CHEJ was sad to hear that Dr. Rosalie Bertell passed away this week.  Dr. Bertell was an international leader in radiation health hazards and championed many campaigns to protect communities from radioactive waste sites and nuclear reactor releases.    Dr. Bertell was a nun whose life’s work at the International Institute of Concern for Public Health resulted in cutting-edge publications and research on the health effects of radiation.  Her seminal book, “No Immediate Danger”, explains in layperson’s terms how radiation is harmful.  Sister Bertell was often the only public health specialist who helped communities impacted

Lead is more toxic to children than previously believed and the federal government has once again lowered the blood level of concern threshold.  The federal Center for Disease Control recently reduced the “action level” from 10 micrograms per deciliter to 5 micrograms per deciliter.  The agency stated that this new action level means that “children will be identified as having lead exposure earlier, and parents and doctors can take action earlier.  The action came about because a national committee of experts recommended CDC change the blood level of concern.  Their recommendation