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While all links worked when entries were posted to the database, different publishers
have different policies about retaining articles and providing access to archived material.
Thus some of the links, particularly older ones, may no longer be functional.
For links no longer working, you may be able to gain paid access to text via the publisher's site.
A recent study links higher blood lead levels with high blood pressure in pregnant women, suggesting that lead exposure may increase the risk of developing hypertension during pregnancy.
All of the women in the study had blood levels below the level considered 'acceptable' by most health agencies, providing additional support for the need to lower the threshold. 10 August 2009. More...
People who eat meat and poultry have significantly higher levels of common flame retardants compared to vegetarians.
The findings indicate that food may be a more important source of the contaminants, known as PBDEs, than previously thought. 22 July 2009. More...
In mice, short-term exposure to fine air particles reduces responsiveness of specialized neurons that regulate cardiac rhythm. Scientists believe that this reduced activity may be responsible for the cardiovascular disease associated with air pollution.
Fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 is a mixture of particles that are smaller than 2.5 micrometers (about one third of the diameter of a human hair). PM2.5 is a product of combustion and is released into the environment by forest fires and by gasses emitted by power plants, factories and automobiles. 7 July 2009. More...
Air pollution in a remote Arctic community in Norway approaches levels seen in larger European towns due to the springtime use of snowmobiles.
The pollution is 100 times higher during the spring snowmobile season than during the summer when only cars and large coal trucks are used in the remote area. Older snowmobiles with outdated, 2-stroke engines contribute the most to the excessive levels in the spring. 24 June 2009. More...
Parking lots treated with coal-tar-based sealcoats are a major source of cancer-causing contaminants that can pollute air, soil, water and wildlife, posing a significant health risk to humans who may breathe, drink or eat them in fish and other food.
Levels in eastern and central parking lots were as much as a thousand-fold higher than western lots, reflecting differences in the types of sealants used. 22 January 2009. More...
Women living in areas with heavy traffic flow are 1.5 times more likely to lose their babies during late gestation or have their newborns die compared to those who live in areas with less traffic, according to a Brazilian study.
The findings implicate air pollution, but confounding effects of other factors cannot be ruled out. 18 November 2008. More...
Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may lower a child's intelligence at age nine by several points, a study from Oswego, New York, finds.
The pre-teen children whose mothers were highly exposed to PCBs during pregnancy scored lower in general and verbal IQ tests than those born to mothers who were mildly exposed. The findings support other human studies that suggest exposure to these persistent chemicals disrupts early childhood mental development. 27 October 2008. More...
Exposure to bisphenol A during development changes gene behavior in mice, causing genetically identical animals to develop differently.
BPA exposure reduces DNA methylation, thereby increasing the expression of genes that would have been silenced. The results can be counteracting by supplementing the maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation with nutrients that increase methylation, such as genistein, a phytoestrogen found in soy. 30 July 2007. More...
Could lead poisoning contribute to asthma and other allergic diseases?
Experiments with cells in the immune system of mice--which are hypersensitized by lead-- provide support for this hypothesis. 25 June 2007. More...
Nicotine, a powerful drug found in tobacco products and anti-smoking therapies, impaired the ability of adult rats to control glucose levels after they had been exposed to the drug during fetal development and lactation.
The changes are consistent with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The exposed rats had fewer insulin-making cells in the pancreas. Exposures were comparable to those experienced by moderate smokers or people using nicotine patches. 18 June 2007. More...
An international scientific conference has forged a new consensus statement on the importance of fetal exposures for adult health.
Chemical exposures during prenatal and early postnatal life can bring about important effects on gene expression. New research on rodent models shows that developmental exposures to toxic chemicals, such as the hormonally active substances, diethylstilbestrol, tributyl tin, bisphenol A, genistein, can increase the incidence of reproductive abnormalities, metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes, and cancer. 25 May 2007. More...
In a study of over 1,000 women, mothers who gave birth very prematurely were three times more likely to have high levels of mercury.
Their mercury exposure was linked to fish consumption. Women who ate more fish had higher mercury levels. This research suggests the benefits of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for infant development may need to be balanced against the health consequences of premature birth. 4 April 2007. More...
Traditional covert influence of industry on occupational and environmental health policies has turned brazenly overt in the last several years.
More than ever before the OEH community is witnessing the perverse influence and increasing control by industry interests. Government has failed to support independent, public health-oriented practitioners and their organizations, instead joining many corporate endeavors to discourage efforts to protect the health of workers and the community. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health [PDF]. 2 March 2007. More...
In the past 20 years, the rates of obesity have tripled in developing countries that have been adopting a Western lifestyle involving decreased physical activity and overconsumption of cheap, energy-dense food.
Diabetes is rapidly emerging as a global health care problem that threatens to reach pandemic levels by 2030; the number of people with diabetes worldwide is projected to increase from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million by 2030. New England Journal of Medicine. 11 February 2007. More...
Very limited information is available on the toxicity of biodiesel exhaust.
Yet this fuel is poised to become a part of the US energy infrastructure, with production capacity in the US increasing 300% in 2005, to 75 million gallons. Current capacity is 300 million gallons a year and new plants could double that within a few years. Environmental Health Perspectives. 5 January 2007. More...
A systematic review of all observational studies of lead and cardiovascular disease concludes that lead exposure can cause high blood pressure.
The evidence also suggests-- but is insufficient to prove-- that lead exposure causes cardiovascular mortality and other health problems. as well as heart rate variability. The authors conclude that occupational lead exposure standards should be lowered immediately. Environmental Health Perspectives. 25 December 2006. More...
Six case-control studies by the same team of Swedish epidemiologists consistently found an increased risk of brain tumors associated with cell phone and cordless phone use.
Odds ratios ranged from 1.3 to 6.1, depending upon tumor type and phone technology, with confidence limits showing statistical significance. No consistent associations were found for salivary gland tumors, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or testicular cancer. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 25 October 2006. More...
Science Byte: As small particle air pollution increases, cardiovascular and respiratory problems mount for senior citizens.
Scientists tracked hospital admission rates among Medicare patients in relation to concentrations of small particle air pollution (PM 2.5). Even a small rise results in more hospitalizations. JAMA. 8 March 2006. More...
Science Byte: North Carolina children are more likely to be exposed in school to pollution arising from large hog farms if they are poor and not white.
Odor from livestock was noticeable outside 21% of schools sampled, and inside 8% of them. Livestock odors at public schools, particularly those in economically disadvantaged areas, may have broad implications for schools and communities. EHP. 10 November 2005. More...
Science Byte: Although occupational and environmental diseases are often viewed as isolated and unique failures, they are in fact an outcome of a pervasive system of corporate priority setting, decision making, and influence.
This system produces disease because political, economic, regulatory and ideological norms prioritize values of wealth and profit over human health and environmental well-being. There is a substantial tradition of manipulation of evidence, data, and analysis. IJOEH 23 October 2005. More...
Science Byte: A study of mortality in the LA basin indicates that chronic health effects of air pollution are even larger than thought.
Effects were nearly 3-fold greater than prior estimates, which had based their analyses on comparisons among communities. The larger effect may reflect more accurate measurements of exposure. Epidemiology. 27 September 2005. More...
Preterm birth is linked to air pollution in the Los Angeles basin.
Mothers living in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty, unemployment and dependence on public assistance are at disproportionately high risk. Winter season increased susceptibility further. American Journal of Epidemiology 30 June 2005. More...
Scientific research links cardiovascular disease to a number of environmental exposures, including air pollution, metals and solvents.
Recent research on air pollution indicates that the annual health impacts in the US from particulate air pollution attributable just to diesel exhaust from cars, trucks, and construction equipment includes 21,000 premature deaths and 27,000 non-fatal myocardial infarctions, plus a range of other impacts. 25 June 2005. More...
Scientists from government, academic and independent laboratories challenge proposals that 'hormesis' be used to justify weakening public health standards.
This dose-response pattern involves low- dose stimulation in contrast to high-dose inhibition. A peer-reviewed commentary in the scientific journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences concludes that it is irresponsible for proponents of hormesis to portray chemicals with numerous adverse effects as having "benefits" from low-dose stimulation while ignoring their hazards. 25 June 2005. More...
Science Byte: A reanalysis of data from research on lead's impact on children's intelligence finds that the US economy benefited by approximately $319 billion as a result of reductions in lead body burdens between 1976 and 1999.
This was more than twice the previous estimate, which had assumed a linear-dose response relationship. The CDC action limit of 10 μg/dL for children fails to protect against the majority of damage and economic cost attributable to lead exposure. EHP 10 May 2005. More...
Science Byte: Ultrafine soot particles formed when butadiene is burned are highly effective at transporting biologically active molecules like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to target cells.
The contaminants are then absorbed. The soot particles themselves do not need to be taken in for the contaminants to cause damage. These results help explain the mechanisms of toxicity of airborne particulates. EHP. 7 May 2005. More...
Science Byte: Environmental chemicals can interfere with brain development during critical periods, thereby impacting sensory, motor, and cognitive function.
But establishing cause and effect in people is a research nightmare. Regulation in the US essentially requires proof of harm rather than proof of safety. Interdisciplinary scientific exploration is essential to address this significant public and mental health threat. American Psychologist. 5 May 2005. More...
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University review the state of science on environmental interactions with pregnancy outcomes.
Communities of color and poverty are exposed more often and more intensively to such environmental hazards as lead, air pollution, agrochemicals, incinerator emissions, and releases from hazardous waste sites. Thus, exposures to these toxicants may explain part of the socioeconomic disparity that is observed in terms of risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although genetics greatly influences reproduction and development outcomes, the genetic-environmental interaction is what determines a healthy or adverse outcome. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1 May 2005. More...
The consequences of exposure to many other chemicals or mixtures of chemicals, such as insecticides—chemicals oftentimes specifically designed to be toxic—are largely unknown.
Many of these chemicals or their metabolites are routinely found in the blood and body fluids of pregnant women and children. Exposures to environmental toxins have been linked with higher rates of mental retardation, intellectual impairment, and behavioral problems, as well as preterm birth, low birth weight and spontaneous abortion. PLOS Medicine. 29 March 2005. More...
Science Byte: Lost productivity due to neurodevelopmental impacts of methylmercury amount to $8.7 billion annually in the US.
This estimate is based on the number of neonates born each year with methylmercury cord blood levels greater than 5.8 μg/L, a level associated with loss of IQ. Of this total, $1.3 billion each year is attributable to mercury emissions from American power plants. EHP. 28 February 2005. More...
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