Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602915
J. Tenías, F. Ballester, S. Pérez-Hoyos, M. L. Rivera
Abstract The short-term relationship between levels of air pollution and emergency room admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was assessed in Valencia, Spain. The design was an ecological time-series study in which daily variation in air pollution was related to emergency chronic obstructive pulmonary disease visits to one of the city's hospitals. The pollutants under investigation were Black Smoke, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The degree of association was analyzed with Poisson autoregressive regression, for which trend, seasonal patterns, temperature, humidity, days of the week, and incidence of influenza were controlled. Increases of 10 μg/m3 in ozone levels (lag 5) and of 1 mg/m3 in carbon monoxide (lag 1) were associated with increases of 6.1 % (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2%, 10.1%) and of 3.9% (95% CI = 1.4%, 6.6%), respectively, in the expected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases. There was no significant association for the remainder of the pollutants. The described effects persisted even when the authors used models of differing specifications and when generalized additive models were used. The authors concluded that the results of this investigation, together with results of earlier research, demonstrate the significant effect of pollution on various health indicators within Valencia.
{"title":"Air Pollution and Hospital Emergency Room Admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Valencia, Spain","authors":"J. Tenías, F. Ballester, S. Pérez-Hoyos, M. L. Rivera","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602915","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602915","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The short-term relationship between levels of air pollution and emergency room admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was assessed in Valencia, Spain. The design was an ecological time-series study in which daily variation in air pollution was related to emergency chronic obstructive pulmonary disease visits to one of the city's hospitals. The pollutants under investigation were Black Smoke, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The degree of association was analyzed with Poisson autoregressive regression, for which trend, seasonal patterns, temperature, humidity, days of the week, and incidence of influenza were controlled. Increases of 10 μg/m3 in ozone levels (lag 5) and of 1 mg/m3 in carbon monoxide (lag 1) were associated with increases of 6.1 % (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2%, 10.1%) and of 3.9% (95% CI = 1.4%, 6.6%), respectively, in the expected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases. There was no significant association for the remainder of the pollutants. The described effects persisted even when the authors used models of differing specifications and when generalized additive models were used. The authors concluded that the results of this investigation, together with results of earlier research, demonstrate the significant effect of pollution on various health indicators within Valencia.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"83 1","pages":"41 - 47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90043491","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602913
J. Mangano, J. Gould, E. Sternglass, J. Sherman, Jerry Brown, William McDonnell
Abstract Subsequent to 1987, 8 U.S. nuclear plants located at least 113 km from other reactors ceased operations. Strontium-90 levels in local milk declined sharply after closings, as did deaths among infants who had lived downwind and within 64 km of each plant. These reductions occurred during the first 2 yr that followed closing of the plants, were sustained for at least 6 yr, and were especially pronounced for birth defects. Trends in infant deaths in proximate areas not downwind, and more than 64 km from the closed plants, were not different from the national patterns. In proximate areas for which data were available, cancer incidence in children younger than 5 yr of age fell significantly after the shutdowns. Changes in health following nuclear reactor closings may help elucidate the relationship between low-dose radiation exposure and disease.
{"title":"Infant Death and Childhood Cancer Reductions after Nuclear Plant Closings in the United States","authors":"J. Mangano, J. Gould, E. Sternglass, J. Sherman, Jerry Brown, William McDonnell","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602913","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602913","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Subsequent to 1987, 8 U.S. nuclear plants located at least 113 km from other reactors ceased operations. Strontium-90 levels in local milk declined sharply after closings, as did deaths among infants who had lived downwind and within 64 km of each plant. These reductions occurred during the first 2 yr that followed closing of the plants, were sustained for at least 6 yr, and were especially pronounced for birth defects. Trends in infant deaths in proximate areas not downwind, and more than 64 km from the closed plants, were not different from the national patterns. In proximate areas for which data were available, cancer incidence in children younger than 5 yr of age fell significantly after the shutdowns. Changes in health following nuclear reactor closings may help elucidate the relationship between low-dose radiation exposure and disease.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"23 - 31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74235158","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602920
Y. Hwang, E. Chou, Ching-Wen Chang, Chih-Chieh Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Chih-Liang Chou, Zhih-Young Lee, Chi-Ting Tseng
Abstract The authors suspected that suspended onion particles contributed to corneal ulcers in onion harvesters in southern Taiwan. In the present study, the authors used manikins to study suspended onion particles in fields in an effort to simulate typical conditions experienced by onion harvesters. An animal eye-exposure simulation study was also performed by the authors, who impacted suspended soil grains or onion particles onto the corneas of guinea pigs via aerosol generated from the Palas® dispersion nozzle. The average size of 25.9 μm for suspended particles collected during the digging of onions was the largest one of those for various harvesting activities. Some onion skin flakes were found in samples obtained from gathering and packing activities; the typical flake size was approximately 3.5 × 2.5 mm2. The results of the animal study indicated that the size of soil grains has a demonstrable effect on the severity of corneal injury (p = .009). With respect to onion skin flakes, wind velocity was also associated significantly with the occurrence of corneal injury (p = .0004). A wind velocity threshold of 7 m/sec is recommended for the maintenance of safety, and if the wind speed exceeds this threshold level, workers should not engage in harvesting activities. Furthermore, use of appropriately designed goggles is necessary for the protection of onion harvesters who work in high-wind conditions.
{"title":"Suspended Onion Particles and Potential Corneal Injury in Onion Harvesters","authors":"Y. Hwang, E. Chou, Ching-Wen Chang, Chih-Chieh Chen, Chi-Kung Ho, Chih-Liang Chou, Zhih-Young Lee, Chi-Ting Tseng","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602920","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602920","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors suspected that suspended onion particles contributed to corneal ulcers in onion harvesters in southern Taiwan. In the present study, the authors used manikins to study suspended onion particles in fields in an effort to simulate typical conditions experienced by onion harvesters. An animal eye-exposure simulation study was also performed by the authors, who impacted suspended soil grains or onion particles onto the corneas of guinea pigs via aerosol generated from the Palas® dispersion nozzle. The average size of 25.9 μm for suspended particles collected during the digging of onions was the largest one of those for various harvesting activities. Some onion skin flakes were found in samples obtained from gathering and packing activities; the typical flake size was approximately 3.5 × 2.5 mm2. The results of the animal study indicated that the size of soil grains has a demonstrable effect on the severity of corneal injury (p = .009). With respect to onion skin flakes, wind velocity was also associated significantly with the occurrence of corneal injury (p = .0004). A wind velocity threshold of 7 m/sec is recommended for the maintenance of safety, and if the wind speed exceeds this threshold level, workers should not engage in harvesting activities. Furthermore, use of appropriately designed goggles is necessary for the protection of onion harvesters who work in high-wind conditions.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"78 - 84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73546772","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602921
H. Nakadaira, I. Serra, Masaharu Yamamoto, Ruth Rogers, D. Gutierrez
HIROTO NAKADAIRA Division of Social and Environmental Medicine Department of Community Preventive Medicine Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata, Japan IVAN SERRA School of Public Health University of Chile Santiago, Chile MASAHARU YAMAMOTO Division of Social and Environmental Medicine Department of Community Preventive Medicine Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata, Japan RUTH ROGERS DAVID GUTIERREZ Hospital Hanga Roa lsla de Pascua (Easter Island) San Antonio, Chile
{"title":"Concentration of Metals and Other Elements in the Hair of Easter Islanders","authors":"H. Nakadaira, I. Serra, Masaharu Yamamoto, Ruth Rogers, D. Gutierrez","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602921","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602921","url":null,"abstract":"HIROTO NAKADAIRA Division of Social and Environmental Medicine Department of Community Preventive Medicine Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata, Japan IVAN SERRA School of Public Health University of Chile Santiago, Chile MASAHARU YAMAMOTO Division of Social and Environmental Medicine Department of Community Preventive Medicine Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Niigata, Japan RUTH ROGERS DAVID GUTIERREZ Hospital Hanga Roa lsla de Pascua (Easter Island) San Antonio, Chile","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"50 1","pages":"85 - 86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73269524","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602919
S. Satarug, J. R. Baker, P. Reilly, M. Moore, David J. Williams
Abstract The authors undertook this study to assess levels of cadmium exposure in the general population. Samples of lung, liver, and kidney were obtained from 61 cadavers (43 males, 18 females; 2–89 yr of age, mean age = 38.5 yr) who died from accidental causes and who were subject to postmortem examinations at the John Tonge Centre for Forensic Sciences, Queensland Health Scientific Services, Brisbane, Australia, in 1997 and 1998. Samples of bladder urine were also obtained from 22 cadavers. Tissue and urine samples were analyzed for cadmium, zinc, and copper with inductively coupled plasm (ICP) mass spectrometry. The overall mean values for cadmium in the lung, liver, and kidney cortex samples were 0.13, 0.95, and 15.45 μg/gm wet tissue weight. The average renal cadmium level in subjects with high lung-cadmium levels (n = 13) was 6 μg/gm wet tissue weight higher than that of similarly aged subjects who had medium lung-cadmium levels (n = 30). In females, the average level of cadmium in the liver was 74% greater than in males, and the average liver cadmium in females with high lung-cadmium levels was 100% higher than in males in the same age range who had the same high lung-cadmium levels. Renal cadmium accumulation tended to be greater in females than in males who were in the same age range and who had similar lung-cadmium levels, a result that suggested that there was a higher absorption rate of cadmium in females. The mean value for a urinary cadmium excretion of 2.30 μg/gm creatinine was found in a subset of samples that had a mean age of 39 yr and a renal cortex cadmium concentration of 18.6 μg/gm wet tissue weight. Urinary cadmium excretion rates were correlated more strongly with lung and kidney cadmium content than with age or liver cadmium levels. The results suggest that urinary cadmium excretion may be increased in smokers and could provide some estimate of body cadmium burdens in future Australian epidemiological studies.
{"title":"Cadmium Levels in the Lung, Liver, Kidney Cortex, and Urine Samples from Australians without Occupational Exposure to Metals","authors":"S. Satarug, J. R. Baker, P. Reilly, M. Moore, David J. Williams","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602919","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors undertook this study to assess levels of cadmium exposure in the general population. Samples of lung, liver, and kidney were obtained from 61 cadavers (43 males, 18 females; 2–89 yr of age, mean age = 38.5 yr) who died from accidental causes and who were subject to postmortem examinations at the John Tonge Centre for Forensic Sciences, Queensland Health Scientific Services, Brisbane, Australia, in 1997 and 1998. Samples of bladder urine were also obtained from 22 cadavers. Tissue and urine samples were analyzed for cadmium, zinc, and copper with inductively coupled plasm (ICP) mass spectrometry. The overall mean values for cadmium in the lung, liver, and kidney cortex samples were 0.13, 0.95, and 15.45 μg/gm wet tissue weight. The average renal cadmium level in subjects with high lung-cadmium levels (n = 13) was 6 μg/gm wet tissue weight higher than that of similarly aged subjects who had medium lung-cadmium levels (n = 30). In females, the average level of cadmium in the liver was 74% greater than in males, and the average liver cadmium in females with high lung-cadmium levels was 100% higher than in males in the same age range who had the same high lung-cadmium levels. Renal cadmium accumulation tended to be greater in females than in males who were in the same age range and who had similar lung-cadmium levels, a result that suggested that there was a higher absorption rate of cadmium in females. The mean value for a urinary cadmium excretion of 2.30 μg/gm creatinine was found in a subset of samples that had a mean age of 39 yr and a renal cortex cadmium concentration of 18.6 μg/gm wet tissue weight. Urinary cadmium excretion rates were correlated more strongly with lung and kidney cadmium content than with age or liver cadmium levels. The results suggest that urinary cadmium excretion may be increased in smokers and could provide some estimate of body cadmium burdens in future Australian epidemiological studies.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"69 - 77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79893241","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602917
P. Juvin, T. Fournier, S. Boland, P. Soler, F. Marano, J. Desmonts, M. Aubier
Abstract Diesel exhaust particles can reach the alveolar space and interact with alveolar type II cells. The authors investigated whether diesel exhaust particles lead to an internalization process and alter the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 and granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor by human alveolar type II cells. Cells from the human lung epithelial cell line A-549 were incubated with diesel exhaust particles or with inert particles for different periods of time. Phagocytosis was studied with electron microscopic analysis and flow cytometry. Cytokines were quantified in super-natants with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both diesel exhaust particles and inert particles were similarly engulfed by alveolar type II cells. Diesel exhaust particles induced a dose- and a time-dependent increase in granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor release and a transient inhibition of interleukin-8 release, but inert particles did not. Diesel exhaust particles were taken up by alveolar type II cells, and they altered cytokine production. Alveolar type II cells, therefore, may represent a target site for the deleterious effects of diesel exhaust particles.
{"title":"Diesel Particles Are Taken Up by Alveolar Type II Tumor Cells and Alter Cytokines Secretion","authors":"P. Juvin, T. Fournier, S. Boland, P. Soler, F. Marano, J. Desmonts, M. Aubier","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602917","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Diesel exhaust particles can reach the alveolar space and interact with alveolar type II cells. The authors investigated whether diesel exhaust particles lead to an internalization process and alter the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 and granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor by human alveolar type II cells. Cells from the human lung epithelial cell line A-549 were incubated with diesel exhaust particles or with inert particles for different periods of time. Phagocytosis was studied with electron microscopic analysis and flow cytometry. Cytokines were quantified in super-natants with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both diesel exhaust particles and inert particles were similarly engulfed by alveolar type II cells. Diesel exhaust particles induced a dose- and a time-dependent increase in granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor release and a transient inhibition of interleukin-8 release, but inert particles did not. Diesel exhaust particles were taken up by alveolar type II cells, and they altered cytokine production. Alveolar type II cells, therefore, may represent a target site for the deleterious effects of diesel exhaust particles.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"21 1","pages":"53 - 60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84503309","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602911
C. Grossman, R. H. Nussbaum, Fred D. Nussbaum
Abstract Sixty cases of thyrotoxicosis (including hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, and toxic goiter), an unexpectedly large number compared with general population data, were reported in a voluntary health survey that included a period of approximately 50 yr, with 801 self-defined “Downwinders” who had lived near the Hanford, Washington, nuclear facility. In another self-selected group of medical patients (n = 423) who were examined over the same time period, only 2 cases of thyrotoxicosis were identified. Evidence is presented that suggests that the effects of bias from self-selection likely did not account for the magnitude of the apparent excess of thyrotoxicosis cases in the present study population. The findings are consistent with those of other studies, as well as with the hypothesis of an association of thyrotoxicosis with exposures to radioiodine.
{"title":"Thyrotoxicosis among Hanford, Washington, Downwinders: A Community-Based Health Survey","authors":"C. Grossman, R. H. Nussbaum, Fred D. Nussbaum","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602911","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602911","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Sixty cases of thyrotoxicosis (including hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, and toxic goiter), an unexpectedly large number compared with general population data, were reported in a voluntary health survey that included a period of approximately 50 yr, with 801 self-defined “Downwinders” who had lived near the Hanford, Washington, nuclear facility. In another self-selected group of medical patients (n = 423) who were examined over the same time period, only 2 cases of thyrotoxicosis were identified. Evidence is presented that suggests that the effects of bias from self-selection likely did not account for the magnitude of the apparent excess of thyrotoxicosis cases in the present study population. The findings are consistent with those of other studies, as well as with the hypothesis of an association of thyrotoxicosis with exposures to radioiodine.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"21 1","pages":"15 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79172460","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602910
K. Kilburn
WHAT components of indoor air cause irritation, headache, and fatigue, diminish concentration, and impair recall memory? Subsequent to the energy crisis of 1973, buildings are ”tighter,” they leak less heat and cold than older buildings, and more people are bothered and become ill from indoor exposures. For more than 30 yr the indoor air syndrome has been studied. This air contains materials outgassed from construction and decorations, as well as from smoking and other activities in a building.’ Burge et a1.2 sorted components in air into various categories of total volatile organic chemicals: solvents, formaldehyde, insecticides, degreasers, waxes and wax strippers, nonorganic cleaning agents (e.g., ammonia, chlorine), and many others. During the past decade, an association has surfaced between occupants’ symptoms and molds that grow on surfaces and within walls and feed on the cellulose from the paper that encloses the gypsum of d r y ~ a l l . ~ Water damage and high humidity in walls encourage the growth of molds. Air-conditioning ducts condense water from the air and collect nutrients in dust that contain mold spores that grow and become widely distributed indoors. Such observations are consistent with a diminishment or avoidance of individuals’ symptoms in response to more exchanges of building air with outdoor air. Subsequent to 1950, changes in materials used for the construction of building interiors have set the stage for the growth of molds indoors. Wood or metal framing of walls and ceilings is covered with sheets of drywall and gypsum board-a virtual ”sandwich” of calcium sulfate between layers of paper. Drywall replaced cedar lath-sometimes wrapped with chicken wireand it was covered with cement plaster and had a finish coat of calcium oxide-termed “quicklime.” Older era wall layers were strongly alkaline, and, therefore, growth of molds was not favored. In fact, Joseph Lister, the father of aseptic and antiseptic surgery, used quicklime to wash instruments and hands, and he used it to dress wounds (e.g., compound fractures4). It i s almost impossible for molds and bacteria that harm people to grow on lime plaster or on concrete. In contrast, mold growth is encouraged on damp paper-and with the same ease as occurs on bread. Mold spores survive (1) desiccation, (2) temperatures of 500 OF, and (3) efforts to kill them with strong chemicals. The Bible, in Leviticus, warned of the harmful effects of molds. Mold toxins have altered history. Such molds include ergot from claviceps species, aflatoxins from Aspergillus, and trichothecenes from Fusarium and Stachybotrys. Conversely, products of the genus Penicillium revolutionized medical treatment of bacterial infections. Coumadin from sweet clover spoiled by pastinaca species make furanocou mad i ns that prevent blood clotting in individuals who have diseased blood vessels. Furthermore, xanthotoxin from the pink celery rot fungus causes photosensitivity of human skin accompanied by erythem
{"title":"Janus Revisited, Molds Again","authors":"K. Kilburn","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602910","url":null,"abstract":"WHAT components of indoor air cause irritation, headache, and fatigue, diminish concentration, and impair recall memory? Subsequent to the energy crisis of 1973, buildings are ”tighter,” they leak less heat and cold than older buildings, and more people are bothered and become ill from indoor exposures. For more than 30 yr the indoor air syndrome has been studied. This air contains materials outgassed from construction and decorations, as well as from smoking and other activities in a building.’ Burge et a1.2 sorted components in air into various categories of total volatile organic chemicals: solvents, formaldehyde, insecticides, degreasers, waxes and wax strippers, nonorganic cleaning agents (e.g., ammonia, chlorine), and many others. During the past decade, an association has surfaced between occupants’ symptoms and molds that grow on surfaces and within walls and feed on the cellulose from the paper that encloses the gypsum of d r y ~ a l l . ~ Water damage and high humidity in walls encourage the growth of molds. Air-conditioning ducts condense water from the air and collect nutrients in dust that contain mold spores that grow and become widely distributed indoors. Such observations are consistent with a diminishment or avoidance of individuals’ symptoms in response to more exchanges of building air with outdoor air. Subsequent to 1950, changes in materials used for the construction of building interiors have set the stage for the growth of molds indoors. Wood or metal framing of walls and ceilings is covered with sheets of drywall and gypsum board-a virtual ”sandwich” of calcium sulfate between layers of paper. Drywall replaced cedar lath-sometimes wrapped with chicken wireand it was covered with cement plaster and had a finish coat of calcium oxide-termed “quicklime.” Older era wall layers were strongly alkaline, and, therefore, growth of molds was not favored. In fact, Joseph Lister, the father of aseptic and antiseptic surgery, used quicklime to wash instruments and hands, and he used it to dress wounds (e.g., compound fractures4). It i s almost impossible for molds and bacteria that harm people to grow on lime plaster or on concrete. In contrast, mold growth is encouraged on damp paper-and with the same ease as occurs on bread. Mold spores survive (1) desiccation, (2) temperatures of 500 OF, and (3) efforts to kill them with strong chemicals. The Bible, in Leviticus, warned of the harmful effects of molds. Mold toxins have altered history. Such molds include ergot from claviceps species, aflatoxins from Aspergillus, and trichothecenes from Fusarium and Stachybotrys. Conversely, products of the genus Penicillium revolutionized medical treatment of bacterial infections. Coumadin from sweet clover spoiled by pastinaca species make furanocou mad i ns that prevent blood clotting in individuals who have diseased blood vessels. Furthermore, xanthotoxin from the pink celery rot fungus causes photosensitivity of human skin accompanied by erythem","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"61 1","pages":"7 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88138278","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}
Pub Date : 2002-01-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890209602916
G. Verlato, R. Calabrese, R. Marco
Abstract The European Community Respiratory Health Survey, performed during 1991–1993, found a remarkable geographical variability in the prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in individuals aged 20–44 yr. The highest values occurred in the English-speaking centers. In the present investigation, the ecological relationship between climate and symptom prevalence was evaluated in the 48 centers of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Meteorological variables were derived from the Global Historical Climatology Network and were averaged over an 11-yr period (i.e., 1980–1990). Respiratory symptom prevalence was directly related to temperature in the coldest month and was related inversely to the temperature in the hottest month. Warm winters and cool summers are features of oceanic climate found in most English-speaking centers of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (i.e., England, New Zealand, and Oregon). In conclusion, climate can account for significant geographic variability in respiratory symptom prevalence.
{"title":"Correlation between Asthma and Climate in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey","authors":"G. Verlato, R. Calabrese, R. Marco","doi":"10.1080/00039890209602916","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602916","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The European Community Respiratory Health Survey, performed during 1991–1993, found a remarkable geographical variability in the prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in individuals aged 20–44 yr. The highest values occurred in the English-speaking centers. In the present investigation, the ecological relationship between climate and symptom prevalence was evaluated in the 48 centers of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Meteorological variables were derived from the Global Historical Climatology Network and were averaged over an 11-yr period (i.e., 1980–1990). Respiratory symptom prevalence was directly related to temperature in the coldest month and was related inversely to the temperature in the hottest month. Warm winters and cool summers are features of oceanic climate found in most English-speaking centers of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (i.e., England, New Zealand, and Oregon). In conclusion, climate can account for significant geographic variability in respiratory symptom prevalence.","PeriodicalId":8276,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"48 - 52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2002-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87544275","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}
Pub Date : 2001-11-01DOI: 10.1080/00039890109602903
Rosemary L. Mattuck, B. D. Beck, T. Bowers, J. Cohen
Abstract Blood lead levels in children in the United States have declined through 1994, the date of the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In this investigation, the authors analyzed whether blood lead levels have changed since 1994 and quantified the magnitude of any change. The authors evaluated blood lead levels from 12 longitudinal data sets from 11 states and 1 city. Geometric mean blood lead levels declined between 4%/year and 14%/year in 8 of the data sets. No differences in decline rates were observed between data sets from states that had universal screening as a goal or that included repeat measures for an individual child and those data sets that did not. The authors' best estimate for these populations was a decline rate of 4–7%/year, which was comparable to the decline rate prior to 1994.
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