Serum immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subset distributions in children and adults living in communities assessed for lead and cadmium exposure.

This study assessed the impact of environmental cadmium and lead exposure on the immune system of more than 2000 children and adults. Serum immunoglobulins [immunoglobulins (Ig) A, G, and M] and peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes (T cells, B cells, NK cells, and CD4/CD8 subsets) were measured in a total of 2041 children and adults who lived either in sites with elevated soil levels of cadmium and lead (n = 1561) or in comparison communities (n = 480). The blood lead and urine cadmium levels of participants were somewhat higher than national averages. Mean blood lead levels were 7 microg/dl for participants aged 6-35 mo; 6 microg/dl for participants aged 36-71 mo, 4 microg/dl for participants aged 6-15 yr; and 4.3 microg/dl for participants aged 16-75 yr. Multivariate analysis indicated no marked differences in any of the immune marker distributions attributed to lead for adults or children over 3 yr of age. However, in children under age 3, increased blood lead levels, principally those over 15 microg/dl, were associated with increases in IgA, IgG, IgM, and circulating B lymphocytes. Among adults, urine cadmium levels over 1.5 microg/g were associated with higher levels of IgA and circulating B lymphocytes. No evidence of immunosuppression was noted. The findings of potential immunologic effects at lead levels > 15 microg/dl in young children and at urine cadmium levels > 1.5 microg/g in adults are interesting, but too few participants had these high levels to delineate a threshold. Therefore, we find these results intriguing, but requiring confirmation in populations with higher exposure levels.

Biomedical testing of the kidney for persons exposed to hazardous substances in the environment.

To identify kidney injury and dysfunction among persons exposed to hazardous substances in the environment, a battery of biomarker tests has been identified for systematic public health use. The standardized use of tests for conducting field epidemiology studies was reviewed in a 1995 joint American-European workshop, and recommended tests were selected by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These tests would be useful in conducting public health activities but are not recommended in a manner that would suggest changes in routine clinical practice. The tests selected include serum creatinine, urine analysis, urinary albumin, retinol-binding protein, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), and osmolality. Urinary creatinine was also included to adjust for urine concentration. The tests were chosen for use not only in epidemiologic field studies but also clinically oriented population screening and case studies of persons exposed to hazardous substances at waste sites. Studies using the battery may address the relationship between kidney damage and dysfunction and exposures to hazardous substances, especially in susceptible populations including children. Also, longitudinal studies should be conducted to evaluate the long-term health implications of abnormal tests and to measure the tests' predictive value for renal injury. These studies could evaluate the continuum of renal dysfunction as expressed by persistent decrements in glomerular filtration to the development of end-stage renal disease.

Medical costs and lost productivity from health conditions at volatile organic compound-contaminated superfund sites.

This paper estimates the health costs at Superfund sites for conditions associated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water. Health conditions were identified from published literature and registry information as occurring at excess rates in VOC-exposed populations. These health conditions were: (1) some categories of birth defects, (2) urinary tract disorders, (3) diabetes, (4) eczema and skin conditions, (5) anemia, (6) speech and hearing impairments in children under 10 years of age, and (7) stroke. Excess rates were used to estimate the excess number of cases occurring among the total population living within one-half mile of 258 Superfund sites. These sites had evidence of completed human exposure pathways for VOCs in drinking water. For each type of medical condition, an individual's expected medical costs, long-term care costs, and lost work time due to illness or premature mortality were estimated. Costs were calculated to be approximately $330 million per year, in the absence of any remediation or public health intervention programs. The results indicate the general magnitude of the economic burden associated with a limited number of contaminants at a portion of all Superfund sites, thus suggesting that the burden would be greater than that estimated in this study if all contaminants at all Superfund sites could be taken into account.

Selective approaches to basic neurobehavioral testing of children in environmental health studies.

To identify neurotoxic effects in children living near hazardous waste sites, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has designed a basic Pediatric Environmental Neurobehavioral Test Battery (PENTB) for children 1 through 16 years of age. It emphasizes tests appropriate to the stages of a child's development. These stages were fundamental factors in selecting tests for the PENTB, which includes both informant- and performance-based assessment procedures. Assessment of children under 4 years of age is restricted to four informant-based instruments, to evaluate as many functions as possible while minimizing testing time and the professional expertise needed in the test setting. The assessment of children 4 through 16 years of age includes 10 performance-based tests to evaluate key functions within the cognitive, motor, and sensory domains analogous to functions affected by neurotoxic chemicals in adults. In all age groups, it is crucial to also assess family, cultural, economic, and other potentially confounding variables.

Adoption of an adult environmental neurobehavioral test battery.

Nationally recognized experts participated in a 3-day workshop to discuss the complex issues associated with neurobehavioral testing in environmental health settings, and to propose basic and focused test batteries for use in evaluating populations living near hazardous chemical sites. The Adult Environmental Neurobehavioral Test Battery (AENTB), which evaluates major neurobehavioral domains and functions, was adopted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) for use as a basic screening panel in field studies. Pilot testing of the AENTB demonstrated an examiner training requirement of 3-6 practice sessions, a mean total testing time of 58.0 min (SD = 9.6), and, for 9 of the component tests, a sample size requirement of fewer than 140 (alpha = 0.05, 95% power) to detect a 20% difference between study groups. ATSDR administered the AENTB to 467 persons, selected randomly from 1,382 participants in field study sites in three states. Total testing time varied noticeably by participant age and study site, suggesting an ongoing need for site-specific controls in each field study using the AENTB. Also planned is adoption of a pediatric test battery to evaluate the domains and functions most relevant at major stages of child development.

Recall bias in disease status associated with perceived exposure to hazardous substances.

Recall bias was assessed in a study of cancers reported by persons living in a community with a hazardous waste treatment facility (A) and a control community (B). The self-reported cancers were verified against medical records and pathology reports. Of the 56 cancer cases reported, 43 were in community A and 13 were in community B. The difference in incorrect reporting of neoplasms between community A and community B was 12% for neoplasms and 23% for malignancies. Before verification, there was a borderline significant association (P = 0.049) between living in community A and all self-reported cancers [odds ratio (OR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval 0.99-3.57]. The verified data showed that ORs decreased with the increasing precision of diagnosis. The effect of misclassification on the OR was an inflation by 15% for neoplasms and by 31% for malignancies. The results demonstrate the importance of verifying reported cases of disease, even a disease as well defined as cancer.

An inventory of human exposure-related data bases.

An inventory of Federally-sponsored data bases, which either have been or could be used to estimate human exposures to environmental agents, was compiled through a joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Center for Health Statistics (CDC-NCHS), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The inventory includes sixty-seven exposure-related data systems that meet the following criteria: cover a relatively large geographical area (e.g., national, state); provide reasonable access to information; and are supported, at least in part, by Federal funds. Findings allow for comparison of data bases according to 1) exposure estimators (e.g., emission estimates, environmental measurements), 2) sample types (e.g., air, water soil, food, human tissue), 3) measured/observed parameters (e.g., pesticides, PCBs, microorganisms), 4) geographic scope (e.g., national, regional, state), 5) sample collection frequency (e.g., yearly, quarterly, daily), and 6) sample location identifiers (e.g., latitude/longitude, zip code, county). Results indicate that existing data bases were established for a variety of reasons (e.g., regulatory compliance, research, monitor environmental conditions, legal requirements) and contain information which varies widely in terms of quality, relevance, and availability. Although the inventory identifies many potential sources of information, it also highlights significant shortcomings in the available systems, including an almost complete absence of data on contact between people and environmental agents (human exposure) and on the amount of the agent that is absorbed into the body (dose).

Estimating human exposures to environmental pollutants: availability and utility of existing databases.

Information about human exposures to environmental agents is a crucial component of informed decisions about protection of public health. Results from an inventory of exposure-related databases are used to examine the value of exposure information for risk assessment, risk management, surveillance of status and trends, and epidemiologic studies. Findings indicate that current and future exposure-related databases should include (1) standardized procedures for the collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of data; (2) an enhanced ability to compare data over time, i.e., conduct comparison studies of "old" and "new" methods; (3) mechanisms for coordination and cooperation among public and private-sector organizations with respect to the design, maintenance, exchange, and review of information systems; (4) measurements of actual exposures and dose for relevant human populations; and (5) data collection, storage, and retrieval methods that permit easy manipulation of information for both model building and testing.

Use of exposure databases for status and trends analysis.

Exposure databases are useful for monitoring status and trends in environmental health. However, other supporting data are usually needed to infer human exposure or internal dose. Program planning and evaluation, environmental health surveillance, epidemiologic research, and contributions to international efforts are four major purposes for monitoring environmental exposure status and trends. Although databases play an important role in monitoring human exposure, certain methodological problems need to be overcome. The work group developed six criteria for meeting information needs for human exposure assessment. Areas that need attention are (1) specification of location, (2) specification of facility and chemical identifiers, (3) documentation of special populations at risk, (4) provision of early warning of new problems, (5) monitoring changes over time, and (6) enhancement of documentation. We tested these criteria by examining six available databases that might be used for monitoring exposure to contaminants in drinking water. Available data fell short of information needs. We drew four conclusions and offered several recommendations for each. First, available data systems lack adequate measures of human exposure. Second, data for monitoring exposures for many important population subgroups and environmental settings are inadequate. Third, an "early warning" system that monitors human exposures is needed. Fourth, designers of data-collection systems should consider the needs of users who monitor status and trends of human exposure.

The findings of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Medical Waste Tracking Act report.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) report "The Public Health Implications of Medical Waste: A Report to Congress" has been finalized and submitted to Congress. The report is a comprehensive review of all available data and information on the subject. Based on the data developed in the report, ATSDR concludes that the general public is not likely to be adversely affected by medical waste generated in the traditional health setting. However, the increase of in-home health care and other sources of nonregulated medical waste (e.g., intravenous drug users) provides opportunities for the general public to contact medical waste. In addition, ATSDR concludes that public health concerns exist for selected occupations involved with medical waste. These populations include janitorial and laundry workers, nurses, emergency medical personnel, and refuse workers. The ATSDR report also defines what material should be managed as medical waste and identifies research needs related to medical waste.

Risk factors for tornado injuries.

Tornadoes in North and South Carolina on 28 March 1984 caused 252 people to be injured seriously enough to require hospitalization and 59 to be killed. To evaluate risk factors, we gathered information on 238 (94%) of those hospitalized and 46 (78%) of those killed. Those hospitalized or deceased had statistically significantly more deep cuts, concussions, unconsciousness and broken bones than those with them at the time of the tornado who were not hospitalized or killed. People living in mobile homes were more likely to be hospitalized or die than people occupying conventional houses. Other risk factors for hospitalization or death included advanced age (60+ years), no physical protection (not having been covered with a blanket or other object), having been struck by broken window glass or other falling objects, home lifted off its foundation, collapsed ceiling or floor, or walls blown away. More awareness of the tornado risk before it strikes and better adherence to tornado protection guidelines could reduce injuries and deaths in the future.

Exposure to toxic waste sites: an investigative approach.

Improper dumping and storage of hazardous substances and whether these practices produce significant human exposure and health effects are growing concerns. A sequential approach has been used by the Centers for Disease Control and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in investigating potential exposure to and health effects resulting from environmental contamination with materials such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticide residues at sites throughout the United States. The strategy consists of four phases: site evaluation, pilot studies of exposure or health effects, analytic epidemiology studies, and public health surveillance. This approach offers a logical, phased strategy to use limited personnel and financial resources of local, State, national, or global health agency jurisdictions optimally in evaluating populations potentially exposed to hazardous materials in waste sites. Primarily, this approach is most helpful in identifying sites for etiologic studies and providing investigative leads to direct and focus these studies. The results of such studies provide information needed for making risk-management decisions to mitigate or eliminate human exposures and for developing interventions to prevent or minimize health problems resulting from exposures that already have occurred.

An outbreak of staphylococcal skin infections among river rafting guides.

Outbreaks of staphylococcal skin infections among healthy adults are most unusual. The authors report an epidemic of skin infections due to Staphylococcus aureus that involved river rafting guides in Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina in summer 1982. Infections occurred only among employees of the rafting companies that provided communal, on-site housing; carriage rates of S. aureus were as high as 89% at those companies. A case-control study found that having had an infected roommate was significantly associated with infection, as was working at the livery with the most crowded housing. This outbreak appeared to be due to two factors: frequent minor skin wounds acquired while rafting, and prolonged close contact among the persons with wounds. It is likely that crowding and exposure to infected wounds led to elevated S. aureus carriage rates, which in turn increased the probability that wounds would become infected. Repeated immersion in water likely enhanced the development of infections.

Occupational asthma induced by inhalation and ingestion of garlic.

Repeated exposure to garlic dust induced severe asthma in an atopic patient. Subsequently, the patient also developed marked adverse responses after ingestion of garlic. Immunologic investigations carried out in an asymptomatic period revealed significant skin reactivity and bronchospasm after challenge with both garlic dust and extract. The results of a controlled oral challenge test to garlic dust were also positive. The patient's serum contained unusually high quantities of garlic-specific IgE. Cross allergenicity between garlic and other members of the Liliaceae family were documented by the RAST inhibition technique.