The American Cancer Society (ACS) of Ohio has filed a lawsuit challenging the state's workplace smoking ban. The ban exempts some military veterans' halls and other private clubs -- and the ASC says this is not OK.

The exemption waters down the law and exposes people to secondhand smoke, say ACS spokeswoman Wendy Simpkins.

The smoking ban was approved by 58 percent of voters in November, took effect in December, and will result in fining beginning the first week in May. The law prohibits smoking in most public places, such as restaurants, bars, and office and excludes tobacco shops, designated hotel rooms, and enclosed areas of nursing homes. Halls and clubs can be excluded from the law only if there are no employees.

Jay Carey, spokesman for the state Health Department, says public health officials have the authority to set rules for enforcement. They ultimately decided that VFW halls and other private clubs were exempt if they had only members as employees. For the exemption to apply, such clubs also must be nonprofit and in a freestanding building. No nonmembers or children under age 18 can be present.

The ACS argues that the state rules are confusing and make the law unworkable.

Less than one year ago, Rep. John P. "Jack" Murtha, D-Pa., came crashing onto the national scene with his opinion that the U.S. military could accomplish nothing more in Iraq and should be pulled out of the war zone. It was a harsh opinion -- and one his Democratic partners thought might hurt their party at a time when they were trying to gain control of Congress. The fact that the Democrats had been seen as weak on national security didn't help. And then a funny thing happened.

Murtha, 74 -- a decorated Marine and the first combat veteran of the Vietnam War elected to the House of Representatives -- became one of the most popular Democrats around, despite or maybe because of his passionate beliefs. Once a behind-the-scenes kind of man, he is now in the public eye. He's out raising money for Democrats in many states. He's attending fundraising events with Al Gore and others. And he's gathering allies at every turn. And while he still faces opposition, he believes that he must make public what he stands for. And so he does. And because of his recent uncharacteristic charismatic presence, details about this once-to-himself man are emerging. Details like these: A local airport is named for him. An institute for the study of neuroscience and pain is named for him. And a breast cancer center bears the name of his wife, Joyce.

The Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Windber Medical Center opened its doors in February 2002. Located in Windber, Pennsylvania, this center began as a collaboration between Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Windber Medical Center and ever since its beginning has offered full diagnostic services for breast health and disease in one convenient location.

Murtha is surely raising awareness with his opinion about the military and national security and war. And even breast cancer gets a little press out of the whole frenzy surrounding this man and his efforts. Which reminds me that somehow, breast cancer seems to touch the lives of just about everyone is some way.

The National Academies' National Research Council has published a 379-page report on trichloroethylene (TCE) link to cancer and other health risks from TCE exposure has strengthened since the 2001 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draft risk assessment.

Based on information provided by the National Academies, at the time, the EPA was blocked from elevating its assessment of the chemical's risks in people by the Defense Department, Energy Department and NASA, all of which have sites polluted with TCE.

TCE, a solvent used to remove grease from metal parts in airplanes and to clean fuel lines at missile sites is contaminating air, soil, and water at several military installations and hundreds of waste sites around the country.

Until the mid-1970s, it also was used as a surgical anesthetic. TCE can be found in typewriter correction fluid, paint removers, adhesives, and spot removers. According to the report, TCE has also been found at about 60 percent of the nation's worst contaminated sites in the Superfund cleanup program.

The National Academies Press offers Assessing the Human Health Risks of Trichloroethylene: Key Scientific Issues as a 379-page report you can purchase -- read online -- or download as a PDF document here.

Related posts you can find here are: TCE: groundwater contamination in toxic triangle of cancer and Erin Brockovich: talks to homeowners about toxic spill lawsuit.

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, has written a personal account of her breast cancer diagnosis, treatments and recovery in a new book called Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength From Friends and Strangers.

During the presidential campaign, Elizabeth was in Wisconsin twelve days before Election Day 2004 when she found the lump in her breast. Few people knew of the possible breast cancer diagnosis to come, and the day John Kerry conceded the election to Bush, she was driven directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for a biopsy. She began cancer treatment almost immediately after the confirmation of breast cancer.

Originally designed by the military as a high-tech way to see in the dark, thermography has become a painless, radiation-free, non-invasive procedure able to detect the earliest signs of breast cancer. Thermography maps out temperatures on the skin's surface, and the infrared images can pick up subtle differences that can indicate vascular changes that signal a cancer in the beginning stages. Not only that, but it can be used to monitor the breasts during treatment to track progress of breast cancer. According to the Thermography website, thermography is designed to detect fast-growing, active tumors in the intervals between mammography screenings or when mammography is not indicated by screening guidelines for women under 50 years of age -- and is particularly useful for women under 50 where mammography is less effective. Hypothetically, if there is an ability to track the slightest changes in tumor growth or regression -- choices in treatment could expand to include more alternative therapies with less guess work. Regardless of treatment choices -- alternative therapies or conventional medicine or a combination of both --there would be less wait time in finding out if a cancer treatment is working.

Janice R. England has been investigating dumpsites and landfills and cancer clusters for over twenty years. In 1984, she founded People Investigating Toxic Sites, P.I.T.S., to provide information on locations of open and closed dumpsites and landfills, contaminated groundwater, and to investigate illnesses related to contamination of the environment.

P.I.T.S. features an online resource of a state by state list of toxic waste, military ordinance and chemical warfare dumps. According to England, many of these sites are linked to contaminated groundwater, cancer clusters, birth defects and various health problems. She has provided a way for you to find out if you live, work, play or send your children to schools that are on or adjacent to these toxic sites. Visit P.I.T.S. to learn more.