Environmental health impacts of unconventional natural gas development: a review of the current strength of evidence

Rapid global expansion of unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) raises environmental health concerns. Many studies present information on these concerns, yet the strength of epidemiological evidence remains tenuous. This paper is a review of the strength of evidence in scientific reporting of environmental hazards from UNGD activities associated with adverse human health outcomes. Studies were drawn from peer-reviewed and grey literature following a systematic search. Five databases were searched for studies published from January 1995 through March 2014 using key search terms relevant to environmental health. Studies were screened, ranked and then reviewed according to the strength of the evidence presented on adverse environmental health outcomes associated with UNGD. The initial searches yielded >1000 studies, but this was reduced to 109 relevant studies after the ranking process. Only seven studies were considered highly relevant based on strength of evidence. Articles spanned several relevant topics, but most focussed on impacts on typical environmental media, such as water and air, with much of the health impacts inferred rather than evidenced. Additionally, the majority of studies focussed on short-term, rather than long-term, health impacts, which is expected considering the timeframe of UNGD; therefore, very few studies examined health outcomes with longer latencies such as cancer or developmental outcomes. Current scientific evidence for UNGD that demonstrates associations between adverse health outcomes directly with environmental health hazards resulting from UNGD activities generally lacks methodological rigour. Importantly, however, there is also no evidence to rule out such health impacts. While the current evidence in the scientific research reporting leaves questions unanswered about the actual environmental health impacts, public health concerns remain intense. This is a clear gap in the scientific knowledge that requires urgent attention

Cetacean Habitat Selection in the Alaskan Arctic during Summer and Autumn

Ten years (1982-91) of sighting data from aerial surveys offshore of northern Alaska were analyzed to investigate seasonal variability in cetacean habitat selection. Distinct habitats were described for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), white whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) on the basis of habitat selection ratios calculated for bathymetric and ice cover regimes. In summer, bowheads selected continental slope waters and moderate ice conditions; white whales selected slope and basin waters and moderate to heavy ice conditions; and gray whales selected coastal/shoal waters and open water. In autumn, bowheads selected inner shelf waters and light ice conditions; white whales selected outer shelf and slope waters and moderate to heavy ice; and gray whales selected coastal and shoal/trough habitats in light ice and open water. Habitat differences among species were significant in both seasons (ANOVA F > 28, p < 0.00001). Interseasonal depth and ice cover habitats were significantly different for bowhead whales (p < 0.00002), but not for gray whales (p > 0.35). White whale depth habitat was significantly different between seasons (p < 0.00002), but ice cover habitat was not (p < 0.08). Des données d'observation réalisées sur dix années (1982-1991) grâce à des relevés aériens au large de l'Alaska septentrional ont été analysées dans le cadre de recherches sur la variabilité saisonnière dans la sélection de l'habitat des cétacés. On a décrit des habitats distincts pour la baleine boréale (Balaena mysticetus), la baleine blanche (Delphinapterus leucas) et la baleine grise de Californie (Eschrichtius robustus) en se fondant sur les taux de sélection de l'habitat calculés pour le régime bathymétrique et celui de la couverture de glace. En été, la baleine boréale choisissait les eaux de la pente continentale et des conditions de glace modérée; la baleine blanche choisissait les eaux de la pente continentale et du bassin océanique, et des conditions de glace allant de modérée à épaisse; et la baleine grise choisissait des eaux côtières et de hauts-fonds ainsi que l'eau libre. En automne, la baleine boréale choisissait les eaux intérieures du plateau continental, où se trouvait une faible concentration de glace; la baleine blanche choisissait les eaux à l'extérieur du plateau et sur la pente, ainsi qu'une glace allant de modérée à épaisse; et la baleine grise choisissait des habitats côtiers et de hauts-fonds ou des fossés à faible concentration de glace et à eau libre. Les différences d'habitat entre les espèces étaient importantes durant les deux saisons (ANOVA F > 28, p < 0,00001). D'une saison à une autre, les habitats différaient sensiblement quant à la profondeur et à la couverture de glace pour la baleine boréale (p < 0,00002), mais pas pour la baleine grise (p > 0,35). La profondeur de l'habitat pour la baleine blanche variait sensiblement d'une saison à une autre (p <0,00002), mais pas la couverture de glace (p < 0,08).

All-age hospitalization rates in coal seam gas areas in Queensland, Australia, 1995–2011

Background: Unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) is expanding globally, with Australia expanding development in the form of coal seam gas (CSG). Residents and other interest groups have voiced concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts related to CSG. This paper compares objective health outcomes from three study areas in Queensland, Australia to examine potential environmentally-related health impacts. Methods: Three study areas were selected in an ecologic study design: A CSG area, a coal mining area, and a rural/agricultural area. Admitted patient data, as well as population data and additional factors, were obtained for each calendar year from 1995 through 2011 to calculate all-age hospitalization rates and age-standardized rates in each of these areas. The three areas were compared using negative binomial regression analyses (unadjusted and adjusted models) to examine increases over time of hospitalization rates grouped by primary diagnosis (19 ICD chapters), with rate ratios serving to compare the within-area regression slopes between the areas. Results: The CSG area did not have significant increases in all-cause hospitalization rates over time for all-ages compared to the coal and rural study areas in adjusted models (RR: 1.02, 95 % CI: 1.00-1.04 as compared to the coal mining area; RR: 1.01, 95 % CI: 0.99-1.04 as compared to the rural area). While the CSG area did not show significant increases in specific hospitalization rates compared to both the coal mining and rural areas for any ICD chapters in the adjusted models, the CSG area showed increases in hospitalization rates compared only to the rural area for neoplasms (RR: 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.16) and blood/immune diseases (RR: 1.14, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.27). Conclusions: This exploratory study of all-age hospitalization rates for three study areas in Queensland suggests that certain hospital admissions rates increased more quickly in the CSG study area than in other study areas, particularly the rural area, after adjusting for key sociodemographic factors. These findings are an important first step in identifying potential health impacts of CSG in the Australian context and serve to generate hypotheses for future studies

A combined biomarker and clinical panel for chronic graft versus host disease diagnosis.

Whilst many chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) biomarkers have been previously reported, few have been verified in an independent cGVHD cohort. We aimed to verify the diagnostic accuracy of previously reported markers of cGVHD in a multi-centre Chronic GVHD Consortium. A total of 42 RNA and 18 protein candidate biomarkers were assessed amongst 59 cGVHD cases and 33 matched non-GVHD controls. Total RNA was isolated from PBMC, and RNA markers were quantified using PCR. Serum protein markers were quantified using ELISA. A combined 3 RNA biomarker (IRS2, PLEKHF1 and IL1R2) and 2 clinical variables (recipient CMV serostatus and conditioning regimen intensity) panel accurately (AUC 0.81) segregated cGVHD cases from controls. Other studied RNA and protein markers were not confirmed as accurate cGVHD diagnostic biomarkers. The studied markers failed to segregate higher risk cGVHD (per overall NIH 0-3 score, and overlap versus classic cGVHD status). These data support the need for multiple independent verification studies for the ultimate clinical application of cGVHD diagnostic biomarkers

Etiology of the membrane potential of rat white fat adipocytes

The plasma membrane potential (Vm) is key to many physiological processes, however its ionic aetiology in white fat adipocytes is poorly characterised. To address this question, we have employed the perforated patch current-clamp and cell-attached patch-clamp methods in isolated primary white fat adipocytes and their cellular model: 3T3-L1. The resting Vm of primary and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were -32.1±1.2mV (n=95) and -28.8±1.2mV (n=87), respectively. Vm was independent of cell size and fat content. Elevation of extracellular [K+] to 50mM by equimolar substitution of bath Na+ did not affect Vm, whereas substitution of bath Na+ with the membrane impermeant cation N-methyl-D-glucamine+ hyperpolarized Vm by 16mV, data indicative of a non-selective cation permeability. Substitution of 133mM extracellular Cl- with gluconate, depolarised Vm to +5.5, whereas Cl- substitution with I- caused a -9mV hyperpolarization. Isoprenaline (10µM) but not insulin (100nM) significantly depolarized Vm. Single-channel ion activity was voltage independent; currents were indicative for Cl- with an inward slope conductance of 16±1.3pS (n=11) and a reversal potential close to the Cl- equilibrium potential: -29±1.6mV. Reduction of extracellular Cl- elevated the intracellular Ca2+ of adipocytes. In conclusion, the Vm of white fat adipocyte is well described by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation with a predominant permeability to Cl-. Consequently, changes in serum Cl- homeostasis or the adipocyte’s permeability to this anion via drugs will affect its Vm, intracellular Ca2+ and ultimately its function and its role in metabolic control

Human Transgene-Free Amniotic-Fluid-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Autologous Cell Therapy

The establishment of a reliable prenatal source of autologous, transgene-free progenitor cells has enormous potential in the development of regenerative-medicine-based therapies for infants born with devastating birth defects. Here, we show that a largely CD117-negative population of human amniotic fluid mesenchymal stromal cells (AF-MSCs) obtained from fetuses with or without prenatally diagnosed anomalies are readily abundant and have limited baseline differentiation potential when compared with bone-marrow-derived MSCs and other somatic cell types. Nonetheless, the AF-MSCs could be easily reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using nonintegrating Sendai viral vectors encoding for OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC. The iPSCs were virtually indistinguishable from human embryonic stem cells in multiple assays and could be used to generate a relatively homogeneous population of neural progenitors, expressing PAX6, SOX2, SOX3, Musashi-1, and PSA-NCAM, for potential use in neurologic diseases. Further, these neural progenitors showed engraftment potential in vivo and were capable of differentiating into mature neurons and astrocytes in vitro. This study demonstrates the usefulness of AF-MSCs as an excellent source for the generation of human transgene-free iPSCs ideally suited for autologous perinatal regenerative medicine applications.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140204/1/scd.2014.0110.pd

Efficacy of water preloading before main meals as a strategy for weight loss in primary care patients with obesity: RCT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of water preloading before meals as a weight loss strategy for adults with obesity. Methods A two-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in Birmingham, England. Eighty-four adults with obesity were recruited from general practices. All participants were given a face-to-face weight management consultation at baseline (30 min) and a follow-up telephone consultation at 2 weeks (10 min). At baseline, participants were randomized to either drinking 500 ml of water 30 min before their main meals or an attention control group where participants were asked to imagine their stomach was full before meals. The primary outcome was weight change at 12-week follow-up. Several measures of adherence were also used, including 24 h total urine collections. Results 41 participants were randomized to the intervention group and 43 to the comparator group. The water preloading group lost -1.3 kg (95% CI -2.4 to -0.1, P = 0.028) more than comparators at follow up. Adjusting for ethnicity, deprivation, age, and gender resulted in the intervention group losing -1.2 kg (95% CI -2.4 to 0.07, P = 0.063) more than the comparator. Conclusions There is preliminary evidence that water preloading before main meals leads to a moderate weight loss at follow up. ISRCTN3323815

Exile Vol. IX No. 1

FICTION The Locust Season by Patterson Bouic 5-11 The Breughel by Hugh K. Duffield II 15-22 Then I Raised My Hand by Les Overlock 25-28 Berry Stew by Barbara Thiele 32-35 The Spectator by Sue Burton 36-37 ESSAY Dialogue by Paul Pottinger 38-40 POETRY Poem by Judith Pistor 11 Poem by Albert Werder 12-13 Salvage by Mary McCarthy 14 Poem by Barbara Thiele 23 Teatime by Hugh K. Duffield II 23 Aeschylus and the Turtle by Robert Hoyt 29 Turning by Sarah Conway 29 A Lucrezia by Christine Cooper 30 GRAPHICS Pen and Wash by Patricia Thomas 4 Pen and Ink by Elizabeth Surbeck 12 Action Drawing by Elizabeth Surbeck 14 Pen and Wash by Beverly Erbacher 24 Wash by Barbara Purdy 31 Expressionistic Head by Ramona Gibbs 3