Wii Fitness, Stress And Pregnancy, Fluorescent Bulbs, Artificial Turf

Maureen Fitzgerald

9:10 AM EDT, May 19, 2008

You may not need to hit the gym to get in shape.

Just plug into your gaming console. Nintendo is releasing its latest sensation, the fitness console. The Japanese company is hoping that the "Wii Fit,"

A balance board, and fitness program for the best-selling Wii console,

Once again will change the way you interact with video games.

The hardware and software package will be released on Wednesday.

It takes players through a series of exercises including yoga and aerobics,

That actually measures body mass index and helps people set and track fitness goals. And now to an interesting study about what stress can do to your baby if you're pregnant. For years, we've heard, calm down, it's bad for the baby.

Now science suggests that's right.

Women who are stressed-out about money, relationships and other problems, during pregnancy may have children who are pre-disposed to allergies and asthma.

That's according to new research with the American thoracic society.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence linking maternal stress, to changes in a child's developing immune systems, even during pregnancy.

We do it to save the environment,

But changing out those incandescent light bulbs for longer lasting fluorescents may pose a very real health risk down the road. It's supposed to help the environment and reduce your electric use.

The problem is that there are just a few places with recycling centers for those fluorescent bulbs.

And scientists agree that the hundreds of millions that may end up in landfills and incinerators.

And the toxins in them could be very dangerous to our health.

In our area, Ikea collects the bulbs. More concerns this morning about the safety of artificial turf,

In fact, the town of West Haven has just learned that a stadium field there, is made from the same Nylon-based material that was found to have lead in it, in several New Jersey fields. Those fields have been closed.

And now the new haven register is reporting that the state has set aside 2-hundred- thousand dollars to study the safety of artificial turf athletic fields filled with chopped-up used tires.