June 20, 2008 Meeting Joint with the Milwaukee Section - Lunch Meeting -

Jeffrey Weidenhamer
Professor of Chemistry and Chair, Department of Chemistry, Geology & Physics Ashland University, Ashland, OH 44805 "Lead: An Ancient But Still Present Hazard"

Date:	June 20, 2008
Location:	Illinois Beach Resort Illinois Beach State Park Zion, IL 60099 (847) 625-7300

Cost:  $20.00 for members of ACS and their guests, $22.00 for non-members,
     $10 for students or unemployed

Lunch reservations are required and should be received in the Section Office via phone (847-647-8405), fax (847-647-8364), email (chicagoacs@ameritech.net), or web by noon on Wednesday, June 18.   PLEASE HONOR YOUR RESERVATIONS.  The Section must pay for all dinner orders.  No-shows will be billed.

  Please REGISTER ON LINE 

Lunch Meeting
11:00 AM   Job Club
11:30 AM - 12:30  PM Social Hour and video of Illinois Beach State Park
12:30  PM Lunch
1:30 PM General Meeting
50-year members honored
Distinguished Service Award presented to Margaret Stowell Levenberg
General Meeting speaker

Topic: "Lead: An Ancient But Still Present Hazard"

Abstract:  Lead is a known neurotoxin that has profound effects on the neurological development of young children. For this reason, lead has been eliminated as an additive to gasoline and as a component of most paints. Deteriorating lead paint in older homes is the major path of lead exposure for young children in the US.   However, the dozens of recent recalls of imported toys and jewelry items for lead contamination have emphasized the need for continued vigilance in protection of children from unnecessary sources of lead exposure, and the fact that in a global economy, product safety is as good as the weakest link in the global product supply chain. This talk will review recent research on the lead content of children’s products such as jewelry and toys, and evidence that lead in trinket jewelry may derive from improperly recycled lead waste from vehicle batteries and other sources.

Biography: Jeff Weidenhamer is a Professor of Chemistry and is the Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Geology & Physics at Ashland University. He teaches general, analytical and non-majors chemistry courses, and his research in chemical ecology is funded by the National Science Foundation. His work on lead-contaminated products grew out of a non-majors course he developed, "Lead and Civilization", which focuses on the chemistry and toxicity of lead. With students and colleagues, he has published five recent papers on lead contamination of imported, inexpensive jewelry in the US.

Dr. Weidenhamer’s work on this topic has been cited by numerous national and international news media, including National Geographic, Consumer Reports, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Associated Press and the London Sunday Times. He has been interviewed by CBS News, NPR, and Radio Free Asia, among others. His work has resulted in numerous product recalls of more than 1 million Halloween and children’s jewelry items for lead contamination.

Map and Directions

FROM WISCONSIN

Drive south on I-94 to US 41 South.

Take US-41 South to Wadsworth Road, turn left and continue East (about 5.25 miles) on Wadsworth Road thru the stoplight at Sheridan Road (Rt. 137). Continue driving East into the park about another 1.75 miles following the signs to Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center.

FROM ILLINOIS

Using I-94 (the TriState Tollway) drive North, exit at Grand Avenue (Route 132) east. After exiting, get into the left lane immediately and make a left turn at the first light, Dilleys Road.

Take Dilleys Road north to Wadsworth Road and turn right onto Wadsworth Road and continue east on Wadsworth Road thru the stoplight at Sheridan Road (Rt. 137). Continue driving east into the park about 1.75 miles following the signs to the right to the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center.

OR

Take Skokie Highway (Route 41) north into Lake County, past Waukegan.  Turn right/east on Wadsworth Road and follow the directions above.

Parking:   Free

For information on the surrounding state park, visit: www.dnr.state.il.us

Lunch:

• Grilled Breast of Chicken served with Béarnaise sauce;
• or Salmon fillet seasoned and broiled, topped with lemon dill sauce;
• or Vegetable Stir Fry,

fresh vegetables stir fried in a marinade and served with white rice.  Entrée includes rolls and butter, garden salad, seasonal vegetables, potato, cake for dessert