Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal最新文献

{"title":"Declining Trends of Male Proportion at Birth in Europe","authors":"M. Martuzzi, N. D. Tanno, R. Bertollini","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604468","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Declining trends in male proportion at birth observed in several Western countries might reflect widespread exposure to pollutants capable of interfering with human reproduction. In this study, the authors describe male live birth proportion trends in 23 European countries from 1950 to 1996 (total of 305 million live births). Overall, there was a significant linearly decreasing trend of 10 fewer males per 100,000 births each year, resulting in a loss of 73,462 boys during a 47-yr period. The proportion of male births during the first 3 yr of the study period was higher than in the last 3 yr in 18 countries (i.e., 78%). Decreasing trends, which varied in slope and shape, were observed in 11 countries; no significant trend was found in 8 countries, and male birth proportion increased in 4 countries. The results of this study confirmed that the proportion of male births is declining in Europe, and differences exist by region and country. Social and cultural aggregations of countries with decreasing trends suggest that sociodemographic characteristics might be more likely to explain trends than environmental exposures to chemicals. Investigators should evaluate this hypothesis to assess the usefulness of male birth proportion as a sentinel event.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"358 - 364"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75975286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recurrent Diarrhea in Children Living in Areas with High Levels of Nitrate in Drinking Water","authors":"S. Gupta, R. Gupta, AkhilendraBhushan Gupta, Asmok K. Seth, Jagdegsh K. Bassin, Alka Gupta, M. Sharma","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604470","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Given that there was documented evidence of an association between diarrhea and high nitrate ingestion, the authors examined drinking water nitrate concentration and its possible correlation(s) with methemoglobin levels, cytochrome b5 reductase activity, and recurrent diarrhea. In addition, the authors studied histopathological changes in the intestines of rabbits in an animal model. Five village areas were studied, and nitrate concentrations (expressed in mg of nitrate per liter of water) of 26,45,95,220, and 459 existed in the respective villages. The study included 88 randomly selected children who were 8 yr of age or younger; they represented 10% of the total population of each of the areas. Detailed histories of recurrent diarrhea were noted, and medical examinations were conducted. Cytochrome b5 reductase activity and methemoglobin levels were estimated biochemically. Collected data were analyzed statistically with Microsoft Excel software. In addition, the authors exposed rabbits to various levels of nitrate, and histopathological changes of the stomach and intestine (small and large) were evaluated. There was a strong relationship between nitrate concentration and recurrent diarrhea; 80% of the recurrent diarrhea cases were explained by nitrate concentration alone. In the rabbit intestines, lymphocytic infiltration and hyperplasia characterized the submucosa as nitrate concentrations increased.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"369 - 373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76196186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Embryo Toxicity and Teratogenicity of Formaldehyde","authors":"J. D. Thrasher, K. Kilburn","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604460","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract C-14 formaldehyde crosses the placenta and enters fetal tissues. The incorporated radioactivity is higher in fetal organs (i.e., brain and liver) than in maternal tissues. The incorporation mechanism has not been studied fully, but formaldehyde enters the single-carbon cycle and is incorporated as a methyl group into nucleic acids and proteins. Also, formaldehyde reacts chemically with organic compounds (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid, nucleosides, nucleotides, proteins, amino acids) by addition and condensation reactions, thus forming adducts and deoxyribonucleic acid-protein crosslinks. The following questions must be addressed: What adducts (e.g., N-methyl amino acids) are formed in the blood following formaldehyde inhalation? What role do N-methyl-amino adducts play in alkylation of nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid, as well as mitochondrial peroxidation? The fact that the free formaldehyde pool in blood is not affected following exposure to the chemical does not mean that formaldehyde is not involved in altering cell and deoxyribonucleic acid characteristics beyond the nasal cavity. The teratogenic effect of formaldehyde in the English literature has been sought, beginning on the 6th day of pregnancy (i.e., rodents) (Saillenfait AM, et al. Food Chem Toxicol 1989, pp 545–48; Martin WJ. Reprod Toxicol 1990, pp 237–39; Ulsamer AC, et al. Hazard Assessment of Chemicals; Academic Press, 1984, pp 337–400; and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Toxicological Profile of Formaldehyde; ATSDR, 1999 [references 1–4, respectively, herein]). The exposure regimen is critical and may account for the differences in outcomes. Pregnant rats were exposed (a) prior to mating, (b) during mating, (c) or during the entire gestation period. These regimens (a) increased embryo mortality; (b) increased fetal anomalies (i.e., cryptochordism and aberrant ossification centers); (c) decreased concentrations of ascorbic acid; and (d) caused abnormalities in enzymes of mitochondria, lysosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum. The alterations in enzymatic activity persisted 4 mo following birth. In addition, formaldehyde caused metabolic acidosis, which was augmented by iron deficiency. Furthermore, newborns exposed to formaldehyde in utero had abnormal performances in open-field tests. Disparities in teratogenic effects of toxic chemicals are not unusual. For example, chlorpyrifos has not produced teratogenic effects in rats when mothers are exposed on days 6–15 (Katakura Y, et al. Br J Ind Med 1993, pp 176–82 [reference 5 herein]) of gestation (Breslin WJ, et al. Fund Appl Toxicol 1996, pp 119–30; and Hartley TR, et al. Toxicol Sci 2000, pp 100–08 [references 6 and 7, respectively, herein]). However, either changing the endpoints for measurement or exposing neonates during periods of neurogenesis (days 1–14 following birth) and during subsequent developmental periods produced adverse effects. These effects included neuroapoptosis, decreased deo","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"14 1","pages":"300 - 311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83065818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exposure of the Inuit Population of Nunavik (Arctic Québec) to Lead and Mercury","authors":"É. Dewailly, P. Ayotte, S. Bruneau, G. Lebel, P. Levallois, J. Weber","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604467","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors conducted a survey during 1992 to evaluate blood levels of lead and mercury in Inuit adults of Nunavik (Arctic Québec, Canada). Blood samples obtained from 492 participants (209 males and 283 females; mean age = 35 yr) were analyzed for lead and total mercury; mean (geometric) concentrations were 0.42 μmol/l (range = 0.04–2.28 μmol/l) and 79.6 nmol/l (range = 4–560 nmol/l), respectively. Concentrations of omega-3 fatty acid in plasma phospholipids–a biomarker of marine food consumption–were correlated with mercury (r = .56, p < .001) and, to a lesser extent, with blood lead levels (r = .31, p < .001). Analyses of variance further revealed that smoking, age, and consumption of waterfowl were associated with lead concentrations (r 2 = .30, p < .001), whereas age and consumption of seal and beluga whale were related to total mercury levels (r 2 = .30, p < .001). A significant proportion of reproductive-age women had lead and mercury concentrations that exceeded those that have been reportedly associated with subtle neurodevelopmental deficits in other populations.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"363 1","pages":"350 - 357"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80287764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Memoriam: John F. (Jack) Finklea; Born: August 27, 1933, Died: December 22, 2000, Consulting Editor: 1986–2000","authors":"K. Kilburn","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604456","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"75 1","pages":"293 - 293"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75606056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain Cancer Risk and Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs): Assessing the Geomagnetic Component","authors":"T. Aldrich, K. W. Andrews, A. Liboff","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604462","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Cancer cluster studies in North Carolina identified several communities in which there existed an elevated risk of brain cancer. These findings prompted a series of case-control studies. The current article, which originated from the results of the 3rd of such studies, is focused on inclusion of the earth's own geomagnetic fields that interact with electromagnetic fields generated from distribution power lines. This article also contains an assessment of the contribution of confounding by residential (e.g., urban, rural) and case characteristics (e.g., age, race, gender). Newly diagnosed brain cancer cases were identified for a 4-county region of central North Carolina, which the authors chose on the basis of the results of earlier observations. A 3:1 matched series of cancer cases from the same hospitals in which the cases were diagnosed served as the comparison group. Extensive geographic information was collected and was based on an exact place of residence at the time of cancer diagnosis, thus providing several strategic geophysical elements for assessment. The model for this assessment was based on the effects of these two sources of electromagnetic fields for an ion cyclotron resonance mechanism of disease risk. The authors used logistic regression models that contained the predicted value for the parallel component of the earth's magnetic field; these models were somewhat erratic, and the elements were not merged productively into a single statistical model. Interpretation of these values was difficult; therefore, the modeled values for the model elements, at progressive distances from the nearest power-line segments, are provided. The results of this study demonstrate the merits of using large, population-based databases, as well as using rigorous Geographic Information System techniques, for the assessment of ecologic environmental risks. The results also suggest promise for exposure classification that is compatible with the theoretical biological mechanisms posited for electromagnetic fields.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"314 - 319"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84916897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Memoriam Professor Cesare Maltoni, Born: November 17, 1930 Died: January 22, 2001","authors":"M. Mehlman","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604457","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"294 - 295"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87752236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cancer Risk Associated with Residential Proximity to Industrial Sites: A Review","authors":"M. Benedetti, Ivano Lavarone, P. Comba","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604466","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In this study, the authors sought to review available epidemiologic studies of cancer risk and its association with residence in a neighborhood characterized by industrial sites and to discuss options for future study design. The authors attempted to identify all case-control studies published from January 1980 through July 1997 in which investigators examined exposure resulting from residential proximity to an industrial site neighborhood relative to an increased risk of lung, urinary tract, and lymphohematopoietic malignancies. During these years, some authors reported significant associations between lung cancer risk and residential proximity to (a) smelters, (b) complex industrial areas, and (c) other localized emission sources. There was some evidence that leukemia and lymphomas occurred in the neighborhoods that contained industrial sites.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"59 1","pages":"342 - 349"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84900383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The German Environmental Survey 1990/92 (GerES II): Primary Predictors of Blood Cadmium Levels in Adults","authors":"K. Hoffmann, C. Krause, B. Seifert","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604471","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract As part of the representative Environmental Survey in Germany in 1990–1992, investigators determined cadmium levels in blood provided by 3,965 subjects aged 25–69 yr. The investigators considered approximately 150 variables (i.e., demographics, household and occupational characteristics, environmental exposures, smoking habits, frequency of food consumption, and additional life-style features) as potential predictors in multivariate regression analysis. On the basis of the results of multivariate regression analysis, the authors derived 2 slightly different models for the prediction of blood cadmium levels in populations from West and East Germany. Both models included 3 primary predictors of blood cadmium levels. The 2 models explained 51.3% and 61.2% of the observed variance in blood cadmium levels in West and East Germany, respectively. The most important predictor was a specific indicator for smoking habits, which was determined from a separate mathematical model. In this model, the effect of smoking was considered, and the model accounted for the biological half-life of cadmium in blood.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"21 1","pages":"374 - 379"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86296537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Speed, Air Pollution, and Health: A Neglected Issue","authors":"E. Richter, T. Berman","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604458","url":null,"abstract":"Using particulate matter with diameters of 10 mcm or less (PM10) as markers of exposure Kunzli et al. reported that annual mortality from air pollution exceeds mortality from road injury in Austria France and Switzerland. However they did not examine the role of increased speed limits and travel speeds relative to the increase in the death toll from air pollution emissions and their general effects on health. It is noted that rate of emissions of certain air pollutants [carbon monoxide (CO) oxides of nitrogen] per distance traveled increases exponentially with increases in travel speeds in private vehicles that run on petrol and in trucks and private vehicles that run on diesel fuel (PM10). In addition emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) the major greenhouse gas increase arithmetically with increases in speed above 80 km/hour. For CO2 CO and hydrocarbons emitted by private vehicles and diesel trucks there is an approximate U- shaped relationship between speed and fuel efficiency which approaches maximum in the range of 40-75 km/hour. Therefore speed regulation of private vehicles and commercial trucking is the sine qua non for a model shift to high-speed mass transit of both persons and goods.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"296 - 297"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75267099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}