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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

UC: Early exposure tied to later allergies
Post staff report

University of Cincinnati researchers have concluded that exposure to a specific group of fungal spores can make young children more susceptible to developing multiple allergies later in life.

They found that infants exposed to penicillium/aspergillus and alternaria spores were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen dust mites, pet dander and certain foods.

The UC team reports its findings in an upcoming edition of "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology."

It's the first study to show a relationship between specific airborne fungal spores and an increased risk for multiple allergies in children.

The findings reinforce the idea that not all fungi are created equal, said Tina Reponen, a UC professor of environmental health and corresponding author on the study.

While some fungi may cause allergic sensitization, other fungal types may inhibit the development of allergies, the study's lead author, Melissa Osborne, said.

The team did its research using a small air-sampling device to collect fungal spores from the homes of 144 infants.



By JOHN O'NEIL

Published: June 27, 2006, New York Times


Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona declared today that the evidence is now "indisputable" that secondhand smoke is an "alarming" public health hazard, and warned that measures like no-smoking sections don't provide adequate protection

"Smoke-free environments are the only approach that protects nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke," he said.

Dr. Carmona did not call for a federal ban on smoking in workplaces, bars and restaurants, as a growing number of cities and states have done. He said he saw his role as providing the American people and Congress with definitive information on the subject.

"We hope that they will make the right decision on behalf of their constituents," Dr. Carmona said.

Smoking bans have often been bitterly resisted by business owners worried about losing customers and by groups skeptical about the dangers posed by secondhand smoke. But Dr. Carmona today said that "overwhelming" evidence showed that secondhand smoke is responsible for "tens of thousands" of premature deaths from heart disease and cancer among nonsmokers each year.

"I am here to say the debate is over: the science is clear," Dr. Carmona said at a televised news conference this morning, at which he released a report updating the original surgeon general's study of secondhand smoke in 1986.

In the years since then, hundreds of studies have indicated that the harm caused by secondhand smoke is far greater than earlier believed, he said. The report's findings include the following:

* There is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can cause harm, especially for people already suffering from heart or respiratory diseases.

* For nonsmoking adults, exposure raises the risk of heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and of cancer by 20 to 30 percent, and accounted for an estimated 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease and 3,000 premature deaths from cancer last year.

* Secondhand smoke is a cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, accounting for an estimated 430 deaths last year. The risk is elevated both for children whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy and for children exposed in their homes after birth.

* The impact on the health and development of children is more severe than previously thought. "Children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke," Dr. Carmona said.

* Efforts to minimize the effect of secondhand smoke by separating smokers and nonsmokers are ineffective, as are ventilation systems meant to remove smoke from a shared space.

* While exposure has declined, as many as 60 percent of nonsmokers show biological evidence of encountering secondhand smoke, and an estimated 22 percent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes.

Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control show that great progress has been made in reducing exposure, Dr. Carmona said. The amount of cotinine Ñ the form nicotine takes after being metabolized Ñ fell by 75 percent among adults, when samples taken between 1999 and 2002 were compared with samples taken a decade earlier.

But Dr. Carmona said more needed to be done, particularly to protect children.

He urged parents who smoke not only to quit, but to move their smoking outside while they are trying to quit. "Make the home a smoke-free environment," he said.

Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, the president and chief executive of the American Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit group created to use settlement money from tobacco companies to educate young people about the dangers of tobacco, called the report "groundbreaking" even though much of its information had been published in journal articles previously. Bringing it all together creates a persuasive case for smoking bans, she said.

But she said that many tobacco advocates would be hesitant about using it as a springboard to push for federal legislation creating smoke-free environments like those that have been adopted in many other countries and throughout most of Western Europe.

"The risk of approaching it nationally in this country is the extreme lobbying power that the tobacco industry has on the Hill," she said, and any national bill able to pass would likely be weaker than the bans adopted by municipalities.

The report issued today also went beyond the 1986 study by finding that evidence suggests possible links between secondhand smoking and some other cancers, including breast cancer, childhood cancer and nasal sinus cancer. It found no link to cervical cancer.

Earlier this year, the California Environmental Protection Agency issued a report that concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke was a cause of breast cancer.

The surgeon general's report also found a link between exposure to secondhand smoke by pregnant women and low birth weights for their children, and said that evidence suggests a possible link to premature delivery .



EPA and the Surgeon General
Recommend Testing Your New Home for Radon

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that Radon causes in the range of 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Radon gas presents the highest environmental health risks we face in our daily lives. Radon is a colorless, invisible, odorless and tasteless gas that seeps from soil into homes through cracks and other openings in the foundation walls that are in contact with the soil. These gases build up to hazardous levels and cannot be detected by the human senses, only by using a special test.

Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. California Law requires certified professional providers of radon services conduct testing for real estate transactions. The California Department of Health Services Radon program has a free short-term radon test if you are not involved in a real estate transaction. www.dhs.ca.gov/radon

EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes for radon. 8% of the homes in the U.S. have radon levels in living areas above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. High radon levels have been reported in all areas of the U.S. by radon testing companies, these radon elevated homes cannot be found without checking all homes.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which comes from radium found in the ground everywhere. This gas collects in buildings and forms radon decay products which mostly attach to dust particles in the air. Inhalation of these radon decay products results in deposition of radiation energy (alpha particles) in surface tissues of the lung. This is the largest source of radiation dose to an average person and radon is a known cause of lung cancer in humans.

Radon is classified as a Class A known human carcinogen according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC 1988). the National Cancer Institute indicates that 10% of all lung cancer deaths in the U.S. could be due to indoor radon exposures, 11% of lung cancer deaths in smokers and 30% of lung cancer deaths in never-smokers. British researchers may have discovered links between radon exposure and asthma and other illnesses. The very young and seniors may also have increased risk.

How Are Radon Measurements Taken?
Radon gas measurement is a 48 hour testing process.
Test results can be obtained on line with 48 hours of the test conclusion.

Required Testing Preparation by Current Occupant:
Certain conditions must be maintained in the property 24 hours prior to testing and during the entire test period of an additional 48 hours. The following is the compliance requirements and related document:

Radon Testing Compliance Agreement
Guaranteed Property Inspections, Inc. (GPI) has been contracted to perform a radon gas screening at this property, in conjunction with the real estate transaction.
I certify that the following conditions will be maintained 12 hours before the scheduled test and during the entire test period that will last at least an additional 48 hours:
¥ All exterior doors in the entire home must be kept closed except during momentary entry and exit.
¥ All windows in the entire home must be kept closed.
¥ Dryers, range hoods and bath fans may be operated normally but not continuously.
¥Attic, window and whole house fans and fireplaces should not be operated. Window Air conditioners should be set on re-circulate.
I certify that the following conditions will be maintained 24 hours before the scheduled test and during the entire test period that will last at least an additional 48 hours:
¥ The thermostat will be set at heat or cool with the fan on ÒautoÓ with the temperature between 68 and 80 degrees F.
¥ Any radon mitigation system be operated continuously.
¥ I will not tamper with or move any radon test equipment
¥ I understand that if any of the above testing protocols are impacted that a $200 re-testing fee will be charged.
As the responsible party for the test location listed below, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the EPA test condition requirements outlined above in this agreement.

_______________________________ __________________________
Print Name Test Address

_______________________________ ________________________
Signature





National Cancer Institute Radon and Cancer: Questions and Answers

Key Points

* Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil (see Question 1).
* Radioactive particles from radon can damage cells that line the lungs and lead to lung cancer (see Question 3).
* Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is associated with 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year (see Question 4).
* Studies showing a link between radon and lung cancer in humans include studies of underground uranium miners and of the general population exposed to radon in their homes (see Questions 5 and 6).
* Testing is the only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels. Health authorities recommend radon testing and encourage corrective action when necessary (see Question 7).



1. What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. In a few areas, depending on local geology, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air when the water is used. Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors. However, in areas without adequate ventilation, such as underground mines, radon can accumulate to levels that substantially increase the risk of lung cancer.

2. How is the general population exposed to radon?
Radon is present in nearly all air. Everyone breathes radon in every day, usually at very low levels. However, people who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer.
Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on uranium-rich soil. Because of their closeness to the ground, basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels.

3. How does radon cause cancer?
Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.

4. How many people develop lung cancer because of exposure to radon?
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Radon represents a far smaller risk for this disease, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Scientists estimate that approximately 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year are related to radon.
Although the association between radon exposure and smoking is not well understood, exposure to the combination of radon gas and cigarette smoke creates a greater risk for lung cancer than either factor alone. The majority of radon-related cancer deaths occur among smokers.

5. How did scientists discover that radon plays a role in the development of lung cancer?
Radon was identified as a health problem when scientists noted that underground uranium miners who were exposed to it died of lung cancer at high rates. Results of miner studies have been confirmed by experimental animal studies, which show higher rates of lung tumors among rodents exposed to high radon levels.

6. What have scientists learned about the relationship between radon and lung cancer?
Scientists agree that radon causes lung cancer in humans. Recent research has focused on specifying the effect of residential radon on lung cancer risk. In these studies, scientists measure radon levels in the homes of people who have lung cancer and compare them to the levels of radon in the homes of people who have not developed lung cancer.
One of these studies, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, examined residential radon exposure in Iowa among females who had lived in their current home for at least 20 years. This study included 413 females with lung cancer and 614 females without lung cancer. During the study, radon levels were tested in homes, lung cancer tissues were examined, and the scientists collected information about home characteristics and other topics. Results from this study suggested a link between exposure to radon and lung cancer.
Scientists have conducted more studies like this in other regions of the United States and around the world. Many of these studies have demonstrated an association between residential exposure to radon and lung cancer, but this finding has not been observed in all studies. The inconsistencies between studies are due in part to the small size of some studies, the varying levels of radon in many homes, and the difficulty of measuring a person’s exposure to radon over time.
Researchers have combined and analyzed data from all radon studies conducted in Canada and the United States. By combining the data from these studies, scientists were able to analyze data from thousands of people. The results of this analysis demonstrated a slightly increased risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to household radon. This increased risk was consistent with the level of risk estimated based on studies of underground miners.
Researchers are also investigating more precise ways to measure a person’s exposure to radon over time. In a study published in 2002, scientists examined radon exposure among people in Sweden who had not smoked daily for more than a year. This study included 110 people with lung cancer and 231 people without lung cancer. As with previous studies, the scientists measured radon levels of indoor air. The researchers also used a new technique of analyzing glass to estimate radon exposure over time. Using this technique, the scientists took measurements from glass in an object (e.g., a mirror or picture frame) that was at least 15 years old and had been in the person’s home throughout that time, even if the person had moved from one home to another. In this study, both of the techniques for measuring radon demonstrated a relationship between long-term exposure to radon and lung cancer, and supported the results of previous studies.

7. How can people know if they have an elevated level of radon in their homes?
Testing is the only way to know if a person’s home has elevated radon levels. Indoor radon levels are affected by the soil composition under and around the house, and the ease with which radon enters the house. Homes that are next door to each other can have different indoor radon levels, making a neighbor’s test result a poor predictor of radon risk. In addition, precipitation, barometric pressure, and other influences can cause radon levels to vary from month to month or day to day, which is why both short- and long-term tests are available.
Short-term detectors measure radon levels for 2 days to 90 days, depending on the device. Long-term tests determine the average concentration for more than 90 days. Because radon levels can vary from day to day and month to month, a long-term test is a better indicator of average radon level. Both tests are relatively easy to use and inexpensive. A state or local radon official can explain the differences between testing devices and recommend the most appropriate test for a person’s needs and conditions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). About one in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above this EPA action level. Scientists estimate that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by 2 to 4 percent, or about 5,000 deaths, by lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA’s action level.

The cost of a radon reduction depends on the size and design of a home and the radon reduction methods that are needed. These costs typically range from $800 to $2,500, with an average cost of $1,200.

8. Where can people find more information about radon?
The following organizations can provide additional resources that readers may find helpful:
* The EPA Web site contains news, information, and publications on radon. It is located at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon on the Internet.
* The National Safety Council (NSC), in partnership with the EPA, operates a Radon Hotline.
* To reach an automated system for ordering materials and listen to informational recordings, call 1–800–SOS–RADON (1–800–767–7236).
* To contact an information specialist, dial 1–800–55–RADON (1–800–557–2366) or send an e-mail to airqual@nsc.org.
* More information about radon and its testing can be found on the NSC’s Web site at http://www.nsc.org/ehc/radon.htm on the Internet.
* The Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ INFO) is operated by the EPA. To order publications or contact an information specialist, dial 1–800–438–4318. Alternatively, IAQ INFO can be reached by e-mail at iaqinfo@aol.com, by fax at 703–356–5386, or by mail at Post Office Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013–7133.
* The National Hispanic Indoor Air Quality Helpline is a service of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, in partnership with the EPA. The Helpline provides bilingual (Spanish/English) information about indoor air pollutants. To speak with an information specialist, call 1–800–SALUD–12 (1–800–725–8312).

References

1. Darby S, Hill D, Doll R. Radon: a likely carcinogen at all exposures. Annals of Oncology 2001; 12(10):1341–1351.

2. Field RW. A review of residential radon case-control epidemiologic studies performed in the United States. Reviews on Environmental Health 2001; 16(3):151–167.

3. Field RW, Steck DJ, Smith BJ, et al. Residential radon gas exposure and lung cancer: the Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2000; 151(11):1091–1102.

4. Frumkin H, Samet JM. Radon. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2001; 51(6):337–344.

5. Lagarde F, Falk R, Almren K, et al. Glass-based radon-exposure assessment and lung cancer risk. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 2002; 12(5):344–354.

6. National Research Council. Committee on Health Risks of Exposure to Radon: BEIR VI. Health Effects of Exposure to Radon. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999.

7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (May 2002). A Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon (4th ed.). Retrieved August 13, 2003, from: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/citguide.html.