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| News from the NIEHS |
| World Health Organization |
| EPA Office of Children's Health Protection |
| Collaborative for Health and the Environment |
| American Academy of Pediatrics |
| National Children's Study |
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute | |
| 170 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08854 P: | Phone: (732) 445-0200 Fax: (908) 445-0131 URL: http://www.eohsi.rutgers.edu |
Mission Statement | |
| Environmental and
Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) sponsors research,
education and
service programs in a setting that fosters interaction among experts in
environmental health, toxicology, occupational health, exposure
assessment,
public policy and health education. The Institute also serves as an
unbiased
source of expertise about environmental problems for communities,
employers and
government in all areas of occupational and environmental health,
toxicology and
risk assessment. EOHSI members are very active as advisors to
international,
national, state and local organizations on public health issues. | |
Children's Environmental Health Activities |
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Childhood Lead Exposure Assessment and Reduction Study: The Childhood Lead Exposure Assessment and Reduction Study (CLEARS) is a randomized trial of educational and hygienic measures to prevent deleterious exposures of young children to leaded dust in an inner city environment. Researchers have conducted research projects to study the impact of exposures to environmental agents such as lead and pesticides on children. Several approaches have been used by the researchers to characterize exposure and to identify behavioral contributions to exposure. Data from the study were analyzed during 1996 and preliminary results will be released shortly. Treatment of Lead in Children Study: Treatment of Lead in Children is a multicenter, NIH-supported randomized trial to test the effect of the chelating agent, Succimer, on child development over a three-year period starting at 12-23 months of age. The project is designed to find out whether treatment of children with blood lead levels below those that have traditionally required chelation will produce better cognitive and behavioral outcomes than does watchful waiting. Children in both the chelation and control groups receive careful clinical follow-up, appropriate referrals and a thorough cleaning of their home. Other Heavy Metal Studies: Methylmercury is among the most potent neurodevelopmental toxicants. A recent environmental survey has demonstrated the widespread occurrence of methylmercury in both fresh and saltwater fish in New Jersey. Dr. Michael Gochfeld of EOHSI's Occupational Health Division is surveying a stratified sample of women in their first trimester of pregnancy to ascertain patterns of fish consumption as well as levels of methylmercury. If excessive exposure is found, a longitudinal study of infant behavior will be conducted. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that the cognitive and behavioral development of young children is adversely affected by lead at levels that are common in urban American children. Dr. Joanna Burger of EOHSI' s Environmental Health Division, has conducted a series of studies in the laboratory using the herring gull as a model. These experiments were also extended to nesting areas in the wild where experimental and control chicks were injected, banded and observed. Dr. Ken Reuhl of EOSHI's Toxicology Division is conducting a study which will identify and characterize mechanisms of developmental lead neurotoxicity at the cellular and molecular levels. Researchers have hypothesized that lead alters brain morphogenesis by perturbing the function of N-cadherin, the major calcium- dependent cell adhesion molecule, which is involved in cell sorting and the establishment of normal neuronal cytoarchitecture. The overall goal of the Influence of Lead on Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Function and Expression Project is to test the hypothesis that lead disrupts the actions of nerve growth factor in selected areas of the developing rodent brain and cells in culture. The aim of the work, which is under the leadership of Dr. Fred Kauffman of EOHSI's Toxicology Division, is to define the influence of low concentrations of lead on NGF-dependent neurodevelopmental changes; to examine the actions of low lead levels on calcium homeostasis in neural tissue; and to evaluate the actions of lead on NGF receptors in the medial septal area of rodent brain. Low Birth Weight Studies: A major contributor to developmental abnormality in children is low birth weight. Dr. Daniel Wartenberg of EOHSI's Environmental Health Division has conducted studies of environmental contributors to low birth weight using small area analyses for the state of Massachusetts. Dr. Wartenberg has also been interested in the distribution of macrosomia, which he has investigated in collaboration with others using data from New Jersey. Environmental Health Curriculum: EOHSI's Public Education and Risk Communication Division has created ToxRAP, a K-8 grade curriculum that introduces students to toxicology principles and the process of environmental health risk assessment. It also has developed a K-12 environmental health education curriculum which is being used in school districts in 22 states. Conferences and Seminars: EOHSI annually holds numerous seminars and conferences on various environmental health issues and children. | |
| Publications and Information Services |
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