CORRECTION:  The WHO pandemic influenza draft protocol for rapid response
and containment
(27 January 2006) can be found at:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/RapidResponse_27%2001.\
pdf


Andrew Cutz, CIH
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------------

Date:    Fri, 3 Mar 2006 22:01:02 -0500
From:    "U.S. Dept of State List Manager" <Listmgr@...>
Subject: World Health Officials Shape Pandemic Preparedness Strategy

         *********************************************************
         Find the most current info at http://usinfo.state.gov/af/
         *********************************************************

World Health Officials Shape Pandemic Preparedness Strategy

(Health experts meet in Geneva to devise plan for rapid response) (470)

Washington –The World Health Organization (WHO) is bringing together
health experts to hammer out a plan of action in case their nightmare
comes true – a form of highly virulent pandemic influenza begins to ripple
through the human population.

   A highly pathogenic form of avian influenza has stricken wild and
domestic birds in more than 30 nations. Health experts have concluded that
this virus – H5N1 – might mutate into a form of flu that could be easily
passed among humans, setting off a pandemic with the potential to kill
millions worldwide.

   WHO convenes experts in epidemiology, virology, public health and other
fields March 6-9 in Geneva to refine details of a rapid response plan that
has been in development for some months as H5N1 has appeared in increasing
numbers of nations, and human cases of the diseases have climbed. In the
more than two years since this animal epidemic began in Asia, more than
170 humans have been infected with this animal disease and 94 have died.

   A draft plan previously unveiled by WHO said its objective is to
“develop, through a coordinated international approach, the capacity to
rapidly detect, assess, respond to and, if possible, contain, the earliest
emergence of a pandemic virus.”

   U.S. public health agencies have been engaged intently with
international animal and human health agencies in working to raise
awareness about the threat of a pandemic. The United States is also one of
the leading donors to international preparedness, contributing $334
million since 2005 to assist other nations in their efforts to improve
their capability to detect and contain disease in animal populations
before it can move into human populations.

   Speaking to a congressional committee March 2, U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Director Julie Gerberding, emphasized her agency’s
commitment to assist other nations in trying to prevent a full-blown
pandemic growing out of the localized appearance of disease.

   ”We will do everything we can to be there and try to quench the first
outbreak, “ Gerberding told a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee.

   The task is a daunting one, however. The WHO’s draft rapid response
protocol says the global health community is setting an unprecedented
goal.

   “Containment of a potential pandemic has never been attempted; the world
has never before received an advance warning that a pandemic may be
imminent,” according to the protocol. “The practical and logistics
challenges are formidable and success is not assured.”

   More information is available from the Rapid Response protocol
(http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/RapidResponse_27
7 01.pdf) on the WHO Web site and the U.S. Pandemic Flu
(http://www.pandemicflu.gov/) Web site.

   For additional information on the disease and efforts to combat it, see
<u>Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)</i>.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
NNNN

      ************************************************************
      The Washington File - AFRICA Edition is distributed
    by the International Information Programs in the U.S.
     Department of State. For additional information, go
   to http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/products/washfile.html

        Information from U.S. embassies in your region:
                http://usembassy.state.gov/#AF
************************************************************

(For help in managing your subscription, send the word HELP in
a message to LISTSERV@...)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  WF-AFRICA Digest - 2 Mar 2006 to 3 Mar 2006 (#2006-40)

Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 3, March 2006
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2006/114-3/toc.html


Table of Contents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
----------------------------------------------------
Date:    Wed, 1 Mar 2006 15:54:00 -0500
From:    "Paulson, Jerome" <JPaulson@...>
Subject: Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 3, March 2006

Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 3, March 2006

Perspectives
Editorial
p. A 140

Epigenetics: Environmental Instructions for the Genome
Paul A. Wade and Trevor K. Archer

Director's Perspective
p. A 142
Considering a Society of Environmental Health Science
David A. Schwartz

Correspondence
p. A 146
The Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods
Credibility of Scientists: Industry versus Public Interest
Credibility of Scientists: Conflict of Interest and Bias
Credibility of Scientists: Barrow and Conrad Respond
Methylmercury, Amalgams, and Children's Health
Methylmercury, Amalgams, and Children's Health: Björnberg et al. Respond
Smoking in Pregnancy


Environews
Forum
p. A 152

New Environment Law for Afghanistan
Bowled Over by Dust
The Clear Advantage of Clean Air
Bans, Bans, Good for the Heart!
EHPnet: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
The Beat

NIEHS News
p. A 156
Moving On in Vietnam
Beyond the Bench: Tracking Clues with Environmental Health Sleuths
Headliners: Neurobehavioral Deficits in Children from Agricultural
Communities


Focus
p. A 160
Epigenetics: The Science of Change

Spheres of Influence
p. A 168
Open House: The Ethics of Studying Children at Home

Innovations
p. A 172
Cell Scenario: A New Look at Microarrays

Science Selections
p. A 176
Sour Finding on Popular Sweetener
The Cancer Differential
Sperm Alert
Keeping the Home Fires Burning Cleaner

Announcements
NIEHS Extramural Update
p. A 179
Fellowships, Grants, & Awards
p. A 180
Career Opportunities
p. A 182
Calendar
p. A 187
Book Review/New Books
p. A 190
Editorial Policy and Instruction to Authors

.Commentaries & Reviews
GENE POLYMORPHISM | Policy Implications of Genetic Information on Regulation
under the Clean Air Act: The Case of Particulate Matter and Asthmatics
C. Bradley Kramer, Alison C. Cullen, and Elaine M. Faustman
p. 313

RISK ASSESSMENT | A Review of Nitrates in Drinking Water: Maternal Exposure
and Adverse Reproductive and Developmental Outcomes
Deana M. Manassaram, Lorraine C. Backer, and Deborah M. Moll
p. 320

Research
TOXICOLOGY | Instillation of Six Different Ultrafine Carbon Particles
Indicates a Surface Area Threshold Dose for Acute Lung Inflammation in Mice
Tobias Stoeger, Claudia Reinhard, Shinji Takenaka, Andreas Schroeppel, Erwin
Karg, Baerbel Ritter, Joachim Heyder, and Holger Schulz
p. 328

RISK CHARACTERIZATION | The Impact of Diet and Betel Nut Use on Skin Lesions
Associated with Drinking-Water Arsenic in Pabna, Bangladesh
Kathleen M. McCarty, E. Andres Houseman, Quazi Quamruzzaman, Mahmuder
Rahman,
Golam Mahiuddin, Thomas Smith, Louise Ryan, and David C. Christiani
p. 334

TOXICOLOGY | Correlation of in Vitro Cytokine Responses with the Chemical
Composition of Soil-Derived Particulate Matter
John M. Veranth, Tyler A. Moss, Judith C. Chow, Raed Labban, William K.
Nichols, John C. Walton, John G. Watson, and Garold S. Yost
p. 341

HUMAN TOXICOLOGY | Graded Associations of Blood Lead and Urinary Cadmium
Concentrations with Oxidative-Stress-Related Markers in the U.S. Population:
Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Duk-Hee Lee, Ji-Sun Lim, Kyungeun Song, Yongchool Boo, and David R. Jacobs
Jr.

p. 350

POPULATION HEALTH | Prevalence of Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and
Awareness of Its Health Risks in a Bangladeshi Population: Results from a
Large Population-Based Study
Faruque Parvez, Yu Chen, Maria Argos, A.Z.M. Iftikhar Hussain, Hassina
Momotaj, Ratan Dhar, Alexander van Geen, Joseph H. Graziano, and Habibul
Ahsan
p. 355

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | Exposure to Environmental Ozone Alters Semen Quality
Rebecca Z. Sokol, Peter Kraft, Ian M. Fowler, Rizvan Mamet, Elizabeth Kim,
and
Kiros T. Berhane
Also see Science Selections, p. A177
p. 360

RISK ASSESSMENT | A Human-Health Risk Assessment for West Nile Virus and
Insecticides Used in Mosquito Management
Robert K.D. Peterson, Paula A. Macedo, and Ryan S. Davis
p. 366

POPULATION HEALTH | Assessing Household Solid Fuel Use: Multiple
Implications
for the Millennium Development Goals
Eva Rehfuess, Sumi Mehta, and Annette Prüss-Üstün
Also see Science Selections, p. A178
p. 373

CARCINOGENESIS | First Experimental Demonstration of the Multipotential
Carcinogenic Effects of Aspartame Administered in the Feed to Sprague-Dawley
Rats
Morando Soffritti, Fiorella Belpoggi, Davide Degli Esposti, Luca Lambertini,
Eva Tibaldi, and Anna Rigano
Also see Science Selections, p. A176
p. 379

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | Separate and Unequal: Residential Segregation and
Estimated Cancer Risks Associated with Ambient Air Toxics in U.S.
Metropolitan Areas
Rachel Morello-Frosch and Bill M. Jesdale
Also see Science Selections, p. A176
p. 386

GENE EXPRESSION | Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Immortalized Human
Urothelial Cells Exposed to Inorganic Arsenite and Its Methylated Trivalent
Metabolites
Pei-Fen Su, Yu-Jie Hu, I-Ching Ho, Yang-Ming Cheng, and Te-Chang Lee
p. 394

TOXICOGENOMCS | Global Gene Expression Associated with Hepatocarcinogenesis
in
Adult Male Mice Induced by in Utero Arsenic Exposure
Jie Liu, Yaxiong Xie, Danica M.K. Ducharme, Jun Shen, Bhalchandra A. Diwan,
B.
Alex Merrick, Sherry F. Grissom, Charles J. Tucker, Richard S. Paules,
Raymond
Tennant, and Michael P. Waalkes
p. 404

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE | Systemic Microvascular Dysfunction and Inflammation
after Pulmonary Particulate Matter Exposure
Timothy R. Nurkiewicz, Dale W. Porter, Mark Barger, Lyndell Millecchia, K.
Murali K. Rao, Paul J. Marvar, Ann F. Hubbs, Vincent Castranova, and Matthew
A. Boegehold
p. 412

TOXICOGENOMICS | Meeting Report: Validation of Toxicogenomics-Based Test
Systems: ECVAM-ICCVAM/NICEATM Considerations for Regulatory Use
Raffaella Corvi, Hans-Jürgen Ahr, Silvio Albertini, David H. Blakey, Libero
Clerici, Sandra Coecke, George R. Douglas, Laura Gribaldo, John P. Groten,
Bernd Haase, Karen Hamernik, Thomas Hartung, Tohru Inoue, Ian Indans,
Daniela
Maurici, George Orphanides, Diana Rembges, Susanna-Assunta Sansone, Jason R.
Snape, Eisaku Toda, Weida Tong, Joost H. van Delft, Brenda Weis, and Leonard
M. Schechtman
p. 420

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT | Meeting Report: Application of Genotyping Methods to
Assess Risks from Cryptosporidium in Watersheds
Rachel M. Chalmers, Kristin Elwin, Stephen Hadfield, Lihua Xiao, Una Ryan,
Robin Gasser, Youssef Abs El-Osta, and Melita Stevens
p. 430

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | Workgroup Report: Implementing a National Occupational
Reproductive Research Agenda--Decade One and Beyond
Christina C. Lawson, Barbara Grajewski, George P. Daston, Linda M. Frazier,
Dennis Lynch, Melissa McDiarmid, Eisuke Murono, Sally D. Perreault, Wendie
A.
Robbins, Megan A.K. Ryan, Michael Shelby, and Elizabeth A. Whelan
p. 435

BUILT ENVIRONMENT | Workgroup Report: Indoor Chemistry and Health
Charles J. Weschler, J.R. Wells, Dustin Poppendieck, Heidi Hubbard, and
Terri
A. Pearce
p. 442

Children's Health
HEALTH POLICY | Integrated Assessment of Environment and Health: America's
Children and the Environment
Amy D. Kyle, Tracey J. Woodruff, and Daniel A. Axelrad

p. 447

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT | Using Biologic Markers in Blood to Assess Exposure to
Multiple Environmental Chemicals for Inner-City Children 3-6 Years of Age
Ken Sexton, John L. Adgate, Ann L. Fredrickson, Andrew D. Ryan, Larry L.
Needham, and David L. Ashley
p. 453

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT | Chromium on the Hands of Children After Playing in
Playgrounds Built from Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)-Treated Wood
Camille Hamula, Zhongwen Wang, Hongquan Zhang, Elena Kwon, Xing-Fang Li,
Stephan Gabos, and X. Chris Le
p. 460

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT | Childhood Correlates of Blood Lead Levels in Mumbai
and Delhi
Nitin B. Jain and Howard Hu
p. 466

PUBERTY | Altered Breast Development in Young Girls from an Agricultural
Environment
Elizabeth A. Guillette, Craig Conard, Fernando Lares, Maria Guadalupe
Aguilar,
John McLachlan, and Louis J. Guillette Jr.
p. 471

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  Occ-Env-Med-L Digest - 28 Feb 2006 to 1 Mar 2006 (#2006-58)

Workplace Exposure Standard for Hexavalent Chromium Cut Ten-Fold

WASHINGTON, DC, March 1, 2006 (ENS) - The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) Monday published a final standard for occupational
exposure to hexavalent
chromium, a known human carcinogen, in general industry, construction and
shipyards. The new
standard reduced the allowable exposure by a factor of 10.

The new standard lowers OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for
hexavalent chromium, and for
all its compounds, from 52 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an
8-hour time weighted
average.

Approximately 558,000 workers are covered by the provisions of the new
standard.

The new standard was published in time to obey an order of the U.S. Third
Circuit Court of Appeals
which in April 2003 ordered OSHA to promulgate a standard governing
workplace exposure to
hexavalent chromium.

"OSHA has worked hard to produce a final standard that substantially reduces
the significant health
risks for employees exposed to hexavalent chromium," said Jonathan Snare,
acting assistant secretary  for occupational safety and health. "Our new
standard protects workers to the extent feasible, while  providing
employers, especially small employers, adequate time to transition to the
new  requirements."

The standard also includes provisions relating to preferred methods for
controlling exposure,
respiratory protection, protective work clothing and equipment, hygiene
areas and practices, medical  surveillance, hazard communication and
recordkeeping.

Hexavalent chromium compounds are widely used in the chemical industry as
ingredients and
catalysts in pigments, metal plating and chemical synthesis. Hexavalent
chromium can also be
produced when welding on stainless steel or some painted surfaces.

The major health effects associated with exposure to hexavalent chromium
include lung cancer, nasal septum ulcerations and perforations, skin
ulcerations, and allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

The new standard recognizes that, given available technology, the lowest
level employers involved in aerospace painting operations of whole aircraft
or large aircraft parts can reach through feasible
engineering and work practice controls is 25 µg/m³. For these types of
aerospace painting, OSHA
requires the use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce
exposures to 25 µg/m³, and
allows the supplemental use of respirators to be used to achieve the PEL.

Employers are given a 90 day transition period to familiarize themselves
with the technologies and
practices needed for compliance.

Start-up date for all provisions, except engineering controls is 180 days
from the effective date, and
one year for employers with fewer than 20 employees. For more information,
visit http://www.osha.gov

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: MARCH 1, 2006 |
http://www.ens-newswire.com/

UK ACADEMIES INVESTIGATE BEST SCIENCE TO BATTLE PANDEMIC FLU

LONDON, UK, March 1, 2006 (ENS) - A study into the use of science in UK
preparations for an influenza pandemic was launched today by the Royal
Society, the UK national academy of science, and the Academy of Medical
Sciences. "Pandemic flu could kill millions of people around the world, and
we will only be as well prepared as we possibly can in this country if our
plans draw on the best advice of the international scientific and medical
communities," said the study's chair Sir John Skehel.

>>Read Full Text http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2006/2006-03-01-02.asp

BIRD FLU HITS THE CAUCASUS

By Sevinj Telmanqizi and Rinat Turabov

BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 27, 2006 (ENS) - Since bird flu reached
Azerbaijan last week, the rest of the Caucasus has been gripped by anxiety
about the virus. Although no cases of human infection with the deadly H5N1
virus have been officially confirmed in Azerbaijan yet, people have stopped
eating chicken.

>>Read Full Text http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-27-04.asp

CHROMIUM INDUSTRY WITHHELD EVIDENCE OF WORKPLACE CANCER RISK

WASHINGTON, DC, February 24, 2006 (ENS) - Scientists funded by the chromium
industry withheld from the U.S. government key data supporting a strict
standard for workplace exposure to hexavalent chromium while the chromium
industry fought to block a lower federal workplace exposure level for the
potentially deadly metal, according to secret industry documents published
Thursday in a scientific journal.

>>Read more ... http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-24-02.asp

Friday, February 24, 2006


Dear Colleagues,

Following is 'cross-posted' from OccEnvMed List hosted at the Duke
University Medical Centre in North Carolina, United States.

Andrew Cutz, CIH
Toronto, Ontario, Canada



NOTA BENE

If you cannot attend [in person], you may participate in the workshop by
listening to a live audio webcast and submitting questions using an e-mail
form at http://national-academies.org

The webcast requires RealPlayer software, available free at
http://www.real.com/player
For more information on setup and hardware requirements, see the Real.com
Web site.



FOR (Y)OUR INFORMATION & CONSIDERATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-----------------------------------------------------
Date:    Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:59:29 -0500
From:    Youcheng Liu <Youcheng.Liu@...>
Subject: Upcoming IOM Workshop on Flu Mask

Dear All,

I am posting this message on behalf of Ms. Emily Ann Meyer at the IOM.
Please see her message below. Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Youcheng Liu, MD ScD
Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------------

Dear List Members,

IOM's Committee on the Development of Reusable Facemasks for Use
During Pandemic Influenza will be holding a workshop on 3/6-3/7.  This
workshop will bring together speakers from federal agencies, research
centers, and respirator and mask manufacturing companies to discuss
issues related to pandemic influenza, respiratory protection, and reuse.

A draft agenda for this meeting is attached below.  Interested members
of the public and the healthcare community are welcome to attend and
participate in this meeting.  More information and a link to online
registration is available at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/32033/32342.aspx

There will be times for public comment on both the first and second
day.  If you would like to speak during this time, please contact
Emily Ann Meyer at 202/334-3496 or emeyer@...

If you cannot attend, you may participate in the workshop by listening
to a live audio webcast and submitting questions using an e-mail form
at http://national-academies.org

The webcast requires RealPlayer software, available free at
http://www.real.com/player
For more information on setup and hardware requirements, see the Real.com
Web site.

=====//======

Emily Ann Meyer, JD
Program Officer
Board on Health Sciences Policy
Institute of Medicine
500 Fifth St., NW
Keck 823
Washington, DC 20001

vox:  (202)334-3496
fax:  (202)334-1329

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------------

INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

The National academies Board on Health Sciences Policy Committee on the
Development of Reusable Facemasks for Protection During Pandemic Influenza

March 6-7, 2006

Workshop Draft Agenda


Monday, March 6, 2006

NAS Auditorium

9:30 am            Welcome from the IOM President
                        Harvey Fineberg
                        President
                        Institute of Medicine

9:45                  Overview of the Workshop and the Committee's Task
                          John Bailar, Committee Co-Chair
                          Professor Emeritus
                          University of Chicago


SESSION 1:  OVERVIEW OF INFLUENZA AND RESPIRATORY PROTECTION


10:00                Presentation 1: Influenza Transmission and Pandemics

What do we know about influenza and its transmission? (15 minutes for
presentation, 15 minutes for questions)

10:30                Discussion

10:45                Presentation 2: Effectiveness of Respirators and
Surgical Masks During a Flu
                         Pandemic

What do we know about protection from SARS and TB provided by respirators
and surgical masks as a part of a suite of other non-medical interventions?
(15 minutes for presentation, 15 minutes
for questions)

11:15                Discussion

11:30                Lunch


Panel 1:     The Users' Perspectives on Respiratory Protection (Each
presenter will have 15 minutes for presentation.  At the end of the
four presentations, questions will be addressed)

12:30          The Hong Kong Experience.  Use of masks in combating SARS and
H5N1

12:45          Health Care Worker perspective

1:00            General Public perspective
                    Jeffrey Levi, Ph.D.
                    Senior Policy Advisor
                    Trust for America's Health

1:15            Community Public Health System perspective
                   Jeff Duchin
                   Chief, Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology &
Immunization Section
                    Public Health - Seattle King County

1:30 pm       Questions and General Discussion



SESSION 2:  SURGICAL MASK PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

Each presenter will have 15 minutes for their presentation.

At the end of the presentations there will be a period for questions and
general discussion


2:00            Design, Materials, and Components (Why use nonwoven fabric?)
                    John Jensen
                    Alphaprotech

2:15            Manufacturing Process and Production and Capacity

2:30            The China Experience (what has been the experience in China
and India with fabric
                    surgical masks?)

2:45            Questions and General Discussion

3:15            Break



SESSION 3:  N95 RESPIRATOR PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

Each presenter will have 15 minutes for their presentation.

At the end of the presentations there will be a period for questions and
general discussion


3:30            The Industry Landscape (Overview of how many manufacturers,
where they are
                    located, etc. )


Panel 2:     Respirator Production and Design

(Each panel member will have 15 minutes for presentation.  At the end of the
5 presentations
there will be a period for discussion)

3:45            Fitting the N95

                   Jeff Peterson
                   NPPTL

4:05            Design, Materials, and Components
                    Robert Weber
                    3M

4:25            Manufacturing Process and Production and Capacity-Panel
Discussion
                    Julie Tremblay
                    Senior Director, Respiratory Protection
                    Aerao Technologies

                    Jeff Birkner
                    Moldex

                    Robert Weber
                    3M

4:45            Questions and General Discussion

5:00            Open Testimony

5:30            Working Reception in the Auditorium Galleria

6:30            Reception Concludes



Tuesday, March 7, 2006    NAS Auditorium

8:30 am       Welcome
                    Don Burke, Committee Co-Chair
                    Associate Chair and Director
                    Disease Prevention and Control Program
                    Johns Hopkins School of Public Health


SESSION 4:  REUSABILITY OF MASKS AND RESPIRATORS

Each presenter will have 15 minutes for their presentation.

At the end of the presentations there will be a period for questions and
general discussion


8:45            Evidence of Contamination (How can we tell?  Does it become
a vector of infection?)

9:00            Decontamination and Cleaning (What are the options for each
type of respirator?)

9:15            Questions and General Discussion

10:15          Open Testimony

11:00          Adjourn Open Session

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-----------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  Occ-Env-Med-L Digest - 22 Feb 2006 to 23 Feb 2006 (#2006-52)

BRAZIL ACTS TO KEEP BIRD FLU OUT

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, February 24, 2006 (ENS) - The Brazilian ministries
of agriculture and environment have established a plan to monitor birds that
migrate through Brazil in an attempt to prevent avian influenza from
infecting Brazilian poultry flocks. Veterinarians are analyzing the birds
and collecting organic material they leave in Brazilian territory on their
migratory journeys.

>>Read more ... http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-24-04.asp

Hot off the press is AIHA's 2006 ERPG and WEEL Handbook, now available
for purchase. Updated for 2006, this 68-page spiral-bound reference
includes 17 new/revised ERPGs and 3 new/revised WEELs, plus an
extensive glossary.  When ordering, please request Stock Number AEAH06-
559.  This reference is $20 for AIHA members and $25 for nonmembers.

It's easy to order with AIHA:
~~ Visit www.aiha.org/marketplace.htm, a secure ordering site
~~ Call AIHA Customer Service at (703) 849-8888, 9-5 EST
~~ E-mail AIHA Customer Service at infonet@...

American Industrial Hygiene Association Publications
Reliable References for Today's OEHS Professional

For more details, go to:  http://www.occenvmed.com/misc/folders.dtl?etoc

****************************************************************

Occup Environ Med -- Table of Contents Alert

A new issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
has been made available:


1 March 2006; Vol. 63, No. 3

URL: http://oem.bmjjournals.com/content/vol63/issue3/?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Work in brief
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Work in brief
       Keith Palmer
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 157
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/63/3/157-a?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Occupational health needs of universities: a review with an emphasis on the
United Kingdom
       K M Venables and S Allender
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 159-167
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/159?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original articles
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mortality among Paris sewage workers
       P Wild, D Ambroise, E Benbrik, A Tiberguent, and N Massin
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 168-172
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/168?etoc


Validation of an asthma questionnaire for use in healthcare workers
       G L Delclos, A A Arif, L Aday, A Carson, D Lai, C Lusk, T Stock, E
       Symanski, L W Whitehead, F G Benavides, and J M Anto
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 173-179
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/173?etoc


Association of renal function and {delta}-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase
polymorphism among Vietnamese and Singapore workers exposed to inorganic
lead
       S-E Chia, H J Zhou, E Yap, M T Tham, N-V Dong, N T Hong Tu, and K-S
       Chia
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 180-186
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/180?etoc


Tuberculosis and silica exposure in South African gold miners
       J M teWaterNaude, R I Ehrlich, G J Churchyard, L Pemba, K Dekker, M
       Vermeis, N W White, M L Thompson, and J E Myers
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 187-192
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/187?etoc


Applying a moving total mortality count to the cities in the NMMAPS
database to estimate the mortality effects of particulate matter air
pollution
       S Roberts and M A Martin
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 193-197
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/193?etoc


Predictors of leaving nursing care: a longitudinal study among Swedish
nursing personnel
       G Fochsen, M Josephson, M Hagberg, A Toomingas, and M Lagerstrom
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 198-201
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/198?etoc


Psychometric properties of the Need for Recovery after work scale:
test-retest reliability and sensitivity to detect change
       E M de Croon, J K Sluiter, and M H W Frings-Dresen
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 202-206
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/202?etoc


Associations of perceived work strain with nicotine dependence in a
community sample
       U John, J Riedel, H-J Rumpf, U Hapke, and C Meyer
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 207-211
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/207?etoc


Sickness absence as a risk factor for job termination, unemployment, and
disability pension among temporary and permanent employees
       M Virtanen, M Kivimaki, J Vahtera, M Elovainio, R Sund, P Virtanen,
       and J E Ferrie
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 212-217
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/212?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Short reports
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Chlorpyrifos exposure and biological monitoring among manufacturing workers
       C J Burns, D Garabrant, J W Albers, S Berent, B Giordani, S Haidar, R
       Garrison, and R J Richardson
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 218-220
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/218?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Commentaries
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Butadiene or styrene or butadiene and styrene or else?
       K Straif, R Baan, and V Cogliano
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 157-158
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/63/3/157?etoc


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Solvent neurotoxicity
       F D Dick
       Occup Environ Med 2006;63 221-226
       http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/63/3/221?etoc


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/alerts/etoc
Or by mail:  Customer Service * 1454 Page Mill Road * Palo Alto, CA 94304 *
U.S.A.


_______________________________________________________________________
Copyright (c) 2006 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

AIHce Early Bird Registration Fast Approaching
Don't miss out on the savings by registering by March 15!
www.aiha.org/aihce.htm

Reach New Heights at AIHce 2006
The Premier Conference and Exposition for OEHS Professionals
Sponsored by AIHA and ACGIH®
May 13–18, 2006
Chicago, IL

Co-located for the first-time ever with …

VENT 2006
The 8th International Conference
Practical Applications of Ventilation for Emission and Exposure
Control
May 13–16, 2006

AIHce registrants have access to VENT sessions and exhibits.

Bridge Work…

• Earn CM points/CEUs
• Network with leading OEHS professionals
• Find your next job with a more robust CareerAdvantage Job
Fair
• Attend late-breaking sessions on response to and recovery
from the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf Coast
• Check out education programs on up-to-the-minute topics such
as avian flu, health and safety issues related to illicit drug labs,
control banding, emergency response, and more
• NEW! QEP Review Course
• NEW! Nanotechnology Symposium
• NEW! Infectious Disease Symposium
• NEW! Science Symposium
• NEW! Access to VENT 2006 session and exhibits with your
registration

and Play …
• World-renowned art galleries and museums
• High-energy nightlife
• Sumptuous dining
• World-class shopping
• Extraordinary cultural and leisure attractions
• Legendary sports
• Vibrant neighborhoods
• Unrivaled architecture
• Food for the senses

Register today at www.aiha.org/aihce.htm.

ACGIH is is now taking registrations for the following upcoming courses,
symposia,
and workshops:

FUNDAMENTALS IN INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
OF USEFUL EQUATIONS - MARCH 27-31
ACGIH Professional Learning Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Taught by Ventilation expert D. Jeff Burton, MS, PE, CIH

Fundamentals in Industrial Ventilation (March 27-29)

This three-day course covers both basic and advanced topics related to
industrial ventilation including:

~ The behavior of air and chemical contaminants in the air
~ Industrial process exhaust systems
~ Make-up and supply air ventilation systems
~ Dilution ventilation systems
~ Selection and design of exhaust hoods, ducts, fans, stacks, and air cleaners
~ Troubleshooting and testing of existing systems

Course participants will receive ACGIH's Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of
Recommended Practice, 25th Edition, Companion Study Guide to Industrial
Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice, and Jeff Burton's Industrial
Ventilation Workbook, and a pre-programmed AutoCalc calculator.

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene has approved the course for 3.0
Industrial Hygiene Certification Maintenance Points.  The Board of Certified
Safety Professionals has approved this course for 1.5 Continuance of
Certification Points.

Practical Applications of Useful Equations (March 30-31)

This 2-day course serves as the perfect add-on to Fundamental in Industrial
Ventilation.  This course closely follows the Useful Equations workbook
supplied and includes

~ Calculation and estimation approaches related to airborne contaminants
~ TLV and TWA
~ OA for dilution, fans, system testing, sound and noise, ergonomics, radiation,
ventilation, statistics, chemistry, etc.
~ A calculations lab in which participants work in a team environment

Course participants will receive Jeff Burton's Useful Equations book, Industrial
Hygiene Workbook, course handouts, and a pre-programmed AutoCalc calculator.

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene has approved the course for 2.0
Industrial Hygiene Certification Maintenance Points. The Board of Certified
Safety Professionals has approved this course for 1.0 Continuance of
Certification Points.

Can't make these dates?  This course will be repeated September 11-15.


MOLD, MOISTURE AND REMEDIATION WORKSHOP - APRIL 24-27
ACGIH Professional Learning Center - Cincinnati, Ohio

Seats are still available for the April edition of ACGIH's popular Mold,
Moisture
and Remediation Workshop.  The workshop will be presented April 24-27 at
the ACGIH Professional Learning Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Taught by the
country's leading experts, this 4-day workshop will present attendees with
practical
hands-on information and in-depth experience regarding mold remediation methods,
as well as a clear plan and strategy for sampling that can be implemented in the
workplace.

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene will award 4.0 Industrial Hygiene
Certification Maintenance Points upon completion of this workshop. The Board of
Certified Safety Professionals has approved this workshop for 2.0 Continuance
of Certification Points.

Can't make April?  This course will also be offered on November 13-16.


HEALTH EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO EMISSIONS FROM
ASPHALT/BITUMEN SYMPOSIUM
June 7-8, 2006
Dresden, Germany

The Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Emissions from Asphalt/Bitumen
Symposium, co-organized by ACGIH and the Commission for the Investigation of
Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area of the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), will be held June 7-8, 2006 at the BG Academy
for Occupational Health and Safety in Dresden, Germany. The purpose of the
Symposium is to provide researchers, policymakers/government officials,
practitioners, academics, employers, and labor leaders an opportunity to share
and
discuss key research in the area of emissions from asphalt/bitumen aerosols,
fumes,
and vapors with emphasis on studies to help evaluate exposure and carcinogenic
hazard and risk which will help to further the scientific process.

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene will award 2.0 Industrial Hygiene
Certification Maintenance Points upon completion of this symposium. The Board
of Certified Safety Professionals has approved this symposium for 1.0
Continuance
of Certification Points.



For more information or to register online for these events, visit the ACGIH
website
at http://www.acgih.org/events/course.htm.

ACGIH provides the people, programs, and publications that keep your career
moving forward.




Amy B. Bloomhuff, Esq., CAE
Director of Operations
ACGIH® Worldwide
1330 Kemper Meadow Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 USA
Phone: 513-742-6163 (Ext. #116)
Fax: 513-742-3355
abloomhuff@...
www.acgih.org

The ACGIH® community of professionals advances worker health
and safety through education and the development and dissemination
of scientific and technical knowledge.

BIRD FLU SUMMIT  --  The Bird Flu Conference

The world, in particular some of the Asian countries, is threatened by a new
strain of influenza virus found in birds. The virus affects not only birds
and poultry but also infects humans, and if not controlled, is feared to
result to a pandemic. Confirmed reports show that influenza A (H5N1) virus
has affected and has even caused human death. To date, around 125 cases and
64 human deaths caused by the virus has been confirmed. Various government
and private agencies are preparing their own strategies to prevent or arrest
the possible outbreak of the pandemic influenza.

New Fields Exhibitions believes in the importance of global awareness and
preparedness for the possible occurrence of pandemic influenza, hence, it
will be holding the Bird Flu Summit on 27-28 February, 2006 at Washington,
D.C

The purpose of the summit is to bring greater transparency to the global
effort to fight the flu, provide an exchange network among the summit
participants, and improve the quality of communication, coordination and
collaboration needed for an international response program. Facilities will
be available for sponsorship, exhibition, media interviews, and contract
conferences.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  http://www.new-fields.com/birdflu/

Bird Flu Confirmed in Three New Countries: India, France, Egypt

NEW DELHI, India, February 20, 2006 (ENS) -  India announced its first cases
of bird flu on Saturday and said rapid response teams will cull about
700,000 chickens in the western part of the country to prevent the spread of
the deadly disease. Countries reporting bird flu for the first time on the
weekend include France and Egypt.
In the western state of Maharashtra, the virus has affected as many as 52
poultry farms at Nawapur, in Nandurbar district in the northern part of the
state.

>>Read Full Text
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-20-01.asp

BIRD FLU SPREADS WESTWARD ACROSS EUROPE

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 17, 2006 (ENS) - Bird flu has been found in the
bodies of dead wild swans in two new European countries - Hungary and
Austria - the European Commission said Wednesday. Samples have been sent to
the European Community Reference Laboratory in Weybridge, UK for further
tests to determine whether this is the deadly H5N1 strain that has caused
the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds and more than 60 humans in the
past two years.

>>Read Full Text
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-17-04.asp

Forwarded on behalf of Marshall Denhoff, CIH, ROH
Chair, AIHA International Task Force


----Original Message Follows----
From: AIHA <aihaupdate@...>
Subject: AIHA International Member Survey
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006

Dear International Member:

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is
exploring ways to better meet the professional needs
of its members outside of the United States.  To help
us serve you more effectively we would appreciate
your taking approximately ten minutes to complete
this short survey by clicking

http://www.zoomerang.com/su rvey.zgi? p=WEB224ZZ6SBZ43

We value your input and your feedback will help us to
provide future products and services.

In return for completing this survey, AIHA is offering
a 20% discount on your next purchase.  Just provide
the special promotion code that you will find on the
Thank You page at the end of the survey when you
place your order either via phone or email.

Sincerely,

Marshall Denhoff, CIH, ROH
Chair, AIHA International Task Force

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: infonet@...
web: http://www.aiha.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Privacy Policy:
http://www.aiha.org/Content/AboutAIHA/privacy

Powered by Constant Contact(R)
http://www.constantcontact.com

AIHA | The American Industrial Hygiene Association | 2700 Prosperity Ave |
Suite 250 | Fairfax | VA | 22031
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded by Andrew Cutz, CIH (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)

NIGERIAN BIRD FLU OUTBREAK MEANS NO COUNTRY IS IMMUNE

LAGOS, Nigeria, February 13, 2006 (ENS) - Thousands of chickens have died in
northern Nigeria this month, and now the bird flu may have appeared in the
city of Lagos. Chicken sellers say that about 200 birds have died from
unknown causes in Lagos state markets within the week. Bird flu is spreading
in Nigeria, officials with the Nigerian Veterinary Research Institute
confirmed Saturday.

>>Read Full Text  http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-13-01.asp

BIRD FLU CONFIRMED IN WILD SWANS ACROSS EUROPE

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 13, 2006 (ENS) - Bird flu of the deadly H5N1
strain has been confirmed in wild swans in Italy, in Greece, and in
Bulgaria, the reference laboratory that tested samples from those countries
told the European Commission today. In Slovenia, a wild swan tested positive
for the disease at the Slovenian Laboratory for Avian influenza, and samples
have been sent to the EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in
Weybridge, UK for further tests.

>>Read Full Text  http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-13-03.asp

(Dr) Trevor Ogden
Editor in Chief, Annals of Occupational Hygiene
http://annhyg.oupjournals.org/
ogden@... or annals@...
North American Editor:
Professor Stephen Rappaport, stephen_rappaport@...

NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Working Group on Nanotechnology

A meeting of the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Working Group on
Nanotechnology is scheduled for March 15, 2006, at the Holiday Inn-
Rosslyn at Key Bridge in Arlington, VA. The meeting begins at 9 am and
is open to the public with time set-aside for public comments. This
announcement was published in the Federal Register (Vol. 70, No. 241,
pp.74832).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Register Main Page | http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

GOVERNMENTS, INDUSTRY ENDORSE GLOBAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, February 8, 2006 (ENS) - A new global
initiative aimed at making chemicals safer for people and the planet
was agreed Monday at an international conference in Dubai. The
agreement was reached with participation from governments, the
chemicals industry, business, trade unions and other civil society
groups. >>Read Full Text

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-08-03.asp

Wednesday, February 8, 2006


Dear Jeff et al.,

Can you please advise who are some of the suppliers of Low Volume-High
Velocity (LVHV) exhaust system equipment.  I am not able to identify anybody
readily using a google search.

Thank you for your advise,

Andrew Cutz, CIH
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

From :  <ntpmail@...>
Sent :  February 7, 2006 7:25:36 PM
To :  ntpmail@...
Subject :  NTP UPDATE: TestSmart DNT Symposium Announcement


The NTP is co-sponsoring a TestSmart DNT symposium: "Creating a Humane
and Efficient Approach to Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing."  This
symposium is the first of a series that will bring together leading
stakeholders from around the world to develop the Developmental
Neurotoxicity (DNT) testing methods of the future.  The symposium is
presented by the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal
Testing (CAAT) and will be held on March 13-15, 2006 at the Hyatt
Regency Reston, Reston, VA.  Information about the meeting, including
a pdf version of the event brochure, is available at
http://caat.jhsph.edu/dnt/.

*********************************************
The NTP listserv is a service of the NTP Offices of Liaison and
Scientific Review and NTP's Central Data Management.

For general information or unsubscribing from the NTP News List,
please see: http://list.niehs.nih.gov/mailman/listinfo/ntpmail

For new subscribers and to see other NTP information, visit the NTP
Home Page http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov

--------------------------------------------------------------
END   Forwarded by Andrew Cutz, CIH (February 7, 2006)

WORLD CANCER DAY 2006: FOCUS ON AVOIDABLE CAUSES OF CANCER

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 3, 2006 (ENS) - World Cancer Day on
February 4 is marked this year by a warning from the World Health
Organization that "dramatic increases in risk factors such as tobacco
use and obesity" are contributing to a worldwide rise in cancer rates,
particularly in low and middle income countries, where more than 70
percent of all cancer deaths occur.

>>Read Full Text
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2006/2006-02-03-03.asp

For your information ...

Andrew Cutz, CIH
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

----Original Message Follows----
From: "slihslih" <slih@...>
To: iac-list@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [iac-list] Certification Review Course by Hawaii Section of AIHA
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 14:59:17 -0000

Aloha and Welcome "e Komo Mai"
Honolulu, Hawaii Third Annual IH Review Course
Offered by the Hawaii Section of the
American Industrial Hygiene Association

ABIH has awarded the course
5.0 Fundamental Industrial Hygiene CM Points".
The approval number is 06-131.

Course Date and Location:
• Date: 14 to 18 August 2006 (Monday to Friday)
• Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
• Location: University of Hawaii Business Administration Bldg.
           Room D103 Honolulu, Hawaii

• Course Fee: Early Bird (Before May 1) and Local Section
           Members $575
           All Others = $675
• Registration and Payment:
           University of Hawai`i Conference Center
           2530 Dole St., C404
           Honolulu, HI 96822

• Course organizer, Thomas Goob tgoob@ dls.queens.org
• Course instructor, Steven Levine slih@...

Keep checking this web site for new information on course schedules
and activities.

Course Objectives:

• Prepare hygienists seeking ABIH certification to pass the
    certification exam;
• Upgrade knowledge for IH's, occupational physicians and nurses,
    and safety professionals;
• Provide maintenance point credit for certified professionals
• American Board of Industrial Hygiene has approved 5 IH CM Points.
• The Board of Certified Safety Professionals allows up to 3.0 CEC
    Points

Course Objectives:
• Prepare hygienists seeking ABIH certification to pass the
    certification exam;
• Upgrade knowledge for IH's, occupational physicians and nurses,
    and safety professionals;
• Provide maintenance point credit for certified professionals
• The American Board of Industrial Hygiene is expected to approve
    5.0 IH CM Points.
• The Board of Certified Safety Professionals allows up to 3.0 CEC
    Points

Course Faculty

Emeritus Professor
Steven Levine, PhD, CIH

Steven P. Levine has been associated with the field of environmental
and industrial health since 1974 when he began his career with
Stauffer Chemical Company. He worked on exposure assessment and
control projects for vinyl chloride, benzidene, lead chromate,
phosphorus, organophosphorus pesticides, and silica. Since then, he
has worked for Ford Motor Company and Oil and Hazardous Materials
(OHM) Corp.

He is currently an Emeritus Professor of Industrial Health at the
University of Michigan. He has taught graduate courses covering
areas such as toxicology and health effects, biological monitoring,
air sampling, ventilation, personal protection equipment,
Ionizing/non-ionizing radiation, noise, risk communication,
hazardous waste site remediation, and management systems.

He has taught courses and lectured in industrial hygiene, safety and
management systems subjects internationally in Brasil, Bulgaria,
China, Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore and Taiwan.
He was a co-founder of the well-established comprehensive IH review
course now taught biannually at the University of Michigan (co-
sponsored by AIHA and the Michigan IH Society).

Professor Levine has also been productive in his research
activities, primarily in the peer-reviewed journal of the American
Industrial Hygiene Association. In 2000-2001 he was President of the
American Industrial Hygiene Association. He was named one of the ten
most influential industrial hygienists in 1998. He brought a WHO
Collaborating Center in Occupational Health to the University of
Michigan in 1999.

(You may contact Levine at slih@... ). His website is
http://home.comcast.net/~slih/

Sponsored by the Hawaii Local Section of the AIHA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------------
END   Forwarded by Andrew Cutz, CIH (Friday, February 3, 2006)

NEW BIRD FLU VACCINE 100 PERCENT EFFECTIVE IN ANIMAL STUDY

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, January 30, 2006 (ENS) - University of Pittsburgh
scientists have genetically engineered an avian flu vaccine from components
of the deadly H5N1 virus that completely protected mice and chickens from
infection. The vaccine can be made quickly and induced a strong immune
response in the animals, making it a potentially useful tool for preventing
the spread of the virus.

>>Read Full Text  http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2006/2006-01-30-01.asp