Neurologic abnormalities in workers of a 1-bromopropane factory Gaku Ichihara We reported recently that 1-bromopropane (1-BP; n-propylbromide, CAS Registry no. 106-94-5), an alternative to ozone-depleting solvents, is neurotoxic and exhibits reproductive toxicity in rats. The four most recent case reports suggested possible neurotoxicity of 1-BP in workers. The aim of the present study was to […]
Category: Environmental Health Perspectives
How do paper houses stack up? – Sustainable Development John S. Manuel In the tale of the Three Little Pigs, children learn that houses made of heavy brick or wood are preferable to those made of lightweight straw. That axiom is being challenged by the reemergence of a building material known as fibrous cement, or […]
Good buy for Biocomplexity – The Beat Erin E. Dooley As part of its continuing Biocomplexity in the Environment grant effort, the National Science Foundation in October 2003 announced awards totaling $31.9 million for 30 science and engineering projects centered on better understanding biodiversity and the interrelationships among all living things. The grants will promote […]
Association of asthma symptoms with peak particulate air pollution and effect modification by anti-inflammatory medication use – Children’s Health Articles Ralph J. Delfino Maxima of hourly data from outdoor monitors may capture adverse effects of outdoor particulate matter (PM) exposures in asthmatic children better than do 24-hr PM averages, which form the basis of current […]
Ecological Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Thomas H. Hutchinson The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals proposes a tiered approach for the ecological risk assessment of endocrine disruptors, integrating exposure and hazard (effects) characterization. Exposure assessment for endocrine disruptors should direct specific tests for wildlife species, placing hazard data into a risk assessment […]
Disparities in cognitive functioning by race/ethnicity in the Baltimore Memory Study – Research Brian S. Schwartz The Baltimore Memory Study is a cohort study of the multilevel determinants of cognitive decline in 50-70-year-old randomly selected residents of specific city neighborhoods. Prior studies have demonstrated that cognitive function differs by race/ethnicity, with lower scores in minorities […]
Adverse health effects of biphenyl A in early life – Correspondence John E. Heinze In their paper “Parent Biphenyl A (BPA) Accumulation in the Human Maternal–Fetal–Placental Unit,” Schonfelder et al. (2002) suggested that “long-term follow-up studies are needed to assess the adverse effects of BPA exposure in early life.” Two long-term exposure studies (multigenerational reproductive […]
Emerging diseases threaten conservation – Guest Editorial Paul R. Epstein In April 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) appeared suddenly, sending shockwaves throughout public health systems and economies worldwide. By July 2003, 8,439 cases had been reported worldwide, with 812 deaths; the economic impacts were estimated to be $50-$100 billion (U.S.) (Newcomb 2003). Although public […]
Cadmium-induced effects on bone in a population-based study of women Agneta Akesson High cadmium exposure is known to cause bone damage, but the association between low-level cadmium exposure and osteoporosis remains to be clarified. Using a population-based women’s health survey in southern Sweden [Women’s Health in the Lund Area (WHILA)] with no known historical cadmium […]
On the trail of agent orange: measuring risk with GIS – Science Selections David J. Tenenbaum As with many environmental health questions, uncovering the true health effects of the herbicides used in the Vietnam War has been limited by problems with assessing exposure. In this issue, Jeanne Mager Stellman of Columbia University’s Mailman School of […]