MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health' source. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:49:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327811&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20189873%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we have investigated whether polymorphisms in genes that control import/export of drugs (MDR1) and that repair DNA adducts (ERCC1) are involved with drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We have recruited 95 patients with advanced NSCLC (stages IIIB-IV) who were specifically treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. We used the ligase detection reactions assay (LDR) to detect polymorphisms in ERCC1 118C/T, and MDR1 2677T/A, E1/-129T/C, and C3435T in peripheral blood lymphocytes from the patients. The haplotype of MDR1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed using the SHEsis software platform on line. We found that none of the single polymorphisms was associated with treatment response or related toxicity. However, patients carrying... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327811 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3327811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3315247&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20185366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Berg ND, Berg Rasmussen H, Linneberg A, Brasch-Andersen C, Fenger M, Dirksen A, Vesterhauge S, Werge T, Elberling J Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterised by adverse effects due to exposure to low levels of chemical substances. Various genes, especially genes of importance to the metabolism of xenobiotic compounds, have been associated with MCS, but findings are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic susceptibility factors for MCS and self-reported chemical sensitivity in a population sample. Ninety six MCS patients and 1,207 controls from a general population divided into four severity groups of chemical sensitivity were genotyped for variants in the genes encoding cytochrome P450 2D6, arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2, paraoxonase 1, m... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3315247 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3315247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276475&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20153695%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liu HH, Lin MH, Chan CI, Chen HL Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been reported in foundries. A higher risk for DNA damage or oxidative damage lesions was also found in occupationally PAH-exposed groups. The aim of this study was to assess PAH exposure by urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a biological exposure marker. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative damage of foundry workers with different job tasks and the association between 1-OHP, metal exposure and oxidative damage in foundry workers exposed to pervasive carcinogens. A higher concentration of 1-OHP was found in the exposed group (0.322+/-0.289mug/g creatinine) relative to the control group (0.178+/-0.289mug/g creatinine) (p<0.05). Moreover, higher levels of... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276475 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3276475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276476&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20153251%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Grover P, Rekhadevi PV, Danadevi K, Vuyyuri SB, Mahboob M, Rahman MF Lead (Pb) is a widely used heavy metal with a broad industrial usage. Nevertheless, Pb is a serious public health issue as it is one of the most widespread environmental and industrial toxins. The aim of this investigation was to assess the genotoxicity of Pb using the comet assay, micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) test. Blood and urinary Pb content, levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in the erythrocytes (E-ALAD) and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (U-ALA) were determined. The exposure associated oxidative stress was also studied. The study group comprised of 90 male Pb recovery unit workers and 90 matched controls. The results indicated that the exposed workers had a signific... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276476 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3276476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248772&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20133197%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kietthubthew S, Wickliffe J, Sriplung H, Ishida T, Chonmaitree T, Au WW Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is highly prevalent in southeastern Asia suggesting that region-specific environmental and biological factors contribute to the development of this cancer. Exposure to oral carcinogens (i.e. betel quid) and pathogenic agents (i.e. papilloma virus) is common among individuals that develop OSCC in countries such as Thailand, India etc. However, not all individuals with such exposures develop the disease suggesting that other factors further increase susceptibility to OSCC. It is therefore plausible that functional variants in DNA repair genes and/or genes controlling inflammation and immunological response play a role in determining susceptibility to OSCC. Previous studies... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248772 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3248772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3210337&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20097610%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, this pilot study shows that eradication of MRSA in chronic wounds is possible in outpatients. Antiseptic measurements, even administered by the patients themselves, seem to have a positive influence. Their efficacy has to be proven in larger, placebo-controlled studies for outpatient eradication. PMID: 20097610 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3210337 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3210337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3210338&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20096630%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Stefaniak AB, Abbas Virji M, Harvey CJ, Sbarra DC, Day GA, Hoover MD The dissolution of metal-containing particles in the gastric compartment is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the influence of artificial gastric juice chemical composition on bioaccessibility of metals associated with ingestion-based health concerns. Dissolution rates were evaluated for well-characterized feedstock cobalt, tungsten metal, and tungsten carbide powders, chemically bonded pre-sintered (spray dryer material) and post-sintered (chamfer grinder) cemented tungsten carbide materials, and an admixture of pure cobalt and pure tungsten carbide, prepared by mechanically blending the two feedstock powders. Dissolution of each study material was evaluated in three different for... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3210338 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3210338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163165&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20056483%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we determined concentrations of 11 synthetic musks in women above fifty years and compared the results with earlier results from samples of young females. Blood was taken from 53 women above 50 years of age, visiting outpatients of the Department of Angiology at the Hanusch-Krankenhaus in Vienna, Austria. The used analytical methods consist of an extraction and clean-up step and a chromatographic analysis by GC/MS. Tonalide-D3 was used as recovery standard in all samples. Hexachlorobenzene (13)C(6) was used as internal standard. Study participants also completed a questionnaire on the use of cosmetics, about nutrition and other life-style aspects. The two substances which could be detected in higher percentages of the blood plasma samples were galaxolide (89 percent, maximum... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163165 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3163165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153878&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20053584%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen CM, Tischer C, Schnappinger M, Heinrich J Studies have reported contradictory effects of cat and dog exposure on allergy, resulting in inconsistent recommendations on animal avoidance. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies published in English from 2000 to January 2009. It shows in this review that the reported exposure-response relationships are contradictory. A total of 17 and 13 birth cohort studies on cat and dog exposure, respectively, are included in the review. Most of the birth cohort studies found that cat or dog exposure in early life had no effect on the development of asthma or wheezing symptoms and dog exposure during infancy was found to protect children from developing sensitization against aeroallergens. A total of 7 and 6 prospective s... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153878 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3153878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146594&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20045663%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was designed to evaluate the association between lead, mercury, and arsenic in the soil near maternal residences during pregnancy and mental retardation or developmental disability (MR/DD) in children. The study was conducted using 6,048 mothers who did not move throughout their pregnancies and lived within six strips of land in South Carolina and were insured by Medicaid between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002. The mother child pairs were then followed until June 1, 2008, through their Medicaid reimbursement files, to identify children diagnosed with MR/DD. The soil was sampled for mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and As based on a uniform grid, and the soil concentrations were Kriged to estimate chemical concentration at individual locations. We identified a significant relation... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146594 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3146594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146593&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20045664%26dopt%3DAbstract This article will focus on the detection and the removal of cysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giarda lamblia, those being the most frequently identified pathogenic protozoan parasites worldwide with increasing medical and economical consequences. Two plants, one installed in 2000 as a pilot plant at Langenreichenbach near Leipzig (Saxony, Germany), the other one in routine operation since 1993 in a training center at the town of Belzig (Brandenburg, Germany) were tested for three years. Detection methods from the US EPA (ICR Protozoan Method for Detecting Giardia Cysts and Cryptosporidium Oocysts in Water by a Fluorescent Antibody Procedure (EPA/814-B-95-003;US EPA 1995) were employed in order to assess protozoal and bacterial reduction in the wastewater passing through different combina... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146593 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3146593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967932&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19889577%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Beyoglu D, Ozkozaci T, Akici N, Omurtag GZ, Akici A, Ceran O, Sardas S The present study is aimed to evaluate the possible DNA damage in children who are living with smoker parents. The tests were conducted by using alkaline comet assay, measured as a percentage of DNA damage in tail (%DNA(T)). The children that participated in the study were selected from the pediatric unit of a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. %DNA(T) was significantly higher (p<0.01) in children who were exposed to indoor tobacco smoke (10.73+/-1.38) compared to the children in the control group (8.16+/-1.29). The number of cigarettes consumed by household members did not seem to affect the severity of the DNA damage. Since children spend most of their time at home and cannot remove themselves from harmful ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967932 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2967932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2959615&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19879190%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gies A, Heinzow B, Dieter HH, Heindel J PMID: 19879190 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2959615 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2959615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2887093&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19818682%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Au WW, Giri AK, Ruchirawat M A variety of biomarkers have been used to monitor exposed populations to determine potential health hazards from their exposure to environmental toxic agents. However, the majority of these biomarkers have been focused onto the identification of biological damage from the exposure. Therefore, there is a need to develop functional biomarkers that can identify exposure-induced functional deficiencies. More importantly, these deficiencies should be positioned along pathways that are responsible for the development of specific diseases. One of such pathways belongs to the extensive and complex DNA-repair machinery. The machinery thus becomes a large target for damage from environmental toxic agents. The hypothesis is that damage to any component of a r... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2887093 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2887093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2887092&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19818683%26dopt%3DAbstract Order of Merit to Professor Dr. Jürgen Angerer. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2009 Oct 7; Authors: Wilhelm M PMID: 19818683 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2887092 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2887092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2846695&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19783208%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this analysis was the estimation of the cancer risks of asbestos and asbestosis in a surveillance cohort of high-exposed German workers. A group of 576 asbestos workers was selected for high-resolution computer tomography of the chest in 1993-1997. A mortality follow-up was conducted through 2007. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated and Poisson regression was performed to assess mesothelioma risks. A high risk was observed for pleural mesothelioma (SMR 28.10, 95% CI 15.73-46.36) that decreased after cessation of exposure (RR 0.1; 95% CI 0.0-0.6 for >/=30 vs. <30 years after last exposure). Asbestosis was a significant risk factor for mesothelioma (RR 6.0, 95% CI 2.4-14.7). Mesothelioma mortality was still in excess in former asbestos workers although... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2846695 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2846695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2846694&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19783209%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Voelz A, Müller A, Gillen J, Le C, Dresbach T, Engelhart S, Exner M, Bates CJ, Simon A The following recommendations are derived from a systematic analysis of 34 Serratia marcescens outbreaks described in 27 publications from neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (NICU, PICU), in which genotyping methods were used to confirm or exclude clonality. The clinical observation of two or more temporally related cases of nosocomial S. marcescens infection should raise the suspicion of an outbreak, particularly in the NICU or PICU setting. Since colonized or infected patients represent the most important reservoir for cross transmission, hygienic barrier precautions (contact isolation/cohortation, the use of gloves and gowns in addition to strictly performed hand disinfectio... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2846694 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2846694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2846696&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19781992%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Koh TW, Chih-Cheng Chen S, Chang-Chien GP, Lin DY, Chen FA, Chao HR The aim of the present study was to determine associations between the occurrence of PBDEs in breast milk of women and their demographic parameters. Participants were randomly recruited from the general population in southern Taiwan. Thirty two breast milk samples were collected and subsequently 30 congeners of PBDEs were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass spectrometer. The mean and median of SigmaPBDEs were 3.54 and 3.31ng/g lipid, respectively. SigmaPBDE levels in breast milk were not significantly correlated with age and pre-pregnant BMI of Taiwanese mothers. We did find, however, that the higher hexaBDE level was significantly related to older age (>29 years).... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2846696 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2846696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828848&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19773199%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Holst H, Arendt-Nielsen L, Mosbech H, Vesterhauge S, Elberling J Patients with multiple chemical sensitivity and eczema patients with airway symptoms elicited by odorous chemicals have enhanced cough reflex to capsaicin when applying the tidal breathing method. The aims of the present study were to test whether the capsaicin induced cough reflex was enhanced when applying the single breath inhalation method in similar groups of patients with symptoms related to odorous chemicals e.g. other persons wearing of perfume; and to investigate to what extent the reporting of lower airway symptoms influenced the cough reflex. Sixteen patients fulfilling Cullen's criteria for multiple chemical sensitivity and 15 eczema patients with airway symptoms elicited by odorous chemicals were com... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828848 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2828848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809965&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19758843%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase of sAA and sC concentrations after traffic noise exposure (p=0.045; p=0.01), whereas for sCgA this was not observed (p=0.48). Measuring of sAA and sC appear to be feasible to investigate direct stress effects in relation to naturalistic traffic noise exposure in a laboratory setup. Considering the small sample size of this pilot study, these observations need to be further proved in a larger explorative study. PMID: 19758843 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809965 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2809965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2779503&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19736044%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zur Nieden A, Dietz C, Eikmann T, Kiefer J, Herr CE In October 2002 German physicians appealed to persons in the field of health care, politicians and the public with "great concern" ("Freiburger Appell", "Appeal of Freiburg") claiming "soaring incidences of symptoms and diseases in the general population" to be causally related to the "commence of radio (wave) burden", i.e. due to mobile radio technology. This first example was followed by several further appeals published nationally and Europe-wide up until today. The aim of the present paper is an evaluation of the scientific literature and databases to check incidence and prevalence of symptoms and diseases stated in the appeals to have "dramatically increased" or to have appeared in "greater frequency" in adults. If the a... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2779503 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2779503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774959&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19733116%26dopt%3DAbstract DISCUSSION: Metabolites of DEHP and other phthalates analyzed in urine are very specific for determining recent internal phthalate exposure. According to our evaluation human reproductive parameters from semen analyses do not show significant associations with concentrations of DEHP metabolites determined in spot urine sampled at the day of andrological examination. PMID: 19733116 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774959 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2774959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774958&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19733117%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, ALAD possibly has a non-linear relation with low to moderate levels of PbB. At moderate levels of PbB, ZPP increases with increasing levels of PbB. ALAU is not suitable as an indicator for low levels of lead exposure. PMID: 19733117 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774958 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2774958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770337&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19729343%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Becker K, Güen T, Seiwert M, Conrad A, Pick-Fuß H, Müller J, Wittassek M, Schulz C, Kolossa-Gehring M Urine samples from GerES IV were analysed for concentrations of the metabolites of DEHP (MEHP, 5OH-MEHP, 5oxo-MEHP, 5cx-MEPP, and 2cx-MMHP), DnBP and DiBP (MnBP and MiBP), BBzP (MBzP), DiNP (7OH-MMeOP, 7oxo-MMeOP and 7cx-MMeHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) to assess the exposure of German children on a representative basis. 600 morning urine samples had been randomly chosen from stored 1800 GerES IV samples originating from 3 to 14 year old children living in Germany. All metabolites could be detected in nearly all urine samples (N=599). Descriptive data analysis leads to mean concentrations of 5-OH-MEHP and 5-oxo-MEHP of 48mug/l and 37mug/l, respectively. The mean co... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770337 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2770337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681833&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19656722%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bolegenova NK, Bekmanov BO, Djansugurova LB, Bersimbaev RI, Salama SA, Au WW We have reported previously that a population near the Semipalatinsk nuclear explosion test site had significantly increased minisatellite mutations (MM), suggesting increased germ-line mutation rates from the exposure in 3 generations. We hypothesize that the MM can be used as a surrogate biomarker for functional genetic alterations, e.g. gene mutations and chromosome aberrations. Therefore, we have investigated the influence of polymorphisms in genes on the expression of MM in the same two populations (247 and 172 individuals, for exposed and control, respectively, in 3 generations), and their relationships with radiation exposure. We have chosen the analyses of three polymorphic DNA - repair genes ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681833 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2681833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626836&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19615938%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is aimed to assess the DEHP exposure in children and adults, to evaluate the intraindividual variability, the influence of seasons and to identify potential routes of intake. Urine samples were collected from 6 people (age 4-58) over 7 consecutive days 4-times during a year to test for seasonal factors. 5-OH-MEHP and 5-oxo-MEHP were quantified by GC-MS. Urine concentrations of both metabolites were highly correlated with each other. Both female subjects showed remarkably low and stable 5-OH-MEHP concentrations throughout the year (median </=64.1 and </=78.5mug/l). Also both male adults exhibited a low burden during most measurements (median </=50.0 and </=52.5mug/l) except in January for the 19 year old (median: 141.4mug/l) and two single high events for the 58 year ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626836 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2626836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591973&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19589725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schulz C, Angerer J, Ewers U, Heudorf U, Wilhelm M, Based on the representative data collection of the German Environmental Survey on Children 2003-2006 (GerES IV) the Human Biomonitoring Commission of the German Federal Environment Agency has updated the reference values for a comprehensive number of environmental pollutants in blood and urine of children in Germany. Reference values are statistically derived values that indicate the upper margin of background exposure to a given pollutant in a given population at a given time. They can be used as criteria to classify the measured values of individuals or population groups as being "elevated" or "not elevated". Since environmental conditions are changing, reference values are continuously checked and updated if new informati... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591973 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2591973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591974&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19586797%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nadal M, Inza I, Schuhmacher M, Figueras MJ, Domingo JL Composting is a good alternative for the treatment of organic waste. However, an important amount of hazardous agents such as bioaerosols and volatile organic compounds may be released during the process. Therefore, the presence of microbiological and chemical pollutants emitted to air may mean a risk for the health of composting plants workers. We here report the results of an investigation aimed at evaluating the occupational exposure to chemical and biological agents for workers of an organic waste treatment facility (Montcada i Reixac, Catalonia, Spain). Total concentrations of bacteria and fungi (at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C), including Aspergillus fumigatus, were determined on a 3-month basis in 4 areas of the c... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591974 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2591974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2577495&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19574093%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scapellato ML, Canova C, de Simone A, Carrieri M, Maestrelli P, Simonato L, Bartolucci GB Personal exposure to PM(10) measured in different seasons in a sample of asthmatic subjects living in Padova (Northern Italy) was compared with simultaneously measured outdoor PM(10) concentrations. The specific contribution of ambient PM(10) and other factors to individual exposure was evaluated in one of the areas of Europe with the worst air pollution. Thirty-one asthmatic subjects (21 non-smokers and 10 smokers) carried personal PM(10) monitors for six 24-hr sessions, in different seasons of the year. Concomitant daily 24-hr ambient PM(10) concentrations were measured by air quality monitoring networks. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors explaining personal expo... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2577495 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2577495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544285&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19546029%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Croes K, Baeyens W, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Koppen G, Nelen V, Van de Mieroop E, Keune H, Dhooge W, Schoeters G, Van Larebeke N In 2002, the Centre for Environment and Health in Flanders, Belgium started a human biomonitoring program. For 1679 adolescents, residing in nine study areas with differing pollution pressure, hormone levels and the degree of sexual maturation were measured. Possible confounding effects of lifestyle and personal characteristics were taken into account. Participants from the nine different study areas had significantly different levels of sex hormones (total and free testosterone, oestradiol, aromatase, luteinizing hormone) and the thyroid hormone free triiodothyronine, after correction for confounders. Significantly higher hormone concentrations were ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544285 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544287&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19502109%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elberling J, Lerbaek A, Kyvik KO, Hjelmborg J Respiratory symptoms from environmental perfume exposure are main complaints in patients with multiple chemical sensitivities and often coincide with asthma and or eczema. In this population-based twin study we estimate the heritability of respiratory symptoms related to perfume and if co-occurrences of the symptoms in asthma, atopic dermatitis, hand eczema or contact allergy are influenced by environmental or genetic factors common with these diseases. In total 4,128 twin individuals (82%) responded to a questionnaire. The heritability of respiratory symptoms related to perfume is 0.35, 95%CI 0.14-0.54. Significant associations (p<0.05) between perfume-related respiratory symptoms and asthma, atopic dermatitis, hand eczema or c... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544287 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544289&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19493696%26dopt%3DAbstract This study considered associations between PCBs and thyroid function biomarkers in a specially selected subsample of participants from the New York State Angler Cohort Study, with the goal of hypotheses generation. Between 1995 and 1997, 38 subjects donated a blood specimen and completed a questionnaire. Sera were analyzed for 77 PCB congeners, beta-HCH, DDE, HCB, mirex, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor using GC-ECD, as well as for lipids components, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT(4)). A priori, the sum of all 77 measured PCB congeners, 27 individual PCB congeners with literature evidence for thyroid effects, their sum, DDE, and HCB were chosen as potential predictors for thyroid function. Age, body mass index, cigarette smoking, gender, and use of thyroid releva... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544289 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544291&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19481974%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe the distribution and demographic characteristics of total blood Hg levels in the U.S. general population among persons ages 1 year and older who participated in the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We also describe trends in the total blood Hg of children ages 1-5 (n=3456) and females ages 16-49 during 1999-2006 (n=7245). In the combined 2003-2006 survey periods, the geometric means for non-Hispanic blacks, 0.853mug/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.766-0.950mug/L), and non-Hispanic whites, 0.833mug/L (95% CI, 0.752-0.922mug/L), were higher than the geometric mean for Mexican Americans, 0.580mug/L (95% CI, 0.522-0.645mug/L). Also in 2003-2006, regression analysis of log total blood Hg with age, race/ethnicity and gender showed that total blo... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544291 Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544293&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19464951%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hölzer J, Göen T, Rauchfuss K, Kraft M, Angerer J, Kleeschulte P, Wilhelm M In Arnsberg, Sauerland area Germany, 40000 residents were exposed to PFOA-contaminated drinking water (500-640ng PFOA/l; May 2006). In July 2006, the PFOA-concentrations in drinking water were lowered significantly by activated charcoal filtering in the waterworks, mostly below the limit of detection (10ng/l). A first human biomonitoring study performed in autumn 2006 revealed that PFOA-concentrations in blood plasma of residents living in Arnsberg were 4.5-8.3 times higher than in the reference groups. One year after the first survey, all participants (2006: 164 mothers, 90 children, 101 men) were invited to take part in a follow-up study. It was the aim of the study to determine the decline... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544293 Wed, 20 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544295&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19451032%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Eis D PMID: 19451032 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544295 Fri, 15 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544297&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19423389%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wittassek M, Angerer J, Kolossa-Gehring M, Schäfer SD, Klockenbusch W, Dobler L, Günsel AK, Müller A, Wiesmüller GA The fetus is considered to be the most sensitive stage of life to the potential developmental and reproductive toxicity of the phthalates. But, data on human fetal exposure to phthalates is still scarce. In this pilot study we collected 11 pairs of amniotic fluid (AF) and corresponding maternal urine (MU) samples during Caesarean section and analysed them for several phthalate metabolites by LC-MS/MS. In all AF samples, metabolites of di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detectable. For the first time, we were able to detect also oxidative phthalate metab... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544297 Mon, 04 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544305&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19394271%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ye X, Pierik FH, Angerer J, Meltzer HM, Jaddoe VW, Tiemeier H, Hoppin JA, Longnecker MP Concerns about reproductive and developmental health risks of exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA) among the general population are increasing. Six dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), BPA, and fourteen phthalate metabolites were measured in 10 pooled urine samples representing 110 pregnant women who participated in the Norwegian Mother and Child Birth Cohort (MoBa) study in 2004. Daily intakes were estimated from urinary data and compared with reference doses (RfDs) and daily tolerable intakes (TDIs). The MoBa women had a higher mean BPA concentration (4.50mug/L) than the pregnant women in the Generation R Study ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544305 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544299&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19398372%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: The research makes an attempt to provide evidence for the negative influence of high levels of air pollution during the intrauterine development and during early childhood, manifested by respiratory limitations at a later stage of childhood. It is known that the influence of air pollution with TSPM and SO(2) during the first 5 years of life is more important than that in intrauterine development for the respiratory functions. Data is lacking with concern to intrauterine programing of respiratory function. Further research is necessary for a detailed elucidation of the problem. PMID: 19398372 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544299 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544303&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19395309%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, in view of the high content of nitrosamines in latex gloves and the potential toxicity of nitrosamines migration from these gloves, it is suggested that both an effective and feasible detection method and prescribed limits should be imposed. PMID: 19395309 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544303 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2544301&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19395310%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, cryo-preserved blood pools are suitable to standardize WBA. Combination of different outcome variables like IL-1beta and MCP-1 improve the characterization from the inflammatory potency of workplace related dust samples. PMID: 19395310 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2544301 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2544301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2321836&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19345645%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Berger-Preiß E, Koch W, Gerling S, Kock H, Appel KE Five commercially available insect sprays were applied in a model room. Spraying was performed in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions and in an overdosed manner in order to simulate worst-case conditions or an unforeseeable misuse. In addition, we examined electro-vaporizers. The Respicon aerosol monitoring system was applied to determine inhalation exposure. During normal spraying (10 seconds) and during the following 2-3 minutes, exposure concentrations ranged from 70 to 590mug/m(3) for the pyrethroids tetramethrin, d-phenothrin, cyfluthrin, bioallethrin, and the pyrethrins. Calculated inhalable doses were 2-16mug. A concentration of approximately 850mug chlorpyrifos/m(3) (inhalable dose: approximately 20mu... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2321836 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2321836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211237&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19230761%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Christen A, Navarro CM, Mäusezahl D Indoor air pollution and unsafe water remain two of the most important environmental risk factors for the global burden of infectious diseases. Improved stoves and household water treatment (HWT) methods represent two of the most effective interventions to fight respiratory and diarrhoeal illnesses at household level. Since new improved stoves are highly accepted and HWT methods have their drawbacks regarding sustained use, combining the two interventions in one technical solution could result in notable positive convenience and health benefits. A WAter DIsinfection Stove (WADIS) based on a Lorena-stove design with a simple flow-through boiling water-treatment system was developed and tested by a pilot experimental study in rural Bolivi... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211237 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2211237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211236&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19230762%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Biwersi C, Hepping N, Bode U, Fleischhack G, von Renesse A, Exner M, Engelhart S, Gieselmann B, Simon A In this matched cohort study, clinical data from 43 paediatric cancer patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) were compared with 43 thoroughly matched control patients without BSI. BSI led to a median additional length of inpatient treatment of 12 days (IQR 8.5-16 days; P<0.001), accounting for median additional expenses of euro4400 (IQR, euro3145-5920) per case [6.970 US Dollar (IQR 4.938-9.294)]. Thus, BSI substantially increased financial resources required for inpatient treatment. These data compiled from a paediatric cancer unit may be utilized to estimate the cost-benefit ratio of targeted preventive measures. PMID: 19230762 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211236 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2211236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211235&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19230763%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kütting B, Schettgen T, Schwegler U, Fromme H, Uter W, Angerer J, Drexler H The present population-based cross-sectional study in 1008 volunteers was aimed at quantifying the internal burden of acrylamide (AM) in the general population using hemoglobin adduct levels as biomarker of exposure. Based on these adduct levels the risk of (AM) related hazardous health effects in the general population is assessed. Hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide were detected in 999 out of 1008 analyzed blood samples (99.1%). Smoking can be regarded as a main source of overall acrylamide intake in persons without occupational exposure to acrylamide but a second main influence factor, i.e. food intake, is of environmental importance. Due to the sizable study population the 95th percentile differ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211235 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2211235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2173306&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19201259%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ben Salah I, Adékambi T, Drancourt M We isolated Mycobacterium phocaicum, an emerging non-tuberculous species rarely identified in the respiratory tract and blood of patients, from the therapy pool water. Identification, confirmed by 16S rDNA and rpoB sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, disclosed a genotype 4. M. phocaicum should be added to the growing list of water-borne mycobacteria. PMID: 19201259 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2173306 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2173306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167898&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19196550%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bauer A, Schwarz E, Mai C PMID: 19196550 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167898 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2167898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2156813&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19181573%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Flynn MR, Susi P Exposure to manganese dusts and fumes may cause a clinical neurological syndrome called manganism. Welders are frequently exposed to manganese-containing fumes generated by electric arcs and thermal torches. This paper reviews studies on the association between exposure to such welding fumes and neurological disease. Using the IRSST expert panel criteria, 78 cases of probable/possible, and 19 additional cases of possible occupational manganism were identified in the literature among manganese-exposed workers involved in welding processes. Epidemiological evidence linking welding exposures to Parkinson's disease is still controversial. Although more research is needed to clarify the risks of neurological impairment from welding, control measures including venti... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2156813 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2156813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2149728&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19179112%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Exner M, Hartemann P PMID: 19179112 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2149728 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2149728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2101365&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19135414%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: While extensive public effort is undertaken to prevent the general population from environmental lead exposure this short report gives reason to keep recreational shooting in mind when facing elevated blood lead levels or clinical symptoms possibly associated with lead intoxication. PMID: 19135414 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2101365 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2101365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027642&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19062340%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bergdahl IA PMID: 19062340 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027642 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2027642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011472&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19049854%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kopjar N, Garaj-Vrhovac V, Kašuba V, Rozgaj R, Ramić S, Pavlica V, Zelježić D The aim of the present study was to evaluate genome damage induced in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Croatian health care workers occupationally exposed to cytotoxic drugs. A comprehensive multi-biomarker approach using the alkaline comet assay and cytogenetic endpoints (analysis of structural chromosome aberrations, SCE assay, lymphocyte proliferation kinetics and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay) was employed. The study included two populations of subjects: 50 health care workers occupationally exposed to cytotoxic drugs and 50 control subjects matched in age, gender and smoking habit. An investigation regarding the handling practice with cytotoxic drugs was conducted i... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011472 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2011472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952309&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18996050%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Although urinary mercury concentration was slightly elevated among children with amalgam fillings, we found no evidence of adverse effects on the outcomes evaluated. These results agree with those from recent trials in developed countries. PMID: 18996050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952309 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1952309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1934307&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18977171%26dopt%3DAbstract This study presents the pattern of exposure to uranium and other occupational pollutants known to be potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic and used at the main uranium conversion plant in France. For different uranium compounds specified according to their solubility and purity, and 16 other categories of pollutants: chemicals, fibres, vapours, dust, and heat a time- and plant-specific job exposure matrix (JEM) was created covering the period 1960-2006. For 73 jobs and for each pollutant the amount and frequency of exposure were assessed on a four-level scale by different time periods. The JEM shows 73% sensitivity and 83% specificity. Although exposure assessment was semi-quantitative, the JEM allows computing of individual cumulative exposure score for each pollutant across time. ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1934307 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1934307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1934308&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18976955%26dopt%3DAbstract The objectives of our study were to characterize families who purchased drinking water and to examine the relation between purchasing drinking water and child morbidity and mortality in urban slums of Indonesia, using data collected between 1999 and 2003. Of 143,126 families, 46.8% purchased inexpensive drinking water from street vendors, 47.4% did not purchase water, i.e., had running or spring/well water within household, and 5.8% purchased more expensive water in the previous 7 days. Families that purchased inexpensive drinking water had less educated parents, a more crowded household, a father who smoked, and lower socioeconomic level compared with the other families. Among children of families that purchased inexpensive drinking water, did not purchase drinking water, or purchased mor... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1934308 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1934308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907831&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18948060%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Heitland P, Köster HD The inorganic arsenic species As(III), As(V) and the organic species methylarsonate (MMA(V)), dimethylarsinate (DMA(V)) and arsenobetaine (AsB) were determined in human urine by a fast anion exchange HPLC-ICP-MS method, which was developed for clinical laboratories with high sample throughput. This paper compares typical chromatograms of the arsenic species in urine samples collected in different medical cases, for example, for the non-exposed population, for environmentally (plant protectants) and occupationally (glass manufacture) exposed persons, for a person after a failed suicide attempt with As(2)O(3) and for persons before and after administration of the antidot sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane-sulfonate (DMPS). Concentration data of the urinar... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907831 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1907831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859733&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18838334%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Betti M, Neri M, Ferrante D, Landi S, Biava A, Gemignani F, Bertolotti M, Mirabelli D, Padoan M, Ugolini D, Botta M, Bonassi S, Magnani C, Dianzani I Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and aggressive tumor of the pleura. The most important causal factor for the development of MM is occupational exposure to asbestos. Different lines of evidence suggest a role of genetic background in MM development, as for other cancers. Two published studies observed an association between MM and N-acetyl-transferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphisms. First, a Finnish study observed that the NAT2 slow acetylator phenotype was associated with an increased risk of MM. Conversely, MM risk was higher in Italian subjects carrying the NAT2 fast acetylator genotypes. The conflicting results obtained in Finla... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859733 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1859733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859732&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18838335%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluated the degree of correlation between pesticide sales in 1985 in eleven Brazilian states and cancer mortality rates during 1996-1998. Information of all cancer deaths occurred in men 30-69 years old from 1996 to 1998 were collected from National Mortality System. Single and multiple linear regression coefficients were obtained to assess the relationship between per capita sales of pesticides in 1985, specific-site cancer mortality rates (prostate, soft tissue, larynx, leukemia, lip, esophagus, lung, pancreas, bladder, liver, testis, stomach, brain, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) during 1996-1998, and several covariates. In addition, states were stratified into three groups according to tertiles of pesticides sales and cancer mortality rate ratios (MRR... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859732 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1859732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859731&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18838336%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pinto B, Reali D Bottled mineral water consumption is steadily rising in the World. Italy is the largest natural mineral water consumer in Western Europe, about 200L per capita per annum. Recently, research has concentrated upon emerging toxicological problems such as the presence in drinking water of substances which interfere with the function of the endocrine system; defined as endocrine disruptors (EDs). The aim of this study was to assess the risk of exposure of the population to chemicals with estrogen-like activity through mineral water consumption by monitoring the presence of estrogenic compounds in mineral water bottled in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A solid phase extraction (SPE) with C18 cartridges was carried out. The estrogenic activity of the extracts was ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859731 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1859731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815629&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18805056%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sherif SO, Salama EE, Abdel-Wahhab MA The occurrences of mycotoxins as food contaminants in different localities particularly in developing countries and the inevitable exposure of populations and children to these toxins with probable adverse outcomes need be scientifically and systematically assessed. Health risk assessment developed in the 1980s is separate from risk management, both with risk communication form the risk analysis framework adopted by the World Health Organization. The process contributes increasingly to policy development, public health decision making, the establishment of mycotoxin regulations and research planning. However, the exercise of the risk assessment structured approach is not simple and is faced up to lack of data, capable infrastructure facili... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815629 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1815629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815630&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18804417%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Franke C, Rechenburg A, Baumanns S, Willkomm M, Christoffels E, Exner M, Kistemann T Different land use patterns were investigated for their potential as non-point sources of coliphage emissions into surface waters. Water samples were taken regularly at five locations in the upper reaches of the river Swist, Germany. Samples of surface and subsurface run-off were taken within the same catchment area after rainfall events using a newly developed device that made it possible to collect current concentrations of the effluent compounds. The water quality was examined for the occurrence of somatic coliphages and F(+)-specific RNA-bacteriophages as well as for various bacteria over the period of a hydrological year. The potential of various bacteria as indicators for the occurrence ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815630 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1815630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798449&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18790670%26dopt%3DAbstract Reply to the letter to the editor by J.G. Dórea "Health hazard for infants: Breast-milk mercury or non-breastfeeding? A dilemma for mothers exposed to mercury vapours" Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2008 Sep 12; Authors: Bose-O'Reilly S, Drasch G, Lettmeier B, Roider G, Siebert U PMID: 18790670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798449 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1798449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798448&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18790671%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cole DW, Cole R, Gaydos SJ, Gray J, Hyland G, Jacques ML, Powell-Dunford N, Sawhney C, Au WW Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food-producing sectors, supplying approximately 40% of the world's fish food. Besides such benefit to the society, the industry does have its problems. There are occupational hazards and safety concerns in the aquaculture industry. Some practices have caused environmental degradation. Public perception to farmed fish is that they are "cleaner" than comparable wild fish. However, some farmed fish have much higher body burden of natural and man-made toxic substances, e.g. antibiotics, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants, than wild fish. These contaminants in fish can pose health concerns to unsuspecting consumers, in particular pregnant... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798448 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1798448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798450&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18789761%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This study supports the notion of further relevant sources of o-toluidine exposure except smoking and occupation. Compared to other environmental risk factors (e.g. environmental tobacco smoke) the risk of o-toluidine-induced cancer seems to be extremely low for the general population. PMID: 18789761 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798450 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1798450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770694&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18771951%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was designed to investigate the clonality, the mode of transmission and the patients' risk profile for acquisition of A. baumannii and S. maltophilia at the ICU of an Italian Hospital. Patterns of A. baumannii and S. maltophilia acquisition in the ICU during the period of the survey were carriage, colonization and infection. Characterization of A. baumannii was performed by ARDRA and genotyping of both pathogens by PFGE. Our study provided evidence for the occurrence of an outbreak sustained by the two organisms in study involving 27.3% of patients enrolled into the surveillance. The spread of a unique A. baumannii epidemic clone was demonstrated. A major clone of S. maltophilia was responsible for the epidemic spread of S. maltophilia (55.5% of isolates), thus confirming A. bau... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770694 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1770694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770693&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18771952%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Latza U, Gerdes S, Baur X In order to assess health effects in humans caused by environmental nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) a systematic review of studies in humans was conducted. MEDLINE database was searched for epidemiological studies and experiments on adverse effects of NO(2) published between 2002 and 2006. The evidence with regard to NO(2) exposure limits was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) grading system and the modified three star system. Of the 214 articles retrieved 112 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was limited evidence that short-term exposure to a 1-h mean value below 200mugNO(2)/m(3) is associated with adverse health effects provided by only one study on mortality in patients with severe asthma (*2+). The effect remained... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770693 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1770693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769089&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18768353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cornelis C, Schoeters G, Kellen E, Buntinx F, Zeegers M We developed two indicators to assess the exposure of residents to agricultural pesticide use and applied it in a case-control study on bladder cancer in the province of Limburg, Belgium. The first indicator used a distance-weighted measure of crop area for specified crops (fruit trees, fruit bushes and vegetables). The second indicator used a distance-weighted measure of pesticide use. We used information at three scale levels: (a) information at individual's level, such as distance to crop fields; (b) information at the level of the municipality, such as time-series of crop area; and (c) regional information, such as pesticide use. Pesticide use data were available per group of pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insect... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769089 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1769089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1755140&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18760967%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Panuwet P, Prapamontol T, Chantara S, Barr DB We evaluated exposure to pesticides among secondary school students aged 12-13 years old in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Pesticide-specific urinary metabolites were used as biomarkers of exposure for a variety of pesticides, including organophosphorus insecticides, synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and selected herbicides. We employed a simple solid-phase extraction with analysis using isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). A total of 207 urine samples from Thai students were analyzed for 18 specific pesticide metabolites. We found 14 metabolites in the urine samples tested; seven of them were detected with a frequency17%. The most frequently detected metabolites were 2-[(di... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1755140 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1755140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683343&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18675586%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carozza SE, Li B, Wang Q, Horel S, Cooper S Agricultural pesticide applications have the potential for significant drift beyond the target spray area and may result in exposure to non-farming residents in surrounding communities. Using geographic information system (GIS) methods, 1778 childhood cancer cases and 1802 controls born in Texas between 1990 and 1998 were assigned probable agricultural pesticide exposure based on proximity of birth residence to crop fields. Multivariate modeling was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for selected cancers. For most childhood cancers, we found no evidence of elevated risk associated with residential proximity at birth to cropland. There was an overall pattern of increased risk for germ-cell tumors but the odds ra... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683343 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1683343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675100&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18672398%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Patients with environment-related disorders form a heterogeneous group. An interdisciplinary assessment and a comparison between self- and experts' judgements enable a more differentiated psychotherapeutic procedure and may enhance future treatment success. PMID: 18672398 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675100 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1675100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675102&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18667355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Di Pietro A, Visalli G, Munaò F, Baluce B, La Maestra S, Primerano P, Corigliano F, De Flora S Among particulate matter emissions from combustion processes, oil fly ash (OFA) displays a marked oxidative and inflammogenic reactivity, due to the high content of bioavailable transition metals. In the present study, we evaluated the biological effects of an OFA water solution, composed of the transition metals Fe (57.5%), V (32.4%), and Ni (10.1%), in human epithelial alveolar cells (A549 line). The fluorimetric analysis by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein showed a significant, dose- and time-dependent induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by OFA metal components at subtoxic doses. The metal chelator deferoxamine and the radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxi... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675102 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1675102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675101&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18667356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rohr U, Kaminski A, Wilhelm M, Jurzik L, Gatermann S, Muhr G Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are endemic in hospitals worldwide and present a major concern in hospital hygiene. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between patients' MRSA colonization of the body and the frequency of environmental contamination. Twenty-five MRSA-positive hospitalized surgical patients and their environment in isolation rooms were screened on four occasions over a 14-day period. Out of 1099 samples from patients, 330 (30.0%) were MRSA-positive. The median number of MRSA-positive body sites per screening decreased significantly from the 1st (3, range 1-9) to the 14th (2, range 0-9, p=0.011) day of isolation. Contamination was found in 45% of the 100 en... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675101 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1675101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1596738&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18602865%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kavcar P, Sofuoglu A, Sofuoglu SC A health risk assessment was conducted for exposure to trace metals via drinking water ingestion pathway for Province of Izmir, Turkey. Concentrations of 11 trace metals were measured in drinking waters collected from 100 population weighted random sampling units (houses). The samples were analyzed in atomic absorption spectrometry for arsenic, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry for Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn. Questionnaires were administered to a participant from each sampling unit to determine drinking water consumption related information and demographics. Exposure and risks were estimated for each individual by direct calculation, and for Izmir population by Monte Carlo simulation. Six trace metals ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1596738 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1596738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582177&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18599348%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is one of the first to find a significant negative association between BLL and malaria in a pediatric population, and this association remained significant after controlling for confounding diseases and symptoms. The shared environmental and socio-demographic risks factors for lead exposure and Plasmodium (most common malaria parasites) infection in urban areas of Nigeria are discussed along with possible ways that lead exposure may influence the host response to infection with malarial parasites. PMID: 18599348 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582177 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1582177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535904&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18565791%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kistemann T, Rind E, Rechenburg A, Koch C, Claßen T, Herbst S, Wienand I, Exner M Six sewage treatment plants (STP) were investigated over a 12-month period in order to measure the microbiological load of untreated municipal wastewater and to evaluate the removal efficiencies of different treatment systems. The STP investigated can be classified into three categories: bigger plants with tertiary treatment, smaller plants with enhanced secondary treatment, and very small compact facilities. The plants studied had a considerable quantitative impact on the hydrology of the catchment area; consequently, it was anticipated that the microbiological load of the effluent would also be significant. Eighty samples were taken from the influent and effluent of the STP, regardless of ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535904 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1535904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1535903&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18565792%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fromme H, Tittlemier SA, Völkel W, Wilhelm M, Twardella D Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) can currently be detected in many environmental media and biota, as well as in humans. Because of their persistence and their potential to accumulate they are of toxicological concern. The present review presents the current knowledge of PFC monitoring data in environmental media relevant for human exposure. In this context, PFC concentrations in indoor and ambient air, house dust, drinking water and food are outlined. Furthermore, we summarize human biomonitoring data of PFC levels in blood, breast milk, and human tissues. An estimate of the overall exposure of the general adult population is provided and compared with tolerable intake values. Using a simplified model, the average (... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1535903 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1535903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526723&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18555743%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show the presence of AAMA and GAMA in urine specimens of 110 children, thus providing evidence for a background exposure by nutrition. Median (95th percentile) uptake of AA in children was 0.54 (1.91)mug/kg bodyweight and day, exceeding exposure in adults by 50%. These findings support the efforts to minimize AA formation and contamination in food. Comparing our findings with that of other human studies, there are hints that children have a higher AA intake than adults and that children more effectively oxidize AA. Both findings indicate that children might be the most vulnerable group of the population. PMID: 18555743 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526723 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1526723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526724&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18554980%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Frederiksen M, Vorkamp K, Thomsen M, Knudsen LE This paper reviews the existing literature on human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), with particular focus on external exposure routes (e.g. dust, diet, and air) and the resulting internal exposure to PBDEs (e.g. breast milk and blood). Being lipophilic and persistent organic compounds, PBDEs accumulate in lipid-rich tissues. Consequently, food items like fish from high trophic levels or lipid-rich oils have been found to contain relatively high concentrations of PBDEs, thus presenting an important exposure pathway to humans. The presence of PBDEs in various products of everyday use may lead to some additional exposure in the home environment. Dust seem to be an aggregate of the indoor source, and the ingestion... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526724 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1526724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518919&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18550430%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zietz BP, Hoopmann M, Funcke M, Huppmann R, Suchenwirth R, Gierden E Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides are persistent organic pollutants that have a widespread distribution in the environment. Human biomonitoring is a suitable tool to assess the burden of humans with these substances. Over a time span of 8 years, a free analysis of their milk was offered to lactating mothers residing in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany. The human milk was analyzed for a number of organic chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH). Factors that may influence these levels were investigated using a questionnaire. In total, 4314 samples we... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518919 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1518919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518918&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18550431%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides the first report on simultaneous detection and genotyping of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium species from water supplies in Hungary. PMID: 18550431 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518918 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1518918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518917&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18550432%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilhelm M, Hölzer J, Dobler L, Rauchfuss K, Midasch O, Kraft M, Angerer J, Wiesmüller G In May 2006, a serious environmental contamination with perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) became evident in a rural area of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) (Region Sauerland), Germany. In autumn 2006, we performed a human biomonitoring study in which a 4-8-fold increase in perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)-plasma concentrations of children, their mothers and men living in Arnsberg (District Hochsauerlandkreis, NRW) was observed compared with a reference population. The exposure was clearly related to the consumption of PFOA-contaminated tap water. However, there is no clear information on the duration of this contamination. The current investigation involves the analysis of PFCs in 30 blood sa... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518917 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1518917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469994&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18502687%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Eis D, Helm D, Mühlinghaus T, Birkner N, Dietel A, Eikmann T, Gieler U, Herr C, Lacour M, Nowak D, Pedrosa Gil F, Podoll K, Renner B, Andreas Wiesmüller G, Worm M In this multicentre study on multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) 291 consecutive environmental medicine (EM) outpatients were examined in several environmental medicine outpatient centres/units throughout Germany in 2000/2003. Of the EM outpatients, 89 were male (30.6%) and 202 were female (69.4%), aged 22-80 (mean 48 years, S.D.=12 years). The sample was representative for university-based environmental outpatient departments and represented a cross-sectional study design with an integrated clinical-based case-control comparison (MCS vs. non-MCS). Three classifications of MCS were used: self-reported MCS (... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469994 Fri, 23 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1469994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469996&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18502173%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dórea JG PMID: 18502173 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469996 Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1469996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469995&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18502174%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence for an influence of social position on environment-health associations. Possible explanations for heterogeneity include social group-specific over- and underreporting and effect measure modification, which need to be taken into account when designing and analysing environmental health studies. PMID: 18502174 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469995 Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1469995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1433896&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18467172%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schulte B, Wolz C, Schumacher U, Beyser K, Heeg P, Borgmann S Recently, it has been suspected that long durations of hospitalization might be a possible risk factor to get colonized by multiple VRE strains. Here we present the case of a patient who underwent stem cell transplantation and subsequently stayed at the hospital for about 4 months until death. At least four different Enterococcus faecium strains were identified from routinely taken microbiological specimens as demonstrated by pulsed-field gel-electrophoresis. Additionally, these strains showed variable susceptibility to quinupristine/dalfopristine, vancomycin, and/or linezolid depending on different antibiotic administrations. These findings indicate that patients might be colonized with multiple Enterococcus faeciu... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1433896 Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1433896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432737&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18462994%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Krumkamp R, Duerr HP, Reintjes R, Ahmad A, Kassen A, Eichner M A variety of intervention measures exist to prevent and control diseases with pandemic potential like SARS or pandemic influenza. They differ in their approach and effectiveness in reducing the number of cases getting infected. The effects of different intervention measures were investigated by a mathematical modelling approach, with comparisons based on the effective reproduction number (R(e)). The analysis showed that early case detection followed by strict isolation could control a SARS outbreak. Tracing close contacts of cases and contacts of exposed health care workers additionally reduces the R(e). Tracing casual contacts and measures aiming to decrease social interaction were less effective in reducing the n... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432737 Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1432737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1429243&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18460421%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dórea JG PMID: 18460421 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1429243 Sun, 04 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1429243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1373739&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18406666%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yu VL PMID: 18406666 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1373739 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1373739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368494&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18403259%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Andersson L, Johansson A, Millqvist E, Nordin S, Bende M The prevalence of chemical sensitivity (CS) and sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) was assessed in a teenage population. Among a random sample of 401 teenagers, 326 (81.3%) answered questionnaires assessing sensitivity to chemicals and noise, anxiety and depression. A subgroup of 85 teenagers conducted a capsaicin inhalation test. The estimated prevalence was 15.6% for general self-reported CS, 3.7% for CS with affective and behavioral consequences, about 1% for SHR. Sensitivity variables were positively intercorrelated. Risk factors for general CS were noise sensitivity (OR: 2.1), probable anxiety (OR: 2.5) and female sex (OR: 2.0). CS problems seem to be present also in teenagers, although less so than in adults. Furthermor... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368494 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1368494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363837&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18397841%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Herr CE, Zur Nieden A, Kopka I, Rethage T, Gieler U, Eikmann TF, Stilianakis NI In patients attributing their health complaints to environmental factors (EnvPat) evidence based medical diagnostics usually do not confirm environmental and somatic causes of symptoms. Many symptoms remain unexplained. Aim of the study was the systematic assessment of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in EnvPat and comparison to symptom rates reported by subjects of an environmental study exposed to environmental odors (EnvExp). This specific exposure was chosen, as odors are associated by an unclear mechanism with physical symptoms. By this we aimed to enlighten the open question as to likeliness that MUPS of EnvPat are caused by hitherto unrevealed environmental exposures or result ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363837 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1363837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1361106&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18396099%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of the present study is an assessment of subjective complaints of exposed subjects in comparison to a non-exposed control group and their inter-relation to plasma levels of PCB congeners. The plasma concentrations of PCB congeners were measured in 583 subjects who had worked for an average of 14.7+/-9.6 years in a contaminated building in Germany, and 205 control subjects working in a non-contaminated building. Subjective complaints were assessed with the 24-item 'Giessen Subjective Complaints List' (GSCL-24). The subjects under chronic low-dose exposure scored significantly higher values on all the GSCL subscales except 'stomach complaints' in comparison to the non-exposed subjects and a 'normal' sample derived from the literature. However, thorough statistical analysis reve... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1361106 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1361106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1361105&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18396100%26dopt%3DAbstract We report an outbreak of type B botulism in Taiwan in 2006. There were five cases involved in this outbreak. They present ileus and acute cranial nerve dysfunction including dysphagia and blurred vision. One of them had severe neurologic impairment and required mechanical ventilatory support. No patient received antitoxin administration because of delayed diagnosis. The food specimen revealed positive botulism toxin B. There were no fatalities. Consumption of fermented food was significantly associated with this outbreak. We also reviewed the characteristics of cases with botulism in Taiwan since 1985. PMID: 18396100 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1361105 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1361105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1340860&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18375180%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe a case of HP associated with indoor hydroponics in a 14-year-old girl. Water samples from hydroponics revealed Aureobasidium pullulans as the dominant fungal micro-organism (10(4)CFU/ml). The diagnosis is supported by the existence of serum precipitating antibodies against A. pullulans, lymphocytic alveolitis on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, a corresponding reaction on a lung biopsy, and the sustained absence of clinical symptoms following the removal of hydroponics from the home. We conclude that hydroponics should be considered as potential sources of fungal contaminants when checking for indoor health complaints. PMID: 18375180 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1340860 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1340860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1270676&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18308633%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Singh VK, Singh J, Anand M, Kumar P, Patel DK, Krishna Reddy MM, Javed Siddiqui MK Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants formed from combustion products of fossil fuels, cigarette smoking and in grilled/smoked foods. They are reported to alter trophoblast proliferation in placenta, in addition to disturbing its endocrine functions, which may be able to increase the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women. The present study was planned to assess possible involvement of PAHs exposure of pregnant women (measured as placental PAHs concentrations) with preterm delivery cases among women of Lucknow city (India). We performed a case-control study and a total of 60 mothers (n=31 full term and n=29 preterm deliveries) were recruited at a l... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1270676 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1270676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1242206&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18280790%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dorea JG PMID: 18280790 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1242206 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1242206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1225545&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18262840%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schwarz A, Maier WA, Kistemann T, Kampen H From May to November 2003, at five selected sites of the 'Siebengebirge', a nature reserve near Bonn, Germany, data on microclimate, pedology, plant sociology and tick abundance were collected weekly and correlated. A total of 2832 host-seeking Ixodes ricinus (2660 nymphs and 172 adults) were collected, with maximal abundance in June and a minor second increase in abundance in August. The spatial and temporal variation in tick abundance was closely related to the air temperature, relative humidity, soil water content and specific vegetation type. Increases in tick abundances in individual habitats were most likely caused by climate change and/or anthropogenic interventions such as increased numbers of wild boar, a host of I. ricinus. ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1225545 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1225545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1225546&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18262466%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bose-O'Reilly S, Lettmeier B, Roider G, Siebert U, Drasch G Breast-feeding can be a source of mercury exposure for infants. The main concern up to now is methyl-mercury exposure of women at child-bearing age. Certain fish species have high levels of methyl-mercury leading to consumer's advisory guidelines in regard of fish consumption to protect infants from mercury exposure passing through breast milk. Little is known about the transfer of inorganic mercury passing through breast milk to infants. Epidemiological studies showed negative health effects of inorganic mercury in gold mining areas. Small-scale gold miners use mercury to extract the gold from the ore. Environmental and health assessments of gold mining areas in Indonesia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe showed a high exposure... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1225546 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1225546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207938&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18243788%26dopt%3DAbstract This study assesses the effects of noise exposure on cortisol levels and subjective stress in tinnitus participants and controls without tinnitus. Twenty tinnitus participants and 20 controls without tinnitus were exposed to a 20-min broadband noise with amplified low frequencies. Saliva samplings for cortisol analysis and subjective stress and tinnitus intensity ratings (for tinnitus participants) were performed at regular intervals throughout testing. Results show higher cortisol levels for both groups immediately before, immediately after, and 10min after the end of noise than at other time points. The tinnitus group had lower overall cortisol levels than controls. In contrast, subjective stress ratings were higher for the tinnitus group, and higher at midpoint and immediately after the... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207938 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1207938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207937&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18243789%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mackie Jensen PK, Phuc PD, Knudsen LG, Dalsgaard A, Konradsen F The use of human excreta as fertiliser in agriculture is a common practice in parts of South East Asia benefiting production but at the same time a risk factor for increased helminth infections. This paper describes the hygienic handling of human excreta for use in agriculture in Central Vietnam from a practical farming perspective presenting the farmers perceived health risks and benefits of its use. Further, in the study findings are discussed relating to the new Vietnamese guidelines for the use of human excreta in agriculture to their implications on an on-farm context. A total of 471 households in five communes responded to a structured questionnaire. This survey was supplemented by focus group discussions, k... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207937 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1207937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186043&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18222725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Appel KE, Gundert-Remy U, Fischer H, Faulde M, Mross KG, Letzel S, Rossbach B In an age when vector-borne diseases are emerging worldwide, personal protective measures are essential for shielding soldiers and other exposed persons from arthropod attack. The development of permethrin-impregnated clothing has been one recent advance in protecting persons at-risk. However, to date risk assessment has not been performed related to wearing permethrin-impregnated clothing over longer time periods. Therefore, this paper describes relevant toxicological aspects of permethrin and estimates the extent of dermal permethrin uptake by soldiers wearing impregnated uniforms by determining urine metabolites of permethrin. The exposure monitoring conducted in wearers of untreated uniforms did ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186043 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1186043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186046&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18222722%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Seldén AI, Bergström BE, Gunnarsson LG Lead from glazed earthenware used for food storage is a well-known health hazard sporadically causing lead intoxication and may be a source of disseminating lead exposure in specific population groups. To obtain a contemporary scope of the problem a pilot survey was conducted in a random sample of 2000 households with Swedish charter tourists to Greece in 2003. Response was obtained from 214 (10.7%). From these households blood samples were obtained from 33 potentially lead exposed subjects and 33 controls (participation rate among selected participants of each category was 66% and 33%, respectively). No statistically significant difference in mean blood lead was found between groups (arithmetic mean 0.13 and 0.10mumol/l for exp... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186046 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1186046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186045&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18222723%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Motta O, Proto A, De Carlo F, De Caro F, Santoro E, Brunetti L, Capunzo M Atactic polystyrene, one of the most widely used chemical products, was subjected to novel chemically oxidative treatments able to trigger a great variety of physical and chemical changes in the polymer's chains. The oxidized polystyrene samples, when analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) clearly showed the formation of carbonyl groups and hydroxyl groups, which increased with the increase in the strength of chemically oxidative treatments. In fungal degradation tests deploying Curvularia species, the fungus colonized the oxidized samples within 9 weeks. Colonization was confirmed by microscopic examination, which showed that the hyphae had adhered to and penetrated the polymer's s... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186045 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1186045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1186044&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18222724%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the highest concentrations of urinary 1-HP are found among workers in petrochemical industries among coke-oven workers. Occupational PAH exposure was the major factor determining high urinary concentration of 1-HP. The highest concentrations were observed among workers in the petrochemical industry at work places in Taiwan and China. To evaluate environmental and low-level occupational exposure to PAH it is crucial to provide knowledge on intra- and inter-individual variation in the evaluation of 1-HP. The highest contribution originates from environmental tobacco smoke, but also different country, cooking culture, and behavior influences urinary of 1-HP. PMID: 18222724 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1186044 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1186044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170144&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18206422%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zamberlan da Silva ME, Santana RG, Guilhermetti M, Filho IC, Endo EH, Ueda-Nakamura T, Nakamura CV, Dias Filho BP The bacteriological quality of tap water from municipal water supplies, 20-L bottles of mineral water from water dispensers and samples collected from new 20-L bottles of mineral water were comparatively studied. Total coliforms, termotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, fecal streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus spp. and heterotrophic plate count were enumerated. The results showed that 36.4% of the tap water samples from municipal water systems and 76.6% of the 20-L bottles of mineral water from water dispensers were contaminated by at least one coliform or indicator bacterium and/or at least one pathogenic bacterium. The bacteriological quality ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170144 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1170144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1146648&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18187363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Krystek P, Ritsema R From the year 2003 to 2005 around 1700 Dutch soldiers made a part of the international stabilisation force in Iraq. An incident happened as a group of four Dutch soldiers found a 30mm bullet identified as containing depleted uranium (DU). The main pathway of the acute exposure is via inhalation of small uranium containing particles, e.g. from a bullet during its explosion. To develop a method for acute exposure investigations were carried out about finding an efficient and suitable way to sample nasal mucus as medium of inhalation. Generally, in human exposure studies with regard to natural uranium (NU) or DU, urine is the matrix for analysis. Uranium concentrations in urine are based on daily ingestion depending on the composition of drinking water and fo... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146648 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1146648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1137152&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18178523%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Atkinson TJ The aromatic hydrocarbon benzene is a well-recognised haematotoxin and carcinogen associated with malignancy in occupational environments. Primary benzene metabolites phenol, catechol, and hydroquinone are implicated in the progression from cytotoxicity to carcinogenicity, and malignant transformation in myelogenous cell lineage is hypothesised to encompass a complex multistep process involving gene mutations in cell signalling and mitosis, oncogene activation, downregulated immune-mediated tumour surveillance, anti-apoptotic activities, and genetic susceptibility. Several mechanisms of carcinogenicity are proposed but none are accepted widely as causative. Involvement of covariables such as duration and frequency of benzene exposure, metabolite concentration, and ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1137152 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1137152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1137151&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18178524%26dopt%3DAbstract This study reanalyzed data on the incubation period distribution of smallpox to allow the optimal quarantine period to be objectively calculated. In total, 131 cases of smallpox were examined; incubation periods were extracted from four different sets of historical data and only cases arising from exposure for a single day were considered. The mean (median and standard deviation (SD)) incubation period was 12.5 (12.0, 2.2) days. Assuming lognormal and gamma distributions for the incubation period, maximum likelihood estimates (and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI)) of the 95th percentile were 16.4 (95% CI: 15.6, 17.9) and 16.2 (95% CI: 15.5, 17.4) days, respectively. Using a non-parametric method, the 95th percentile point was estimated as 16 (95% CI: 15, 17) days. The upper 95% C... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1137151 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1137151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124447&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18164247%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gatseva PD, Argirova MD Nitrate inhibits the accumulation of iodide in thyroid gland. The aim of present study was to evaluate the influence of this ion on the iodine status of two risk population groups. Subjects of study were pregnant women and children aged between 3 and 6 years from two villages in Bulgaria with high- and low-nitrate levels in drinking water. The relative risk of thyroid disorders for the pregnant women living in the village with high-nitrate levels in drinking water expressed as an odds ratio was 5.294 (95% confidence intervals 1.003-27.939; P=0.0454) and was considered as significant. Statistically significant differences were found between the goiter rate in exposed and non-exposed pregnant women. The relative risk of thyroid dysfunction for the childre... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124447 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1124447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1121819&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18162438%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kamio A, Hara-Kudo Y, Miyasaka J, Yahiro S, Konuma H The growth of Vibrio vulnificus in an enriched culture of seawater during the summer in Japan was monitored by a plating technique used as the culture method and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as the molecular method. V. vulnificus was detected by the real-time PCR assay in the samples of August and September but not by the culture method. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, however, was detected among all of the samples with both the culture method and real-time PCR assay. In the analysis of the bacterial populations in enrichment culture, it was demonstrated that the growth of V. vulnificus on agar media was inhibited by the rapid growth of V. parahaemolyticus after 4h of incubation and the 100 times larger initial... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1121819 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1121819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1121818&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18162439%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilhelm M, Angerer J, Fromme H, Hölzer J Perfluorinated compounds (PFC) are a large group of chemicals produced for several decades and widely used for many industrial and consumer applications. Human Biomonitoring studies reveal a background exposure of the general population to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and pefluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in many parts of the world. Reference values for PFOS and PFOA in the German population are currently not available. However, the data of three PFC human biomonitoring studies are taken as basis for deriving a preliminary reference value. The first two studies were performed in southern Germany with 105 (sampling period 2003-2004) and 356 adults (sampling period 2005). The third study was performed in North Rhine-Westphalia (sampli... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1121818 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1121818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116312&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155958%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sadeq M, Moe CL, Attarassi B, Cherkaoui I, Elaouad R, Idrissi L CONTEXT: Nitrate is ubiquitous in environmental media (air, water and soil) and other sources (some medicines, inorganic fertilizers and household's chemicals). It is a hemoglobin-oxidizing agent that can cause methemoglobinemia. The effect of nitrate on infants is well known but less is known about nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia in young children. METHOD: Two cross-sectional studies were carried out in Salé, Morocco to determine the prevalence of methemoglobinemia among 411 infants and children aged 1-7 years in two adjacent areas that were similar in terms of the air quality, available vegetables and medicines but different in terms of the drinking water quality (nitrate-contaminated well water versus mu... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116312 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116311&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155959%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, mattress concentrations of endotoxin and indoor allergens were measured in three hospitals in the alpine climate of Bavaria and in adjacent homes. Dust was collected from each of 10 mattresses according to a standardized protocol, and endotoxin was analyzed with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test, indoor allergens Der p 1, Der f 1 and Fel d 1 were analyzed by ELISAs. The concentration of endotoxin in the mattresses did not differ significantly between different cities. The percentiles of endotoxin were significantly higher in hospitals than in homes. The concentrations of mite allergens (Der p 1 and Der f 1) in the dust were significantly lower in all hospitals than in homes. There was no significant difference of mite allergens between different time points. The concen... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116311 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116310&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155960%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: Although further investigation is needed to study detailed characteristics of the PM 10 (size distribution, chemical identity) the data are sufficient to improve the cleaning and the ventilation in schools. PMID: 18155960 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116310 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116309&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155961%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilhelm M, Hardt J, Schulz C, Angerer J, Reference values for environmental pollutants in the German population are established continuously by the Human Biomonitoring Commission of the German Federal Environment Agency. The reference value for 1-hydroxypyrene in urine was derived from the representative adult population data collection of the 1998 German Environmental Survey (GerES III) and the representative data collection for children of the German Environmental Survey on Children, 2003/06 (GerES IV). For the non-smoking general population (aged 3-69 years) the commission derived a reference value of 0.5mug/l (corresponding to 0.3mug/g creatinine) for 1-hydroxypyrene in urine . For 1- and 2-naphthol levels in urine the amount of data is small and not representative of the... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116309 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116314&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155642%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hojo S, Ishikawa S, Kumano H, Miyata M, Sakabe K Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a syndrome in which multiple symptoms occur with low-level chemical exposure, has not been clarified in detail. The aim of our study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of physician-diagnosed MCS patients in Japan. We analyzed patient characteristics based on the medical records of 106 patients diagnosed with MCS according to the 1999 Consensus and the Japanese diagnostic criteria for MCS. We evaluated subjective symptoms using the Quick Environment Exposure Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI((c))) and compared the QEESI((c)) scores with those of four MCS patient groups in the US reported by Miller and Prihoda [Miller, C.S., Prihoda, T.J., 1999b. A controlled comparison of symptoms and chem... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116314 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116313&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18155643%26dopt%3DAbstract We present data obtained between 2004 and 2006 for B-Pb and B-Cd in 257 Prague homeless adults and compare them to B-Pb and B-Cd levels in 104 Prague adult blood donors from the CZ-HBM project in 2005. The mean (geometric) B-Pb levels in men were 36.5 (HP) and 35.4mug/l (GP), which is not significantly different. However, statistically significant differences were observed between men and women in the GP (P<0.001), but not in HP; B-Pb levels in women (34.8mug/l) did not differ from those of HP men (36.5mug/l), but were significantly (P<0.001) higher than those of GP women (25.8mug/l). B-Pb levels were not influenced by smoking. B-Cd levels in the homeless nonsmokers (geometric means 1.06 and 1.18mug/l in men and women, respectively) were more than 2.5 times higher than in the nonsmok... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116313 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1116313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1076819&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18054282%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bjerner J PMID: 18054282 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076819 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1076819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041801&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18023252%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rozgaj R, Kašuba V, Brozović G, Jazbec A Genetic damage induced by anaesthetic gases in occupationally exposed populations was investigated using the comet assay and micronucleus test. The study included two groups of subjects: 50 operating theatre medical workers (anaesthesiologists, technicians and nurses) and 50 control subjects corresponding in sex, age and smoking habit. The exposed group revealed an increase in genome damage in both tests. In the comet assay, exposure to anaesthetics was a highly significant predictor of the tail length for technicians, while sex proved to be significant predictor of tail moment for women in exposed group. Micronucleus frequency increased significantly, showing threefold increase in exposed groups (RR>3.029). Univariate an... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041801 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1041801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1022465&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17997135%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Piechowicz L, Garbacz K, Galiński J The aim of this study was to examine the genotype properties of Staphylococcus aureus of phage type 187 strains that constitute a separate group among the strains of S. aureus. Sixteen strains were collected from the hospital patients (n=12) and the healthy carriers (n=4) in 13 medical centres in Poland during 1991 and 2005. Biotyping, antibiotic susceptibility, phage typing, detection the genes of enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin, genotyping of chromosomal DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), also amplification and restriction analysis of the coagulase (coa) and the protein A genes (spa) (PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)) was tested. The results of this study showed that all staphylococcus of p... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1022465 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1022465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007571&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17981501%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: The findings of this survey provide valuable information to researchers and policy makers about public awareness of environmental risks that are to take into account in the implementation of risk communication and protective actions. PMID: 17981501 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007571 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007572&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17981083%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Glitza IC, Ehrhard I, Müller-Pebody B, Reintjes R, Breuer T, Ammon A, Sonntag HG To gain actual information concerning the oropharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis among teenagers aged 15-18 years in Germany especially in a region with increased incidence of meningococal-related diseases prompted the study. Each teenager was swabbed three times with an interval of 2 months between the examinations. The 901 recovered N. meningitidis strains were characterized using serological (serogrouping, serotyping/serosubtyping) and molecular methods (PCR, PFGE) each. The results of the study demonstrate an overall average carrier rate of 18.8% for the three collection periods. There were, however, significant differences between the carrier rates within a given school and of ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007572 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007578&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980657%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen CM, Gehring U, Wickman M, Hoek G, Giovannangelo M, Nordling E, Wijga A, de Jongste J, Pershagen G, Almqvist C, Kerkhof M, Bellander T, Wichmann HE, Brunekreef B, Heinrich J Studies have presented conflicting associations between cat allergen exposure and sensitisation and atopic disease. We therefore investigated the association between the observed domestic cat allergen level and cat sensitisation in young children in four study populations from three European countries. We recruited children from a nested case-control study, which is composed of four ongoing birth cohorts conducted in three European countries. Children at 2-4 years of age in the four cohorts who were sensitised to cat allergens (n=106) were compared with 554 non-sensitised children (controls). House dus... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007578 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007577&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980658%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Murphy BP, Buckley JF, O'Connor EM, Gilroy D, Fanning S The presence of microbiological hazards in foodstuffs including, Salmonella, form a major source of food-borne diseases in humans. In-line milk filters from 97 liquid milk production holdings in Cork, the largest dairy region in Ireland, were surveyed for the presence of Salmonella species at herd level over a 2-year period (September 2001-September 2003). Each dairy farm was visited 6 times at 4 monthly intervals (denoted by cycles A-F). Six of the 97 herds (6%) were positive. Ten isolates were detected based on culture methods. These included five (5%) Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, 4 (4%) Salmonella Dublin, and 1 (1%) Salmonella Agona from a total of 556 filters. During cycle C, in addition to the milk filters, a bulk t... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007577 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007576&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980659%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hansen AM PMID: 17980659 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007576 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007575&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980660%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vonberg RP, Wolter A, Chaberny IF, Kola A, Ziesing S, Suerbaum S, Gastmeier P Multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative rods (MRGN) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the epidemiology of this group of pathogens in endemic situations. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of MRGN in our facility during a 3-year period. Prospective surveillance of any patient colonized or infected with a MRGN during hospital stay from 2002 to 2004 was performed. Patients proven to harbour extended beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria as well as cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were excluded. After culture of MRGN, patients were considered positive until three consecutive samples from all previously affected locations had been tested negative.... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007575 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007574&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980661%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Forde S, Hynes MJ, Jonson B Six crystal glass compositions containing no added lead were studied with respect to the potential exposure of workers during the cold-end working of crystal type glasses. During cutting and grinding of crystal glass, fine dusts are produced. These may be inhaled by the workers with subsequent partial dissolution of the dusts in the lung fluid. In order to provide a measure of the degree of dissolution in the case of the six crystal glass compositions produced in this work, the release of antimony, barium, silicon, and bismuth was investigated by passing simulated lung fluid over powdered samples of the crystal having a maximum distribution at a diameter of ca. 0.5mum for a period of 21 days. The results show that it is possible to produce durable g... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007574 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007573&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17980662%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schaumann R, Laurin F, Rodloff AC During a 1-year study period, 96 strains of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were isolated from different specimens of 59 patients admitted to a 1500 bed tertiary care university hospital. The strains were identified by commercially available API system and genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random primer PCR fingerprinting. The wide variation of the molecular profiles of the investigated S. maltophilia isolates shown by PFGE as well as PCR typing suggests that there was no outbreak situation with a particular S. maltophilia strain. PMID: 17980662 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007573 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1007573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=962666&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17942365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hansen D, Hilgenhöner M, Benner D, Popp W Air cooling units are said to pose a health risk to humans because of residual water and biological contamination. We measured particles 0.5 and 5mum, ultrafine particles and bacterial counts near the outlet of 38 air cooling units and at the corresponding workplaces. Control measurements were performed in 17 rooms without air cooling units. There was no difference between bacterial counts measured near the outlet, at the typical workplaces and in control rooms. Measured bacterial counts near the outlet were between 15 and 950cfu/m(3) (median 150), at the typical workplaces between 20 and 1685cfu/m(3) (median 213) and in control rooms between 75 and 940cfu/m(3) (median 240). Concentrations of particles and ultrafine particles were... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=962666 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 962666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954334&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17936684%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fischer G, Albrecht A, Jäckel U, Kämpfer P Emission and dispersal of microorganisms and odours from composting facilities were studied in a 3-year project at nine different composting facilities in Germany. Measurements were carried out under so-called 'normal-case', i.e. typical local climate conditions and working activities within the facilities, and 'real worst-case' conditions ('drainage flow' conditions) being characterized by the translocation of cold air mostly at night, and containing large amounts of bioaerosols. Highest concentrations of microorganisms were observed during turning of compost with a maximum of 2.4x10(6)cfum(-3) for thermophilic actinomycetes. Other groups of microorganisms were detected in concentrations of about 10(5)cfum(-3). During shred... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954334 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 954334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=919034&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17905657%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jedrychowski W, Perera F, Jankowski J, Rauh V, Flak E, Caldwell KL, Jones RL, Pac A, Lisowska-Miszczyk I The purpose of the study was to assess the neurocognitive status of 6-month-old infants whose mothers were exposed to low but varying amounts of lead during pregnancy. Lead levels in the cord blood were used to assess environmental exposure and the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII) assessed visual recognition memory (VRM). The cohort consisted of 452 infants of mothers who gave birth to babies at 33-42 weeks of gestation between January 2001 and March 2003. The overall mean lead level in the cord blood was 1.42mug/dl (95% CI: 1.35-1.48). We found that VRM scores in 6 month olds were inversely related to lead cord blood levels (Spearman correlation coefficient -0.16, ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=919034 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 919034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903686&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17890153%26dopt%3DAbstract Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2007 Sep 21; Authors: von Mühlendahl KE PMID: 17890153 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903686 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903685&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17890154%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wulff C In Germany, there are several laws and legal and administrative regulations restricting presentation and propagation of violence in mass media. They have proven to be partly effective. Whilst control and supervision of public media is feasible, the containment of what is distributed over the internet proves to be very difficult. It is well recognized that laws and regulations can be only one part of protection for children and youngsters; school, kindergarten and above all the parents must be educated and held responsible for creating media competence in children and adolescents. PMID: 17890154 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903685 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903691&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17889604%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Páll G, Páldy A, Rudnai P, Dura G, Várnai D A review is given on the state of activities regarding environmental health in Hungary, with special respect to present and future health of children. PMID: 17889604 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903691 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903690&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17889605%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Halabi M, Orth D, Grif K, Wiesholzer-Pittl M, Kainz M, Schöberl J, Dierich MP, Allerberger F, Würzner R Literature harbours several reports of potable water-associated outbreaks. We studied the prevalence of Shiga toxin- (stx1/2), intimin- (eae) and haemolysin (hlyA) genes in Escherichia coli isolates from drinking water of private and public water supplies in a rural area of Upper Austria; 2633 water samples were gained between November 2000 and December 2003. Two hundred and eighty of these water samples were positive for E. coli (10.6%). Of these, 101 samples were drawn from drilled wells (36%), 96 from dug wells (34%), 61 from springs (22%) and 22 from water supplies without available information on technical details (8%); 141 of the samples were from public wate... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903690 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903689&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17889606%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lob-Corzilius T The prevalence and incidence of overweight or even obese children and adolescents is significantly on the increase worldwide. According to the German Children and Adolescent Health Survey (KIGGS) conducted in 2006, 15% of all children and adolescents in Germany aged 3 through 17 years are overweight, and 6.3% of these children and adolescents are obese. On account of the long-term consequences, such as the metabolic syndrome, it can be expected that this "crisis in public health" will lead to a significantly higher expenditure of economic resources in the health care sector. Therefore it is important that public health prevention strategies analyse the key causes of overweight and obesity, and that they not only incorporate individual behaviours regarding nutri... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903689 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903688&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17889607%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Heudorf U, Mersch-Sundermann V, Angerer J Phthalates are used as plasticizers in PVC plastics. As the phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, they can leach, migrate or evaporate into indoor air and atmosphere, foodstuff, other materials, etc. Consumer products containing phthalates can result in human exposure through direct contact and use, indirectly through leaching into other products, or general environmental contamination. Humans are exposed through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure during their whole lifetime, including intrauterine development. This paper presents an overview on current risk assessments done by expert panels as well as on exposure assessment data, based on ambient and on current human biomonitoring results. Some phthalates are... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903688 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903687&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17889608%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jarosinska D, Gee D The concept of precaution has a long history in medicine and public health. The modern precautionary principle (PP), originating from environmental debates in Germany in the 1970s, has been included in many international agreements, such as the Treaty on European Union. PP is a public policy tool that justifies actions, which protect human health and the environment in face of uncertain risks. The outcome of the application of PP depends on the level, nature, and distribution of acceptable risks and on the availability of alternatives, and can range from taking no action to banning of substances or the activities of concern. Given the complex nature and uncertainty of environmental risks to children's health, a precautionary approach is warranted. Public he... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903687 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 903687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891777&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17881288%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Böse-O'reilly S, Heudorf U, Lob-Corzilius T, Mühlendahl KE, Otto M, Schmidt S Many of the "classical" environmental hazards and risks (such as anthropogenic chemical and physical factors, e.g., asbestos, dioxin, electromagnetic fields and "pesticides") are in our countries not major determinants of children's health and well being; however, there may exist unseen or unrecognized causal contexts. Some hazards, such as UV light, noise, fine particles, tobacco smoke, legal and illegal drugs, and radon, are considered important by experts, but are still largely ignored by the public. In our society, despite of, or maybe because of the multitude of information and disinformation, adequate risk perception continues to be a problem. Furthermore, ever-new environmental toxic... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891777 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 891777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891776&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17881289%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cerci F The consideration of the social environment, living conditions, exposure to environmental hazards, and health behavior provide useful aspects for assessing and improving the health status of children. Migration-related factors, cultural background and ethnicity are important determinants of environmental health. PMID: 17881289 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891776 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 891776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882900&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870663%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Muceniece S, Muszynska M, Otto M, Rozentale G, Rudkowski Z, Skerliene B, Slotova K, Suurorg L, Tur I, von Mühlendahl KE Pediatric environmental medicine in Central Eastern Europe needs support and development on national, institutional and individual basis. This situation is quantitatively, but not fundamentally different from what is to be found in Central Europe. PMID: 17870663 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882900 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882899&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870664%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rogan WJ, Ragan NB Pollutant chemicals that are widespread in the environment can affect endocrine function in laboratory experiments and in wildlife. Although human beings are commonly exposed to such pollutant chemicals, the exposures are generally low and clear effects on endocrine function from such exposures have been difficult to demonstrate. Human data including both exposure to the chemical agent and the endocrine outcome are reviewed here, including age at weaning, age at puberty, anogenital distance, and sex ratio at birth, and the strength of the evidence are discussed. Although endocrine disruption in humans by pollutant chemicals remains largely undemonstrated, the underlying science is sound and the potential for such effects is real. PMID: 17870664 [PubMed -... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882899 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882898&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870665%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kolossa-Gehring M, Becker K, Conrad A, Lüdecke A, Riedel S, Seiwert M, Schulz C, Szewzyk R German Environmental Surveys (GerESs) are large scale population studies which have been carried out on adults in 1985/86, 1990/92 and 1998 and on children aged 6-14 years in 1990/92. GerES IV is the first survey focussing exclusively on children [Becker, K., Schulz, C., Babisch, W., Dürkop, J., Roskamp, E., Seiwert, M., Szewzyk, R., Ullrich, D., Seifert, B., 2005. German Environmental Survey for Children (GerES IV) 2003-2006. Pullut. Atmos. 188, 475-479]. GerES IV included a representative sample of 1790 children aged 3-14 of the participants of the National Health Interview and Examination Survey on Children and Adolescents. The primary goal of GerES IV is not only to analyse... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882898 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882897&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870666%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mühlendahl KE Demographic developments - birth rates are sharply declining in most European countries - have the effect that in very many families children are growing up without brothers or sisters, often with one parent only. This may lead to a lack of social experiences and skills in the next generation. PMID: 17870666 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882897 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882896&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870667%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Völkel W, Genzel-Boroviczény O, Demmelmair H, Gebauer C, Koletzko B, Twardella D, Raab U, Fromme H Perfluorinated compounds (PFC) are a large group of chemicals produced for several decades and widely used for many industrial and consumer applications. Because of their global occurrence in different environmental media, their persistence and their potential to bioaccumulate in organisms they are of toxicological and public concern. In the present study, perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were quantified in 70 breast milk samples. Samples were obtained from Leipzig, Germany (38 archived samples), Munich, Germany (19 fresh samples) and Gyor, Hungary (13 frozen samples). PFOS could be quantified in all 70 samples. The concentration in sa... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882896 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882895&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870668%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kämpfer P, Nienhüser A, Packroff G, Wernicke F, Mehling A, Nixdorf K, Fiedler S, Kolauch C, Esser M The accuracy of a traditional method (lactose utilization with acid and gas production) for the detection of coliform bacteria and E. coli was tested in comparison with method ISO 9308-1 (based on acid formation from lactose) and the Colilert-18 system (detection of beta-galactosidase). A total of 345 isolates were identified after isolation from water samples using API 20E strips. The Colilert-18 led to the highest number of positive findings (95% of the isolates were assigned to coliforms), whereas the ISO-9308-1 method resulted only in 29% coliform findings. With the traditional method only 15% were rated positive. Most of the isolates were identified by the API 20E... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882895 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882894&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870669%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Engelhart S, Pleischl S, Lück C, Marklein G, Fischnaller E, Martin S, Simon A, Exner M A case of hospital-acquired legionellosis occurred in a 75-year-old male patient who underwent surgery due to malignant melanoma. Legionellosis was proven by culture of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Being a chronic smoker the patient used to visit the sickroom balcony that was located about 90m to the west of a hospital cooling tower. Routine cooling tower water samples drawn during the presumed incubation period revealed 1.0x10(4)CFU/100ml (L. pneumophila serogroup 1). One of three isolates from the cooling tower water matched the patient's isolate by monoclonal antibody (mab)- and genotyping (sequence-based typing). Horizontal transport of... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882894 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882907&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17869577%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kappos AD A concise review of the literature on the influence of electronic media on children's health is given. The exposure to different media is estimated with special reference to the situation in Germany. The impact on violence and aggressive behavior, on sexuality, on physical activity, obesity and nutrition, on substance use and abuse and addiction, on anxiety, depression, irregular sleep, and attention deficits, on cognition, language and reading, creativity is discussed. Although some of the results reported are still in question, there is no doubt that television and other electronic media negatively influence children's mental and somatic well-being. They have fundamentally changed the life of children and expose them to a powerful experiment with unpredictable and ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882907 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882906&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17869578%26dopt%3DAbstract This article presents results of a long-term investigation surveying VOC and VC groundwater contamination upstream of a large groundwater works in Cologne, Germany. For 10 years a contaminated aquifer has been monitored for different VOC and for VC. In total, 255 samples have been taken to assess both the 3-dimensional distribution and the temporal dynamics of the contaminants. VOC and VC precursor substances have been measured by means of pentane-liquid-liquid-extraction, GC and ECD, VC by means of derivatisation to 1,2 dibromochloroethane, GC, ECD, and by purge and trap technique and GC-MS-coupling. For spatial analysis all test results and additional hydrogeological attribute data have been transferred to a GIS. The spatial VOC distribution has been assessed by use of kriging interpolat... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882906 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882905&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17869579%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This is the first prospective multicenter study from Germany, which confirms the increased risk of a severe clinical course in nosocomially acquired RSV-infection. Of great concern is the high rate of (preventable) NI in preterms, in particular in those with severe chronic lung disease or with mechanical ventilation due to other reasons. PMID: 17869579 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health) International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882905 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882904&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17869580%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schoefer Y, Zutavern A, Brockow I, Schäfer T, Krämer U, Schaaf B, Herbarth O, von Berg A, Wichmann HE, Heinrich J, Swimming pool attendance and exposure to chlorination by-products showed adverse health effects on children. We assessed whether early swimming pool attendance, especially baby swimming, is related to higher rates of early infections and to the development of allergic diseases. In 2003-2005, 2192 children were analysed for the 6-year follow-up of a prospective birth cohort study. Data on early swimming pool attendance, other lifestyle factors and medical history were collected by parental-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate associations. Babies who did not participate in baby swimming... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882904 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882903&cid=s_35641_55_f&fid=35641&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17869581%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Etzel RA Although outdoor air pollution first brought the issue of air pollution health effects to public attention, it is now indoor air pollution that likely has the greatest impact on children's health. The World Health Organization estimates that the global burden of disease from indoor air pollution is far greater than the burden from outdoor air pollution. This review focuses on two indoor pollutants, one that has been well studied, and another that deserves additional study. There is very strong evidence about the harmful effects of tobacco. Policy to decrease children's tobacco exposure and use should be implemented without delay. The emerging findings linking household inhalation of mould spores and infant pulmonary hemorrhage merit follow-up in other countries, becau... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882903 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882903