On September 23rd, 2021, the Boppy Company issued a voluntary recall of 3.3 million baby loungers after eight infants suffocated while sleeping on the pillow between 2015 and 2020. The three baby loungers being recalled are:
Incense is chic again.
You have only to see all the photos of burning incense and crystals on Instagram to know that young people are following this trend. Some companies are even marketing incense as being good for your health. And while it’s true that burning incense can make your house or office smell like a calming spa; is it really a good idea? Not necessarily according to researchers.
Recent studies published in the journal Nature have revealed some surprising health risks linked to burning incense indoors which may make you reconsider using incense to create a calming, patchouli-scented environment. Here are some of the harmful health effects linked to incense burning:
Recent news reports have revealed that a benzene leak at Ford’s Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan has contaminated the sewers in a 4-square-mile—and possibly larger—area of the city. As a result of the benzene leak, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recommending that residents who live in the area bounded by I-75 to the east, Gibraltar Road to the north, Cahill Road to the west, and Woodruff Road south, evacuate until further notice. Initially, 10 homes and one school were evacuated, but now, because it is unclear which homes may be at risk, the MDHHS is recommending that the entire neighborhood evacuate.
Why Should Residents Evacuate?
Residents may be at risk of exposure to high levels of benzene, a volatile organic compound (VOC), which can be harmful to human health. Measurements of air in buildings and sewer lines have shown that VOC levels exceed health-protective and explosive levels.
From the time they begin walking, children are in danger of being injured as pedestrians. According to some very sad statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016, one in five children under the age of 15 killed in traffic accidents was a pedestrian. Children are less experienced with road safety, less aware of the danger that cars pose, more impulsive, and harder for drivers to see. Too many children are injured or killed every year by distracted, intoxicated, speeding, or negligent drivers. When that happens, families are left reeling, devastated by the aftermath– physical, emotional, and financial—of these tragic accidents.
Adults can help protect children by being aware of the scenarios that are especially dangerous for children and by knowing what to do after a child has been struck by a car or truck. The child pedestrian accident attorneys at The Collins Law Firm can guide you through the legal process after an accident with care and compassion. Knowing the most common situations that lead to pedestrian accidents can help prevent them in the first place.
How do Children Get Injured in Pedestrian Accidents?
July proved to be a dangerous month for car accidents in the Chicago suburbs. Multiple car accidents in Oswego, Naperville, Plainfield, Brookfield, Aurora, Schaumburg, Morton Grove, and Hoffman Estates resulted in serious injuries and fatalities. Pedestrians and motorcyclists were especially impacted by these car crashes. Please keep yourself safe this summer by maintaining your car in good working order, following the rules of the road, and refusing to drive while impaired or distracted.
Fatal Oswego Pedestrian Accident – Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian that occurred in the early hours of July 1st on Mill Road on the west side. The pedestrian, a 32-year-old man from Oswego, was attempting to cross Mill Road at Washington Street when he was struck by a Nissan Sentra traveling eastbound on Mill Rd. Paramedics transported the pedestrian to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries. The driver of the Nissan was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Fatal Motorcycle Accident in Morton Grove, IL. — A 41-year-old man from Mount Prospect was killed in a traffic accident in Morton Grove on Friday, July 2nd. The crash occurred at the intersection of Oakton Street and Gross Point Road at approximately 10:30 p.m. when a motorcyclist riding east on Oakton Street at Gross Point collided with a Nissan Altima traveling west on Oakton. The motorcyclist was found unresponsive by police at the scene and was transported to St. Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Nissan Altima was driven by a 74-year-old man from Skokie. The accident is still under investigation.
Johnson & Johnson is recalling all lots of five NEUTROGENA and AVEENO sunscreens due to internal testing which found low levels of benzene in some samples of the products. The recalled sunscreen products are packaged in aerosol cans and were sold nationwide. Consumers should stop using the products and follow the instructions below.
The sunscreens affected by the recall are the following aerosol products:
Summer is here, along with beach days, afternoons at the neighborhood pool, tropical vacations, and lathering up in sunscreen. As you head out into the summer sun, however, it might be worth doing some research before grabbing any old bottle of sunscreen off the shelf. A new report has found benzene, a chemical that is known to cause cancer, in 78 sunscreen and after-sun products.
Independent Testing Found Benzene in 27% of Sunscreens
Valisure, a pharmacy that performs its own independent tests on various products, recently tested almost 300 different sunscreens in an effort to find a “clean” sunscreen. Of those 300 sunscreens, 78 (or 27%) tested positive for benzene; some even containing triple the FDA’s limit of 2 parts per million. As a result, Valisure is asking for a recall of the contaminated batches.
Last month, Philips issued a huge recall of many of its ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines meant to help those struggling with sleep apnea. The company has issued the recall with no answers as to when the products will be fixed and available again, leaving many people feeling lost without an alternative. People with sleep apnea need these machines to get a good night’s sleep and ensure their safety during the night. Untreated sleep apnea can result in a slew of health problems; everything from anxiety and tiredness to high blood pressure, heart attacks, or strokes. Leaving people without treatment for their sleep apnea is potentially dangerous. However, the problems with these machines need to be resolved before they are safe to use.
What is the Problem with Phillips’ CPAP Machines?
The issue with these devices is the foam that is inside of them, a polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR). This foam is meant to reduce the sounds and vibrations that come from the device, but it has recently been discovered that this foam also has the potential to break down inside the device and enter the air pathway of the machine, leading to the possibility of being inhaled or swallowed by the person using it. The foam also may release chemicals into the airway of the device, which would then be inhaled by the user.
The Collins Law Firm, P.C. has initiated a Class Action lawsuit against Chemtool Incorporated, seeking damages for the devastating explosion that took place at their Rockton, Illinois plant on June 14, 2021.
The explosion caused a massive chemical fire that produced a gigantic cloud of harmful smoke, ash, and debris, visible from a distance of 100 miles. Eighty-nine firefighting departments were deployed to assist in battling the inferno.
Following the fire, Winnebago County officials declared a state of emergency and imposed a mandatory evacuation order for all residents residing within a one-mile radius of the plant. The affected individuals were instructed not to return to their homes, even to retrieve essential items such as medication, communication devices, or personal belongings.
UPDATE: The Collins Law Firm. P.C. and Miner Barnhill & Galland, P.C. have filed a class action lawsuit against Chemtool Incorporated on behalf of residents affected by the explosion and fire that caused them to be evacuated from the area.
A massive explosion and fire at the Chemtool plant, 1165 Prairie Road, in Rockton, IL, has caused huge plumes of ash and debris to blanket homes and businesses two miles and further from the plant, not only in Rockton but in South Beloit and other communities, as well. Chemtool manufactures greases, including lithium, lithium complex, aluminum, and clay/bentonite greases.
Along with the debris, it is likely that toxic chemicals have also been released into the air in these communities, and that residents will be inhaling them for some time to come. Local officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents living within a mile of Chemtool due to the falling ash and the potentially dangerous chemicals released in the fire. At least 1000 residents have been evacuated, along with several businesses. In addition, anyone within three miles of the plant has been advised to wear a mask for protection.
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