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The City of Philadelphia issued an advisory to locals on Sunday that they should drink bottled water “out of caution” following a chemical spill in the nearby Delaware River. On Twitter, the city wrote that it is currently “responding to a spill of a latex product that occurred along a Delaware River tributary” and that “more information will be provided as it becomes available.” As of Sunday, it wrote that “no contaminants” were discovered in the city’s tap water but said that any potential contaminants would most likely be found at the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “Out of an...

Guayule is an evergreen shrub that originated in the arid zone from the southwestern part of the USA to northern Mexico and therefore can be grown in environments totally different from those suited for para rubber trees (the current primary source of natural rubber (*1)). Also, the rubber constituent contained therein is very similar to that of para rubber trees. Given these factors, guayule is expected to become a new source of natural rubber. *1Hevea brasiliensis, Euphorbiaceae; evergreen tree originated in Brazil. Latex extracted from the tree contains natural rubber.

Upper Darby police have yet to close their inquiry into last month's odd death of engineer Peter Stelzenmuller. That is partly due to how and where Stelzenmuller was found: clad in a scuba suit in the corner of his attic. Investigators are also intrigued by the bizarre history of Stelzenmuller's girlfriend, Edythe Maa, who reported finding his body Aug. 18, Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. In 2008, Maa was working as a dominatrix when her boyfriend, a New York lawyer, was fatally shot near her Philadelphia apartment by an angry former client. The killer then kidnapped and sexually assaulted Maa...

A clown has had the smile wiped off his face after being told he couldn't use balloons in his act because children might be allergic to latex. Barney Baloney said he was told by bosses at a supermarket where he was booked to appear that he should leave his balloons at home because of the potential for allergic reactions. The 47-year-old entertainer, also known as Tony Turner, has previously had to ditch his bubble-making machine because he could not get public liability insurance as companies assessed that youngsters might slip and hurt themselves.

LatexNatural rubber latex (NRL) has emerged over the last decade as an increasingly common trigger for anaphylaxis-producing allergies. It is found in a wide range of manufactured goods, including an estimated 40,000 common household items. Latex allergies now affect an estimated 1% to 6% of the U.S. population and the reasons for the increase in incidence can be attributed to biohazard precautions and manufacturing changes.1-3Latex allergy is an allergic sensitivity to the proteins in NRL that often worsens with each exposure, a phenomenon known as allergic sensitization. Allergic reactions to latex can range from moderate skin irritations to life-threatening anaphylaxis.You...

Faced with a lawsuit, the Bellingham Board of Library Trustees last night adopted a new policy banning latex balloons and gloves in the building.Patrick Callahan, whose 9-year-old son Andrew has severe latex allergy, said he is relieved. He has been fighting for three months to get the facility latex-free. "As long as we are in agreement, I will officially drop the case," he told trustees after a meeting in the library last night.Trouble brewed in February after a children's program in the library left balloon sculptures displayed in the building. Callahan said he asked library officials to remove the balloons...