|
||||||
|
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.
New experiments with combinations of contaminants shows that mixtures can cause harm even when the level of each chemical in the mixture would cause no effect by itself.
Because people are exposed to hundreds of chemicals at a time--or more--these results indicate that setting safety standards based on the action of individual chemicals will not be sufficient to protect human health. 1 September 2009. More...
Scientists report that a number of Roundup formulations tested at very dilute concentrations can alter hormone actions and cause human liver cells to die within 24 hours of treatment.
The key factor affecting how dangerous the different formulations were lay in their "inert ingredients" ... chemicals usually protected by trade secrets clauses. 18 August 2009. More...
A new study finds that a single tablet of an over-the-counter herbal medicine can raise the levels of phthalates in the body by 100-fold before being quickly eliminated.
The protective layer that coats the outside of drug capsules contains enough of a phthalate to drive levels in those taking the drugs above the daily intake limits designated by food regulatory agencies in Europe. 23 July 2009. More...
New animal research suggests that overweight children may be at unique risk for adverse health problems due to exposure to dioxin before they are born.
Overweight mice whose mothers were exposed to dioxin during pregnancy die earlier, tend to have higher blood sugar levels and develop breasts sooner during puberty than those not exposed in the womb. Lean mice under the same circumstances had few of these effects. 21 May 2009. More...
A new study reveals that by interfering with thyroid hormone, exposure to low levels of bisphenol A (BPA) slows the rate at which tadpoles develop into frogs.
Thyroid signals are necessary both for normal frog metamorphosis and for fetal development in people. In these experiments, exposure to levels similar to those found in human infants prevented key genes from turning on, thus delaying tadpole development. 12 May 2009. More...
A study of new, oil-based paints sold in Chinese retail stores finds that more than half have lead levels above the government's standards.
55% of paints tested in this study exceeded the Chinese standard of 90 parts per million (ppm) of soluble lead. Fifty percent of paints also exceeded the US standard of 600 ppm of total lead, with 24% of samples containing more than 5,000 ppm of total lead. 17 December 2008. More...
Thirty-six scientists conclude in a peer-reviewed commentary that the FDA's draft decision on bisphenol A uses unacceptable criteria for selecting data and depends heavily upon a key paper that is fatally flawed.
The NIH-funded research rejected by the FDA is likely to produce reliable and valid scientific data than the studies used by the agency in its draft. 30 October 2008. More...
Phthalate exposure is widespread in infants and use of baby care products appears to be contributing, according to an analysis of babies' urine.
Greater use of lotions, powders and shampoos were associated with higher phthalate levels. The associations were strongest in younger infants. Parents wanting to decrease phthalate exposures for their infants should reduce the use of baby products unless needed for medical purposes. 4 February 2008. More...
New experiments reveal that the synthetic estrogen used by women for birth control causes wide ranging health effects in minnows, but that the effects differed when the drug was tested alone compared with when it was mixed with wastewater effluent.
The estrogen caused feminization of male fish, and altered DNA integrity, immune cell number, and ability to breakdown pollutants. The study highlights the need for more research on the potential health effects of exposure to complex mixtures. 7 September 2007. More...
Thirty-eight of the world's leading scientific experts on bisphenol A have warned policymakers of potential adverse health effects of exposure to the widespread molecule used to make plastic and food can lining.
They conclude that average levels in people are above those that cause harm to animals in laboratory experiments. And they calculate that average serum levels in people can only be explained by assuming that exposures today are already above the level that EPA considers safe. 13 August 2007. More...
The widely-used synthetic insecticide permethrin dramatically reduces testosterone levels and sperm counts in adult male mice exposed for six weeks.
Permethrin causes reproductive damage by altering the beginning steps of testosterone synthesis in the testes, lowering testosterone production. Permethrin is used in homes and agriculture and it can be found in dust and food. Doses used in the experiment were higher than those people would encounter regularly, but effects were seen at both doses tested. 3 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...
A comprehensive review of published data has identified 216 chemicals that are associated with increases in mammary gland tumors in at least one animal study.
These include industrial chemicals, chlorinated solvents, combustion byproducts, pesticides, dyes and radiation. Twenty-nine are produced in the US at > 1 million pounds a year. Exposure is widespread. Cancer. 14 May 2007. More...
Extensive results from studies of endocrine-disrupting compounds indicate that toxicological testing can no longer assume high dose results predict the effect of low doses.
Because the design of all regulatory testing has been based upon this assumption, it is highly likely to have missed low dose effects and led to health standards that are too weak. 30 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...
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...
US work group identifies critical windows during development when exposure to chemicals have adverse effects.
The work group prioritized research needs to include basic studies on sexual differentiation and development; increased efforts regarding potential adverse effects on female development; expanded animal studies on different classes of chemicals, comparing responses during development (prenatal and postnatal) with responses in adults; and, more extensive explorations regarding the onset of puberty in humans. Environ Health Perspectives 1 June 2006. More...
A study of semen parameters in Mexico where DDT was used to control malaria found that exposure was related to impaired sperm quality.
Men with higher DDE levels had a lower precentage of motile sperm and a greater percentage of sperm with tail defects. Sperm chromatin condensation was also affected adversely. These findings are especially important because the subjects were not involved in spraying DDT, but instead were simply living in the area. Journal of Andrology 12 April 2006. More...
Science Byte: PFOA altered expression of over 500 genes in a microarray study of the liver tissue of rats that had been treated for 21 days.
Genes involved in lipid transport and metabolism were the largest categories of those whose activities were increased. Genes involved in a number of basic cellular activities were also affected, including cell communication, growth, immunity, hormone regulation and cell adhesion. Toxicological Sciences. 10 April 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: A study of Latina women and their children found unexpectedly high variation in vulnerability to organophosphate pesticide impacts.
Some newborns were 26 to 50 times more susceptible than others, and 65 to 130 times more sensitive than some adults. The results indicate current standards may not be sufficiently protective. Pharmacogenetics & Genomics. 5 March 2006. More...
An analysis of public records and court documents reveals an industry campaign to undermine steps taken by the US occupational health agency to develop safety standards for exposure to hexavalent chromium.
By splitting a study into two parts and publishing them separately, industry scientists made a significant elevation in risk of lung cancer go away. This study was never submitted by industry in its entirety to OSHA, but only became available when it was discovered in bankruptcy legal filings. 24 February 2006. More...
Science Byte: The tobacco industry hired a network of consultants to generate controversy about second-hand smoke.
Most of the consultants were affiliated with an academic institution, and were hired by a law firm to avoid direct contact with industry. European Journal of Public Health. 13 February 2006. More...
An environmentally-relevant mixture of pesticides, each at 0.1 ppb, unexpectedly weakens tadpole immune function, resulting in fatal infections.
35% of animals exposed to the mixture died compared to 4% of those treated with pesticides one at a time. Of those that survived, 70% of the animals exposed to the mixture developed bacterial infections whereas none of the controls or animals exposed to one pesticide at a time showed similar symptoms. 24 January 2006. More...
Science Byte: Contemporary neurotoxicological studies of pesticides testing impacts are not protective of future generations.
The dose range used must be more realistic. Transgenerational effects must be considered. Functional and behavioral endpoints should be given high priority in testing. EHP. 6 January 2006. More...
Science Byte: Estrogens excreted by people appear to be the dominant cause of fish feminization in UK rivers.
The geographic pattern of feminization is statistically linked to the outflow of sewage treatment plants and levels of steroid hormones excreted by people. No relationship was seen to industrial effluents. EHP. 10 November 2005. More...
Science Byte: The multi-causal origins of human disease and disability complicate applications of criteria commonly used to link cause with effect through epidemiological research.
Two of the 'Bradford Hill criteria' used by public health scientists--consistency and temporality--can be misleading when applied to endocrine disruption, because multiple causes can act upon the same endpoints, simultaneously or at different times. EHP. 10 November 2005. More...
A new assessment concludes that a larger portion of human infertility may be caused by environmental exposures than thought possible even a decade ago.
Laboratory data demonstrate conclusively that some contaminants can impair fertility in animals at levels to which people are commonly exposed. While it is well established that high levels of some contaminants can cause infertility, very few human data are available on the impacts of contaminants known to cause impacts at low-levels in animals. 31 October 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...
Experiments with mice show that exposure to bisphenol A within the range that people commonly experience causes insulin resistance.
The results indicate that exposure to low levels of BPA may be involved in 'metabolic syndrome,' including type II diabetes. Human exposure to BPA has become almost universal in the last 2 decades, because of its use in polycarbonate plastic, epoxy linings for food cans, and cavity prevention tools for children. 11 October 2005. More...
|
||||||
![[delete]](/images/x.gif)