Environmental Health Perspectives articles from September 2003

Environmental Health Perspectives archives from September 2003

Thyroid toxicology and brain development: should we think differently?(Guest Editorial)
September 1, 2003... Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for normal brain development. The simplicity of this statement, however, dramatically understates the complexity of the issues confronting us as we develop ways to identify factors in the environment that...

Cancer risk to naval divers questioned.(Correspondence)
September 1, 2003... In the report by Richter et al. (2003) on increased risk for cancer in naval commando divers in the Kishon River in Israel, there are three systematic errors in estimating the degree of exposure to environmental water contaminants (their Table...

Cancer risk to naval divers: response.(Correspondence)
September 1, 2003... We would like to address the epidemiologic implications of Amitai et al.'s comments on the validity of our estimates of exposure, dermal contact and absorption, internal doses, and permeability coefficients that we reported in our article...

Bisphenol A: findings of a multigenerational rat study.(Correspondence)
September 1, 2003... I read with great interest John Heinze's letter (2003) about the article by Schonfelder et. al. (2002) titled "Parent Bisphenol A Accumulation in the Human Maternal--Fetal-Placental Unit" and the response to Heinz by Ibrahim Chahoud (2003). I...

Correction.
September 1, 2003... In Table 3 of "Renal Effects of Uranium in Drinking Water" by Kurttio et al. [EHP 110:337-342 (2002)], the unit for uranium in urine should be nanograms per liter instead of micrograms per liter. EHP regrets the error.

UV intensity may affect autoimmune disorder.(Environmental Medicine)
September 1, 2003... Ultraviolet (UV) light has long been associated with hazards including eye damage, sunburn, and skin cancer. Now there is evidence of a new risk: a report in the August 2003 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests that the surface intensity of...

Not-so-free trade.(Trade)
September 1, 2003... The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement signed by representatives of the two countries on June 6 and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 23 has been hailed by supporters as the first, trade pact to integrate trade and environmental...

The ABCs of IPM.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... To help Pennsylvania public school teachers meet new requirements that they incorporate the topic of integrated pest management (IPM) into environment and ecology lesson plans, the state's IPM Program is providing teachers with training through...

EU fights workplace hazards.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... On 13 May 2003, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work launched an initiative to help educate managers and workers about hazardous material safety. The initiative's centerpiece will be the European Week on Safety and Health at Work,...

Sustainable Java gets a jolt.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... Coffee, grown by an estimated 25 million farmers around the world, is the world's second most widely traded commodity after oil. In May 2003, two major coffee trading companies, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and Volcafe Group, signed agreements with...

Embarking on better health.(Air Pollution)
September 1, 2003... The winds of change are blowing in Mexico City; the prospects for reducing the city's tragic congestion and air pollution--which ranks among the worst in the world, with particulate concentrations running at about double the World Health...

Mosquito mismanagement?(Policy)
September 1, 2003... Bangladesh is at war with mosquitoes, and the mosquitoes are winning. Since 2000, public health officials in Bangladesh say nearly 160,000 people have contracted malaria and dengue fever carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito...

American Thyroid Association.(ehpnet)
September 1, 2003... The thyroid plays an important role in human health, regulating metabolism, body temperature, growth and development, and organ functions including heart rate and blood pressure. Thyroid disorders affect an estimated 200 million people...

Well-traveled dust.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... In March 2003, U.S. and French scientists reported in Geophysical Research Letters that dust from China's Takla Makan Desert had been found in the French Alps. Dust originating in China has touched down in North America and Greenland, but this...

North America cans chlordane.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... On 26 June 2003, the three North American environmental agencies announced that, through efforts coordinated by the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (NACEC), chlordane production and use has been eliminated continentwide....

Mold's worst friend.(The Beat)
September 1, 2003... Europeans nave long used dogs to sniff out indoor mold, which has been associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. Now, a New Jersey mold detection and removal company, Lab Results, is offering the...

NIEHS-funded research pursues thyroid findings.(NIEHS News)
September 1, 2003... Clinical studies and animal experiments have established the essential role of thyroid hormone for normal brain development. A lack of thyroid hormone in pregnancy can result in congenital hypothyroidism, which causes moderate to severe mental...

Sperm abnormalities in men exposed to PCBs and PCDFs.(Headliners: NIEHS-supported research: male infertility)
September 1, 2003... Hsu PC, Huang W, Yao WJ, Wu MH, Guo YL, Lambert GH. 2003. Sperm changes in men exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans. JAMA 289:2943 2944. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were once commonly used in transformers and other...

U.S.-Korean toxicology partnerships launched.(NIEHS News)
September 1, 2003... As part of an initiative to build close working ties with international toxicology authorities, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) signed an exchange of letters with Korea's counterpart agency, also called the NTP, on 16 June 2003. The main...

Olden to relinquish directorships.(NIEHS News)
September 1, 2003... On 29 July 2003, Kenneth Olden announced he will step down as director of the NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) after 12 years of service in both capacities. Olden said his decision was based on his desire to spend more time with...

Disrupting a delicate balance: environmental effects on the thyroid.(Focus)
September 1, 2003... Public and scientific unease about possible disruption of hormones by man-made substances in the environment has gathered steam steadily over the last decade, propelled significantly by two events of 1996: the publication of Our Stolen Future,...

Finding middle ground: environmental conflict resolution.(Spheres of Influence)
September 1, 2003... For most of the twentieth century, Everglades National Park in Florida suffered the effects of not-so-benign neglect. But as more and more people have jumped on the "save the Everglades" bandwagon in the last two decades, the good intentions of...

One slick trick: building a better biolubricant.(Innovations)
September 1, 2003... Pollution from petroleum invades all corners of the environment. Sometimes it comes in floods: tanker ships run aground, pipelines breach, oil rigs catch on fire. But more often it comes in dribbles and spurts, as droplets of oil expelled from...

EDCs in Singapore seawaters: mixtures may multiply effects.(Science Selections)
September 1, 2003... A number of chemicals that end up in the waste stream--pesticides, some polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, synthetic steroids, and excreted drugs--can disrupt hormone signaling in vertebrates. These endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) can...

The simple truth about MCS: low-tech solutions for real suffering.(Science Selections)
September 1, 2003... Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), characterized by a hypersensitivity to common household chemicals such as cleaning agents and pesticides, is becoming an acknowledged medical disorder, although debate continues as to whether a psychological...

A downward spiral: the hazards of mosquito coils.(Science Selections)
September 1, 2003... In many tropical and subtropical countries, burning mosquito coils is a key strategy for reducing mosquito bites. But while mosquito bites can be particularly dangerous in these areas due to endemic mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, the...

Octachlorodipropyl ether (S-2) mosquito coils are inadequately studied for residential use in Asia and illegal in the United States.(Commentary)
September 1, 2003... Children and their parents in residences are often protected by insecticides from nuisance and disease-bearing mosquitoes. The annual worldwide consumption of the four major types of residential insecticide products--aerosols, mosquito coils,...

Significant issues raised by meta-analyses of cancer mortality and dioxin exposure.(Commentary)
September 1, 2003... TBS Associates, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Consistent with results from an earlier U.S. Environmental Protection Agency meta-analysis of three occupational cohorts, Cramp et al. [Environ Health Perspect 111:681-687 (2003)] recently...

Clustering of sex hormone disruptors in Singapore's marine environment.(Article)
September 1, 2003... Abnormal sexual differentiation and other reproductive abnormalities in marine animals indicate the presence in seawater of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) that perturb the function of the sex hormone signaling pathways. However, most...

Mosquito coil emissions and health implications.(Research)
September 1, 2003... Burning mosquito coils indoors generates smoke that can control mosquitoes effectively. This practice is currently used in numerous households in Asia, Africa, and South America. However, the smoke may contain pollutants of health concern. We...

Elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite theory of multiple chemical sensitivity: central role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the sensitivity mechanism.(Research)
September 1, 2003... The elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite and the neural sensitization theories of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are extended here to propose a central mechanism for the exquisite sensitivity to organic solvents apparently induced by...

An assessment of the cord blood:maternal blood methylmercury ratio: implications for risk assessment.(Research)
September 1, 2003... In the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose (RfD) for methytmercury, the one-compartment pharmacokinetic model is used to convert fetal cord blood mercury (Hg) concentration to a maternal intake dose. This requires a...

Metal composition of ambient P[M.sub.2.5] influences severity of allergic airways disease in mice.(Research)
September 1, 2003... Children living in Hettstedt in eastern Germany have been reported to have a higher prevalence of sensitization to common aeroallergens than another cohort living in the neighboring city of Zerbst; these differences correlated with the presence...

Semen quality in relation to biomarkers of pesticide exposure.(Research)
September 1, 2003... We previously reported reduced sperm concentration and motility in fertile men in a U.S. agrarian area (Columbia, MO) relative to men from U.S. urban centers (Minneapolis, MN; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY). In the present study we address the...

Neuroendocrine effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate in rats.(Research)
September 1, 2003... Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a degradation product of sulfonyl-based fluorochemicals that are used extensively in industrial and household applications. Humans and wildlife are exposed to this class of compounds from several sources....

A review of a two-phase population study of multiple chemical sensitivities.
September 1, 2003... In this review we summarize the findings of a two-phase study of the prevalence, symptomatology, and etiology of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). We also explore possible triggers, the potential linkage between MCS and other disorders,...

Perceived treatment efficacy for conventional and alternative therapies reported by persons with multiple chemical sensitivity.(Article)
September 1, 2003... Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a condition in which persons experience negative health effects in multiple organ systems from exposure to low levels of common chemicals. Although symptoms experienced from particular chemicals vary...

The relationship between human semen parameters and environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and p,p'-DDE.(Article)
September 1, 2003... Scientific and public concern exists about potential reproductive health effects of persistent chlorinated organic chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyts (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichloroliphenyidichloroethylane...

The relationship between air pollution from heavy traffic and allergic sensitization, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and respiratory symptoms in Dutch schoolchildren.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... Studies have suggested that children living close to busy roads may have impaired respiratory health. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that exposure to exhaust from heavy traffic in particular is related to childhood respiratory...

Persistent hematologic and immunologic disturbances in 8-year-old Dutch children associated with perinatal dioxin exposure.(Children's Health)
September 1, 2003... Perinatal exposure to Dutch "background" dioxin levels in 1990 was high, but comparable with that of other industrialized Western European countries. Exposure during the sensitive perinatal period may cause permanent disturbances. Therefore, we...

Workshop to develop a framework for assessing risks to children from exposure to environmental agents.(Meeting Report)
September 1, 2003... Characterization of children's health risks from environmental exposures requires special consideration of life-stage-specific periods of unique susceptibility in relation in childhood activities, behaviors, and intakes. At a workshop in Stowe,...

The OECD program to validate the rat uterotrophic bioassay: an overview.(Rat Uterotrohic Bioassay: Mini-Monograph)
September 1, 2003... The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has undertaken an international validation program for the rodent uterotrophic bioassay. This validation program comprised two major parts. The first'part was the development of a...

The OECD program to validate the rat uterotrophic bioassay. phase 2: dose--response studies.(Rat Uterotrophic Bioassay: Mini-Monograph)
September 1, 2003... The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has completed phase 2 of an international validation program for the rodent uterotrophic bioassay. The purpose of the validation program was to demonstrate the performance of two...

The OECD program to validate the rat uterotrophic bioassay. phase 2: coded single-dose studies.(Rat Uterotrophic Bioassay: Mini-Monograph)
September 1, 2003... The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has completed phase 2 of an international validation program for the rodent uterotrophic bioassay. This portion of phase 2 assessed the reproducibility of the assay with a battery of...

The OECD program to validate the rat uterotrophic bioassay. phase 2: dietary phytoestrogen analyses.(Rat Uterotrophic Bioassay: Mini-Monograph)
September 1, 2003... Many commercial laboratory diets have detectable levels of isoflavones (e.g., phytoestrogens such as genistein [GN]) that have weak estrogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. During validation studies of the uterotrophic bioassay, diet...

The intact immature rodent uterotrophic bioassay: possible effects on assay sensitivity of vomeronasal signals from male rodents and strain differences.(Rat Uterotrophic Bioassay: Mini-Monograph)
September 1, 2003... The vomeronasal organ in rodents is an important social and sexual signaling pathway. We have investigated whether the housing of intact immature females in close proximity to mature males would interfere with the sensitivity of the immature...

New faces in DERT.(NIEHS Extramural Update)
September 1, 2003... The DERT family is growing and changing to keep pace with the rapid developments in the environmental health sciences and technology. Please join us in welcoming our colleagues to their new positions in DERT: Dennis R. Lang...

Research on mind-body interactions and health.(Fellowships, Grants & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NIH, through the participating institutes, centers, and offices noted below, invites applications in support of research on mind-body interactions and health. "Mind-body interactions and health" refers to the relationships among cognitions,...

National Cancer Institute (NCI).(Fellowships, Grants, & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NCI is interested in research hr examines how interactions among environmental, psychosocial, immune, neuroendocrine, genetic, and other biological factors affect the disease, its treatment and side effects, and/or outcome. Research may...

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).(Fellowships, Grants, & Awards)
September 1, 2003... Mind-body interventions represent one of the major domains of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This domain includes CAM practices that intend to facilitate the mind's capacity to affect bodily functions and lessen symptoms of...

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).(Fellowships, Grants, & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NHLBI supports behavioral research designed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors (such as depression, social support, hostility, stress, emotions) and diseases/disorders of the circulation, respiratory system, blood,...

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).(Fellowships, Grants & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NIDCR encourages studies that investigate mind-body interactions with regard to oral and craniofacial diseases/disorders and dental treatments. Examples include, but are not limited to, studies of the effects of beliefs, affective states,...

National Institute on Aging (NIA).(Fellowships, Grants, & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NIA's mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research. The NIA is interested in a developmental life-course perspective of aging and mind-body effects on acute and chronic health, quality of life,...

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).(Fellowships, Grants & Awards)
September 1, 2003... The NIAAA is particularly interested in mind-body interactions as they may impact the prevalence and incidence of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, as they may be disrupted by alcohol use, and as they may play a critical role in recovery from...

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).(Fellowships, Grants, & Awards)
September 1, 2003... Behavioral and social sciences research plays an important role in the NIDA's search for solutions to the complex social and public health problems posed by drug abuse and addiction. These scientific disciplines provide the NIDA with the...

Calendar.(Announcements)
September 1, 2003... 2003 October 7-10 October, Tue-Fri. Genomics on Target, From Function to Validation. Boston, Massachusetts. Information: Cambridge Healthtech Institute. 1027 Chestnut Street. Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 USA, 617-630-1325, fax:...

Dioxins and Health, 2nd edition.
September 1, 2003... Edited by Arnold Shechter and Thomas A. Gasiewicz Hoboken, NJ:John Wiley & Sons, 2003. 952 pp. ISBN: 0-471-43355-1, $150 doth. Dioxins were first discovered more than 30 years ago as unwanted contaminants arising during the synthesis...

New books.(Announcements)
September 1, 2003... Climate Change in the Mediterranean: Socio-economic Perspectives of Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation Carlo Giupponi, Mordechai Shechter, eds. Northampton, MA:Edward Elgar Publishing, 2003. 352 pp. ISBN: 1-84376-154-8, $110 Climate...