Journal Article Summaries

Study showed more pathogen cells percolated to greater depths after slurry than manure application and survival of E. coli was significantly longer in soil with slurry. Results suggested that surface application of manure may decrease the risk of contamination of groundwater and lettuce roots.

Researchers concluded that climate change is likely to increase human exposures to agricultural contaminants. Climate change is anticipated to fuel increased use of pesticides and biocides as farming practices intensify. The magnitude of the increases will be highly dependent on the contaminant type. The potential for source variance arising from behavioral response (intensification of management and altered patterns of chemical and manure use) will also be compounding factors. Risks from many pathogens and particulate and particle-associated contaminants could increase significantly.

Study found an association between the season of elevated agrichemicals and birth defects, as the total number birth defects and 11 of the 22 birth defect subcategories were more likely to occur between April and July, when the mean concentrations of agrichemicals were also the highest.

Incidence of elevated blood lead (EBL) for children aged <1.3 years in Washington DC increased more than 4 times during 2001 to 2003 when lead in water was high versus 2000 when lead in water was low. The incidence of EBL was highly correlated to the 90th percentile lead in water from 2000 to 2007 for children aged <1.3 years.

A review of published literature concluded that current evidence of an association between childhood swimming and new-onset asthma is suggestive but not conclusive.

Researchers analyzed the relationship between health status and housing quality over time. Results suggested ecologic trends in childhood lead poisoning followed housing age, water leaks and ventilation; asthma follows ventilation, windows, and age; overweight trends follow ventilation; blood pressure trends follow community measures; and health disparities have not changed greatly. Except for childhood lead poisoning caused by lead-based paint, little progress has been made in reducing the health and housing disparities of disadvantaged groups.

Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. Climate change will have its greatest impact on those who are already the poorest in the world and deepen inequities. The Lancet Commissions called for a coalition of global expertise to define the priorities for management, implementation and monitoring.

Researchers concluded that climate change is likely to increase human exposures to agricultural contaminants. Climate change is anticipated to fuel increased use of pesticides and biocides as farming practices intensify. The magnitude of the increases will be highly dependent on the contaminant type. The potential for source variance arising from behavioral response (intensification of management and altered patterns of chemical and manure use) will also be compounding factors. Risks from many pathogens and particulate and particle-associated contaminants could increase significantly.

Between 2000 and 2006, US imported nearly 1.5 billion live animals from 190 countries, mostly for sale as pets. 80% of the animals came from wild population and nearly 70% from Southeast Asia, a known hotspot for emerging diseases.

There were 1,505 cases of malaria in the US for 2007, compared to 1,564 in 2006. The highest estimated relative case rates of malaria among travelers occurred among those returning from countries in West Africa. Of 701 individuals who acquired malaria abroad, 62.9% did not follow a chemoprophylactic drug regimen for the area they had traveled.