As America gears up for the traditional Fourth of July fireworks displays, scientists are looking at ways to make fireworks more environmentally friendly, while minimizing potential health risks.
Chemical & Engineering News has an interesting story,
Pyrotechnics For The Planet, that focuses on the use of potassium perchlorate in fireworks, and the connection between perchlorate to thyroid problems. You can also read
Roland Piquepaille's blog recap of the situation at ZDNet.
Also, learn more about how the thyroid is affected by perchlorate -- which is a byproduct of rocket and firework production that is contaminating water supplies around the nation.
Photo: clipart.com
Eltroxin, the levothyroxine drug manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline,
is being sold to Johannesburg-based Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd., the southern hemisphere's largest generic-drug maker.
Eltroxin has been under fire recently in New Zealand, where the drug, the only government-funded thyroid hormone medication, was reformulated, and is apparently causing a variety of symptoms, discussed in the following articles.
On June 27, 2008, Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority,
issued a release regarding Eltroxin, and on July 1, 2008, the
Southland Times reported that Eltroxin will be getting an independent test, in response to hundreds of complaints from patients about adverse reactions to the drug.
One has to wonder if the reformulation and subsequent problems with Eltroxin are the reason for -- or result of -- GlaxoSmithKline getting rid of the drug from its product line. We probably aren't going to find out, but something to consider.
Photo: clipart.com
