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Several industries and occupations are associated with excess asbestosis mortality despite apparent declines in diagnoses. Accurate recognition of asbestosis by clinicians, paired with the capture of patients' occupational history when charting, can improve our ability to understand the populations affected by this disease and help to mobilize efforts for prevention. Objectives: This study aimed to describe asbestosis morbidity and mortality in two statewide samples. We considered trends, demographic disparities, and excess mortality. Methods: We assessed trends and demographic differences in asbestosis morbidity using hospital and emergency department (ED) visits. We calculated asbestosis mortality rates using vital records data and computed proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) to assess excess deaths by standardized industry and occupation codes. Results: Asbestosis diagnoses peaked in 2008 and have declined since that time. Several occupations and industry codes, including those in Production/Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation, were associated with an excess burden of asbestosis mortality. Conclusions: Despite declining diagnoses, asbestosis remains a risk for workers. Our findings of excess mortality for Transportation-related industry and occupation codes are unique and may indicate previously unrecognized risks in these jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a computational approach to link clinical outcomes with environmental exposures and molecular variations measured in Department of Defense (DOD) serum-repository samples. Methods: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Division codes which corresponded to cardiopulmonary symptoms for service personnel were selected to test for associations with deployment-related inhalation hazards and metabolomics, micro-RNA, cytokine, plasma markers, and environmental exposure analyses for corresponding samples. xMWAS and Mummichog were used for integrative network and pathway analysis. Results: Comparison between 41 personnel exhibiting new cardio-pulmonary diagnoses after deployment start-date to 25 personnel exhibiting no symptoms identified biomarkers associated with cardiopulmonary conditions. Integrative network and pathway analysis showed communities of clinical, molecular, and environmental markers associated with fatty acid, lipid, nucleotide, and amino acid metabolism pathways. Conclusions: The current proof of principle study establishes a computational framework for integrative analysis of deployment- related exposures, molecular responses, and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper provides an overview of our Military Biomarkers Research Study (MBRS) designed to assess whether biomarkers can be used to retrospectively assess deployment exposures and health impacts related to deployment environmental exposures. Methods: The MBRS consists of four phases. Phase I was a feasibility study of stored sera. Phase II looks at associations between exposures and biomarkers. Phase III examines relationships of biomarkers and health outcomes, and Phase IV investigates in vitro biomarker changes associated with exposures to chemicals of interest. This paper briefly summarizes work already published and introduces the new reports contained in this supplement. Results: Novel biomarkers were identified. These were associated with deployment exposures. Conclusions: Significant associations were noted between deployment exposures, microRNA biomarkers and metabolomic biomarkers, and deployment health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study purpose was to describe multiunit landlord attitudes and behaviors toward smoke-free policies. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey of multiunit landlords in Douglas County ( N=392). Measures: A 25-item survey was developed and pilot tested. It was administered by telephone ( n=143) and mail ( n=249) to multiunit landlords. Combined response rate was 30.1% (81/143 telephone, 37/249 mail) representing 24,080 units on 974 properties with 34,399 tenants. Most respondents (73.7%) allowed smoking. Reasons for not implementing smoke-free policies were potential enforcement problems (57.0%), tenant objections (43.0%), loss of market share (39.5%). Respondents without smoke-free policies expected vacancy (53.6%) and turnover (50.0%) rates to increase, which was significantly different ( p <.0001) than respondents with smoke-free policies where only 10.7% reported increased vacancy and only 3.7% reported increased turnover. Expected adverse impacts of smoke-free policies do not reflect real experiences of smoke-free policy implementation. Public health advocates can use these study findings to develop community-based education and social marketing messages directed at voluntary smoke-free policy changes. Respondents without smoke-free policies expressed interest at the end of the survey in learning how to implement smoke-free policies indicating a readiness for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop and validate the Environmental Health Engagement Profile (EHEP)—an instrument for assessing the way people engage with environmental health issues, including people's experience of environmental health hazards, the assumptions concerning the risks involved, and the actions taken either individually or collectively in their communities. Design and Sample: This instrument development study was conducted in an urban area with varying levels of health-related environmental concerns. First, qualitative interviews with 41 residents informed development of items. Next, the items were evaluated by 28 expert reviewers. Finally, validity was assessed from responses of 433 residents who completed the instrument and other measures by telephone interview. Measures: For assessing validity of EHEP, data were also collected concerning demographic characteristics, social involvements, goodness of life, and self-ratings of health. Results: Through factor analysis, 5 subscales were identified—named Pollution Sensitivity Scale (α=.91), Pollution-Causes-Illness Scale (α=.84), Pollution Acceptance Scale (α=.67), Community Environment Action Scale (α=.79), and Personal Environmental Action Scale (α=.63). Patterns of correlations of these scales with age, and measures of odor sensitivity, social involvement, and goodness of life provided evidence of construct validity. Conclusions: These results provide beginning evidence for the reliability and validity of the EHEP. Thus, public health nurses and others may use this instrument to assess people's concerns about environmental health, and resulting actions—and to support strategies for advising people and communities on protecting their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human transmission to offspring and future generations of acquired epigenetic modifications has not been definitively established, although there are several environmental exposures with suggestive evidence. This article uses three examples of hazardous substances with greater exposures in vulnerable populations: pesticides, lead, and diesel exhaust. It then considers whether, if there were scientific evidence of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, there would be greater attention given to concerns about environmental justice in environmental laws, regulations, and policies at all levels of government. To provide a broader perspective on environmental justice the article discusses two of the most commonly cited approaches to environmental justice. John Rawls's theory of justice as fairness, a form of egalitarianism, is frequently invoked for the principle that differential treatment of individuals is justified only if actions are designed to benefit those with the greatest need. Another theory, the capabilities approach of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, focuses on whether essential capabilities of society, such as life and health, are made available to all individuals. In applying principles of environmental justice the article considers whether there is a heightened societal obligation to protect the most vulnerable individuals from hazardous exposures that could adversely affect their offspring through epigenetic mechanisms. It concludes that unless there were compelling evidence of transgenerational epigenetic harms, it is unlikely that there would be a significant impetus to adopt new policies to prevent epigenetic harms by invoking principles of environmental justice.

Background: Research findings have suggested that exposure to environmental pollutants contributes to increased health risks, which may be modulated by certain nutrition and other protective health behaviors. Nutrition professionals play an important role in effectively disseminating this information and in devising specific community-based nutrition education programs for audiences located in areas with environmental health issues., Objective: To assess awareness of environmental health problems and motivation to adopt protective health behaviors for use in planning nutrition education programs for communities exposed to environmental pollutants., Method: Data were collected from a modified, validated Environmental Health Engagement Profile (EHEP) survey instrument administered to adults (n=774) participating in community events in Kentucky based on location relative to hazardous waste sites., Results: The modified EHEP survey instrument showed good internal consistency reliability, and demographic characteristics were evaluated. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations in all groups, separately and combined, between awareness of environmental pollution in an individual's surroundings and the extent of concern that pollutants cause adverse health effects (P < 0.01) and between concern that pollutants cause adverse health effects and taking personal actions to protect against such environmental insults (P < 0.01). The groups having the highest level of awareness posed by pollution are those residing near federally designated hazardous waste sites., Conclusion: These results suggest that determining and expanding an audience's knowledge and perceptions of environmental health risks will enhance effective nutrition education program planning., Competing Interests: The authors, E. Jones, L. Feng, J.K. Dixon, J.P. Dixon, C. Hofe, and L. Gaetke declare they have no financial and no non-financial conflicts of interest. The authors’ freedom to design, conduct, interpret and publish research is not compromised by any controlling sponsor as a condition of review or publication.