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2010, National Environmental Health Association.
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2010, Volume 72, No. 6
Assessment of Athletic Health Care Facility Surfaces for MRSA in the
Secondary School Setting
Kyle Montgomery, LAT, ATC, Timothy J. Ryan, PhD, CIH, CSP, Andrew
Krause, PhD, LAT, ATC, Chad Starkey, PhD, LAT, ATC
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was once
largely a hospital-acquired infection, but increasingly,
community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) is causing outbreaks among otherwise
healthy people in athletic settings. Secondary school athletic trainers,
student athletes, and the general student population may be at elevated
risk of MRSA infection. To identify the prevalence of MRSA on surfaces
in high school athletic training settings, 10 rural high school athletic
training facilities and locker rooms were sampled for MRSA. Results
showed 90% of facilities had two or more positive MRSA surfaces, while
one school had no recoverable MRSA colonies. Of all surfaces tested (N =
90), 46.7% produced a positive result. From this limited sample, it is
evident that significant exposure opportunities to MRSA exist in
athletic training clinics and adjacent facilities for both the patient
and the clinician. Furthermore, the findings point to the need for
community hygiene education about skin and soft tissue infections like
MRSA.
Prevalence of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus in High School Wrestling Environments
Bethany Stanforth, LAT, ATC, Andrew Krause, PhD, LAT, ATC, Chad Starkey,
PhD, LAT, ATC
Timothy J. Ryan, PhD, CIH, CSP
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was
predominantly a hospital-acquired organism; recently, however,
community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been causing outbreaks in
otherwise healthy individuals involved in athletics. As such, CA-MRSA is
of emerging concern to sanitarians and public health officials.
Secondary school athletic trainers and student athletes may be at
elevated risk of spreading or contracting MRSA. The absence of proper
hygiene protocols or equipment may further increase this risk. In the
study discussed in this article, environmental samples were obtained to
identify the prevalence of MRSA on surfaces in high school athletic
training and wrestling facilities mats in nine rural Ohio high schools.
Frequencies and descriptive statistics were prepared. All nine (100%) of
the sites tested had at least one positive sample for the presence of
MRSA. The need for heightened sanitation, hygiene education of affected
persons about skin and soft tissue infections like MRSA, and
intervention opportunities for public health professionals are
discussed.
A Pilot Survey of In-Service Home Arsenic Tracked in from Chromated
Copper Arsenate–Treated Decks
Cole Sigmon, Steve Patch, PhD
Abstract
Arsenic is a known carcinogen. It is also known to be readily
dislodgeable from chromated copper arsenate (CCA)–treated lumber. The
floors of in-service homes were tested for inorganic arsenic using a
wipe method similar to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
method for lead dust clearance sampling. Additionally, a hand-sampling
method was used that involved direct dermal contact with the indoor
floor surface. Amount of dislodgeable arsenic on the decks was highly
correlated with arsenic concentrations on the indoor floors. Indoor
arsenic concentrations were highest directly adjacent to the door.
Concentrations in samples taken from the middle of rooms were less than
half the concentrations of door samples, while concentrations in samples
taken from untrodden floor space in the corners were mostly below the
method detection limit. At a home without a CCA-treated deck, no
measurable arsenic was found.
The Role of Environmental Health in the Health Care System
Monroe T. Morgan, DrPH
Abstract
What determines the health of the over 6.7 billion people in the world?
What determines the health of the over 306 million individuals who
currently inhabit the United States of America? The pressure of rising
health care costs increases the need to understand the determinants of
health and the role of environmental health in the health care system.
In his guest commentary, Dr. Morgan discusses the four basic
determinants of health: hereditary or biological factors, medical care,
lifestyle, and environment.
(Compendium): Nitrate and Nitrite Levels of Potable Water Supply in
Warri, Nigeria: A Public Health Concern
John Kanayochukwu Nduka, Orish Ebere Orisakwe, PhD, Linus Obi Ezenweke
Abstract
In this study, the authors investigated the nitrate and nitrite in
different water sources (surface water, shallow well water, and borehole
water) in the market and industrialized areas of Warri in the Niger
Delta area of Nigeria. The authors’ goal was to find the comparative
levels of nitrates and nitrites from these two parts of the community.
They selected five sampling sites from industrialized areas and another
five from market areas. Nitrate and nitrites were determined using a
DR/4000 UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The appreciable quantities of nitrates
and nitrites found in these investigations have some public health
implications. This study suggests that indiscriminate disposal of waste
and poor sanitation may be additional contributing factors in the
nitrate pollution of the water supply in the Niger Delta area of
Nigeria.
(Compendium): Meeting the Environmental Health Training Challenges of
the Local Public Health Workforce in Massachusetts
Kathleen MacVarish, MS, RS/REHS, Donna Moultrup, RN, CHO, Steven J.
Ward, MA, MPH, REHS
Abstract
In Massachusetts, the public health delivery system is mainly
decentralized with 351 municipalities providing a large array of
environmental and public health services through their local health
agencies (boards of health or health departments). In many other states
these services are delivered at the county or state agency levels, but
in Massachusetts they are provided by each city and town. In addition to
issues related to staff size and funding of agencies, a major workforce
training gap exists in Massachusetts. In an effort to address this
training gap with a comprehensive course that would introduce new and
current staff members to their roles and responsibilities when working
in an LHA in Massachusetts, volunteers from the Coalition for Local
Public Health (Coalition), which includes the Massachusetts
Environmental Health Association (MEHA), attempted to create a
curriculum that would cover the full scope of these responsibilities.
(Compendium): Exposure to Video Display Terminals and Risk of
Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth
Fabio Parazzini, MD, Francesca Chiaffarino, ScD, Liliane Chatenoud, ScD,
Sonia Cipriani, ScD,
Elena Ricci, ScD, Vito Chiantera, MD, Renata Bortolus, MD, Cristina
Maffioletti, MD
Abstract
In this study, the authors analyzed the association between video
display terminal (VDT) use before and during the three trimesters of
pregnancy and risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth in a
case-control study. The cases for this study were 555 women who
delivered SGA births. The controls were 1,966 women who gave birth at
term to healthy infants of normal weight. In terms of the length of
exposure, the odds ratios (OR) of SGA birth were 1.2 for less than one
hour and 1.3 for between two and 20 hours per week. For higher usage
(more than 20 hours per week), the OR was 1.2 (95% CI: [Confidence
Interval] 0.9–1.7). The authors conclude that this study does not show
any association between VDT use and risk of SGA birth.
(Compendium): Public
Health Ecology
Christopher J. Coutts, MPH, PhD
Abstract
The objective of this column is to offer public health ecology as a
method to conceptualize the deleterious connections between land
conservation and human health. A vital part of our efforts in
sustainability and creating ecologically sensitive and health-supporting
environments is the conservation and rehabilitation of the green
infrastructure that delivers not only basic environmental needs
essential to sustaining life but also the behaviors that ameliorate
chronic disease. Public health ecology adopts the interrelationship
between humans and their environment, and the quality of this
relationship is measured in the health of the persons who are dependent
on its form and structure.
(Compendium): Urban Heat Island and Air Pollution—An Emerging Role for
Hospital Respiratory Admissions in an Urban Area
Li-Wei Lai, PhD, Wan-Li Cheng, PhD
Abstract
The aim of the study discussed here was to determine the associations
among the urban heat island (UHI), air quality, and hospital respiratory
admissions in the warm center of an urban area. The authors collected
and analyzed the data regarding air quality parameters, meteorological
parameters, and the daily hospital respiratory admissions in the
Taichung metropolis in the autumns of 2003 and 2004. By collecting the
vertical meteorological parameters and air pollutant concentrations via
the tethersonde balloon technique, the authors simulated convergence in
Dali using The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) for the atmospheric
conditions. The authors also examined the hypotheses with Duncan’s
Multiple Range test, and analyzed spatial patterns vis-à-vis air
temperature, air quality, and hospital respiratory admissions with GIS.
The results indicated that the UHI phenomenon—which generates
convergence and then transports air pollutants to a metropolitan
area—increases hospital respiratory admissions in the warm center of an
urban area.
(Compendium): Metal Concentrations in Blood and Hair in Pregnant Females
in Southern Sweden
Lars Gerhardsson, MD, Thomas Lundh, PhD
Abstract
The study described here was comprised of 100 pregnant females from two
prenatal care units at the cities of Hassleholm and Simrishamn in
southern Sweden. It included a questionnaire as well as whole blood
(total mercury, cadmium, and lead) and hair (total mercury) sampling
(collection period 2002–2003). The median values of total mercury (B-Hg
0.70 µg/L; range 0.27–2.1 µg/L), cadmium (0.30 µg/L, 0.05–4.8 µg/L) and
lead (11.0 µg/L, 4.2–79 µg/L) in whole blood were low in the total
material, as were the hair mercury concentrations (Hair-Hg 0.22 µg/g,
0.04–0.83 µg/g). In a multiple linear regression model, B-Hg was related
to the number of fish meals per week and to the number of occlusal
amalgam fillings (multiple r = 0.51; p < .001). The levels of mercury,
cadmium, and lead in whole blood were lower than suggested biological
reference intervals, and did not indicate risks for adverse health
effects.
(Compendium):
Hospital Emergency Department Visits for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Following an October 2006 Snowstorm in Western New York
Neil A. Muscatiello, MS, Gwen Babcock, MS, Rena Jones, MS, Edward Horn,
PhD, Syni-An Hwang, PhD
Abstract
Following an October 2006 snowstorm that caused widespread power outages
in western New York State, hospital emergency department (ED) visits for
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increased. Overall, 264 people
representing 155 households were diagnosed with CO poisoning during the
power outages. Telephone interviews were conducted with a subset of
these individuals. Respondents provided information about exposure
sources, CO alarms, and awareness of CO warnings. In many households,
portable generators were operated in an enclosed area. Awareness of CO
warnings may have contributed to knowledge about locating portable
generators outside. When operated outside, however, portable generators
were generally located too close to the home. Gas kitchen ranges were
used for heat by numerous households. In the short term, CO education
and improved clarity of CO warning information is important for
increasing awareness about power outage–related CO risks. Improvements
in the combustion efficiency of portable generators should be a
long-term goal.
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March 2010, Volume 72,
No. 7
General Public Health Considerations for Responding to Animal Hoarding
Cases
Louisa Castrodale, DVM, MPH, Yvonne M. Bellay, DVM, MS, Catherine M.
Brown, DVM, MSc, MPH, Fredric L. Cantor, DVM, MPH, John D. Gibbins, DVM,
MPH, Marcia L. Headrick, DVM, MPH, Mira J. Leslie, DVM, MPH, Kathleen
MacMahon, DVM, MS, Jeanette M. O’Quin, DVM
Gary J. Patronek, MS, VMD, PhD, Rodrigo A. Silva, MVZ, MPH, James C.
Wright, DVM, PhD
Diana T. Yu, MD, MSPH
Abstract
Animal hoarding is an under-recognized problem that exists in most
communities and adversely impacts the health, welfare, and safety of
humans, animals, and the environment. These guidelines address public
health and worker safety concerns in handling situations where animal
hoarding or other dense concentrations of animals have caused unhealthy
and unsafe conditions. Because animal hoarding situations are often
complex, a full response is likely to be prolonged and require a
cross-jurisdictional multiagency effort. Each animal hoarding case has
unique circumstances related to the types and numbers of animals
involved, the physical structure(s) where they are being kept, and the
health status of the animals, among other factors that must be taken
into account in planning a response. Some general public health
considerations and associated recommendations for personal protective
equipment use are presented that apply to all cases, however.
Analyses of the eFORS (Electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System)
Surveillance Data (2000–2004) in School Settings
Margaret Venuto, MA, MPH, Brenda Halbrook, MS, RD, Marion Hinners, MS,
Audrina Lange,
Stephanie Mickelson, MHS
Abstract
Frequently cited statistics indicate that the burden of foodborne
disease is a serious public health problem, particularly for vulnerable
populations such as children. The purpose of the descriptive
retrospective study discussed in this article was to analyze data
collected within the Electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System (eFORS)
in school settings in order to examine the magnitude of foodborne
disease etiologies and to recommend strategies for prevention. Data on
foodborne outbreaks (N = 96) and illnesses (N = 6,567) were extracted
and analyzed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC’s) eFORS spanning the years 2000 to 2004.
The National Exposure Registry: History and Lessons Learned
Myron G. Schultz, MD, FACP, James H. Sapp II, MS, Caroline D. Cusack,
MSPH, Jennifer M. Fink, MPH, CHES
Abstract
The National Exposure Registry (NER) was created as a comprehensive
group of data repositories that sought, over time, to relate specific
environmental exposures to dioxin, trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and
trichloroethane (TCA) to registrants’ health conditions. Some parts of
the NER were well conceived, whereas others were not. The most important
design deficiency of the NER was its inability to adequately assess
exposure. This was the key missing element and the Achilles heel of the
NER program. At least three other important issues were never
satisfactorily resolved in the design of the NER. They were unverified
self-reporting, appropriate control groups, and the use of biomarkers.
The many health effects that were observed to be in excess when compared
with national norms might be explained by methodological differences in
data analysis and reliance on self-reported nonverified data. Creating
and maintaining a population-based chemical exposure registry is a more
difficult challenge than creating and maintaining an outcome registry,
such as a cancer registry.
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April 2010, Volume 72,
No. 8
The Investigation of
Noise Attenuation by Plants and the Corresponding Noise-Reducing
Spectrum
Yang Fan, Bao Zhiyi, PhD, Zhu Zhujun, PhD, Liu Jiani, MSc
Abstract
As noise pollution is
becoming more and more serious, many researchers are studying the noise
attenuation effect provided by plants. This article examines six kinds
of evergreens as research subjects so as to compare the different
arrangements and densities of plants and their effect on noise
attenuation. The authors studied the relationship between each of the
plant’s characteristics (the characteristics includes leaf area, leaf
fresh weight, leaf tactility, and leaf shape) and their average relative
noise attenuation ( ).
The authors then generated the noise-reducing spectrum of the six
plants. The results show that there is a notable difference in
noise-reducing effects for low frequency and high frequency (p <
.05) when the plants are arranged differently. Also, every plant
demonstrates a specific noise-reducing spectrum. By quantifying noise
attenuation characteristics and abilities of plants, the authors combine
noise attenuation species to achieve the mutual benefits of plant
varieties and establish an ecotypic sound barrier model with effective
density and arrangement.
Assessing Food
Safety Training Needs of Environmental Health Specialists in the U.S.:
Focus Group Summary
Brian Nummer, PhD, Angela Fraser, PhD, John Marcy, PhD, Ron Klein
Abstract
As
part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service grant, six focus group sessions on the
topic of food safety education and training were held June 24, 2008, at NEHA’s Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition in Tucson, Arizona. A
total of 30 participants attended one of the six 50-minute sessions.
Participants were NEHA conference attendees and nearly all stated they
had a food safety training and education role in their job. A series of
questions related to food safety at retail and food service levels was
asked. This report summarizes some of the opinions provided by focus
group participants.
Surveying the Food
Safety Training Needs of Environmental Health Specialists in the U.S..
Angela M. Fraser, PhD, Brian A. Nummer, PhD
Abstract
The
ultimate responsibility to produce and process safe foods at the retail
level lies with the operator. The high percentage of establishments
found to be out of compliance with food safety standards, however,
suggests that the retail food service industry needs help. Many
regulators offer help in the form of food safety training and education.
An online survey of food safety education and training needs was
answered by 346 environmental health professionals. Survey participants
felt that effective and relevant food safety training for food workers
and managers requires both adequate resources and effective delivery.
With limits on time, resources, and funding, regulators may themselves
need help to provide education and training.
Issues and Framework
of Environmental Health in Malaysia
Mazlin Bin Mokhtar, PhD, Md. Wahid Murad, PhD
Abstract
Environmental health
problems in Malaysia are mostly attributed to atmospheric pollution,
water pollution, climate change, ozone depletion, and solid waste
management, as well as toxic, chemical, and hazardous waste management.
The Ministry of Health, Malaysia, has been vigorously pursuing the
environmental health agenda by collaborating with other agencies at
district, state, national, and international levels. This article
discusses the issues and management framework of environmental health in
Malaysia. Some issues requiring further investigation in order to
clearly understand the trade-off between atmospheric change and
environmental health are suggested. These suggestions are developed with
particular reference to appraisals concerned with the development and
implementation of environmental policy, programs, and practice. Research
on the relevant issues is discussed and a framework is built involving a
comprehensive review of the literature and existing framework of
Malaysian environmental health.
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May 2010, Volume 72,
No. 9
Rapid Detection of Enterococci in Marine Beach Water by Immunomagnetic Capture and Bioluminescence and Its Comparison With Conventional Methods
Jiyoung Lee, MS, PhD
Rolf A. Deininger, MS, PhD
Abstract
A rapid method has been developed to determine enterococci using immunomagnetic separation and bioluminescence.
Small paramagnetic beads are coated with antibodies having a specific affinity to enterococci. The captured enterococci are quantified by
bioluminescence. The entire procedure takes 30 minutes without a pre-enrichment step. After developing the method, field tests were performed
in California. Eight beach samples were provided for determining enterococci using the rapid method. At the same time, the same samples were
tested with traditional methods performed by 26 local laboratories. The results show a significant agreement between the two methods.
In six out of the eight locations, the predictions based upon the rapid method agreed well with the average values by the traditional methods
in determining the quality of swimmable water. Among these, the four predictions were very close to the average colony count. The results also
showed the sensitivity of the rapid method (<104 CFUs/100 ml).
Assessment of Qualifications Needed by Environmental Health Graduates Entering Private-Sector Employment
Alice L. Anderson, MS, PhD
William Eric Ferrell, MSEH
Abstract
The goal of the study described here was to provide a snapshot of knowledge, skills, and abilities
currently required by employers in the private sector of the environmental health and safety field, specifically for entry-level positions attainable
by individuals recently earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental health. Information was collected first through the screening of 115 entry-level
job descriptions posted on a popular environmental health and safety Internet job-seeking site. Because of the predominance of industrial hygiene
and safety job descriptions found, a second data source was created—an online opinion survey taken by 98 American Industrial Hygiene
Association–registered consultants certified in industrial hygiene. Important results from both data sources indicated that employers preferred
a four-year science degree for new hires.
Healthy Housing and Farm Life "Across the Pond": My Sabbatical Experience.
M.L. Tanner, HHS
Abstract
Environmental health practitioners, with the proper training and opportunity,
can provide information and guidance for a number of healthy housing issues. In South Carolina, environmental health
practitioners enter private homes for a limited number of reasons, usually for a lead-based paint issue. Environmental
health practitioners in England visit private homes on a much more frequent basis, and consider a wider range of
hazards during a visit. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) used in England looks at 29 possible hazards d
uring a physical survey of the home. As a credentialed Healthy Homes Specialist and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA) certified lead risk assessor, the author wanted to learn more about the HHSRS. The NEHA Sabbatical Exchange
Ambassador Award made it possible for her to spend most of the month of March 2009 in England, working with environmental
health officers (EHOs) from several areas of the country. In addition to healthy housing, the author also learned about
the British scheme for training EHOs. One of the most moving aspects of the author’s sabbatical experience was the
opportunity to meet and talk with farmers who had been affected by the 2001 and 2007 outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD).
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June 2010, Volume 72,
No. 10
An In-Home Video Study and Questionnaire Survey of Food Preparation, Kitchen Sanitation, and Hand Washing Practices
Elizabeth Scott, PhD
Nancie Herbold, RD, EdD
Abstract
Foodborne illnesses pose a problem to all individuals but are especially significant for infants, the elderly,
and individuals with compromised immune systems. Personal hygiene is recognized as the number-one way people can lower their risk. The
majority of meals in the U.S. are eaten at home. Little is known, however, about the actual application of personal hygiene and sanitation
behaviors in the home.
The study discussed in this article assessed knowledge of hygiene practices compared to observed behaviors and determined whether knowledge
equated to practice. It was a descriptive study involving a convenience sample of 30 households. Subjects were recruited from the Boston area
and a researcher and/or a research assistant traveled to the homes of study participants to videotape a standard food preparation procedure
preceded by floor mopping.
The results highlight the differences between individuals’ reported beliefs and actual practice. This information can aid food safety
and other health professionals in targeting food safety education so that consumers understand their own critical role in decreasing their
risk for foodborne illness.
Mercury Contamination in Turtles and Implications for Human Health
Aaliyah D. Green, MS
Kurt A. Buhlmann, MS, PhD
Cris Hagen
Christopher Romanek, MS, PhD
J. Whitfield Gibbons, MS, PhD
Abstract
Mercury contamination threatens many ecosystems worldwide. Methylmercury
bioaccumulates at each trophic level, and biomagnifies within individuals over time. Long-lived turtles often occupy high
trophic positions and are likely to accumulate mercury in contaminated habitats. Millions of turtles worldwide are sold
in Asia for human consumption, and consumers may be at risk if turtles contain high levels of mercury. The authors
dissected 71 turtles from 14 food trade species and analyzed their tissues (liver, kidneys, muscle, claws, and scutes)
for total mercury content. Mercury was generally highest in carnivores, and lowest in herbivores. Liver and scutes
had the highest concentrations. The authors compared mercury concentrations with consumption limits developed by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration to evaluate mercury in fish tissue. Several
samples exceeded the recommended 1,900 parts per billion (ppb) consumption threshold, indicating that consumers who
eat certain turtle species frequently may be at risk for mercury-related health problems.
The Challenges of Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas of Developing Countries: Case of Zawtar El-Charkieh, Southern Lebanon.
May A. Massoud, PhD, DIC, MS
Abdolmonim Al-Abady, MD
Mey Jurdi, PhD
Iman Nuwayhid, MD, DrPH
Abstract
Adequate and safe water is important for human health and well-being,
economic production, and sustainable development. Failure to ensure the safety of drinking water may expose
the community to the risk of outbreaks of waterborne and infectious diseases. Although drinking water is a
basic human right, many people do not have access to safe and adequate drinking water or proper sanitation
facilities. The authors conducted a study to assess the quantity, cost, continuity, coverage, and quality
of drinking water in the village of Zawtar El-Charkieh, Lebanon. Their aim was to identify the challenges
of sustainable access to safe drinking water in order to determine the short-term management actions and
long-term strategies to improve water quality. Results revealed that contamination of the source, absence
of any disinfection method or insufficient dose, poor maintenance operations, and aging of the networks
are significant factors contributing to water contamination during the storage and distribution process.
Establishing a comprehensive drinking water system that integrates water supply, quality, and management
as well as associated educational programs in order to ensure the safety and sustainability of drinking
water supplies is essential.
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July/August 2010, Volume 73,
No. 1
The Kansas City, Missouri, Ground-Level Ozone (GLO) Project: A Community-Based Air Pollution Field Experiment
Jimmy O. Adegoke
Joan F. Steurer
Christopher M. Green
M. Tyler Willoughby
James Joerke
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone concentrations for Kansas City are well known on a regional scale.
The Kansas City, Missouri, ground-level ozone (GLO) project measured outdoor ozone concentrations using passive sensing
devices (PSDs) on a neighborhood scale. Highly resolved exposure maps were made based on the detailed air quality
observations collected during the seven week sampling study during the summer of 2005. Data analysis demonstated
that ozone concentration levels were higher in urban core neighborhoods compared to the surrounding surbuban areas.
The results have negative implications for the respiratory health of residents of urban Kansas City.
Reduced PM2.5 in Trujillo, Peru, on El Dia Sin Autos (“The Day Without Cars”)
Brandon E. Cassidy, MS
Manuel Aguilar-Villalobos, MS
P. Barry Ryan, PhD
Luke P. Naeher, PhD
Abstract
Street-level and rooftop (three-story building) concentrations of particulate matter
≤2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) were measured in downtown Trujillo, Peru, in July and August 2003 to determine the PM2.5 concentration
reduction on days with normal traffic conditions (32 days) versus a day when motor vehicles were temporarily banned from the downtown
district (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., July 15) known as El Dia Sin Autos (“The Day Without Cars”). The mean 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. street-level PM2.5 concentration during the motor vehicle ban (21.4 µg/m3; one day) was 49% lower than when vehicles
were not impeded (42.2 ± 7.8 μg/m3—mean ± 1 standard deviation; 20 days). The rooftop monitoring station indicated
a 20% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations (24.8 ± 2.6 μg/m3 vs. 19.9 ± 6.0 μg/m3) when motor vehicles were not present
within historic downtown Trujillo. Temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed during the motor vehicle ban and during normal
traffic were not significantly different (p > .05).
Does Cosmic Weather Affect Infant Mortality Rate?.
Lior Shamir, PhD
Abstract
In this article, the author proposes to consider a link between
infant mortality rate (IMR) and galactic cosmic radiation (CR) density. The periodical increase in solar
activity increases the effect of the magnetic field of the sun, and therefore weakens galactic cosmic rays
hitting the Earth’s surface. As a result, embryos in their early stages of development may be less exposed
to high-energy ionizing cosmic rays when the solar activity peaks. In the study discussed here, cosmic
ray density data were correlated with the U.S. infant mortality rate in the following year. Statistical
analysis shows that in the past 30 years, Pearson correlation between the change in galactic CR flux and
IMR decrease in the following year was ~0.36 (p < .05).
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September 2010, Volume 73,
No. 2
Using the Electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System (eFORS) to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Surveillance, Investigations, and Program Evaluation
John P. Middaugh, MD,
Roberta M. Hammond, PhD, RS,
Leah Eisenstein, MPH,
Rebecca Lazensky, MPH
Abstract
Challenges exist in comparing foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) across states due to important differences in reporting
practices and investigations. Variables such as FBDO size, population size, number of tourists, and suspected etiology are important to consider when
interpreting FBDO data. Analysis of eFORS data can be valuable in improving state FBDO investigations. From 2000 to 2005, Florida reported a greater
proportion of FBDOs, with two cases per outbreak, than the U.S. as a whole (40.4% in Florida vs. 17.2% in the U.S.). Reporting a higher rate of small
FBDOs provided more opportunities for public health interventions but contributed to a lower agent confirmation rate (17.0% in Florida vs. 42.2% in
the U.S.). While the Electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System’s (eFORS) database brought great improvements in national FBDO surveillance,
as with any complex surveillance system, considerable knowledge and specialized expertise is required to properly analyze and interpret the data,
especially because there is a large variation in state reports to eFORS.
Medical Surveillance of Search Dogs Deployed to the World Trade Center and Pentagon: 2001–2006
Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD,
Amanda B. Downend,
George E. Moore, DVM, PhD,
Joanne K. Daggy,
D. Lauren Ranivand, MPH,
Jennifer A. Reetz, DVM,
Scott D. Fitzgerald, DVM, PhD
Abstract
In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center and Pentagon,
almost 50,000 rescue workers and approximately 300 search and rescue dogs participated in rescue and recovery operations. The dogs were exposed to
the same hazards as the human workers, but did not have any of the personal protective gear. This prospective double cohort observational study
compared annual medical history, blood biochemical and hematologic results, and thoracic radiographic findings in 95 search and rescue dogs that
responded to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, to a control group of 55 search and rescue
dogs that were not involved in the 9/11 response. Compared to controls, the deployed search dogs demonstrated mild changes in blood work and a
higher incidence of radiographic cardiac abnormalities. Species differences may explain the lack of pulmonary findings in the dogs. These dogs
may provide early evidence of nonpulmonary complications of the 9/11 response. Continued surveillance of all responders is warranted.
The Bacteriological Analysis and Health Risks in the Urban Estuary of St. George’s Bay, Grenada, West Indies.
Rakesh H. Patel, MD, MSc,
Karsten Pedersen, PhD,
Svetlana Kotelnikova, PhD
Abstract
The dilution rates of indicators Enterococcus faecalis and E. coli were studied from the St. John’s
River estuary in Grenada, West Indies. Health risk zones were established based on the levels of bacteriological pollution. In accordance
with the World Health Organization (WHO) health risk guidelines, risks were in the range of <1% gastrointestinal (GI); <0.3% acute febrile
respiratory illness (AFRI) to a 1%–5% GI; and 0.9%–1.9% AFRI within 100 m from the St. John’s River outflow site in St. George’s Bay. These
values were the result of river water dilution, where the most probable number (MPN) levels for both indicator organisms from the river were
equivalent to that of raw sewage with an AFRI health risk of >3.9% and a GI risk of >10%. The distance intervals farther than 100 m showed
fluctuating values and corresponding health risks. E. faecalis and E. coli strains isolated were resistant to 35.7% and 42.9% of the antibiotics
tested, respectively.
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