk of childhood brain tumors.

HERE ARE FOUR THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Do not buy hot dogs containing nitrite. It is especially important that children and potential parents do not consume 12 or more of these hot dogs per month.

2. Request that your supermarket have nitrite-free hot dogs available.

3. Contact your local school board and find out whether children are being served nitrite hot dogs in the cafeteria, Request that they use only nitrite-free hot dogs.

4. Write the FDA and express your concern that nitrite-hot dogs are not labeled for their cancer risk to children.

More information http://www.preventcancer.com/press/petitions/april25_95.htm

Children using Cell Phones a Risk

Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute issued a warning last week about children using cellphones. Limit cell phone use, he said, because of the possible cancer risk — especially when it comes to children, whose brains are still developing. The warning was based on early, unpublished data and came despite numerous studies that haven't found a link between increased tumors and cell phone use.

HERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Don't let children under age 8 use cell phones except in an emergency

2. Use a headphone for older children and adults

4. Place call phones in holders which attach to belts designed for cellphones rather than in pockets, this helps keep harmful electro magnetic waves away from the body