Health Highlights: Dec. 14, 2007

ByABC News
March 24, 2008, 2:20 AM

Mar. 23 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Recalled Valucraft Booster Cables Pose Shock Hazard

AutoZone Parts Inc., of Memphis Tenn., has received four reports of incidents of reverse polarity that led to minor property damage.

The recall includes Valucraft eight-gauge and 10-gauge booster cables, which are orange and have "8GA" or "10GA" printed on them. Consumers should stop using these cables and return them to any AutoZone store for a full refund or a free replacement.

For more information, contact AutoZone at 1-800-230-9786.

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More Blood Contaminants Found in People with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Study

People with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have higher levels of environmental contaminants, such as PCBs and organochlorine pesticides, in their blood than people without the disease, a Canadian study found. This suggests that the chemicals may be a factor in the disease, the study authors said.

B.C. Cancer Agency researchers collected blood samples from 900 residents of British Columbia, including 422 people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, CTV News reported.

Compared to those without the disease, the cancer patients had higher levels of almost every chemical tested for in the study. People with the greatest exposure to PCBs were twice as likely to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma than those with the least exposure.

The findings will appear in the International Journal of Cancer.

"We know that the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been steadily rising for the past 30 years worldwide, but there hasn't been clear evidence to explain the increase," lead author John Spinelli, a senior scientist at the B.C. Cancer Agency, told CTV News.

They sold for about $5 at specialty stores nationwide from June 2006 through December 2007, the CPSC said.

The recalled products have date codes 6116, 6129, 6158, 6137, 0606, 0806, 0906, and 1006, which can be found on the back of the teether, above the Infantino logo. The recalled teethers should be taken away from young children immediately.