PCBs: The Sleeper Chemical That Was Banned In The ’70s Still Poses A Risk To Kids Today
Toxic polychlorinated biphenyls can cause anything from skin conditions to cancer — and they can be found in schools across the country.
Reveal:
Poison Lurking In Schools
Across the country, tens of thousands of public schools could be contaminated with toxic polychlorinated biphenyls – compounds more commonly known as PCBs, which were used widely in building materials such as window caulk. PCBs have been linked to everything from skin conditions to cancer. (6/11)
In other public health news —
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Are Preventable Medical Mistakes Declining?
America appears to be making headway in the protracted fight against medical errors, according to researchers from one of the nation’s top groups on health care quality.
In an opinion piece published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, co-author Richard Kronick of UC San Diego cited several recent studies of Medicare patient data to show that after decades of concern over preventable mistakes, avoidable patient harm in hospitals seems to be decreasing. (Sisson, 6/13)
Orange County Register:
Zzzzz: California Startup Nappify Brings A Sleeping Space To You
Who says only children should take naps? A California startup believes anyone can take a nap — in its mobile sleeping pods. Kevin Pham, a 31-year-old Garden Grove resident, studied nap culture in countries like Japan and Vietnam. He found that a short nap can help workers feel refreshed, more productive, creative and focused. Pham has an master's in business administration from Cal State Fullerton. In 2014, he came up with the idea for Nappify and launched the concept with $100,000 crowdfunded from family and friends. (Madans, 6/13)