CiteULike: markups environment

URBAN ENVIRONMENT

S Pandey — 2008-03-10T13:27:26-00:00

Connections, Vol. 713, No. 728.

Comparison of multiple environmental factors for asthmatic children in public housing.

D Brugge — 2005-11-22T16:00:09-00:00

Indoor Air, Vol. 13, No. 1. (March 2003), pp. 18-27.

Nine families of a public housing development in Boston were enrolled in a pilot asthma intervention program designed to gather dense environmental data and generate hypotheses about the relative importance of different contaminants and the viability of interventions. Despite formidable challenges working with this inner-city population, the project team succeeded in gaining active support for the project by forming a partnership with a community-based organization and by building positive relationships between the field team and the residents. Families were provided with physical interventions such as air filters, industrial cleaning and mattress covers to each apartment. Indoor temperature was high and relative humidity low during winter. Insulation of exposed steam pipes did not lower temperature. Cockroach, mouse and pet antigen levels were variable and frequently high in settled dust. Viable fungal spore levels were variable and high in some apartments. Dust-mite allergen levels were below the level of concern. Industrial cleaning led to transient reduction in mouse and cockroach antigen burden. Mattress and pillow covers lowered dust-mite antigen in bedrooms, but not living rooms. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels exceeded ambient concentrations due to use of gas stoves and concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 microm (PM2.5) were above ambient levels because of smoking. Air filtering systems did not reduce PM levels. Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were above adverse risk concentrations. We hypothesize that our findings are consistent with a multifactorial model for exacerbation of asthma in this population and that no single problem dominates.

Environmental pollution and allergy.

J Ring — 2005-11-15T10:49:51-00:00

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, Vol. 87, No. 6 Suppl 3. (December 2001), pp. 2-6.

OBJECTIVES: Among the theories supporting the increase of allergic diseases in modern western countries during the last several decades is the concept that environmental pollutants may play a vital role. Reading this article will enable the reader to recognize the effect of different types of environmental pollution on the development, modulation, and persistence of allergic reactions. DATA SOURCES: Data sources include references to relevant articles and texts. To characterize the influence of environmental pollutants on allergic reactions (allergotoxicology), epidemiologic, clinical, and experimental data are considered. RESULTS: The investigations show that air pollution patterns differ with respect to their effect upon allergies. Classical air pollution (type I) with high sulfur dioxide and dust particles seems not to be associated with allergic disease in humans. However, type II pollution characterized by elevation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), tobacco smoke, fine and ultrafine particulate matter, and diesel exhaust particles seems to enhance allergic disease. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that environmental pollution can act at different levels and by complex interactions both outside and inside the individual and influence allergic diseases.

Environmental pollution and allergy

Johannes Ring — 2005-11-15T10:29:18-00:00

Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Vol. 87, No. 6. (December 2001), pp. 2-6.

Objectives: Among the theories supporting the increase of allergic diseases in modern western countries during the last several decades is the concept that environmental pollutants may play a vital role. Reading this article will enable the reader to recognize the effect of different types of environmental pollution on the development, modulation, and persistence of allergic reactions. Data Sources: Data sources include references to relevant articles and texts. To characterize the influence of environmental pollutants on allergic reactions (allergotoxicology), epidemiologic, clinical, and experimental data are considered. Results: The investigations show that air pollution patterns differ with respect to their effect upon allergies. Classical air pollution (type I) with high sulfur dioxide and dust particles seems not to be associated with allergic disease in humans. However, type II pollution characterized by elevation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), tobacco smoke, fine and ultrafine particulate matter, and diesel exhaust particles seems to enhance allergic disease. Conclusions: The data suggest that environmental pollution can act at different levels and by complex interactions both outside and inside the individual and influence allergic diseases.

Residential environments and cardiovascular risk.

AV Diez Roux — 2005-11-08T11:50:49-00:00

J Urban Health, Vol. 80, No. 4. (December 2003), pp. 569-589.

The article begins with a discussion of the rationale for studying the relationship between residential environments and cardiovascular health. Existing empirical research relating residential environments to cardiovascular outcomes and risk factors is summarized. The research areas discussed include neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics and cardiovascular disease, the effects of residential environments on physical activity, and the effects of residential environments on diet. Other mechanisms through which residential environments may affect cardiovascular health are also briefly noted. Key challenges in investigating the relationship between residential environments and health are discussed. These challenges include characterizing environments (including definition and geographic scale as well as conceptualization and measurement of relevant features), the limitations of observational studies, and the need to evaluate the health impact of interventions or "naturally" occurring changes in local environments. The need for interdisciplinary work is emphasized.

German Environmental Survey 1998 (GerES III): environmental pollutants in blood of the German population

K Becker — 2005-11-04T18:17:13-00:00

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 205, No. 4. (May 2002), pp. 297-308.

The German Environmental Survey was conducted for the third time in 1998 (GerES III). The probability sample of about 4800 subjects was selected to be representative for the German population with regard to region (East-/West-Germany), community size, age (18 to 69 years) and gender. Blood samples were taken from each study participant and questionnaires were used to get exposure-related information. Cadmium, lead, mercury, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane (-HCH, -HCH, -HCH), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p, p'-DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180) were analysed in whole blood to document the extent, distribution, and determinants of exposure of the general population to these substances. The geometric means of Cd, Pb, and Hg in blood amounted to 0.44, 31, and 0.58 g/l, respectively. Smokers showed a Cadmium level of 1.1 g/l and non-smokers a level of 0.28 g/l. The geometric mean of lead was higher in the blood of males than of females (36 g/l vs. 26 g/l). The concentration of mercury in blood depends on fish consumption and the number of teeth with amalgam fillings. The mean concentrations of HCB and p, p'-DDE in blood were 0.44 g/l and 1.6 g/l, respectively. In East-Germany (the former GDR) the DDE concentration in blood was more than twice as high as in West-Germany. Geometric means for PCB were 0.42, 0.68 and 0.44 g/l for PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180, respectively. A marked increase of HCB, DDE and PCB levels with age could be observed. -HCH and -HCH could be detected in 1.7% and 5.2% of the samples only. -HCH was quantified in 34% of the samples with a 95th percentile of 0.5 g/l.