Parents meet expert after school asbestos scare

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The parents of students who may have been exposed to asbestos fibres in north Queensland will today meet an occupational health and safety expert.

Last week, 24 rooms at Mackay North State High School were evacuated amid concerns about asbestos.

It was later revealed that the asbestos had been disturbed in September last year, but access to the buildings was only restricted last Tuesday.

There have also been incidents involving possible asbestos exposure at the Moranbah East Primary School and Mirani State High School.

Today, parents from Mackay North High will meet Dr Keith Adams, an occupational health and safety expert.

Dr Adams will discuss the risks associated with exposure and answer questions from parents and teachers.

An investigation into the incident at the school began yesterday.

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South African officials withhold findings of Caster Semenya’s gender test

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep. 19 (ANI): Even before South African star athlete Caster Semenya’s gender was questioned at the World Championships in Berlin, Athletics South Africa (ASA) had found out and withheld the fact that she had internal testes, an e-mail exchange has revealed.

According to the e-mail exchanges published in the Mail and Guardian newspaper, ASA officials were aware of the findings of a Pretoria clinic that Semenya had internal testes and produced abnormal amounts of testosterone for a woman, Times Online reports.

It was ASA’s chief medical officer and team doctor, Harold Adams, who had suggested the need carrying out the tests on Semenya, 18, because of her deep voice, muscular body and facial hair, which later became a subject of controversy in Berlin.

Another email exchange shows that Adams later suggested that the results to be kept confidential while the South African team was in Berlin.

“Thinking about the current confidential matter, I would suggest we make the following decisions. 1. We get a gynae opinion and take it to Berlin. 2. We do nothing and I will handle these issues if they come up in Berlin,” the report quoted from Dr Adams’ email to ASA President Leonard Chuene and General Manager Molatelo Malehopo, as saying.

Following the IAAF establishing that Semenya was a hermaphrodite, South African officials not only angrily denounced it, but also denied carrying out their own tests.

Taking matters a step further, South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile lost his temper at a press conference and threatened to start a “third world war” if Semenya was banned from international competition because of her gender.

Earlier, Semenya’s ex-coach Wilfred Daniels had said the ASA had duped Semenya into thinking the gender test carried out on her were routine drug tests. (ANI)

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Food ads promoting unhealthy lifestyles: Study

January 20, 2009 By 2 Comments

Washington, Jan 20 (ANI): A British study has found that food advertisements in magazines promoting healthier lifestyles are often contradicting the messages they are trying to put across.

Lead researcher Jean Adams, lecturer in public health at Newcastle University the ads are often promoting products high in sugar and salt and low in fibre.

“Nearly every magazine contains advice on a healthier lifestyle, yet we found the food adverts were for products high in sugar and salt and low in fibre such as ready meals, sauces and confectionary,” said Dr Adams.

“Obviously, it’s up to each of us to decide what we eat but if we’re constantly bombarded with images of unhealthy food every time we pick up a magazine then we’re going to be swayed in what we choose,” she adds.

For the study, the researchers analysed the data on the nutritional content of the foods advertised in 30 most widely-read weekly magazines during November 2007.

The findings revealed that foods in the adverts found that the products advertised were generally much higher in sugar and salt, and lower in fibre than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.

Over a quarter of the food adverts (25.5pct) were for ready-meals, sauces and soups, which tend to be high in salt and sugar.

Almost 23pct of the foods advertised were categorised as “containing fat or sugar” including products such as ice-cream, chocolate bars, sweets and full sugar soft drinks.

More of these adverts were found in magazines with a higher proportion of women readers or readers of a lower social class.

In contrast, very few of the ads, only 1.8pct, were for fruit and vegetables and these were mainly in high-end magazines.

“Health bodies and the government are trying to encourage all of us to eat a healthier diet, yet we found that many of the magazines, especially those targeting lower-income families are full of adverts promoting food that is largely unhealthy,” said Adams.

“Families are facing so many social pressures that it’s a constant battle to stay on the right track when choosing and preparing meals and these adverts are doing little to help,” Adams added.

The study has been published in the European Journal of Public Health. (ANI)

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