SIRC Media Watch Archive
Scares and Miracles – September 2000
Coroner's warning over body piercings. A coroner has warned that people are taking a "considerable risk" by not following hygiene guidelines after having body piercings. BBC.
School's sweets and fizz ban calms disruptive children. Teachers have banned sweets and fizzy drinks from a school tuck shop after they noticed pupils were always more disruptive and unsettled after break-times. Express.
Low fat milk could be dangerous. Drinking low fat milk could make people more vulnerable to food poisoning bacteria such as E coli, according to findings published yesterday. Guardian.
Hidden risk of older mums. Teenage and older mothers are more likely to have children with long-term health problems, new research suggests. Express.
Fatal infection 'making a comeback'. Pressure on GPs to cut back on prescriptions means a potentially fatal disease, believed eradicated decades ago, may be returning. BBC.
Height linked to breast cancer risk. A woman's height, as well as her weight, may be a factor in determining her risk of developing breast cancer. BBC.
Is your office making you ill? Is it the air conditioning? The photocopier? The lights? The computers? As new research reveals more dangers in the workplace, Anita Chaudhuri unravels the mystery of sick building syndrome. Guardian.
Nappy 'link to infertility'. Scientists believe disposable nappies could be linked to both male infertility and testicular cancer. BBC.
More risk of cancer if you live near pylons. People living near high-voltage electricity cables are almost 30 per cent more likely to get lung cancer, experts said yesterday. Mirror.
Does breakfast make you fat? One slice of toast is better than fruit and yoghurt first thing, say French scientists. Independent.
Allergic reactions 'now affect one in three Britons'. A record one in three people suffers from an allergy, according to a report published today by Dr Amolak Bansal, a consultant immunologist and allergist at St Helier Hospital in south London. Independent.
VDUs 'may cause worker illness'. An office full of brand-new computers is thought to boost productivity – but the chemicals they emit may actually be making workers ill. A flame-retardant chemical used in the plastic of computer casings may give off allergy-causing fumes, say experts. BBC.
Mankind faces an "intolerable" threat from an impact by an asteroid or comet, a Government task force announced yesterday. It said that urgent steps to prevent such a catastrophe must be taken now. Express.
Gardening 'bad for backs'. The growing popularity of gardening is putting many people at risk of back pain, according to a survey. BBC.
Jobs 'linked to Parkinson's'. People who work with solvents such as petrol or rubber have a high risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study. BBC.
Deadly fast-food superbug strikes hundreds of youths. Teenagers are being hit by a fast-food salmonella superbug that has already killed one victim and made 332 others ill. Times.
Pacifiers might cause ear infections. For pacifier-loving babies everywhere, the findings of a new study could really suck. Yahoo Health News.
Food poisoning 'rife and under-reported'. The Consumers' Association (CA) has launched a campaign for safer food – as food poisoning cases continue to rise. BBC.
Rural isolation 'may cause diabetes'. Children who live in isolated rural areas could be at greater risk of developing diabetes, say scientists. BBC.
Play It Safe with Playgrounds. How many parents have had the heart-stopping, hair-graying experience of watching their children fall from a jungle gym, get whacked by a swing or run over by a kid too big for the playground? Too many, say the experts. Yahoo Health News.
GM crops 'worse than N-waste'. Genetically modified crops pose a greater threat to the environment than nuclear waste or chemical pollution, the executive director of Greenpeace told a court yesterday. Guardian.
Chlorine in pools can trigger asthma attacks. Inhaling Chlorine in swimming pools can trigger asthma attacks, lung specialists in Italy were told yesterday…Separate studies revealed that athletes who trained strenuously, including marathon runners, cyclists and cross-country skiers, were also at risk, partly through inhaling cold air. Independent.
Gum disease 'risks unborn babies'. Scientists have produced compelling evidence that pregnant women with gum disease are risking the safety of their unborn child. BBC.
Deadly Microbe Crops Up In Potting Soil. Reporting a first in the United States, government scientists say they've traced two cases of Legionnaire's disease to garden-variety potting soil in Oregon and Washington. Yahoo Health News.
Energy Power Bars: "Boost" herb can be dangerous, say nutritionists. Increasingly popular energy bars, advertised in runner’s magazines and slipped into office desk drawers for afternoon snacking, may not deliver the healthy boost they promise. INNX.
