Corrigendum: Health Risks Assessments in Children for Phthalates Exposure Associated with Childcare Facilities and Indoor Playgrounds

In Table 6, the unit concentration of phthalates was not correctly indicated.

Health Risks Assessment in Children for Phthalate Exposure Associated with Childcare Facilities and Indoor Playgrounds

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the health risks for children exposed to phthalate through several pathways including house dust, surface wipes and hand wipes in child facilities and indoor playgrounds. METHODS: The indoor samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 daycare centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor-playgrounds) in both summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). Hazard index (HI) was estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalates were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). The present study examined these four kinds of samples, i.e., indoor dust, surface wipes of product and hand wipes. RESULTS: Among the phthalates, the detection rates of DEHP were 98% in dust samples, 100% in surface wipe samples, and 95% in hand wipe samples. In this study, phthalate levels obtained from floor dust, product surface and children's hand wipe samples were similar to or slightly less compared to previous studies. The 50th and 95th percentile value of child-sensitive materials did not exceed 1 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities. CONCLUSIONS: For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-routes were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. This study suggested that ingestion and dermal exposure could be the most important pathway of phthalates besides digestion through food.

Breast Cancer Screening of 13,791 Women by Physical Examination and Mammography

This study is to clarify the efficacy of breast cancer screening by physical examination and mammography and to compare the diagnostic outcome of breast cancers detected by screeening with that of breast cancers found at out-patient clinic. Between March 1995 and July 1996, A total of 13,791 women were screeened for breast cancer annually by physical examination and mammography at Samsung Cheil Hospital Breast Center and 20 breast cancers were detected. In the same period, another 166 breast cancers were found at out-patient clinic. These two groups of breast cancers were analyzed and compared. Of those 13,791 screened women, the recall rate for further examination was 9.8%(n=1,350) and the biopsy rate was 1.06%(n=146) respectively. Twenty breast cancers were detected so that the breast cancer detection rate was 0.15%. T-stages of screened group were T0;25%, T1;55%, T2;15% and T3;5%, while those of out-patient clinic cases were T0;4.8%, T1;43.4%, T2;44.6%, T3;7.2%.(p<0.05). Axillary lymph node metastasis was negative in 80% of screened group but in 59% of out-patient clinic cases.(p<0.05). Pathological stages of screened group were; stage0;25%, stageI;40%, stageII;35% and those of out-patient clinic cases were stage0;4.8%, stageI;24%, stageII;56%, stageIII;14.4%, stageIV;1.2%(p<0.05). Early breast cancers were significantly more frequent in the patients detected by screening at breast center than those of out-patient cilinic cases. The breast conservation surgery was done in 40% of screened group but only in 12.7% of out-patient clinic cases(P=0.00029).This study indicated that the efficacy of breast cancer screening by physical examination and mammography was significant for the early detection of breast cancers.

Correlative study of systolic and diastolic blood pressure with body mass index and age

No abstract available.