Low-levels of dioxin cause cancer in animals. In 1997 dioxin was found to be a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based largely on four studies of industrial workers exposed to high levels. Recently there has been interest in estimating human cancer risk at low level environmental exposures. Here we review quantitative exposure-response analyses and risk assess...

In this study, we describe the geospatial variation in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Manitoba, Canada, and the sociodemographic characteristics associated with MS incidence. By using administrative health data, we identified all incident cases of MS in Manitoba from 1990 to 2006 (n = 2,290) and geocoded them to 230 neighborhoods in the City of Winnipeg and 268 municipalities in ru...

This paper reviews methodologic issues pertinent to the application of epidemiology in risk assessment and discusses concerns in the presentation of results from such an activity. Assessment of the health risks associated with occupational and environmental exposures involves four phases: hazard identification, i.e., the detection of the potential for agents to cause adverse health effects in e...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171742.].

The Internet can provide a wealth of information related to the effects of environmental exposures on children's health. This article provides guidance on searching the Internet for pertinent information and discusses how to evaluate such information. It also provides an extensive list of environmental-health-related websites hosted by governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and other organi...

In studies of disease with potential environmental risk factors, residential location is often used as a surrogate for unknown environmental exposures or as a basis for assigning environmental exposures. These studies most typically use the residential location at the time of diagnosis due to ease of collection. However, previous residential locations may be more useful for risk analysis becaus...

OBJECTIVES This study explored whether differences in environmental lead exposures explain the racial disparity in children's blood lead levels. METHODS Environmental sources of lead were identified for a random sample of 172 urban children. RESULTS Blood lead levels were significantly higher among Black children. Lead-contamination of dust was higher in Black children's homes, and the cond...

T here has been a remarkable increase in recent years of individual and public perceptions about health effects caused i y toxic chemical and physical agents in the workplace and elsewhere in the environment. Although the full nature and extent of the health burden resulting from occupational and environmental exposures remain to be elucidated, a consensus has emerged that our health care syste...

A number of serious environmental health hazards created by under-regulated/unregulated industries have morphed into public health crises around the world. The Conference on Corporate Interference with Science and Health (the Conference) was held to examine this trend in three economically significant industries: fracking, food, and wireless. The Conference provided an overview of the structure...

Information is lacking in Canada on the frequency of exposures of healthy people to enteric pathogen sources (i.e. water, food, animal contact) at the community level. This information is critical to develop more robust risk assessments and prioritize control measures. A 12-month-long cross-sectional telephone survey of 1200 healthy individuals in a sentinel community was performed. Survey resp...