Study reveals Californians need to increase earthquake preparedness efforts
Less Than 20 Percent Have Prepared Their Homes; Only 40 Percent Have Sufficient Water State and Local Agencies are Better Prepared Today, but Weakest Link is Citizen Preparedness
A majority of Californians have taken initial steps toward earthquake preparedness but more than 60 percent of Californians have not done enough to make their homes safer and guard their personal finances in preparation for an inevitable, large-scale earthquake, according to a recent California Earthquake Preparedness Survey.
Although state and local public safety and emergency management agencies are better prepared than ever before, California residents have focused on easy preparedness activities such as collecting supplies and making back-up copies of important documents but they have not done more difficult and expensive activities such as securing the contents of their home or purchasing earthquake insurance, according to the survey.
Key findings of the survey were:
- Fewer than 20 percent of households have structurally reinforced their homes or had their homes inspected for earthquake resistance.
- Only 40 percent keep the recommended minimum of three gallons of water stored per person.
- Fewer than 20 percent of California households have purchased earthquake insurance.
- More than 80 percent of households have first aid kits, flashlights and batteries in their house but only 40 percent of Californians have made family disaster plans.
The California Earthquake Preparedness Survey was conducted by the UCLA School of Public Health for the State of California on behalf of California Emergency Management Agency, California Seismic Safety Commission and CaliforniaVolunteers to learn how prepared California households are for earthquakes and where they get their information about preparedness and mitigation.
“The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti are unwelcome reminders of the devastating impact earthquakes can have on people and communities,” said Secretary Matthew Bettenhausen of the California Emergency Management Agency. “It calls attention to the need for Californians to do even more to prepare for the big one. This study confirms that Californians need constant reminders and a steady stream of earthquake preparedness information to motivate people to act. We continue to urge Californians to prepare now.”
Additional Survey Highlights
- Residents of high-risk areas were more likely to have learned about how to be safe during an earthquake; however, they are not getting ready in proportion to the differential risk they face.
- Hispanic respondents were the least likely among all racial/ethnic groups to prepare.
- Less than 20 percent have participated in neighborhood disaster planning. Northern California residents were more likely than others to have participated in neighborhood disaster planning.
- More than 65 percent of Californians reported being trained in first aid, less than 50 percent had participated in disaster trainings at work, and less than 20 percent have received specific disaster trainings. Hispanic respondents were the least likely to have received these types of training.
- Fewer than 50 percent have dust masks, tools to rescue trapped people, or an extra set of emergency supplies in the car.
- Some Californians believe earthquake myths that could lead to loss of life and injuries in an earthquake.
“It is important for Californians to prepare for all types of disasters by having a plan and being ready to take care of ourselves, our families and our communities,” said Karen Baker, Secretary of Service and Volunteering. “Personal preparedness allows disaster workers to focus on critical areas to protect our state. Everyone can take steps to prepare.”
Observations from the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti reinforce the importance of being self-sufficient immediately following a disaster such as stockpiling food, water and supplies; training and practicing skills that are critical during disasters; and protecting the structures of buildings.
In absence of an actual disaster, “information received” and “information observed” are most likely to increase investment in earthquake preparedness and mitigation. The amount of information people hear, read and see determines whether they prepare. Other factors, including the increased probability of a future event, risk of future event and demographics like income, education and age, which may constrain what people can afford, have little effect on motivating people to prepare.
A variety of free online disaster preparedness resources such as a customized family plan, personalized children’s book and disaster preparedness tips are available on www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org.
Study: Era of rapid growth in biomedical research over
After a decade of remarkable growth, total annual funding for biomedical research in the U.S. has decelerated and may have even fallen when adjusted for inflation. That is the conclusion of a study today published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“The era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding that began in the 1990’s has ended,” said Ray Dorsey, M.D., a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center and lead author of the study. “Looking back at this period, one of the striking observations is that while research funding increased, the number of novel treatments entering the market remained steady. If research funding levels are to return to a phase of growth, we should examine funding priorities, particularly in health services research, and barriers to the development of new therapies.”
The authors compiled data from government sources, trade organizations, and industry financial reports to create a profile of biomedical research funding from 2003 to 2007. Over the five year period, annual research funding increased from $75.5 to $101.1 billion. Adjusted for inflation, funding grew by an average annual rate of 3.4% over the period. Using incomplete data, the authors estimated research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry for 2008 at $88.8 billion, which, when adjusted for inflation, represents a decrease in funding.
The study is a follow-up to a similar analysis published in 2005 by the same authors that showed that biomedical research funding from all sources had tripled in nominal value and doubled when adjusted for inflation between 1994 and 2003. The annual growth rate in funding over the period was more than twice as fast at 7.8%.
This deceleration in funding, if unchanged, has a significant potential impact for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and academic research institutions that rely on government and private funding. As has been noted in other reports, the flat-lining of federal funding for biomedical research in particular has a cascading effect on the national academic research enterprise, leading to scientists spending more of their time chasing funding, influencing career choices of new graduates, discouraging higher risk research, and curtailing the establishment of new scientific programs and construction of new research facilities.
The growth in research funding that began in the 1990s fueled a significant expansion in academic research and many universities became engines for economic growth in their communities. Consequently, the deceleration in research funding could have a profound effect on communities where academic research, health care, and biotechnology have become major economic players.
Approval of New Drugs and Devices Stagnant
While funding has generally increased over the period examined, this growth has not been accompanied by an increase in the number of new drug and device approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For example, the number of new molecular entities, essentially drugs that have not been marketed in the U.S. previously, approved by the FDA in 2003 was 21 and in 2008 was 17. Similar trends were observed for new biologics, as measured by biologic license applications, and devices, as measured by device pre-market application approvals.
“The relative lack of new therapeutic advances has been a decade-long problem that continues to persist despite previous large investments in research funding,” said Dorsey. “The current model is not working well if the desire is to approve new novel therapies to improve health. We need to modify incentives to reward risk and increase support for companies pursuing early stage and innovative research.”
Increasingly, the model for drug development has the pharmaceutical industry devoting a large portion of its spending for late-stage clinical trials as opposed to drug discovery research. The large pharmaceutical companies have largely abdicated the role of early stage research and development to smaller companies that often serve as the bridge between academic research and the market. These smaller companies, in turn, then develop relationships (either through partnerships or acquisitions) with larger companies once they have proven they have a viable product. However, these smaller firms, with limited resources and capital, face considerable risk and increasing pressures to generate promising results in short time frames from impatient markets. The model currently creates little incentive for investors to put capital into companies who are engaged in research that may be innovative, but has a higher risk of failure.
Biomedical vs. Health Services Research
The analysis also reveals that health services research represents a fraction of the nation’s $2 trillion in annual health care spending. This research – which is funded by foundations and federal agencies such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIH, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services – is intended to improve health care quality and access and control costs by examining the impact of financial, social, technological, and organizational factors on public health.
The study’s authors contend that, in the context of the ongoing national debate over how to control growth in health expenditures, which now exceed $2.3 trillion in the U.S., and impending legislation in Congress that will dramatically increase the number of people with health insurance, spending on health services research, which was $2.2 billion in 2008, is inadequate.
“We spend almost $5 for every $100 in national health expenditures on biomedical research, but we spend less than a dime on ensuring those treatments reach the right people and the right time,” said Dorsey. “Given the massive changes in health care that may occur in the very near future, we need to dedicate more resources to understanding the most effective and efficient ways of delivering care.”
Industry Funding Up, NIH Funding Shrinks
Industry – pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device firms – supplies the largest proportion of total research spending at 58%, followed by the federal government at 33%. Industry research and development funding increased by 25% between 2003 and 2007 with growth in research activity by medical device (59%) and biotechnology companies (41%) significantly outpacing pharmaceutical companies (14%).
The study found that funding from the National Institutes of Health – which is by far the single largest supporter of biomedical research – decreased by 12% between 2003 and 2008 when adjusted for inflation. Total federal funding for biomedical research increased by 0.7% over the period, that is in contrast to the period between 1994 and 2003 when federal research funding increased by 100%.
Additional authors include: Christopher Beck, Ph.D., Jason Reminick, Benjamin George, Zachary White-Stellato all with the University of Rochester; Jason de Roulet, M.D. with University Hospitals Case Medical Center; Joel Thompson, M.P.H. with the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; and Hamilton Moses III, M.D. and Ashley Thai with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Moses is also with the Alerion Institute. The study was funded with support from the National Center for Research Resources, part of the National Institutes of Health.
For more information about the initiative, visit: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=2736
Source: University of Rochester Medical Center
Sixth annual Farmers Insurance study ranks Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S.
Austin-Round Rock, Texas Tops All Large Metropolitan Areas
In this time of economic uncertainty, a safe and secure environment in which to live, work and raise a family has become an even greater priority to many Americans.
According to the sixth annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®, the central Texas area of Austin-Round Rock is the most secure U.S. community among large metropolitan areas (population of 500,000 or greater).
The Fargo (N.D.)-Moorhead (Minn.) area is the most secure mid-size U.S. city (population between 150,000 and 500,000), while the Lewiston (Idaho)-Clarkston (Wash.) area ranks as the most secure small town (population less than 150,000).
The rankings, compiled by database experts at www.bestplaces.net, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, terrorist threats, environmental hazards, life expectancy and job loss numbers in 379 U.S. municipalities. The study divided the communities into three groups: large metropolitan areas, mid-size cities and small towns.
“Farmers congratulates all of the communities ranking in the Farmers Most Secure Places to Live study. “In today’s fast-paced world, citizens look for a strong local government to make their communities secure, and especially desirable for individuals and families to live, work and grow,” noted Robert Woudstra, Farmers CEO.
“Since its founding in 1928, Farmers has been committed to improving the communities where its customers, agents and employees live and work. Improving safety, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing health and human services, encouraging civic participation and supporting the arts and culture help drive Farmers’ commitment,” Mr. Woudstra added.
The Austin-Round Rock area, which was 15th among large metropolitan areas in the 2008 Farmers study, is a center for technology and business and is attracting more and more pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Such Fortune 500 companies as Dell, Inc., Whole Foods Market and Freescale Semiconductor are headquartered there, with Austin serving as the state capital and home to the University of Texas. A high job growth rate and minimal housing depreciation contributed to its top rating in the study.
The Fargo-Moorhead area, ranked 14th among mid-size cities in 2008 and sixth in 2007, is a hub for healthcare, manufacturing and higher education. The area is home to three universities and several smaller, private colleges. Its No. 1 ranking in the 2009 Farmers study is largely due to a low unemployment rate, few violent crimes, minimal housing depreciation, high air quality and a long life expectancy among residents.
The Lewiston-Clarkston area, with a population of just under 59,000, jumped from sixth place among small towns in the 2008 Farmers study to the top spot in 2009. The area’s access to the Pacific Ocean through a network of river, rail and highway transportation facilities provides an excellent business climate for what is regarded as the most inland seaport in the Western U.S. It scored high in the study due to excellent job growth, low crime and minimal housing depreciation.
Here are the Farmers Insurance Group’s Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2009:
Large Metro Areas (500,000 or more residents)
1. Austin-Round Rock, Tex.
2. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
3. Madison, Wis.
4. Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Md.
5. Rochester, N.Y.
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Syracuse, N.Y.
8. El Paso, Tex.
9. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Me.
10. Nassau-Suffolk Counties, N.Y.
11. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.
12. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex.
13. Portland-Beaverton, Ore.-Vancouver, Wash.
14. New Haven-Milford, Conn.
15. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.
16. Pittsburgh, Pa.
17. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.
18. Colorado Springs, Colo.
19. Denver, Colo.
20. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Mid-Size Cities (150,000 – 500,000 residents)
1. Fargo, N.D.-Moorhead, Minn.
2. Olympia, Wash.
3. Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. Bellingham, Wash.
5. Rochester, Minn.
6. Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Wash.
7. Lynchburg, Va.
8. St. Cloud, Minn.
9. Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wis.
10. Las Cruces, N.M.
11. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.
12. Killeen-Temple, Texas
13. Charlottesville, Va.
14. Provo-Orem, Utah
15. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
16. Green Bay, Wis.
17. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.
18. Boulder, Colo.
19. Yakima, Wash.
20. Yuma, Ariz.
Small Towns (Fewer than 150,000 residents)
1. Lewiston, Idaho-Clarkston, Wash.
2. State College, Pa.
3. Bismarck, N.D.
4. Logan, Utah
5. Ithaca, N.Y.
6. Wenatchee, Wash.
7. Corvallis, Ore.
8. Morgantown, W.Va.
9. Eau Claire, Wis.
10. Rapid City, S.D.
11. Midland, Tex.
12. Sioux City, Iowa
13. Harrisonburg, Va.
14. Billings, Mont.
15. Grand Forks, N.D.-Crookston, Minn.
16. Grand Junction, Colo.
17. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Va.
18. Wausau, Wis.
19. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Wash.
20. La Crosse, Wis.-Winona, Minn.
Source: Farmers Group, Inc.
Unemployed natives available for work: Report finds huge number of less-educated Americans not working
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) has released a new study detailing the U-6 unemployment rates among native born workers. U-6 is a broader measure of employment that includes the unemployed, people who would like to work but who have not looked for a job recently, and those involuntarily working part-time. A look at these numbers shows the situation is particularly bad for minorities, the young, and less-educated Americans. These are the workers who face the most competition from immigrants – legal and illegal.
The study, “A Huge Pool of Potential Workers: Unemployment, Underemployment, and Non-Work Among Native-Born Americans,” is authored by CIS Director of Research Steven A. Camarota and Demographer Karen Jensenius. The report is available online at: http://cis.org/UnemploymentAmongNativeWorkers.
Among the findings:
– As of the third quarter of 2009, there are 12.5 million unemployed native-born Americans, but the broader U-6 measure shows 21 million natives unemployed or underemployed.
– There are 6.1 million natives with a high school education or less who are unemployed. Using the U-6 measure, it is 10.4 million.
– In addition to those less-educated natives covered by U-6, there are another 18.7 million natives with a high school education or less not in the labor force, which means they are not looking for work.
– The total number of less-educated (high school education or less) natives who are unemployed, underemployed, or not in the labor force is 29.1 million.
– To place these numbers in perspective, there are an estimated seven to eight million illegal immigrants holding jobs.
– As of the third quarter of 2009, the overall unemployment rate for native-born Americans is 9.5 percent; the U-6 measure shows it as 15.9 percent.
– State with the highest U-6 rates for less-educated natives are Michigan, California, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, Illinois, and Georgia.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for natives with a high school degree or less is 13.1 percent. Their U-6 measure is 21.9 percent.
– The unemployment rate for natives nationally with less than a high school education is 20.5 percent. Their U-6 measure is 32.4 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for young native-born Americans (18-29) who have only a high school education is 19 percent. Their U-6 measure is 31.2 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for native-born blacks with less than a high school education is 28.8 percent. Their U-6 measure is 42.2 percent.
– The unemployment rate for young native-born blacks (18-29) with only a high school education is 27.1 percent. Their U-6 measure is 39.8 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for native-born Hispanics with less than a high school education is 23.2 percent. Their U-6 measure is 35.6 percent.
– The unemployment rate for young native-born Hispanics (18-29) with only a high school degree is 20.9 percent. Their U-6 measure is 33.9 percent.
– Nationally, the overall unemployment rate for immigrants (legal and illegal) is 9.9 percent. Their U-6 measure is 19.6 percent, which is significantly higher than the rate for natives.
– The unemployment rate for immigrants with less than a high school education is 12.3 percent. Their U-6 measure is 27.4 percent. The unemployment rate for young immigrants (18-29) with only a high school education is 12.2 percent. Their U-6 measure is 25.2 percent.
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institution that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.
Source: Center for Immigration Studies
Military study shows prevention of Novel A/H1N1 virus infection is vaccine-type and age-dependent
Both Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) and Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV) provide Protection against novel A/H1N1, especially against severe disease
Immunization with either live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, also known as FluMist®), or trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), appears to offer a protection (~ 45%) against the novel A/H1N1 virus, the cause of the present influenza pandemic. However, the benefit was largely attributed to the youngest age group. The finding emerges from an evaluation of medical encounters and seasonal influenza immunization of U.S. military service members.
As reported today in a Late-Breaker presentation at the 58th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), seasonal influenza vaccination also appears to offer higher protection against severe disease requiring hospitalization (~ 62%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 14% to 84%) than against milder infections that can be treated on an outpatient basis (~ 42%, 95% CI, 29% to 53%).
“The increasing momentum of the H1N1 pandemic underscores the need for vaccination, yet there is a wide variance in vaccine effectiveness depending on the strain-match for a particular season,” comments Col. (Ret.) Jose L. Sanchez, MD, MPH, of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC) in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Dr. Sanchez and colleagues conducted a case control analysis of influenza-related medical encounter data of U.S. military service members, compared to a control group of personnel with acute, non-respiratory illnesses. For the period of April-October 2009, a total of 1,205 cases of pandemic H1N1 2009 infections were reported, of which 966 (80%) were among males and more than one-half (58%) were among those younger than 25 years. The overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) for service members was found to be 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 33% to 55%). Immunization with prior season’s TIV (VE=37%; 95% CI, 23% to 49%) as well as LAIV (VE=22%; 95% CI, 1% to 38%), were found to be protective.
Interestingly, and unexpectedly, the investigators observed a U-shaped relationship of VE with age stratification. VE was high in the youngest (< 25 yo) and oldest (> 39 yo) service members (50% and 55% respectively), while there was noVE for those 25 to 39 years of age.
“These data highlight the need for concise, timely assessments of influenza vaccine effectiveness against the new A/H1N1 as well as seasonal strains,” notes Thomas Wellems, MD, PhD, president of ASTMH. “Although the United States military constitutes a highly immunized population that may not be generalizable to civilians, it offers unique cohorts of at-risk individuals that can be studied in randomized clinical trials. We look forward to further data from this population.”
“These findings suggest that while prior season’s influenza vaccine may not prevent infection or developing illness once infected, it certainly appears to protect against more severe outcomes. We may also be seeing a cross-protective effect resulting from natural influenza infections and/or prior influenza immunization in the military setting,” says Dr. Sanchez. “This may play a role in conferring a certain degree of ‘immunological priming.”
“Continued timely assessment of influenza vaccine effectiveness among military personnel is a top priority for us at the AFHSC. At the very least, our results will assist health officials in the military and Department of Defense in guiding future policy on seasonal and novel A/H1N1 vaccine use among military service members and dependents,” Dr. Sanchez concludes.
Source: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Poll finds Americans very concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals
Voters want the EPA to be given more power to regulate chemicals
A poll conducted in August by Lake Research Partners found Americans very concerned with how chemicals are regulated for consumer use in the U.S. The findings come as overhaul of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) will be introduced soon in both Houses of Congress.
Voters are concerned that, under TSCA, chemicals in existence prior to 1976 were grandfathered in to be used and produced in the U.S. without testing or regulation. (87 percent were somewhat or very concerned). Eighty percent of voters were concerned that the EPA was unsuccessful in banning asbestos under current law. Eighty-four percent were concerned that the EPA has mandated testing of barely 200 out of the over 80,000 on the market since 1976.
“Voters across almost all demographic and political groups said that regulations on chemicals were not strong enough,” said pollster Celinda Lake. “People definitely are not confident about how chemicals are currently regulated, but they’re ready to give the EPA authority to protect consumers.”
Hundreds of recent scientific studies associate chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are used in baby bottles, pacifiers, canned foods and toys, with a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma, increased risk of certain types of cancer and infertility.
“The public is aware of a growing body of science linking common chemicals to chronic diseases and they’re waking up to the fact that the existing law isn’t working,” says Andy Igrejas, director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition. “Americans are doing their best to shop smart, but we can’t protect our families without help, and without strong reforms to put common sense limits on toxic chemicals.”
Majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans say they would support legislation that would take toxic chemicals off the market if they have been detected in babies at birth or in infants, and exposure to other known toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, that have been extensively studied, will be reduced to the maximum extent possible.
The poll was commissioned by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The poll was conducted among 1,000 registered voters nationwide Aug. 25 to 31, 2009. More detailed poll results available at www.saferchemicals.org.
Source: Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition
World Trade Center responders plagued with asthma
Reported Asthma in 9/11 Responders 2X Greater Than General Population
Responders to the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks, who were exposed to caustic dust and toxic pollutants following the 9/11 disaster, suffer from asthma at a rate more than twice that of the general US population, according to new research presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
As many as 8 percent of the workers and volunteers who engaged in rescue and recovery, essential service restoration, and cleanup efforts in the wake of 9/11 reported experiencing post-9/11 asthma attacks or episodes, compared with 4 percent of the general population. Furthermore, the lifetime prevalence of asthma in WTC responders was marked by a dramatic increase from 3 percent pre-9/11 to a high of 16 percent in each of the years from 2005 through 2007.
“Although previous WTC studies have shown significant respiratory problems, this is the first study to directly quantify the magnitude of asthma among WTC responders compared with the general US population,” said Hyun Kim, ScD, Instructor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM), New York, NY, and lead author of the analysis which uses data obtained from the federally-funded World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. “Six years out from 9/11, the World Trade Center Program was still observing responders affected by asthma episodes and attacks at more than double the percentage of people not exposed to World Trade Center dust.”
WTC Study Details
In the multi-center clinical study, researchers from the MSSM-coordinated WTC Program reported on health-related findings of 20,843 WTC responders who received an initial medical screening examination during the program’s first 5-1/2 years of existence, from July 2002 through December 2007. Asthma outcomes assessed were the following: (1) prevalence of asthma episodes/attacks reported by responders to have occurred during the previous 12 months, and (2) lifetime asthma prevalence, as measured by participants reporting having ever been told by a physician that they had asthma. Results were compared with the US National Health Survey Interviews (NHIS) adult sample data for the year 2000 (pre-9/11) and years 2002 through 2007.
WTC Study Results
In the general population, the prevalence of asthma episodes and/or attacks in the previous 12 months remained relatively constant at slightly less than 4 percent throughout the period from 2000 to 2007. In contrast, among WTC responders, while fewer than 1 percent recalled asthma episodes or attacks during the year 2000, that percentage increased to 8 percent, and then remained constant, through the period from 2005 to 2007. WTC responders were 2.3 times more likely to report asthma episodes/attacks that had occurred during the previous 12 months when compared with the general population of the United States. Additionally, the increase in lifetime prevalence of asthma among responders undergoing their initial program screening any time during the study period grew from a reported 3 percent for (pre-9/11) diagnoses to 13 percent in 2002. The lifetime prevalence of asthma subsequently rose through the years to plateau at 16 percent from 2005 through 2007.
“It is important to note that this report focused on findings from baseline or initial visit examinations,” said Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, Ethel H. Wise Professor and Chair of MSSM’s Department of Preventive Medicine, and principal investigator of the WTC Program Data and Coordination Center. “Where the data shows an increasing percentage of responders reporting asthmatic episodes, rising to double that seen in the general population, it is clearly vital that we continue to track responders’ health and look further into the medical outcomes of this population.”
Of the study’s rescue and recovery workers, 86 percent were men; 59 percent were Caucasian; and the average duration of work at WTC sites was 80 days. The study followed uniformed and other law enforcement and protective service workers (42 percent), as well as construction workers and other responders who had engaged in paid and volunteer WTC-related rescue and recovery, essential service restoration, and/or debris removal and cleanup efforts.
“Asthma and other chronic lung conditions remain a significant burden for rescue and recovery workers responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center,” said Kalpalatha Guntupalli, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. “The significant chronic health problems associated with the World Trade Center attacks only reinforces the need for stronger disaster preparedness plans, as well as long-term medical follow-up for 9/11 responders and individuals who respond to disaster-related events.”
Source: American College of Chest Physicians
Concentration of payday lending associated with neighborhood crime rates study finds
Recommends Congress Cap Payday Lender Interest Rates at 36 Percent
As Congress debates financial regulatory reform and the Obama Administration advocates for greater consumer financial protection, a new study finds a need for Congressional action on fringe banking practices used heavily by financially vulnerable families. The study released today details the toll on communities with a high concentration of payday lending business and finds a clear association between the presence of payday lenders and neighborhood crime rates. The study recommends that Congress take action to cap payday lender interest rates at 36 percent, enacting for the entire country protections Congress put in place for U.S. military families. The new study, entitled “Does Fringe Banking Exacerbate Neighborhood Crime Rates? Social Disorganization and the Ecology of Payday Lending,” was conducted by The George Washington University professors Charis E. Kubrin and Gregory D. Squires, along with Dr. Steven M. Graves of California State University, Northridge.
“As a criminologist, I can attest to the fact that there is woefully limited research on the impact of the behavior of financial institutions on neighborhood crime. As our research demonstrates, these connections can no longer be ignored by criminologists and law enforcement officials across the country,” said Charis Kubrin.
The study examined payday lending, a practice that has become part of the growing web of fringe banking largely concentrated in low-income and disproportionately minority communities. It allows lenders to provide cash advances on post-dated checks and has increasingly become a way for financially-strapped families and individuals to obtain money in the short-run. Nearly all of these loans come with exorbitantly high interest rates and fees, and these monetary costs to families who become trapped by them has been well documented. However, this study finds there are broader community costs that all residents incur in those neighborhoods where payday lenders are concentrated. These broader community costs include higher rates of violent crime. The study found that the association between payday lending and violent crime remains statistically significant even after a range of factors traditionally associated with crime are controlled for statistically.
“This study shows that not only do individuals suffer from predatory lending practices, but entire communities can pay a price for a high concentration of payday lenders. Congress took an important step by limiting payday loan interest rates in military base communities but it shouldn’t stop there. Congress should do for all communities what it did for military families,” said Gregory Squires.
The researchers provided several policy recommendations to reign in predatory practices and provide incentives for banks and other financial institutions to provide alternatives that would preserve access to small consumer loans. An immediate step Congress could take is to cap interest rates at 36 percent. Currently, several states provide this protection to consumers, and Congress enacted this protection for loans to members of the military and their families.
“These findings will surprise very few who both understand how this industry operates, and have witnessed its explosive growth in the very neighborhoods that have struggled to reduce crime,” said Graves.
The working paper can be read here: http://www.gwu.edu/~newsctr/09/pdfs/Payday_Lending_and_Crime_Working_Paper.pdf
Source: George Washington University
Report: Same-sex couples face significant disadvantages in retirement
New Study Released During National Save for Retirement Week Documents How Lack of Federal Recognition for Same-Sex Couples Reduces Their Retirement Income and Survivor Benefits
A new study released details the inequalities faced by same-sex couples in employer-sponsored retirement plans. Without legal recognition of their relationships under federal law, the report concludes, lesbians and gay men have less retirement income and are disadvantaged in their ability to pass on savings to their families after their death.
The study, “The Impact of Inequality for Same-Sex Partners in Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans,” provides the first detailed demographic portrait of older same-sex couples. It was released by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law with funding support from Merrill Lynch in conjunction with National Save for Retirement Week.
“The findings show that, in particular, female same-sex couples have far less retirement income than different-sex married couples,” says study author Naomi Goldberg. Key findings of the report include:
– Female same-sex couples over 65 have almost 20% less income than different-sex married couples.
– Only 50% of female same-sex couples have at least one member eligible for an employer-sponsored retirement plan. That compares to 56% of different-sex married couples and 79% of male same-sex couples.
– Older female and male same-sex couples receive less income from traditional retirement sources–retirement, survivor, and disability pensions–than older different-sex married couples.
– Men in same-sex couples earn less than their heterosexual counterparts, but appear to work for more years.
The study also analyzes the ways in which elderly lesbians and gay men are disadvantaged when their partner or spouse dies. Upon death, unlike married different-sex couples, 401k balances and remaining assets cannot be passed tax-free to the surviving same-sex spouse or partner. In particular, these studies conclude:
– Even in states where same sex couples can marry, private employers can discriminate against same-sex married couples for the purpose of welfare and pension plans because of the reach of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); thus, same-sex couples typically cannot avail themselves of pension survivor benefits.
– Surviving same-sex spouses or partners are unable to access social security spousal or survivor benefits. As a result, they lose out on an estimated $5,700 each year in benefits.
– Because same-sex surviving spouses cannot have the balance of their dead spouse’s 401k transferred directly to them, they must begin making withdrawals immediately- often resulting in a higher tax rate and missing out on potential earnings and the ability to withdraw when they are really needed.
“The bulk of these inequalities are a direct result of the Defense of Marriage Act, which forces the federal government to treat same-sex couples differently than married couples when it comes to retirement savings or estate taxes after death,” said Goldberg.
“Even without repealing DOMA, Congress could address these inequalities similar to the way it allowed same-sex partners to rollover the balance of their dead spouse’s 401ks in 2006. While not perfect, the Pension Protection Act has at least moved same-sex couples closer to equality in the treatment of their retirement assets.”
The full report is available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html.
New national study of crash-involved children reaffirms recommendations for booster seat through age 8
Boosters especially effective in side impact crashes
A study released in Pediatrics by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers updated evidence that children ages 4 to 8 who are restrained in the rear seat of a car in a belt-positioning booster seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash compared with children using a seat belt alone. Furthermore, the study showed there was no difference in the level of protection offered by backless versus high back booster seats. Of those riding in booster seats, children involved in side-impact crashes saw the greatest reduction in injury risk.
Researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention studied more than 7,000 children ages 4 to 8 involved in real-world crashes between 1998 and 2007.
“We wanted to take a fresh look at booster seats’ effectiveness to reduce injury among this age group, because when we first evaluated the protective benefits of booster seats in 2002, most children using them were 4 and 5 years old,” explains lead researcher Kristy Arbogast, Ph.D., Director of Engineering at CHOP’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention. “Since then, usage rates among older kids ages 6- to 8 have tripled, and we wanted to be sure these older kids were as well-protected by booster seats as the younger ones, now that we had more data. We found that injury reduction offered by booster seats remains significant even when a greater proportion of older children are included in the study.”
Researchers attribute the sharp increase in booster seat use among older children, in part, to many states passing upgrades to their child restraint laws that require booster seats for children older than age 4. The upper age limit of these booster laws varies by state and ranges from 6 through 8 years. Passage of these laws is associated with a nearly 40% increase in child restraint use among children up to age 8. While 47 states have booster seat laws, only 25 states and the District of Columbia require booster seats for children up to at least age 8. Florida, Arizona, and South Dakota have no booster seat law. The CHOP researchers recommend policymakers work to close these gaps in the laws to cover children to at least age 8 so that parents have the best information to protect their children.
“Based this new analysis of a decade’s worth of data on children involved in crashes, policymakers, pediatricians and health educators should continue to recommend as best practice the use of belt-positioning booster seats once a child outgrows a harnessed based child restraint until he/she is at least 8 years of age,” says Dennis Durbin, M.D., M.S.C.E., Co-Scientific Director of The Center for Injury Research and Prevention and study co-author. “Additionally, these results can give confidence to parents and health educators that choosing between a high back versus a backless booster seat for their child does not represent a compromise in safety.”
More information about this study, along with videos and fact sheets for parents about how to choose and install the right child restraint for your child and you vehicle are available at www.chop.edu/carseat. Additionally, an up-to-date chart of state booster seat laws and information is available at http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx.