Biomedical subjects

W E Kaye

Publications and source records attributed to W E Kaye.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of exposure databases for status and trends analysis.

Exposure databases are useful for monitoring status and trends in environmental health. However, other supporting data are usually needed to infer human exposure or internal dose. Program planning and evaluation, environmental health surveillance, epidemiologic research, and contributions to international efforts are four major purposes for monitoring environmental exposure status and trends. Although databases play an important role in monitoring human exposure, certain methodological problems need to be overcome. The work group developed six criteria for meeting information needs for human exposure assessment. Areas that need attention are (1) specification of location, (2) specification of facility and chemical identifiers, (3) documentation of special populations at risk, (4) provision of early warning of new problems, (5) monitoring changes over time, and (6) enhancement of documentation. We tested these criteria by examining six available databases that might be used for monitoring exposure to contaminants in drinking water. Available data fell short of information needs. We drew four conclusions and offered several recommendations for each. First, available data systems lack adequate measures of human exposure. Second, data for monitoring exposures for many important population subgroups and environmental settings are inadequate. Third, an "early warning" system that monitors human exposures is needed. Fourth, designers of data-collection systems should consider the needs of users who monitor status and trends of human exposure.

Data Collection↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surveillance of hazardous substance releases and related health effects.

The public health consequences of hazardous substance releases have not been characterized adequately. In response, therefore, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry implemented an active, state-based surveillance system. Information is collected with respect to the events, chemicals, victims, injuries, and evacuations. Five states reported 1,249 events during 1990 and 1991. Seventy-two percent of the events occurred at fixed facilities, and 28% of the events were transportation related. In 80% of the events, one chemical was released. The most frequently released chemicals were herbicides, acids, volatile organic compounds, and ammonias. In 204 events, 846 persons were injured and 7 died. Employees were injured more frequently than first responders or the general public. The most frequently reported injuries were respiratory irritation and eye irritation. Evacuations occurred in 14% of the events. These results provide information for preparedness planning and training of first responders and employees.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Data linkage to explore the risk of low birthweight associated with maternal proximity to hazardous waste sites from the National Priorities List.

Data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey files were linked with data from the 1990 Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites to determine whether any relationship existed between living in proximity to hazardous waste sites and low birthweight. The odds ratio for low birthweight versus normal birthweight was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.98-1.16), and remained at 0.99 (95% CI = 0.86-1.16) when adjusted for maternal age, parity, infant sex, prenatal care, and behavioral and socioeconomic factors. Very low birthweight, infant and fetal death, prematurity, and congenital malformation were not found to be associated with living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste site during pregnancy. Merging a large population database with environmental data proved to be an innovative but not very efficient method of assessing the risks of low birthweight related to the environment.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case-control study to determine risk factors for elevated blood lead levels in children, Idaho.

OBJECTIVE: A pair-matched, case-control study was conducted to identify if risk factors or behaviors suspected to affect childhood blood lead levels, were more prevalent among children with elevated blood lead levels living in the vicinity of a defunct mining and smelting facility. METHODS: Study individuals were recruited from the 1992 Silver Valley blood lead screening participants. The cases were children with a blood lead level > 10 micrograms per deciliter (microgram/dL). The controls were children with a blood lead level < 10 micrograms/dL, who were matched to cases by age and sex. Data on risk factors were obtained through personal interviews. RESULTS: Of the variables examined, yard soil remediation showed the strongest association with changes in blood lead levels. This variable was found to be a protective factor for elevated blood lead levels in children (odds ratio, 0.28; confidence interval, 0.08-0.92). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that removal of lead contaminated soil from residential yards was effective in reducing blood lead levels in children.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Public health consequences of hazardous substance releases.

Information collected on events and public health consequences can indicate trends in temporal and spatial distribution, chemical releases, and morbidity and mortality of emergency events. This knowledge will be useful in training first responders, planning preparedness for such events, and formulation of guidelines and policies. The impact of such training or policies should reduce both the number of events (primary prevention) and the morbidity and mortality associated with these events (secondary prevention). HSEES is the first comprehensive, state-based surveillance system of hazardous substance releases and public health consequences. Successful implementation of the system requires an active, state-based approach that uses multiple data sources and collects information in a consistent format. Good working relationships between agencies are of paramount importance for obtaining notification about events and information for the lengthy data-collection form. The system is more sensitive in recording hazardous substance releases than any existing single national database, as shown through quality-control evaluations in which HSEES data are compared with events reported to other databases. Consistency in data reporting is further evaluated by case studies sent to states on a regular basis. The five states that participated during the first 2 years of surveillance were not randomly selected. However, with additional states participating in HSEES, the representativeness of surveillance data will improve for making national estimates.

Cohort Studies↗