The Science of the total environment
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Sci. Total Environ. · Feb 2014
Effective drinking water collaborations are not accidental: interagency relationships in the international water utility sector.
The role that deficient institutional relationships have played in aggravating drinking water incidents over the last 30 years has been identified in several inquiries of high profile drinking water safety events, peer-reviewed articles and media reports. These indicate that collaboration between water utilities and public health agencies (PHAs) during normal operations, and in emergencies, needs improvement. ⋯ Core determinants of effective interagency relationships are discussed. Intentionally maintained functional relationships represent a key ingredient in assuring the delivery of safe, high quality drinking water.
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Sci. Total Environ. · Jan 2014
Comparative StudySigns and symptoms of methylmercury contamination in a First Nations community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.
In 1970, fish caught in the English-Wabigoon River system in northwestern Ontario, Canada, were found to be contaminated with mercury coming from a chlor-alkali plant in the province. In the 1970s, patients exhibiting some of the symptoms of the Hunter-Russell syndrome (e.g. paresthesias, visual field constriction, ataxia, impaired hearing, and speech impairment) were reported by some researchers. However attempts to diagnose the patients as suffering from methylmercury poisoning proved to be controversial. ⋯ Complaints, neurological findings and quantitative sensory measurements were similar in Canadian Older and Japanese Exposed. The results for Canadian Younger fell between those of Canadian Older and Japanese Control. These findings indicate that the clinical signs and symptoms of the residents of Grassy Narrows are almost the same as those recorded for Minamata disease in Japan.
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Sci. Total Environ. · Jan 2014
Associations of phthalate concentrations in floor dust and multi-surface dust with the interior materials in Japanese dwellings.
Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in numerous products. However, there has been some concern about the various effects they may have on human health. Thus, household phthalate levels are an important public health issue. ⋯ The phthalate levels in multi-surface dust were associated with the interior surface materials, and those in floor dust were directly related to the flooring materials. Our findings show that when using house dust as an exposure assessment, it is very important to note where the samples were collected from. The present report provides useful information about the association between phthalates and dust inside dwellings, which will assist with establishing public health provisions.
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Sci. Total Environ. · Oct 2013
Residential characteristics and household risk factors and respiratory diseases in Chinese women: the Seven Northeast Cities (SNEC) study.
Few studies have assessed the impact of residential home characteristics and home environmental risk factors on respiratory diseases in Chinese women. Therefore, this study sought to determine the association between residential home features, domestic pets, home renovation and other indoor environmental risk factors with respiratory health outcomes of Chinese women. ⋯ Home renovation and residential home environmental risk factors were associated with an increased likelihood of respiratory morbidity among Chinese women.
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Sci. Total Environ. · Oct 2013
Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk among Hong Kong mothers.
Dioxins are a family of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) listed under the Stockholm Convention, and include PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs. These toxic chemicals are carcinogenic, widely dispersed, and have long half-lives. They have contaminated the food web and, being fat-soluble, accumulate in adipose tissues and milk in the human body. ⋯ However, our levels were still high when compared to those in some other Asian-Pacific countries. More stringent policies on reducing and eliminating POPs should help to lower these. Continued surveillance for POPs in human milk, as well as in common foodstuffs, will provide us with important information on human exposures that will be necessary for tracking our progress, and making future health risk assessments.