T h e A G M p a r a d i g m is a fo rma l approach to ideal and r a t i ona l i n f o r m a t i o n change F r o m a pract ica l perspect ive i t suffers f r o m two shor tcomings , the f i rst involves d i f f i cu l t ies w i t h respect to the finite representation of i n f o r m a t i o n , and the second involves the lack of suppor t for the i tera t ion of change operators In th is paper ...

BACKGROUND Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) may increase risk for obesity, but few studies have investigated the joint effects of exposure to SHS and diet. OBJECTIVES We examined the interaction of exposure to SHS and diet on the prevalence of obesity among 6- to 19-year-olds who participated in the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS We characterized expos...

BACKGROUND Recent investigations have reported a decline in the heat-related mortality risk during the last decades. However, these studies are frequently based on modeling approaches that do not fully characterize the complex temperature-mortality relationship, and are limited to single cities or countries. OBJECTIVES We assessed the temporal variation in heat-mortality associations in a mul...

In 1992 Carlsen et al. reported a significant global decline in sperm density between 1938 and 1990 [Evidence for Decreasing Quality of Semen during Last 50 Years. Br Med J 305:609-613 (1992)]. We subsequently published a reanalysis of the studies included by Carlsen et al. [Swan et al. Have Sperm Densities Declined? A Reanalysis of Global Trend Data. Environ Health Perspect 105:1228-1232 (1997...

BACKGROUND Limited epidemiologic data exist on prenatal arsenic exposure and fetal growth, particularly in the context of co-exposure to other toxic metals. OBJECTIVE We examined whether prenatal arsenic exposure predicts birth outcomes among a rural U.S. population, while adjusting for exposure to lead and manganese. METHODS We collected maternal and umbilical cord blood samples at deliver...

BACKGROUND Fetal determinants of airway function, such as in utero exposure to maternal cigarette smoke (CS), may create a predisposition to adult airflow obstruction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. It has been suggested that active smoking in adolescence and preexisting airflow obstruction have synergistic deleterious effects. OBJECTIVE We used a mouse model to...

BACKGROUND Rodent models for urban air pollution show consistent induction of inflammatory responses in major brain regions. However, the initial impact of air pollution particulate material on olfactory gateways has not been reported. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the olfactory neuroepithelium (OE) and brain regional responses to a nanosized subfraction of urban traffic ultrafine particulate matter...

BACKGROUND Arsenic is one of the most commonly encountered environmental toxicants, and research from model systems has suggested that one mode of its toxic activity may be through alterations in DNA methylation. In utero exposure to arsenic can affect fetal, newborn, and infant health, resulting in a range of phenotypic outcomes. OBJECTIVES This study examined variation in placental DNA meth...

Epidemiologic research has shown increases in adverse cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes in relation to mass concentrations of particulate matter (PM) < or = 2.5 or < or = 10 microm in diameter (PM2.5, PM10, respectively). In a companion article [Delfino RJ, Sioutas C, Malik S. 2005. Environ Health Perspect 113(8):934-946]), we discuss epidemiologic evidence pointing to underlying componen...

BACKGROUND Oyster norovirus outbreaks often pose high risks to human health. However, little is known about environmental factors controlling the outbreaks, and little can be done to prevent the outbreaks because they are generally considered to be unpredictable. OBJECTIVE We sought to develop a mathematical model for predicting risks of oyster norovirus outbreaks using environmental predicto...