Because environmental exposures contribute to the development of many human illnesses, NIEHS is in a unique position to support a wide range of initiatives that will have the greatest impact on human health. Discoveries by NIEHS-funded scientists have led to the development of prevention strategies, health and safety guidelines, and potential treatments for asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other environmentally-related diseases: Aflatoxin & Liver CancerThe discovery of the genetic changes that result from aflatoxin exposure has led to a better understanding of the link between aflatoxin exposure and liver cancer risk in humans. Air Pollution & Cardiovascular DiseaseThis research has yielded numerous studies on indoor pollution and respiratory health, and led to the development of air sampling techniques used in research settings worldwide. Air Pollution & Respiratory DiseaseNIEHS-supported research on ozone, fine particles and other airborne toxins has led to the development of air quality standards that protect the health of children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations. AnthraquinoneTwo-year toxicity tests conducted by the National Toxicology Program have raised serious concerns about the safety of anthraquinone. Anthrax & Immune ResponseResearch on lethal factor, the toxin that makes anthrax a deadly pathogen in humans, may lead to the development of an antidote that would enable the immune system to detect the infection and fight it. Children's Environmental HealthResearch on the annual costs of environmentally-related diseases in American children will be useful in developing new strategies and guidelines for the detection and prevention of childhood illnesses. Endocrine Disrupting CompoundsThe finding that prenatal exposure to polybrominated biphenyls can affect pubertal development may be useful in predicting the health risks of similar endocrine-disrupting compounds. Lead PoisoningResearch on the long-term effects of lead exposure has led to the removal of lead from paint and gasoline, along with a corresponding decrease in blood lead levels in the general population. Manganese & Brain DamageStudies linking long-term manganese exposure with irreversible brain damage have resulted in new approaches for the prevention and treatment of neurological damage caused by manganese. Mercury & NeurodevelopmentRecent evidence of developmental delays in methylmercury-exposed children has led to the lowering of permissible emissions of mercury into the environment. Pesticides & NeurodevelopmentThe discovery of an enzyme that provides protection against the toxicity of pesticide compounds has led to the development of new treatments for nerve agent exposures. |
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