Tuesday, March 31, 2009

SCIENCE: Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population

"Results aggregated from both surveys found that 30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside."
 
J Environ Health. 2009 Mar;71(7):46-50.
 
Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19326669

Caress SM, Steinemann AC.
University of West Georgia, Carrollton 30118, USA. scaress@westga.edu

This study determined the percentages of individuals who report adverse effects from exposure to fragranced products in the U.S. population and in subpopulations of those with asthma or chemical sensitivity. Data were collected through telephone interviews from two geographically weighted, random samples of the continental U.S. in two surveys during 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 (1,057 and 1,058 cases, respectively).

Respondents were asked if they find being next to someone wearing a scented product irritating or appealing; if they have headaches, breathing difficulties, or other problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers; and if they are irritated by the scent from laundry products, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets that are vented outside.

Results aggregated from both surveys found that 30.5% of the general population reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside.

This study reveals that a considerable percentage of the U.S. population reports adverse health effects or irritation from fragranced products, with higher percentages among those with asthma and chemical sensitivity.

PMID: 19326669

Saturday, March 28, 2009

CORRECTED LINKS: Re: Newsletter: MCS America News - April 2009

The newsletter contained incorrect "entire edition" links.  Please find below a corrected newsletter with working links.
 

MCSA NEWS

April 2009, Volume 4, Issue 4

 

Entire PDF Edition: http://mcs-america.org/april2009.pdf  (View, Download, and Print)
Entire Online Edition:
http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm  (View as a Webpage)

 

Direct Links to Articles Inside This Issue:

 

The Economy Versus Human Health:  What's the Price?

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg123.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_The_Economy_versus

 

Applying for Disability Benefits for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:  Litigation

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg45.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Applying_for_Disability_2

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment: Part 3, Treatment

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg678910.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Chronic_Fatigue_Syndrome_1

 

Chemicals Affect All of Us

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg11.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Chemicals_Affect_All

 

Welcome to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:  Time to Look at Your Home in a Different Light

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg1213.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Welcome_to_Multiple

 

Proposed Treatment of Light, Sound, Touch, and Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg1415.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Proposed_Treatment_of

 

Fast Metabolism Linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg16.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Fast_Metabolism_Linked

 

Toxic Chemicals Emitted by Scented Laundry Detergents and Fabric Softener

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg17181920.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Cardiovascular_Evidence_of_

 

Q&A:  MCS and Natural Disasters

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg21.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Q&A:__Insurance_

 

Q&A:  Clipping the Olfactory Nerve

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg22.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Q&A__Clipping

 

Toxic Exposures Linked to Mental Health

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg23.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Toxic_Exposures_Linked

 

Low Amino Acids Linked to Fibromyalgia

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg24.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Low_Amino_Acids

 

Letters to the Editor:  Denny Foil

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg25.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Letters_to_the

 

Patient Support and Resources

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg2627282930313233.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Resources_and_Support

 

Community News

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg34.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Community_News_3

 

Featured Research

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg353637.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Featured_Research_Studies_4

 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities America
http://www.mcs-america.org  

admin@mcs-america.org

 

 

Copyrighted © 2009  MCS America

 

You have received this newsletter because you subscribed to it.

If you wish to unsubscribe, please send a message to unsubscribe@mcs-america.org.

 

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NEWSLETTER: MCS America News - April 2009

MCSA NEWS

April 2009, Volume 4, Issue 4

 

Entire PDF Edition: http://mcs-america.org/february2009.pdf  (View, Download, and Print)
Entire Online Edition: http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsfebruary2009.htm   (View as a Webpage)

 

Direct Links to Articles Inside This Issue:

 

The Economy Versus Human Health:  What's the Price?

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg123.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_The_Economy_versus

 

Applying for Disability Benefits for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:  Litigation

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg45.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Applying_for_Disability_2

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment: Part 3, Treatment

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg678910.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Chronic_Fatigue_Syndrome_1

 

Chemicals Affect All of Us

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg11.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Chemicals_Affect_All

 

Welcome to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:  Time to Look at Your Home in a Different Light

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg1213.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Welcome_to_Multiple

 

Proposed Treatment of Light, Sound, Touch, and Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg1415.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Proposed_Treatment_of

 

Fast Metabolism Linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg16.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Fast_Metabolism_Linked

 

Toxic Chemicals Emitted by Scented Laundry Detergents and Fabric Softener

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg17181920.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Cardiovascular_Evidence_of_

 

Q&A:  MCS and Natural Disasters

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg21.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Q&A:__Insurance_

 

Q&A:  Clipping the Olfactory Nerve

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg22.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Q&A__Clipping

 

Toxic Exposures Linked to Mental Health

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg23.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Toxic_Exposures_Linked

 

Low Amino Acids Linked to Fibromyalgia

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg24.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Low_Amino_Acids

 

Letters to the Editor:  Denny Foil

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg25.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Letters_to_the

 

Patient Support and Resources

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg2627282930313233.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Resources_and_Support

 

Community News

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg34.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Community_News_3

 

Featured Research

PDF Version:      http://mcs-america.org/april2009pg353637.pdf

Online Version:  http://mcs-america.org/mcsanewsapril2009.htm#_Featured_Research_Studies_4

 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities America
http://www.mcs-america.org  

admin@mcs-america.org

 

 

Copyrighted © 2009  MCS America

 

You have received this newsletter because you subscribed to it.

If you wish to unsubscribe, please send a message to unsubscribe@mcs-america.org.

 

This newsletter may be forwarded provided it is forwarded in it's entirety.

Some individuals may receive this newsletter through forwarded posts from independent listserves/groups .

If you no longer wish to receive mail, contact your administrator or unsubscribe from your listserv/group.

Friday, March 27, 2009

ACTIVISM: Company to perfume its car parks

This is in the UK.  Please flood them with complaints saying this would keep us OUT of the parking garage instead of bring us in.  A simple 2 line comment will suffice if that's all there is time for.

For example:  "Adding fragrance to the stairwells will not make a facility more pleasant for drivers.  Fragrances are a personal choice and the wrong scent can be extremely unpleasant.   In addition, fragrances will make the facility an inaccessible health hazard and for the millions of people with asthma, fragrance sensitivity, or respiratory problems.  Please reconsider this important disability access issue.  It's a potential liability hazard to your organization.  The bottom line is that adding fragrance does not remove odors.  It adds to them.  Only regular cleaning removes odors." 

Comments may be sent via:  http://www.ncp.co.uk/contactus.aspx?pointerid=66ab40ab473546ecb02e882095de04a5


Company to perfume its car parks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7967979.stm

Car park company, NCP, intends to pump out people's favourite fragrances into smelly stairwells in a bid to bring more drivers into its multi-story car parks. 


Parking lot group eyeing lot fragrance


http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/03/27/Parking_lot_group_eyeing_lot_fragrance/UPI-68811238176338/

LONDON, March 27 (UPI) -- National Car Parks says it is looking into ways to replace the offending odors of Britain's parking lots with more pleasant smells for drivers.


The British private parking lot operator learned in a poll of 2,000 drivers that one-third of respondents would avoid a parking lot that featured offending smells, The Daily Mail said Friday.

The benefits of whole-house in-duct air cleaning in reducing exposures to fine particulate matter of outdoor origin: A modeling analysis.

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2009 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] Links

The benefits of whole-house in-duct air cleaning in reducing exposures to fine particulate matter of outdoor origin: A modeling analysis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19319161

[1] aEnvironmental Health & Engineering Inc., 117 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02494-2725, USA [2] bHarvard Extension School, 51 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Health risks of fine particle air pollution (PM(2.5)) are an important public health concern that has the potential to be mitigated in part by interventions such as air cleaning devices that reduce personal exposure to ambient PM(2.5). To characterize exposure to ambient PM(2.5) indoors as a function of residential air cleaners, a multi-zone indoor air quality model was used to integrate spatially resolved data on housing, meteorology, and ambient PM(2.5), with performance testing of residential air cleaners to estimate short-term and annual average PM(2.5) of outdoor origin inside residences of three metropolitan areas. The associated public health impacts of reduced ambient PM(2.5) exposure were estimated using a standard health impact assessment methodology. Estimated indoor levels of ambient PM(2.5) varied substantially among ventilation and air cleaning configurations. The median 24-h average indoor-outdoor ratio of ambient PM(2.5) was 0.57 for homes with natural ventilation, 0.35 for homes with central air conditioning (AC) with conventional filtration, and 0.1 for homes with central AC with high efficiency in-duct air cleaner. Median modeled 24-h average indoor concentrations of PM(2.5) of outdoor origin for those three configurations were 8.4, 5.3, and 1.5 mug/m(3), respectively. The potential public health benefits of reduced exposure to ambient PM(2.5) afforded by air cleaning systems were substantial. If the entire population of single-family homes with central AC in the modeling domain converted from conventional filtration to high-efficiency in-duct air cleaning, the change in ambient PM(2.5) exposure is estimated to result in an annual reduction of 700 premature deaths, 940 hospital and emergency room visits, and 130,000 asthma attacks in these metropolitan areas. In addition to controlling emissions from sources, high-efficiency whole-house air cleaner are expected to reduce exposure to particles of outdoor origin and are projected to be an effective means of managing public health impacts of ambient particle pollution.Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology advance online publication, 25 March 2009; doi:10.1038/jes.2009.16.

PMID: 19319161 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism.

FASEB J. 2009 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links

Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19307255?ordinalpos=1&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

*Department of Pediatrics; andDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

Research into the metabolic phenotype of autism has been relatively unexplored despite the fact that metabolic abnormalities have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several other neurobehavioral disorders. Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress have been reported in autistic children; however, intracellular redox status has not yet been evaluated. Lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) derived from autistic children and unaffected controls were used to assess relative concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized disulfide glutathione (GSSG) in cell extracts and isolated mitochondria as a measure of intracellular redox capacity. The results indicated that the GSH/GSSG redox ratio was decreased and percentage oxidized glutathione increased in both cytosol and mitochondria in the autism LCLs. Exposure to oxidative stress via the sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal resulted in a greater decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio and increase in free radical generation in autism compared to control cells. Acute exposure to physiological levels of nitric oxide decreased mitochondrial membrane potential to a greater extent in the autism LCLs, although GSH/GSSG and ATP concentrations were similarly decreased in both cell lines. These results suggest that the autism LCLs exhibit a reduced glutathione reserve capacity in both cytosol and mitochondria that may compromise antioxidant defense and detoxification capacity under prooxidant conditions.-James, S. J., Rose, S., Melnyk, S., Jernigan, S., Blossom, S., Pavliv, O., Gaylor, D.W. Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism.

PMID: 19307255 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Health of US Veterans of 1991 Gulf War: A Follow-Up Survey in 10 Years.

J Occup Environ Med. 2009 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print] Links

Health of US Veterans of 1991 Gulf War: A Follow-Up Survey in 10 Years.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19322107

From the Department of Veterans Affairs (Dr Kang, Dr Mahan), Environmental Epidemiology Service; Institute for Clinical Research Inc. (Ms Li), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Washington DC; Department of Veterans Affairs (Dr Eisen), Health Services Research and Development Service; and Department of Defense (Dr Engel), Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed, Wash.

OBJECTIVE:: To assess periodically the health status of a cohort of 1991 Gulf War veterans by comparing various health outcomes with those of their military peers who were not deployed to the Gulf. METHODS:: We conducted a follow-up health survey to collect health information among population-based samples of 30,000 veterans (15,000 Gulf War veterans and 15,000 Gulf Era veterans) using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS:: Gulf veterans reported significantly higher rates of unexplained multi-symptom illness, chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, posttraumatic stress disorder, functional impairment, health care utilization, a majority of selected physical conditions and all mental disorders queried during the survey than did Gulf Era veteran controls. CONCLUSIONS:: Fourteen years after deployment, 1991 Gulf War veterans continue to report a higher prevalence of many adverse health outcomes, compared with Gulf Era veterans.


PMID: 19322107 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Monday, March 23, 2009

Gulf War Syndrome Linked To Chemical Exposure

Gulf War Syndrome Linked To Chemical Exposure        
http://www.sciencecodex.com/gulf_war_syndrome_linked_to_chemical_exposure
 
A new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers is the first to pinpoint damage inside the brains of veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome – a finding that links the illness to chemical exposures and may lead to diagnostic tests and treatments.

Dr. Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study, said the research uncovers and locates areas of the brain that function abnormally. Recent studies had shown evidence of chemical abnormalities and shrinkage of white matter in the brains of veterans exposed to certain toxic chemicals, such as sarin gas during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
<snip>

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Lower Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Psychosom Med. 2009 Mar 17. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links

Lower Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19297309?ordinalpos=1&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Institute for Cellular Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

Objective: To examine blood pressure circadian rhythm in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and appropriate normal and fatigued controls to correlate parameters of blood pressure regulation with perception of fatigue in an observational cohort study. The cause of CFS remains unknown and there are no effective treatments. Methods: To address whether inactivity was a confounder, we performed a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the following three subject groups: 1) CFS patients (Fukuda Diagnostic criteria) (n = 38); 2) normal controls (n = 120); and 3) a fatigue comparison group (n = 47) with the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). All patients completed a measure of fatigue severity (Fatigue Impact Scale). In view of the different demographics between the patient groups, patients were age- and sex-matched on a case-by-case basis to normal controls and blood pressure parameters were compared. Results: Compared with the control population, the CFS group had significantly lower systolic blood pressure (p < .0001) and mean arterial blood pressure (p = .0002) and exaggerated diurnal variation (p = .009). There was a significant inverse relationship between increasing fatigue and diurnal variation of blood pressure in both the CFS and PBC groups (p < .05). Conclusion: Lower blood pressure and abnormal diurnal blood pressure regulation occur in patients with CFS. We would suggest the need for a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of agents to increase blood pressure such as midodrine in CFS patients with an autonomic phenotype.

PMID: 19297309 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia.

Clin Biochem. 2009 Mar 9. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links

Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19281806?ordinalpos=2&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate plasma amino acids (AA) concentrations in patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and to study the relationships between their levels and FM clinical parameters. DESIGN AND METHODS: 20 AA were assessed in 34 FM patients and in 18 healthy volunteers by means of a modified version of the Waters picotag method. RESULTS: Significant lower plasma taurine, alanine, tyrosine (Tyr), valine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine concentrations and sum of essential AAs were observed in FM patients vs healthy controls (P<0.05). Tyr CAAs ratio and the sum of AAs competing with tryptophan for brain uptake resulted significantly reduced in FM (p<0.05). Significant correlation were found between FM clinical parameters and certain AAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a probable defects of gut malabsorption of certain AAs in FM patients. Moreover, given the reduced Tyr CAAs ratio in FM patients, a possible impairment of cathecolaminergic system in the FM syndrome may be suggested.

PMID: 19281806 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Adsorption and regeneration on activated carbon fiber cloth for volatile organic compounds at indoor concentration levels.

J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2009 Jan;59(1):31-6. Links

Adsorption and regeneration on activated carbon fiber cloth for volatile organic compounds at indoor concentration levels.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216185

Yao M, Zhang Q, Hand DW, Perram D, Taylor R.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA. myao@mtu.edu

There are increasing concerns about indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) regarding their health effects and frequent occurrence. Adsorption using granular activated carbon (GAC) is a safe methodology for removing VOCs from indoor air. Although GAC has been widely used to remove VOCs from indoor air, the use of activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) is a promising substitute to the conventional activated carbon because of its regenerative properties; hence, this paper provides promising results for the application of ACFC as a regenerative adsorbent for the removal of VOCs from indoor air. The impacts of operating variables on the adsorption/regeneration performance of the ACFC were assessed. A single-layer ACFC exhibited remarkable adsorption and regenerative properties using 100 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) toluene as the indoor contaminant. The use of Joule heating regeneration technique showed that the ACFC was rapid and efficient in removing the low initial loading of toluene. Even after continuous adsorption/regeneration cycles the ACFC showed very good performance. After over 300 heating and cooling cycles the ACFC showed excellent durability and adsorption capacity.

PMID: 19216185 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neonate Exposure to Thimerosal Mercury from Hepatitis B Vaccines.

Am J Perinatol. 2009 Mar 12. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links

Neonate Exposure to Thimerosal Mercury from Hepatitis B Vaccines.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19283656?ordinalpos=12&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.

Infant exposure to ethylmercury (EtHg) has not only increased but is starting earlier as a result of the current immunization schedule that uses thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs). Although vaccination schedule varies considerably between countries, infants in less-developed countries continue to be exposed to EtHg derived from more affordable TCVs. We studied the exposure of newborns to EtHg from hepatitis B vaccines; hospital records (21,685) were summarized for the years 2001 to 2005 regarding date of birth, vaccination date, and birth weight. Most of the vaccinations occurred in the first 24 hours postdelivery; over the 5 years, there was an increase in vaccinations within hours of birth (same day), from 7.4% (2001) to 87.8% (2005). Nearly 94.6% of infants are now being vaccinated within the first 24hours. Range of mercury exposure spread from 4.2 to 21.1 mug mercury/kg body weight for those receiving TCVs with the highest thimerosal concentration; these exposure levels are conservative for 2% of children receiving vaccines within 2 to 3 postnatal days, when they are still going through physiological postnatal weight loss. Because of the particular timing (transitioning from in utero to ex utero metabolism) and specific aspects of exposure (i.e., parenteral mode, bypassing gastroenteric barriers) and dose (related to vaccine manufacturer and with variation in birth weight), this study reveals critical issues that can modulate toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of organomercurials in neonates.

PMID: 19283656 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Exposure to Lead and Mercury in Young Larvae Induces More Severe Deficits in Neuronal Survival and Synaptic Function than in Adult Nematodes.

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009 Mar 15. [Epub ahead of print]Click here to read Links

Exposure to Lead and Mercury in Young Larvae Induces More Severe Deficits in Neuronal Survival and Synaptic Function than in Adult Nematodes.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19288233?ordinalpos=8&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease in Ministry of Education, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Southeast University Medical School, 210009, Nanjing, China.

In the present study, we investigated the possibly neurotoxic effects of metal (Pb and Hg) exposure at different developmental stages on neuronal loss in the GABAergic nervous system and synaptic functions in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our data suggest that neuronal survival in GABAergic neurons and cholinergic transmission were relatively stable during development in nematodes. Moreover, neurodegeneration, as shown by the neuronal loss and dorsal/ventral cord gaps, was more severely induced by Pb and Hg exposure at the L1 through L3 larval stages than at the L4 larval and young-adult stages. Similarly, pre- and postsynaptic functions were more severely impaired by Pb and Hg exposure at the L1 through L3 larval stages than at the L4 larval and young-adult stages. Furthermore, both aldicarb and levamisole resistance were significantly correlated with neuronal loss, dorsal cord gap, and ventral cord gap in Pb- and Hg-exposed nematodes, suggesting that neuronal survival was noticeably correlated with synaptic function in metal-exposed nematodes during development. Therefore, younger (L1-L3) larvae show more sensitivity to neurotoxicity of neuronal survival and synaptic function than L4 larvae and young adult nematodes.

PMID: 19288233 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

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