Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter June 30, 2005 Number 125

Breath Matters Monthly e-Newsletter

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Current Issue:

Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
June 30, 2005 Number 125
http://www.californialung.org

Content:

Interested in Smoke-Free Apartment Choices?
American Lung Association Helps Expose Oil Industry Front Group
Volunteer Raises Asthma Awareness on Walk From Fresno to Yosemite
Online Legislative Report Provides Update on Lung Health Bills
Report Links Indoor Air Pollution to Increased Cancer Risk
California Healthy Kids Survey Data Shows High Asthma Rates
Superior Branch Receives Grant to Stop Tobacco Giveaways
Researcher Studies Lung Rejection to Improve Success Rates
Asthma Walk Teams Forming
Tell A Friend

MONTHLY HEALTH TIP

Interested in Smoke-Free Apartment Choices? Visit: http://www.californialung.org/thecenter/.

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION HELPS EXPOSE OIL INDUSTRY FRONT GROUP

The American Lung Association of California joined with other public health and environmental groups to launch a Web site (www.stophiddengastaxes.com) that exposes the deception behind an oil-industry-funded disinformation campaign, which falsely claims that legislation to promote alternative fuels, reduce our dependence on gasoline, and put cleaner vehicles on California roads contains a "hidden gas tax." The oil industry is desperate to stop Senate Bill 757 (Kehoe, D-San Diego), which would promote the development of alternative fuels. The "Stop Hidden Gas Taxes" campaign, silently funded by Big Oil, is intentionally misleading the public. Alternative fuel choices will in fact help bring down the price of gasoline by offering a choice. Now when consumers look for information on the Internet by searching "Stop Hidden Gas Taxes," they will find the truth. For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser@earthlink.net.

VOLUNTEER RAISES ASTHMA AWARENESS ON WALK FROM FRESNO TO YOSEMITE

A 17-year-old asthma camp volunteer with the American Lung Association of Central California walked from Fresno to Yosemite to raise asthma awareness and kick off the association's annual camp, which is held at Yosemite�s Camp Wawona. The 63-mile walk took six days and had to be interrupted briefly while his father drove him back to his hometown of Hanford to take an important college placement exam. Caleb Schneider, who has asthma, and his family have been strong supporters of asthma camp for nearly 10 years. Each of the five family members has assisted at camp in one capacity or another from director to counselor. For more information, contact Josette Merced Bello at 559.222.4800 or josette@amerilungcencal.org.

ONLINE LEGISLATIVE REPORT PROVIDES UPDATE ON LUNG HEALTH BILLS

The American Lung Association of California continues to advocate for important legislation to protect lung health during this legislative session, including policies to reduce diesel exhaust, increase the use of alternative fuels, improve asthma management, and require tobacco manufacturers to pay a fee for litter caused by cigarette butts. For the latest status on legislation supported by the American Lung Association of California, visit http://californialung.org/advocacy/advocacy.html and click on "Hot Bills."

REPORT LINKS INDOOR AIR POLLUTION TO INCREASED CANCER RISK

A report by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) found the cancer risk from indoor air pollution approaches the risk from diesel exhaust. The study concludes that indoor air pollution sources like tobacco smoke, radon, improperly vented gas-burning appliances, mold and even some devices sold as air purifiers cost the state at least $45 billion a year. The American Lung Association of California supported legislation that required the report and testified at a June 9 hearing urging policymakers to take steps to reduce indoor air pollution, including banning indoor air purifiers that actually emit ozone, a dangerous pollutant linked to asthma. Visit http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ab1173/report0205/report0205.htm to view the complete report. For more information, contact Bonnie-Holmes Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen@alac.org.

CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY DATA SHOWS HIGH ASTHMA RATES

County specific asthma prevalence data from the most recent California Healthy Kids Survey shows asthma rates as high as 27 percent. The report mentions the American Lung Association's community-based projects as well as its Asthma-Friendly Schools Tool Kit and EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program among the resources recommended to create asthma-friendly environments. Approximately 480,000 students in 7th, 9th and 11th grades participated in the survey over a two-year cycle. The report also documents the relationship between asthma and smoking among adolescents. The American Lung Association of the East Bay has been sharing the data with local healthcare providers, school districts, elected officials, coalitions and prospective funders to increase the investment level in policy, asthma management and research. For more information, contact Lynn Devine at 619.269.8148 or ldevine@alac.org.

SUPERIOR BRANCH RECEIVES GRANT TO STOP TOBACCO GIVEAWAYS

The American Lung Association of California, Superior Branch, was awarded a three-year grant from the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section, to educate area leaders about the need for policies to reduce tobacco giveaways and provide smoke-free environments. The association will work to ban the free distribution of tobacco products in public places in Chico, especially in bars. Chico is a college town and the tobacco industry has been relentless in its efforts to market its deadly product to young adults through tobacco giveaways. Smoke-free housing is another hot topic in Chico and the association will work to secure an ordinance requiring a percentage of multi-dwelling housing units to be smoke-free in Chico and Redding. The grant will also fund efforts to work with Yuba College officials to secure a smoke-free campus. For more information, contact Shelly Brantley at 530.345.5864 or shellydb@aol.com.

RESEARCHER STUDIES LUNG REJECTION TO IMPROVE SUCCESS RATES

Lung transplantation remains the only hope of survival for many patients with end-stage lung disease. But the success of lung transplantation lags far behind other solid organ transplants such as heart, liver and kidney. This difference is due in large part to the high rate of chronic rejection. Thanks to funding from the American Lung Association of California, John Faul, MD, is conducting a study at Stanford University of the immune response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the major risk factor for chronic lung rejection, in hopes that someday better treatments can be found. Californians who have not yet filed their 2004 state taxes can invest in the association�s research program by donating to the Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund on the state tax form. For more information about the research fund and other projects supported through the research program, visit http://www.californialung.org/research/fund.html or contact Kerlyn Chatelain-Graham at kcgraham@alac.org or 510.638.5864.

ASTHMA WALK TEAMS FORMING It's never too early to start building your Asthma Walk Team for fall 2005 or spring 2006 Asthma Walk events. Find your nearest Asthma Walk location and details at http://californialung.org/press/030925asthma.html.

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