Articles tagged with Environmental Health
Army soldiers surpassed the Healthy People 2000 goals for physical fitness, with 70% reporting aerobic activity and 97% doing muscle strengthening exercises at least once a week. They also adopted healthier behaviors in nutrition, safety, and alcohol use categories.
The University at Buffalo will host a global conference on environmental health, bringing together over 500 researchers and experts from around the world. The conference aims to assess the worldwide disease burden caused by environmental problems and build connections among health centers in Pan America and globally.
A recent UB study found that the 'healthy worker effect' can skew results of health studies involving workers, particularly among female nuclear-weapons workers. The study suggests that this bias must be taken into account to obtain accurate results, emphasizing the need for appropriate comparisons and consideration of unexposed workers.
A study of nearly 2,000 adults aged 18-90 found that higher education delayed the onset of depression by approximately ten years. This is because better physical health helps mitigate depression risk.
A University of Washington study found that over half of farmworker children in Douglas and Chelan counties, Washington state, exceeded federal safety levels for pesticides. The study suggests that regulators need to reassess exposure standards for these chemicals.
A study by the Center for Advancing Health found that approximately 40% of the US population takes at least one vitamin or mineral supplement. The most commonly reported ingredients are vitamin C, B12, and E, but participants also used over 300 nonvitamin products posing serious health risks.
Researchers found that people living near industrial hog farms in North Carolina reported more frequent symptoms such as headaches, runny noses, and eye irritation. The study also showed that the quality of life for these residents was significantly reduced compared to those living near cattle farms or without livestock operations.
A new collaboration aims to provide comprehensive asthma management to poor urban communities through a team-based approach, combining healthcare professionals and community health workers. The goal is to improve prevention-oriented care and close follow-up for low-income children with asthma.
The nation won't meet its 15% smoking prevalence goal for 2000, with over 25% of US adults currently smoking. Effective strategies like cognitive behavioral therapies have been developed, but more work is needed to reach low-income and minority populations.
A recent study by Reg A. Williams highlights the significant economic impact of depression in the workplace, citing an estimated total cost of up to $44 billion. The study also identifies key risk factors for depression, including stress, negative changes in personal life, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
The American Chemical Society's Southeast Regional Meeting will be held in Knoxville, featuring a variety of topics including environmental and medicinal chemistry. Over 600 scientific papers will be presented during the event.
Research suggests that strong traditional values among Southern Black women may be a key factor in lower smoking rates among African-Americans. The study found that Black adults in the non-urban South had the lowest smoking prevalence rates, with 11% of those aged 18-24 living smoke-free. This trend holds true for Southern Black women ...
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has launched a Center for the Study of Mind-Body Interaction to investigate how emotions affect physical health. The center will focus on five projects, including examining resilience in older women and the impact of meditation on brain activity.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $8.2 million to the University of Washington for a research center studying air pollution and its effects on human health. The Northwest Research Center will examine fine particles, particulate matter under 2.5 microns in size, and their association with daily health outcomes.
A special news briefing will be held on August 23rd to discuss the latest research on children's environmental health risks. The symposium, part of the American Chemical Society meeting, features a panel of experts who will share their findings on the dangers of chemicals in the environment and pet products.
The NIH is evaluating seven widely used plasticizers for their potential reproductive and developmental effects. A panel of scientific experts will meet to assess the chemicals' impact on human health.
Scientists have developed a non-invasive method to study the smallest components of living organisms using a nuclear magnetic resonance microscope. This technique enables real-time monitoring of cellular changes in response to environmental exposure, which will help researchers understand disease mechanisms and predict treatment outcomes.
A case-control study found that frail elderly who received assistive devices and home adaptations had higher levels of independence at the end of a 18-month study. The treatment group spent significantly less on health care, with average costs $14,173 per person compared to $31,610 in the control group.
The grant will support government programs, non-governmental organizations, and local women's groups to improve access to emergency care. Researchers aim to reduce maternal mortality rates by up to 1 in 12, which can be dramatically improved with timely medical intervention.
This issue of Public Health Reports features articles on occupational pesticide poisoning, an outbreak of Echovirus 30 infections among child care center staff and parents, and the prevalence of asthma among American Indian and Alaska Native children. The journal also includes viewpoints on Medicaid managed care and public health data,...
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that women with birth defects are at a small risk of having children with birth defects, with only 4% of affected offspring. The majority of women with birth defects will have healthy, unaffected babies.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will launch a management academy to boost training for public health professionals in four states. The academy aims to improve how health departments nationwide serve citizens, addressing concerns discussed for decades.
A study found that smoking-related illnesses and deaths have risen sharply in the US and France, with increased female smoking causing a steady increase in disease and mortality. The proportion of deaths attributable to cigarette smoking rose from 16.7% to 47.4% among American women.
A survey of preschoolers found that those from smoke-free homes were less likely to want to smoke later in life. Children who saw pictures of smoking characters like Joe Camel incorrectly associated them with smoking, highlighting the influence of early exposure on attitudes towards smoking.
The Institute of Medicine has elected 55 new members, bringing the total active membership to 574. The newly elected members include experts in various fields such as medicine, public health, and social sciences, who will contribute to ongoing studies on health policy issues.
A study of over 4,700 twin brothers found that combat had a minor role in health issues such as hypertension, respiratory difficulties, and gastrointestinal disorders. Inherited factors accounted for 90% of reported health problems, with combat experience explaining less than 1%. The research suggests that environmental experiences oth...
Dr. Brundtland highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as education and poverty reduction, to build healthy populations in healthy communities. She stresses the need for multi-sectoral action and collaboration with other agencies to tackle pressing public health needs.
A review of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement strategies concludes that current efforts are too slow and uncertain, leading to inadequate protection for workers. The authors suggest innovations such as worker education programs and devolving enforcement powers could improve safety further.
New research from the Ispra, Italy meeting of the Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals has made significant progress in developing and validating alternative methods to animal testing. These advances aim to reduce animal pain and distress while improving human health protection and environmental prot...
New research reveals that women living in low-income areas with single-parent households are more likely to die from heart disease, possibly due to increased social and physical stress. The study also found that African American women face higher mortality rates due to neighborhood environments that exacerbate health disparities.
Research suggests shrews can serve as an indicator of environmental health due to their high sensitivity to environmental change. In the Central African Republic, 16 species of shrews were found thriving in micro-territories, defying expectations for such limited habitats.
Researchers investigate three possible causes: chemicals from agricultural fields, increased UV radiation due to ozone depletion, and parasitic invasions. Preliminary research suggests water from affected ponds and nearby wells may also cause malformations in embryos of Xenopus laevis frogs.
Researchers at Penn State will investigate individual variation in health among African American twin pairs aged 65, exploring the role of genetics and environment. The five-year study aims to gain insight into aging in this population, which has experienced different environmental influences than other groups.
Coral reefs face an alarming decline due to unknown causes, including coral bleaching and diseases. The loss of these ecosystems could have severe consequences for thousands of species and the global economy.
Researchers are evaluating potential health effects of long-term mercury exposure on former workers and employees. The study aims to characterize how mercury affects the nervous system, kidney function, and reproductive system.
Research suggests that children from less wealthy families have better survival rates among the Herero people, a group of pastoralists in Botswana. The study found that wealthiest families' children had lower body fat, but overall mortality is low due to the high prosperity of the community.
Researchers at Resources for the Future (RFF) found that leading federal programs relying on incentives have little impact on the environment or regulatory system. The report identifies three major concerns: lack of statutory basis, poor management by EPA, and mistrust among parties involved.