Human Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposures: No Apparent Safety Thresholds

Human Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposures: No Apparent Safety Thresholds

R ecent developments in environmental epidemiology offer the promise of strengthening human health protection. Regulatory agencies responsible for protecting human health from environmental hazards assess data on relationships between exposure levels and adverse health effects to develop limits for contaminant levels in air, water, food, soil, house dust, and consumer products. Most regulatory ...

Health effects related to nanoparticle exposures: environmental, health and safety considerations for assessing hazards and risks.

The field of nanotechnology currently is undergoing a dramatic expansion in material science research and development. Most of the research efforts have been focused on applications; the implications (i.e., health and environmental effects) research has lagged behind. The success of nanotechnology will require assurances that the products being developed are safe from an environmental, health, ...

Environmental toxicants: human exposures and their health effects

Alternative Testing Methods for Predicting Health Risk from Environmental Exposures

Alternative methods to animal testing are considered as promising tools to support the prediction of toxicological risks from environmental exposure. Among the alternative testing methods, the cell transformation assay (CTA) appears to be one of the most appropriate approaches to predict the carcinogenic properties of single chemicals, complex mixtures and environmental pollutants. The BALB/c 3...

Environmental and Occupational Exposures in Immigrant Health

Immigrants comprise vulnerable populations that are frequently exposed to a multitude of environmental and occupational hazards. The historical context behind state and federal legislation has helped to foster an environment that is particularly hostile toward caring for immigrant health. Current hazards include toxic exposures, air and noise pollution, motor vehicle accidents, crowded living a...