In a Forbes.com article, ACSH trustee Dr. Henry I. Miller, a Hoover Institution fellow, and ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan teamed up to report on important research published in the June issue of Nature that provides a genetic basis for some autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

A measure to provide billions in health care to 9/11 rescue and recovery workers will not pass a House vote, predicts U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) in today’s New York Post. Democrats wish to pass the bill under a special rule requiring a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority in order to block potential GOP amendments.

In contrast to the recent U.S. trend towards more centralized healthcare, England’s National Health Service (NHS) is about to undergo a revolutionary change in funding that will remove many layers of bureaucracy — and inevitably many jobs, as well — to promote efficiency and more patient-centered care. But one group won’t have to worry about where their next pound is coming from, despite these impending health care cuts: the homeopaths.

ACSH's Jeff Stier recently submitted a blog posting to SavvyAuntie dispelling phthalate fears with facts:

ACSH staffers were disappointed to learn that a report by the non-profit environmental group Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health, including veteran chemophobe activist Dr. Ted Schettler, needlessly blames environmental “toxins” for creating nearly six billion dollars in Michigan child health costs.

The front page of today’s New York Times business section features a topic ACSH addressed on July 9th — the transfer of anti-smoking funding toward anti-obesity efforts.

ACSH staffers received an e-mail yesterday with an official statement from New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, in which he resumed banging his drum to tout Gov. David Paterson’s proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, describing it as “yet another chance to address New York State’s fiscal crisis, and its obesity epidemic.” The proposal has been revised to exempt bottled water, low-calorie beverages, and diet soda.

In our Dispatch article yesterday on tanning salons not adequately warning customers they're increasing their risk of cancer, Stier joked that maybe the city should be required to post warning labels on parks and beaches.

A House subcommittee will be holding hearings this week on a bill to "reform" the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, the federal law regulating chemicals, and ACSH staffers worry that the new measure goes too far.

A judge is allowing a federal lawsuit to go forward against Coca-Cola for making health claims about its Vitaminwater brand.