Public Health Concerns

Biogenic amines are low-molecular-weight organic bases that have undesirable physiological effects on humans when absorbed at too high a concentration (Arena and Manca de Nadra, 2001 Lonvaud-Funel, 2001 Silla Santos, 1996). These compounds are formed by decarboxylation of the 

The presence of biogenic amines in wines is currently not regulated worldwide (Olga et al., 1996). However, because of their potential health implications, wines with high concentrations may be rejected from some markets. This concern has led to the production of malolactic starter cultures that do not contain amino acid decarboxylase (Lonvaud-Funel, 2001). 

These studies demonstrate that wine LAB may contribute to ethyl carbamate formation. In the United States, there is a voluntary concentration limit of 15 ng/g for ethyl carbamate in table wines (Canas et al., 1994). One suggested way to achieve this goal is the development of non-arginine-degrading O. oeni strains for the induction of MLF (Mira de Orduna et al., 2001). 

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Because of the risk of lead poisoning, the exposure of children to lead-based paint is a significant public health concern. The first step in the quantitative analysis of lead in dried paint chips is to dissolve the sample. Corl evaluated several dissolution techniques. " In this study, samples of paint were collected and pulverized with a Pyrex mortar and pestle. Replicate portions of the powdered paint were then taken for analysis. Results for an unknown paint sample and for a standard reference material, in which dissolution was accomplished by a 4-6-h digestion with HNO3 on a hot plate, are shown in the following table. 

At neither site is there evidence of absorption of lead to the degree usually associated with clinical symptoms of lead poisoning, and the reported blood-lead levels are not high enough to make this likely. However, a public health concern exists, particularly in the RSR area, since 5 percent of these black children were found to have lead toxicity. 

The different toxicity and bioavailability of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) are a public health concern and therefore require strict control. Cr(VI) is considered to be toxic and carcinogenic, especially for the respiratory tract. In occupational health, the OEL (Occupational Exposure Limits) for water soluble and certain water insoluble compounds in indoor air is set at 0.5 mg/m for Cr, 0.5 mg/m for Cr(III), and 0.05 mg/m for Cr(VI), reflecting the different toxicities of both species. 

Bowen, A., Fry, A., Richards, G., and Beuchat, L. (2006). Infections associated with cantaloupe consumption A public health concern. Epidemiol. Infect. 134, 675-685. 

The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase, keeping this disease a major public health concern. Results from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reflect an increased combined prevalence for overweight and obesity among adults... 

Mineral Oil Hydraulic Fluids and Polyalphaolefin Hydraulic Fluids. Limited information about environmentally important physical and chemical properties is available for the mineral oil and water-in-oil emulsion hydraulic fluid products and components is presented in Tables 3-4, 3-5, and 3-7. Much of the available trade literature emphasizes properties desirable for the commercial end uses of the products as hydraulic fluids rather than the physical constants most useful in fate and transport analysis. Since the products are typically mixtures, the chief value of the trade literature is to identify specific chemical components, generally various petroleum hydrocarbons. Additional information on the properties of the various mineral oil formulations would make it easier to distinguish the toxicity and environmental effects and to trace the site contaminant s fate based on levels of distinguishing components. Improved information is especially needed on additives, some of which may be of more environmental and public health concern than the hydrocarbons that comprise the bulk of the mineral oil hydraulic fluids by weight. For the polyalphaolefin hydraulic fluids, basic physical and chemical properties related to assessing environmental fate and exposure risks are essentially unknown. Additional information for these types of hydraulic fluids is clearly needed. 

Some considerations relevant to public health concerns about modern and effective incineration systems have been described. However, local health officials and citizens of communities with hazardous waste incinerators have expressed to ATSDR their concern that they may not be able to judge a good operation, or that, once the initial trial burns and inspections are completed, the system may not be operated in the same manner as during the testing phase. Citizens have also expressed concern that burning rates will be exceeded or monitoring systems will be overridden. 

ATSDR must address public health concerns regarding lead exposure at hazardous waste sites. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA has estimated that Campylobacter and Salmonella are the top two bacterial foodbome pathogens as they are responsible for a total of 2 and 1.3 million foodbome infections every year (Mead et al., 1999). Most of the cases of infection with Campylobacter and Salmonella appear to be due to eggs and poultry, but a significant number of cases are related to beef products (CDC, 2005 Jay, 2000). EHEC does not cause as many infections as the top two pathogens (approximately 100,000 in the USA), but EHEC is frequently linked to outbreaks of diarrhea caused by the consumption of contaminated ground beef (Mead et al., 1999, Rangel et al., 2005). Infections caused by EHEC are the major microbial public health concern related to ruminant food products. 

In the last 20 years, an increased number of enterohemorrhagic diarrhea outbreaks have been caused by highly virulent E. coli strains. EHEC are capable of causing serious complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome in children and vascular disease in elderly people. E. coli serotype 0157 H7 has been the primary cause of outbreaks of EHEC, but other serotypes such as 026 and Olll are also a major public health concern. The Center for Disease Control has calculated that E. coli 0157 H7 is responsible for more than 70,000 infections and 60 deaths, and other EHEC strains cause approximately 36,000 illnesses and 30 deaths every year in the USA (Mead et al., 1999). In 1994 E. coli 0157 H7 was legally declared an adulterant in ground beef in the USA (USDA/FSIS Directive 10,010.1, 2004). Since then... 

Nickel is an essential micronutrient for maintaining health in certain species of plants and animals. Its deficiency effects from dietary deprivation have been induced experimentally in many species of birds and mammals. To prevent nickel deficiency in rats and chickens, diets should contain at least 50 pg Ni/kg ration, while cows and goats require more than 100 pg Ni/kg rations, perhaps reflecting the increased use by rumen bacteria. Nickel deficiency is not a public health concern for humans because daily oral intake is sufficient to prevent deficiency effects. 

Neurological Effects. The major public health concern regarding -hexane exposure is the potential for the development of neurotoxicity. Occupational studies have documented that human exposure to -hexane can result in a peripheral neuropathy that in severe cases can lead to paralysis (Altenkirch et al. 1977 Yamamura 1969 Wang et al. 1986). The dose-duration relationship has not been well characterized in humans, but concentrations of 500 ppm and above, and exposure for 2 months or more have been associated with human neurotoxicity. Brief exposure to extremely high concentrations of w-hexane may cause signs of narcosis in humans prostration and coma have been observed in animals exposed to a mixture of hexanes at concentrations of 70,000-80,000 ppm (Hine and Zuidema 1970). At these levels, however, explosion and fire would be the main concern. 

Looking forward with hope to the continued development and use of the risk assessment framework, and of those scientific disciplines that supply the data and knowledge necessary for its use, I propose the following, perhaps overly grand, definition of risk assessment, in an attempt to ensure its applicability not only to the types of problems that have been the principal subjects of this book, but to all those of public health concern. 

Decker D, DiMardi SR, Calabrese EJ. 1984. Does chloroform exposure while showering pose a serious public health concern Med Hypotheses 15 119-124. 

Similarly, where there are public health concerns as a result of pharmacovigilance data, nationally authorized products or products authorized by the mutual recognition procedure may be referred rmder Articles 12 or 15 of Directive 75/319/EEC. The CPMP/CVMP gives an opinion on variation, suspension, or withdrawal of the marketing authorization in such cases. 

Mood disorders represent a major public health concern around the globe. In the United States alone, the annual cost of major depression is over 40 billion dollars. Less than 30% of the total cost of depression is incurred through direct treatment. The remainder consists of the indirect hidden costs of lost productivity due to absenteeism and poor work efficiency, premature death from suicide or medical illness, and the uncounted losses related to a poor quality of life. 

Cyanobacteria toxins are toxins produced by certain species of blue-green algae that have become a major environmental and public health concern. The behavior of cyanotoxins during chlorination treatment has been recently reviewed by Merel et al. [129]. Chlorination DBFs have been reported only for the hepatotoxins microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin. Other cyanotoxins, such as nodularins, saxitoxins, and anatoxins, have yet to be investigated. Different isomers of six chlorination products of microcystin-LR have been characterized dihydroxy-microcystin, monochloro-microcystin, monochloro-hydroxy-microcystin, monochloro-dihydroxy-microcystin, dichloro-dihydroxy-microcystin, and trichloro-hydroxy-microcystin. Only two chlorination DBFs have been reported so far for cylindrospermopsin 5-chloro-cylindros-permopsin and cylindrospermopsic acid [129]. Chlorination of microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, and nodularins seems to reduce the mixture toxicity however, this aspect has not been extensively studied [129]. 

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