Smoking can blind you
A new study has shown that nearly six in 10 or 57.5 per cent of smokers in Singapore are blind to the fact that smoking can cause blindness.
The findings, conducted by local doctors and researchers, covered 200 smokers aged between 14 and 83.
Blindness is a disability widely feared by most, yet only about four in 10 smokers here are aware of this risk of lighting up.
In fact, the study showed that the link between smoking and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - a form of eye disease - is the least recognised, among five other smoking-related diseases.
These include lung cancer and heart attack, which each has more than a 70 per cent awareness rate.
The study though showed that the fear of blindness is the second biggest motivating factor for smokers to quit the habit, after lung cancer.
More than half of the respondents also felt that graphic health warnings were effective in getting them to stub it out.
Medical experts said this showed a need to raise public awareness on blindness as a smoking-related disease.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, who was speaking at the AMD Awareness week said there are now more than 30 million people worldwide suffering from some form of AMD. This figure is likely to triple over the next 25 years.
Dr Khor said this makes the disease a "significant public health concern" as the population ages.
Experts said apart from quitting smoking, preventive steps can be taken, such as having a diet rich in vegetables and vitamins.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
2011年9月25日星期日
2011年9月21日星期三
公众别落入55万英镑奖金骗局
公众别落入55万英镑奖金骗局
若你最近收到一封以蚬壳（Shell）公司名义发的电邮，通知你获得55万英镑的奖金，可别跌入圈套，信以为真地把个人资料电邮给对方。
最近网上流传一封注明由蚬壳公司（英国）发出的电邮，本地的蚬壳公司受询时指出，这封电邮并非蚬壳公司发出，提醒公众提防这类电邮。
这封以蚬壳名义发出的电邮，注明是从英国伦敦公司在今年9月份寄出的，并印有蚬壳标志。
根据电邮内容，配合蚬壳汽油的常年促销活动，收信人是其中的得奖者，可获取55万英镑奖金。收信人必须将该电邮的代表号码、名字、地址与联络号码电邮给负责人。负责人的名字、电邮以及联络号码都附在电邮上。
电邮上称，负责人接获收信人回复的资料后，将联络得奖者并将奖金汇给对方。但可疑的是，电邮上提醒收信人在获取奖金前，获奖消息得保密。
本地蚬壳公司发言人吕诗琳受询时说，该电邮不是由蚬壳发出的。蚬壳不会使用非蚬壳的邮址发出电邮，例如yahoo.com等。蚬壳也不会向顾客要求现金，作为领取奖金或招聘的条件。
《联合早报》
若你最近收到一封以蚬壳（Shell）公司名义发的电邮，通知你获得55万英镑的奖金，可别跌入圈套，信以为真地把个人资料电邮给对方。
最近网上流传一封注明由蚬壳公司（英国）发出的电邮，本地的蚬壳公司受询时指出，这封电邮并非蚬壳公司发出，提醒公众提防这类电邮。
这封以蚬壳名义发出的电邮，注明是从英国伦敦公司在今年9月份寄出的，并印有蚬壳标志。
根据电邮内容，配合蚬壳汽油的常年促销活动，收信人是其中的得奖者，可获取55万英镑奖金。收信人必须将该电邮的代表号码、名字、地址与联络号码电邮给负责人。负责人的名字、电邮以及联络号码都附在电邮上。
电邮上称，负责人接获收信人回复的资料后，将联络得奖者并将奖金汇给对方。但可疑的是，电邮上提醒收信人在获取奖金前，获奖消息得保密。
本地蚬壳公司发言人吕诗琳受询时说，该电邮不是由蚬壳发出的。蚬壳不会使用非蚬壳的邮址发出电邮，例如yahoo.com等。蚬壳也不会向顾客要求现金，作为领取奖金或招聘的条件。
《联合早报》
2011年9月14日星期三
Blue skies? Haze may return next week
Blue skies? Haze may return next week
A "LONG-TERM solution" to the haze woes here lies in a change in behaviour of firms and people involved in the burning of forests in Indonesia, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, yesterday.
Speaking to the media at the launch of Singapore drag queen Kumar's biography, Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore had offered Indonesia help, such as firefighters and cloud seeding.
But "so far, it has not called on our resources", he said.
"Frankly, it does have enough resources and it's a matter of political will and implementation on the ground," he added.
Dr Balakrishnan also warned Singaporeans not to celebrate yesterday's "nice blue skies" as a sign that the worst of the haze is over.
"We anticipate that...early next week, we might get a return of the haze."
～News courtesy of Omy～
A "LONG-TERM solution" to the haze woes here lies in a change in behaviour of firms and people involved in the burning of forests in Indonesia, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, yesterday.
Speaking to the media at the launch of Singapore drag queen Kumar's biography, Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore had offered Indonesia help, such as firefighters and cloud seeding.
But "so far, it has not called on our resources", he said.
"Frankly, it does have enough resources and it's a matter of political will and implementation on the ground," he added.
Dr Balakrishnan also warned Singaporeans not to celebrate yesterday's "nice blue skies" as a sign that the worst of the haze is over.
"We anticipate that...early next week, we might get a return of the haze."
～News courtesy of Omy～
Legislation to protect consumer data
Mica plans legislation to protect consumer data
SINGAPOREANS concerned about their personal details being misused without their consent when they fill up a lucky-draw form can take comfort in a new law which will prevent that from happening.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) yesterday outlined the areas that a proposed consumer data-protection law, to be tabled in Parliament early next year, could cover.
One suggestion was a fine of up to $1 million for companies that flout the new rules, on top of any "orders for corrective action", Mica said. Less serious breaches could draw smaller fines.
A new regulatory body to oversee compliance with the new law and to raise awareness on data-protection issues to be called the Data Protection Commission (DPC) has been proposed.
The idea for a broad consumer data-protection law that does not overlap with existing laws for specific sectors, such as telecoms and banking, was mooted in Parliament in February.
Mica yesterday also issued a consultation paper to get public feedback to help it draft the new legislation, such as defining personal data.
It proposed that the term includes IC numbers, passport numbers, photographs and other information that could identify a person. This could cover mobile-phone numbers.
Mica also proposed the setting up of a national "do not call" registry, where consumers can register their phone numbers to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls, text messages and fax messages from all firms here. But consumers could still allow selected companies to contact them.
~News courtesy of Omy~
SINGAPOREANS concerned about their personal details being misused without their consent when they fill up a lucky-draw form can take comfort in a new law which will prevent that from happening.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) yesterday outlined the areas that a proposed consumer data-protection law, to be tabled in Parliament early next year, could cover.
One suggestion was a fine of up to $1 million for companies that flout the new rules, on top of any "orders for corrective action", Mica said. Less serious breaches could draw smaller fines.
A new regulatory body to oversee compliance with the new law and to raise awareness on data-protection issues to be called the Data Protection Commission (DPC) has been proposed.
The idea for a broad consumer data-protection law that does not overlap with existing laws for specific sectors, such as telecoms and banking, was mooted in Parliament in February.
Mica yesterday also issued a consultation paper to get public feedback to help it draft the new legislation, such as defining personal data.
It proposed that the term includes IC numbers, passport numbers, photographs and other information that could identify a person. This could cover mobile-phone numbers.
Mica also proposed the setting up of a national "do not call" registry, where consumers can register their phone numbers to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls, text messages and fax messages from all firms here. But consumers could still allow selected companies to contact them.
~News courtesy of Omy~
2011年9月3日星期六
咖啡不能提神 纯粹心理作用
英研究：咖啡不能提神 纯粹心理作用
英国研究发现，咖啡根本没办法提神，只是心理作用。
东伦敦大学找了88名18岁到47岁，一天要喝两杯以上咖啡的人做实验，把他们分成两组，一组告诉他们喝的是无咖啡因咖啡，实际上他们喝的却是一般咖啡；另一组则相反。
喝完一杯咖啡后让他们接受测试，测验他们的注意力、反应时间和心情等等。结果显示，自以为喝下咖啡因的那一组，注意力和反应都比较好。
研究人员说，从这项实验来看，咖啡本身无法提升注意力，反倒是自以为喝了咖啡的人，心理上有了依靠，注意力就比较集中了。
英国研究发现，咖啡根本没办法提神，只是心理作用。
东伦敦大学找了88名18岁到47岁，一天要喝两杯以上咖啡的人做实验，把他们分成两组，一组告诉他们喝的是无咖啡因咖啡，实际上他们喝的却是一般咖啡；另一组则相反。
喝完一杯咖啡后让他们接受测试，测验他们的注意力、反应时间和心情等等。结果显示，自以为喝下咖啡因的那一组，注意力和反应都比较好。
研究人员说，从这项实验来看，咖啡本身无法提升注意力，反倒是自以为喝了咖啡的人，心理上有了依靠，注意力就比较集中了。
2011年8月17日星期三
看电视1小时 减寿22分钟
澳洲研究：看电视1小时 减寿22分钟
吸烟危害健康，原来看电视也会危害健康，甚至令人短命。
澳大利亚昆士兰大学研究员就首次量化看电视的风险，指每看1小时电视，人们就会短命22分钟，每日平均看6小时电视，更会短命几近5年，像吸烟一样危害健康。
昆士兰大学的研究员，深入分析了1万1247名25岁以上澳洲人于1999至 2000年有关看电视的调查结果，再跟当地人口和死亡率数据比对，从而推算出看电视跟命长命短的关系。研究结果刊登在最新一期《英国运动医学期刊》（British Journal of Sports Medicine），是首次量化出看电视风险的研究。
儿童看电视，勿超两小时
《联合晚报》。
吸烟危害健康，原来看电视也会危害健康，甚至令人短命。
澳大利亚昆士兰大学研究员就首次量化看电视的风险，指每看1小时电视，人们就会短命22分钟，每日平均看6小时电视，更会短命几近5年，像吸烟一样危害健康。
昆士兰大学的研究员，深入分析了1万1247名25岁以上澳洲人于1999至 2000年有关看电视的调查结果，再跟当地人口和死亡率数据比对，从而推算出看电视跟命长命短的关系。研究结果刊登在最新一期《英国运动医学期刊》（British Journal of Sports Medicine），是首次量化出看电视风险的研究。
儿童看电视，勿超两小时
《联合晚报》。
2011年8月4日星期四
美国婴儿汽车座椅 60%含有害化学物
美国婴儿汽车座椅 60%含有害化学物
非营利环保组织周三发表的调查报告说，美国超过一半的婴儿汽车座椅含有危险的化学物。
密歇根州的生态学中心对150种婴儿座椅进行检测，发现其中60%含有对健康有害的化学物，比如溴（Bromine）和氯（chlorine）。这意味着，这些婴儿座椅都使用了聚氯乙烯（PVC）。
动物试验已经发现，含溴阻燃剂能永久性影响脑部发育，而聚氯乙烯已经被美国环境保护署定为致癌物。
《联合早报》
非营利环保组织周三发表的调查报告说，美国超过一半的婴儿汽车座椅含有危险的化学物。
密歇根州的生态学中心对150种婴儿座椅进行检测，发现其中60%含有对健康有害的化学物，比如溴（Bromine）和氯（chlorine）。这意味着，这些婴儿座椅都使用了聚氯乙烯（PVC）。
动物试验已经发现，含溴阻燃剂能永久性影响脑部发育，而聚氯乙烯已经被美国环境保护署定为致癌物。
《联合早报》
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