Biomedical subjects

A H Stern

Publications and source records attributed to A H Stern.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Exposure to chromium dust from homes in a Chromium Surveillance Project.

Investigators used a Lioy-Weisel-Wainman sampler to analyze the chromium content in house-dust samples obtained from households near chromium waste sites in Hudson County, New Jersey. Chromium concentrations in dust (microg/g)-indicative of non-background source contributions-were significantly higher in Jersey City homes than in control homes outside of Hudson County (228 and 111 microg/g, respectively; p < .001). Chromium dust loadings on surfaces (ng/cm2), representing the amount of chromium available for contact and a direct measure of exposure potential, were also higher in Jersey City homes than in control homes (31 ng/cm2 and 14 ng/cm2, respectively; p = .008). Near some of the sites, investigators found elevated chromium dust loads more frequently in homes occupied by at least one household member who had elevated urine chromium, as determined in a separate screening project, than in homes occupied by members whose urine chromium was not elevated. Individuals with elevated urine chromium levels were found less frequently in homes in which good housekeeping practices were evident than in homes absent such practices.

Chromium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monte Carlo analysis of the U.S. EPA model of human exposure to cadmium in sewage sludge through consumption of garden crops.

The derivation of the recently promulgated U.S. EPA regulations for land application of sewage sludge considered a model of human exposure to cadmium (Cd) from consumption of garden crops grown on sludge-amended soil. The EPA approach to the calculation of the maximum acceptable loading rate of Cd to soil from this pathway employs single point estimates for each input variable. It also considers Cd uptake slopes for crops grown in sludge-amended soils with pH from 4.4-8.4. The complexity and variability inherent in this pathway argue against obtaining a realistic assessment of this pathway with point estimates of input parameters. Furthermore, the use of uptake slopes from alkaline soils is likely to lead to underestimating Cd uptake from acidic soils prevalent in the eastern and southern United States. A re-analysis of this pathway is presented employing Monte Carlo probabilistic analysis of the exposure variables with Cd uptake slopes restricted to soils with pH < or = 6.5. Despite uncertainties in the derivation of some probabilistic inputs, this approach appears to present a more realistic assessment of this pathway.

Cadmium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Estimation of fish consumption and methylmercury intake in the New Jersey population.

Despite scientific attention to the toxicology of methylmercury (MeHg), little is known about population-based exposure to this compound. In this study, fish consumption and MeHg intake were estimated based on a seven-day recall survey of fish consumption among 1000 randomly selected New Jersey residents. Survey data were reported on a per-meal basis, and the fish species/dishes consumed at each meal were identified. Portion sizes for each meal were reported or estimated. To correct a possible bias due to underrepresentation of infrequent consumers, several schemes for weighting fish consumption data were investigated. MeHg concentration for most fish species was estimated from the National Marine Fisheries Service database or from recent United States Food and Drug Administration data. Commercial fish accounted for about 95% of all consumption. Mean fish consumption is estimated for all New Jersey adult consumers at 50.2 g/day (90th percentile = 107.4 g/day) and for women 18-40 years old (childbearing age) at 41.0 g/day (90th percentile = 88.1 g/day). Mean MeHg intake is estimated for all New Jersey adult consumers at 7.5 micrograms/day (90th percentile = 1.79 micrograms/day) and for women 18-40 at 6.3 micrograms/day (90th percentile = 14.8 micrograms/day). When MeHg concentrations are adjusted to account for the possible overestimation of current concentrations by the 20-year-old National Marine Fisheries Service database, it is estimated that MeHg intakes may be about 70-80% of unadjusted estimates. Based on these analyses, it is estimated that 21-30% of New Jersey women 18-40 and 5-8% of all New Jersey adults exceed their respective U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reference Doses for MeHg. Because of uncertainty associated with the Reference Doses, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines does not necessarily correspond to adverse effects on consumers or their fetuses.

Adult↗