Extremely cold and hot temperatures increase the risk of ischaemic heart disease mortality: epidemiological evidence from China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of extremely cold and hot temperatures on ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in five cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou) in China; and to examine the time relationships between cold and hot temperatures and IHD mortality for each city. DESIGN: A negative binomial regression model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to examine city-specific temperature effects on IHD mortality up to 20 lag days. A meta-analysis was used to pool the cold effects and hot effects across the five cities. PATIENTS: 16 559 IHD deaths were monitored by a sentinel surveillance system in five cities during 2004-2008. RESULTS: The relationships between temperature and IHD mortality were non-linear in all five cities. The minimum-mortality temperatures in northern cities were lower than in southern cities. In Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou, the effects of extremely cold temperatures were delayed, while Shanghai and Wuhan had immediate cold effects. The effects of extremely hot temperatures appeared immediately in all the cities except Wuhan. Meta-analysis showed that IHD mortality increased 48% at the 1st percentile of temperature (extremely cold temperature) compared with the 10th percentile, while IHD mortality increased 18% at the 99th percentile of temperature (extremely hot temperature) compared with the 90th percentile. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that both extremely cold and hot temperatures increase IHD mortality in China. Each city has its characteristics of heat effects on IHD mortality. The policy for response to climate change should consider local climate-IHD mortality relationships

Ecosystem properties of acid grasslands along a gradient of nitrogen deposition

Sixty-eight randomly selected grasslands belonging to the National Vegetation Classification group U4 (Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland) were studied during the summers of 2002 and 2003 along a gradient of atmospheric N deposition ranging from 6 to 36 kg N ha-1 yr-1 to investigate potential damage caused by acidification and eutrophication. At each site vegetation was surveyed and samples were taken from the topsoil and subsoil. Above-ground plant material was collected from three species: Agrostis capillaris, Galium saxatile and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. Species richness showed a negative linear trend with N deposition, with a reduction of 1 species for every 2.5 kg N ha-1 yr-1. At the current mean N deposition in Europe this gave a reduction in species richness of 23% from a projected pristine condition. Forbs accounted for the majority of this decline, showing reductions in both cover and abundance along the N-deposition gradient. Grasses showed a decrease in species richness, but an increase in cover, indicating increased dominance of a few species. Using canonical correspondence analysis, several individual species were identified as being positively and negatively associated with N deposition. Soil pH declined along the N-deposition gradient. This was also associated with increased mobilisation of aluminium, arsenic and lead. Nitrate concentration in the soil did not increase with increasing N inputs, possibly due to rapid plant uptake and its mobility in the soil profile. Soil extractable ammonium concentration showed a significant positive correlation with N inputs. A weak relationship was also identified between the C:N ratio in the soil and N inputs. Potential ammonium mineralization showed considerable variation across the sites. There was no correlation between aboveground tissue Nand N deposition for any of the three species examined. A weak correlation was identified between tissue N and soil C:N for G. saxatile. Tissue N:P ratios gave no clear indication of nutrient limitation. The relative merits of different indicators of N-deposition are discussed

Proceedings of 2011 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

This conference was planned and conducted as part of the state water resources research annual program with the support and collaboration of the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation, under Grant Agreement Number 06HQGR0087. The views and conclusions contained in this document and presented at the symposium are those of the abstract authors and presenters and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government or other symposium organizers and sponsors

Differences in health symptoms among residents living near illegal dump sites in Los Laureles Canyon, Tijuana, Mexico: a cross sectional survey.

Living near landfills is a known health hazard prompting recognition of environmental injustice. The study aim was to compare self-reported symptoms of ill health among residents of four neighborhoods, living in haphazardly constructed settlements surrounded by illegal dumpsites in Tijuana, Mexico. One adult from each of 388 households located in Los Laureles Canyon were interviewed about demographics, health status, and symptoms. Distance from each residence to both the nearest dumpsite and the canyon bottom was assessed. The neighborhoods were selected from locations within the canyon, and varied with respect to proximity to dump sites. Residents of San Bernardo reported significantly higher frequencies of ill-health symptoms than the other neighborhoods, including extreme fatigue (OR 3.01 (95% CI 1.6-5.5)), skin problems/irritations (OR 2.73 (95% CI 1.3-5.9)), stomach discomfort (OR 2.47 (1.3-4.8)), eye irritation/tears (OR 2.02 (1.2-3.6)), and confusion/difficulty concentrating (OR 2.39 (1.2-4.8)). Proximity to dumpsites did not explain these results, that varied only slightly when adjusted for distance to nearest dumpsite or distance to the canyon bottom. Because San Bernardo has no paved roads, we hypothesize that dust and the toxicants it carries is a possible explanation for this difference. Studies are needed to further document this association and sources of toxicants

The Town Lake Report, Volumes I and II

This report makes brief references to sediment and other trends seen in Waller Creek.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Town Lake’s importance as a natural resource is growing in tandem with Austin’s rapid population. The lake is a source of drinking water for the City, and its greenbelt and open waters are widely used for recreation and as a focal-point for public events. In 1992, under the Clean Lakes program, a comprehensive report entitled the “Town Lake Study” (COA 1992a; COA 1992b; COA 1992c) was prepared. It examined the condition of the lake (Volume I), water quality control alternatives (Volume II) and a feasibility study (Volume III). This report updates the diagnostic study, Volume I (COA 1992a), including the current status of water quality with data analyzed through the year 2000. It also includes a summary of measures taken to reduce pollution from urban runoff since 1990.Waller Creek Working Grou

Water Pollution

Water pollution is a major global problem that requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (from international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, industrialized countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well. Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, such as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. Most water pollutants are eventually carried by rivers into the oceans

Coal ash exposure and behavioral impairments among children in Louisville, Kentucky.

Introduction: Coal ash, generated from the combustion of coal is principally made up of fly ash, which consists of small particles and metals that can affect the development of children. Coal ash is predominately stored in landfills and surface impoundments, of which many are in proximity to residential areas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 25% of residents in proximity to electric power plants are children. Few studies have reported a positive association between coal ash and its by-products and neurobehavioral disorders. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between coal ash and its components and behaviors underlying autism that includes social, thought, and obsessive-compulsive problems. Methods: Analysis addressed filter fly ash, lift tape fly ash, and combined filter and lift tape fly ash. Body and home metal concentrations were derived from metals found in nails and filters, respectively. Fly ash from lift tape and filter were measured using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDX), while the metals found in nails and filters were measured using Proton Induced Emission X-ray (PIXE). Scores from the Child Behavior Checklist were analyzed to assess social, thought, and obsessive-compulsive problems. Logistic regression models, rank sum tests, and correlation tests were used to assess the relationship between fly ash and metals, and social, thought, and obsessive-compulsive problems. Results: There was no statistically significant association between the outcomes and fly ash measures. Results from this research suggest that increased copper levels may be associated with the development of social problems in children (Odds Ratio (OR)=5.44, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.07-27.6). We also found that exposure to an aggregate of all metals was most strongly associated with thought problems with a linear dose response relationship (OR=8.80 for tertile 2; OR=30.2 for tertile 3; PtrendConclusion: Pollutants such as fly ash and metals found in coal ash may affect the behavior of children and need to be further studied. Future research is needed to further understand the etiology between behaviors underlying ASD and environmental factors