contamination -

A wide variety of antiseptic wipes and benzalkonium chloride swabs have been recalled by the DUKAL Corporation.  These swabs and wipes could be contaminated with a microbe called Burkholderia cepacia.  Healthy people should not feel any ill effects due to this contamination, and indeed there have yet to be illness reports, but people with compromised immune systems could be in danger of incurring an infection.  Consumers are advised to contact DUKAL to figure out return instructions.

Follow this link to learn more about the recall.

A product has been recalled in China by an American company responsible for distributing products across the world.

The recall was announced by Samsonite and concerns a piece of luggage with the brand name Tokyo Chic.  The recall will affect those suitcases that were available in Hong Kong.  A chemical threat is to blame for this particular recall.

At issue is the potential for these suitcases to be contaminated with heightened levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, the presence of which might lead to a user developing cancer.  The danger arises from these chemicals’ potential presence in the handle of the Tokyo Chic suitcase.

Last week, the Hong Kong Consumer Council reported that the levels of PAHs were too high under voluntary German certification standards.  However, Samsonite have themselves said that there exists no threat.  They stated that they initiated testing into the suitcases, and that their testing did not turn up levels of PAHs that were higher than was acceptable.

As such, they advise that individuals with the product in their possession can continue to use it.  However, because of concerns that were laid out in the report, they decided to  recall the product from those retail locations where the suitcases were still on the shelf.  Samsonite also said that anyone who was worried about safety could get their handles replaced.

The project proposing a dog beach to the Santa Monica area has been allegedly denied by the California State Parks, according to local news articles.

Despite all efforts, state officials claimed that a 6-1 vote from the Santa Monica City Council will not be enough to pull this project through. The movement ‘Heal the Bay’ expressed severe concerns about the fecal bacteria that could be deliberately spread in the water because of the presence of dogs in the region.

A meeting was held by the Community and Cultural Services so a memo could be furnished and delivered to the Santa Monica City Council demonstrating the many issues that could be directly linked to the creation of a dog beach.

The Director from the Community and Cultural Services stated that the fear of threatening species in the sensitive ecosystem that the beach is may be the first and most important reason a dog beach should not be allowed to turn into a reality for the city of Santa Monica.

Personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles understand that a dog park could also cause major health risks to the safety of visitors and beach goers.

As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I hope that the city of Santa Monica will have its residents as well as the environment in mind when making a decision regarding this controversial issue.