Relationship between vapor intrusion and human exposure to trichloroethylene.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater has the potential to volatilize through soil into indoor air where it can be inhaled. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals living above TCE-contaminated groundwater are exposed to TCE through vapor intrusion. We examined associations between TCE concentrations in various environmental media and TCE concentrations in residents.

Relationship between prenatal lead exposure and infant blood lead levels.

Recent literature has shown that analyzing newborn dried blood spots (DBS) may be effective in assessing some prenatal environmental exposures, such as exposure to lead. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between prenatal exposure to lead (as measured by newborn DBS results) and blood lead levels (BLLs) in infants 6 months of age or younger, using public health registry data for infants born in Texas from July 2002 through July 2006. The Texas Child Lead Registry (TCLR) was used to identify infants with documented elevated BLLs of 10 μg/dL or higher as well as infants with documented low BLLs.

Survey of mosquito fauna in Lubbock County, Texas.

Records of mosquito species occurring in Lubbock County, TX, have not been reported since 1970. An updated mosquito survey was conducted as part of the West Nile virus surveillance program conducted throughout Lubbock County, TX from July 2002 through December 2004. A large number of species not previously recorded occurring in this area were collected, whereas several species historically occurring in the area were not collected during this survey.

Uptake, elimination, and relative distribution of perchlorate in various tissues of channel catfish.

This study was undertaken to determine the kinetics of uptake and elimination of perchlorate in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Perchlorate--an oxidizer used in solid fuel rockets, fireworks, and illuminating munitions--has been shown to effect thyroid function, causing hormone disruption and potential perturbations of metabolic activities. For the uptake study, catfish were exposed to 100 mg/L sodium perchlorate for 12 h to 5 d in the laboratory.

Uptake and elimination of perchlorate in eastern mosquitofish.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the uptake and elimination of perchlorate in eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Fish were exposed to 0.1-1000 mg/l sodium perchlorate for 12h, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 30 days, and perchlorate was determined in whole body extracts.

Perchlorate affects thyroid function in eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) at environmentally relevant concentrations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of perchlorate on thyroid function in mosquitofish. Adult mosquitofish were exposed to 0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/L sodium perchlorate for 2, 10, and 30 d.

First report of West Nile virus in mosquitoes from Lubbock County, Texas.

Since July 2002, ongoing surveillance efforts have been conducted to determine potential vectors of West Nile virus (WNV) and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) in the mosquito population occurring in Lubbock County, Texas. Adult mosquitoes collected in Lubbock County during 2002 and 2003 represented 7 genera, with Culex tarsalis and Ochlerotatus sollicitans being the predominant species collected. Mosquitoes were initially screened for WNV and SLEV by using the VecTest antigen panel assay.