All news posts from August 01, 2001 to August 31, 2001

A shortage of trained pharmacy professionals has led to an increased risk of receiving inappropriate medications and misfilled prescriptions. In the last decade, prescriptions filled in U.S. pharmacies have jumped from 2 billion to more than 3.15 billion. However, 6% of retail pharmaceutical jobs and 21% of openings a

People living near Army storage facilities containing chemical warfare agents face increased risks of chemical exposure. Such facilities typically contain 30,000 tons of chemical warfare agents. In response to this threat, the Army instituted the "Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program" to help states that

As cell-phone related auto accidents with deadly consequences increase, employers are restricting their employees' use of cell phones while operating vehicles. Recently, the family of a 15-year-old girl killed when a busy attorney talking on her cell phone ran her over, filed a $30 million lawsuit against the lawyer's

Choking deaths caused by popular gel candies prompted Safeway, Albertson's, and Costco to remove the fruity snacks from their shelves. Devon Joncich, 3, and Michelle Enrile, 12, died while chewing the gel candies. Typically, the candies are individually packaged, and contain a soft, sweet gel with a piece of fruit in

Bayer withdrew its popular cholesterol-lowering medication Baycol from American shelves in early August. The drug maker based the decision on reports that Baycol caused severe muscle deterioration, a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure and death. Baycol is a member of the drug class kn

Consumer action group Public Citizen is asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop the practice of using brain tissue, also known as dura mater, from cadavers to assist with surgery. The group claims that the technique increases the risk of spreading Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), the human form of mad co

A shigellosis outbreak is affecting children and day-care centers throughout Kentucky and Ohio. Shigellosis can cause cramps, fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is helping local health departments monitor the situation. Fifty-two reported cases were tracke

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao was pleased to recently announce that work related deaths are declining in the United States. According to Chao, the number of on the job deaths decreased by nearly 2% last year. The construction industry reported the most deaths and injuries, however figures were down nearly 3% from 1999.

FDA today issued draft revised guidance to the blood industry intended to further reduce the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) to recipients of blood and blood products. Under the proposal, implementation of the policy would be phased in gradually in two stages next year to allow time to

GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of anti-depressant Paxil, is facing a class action lawsuit filed by thirty-five people claiming the drug caused "severe withdrawal reactions." The complaint filed in California Superior Court alleges that Paxil causes greater physical dependency and addiction than other similar drugs. Paxil

The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published the results of a study linking the popular arthritis drugs Celebrex and Vioxx to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. The popular cox-2 inhibiting drugs are marketed heavily and are increasingly prescribed. Researchers analyzed four studie

George Bennett Sr., who divided his time between Kansas City and Orlando, died May 7, 2001 of lung cancer at the age of 79. Bennett was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2000. As the cancer was caught early, Bennett's doctor gave him a positive prognosis. He immediately began chemotherapy. Tragically, just seven mont

Cleveland Clinic researchers are reporting that two popular arthritis drugs may cause blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. The researchers analyzed several studies in which at least 18,000 people took the cox-2 inhibiting drugs Vioxx or Celebrex for pain relief. In patients taking the medications, researchers fou

A respiratory therapist working at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California recently confessed to killing between 40 and 50 elderly patients. The therapist administered large doses of muscle-relaxants that caused patients to suffer respiratory arrest. At one point, Saldivar is said to have called him

Authorities are investigating a parasailing accident in the Florida Panhandle that left two people injured. Witnesses said winds were picking up in the area when the couple's parachute separated from the boat, sending the pair crashing into the water. The victims were treated and released from a local hospital. The C

The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published the results of a study linking the popular arthritis drugs Celebrex and Vioxx to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. The popular cox-2 inhibiting drugs are marketed heavily and are increasingly prescribed. Researchers analyzed four studie

Cleveland Clinic researchers are reporting that two popular arthritis drugs may cause blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. The researchers analyzed several studies in which at least 18,000 people took the cox-2 inhibiting drugs Vioxx or Celebrex for pain relief. In patients taking the medications, researchers fou

Firestone announced today that it had settled a lawsuit involving a tread separation on a Ford Explorer SUV. The Rodriguez family of Texas sued the tire maker after their Explorer rolled over on a Mexican highway. The family sought $1 billion in damages from Firestone. Ford agreed to a settlement of its portion of l

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today reported 2,250 emergency room-treated injuries associated with motorized scooters in the first 7 months of this year. If injuries continue at this rate, the total estimate for 2001 is expected to show a marked increase over 2000. The first full year in

In 1998, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), a San Francisco environmental group, filed suit against Texaco, Chevron, Shell, Arco, Unocal, Tosco, Equilon Enterprises, Exxon, and Mobil, claiming that the companies knew the gasoline additive Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) could leak into local groundwater sup

Robert Courtney, the Kansas City pharmacist charged with diluting chemotherapy drugs, appeared at a court hearing August 20th. He is facing Federal charges of diluting and misbranding drugs. According to a report filed by Federal prosecutors, Courtney admitted to diluting the chemotherapy related drugs Taxol, Gemzar,

The Missouri pharmacist charged with diluting chemotherapy drugs will be held without bond while facing Federal felony charges of adulterating and misbranding prescription drugs. U.S. Magistrate Robert Larsen is presiding over the case in which Robert Courtney admitted that he diluted Gemzar and Taxol, two intravenous

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is defending itself against charges that the agency's drug approval process was too fast and counter charges that the agency has slowed the process too much. The head of the FDA's drug division, Dr. Janet Woodcock, defends the agency; she says that approval time increased by an ac

Jury deliberations have begun in the $1 billion lawsuit filed against Bridgestone/Firestone by the family of a wheelchair-bound woman injured in a Ford Explorer rollover. The Rodriguez family's attorney compared the tire manufacturer to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Firestone's attorney blamed the tire tread's

According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study, physicians largely ignored FDA recommendations advising them to monitor liver enzymes in their patients taking Rezulin. In addition, it appears that doctors also dismissed liver damage advisories issued by Rezulin's manufacturer, Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals.

Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen recently filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding that the agency require stronger warnings on cholesterol lowering drugs known as "statins." The drugs are associated with potentially fatal muscle deterioration known as rhabdomyolysis. The organizati

Employees working in the Sam M. Gibbons Federal Courthouse in Tampa are three times more likely to have adult onset asthma and other respiratory illnesses than other Federal courthouse employees within the State. Courthouse employees also report nearly five times as many cases of "sick building syndrome," an illness c

World Health Organization (WHO) officials are searching for funds to begin a two-year study of economy class syndrome. The condition, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), occurs when potentially deadly blood clots develop in the legs. Officials want to study the link between extended air travel and DVT. Currently

The RAND Institute for Civil Justice recently released a report on asbestos-related injuries. Although nearly 500,000 asbestos injury claims have already been filed, the organization feels the industry has not seen half of the potential claims. This is just the first component of RAND's three-part study of asbestos

Daughters of pregnant women who took DES (diethylstilbestrol) between 1941 and 1971 are more likely to experience difficulties conceiving and carrying out a pregnancy. DES apparently alters the structure of fetal reproductive organs, leading to numerous problems later in life. A recent study links DES exposure to pre

Bridgestone/Firestone's chief executive officer testified Friday in the first Firestone tire tread separation trial. John Lampe said that accident claims submitted to his company include nearly eight times more Explorer vehicles than Ford Ranger pickups. Lampe blamed the accidents on the Ford Explorer's design defect

Major General Dennis T. Krupp has been charged with Dereliction of Duty involving his alleged falsification of V-22 Osprey aircraft records. Krupp is the commander of the Marine Corps' east coast aviation units. Although Krupp will not be court martialed, he faces house arrest and forfeiture of pay if found guilty du

Just as state legislatures are restricting schools from recommending emotional and behavioral medications for problem children, drug companies are aiming huge marketing campaigns directly at parents. Many families rely on drugs such as Ritalin to control their children. In 2000, pharmacists dispensed nearly 20 millio

FBI investigators established a hotline (816-421-8639) for customers of Kansas City pharmacist Robert Courtney who was recently charged with diluting chemotherapy drugs. To date, hundreds of calls from worried patients have been received. Courtney is charged with misbranding and adulterating drugs. Officials say tha

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed your claim by May 3, 2003 you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions to this deadline available to class members who timely

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under

URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs. While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under

Despite strong warnings that Accutane can cause severe birth defects, women are still getting pregnant while taking the acne drug. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the symbol used on Accutane packaging to warn patients of potential birth defects is often misunderstood. Between 1

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an investigation into the so-called "economy class syndrome," an illness linked to long airplane flights. The WHO study will cost approximately $11 million and will help to formulate strategies designed to prevent the syndrome, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Recently, a U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the settlement terms relating to American Home Products Corporation's Redux, Pondimin, and fen-phen diet drugs. The drugs have been linked to heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension, both deadly disorders. The FDA recalled Redux, Pondimin, and fen-phen in 1997.

In December 2000, the Swiss medical device maker Sulzer Medica AG voluntarily recalled its popular Sulzer hip replacement device. This device is made of titanium and coated with a porous surface through which the bone can grow. After changing its manufacturing process in 1999, Sulzer Medica discovered that the new t

Bayer, the maker of Baycol, has received numerous complaints from the German government, citing the company for failing to warn German citizens of the risks associated with the Baycol. In Germany, as well as many other countries outside of the United States, Baycol is sold as "Lipobay." Deputy Health Minister Klau

Bayer AG, Germany's largest drugmaker, is under intense scrutiny from public prosecutors in Turin, Italy. Bayer's anti-cholesterol drug Baycol, known in many European countries as Lipobay, was removed from the market earlier this month because of serious side effects. Italian prosecutors want to learn more about B

Over the past several years, two rheumatoid arthritis drugs have been approved, making successful treatment of painful arthritis symptoms a reality for thousands of patients worldwide. These two drugs, Enbrel and Remicade, act to inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cause of arthritic pain. In August 2001 the Fo

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued yet another recall of baby strollers, this time the Kolcraft LiteSport. The recall of over 115,000 strollers comes after several reports of infant injuries were made to the CPSC. According to government officials, the lock mechanisms, which can be found on both

Trying to capitalize on Bayer AG's Baycol recall, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is offering Baycol users a free one-month supply of its own cholesterol-lowering drug, Pravachol. Three major national newspapers carried ads publicizing Bristol-Myers Squibb's offer. Merck & Co. also is promoting its cholesterol drug Zocor in

A two-year-old Florida girl died as a result of a daycare worker's failure to count the children under her care. Gail Besemer forgot to count heads when her Abundant Life Academy of Learning van unloaded the students. Two-year-old Zaniyah Hinson was left inside the sweltering van. Zaniyah went undiscovered until her

Jorge Rodriguez was driving through Reynosa, Mexico in his Ford Explorer when he suddenly heard several bangs. The Explorer leapt off the road and flipped several times before landing upright. Yesterday Rodriguez testified about the ordeal in the first Firestone tire lawsuit to reach trial. He "was very scared" when

Cancer patients filling their prescriptions at Research Medical Tower Pharmacy in Kansas City, Missouri may have received diluted chemotherapy drugs. Federal authorities are investigating Robert Courtney, 48, for allegedly diluting Taxol, Gemzar, Paraplatin, Platinol, Procrit, Neupogen, Roferon, and Tissue Plasminoge

Perrigo Company today announced that, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is conducting a recall of 7,788 four-ounce bottles of cherry-flavored pain reliever suspension liquid with Lot Number 1AD0228. Perrigo determined that this lot may contain an excess of up to 29 percent over the lab

A new study links estrogen use to an increased lung cancer risk. The study claims estrogen magnifies the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke and radon, increasing women's risk of developing lung cancer. Although previous research established that women are more vulnerable than men to lung cancer, this recen

Lawyers are preparing to file the first class action lawsuit against Bayer regarding the company's cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol. The drug is linked to at least 52 deaths worldwide. Additionally, the family of an Oklahoma man who died of kidney failure as a result of taking Baycol is suing Bayer. A Florida woman

In the last several years, the pharmaceutical industry has introduced many groundbreaking drugs. In increasing numbers though, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs are being linked to serious liver damage. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials, drug-related liver damage is the most common

Clark County, Nevada health authorities informed patrons staying at a popular Las Vegas timeshare resort that several guests were recently diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The three adults have all recovered from the disease. Water samples taken from the Polo Tower timeshare tested positive for the bacterium that

A South Carolina prison guard pleaded guilty to charges of having sex with inmate Susan Smith. Investigators uncovered the relationship while investigating charges of inmate abuse. Smith, serving a life sentence for the nationally publicized drowning deaths of her two sons, admitted to having sex with Lt. Houston Cag

A weekend ATV accident left a Haines City, Florida boy in critical condition. Nine-year-old Frankie Mathis drove his all terrain vehicle into the back of a parked truck on Lakeview Drive. Five-year-old Christopher Mitchell, sitting on the back of the ATV, was wearing his helmet and only suffered slight injuries. Mat

A Florida State University computer programmer is the first Florida resident to sue Bayer Pharmaceutical claiming that the company's cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol caused a variety of adverse effects including muscular degeneration, chronic fatigue, liver problems, chronic back pain and depression. The company volun

Within a week of voluntarily recalling its cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol, Bayer AG admitted that the drug might have caused 52 deaths worldwide. However, the company claimed that there is still no proof that Baycol is directly responsible for the deaths. Bayer's Chief Executive expressed the company's regrets for

In a groundbreaking move, Exxon Corporation recently settled a lawsuit claiming its gasoline, which contains the additive MTBE, was defectively manufactured and contaminated the South Lake Tahoe utility district's drinking water supply. The company will pay the utility district $12 million to settle the suit. While mos

Teenagers are ignoring warnings about potential adverse effects of using the performance-enhancing supplement creatine monohydrate. Creatine use by adolescents is discouraged due to a lack of information on its health effects. A recent study by researchers at the Cornell Medical College and Mount Sinai Medical Center

Pfizer, Inc., a leader in drug manufacturing, today dismissed any concerns raised by Bayer AG's voluntary recall of Baycol. Baycol, a cholesterol-lowering drug and part of a class of medications known as statins, was recalled after reports of over 50 deaths caused by the drug. Recently, Pfizer representatives brushed

Due to Bayer AG's withdrawal of its popular cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen recently demanded that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require more significant warning labels on all statins, a popular class of cholesterol drugs. Baycol is linked to at least 31 deaths in

Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, chose not to use a chemical additive, known as an antagonist, employed by other pharmaceutical companies to prevent misuse of painkilling drugs. Purdue claims it did not anticipate that drug users would crush and inject or snort OxyContin, so the company saw no need to inc

As its parent company Bridgestone recorded a $250 million loss for the first half of 2001, Firestone is preparing to defend itself against claims that its tires were responsible for an accident that left a Texas woman with severe brain damage. This is the first case to go to trial, as previous Firestone-Ford Explorer r

Bayer AG is reevaluating the four pillars of its business, the pharmaceutical, polymer, agricultural and chemical divisions. The company's recent recall of cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol hit its pharmaceutical division hard, significantly lowering this year's expected profit. Bayer is now considering selling the ph

Bayer announced today that it is withdrawing its cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol / Lipobay from the market due to increasing complaints of side effects. Following the announcement, the drug and chemical giant's stock price plunged to a record low. Bayer produces a variety of products including aspirin, perfume fragr

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal recently sent a scathing letter to Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription painkiller OxyContin. The letter demands that the company take more action to reduce the number of overdose deaths attributed to the potent drug, including changing Purdue's marketing and dis

Nearly 10% of the American population currently has some type of medical implant. At least 25 million Americans are functioning daily with medical devices such as pacemakers, artificial eyes, hip implants and others. However, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not closely monitor implants. This makes it diffic

Baycol, a cholesterol-reducing drug manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, was voluntarily pulled from the market on Wednesday, August 8 after reports of dozens of deaths associated with the popular drug. Baycol, also known as cerivastatin, is currently prescribed to over 700,000 people in the U.S. alone. Baycol

I am writing to inform you of very important new safety information about Baycol and rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a serious, potentially fatal, adverse effect of all statin drugs, including Baycol. It can occur with statin monotherapy, though the risk appears to be increased significantly by concomitant use of ge

FDA today (08/08/01) announced that Bayer Pharmaceutical Division is voluntarily withdrawing Baycol (cerivastatin) from the U.S. market because of reports of sometimes fatal rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle adverse reaction from this cholesterol-lowering (lipid-lowering) product. The FDA agrees with and supports this de

Dozens of people were injured yesterday as two cars on the "Superman Ride of Steel" roller coaster collided. While most injuries appeared minor, at least twenty-two patrons were sent to hospitals in the Agawam, Massachusetts area. Doctors reported injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones and whiplash.

Scientists recently concluded that primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is not as rare as once believed. In addition, researchers believe that some cases of PPH may be genetic. Scientists studied victims of this rare form of high blood pressure and found that five families with members diagnosed with primary pulmonary

A train collision in downtown Chicago during Friday morning rush hour injured more than 140 people. The elevated trains collided about 9 a.m., leaving hundreds of passengers stranded for hours. Service on other trains traveling along the same track was also interrupted. In the middle of Friday's rush hour, one

Months before the trial was scheduled to begin, a lawsuit involving a Ford Explorer rollover settled for $22 million. The 1992 Ford Explorer rolled over when a car traveling along Chicago's Eisenhower Expressway nicked the driver's side rear wheel well. The driver, Nabil Boury, sustained minor injuries in the acci

Already this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued six "warning letters" to some of America's largest airlines. Familiar companies such as Northwest, American Airlines, Continental, and Delta Air Lines were cited for violating Federal regulations regarding sewage handling and food storage.

Dads coming into contact with hazardous substances such as turpentine, wood dust, diesel fuel and lacquer thinner may be putting their young children at increased risk of developing a rare childhood cancer, neuroblastoma, according to a recent study. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of E

One of the key players in the multi-billion dollar tobacco litigation has teamed with the Federal government's lead attorney in the Microsoft anti-trust suit to gang up on the Nation's largest HMOs for denying promised medical care and "unjust enrichment." U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno is presiding over the Miam

As commercial and residential development moves into California's mountainous hills, construction is stirring up naturally occurring asbestos, a carcinogen associated with fatal respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Natural asbestos can be found in California's green mineral serpentine rock. As bui

Purdue Pharma LP is facing at least 13 lawsuits regarding its powerful painkiller OxyContin. The suits claim the company is responsible for a rash of overdoses and deaths associated with the drug. OxyContin is a morphine-like painkiller and is the Nation's leading prescription narcotic. Designed to ease the chronic p

Several days after being discharged from the hospital with what doctors said was an earache, Franco DeRungs died of a heart attack. The 46-year-old First National Bank senior vice president went to the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California complaining of chest and ear pains. He was discharged later that day. One wee

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require all vehicles made after November 2003 to come equipped with a tire pressure warning system that alerts drivers of dangerous pressure decreases. Currently, some automakers offer the systems as standard or optional equipment. The new regulatio

The president of Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. recently announced the company would fight any attempts by government officials to force a recall of additional tires. Bridgestone is Firestone's parent company and vowed to fight in the American court system if necessary. Last year, Firestone recalled 6.5 million tires aft

Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides are affecting male fertility according to a study recently published in the journal Human Reproduction. French researchers studied 225 men in Argentina who visited an infertility clinic between 1995 and 1998. Researchers asked the men about their medical history, sexual activit

What should have been a joyous wedding day turned into a nightmare for one Florida family. Barbara Gould, the 62-year-old grandmother of the bride, was killed outside the wedding hall when a 14-ton Mack truck collided with the car she was riding in. 18-year-old Christina Hatch was driving Gould and her 14-year-old br

An recent accident on a ride called "Chaos" at Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park injured several people. The ride tipped over on its side, leaving patrons suspended for several hours before rescue workers could free them. The park is located in Muskegon, approximately 40 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. Up to

Ocean Trail nursing home in Wilmington, North Carolina is crawling with toxic mold. The menace is growing behind drywall, underneath the vinyl wallpaper and between walls. Nearly every room in two wings of the nursing home has several inches of mold growth within the walls. Ocean Trail officials first noticed moi

Even though bicycle helmet use increased dramatically over the last decade, head injuries rose 10%, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In fact, fewer people are now riding bicycles, which means that the rate of head injuries has actually increased by 51%. Officials still recommend that riders wea

A Cheyenne, Wyoming Federal jury found pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, formerly SmithKline Beecham, liable for David Schnell's actions stemming from his use of Paxil, an antidepressant. Schnell, 60, took the drug only 48 hours before he shot and killed his wife, daughter, granddaughter and then himself. The j

If you visited a doctor's office recently, you probably left with several prescriptions, according to a new government survey. Experts attribute the increase in prescriptions to drug companies' aggressive marketing campaigns, as well as an increasingly elderly population. According to the National Center for Health St

Latex gloves are effective in preventing transmission of many infectious diseases. But for some, exposure to latex may result in skin rashes; hives; flushing; itching; nasal, eye, or sinus symptoms; asthma; and shock. Reports of such allergic reactions to latex have increased in recent years --especially among health c

Recently, Maryland health officials issued a warning to nursing mothers, children under 12, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant, to avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tuna steak and tilefish because of mercury contamination. Mercury can affect the central nervous system of fetuses and young children.

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, W.R. Grace & Co. failed to respond to the Justice Department's requests regarding the company's environmental liabilities. The Department recently filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware claiming that Grace ignored reques