Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 6/4/08.  You should consult your doctor if you are taking any medications.

Those on my email list are probably wondering what the "[.]" is in the subject of my email.  Well let me tell you.  Last Wednesday I switched from AT&T Uverse back to RoadRunner because I was going to get the ZeeVee ZvBox which won't work with Uverse.  On Saturday morning my Internet didn't work.  I called RoadRunner and they said it was quarantined.  They said that could have been from sending over 100 emails per week and several other things.  I said I sent out more email than that.  They said the only people that could reset it was there security department which wouldn't be in until Monday.  I called their security on Monday and they said I was not quarantined.  I told them that two tech reps said I was.  He says "let me check".  When he got back, he said it was they quarantined the wrong account by mistake and reset it.  But now to avoid passing 100 email per week I had to set up a mailing list with my webhoster.  The email list forces you to put something between the two brackets so I put a "period" because it wouldn't except nothing.  The rest of the subject comes from whatever I put in the subject that I email to the mailing list.  RoadRunner is getting ridiculous though.  I heard on the news today that if you went over a certain amount on your bandwidth that they were going to charge you $1 per gigabyte.  See my "Neat tech stuff" below.  That might save me the ZeeVee box.

Probiotics may offer hay fever hope - Nutra USA, 6/3/08 - "Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most commonly grass pollen. The immune system mistakes the spores for harmful invaders and white blood cells - T-helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes - produce protein-like cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-6, which in turn promote the synthesis of the immune chemicals immunoglobulins (Ig) to bind to the pollen and fight them off ... However, supplementation with the probiotic led to reduced production of IL-5 and IL-6, as well as decreased in the production of IgE ... The probiotic-supplemented volunteers had significantly reduced levels of IL-5 and IL-6" - [Abstract] - See probiotics at Amazon.com.

Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency May Increase Risk for Preeclampsia - Medscape, 6/3/08 - "Compared with controls, women who subsequently developed preeclampsia had lower adjusted serum 25(OH)D concentrations in early pregnancy (geometric mean, 45.4 vs 53.1 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 38.6 - 53.4 vs 47.1 - 59.9 nmol/L; P < .01) ... After adjusting for potential confounders, a 50-nmol/L decrease in 25(OH)D concentration was associated with twice the risk for preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1 - 5.4). Compared with control newborns, those of women with preeclampsia were twice as likely to have 25(OH)D concentrations less than 37.5 nmol/L" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.

Bone Drug Prevents Breast Cancer Return - WebMD, 6/2/08 - "Zometa creates a tumor-hostile environment that helps to keep cancer away, and it is very safe"

Babies, Tots Low on Vitamin D - WebMD, 6/2/08 - "Forty percent of those kids had suboptimal blood levels of vitamin D, including 12% who had vitamin D deficiency. And X-rays showed that a third of kids with vitamin D deficiency had bone demineralization, a sign of thinner bones ... Breastfed babies were particularly likely to be low in vitamin D"

Marijuana Use May Shrink the Brain - WebMD, 6/2/08 - "the hippocampus, which is thought to regulate memory, was an average of 12% smaller among marijuana users, compared with people who didn't smoke pot. The amygdala, involved in emotion and memory, was an average of 7% smaller ... The study also suggests that long-term marijuana users were more likely to report symptoms associated with mental disorders"

Metformin Increases Pathologic Complete Response Rates In Breast Cancer Patients With Diabetes - Science Daily, 6/2/08 - "the pathologic complete response rates in the diabetic breast cancer patients taking Metformin was 24 percent, three times higher than the rates in diabetic patients not taking the drug, 8 percent. In the non-diabetic women, the pathologic complete response rate was 16 percent"

Link Between Inflammation, Cancer Confirmed - Science Daily, 6/2/08 - "Chronic inflammation of the intestine or stomach can damage DNA, increasing the risk of cancer ... Researchers have long known that inflammation produces cytokines (immune response chemicals that encourage cell proliferation and suppress cell death), which can lead to cancer"

Good News In Our DNA: Defects You Can Fix With Vitamins And Minerals - Science Daily, 6/2/08 - "He also is investigating how enzyme cofactors like vitamins and minerals fix defective enzymes. He suspects that supplements work by acting as chaperones to stabilize the proper folding of the enzyme, which is critical to its catalytic activity"

Omega-3 DHA shows promise against eczema - Nutra USA, 6/2/08 - "8-week supplementation with 5.4 g daily of the n-3 PUFA DHA ... After eight weeks, Worm and co-workers report that the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) reduced from 37.0 to 28.5 in the DHA group, and by 35.4 to 33.4 in the control group" - [Abstract] - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.

The Traditional Mediterranean Diet Protects Against Diabetes, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 5/30/08 - "A high adherence to the diet was associated with an 83% relative reduction in the risk of developing diabetes"

Exercise Cuts Cancer Death In Men - Science Daily, 5/29/08 - "Men who walked or cycled for at least 30 minutes a day had an increased survival from cancer with 33 per cent, than the men who exercised less or did nothing at all ... a more extensive programme of walking and cycling for between 60 and 90 minutes and a day, led to a l6 per cent lower incidence of cancer. But these activities only led to a five per cent reduction in cancer rates among the men who walked or cycled for 30 minutes day, a finding which could be due to chance"

Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among US Elderly Population - Science Daily, 5/29/08 - "individuals with the highest social integration had the slowest rate of memory decline from 1998 to 2004. In fact, memory decline among the most integrated was less than half the rate among the least integrated. These findings were independent of sociodemographic factors (such as age, gender, and race) and health status in 1998. The researchers found that the protective effect of social integration was largest among individuals with fewer than 12 years of education"

Fatty Liver Linked To Increased Risk Of Diabetic Kidney Disease - Science Daily, 5/29/08 - "For patients with type 2 diabetes, a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be an important risk factor for diabetes-related chronic kidney disease (CKD)" - See my liver disease page for way to reduce the risk of NAFLD.

Even Low Levels Of Air Pollution May Pose Stroke Risk - Science Daily, 5/29/08 - "Although the magnitude of elevated risk of stroke/TIA due to PM2.5 exposure was relatively small, the vast majority of the public is exposed to ambient air pollution at the levels observed in this community or greater every day, suggesting a potentially large public health impact" - SUVs!!!  Yeah, I know that I'm a hypocrite also for not living in a cave.

Economists Predict $10/Gallon Gasoline - KGTV San Diego, 5/28/08 - "Two economists recently analyzed a whole bunch of numbers and said by 2010 it will cost us more than double to fill up our cars and trucks ... The economists who predicted $10 gas also accurately predicted our current gas prices two-years ago"

On 5/30/08, NBC news came up with slightly different numbers on the price of gas.  It said 73% was the price of the oil, 11% were taxes, 10% was for refining and 6% was for distribution.  It didn't break it down to how much was oil company profit as did the Fox News report I mentioned a couple weeks ago.  There is general agreement.  Fox News said 72% for oil, 12% goes to taxes, 8% goes to refining and 8% is oil company profit.  The bottom line is that 84% of the price of gas is the cost of oil and taxes.  The remaining 16% is oil company costs, oil company profits, gas station costs and gas station profits.  That's very little wiggle room for the politicians selling the idea that it's those evil oil companies responsible for the price of gas and they will fix it.

Things keep getting better and better for natural gas cars. $4000 rebate from the fed plus $1000 rebate for the garage refueler and now another $3000 rebate from the state.  My last mileage check was 102.8/2.7 = 38.1.  That was after getting stuck in a huge 15 mile traffic jam on my way to my swing dance lessons.

Abstracts from this week's Doctor's Guide Nutrition/Dietetics plus abstracts from my RSS feeds (Click here for the journals, the PubMed ones at the top):

Oral delivery of Lactobacillus casei Shirota modifies allergen-induced immune responses in allergic rhinitis - Clin Exp Allergy. 2008 May 28 - "Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) ... Volunteers treated with LcS showed a significant reduction in levels of antigen-induced IL-5, IL-6 and IFN-gamma production compared with volunteers supplemented with placebo. Meanwhile, levels of specific IgG increased and IgE decreased in the probiotic group" - See probiotics at Amazon.com.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in atopic eczema: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial - Br J Dermatol. 2008 Apr;158(4):786-92 - "DHA, but not the control treatment, resulted in a significant clinical improvement of atopic eczema in terms of a decreased SCORAD [DHA: baseline 37.0 (17.9-48.0), week 8 28.5 (17.6-51.0); control: baseline 35.4 (17.2-63.0), week 8 33.4 (10.7-56.2)]. A significant reduction of anti-CD40/interleukin 4-mediated IgE synthesis of PBMC was detected in the DHA group only ... DHA could be bioactive and might have a beneficial impact on the outcome of atopic eczema" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.

Women's awareness of the importance of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption during pregnancy: knowledge of risks, benefits and information accessibility - Public Health Nutr. 2008 May 29:1-8 - "Pregnant women lack knowledge of LC n-3 PUFA and health-care services do not provide pregnant women with adequate information on the importance of eating foods high in LC n-3 PUFA during pregnancy"

Total plasma carotenoids and mortality in the elderly: results of the Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing (EVA) study - Br J Nutr. 2008 May 29:1-7 - "After controlling for potential confounding factors, mortality risk increased significantly in men (P = 0.03) with plasma carotenoids in the lowest quintile compared with men with plasma carotenoids in the highest (relative risk 2.94 (95 % CI 1.21, 7.17)). A significant association between mortality by cancer and low plasma carotenoid level variable was also found in men (unit = 1 mumol/l; relative risk 1.72 (95 % CI 1.02, 2.86); P = 0.01)" - See Jarrow Formulas, CarotenALL, Mixed Carotenoid Complex at Amazon.com.  I think the problem with beta-carotene in smokers was due to the fact that taking large doses of a single carotenoid has been shown to reduce levels of the others.  There are over 600 carotenoids.

Advanced glycation end products in senile diabetic and nondiabetic patients with cataract - J Diabetes Complications. 2008 May 26 - "The AGE distribution in the senile groups corroborates the hypothesis that the advanced glycation process might have a role in cataract formation, which in diabetic patients occurs vigorously as compared with nondiabetic cataract patients"

Pioglitazone and cardiovascular risk. A comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials - Diabetes Obes Metab. 2008 May 26 - "The use of pioglitazone does not appear to be harmful in terms of cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths" - See pioglitazone at OffshoreRx1.com.

Neat Tech Stuff :

• Next Generation Remote Control Extender - The best way to describe what it does is to you an example of what I did.  My cable DVR is in my office connected to the computer which has a TV card and the TV on screen two.  I wanted to record things but then play them in my master bedroom when I went to bed.  I was able to do this with the remote extender.  I works by replacing one of the batteries in your current remote with a transmitter.  Then there is a receiver in the room with the DVR.  I bought 75 feet of HDMI cable and ran it from the plug in back of the DVR, up through the first and second floor closet to the attic and then down in back of the door in the master toilet room then through the wall to the master bedroom TV.  I covered the wires that were visible with those stick on wire covers at Home Depot.  The cable output on the DVR goes to the TV card on my computer and the HDMI plug on the DVR goes to the master bedroom TV HDMI.  It required 75 feet of HDMI cable which I bought at http://www.monoprice.com for $77.  http://www.monoprice.com was recommended by PC Magazine (click here for the video).

Health Focus (Smog - SUVs!!):

• Dangers of Air Pollution - Medline Plus
• ScoreCard.org - Get the facts on local pollution
• Why Diesel Particulates Cause Cardiovascular Disease - Science Daily, 6/4/08
• Even Low Levels Of Air Pollution May Pose Stroke Risk - Science Daily, 5/29/08 - "Although the magnitude of elevated risk of stroke/TIA due to PM2.5 exposure was relatively small, the vast majority of the public is exposed to ambient air pollution at the levels observed in this community or greater every day, suggesting a potentially large public health impact" - SUVs!!!
• Air Pollution Increases Blood Clot Risk - WebMD, 5/12/08
• Link Between Ozone Air Pollution And Premature Death Confirmed - Science Daily, 4/22/08
• Excess Pneumonia Deaths Linked To Engine Exhaust, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 4/14/08
• Diesel Exhaust Exposure Early in Life Doubles Asthma Risk - Medscape, 3/21/08
• Another Problem with Biofuels? - Time, 3/12/08
• Diesel Exhaust Inhalation Stresses Your Brain - Science Daily, 3/11/08
• Carbon Dioxide Tied To Air Pollution Mortality - Science Daily, 3/4/08
• The Trouble With Biofuels - TIME, 2/14/08 - "almost all the biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels, if the full environmental cost of producing them is factored in. As virgin land is converted for growing biofuels, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere; at the same time, biofuel crops themselves are much less effective at absorbing carbon than the natural forests or grasslands they may be replacing"
• Carbon Monoxide May Cause Long-lasting Heart Damage - Science Daily, 1/29/08
• Heavy Traffic Makes Breathing A Burden In Children - Science Daily, 12/14/07
• Diesel Exhaust Associated With Higher Heart Attack, Stroke Risk In Men - Science Daily, 11/6/07
• Pollution Cuts Life Expectancy, Threatens Child Development In Europe - Science Daily, 10/10/07
• Exhaust Fumes Boost Asthma Risk in Genetically Susceptible Children - Doctor's Guide, 8/21/07
• Air Pollution Linked To Early Death - Science Daily, 7/31/07 - "The risk of an early death from respiratory disease rose by almost 4% for every 10 ug/m3 increase in black smoke, and by 13% for every 10 parts per billion increase in sulphur dioxide during 1982-98 ... n 1994-8, the comparable figures were more than 19% and almost 22%, respectively"
• Air Pollution Linked To Clogged Arteries - Science Daily, 7/26/07 - "the diesel particles and oxidized fats had worked in tandem to activate the genes that promote cellular inflammation -- a major risk factor for atherosclerosis"
• Exposure to traffic emissions throughout life and risk of breast cancer: the Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer (WEB) study - Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Jul 14 - "Higher exposure to traffic emissions at the time of menarche was associated with increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer (OR 2.05, 95% CI 0.92-4.54, p for trend 0.03); and at the time of a woman's first birth for postmenopausal breast cancer (OR 2.57"
• Ethanol Vehicles Pose Significant Risk To Health, New Study Finds - Science Daily, 4/18/07
• Ethanol cars may not be healthier - BBC News, 4/18/07
• NYC Releases 1% of Greenhouse Gases - Time, 4/11/07
• Millions Face Hunger from Climate Change - Time, 4/10/07
• Air Pollution May Up Fatal Stroke Risk - WebMD, 2/15/07
• Politically, Ethanol Is a Winner. But Experts Aren't Sure It Can Deliver on Its Promise - US News, 2/12/07 - "Some say that ethanol actually uses more energy than it returns. But only one oft-quoted study arrived at this conclusion by using apparently obsolete data. A Congressional Research Service analysis last year concluded that "most studies give corn-based ethanol a slightly positive energy balance." A tepid endorsement, at best. On climate issues, researchers are concerned with ethanol's reliance on natural gas or coal throughout the production process. "Overall benefits in terms of ... greenhouse gases are limited,""
• Air Pollution Linked to Heart Deaths - WebMD, 1/31/07 - "A resident of Birmingham, Ala., one of the smoggiest cities included in the study, would have roughly a 76% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular causes than someone living in Tucson, Ariz., which was among the cities with the cleanest air"
• Living by Freeways May Affect Kids' Lung Development - WebMD, 1/25/07
• Air Pollution Boosts Death Rates - Intelihealth, 5/23/06
• What You Can Do - Time, 3/20/06 - "Replace your gas guzzler with a fuel-smart car"
• Reducing Soot Particles Is Associated With Longer Lives - Science Daily, 3/16/06
• Bad Air Days Send Elderly to Hospitals - WebMD, 3/7/06
• Study Finds Significant Independent Association Between Air Pollution And Cardiovascular Risk - Science Daily, 12/22/05
• Air Pollution May Raise Heart Disease - WebMD, 12/20/05
• Diesel Exhaust Chokes Human Arteries - Intelihealth, 12/19/05
• Air Pollution May Raise Risk of Stroke - WebMD, 10/27/05
• Air Pollution's Health Risks Underestimated? - WebMD, 10/3/05 - "The health risks associated with air pollution may be nearly three times greater than previously thought ... for each increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particles in the neighborhood's air, the overall risk of death rose 11% to 17%; heart-disease-related deaths rose by 25% to 39% ... the risk of death from diabetes was more than two times higher in areas of high air pollution"
• Air Pollution Linked To Heart Attack - Science Daily, 9/26/05
• Air Pollution Found To Pose Greater Danger To Health Than Earlier Thought - Science Daily, 9/21/05 - "When the epidemiologists examined links between particle pollution and mortality within more than 260 Los Angeles neighborhoods, they found that pollution's chronic health effects are two to three times greater than earlier believed"
• Diabetics Susceptible To Compromised Cardiovascular Function From High Levels Of Air Pollution - Science Daily, 6/8/05
• How Chronic Exposure To Tiny Levels Of Carbon Monoxide Damages Hearing In Young Ears - Science Daily, 6/5/05
• Living Near Heavy Traffic Linked to Asthma in Children - Doctor's Guide, 5/27/05
• Breast-cancer Risk Linked To Exposure To Traffic Emissions At Menarche, First Birth - Science Daily, 4/30/05 - "higher exposure around the time of first menstruation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potential carcinogens found in traffic emissions, was associated with increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer"
• Pollutants Prove to Affect Male Fertility - HealthDay, 4/29/05
• Ethanol Production Consumes Six Units Of Energy To Produce Just One - Science Daily, 4/1/05
• Traffic Fumes May Harm DNA - WebMD, 3/21/05
• Air pollution causes early deaths - BBC News, 2/21/05
• Day-long Drivers At Risk Of Cardiovascular Problems As A Result Of Traffic Pollution - Science Daily, 12/10/04
• Traffic Pollution May Increase Risk of Heart Trouble - HealthDay, 12/9/04
• U.N.: Particle Pollution Shortens Life - ABC News, 11/29/04 - "The burning of fossil fuels and wood is cutting life expectancy in some parts of Europe by up to two years"
• Study: Increase In Smog Can Add Deaths - Intelihealth, 11/17/04
• Pollution May Hasten Hardening of Arteries - HealthDay, 11/7/04 - "air pollution can cause inflammatory responses both in the body's respiratory tract and in the blood vessels. In the case of the circulatory system, this can eventually lead to thickening of the artery wall and its attendant problems"
• Kicking the Big-Car Habit - Time, 9/27/04
• Smog May Cause Lifelong Lung Deficits - Science Daily, 9/21/04
• Pollution Retards Lung Development in Kids - WebMD, 9/8/04
• Smog Impedes Kids' Lung Development - HealthDay, 9/8/04
• Traffic Pollution Tied to Asthma in Kids - WebMD, 9/1/04
• Air Pollution Ups Heart Disease Risk, Deaths - WebMD, 6/1/04
• Researchers say diesel soot is a global climate factor - USA Today, 12/22/03
• Babies Harmed by Pollution, too - HealthDay, 12/19/03 - "The study found early asthma in children was linked to growing up around ... soot and exhaust"
• Pollution Harder on Heart Than Lungs - HealthDay, 12/15/03
• Long Time Urban Air Pollution Raises Lung Cancer Risk In Men - Doctor's Guide, 12/9/03
• Dirty Air Can Boost Lung Cancer Risk - HealthDay, 12/4/03
• Air Pollution May Up Lung Cancer Risk - WebMD, 12/3/03
• Pollution a Danger to Your Heart - HealthDay, 11/13/03
• Air Pollution Hurts Heart, Causes Asthma - WebMD, 11/11/03
• Air Pollution Alone Might Trigger Asthma Attacks - HealthDay, 11/10/03
• Smoggy skies persist despite decade of work - USA Today, 10/16/03
• Air Pollution Linked to Stroke - WebMD, 10/13/03
• Study: Air Pollution Raises Stroke Risk - HealthDay, 10/9/03
• Air Pollution Can Spell Trouble for Asthmatic Kids - HealthDay, 10/9/03
• 'Safe' Pollution Days Can Trigger Asthma - WebMD, 10/7/03
• 'Safe' Ozone Levels Can Worsen Asthma - HealthDay, 10/7/03
• Southwest Shows High Levels of Dirty Air - HealthDay, 10/7/03
• Hydrogen Cars May Not Be the Answer to Cleaner Air - HealthDay, 7/18/03 - "improvements to current cars and current environmental rules are more than 100 times cheaper than hydrogen cars at reducing air pollution. They also concluded that for the next several decades, the most cost-effective method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependency on oil imports would be to increase the fuel efficiency of gasoline-powered cars"
• Country Trees Hit Harder by Pollution - HealthDay, 7/9/03
• 'Clean' hydrogen fuel cells could have pollution problems of their own - USA Today, 6/12/03
• Air Pollution May Worsen Asthma Attacks - HealthScout News, 6/5/03
• California cities are tops in smog again - USA Today, 5/1/03
• Car Pollution May Damage Male Fertility - WebMD, 4/30/03 - "Car exhaust lowers male fertility"
• Smog Report: Half of U.S. Still Flunks - WebMD, 4/30/03 - "Smog threatens the health of nearly half of all Americans"
• Air Pollution May Damage Brain, Heart - HealthScout News, 4/16/03 - "Air pollution breaks down the vital blood-brain barrier that usually keeps toxic substances away from the brain ... Exposure to air pollution raised levels of certain peptides in the bloodstream that can constrict blood vessels and decrease blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers found"
• Reining In Diesel Exhaust - CBS News, 4/15/03 0 - "The Bush administration on Tuesday proposed ordering reductions of more than 90 percent in non-highway diesel engine pollution blamed for thousands of premature deaths, heart attacks and respiratory ailments"
• WHO: Children's Health Threatened By Environmental Hazards - Intelihealth, 4/4/03 - "the number of cases of asthma and allergies in children across Europe increased by 200 percent from the 1970s to the 1990s ... WHO linked the increased asthma and allergy cases to changes in climate"
• Kids at Greatest Risk in SUV Rollovers - HealthScout News, 4/4/03
• Air pollution spurs asthma, allergies - MSNBC, 3/19/03
• City Air Pollution May Affect Fetal Growth - Yahoo, 2/17/03
• Could burying fossil-fuel emissions save the climate? - US News & World Report, 2/10/03
• A fading green hope for climate - US News & World Report, 2/10/03 - "He thinks that the best solution to global warming is to burn less coal, oil, and natural gas"
• Warming worsened drought - USA Today, 1/30/03
• Environment More Harmful for Elderly - WebMD, 12/9/02
• Study finds more CO2 doesn't always spur plant growth - USA Today, 12/6/02
• Restricting Sulfur Emissions Reduces Respiratory and Cardiovascular Death Rates - Medscape, 11/21/02
• Air Pollution-Medical Costs Linked - Intelihealth, 11/12/02 - "The study found air pollution significantly increases Medicare recipients' medical care needs, even after controlling for region, population size, education, income, cigarette use and obesity"
• Rising breast cancer rate fuels environmental concerns - MSNBC, 10/23/02 - "Breast cancer jumped by 72 percent among Marin [County, Calif.] women ages 46 to 64 during the 1990s ... Common pollutants, such as benzene, a compound found in car exhaust, are linked to breast tumors, and people who move to industrialized counties suddenly face a higher breast cancer risk within one generation ... In the case of breast cancer, new diagnoses have, in fact, been growing at a rate of .6 percent per year nationwide"
• Autism cases leap in California - MSNBC, 10/18/02 - It could very well be the chemicals we breath.  SUVs!!!!
• Cleaner Air: Longer Life - WebMD, 10/17/02
• Air Pollution May Increase Risk of Stroke - ABC News, 9/19/02
• EPA: Diesel Exhaust May Cause Cancer - Intelihealth, 9/4/02
• Study says California leads in dirty air - USA Today, 8/29/02
• Spoonful of Sugar Could Be Right Medicine for Cars - ABC News, 8/28/02
• Scientists struggle to learn Arctic Ocean's secrets - USA Today, 8/27/02
• Poor Air Ups Diabetics' Risk of Heart Ills - ABC News, 8/27/02 - "While a number of studies have concluded that air pollution can exacerbate heart disease, new findings suggest that diabetics may be particularly vulnerable"
• The Winds of Change - Time Magazine, 8/26/02 - "Global energy demand is expected to triple by midcentury"
• In global warming fight, trees not always best answer - USA Today, 8/7/02
• Finnish Study Links Pollution with Heart Disease - ABC News, 7/29/02 - "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 60,000 people a year die in the United States alone from particulate air pollution -- the kind caused when small particles of smoke pervade the air"
• Scientists strive to understand Arctic's global reach - USA Today, 7/19/02
• Alaska glaciers’ meltdown measured - MSNBC, 7/18/02 - "From the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s, the glaciers lost about 52 cubic kilometers (13 cubic miles) a year,” said Anthony A. Arendt, first author of the study appearing in the journal Science. “In the last five years, that rate has almost doubled.”"
• Study Says Industrial Pollution One Possible Cause Of Devastating African Famine - Intelihealth, 7/22/02
• Earth 'will expire by 2050' - The Observer, 6/7/02 - "Earth's population will be forced to colonise two planets within 50 years if natural resources continue to be exploited at the current rate"
• Outdoor activity was once a prescription for good health. No longer -US News & World Report, 7/1/02 - "Ten or 20 years ago, people believed there was a safe level for air pollution," says George Thurston, an associate professor at the New York University School of Medicine. No longer. Thurston and his colleagues recently reported that current levels of particle pollution are increasing the risk of death from lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. "In a typical air-polluted city, about 1 in 1,000 die of lung cancer who would not otherwise die,"
• Warmer World=Sicker World? - WebMD, 6/21/02
• Warming a Boon to Diseases - ABC News, 6/20/02
• EPA to Relax Pollution Rules for U.S. Utilities - ABC News, 6/13/02
• Hopper among those to 'airing' concerns - USA Today, 6/5/02
• US Report Blames Humans for Global Warming - ABC News, 6/3/02
• Toxins pose risks for many in U.S. - MSNBC, 5/31/02 - "At least two-thirds of Americans live in areas where toxic chemicals pose an elevated cancer risk ... Among the study’s conclusions is that automobiles and trucks contribute substantially to the public’s exposure to cancer-causing air toxins"
• California has the USA's worst air quality - USA Today, 5/1/02
• Most Americans Breathe Polluted Air - ABC News, 5/1/02 - "More than half of all Americans breathe polluted air that can damage their health because the government doesn't fully enforce clean air laws, the American Lung Association said on Wednesday"
• Odds Are, You're Breathing Bad Air - WebMD, 5/1/02
• Diesel Fumes Hit Asthmatics with One-Two Punch - ABC News, 4/22/02 - "the fine particles in diesel exhaust hit the human immune system with a double whammy, upping the production of an immune protein that triggers asthma attacks while suppressing a second protein that might otherwise bring symptoms to a halt"
• High Ozone Levels Hurt Sperm Count, Study Finds - ABC News, 4/19/02
• US Utility Pollution Kills 5,900 a Year, Study Says - ABC News, 4/18/02 - "Air pollution from eight utilities targeted in federal lawsuits during the Clinton administration causes an estimated 5,900 deaths a year ... Airborne pollution from the coal-fired plants also was blamed for about 140,000 asthma attacks and 14,000 cases of acute bronchitis annually"
• Ice shelf breakup challenges researchers - USA Today, 4/9/02
• Will higher gas prices slow down the economy? - US News & World Report, 4/8/02 - "Sharply higher energy prices could put a brake on the economy"
• A climate surprise may be brewing in the North Atlantic - US News & World Report, 4/1/02
• Energy Index - Delicious! Magazine, 4/02 - "3: miles per gallon increase it would take in every SUV and light truck to cut U.S. oil consumption by 426,000,000 barrels per year ... 620 million: number of barrels of oil imported into the United States from Saudi Arabia in 2001 ... 18.6 billion: annual dollar amount it costs to import the oil from Saudi Arabia, based on $30 a barrel ... 4.1 billion: dollar amount it would take to convert 10 percent of U.S. gas stations to hydrogen"
• Greenhouse Follies, Prosperity and fertility lie at the root of global warming, but no one agrees on the best fix - Scientific America, 4/02 - "The hydrogen fuel cell promoted by the Bush administration may not be a viable, near-term alternative to the internal-combustion engine because of its cost"
• Global Warming Is Boosting Pollen Production, Experts Say - WebMD, 3/28/02
• Is Soot in the Air a Lung Cancer Threat? - Dr. Weil, 3/22/02 - "The report you refer to, on results of a study published in the March 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, was somewhat alarming, particularly for city-dwellers like yourself. The study found that with each 10-microgram increase in fine particles of soot and sulfur dioxide-related pollution per cubic meter of air, the risks of heart and lung diseases increase, including an 8 percent increase in the risk of lung cancer"
• Global Warming Could Be Bad News for Allergy-Prone - ABC News, 3/21/02
• Ice shelf in warmest part of Antarctica collapses - USA Today, 3/19/02
• Hefty SUVs drive home safety concerns - MSNBC, 3/13/02
• The State of the Air Many Breathe Is a Sorry State - WebMD, 3/12/02 - "It's not just L.A. any more. Three out of every four Americans now breathe air so dirty it threatens the health of children, the elderly, and even outdoor joggers ... The American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report card gave an F in air quality to nearly 400 U.S. counties -- a 15% increase since the previous report"
• Experimental Inhalation of Pollutants Causes Acute Arterial... - Medscape, 3/12/02, user=benhess, pwd=asdfgh
• Air Pollution's Ill Effects Seen in Blood Vessels - ABC News, 3/11/02 - "Even in healthy people, breathing air contaminated with pollutants found in car and truck exhaust causes blood vessels to constrict" - I saw a segment on this on CNN and they claimed that it accounted for 60,000 deaths per year.
• How pollution can harm the heart - MSNBC, 3/11/02
• Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure Tied to Lung Cancer, Cardiopulmonary... - Medscape, 3/6/02, user=benhess, pwd=asdfgh
• Air Pollution Increases Lung Cancer Risk - WebMD, 3/5/02 - "the strongest evidence to date that long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution common to many metropolitan areas is an important risk factor for [death from heart disease] ... Significant increases in lung cancer [deaths]" were also linked with air pollution ... sulfur oxide pollution -- from automobile exhaust -- was significantly associated with all deaths including heart disease and lung cancer"
• Air pollution linked to lung cancer - MSNBC, 3/5/02
• Diesel Exhaust Exacerbates Asthma in Pasadena Children - Medscape, 3/4/02, user=benhess, pwd=asdfgh
• Study Links Pollution, Asthma - Intelihealth, 2/25/02
• Tiny air pollutants may get into the blood - Reuters, 2/18/02 - "Small particles are abundant in urban air since they are produced by diesel-powered engines--and are possibly the ones that are the most harmful to health ... The fact that they can penetrate into the blood circulation could explain why people may die from cardiovascular causes--like heart attacks--as a result of increased urban air pollution"
• Air pollution, birth defects linked - MSNBC, 12/29/01
• Study Links Air Pollution, Defects - Intelihealth, 12/16/01 - "For years, scientists have known of a correlation between air quality and infant illnesses. Now for the first time a Southern California study links air pollution and birth defects."
• Smog hurting seemingly healthy kids - MSNBC, 11/28/01
• EPA Says Fuel Efficiency Slips Again - ABC News, 10/9/01 - "Last year's weighted average, based on sales for all new passenger vehicles, was 20.4 mpg, a 21-year low"
• Scientists Say Greenhouse Gases Have Immediate, Widespread Effect On Public Health - Intelihealth, 8/16/01 - "a study finds no question that air pollution from exhaust pipes and smoke stacks already is killing people worldwide ...It is our best estimate that more people are being killed by air pollution from traffic than from traffic crashes ... burning of gasoline and coal are causing people to die prematurely from asthma, heart disease and lung disorders"
• Asthma tracking urged - USA Today, 7/10/01 - "Most states with large amounts of air pollutants don't track the number of asthma cases in each community, preventing researchers from determining which environmental toxins trigger the disease"
• Smog Linked to Heart Attacks - WebMD, 6/11/01
• Pollution may trigger heart attack - MSNBC, 6/11/01
• Nearly 10% of Infant Deaths Linked to Air Pollution - WebMD, 5/23/01 - "9% of [deaths] in infants aged 1-12 months may be due to PM10 air pollution ... Considering that the overall infant mortality rate in the U.S. is about 250 per 100,000 live births, that means up to 25 of those deaths may be pollution related"
• Nightline Daily Email: 5/16 - ABC News, 5/16/01 - "Rising gas prices affect the costs of almost everything else. Anything that is moved by truck, or airplane, is affected. Taxicab rates are going up. When the price of a gallon of gas goes up, the whole economy feels it ... But Vice-President Cheney, who is in charge of developing the Bush administration energy policy, has dismissed conservation as at least a partial solution to the current problems"
• Ford Touts Environmental Concerns - ABC News, 5/3/01 - "Ford makes a profit of up to $18,000 on every SUV it sells"
• The State of the Air Many Breathe Is a Sorry State, Smog Rising Across U.S. Blamed for Health Ills - WebMD, 5/1/01 - "Three out of every four Americans now breathe air so dirty it threatens the health of children, the elderly, and even outdoor joggers"
• DaimlerSaurus? Environmental Groups Protest Unimog - ABC News, 2/22/01 - "That's the name of the new four-wheel-drive, 9 feet tall and 7 feet wide vehicle that DaimlerChrysler's Freightliner unit announced it plans to start selling in the United States ... weighs in at a massive 12,500 pounds and is two feet wider than an average car" - 12,500 pounds is 6.25 tons!!!!!!!
• Report: Diesel school buses loaded with toxins - CNN, 2/13/01
• Air pollution linked to asthma in kids - MSNBC, 1/31/01
• Deaths Increase as Air Pollution Levels Rise - WebMD, 12/13/00
• SUVs Hurt Environment, Guzzle Gas - ABC News, 5/12/00
• The State of the Air Many Breathe Is a Sorry State, Smog Rising Across U.S. Blamed for Health Ills - WebMD, 5/1/00 - "Three out of every four Americans now breathe air so dirty it threatens the health of children, the elderly, and even outdoor joggers"
• Study: Diesel exhausts can cause cancers - USA Today, 3/16/00
• SUVs double in number in five years - CNN, 10/19/99
• Air pollution linked to asthma in kids - CNN, 6/8/99
• Americans favor clean SUVs, survey shows - CNN, 6/8/99 - "Even owners of SUVs and minivans agree their vehicles should meet the same strict standards as passenger cars," said Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates, who conducted the survey for the American Lung Association. The breakdown is 85 percent agree, including 69 percent strongly agree, for SUV owners and 83 percent agree, including 70 percent strongly agree for minivan owners"
• Environmentalists blast Ford's giant new SUV - CNN, 2/28/99 - "The 2000 Excursion will weigh in at 3.5 tons"
• SUVs and the safety factor - CNN, 2/28/99
• Experts say sport utility vehicles more likely to flip - CNN, 12/12/97
• Utilization of BIOMASS as a fuel - "Figure 1 shows producible years of each fossil fuel: ... Oil ... 50 [years]" - This web site was recommended by CNN when they thought "IT" was going to have the Stirling Engine.

Hydrogen fuel - These two web pages contain the information needed to do the math on what the hydrogen equivalent of one gallon of gas would cost ($18)

• The Ultimate Clean Fuel - Scientific America, 5/02 - "could meet demand for decades ... Commercial sodium borohydride has a cost 50 times that of a comparable tank of gasoline" - decades is not a long term solution and "50 times", who is going to pay the equivalent of $75/gallon?
• Proton Energy Systems, Data Charts - Data Charts
• Proteon Energy Systems - Chemical Processing, 3/01

110 mile range even when using the back seats to store fuel:

• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars - "both versions are only able to have two seats ... But there are technical obstacles to be overcome before hydrogen cars will be seen on the roads. In addition to the problem of slow warm-up, hydrogen fuel cell cars have a short range. Honda's V-3 only has a range of 110 miles, a defect which can only be partially offset by designing a larger hydrogen tank into the car, since a bigger tank adds weight and takes up more space"