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At least 1,153 records · Page 64Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Levels of persistent organochlorine contaminants in fish from Korea and their potential health risk.

Organochlorine contaminants in the muscles of sport and market fish were determined to understand the potential risks to humans consuming fish originating in Korea's coastal waters. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; sum of 22 congeners) and DDTs were the dominant contaminants, and their concentrations were in the range of 2.96 to 96.6 and 0.84 to 27.0 ng/g (wet weight basis), respectively. The highest PCB concentrations were found in samples taken from an industrial complex. Hexachlorocyclohexanes, chlordane-related compounds, and hexachlorobenzene concentrations were relatively low and ranged from 0.64 to 5.6, 0.17 to 4.24, and 0.08 to 1.58, respectively. Sport fish had levels of PCBs and DDTs approximately two times higher than market fish, implying that sport fish posed high potential risk of contamination with OCs. Risk-based screening value (SV) based on U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method was calculated using the USEPA approach to identify the primary chemicals of concern. Total PCB concentrations in all sport and market fish exceeded the SV (5.04 ng/g based on total PCBs), but the other compounds were mostly below SV values. Based on the estimated SVs, PCB compounds were identified as potential chemicals of concern.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Defining and managing biohazardous waste in U.S. research-oriented universities: a survey of environmental health and safety professionals.

A survey was conducted of environmental health and safety professionals responsible for biohazardous waste management at 122 institutions. The overall response rate was 82.6 percent (100 out of 122). Results indicate that university policies for biohazardous waste are heavily influenced by state environmental regulations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, and the biosafety guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. With respect to definition of waste, 84 percent of the universities treat non-infectious human-cell-culture waste as biohazardous. Sharp items, including hypodermic needles, syringes with needles, and scalpel blades, are commonly treated (by 85 percent of universities) as biohazardous sharps regardless of contamination status. Importantly, while 90 percent of universities use autoclave sterilization for waste treatment, only 52 percent use a biological indicator to validate the process. On-site incineration is currently used by 42 percent of universities. Twenty-two of 42 incinerators are hospital/medical/infectious-waste incinerators, and 10 of these will continue to operate under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's revised incinerator regulations. Eighty-seven percent of the respondents indicated that some portion of their university's biohazardous waste is treated and disposed of through a licensed medical waste hauler (MWH). To ensure compliance with institutional policy, most universities segregate and package waste, train waste generators, and conduct inspections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed2006

Daphnia magna mortality when exposed to titanium dioxide and fullerene (C60) nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles (1-100 nm) comprise the latest technological advances designed to do everything from absorb environmental toxins to deliver drugs to a target organ. Recently, however, they have come under scrutiny for the potential to cause environmental damage. Because compounds in this miniature size range have chemical properties that differ from those of their larger counterparts, nanoparticles deserve special attention. Our main objective was to assess the potential impact that nanoparticles may have on release into aquatic environments. We prepared titanium dioxide (TiO2) and fullerene (C60) nanoparticles by filtration in tetrahydrofuran or by sonication. Daphnia magna were exposed to the four solutions using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 48-h acute toxicity tests. Images of the particle solutions were recorded using transmission-electron microscopy, and the median lethal concentration, lowest-observable-effect concentration, and no-observable-effect concentration were determined. Exposure to filtered C60 and filtered TiO2 caused an increase in mortality with an increase in concentration, whereas fullerenes show higher levels of toxicity at lower concentrations. Exposure to the sonicated solutions caused varied mortality. Understanding the potential impacts of nanoparticles will help to identify the most appropriate nanotechnology to preserve the aquatic environment while advancing medical and environmental technology.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of noise pollution in urban parks.

The present study provides an evaluation of noise pollution in six Urban Parks located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (L(eq)) were measured in 303 points (each point measured during 3 min) spread throughout the Parks. Measured values were confronted with local legislation (Law 10625) allowed limits, and the Parks were thus classified as "acoustically polluted or unpolluted". Measured values were also evaluated according to international legislation: Decree no. 12 of the City Council of Rome, DIN 18005 for German cities, the World Health Organization, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Urban parks in the downtown area of Curitiba, surrounded by roads of heavy traffic and in the midst of intense commercial activities, do not satisfy any of the standards used. The most noise-polluted parks in Curitiba were the Public Walk Park and the Botanical Garden Park, with measured L(eq) of 64.8 dB(A) and 67 dB(A).

Brazil↗
PubMed2004

Mysid crustaceans as potential test organisms for the evaluation of environmental endocrine disruption: a review.

Anthropogenic chemicals that disrupt the hormonal systems (endocrine disruptors) of wildlife species recently have become a widely investigated and politically charged issue. Invertebrates account for roughly 95% of all animals, yet surprisingly little effort has been made to understand their value in signaling potential environmental endocrine disruption. This omission largely can be attributed to the high diversity of invertebrates and the shortage of fundamental knowledge of their endocrine systems. Insects and crustaceans are exceptions and, as such, appear to be excellent candidates for evaluating the environmental consequences of chemically induced endocrine disruption. Mysid shrimp (Crustacea: Mysidacea) may serve as a viable surrogate for many crustaceans and have been put forward as suitable test organisms for the evaluation of endocrine disruption by several researchers and regulatory bodies (e.g., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Despite the long-standing use of mysids in toxicity testing, little information exists on their endocrinology, and few studies have focused on the potential of these animals for evaluating the effects of hormone-disrupting compounds. Therefore, the question remains as to whether the current standardized mysid endpoints can be used or adapted to detect endocrine disruption, or if new procedures must be developed, specifically directed at evaluating hormone-regulated endpoints in these animals. This review summarizes the ecological importance of mysids in estuarine and marine ecosystems, their use in toxicity testing and environmental monitoring, and their endocrinology and important hormone-regulated processes to highlight their potential use in assessing environmental endocrine disruption.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Use of anodic stripping voltammetry in predicting toxicity of copper in river water.

The labile concentration and toxicity of Cu as influenced by alkalinity and different concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and naturally derived fulvic acid (FA) were determined by bioassays carried out in the culture media for Daphnia magna (D. magna). The labile concentration of Cu was obtained by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with a double-acidification method (DAM-DPASV). Changes in water alkalinity did not affect the labile concentration of Cu, but increase in alkalinity did reduce the mortality of D. magna. In the presence of EDTA and FA, both labile concentration of Cu and mortality were reduced. By excluding Cu-carbonate complexes from the labile concentration, a bioavailable concentration of Cu ([Cu*]) was obtained and was used to predict the acute toxicity of Cu on D. magna. For natural waters, the labile concentration of Cu was measured by DAM-DPASV, and [Cu*] was calculated using MINTEQ A2 software (developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) based on the anion composition of waters. This procedure was tested for waters and sediment elutriates sampled from the Le An River (Jiangxi Province, China) that were severely polluted by the discharges from a copper mine. The results showed that [Cu*] was a good indicator for Cu toxicity and could be used under field conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Using Monte Carlo simulations in public health risk assessments: estimating and presenting full distributions of risk.

With desktop computers as powerful as mainframes were just a few years ago, analysts can now use commercial software to estimate full probability distributions for--not just point estimates of--health risks experienced by people chronically exposed to toxic chemicals at or near hazardous waste sites. Even though probability is the central concept in risk assessment, and even though probabilistic methods offer strong advantages and insights as compared to the "deterministic" methods now required by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's guidance manuals, analysts have only begun to use probabilistic methods at Superfund sites. In this paper, we examine a simplified case study using Monte Carlo methods to estimate full distributions of public health risk. We demonstrate the use of "toggles" to isolate the contributions of different inputs, and we also offer new graphical methods to communicate the results to risk managers and concerned citizens.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Residential proximity to industrial sources of air pollution: interrelationships among race, poverty, and age.

This study builds on earlier work investigating statistical relationships between sociodemographic characteristics of populations and their residential proximity to industrial sources of air pollution. The analysis uses demographic data from the 1990 U.S. Census and industrial site data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s 1990 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The focus is on examining interactions among race (African Americans and Whites), poverty (above and below household poverty threshold), and age (children from birth to 5 years of age and elderly people 65 years old or older). Results from three different study areas (Kanawha Valley in West Virginia, the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Corridor in Louisiana, and the greater Baltimore metropolitan area in Maryland) suggest there are important interactions among race, poverty, and age that are likely to have consequential ramifications for efforts aimed at investigating issues related to environmental justice. Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of all demographic groups studied live within a mile of the nearest facility, with values ranging from 22% of Whites above poverty in the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Corridor to 60% of African Americans below poverty in Baltimore. Likewise, a substantial proportion of all demographic groups also live within 2 miles of four or more industrial facilities, with values ranging from 16% for Whites above poverty in the Corridor to 70% for African Americans below poverty in Baltimore. In all three study areas, African Americans were more likely than Whites to (1) live in households with incomes below the household poverty line, (2) have children 5 years of age or younger, (3) live closer to the nearest industrial emissions source, and (4) live within 2 miles of multiple industrial emission sources. Findings indicate that, compared with White children, a substantially higher proportion of African-American children 5 years of age or younger lived in poor households that were located in relatively close proximity to one or more industrial sources of air pollution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Assessing source characteristics of PM2.5 in the eastern United States using positive matrix factorization.

Fine aerosol (PM2.5) measurements obtained from the first year of operation of the nationwide network of PM2.5 monitors were studied with the factor analysis technique of positive matrix factorization (PMF). PM2.5 mass concentration data were extracted from the Atmospheric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) database of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). PMF was applied to measurements at more than 350 monitoring locations in the eastern half of the United States. Data consisted of PM2.5 24-hr averaged concentrations measured every third day from April through December 1999. The PMF model suggested six factors representing source influences to the PM2.5 mass concentrations at measurement sites. Factor 5, covering much of the Appalachian states, exhibited significant seasonal behavior.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

Radioecological survey at selected sites hit by depleted uranium ammunitions during the 1999 Kosovo conflict.

A field study, organised, coordinated and conducted under the responsibility of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), took place in Kosovo in November 2000 to evaluate the level of depleted uranium (DU) released into the environment by the use of DU ammunition during the 1999 conflict. Representatives of six different scientific organisations took part in the mission and a total of approximately 350 samples were collected. During this field mission, the Italian National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA) collected water, soil, lichen and tree bark samples from different sites. The samples were analysed by alpha-spectroscopy and in some cases by inductively coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The 234U/238U and 235U/238U activity concentration ratios were used to distinguish natural from anthropogenic uranium. This paper reports the results obtained on these samples. All water samples had very low concentrations of uranium (much below the average concentration of drinking water in Europe). The surface soil samples showed a very large variability in uranium activity concentration, namely from approximately 20 Bq kg(-1) (environmental natural uranium) to approximately 2.3 x 10(5) Bq kg(-1) (approximately 18000 mg kg(-1) of depleted uranium), with concentrations above environmental levels always due to DU. The uranium isotope measurements refer to soil samples collected at places where DU ammunition had been fired; this variability indicates that the impact of DU ammunitions is very site-specific, reflecting both the physical conditions at the time of the impact of the DU ammunition and any physical and chemical alteration which occurred since then. The results on tree barks and lichens indicated the presence of DU in all cases, showing their usefulness as sensitive qualitative bio-indicators for the presence of DU dusts or aerosols formed at the time the DU ammunition had hit a hard target. This result is particularly interesting considering that at some sites, which had been hit by DU ammunition, no DU ground contamination could be detected.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2003

An estimation of the daily intake of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and other phthalates in the general population.

We analyzed 85 urine samples of the general German population for human specific metabolites of phthalates. By that we avoided contamination with the parent phthalates being omnipresent in the environment and for the first time could deduce each individual's internal exposure to phthalates without contamination. Determined were the secondary metabolites mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate (5OH-MEHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxo-hexyl)phthalate (5oxo-MEHP) of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and the primary monoester metabolites of DEHP, di-noctylphthalate (DnOP), di-n-butylphthalate (DnBP), butylbenzylphthalate (BBzP) and diethylphthalate (DEP). Based on these internal exposure values we calculated the daily intake of the parent phthalates using urinary metabolite excretion factors. For DEHP we determined a median intake of 13.8 micrograms/kg body weight/day and an intake at the 95th percentile of 52.1 micrograms/kg body weight/day. The tolerable daily intake (TDI) value settled by the EU Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) is 37 micrograms/kg body weight/day. Twelve percent of the subjects (10 out of 85 samples) within our collective of the general population are exceeding this value. Thirty-one percent of the subjects (26 out of 85 samples) had values higher than the reference dose (RfD) of 20 micrograms/kg body weight/day of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For DnBP, BBzP, DEP and DnOP intake values at the 95th percentile were 16.2, 2.5, 22.1 and 0.42 micrograms/kg body weight/day respectively. Our results unequivocally prove that the general German population is exposed to DEHP to a much higher extent than previously believed. This is of greatest importance for public health since DEHP is not only the most important phthalate with respect to its production, use, occurrence and omnipresence but also the phthalate with the greatest endocrine disrupting potency. DEHP is strongly suspected to be a developmental and reproductive toxicant. We are not aware of any other environmental contaminant for which the TDI and RfD are exceeded to such an extent within the general population. The transgressions of the TDI and RfD for DEHP are accompanied by considerable ubiquitous exposures to DnBP and BbzP, two phthalates under scrutiny for similar toxicological mechanisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A microscope system with a dual-band filter for the simultaneous enumeration of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and sporozoites.

A dual band filter set was designed to allow the simultaneous viewing of two fluorochromes (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)) so that Cryptosporidium oocysts and sporozoites can be viewed together. Simultaneous viewing increases accuracy and decreases examination time as compared to current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1623 for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water by filtration/IMS/FA (Immunomagnetic Separation/Fluorescent Antibodies). Additionally, a microscope equipped with a programmable, motorized stage, CCD camera, and display monitor was used to facilitate well slide evaluation in a quick and precise fashion ensuring complete coverage without overlap and eliminating the optical strain associated with counting hundreds of images through an eyepiece.

Animals↗
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↗
PubMed2001

A critique of EPA's index of watershed indicators.

Numerous indices have been developed to assess water quality and the impact of programs to improve quality. The Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI) is one such index created by the US Environmental Protection Agency to assess watershed vulnerability and condition in the United States. The credibility and applicability of subjective indices such as IWI depends upon their ability to withstand tests that challenge their internal consistency and interpretation. This paper critiques IWI on the basis of these tests and other considerations, and suggests that explicitly basing the index on multiattribute utility theory and methods could help resolve many of these difficulties.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

Ethylene dibromide: toxicology and risk assessment.

Since the 1920s ethylene dibromide's (EDB's) primary use has been as a scavenger of lead compounds in gasoline. Gasoline evaporation contributed to EDB emissions into the environment. In 1973, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations to reduce the use of leaded gasoline and this has resulted in lower EDB usage and emissions. In addition, EDB has been used extensively as a fumigant since 1948. Its volatility and versatility, based on chemical and biocidal properties, led to its use as a soil sterilant, as a spot fumigant of grain milling machinery, and as a control agent in grain, fruit and vegetable infestations. In 1977 the EPA began a review of EDB's pesticidal uses which eventually led to its cancellation for most agricultural applications. Disposal of EDB and contamination of water supplies remain major environmental concerns. EDB can be absorbed via the dermal, oral and inhalation routes. It appears to be metabolized in vivo by an oxidative pathway (cytochrome P-450) and a conjugation pathway (glutathione S-transferase). The metabolites play an important role in exerting its toxicity. Few human poisonings have been reported from either acute or chronic exposure. However, EDB is irritating to the skin and eyes. Limited information indicates that EDB can damage the liver and kidneys following extensive or prolonged exposure. The genotoxicity of EDB has been clearly demonstrated. It binds to DNA in vivo and in vitro, and a DNA adduct has been identified. EDB has been shown to be mutagenic in numerous bacterial assays, in fungi, in plants, in insects, and in mammalian cell culture. Some evidence indicates that EDB can cause sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberrations. EDB is a reproductive toxin, but it does not appear to be teratogenic. It has been shown to affect spermatogenesis in rats, bulls and rams and to affect fertility in fowl. Human studies indicate that EDB exposure may harm sperm and decrease fertility. The toxic effect of greatest concern that may result from EDB exposure is cancer. In rats and mice, EDB produced tumors at the application site and at distant sites. When given orally, EDB has produced tumors in the forestomach, lung, and the circulatory system. When administered by inhalation, EDB produced tumors in the nasal cavity, lung, and the circulatory system. Dermal application of EDB produced skin and lung tumors. Analyses of risks from EDB exposure have focused on potential carcinogenic effects. Initial risk estimates, based on animal studies, indicated that citrus workers had essentially a 100% chance of contracting cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ethylene Dibromide↗
PubMed2006

Investigation of potential zooanthroponotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis through agricultural use of reclaimed wastewater.

A field study in the Juarez Valley of Mexico was performed to investigate the potential transmission of Cryptosporidium and Giardia to sheep livestock grazing on forage irrigated with reclaimed wastewater, and the potential for disease transmission back to humans. United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 1623 immunofluorescent assay (IFA) revealed high levels of pathogens in reclaimed wastewater, with 183 to >7000 Giardia cysts and 9 - 762 Cryptosporidium oocysts detected per litre. Infectious Cryptosporidium were detected in the reclaimed wastewater using the cell culture focus detection method (FDM). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed reclaimed wastewater contained the C. parvum bovine (zoonotic) genotype, human-specific C. hominis subgenotypes, and G. lamblia (syn. G. duodenalis, G. intestinalis) Assemblage A genotypes (A2 and A3). Despite high levels of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the reclaimed wastewater, these pathogens were rarely found on the forage plants, possibly due to environmental attenuation. Sheep fecal specimens were positive for only livestock-associated G. lamblia Assemblage E genotypes. Therefore, in this field study, there was no evidence of zooanthroponotic transmission of Cryptosporidium or Giardia.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Passive smoking: the medical and economic issues.

Since the late 1970s, the dangers associated with passive (involuntary) smoking have been widely debated. While research throughout the world has produced findings showing sidestream smoke to be harmful and possibly deadly to nonsmokers, an equal number of studies have indicated that the harms have been overstated or misclassified or that they are nonexistent. Those debates have culminated in a report sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies. The report concludes that second-hand cigarette smoke kills 53,000 nonsmokers a year and is a major cause of indoor air pollution. This article identifies the major medical and economic issues in the debate on side-stream smoke. It affirms the federal government's position on the need to create more smoke-free environments and impose stronger smoking restrictions nationwide.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Leaching characteristics of fly ash from thermal power plants of Soma and Tuncbilek, Turkey.

Use of lignite in power generation has led to increasing environmental problems associated not only with gaseous emissions but also with the disposal of ash residues. In particular, use of low quality coal with high ash content results in huge quantities of fly ash to be disposed of. The main problem related to fly ash disposal is the heavy metal content of the residue. In this regard, experimental results of numerous studies indicate that toxic trace metals may leach when fly ash contacts water. In this study, fly ash samples obtained from thermal power plants, namely Soma and Tunçbilek, located at the west part of Turkey, were subjected to toxicity tests such as European Committee for standardization (CEN) and toxicity characteristic leaching (TCLP) procedures of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The geochemical composition of the tested ash samples from the power plant show variations depending on the coal burned in the plants. Furthermore, the CEN and TCLP extraction results showed variations such that the ash samples were classified as 'toxic waste' based on TCLP result whereas they were classified as 'non-toxic' wastes based on CEN results, indicating test results are pH dependent.

Air Pollutants↗