What do we know of childhood exposures to metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) in emerging market countries?

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury present potential health risks to children who are exposed through inhalation or ingestion. Emerging Market countries experience rapid industrial development that may coincide with the increased release of these metals into the environment. A literature review was conducted for English language articles from the 21st century on pediatric exposures to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) top 10 Emerging Market countries: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey.

Occupational coccidioidomycosis in California: outbreak investigation, respirator recommendations, and surveillance findings.

Objective: To describe the investigation of a 2007 occupational coccidioidomycosis outbreak in California, recommend prevention measures, and assess statewide disease burden.

Methods: We evaluated the worksite, observed work practices, interviewed the workers and employer, reviewed medical records, provided prevention recommendations including risk-based respirator selection, and analyzed statewide workers' compensation claims.

Results: Ten of 12 workers developed acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis; none used respiratory protection.

Lack of respiratory improvement following remediation of a water-damaged office building.

Background: Damp buildings are commonly remediated without removing employees or ongoing medical surveillance.

Methods: We examined paired pulmonary function and questionnaire data from 2002 and 2005 for 97 employees in a water-damaged building during ongoing but incomplete remediation.

Results: We observed no overall improvement in respiratory health, as reflected in symptom scores, overall medication use, spirometry abnormalities, or sick leave.

Decrease in ambient air lead concentrations in Varna, Bulgaria, associated with the introduction of unleaded gasoline.

An examination of ambient air lead monitoring data was used to demonstrate success of banning the import and use of leaded gasoline in Bulgaria. From 1996-2007 air lead levels in Varna, the third largest city, decreased up to 63-fold.

Exposure matrices of endotoxin, (1→3)-β-d-glucan, fungi, and dust mite allergens in flood-affected homes of New Orleans.

This study examined: (i) biocontaminant levels in flooded homes of New Orleans two years after the flooding; (ii) seasonal changes in biocontaminant levels, and (iii) correlations between biocontaminant levels obtained by different environmental monitoring methods. Endotoxin, (1→3)-β-d-glucan, fungal spores, and dust mite allergens were measured in 35 homes during summer and winter. A combination of dust sampling, aerosolization-based microbial source assessment, and long-term inhalable bioaerosol sampling aided in understanding exposure matrices.

Concurrent silicosis and pulmonary mycosis at death.

To examine risk for mycosis among persons with silicosis, we examined US mortality data for 1979-2004. Persons with silicosis were more likely to die with pulmonary mycosis than were those without pneumoconiosis or those with more common pneumoconioses. Health professionals should consider enhanced risk for mycosis for silica-exposed patients.

Mold exposure during infancy as a predictor of potential asthma development.

Background: Exposure to mold has been associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children.

Objective: To report how the presence of visible mold and exposure to (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in infancy affects the risk of asthma at the age of 3 years as defined by an Asthma Predictive Index (API).

Methods: Visible mold was evaluated by means of home inspection.

Effect of gaseous chlorine dioxide on indoor microbial contaminants.

Traditional and modern techniques for bioaerosol enumeration were used to evaluate the relative efficiency of gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in reducing the indoor microbial contamination under field and laboratory conditions. The field study was performed in a highly microbially contaminated house, which had had an undetected roof leak for an extended period of time and exhibited large areas of visible microbial growth. Air concentrations of culturable fungi and bacteria, total fungi determined by microscopic count and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, endotoxin, and (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan were determined before and after the house was tented and treated with ClO2.

Relative moldiness index as predictor of childhood respiratory illness.

The results of a traditional visual mold inspection were compared to a mold evaluation based on the Relative Moldiness Index (RMI). The RMI is calculated from mold-specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) measurements of the concentration of 36 species of molds in floor dust samples. These two prospective mold evaluations were used to classify the mold condition in 271 homes of infants.