CanScreen5, a global repository for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programs

The CanScreen5 project is a global cancer screening data repository that aims to report the status and performance of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programs using a harmonized set of criteria and indicators. Data collected mainly from the Ministry of Health in each country underwent quality validation and ultimately became publicly available through a Web-based portal. Until September 2022, 84 participating countries reported data for breast (n = 57), cervical (n = 75) or colorectal (n = 51) cancer screening programs in the repository. Substantial heterogeneity was observed regarding program organization and performance. Reported screening coverage ranged from 1.7% (Bangladesh) to 85.5% (England, United Kingdom) for breast cancer, from 2.1% (Côte d’Ivoire) to 86.3% (Sweden) for cervical cancer, and from 0.6% (Hungary) to 64.5% (the Netherlands) for colorectal cancer screening programs. Large variability was observed regarding compliance to further assessment of screening programs and detection rates reported for precancers and cancers. A concern is lack of data to estimate performance indicators across the screening continuum. This underscores the need for programs to incorporate quality assurance protocols supported by robust information systems. Program organization requires improvement in resource-limited settings, where screening is likely to be resource-stratified and tailored to country-specific situations.</p

High spatial resolution analysis of sediment cores by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

A procedure is presented for the high-resolution analysis of lake sediment cores. Sections of a sediment core collected by freeze coring in a dimictic lake were prepared by slow drying. Clear visual laminations in the prepared sections indicated that the layering of accumulated sediments was preserved during sampling and sample preparation. Concentration profiles for Al, Si, Fe, S, As, Cu, and Zn at a 0.25-mm resolution were obtained for 2 core sections corresponding to pre-industrial and industrial periods. Detection limits of 0.09% for Al, 0.006% for Fe, 0.07% for S, 0.75% for Si, 0.7 \ub5g g1 for As, 68 \ub5g g1 for Cu, and 32 \ub5g g1 for Zn enable the analysis of these elements in the sediment samples. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis enabled the resolution of subannual patterns in element concentrations. In the lake studied, a regular, alternating pattern of Al and S concentrations appears to provide markers of annual sediment accumulation in the relatively uncontaminated layers of the core. In the more highly contaminated layers, LA-ICP-MS provides a suitable tool for the detailed study of pollution events

High spatial resolution analysis of sediment cores by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

A procedure is presented for the high-resolution analysis of lake sediment cores. Sections of a sediment core collected by freeze coring in a dimictic lake were prepared by slow drying. Clear visual laminations in the prepared sections indicated that the layering of accumulated sediments was preserved during sampling and sample preparation. Concentration profiles for Al, Si, Fe, S, As, Cu, and Zn at a 0.25-mm resolution were obtained for 2 core sections corresponding to pre-industrial and industrial periods. Detection limits of 0.09% for Al, 0.006% for Fe, 0.07% for S, 0.75% for Si, 0.7 \ub5g g1 for As, 68 \ub5g g1 for Cu, and 32 \ub5g g1 for Zn enable the analysis of these elements in the sediment samples. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis enabled the resolution of subannual patterns in element concentrations. In the lake studied, a regular, alternating pattern of Al and S concentrations appears to provide markers of annual sediment accumulation in the relatively uncontaminated layers of the core. In the more highly contaminated layers, LA-ICP-MS provides a suitable tool for the detailed study of pollution events

Biogeochemical characterization of municipal compost to support urban agriculture and limit childhood lead exposure from resuspended urban soils

Chronic low-level lead exposure among low-income minority children is an urgent environmental justice issue. Addressing this ubiquitous urban public health crisis requires a new transdisciplinary paradigm. The primary goals of this work are to inform best practices for urban gardeners working in lead contaminated soils and to reimagine urban organic waste management schemes to produce compost, which when covering or mixed with urban soil, could minimize lead exposure. We investigate bulk and bioaccessible lead from five types of compost used in urban gardens in Boston, MA. We categorized them by feedstock and measured bulk elemental concentrations and physical characteristics. Our results show that different feedstocks exhibit unique geochemical fingerprints. While bulk lead concentrations in compost are a fraction of what is typical for urban soils, the bioaccessible lead fraction in compost is greater than the default parameters for the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model. The lack of geochemical differences across feedstocks for lead sorption to carbon indicates a similar sorption mechanism for all compost. This suggests that municipal compost would be suitable for capping lead contaminated urban soils. Risk assessment models should consider lead bioaccessibility, to prevent the underprediction of exposure risk, and should include compost along with soils as urban matrices. Based on the observed bioaccessibility in our compost samples, 170 mg/kg total lead in compost will yield the same bioaccessible lead as the IEUBK model predicts for the 400 mg/kg EPA soil lead benchmark. Local logistical challenges remain for interdisciplinary teams of city planners, exposure scientists, and urban agricultural communities to design organic waste collection practices to produce compost that will support urban agriculture and primary lead exposure prevention

Characterization and Low-Cost Remediation of Soils Contaminated by Timbers in Community Gardens

Urban community gardens worldwide provide significant health benefits to those gardening and consuming fresh produce from them. Urban gardens are most often placed in locations and on land in which soil contaminants reflect past practices and often contain elevated levels of metals and organic contaminants. Garden plot dividers made from either railroad ties or chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure treated lumber contribute to the soil contamination and provide a continuous source of contaminants. Elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from railroad ties and arsenic from CCA pressure treated lumber are present in the gardens studied. Using a representative garden, we 1) determined the nature and extent of urban community garden soil contaminated with PAHs and arsenic by garden timbers; 2) designed a remediation plan, based on our sampling results, with our community partner guided by public health criteria, local regulation, affordability, and replicability; 3) determined the safety and advisability of adding city compost to Boston community gardens as a soil amendment; and 4) made recommendations for community gardeners regarding healthful gardening practices. This is the first study of its kind that looks at contaminants other than lead in urban garden soil and that evaluates the effect on select soil contaminants of adding city compost to community garden soil

Increased Incidence and Altered Risk Demographics of Childhood Lead Poisoning: Predicting the Impacts of the CDC&amp;#8217;s 5 &amp;#181;g/dL Reference Value in Massachusetts (USA)

In May 2012, the CDC adopted a new sliding scale reference value for childhood lead poisoning, reducing the former 10 &amp;#181;g/dL benchmark by half. Using Massachusetts (MA) as a model state, we estimated the change in the population of 9&amp;#8211;47 month-olds at risk for lead poisoning. We then examined the impact of the 5 &amp;#181;g/dL reference value on the demographic characteristics of lead risk in MA communities. We find that the new CDC benchmark will lead to a 1470% increase in childhood lead poisoning cases among 9&amp;#8211;47 month-olds in MA, with nearly 50% of the examined communities experiencing an increased prevalence of lead poisoning. Further, the top 10 MA communities with BLLs &amp;#8805;5 &amp;#181;g/dL have significantly fewer foreign-born residents and significantly larger white populations than the highest risk communities formerly identified by the MA Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The CDC&amp;#8217;s new 5 &amp;#181;g/dL lead poisoning benchmark will drastically increase the number of children with elevated BLLs and alter the distribution and demographics high-risk communities in MA