MedWorm: Environmental Health

East liverpool still trying to dodge epa fine

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:13:18 +0100

June 17, 2008 – City officials in East Liverpool, Ohio, are still trying to negotiate to avoid paying the $30,000 fine the EPA wants to collect for asbestos violations. East Liverpool City Council Members met recently to discuss the fine, and Law Director Charles Payne says the city still plans to challenge it. Payne said, “Their demand of $30,000 is still the issue here. During our last meeting with the EPA, the city made a counter offer of $2,000 for a fine, and we basically tied that into the fine for Earl Taylor during the initial court case.” The incident that sparked the fine came to light in May 2006, says East Liverpool Mayor Jim Swoger. The incident involved Street Department Supervisor Earl Taylor, who hired a contractor to remove asbestos-containing pipe insulation from a city-owned building. Around 500 linear feet of pipe insulation was removed from the building, which Taylor then buried at a clean landfill site on property that the city also owned. Several days later, then-Service Safety Director William Cowan notified the Ohio EPA about the asbestos removal and disposal due to safety concerns. The removal and disposal of the asbestos turned out to be illegal. The asbestos removal was carried out with the knowledge or consent of the Ohio EPA. The agency also says the removal did not adhere to the necessary safety standards. In addition the asbestos that was removed was disposed of at a landfill site that was not equipped to safely handle asbestos waste. Asbestos removal must be carried out carefully to prevent the spread of asbestos dust, which can cause cancer and other serious diseases if inhaled. Typical asbestos removal includes wet-removal procedures to dampen materials and prevent dust dispersing. Disposing of asbestos safely is another important issue, as asbestos at landfill sites can present a health hazard to anyone working or visiting the site. Asbestos can only be disposed of at waste sites that are equipped to handle hazardous materials. Several days after the incident was discovered, workers from Cardinal Environmental Services cleaned up the remaining asbestos at the removal site, and cleaned up the landfill. Swoger doesn’t understand why the EPA has imposed the fine, because the asbestos has been cleaned up, and Earl Taylor had already been fined. In addition, says Swoger, city officials notified the EPA of the incident and didn’t try to cover it up. “When it came to light, the city notified the Ohio EPA and spent $14,500 to remediate the problem,” said Law Director Charles Payne of the incident. The EPA has already rejected the city’s counter-proposal of the $2,000 fine payment. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

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Banks may upset w.r. grace plans to exit bankruptcy

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:10:52 +0100

June 17, 2008 – W.R. Grace & Company has plans to exit bankruptcy in 2009, but bank demands for approximately $100 million in interest payments may cause problems for the company. Paying the interest may upset an important deal with some of W.R. Grace & Company’s many asbestos creditors, and delay the company’s bankruptcy still further. The banks which are demanding the money have around $500 million out on loan to W.R. Grace & Company, and are demanding that the company pay interest at default rates. That, says W.R. Grace, is jeopardizing the company’s settlement with asbestos creditors and may even prevent the company exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy status in 2009. The company highlighted the issue in papers it filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday. According to the papers, W.R Grace & Company is, after many years of bankruptcy and litigation, “poised to proceed with the proposed asbestos settlement and emerge from Chapter 11.” However, the papers say, “The lenders’ most recent demand…threatens to derail that process.” The banks, says W.R Grace, have labeled the company’s Chapter 11 proposal as “unconfirmable” because. The banks believe that the proposal short-changes them because it fails to give them the default interest rate on the loans. With $500 million in loans at stake, the difference in interest rates means the banks believe they are ‘missing out’ on a substantial amount of money. W.R Grace & Company wants presiding bankruptcy Judge Judith Fitzgerald to decide whether the banks are entitled to the default interest rate as quickly as possible, because until the decision on the interest rate is made, the company doesn’t know whether it can make good on the asbestos deal it hopes to confirm. That deal is the basis for the company’s plan to exit bankruptcy. This highlights the fact that the W.R Grace & Company isn’t the only entity waiting for this decision: thousands of asbestos creditors—including people who have developed asbestos-related diseases as a result of asbestos exposure the company is responsible for—are waiting too. The request for the extra interest was made back in April, when J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. made the request on behalf of itself and other members of the group which holds the company’s bank debt. If the banks win the ruling, W.R. Grace warns, the trial which was stopped in favor of a settlement will start up again, because the outcome of the trial determines whether the company has enough value to cover its debts and liabilities. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Asbestos troubles close oakland school permanently

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:08:10 +0100

June 10, 2008, Oakland, Pennsylvania – Students at Schenley High School in Oakland won’t be returning after the summer: the school is closing down, forever, due to the need for repairs which would cost more than the school can afford. The renovation costs have been driven up significantly by the presence of asbestos which needs to be removed, and there just isn’t enough money in the budget to repair the 92-year-old high school building. Many students are upset that they won’t be returning to the high school after the summer. Instead, they’ll be temporarily relocated to another nearby school. Use of asbestos in construction and renovation materials was widespread between the 1940s and 1980s. Older buildings, including schools, which undergo renovation or demolition must be treated with caution due to the likelihood that asbestos is present. Due to the health risks involved in asbestos exposure, work with or around the substance is tightly regulated and there are several laws and requirements that control how asbestos-containing materials and buildings must be handled. These requirements tend to significantly increase the costs of any renovation or demolition involving asbestos. In the case of the Schenley High School and other buildings which contain asbestos materials, there are two factors that significantly increase the costs of renovation. The first is that the asbestos must be treated with extreme caution, and special procedures must be used when handling or removing the substance. This requires licensed professionals who are trained to handle asbestos, and often means tight school budgets are stretched even further by the need to hire licensed asbestos contractors. The second factor is that disposal of asbestos-containing construction waste is up to three times more expensive than disposal of non-hazardous waste, due to the necessity of disposing of the material at a landfill that is equipped to handle hazardous materials. If asbestos waste must be removed, its disposal pushes up the costs of renovations hugely. The issue of asbestos in schools is likely to become an increasingly widespread problem. Asbestos was used in a variety of building materials between the 1940s and 1980s, due to the substance’s excellence as a fire-retardant, insulator, and acoustic barrier. As asbestos-containing materials age, repairs and renovations may cause disturbance to asbestos materials. These types of disturbances can potentially present a health hazard if proper procedures are not followed to limit exposure. To deal with asbestos in schools, the EPA requires that all schools that contain asbestos maintain a management plan that details the location of asbestos, its condition, and the measures taken to prevent exposure. In schools where asbestos is present, parents and school employees can request to see a copy of the asbestos management plan at any time. For some schools, such as Schenley High School, however, simply managing the asbestos just isn’t an efficient way to deal with the problem. Many more schools are likely to face similar issues in the future, as the costs of managing asbestos become prohibitive. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Asbestos problems in south bay, san diego schools

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:06:03 +0100

June 13, 2008 – One South Bay school district has spent thousands cleaning up asbestos, but for one long-time school district maintenance worker, that’s not enough. George Gerber claims that asbestos is still a problem in several district schools. Gerber works in maintenance at the Sweetwater Union High School District and has been employed there for seventeen years. Recently he reported to a San Diego news team that almost all of the schools in the district contain asbestos, and says he’s concerned about possible exposure risks for students and staff members. Gerber also claims that he has repeatedly tried to get the school district to pay attention to his concerns, and has been repeatedly ignored or brushed off. Gerber says, “There are areas and rooms that I’ve been reporting for extended period of time that’s almost gone on in 2 years that haven’t been addressed.” The news team’s recent report on the problem initiated action from National City Vice Mayor Frank Parra, who is concerned because three National City schools are part of the Sweetwater Union High School District. Parra says of the issue, “We’re always an advocate for our citizens, our children.” Parra wrote in a recent letter to school district Superintendent Dr. Jesus Gandara, “… it has been brought to our attention that public health concerns have been raised that relate to asbestos…” and asks that the school district “… educate us on the mitigation efforts of the District as well as the School Asbestos Management Plan.” To deal with asbestos in schools, the EPA requires that all schools that contain asbestos maintain a management plan that details the location of asbestos, its condition, and the measures taken to prevent exposure. In schools where asbestos is present, parents and school employees can request to see a copy of the asbestos management plan at any time. Since 2000, National City and South Bay has approved a total of eight million dollars’ worth of expenditure for cleaning up asbestos in schools. However, seventeen district schools still contain some asbestos. One major problem is simply that asbestos remediation is expensive. Due to the health risks involved in asbestos exposure, there are several laws and requirements that control how asbestos-containing materials and buildings must be handled. These requirements tend to significantly increase the costs of any renovation or demolition involving asbestos. Asbestos must be treated with extreme caution, and special procedures must be used when handling or removing the substance. This often means tight school budgets are stretched even further by the need to hire licensed asbestos contractors. Another issue is that disposal of asbestos-containing construction waste is up to three times more expensive than disposal of non-hazardous waste. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Some marycrest stores not told of asbestos danger

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:56:56 +0100

Joliet, Illinois - A full day after state health officials shut down a section of the Marycrest Shopping Center in Joliet, Illinois, some businesses were still operating in the center, unaware of the possible asbestos dangers. One business was ordered not to open due to the possible asbestos threat, but stores on either side were not told of the danger and were allowed to remain open. Marycrest Shopping center is made up of multiple buildings each with its own ventilation system, and all stores in one of the buildings were supposed to be ordered closed, while stores in other separate buildings could remain open. However, it was subsequently discovered that many of those businesses were supposed to be ordered shut, but had not received the order due to an oversight. A section of the Maycrest Shopping Center in Joliet, Illinois was closed after state health officials became concerned about the possibility of asbestos exposure. Officials ordered that work on the now-closed section of the shopping mall be stopped on Wednesday June 4, as they believed flooring was being removed without proper safety precautions being taken. The shopping center was built in the 1950s, is now half empty, and is undergoing renovations. However, this week sees the second time that officials have ordered that renovations be stopped due to concerns over possible asbestos exposure, said Joliet director of inspectional services David Mackley. Mackley said that a state inspector called health authorities to the renovation site on Wednesday after the inspector noticed that work had been carried out in an office area which was known to contain asbestos. Site inspectors subsequently ordered that the work be stopped, as they believed the tiles which were being removed were of a kind that was glued to floors with an asbestos-containing adhesive. Tests carried out by the Illinois Department of Public Health subsequently showed that asbestos was in fact present in the adhesive. An Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson said the owners of Maycrest will be required to hire contractors who are licensed to handle asbestos. Another health department spokesperson, Melaney Arnold, said the law would require an inspection to be carried out before work could start. Whether or not those in the stores which were supposed to be closed were exposed to asbestos won’t be known for some time, possibly decades, as asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancers have long latency periods. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Scientology cruise ship still locked down, still full of asbestos

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:56:04 +0100

A full six weeks after the Scientology cruise ship “Freewinds” was docked for repairs which led to the discovery of large amounts of asbestos, the ship is still locked down. It is now believed by some that the ship may never be able to take passengers again, due to the enormous expense of removing the large quantities of asbestos it contains. After being quarantined on April 26 at Mathey Warf in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Curacao Drydock Company was contracted to carry out refurbishment and repairs on the ship, but the company quickly ceased work due to the risk of asbestos exposure. Large amounts of Crocidolite (blue asbestos) were found to be present onboard the ship, and a statement from the vessel’s captain indicates that there have been previous incidents where the asbestos was released into the ship’s onboard ventilation system, which could potentially have resulted in asbestos exposure for everyone on board. Several officials, including deputy head of the Department of Labor Affairs Christiene van der Biezen and local health department head Tico Ras, inspected the ship and took samples from paneling that was subsequently found to contain blue asbestos in significant amounts. Subsequently, the Executive Council held a meeting and decided that informing the public would be the best way to avoid rumors and other problems. Other reports say that allegations about asbestos onboard the ship were made at least seven years ago. Lawrence Woodcraft, an architect and former Scientologist, claimed to have filed an affidavit affirming that he encountered blue asbestos on the ship in 1987-more than twenty years ago-and informed Scientology leaders. After the Curacao Drydock Company withdrew its workers, a team from the U.S. then arrived in The Netherlands to clean up the Scientology cruise ship. The arrival of the clean-up team was reported by Amigoe, the longest-running daily news publication in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. The U.S. team was subsequently found to be comprised of members of Scientology’s own paramilitary organization, the “Sea Org.” The clean-up team has been transporting truckloads of asbestos from the ship to the Selikor landfill site at Malpais, which is located on the island. However, despite these cleaning efforts, which may be putting members of Sea Org at high risk of asbestos exposure, Netherlands Ministry of Environment officials say that the enormous cost of making the “Freewinds” safe for use once again may end up being much more than the ship is actually worth. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

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Homewood fire station asbestos tests negative

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:55:36 +0100

Homewood, Illinois - Test results from samples taken at Homewood Fire Station in Homewood, Illinois show that there is no asbestos present in the air, meaning that no exposure risks have occurred as a result of recent renovation work. Asbestos was discovered at the Homewood Fire Station at 17950 Dixie Highway around two weeks ago, and testing was carried out to determine whether airborne asbestos was present in the building. Village manager Mark Franz said a small amount of asbestos may have been disturbed during renovation work carried out on a water-damaged wall on the north side of the fire station. The work was carried out two weeks ago by a Homewood-based business, Rickoff Remodeling. “It was just a small amount [of asbestos] discovered,” said Franz after the asbestos was found. “Unless a major problem is discovered through testing, we don’t anticipate closing down any other part of the building. But if there is more asbestos found than expected we’ll do whatever cleaning is necessary to make the building safe.” The asbestos was removed by environmental consulting and contract service RCM soon after its discovery. Following the removal air samples and other tests were carried out by RCM to determine how high asbestos levels are and whether exposure risks are present in the building. According to Mark Franz, early asbestos tests indicate that one room on the north side of the fire station building may be above the threshold for permissible levels of asbestos. Since the discovery and removal of asbestos the fire station has been inspected by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and officials have requested that a large part of the building be cordoned off until the results of the asbestos tests are in. Four administrative buildings in the fire station were cordoned off to carry out the “aggressive” air tests which were recommended by the Department of Public Health. Asbestos was so commonly used in construction up until the 1980s that the discovery of asbestos inside the Homewood fire station is not a surprise. In fact, recent reports indicate that asbestos may be a common fixture in older fire stations. In Newton, Massachusetts, for example, the town’s fire stations will all be renovated over the next ten years, partly for the purpose of removing asbestos from the buildings. Recent renovation work in Newton’s Fire Station 3 exposed several firefighters to asbestos, and asbestos was also discovered at the town’s Fire Station 2. In the case of the Homewood, Illinois station, the asbestos was discovered without any apparent exposure risks occurring. According to Mark Franz, “The entire area has been cleared for occupancy by the Illinois Department of Public Health.” (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Associations of serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants with the prevalence of periodontal disease and subpopulations of white blood cells

EHP-in-Press — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Lee DH, Jacobs Jr. DR, Kocher T. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11425. [Online 3 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

Agriculture alters gonadal form and function in the toad bufo marinus

EHP-in-Press — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

McCoy KA, Bortnick LJ, Campbell CM, Hamlin HJ, Guillette LJ Jr, and St. Mary CM. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11536. [Online 3 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

Associations of serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants with the prevalence of periodontal disease and subpopulations of white blood cells

EHP-in-Press — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Lee DH, Jacobs Jr. DR, Kocher T. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11425. [Online 3 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

Agriculture alters gonadal form and function in the toad bufo marinus

EHP-in-Press — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

McCoy KA, Bortnick LJ, Campbell CM, Hamlin HJ, Guillette LJ Jr, and St. Mary CM. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11536. [Online 3 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

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Simultaneous determination of p-arsanilic acid and roxarsone in feed by liquid chromatography-hydride generation online coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry

RSC - J. Environ. Monit. latest articles — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Jianjing Liu, Hongxia Yu, Haibin Song, Jing Qiu, Fengmei Sun, Ping Li, Shuming Yang (Paper from J. Environ. Monit.) Jianjing Liu, J. Environ. Monit., 2008, DOI: 10.1039/b803210f To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above. The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - J. Environ. Monit. latest articles)

Town officials says the latest deadline is “it” for asbestos remediation project

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:01:18 +0100

Fairmont, New York - The most recent deadline for an asbestos abatement project in Goldens Bridge has come and gone, and town officials have extended the deadline yet again. Town officials have made several efforts to get property owner Brian Stein to clean up the three dilapidated cottages on the property, but Stein has not responded to any requests. All three of the dilapidated cottages contain asbestos, which must be removed before the cottages can be demolished. Members of the Town Board finally agreed that the town would complete the work and temporarily cover the costs involved. Asbestos, which is known to cause an aggressively lethal type of cancer called mesothelioma, was widely used in construction materials for much of the twentieth century, and due to the widespread use of the substance, older buildings must be demolished with special care. Older buildings which contain asbestos must have all the asbestos removed before demolition can go ahead, to prevent the generation and dispersal of large clouds of asbestos dust which could contaminate the environment and be breathed in by locals. Removal of asbestos is costly and time-consuming, however, due to the need for specially trained and licensed workers, the need for special removal techniques to limit the production of dust, and the increased costs of disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Area residents have been complaining for almost a decade that the three cottages are dangerous, not only due to asbestos, but also due simply to their run-down state. Three successive town administrations have had discussions on what to do about the situation, but no action was taken until this year, when Town Supervisor Edward Brancati gave Stein a deadline of May 19 to locate and hire a contractor to carry out the asbestos remediation, but the deadline passed with no progress made. Stein responded with a letter stating that he was “appalled at [officials'] behavior and blatant lies.” Stein claims that he had been negotiating a contract with an asbestos abatement contractor, and that town officials had interfered and caused the deal to fall through. Even so, the town has issued yet another deadline, saying that Stein now has until Monday June 9 to contact officials. Bracanti says of the new deadline, “This is really it. It’s June 9 and I am not kidding.” (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Lyndhurst, nj locals concerned over possibility of asbestos dust

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:57:55 +0100

Local frustration is high in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, over the actions of Bedroc Contracting, an excavation and demolition company. The company is under fire over its recycling center, which is located directly adjacent to a new recreation complex, and is also located near the town’s pre-kindergarten facility. Due to zoning regulations the recycling facilities can take in wood, metal, masonry and concrete materials. However, locals are particularly concerned about the large amounts of dust created by concrete crushing operations at the facilities. Many residents are worried over the possibility that some of the concrete contains asbestos and other harmful substances. One resident said, “I have issues with putting children on those fields without knowing what’s in that dust. I have serious concerns about it.” Asbestos, a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral, is particularly harmful when crushed or otherwise disturbed, as the act of crushing releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. Once airborne these fibers can be inhaled. Over many years, inhaled asbestos fibers can cause a serious type of asbestos cancer called mesothelioma, which is aggressive, resistant to treatment, and ultimately fatal. The recycling center is allowed to accept construction waste, but isn’t zoned for crushing stone (or concrete). Bedroc Contracting has already been fined a total of $4,000 for six violations during April, but continues to crush concrete and stone. Town officials say there isn’t much they can do, as state zoning regulations allow the crushing to continue. One official said, “We’ve been complaining to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission now for seven, eight months. We’ve been pursuing it as what we see is a potential health hazard. It’s a clear problem that needs to be addressed. These fines just aren’t enough to cause compliance.” The town has retained environmental counsel to deal with the matter. Eric Bernstein has so far documented conditions at the facility with photographs and complaints from locals about dust and noise. State officials say they are beginning to note compliance issues, and have found instances where the recycling center has violated the conditions of its permit. NJDEP spokesperson Larry Hajna said, “Solid waste inspectors visited the site in mid-April and noted that facility operators were advised they were out of compliance for various recycling center approval conditions.” However, the NJDEP has issued only one fine, in 2006, for $3,000. State agencies are finally beginning to come down on Bedroc Contracting for its violations, with six recorded in April at a cost of $4,000 in fines. In the mean time, residents are being encouraged to voice the complaints about the dust that’s being created at the recycling center. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Former ford assembly plant approved for tax credit redevelopment

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:54:18 +0100

Hazelwood, Missouri - The current owners of a former Ford assembly plant is to receive $5 million in tax credits for redevelopment of the former plant. Located in Hazelwood, Missouri, the former Ford assembly plant has been approved for remediation tax credits worth $5,023,272 from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, approved through the Brownfield Redevelopment Program. The Hazelwood assembly plant was closed and subsequently sold by the Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Company in Spring 2006 as part of the company’s plans to downsize some of its facilities. The sale price on the property was estimated to be around $50 million. Current owners Aviator Business Park LLC plan to convert the former Ford plant, a space of almost 155 acres, into a commercial and industrial complex which will create nearly 300 new jobs. The redevelopment project includes the construction of eleven new buildings with a total of 2.6 million square feet of industrial and commercial space. The Brownfield Redevelopment Program is designed to offer financial incentives for companies to redevelop old industrial and commercial properties which are contaminated with hazardous substances. The former Ford assembly plant qualifies for the program’s tax credits due to its contamination with asbestos-containing materials which were used in the plant’s construction and machinery, as well as soil and groundwater chemical contamination. Asbestos was a common component of construction materials up until the 1980s due to its high fire resistance and other desirable factors. The substance was so cheap and had so many desirable properties that it was added to thousands of products, including many types of construction materials. Asbestos is therefore present in many residential, commercial, and industrial buildings built before this time. It is likely that asbestos was heavily used in industrial plants such as the former Ford assembly plant, as the substance was ideal for use in heavy machinery due to its fire resistance. However, due to the hazards associated with asbestos exposure, many problems associated with its exposure are now arising. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lethal diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma due to the chronic inflammation that the fibers cause in the lungs. These factors make asbestos remediation a costly venture, especially in a facility the size of the former Ford plant. The high costs associated with cleaning up this type of contamination is the main reason behind projects such as the Brownfield Redevelopment Program, which offer tax credits for companies which can then use the money to defray the costs of cleaning up contaminated industrial and commercial sites. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Estrom 2008 international conference.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

ESTROM 2008 International Conference.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2008 Jul 2;

Authors: Giger W

PMID: 18594891 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International)

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Seasonal and annual variations of metal uptake, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in trifolium repens and lolium perenne growing in a heavy metal-contaminated field.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Seasonal and annual variations of metal uptake, bioaccumulation, and toxicity in Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne growing in a heavy metal-contaminated field.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2008 Jul 2;

Authors: Bidar G, Pruvot C, Garçon G, Verdin A, Shirali P, Douay F

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The reclamation of nonferrous metal-polluted soil by phytoremediation requires an overall and permanent plant cover. To select the most suitable plant species, it is necessary to study metal effects on plants over the time, thereby checking that metals remain stored in root systems and not transferred to aerial parts. In this purpose, the seasonal and annual variations of metal bioaccumulation, transfer, and phytotoxicity in Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne grown in a Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soil were also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental site was located near a closed smelter. In spring 2004, two areas were sown with T. repens and L. perenne, respectively. Thereafter, the samplings of plant roots and shoots and surrounding soils were realized in autumn 2004 and spring and autumn 2005. The soil agronomic characteristics, the Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the surrounded soils and plant organs, as well as the oxidative alterations (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) in plant organs were carried out. RESULTS: Whatever the sampling period, metal concentrations in soils and plants were higher than background values. Contrary to the soils, the fluctuations of metal concentrations were observed in plant organs over the time. Bioaccumulation and transfer factors confirmed that metals were preferentially accumulated in the roots as follows: Cd>Zn>Pb, and their transfer to shoots was limited. Foliar metal deposition was also observed. The results showed that there were seasonal and annual variations of metal accumulation in the two studied plant species. These variations differed according to the organs and followed nearly the same pattern for the two species. Oxidative alterations were observed in plant organs with regard to SOD antioxidant activities, MDA, and 8-OHdG concentrations. These alterations vary according to the temporal variations of metal concentrations. DISCUSSION: Metal concentrations in surrounded soils and plant organs showed the effective contamination by industrial dust emissions. Metals absorbed by plants were mainly stored in the roots. With regard to this storage, the plants seemed to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts over the time, thereby indicating their availability for metal phytostabilization. Aerial deposition was another source of plant exposure to nonferrous metals. Despite the occurrence of metal-induced oxidative alterations in plant organs, both plant species seemed to tolerate a high metal concentration in soils. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicated that T. repens and L. perenne were able to form a plant cover on highly Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-polluted soils, to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts and were relatively metal-tolerant. All these characteristics made them suitable for phytostabilization on metal-contaminated soils. These findings also highlighted the necessity to take into account seasonal and annual variations for a future phytomanagement. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In this work, the behavior of plant species grown in metal-polluted soil has been studied during 2 years. Obviously, this time is too short to ensure that metals remain accumulated in the root system and few are transferred in aerial parts over the time. It is why regular monitoring should be achieved during more than a decade after the settlement of the plant cover. This work will be completed by the study of the T. repens and L. perenne effects on mobility of metals in order to evaluate the quantities of pollutants which could be absorbed by the biota and transferred to groundwater. Bioaccessibility tests could be also realized on polluted soils in order to evaluate the phytostabilization impacts on the exposition risks for humans.

PMID: 18594892 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International)

Persistence of perfluoroalkylated substances in closed bottle tests with municipal sewage sludge.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Persistence of perfluoroalkylated substances in closed bottle tests with municipal sewage sludge.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2008 Jul 2;

Authors: Sáez M, de Voogt P, Parsons JR

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are chemicals with completely fluorinated alkyl chains. The specific properties of the F-C bond give PFAS a high stability and make them very useful in a wide range of applications. PFAS also pose a potential risk to the environment and humans because they have been recently characterized as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. The objective of this work is to study the bacterial degradation of PFAS under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in municipal sewage sludge as a contribution toward understanding their environmental fate and behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial communities from sewage sludge were exposed to a mixture of PFAS under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Individual PFAS concentrations were determined in the experiment media at different exposure times using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis after extraction with solid-phase extraction. RESULTS: The PFAS analyses of samples of sludge showed repeatable replicate results, allowing a reliable quantification of the different groups of PFAS analyzed. No conclusive evidence for PFAS degradation was observed under the experimental conditions tested in this work. Reduction in concentrations, however, was observed for some PFAS in sludge under aerobic conditions. DISCUSSION: The largest concentration decrease occurred for the fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), especially for the 8:2 FTOH, which have been described as biodegradable in the literature. However, this concentration decrease could be due to different causes: sorption to glass, septa, or matrix components, as well as bacterial activity. Therefore, it is not certain that biodegradation occurred. CONCLUSIONS: PFAS are very recalcitrant chemicals, especially when fully fluorinated. Although some decreases in concentration have been observed for some PFAS, such as the FTOHs, there is no conclusive evidence for biodegradation. It can be concluded that the PFAS tested in these experiments are non-biodegradable under these experimental conditions. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Since the presence of PFAS is ubiquitous in the environment and they can be toxic, more research is needed in this field to elucidate which PFAS are susceptible to biodegradation, the conditions required for biodegradation, and the possible routes followed. A possible inhibitory effect of PFAS on bacteria, the threshold concentrations, and conditions of inhibition should also be investigated.

PMID: 18594893 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International)

State settlement proposed for libby asbestos case

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:13:14 +0100

Libby, Montana - Only a few weeks after the federal government announced it may finally reach a settlement with W.R. Grace & Company, Montana state officials say they are also ready to sign an agreement with the company which may see more Libby asbestos claims settled. The Environmental Protection Agency announced in April that it had negotiated a $250 million settlement with W.R. Grace & Company. The money would be used to reimburse the agency’s Superfund and pay for the costs of cleaning up the contamination in Libby which was caused by the company’s mining operation in the town. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality today announced a proposed $5.1 million settlement, which will provide additional money to help fund future clean-up costs in Libby. The proposal will soon be open for public comment, and it must be approved by W.R. Grace’s bankruptcy judge. The funds allotted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality will be separate from the $250 million settlement, and will not come from that money. The DEQ says the $5.1 million will be used only after the EPA’s main clean up project has been finished, and that the money will be used for maintenance and other operations. DEQ Director Richard Opper said, “Since Grace is already paying $250 million for cleanup costs here, we were not going to get a lot of additional funding through the bankruptcy. We are pleased that we were able to get at least a significant sum to help ensure that there is adequate funding to do this cleanup right.” DEQ Remediation Division Administrator Sandi Olsen said, “The EPA settlement currently earmarks $11 million for operation and maintenance. This settlement increases that funding by over $5 million. Of course, operation and maintenance comes at that end of the process, so there should be a substantial amount of interest earnings to cover these costs as well.” The proposed DEQ settlement covers commercial and residential property in Libby and Troy, both of which are affected by the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine once operated by W.R. Grace & Company. The mine itself and the land around it will be addressed separately. The proposed agreement, including information about commenting on it, can be found on the Montana DEQ web site at www.deq.mt.gov. Comments must be received by July 7, 2008. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Linen company faces hefty fines for safety and health violations

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:12:21 +0100

New Jersey - North East Linen, formerly Morey LaRue Laundry Company, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for several alleged health and safety violations after the deaths of two workers last year. Among the fifteen counts are some which relate to the presence of asbestos on the company premises. The fines, which may reach up to $80,000, will be imposed for violations discovered after the deaths of Victor Diaz Jr. and Carlos Diaz. The two men were assigned to power wash a 20,000 gallon tank which contained dry-cleaning chemicals, but they had not been trained to do the job. Other allegations include that they were not provided with protective gear, or safety equipment that could have been used to assist in their rescue. The two men died from suffocation while attempting to carry out the work. OSHA began an investigation on the day the men died. The investigated resulted in fifteen violations, including twelve serious, two other-than-serious, and one willful violation. The fines for the violations total $79,250. “Serious” citations are those which may cause serious physical harm or death, and which the employer either knew about or should have known about. “Willful” violations are those which an employer commits with indifference or intentional disregard for the safety and health of employees. Robert D. Kulick, director of OSHA’s Avenel area office said, “North East Linen did not take the appropriate steps to train its employees about potential hazards and to ensure its employees did not enter the waste water tank, which led to this tragedy.” Louis Ricca Jr., acting administrator for OSHA’s New York region said, “This horrible tragedy underscores the need for all employers to implement effective safety and health management system. It also reinforces the need for employers to provide their employees with appropriate training, direction, personal protective equipment and engineering control, particularly when working in and around confined spaces.” Among the alleged health and safety violations of North East Linen are failure to provide hazard training, failure to provide adequate egress, failure to effectively prevent employees from entering the waste water tank, and failure to determine the presence and quality of asbestos-containing materials, and failure to label asbestos-containing materials. From receipt of the citations, North East Linen has fifteen days in which to contest them, after which an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is to be held. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Asbestos discovery stalls prison building project

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:11:23 +0100

Grayson County, Virginia - Builders working on the $100 million state prison project in Grayson County, Virginia, have hit a snag that may delay the project significantly. The snag? A vein of asbestos has been struck during digging on the site. Grading began on the site last fall, but it wasn’t until May 2008 that a state-hired contractor noticed what appeared to be asbestos-a brown-colored substance softer than the surrounding rock. Virginia Department of Corrections director of communications Larry Traylor says work ceased on the site on May 9. Subsequently state officials tested the brown substance and confirmed that it was, in fact, asbestos. “Additional tests to determine if asbestos particles had been present in the air were performed and those results indicated no asbestos particles present,” said Traylor. Asbestos veins occur naturally in certain types of rock, and in fact low levels of asbestos are thought to be present in around two thirds of the earth’s crust. The fibrous mineral is highly dangerous if the fibers become airborne, as they can then be inhaled. Inhalation of asbestos can cause serious and lethal diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. The fibers are little threat, however, unless they are airborne. Larry Traylor says further tests and evaluation will be carried out during the next few weeks, and state officials will begin developing a strategy to manage the asbestos threat and get construction underway on the site. Work will begin on site next week to remediate the asbestos vein, headed by contractor Balfour Beatty. Signs will be posted on site and awareness training for all jobsite staff will be performed. County administrator William Ring says the discovery of asbestos “should not change the overall plan. They have to develop a plan to deal with what they have found. The site is still the selected site.” In addition, Ring says the delay shouldn’t affect the scheduled completion of the project, and the prison should still be open in 2010 as originally planned. However, it hasn’t yet been determined how much the asbestos remediation will add to the cost of the project. Depending on the amount of asbestos present in the vein, and the amount which needs to be removed, a significant chunk of money could be added to the budget, due to the need for trained personnel for some aspects of the removal, and the need to dispose of the asbestos in locations which are equipped and licensed to handle it. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

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Cadmium, lead and other metals in relation to semen quality: human evidence for molybdenum as a male reproductive toxicant

EHP-in-Press — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Meeker JD, Rossano MG, Protas B, Diamond MP, Puscheck E, Daly D, Paneth N, Wirth JJ. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11490. [Online 1 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

Self-reported neurological symptoms in relation to co emissions due to problem gas appliance installations in london: a cross-sectional survey.

Environmental Health — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Background: Previous research by the authors found evidence that up to 10% of particular household categories may be exposed to elevated carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations from poor quality gas appliance installations. The literature suggests several neurological symptoms are linked to exposure to low levels of CO. This paper addresses the hypothesis that selected self-reported neurological symptoms experienced by a householder are linked to an estimate of their CO exposure. Methods: Between 27 April and 27 June 2006, 597 homes with a mains supply of natural gas were surveyed, mainly in old, urban areas of London. Qualified gas engineers tested all gas appliances (cooker, boiler, gas fire, and water heater) and reported, according to the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure, appliances considered At Risk (AR), Immediately Dangerous (ID) or Not to Current Standards (NCS). Five graded exposure risk categories were defined based on measurement of CO emitted by the appliance, its features and its use, with "high or very high" exposure category where occupants were considered likely to be exposed to levels greater than 26ppm for one hour. The prevalence of symptoms at each level of exposure was compared with that at lowest level of exposure. Results: Of the households, 6% were assessed as having a "high or very high" risk of exposure to CO. Of the individuals, 9% reported at least one neurological symptom. There was a statistically significant association between "high or very high" exposure risk to CO and self-reported symptoms compared to "no exposure" likelihood, for households not in receipt of benefit, controlling for "number of residents" and presence of pensioners, OR = 3.23, (95%CI: 1.28, 8.15). Risk ratios across all categories of exposure likelihood indicate a dose-response pattern. Those households in receipt of benefit showed no dose-response pattern. Conclusions: This study found an association between risk of CO exposure at low concentration, and prevalence of self-reported neurological symptoms in the community. As health status was self-reported, this association requires further investigation. (Source: Environmental Health)

Cardiovascular mortality and exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields: a cohort study of swiss railway workers

Environmental Health — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Background: Exposure to intermittent magnetic fields of 16 Hz has been shown to reduce heart rate variability, and decreased heart rate variability predicts cardiovascular mortality. We examined mortality from cardiovascular causes in railway workers exposed to varying degrees to intermittent 16.7 Hz magnetic fields. Methods: We studied a cohort of 20,141 Swiss railway employees between 1972 and 2002, including highly exposed train drivers (median lifetime exposure 120.5 uT-years), and less or little exposed shunting yard engineers (42.1 uT-years), train attendants (13.3 uT-years) and station masters (5.7 uT-years). During 464,129 person-years of follow up, 5,413 deaths were recorded and 3,594 deaths were attributed to cardio-vascular diseases. We analyzed data using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: For all cardiovascular mortality the hazard ratio compared to station masters was 0.99 (95%CI: 0.91, 1.08) in train drivers, 1.13 (95%CI: 0.98, 1.30) in shunting yard engineers, and 1.09 (95%CI: 1.00, 1.19) in train attendants. Corresponding hazard ratios for arrhythmia related deaths were 1.04 (95%CI: 0.68, 1.59), 0.58 (95%CI: 0.24, 1.37) and 1.30 (95%CI: 0.87, 1.93) and for acute myocardial infarction 1.00 (95%CI: 0.73, 1.36), 1.56 (95%CI: 1.04, 2.32), and 1.14 (95%CI: 0.85, 1.53). The hazard ratio for arrhythmia related deaths per 100 uT-years of cumulative exposure was 0.94 (95%CI: 0.71, 1.24) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.75, 1.11) for acute myocardial infarction. Conclusions: This study provides evidence against an association between long-term occupational exposure to intermittent 16.7 Hz magnetic fields and cardiovascular mortality. (Source: Environmental Health)

Neww'> new window into breast cancer risk assessing lifetime exposures to pops persistent organic pollutants (pops) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) are ubiquitous chemical compounds that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate through the food web. although experiments have shown that pops stimulate the proliferation of human cancer cell lines, epidemiologic studies of pop-associated cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results, possibly because of the lack of tools for estimating lifetime exposures to these chemicals. now, however, researchers have developed a new physiologically based pharmacokinetic (pbpk) modeling approach that can potentially be used in epidemiologic studies to simulate lifetime toxicokinetics of pops in women [ehp 116:886?892; verner et al.]. previous biological assessments have been limited to measuring pop levels in blood or tissue samples collected around the time of breast cancer diagnosis. however, such assessments may not reflect the body burden during earlier, potentially critical exposure points in a woman's life such as the fetal, postnatal, and adolescent periods. in contrast, the new model integrates the relevant processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination to estimate lifetime blood and tissue exposure and levels during any hypothesized time window of susceptibility in breast cancer development. the model also predicts how various types of relevant lifetime physiologic changes?such as body weight variation, pregnancy, excretion of pops through lactation, and aging?will influence the kinetics of a compound in a woman throughout her life. the model enables the estimation of interindividual differences in pop exposures through the use of physiologic information obtained from questionnaires in epidemiologic studies. the researchers found that lactation and weight change histories had the greatest impact on the toxicokinetic profile throughout life. according to the model, the longer and later in life lactation occurred, the lower the woman's blood pop concentration at age 55 (a surrogate time representing the typical age at breast cancer diagnosis). similarly, variations in body weight throughout life had a greater impact than average body weight on blood pop concentrations, possibly because weight loss is accompanied by unloading of pops into the blood via lost adipose tissue. this means that quantitative information on both lactation and body weight histories is critical when evaluating past pop exposures. if, as some researchers hypothesize, breast cancer is related to pop exposures at specific time windows of susceptibility during a woman's lifetime, lactation and body weight histories must be considered in studies of pop exposures and breast cancer risk. depending on when such physiologic events occur, women having similar pop concentrations at the age of diagnosis may have had completely different internal levels at a time that may be critical to the formation of breast cancer. the proposed pbpk modeling approach therefore could be used in environmental epidemiology research to circumvent limitations inherent in relying on late-life sampling for past exposure assessments. m. nathaniel mead

Science Selections from EHP — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

neww"> New Window into Breast Cancer Risk Assessing Lifetime Exposures to POPs Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous chemical compounds that persist in the environment and bioaccumulate through the food web. Although experiments have shown that POPs stimulate the proliferation of human cancer cell lines, epidemiologic studies of POP-associated cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results, possibly because of the lack of tools for estimating lifetime exposures to these chemicals. Now, however, researchers have developed a new physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approach that can potentially be used in epidemiologic studies to simulate lifetime toxicokinetics of POPs in women [EHP 116:886?892; Verner et al.]. Previous biological assessments have been limited to measuring POP levels in blood or tissue samples collected around the time of breast cancer diagnosis. However, such assessments may not reflect the body burden during earlier, potentially critical exposure points in a woman's life such as the fetal, postnatal, and adolescent periods. In contrast, the new model integrates the relevant processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination to estimate lifetime blood and tissue exposure and levels during any hypothesized time window of susceptibility in breast cancer development. The model also predicts how various types of relevant lifetime physiologic changes?such as body weight variation, pregnancy, excretion of POPs through lactation, and aging?will influence the kinetics of a compound in a woman throughout her life. The model enables the estimation of interindividual differences in POP exposures through the use of physiologic information obtained from questionnaires in epidemiologic studies. The researchers found that lactation and weight change histories had the greatest impact on the toxicokinetic profile throughout life. According to the model, the longer and later in life lactation occurred, the lower the woman's blood POP concentration at age 55 (a surrogate time representing the typical age at breast cancer diagnosis). Similarly, variations in body weight throughout life had a greater impact than average body weight on blood POP concentrations, possibly because weight loss is accompanied by unloading of POPs into the blood via lost adipose tissue. This means that quantitative information on both lactation and body weight histories is critical when evaluating past POP exposures. If, as some researchers hypothesize, breast cancer is related to POP exposures at specific time windows of susceptibility during a woman's lifetime, lactation and body weight histories must be considered in studies of POP exposures and breast cancer risk. Depending on when such physiologic events occur, women having similar POP concentrations at the age of diagnosis may have had completely different internal levels at a time that may be critical to the formation of breast cancer. The proposed PBPK modeling approach therefore could be used in environmental epidemiology research to circumvent limitations inherent in relying on late-life sampling for past exposure assessments. M. Nathaniel Mead (Source: Science Selections from EHP)

Isar'> is arsenic 'lactation intolerant'? study indicates low excretion in breast milk arsenic is known to readily cross the placenta, but few data exist on postnatal exposure to arsenic in breast milk. results of a study conducted in bangladesh now suggest that infants who are exclusively breastfed are protected against arsenic, despite high maternal exposures [ehp 116:963?969; f?ngstr?m et al.]. numerous studies have linked arsenic exposure in adults to various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. exposure in school-age children has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. during fetal development, the brain is particularly vulnerable to arsenic exposure, as it readily crosses the placenta, possibly altering fetal programming and leading to a higher risk of susceptibility to disease later in life. the subjects in the current study included 98 mothers and their 3-month-old infants who participated in the maternal and infant nutrition interventions of matlab in bangladesh, one of the most severely affected countries in terms of high prevalence of extremely elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water supplies. the investigators evaluated nutritional status and arsenic exposure as reflected by arsenic metabolites in infant urine and maternal blood, urine, and saliva samples. they also analyzed breast milk samples at 2 months postpartum for arsenic. questionnaires completed by the mothers provided data on infant feeding practices. the median sum of arsenic metabolites in infant urine was 1.2 ?g/l, with significantly lower concentrations in infants who were exclusively breastfed compared with those who received some solid food. arsenic concentrations in breast milk were low (median 1.0 ?g/kg) and mostly in the form of trivalent inorganic arsenic. the researchers observed a significant association between arsenic in infant urine and breast milk, but noted that some mothers with low breast milk arsenic had infants with high urine concentrations, possibly because the infants had been given water to drink. median maternal blood and urine concentrations were high (5.7 and 67 ?g/l, respectively), whereas median maternal saliva concentrations were low (1.3 ?g/l). among infants who were exclusively breastfed, urine levels did not exceed 19 ?g/l inorganic arsenic and its metabolites, whereas infants who received infant formula prepared with local drinking water in addition to some breast milk had urine levels up to 1,100 ?g/l. the authors demonstrate for the first time that arsenic in human breast milk is mostly the inorganic arsenite form. although there was a significant relationship between arsenic concentrations in milk and in maternal blood, arsenic concentrations in breast milk were relatively low despite the mothers' high exposures. the findings suggest that breastfeeding exclusively can protect infants from arsenic exposure during this critical development period, but the authors note that researchers have yet to determine the extent to which breastfeeding decreases the health risks associated with prenatal arsenic exposure. tanya tillett

Science Selections from EHP — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

isar"> Is Arsenic "Lactation Intolerant"? Study Indicates Low Excretion in Breast Milk Arsenic is known to readily cross the placenta, but few data exist on postnatal exposure to arsenic in breast milk. Results of a study conducted in Bangladesh now suggest that infants who are exclusively breastfed are protected against arsenic, despite high maternal exposures [EHP 116:963?969; F?ngstr?m et al.]. Numerous studies have linked arsenic exposure in adults to various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. Exposure in school-age children has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. During fetal development, the brain is particularly vulnerable to arsenic exposure, as it readily crosses the placenta, possibly altering fetal programming and leading to a higher risk of susceptibility to disease later in life. The subjects in the current study included 98 mothers and their 3-month-old infants who participated in the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions of Matlab in Bangladesh, one of the most severely affected countries in terms of high prevalence of extremely elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water supplies. The investigators evaluated nutritional status and arsenic exposure as reflected by arsenic metabolites in infant urine and maternal blood, urine, and saliva samples. They also analyzed breast milk samples at 2 months postpartum for arsenic. Questionnaires completed by the mothers provided data on infant feeding practices. The median sum of arsenic metabolites in infant urine was 1.2 ?g/L, with significantly lower concentrations in infants who were exclusively breastfed compared with those who received some solid food. Arsenic concentrations in breast milk were low (median 1.0 ?g/kg) and mostly in the form of trivalent inorganic arsenic. The researchers observed a significant association between arsenic in infant urine and breast milk, but noted that some mothers with low breast milk arsenic had infants with high urine concentrations, possibly because the infants had been given water to drink. Median maternal blood and urine concentrations were high (5.7 and 67 ?g/L, respectively), whereas median maternal saliva concentrations were low (1.3 ?g/L). Among infants who were exclusively breastfed, urine levels did not exceed 19 ?g/L inorganic arsenic and its metabolites, whereas infants who received infant formula prepared with local drinking water in addition to some breast milk had urine levels up to 1,100 ?g/L. The authors demonstrate for the first time that arsenic in human breast milk is mostly the inorganic arsenite form. Although there was a significant relationship between arsenic concentrations in milk and in maternal blood, arsenic concentrations in breast milk were relatively low despite the mothers' high exposures. The findings suggest that breastfeeding exclusively can protect infants from arsenic exposure during this critical development period, but the authors note that researchers have yet to determine the extent to which breastfeeding decreases the health risks associated with prenatal arsenic exposure. Tanya Tillett (Source: Science Selections from EHP)

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Shin'> shining a light on bp-3 exposure sunscreen chemical measured in u.s. population sunscreens provide important protection against sunburn and squamous cell cancer, particularly for individuals who work outdoors or in situations where sun exposure is unavoidable. the widespread use of the common sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 (bp-3) and its detection in the environment suggest the need for more information about the extent of human exposure. results of a new study now provide the first nationally representative data on bp-3 exposure among the u.s. population [ehp 116:893?897; calafat et al.]. lady applying sunscreen in an nhanes sample, women and light-skinned individuals had the highest concentrations of the sunscreen agent bp-3 image: graca victoria/shutterstock bp-3 is used in personal care products to absorb and dissipate ultraviolet (uv) radiation. it is also used as a uv stabilizer in plastic surface coatings to prevent polymer or food photodegradation and has been approved by the food and drug administration as an indirect food additive. although bp-3 exposure has not been linked to adverse health effects in humans, results of animal studies by the national toxicology program have shown effects in liver, kidney, and reproductive organs, and studies by other groups have shown endocrine-disrupting effects. using data from the national health and nutrition examination survey (nhanes) 2003?2004 conducted by the centers for disease control and prevention, the current research team analyzed 2,517 urine samples from three major racial/ethnic groups: non-hispanic black, non-hispanic white, and mexican american. nhanes includes household interviews, medical histories, standardized physical examinations, and a collection of biologic specimens that can be used to assess exposure to environmental chemicals, as in the current study. the scientists detected bp-3 in 96.8% of the urine samples, with a mean concentration of 22.9 ?g/l and a concentration of 1,040 ?g/l in the 95th percentile. the high level of detection likely resulted from routine use of personal care products such as sunscreen, moisturizers, lipstick, and hairspray. results of the current study suggest that females and non-hispanic whites were the most highly exposed of all the demographic groups studied. mean concentrations of bp-3 were significantly higher for females than for males, regardless of age, probably because women and girls use more sunscreen and other personal care products than men and boys do. at the 95th percentile of exposure, adult females had bp-3 concentrations 3.5 times greater than those of adult males. mean concentrations also differed significantly among the different racial/ethnic groups. non-hispanic whites were 6.8 times more likely and mexican americans were 4 times more likely to have bp-3 concentrations above the 95th percentile compared with non-hispanic blacks. these differences likely result from increased use of sunscreens by people with lighter skin pigmentation. according to the authors, the nhanes 2003?2004 data can be used to establish a nationally representative baseline assessment of exposure. moreover, the data could aid risk assessments for bp-3 exposure if future toxicologic or epidemiologic studies suggest the need for such research, and may encourage further research to determine the potential public health impact of exposure at the levels reported. john tibbetts

Science Selections from EHP — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

shin"> Shining a Light on BP-3 Exposure Sunscreen Chemical Measured in U.S. Population Sunscreens provide important protection against sunburn and squamous cell cancer, particularly for individuals who work outdoors or in situations where sun exposure is unavoidable. The widespread use of the common sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and its detection in the environment suggest the need for more information about the extent of human exposure. Results of a new study now provide the first nationally representative data on BP-3 exposure among the U.S. population [EHP 116:893?897; Calafat et al.]. In an NHANES sample, women and light-skinned individuals had the highest concentrations of the sunscreen agent BP-3 image: Graca Victoria/Shutterstock BP-3 is used in personal care products to absorb and dissipate ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is also used as a UV stabilizer in plastic surface coatings to prevent polymer or food photodegradation and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an indirect food additive. Although BP-3 exposure has not been linked to adverse health effects in humans, results of animal studies by the National Toxicology Program have shown effects in liver, kidney, and reproductive organs, and studies by other groups have shown endocrine-disrupting effects. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003?2004 conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current research team analyzed 2,517 urine samples from three major racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Mexican American. NHANES includes household interviews, medical histories, standardized physical examinations, and a collection of biologic specimens that can be used to assess exposure to environmental chemicals, as in the current study. The scientists detected BP-3 in 96.8% of the urine samples, with a mean concentration of 22.9 ?g/L and a concentration of 1,040 ?g/L in the 95th percentile. The high level of detection likely resulted from routine use of personal care products such as sunscreen, moisturizers, lipstick, and hairspray. Results of the current study suggest that females and non-Hispanic whites were the most highly exposed of all the demographic groups studied. Mean concentrations of BP-3 were significantly higher for females than for males, regardless of age, probably because women and girls use more sunscreen and other personal care products than men and boys do. At the 95th percentile of exposure, adult females had BP-3 concentrations 3.5 times greater than those of adult males. Mean concentrations also differed significantly among the different racial/ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic whites were 6.8 times more likely and Mexican Americans were 4 times more likely to have BP-3 concentrations above the 95th percentile compared with non-Hispanic blacks. These differences likely result from increased use of sunscreens by people with lighter skin pigmentation. According to the authors, the NHANES 2003?2004 data can be used to establish a nationally representative baseline assessment of exposure. Moreover, the data could aid risk assessments for BP-3 exposure if future toxicologic or epidemiologic studies suggest the need for such research, and may encourage further research to determine the potential public health impact of exposure at the levels reported. John Tibbetts (Source: Science Selections from EHP)

Cadmium, lead and other metals in relation to semen quality: human evidence for molybdenum as a male reproductive toxicant

EHP-in-Press — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Meeker JD, Rossano MG, Protas B, Diamond MP, Puscheck E, Daly D, Paneth N, Wirth JJ. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11490. [Online 1 July 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

World safety and health summit scheduled

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:51:53 +0100

The eighteenth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is scheduled for June 29 to July 02, 2008, and will be attended by four thousand industry leaders, policy-makers, and experts from more than one hundred different countries. The congress will be health in Seoul, in the Republic of Korea. The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is jointly organized by the International Labor Organization and the International Social Security Association. The congress meets every three years, and is the largest international event of its kind. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss health and safety in the workplace, and international efforts for improvement, with this year’s theme being “Safety and health at work: A societal responsibility.” This year, the congress will also unveil the results of some pioneering research which was carried out on the relationship between occupational safety and health and environmentally-sustainable economic growth and development. In addition, the Congress will include a Safety and Health Summit which will be attended by fifty decision-makers from countries all over the world. Government ministers, CEOs of multi-national companies, senior safety, health, and social security experts, and employer and worker representatives will be among those attending. Dr. Sameera Al-Tuwaijri, Director, ILO International Program on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment said of the conference, “As the global toll of illness, injury and death from occupational accidents and disease continues to remain at unacceptable levels, this Congress will underline what needs to be done to ensure that a healthy working environment can be achieved. Not only is safety at work desirable, it must be recognized as a fundamental human right in the world of work.” The ILO estimates that more than two million people die every year as a result of work-related accident, injury, or disease. The estimated cost to the global economy is up to 4% of global GDP. This year, the congress will provide recently revised estimates of the incidence rate and global impact of work-related accident, injury, and death, in addition to examining ways to improve work-place safety. Participants will focus on several key issues, including the elimination of asbestos-related risk in the workplace, the possible risks of nanotechnology, improvement of workplace environments, HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and many others. In addition to meetings and discussions the congress hosts an International Film and Multimedia Festival which includes short films about occupational safety. An International Safety and Health Exhibition will showcase products and technology for improving workplace safety. Participants will also visit companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Incheon Oil Refining Company, and KIA Motors to look at safety and health management in these companies. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

W.r. grace bankruptcy judge says ok to $250m libby settlement

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:50:34 +0100

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judith K. Fitzgerald this week approved an agreement which will finally see W.R. Grace & Company pay up for the costs of cleaning up the asbestos-contaminated town of Libby, Montana. The agreement states that W.R. Grace & Company will reimburse the federal government $250 million for money it has already spent investigating and cleaning up in the town. According to an order signed during a recent bankruptcy hearing the company has thirty days in which to pay the money. W.R. Grace & Company agreed to pay the $250 million in March, to settle a bankruptcy claim brought by the government for the cost of past, present, and future clean up of contaminated homes, businesses, and schools in Libby. The wide-spread asbestos contamination in Libby has long been known as the cause of the deaths of hundreds of people. More than two thousand residents and workers have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma in the past decades. The source of the contamination is a vermiculite mine which was once owned and operated by W.R. Grace & Company between 1963 and 1990. The mine is contaminated with asbestos, leading to exposure and disease not only for mine workers, but for residents of Libby as well. Millions of tons of the contaminated vermiculite were shipped to hundreds of processing plants across America. The asbestos-containing vermiculite was used in household insulation (under the brand name Zonolite), fireproofing materials, gardening materials, and many other products. The $250 million settlement for the cost of cleaning up Libby is the largest ever reimbursement settlement for the government’s Superfund Program, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Even so, Justice Department attorney James D. Freeman claims the government made a “substantial compromise” in accepting the settlement W.R. Grace & Company offered. However, prompt payment of the money will allow the government to continue cleaning up the town without any delays due to budget constraints. A recent estimate from an EPA official indicated that to date $168 million has been spent cleaning up Libby, and an estimated $175 million will be needed to complete the work over the next three to five years. That means a shortfall of almost $100 million, which the government will likely cover. The government filed suit to retrieve the costs of cleanup in 2001, shortly after W.R. Grace & Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The EPA won a judgment for $54 million in 2003, but that money was never paid. The $250 million settlement includes the original $54 million. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Charleston contractor sentenced for illegal asbestos handling

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:49:47 +0100

Charleston, West Virginia - Charleston contractor Rodney Loftis Sr. has been sentenced to two years’ probation and payment of a fine to the state Department of Environmental Protection for illegally dumping asbestos-containing construction materials. Rodney Loftis Sr. is the present of Rodney Loftis & Son Contracting Inc., a contracting company which in 2004 and 2006 was involved in illegal asbestos disposal. Loftis was sentenced in Kanawha Circuit Court on Monday June 2. The criminal complaint which was filed claimed that Loftis violated two cease and desist orders relating to the dumping of asbestos waste at a property he owned. At the sentencing on Monday, Judge Irene Berger told Loftis that despite the seriousness of his actions incarceration was not an appropriate sentence. Loftis could have received a sentence of up to four years in prison: instead he received two years’ worth of probation and a fine of $37,500 as recommended by assistant prosecutor Rob Schulenberg. In addition, Loftis has been ordered to perform one hundred hours of community service and to pay $40 per month to cover fees involved in his probation. Dumping of asbestos-containing waste in any location other than a licensed landfill is illegal due to the hazards associated with asbestos exposure. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lethal diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos was a common component of construction materials up until the 1980s due to its high fire resistance and other desirable factors, but the demolition or renovation of older buildings means the asbestos they contain must be dealt with appropriately. The grand jury indictment against Loftis said the Department of Environmental Protection asked Loftis to show proof that he had properly disposed of materials taken from demolition jobs his company had done. DEP inspections indicated that Loftis had dumped asbestos-containing materials from several demolition sites. After the sentencing hearing was over, Loftis expressed regret for his actions and claimed it was due to a misunderstanding, saying “I’d like to apologize to the state and to anybody I’ve done any hurt to.” Later, he said, “I hate that it came to this. It was all a misunderstanding or we would not be here today. I don’t want to go into detail, but it’s all going to be straightened up and it will all be over with.” (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

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The sociodemographics of land use planning: relationships to physical activity, accessibility, and equity.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:42 +0100

The sociodemographics of land use planning: relationships to physical activity, accessibility, and equity.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):367-85

Authors: Aytur SA, Rodriguez DA, Evenson KR, Catellier DJ, Rosamond WD

Little is known about relationships between attributes of land use plans and sociodemographic variations in physical activity (PA). This study evaluates associations between policy-relevant plan attributes, sociodemographic factors, and PA in North Carolina. Results suggest that land use plans that included non-automobile transportation improvements and more comprehensive policies to guide development were positively associated with both leisure and transportation-related PA. However, residents of counties with lower-income levels and higher proportions of non-white residents were less likely to have attributes supportive of PA included in their plans. Implications for transdisciplinary collaboration with respect to reducing health disparities are discussed.

PMID: 17890137 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Neighbourhood social capital and common mental disorder: testing the link in a general population sample.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:38 +0100

Neighbourhood social capital and common mental disorder: testing the link in a general population sample.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):394-405

Authors: Stafford M, De Silva M, Stansfeld S, Marmot M

General population multilevel studies of social capital and mental health are few in number. This multilevel study examined external measures of neighbourhood social capital and common mental disorders (CMD). Main effects and stress buffering models were tested. Based on data from over 9000 residents in 239 neighbourhoods in England and Scotland, there was no evidence of a main effect of social capital. For people living in deprived circumstances only, associations between neighbourhood social capital and CMD were seen. Elements of bridging social capital (contact amongst local friends) were associated with lower reporting of CMD. Elements of bonding social capital (attachment to neighbourhood) were associated with higher reporting of CMD. Findings provide some support for the hypothesis that social capital may protect against CMD, but indicate that initiatives should be targeted to deprived groups, focus on specific elements of social capital and not neglect the important relationship between personal socioeconomic disadvantage and CMD.

PMID: 17919964 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Structural violence, urban retail food markets, and low birth weight.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:36 +0100

Structural violence, urban retail food markets, and low birth weight.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):415-23

Authors: Lane SD, Keefe RH, Rubinstein R, Levandowski BA, Webster N, Cibula DA, Boahene AK, Dele-Michael O, Carter D, Jones T, Wojtowycz M, Brill J

This paper investigates urban retail food markets and health in Syracuse, New York. A structured observational analysis found that a majority of corner markets do not sell fresh produce or low fat dairy products, but conduct a lively business selling lottery tickets, cigarettes, and liquor. A comparison of census tracts with and without access to supermarkets that sell fresh produce and other healthy food found that pregnant women living in proximity to a supermarket had significantly fewer low birth weight births than other pregnant women regardless of income level.

PMID: 17928255 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health: the role of perceptions of the neighbourhood and of housing problems.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:24 +0100

Neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health: the role of perceptions of the neighbourhood and of housing problems.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):562-75

Authors: Poortinga W, Dunstan FD, Fone DL

It has been known for a long time that people living in socially and economically deprived neighbourhoods generally experience poorer health. However, it is often not clear what processes underlie the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and individual health. In this study we explore the association between neighbourhood socio-economic status and self-rated health using the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs Survey (n=10,892). We found that the association between neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health was substantially reduced after adjusting for individual socio-economic status, but remained statistically significant. This suggests that the health effects of neighbourhood deprivation are partly contextual. We also found that the association between neighbourhood deprivation and self-rated health was further attenuated when controlling for perceptions of the neighbourhood and of housing problems, suggesting that these variables may play a role in mediating the health effects of neighbourhood deprivation. The implications of the results are that health policy should target 'places' as well as 'people'; and that policies aimed at improving the quality of housing, access to amenities, neighbourhood safety, and social cohesion may help to reduce health inequalities.

PMID: 17997343 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Whither gender in urban health?

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:22 +0100

Whither gender in urban health?

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):616-22

Authors: Frye V, Putnam S, O'Campo P

The past decade has witnessed the rapid expansion of the field of urban health, including the establishment of an international society of urban health and annual conference, the publication of several books and the growing popularity of a peer-reviewed journal on urban health. Relatively absent is an emphasis on the role of gender in urban health, despite scholarly and theoretical work on gender and place by feminist geographers, sociologists, public health researchers and others. This essay examines the treatment of gender within urban health and, drawing on insights from the social sciences, offers suggestions as to how urban health researchers might adopt an intersectional and gendered approach that will advance our understanding of the production of urban health for women and men.

PMID: 18006358 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

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Supporting people with aids and their carers in rural south africa: possibilities and challenges.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:20 +0100

Supporting people with AIDS and their carers in rural South Africa: possibilities and challenges.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):507-18

Authors: Campbell C, Nair Y, Maimane S, Sibiya Z

Under-served rural areas--home to over half of people in sub-Saharan Africa--bear a heavy HIV/AIDS burden. We present a case study of the existence and quality of support networks available to people with AIDS and their carers in a South African rural area. Drawing on 45 interviews and 13 focus groups, we identify key local HIV/AIDS-relevant actors and agencies in civil society, the public and the private sectors. The most effective support comes from families and neighbours, volunteer health workers and two lone missionaries. This support is undermined by counter-productive responses by faith-based organisations, traditional healers and local leaders, and by poor levels of support from public and private sector agencies. We discuss ways in which existing and latent networks might best be strengthened and supported.

PMID: 18023238 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

An atlas of suicide mortality: england and wales, 1988-1994.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:18 +0100

An atlas of suicide mortality: England and Wales, 1988-1994.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):492-506

Authors: Middleton N, Sterne JA, Gunnell DJ

The incidence of suicide exhibits marked geographic variability; however, documentation of features in its spatial distribution, or the magnitude of differences, is limited. Standardised mortality ratios, commonly presented in maps, are calculated in each area independently and incorporate no information about heterogeneity or clustering. Bayesian hierarchical models with random effects for between-area and local variability in neighbouring areas were used to map age- and sex-specific estimates of rate ratios of suicide across wards in England and Wales. Differences were greater than expected due to random variation alone. Although the geography of suicide differed across age/sex groups, some common patterns emerged e.g. high rates in (a) central parts of cities and (b) remote and coastal areas. Some features were common to all, while others appeared male specific or specific to the younger age group. Suicide prevention strategies can be informed by an understanding and addressing the geography of suicide.

PMID: 18023602 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Geographic mapping of hiv infection among civilian applicants for united states military service.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:15 +0100

Geographic mapping of HIV infection among civilian applicants for United States military service.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):608-15

Authors: Bautista CT, Sateren WB, Sanchez JL, Singer DE, Scott P

We assessed the geographic distribution of HIV infection among civilian applicants for US military service. High smoothed HIV prevalences were observed among white applicants in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey, and among African-American applicants in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington DC, North and South Carolina, Florida, and California. Three HIV spatial clusters were found among whites: New York/New Jersey, southern California, and in south and central Texas. Among African-Americans, three HIV spatial clusters were found: New York/New Jersey, Washington DC/Virginia, and south and central California. The South accounted for a significant proportion of HIV-infected African-American applicants.

PMID: 18024132 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Geographical variations in mortality and morbidity from road traffic accidents in england and wales.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:13 +0100

Geographical variations in mortality and morbidity from road traffic accidents in England and Wales.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):519-35

Authors: Jones AP, Haynes R, Kennedy V, Harvey IM, Jewell T, Lea D

Data on road traffic fatalities, serious casualties and slight casualties in each local authority district England and Wales were obtained for 1995-2000. District-level data were assembled for a large number of potential explanatory variables relating to population numbers and characteristics, traffic exposure, road length, curvature and junction density, land use, elevation and hilliness, and climate. Multilevel negative binomial regression models were used to identify combinations of risk factors that predicted variations in mortality and morbidity. Statistically significant explanatory variables were the expected number of casualties derived from the size and age structure of the resident population, road length and traffic counts in the district, the percentage of roads classed as minor, average cars per capita, material deprivation, the percentage of roads through urban areas and the average curvature of roads. This study demonstrates that a geographical approach to road traffic crash analysis can identify contextual associations that conventional studies of individual road sections would miss.

PMID: 18032087 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

Mingling, observing, and lingering: everyday public spaces and their implications for well-being and social relations.

Health & Place — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:09 +0100

Mingling, observing, and lingering: everyday public spaces and their implications for well-being and social relations.

Health Place. 2008 Sep;14(3):544-61

Authors: Cattell V, Dines N, Gesler W, Curtis S

The rejuvenation of public spaces is a key policy concern in the UK. Drawing on a wide literature and on qualitative research located in a multi-ethnic area of East London, this paper explores their relationship to well-being and social relations. It demonstrates that ordinary spaces are a significant resource for both individuals and communities. The beneficial properties of public spaces are not reducible to natural or aesthetic criteria, however. Social interaction in spaces can provide relief from daily routines, sustenance for people's sense of community, opportunities for sustaining bonding ties or making bridges, and can influence tolerance and raise people's spirits. They also possess subjective meanings that accumulate over time and can contribute to meeting diverse needs. Different users of public spaces attain a sense of well- being for different reasons: the paper calls for policy approaches in which the social and therapeutic properties of a range of everyday spaces are more widely recognised and nurtured.

PMID: 18083621 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(Source: Health & Place)

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The limits of 2-year bioassay exposure regimens for identifying chemical carcinogens

EHP-in-Press — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Huff J, Jacobson MF, Davis DL. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.10716. [Online 30 June 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

The effect of heatwaves on mental health in a temperate australian city

EHP-in-Press — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Rich DQ, Freudenberger RS, Ohman-Strickland P, Cho Y, Kipen HM. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11339. [Online 30 June 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

The limits of 2-year bioassay exposure regimens for identifying chemical carcinogens

EHP-in-Press — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Huff J, Jacobson MF, Davis DL. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.10716. [Online 30 June 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

The effect of heatwaves on mental health in a temperate australian city

EHP-in-Press — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Rich DQ, Freudenberger RS, Ohman-Strickland P, Cho Y, Kipen HM. 2008. Environ Health Perspect: doi:10.1289/ehp.11339. [Online 30 June 2008] (Source: EHP-in-Press)

Aeromycology - main research fields of interest during the last 25 year.

Ann Agric Environ Me... — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:03:19 +0100

Aeromycology - main research fields of interest during the last 25 year.

Ann Agric Environ Med. 2008;15(1):1-7

Authors: Kasprzyk I

Fungal spores occur very numerously in the air and, on account of their dimensions (several micrometers), are classed as bioaerosols. They are always observed in natural air and their concentration changes depending on environmental conditions. Aeromycology investigates their occurrence in the air of the indoor-outdoor environment. The methods of sampling can be divided into the gravimetric method when the spores fall onto a catching surface by force of gravity, and the volumetric method consisting of analysis of spores contained in a given air unit. The content of fungal spores in air is characterized by a specific seasonal and diurnal cycle. Among other things, these cycles depend on climate and weather conditions, on the accessibility of fresh substrates for the development of the fungus, circadian cycle of light and darkness, and other environmental hardly definable factors. Many fungi undesirably affect human health, cause immunotoxic diseases, and are a frequent cause of allergic diseases. Knowledge of concentrations of airborne fungal spores is especially important for agricultural and occupational medicine. Aeromycology has its application in agrobiology, particularly with respect to pathogenic fungi, and in the conservation of the artistic heritage.

PMID: 18581972 [PubMed - in process]

(Source: Ann Agric Environ Me...)

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