Socioeconomic factors

Data from the 12 measurement full set and modified set are shown in Table I. We see there that the full set exhibits the same general features as the modified set, except that the radon levels are somewhat higher. Since the former have far more measurements, they give more detailed information on geographic variations. The 12 measurements are also directly useful for studies of variations of average radon levels with age of house, socioeconomic factors, etc. 

Socioeconomic factors may correlate with both radon levels and lung cancer rates for unrelated reasons. 

In an extensive study of 819 apparently healthy American subjects, age range 1 year to 92 years, the authors noted that socioeconomic rather than genetic differences could account for the differences of immunoglobulin values which they have attributed to race (BIO). Thus, white males had 37.9% less IgG (P < 0.0001) and 18.7% less IgA (P = 0.0105) than black males, whereas serum IgM concentration in black and white males were not significantly different. White females had 23.5% less IgG (P < 0.0001), 14.9% less IgA (P = 0.029), and 38.8% more IgM (P = 0.004) than black females. Their results confirm that there are significant differences in serum immunoglobulin levels related to the sex of the individuals as well as to the socioeconomic factors. Bantu females were observed to possess higher serum IgM levels than their male counterparts (SIO). 

Lethagen S, Ragnarson Tennvall G. Self-treatment with desmopressin intranasal spray in patients with bleeding disorders effect on bleeding symptoms and socioeconomic factors. Ann Hematol 1993 66(5) 257-60. 

Increased fihrinogen, von Willehrand factor and tissue plasminogen activator levels in insulin resistant South Asian patients with ischaemic stroke. Atherosclerosis 163 371-376 Kaplan GA, Keil JE (1993). Socioeconomic factors and cardiovascular disease a review of the hterature. Circulation 88 1973-1998 Kelly-Hayes M, Wolf PA, Kase GS et al. (1995). Tempotal patterns of stroke onset. The Framingham Study. Stroke 26 1343-1347 Kleindorfer D, Panagos P, Pancioh A et al. (2005). Incidence and short-term prognosis of transient ischemic attack in a population-hased study. Stroke 36 720-723 Kodama K (1993). Stroke trends in Japan. 

The hazards posed by urban environmental contaminants are not, of course, the only ones posed to ecological and human health. Climate change, access to health care, the provision and maintenance of sanitary and other infrastructure, and numerous other economic and political factors variously impact on ecological and human health in cities. By some measures, and in some locations, urbanites enjoy better health and well-being than their rural counterparts, a difference thought to be due to socioeconomic factors, and access to health care and other social institutions (Perdue et al., 2003). Pohcies to address urban environmental health may be debated within a benefit-risk framework that considers the multiplicity of economic, social and environmental factors that interact and underhe health and well-being. 

Mahaffey KR, Annest JL, Roberts J, Murphy RS. National estimates of blood lead levels United States, 1976-1980. Association with selected demographic and socioeconomic factors. N Engl J Med 1982 307 573-579. 

Humans are exposed to a myriad of chemicals throughout their lifetime in the work place, the environment, and the home. Hence, the human exposure to chemicals is mixtures rather than single chemicals. The real world exposure scenarios are complex in terms of type of chemicals, the exposure situation (duration, routes, rates, and magnitudes), and the existence of confounding socioeconomic factors (ethnicity, diet, alcohol, smoke, age, area of... 

The main goal of a post-registration clinical study will be to obtain and evaluate data on safety and/or efficacy, cost-effectiveness, quality of life or other socioeconomic factors that have to do with clinical use of the medicine. 

Demographic variables, such as age structure, population density and urban-rural ratios, may also affect prevalence, and socioeconomic factors, like unemployment, education or income, correlate with prevalence levels in some, but not all, studies. Factors relating to geographic diffusion, such as trafficking routes, may also have an influence (see box above). 

The exact cause of the acute leukemias is unknown. A multifactorial process involving genetics, environmental and socioeconomic factors, toxins, immunologic status, and viral exposures is likely. Table 131-1 summarizes the major factors that have been linked to acute leukemias. Infectious and genetic factors have the strongest associations to date. In pediatric ALL, a number of environmental factors have been investigated as possible causes exposure to ionizing radiation, toxic chemicals, herbicides and pesticides maternal use of... 

Opportunistic infections bacterial (MAI, TB) viral (CMV, herpes) fungal Candida albicans, cryptococcus) protozoal Pneumocystis carinii, microsporidia, Isospora belli, Cryptosporidia, Giardia lamblia) Malignancies Kaposi s sarcoma, lymphoma Medications antibiotics, anticancer chemotherapy, antidepressants Neuropsychiatric disorders dementia, depression, anxiety, encephalopathy Socioeconomic factors IV drug abuse, low income... 

A defined diet should not be initiated without thorough evaluation of the child and family, consideration of traditional treatment, and evaluation of cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors involved in implementing the diet. 

In the next chapter I will discuss the impact of socioeconomic factors on the fetal environment. Such factors are not minor, they re numerous, and they vary widely in character and intensity. It s not a surprise that these factors, most prevalent in lower socioeconomic classes, will overshadow any genotype contribution to IQ variance. 

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