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Biomedical subjects

H A Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to H A Anderson.

120 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Fish consumption patterns and blood mercury levels in Wisconsin Chippewa Indians.

Methylmercury is a known neurotoxin at high blood levels (> 400 micrograms/l) and is thought to cause neurologic symptoms at substantially lower levels in susceptible adults and infants. Given that levels of methylmercury in fish in northern Wisconsin lakes can be high (> 1 ppm, FDA standard) and Chippewa Indians take large amounts of fish from these lakes, the extent of their exposure to methylmercury was investigated. Using tribal-maintained registries, 465 Chippewa adults living on reservation were selected randomly and were invited to participate; 175 (38%) participated in the study. In an effort to characterize nonrespondents, 75 nonrespondents were selected randomly and were followed up aggressively. An additional 152 volunteers who were selected nonrandomly also participated in the study. Subjects completed a questionnaire about fish consumption patterns and had blood drawn for mercury determination. Sixty-four persons (20%) had blood mercury levels in excess of 5 micrograms/l (i.e., upper limit of normal in nonexposed populations); the highest level found was 33 micrograms/l. Fish consumption was higher in males and the unemployed. Blood mercury levels were highly associated with recent walleye consumption (p = .001). Methylmercury levels in some Wisconsin Chippewa were found to be elevated, but were below the levels associated with adverse health effects. We recommend a continuation of efforts to limit exposures in this high-risk population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osteosarcoma, seasonality, and environmental factors in Wisconsin, 1979-1989.

Proxy exposure measures and readily available data from the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System were used to contrast 167 osteosarcoma cases with 989 frequency-matched cancer referents reported during 1979-1989. Differences in potential exposure to water-borne radiation and fluoridated drinking water, population size for the listed place of residence, and seasonality were assessed. An association was found between osteosarcoma and residence in a population of less than 9,000 (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-2.4). In addition, an association between month of birth (May through July versus other months of birth) and osteosarcoma among individuals who were less than 25 y of age (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-3.4). Overall, no association was found between potential exposure to fluoridated drinking water and osteosarcoma (odds ratio = 1.0, 95% confidence interval = 0.6-1.5). The association between osteosarcoma and water-borne radiation was weak and was not significant statistically (odds ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.8-2.8).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Public response to elevated nitrate in drinking water wells in Wisconsin.

The authors conducted a survey by mail of Wisconsin families who had their well water tested for nitrate to (a) assess their awareness and compliance with the state's health advisories for nitrate, (b) evaluate their reaction(s) to their test results, and (c) compare demographic differences between exposure levels. Owners of contaminated wells (i.e., > 12.9 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen) were more likely to have lived on a farm, had lower annual incomes, and had older and shallower wells than families whose wells were low in nitrate (i.e., < 2.0 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen). Most respondents were aware of the advisories for pregnant women and infants and, in accordance with these advisories, the majority of families with nitrate-contaminated drinking water took no remedial action. Given that many rural families consume nitrate-contaminated water daily, scientists should conduct additional research to determine whether chronic ingestion of nitrate-contaminated water poses a significant health threat to these families.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of adipose tissue and serum from PBB (polybrominated biphenyl)-exposed workers.

In the course of clinical examinations of individuals exposed to PBB (polybrominated biphenyl(s) in Michigan, employees of the chemical company which manufactured PBB also were examined. Analysis of serum and adipose tissue from these workers revealed quantitative and qualitative differences, compared with farm residents exposed to PBB. Serum and fat concentrations of PBB were higher among chemical workers, and the concentrations of PBB homologs were also higher, attributable to different intensity, route (skin, inhalation, direct ingestion vs. ingestion of animal foodstuffs), and composition (unchanged vs. animal-mediated material) of exposure in chemical workers vs. farmers. The unusual nature of occupational exposure was further evident in measurement of serum and fat DDE and identification of serum tetrabromobenzene (TBB). DDE concentrations were higher among employees than among farmers, consistent with the workers' earlier occupational exposure to DDT, which had been produced by the company. Serum TBB was not explicable by direct exposure to the chemical, but has been ascribed to exposure to hexabromobenzene, which was shown to give tetrabromobenzene as a metabolite in the rat.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral risk factors of Chippewa Indians living on Wisconsin reservations.

Behavioral risk factors and chronic disease death rates vary markedly among the numerous American Indian tribes. Local data on prevalence of risk factors are important in determining effective community-based interventions. The authors conducted an in-person survey to ascertain the prevalence of behavioral risk factors among members of the Chippewa tribe living on reservations in Wisconsin. A total of 465 Chippewa adults were randomly selected from tribal registries and invited to participate in the study. Of these, 175 (38 percent) participated. To characterize nonrespondents, 75 nonrespondents were randomly selected and aggressively followed up. The authors compared their results with data from the 1989 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Chippewa respondents reported high levels of obesity and tobacco use. No significant differences existed between the original survey and followback of nonrespondents. Compared with respondents who had telephones, those without telephones were significantly more likely to be unemployed, to be a current smoker or drinker, and to report nonuse of seatbelts. Compared with the general Wisconsin population, Chippewa adults appear to have higher prevalences of several chronic disease and injury risk factors. The original survey methodology, despite the low response rate, appeared to give a more accurate (less biased) estimate of risk factor prevalences than would have been achieved by a telephone survey.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Asthma. The states' challenge.

At the national level, asthma is increasingly being recognized as an important public health problem. Because of the significant role of environmental exposure in asthma morbidity, public health agencies have a critical role to play in the surveillance and prevention of the disease. In April 1996, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, surveyed state and territorial public health departments to determine the status of their asthma surveillance and intervention programs. Of the 51 health departments that responded, only eight reported that they had implemented an asthma control program within the previous 10 years. Reasons cited for not having programs included lack of funds, shortage of personnel, and asthma not being a priority. Most states were unable to assess the burden of asthma because they lack data or face barriers to using existing data. Removing barriers to the use of data is a first step toward defining the scope of the asthma problem.

Adolescent↗