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. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:36:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618099&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%3D22261297%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to find answers to the following questions: Does compulsory labeling lead to omission of strong allergenic fragrances in deodorants? Is there a difference in the use patterns of strong and weak allergens? What is the quantitative exposure to fragrances by deodorants? Is the situation in Germany different from other European countries? Is there a difference between deodorants for men and for women? I tested the implementation of the "26 allergens rule" and compiled which allergenic fragrances are specified on the containers of deodorants. Three market studies were conducted in Germany in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The labels of a total number of 374 deodorants were analyzed as to whether any of the "26 allergens" were listed. The frequency of each allergen in the d... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618099 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618098&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%3D22261298%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McQueen H, Callan AC, Hinwood AL Abstract Glyphosate is a herbicide in common use, in both agricultural and residential settings. Controlled residue studies show that glyphosate persists in food crops, allowing for the potential of a large number of people to be exposed. Glyphosate is generally considered safe however there are a number of studies suggesting formulations or additives that may have adverse health effects. To assess the degree of exposure of pregnant women, this study measured glyphosate in composite food samples and estimated exposure based on food frequency questionnaire. 43 pregnant women were recruited and completed a self administered questionnaire with a food frequency component and provided a composite food sample. Twenty food samples were analysed wi... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618098 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618100&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%3D22257928%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated the impact of neighbourhood noise (of 45dB[A], n=20) and of noise coming from passing aircraft (of 48dB[A] peak amplitude presented once per minute; n=19) during computer based learning of different texts (with three types of text structure, i.e. linear text, hierarchic hypertext, and network hypertext) in relation to a control group (35dB[A], n=20). Using a between subjects design, reproduction scores, heart rate, and spontaneous skin conductance fluctuations were compared. Results showed impairments of reproduction in both noise conditions. Additionally, whereas in the control group and the neighbourhood noise group scores were better for network hypertext structure than for hierarchic hypertext, no effect of text structure on reproduction appeared in the aircraft... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618100 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618101&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%3D22237049%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duarte SC, Alves MR, Pena A, Lino CM Abstract Dietary exposure to the ochratoxin A (OTA) occurring in Portugal is characterized by a high frequency of contamination of the consumed foodstuffs, although at low levels. The exposure bears significance for the total food consumed, and not for a particular one. Biomonitoring studies are thus fundamental in simplifying the evaluation of exposure, with no need to examine the entire range of consumed foodstuffs. Biomonitoring studies further allow the identification of host factors as predictors of OTA exposure in epidemiologic studies, the results of which are merited for targeting intervention strategies by public health authorities and advising official regulatory decisions. Using a longitudinal approach, this study examined fa... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618101 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618102&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%3D22230243%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated the relationship between aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) lysine adduct levers in serum and socio-demographic factors and dietary intake of aflatoxins from nuts and nut products in Penang, Malaysia. A cross-sectional field study was conducted in five districts of Penang. A survey on socio-demographic characteristics was administered to 364 healthy adults from the three main ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian). A total of 170 blood samples were successfully collected and tested for the level of AFB(1)-lysine adduct. 97% of the samples contained AFB(1)-lysine adduct above the detection limit of 0.4pg/mg albumin and ranged from 0.20 to 23.16pg/mg albumin (mean±standard deviation=7.67±4.54pg/mg albumin; median=7.12pg/mg albumin). There was no significant association betw... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618102 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618104&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%3D22227178%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hahn A, Michalak H, Begemann K, Meyer H, Burger R Abstract German physicians are obligated (Para 16e Chemicals Law) to submit essential data on poisonings to the Centre for Documentation and Assessment of Poisonings at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung, BfR). In addition, German poison centres are subjected to compulsory reporting of their findings of general importance gained in the context of their activities. The BfR assessment of poisonings has important significance for human case data collection, risk identification, and German toxicological monitoring. Using more than 60,000 reports on cases of poisoning, the BfR developed a structured expert judgement trial for poisonings. This judgement is based on a three-level model,... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618104 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5618103&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%3D22227179%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lestari F, Hayes AJ, Green AR, Chattopadhyay G Abstract The application of polymer and composites in building and modern transport interiors raises concerns of potential health hazards during combustion. Cytotoxicity and morphological assessment of smoke from polymer combustion in human lung derived cells (A549) has been investigated. A laboratory scale vertical tube furnace was used for the generation of combustion products. A range of materials used in the building and transport industry including high density-polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fiberglass reinforced polymers (FRPs), and melamine faced plywood (MFP) were studied. The exposure of combustion toxicants to human lung cells (A549) at the air/liquid interf... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5618103 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5618103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5575430&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%3D22218106%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Qi X, Zheng M, Wu C, Wang G, Feng C, Zhou Z Abstract Pyrethroid pesticides are widely used throughout the world in agriculture to protect crops and in public health to control diseases. Of particular concern is exposure of pregnant women and their fetuses because little is known about the potential developmental hazards of such exposure. Several studies have detected internal pyrethroid exposure in urine both in adults and children, but few published data are available on metabolites in pregnant women. The present paper provides data on pyrethroid pesticides exposure based on questionnaire items and measurement of maternal urinary metabolite levels among 1149 pregnant women living in agricultural area of Jiangsu Province, China in 2009-2010, none of which reported occupati... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5575430 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5575430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5575429&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%3D22218107%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. Until recently, HBM programs in Israel were targeted at selected occupational groups (workers potentially exposed to metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and cholinesterase inhibitors) and naval divers potentially exposed to environmental contaminants. The future of HBM in Israel lies in extending such programs to measuring exposures in representative samples of the general population, increasing international collaboration in this field, developing analytical capacity and expertise, and increasing use of human biomonitoring studies in forming and evaluating environmental health policy. PMID: 22218107 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5575429 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5575429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5575431&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%3D22209116%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olsen J Abstract A growing body of evidence indicates that antenatal care should focus not only on preventing perinatal complications but needs to see the early phase of life as important for a number of adult diseases as well. Most of the research comes from animal studies, since cohorts starting early in life that include biomarkers and have long term follow-up are few, the best known being the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1974) where only a part of the cohort are being followed (www.birthcohorts.net). Many cohorts are, however, in the planning phase, and the paper provides ten suggestions/recommendations for principal investigators of new or recently established cohorts. PMID: 22209116 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Jour... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5575431 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5575431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557658&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%3D22206735%26dopt%3DAbstract This study documents a positive graded relationship between environmental cadmium exposure and the risk for frontal T-wave axis deviation. Screening individuals with large body burden of cadmium to identify frontal T-wave axis deviation is warranted. PMID: 22206735 [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=5557658 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557659&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%3D22204983%26dopt%3DAbstract This study examined the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in biofilms on a variety of surfaces (river rock, slate rock, wood, Lexan™, sandpaper, and sediment) and in water from December 2005 to December 2006 to find a substratum that facilitated campylobacters detection in natural aquatic environments. Samples were collected at four sites in an agricultural watershed (Elk Creek, British Columbia). Campylobacter spp. presence was determined using culturing methods. Correlations between chemical, physical and microbiological water quality parameters and Campylobacter spp. distribution on different surface types were also investigated. Campylobacter spp. had a prevalence of 13% in the wet season, but was not recovered in the dry season. Its prevalence was highest in sediment (27%), followed ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5557659 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544012&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%3D22197511%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Grandjean P PMID: 22197511 [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=5544012 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544011&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%3D22197512%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: La Rocca C, Alessi E, Bergamasco B, Caserta D, Ciardo F, Fanello E, Focardi S, Guerranti C, Stecca L, Moscarini M, Perra G, Tait S, Zaghi C, Mantovani A Abstract Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been used as surfactants in various industry and consumer products. PFOS/PFOA are very persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate in humans. They are potential reproductive and developmental toxicants and are considered to be emerging endocrine disrupters (EDs). The Italian project PREVIENI, funded by the Italian Environment Ministry, aims to link environment and human health through the investigation of selected endocrine disrupters (EDs) exposure and associated biomarkers related to human infertility conditions. In the early PREVIEN... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544011 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544010&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%3D22197513%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ciarrocca M, Tomei G, Palermo P, Caciari T, Cetica C, Fiaschetti M, Gioffrè PA, Tasciotti Z, Tomei F, Sancini A Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate personal exposure to As in urban air in two groups of outdoor workers (traffic policemen and police drivers) of a big Italian city through: (a) environmental monitoring of As obtained by personal samples and (b) biological monitoring of total urinary As. The possible influence of smoking habit on urinary As was evaluated. We studied 122 male subjects, all Municipal Police employees: 84 traffic policemen and 38 police drivers exposed to urban pollutants. Personal exposure to As in air was significantly higher in traffic policemen than in police drivers (p=0.03). Mean age, length of service, alcohol drinking habit, num... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544010 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544013&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%3D22197023%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Link B, Gabrio T, Zöllner I, Jaroni H, Piechotowski I, Schilling B, Felder-Kennel A, Flicker-Klein A, König M, Maisner V, Schick KH, Fischer G Abstract From 1996/1997 to 2008/2009, blood and urine were sampled from 9- to 11-year-old pupils in the state of Baden-Württemberg, South-West Germany. In blood samples the chlororganics DDE, HCB, PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180 were analysed by gas chromatography and ECD detection. PCDD/PCDF were measured in pooled blood samples using GC/MS. Lead concentrations in blood were quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), mercury in urine by using cold vapour AAS. For all chlororganics and heavy metals a distinct decrease of the internal concentration could be shown within the 12-year investigation period. For ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544013 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544015&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%3D22192580%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hays SM, Aylward LL Abstract Human biomonitoring (HBM) has proven an extremely valuable tool for determining which chemicals are getting into people, detecting trends in population exposures over time, and identifying populations with exposures above background. The potential significance of the HBM data in the context of existing toxicology data and risk assessments can be assessed if chemical-specific quantitative screening criteria are available. Such screening criteria would ideally be based on robust datasets relating potential adverse effects to biomarker concentrations in human populations. However, such assessments are data intensive and exist for only a few chemicals. As an interim approach, the concept of Biomonitoring Equivalents (BEs) has been developed. A Biom... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544015 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544014&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%3D22192581%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Link B, Gabrio T, Mann V, Schilling B, Maisner V, König M, Flicker-Klein A, Zöllner I, Fischer G Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used in high amounts as flame retardants in plastic materials and textiles. Due to their persistence, their accumulation in the food chain and their toxic properties they have been integrated in the human biomonitoring program of the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office since 2002. In repeated cross-sectional studies in winter 2002/03 (n=162), 2004/05 (n=194), 2005/06 (n=411) and 2008/09 (n=770) blood samples of 9-11-year-old pupils were taken, pooled and analysed for PBDE after extraction and purification by silica gel using HRGC/HRMS. Samples were pooled according to region, gender, and breast feeding. PBDE in the pooled ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544014 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524256&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%3D22178406%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this paper is to review and discuss the options that were taken in the human biomonitoring programme in order to achieve its goals. PMID: 22178406 [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=5524256 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524255&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%3D22178407%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Green ES PMID: 22178407 [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=5524255 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524260&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%3D22177527%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boogaard PJ, Aylward LL, Hays SM Abstract REACH requires health risk management for workers and the general population and introduced the concept of Derived No-Effect Level (DNEL). DNELs must be derived for all substances that are classified as hazardous. In analogy to other health-risk based guidance values, such as reference doses (RfDs) and tolerable daily intakes (TDIs), risk to health is considered negligible if the actual exposure is less than the DNEL. Exposure assessment is relatively simple for occupational situations but more complex for the general public, in which exposure may occur via multiple pathways, routes, and media. For such complex or partially defined exposure scenarios, human biomonitoring (HBM) gives a snapshot of the internal or absorbed dose of a ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524260 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524259&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%3D22177528%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lewis RC, Gaffney SH, Le MH, Unice KM, Paustenbach DJ Abstract Workers handle catalysts extensively at petroleum refineries throughout the world each year; however, little information is available regarding the airborne concentrations and plausible exposures during this type of work. In this paper, we evaluated the airborne concentrations of 15 metals and total dust generated during solid catalyst loading and unloading operations at one of the largest petroleum refineries in the world using historical industrial hygiene samples collected between 1989 and 2006. The total dust and metals, which included aluminum, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, silicon, silver, vanadium, and zinc, were evaluated in relation to the handl... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524259 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524258&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%3D22177529%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sautour M, Edel-Hermann V, Steinberg C, Sixt N, Laurent J, Dalle F, Aho S, Hartemann P, L'ollivier C, Goyer M, Bonnin A Abstract Dijon Hospital is a French tertiary care institution undergoing major renovation, and different microbiological controls revealed the presence of Fusarium spp. in the water distribution system. Because some Fusarium spp. can cause life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, an 8-month survey was conducted in two hospital sites in order to evaluate the prevalence of the fungi in the water system. In 2 units of one hospital site, 100% of the samples of tap-water were positive, with high concentrations of Fusarium spp. (up to 10(5)cfu/L). In the second hospital site, 94% of samples were positive, but generally with lower... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524258 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524257&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%3D22177530%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Angerer J PMID: 22177530 [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=5524257 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524261&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%3D22172995%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kolossa-Gehring M, Becker K, Conrad A, Schröter-Kermani C, Schulz C, Seiwert M Abstract Production of chemicals, use of products and consumer goods, contamination of food as well as today's living conditions are related to a substantial exposure of humans to chemicals. Safety of human beings and the environment has to be safeguarded by producers and government. Human biomonitoring (HBM) has proven to be a useful and powerful tool to control human exposure and facilitate risk assessment. Therefore, the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) employs two major HBM tools, the German Environmental Survey (GerES) and the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB). GerES is a nationwide population representative study on HBM and external human exposure, which has... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524261 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524265&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%3D22169170%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kolossa-Gehring M PMID: 22169170 [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=5524265 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524263&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%3D22169701%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Joas R PMID: 22169701 [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=5524263 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524262&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%3D22169702%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leng G PMID: 22169702 [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=5524262 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524267&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%3D22154458%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schulz C, Calafat AM, Haines D, Becker K, Kolossa-Gehring M PMID: 22154458 [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=5524267 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524266&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%3D22154459%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Perharic L, Vracko P Abstract In Slovenia patchy human biomonitoring (HBM) data have been collected over the past three decades, mainly in areas polluted with lead, mercury or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In 2007, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) prepared a proposal for the national HBM programme based on the initiatives and recommendations of the World Health Organisation, the International Programme on Chemical Safety and the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010. In the absence of national reference values we proposed an initial two year cross-sectional environmental epidemiological study aiming to establish national reference values for selected chemicals in blood of 320 subjects; i.e. 40 males, and in blood and milk of 40 breastfeedi... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524266 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524264&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%3D22169700%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olsén L, Lind PM, Lind L Abstract Several studies have pointed out associations between various metals and cardiovascular disease. Since cardiovascular disease prevalence is different between males and females, we investigated whether circulating levels of metals related differently to coronary risk in men and women. In the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, coronary risk was assessed by the Framingham Risk Score together with circulating blood levels of 11 different trace and heavy metals in 1016 subjects aged 70 years. Circulating levels of cadmium, copper and manganese were significantly higher in women than in men, while mercury, zinc and lead were significantly lower following adjustment for kidney function (measured by glo... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524264 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524271&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%3D22153871%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, Bio-plex multiplex technology was employed to investigate modulations of 27 pro-inflammatory cytokines following exposure of human monocytic cells to 1.5Gy of α-particle radiation. Concurrently, DNA damage was assessed by examining the formation of phosphorylated H2A histone family X (γ-H2AX) sites. Of the 27 cytokines assessed, 4 cytokines were shown to be statistically downregulated by ∼2 fold relative to the untreated controls and included the interleukin (IL) family of proteins (IL-2, IL-15 and IL-17) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta (MIP-1b). Interferon-inducible protein-12 (IP-12), vascular endothelial growth factor and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were shown to be high expressors and upregulated. Cells irradiated ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524271 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524270&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%3D22153877%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the principle relationships between concentrations in human and environmental matrices of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in short distance comparable areas within Saxony, Germany by employing the data of the German Environmental Specimen Banking (ESB). Examples supporting this idea were presented by selecting data on blood plasma collected from students in University of Halle and pine shoots, egg matter of city pigeons, earthworm, and roe deer liver. Similar pattern for PCB 138 and PCB 180 was found for the human plasma and pine shoots samples during investigated years and the human data followed the corresponding environmental levels with some delay of approximately two years. However, PCB 153 that was the... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524270 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524269&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%3D22153878%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Spatari G, Saitta S, Cimino F, Sapienza D, Quattrocchi P, Carrieri M, Barbaro M, Saija A, Gangemi S Abstract Simple aromatic hydrocarbon benzene occurs naturally in crude oil and petroleum. Benzene has been internationally recognised as a haematotoxin and carcinogen. The involvement of oxidative stress is a major susceptibility factors for benzene hematotoxicity in humans. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are modified structures which can serve as markers of oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to assess modification of circulating AOPPs and AGEs, as early markers of oxidative stress, in subjects exposed to low dose of benzene. Furthermore the genetic polymorphism of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) may be related ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524269 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524268&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%3D22153879%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rocha MC, Santos LM, Bagatin E, Tervaert JW, Damoiseaux JG, Lido AV, Longhini AL, Torello CO, Queiroz ML Abstract Exposure to silica dust has been examined as a possible risk factor for autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Since CTLA-4 [CD152] and PD-1 [CD279] are important for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by regulating T cell responsiveness, we evaluated the expression of these molecules on the surface of CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in CTLA-4 and PDCD1 genes, of 70 silica-exposed workers and 30 non-exposed, age-, ethnically- and sex-matched controls. Expression of CTLA-4 was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in CD4 T cells of exposed individuals [median=0.1% ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5524268 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524273&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%3D22137157%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, the majority of strategies and activities to decrease blood lead levels in an environmentally exposed population should be focused on children aged 0-5 years, on the home environment, on preventing fugitive emissions from smelters and other sources and on the proper disposal and confinement of industrial residues. PMID: 22137157 [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=5524273 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5524272&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%3D22137158%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the versatility and portability of our device, together with the repeatability of the signal, confirmed that the kinetics of exhaled particles and %DEP could be routinely measured in polluted environments and used to define individual susceptibility to airborne particles. PMID: 22137158 [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=5524272 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5524272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5470477&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%3D22118878%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSION: This study suggests an association between agricultural work and brain cancer mortality in Rio de Janeiro state. It also suggests that pesticide exposure may play a role in such risk. PMID: 22118878 [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=5470477 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5470477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5470476&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%3D22119232%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the association between individual SES and the internal body concentration of exposure to environmental pollutants in Flemish adolescents is more complex than can be assumed on the basis of the environmental justice hypothesis. PMID: 22119232 [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=5470476 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5470476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5451181&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%3D22115955%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Odland JO, Nieboer E Abstract Human biomonitoring in the Arctic creates certain challenges. Important exposure and health issues are: the various mixtures of contaminants found in the Arctic; long-range transport sources; accumulation in the traditional food chain; unique small populations; toxicant-nutrient interactions; genetic susceptibility factors; and multiple non-dietary confounding factors (especially lifestyle issues of the indigenous population groups). Through the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), systematic biomonitoring studies have been implemented since the mid-1990s. Some concentrations of organic contaminants and toxic metals in human body fluids and tissues have raised concern, leading to the establishment of several mother-and-child coho... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5451181 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5451181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5451182&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%3D22112744%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bowler RM, Harris M, Gocheva V, Wilson K, Kim Y, Davis SI, Bollweg G, Lobdell DT, Ngo L, Roels HA Abstract Manganese (Mn) is a nutrient and neurotoxicant sometimes associated with mood, motor and neurological effects. Reports of health effects from occupational exposure to Mn are well known, but the reported links to environmental airborne Mn (Mn-Air) are less conclusive. Marietta, OH (USA) is a previously identified community with elevated Mn-Air from industrial emissions. Households were randomly selected in Marietta and the comparison town (Mount Vernon, OH). The responders were used to recruit on a voluntary basis 30- to 75-year-old residents, i.e. 100 in Marietta and 90 in Mount Vernon. They were administered the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), motor... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5451182 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5451182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5451183&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%3D22104625%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was aimed at evaluating BLL in a children population of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Up to our knowledge, this is the first study to report on BLL in this population. Lead was identified and quantified in blood samples of 120 children, by means of Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Lead was undetected in 80% of samples; BLL was 1 to 5μg/dl in 15% of samples, and higher than 5μg/dl in more than 4% of samples. BLL values in the evaluated children were low and similar to those described for other populations in Western countries. However, samples with the highest contamination (those in percentile 95) reached BLLs as high as 5.2μg/dl. Positive associations were found between BLL and recent immigration (children adopted from non-western countries), ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5451183 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5451183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5451184&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%3D22093903%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hanjra MA, Blackwell J, Carr G, Zhang F, Jackson TM Abstract Climate change is a large-scale and emerging environmental risk. It challenges environmental health and the sustainability of global development. Wastewater irrigation can make a sterling contribution to reducing water demand, recycling nutrients, improving soil health and cutting the amount of pollutants discharged into the waterways. However, the resource must be carefully managed to protect the environment and public health. Actions promoting wastewater reuse are every where, yet the frameworks for the protection of human health and the environment are lacking in most developing countries. Global change drivers including climate change, population growth, urbanization, income growth, improvements in living sta... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5451184 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5451184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5451185&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%3D22088798%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shy CG, Huang HL, Chao HR, Chang-Chien GP Abstract In vivo studies indicate that prenatal or neonatal exposure of rodents to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) disrupts thyroid hormone balance, but few studies have reported an association of PBDEs and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The goal was to examine whether PBDEs exposure affects the levels of thyroid hormones and IGF-1 in cord blood. Study participants were healthy pregnant women recruited from the general population in central Taiwan between 2000 and 2001 and in southern Taiwan from 2007 to 2009. One-hundred-forty-nine breast milk samples (n=149), which were collected within one month after delivery, were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph equipped with a high resolution mass spectrometer... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5451185 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5451185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5410164&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%3D22079427%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Thevenin T, Lobert PE, Dewilde A, Hober D Abstract The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is known as a major cause of respiratory infections and nosocomial diseases. Testing this virus is rather difficult due to the problems encountered in producing it at a high titer without using any purification method. A RSV isolate which replicates to high level on a Hep-2 cell line with an infectious titer of at least 10(7)TCID(50)mL(-1) in culture supernatant fluids has been identified. Thanks to this isolate, the virucidal effects of two products, a hand rub solution and a surface disinfectant, were conveniently tested according to the EN 14476:2007-02 procedure. PMID: 22079427 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental healt... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5410164 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5410164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5375493&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%3D22014893%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cerná M, Krsková A, Cejchanová M, Spěváčková V Abstract In the Czech Republic, the Human Biomonitoring Project (CZ-HBM) was launched in 1994 as an integral part of the nationwide Environmental Health Monitoring System (EHMS). Until now, the HBM covers two time periods: the first covered 1994-2003 and the second, 2005-2009. Altogether three population groups were included in the HBM: adults (blood donors aged 18-58 years), children aged 8-10 years, and breastfeeding primiparas. Sampling is organized on a yearly basis. Altogether three groups of biomarkers were analyzed: (a) selected heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg) and essential elements (Cu, Se, Zn) in blood and urine of adults and children, (b) indicator PCBs, DDT, DDE, HCB and HCHs in human milk and blood serum of adults... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5375493 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5375493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5375495&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%3D22001329%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haines DA, Murray J Abstract Human biomonitoring is an important indicator and measure of exposure to environmental chemicals and provides information to support health protection policies and programs. Cycle 1 (2007-2009) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) collected and analyzed biological samples from over 5600 males and females aged 6-79 years, which established national representative blood and urine concentrations for a number of environmental chemicals including metals, organophosphate insecticide metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorines (OCs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), bisphenol A (BPA), and cotinine. The results of CHMS Cycle 1 indicate that while some organophosphate insecticide metabolites were below limits of detection for... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5375495 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5375495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5375494&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%3D22001330%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Weiß O, Wiesmüller GA, Bunte A, Göen T, Schmidt CK, Wilhelm M, Hölzer J Abstract In Cologne, Germany, increased concentrations of perfluorinated compounds (PFC) have been observed in two private wells used for drinking water purposes. Both wells are located in the vicinity of a fire training area. Use of well water as a source of drinking water was prohibited by the Public Health Department of the City of Cologne. A human biomonitoring (HBM) survey was performed among all persons, who consumed water from these private wells (N=10). PFC concentrations in water of the private wells and in blood samples were analysed by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Repeated water analyses (seven measurements between December 2009 and November 2010)... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5375494 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5375494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5375496&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%3D21983396%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kasper-Sonnenberg M, Koch HM, Wittsiepe J, Wilhelm M Abstract Phthalates are used ubiquitously and human exposure is widespread. Some phthalates are anti-androgens and have to be regarded as reproductive and developmental toxicants. In the Duisburg birth cohort study we examine the associations between hormonally active environmental agents and child development. Here we report the concentrations of 21 primary and secondary phthalate metabolites from seven low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates (DMP, DEP, BBzP, DiBP, DnBP, DCHP, DnPeP) and five high-molecular weight (HMW) phthalates (DEHP, DiNP, DiDP, DPHP, DnOP) in 208 urine samples from 104 mothers and their school-aged children. Analysis was performed by multidimensional liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spect... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5375496 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5375496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293403&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%3D21975164%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: The correlation patterns, the temporal trends and the various influencing factors may reflect differences in exposure sources and/or metabolism between the major congeners BDE-47 and BDE-153. Therefore it seems to be necessary to discuss the concentrations of BDE-47 and BDE-153 separately as leading indicators instead of using a total PBDE. PMID: 21975164 [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=5293403 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293407&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%3D21964309%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pino A, Amato A, Alimonti A, Mattei D, Bocca B Abstract As a part of the activities of the first Italian human biomonitoring survey (PROBE - PROgramme for Biomonitoring general population Exposure), a reference population of adolescents, aged 13-15 years, was examined for their exposure to metals. The study included 252 adolescents living in urban areas, representative of Latium Region (Italy) and blood specimens were analyzed for metals (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ir, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sb, Sn, Tl, U, V and W) by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results obtained will improve the knowledge about the body burden in adolescents and are tentative reference values for Italian young people as a basis for risk evaluation deriving from urban/en... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293407 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293406&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%3D21968333%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Spada L, Annicchiarico C, Cardellicchio N, Giandomenico S, Di Leo A Abstract Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were measured in sediments and marine organisms from the Taranto Gulf to understand their distribution and partitioning. Sediment concentrations ranged from 0.036 to 7.730mg/kg (mean: 2.777mg/kg d.w.) and from 1 to 40μg/kg (mean: 11μg/kg d.w.) for total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (Me-Hg), respectively. In mollusks THg ranged from n.d. to 1870μg/kg d.w. while in fish from 324 to 1740μg/kg d.w. Me-Hg concentrations in fish ranged from 190 to 1040μg/kg d.w. and from n.d. to 1321μg/kg d.w. in mollusks. THg exceeded the maximum level fixed by the European Commission (0.5mg/kg w.w.) only in gastropod Hexaplex t. The calculated weekly intake was i... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293406 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293405&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%3D21968334%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aims to determine reference levels for several biomarkers, especially heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and cotinine, in urine, whole blood, serum and hair, and will involve 2000 volunteers throughout Spain. Samples were taken during 2009-2010 and analyses are currently underway. The results presented herein were obtained in a pilot study carried out in the Madrid region. The study group comprised 170 volunteers, of which 79% were female and 21% male (age: 23-66 years). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding diet and living habits and provides a morning urine sample. The geometric means for total mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were 1.23, 1.11 and 0.25μg/g creatinine, respectively. Levels of Pb and Hg were higher than those r... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293405 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293404&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%3D21968335%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hohenblum P, Steinbichl P, Raffesberg W, Weiss S, Moche W, Vallant B, Scharf S, Haluza D, Moshammer H, Kundi M, Piegler B, Wallner P, Hutter HP Abstract Humans are exposed to a broad variety of man-made chemicals. Human biomonitoring (HBM) data reveal the individual body burden irrespective of sources and routes of uptake. A first population-based study was started in Austria in 2008 and was finished at the end of May 2011. This cross sectional study aims at documenting the extent, the distribution and the determinants of human exposure to industrial chemicals as well as proving the feasibility of a representative HBM study. Overall, 150 volunteers (50 families) were selected by stratified random sampling. Exposure to phthalates, trisphosphates, polybrominated diphenyl eth... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293404 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293408&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%3D21964308%26dopt%3DAbstract We report an approach to better understand cancer causality based on the measurement of the cumulative DNA damage (via loss of heterozygosity) over a defined genomic region (chromosome 3) that is applicable to archival, fixative-treated tissue and cytology specimens of cancer. Our method was applied to (1) a cohort of 10 brain tumor subjects (9 gliomas, 1 hemangioblastoma) with potential exposure to chlorinated solvents and (2) a control cohort of sporadic brain cancer controls (7 gliomas, 1 hemangioblastoma). We show that brain tumors arising in potentially toxin-exposed subjects bear a significantly higher level of passenger LOH mutations compared to sporadic cancer controls. The methodology utilized tissue microdissection, PCR amplification and capillary electrophoresis (fragment analys... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293408 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5293409&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%3D21962526%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lin S, Jones R, Munsie JP, Nayak SG, Fitzgerald EF, Hwang SA Abstract This nested case-control study examined the association between prevalent asthma and indoor allergen sensitization and/or exposure among children (aged 5-17 years) in Buffalo, New York. The study included a self-administered questionnaire, clinical interviews, skin allergen sensitivity tests and home dust sampling for house dust mites, cat, dog, cockroach and mouse allergens. After adjusting for multiple confounders, asthma cases had higher odds of being sensitized to Der p dust mites (odds ratio [OR]=1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-3.35), cat (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.13-3.39), or dog allergens (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.10-3.22) than the controls. A significantly positive association between asthma status ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5293409 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5293409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272430&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%3D21958681%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the current situation of lead cord blood levels and identify sources of lead exposure by a questionnaire survey. The study was conducted in 5 maternity units in Belgium; for each, umbilical cord blood samples were collected from 50 consecutive births. At the same time a questionnaire on possible sources of lead exposure was administered to the mother. The dependant variable was a dichotomous lead level variable (<20μg/L vs. ≥20μg/L). The factors associated with elevated lead levels (≥20μg/L) were mother's country of origin from south Mediterranean and from Sub-Saharan Africa, mother's educational level, using 'tagine' plates for cooking and using khol for make-up, but, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, only the mother's... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272430 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272429&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%3D21958682%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Toshima H, Suzuki Y, Imai K, Yoshinaga J, Shiraishi H, Mizumoto Y, Hatakeyama S, Onohara C, Tokuoka S Abstract The concentrations of chemicals with suspected endocrine disrupting effect were measured in urine samples collected from 42 Japanese male partners of couples who had infertility consultation at a gynecology clinic in Tokyo. The urinary analytes included metabolites of 5 phthalate diesters, pyrethroid insecticide (3-phenoxybenzoic acid, 3-PBA) and soy isoflavones (daidzein and equol), and cadmium. The semen parameters (semen volume, concentration and motility) of the male subjects were examined at the clinic as a diagnostic screening. Multiple regression analysis using one of the semen parameters examined as dependent variable and urinary biomarkers with age, body ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272429 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272434&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%3D21940207%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Göen T, Eckert E, Schäferhenrich A, Hartwig A Abstract In 1955 the Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) was founded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). The Commission is responsible for analysing health risks by chemical exposure at the workplace and for advising public authorities accordingly. Within the Commission, the working group "Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Biological Materials" (AiBM) deals with the development of procedures to analyse chemical substances in biological materials. Most of these detailed, ready-to-use protocols for human biomonitoring, do not only enable the monitoring of occupational exposure, but also the determination of the background exposure in the g... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272434 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272433&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%3D21940208%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: La Corte E, Wuttke S Abstract The First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI) pilot study was implemented in the winter 2010/2011, sampling 252 First Nations people on reserve in Canada for a suite of chemical contaminants following Cycle 1 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Results will be sent confidentially to participants and a community report will be presented after the analysis of results, expected to be completed by fall of 2011. The national scale of the study will take place during the summer 2011/2012 and aims to sample thirteen communities with a participation of 42 First Nations people per community. Results are expected for spring 2012/2013. PMID: 21940208 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Envi... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272433 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272432&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%3D21940209%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Joas R, Casteleyn L, Biot P, Kolossa-Gehring M, Castano A, Angerer J, Schoeters G, Sepai O, Knudsen LE, Joas A, Horvat M, Bloemen L Abstract Human biomonitoring (HBM) can be an effective tool to assess human exposure to environmental pollutants and potential health effects and is increasingly seen as an essential element in a strategy when integrating health and environment. HBM can be used (i) to prioritise actions and measures for policy making; (ii) to evaluate policy actions aimed at reducing exposure to potentially hazardous environmental stressors; and (iii) to promote more comprehensive health impact assessments of policy options. In support of the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010, European scientists, experts from authorities and other stakehol... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272432 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272431&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%3D21940210%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fréry N, Vandentorren S, Etchevers A, Fillol C Abstract This manuscript presents highlights of recent studies and perspectives from the French human biomonitoring (HBM) programme. Until recently, HBM studies focused on specific populations or pollutants to gain a better understanding of exposure to environmental chemicals, to help regulators reduce environmental exposure and to monitor existing policies on specific concerns. Highlights of recent multicentre biomonitoring studies with specific population or pollutant focus are given. These French HBM studies have been implemented to know: (1) the influence of living near an incinerator on serum dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels, (2) the influence of consuming river fish contaminated by PCBs on serum PCBs of ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272431 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272438&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%3D21937269%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of the study was to assess pyrethroids exposure of flight attendants working on commercial aircrafts through monitoring the urinary pyrethroids metabolite levels. Eighty four urine samples were collected from 28 flight attendants, 18-65 years of age, with seventeen working on planes that were non-disinsected, and eleven working on planes that had been disinsected. Five urinary metabolites of pyrethroids were measured using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method: 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), cis-/trans-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclo-propane carboxylic acid (cis-/trans-Cl2CA), cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclo-propane-1-carboxylic acid (cis-Br2CA) and 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (4F-3-PBA). Flight attendants working on disinsected planes had signif... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272438 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272437&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%3D21937270%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Calafat AM Abstract Researchers are increasingly interested in using human biomonitoring - the measurement of chemicals, their metabolites or specific reaction products in biological specimens/body fluids - for investigating exposure to environmental chemicals. General population human biomonitoring programs are useful for investigating human exposure to environmental chemicals and an important tool for integrating environment and health. One of these programs, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted in the United States is designed to collect data on the health and nutritional status of the noninstitutionalized, civilian U.S. population. NHANES includes a physical examination, collecting a detailed medical history, and collecting biologica... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272437 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272436&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%3D21937271%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gützkow KB, Haug LS, Thomsen C, Sabaredzovic A, Becher G, Brunborg G Abstract Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) comprise a large group of man-made fluorinated chemicals used in a number of consumer products and industrial applications. PFCs have shown to be persistent, bio-accumulative and widespread in the environment. Animal studies have demonstrated hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, developmental toxicity as well as hormonal effects. We investigated prenatal exposure to several PFCs and detected up to seven different PFCs in 123 paired samples of human maternal and cord blood, from a subcohort of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). The maternal and foetal levels were significantly correlated for all PFCs tested with median PFC concentrations in cord blood r... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272436 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5272435&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%3D21937272%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Göen T, Schaller KH, Drexler H Abstract The number of human biomonitoring (HBM) applications for identifying and assessing the chemical exposure of the general population from the environment has distinctly increased during the last decade. An appropriate external quality assessment of the applied methods is essential to assure the accuracy and the comparability of HBM results. The international programme of the German External Quality Assessment Scheme (G-EQUAS) provides proficiency testing for most of the HBM parameters, which are commonly used for the assessment of the human exposure to chemicals. Since 1992, G-EQUAS provides intercomparison runs for biological monitoring parameters in the environmental exposure range twice a year, with a successive increase of paramet... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5272435 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5272435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5239281&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%3D21930429%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wicker S, Rabenau HF, Betz W, Lauer HC Abstract Influenza viruses are highly contagious. Medical personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to influenza. Data on dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) immunization status has not been published. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of DHCWs and dental students at a German dental university hospital. Surveys, completed between October 2010 and March 2011, focused on reasons of DHCWs for accepting or declining the influenza vaccination. Furthermore, we characterized attitudes towards influenza infection due to the emergence of the H1N1/2009. Compliance rates with the influenza vaccination among DHCWs were low (31.6%). The main reason for not getting vaccinated against the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus in the 2009/2010 seaso... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5239281 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5239281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5239283&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%3D21925947%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Banerjee M, Siddique S, Mukherjee S, Roychoudhury S, Das P, Ray MR, Lahiri T Abstract Exposure to poor air quality is associated with a multitude of hematological and immunological alterations. Cardio vascular diseases, rather than respiratory ailments, are the most important cause of death from air pollution exposure. Thus, hematological, immunological and cardiovascular alterations in healthy individuals exposed to vehicular pollution (one of the leading source of air pollution in growing metropolitan cities) are investigated in this study. A total number of 2218 (21-65 years old) adults residing in Delhi participated in this study. As control, 642 age and sex matched healthy subjects from the rural areas of Uttaranchal were enrolled. Arterial blood pressure (BP) was mea... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5239283 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5239283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5239282&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%3D21925948%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cristino S, Legnani PP, Leoni E Abstract In accordance with the international and national guidelines, the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy) has established regional guidelines for the surveillance and prevention of legionellosis based on the concept of risk assessment, with particular attention to environmental monitoring. The aim of this study was to verify how environmental surveillance in the context of risk assessment plans could help to guide decisions about preventive strategies against Legionella infections in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCF). In six LTCFs in the city of Bologna (Emilia-Romagna Region) a self-control plan was implemented that included the environmental monitoring of Legionella spp. and the surveillance of hospital-acquired Legionnaires' Disease. At bas... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5239282 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5239282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5224485&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%3D21920815%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hamza IA, Jurzik L, Uberla K, Wilhelm M Abstract Currently, a wide range of analytical methods is available for virus detection in environmental water samples. Molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) have the highest sensitivity and specificity to investigate virus contamination in water, so they are the most commonly used in environmental virology. Despite great sensitivity of PCR, the main limitation is the lack of the correlation between the detected viral genome and viral infectivity, which limits conclusions regarding the significance for public health. To provide information about the infectivity of the detected viruses, cultivation on animal cell culture is the gold standard. However, cell culture infectivity a... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5224485 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5224485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5224484&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%3D21920816%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tabrez S, Ahmad M Abstract Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a suspected genotoxic and carcinogenic compound which is usually present in the air, soil and water as pollutant. To estimate the genotoxic potential of TCE in a pure chemical form as well as an ingredient of the complex sample, Ames fluctuation test using TA98 and TA100 strains and Allium cepa genotoxicity assay were performed. For the genotoxicity analysis of TCE in natural milieu, the above mentioned tests were performed on the waste waters collected from two different stations of northern India namely Saharanpur and Aligarh, U.P., and these waste waters were supplemented with 50 and 100mg/l of trichloroethylene. TCE alone was found to be non-genotoxic by both the testing system up to the range of 1000mg/l concentrat... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5224484 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5224484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5224486&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%3D21917514%26dopt%3DAbstract This study demonstrates that by giving reliable results in 3h, the RT-qPCR method has high potential as a rapid test for recreational water quality monitoring. In natural waters, significant linear log-log relations between the RT-qPCR and culture method measurements for E. coli and Enterococcus spp. assays were shown (correlation coefficient (r) values of 0.814 and 0.715, p<0.0001, respectively). The sensitivities (defined as the probability of a sample testing positive if the criterion number is exceeded) of RT-qPCR for E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were respectively 94.4% and 83.9%. By contrast, specificities (defined as the probability of a test being negative if a contamination is truly absent) could be considered as lower (65.9% and 50.0% for E. coli and Enterococcus spp.). This r... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5224486 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5224486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5214913&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%3D21900043%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ufermann P, Petersen H, Exner M Abstract The world-wide deployment of cruise liners and naval units has caused an increased need for the disinfection of drinking water. The main cause for this is the unknown quality of drinking water in foreign harbours - besides the formation of bio-films due to the climatically disadvantageous conditions in the operational area. Water conduits on board are currently disinfected with calcium hypochlorite in case of microbiological contamination. Chemical and physical analyses after disinfection with calcium hypochlorite have shown that organic by-products consisting of trihalomethanes develop in considerable amounts during disinfection. Furthermore, the method is susceptible to handling errors and thus often leads to insufficient disinfec... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5214913 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5214913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5214912&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%3D21900044%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lee K, Lim S, Bartell S, Hong YC Abstract Although a single measurement of urinary cotinine is often used for biological monitoring, the validity of this measurement for estimating long-term exposure has not been well evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of using a single measurement per person to estimate long-term smoking exposure in an elderly population. Analysis was conducted using a cohort of elderly subjects for whom multiple urinary cotinine measurements had been collected over eight weeks. The mixed-effects model of urinary cotinine indicated that interpersonal variability was greater than temporal variability. The efficacy of using single measurements to track the mean long-term exposure of a population is supported by the relatively... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5214912 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5214912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5214914&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%3D21889907%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Göen T, Dobler L, Koschorreck J, Müller J, Wiesmüller GA, Drexler H, Kolossa-Gehring M Abstract The exposure of the general population to phthalates is of increasing public health concern. Variations in the internal exposure of the population are likely, because the amounts, distribution and application characters of the phthalate use change over time. Estimating the chronological sequences of the phthalate exposure, we performed a retrospective human biomonitoring study by investigating the metabolites of the five most prominent phthalates in urine. Therefore, 24h-urine samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) collected from 240 subjects (predominantly students, age range 19-29 years, 120 females, 120 males) in the years 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 (60 i... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5214914 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5214914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5214915&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%3D21889403%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Le Cann P, Bonvallot N, Glorennec P, Deguen S, Goeury C, Le Bot B Abstract Much research is being carried out into indoor exposure to harmful agents. This review focused on the impact on children's health, taking a broad approach to the indoor environment and including chemical, microbial, physical and social aspects. Papers published from 2006 onwards were reviewed, with regards to scientific context. Most of publications dealt with chemical exposure. Apart from the ongoing issue of combustion by-products, most of these papers concerned semi volatile organic compounds (such as phthalates). These may be associated with neurotoxic, reprotoxic or respiratory effects and may, therefore, be of particular interest so far as children are concerned. In a lesser extent, volatile o... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5214915 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5214915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5185531&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%3D21885333%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Florentin A, Hautemanière A, Hartemann P Abstract Increased attendance at swimming pools is correlated with higher input of organic and minerals pollutants introduced by swimmers in the swimming pool water. In most swimming pools, microbiological control is performed by disinfection with the addition of chlorine. Chlorine is now well-known to lead to the formation of many disinfection by-products (DBPs) including trihalomethanes and chloramines. The hypothesis of a link between the presence of eye and skin irritation syndromes in swimmers and contact with swimming pool water treated with chlorine was initially proposed by Mood (1953). During recent decades many epidemiological studies have described the importance of DBPs generated with natural or imported organic matter ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5185531 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5185531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5185530&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%3D21885334%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Touraud E, Roig B, Sumpter JP, Coetsier C Abstract The presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in the environment raises many questions about risk to the environment and human health. Environmental exposure has been largely studied, providing to date a realistic picture of the degree of contamination of the environment by pharmaceuticals and hormones. Conversely, little information is available regarding human exposure. NSAIDS, carbamazepine, iodinated contrast media, β-blockers, antibiotics have been detected in drinking water, mostly in the range of ng/L. it is questioned if such concentrations may affect human health. Currently, no consensus among the scientific community exists on what risk, if any, pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors pose to human h... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5185530 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5185530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5185529&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%3D21885335%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this work was to identify data on emerging pollutants concentrations in wastewater, in influent and effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and to determine the performance of sewage disposal. We collected 44 publications in our database. We sought especially for data on phthalates, Bisphenol A and pharmaceuticals (including drugs for human health and disinfectants). We gathered concentration data and chose 50 pharmaceutical molecules, six phthalates and Bisphenol A. The concentrations measured in the influent ranged from 0.007 to 56.63μg per liter and the removal rates ranges from 0% (contrast media) to 97% (psychostimulant). Caffeine is the molecule whose concentration in influent was highest among the molecules investigated (in means 56.63μg per liter) with ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5185529 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5185529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5170342&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%3D21862403%26dopt%3DAbstract This study assessed individual occupational exposure to ELF-MF using a personal magnetic-field dosimeter, and the cytogenetic effects were examined by comparing micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in the lymphocytes of the exposed workers with those of non-exposed control subjects (blood donors) matched for age and smoking habit. Cytogenetic analyses were carried out on 21 workers enrolled from two different welding companies in Central Italy and compared to 21 controls. Some differences between the groups were observed on analysis of SCE and MN, whereas replication indices in the exposed were found not to differ from the controls. In particular, the exposed group showed a significantly higher frequency of MN (group mean±SEM: 6.10±0.39) compared to the contro... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5170342 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5170342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5170343&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%3D21862402%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bessonneau V, Derbez M, Clément M, Thomas O Abstract Water and air quality of fifteen swimming pools using chlorine disinfection was measured during eight sampling campaigns in Rennes, France. Concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and trichloramine (NCl(3)) in air as well as concentrations of parameters, including total organic carbon (TOC), chlorine (free, combined and total), pH, Kjeldhal nitrogen (KN), chloride ions and THMs in water and air temperature, were measured. Water and air samples were collected during 3h in the morning and afternoon, during high and low attendance days, in summer and winter. Data analysis was perfomed by multivariate ordinary least square (OLS) and quantile (QR) regressions, from both data quality and other parameters such as the ratio be... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5170343 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5170343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147122&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%3D21839680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hartemann P, Loret JF PMID: 21839680 [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=5147122 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147124&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%3D21835690%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen YC, Tsai CH, Lee YL Abstract We aim to explore the relationships between exposure to dampness, pets, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) early in life and asthma in Taiwanese children, and to discuss their links to early- and late-onset asthma. We conducted a 1:2 matched case-control study from the Taiwan Children Health Study, which was a nationwide study that recruited 12-to-14 year-old school children in 14 communities. The 579 mothers of the participants were interviewed by telephone about their children's environmental exposures before they were 5 years old, including the in-utero period. Childhood asthma was associated with exposure to early life environmental factors, such as cockroaches (OR=2.16; 95% CI, 1.15-4.07), visible mould (OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.15-2.67)... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147124 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147123&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%3D21835691%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to evaluate Pb levels in the population and environment of two communities exposed and one community non-exposed to the oil exploitation activity. Blood lead levels (BLL) were determined by the instrument Leadcare. A comparison with the graphite furnace atomic absorption technique was performed in order to validate the Leadcare results. Environmental samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Among 361 capillary samples, the mean BLL was 9.4μg/dl. Mean BLL of the communities exposed (n=171, x¯=9.5μg/dl) and non-exposed (n=190, x¯=9.2μg/dl) to the oil activity were not significantly different. Pb levels in environmental samples were below the maximum permissible levels. The sources of exposure could not be identified. Elevated lev... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147123 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147126&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%3D21820957%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schulz C, Wilhelm M, Heudorf U, Kolossa-Gehring M Abstract In 2007, we reviewed the working principles and working procedures of the German Human Biomonitoring Commission together with the reference values and human biomonitoring (HBM) values derived up to that time. Since then, the Commission has decided to derive additionally HBM I values on the basis of tolerable daily intakes and has used and evaluated this new approach on the metabolites of (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in urine. Furthermore, the Commission has derived a HBM I value for thallium in urine, has recinded the HBM values for lead in blood, and has updated the HBM values for cadmium in urine. Based on the representative data of the German Environmental Survey on Children from 2003 to 2006 (GerES IV), the ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147126 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147125&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%3D21820958%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Phan K, Sthiannopkao S, Kim KW Abstract Thousands of Cambodia populations are currently at high risks of both toxic and carcinogenic effects through drinking arsenic-rich groundwater. In order to determine and assess the use of arsenic contents in different biological samples as biomarkers of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking arsenic-rich groundwater in Cambodia, individual scalp hair, fingernail and toenail were collected from three different provinces in the Mekong River basin of Cambodia. After washing and acid-digestion, digestate was analyzed for total arsenic by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Chemical analysis of the acid-digested hair revealed that among 270 hair samples cut from Kandal, 78.1% had arsenic content in scalp hair (As(h)) greater ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147125 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147127&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%3D21813324%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Baeuml J, Bose-O'Reilly S, Lettmeier B, Maydl A, Messerer K, Roider G, Drasch G, Siebert U Abstract Mercury is still used in developing countries to extract gold from the ore in small-scale gold mining areas. This is a major health hazard for people living in mining areas. The concentration of mercury in urine was analysed in different mining areas in Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Tanzania. First the urine samples were analysed by CV-AAS (cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) during the field projects with a mobile mercury analyser (Lumex(®) or Seefelder(®)) and secondly, in a laboratory with a stationary CV-AAS mercury analyser (PerkinElmer(®)). Caused by the different systems (reduction agent either SnCl(2) (Lumex(®) or Seefelder(®))) or NaBH(4) (PerkinElmer(®)), w... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147127 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5087491&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%3D21788157%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Becker H, Kolossa-Gehring M, Herzberg F, Schulte A PMID: 21788157 [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=5087491 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5087491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5038159&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%3D21764371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Angerer J, Aylward LL, Hays SM, Heinzow B, Wilhelm M Human biomonitoring (HBM) data is a very useful metric for assessing human's exposures to chemicals in commerce. To assess the potential health risks associated with the presence of chemicals in blood, urine or other biological matrix requires HBM assessment values. While HBM assessment values based on human exposure-response data remain the most highly valuable and interpretable assessment values, enough data exists for such values for very few chemicals. As a consequence, efforts have been undertaken to derive HBM assessment values in which external dose based guidance values such as tolerable daily intakes have been translated into equivalent biomonitoring levels. The development of HBM values by the German HBM Commission... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5038159 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5038159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5038160&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%3D21742552%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dwidjosiswojo Z, Richard J, Moritz MM, Dopp E, Flemming HC, Wingender J Copper plumbing materials can be the source of copper ions in drinking water supplies. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of copper ions on the viability and cytotoxicity of the potential pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa that presents a health hazard when occurring in building plumbing systems. In batch experiments, exposure of P. aeruginosa (10(6)cells/mL) for 24h at 20°C to copper-containing drinking water from domestic plumbing systems resulted in a loss of culturability, while total cell numbers determined microscopically did not decrease. Addition of the chelator diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) to copper-containing water prevented the loss of culturability. When suspended in d... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5038160 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5038160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5038161&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%3D21737345%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pankhurst LJ, Deacon LJ, Liu J, Drew GH, Hayes ET, Jackson S, Longhurst PJ, Longhurst JW, Pollard SJ, Tyrrel SF The emission and dispersal of bioaerosols from open-air commercial composting facilities continues to be contentious. A meta-dataset enumerating cultivable microorganism emission and downwind concentrations is not yet available. A dataset derived from repeated and replicated field studies over a period of two years at two commercial composting facilities is presented. The data characterises patterns in Aspergillus fumigatus, actinomycetes, Gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin emission and downwind concentrations. For all bioaerosols, compost agitation activities had a significant impact on concentrations; levels were variable up to 600m downwind from site. Bioaerosol... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5038161 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5038161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4994201&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%3D21697011%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wingender J, Flemming HC Most microorganisms on Earth live in various aggregates which are generally termed "biofilms". They are ubiquitous and represent the most successful form of life. They are the active agent in biofiltration and the carriers of the self-cleaning potential in soils, sediments and water. They are also common on surfaces in technical systems where they sometimes cause biofouling. In recent years it has become evident that biofilms in drinking water distribution networks can become transient or long-term habitats for hygienically relevant microorganisms. Important categories of these organisms include faecal indicator bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli), obligate bacterial pathogens of faecal origin (e.g., Campylobacter spp.) opportunistic bacteria of environm... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4994201 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4994201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945437&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%3D21680241%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hubbard B, Sarisky J, Gelting R, Baffigo V, Seminario R, Centurion C In September 2001, Cooperative Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Peru Country Office (CARE Peru), obtained funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement community-supported, condominial water and sanitation interventions in Manuel Cardozo Dávila, a settlement in Iquitos, Peru. With technical support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE Peru's Urban Environmental Health Models (Modelos Urbanos de Salud Ambiental [MUSA]) project built on previous work from implementing the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health in this same community. The project led to the municipal water supply distribution system being extende... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945437 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945436&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%3D21680242%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jahn HJ, Schneider A, Breitner S, Eißner R, Wendisch M, Krämer A The exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution is a major threat to public health. Chinese megacities are coined by high levels of PM. Our aims were to examine the concentration levels of PM in megacities (Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen) of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China; to compare the results with international and national air quality guidelines; and to assess the health impact in terms of possible reductions in premature deaths due to PM reduction. The Medline(®) data base was used to identify published studies (systematic literature search). Based on our appraisal criteria 13 studies remained in the analysis. Additionally, publicly available data were extracted from data sources p... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945436 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945435&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%3D21680243%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lee YL, Wang WH, Lu CW, Lin YH, Hwang BF Literature has shown adverse effects of ambient air pollution exposure on various asthma related outcomes in childhood. However, the associated evidence on pulmonary function effects is still inconsistent. We conducted a population-based study comprised of seventh-grade children in 14 Taiwanese communities. Pulmonary function tests and questionnaires were completed on 3957 subjects. We evaluated the effects of ambient air pollution exposures based on the data collected in 2005-2007 by existing air monitoring stations. Multiple linear mixed effect models were fitted to estimate the relationship between community pollutant levels and pulmonary function indices. After adjustment for individual-level confounders, pulmonary function differed... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945435 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945434&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%3D21680244%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kawamoto T, Pham TT, Matsuda T, Oyama T, Tanaka M, Yu HS, Uchiyama I Environmental quality standards (EQSs) have been established as desirable levels to be maintained for protection of human health and the conservation of the living environment by Basic Environment Law. EQSs in ambient air had been set for 10 substances (sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) and photochemical oxidants (Ox), benzene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dioxins and dichloromethane) and guideline values for 7 (acrylonitorile, vinyl chloride monomer, mercury, nickel compounds, 1,3-butadiene, chloroform and 1,2-dichloromethane) in Japan by 2009. EQSs for the classical (or traditional) air pollutants, SO(2), CO, SPM, NO(2) and ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945434 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945438&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%3D21676652%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of PFOA and PFOS using human HepG2 cells after 1 or 24h of exposure. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potential was evaluated by MTT assay, single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay and micronucleus assay respectively. We measured the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using dichlorofluorescein diacetate to identify a potential mechanism of toxicity. We observed a cytotoxic effect of PFOA and PFOS after 24h of exposure starting from a concentration of 200μM (MTT: -14.6%) and 300μM (MTT: -51.2%) respectively. We did not observe an increase of DNA damage with the comet assay or micronucleus with the micronucleus assay after exposure to the two PFCs. After 24h of exposure, both PFOA and PFOS highlight a ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945438 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945441&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%3D21665536%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Völker S, Kistemann T Water is one of the most important physical, aesthetic landscape elements and possesses importance e.g. in environmental psychology, landscape design, and tourism research, but the relationship between water and health in current literature is only investigated in the field of environmental toxicology and microbiology, not explicitly in the research field of blue space and human well-being. Due to the lack of a systematic review of blue space and well-being in the various fields of research, the aim of this review is to provide a systematic, qualitative meta-analysis of existing studies that are relevant to this issue. Benefits for health and well-being clearly related to blue space can be identified with regard to perception and preference, landscape de... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945441 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945440&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%3D21665537%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Steyer A, Torkar KG, Gutiérrez-Aguirre I, Poljšak-Prijatelj M Waterborne infections have been shown to be important in outbreaks of gastroenteritis throughout the world. Although improved sanitary conditions are being progressively applied, fecal contaminations remain an emerging problem also in developed countries. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of fecal contaminated water sources in Slovenia, including surface waters and groundwater sources throughout the country. In total, 152 water samples were investigated, of which 72 samples represents groundwater from individual wells, 17 samples from public collection supplies and 63 samples from surface stream waters. Two liters of untreated water samples were collected and concentrated by the adsorption/elu... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945440 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945439&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%3D21665538%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Salzer HJ, Hoenigl M, Kessler HH, Stigler FL, Raggam RB, Rippel KE, Langmann H, Sprenger M, Krause R Medical students are at risk for occupational needlestick injuries (NSIs) which can result in substantial health consequences and psychological stress. Therefore, an open online survey among final year medical students from Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK) was conducted. The aim of the study was to evaluate risk-awareness and reporting behavior regarding needlestick injury (NSI), post-exposure prophylaxis, and level of education regarding the transmission of HIV through NSIs. Of 674 medical students, 226 (34%) reported at least one NSI during medical school. Respondents from Austria and Germany experienced a significantly higher number of NSIs in comparison to resp... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945439 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945442&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%3D21664866%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schets FM, van den Berg HH, Marchese A, Garbom S, de Roda Husman AM In 2009, four bathing sites in The Netherlands were monitored for potentially human pathogenic Vibrio species to observe possible associations with environmental conditions and health complaints. Three slightly different enrichment procedures were used to isolate Vibrio species with different growth requirements. Waters were generally positive for Vibrio from May until October; median Vibrio concentrations ranged from 4 to 383 MPN per litre (maximum 10(5) MPN per litre). Isolated Vibrio species included V. alginolyticus (50.6%) and V. parahaemolyticus (8.5%) from bathing sites with salinities ranging between 2.8 and 3.5% and V. cholerae non-O1/O139 (6.9%) from sites with salinities ranging between 0.007 and 0.... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945442 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945443&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%3D21664183%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to examine the potential of textile-bound nicotine for permeation through human skin and to assess the effects of cigarette smoke extracts from clothes on fibroblasts, neurocytes and zebrafish embryos. Tritiated nicotine from contaminated cotton textiles penetrated through adult human full-thickness skin as well as through a 3D in vitro skin model in diffusion chambers. We also observed a significant concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of textile smoke extracts on fibroblast viability and structure as well as on neurocytes. Early larval tests with zebrafish embryos were used as a valid assay for testing acute vertebrate toxicity. Zebrafish development was delayed and most of the embryos died when exposed to smoke extracts from textiles. Our data show that t... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945443 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4945443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4894706&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%3D21621457%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morfeld P PMID: 21621457 [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=4894706 Thu, 26 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4894706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4894707&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%3D21616713%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schettgen T, Gube M, Alt A, Fromme H, Kraus T In the past, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been widely used and were distributed in the environment. Due to their high persistence and bioaccumulative potential, they can still be detected in the blood of the general population, despite their ban more than 20 years ago. Among the various congeners, the presence of dioxin-like PCBs in blood raises the highest environmental concerns due to their critical toxicological properties. We determined the plasma concentrations of 6 non-dioxin-like and 12 dioxin-like PCBs as well as the organochlorine pesticides HCB and p,p'-DDE (p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) in a group of 105 non-smokers out of the German general population by GC/MS as an estimate of the background burden to... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4894707 Tue, 24 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4894707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795895&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%3D21530391%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wiwatanadate P, Liwsrisakun C The open burnings and forest fires have been recognized as the major sources of severe air pollution in the upper north of Thailand; however, there have been no clear evidences to show the associations between the air pollution and health effects in the area. We assessed the effects of air pollutants on the peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) and symptoms in asthmatics. A cohort of 121 asthmatics was followed daily, for 306 days, for their PEFR and asthma symptoms. The daily air pollutants, including particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5μm, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10μm (PM(10)), carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), and the meteorological parameters, including pressure... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795895 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4795895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795896&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%3D21514882%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pehlivan M, Kürtüncü M, Tüzün E, Shugaiv E, Mutlu M, Eraksoy M, Akman-Demir G The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that a reduction in the exposure to infectious agents due to improved health conditions has contributed to the increased incidence of autoimmune disorders in developed countries. In keeping with the hygiene hypothesis, many autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are more frequently observed in developed countries. To identify the relevance of hygiene hypothesis in neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD), another chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, we developed and administered a multiple choice questionnaire to evaluate the hygiene conditions and practices of age and gender-matched NBD patients (n=50) and control MS (n=50) and headach... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795896 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4795896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795897&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%3D21482184%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sun J, Wang C, Song X, Wu Y, Yuan B, Liu P Dietary intakes of mercury by children and adults in Jinhu area of China were determined using a duplicate diet approach. A total of 176 duplicate diet portions were collected from 60 individuals in November and December of 2007. Mercury levels in duplicate samples were measured by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The daily mercury intakes (median and range) from consumption days without fish or shellfish for children and adults were 0.13 (0.05-0.78) μg(kg(bw))(-1)day(-1) and 0.07 (0.04-0.18) μg(kg(bw))(-1)day(-1), respectively, which were significantly lower than those from consumption days with fish or shellfish for both children and adults whose daily intakes (median and range) were 0.16 (0.11-0.84) μg(kg(bw))(-1)day(-1) and 0.... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795897 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4795897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795898&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%3D21459667%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Eckert E, Schmid K, Schaller B, Hiddemann-Koca K, Drexler H, Göen T Hydroxyalkyl mercapturic acids (HAMA) are the main urinary metabolites of several alkylating substances that possess a carcinogenic potential, like acrolein, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and glycidol. These alkylating substances are used extensively in industrial processes, but they do also occur environmentally, e.g. in tobacco smoke. The aim of this study was the determination of six HAMA, as biomarkers of exposure, in human urine of smokers and non-smokers. We applied a sensitive analytical method, using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) for the determination of 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid (HEMA, biomarker for ethylene oxide), 2-... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795898 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4795898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795899&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%3D21440498%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aylward LL, Hays SM Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant compound that has been the subject of recent interest and risk assessment efforts due to its detection in a variety of environmental media and in human biological matrices. Because the exposure pathways for HBCD may be varied and exposure estimation uncertain, biomonitoring for HBCD in humans shows promise as a means of reflecting integrated human exposures to HBCD with lower uncertainty than through estimation of external exposures via multiple pathways. Data from numerous biomonitoring studies of HBCD over the past decade indicate that the central tendency of lipid-adjusted serum and human milk concentrations is approximately 1ng/g lipid, with upper bound levels of approximately 20ng/g lipid. R... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795899 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4795899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631753&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%3D21420358%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Louvet JN, Attik G, Dumas D, Potier O, Pons MN The effect of erythromycin on activated sludge bacteria according to their Gram type was investigated with 3-dimensional Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) time-lapse imaging. The fluorescent stains SYTOX Green and Texas Red-X conjugate of wheat germ agglutinin stained dying bacteria and Gram(+) bacteria respectively. Time-lapse imaging allowed an understanding of the staining mechanism and the measurement of the death rate. In presence of erythromycin (10mg/L), Gram(+) bacteria had a higher mortality rate than the Gram(-) bacteria. This result suggests that antibiotic in wastewater could change the activated sludge bacteria composition, according to their Gram type by selecting the bacteria which are the least sensitive to... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631753 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4631753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4569340&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%3D21371936%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lampi J, Roponen M, Hyvärinen A, Hirvonen MR, Larsson L, Nevalainen A, Pekkanen J Farming environment and environmental exposure to microbial agents have been suggested to promote favorable development of immune system in children and protect against allergic diseases. However, effects of farm exposure on adult immune responses are less clear. Aim of the present study was to examine associations of farm related factors and measured microbial exposure with stimulated production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in peripheral blood samples among farming women. Whole peripheral blood samples were obtained from 112 women living on farms and stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin, lipopolysaccharide and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Following 24h s... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4569340 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4569340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4569339&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%3D21371937%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Koch HM, Wittassek M, Brüning T, Angerer J, Heudorf U We determined the internal exposure of 111 German primary school starters by analyzing urinary metabolites of six phthalates: butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP) and di-iso-decylphthalate (DiDP). From the urinary metabolite levels, we calculated daily intakes and related these values to Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) values. By introducing the concept of a relative cumulative Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI(cum)) value, we tried to account for the cumulative exposure to several of the above-mentioned phthalates. The TDI(cum) was derived as follows: the daily intake (DI) calculated from the metabolite level was... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4569339 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4569339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4569341&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%3D21367656%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluated the immunotoxic effect of TBTC on the acquired immune response, and we investigated the involvement of thymocyte apoptosis and Fas expression in the observed immunotoxicity of TBTC. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups (10 mice per group) and treated with TBTC at doses of 0, 0.5, 4 and 20mg/kg by oral gavage for 28days. Following TBTC administration, animals were sacrificed, and morphologic changes in the thymus and spleen were assessed. Atrophy in both the thymus and spleen was observed in all groups treated with TBTC, and the relative organ weight in the highest TBTC group (20mg/kg) was significantly lower than that observed in the control group. We also conducted assays to assess the cellular and humoral functional responses such as plaque-forming cell ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4569341 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4569341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513697&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%3D21334974%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Di Pietro A, Baluce B, Visalli G, La Maestra S, Micale R, Izzotti A Transition metals in fine particulate matter generated by combustion induce oxidative DNA damage and inflammation. However, there is remarkable inter-individual variability in susceptibility to these damages. To assess this variability, an ex vivo study was performed using lymphocytes of 47 Caucasian healthy subjects. Cell samples were exposed to a water solution of oil fly ash (OFA). This was formed by the distinctive transition metals vanadium, iron, and nickel. Oxidative DNA damage was evaluated by testing cell viability, intracellular ROS production and 8-oxo-dG. DNA fragmentation and DNA repair capacity were assessed by using the Alkaline-Halo assay. GSTM1, GSTT1, hOGG1, and C677T and A1298C MTHFR gene po... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513697 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513698&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%3D21333594%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yalçın S, Kayaaltı Z, Söylemezoğlu T Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene is a multifunctional cytokine which is expressed in lymphocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, in response to different types of inflammatory stimuli. IL-6 also controls induction and expression of metallothioneins (MTs) which maintain homeostasis of zinc and copper. In human, IL-6 gene is located on chromosome 7p21 and -174 G/C polymorphism located in its promoter region. Recently, genetic studies showed that IL-6 -174 G/C promoter polymorphism influences IL-6 gene transcription and plasma cytokine levels. The aim of this study is to determine the IL-6 promoter polymorphism effect on trace element levels and toxic metal accumulation in the kidney and liver tissues. Kidney and liver tissues were collected from 122... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513698 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513699&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%3D21330205%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Henard S, Gendrin V, Simon L, Jouzeau N, Vernier N, Thiolet JM, Coignard B, Rabaud C At the end of 2004, an outbreak of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) spread from the Nancy Teaching Hospital to more than 40 facilities in the Lorraine region. Because this outbreak appeared to be uninhibited, a regional task force was set up to organize and co-ordinate the management of the outbreak, visiting the affected facilities to publicize the existing recommendations and take stock of the problems encountered in the field. The task force then proposed control measures specific to the region. The proposed measures included promoting the use of alcohol-based hand-rub solutions, isolation measures, enhanced screening policies, cohorting GRE-colonized patients and contacts in specia... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513699 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513700&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%3D21324740%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Berg ND, Linneberg A, Thyssen JP, Dirksen A, Elberling J Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterised by adverse effects due to exposure to low levels of chemical substances. The aetiology is unknown, but chemical related respiratory symptoms have been found associated with positive patch test. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cutaneous reactions from patch testing and self-reported severity of chemical sensitivity to common airborne chemicals. A total of 3460 individuals participating in a general health examination, Health 2006, were patch tested with allergens from the European standard series and screened for chemical sensitivity with a standardised questionnaire dividing the participants into four severity groups of chemical se... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513700 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513702&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%3D21316302%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chandran A, Varghese S, Kandeler E, Thomas A, Hatha M, Mazumder A Microcosm studies were performed to evaluate the survival of Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in water and sediment collected from the freshwater region of Vembanad Lake (9'35°N 76'25°E) along the south west coast of India. All three test microorganisms showed significantly (p<0.01) higher survival in sediment compared to overlying water. The survival in different sediment types with different particle size and organic carbon content revealed that sediment with small particle size and high organic carbon content could enhance their extended survival (p<0.05). The results indicate that sediments of the Lake could act as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria and exhibit a pot... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513702 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513701&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%3D21316303%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, we found a low prevalence of HRMO and a low incidence of bacterial infections in neonates after transfer from a NICU. There was no significant increase in time in the prevalence of colonization with (resistant) bacteria. A NICU-stay longer than a week was an independent predictor for colonization with bacteria. Based on these observations we have ended standard culturing and nursing in isolation of these patients. PMID: 21316303 [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=4513701 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389821&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%3D21216193%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arnich N, Canivenc-Lavier MC, Kolf-Clauw M, Coffigny H, Cravedi JP, Grob K, Macherey AC, Masset D, Maximilien R, Narbonne JF, Nesslany F, Stadler J, Tulliez J Since more than 10 years, risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) is debated at the international level. In 2008, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) expressed some concern for adverse effects, at current level of exposure to BPA, on developmental toxicity. In this context, the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) decided to review the toxicity data on BPA with a special focus on this endpoint at doses below 5mg/kg bw/day (the no observed adverse effect level set by different regulatory bodies). This paper summarizes the conclusions of a collective assessment conducted by an expert Working Group from AFSSA. Studies were... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389821 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4389821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389820&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%3D21216194%26dopt%3DAbstract This study explores the relationship between genetic polymorphism of seven genes within the NER pathway (XPA, XPD, XPC, XPG, XPF, and ERCC1) and BER pathway (APE1), and susceptibility to chromosomal damage after exposure to VCM. One hundred and eighty workers occupationally exposed to VCM and 43 unexposed controls were investigated. Chromosome damage in peripheral lymphocytes was measured by the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay. PCR-RFLP technique was applied to detect polymorphisms of the seven genes. The influence of genotype, age, gender, cumulative exposure dose, alcohol consumption, and smoking status on the frequencies of MN was determined using univariate and multiple Poisson regression analyses. We found XPA A23G variant workers had significantly higher MN frequencies than th... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389820 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4389820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302338&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%3D21168363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Becker H, Herzberg F, Schulte A, Kolossa-Gehring M A summary of a critical review by a working group of the German Federal Environment Agency and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment on the carcinogenic potential of nanomaterials is presented. After a critical review of the available data, we conclude that the potential carcinogenic risk of nanomaterials can currently be assessed only on a case-by-case basis. There is certain evidence that different forms of CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and nanoscale TiO(2) particles may induce tumours in sensitive animal models. It is assumed that the mode of action of the inhalation toxicity of asbestos-like fibres and of inhalable fractions of biopersistent fine dusts of low toxicity (nano-TiO(2)) is linked to chronic inflammatory pr... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302338 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4302338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302339&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%3D21159552%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Meyer A, Alexandre PC, de Rezende Chrisman J, Markowitz SB, Koifman RJ, Koifman S Several studies suggest that agricultural workers are at higher risk to develop and die by certain types of cancer. Esophageal cancer is not commonly listed among these types. However, some recent studies indicated that if there is an association between agricultural working and esophageal cancer, it s more likely to be observed among workers highly exposed to pesticides. In the present study, the magnitude of the association between agricultural working and esophageal cancer mortality was evaluated in a high pesticide use area in Brazil, through a death certificate-based case-control study. Cases were individuals from both genders, 30-59 years old, for whom basic cause of death was ascertained a... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302339 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4302339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302340&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%3D21156353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mensi C, Giacomini S, Sieno C, Consonni D, Riboldi L Pericardial mesothelioma (PM) accounts for 0.7% of all malignant mesotheliomas. Although asbestos exposure is a recognized etiological factor for pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas, its role in the development of PM is controversial. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of PM cases occurred in Lombardy, a highly industrialized Region of Northern Italy. From the Lombardy Mesothelioma Registry we selected the incident cases of PM registered in the Lombardy Region between 2000 and 2009 and we abstracted clinical characteristics and history of asbestos exposure. We identified 8 cases (6 men and 2 women), with a median age at diagnosis of 55.5 years, representing 0.3% of all mesothelioma cases (n=3059). The ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302340 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4302340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302341&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%3D21147027%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Klotz K, Schindler BK, Angerer J OBJECTIVES: The possibly carcinogenic properties of naphthalene are, regarding to its ubiquitary presence, of environmental-medical and occupational-medical importance. Seven isomeric dihydroxynaphthalenes (DHN) were examined for their suitability as biomarkers in human biomonitoring and to get insights in human naphthalene metabolism. METHODS: We developed a GC-MS-method for the quantification of 1,2-, 1,4-, 1,5-, 1,6-, 1,7-, 2,6- and 2,7-DHN after solid phase extraction and derivatization with BSA/TMCS. The internal burden of DHN after exposure to naphthalene was determined by measuring urine collected from smokers and non-smokers among the general population and among occupationally exposed persons. RESULTS: The elaborated method can be rega... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302341 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4302341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302342&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%3D21145282%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Majuru B, Michael Mokoena M, Jagals P, Hunter PR There is still debate and uncertainty in the literature about the health benefits of community water supply interventions. This paper reports on a changing incidence of self-reported diarrhoea associated with the implementation of two community water supplies. We conducted prospective weekly recording of diarrhoeal disease in three communities. Two of the communities were scheduled to receive an improved water supply and one was expected to continue to rely on an unimproved source during the study period. Data of self-reported diarrhoea was collected from each participating household on a weekly basis for up to 56 weeks, of which some 17 weeks were prior to implementation of the new water supply systems. Data was modelled using ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302342 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4302342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245644&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%3D21134785%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: All three tested surface disinfectants should be effective for surface disinfection in outbreaks caused by C. difficile ribotype 027. PMID: 21134785 [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=4245644 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4245644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245645&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%3D21130683%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang QY, Zhang DH, Shen ZY, Xu LY, Li EM, Au WW Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a suspected or potential modifiable risk factor in esophageal carcinoma (EC) but findings have not been consistent. We therefore investigated the epidemiology of HPV infection and integration in the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma (EC) in the Shantou region, China. This was a retrospective study involving nested PCR to evaluate HPV presence, HPV genotyping, and analyzing HPV-16 integration status in esophageal tumor tissues (n=106) and paired tumor-adjacent normal tissues, as well as normal esophagus tissue from control subjects (n=100). The detection rates of HPV DNA in EC and tumor-adjacent tissue were significantly higher than that in normal controls (77.4% and 80.2% vs.... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245645 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4245645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4212968&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%3D21106438%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lin SM, Chen FA, Huang YF, Hsing LL, Chen LL, Wu LS, Liu TS, Chang-Chien GP, Chen KC, Chao HR Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) causing thyroidal effects have been demonstrated in in vivo and in vitro studies. PBDEs with structural similarities to thyroid hormones have increased recently, but the health effects for thyroid hormones have not been well studied. The study aimed to determine PBDE levels in cord blood and further to explore associations between prenatal PBDE exposures and thyroid hormones in cord blood. Fifty-four cord blood samples were collected after delivery. Cord-blood levels of BDE-15, 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183 were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass spectrometer. Thyroid hormones were determined by an... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4212968 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4212968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4212978&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%3D21095158%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Di Pietro A, Visalli G, Baluce B, Micale RT, La Maestra S, Spataro P, De Flora S Oil fly ash (OFA), containing high amounts of transition metals, is among the most reactive airborne particulate matter emissions, which have been associated with several diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mitochondrial alterations in OFA-exposed cultured pneumocytes and in their progeny. Alveolar epithelial cells (A549 line) were exposed either to an OFA water solution, containing 68.8μM vanadium (V), 110.4μM iron (Fe), and 18.0μM nickel (Ni), or to the individual metal solutions. Structural and functional mitochondrial parameters were determined in exposed cultures and in 3 con... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4212978 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4212978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4212982&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%3D21093366%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides informative baseline biomonitoring data and reveals a substantial exposure to heavy metals in non-occupationally exposed Saudi mothers and their newborns that might jeopardize the health of both. Additional research is also urgently needed to explore factors such as environment, diet, lifestyle and/or cultural habits contributing to maternal and fetal exposures. Preventive measures to eliminate or minimize the unnecessary risk of fetus exposure to heavy metals or other pollutants during pregnancy should be initiated once these factors are identified. PMID: 21093366 [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=4212982 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4212982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121220&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%3D21030303%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wongvijitsuk S, Navasumrit P, Vattanasit U, Parnlob V, Ruchirawat M The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of styrene exposure at levels below the recommended standards of the Threshold Limit Value (TLV-TWA(8)) of 20ppm (ACGIH, 2004) in reinforced-fiberglass plastics workers. Study subjects comprised 50 exposed workers and 40 control subjects. The exposed workers were stratified by styrene exposure levels, i.e. group I (<10ppm, <42.20mg/m(3)), group II (10-20ppm, 42.20-84.40mg/m(3)), and group III (>20ppm, >84.40mg/m(3)). The mean styrene exposure levels of exposed workers were significantly higher than those of the control workers. Biomarkers of exposure to styrene, including blood styrene and the urinary metabolites, mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxyli... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121220 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4121220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106776&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%3D20971680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Létourneau V, Nehmé B, Mériaux A, Massé D, Cormier Y, Duchaine C Swine confinement buildings in eastern Canada are enclosed and equipped with modern production systems to manage waste. Bioaerosols of these swine confinement buildings could be contaminated by human pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria which could colonize exposed workers. We therefore wanted to analyze bioaerosols of swine confinement buildings and nasal flora of Canadian hog producers to evaluate possible colonization with human pathogens and tetracycline-resistant bacteria. Culturable and non-culturable human pathogens and tet genes were investigated in the bioaerosols of 18 barns. The nasal passages of 35 hog producers were sampled and total DNA was extracted from the calcium-alginate swabs to ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106776 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4106776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106777&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%3D20965782%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Forte G, Madeddu R, Tolu P, Asara Y, Marchal JA, Bocca B The reference values (RVs) for blood Cd and Pb of 215 adult subjects non-occupationally exposed and living in Sardinia (insular Italy) were assessed. Age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking and living area were used to stratify the reference group. After collection from volunteers, samples were acid digested in a microwave oven and metals were determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The RVs expressed as 5th-95th percentiles (geometric mean, GM) were 0.24-1.82μg/l (0.53μg/l) for blood Cd and 13.2-87.3μg/l (33.4μg/l) for blood Pb. Females had GM levels of Cd (0.58μg/l) higher than males (0.49μg/l); subjects aged <40 years had less Cd (0.44μg/l) than old subjects (>60 years; 0.56μg... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106777 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4106777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106778&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%3D20961810%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, the concentrations of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs; chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform), haloacetic acids (HAAs; dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid), haloacetonitriles (HANs; dichloroacetonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, bromochloroacetonitrile, and dibromoacetonitrile), and chloral hydrate (CH) were measured in 86 indoor swimming pools in Seoul, Korea, treated using different disinfection methods, such as chlorine, ozone and chlorine, and a technique that uses electrochemically generated mixed oxidants (EGMOs). The correlations between DBPs and other environmental factors such as with total organic carbon (TOC), KMnO(4) consumption, free residual chlorine, pH, and nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in the pools ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106778 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4106778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087408&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%3D20956086%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Roychowdhury T A somewhat detailed study was carried out in Gaighata, one of the 107 arsenic-affected blocks in West Bengal, India, to determine the degree of groundwater contamination with arsenic, its depth wise distribution, correlation with iron, arsenical health effects to the inhabitants and the factors responsible for arsenic poisoning. Groundwater in all the 107 mouzas over 13 gram-panchayets in Gaighata block contains arsenic above 0.01mgl(-1) and in 91 mouzas, arsenic concentration has been found above 0.05mgl(-1). About 59.2 and 40.3% of the tubewell water samples contain arsenic above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1), respectively. The approximate population drinking arsenic-contaminated water above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1) are 106,560 and 72,540, respectively. The tubewells that ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087408 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087407&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%3D20956087%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alpaca RI, Rota C, Canali C, Migliore A, Di Rico R, Trenti T, Cariani E A survey of biological monitoring results from 2000 to 2008 was carried out as a part of institutional activities performed by the Workplace Prevention and Safety Service (SPSAL) of the south area of Modena district (Italy). The survey involved 18 companies employing 945 workers altogether. According to workplace exposure, routine biological monitoring had been carried out yearly or 6-monthly in private laboratories chosen by each company. Analysis of consecutive data from six plants showed fluctuating biomarker levels inconsistent with expected occupational exposure and sometimes exceeding biological exposure indices. Surveillance samplings were thus organized for comparison to be carried out in a public ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087407 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4038561&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%3D20889375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bloom MS, Fitzgerald EF, Kim K, Neamtiu I, Gurzau ES Maternal exposure to high concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in naturally contaminated drinking groundwater sources has been associated with an increased risk for the spontaneous loss of clinically recognized pregnancies in several epidemiologic studies. Whereas a large worldwide population depends on drinking groundwater sources with high levels of iAs contamination, in quantities exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb), an even larger population is likely to be exposed to mild-moderate drinking groundwater iAs contamination, in quantities <10ppb. Only a single epidemiologic study to date has considered spontaneous pregnancy loss in association with consumption of drinking water with mild-moderate iAs contamination; ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4038561 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4038561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4038560&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%3D20889376%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: The BMDL of U-Cd for renal effect markers were 2.1 (urinary protein), 2.6 (β2-MG) and 4.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in men and 1.5 (urinary protein), 1.4 (β2-MG) and 3.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in women. The BMDLs in the present study may contribute to further discussion on health risk assessment of cadmium exposure, when compared to BMDLs obtained by previously reported methods. PMID: 20889376 [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=4038560 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4038560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987666&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%3D20851674%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: The exposure safety margin opposite the selected exposure limits can be ranked as MDI>TIP>formaldehyde (high margin of safety to low margin of safety), indicating that the use of MDI also reduces the exposure risks to workers during production of CWP compared to formaldehyde. By reducing the airborne TIP concentrations, a respiratory sensitiser, MDI workplace concentrations in general can be reduced further. This can be achieved by improving design and/or maintenance and testing programmes of existing control measures, which should be in place already to effectively control exposure to TIP and formaldehyde. The airborne concentration of MDI at workstations situated after pressing (curing) is regarded as extremely low and likely mainly constituted by workplace emissions f... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987666 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987665&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%3D20851675%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Benefice E, Luna-Monrroy S, Lopez-Rodriguez R Populations in Bolivian Amazonia are exposed to mercury contamination through fish ingestion. A group of 170 Amerindian women living along the banks of the Beni River were examined in order to detect any adverse effects on their health consistent with the toxic effects of mercury. The mercury content of the women's hair (H-Hg) was used as the bio-indicator of mercury exposure. The women answered a 24-h food recall questionnaire on the frequency of their fish consumption. They also underwent a clinical examination with their weight, stature, hemoglobin concentration in blood, and blood pressure being recorded. Significant relationships were found between fishing practices, the frequency of fish consumption and H-Hg levels with mercu... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987665 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987664&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%3D20851676%26dopt%3DAbstract This study presents the results achieved by quantification using different analytical methods. Data on the concentration of DEHT and DINCH in 953 dust samples from German households are presented. These samples were obtained in four different studies conducted from 1997 to 2009. Maximum concentrations of 110mg DINCH/kg dust and 440mg DEHT/kg dust were found. Especially the amount of DINCH has increased significantly after the market introduction of this plasticizer in 2002. Up to the beginning of 2006, DINCH was found in 44% of the dust samples. Dust samples collected in 2009 indicate an increased concentration for both softeners. PMID: 20851676 [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=3987664 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987663&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%3D20851677%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ibrahim KS, Ahmed SB, Amer NM Occupational exposure to silica dust could lead to renal alterations in the glomeruli and proximal tubules. In the present study, occupational exposure to silica dust has been examined as a possible risk factor with respect to subclinical signs of kidney dysfunction. One-hundred forty eight exposed workers from a ceramic factory versus 121 controls of matched age, socioeconomic status and smoking habits were included. Data was collected through a questionnaire and clinical examination. There was a high prevalence of renal complaints in the ceramic workers specially the loin pain, dysuria. Crystalluria was significantly higher in the exposed group (12.2%) than the controls (5%). Renal urinary biomarkers including the high-molecular-weight protein a... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987663 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987667&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%3D20851050%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, several epidemiological studies point out, that indoor factors might cause asthma in childhood. Stronger and more consistent findings are seen when exposure to these indoor factors is assessed by surrogates for the source of the actual toxicants. Measurement-based exposure assessments for several indoor factors are less common than using surrogates of the exposure. These studies, however, mainly showed heterogeneous results. The most consistent finding for an induction of asthma in childhood is related to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, to living in homes close to busy roads, and in damp homes where are visible moulds at home. The causing agents of the increased risk of living in damp homes remained uncertain and needs clarification. Exposure to pet-derived allergen... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987667 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987668&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%3D20850380%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Markelova NY Bacteria of the genus of Bdellovibrio are highly motile Gram-negative predators of other Gram-negative bacteria causing lysis of their prey. Here we report results of studies on the interactions of Bdellovibrio with species of Alcaligenes, Campylobacter, Erwinia, Escherichia, Helicobacter, Pseudomonas, Legionella, and Shigella in agar lower, liquid media and cells attached to a surface. Helicobacter pylori was studied employing both actively growing and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. The majority of the bacterial strains tested were found to be susceptible to Bdellovibrio. A significant observation was that Bdellovibrio attacked both actively growing and VBNC H. pylori, that phenomenon has never been reported. The results indicate that bdellovibrios have p... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987668 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987671&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%3D20843741%26dopt%3DAbstract CONCLUSIONS: Workers chronically exposed to low organic solvent levels may experience mild sleeping problems, however, our data do not support the hypothesis that the clinical picture of chronic toxic encephalopathy can be primarily caused by the induction of sleep apnoea syndrome. It seems thus that the risk to experience central apnoeas rather accompanies the risk of impaired neurobehavioral performance with increasing exposure in a working population. PMID: 20843741 [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=3987671 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987670&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%3D20843742%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study the operator exposure levels during bait applications of an insecticide in olive groves were determined using a whole body dosimetry method for dermal exposure. The study design allowed the roles of application task duration and coverall type to be evaluated as factors influencing operator exposure. Twenty applications were carried out with knapsack sprayers in the Tanagra region of Viotia, Greece, ten of which were for a 1h and ten for a 3h duration. An in-house GC-NPD analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of malathion, the active substance (a.s.) of the insecticide formulation used in field trials. The mean recovery of field-fortified samples was 84% (%RSD=3.0). Field trial results generally indicated lower operator exposure levels than indicat... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987670 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987669&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%3D20843743%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vigliotta G, Motta O, Guarino F, Iannece P, Proto A A 1-year monitoring experiment of the Sarno River basin was conducted during 2008 to evaluate the overall quality of the water over time and to compare the results with those obtained previously. The physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the water course had not changed appreciably with respect to previous determinations, thus emphasizing the major contribution of untreated urban wastewater to the overall pollution of the river. Moreover, attention was paid to the perchlorate ion, one of the so-called emerging contaminants, which is widespread in natural environments and is known to have adverse effects on the human thyroid gland. Over the entire monitoring program, we did not find appreciable levels of perc... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987669 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3987669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969859&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%3D20833585%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sofuoglu SC, Aslan G, Inal F, Sofuoglu A Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, in classrooms, kindergartens, and outdoor playgrounds of three primary schools were measured in spring, winter, and fall terms in Ä°zmir, Turkey. A health-risk assessment was conducted for odor detection, sensory irritation, chronic toxic effects, and cancer. Active sampling was applied for VOCs and formaldehyde on Tenax TA and DNPH tubes, respectively. VOCs were analyzed in a thermal desorption-GC-MS system. Formaldehyde analysis was performed using an HPLC instrument. Benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde were the most abundant compounds with 95th percentile indoor air concentrations of 29, 87, and 106μg/m(3), respectively. Naphthalene and xylenes followed ... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969859 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3969859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969856&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%3D20833586%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to evaluate waste management practices in three case study NHS Trusts in England and the potential risks of the spread of pathogens causing healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). Using a combination of microbiological techniques, interviews and questionnaire surveys, four target microbes were studied, namely: meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), meticillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Waste Flow Diagrams (WFDs) were used to map the flow of the waste. While there was a perceived link between the management of the waste and the spread of the microbes by staff, none of the target organisms were isolated. The findings suggest that when the waste is properly contained an... International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969856 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3969856