Additives 'cause bad behaviour'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6979976.stm
Published: 2007/09/05 23:47:42 GMT
© BBC MMVII

Cocktails of food additives in children's diets may be responsible for hyperactive behaviour, say researchers.

A Food Standards Agency study on 300 randomly selected children found hyperactivity rose after a drink containing additive combinations.

The FSA said very hyperactive children might benefit from fewer additives, the Lancet reported.

But experts said that drugs rather than diet changes could improve behaviour more in the most severe cases.

Between 5% and 10% of school-age children suffer some degree of ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - researchers suggest, with symptoms such as impulsiveness, inability to concentrate and excessive activity.

More boys than girls are diagnosed with the condition, and children with ADHD can struggle academically, often behaving poorly in school.

Food colourings and other chemicals added to processed foods have long been blamed by many for making the disorder worse.

Teen boozing 'stores up problems'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6980133.stm
Published: 2007/09/05 23:04:47 GMT
© BBC MMVII

Teen binge-drinkers are more likely to use drugs, become alcoholics and have criminal conviction, research shows.

A study of 11,000 children found by the time they reached 30 they were 60% more likely to be an alcoholic and nearly twice as likely to have a conviction.

The Institute of Child Health study comes as latest figures show the amount children are drinking is rising.

Experts called the findings worrying as the government said it was looking to cut the harm caused by youth drinking.

The researchers looked at the drinking habits of 16-year-olds in 1986 and then compared that to what had happened to them by the time they were 30.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found they had developed a host of problems compared to those who were not binge drinkers.

As well as being more likely to be alcoholics and have criminal records, they were 40% more likely to use illegal drugs, 40% more likely to suffer mental health problems and 60% more likely to be homeless.

They were also 40% more likely to have suffered accidents, almost four times as likely to have been excluded from school and 30% more likely to have gained no qualifications.

Just under a fifth of the group was classed as binge drinkers - those who had "two or more episodes of consuming four or more drinks in a row in the previous two weeks".

'Social exclusion'

Lead researcher Dr Russell Viner said: "Adolescent binge-drinking is a risk behaviour associated with significant later adversity and social exclusion."

And he added policies needed to focus on a range of areas, not just restricting the availability of alcohol to teenagers.

It comes as figures show that the number of school-age drinkers has fallen slightly, although those who do drink, drink more.

NHS Information Centre statistics show boys aged 11 to 13 who had drunk in the previous week drank an average of 12 units of alcohol in 2006 compared to eight in 2000, while the intake of girls increased from just under five units to eight.

Canada recalls kids’ pencils from China
The Manila Times
Monday, September 03, 2007

MONTREAL: Canada has recalled tens of thousands of children’s pencils made in China over fears they contained dangerous levels of lead in their coating, the health ministry said in a statement Saturday.

The ministry agreed, along with the Canadian subsidiary of the US firm which distributes them, on “a voluntary recall of Favor Set brand pencils due to a high lead level in the coating of the pencils,” it said.

“As a precautionary measure, Amscan is recalling all 16 models of Favor Set brand pencils sold in various stores across Canada since January 2007,” approximately 140,000 units, it said. The pencils were made in China.

“Pencils that have already been purchased should immediately be taken away from children,” the ministry warned.

No incidents linked to the hazardous products have been reported. But the announcement was the latest of a series of recalls and consumer scares involving Chinese-made products in North America.

The US toy company Mattel last month recalled some 18 million toys made in China that it had distributed. Its subsidiary Fisher Price at the beginning of August recalled a further million toys suspected to contain lead paint.

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed the issue of dangerous imports from China with his US and Mexican counterparts at a summit this month. He said the three countries agreed to cooperate on preventing dangerous imports. --AFP

 -End-

Back to top ^