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PubMed2000

A preliminary look at source-receptor relationships in the Texas-Mexico border area.

Several factors have recently caused visibility impairment at Big Bend National Park, TX, to be of interest. Analyses of historical data collected there have shown that visibility is poorer and fine particle concentrations are higher at Big Bend than at other monitored Class I areas in the western United States. In addition, air masses frequently arrive there after crossing Mexico, where emissions are not well known. During September and October 1996, a field study was undertaken to begin examining the aerosol, visibility, and meteorology on both sides of the border. Results indicate that, during the study, the largest fractions of fine mass and light extinction at Big Bend were due to sulfates and the trace elements most closely associated with sulfate particles were Na and Se. Based on back trajectory modeling and the spatial, temporal, and inter-species relationships in the fine particle concentrations measured during the study, sulfates arrived at the park from both Mexico and the United States. Se was higher in Texas than in Northern Mexico, while V, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Mn were on average much higher in Mexico.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2005

Spatial variability of unpaved road dust PM10 emission factors near El Paso, Texas.

The testing re-entrained aerosol kinetic emissions from roads technique is compared with distance-based emission factors (EFs; g/VKT) measured downwind of a dirt road by using towers instrumented with real-time meteorological and particle sensors at multiple heights. The emission potential (EP), defined as the EF divided by the vehicle speed (m/sec), and weight index permits the intercomparison of emissions from multiple roadways surveyed by the TRAKER vehicle. A survey of 72 km of unpaved roads on the Ft. Bliss Military Base near El Paso, Texas, indicated that 60% of all measured EPs fell between 6.7 (g/VKT)/(m/sec) and 9.6 (g/VKT)/(m/sec). The EP measured across the base was approximately 50% lower than those collected in the vicinity of the instrumented towers. This implies that EFs measured for other vehicles on the same test section should be reduced by 50% to more accurately represent EFs for the entire military base. Using geographic information system-based soil maps, the inferred EFs are related to differences in soil types over the survey area. Variations among five different soil types accounted for <10% of variation in EP. Individual measurements using the testing re-entrained aerosol kinetic emissions from roads technique did show larger spatial variations in EP; however, these were not effectively captured by the soil classifications, partly because of the comparatively coarse spatial classification used in the soil survey data.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between future orientation and street substance use among Texas alternative school students.

Self-reported substance use data were collected from 963 alternative school students in grades 7-12 who were surveyed through the Safer Choices 2 study in Houston, Texas. Data were collected between October 2000 and March 2001. Logistic regression analyses indicated that lower levels of future orientation was significantly associated (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81-0.97) with thirty-day substance use after controlling for age and gender. In addition, lower levels of future orientation was found to have a significant association with students' lifetime substance use (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.87-.99) after controlling for age, race, and gender. While the relationships tested in this study are exploratory, they provide evidence for an important connection between future orientation and substance use among adolescents attending alternative schools.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Media and community campaign effects on adult tobacco use in Texas.

The present study reports on the effects on adult tobacco cessation of a comprehensive tobacco-use prevention and cessation program in the state of Texas. Differences in cessation rates across treatment conditions were measured by following a panel of 622 daily smokers, recruited from the original cross-sectional sample, from baseline to follow-up. The adult media campaign combined television, radio, newspaper and billboard advertisements featuring messages and outreach programs to help adults avoid or quit using tobacco products. The ads also promoted quitting assistance programs from the American Cancer Society Smokers' Quitline, a telephone counseling service. The cessation component of the intervention focused on increasing availability of and access to cessation counseling services and pharmacological therapy to reduce nicotine dependence. Both clinical and community-based cessation programs were offered. Treatment areas which combined cessation activities with high level media campaigns had a rate of smoking reduction that almost tripled rates in areas which received no services, and almost doubled rates in areas with media campaigns alone. Analyses of the dose of exposure to media messages about smoking cessation show greater exposure to television and radio messages in the areas where high level media was combined with community cessation activities than in the other areas. Results also show that exposure to media messages was related to processes of change in smoking cessation and that those processes were related to the quitting that was observed in the group receiving the most intensive campaigns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Patterns of exposures at school among children age 6-19 years reported to Texas poison centers, 1998-2002.

Although children and adolescents spend a large amount of time in school, there is little information on the factors involved in school exposures that are reported to poison centers. This study used data involving exposures among children age 6-19 yr reported to 6 Texas poison centers during 1998-2002. The distribution of school and nonschool exposures was determined for various demographic and other factors, and comparisons were made between the two types of exposures. The lowest proportion of reported school exposures occurred in June-August and the next lowest proportion occurred in December-January; nonschool exposures were more constant throughout the year. Males accounted for 58% of school exposures and 49% of nonschool exposures. The exposure was unintentional in 74% of school and 67% of nonschool exposures. Ingestion was the most frequently reported exposure route for school (64%) and nonschool (76%) exposures. Among those cases with known medical outcome, the most frequently reported medical outcome involved minor effects for both school exposures (58%) and nonschool exposures (46%). Nonpharmaceuticals were involved in 75% of school exposures and 48% of nonschool exposures. The most frequently reported substances involved in school exposures were arts, crafts, and office supplies (18%), while the most frequently reported substances involved in nonschool exposures were analgesics (17%). This information may allow school administrators and health care providers to implement prevention strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Alprazolam abuse in Texas, 1998-2004.

Alprazolam (Xanax) is used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and is subject to abuse. The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of alprazolam abuse and drug identification (ID) calls received by several poison control centers. Cases were alprazolam calls received by 6 poison control centers during 1998-2004. Of 25,954 alprazolam calls received, 42% were drug ID calls and 51% were human exposure calls, of which 18% were abuse calls. The number of drug ID calls and the number of abuse calls both increased during the 7-yr period. Male patients accounted for 54% of abuse calls and females for 66% of nonabuse calls. Adolescent patients comprised 43% of abuse calls but only 12% of nonabuse calls. Although the majority of both types of human exposures occurred at the patient's own residence, abuse exposures were more likely than other exposures to occur at school (9% vs. 1%) and public areas (6% vs. 1%). While abuse calls were less likely than nonabuse calls to have no adverse clinical effects (19% vs. 23%), they were more likely to have minor medical outcomes (60% vs. 50%). Alprazolam abuse in Texas appears to be increasing. Alprazolam abusers are more likely to be male and often adolescent. Alprazolam abuse as compared to other exposures is more likely to occur outside of the person's home. Alprazolam abuse is more likely to involve some sort of adverse medical outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of zolpidem and zaleplon exposures in Texas, 1998-2004.

Zolpidem and zaleplon are used for the treatment of insomnia. The objective of this study was to compare the patterns of zolpidem and zaleplon exposures reported to Texas poison control centers during 1998-2004. There were 5842 total reported zolpidem exposures, of which 2918 (50%) were isolated exposures, and 467 total reported zaleplon exposures, of which 201 (43%) were isolated exposures. Zolpidem patients were 62% male and 67% adult. Zaleplon patients were 67% male and 34% adult. The exposure was intentional in 62% of zolpidem and 58% of zaleplon exposures. The exposure occurred at the patient's own residence in 94% of zolpidem and 97% of zaleplon exposures. Management occurred outside of a health care facility for 29% of zolpidem and 32% of zaleplon exposures. The medical outcome involved no symptoms due to exposure for 29% of zolpidem and 44% of zaleplon exposures, a statistically significant difference. Although many of the most frequently reported adverse clinical effects for the two drugs were similar (drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations, ataxia, tachycardia, dizziness, confusion, vomiting), the proportion of exposures with a given adverse clinical effect was generally lower for zaleplon. Thus, although zolpidem and zaleplon exposures were generally similar with respect to patient gender and age, exposure reason and site, and management site, zaleplon exposures were less likely to result in minor medical outcomes or manifest as adverse clinical effects.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1990

Organochlorine compounds in human adipose tissue from north Texas.

This paper reports a preliminary study that was conducted to determine the concentrations of organochlorine compounds in the adipose tissue of residents of North Texas. Thirty-five human adipose tissue samples were obtained during autopsy between 1987 and 1988 from persons who had no known occupational exposure to organochlorine pesticides. These samples were analyzed by electron-capture gas chromatographic methods for the presence of beta-benzene hexachloride, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, oxychlordane, and heptachlor epoxide. The findings indicate greater than 97% occurrence for each compound with the exception of o,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDT, each of which occurred in 54% of the population sampled. Statistical analyses of the data showed strong positive correlations between adipose tissue concentrations and age for oxychlordane, heptachlor epoxide, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and total DDT (the normalized sum of DDT and its analogues) (p less than or equal to .05). Statistically significant differences (p less than or equal to .05) in geometric mean concentrations between all age groups were found for total DDT and p,p'-DDE. However, the group means comparison test was only significantly different between the 41-60 yr and 61 and over age groups for p,p'-DDT, oxychlordane, and heptachlor epoxide. No statistically significant difference was found between sexes in this study. The geometric means of pesticide concentrations in adipose tissue were compared with those reported in previous U.S. Environmental Protection Agency surveys for the general population. This comparison clearly indicates a declining temporal trend in environmental exposure for banned DDT analogues; however, a consistent temporal trend exists for oxychlordane and heptachlor epoxide--pesticides whose uses are currently restricted but not proscribed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suicide and net migration in Texas counties, 1970 and 1980.

Recent research has examined the consequences of migration, with much of this work focusing on "boom" towns. This literature provides a useful framework for studying the consequences of population growth in other settings, however. The boom-town literature has generally used the social disruption hypothesis, which predicts social disruptions in communities growing rapidly through migration, to explain the results of migration in these communities. Suicide is one social disruption indicator which has not received much empirical attention. According to the social disruption hypothesis, a positive relationship is expected between the net migration and suicide rates. We examine this hypothesis using data from Texas nonmetropolitan counties for the last two decades. We also present separate analyses for metropolitan counties. The results fail to provide support for the hypothesis. There is generally no relationship between net migration and suicide rates in both nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties. Alternative explanations fail to alter this finding.

Anomie↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality transition among the Wends of Serbin, Texas, 1854-1884: changes in pattern of death from parochial records.

Investigating cause of death is important in the study of mortality. Most studies, however, deal with aggregate national samples and rely on civil death certificates filled out by physicians. Little or no research has been done using parochial burial registers for individual-level cause of death. This article investigates causes of death between 1854 and 1884 among the Wends of Serbin, Texas, a nineteenth-century European immigrant community. The goal is: (1) to show that data pertaining to individual cause of death extracted from parochial records can contribute to knowledge about historical mortality patterns at the community level, (2) to determine if an epidemiological transition occurred in this population, and (3) to identify changes in disease patterns over time. Changes in the pattern of disease for the entire population as well as for the subpopulation under one year of age are analyzed.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonality of birth and conception to teenagers in Texas.

We study the births to teenagers during the years 1964-2000 and analyze separately the three main racial/ethnic groups in Texas (White, Hispanic, and African American), as well as married and unmarried teens during the years 1994-2000. By using traditional statistical methods of analysis and a filter based on the multiresolution wavelet analysis, we draw inferences about the times of the year when adolescent females of different racial/ethnic and marital groups have the highest probability for pregnancy ending in live birth. Multiple factors influencing teen pregnancy are identified and associated with temporal features of social, cultural, educational, and familial processes. In particular, we detect links between unmarried teen conception times and school terms, and weekly birth patterns associated with scheduled c-sections that differ according to racial/ethnic groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Lifetime inhalant use among alternative high school students in Texas: prevalence and characteristics of users.

This cross-sectional study describes the prevalence of lifetime inhalant use and identifies demographic, psychosocial, and other risk behavior characteristics of students reporting lifetime inhalant use. The sample consisted of 354 students attending alternative high schools (dropout prevention/recovery schools) in Texas. The prevalence of lifetime inhalant use was 27.7%. After controlling for potentially confounding factors, students reporting lifetime inhalant use were less likely to be financially supported by their parents/guardians, more likely to use alcohol/tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine, and more likely to carry weapons and consider suicide. Study results may allow school officials, parents, researchers, and health care providers to gain a better understanding of inhalant use among students at risk for dropping out of school, a group which has not been extensively studied by previous researchers.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2005

Measurement of volatile organic compounds in the urban atmosphere of Harris County, Texas, USA.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major component of urban air pollution. It is well documented that exposure to certain types of VOCs can cause adverse health effects such as cancer, immune and neurological damage, and reproductive and endocrine disorders. Urban air samples were collected at five locations in Harris County, Texas to determine the measurement of VOCs in the ambient air of residential areas in close proximity to industrial facilities that emit toxic air pollutants into the air. Three locations used in this study were located along the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), in the heart of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the nation. Two other sampling locations were located many miles away from the ship channel and any industrial facilities that are required to report toxic air emissions. Air samples were collected daily over an 8-h period from December 2002 to March 2003. The samples were collected in 6-L stainless steel Silonite-coated canisters and analyzed using a modified version of EPA Method TO-15. A total of 53 compounds was quantitated using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer system coupled to a cryogenic preconcentrator. Eighteen alkanes and oxygenated compounds were identified, along with 7 alkenes and 5 aromatic compounds. Several alkanes such as butane, isobutane, 2-methyl butane, and pentane were detected at all five sites. The total VOC concentrations determined were highest at two of the industrial sites and lowest at the site farthest away from the ship channel and any industrial facilities. This study concluded that the atmosphere near Harris County's industrial complex had higher concentrations of VOCs than the atmosphere in areas farther away from the HSC. The atmosphere of areas downwind from emission sources were found to be directly affected by toxic air emissions from industrial process but not at the levels seen in areas closer to the HSC.

Air↗
PubMed2000

Antiretroviral prescribing patterns in the Texas prison system.

Although the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among prison inmates is reported to be high, little is known about anti-HIV treatment patterns in correctional institutions. The present study assessed antiretroviral prescribing patterns for 2360 Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates infected with HIV. In 1998, 66.8% of all TDCJ inmates infected with HIV who had CD4 lymphocyte counts < 500 cells/mm(3) were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, no substantial differences in the use of HAART were exhibited according to the sociodemographic factors under study. While the majority of inmates receiving HAART in 1998 were prescribed a combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and 1 protease inhibitor, 11.2% were prescribed a combination of 2 NRTIs and 1 non-NRTI. In view of the elevated rate of HIV infection in correctional settings, it will be important to continue to document the pharmacotherapy patterns among prison inmates, both during and following incarceration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiologic differences between United States- and foreign-born tuberculosis patients in Houston, Texas.

The proportion of foreign-born tuberculosis patients in the United States is increasing. To analyze the epidemiology of tuberculosis in foreign-born people, culture-positive patients with tuberculosis in Houston, Texas, were interviewed from October 1995 through September 1998, and their isolates were molecularly characterized. Of the 1131 patients included in the study, 795 (70.3%) were US born and 336 (29.7%) were foreign born. The decrease in tuberculosis case rate among US-born people was 3.5 times that of foreign-born people. Significantly more US-born than foreign-born patients belonged to strain clusters (71.3% vs. 29.5%; P<.001). Risk factors associated with strain clustering were as follows: black ethnicity, low income, and homelessness in US-born patients and homelessness in foreign-born patients. Isolates from foreign-born patients were more likely to be resistant to >/=1 drug (15.4% vs. 8.4%; P=.001) and to be multidrug resistant (2.4% vs. 0.7%; P=.027) than isolates from US-born patients. These observations warrant increased emphasis on this distinct subpopulation of tuberculosis patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Mycobacterium simiae pseudo-outbreak resulting from a contaminated hospital water supply in Houston, Texas.

Various species of nontuberculous mycobacteria are known to cause nosocomial pseudo-outbreaks, but there have been no detailed reports of nosocomial Mycobacterium simiae pseudo-outbreaks. From April 1997 through February 2001, we recovered 65 M. simiae isolates from 62 patients at a community teaching hospital in Houston, Texas. The organism was grown in various water samples obtained in the hospital building and in professional building 1 but not in professional building 2, which has a separate water supply system. Thirty-one environmental and human outbreak-related M. simiae isolates had indistinguishable or closely related patterns on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and were considered clonal. M. simiae can be a cause of nosocomial pseudo-outbreaks. The reservoir for this pseudo-outbreak was identified as a contaminated hospital water supply.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Molecular genetic analysis of 675 group A streptococcus isolates collected in a carrier study at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Contemporary molecular genetic analysis methods have not been used to study large samples of carriage isolates of group A Streptococcus. To determine the emm types causing asymptomatic carriage and pharyngitis in a closed population, we analyzed 675 isolates recovered from a population-based surveillance study of 10,634 recruits at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during 4 months in 1993-1994. Strains with emm1 and emm6 alleles accounted for only 22% of the isolates recovered from asymptomatic recruits at entrance to training. However, these 2 emm types caused 69% of the pharyngitis cases identified during training and represented 51% of the isolates recovered from the throat on exit from training. Sequence analysis of the hypervariable sic gene documented that distinct emm1 subclones disseminated in specific training groups called flights. The preferential increase in the prevalence of emm1 and emm6 isolates during the 6-week training period indicates an enhanced ability of these strains to disseminate and cause disease in this population.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

An outbreak of foodborne botulism associated with food sold at a salvage store in Texas.

Foodborne botulism is caused by potent neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum. We investigated a large outbreak of foodborne botulism among church supper attendees in Texas. We conducted a cohort study of attendees and investigated the salvage store that sold the implicated foods. We identified 15 cases of botulism (40%) among 38 church supper attendees. Nine patients (60%) had botulinum toxin type A detected in stool specimens. The diagnosis was delayed in 3 cases. Fifteen (63%) of 24 attendees who ate a chili dish developed botulism (relative risk, undefined; P<.001). The chili dish was prepared with "brand X" or "brand Y" frozen chili, "brand Z" canned chili, and hot dogs. An unopened container of brand X chili yielded type A toxin. Brand X chili was purchased at a salvage store where perishable foods were inadequately refrigerated. Our investigation highlights the need to improve clinicians' awareness of botulism. More rigorous and more unannounced inspections may be necessary to detect food mishandling at salvage stores.

Adolescent↗