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At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Evaluation of the SunWise School Program.

Melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer, is rising at rates faster than all other preventable cancers in the United States. Childhood exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light increases the risk for skin cancer as an adult, therefore, starting positive sun protection habits early may be key to reducing the incidence of this disease. The Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise School Program, a national environmental and health education program for sun safety of children in primary and secondary schools (Grades K-8), was evaluated. Pretests (n = 4,559) and posttests (n = 4,016) were completed by students from 85 schools in 35 states. Significant increases were noted for the three knowledge variables. Intentions to play in the shade increased from 70% to 76% (p < 0.001) with more modest changes in intentions to use sunscreen. Attitudes regarding the healthiness of a tan also decreased significantly. Brief, standardized sun protection education can be efficiently interwoven into existing school curricula and result in increases in knowledge and positive intentions for sun protection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Watercourses protection and urban planning].

The work analyses the complex relationships that link urban planning and environmental protection referring, in particular, to watercourses defence. The close interactions existing between development of human activities on territory and the hydrological cycle point out the necessity of a watershed-scale planning. This regional planning, in fact, allows both problems of protection and optimal use of hydrological resources in terms not only of punctual actions, but also of land use. In this context, the fundamental roles played by geographical and environmental information systems are shown and analysed with special regard to their importance in fostering citizens participation in decisional processes by means of an easier access to environmental data and information available to public authorities.

Access to Information↗
PubMed1981

Hazardous materials management and control program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory--health protection.

Maintaining reasonable control of all hazardous materials used in a large research laboratory can be a formidable task. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Hazardous Material Coordinator for Health Protection (HMC-Hlth) and a Hazardous Material Coordinator for Environmental Protection (HMC-Env) control hazardous materials from acquisition to disposal. The HMC-Hlth, a member of the Industrial Hygiene Department, is responsible for control of the purchase and use of hazardous materials. If the material has not had a hazard evaluation, the user is required to contact the HMC-Hlth to find out if the material is hazardous before ordering it. If the material is hazardous, the user must get permission from his divisional representative to purchase it. The user is required to fill out Part 2 of a Hazardous Material Control Card (HMCC), describing the proposed use and location of the material and to return HMCC to the HMC-Hlth. This allows the Industrial Hygiene Department to evaluate the use of the materials and to take air samples as needed. Part 1 of the HMCC also contains computer printed information on the hazards.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed2005

[Responsibilities of the German public health service with regard to environmental medicine].

In 1999, the Special Committee for Environmental Medicine affiliated to the Federal Association of Doctors in the German public health service, prepared a consensus paper on the latter's request entitled "Environmental medicine in the public health service -- a social role and its consequences: propositions with regard to the situation, aims, strategies, and opportunities for action". The propositions provide guidelines to public health departments for implementing the "Environment and Health" action programme launched by the Federal Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Federal Ministry of Health. Joint action by health and environmental authorities on the municipal, state and federal levels is considered essential. Furthermore, the comprehensive knowledge and expertise available within the public health service, including its in-depth knowledge of local and regional environmental pollution, should be further utilized in order to clarify cause and effect relationships and to initiate necessary action for minimizing any imminent risks. Environment-related public health protection is one of the major responsibilities of the public health departments within their general responsibility to provide public health care and ensure disease prevention. Doctors in private practices specializing in environmental medicine and public health departments' counselling centres for environmental medicine work closely together in terms of patient care and citizens' counselling in order to identify potential causes of environment-related health problems in the population. They issue recommendations on how to live a healthy life. Furthermore, they utilize available data and information for health policy directions. In this regard, health and environmental findings provide an important basis for an appropriate response to current developments based on the correct assessment of a particular situation, and for raising public awareness of preventive measures.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1980

Review of the dioxin problem. Mass spectrometric analyses of tetrachlorodioxins in environmental samples.

Major concern over the chemical group of chlorodioxins has arisen since 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin with its extremely toxic and teratogenic properties has been found in widely distributed pesticides such as the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid. Because of its chemical stability and lipophilic nature, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin released into the environment has the potential of accumulation in the food chain. Mass spectrometry in its various forms has been the method of choice to detect and confirm low parts per billion of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Recently, a Consensus Forum held at the National Center for Toxicological Research amongst the various United States Government agencies (Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Agriculture and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), eloquently demonstrated the potential, as well as the shortcomings, of the various techniques applied. In particular, the availability of a stable 13C labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin has proved to be an essential component to achieve low level quantitation. A brief review of the findings of the Consensus Forum is presented together with a detailed survey of the application of atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry to TCDD analysis at the National Center for Toxicological Research/Food and Drug Administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity testing of respirable fibrous particles. Workshop report.

On May 8-10, 1995, a workshop on chronic inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity testing of respirable fibrous particles was held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The workshop was sponsored by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The goal of the workshop was to obtain input from the scientific community on a number of issues related to fiber testing. Major issues for discussion were: (i) the optimal design and conduct of studies of the health effects of chronic inhalation exposure of animals to fibers; (ii) preliminary studies which would be useful guides in designing the chronic exposure study; (iii) mechanistic studies which would be important adjuncts to the chronic exposure study to enable better interpretation of study results and extrapolation of potential effects in exposed humans; and (iv) available screening tests which can be used to develop a minimum data set for (a) making decisions about the potential health hazard of the fibers and (b) prioritizing the need for further testing in a chronic inhalation study. After extensive discussion and debate of the workshop issues, the general consensus of the expert panel is that chronic inhalation studies of fibers in the rat are the most appropriate tests for predicting inhalation hazard and risk of fibers to humans. A number of guidances specific for the design and conduct of prechronic and chronic inhalation studies of fibers in rodents were recommended. For instance, it was recommended that along with other information (decrease in body weight, systemic toxicity, etc.), data should be obtained on lung burdens and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis to assist in establishing the chronic exposure levels. Lung burden data are also important for quantifying aspects of risk assessment related to dosimetric adjustments before extrapolation. Although mechanistic studies are not recommended as part of the standard chronic inhalation studies, the expert panel stressed the need for obtaining mechanistic information as far as possible during the course of subchronic or chronic inhalation studies. At present, no single assay and battery of short-term assays can predict the outcome of a chronic inhalation bioassay with respect to carcinogenic effects. Meanwhile, several short-term in vitro and in vivo studies that may be useful to assess the relative potential of fibrous substances to cause lung toxicity/carcinogenicity have been identified.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of the environmentalist dimension of ecotourism at the Dadia Forest Reserve (Greece).

Environmental education and financial support of nature conservation are considered among the primary components of the environmentalist dimension of ecotourism. The potential of environmental education calls for enhancing visitor environmental knowledge and prompting change of visitor behavior. The present study addressed the evaluation of the environmentalist dimension of ecotourism in the Dadia Forest Reserve. The first objective of the research was to study the influence of variables determined prior to the visit, namely, visitor and visit characteristics, visitor environmental information sources, visitor pro-environmental behavior, and visitation goals, on variables determined during the visit, that is, visitor participation in and satisfaction from ecotourism activities. The second objective was to study the effect of selected variables on visitor knowledge and behavior intentions. Visitor participation in and satisfaction from ecotourism activities were primarily controlled by visit characteristics. Levels of visitor knowledge were quite satisfactory; however, coherence among knowledge items was rather loose. On the other hand, behavior intention items revealed the highest possible degree of coherence, which should be attributed to the pervasive influence of visitor satisfaction from watching birds at the Bird Observatory within the Dadia Forest Reserve. Ecotourism activities, during which the main part of environmental knowledge was offered, exerted no effect on visitor knowledge; all the same, they significantly influenced visitor behavior intentions. Overall, visitor behavior intentions revealed a considerable potential of financing environmental protection and providing voluntary work in the frame of the environmental management of the Dadia Forest Reserve.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

FORUM: Exploring the EIA/Environmental Management Relationship.

/ An important measure of the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the extent to which it achieves its goals for environmental protection and management. To determine this requires an examination of environmental outcomes for projects that have undergone EIA. The utility of the predecision stages of EIA in influencing environmental decisions has been well documented by others. It is argued here that EIA can also play a useful role in providing for ongoing adaptive environmental management. The hypothesis of this research is that EIA does influence environmental management activities and outcomes for development projects and that this influence occurs during three stages based on the principal approval decision point-predecision, postdecision, and transitional stages. This hypothesis was tested with respect to six case studies in Western Australia (WA). The majority of management actions were proposed during the predecision stage along with the formulation of impact predictions, although significant environmental management activities were established during the other stages of the EIA process. New management actions were implemented during the postdecision stage in response to the occurrence of unexpected impacts. Adaptive management activities were initiated during the transitional stage of EIA through the setting of environmental objectives in the predecision stage that left scope for a flexible approach to be adopted for achieving these objectives. During project assessment in WA, strong emphasis is placed on the need for ongoing monitoring and management programs. The implementation of these programs was found to be central to successful achievement of project and environmental performance objectives. The case studies demonstrate that a strong relationship exists between EIA and ongoing environmental management performance in WA.KEY WORDS: Environmental impact assessment; Ongoing management; Effectiveness; Audithttp://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00267/bibs/24n3p281.html

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Route-of-entry and brain tissue partition coefficients for common superfund contaminants.

Various organic solvents may be encountered in contaminated water supplies at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-designated Superfund sites. Human exposure to these environmental contaminants may occur by oral, dermal, or inhalation routes. The estimation of human health risk associated with exposure to these solvents can be improved through the use of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to describe the absorption, tissue distribution, metabolism, and elimination of the compounds following any route of exposure. However, development of these PBPK models requires information on the relative solubility, or partition coefficient, of each compound in blood and various tissues. A number of investigators have provided partition coefficient information on different tissues in various species; however, the data for route of entry organs (i.e., skin, lung, stomach) and brain tissue are not complete. Therefore, the objective of this work was to replicate partition coefficient studies for several commonly encountered environmental contaminants using an in vitro gas-phase vial equilibration technique and to include tissues to evaluate brain, lung, stomach, and skin. A comparison of the partition coefficient values determined here with values reported in the literature, where available, showed good agreement in nearly all cases. An additional study was conducted to compare the liver-to-air partition coefficient values for toluene, benzene, and o-xylene introduced as single chemicals to partition coefficient values determined with the chemicals introduced as a mixture of all three compounds. The similarities of the resulting values suggest that both labor and laboratory resources may be reduced when partition coefficients are determined as chemical mixtures.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[Protection of animals and legislation(author's transl)].

In an introductory part, a number of aspects in the attitude of man towards animals and nature are distinguished, such as an economic, a knowledge, an emotional, a moral, a religious and an ethical aspect. Shifts in the intensity and priorities of these aspects, in the emphasis put on them during various cultural periods, are plainly perceptible and have been so particularly during the past few years: increasing exploitation of animals and nature on the one hand and an increase in sensitivity on the other. Various protective movements have emerged and become active in this sphere during the past 150 years: first, protection of animals, then conservation of nature and, more recently, environmental protection. A special aspect of the exploitation of animals consists in intensive livestock production which has grown considerably during the last few decades. Strong objections to certain features of this system have not only been raised by national and international societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals but also by ethologists. Admittedly, it is difficult to lay down exact criteria of animal welfare (which, for that matter, also is true of criteria of human welfare) but it is essential to a systeem of values which is becoming increasingly sensitive that efforts should be made to alter the current system of intensive livestock production with the aid of the various sciences closely associated with this system as well as by enlightenment of consumers. The question as to what we are allowed to do with animals and that of where the shifting limits of necessity lie are becoming increasingly relevant from the points of view of ethics and science.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2005

Exploring the gene-environment nexus in eating disorders.

Early theories of eating disorders focused on aversive family and sociocultural factors as fundamental to the development of these problems. A progression of family, twin and molecular genetic studies has demonstrated a substantial role for genetic factors in the development of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related traits. Paradoxically, genetic studies hold promise for refining and enriching our approach to understanding the impact of adverse environmental forces. The development of new and more sophisticated approaches for understanding the complex interplay of genetic and environmental effects will allow enhanced understanding of both risk and protective environmental factors and how they may influence expressions of underlying genetic vulnerabilities to eating disorders.

Environment↗
PubMed1993

[Information and involvement in health risks exemplified by a radon survey program].

As part of a large-scale radon testing program in homes for the region of the Southern Districts of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) planned by the then West German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Natural Conservation and Reactor Safety and carried out by the Institute of Water, Soil and Air Hygiene (WaBoLu) of the West German Federal Health Office (BGA) in cooperation with the West German Federal Office for Environmental Protection (BfS) and the East German State Office for Atomic Safety (SAAS), the author (then employed at WaBoLu) was responsible for conducting the radon testing in the town of Schlema near the Czechoslovakian border in Southern Saxony. During preparatory work in this town in the fall of 1990, the author noted that the local population was very concerned about their potential radon problem. In the months previously, reports in newspapers and television had frequently pointed out the dangers to health of living in this region, often citing examples of particularly high radon levels from the area. Before the "opening" of the GDR to a free press in the fall of 1989, the local population had heard virtually nothing from the authorities about radon--neither of the possible health risk in general, nor of their own personal radon levels at home. This, together with the lack of experience of East Germans generally to evaluate critically and objectively information from the free press, had led to particularly high levels of anxiety and worry among the local population, even before radon concentrations in homes were known. In the light of these circumstances, the author decided to carry out the radon program with the help of the local school children. These children, aged 13 to 17, were entrusted with the task of carrying out the radon testing using a simple method developed by WaBoLu in all homes of the town. In class, they were informed not only about this testing method, but also about radon generally. It was hoped that, while testing in homes, the school children would pass on this knowledge to the homeowners and thus act as informal "multipliers" of correct information about radon. The approach taken is an example of how environmental hygiene and prevention-oriented environmental medicine could better handle environmental health risks that can be influenced by the individual. It is necessary to become more aware of the fact that all information intended to motivate individuals to protect themselves against environmental health risks may cause at the same time high levels of anxiety.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The development and use of respirator response functions as part of a workplace exposure monitoring program for control of potential respiratory hazards.

The traditional hierarchy of measures for control of potential respiratory hazards in the workplace includes (in order of preference) engineering controls, workplace practices, and use of respiratory protection. Although third in this hierarchy, respirators can be an important component of the control mix-particularly for difficult-to-control jobs, as an interim measure (pending implementation of other controls), and in cases where exposure is intermittent. One of the problems associated with the use of respirators as a control measure is that valid and adequate data on respirator usage are often not available. Absent these data it is difficult to determine the practical effectiveness of respirators and exposure calculations which include the protective effect of respirators are speculative. This paper presents models (and appropriate statistical fitting techniques) suitable for quantification of respirator usage and defines three potentially useful measures of effectiveness for a respirator program. These models are illustrated with monitoring data on refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) developed as part of a Consent Agreement between the RCF industry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For this substance there are extensive and comprehensive monitoring data available. The models and methods of analysis may prove applicable for other potential respiratory hazards in the workplace.

Ceramics↗
PubMed2003

Releases from copper smelters and refineries and zinc plants in Canada: human health exposure and risk characterization.

In these assessments of releases from copper smelters and refineries and from zinc plants as Priority Substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), available data were critically evaluated to determine if environmental exposure to selected components of these releases poses a risk to human health. The data on airborne levels of a variety of toxic substances near these facilities in Canada were obtained from the companies or provinces and systematically analyzed. Monitoring of ambient air near the Canadian copper smelters and refineries and zinc plants indicates that releases from these facilities result in increased potential for inhalation exposure of local human populations to several components of releases (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, SO(2) and PM(10)). Airborne levels in the vicinity of these metal-processing operations overlap those associated with cardiorespiratory effects for PM(10), and exceed health-based guidelines for SO(2) and, near some facilities, Pb. In addition, the margin between levels of As, Cd, Cr and Ni near these facilities in Canada and carcinogenic potency for each of these metals is relatively small near copper smelters, larger near copper refineries, and intermediate near zinc plants. On this basis, the risk to human health from environmental exposure to releases from these facilities is considered to be high compared with other Priority Substances assessed under CEPA, especially for facilities where copper is smelted.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Strategic biomonitoring initiatives: moving the science forward.

Biomonitoring programs in the United States and Europe demonstrate the vast array of data that are publicly available for the evaluation of exposure trends, identification of susceptible populations, detection of emerging chemical risks, the conduct of epidemiology studies, and evaluation of risk reduction strategies. To cultivate international discussion on these issues, the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute convened a scientific session at its annual meeting in January 2006 on "Integration of Biomonitoring Exposure Data into the Risk Assessment Process." This Forum paper presents perspectives from session speakers on the biomonitoring activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Research Council Committee on Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Toxicants, the German Commission on Human Biomonitoring, and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Biomonitoring Technical Committee. Speakers noted that better estimates of biological concentrations of substances in the tissues of human populations can be combined with other exposure indices, as well as epidemiological and toxicologic data, to improve risk estimates. With this type of combined data, the potential also exists to define exposure levels at which hazard and risk are of minimal concern. Limitations in interpreting biomonitoring data were discussed, including the need for different criteria for applying biomonitoring data for exposure assessment, risk assessment, risk management, or disease prevention purposes. As efforts and resources are expended to improve the ability to apply biomonitoring exposure data in the risk assessment process, it is equally important to communicate the significance of such data to the public.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2003

Federal government regulation of occupational skin exposure in the USA.

There are at least 14 federal regulations and three agencies that are involved in the regulation of occupational skin exposures in the USA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the reporting of health effects information on chemicals, and such information is used to assess the risks of human and environmental exposure. The health effects information and any resulting risk assessments are generally available to the public. A fair amount of this information relates to skin irritation, sensitization, and dermal absorption. The EPA can require the submission of new data necessary for it to carry out its risk assessments, and has the authority to ban hazardous chemicals for certain uses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the correct labeling of cosmetics and requires safety and efficacy data on new products that are claimed to have preventive or health benefits. Commercial distribution of topical skin-care and protection products, therefore, can be potentially scrutinized by the FDA, which can control the use of hazardous chemicals in such products. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the most direct contact with workplaces through its field inspection compliance activity, which is directed at the reduction of workplace injuries and illnesses. Our analysis suggests that although considerable amounts of health effects information is generated and available, such information may not always be adequately conveyed to the end users of chemical products. In addition, the most effective and practical means of preventing exposure is often not apparent or generally known. Current regulations may have created a reliance on use of chemical protective equipment that may not always be the best approach to protecting workers. Lack of performance criteria that are measurable has hampered industry from objectively assessing skin exposures. This lack of performance criteria or guidance has also hindered the implementation of prevention strategies and a critical assessment of their effectiveness. Better guidance from regulatory agencies directed at performance-based control of occupational skin hazards is presently needed.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗
PubMed1994

Environmental tobacco smoke. Health effects and prevention policies. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.

The US Environmental Protection Agency report released in January 1993, Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders, has stirred considerable discussion and interest in the issues surrounding tobacco and health. The report addresses major health effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), concluding (1) that ETS is causally associated with lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and should be classified as a group A, or known human carcinogen, with approximately 3000 excess deaths yearly; (2) that ETS produces an increased risk of development of acute lower respiratory tract irritation, asthma, and acute lower respiratory tract infections in children exposed in the home; and (3) that ETS is associated with an increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Other studies implicate ETS in between 35,000 and 40,000 premature deaths each year from cardiovascular disease. The Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) agrees that ETS should be classified as a human carcinogen, and strongly supports the findings of other groups concerning both lung cancer and ETS-induced respiratory tract illnesses in children. The CSA concludes that exposure to passive smoke, whether in utero or during infancy, is associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The CSA agrees that the available evidence suggests that ETS exposure leads to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. It is clear that these morbidity and mortality estimates represent a significant public health threat that demands attention from the health community as well as government regulatory agencies involved with health protection.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Ichthyofauna diversity in a protected area in the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil.

The study site is located in an environmentally protected area known as an "APA" in São Pedro and Analândia, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, whose watercourses are under strong anthropogenic pressure. Two basins were studied (sub-basin of the Corumbataí River and basin of the Jacaré-pepira River) with the purpose of characterizing the ichthyofauna of various streams, comparing fish diversity among assemblages. The Passa-cinco River showed the highest diversity (H'), and the Jaccard and Morisita-Horn indices showed low similarity among sites and between the basins. Diversity was correlated with the number of available habitats and with the environmental conditions.

Animals↗