Environmental Reform in Japan and Western Europe

The pendulum swung cruelly in post-war Japan as living conditions were first improved and then inevitably worsened by unchecked industrialization. The first Focus chronicles astounding technological developments closely followed by kogai-byo, diseases caused by pollution. Driven by public health issues, the Japanese have made great strides in reversing pollution in their country of 124 million people. Their environmental plan seeks domestic peace of mind for future generations and international leadership in the environment.

The threats of pollution in Western Europe began in the industrial revolution and now affect the air, soil, and water. In addition, there are the modern threats of hazardous waste disposal and radioactivity. The European Union formulates strategies for environmental reforms, controls, and maintenance. However, the proximity of nations means that the problems of acid rain and waterborne pollutants are shared across national boundaries. Reduction of migratory pollutants cannot be accomplished without international laws of environmental protection.

World Bank Woes

For almost 50 years, the World Bank has funded economic development throughout the world. But critics say the benefits of bank projects may exact a high price on the environment and cause economic and social problems for the people they are meant to help. The Spheres of Influence examines the controversy surrounding the World Bank, reviews the bank's record on the environment, and takes a look at efforts to reform its lending practices in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of its projects.

One Cancer Cell in 10 Million

Flow cytometry coupled with cell-specific antibody binding and cell-specific dyes now enables scientists to distinguish one cancer cell in 10 million normal cells. This detection system is 20 times more sensitive than previous methods. The improved detection system can be used for diagnostic purposes, to prevent reoccurrence of cancer in autologous bone marrow transplants, and for therapeutic dosage selection.

Sustaining Urban Ecology

Restoration of urban habitat is necessary for the sustenance of native populations of flora and fauna. A major concern is reduction in water quality caused by urban stormwater runoff. Cairns and Palmer state that urban improvements are a first step toward sustainability. The authors emphasize that individual education is vital to ensure the creation and maintenance of ecologically sustainable communities.

Estimates of Soil Ingestion

Calabrese and Stanek present data suggesting that aluminum, silicon, and yttrium are the most reliable tracers for estimates of soil ingestion in children. Their previous model relied on different elemental tracers that were more susceptible to error and underestimated the extent of soil ingestion in children. Their revised model for soil ingestion identifies sources of variation and susbstantially corrects for such errors, yielding improved estimates of soil ingestion rates for children.

Mosquitoes Follow Global Warming

Malarial parasites and their vectors could vary in distribution and abundance in proportion to climatic changes, especially those of temperature and precipitation. Martens et al. used a General Circulation Model and generated climate scenarios with the Integrated Model to Assess the Greenhouse Effect to predict malaria epidemic potential into the year 2100. The model suggested the potential for widespread increase of risk due to expansion of areas suitable for malarial transmission. The authors emphasize that the model would be influenced by changes in local environmental conditions, socioeconomic development, or establishment of effective malarial control programs.

Monitoring Populations near Uranium Mines

Au et al. monitored genotoxic responses in populations residing near uranium mines to determine potential adverse health effects. Endpoints included the frequency of chromosome abnormalities and capability of DNA repair. The data indicated there were no discernable effects of uranium exposure on populations residing near the uranium mining operations.

Does Air Pollution Impair Health?

Three articles in this issue address the health effects of air pollution. In the first, Pope et al. review recent epidemiologic studies that evaluated health effects of particulate air pollution. They conclude that repirable air particulates contribute to increases in respiratory symptoms, decreases in lung function, increases in hospital admissions, increases in respiratory morbidity characterized by work or school absenteeism, and increases in cardiopulmonary disease mortality. The adverse health effects were observed at levels of particulate air pollution common to many U.S. cities.

Brauer et al. measured acid aerosol particulates in Germany and the Czech Republic for an 18-month period. High-sulfur coal was the major source of pollution during the wintertime, and it was associated with increased mortality or adverse health effects. The data suggested that particulate acidity was not the primary component defining fine particulate air pollution toxicity.

Finally, Styer et al. address the hypothesis that air particulates have caused significant mortality. They conclude that some of the reported effects of air particulates on mortality are unconfirmed. Styer and colleagues analyzed data from Illinois and Utah and reported no evidence that outdoor particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 µm (PM₁₀) contributed to excess mortality in Salt Lake City, Utah. There was a positive effect of PM₁₀ in spring and autumn in Cook County, Illinois, but not in winter and summer.

PCBs in Fish and Fetal Toxicity

Because PCBs have been associated with spontaneous fetal death in several mammalian species, Mendola et al. examined the relationship between consumption of PCB-contaminated fish from Lake Ontario and spontaneous fetal death in 1,820 women from the 1990-1991 New York state angler cohort study. Prior pregnancies, smoking, and maternal age were taken into consideration in the analyses. Increases in risk of fetal death were not observed based on lifetime estimates of PCB exposure, years of fish consumed, or kilograms of fish eaten between 1990 and 1991, or over a lifetime. The data suggested that eating fish contaminated with PCBs was not associated with an increased risk of recognized spontaneous fetal death.

Last Update: August 6, 1997