Health for Generations
Children aren't just miniature grown-ups--their young bodies experience the environment in many ways that are different from adults. For over 20 years, the NIEHS has conducted studies on environmental health effects in these most vulnerable members of society. The NIEHS News article describes some of these studies and tells what the institute has in store for future children's environmental health investigations.
Kids and Cancer
Cancer among kids--already the leading cause of disease-related death in children under the age of 15--is on the rise and scientists aren't sure why. The Focus article looks at some environmental factors that may explain why the disease is becoming more prevalent, and evaluates future directions for children's cancer research.
Centers Set to Study Child Environmental Health
In order to gather more data on how hazardous materials and toxins affect children's health, three federal agencies have joined together to launch a series of centers for children's environmental health and disease prevention research. The Spheres of Influence article summarizes the centers' research goals and explains the innovative ways in which they plan to meet them.
Bone Lead as Marker for Chronic Toxicity
A model that considers bone as both a repository and a source of lead in the body is reviewed by Hu et al., who hypothesize that these two processes control lead accumulation into and release from bone over time. The authors present strategies for investigating the events in epidemiological studies, including cortical and trabecular bone lead measurements, specific markers of bone mineral turnover and resorption, and development of methods to track lead in labile compartments of the circulation.
Volatization of Chlorpyrifos from Plastic Toys
A practical study of chlorpyrifos exposure in apartment dwellings was conducted by Gurunathan et al. to determine the accumulation, persistence, and volatization of this organophosphate from common children's plastic toys after fumigant application. The semivolatile pesticide accumulated on and in toys and other sorbant household surfaces, which reportedly could serve as reservoirs of pesticide for two weeks thereafter.
PAHs Inhibit GJIC
Gap junctional intercellular communication is used by Weis et al. as an epigenetic biomarker to determine the structure-activity relationships of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as predictors for their tumor-initiating potential. PAHs with baylike regions inhibited GJIC more than linear PAHs, implying the existence of structural determinants for epigenetic toxicity.
Mammalian Assay for Xenoestrogens
A variety of xenobiotic estrogens was assayed by Milligan et al. by measurement of uterine vascular permeability in an ovariectomized mouse model. Stimulation of uterine vascular permeability occurred in response to several compounds, but potency of the xenobiotic estrogens was very weak compared to that from endogenous estrogens; there was no evidence of antiestrogenic activity or synergism by the xenoestrogens.
Cosmetics Induce Arthritis in Rat Model
Sverdrup et al. used a rat model that is highly susceptible to arthritis to determine induction of this affliction by common cosmetic products. Although arthritis with synovitis was induced by 5/8 cosmetics and by mineral oils in the products, the authors emphasize that further studies are needed before relevance to humans could be suggested.
Monitoring Arsenic and Antimony in Humans
Gebel et al. measured arsenic and antimony in 218 residents of northern Germany and reported elevated arsenic in urine and hair that was correlated with soil levels; similar correlations between antimony and soil were not found. Seafood consumption increased exposure to inorganic and methylated species of arsenic.
Trichloroethylene Exposure and Insulin in Chinese Men
Hormone assays in 85 Chinese men chronically exposed to low trichoroethylene doses (geometric mean of 29.6 ppm) were conducted by Goh et al.. A triphasic insulin response occurred in which acute TCE exposure caused a fourfold elevation that then decreased in men exposed 2-4 years; this was followed by slight increases in those exposed more than 6 years. The clinical significance of the transient TCE-induced insulin resistance is unknown.
Last Update: January 8, 1997 |