New Lab Sheds Light on Phototoxicology
This month's NIEHS News (p. A212) reports on a new laboratory established by the NTP that will investigate, among other things, the effects of the combination of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids--the ubiquitous chemoexfoliants turning up in skin-care products of all types--and sunlight. Scientists fear the acids may actually promote skin cancer in users.
Tour-ture on the Environment?
With tourist travel to natural environments growing by as much as 25% each year, a question being asked is are we in danger of loving the environment to death. The Focus (p. A214) examines tourism's environmental effects on the people and places that host travelers around the world.
The Cost of Doing Business
Since the 1984 industrial accident in Bhopal, India, that killed some 6,000 people in one week, increased attention has been paid to the environmental health costs being borne by developing nations in the new world economy. The Spheres of Influence (p. A220) reviews the progress that's been made in making global business a greener enterprise.
Calculations of Bone Lead Variance
Todd (p. 383) examines the method for calculating the variance of an in vivo bone lead measurement when using 109Cd-based X-ray fluorescence. The author presents corrections to measurement error attributable to covariance and suggests alternative mathematical formulae for estimating measurement error.
Diphenyl Ethers in Breast Milk
A Commentary by Hooper and McDonald (p. 387) reports that levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pBDEs) appear to be rising rapidly, as shown by studies of human breast milk. A review of PBDEs indicates their similarity in use, occurrence, and toxicity with some PCBs and other polyhalogenated persistent organic pollutants, suggesting that PBDEs may be the next environmental pollutant of importance. (Also see Science Selections, p. A225)
Groundwater Arsenic in Bangladesh and India
Chowdhury et al. (p. 393) report that dangerous levels of arsenic are ubiquitous in the groundwater in West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh. The authors estimate that more than 100 million people are at risk from arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity. (Also see Science Selections, p. A224)
Melatonin Inhibits DNA Damage by Chromium
Qi et al. (p. 399) used an in vitro calf thymus DNA system to show that melatonin was 60- to 70-fold more effective than ascorbate or vitamin E in reducing oxidative DNA damage by chromium(III). The authors suggest that protection by melatonin is related to its direct hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability.
Estrogenicity and Gene Expression in MCF-7 Cells
Jørgensen et al. (p. 403) used marker genes (pS2, TGFß3, monoamine oxidase A, and 1-antichymotrypsin) in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to evaluate the estrogenic activity of estradiol and 11 xenoestrogenic chemicals. The results agreed with those obtained by other assay methods for estrogenicity. The authors suggest that the use of endogenous gene expression may offer an alternative to other E-SCREEN methods.
MT-3 as Marker for Bladder Cancer
Human biopsy tissue was used by Sens et al. (p. 413) to measure metallothionein isoform 3 (MT-3) in the bladder. Immunohistochemistry and molecular genetic techniques demonstrated that although MT-3 expression was up-regulated in cancerous tissue, expression was minimal in normal tissue, demonstrating its potential utility as a biomarker for bladder cancer.
Measurement Error in Time-Series Studies
Zeger et al. (p. 419) examine the measurement error in observation studies of air pollution and health. The authors propose a conceptual framework for the evaluation of measurement errors in the log-linear regression used for time-series studies of particulate air pollution and mortality, identify three main components of error, and present new, simple analyses of data on PM10 exposures.
Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions
Linn et al. (p. 427) evaluated day-to-day associations between carbon monoxide, PM10, or ozone and hospital admissions for cardiopulmonary illnesses in Los Angeles, California, between 1992 and 1995. Autumn and winter atmospheric stagnation with high levels of air pollution increased the risk of hospitalization for a variety of cardiopulmonary illnesses, but summer photochemical pollution by ozone appeared to be less of a risk.
Blue-Green Algae Toxins in Food Supplements
Blue-green algae toxins are health risks in drinking water, but they are also found in health food products. Gilroy et al. (p. 435) found that Oregon health food products reported to increase energy and act as mood elevators contained concentrations above the regulatory limit for microcystin toxins.
Organochlorines, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Leukemia
There is a rapid increase in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in many countries, and Epstein-Barr virus has been associated with certain subgroups of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Nordström et al. (p. 441) report that risk factors associated with hairy cell leukemia, a subgroup of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, included high titers of Epstein-Barr early antigen and elevated serum levels of organochlorines, chlordane, and immunotoxic PCBs.
Immunotoxicity in Fish from Chesapeake Bay
Harms et al. (p. 447) measured specific cytokine production (TGF-ß) and kidney macrophage bactericidal activity in white perch in Chesapeake Bay during spring, summer, and fall months. There were inverse relationships between the assays indicative of temporal and spatial immunosuppression and consistent with previously observed fish morbidity and mortality. Addition of the molecular-based cytokine assay will enhance environmental research in free-ranging marine teleost fishes.
Lead Hazard Control Interventions: House Dust
Guidelines recommend that after the removal of lead from floors and window sills of contaminated houses, there should be a thorough postintervention cleanup to reduce residual lead. Lead measurements by Tohn et al. (p. 453) confirmed that a cleanup of disturbed lead dust, including that found on the walls, was necessary to prevent further potential lead exposure.
Nitrate in Drinking Water and Diabetes
The potential relationship between nitrate in drinking water and the incidence of childhood type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in children from the Netherlands was examined by van Maanen et al. (p. 457). There was no convincing evidence that current nitrate exposure levels constituted a risk factor for diabetic disease, except for modest increases in risk when children were exposed to values greater than 25 mg nitrate/L of drinking water. (Also see Science Selections, p. A225)
Male Genital Defects in Finland
Aho et al. (p. 463) examined hospital discharge registries between 1970 and 1986 for temporal trends in genitourinary malformations in children. There were 28 cases per 10,000 male live births that remained constant. Although this incidence was about three times higher than previously reported, the authors attribute the change to improvements in record keeping rather than to environmental causes.
Last Updated: May 11, 2000