UPDATE no. 51   Dear member of INCHES, In this update:   News: Alternative Nobel prize for Raul Montenegro Health Indicators Activities in South America   Articles: Climate Tied to Asthma, Eczema Rates in Kids                               Car pollution threatens fetal DNA    INCHES website moved to www.inchesnetwork.net   News We received te message that Raul Montenegro is receiving the Alternative Nobel Prize (Right Livelihood Award). The notice arrived to Raul last week from India, where the International Jury had its meeting. This morning the Jury announced the recipients in a press conference in Hyderabad (India). As the news arrived from international agencies, we are now free to communicate this news and congratulate Raul Montenegro with this prize. His message to us today was as follows:  ‘I will receive the award in the Swedish Parliament the 9th December 2004. Other two recipients are Bianca Jagger from Nicaragua, and Memorial from Russia. As a member of INCHES, it's also a recognition for INCHES. I'm quite happy. This award will help a lot in our struggle. Thanks a lot for your permanent support and commitment.’ Raul Montenegro     From Theory to Action: Implementing the WSSD Global Initiative on Children's Environmental Health Indicators" is officially being launched (8th September 2004) at a Workshop on Children's Environmental Health Indicators organized by PAHO in San José, Costa Rica. This publications is now available on the CEH website (http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/en/ ) along with the Spanish version which can be accessed by clicking in the top right corner.   Activities in South America City of Asunción, Paraguay, October 17th, 2004: ISDE.LA and INCHES co-organize with the Paraguayan Society of Pediatrics the Precongress Training Workshop for Pediatricians: "Children and Environment: a vulnerable population at risk", in the framework of the activities of the IX Paraguayan Congress of Pediatrics. This activity is organized as part of the programs on CEH for Latin America of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, ISDE, America Latina and International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety, INCHES. More information at www.aamma.org City of Trujillo, Peru, October 14th, 2004: ISDE.LA and INCHES co-organize with the Peruvian Society of Pediatrics the Precongress Training Workshop for Pediatricians: "Environmental threats to children’s health", in the framework of the activities of the XXIII Peruvian Congress of Pediatrics. this activity is organized as part of the program on CEH for Latin America of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment, ISDE, America Latina and International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety, INCHES. More information at www.aamma.org   Carried out activities: Argentina Activitites: City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 16th, 2004: AAMMA-ISDE.LA was invited to lecture on "CEH: Exposure to pesticides at child rural labor" at the International Seminar on "Pesticides, transgenic and valuation of biological and cultural diversity" organized by the Network on Pesticides and Alternatives in Latin America (RAPAL) and the Center for the Assessment of Appropriated Technologies for Argentina (CETAAR). Morón, Argentina, June 10th, 2004: AAMMA-ISDE.LA lectured on “Hospital Environment and Children Chemical Safety: Children exposure to chemicals when hospitalized” in the framework of the Hospital and Health Management Course at the moron Medical College.     Articles Climate Tied to Asthma, Eczema Rates in Kids                               Changes in weather may influence rates  of asthma and eczema in children, says a study in the journal Occupational  and Environmental Medicine.                                                The study of nearly 670,000 children concluded that season-to-season variations in temperature, humidity, altitude, and latitude all affected asthma and eczema  rates.                                                   Researchers at the University of Ulm, Germany, analyzed data collected between 1992 and 1996 from children ages 6-7 and ages 12-13 in more than 50 countries. The study found that, in Western Europe, every 10 percent increase in indoor humidity was associated with a 2.7 percent increase in asthma rates for both age groups.                                          House dust mites, a major allergen for asthmatics, thrive in moist air. Humidity also encourages the growth of mold, a possible respiratory irritant. Lower rates of asthma were identified in areas where the average outdoor humidity drops below 50 percent for at least one month a year. Lower rates  of asthma were also associated with higher altitude and greater seasonal temperature variations.                                                    Higher rates of eczema were associated with increasing latitude, while lower eczema rates were associated with higher outdoor temperatures. This link between climate and asthma and eczema suggests that climate change caused by global warming may influence rates of these diseases in the future, the study authors wrote.         Car pollution threatens fetal DNA  Pollutants emitted from motor vehicles in New York City cause more damage to fetal DNA than previously thought,  according to a study released. The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health study, conducted between 1997 and 2001, tracked 265 mother/infant pairs living in Washington Heights, Central Harlem, and the South Bronx. All of the women were either black or Latina non-smokers.                                                                             The mothers' blood and the umbilical cords showed that although unborn babies were protected by the placenta and therefore exposed to lower levels of pollution, their DNA suffered the same level of damage as that of the mothers. "The results underscore the importance of reducing air pollution," said Dr. Frederica P. Perera, the study's lead scientist.                                                                                                 A previous study by the same Columbia University-based researchers suggested that exposure to  "combustion-related" pollutants ? such as those emitted from vehicles, power plants, and residential heating sources ? reduced the birth weight and head circumference of newborns when second-hand smoke was also a factor. The new piece this study adds, Perera said, is the evidence on the effects of New York City air pollutants, and by extension, other metropolitan areas. "The thought that this is a problem in a few neighborhoods in New York City is incorrect," Perera said "This  kind of pollution is very widespread."                                                                                                  Conferences: 2nd Annual EU Sustainable Chemicals Management Conference 12th –14th October, the Stanhope Hotel, Brussels   Confirmed Speakers include: Jos Delbeke, Director, Directorate C (Air & Chemicals), DG Environment, European Commission Dr Jack de Bruin, Action leader for REACH, European Chemicals Bureau Dr David Owen, Head of Health & Environmental Sciences, Shell Chemicals Ltd Uta Jensen-Korte Director of Chemical Policy & Regulatory Affairs, CEFIC Lena Perenius, Director, Implimentor of REACH, CEFIC   The conference focuses mainly on the REACH policy and will look to give attendees a definitive answer as to how businesses are going to be affected by the legislative changes that it brings. Also includes the option of a full day workshop, and sections on Global Chemical Management Systems and Green Chemistry. Special extended deadline for early bird registration of Friday 3rd September and payment by 14th Sept (please quote SCM08 in the discount code) For further information and online registration: www.euconferences.com/frachemical04.htm Contact: dan.craft@euconferences.com or +44 1495 300011       (repeat message) In Bukovinian State Medical Academy, Chernivtsy (Ukraine), the 2-nd Healthy Children Conference will take place on September-October 2004. We invite all member of INCHES to take part in this conference. Contact: Head of Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Bukovinian State Medical Academy, Professor Yuriy Nechitailo   "Healthy Children Conference will take place on September 30-October 1, 2004  in Chernivtsy (Ukraine) at the Bucovinian Medical Academy Conference Center. The Conference Program Committee invites you to submit abstracts. Conference will provide several opportunities for presentations by participants: oral presentations (10-30 minute presentations with discussion) and attended poster sessions. Working languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, French and Polish. Topics of paper: Children health, growth and development. Problems of adaptation newborns and infants Developmental nutrition guidelines. Environmental health of children. Please feel free to contact Sophy Fokina at pediatr2@msa.cv.ua if you have any questions. Conference secretariat: Department of Developmental Pediatrics Bukovinian State Medical Academy 3/70 Khudiakova str., Chernivtsi, 58002, Ukraine E-mail - chernivtsi2002@yandex.ru, pediatr2@msa.cv.ua     or     www.msa.cv.ua "