Blood lead levels in NASCAR Nextel Cup teams.

Abstract

This pilot study determines whether NASCAR racing teams demonstrate exposure to lead from exhaust by evaluation of blood lead levels (BLL). Participants were stratified by proximity to fuel exhaust or whether they worked on an engine. Each participant completed a self-reported survey recording demographics, lead exposure (occupational or in-home environment), and any physical symptoms of lead toxicity. Blood lead levels were then measured. BLL of 47 individuals ranged from 1-22 microg/dL with a median of 9.4 microg/dL. Nineteen of 47 (40.4%) had BLL > or = 10 microg/dL. Participants exposed to exhaust gas had the highest relative risks (RR) for elevated lead, followed by working on brakes and radiator repair. The RR of having an elevated BLL and self-reported adverse health outcomes or symptoms was increased. This study of NASCAR racing teams demonstrates lead exposure.

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PUBLIC HEALTH
Blood Lead Levels in NASCAR Nextel Cup Teams
Epidemiology of acute organophosphate poisoning
in hospital emergency room patients
Exposure pathways and health effects associated
with chemical and radiological toxicity of natural
uranium: a review
Serum dioxin concentration and age at menarche
AhR- and ER-mediated activities in human blood
samples collected PCB-contaminated and
background region in Slovakia
Developmental dental defects in children exposed
to PCBs
Serum estrogen and its metabolites in pregnant
women exposed to dioxins and polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCBs)
Low air pollution and levels of inactive forms of
haemoglobin among children
Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in children living in city
and rural residences in Denmark
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June 3, 2005
Contents
Public Health
March 10, 2006

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Public Health
Blood Lead Levels in NASCAR Nextel Cup Teams
2006-02-17
This pilot study determines. whether NASCAR racing teams demonstrate
exposure to lead from exhaust by evaluation of blood lead levels (BLL).
Participants were stratified by proximity to fuel exhaust or whether they worked
on an engine. Each participant completed a self-reported survey recording
demographics, lead exposure (occupational or in-home environment),
and any physical symptoms of lead toxicity. Blood lead levels were then
measured. BLL of 47 individuals ranged from 1-22 mug/dL with a median
of 9.4 mug/dL. Nineteen of 47 (40.4%) had BLL >= 10 mug/dL. Participants
exposed to exhaust gas had the highest relative risks (RR) for elevated
lead, followed by working on brakes and radiator repair. The RR of having
an elevated BLL and self-reported adverse health outcomes or symptoms
was increased. This study of NASCAR racing teams demonstrates lead
exposure.
Authors: O’Neil, Joseph; Steele, Gregory; McNair, C.; Matusiak, Matthew;
Madlem, Jyl
Full source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2005, 3(2),
67-71 (Eng)
Epidemiology of acute organophosphate poisoning in
hospital emergency room patients
2006-02-17
Acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning is a major health issue in developing
countries. Organophosphate insecticides inhibit cholinesterase (ChE)
enzymic activity, thereby eliciting cholinergic signs and symptoms. Victims
of OP poisoning require immediate hospital emergency room (ER) treatment
to prevent a fatal outcome. Authors present an epidemiological review of
acute OP poisoning in hospital ER patients. Suicidal and occupational OP
poisoning in agricultural workers was prevalent in developing countries,
whereas accidental OP poisoning was prevalent in developed countries.
Healthcare workers in the ER were also affected by OP poisoning. Both
males and females were affected. Children accounted for 35% of the OP-
poisoned victims. Patients presented with a classic cholinergic syndrome
and serum ChE depression, with a recovery rate above 90%. Neurological
impairment was the most frequent complication. Preventing environmental
OP exposure and increasing the awareness of pesticide toxicity would
reduce acute OP poisoning and protect human health.
Authors: Dharmani, Chandrabhan; Jaga, Kushik
Full source: Reviews on Environmental Health 2005, 20(3), 215-232 (Eng)
Exposure pathways and health effects associated with
chemical and radiological toxicity of natural uranium: a
review
2006-02-17
Natural uranium exposure derives from the mining, milling, and processing
of uranium ore, as well as from ingestion of groundwater that is naturally
contaminated with uranium. Ingestion and inhalation are the primary routes
of entry into the body. Absorption of uranium from the lungs or digestive
track is typically low but can vary depending on compound specific solubility.
From the blood, two-thirds of the uranium is excreted in urine over the first
24 h and up to 80% to 90% of uranium deposited in the bone leaves the
body within 1.5 years. The primary health outcomes of concern documented
with respect to uranium are renal, developmental, reproductive, diminished
This pilot study
determines.
whether
NASCAR
racing teams
demonstrate
exposure to
lead from
exhaust by
evaluation of
blood lead
levels (BLL).

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Public Health
bone growth, and DNA damage. The reported health effects derive from
experimental animal studies and human epidemiology. The Lowest
Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) derived from animal studies is
50 mug/m3 for inhalation and 60 mug/kg body weight/day for ingestion.
The current respiratory standard of the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), 50 mug/m3, affords no margin of safety. Considering
the safety factors for species and individual variation, the ingestion LOAEL
corresponds to the daily consumption set by the World Health Organization
Drinking Water Standard at 2 mug/L. Based on economic considerations,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant
level is 30 mug/L.
Authors: Brugge, Doug; de Lemos, Jamie L.; Oldmixon, Beth
Full source: Reviews on Environmental Health 2005, 20(3), 177-191 (Eng)
Serum dioxin concentration and age at menarche
2006-02-17
The association of individual serum TCDD and age of menarche among
women who were premenarcheal in 1976, at the time of explosion, was
studied. Results show that individual serum TCDD measurements are
not significantly related to the age of menarche among women in the
Seveso Women’s Health Study (SWHS) cohort. The women in this study
experienced significant TCDD exposure during the postnatal but prepubertal
developmental period. Animal evidence suggests in utero exposure may be
the more sensitive route for the developing fetus, thus, continued follow-up
of the offspring of the SWHS cohort is important.
Authors: Warner, Marcella; Samuels, Steven; Mocarelli, Paolo; Gerthoux,
Pier Mario; Needham, Larry; Patterson, Don, Jr.; Eskenazi, Brenda
Full source: Organohalogen Compounds [computer optical disk] 2004,
66(Dioxin 2004), 3136-3139 (Eng)
AhR- and ER-mediated activities in human blood samples
collected PCB-contaminated and background region in
Slovakia
2006-02-17
Human blood samples were collected in two Eastern Slovakia regions
differently polluted with polychlorinated biphenyls in human blood samples
to determine dioxin-like, estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities in human
blood. Dioxin-like activities and levels of CYP1A1/CYP1b1 mRNA expression
were determined in 300 serum and lymphocyte samples of male and female
blood.
Only weak associations between concentrations of PCBs and potential
biomarkers of dioxin-like toxicity and estrogenicity were found. Prevalent
PCBs might contribute to a decrease of overall estrogenic activity in human
male blood and it seems reasonable to conclude that these compounds were
responsible for the weak antiestrogenic activity observed in the persistent
organic pollutants fractions of blood.
Authors: Pliskova, Martina; Canton, Rocio F.; van Duursen, Majorie B. M.;
Neca, Jiri; Vondracek, Jan; Kocan, Anton; Petrik, Jan; Trnovec, Tomas;
Sanderson, J. Thomas; van den Berg, Martin; Machala, Miroslav
Full source: Organohalogen Compounds [computer optical disk] 2004,
66(Dioxin 2004), 3531-3536 (Eng)
Human blood
samples were
collected in
two Eastern
Slovakia
regions
differently
polluted with
polychlorinated
biphenyls...

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Public Health
Developmental dental defects in children exposed to
PCBs
2006-02-17
The effects of long-term exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, measured
at the individual level, on developmental dental defects in 432 children in
eastern Slovakia, were studied. Three main types of developmental defects
of enamel were recorded: demarcated opacities, diffuse opacities, and
hypoplasia. A dose-response relationship between PCB exposure and
developmental dental defects in children was observed confirming previous
findings that long-term exposure to PCBs may cause developmental dental
defects.
Authors: Jan, Janja; Sovcikova, Eva; Kovrizhnykh, Ievgeniy; Kocan, Anton;
Wimmerova, Sonia; Trnovec, Tomas
Full source: Organohalogen Compounds [computer optical disk] 2004,
66(Dioxin 2004), 3544-3547 (Eng)
Serum estrogen and its metabolites in pregnant women
exposed to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)
2006-02-17
Dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) body burden was investigated
in relation to estrogen metabolites and catabolites. The ratio of 4-OH-E2/2-
OH-E2 decreased with increasing tertiles of TCDD from 0.74 to 0.46. The
concentration of 4-OH-E2 increased with increasing concentrations of high-
chlorinated polychlorinated dibenzofurans. It is implicated that CYP1A2
enzyme activity may decrease with increasing TCDD levels particularly
when relative to the CYP1A1 activity. This study not only validated the
association between TCDD and E2 catabolites, but also disclosed the
different relationships among TCDD, PCDF, and PCB to estradiol catabolites
in humans.
Authors: Wang, Shu-Li; Chang, Y.-C.; Li, C.-M.; Chao, H.-R.; Chou, W.-L.;
Guo, Y. L.
Full source: Organohalogen Compounds [computer optical disk] 2004,
66(Dioxin 2004), 3178-3181 (Eng)
Low air pollution and levels of inactive forms of
haemoglobin among children
2006-02-17
The influence of low degrees of air pollution on the levels of inactive forms
of Hb, metHb and carboxyHb, among children was investigated. The
concentrations of the examined inactive forms of Hb in the analyzed children
within the reference limits were ascertained. The level of metHb significantly
reflects the different level of pollution with nitric pollutants.
Authors: Turnovska, Tanya; Hristova, Ana; Kostianev, Stefan
Full source: Journal of Balkan Ecology 2003, 6(3), 308-315 (Eng)
Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in children living in city and
rural residences in Denmark
2006-02-17
The present study indicates that children living in urban residences are more
exposed to PAH than children living in rural residences. Time spent outdoors
increased the excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene, which was most evident among
urban children. Higher concentrations of ambient air pollution in urban areas
The influence
of low degrees
of air pollution
on the levels of
inactive forms
of Hb, metHb
and carboxyHb,
among
children was
investigated.

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Public Health
may explain this finding. No influence of environmental tobacco smoke,
cooking habits, and heating facilities was detected.
Authors: Hansen, Ase Marie; Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole; Knudsen, Lisbeth
Ehlert
Full source: Science of the Total Environment 2005, 347(1-3), 98-105
(Eng)