The NIEHS currently sponsors 19 Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Centers, five Marine and Fresh Water Biomedical Sciences (MFBS) Centers , and 3 developmental centers through a grants program designed to promote a multidisciplinary approach to studying environmental health sciences. Each center in the program is required to support community outreach and education programs (COEP) (see table) in order to translate research results in the environmental health sciences into knowledge that can be applied directly to human health.
Speaking at the 52nd Center Directors' Meeting in December 1996, NIEHS Director Kenneth Olden stressed the importance of the COEPs: "We have made a compelling case for what we do as important for human health. That information [obtained from basic research] is only useful if we can improve the quality of the lives of the American people. That is what outreach is all about."
The COEPs provide a mechanism of bidirectional communication between community residents and scientists, all of whom have a vested interest in improving environmental health. As NIEHS COEP Coordinator Sharon Beard explains, "One of the most important aspects of the COEPs is to build true relationships with [community] organizations and with other centers." For example, one research collaboration, between the developmental center at Columbia University and the community-based West Harlem Environmental Action (WHEAct), has yielded remarkable results, according to Cecil Corbin-Mark, program director of WHEAct. This collaboration allows the community "to feel that they can have an impact in the research being conducted," Corbin-Mark says. The partnership has obtained grants from the NIEHS and the EPA for further community-based environmental health research.
Although only a small sample of the broad range of programs offered through the COEPs, outreach programs like the ones highlighted below allow community members to become more familiar with basic concepts and issues in environmental health sciences. Says Lorrette Picciano-Hanson, director of the Rural Coalition, an organization of approximately 90 community-based groups representing low-income rural communities and people of color, COEP programs at the EHS centers provide community organizations access to the best experts in the environmental health arena, as well as a mechanism by which the results of environmental health research can have a direct effect on communities.
Continuing Professional Education
Most medical school curricula devote only a small amount of time to environmental and occupational health sciences; thus, there is a need for continuing education in these disciplines. To address this issue, the developmental center at the University of Louisville in Kentucky is working with the UL School of Medicine to provide research experience in environmental health and to develop a curriculum in this area for medical students and residents. A similar effort is the two-year occupational medicine residency program that has been offered by the Mount Sinai EHS center for the past 17 years. Residents of this program play a substantive role in occupational health research projects during their two-year tenure. They frequently serve as codirectors of pilot research projects or clinical field surveys in which they are responsible for all aspects of a study project including design, collection, analysis, and reporting. Center investigators supervise the residents closely to assure high quality of research and to simultaneously enhance the residents' knowledge and skills.
Students and teachers.
Ramon Rosal (far left), a postdoctoral fellow under an environmental pathology training grant at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, judges a science fair at a local public school.
Photo Credit: Crystal Turner
Disease Prevention Programs
Part of the mission of the NIEHS is to enhance treatment and prevention of human diseases caused by environmental factors. In fulfillment of this goal, the MFBS center at the University of Miami in Florida has established a network of clinicians, public health personnel, and scientists specializing in marine toxins to provide clinical referrals, case reporting, and access to information for the general public. The center also collaborates with the South Florida Poison Control Center to maintain a multilingual hotline for information about marine toxins and diseases. These activities foment the close relationship between center investigators and the community and facilitate the delivery of state-of-the-art testing and treatment protocols to the health care facilities where they are needed.
Something fishy.
A rise in fish consumption promotes a need for programs such as one at the University of Miami where environmental health scientists work with health care providers in areas where there are likely to be marine toxin diseases.
Credit: Lora Fleming/U. of Miami
Education
The NIEHS strongly encourages programs that provide environmental health education at the primary, secondary, and college levels, and the development and dissemination of environmental health curriculum materials. For this purpose, the COEP at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers has developed a new environmental health science curriculum called ToxRAP (Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Air Pollution) for grades kindergarten through eight. The curriculum uses stories, games, and case studies to guide students through the risk assessment and risk management process. Through the collaborative exchange made possible by the network of NIEHS-supported centers, the UMDNJ center is collaborating with the Southwest EHS center in Tucson, Arizona. It is expected that approximately 1,000 teachers and 50,000 students will be reached through this program over the next few years.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology EHS center, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications, is using satellite teaching to reach high school students. The program is designed to provide students and teachers with packets of information about a fictitious town where an environmental pollutant is causing illness. Students work to determine the source of the pollutant and the cause of the inhabitants' illnesses. This approach enhances the teaching of concepts in environmental and public health and motivates students to become interested in science by learning about its practical applications.
In addition to these innovative educational tools, centers foster training programs in environmental health sciences research. In these programs, often held in the summer, participants ranging from high school students to visiting professors converge at the various EHS centers to learn about a variety of topics. Many of these programs use a multitiered mentoring system to address the individual research capabilities of a diverse student population. This approach entails having students of various abilities perform tasks appropriate to their level of training within a research team, and valuing each member of the team, whether they are a community resident with limited formal training in environmental health sciences or a postdoctoral fellow. This approach motivates advanced students to serve as mentors and promotes a collaborative atmosphere among participants. Another advantage is that community residents are able to participate in the research process alongside students and faculty members.
First-hand knowledge.
Community residents, environmental health science students, and faculty visit the West Harlem Water Treatment Plant for a close-up view of water health and safety.
Photo Credit: Luz Claudio
Public Awareness Forums and Community Workshops
The Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) program, in conjunction with the Oregon State University MFBS center, improves the public's understanding of environmental health issues by combining the expertise of the center's scientists with SMILE's existing network of teachers, students, and community residents. SMILE, which began in 1988, reaches over 500 elementary, middle, and high school students in 24 schools encompassing 8 school districts. During programs such as Family Science Nights, center faculty host activities that make attendees aware of environmental topics such as the hazards of household cleaning chemicals. Collaborations between center faculty and established community organizations facilitate the communication of environmentally relevant information by using existing networks to reach community members.
Informational Programs
The EHS centers are moving quickly to use electronic media as a vehicle for community outreach and education. The NIEHS sponsors a World Wide Web site at:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/centers/home.htm
offering information on COEPs as well as other aspects of the centers program and links to the centers' own home pages.The EHS center at the University of Rochester Medical Center has developed a list server through which subscribers can communicate with each other. The EHS center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a similar list server focused on COEP issues. The New York University EHS center Website includes an index of over 110 environmental topics ranging from acid pollution to X-rays. The index items are also linked to other sources of relevant information and to e-mail addresses of faculty members who have expertise in each area. America Online named this site one of the "Best Human Interest Sites on the World Wide Web" in 1996.
As a continuation of the COEP session at last year's center directors meeting, the NIEHS is sponsoring a meeting on 16-17 June 1997 in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to provide an opportunity for the sharing of information among center programs and the NIEHS on community outreach and education. The meeting will focus on refining and strengthening the NIEHS Center COEPs through presentations from various professional perspectives and a poster session on outreach programs.
Additional information on COEPs and the NIEHS center program can be obtained from COEP Coordinator Sharon Beard or Program Administrator Allen Dearry at 919-541-4500.
Luz Claudio
NIEHS Community Outreach and Education
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CENTERS and
COEP DIRECTORS
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PROJECTS
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Harvard University
Kresge Center for Environmental Health
--Richard Monson
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The Asthma Warriors
-comic book on asthma self-management
Minority Undergraduate Internship
Visiting Scholar Program
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Center for Environmental Health Sciences
--Beth Ann Turnquist
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Website and Brochure-information resource
High school teaching in environmental health sciences and satellite teaching
Collaboration with Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications
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Mount Sinai University Medical Center
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Luz Claudio
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New York Partnership for Environmental Justice-community education
Short-term training for Minority Students-undergraduate internships
Superfund Environmental Education Program-training for high school students
Environmental/Occupational Medicine Academic Award-residency program
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New York University Medical Center
Institute of Environmental Medicine
--George Thurston
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Environmental Reference Page -
http://charlotte.med.nyu.edu/outreach/
Summer Intern Program -training and education
Seminars for science writers
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Oregon State University
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Nancy I Kerkvliet
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National Pesticide Telecommunications Network-information on pesticides
Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET)-electronic database on toxicants
Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering-students at the secondary level
Science Education Partnerships-scientists interact with K-12 teachers
Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE)-education for ages 4-12
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University of Arizona
Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Charlene McQueen
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Minority Undergraduate Research Program
Toxicology, Risk Assessment and Air Pollution (ToxRAP)-network for development of model training
Integrating High School Science Through Toxicology -lectures on research
Environmental Health Education Project-lecture series for general audience
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University of California at Berkeley
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Harold J. Helbock
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Salmonella Test Resource-high school students and teacher training
Carcinogenic Potency Database-information on toxic chemicals
Wellness Letter-newsletter published by the School of Public Health
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University of California, Davis
Center for Environmental Health Sciences
--Mohammed A Al-Bayati
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UC Davis/Department of Defense Environmental Education Program
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University of Cincinnati
Center for Environmental Genetics
--M. Kathryn Brown & Eula Bingham
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Interface: Genes and the Environment newsletter
Lower Price Hill Environmental Leadership Coalition-partnership with the Urban Appalachian Council to promote environmental justice
Teaching Environmental Health: Science/Risks/Choices (1996-2000)-teacher training
Collaboration with the Rural Coalition's National Advisory Board on Community-Responsive Partners for Environmental Health
Pilot Project Program on community education
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University of Iowa
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Chris Peterson Brus
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Fogarty International Center-training program for scientist from Central Europe
Health Tips-worker education on pesticide exposures
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University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
Center for Environmental Health
--Audrey Gotsch
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Community-Responsive Partners for Environmental Health -community education
BENZENE 95-international symposium
Collaboration with the Rural Coalition
Curriculum Development Program -- K-8 education on environmental health
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Alice Armstrong Rahill
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Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship-training for high school students
Summer Research Fellowships-training for minority medical students
Perinatal Environmental and Drug Consultation Service-telephone consultation
Collaboration with the Center for Environmental Information -established the ECOllaborative, a service for resolving environmental disputes
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University of Southern California
Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Cindy Woo
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Collaboration with The Walt Disney Company-educational programming
Communities for a Better Environment-a community health foundation
Teacher Summer Science Academy Program-middle school teacher training
Collaboration with the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research-community based interventions for disease prevention
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The University of Texas
Galveston Medical Branch
--Marvin S. Legator
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Community Symptom Survey-standardized survey tool
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University of Texas, Smithville
Center for Research on Environmental Disease
--Robert M. Chamberlain
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Tours for Educators-laboratory tours for science teachers
Student Internships-training for high school and college students
Environmental Health Community Speakers Bureau
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University of Washington
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--Richard A. Fenske
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Environmental Risk Information Service-development of community partnerships
Master Home Environmentalist Program-assessment of home environments
Risky Business: Living in a Chemical World-high school curriculum
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Vanderbilt University
Center in Molecular Toxicology
--Timothy J. Meredith
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National Poison Prevention Week for Environmental Awareness-community presentations
School-based environmental health and safety education program for K-12 schools
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Wayne State University
Center for Molecular and Cellular Toxicology
with Human Applications
--Mary Oriold Dereski
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Chemicals in My World -- K-12 curriculum on environmental health sciences
Get the Lead Out-program for teachers
Lab Coats and Microscopes-science summer camp for young community residents
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Duke University
Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center
--Jerry Tulis
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ENVIRONS-quarterly newsletter
K-12 Teacher Enhancement Program
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Oregon State University
Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center
--George S. Bailey (center director)
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Biology Colloquium on Diet and Cancer Prevention-professional education
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University of Miami
Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center
--Lora E. Fleming
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Marine Seafood Toxin Poison Control Hotline-(1-888-232-8635)
Marine Seafood Toxin Information Hotline-(1-305-361-4738)
High School Teachers Training Program
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Marine/Freshwater Biomedical Center
--David H. Petering
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Teacher Enhancement in Environmental Health Science Education-middle school science teacher training
Short-term Training for Minority College Students in Toxicology
Molecular Techniques in Aquatic Biomedical Research-training in molecular biology for scientists
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The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Center for Membrane Toxicity Studies
--Barbara Kent
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National Science Foundation Young Scholars Program-high school student training
Future Science: Scientists of Tomorrow at Work Today-presentations by high school and college students
Bioactive Compounds From the Sea and Their Impact on Human Health Symposia
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Columbia School of Public Health
Center for Environmental Health in Harlem
--Mary Northridge
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Asthma Awareness Month in Manhattan-symposia for community residents
Collaboration with community-based organizations on environmental justice
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Tulane University
Center for Bioenvironmental Research
--Beverly Wright and Katherine Davey
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Xavier University Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Mississippi River Avatar Program-community leadership program
Student Exchange Program-interuniversity program
Environmental Concepts Made Easy (ECME) - internet site-
http://www.mcl.tulane.edu/ECME/default.html
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University of Louisville
Center for Environmental Health Sciences
--P.A. Quiggins
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Rubbertown Community Advisory Council-industry advisory committee
Residential Surveillance Project-assess environmental exposures of Louisville residents
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Johns Hopkins University
Environmental Health Sciences Center
--James Zabora
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Maryland Public Television-develop educational materials for children on environmental health issues
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The National Toxicology Program presented 10
Technical Reports
in the carcinogenesis bioassay series for public review by the NTP's Board of Scientific Counselors on 11-12 December 1996 at the NIEHS. Each report involves a series of long-term studies in which rats and mice were given a range of doses of each test chemical followed by extensive histopathologic examination. Highlighting the review meeting was a series of presentations on the presence of
Helicobacter hepaticus
, an organism that has been associated with liver lesions in mice, in some of the NTP study animals. In some cases, liver disease associated with
Helicobacter
infection impaired interpretation of the significance of neoplasms in the liver of male mice; interpretation of effects at other sites was not adversely affected in these studies. Female mice are considerably less affected by
Helicobacter
.
Chloroprene.
Chloroprene is the monomeric component in the synthesis of polychloroprene elastomer (neoprene). Nearly a billion pounds of chloroprene are used annually worldwide. Rats and mice exposed by inhalation to atmospheres containing 12.8-80.0 ppm of chloroprene developed tumors at a variety of sites, including the oral cavity, kidney, and thyroid gland in both male and female rats, and lung in male rats and in both sexes of mice. Mice also had increased incidences of neoplasms of the circulatory system, Harderian gland, skin, kidney, and liver. Both female rats and female mice had increased incidences of mammary tumors. Chloroprene was determined to show clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in all four studies in male and female rats and mice.
Ethylbenzene
. Ethylbenzene is a chemical used mainly in the production of styrene and cellulose acetate. More than 10 billion pounds of ethylbenzene are used annually. Male and female rats exposed to atmospheres containing 75.0-750.0 ppm of ethylbenzene had increased incidences of kidney hyperplasia and neoplasms. Male mice exhibited higher incidences of lung tumors and female mice had increased incidences of liver tumors. These neoplasms are considered clear evidence of carcinogenicity in male rats and some evidence of carcinogenicity in female rats and both sexes of mice.
Oxazepam.
Oxazepam is one of the family of benzodiazepine drugs used in the treatment of anxiety. In earlier NTP studies, oxazepam was shown to cause liver tumors in both males and females of two strains of mice. The chemical was re-tested in rats; in the present study, oxazepam caused a marginal increase of kidney neoplasms in male rats, which is considered equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity, and increased kidney nephropathy in both males and females. No neoplasm increases were associated with oxazepam in female rats.
Cobalt sulfate.
Cobalt sulfate is widely used in the electroplating industry. Occupational exposure to cobalt compounds occurs mainly by inhalation of dusts or fumes in refining processes and the production of alloys. Exposure of rats and mice to atmospheres containing 0.3-3.0 ppm of cobalt sulfate heptahydrate caused lung adenomas and carcinomas in males and females of both species. In addition, extensive nonneoplastic lesions in the nose (olfactory epithelial atrophy and metaplasia) and larynx (squamous metaplasia) were seen in most exposed animals in all four studies.
Primidone.
Primidone is a desoxybarbiturate that metabolizes to phenobarbital and is used as an anticonvulsant to control seizures. Primidone was given in feed to rats in concentrations up to 2,500 ppm and to mice in concentrations up to 1,300 ppm for 2 years. Male rats had marginal increases in thyroid and kidney tumors, which is considered equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity. No tumor increases were seen in female rats. Male and female mice had marked increases in incidences of a variety of liver neoplasms, which constituted clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in both sexes.
AZT.
AZT (3´-azido-3´-deoxythymidine) is the most widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of persons who have AIDS or are seropositive for HIV. AZT was administered to male and female mice by gavage in a methylcellulose solution both with and without accompanying doses of a-interferon A/D to mimic some therapeutic regimens. Male mice had slight increases in kidney and Harderian gland neoplasms, which are considered equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity. Female mice had increased incidences of squamous cell carcinomas of the vagina, which consititute clear evidence of carcinogenic activity.
Tetrahydrofuran.
Tetrahydrofuran has a variety of industrial uses as a reaction medium, as an intermediate in chemical synthesis, and as a solvent. Human exposure occurs primarily in occupational settings. When rodents were exposed to atmospheres containing up to 1,800 ppm of tetrahydrofuran, male rats experienced increased incidences of kidney tumors and female mice had increased incidences of liver tumors. Female rats and male mice did not have increases in neoplasms at any sites.
Theophylline.
Theophylline is an alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine and is found in tea and chocolate. It is used as a bronchodilator and heart stimulant. When administered to male and female rats and mice daily by oral gavage for 2 years, it produced no evidence of carcinogenic activity.
Isobutyraldehyde.
Isobutyraldehyde is used as a chemical intermediate and flavoring agent in many food products. Annual industrial consumption of isobutyraldehyde in the United States is approximately 500 million pounds. Exposure of rats and mice to atmospheres containing up to 2,000 ppm of isobutyraldehyde produced inflammation and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium, but no evidence of carcinogenicity in males or females of either species.
Polyvinyl alcohol.
Polyvinyl alcohol is a synthetic polymer with a wide range of chain lengths and has a variety of uses including textile sizing, paper coatings, cosmetics, and as an ingredient in intravaginal contraceptive foams and films. Polyvinyl alcohol was studied by intravaginal instillation in female mice. No neoplasms or other lesions were observed.
Last Update: April 10, 1997