Environmental Health Hits the Road
The NIEHS News (p.A192) describes an ongoing series of town meetings being held around the country. The meetings, which are hosted by local NIEHS-funded research centers, are designed to give the public a chance to voice their environmental health concerns and for NIEHS and local health officials to elicit input in framing their research agendas.
Smoke Screen?
Environmental tobacco smoke--or ETS--is being recognized by the public and the scientific community for the insidious threat it poses to human health. The Focus (p.A196) discusses the latest research on the health effects of ETS and explains why some researchers are skeptical and the issue remains controversial.
A Kick in the Butt
A settlement between the tobacco industry and the states will distribute $206 billion over the next 25 years to as-yet undesignated beneficiaries. Critics say the money isn't enough and that the settlement failed to extract vital public health provisions. The Spheres of Influence (p. A202) examines how the settlement came about, what it contains, and what it lacks.
New Growth for Tobacco
In anticipation of a diminishing cigarette market in the future, researchers are investigating new uses for tobacco plants including as transgenic producers of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals. The Innovations (p. A206) describes promising new research that may provide a healthful renaissance for this controversial crop.
Hazardous Wastes in Europe
A Commentary on hazardous wastes in Eastern and Central Europe by Carpenter et al. (p.249) focuses on incineration for waste disposal, discusses engineering safety measures, and warns of possible human health effects from incineration by-products.
Health and Water Pollution in China
Wu et al. (p . 251) report that 700 million people in China drink contaminated water that exceeds maximum permissible levels for animal and human excreta. It is estimated that the volume of wastewater could double between 1990 and 2000 to reach almost 78 billion tons. Two conclusions were offered in the review: 1) deficits in the water supply increase the risk for disease, and 2) unless better management occurs, health threats are likely to become more acute.
Lead Mobilization during Pregnancy
Gulson et al. (p . 257) collected blood and urine samples from pregnant women every month and up to 6 months after delivery. Isotopic lead analyses showed that changes in lead concentrations observed during pregnancy and lactation were usually unrelated to dietary and environmental sources, but do reflect mobilization of lead from bones.
TCE in Drinking Water and Cancer in Massachusetts
The relationship between cancers and tetrachloroethylene in drinking water from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was evaluated by Paulu et al. (p . 265). Relative delivered doses of tetrachloroethylene leached from vinyl-lined drinking water pipes were estimated and the adjusted odds ratio for cancer computed. The data suggest an association between contaminated water and cancer of the lung and, possibly, cancer of the colon-rectum.
Organochlorines and Thyroid Disruption in Humans
Cheek et al. (p . 273) conducted competitive binding experiments with recombinant human thyroid receptor and PCBs, hydroxylated PCBs, DDT and metabolites, and several organochlorine herbicides. Only the hydroxylated PCBs competed for binding. The authors suggest that these compounds are more likely to disrupt thyroid homeostasis by competing for binding to serum transport proteins than by acting as thyroid hormone agonists or antagonists at the receptor.
Smelter Neighborhoods and Heavy Metals
Benin et al. (p . 279) analyzed arsenic, cadmium, and lead in roadside dust from Mexican neighborhoods located near smelters. Many samples exceeded Superfund cleanup goals and cadmium levels were the highest ever reported. The authors conclude that heavy metals pose a health threat and that human exposure should be evaluated.
Methoxychlor Inhibits Amphibian Reproduction
Pickford and Morris (p . 285) report that the pesticide methoxychlor was a potent inhibitor of progesterone-induced oocyte maturation in an in vitro system using Xenopus laevis. The data for methyoxychlor suggest that there is interference with progestin-regulated processes through mechanisms other than receptor antagonism.
Disease and Drinking Water in China
A study by Peng et al. (p . 293) examined the relationship between fulvic acid (the soluble fraction of humic organic substances in water) and disease in China. The authors report data from cell and animal studies that suggest fulvic acid generates free radicals, causing Kashin-Beck disease, and that this effect can be ameliorated by selenium.
International Trends in Reproductive Toxicity
A review by Paulozzi (p . 297) reports an international trend for two kinds of increased male genital birth defects: hypospadia occurs when the urethral opening is displaced toward the scrotum, and cryptorchidism occurs when one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. One cause of this mild feminization in males may be endocrine disruption, but this hypothesis remains unproven and requires further investigation.
Juvenile Hypothryoidism and Radioiodine
A comparison between accidental 131I emissions and childhood hypothyroidism in Hanford, Washington, and Chernobyl, Ukraine, was made by Goldsmith et al. (p. 303). The authors report that populations exposed to radioiodide fallout should be screened for hypothyroidism because this may be clinically significant in children.
Animals as Human Health Sentinels
A report by van der Schalie et al. (p . 309) identified applications for sentinel species data derived from monitoring programs. The workshop participants explored the potential use of such information in human health hazard and risk assessments and for evaluating causes or mechanisms of effect.
Pulmonary Interstitial Fibrosis in a Retired Shipyard Worker
In the Grand Rounds article, Moy et al. (p.321) report on asbestos-related progressive pulmonary interstitial fibrosis in a retired shipyard worker.
Last Updated: March 18, 1999