Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal最新文献

{"title":"Lead Levels in Blood Bank Blood","authors":"Slavka Bulleova, S. Rothenberg, M. Manalo","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604461","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604461","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Although blood bank blood is usually screened for dangerous pathogens, the presence of toxic metals in blood has received little attention. Population blood lead levels have been declining in the United States, but occasional high outliers in blood lead concentration can be found–even when mean levels of blood lead are low. We sampled 999 consecutive blood bank bags from the King/Drew Medical Center, used between December 1999 and February 2000. The geometric mean blood lead level was 1.0 μg/dl (0.048 μmol/l), but 0.5% of the samples had lead levels that exceeded 10 μg/d1, and 2 samples had lead levels that exceeded 30 μg/dl. The 2 samples with the highest lead levels could have presented an additional risk to infants if they were used for blood replacement. Therefore, even in countries with generally low population blood lead levels, blood bank blood should be screened for lead concentration prior to use with infants.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"2 1","pages":"312 - 313"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81652137","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":"Acute Asthma Exacerbations and Air Pollutants in Children Living in Belfast, Northern Ireland","authors":"Andrew J. Thompson, Micheal D. Shields, C. Patterson","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604447","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The incidence of childhood asthma, a common condition, is on the rise worldwide. Despite reductions in the emission of urban smoke, traffic pollution is now a major worldwide problem. Belfast, Northern Ireland, is an old industrial city with major pollution problems. In this study, the authors investigated the rates of acute asthma admissions to Belfast's major children's emergency department. The admissions were studied, relative to day-to-day fluctuations in thoracic particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, carbon monoxide, benzene, temperature, and rainfall. Daily admissions for acute asthma at the emergency department of the Royal Belfast Hospital and average daily pollution were recorded for the 3-yr period between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1995. The authors used Poisson regression to assess independent association(s). Individually, small associations were seen for thoracic particulate matter (relative risk = 1.10), sulfur dioxide (relative risk = 1.09), nitrogen dioxide (relative risk =1.11), nitric oxide (relative risk = 1.07), oxides of nitrogen (relative risk = 1.10), carbon monoxide (relative risk = 1.07), and benzene (1.14); no associations were noted between meteorological factors (temperature and rainfall) or ozone and asthma emergency-department admissions. The authors adjusted for the aforementioned parameters, and benzene level was the only variable associated independently with asthma emergency-department admissions in children. Benzene may be a more reliable method of measuring exposure to vehicle exhaust emissions than measurements of other pollutants.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"62 1","pages":"234 - 241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84725549","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":"A Multiple Center Study of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome","authors":"D. Kutsogiannis, Ann L. Davidoff","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604443","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The lack of widely accepted, standardized, clinical and epidemiologic criteria for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome has led to confusion about the identification of the condition and has slowed pertinent research. In this article, the authors evaluated the psychometric properties of 2 sets of clinical/epidemiologic criteria for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome. In this cross-sectional survey of 1,166 patients who visited outpatient occupational, otolaryngology, allergy, and clinical ecological clinics, the authors used the aforementioned sets of criteria to (a) estimate the prevalence of the syndrome in these varied samples and (b) compare the current diagnostic practices of traditional physician specialists with those of clinical ecologists. The authors used a patient-completed questionnaire to assess the medical, psychosocial, and psychological status of patients who reported multiple chemical sensitivities. This approach enabled the formulation of 6 domains, which represented commonly observed characteristics of the syndrome. The authors used a physician-completed questionnaire to collect diagnoses of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome and other medical conditions. Domains, which were operationalized by the questionnaire and comprised the 2 sets of criteria for identification of the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome, had test-retest reliabilities that exceeded .75 and estimates of internal consistency that ranged between .59 and .94. Evidence of construct and face validity was considered acceptable. The overall clinic-based prevalences of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome, based on 6 and 4 domains, were 7% and 23%, respectively. Regardless of the identifying set of criteria used, physicians' diagnoses had relatively low sensitivities (range = 6–50%) and relatively high specificities (range = 82–99%). The study data suggested that the domains operationalized by the questionnaire had reasonable psychometric characteristics. Study data also support the fact that Multiple Chemical Sensitivity syndrome is often overlooked–even by those physicians who treat it most frequently–and that use of both sets of objective criteria for identifying the syndrome would greatly improve the sensitivity of physician diagnoses.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"81 1","pages":"196 - 207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90612034","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":"Electrolyte Loss in Sweat and Iodine Deficiency in a Hot Environment","authors":"I. Mao, Mei-Lien Chen, Y. Ko","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604453","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors studied electrolyte loss from profuse sweating in soccer-team players and evaluated the relationship between this source of iodine loss and iodine deficiency. Thirteen male soccer-team players and 100 sedentary students from the same high school were evaluated for 8 d, during which the players were training. The authors analyzed 208 sweat samples to determine losses of iodine, sodium, potassium, and calcium in sweat. Excretion of urinary electrolytes by the subjects was also measured. The mean losses of iodine, sodium, potassium, and calcium in sweat following a 1-hr game were 52 μg, 1,896 mg, 248 mg, and 20 mg, respectively; the ratios of sweat loss to urinary daily loss of the four electrolytes were 0.75, 0.2, 1.88, and 0.92, respectively. Urinary iodine was significantly (p < .02) lower than the normal level of 50 μg/gm creatinine in 38.5% of the soccer players, compared with 2% of the sedentary students. Forty-six percent of the players had Grade I goiter, compared with a mere 1 % of the sedentary students (p < .01). The results of the study suggest that loss of iodine through profuse sweating may lead to iodine deficiency, and loss of electrolytes through sweating may have a dietary significance for heat-stressed individuals or for individuals who perform heavy workloads.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"47 1","pages":"271 - 277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79275053","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 Role of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and Regulated on Activation, Normal T-Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) in the Relationship between Air Pollution and Asthma among Children","authors":"M. Ando, Masayuki Shima, M. Adachi, Y. Tsunetoshi","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604446","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604446","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To evaluate the role of adhesion molecules and chemokines in the relationship between air pollution and asthma, the authors determined the following in 230 children who lived in 4 communities in Japan that had different levels of air pollution: serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1); soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1); regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES); and total immunoglobulin E (IgE). Children with asthma or who exhibited wheezing (n = 115) and nonasthmatic children (n = 115) were studied. Serum concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and RANTES were increased significantly in asthmatic children, compared with nonasthmatic children. Nonasthmatic children with serum IgE levels that were greater than or equal to 250 IU/ml had significantly lower concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than the other children. The geometric means of sICAM-1 increased as air pollution increased. The results of this study suggest that adhesion molecules or chemokines are associated with asthma and that ICAM-1 may play an important role in the relationship between air pollution and the occurrence of asthma.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":"227 - 233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75613833","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":"Residential Radon and Risk of Lung Cancer in an Italian Alpine Area","authors":"F. Pisa, F. Barbone, A. Betta, M. Bonomi, B. Alessandrini, M. Bovenzi","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604444","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604444","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To evaluate whether residential radon exposure explains the excess mortality for lung cancer in an Italian alpine valley with high natural radioactivity, the authors conducted a population-based case-control study on 138 deceased cases and 291 sex- and year-of-birth-matched controls. Year-long alpha-track measurements of radon were performed in the most recent residence, and information about occupational history and lifetime smoking habits was obtained. The authors adjusted for smoking, and radon was associated with lung cancer risk among men: compared with a radon level of < 40 becquerels (Bq) per cubic meter (m3), the odds ratios for 40–76 Bq/m3, 77–139 Bq/m3, 140–199 Bq/m3, and 200+ Bq/m3 were 2.1, 2.0, 2.7, and 1.4, respectively. The association between radon and lung cancer, as determined with a multiplicative model, was found only among male smokers.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":"208 - 215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76150985","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":"Short-Term Adverse Health Effects in a Community Exposed to a Large Polyvinylchloride Plastics Fire","authors":"Ross Upshur, M. James, E. Richardson, G. Brunton, W. Hunter, L. Chambers","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604452","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604452","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The purpose of this study was the documentation of the short-term morbidity and mortality experiences of an urban community exposed to the airborne byproducts of a large polyvinylchloride plastics fire. The authors administered a survey to representatives of each household who had lived in an area evacuated during the fire. A time-series analysis was performed on emergency room visits and admissions for all hospitals in the city. Chloracne surveillance was instituted. Sixty-two percent of the individuals surveyed from the evacuation area reported no health concerns or symptoms related to the fire. Thirty-eight percent of the residents reported symptoms, and less than 2% of those surveyed reported that they sought medical attention for their health concerns. There was no evidence of increased hospital admissions or emergency room use during and immediately following the fire. No cases of chloracne were reported, and no deaths or serious injuries occurred during the fire. Polyvinylchloride plastics recycling plants pose potential health hazards to civilian populations. Public health authorities should be prepared to assess population health status rapidly and to disseminate relevant health information in a timely way during a crisis.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"28 1","pages":"264 - 270"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88630961","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":"Systemic Nicotine Exposure in Tobacco Harvesters","authors":"A. D'alessandro, N. Benowitz, G. Muzi, M. Eisner, S. Filiberto, P. Fantozzi, L. Montanari, G. Abbritti","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604451","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Several epidemics of nicotine intoxication have been described among tobacco harvesters; however, little is known about nicotine absorption under typical working conditions. To assess systemic nicotine absorption during a regular working shift, the authors performed an observational field study. Included in the study were 10 healthy, nonsmoking, female tobacco harvesters and a control group of 5 healthy, nonsmoking, female hospital workers. Nicotine and cotinine were measured in sequential samples of blood and urine during a regular workshift. Blood nicotine levels rose from a nadir value of 0.79 ± 0.12 ng/ml to a peak value of 3.45 ± 0.84 ng/ml (p < .05 [Tukey's modified t test]) in the exposed group. In the control group, levels were stable at 0.1 ± 0.1 ng/ml (p < .01). Moreover, the mean blood nicotine level measured 3 mo following the end of exposure in 6 of 10 exposed subjects was 0.24 ± 0.12 ng/ml (p < .01). Corresponding higher values of urine nicotine and urine cotinine were observed in the exposed versus control group (comparative P values were < .01 and < .05, respectively). Overall, tobacco harvesters absorbed approximately 0.8 mg of nicotine daily. Given that nicotine can induce adverse health effects, the authors believe that prevention of nicotine absorption in tobacco harvesters should be sought and that workers should be informed about occupational risks.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"75 1","pages":"257 - 263"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82803926","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":"Current Perception Thresholds in Vibration-Induced Neuropathy","authors":"Y. Kurozawa, Y. Nasu","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604450","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604450","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors evaluated the usefulness of current perception threshold testing for the assessment of vibration-induced neuropathy. The study population comprised 20 male controls and 59 males with hand-arm vibration syndrome. Current perception threshold at three test frequencies (i.e., 5 Hz, 250 Hz, and 2,000 Hz) was determined on the distal phalanges of the index and little fingers. Large myelinated fibers, small myelinated fibers, and unmyelinated fibers were evaluated selectively at 2,000-Hz, 250-Hz, and 5-Hz frequencies, respectively. The vibration-induced neuropathy groups had significantly increased current perception thresholds in both the index and little fingers. There was a significant increase in current perception threshold for the myelinated fibers, but not the unmyelinated fibers. The diagnostic sensitivity for vibration-induced neuropathy was relatively high. It appeared that current perception threshold evaluation was useful for the assessment of vibration-induced neuropathy.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"30 1","pages":"254 - 256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88479248","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":"Dietary Antioxidants and Ozone-Induced Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Adults with Asthma","authors":"Carol A. Trenca, J. Koenig, Paul V. Williams","doi":"10.1080/00039890109604448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890109604448","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Ozone exposure aggravates asthma, as has been demonstrated in both controlled exposures and epidemiologic studies. In the current double-blind crossover study, the authors evaluated the effects of dietary antioxidants (i.e., 400 IU vitamin E/500 mg vitamin C) on ozone-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adult subjects with asthma. Seventeen subjects were exposed to 0.12 ppm of ozone or to air for 45 min during intermittent moderate exercise. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was assessed with 10-min sulfur dioxide (i.e., 0.10 ppm and 0.25 ppm) inhalation challenges. Subjects who were given dietary antioxidants responded less severely to sulfur dioxide challenge than subjects given a placebo (i.e., forced expiratory volume in the 1st sec: -1.2% vs. 4.4%, respectively; peak flow: +2.2% vs. -3.0%, respectively; and mid-forced expiratory flow: +2.0% vs. -4.3%, respectively). Effects were more pronounced when subjects were grouped by response to sulfur dioxide at the screening visit. The results suggest that dietary supplementation with vitamins E and C benefits asthmatic adults who are exposed to air pollutants.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"242 - 249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73807953","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}