NIEHS - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - News

NIH-Funded Researchers Discover Genetic Link to Mesothelioma

Mon, 29 August 2011 14:00 EDT

Scientists have found that individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer — mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Additionally, when these individuals are exposed to asbestos or similar mineral fibers, their risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen, may be markedly increased.

Media Advisory for Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

Wed, 17 August 2011 12:00 EDT

Members of the local media are invited to attend a press availability followed by a roundtable discussion on the multiple benefits of federally-funded research. Join local researchers as they discuss how funding from federal agencies is allowing them to do cutting-edge science and medical research that is benefiting the citizens of North Carolina and the nation. Rose Hoban, former health reporter at North Carolina Public Radio and founder of NC Health News, will preside over a panel discussion, which will include Congressman David Price; Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of the leading NIH institute supporting environmental health research; and local researchers, as they provide examples of health studies being supported in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.

Exercise May Help Prevent Brain Damage Caused by Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:00 EDT

Regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, according to research published this month in Elsevier's journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

NIH Investigators Discover New Mechanism That May Be Important for Learning and Memory

Wed, 13 July 2011 12:00 EDT

New findings in mice suggest that the timing when the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released in the brain’s hippocampus may play a key role in regulating the strength of nerve cell connections, called synapses. Understanding the complex nature of neuronal signaling at synapses could lead to better understanding of learning and memory, and novel treatments for relevant disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

NIH-funded Research Network to Explore Oil Spill Health Effects: Program to Focus on Community Health and Resiliency in Gulf Region

Thu, 07 July 2011 09:00 EDT

An NIH-funded network of researchers will evaluate potential harmful effects of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on reproduction and birth outcomes, the cardiorespiratory system, and behavior and mental health. The network of community and university partnerships, under the leadership of NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), will conduct research to evaluate the level of potentially harmful contaminants in air, water, and seafood, and assess their relationship to health outcomes.

People with Parkinson's Disease May Have Double The Risk for Melanoma, a Dangerous Skin Cancer

Mon, 13 June 2011 08:00 EDT

An analysis of several studies shows that people with Parkinson's disease have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the leading cause of death from skin diseases. The research is published in the June 7, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes tremors and difficulty with movement and walking. It affects about one million people in the United States.

New Substances Added to HHS Report on Carcinogens

Fri, 10 June 2011 14:00 EDT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer. The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances - captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene - are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings. It is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc12.

Media Advisory: New Substances Added to HHS Report on Carcinogens

Fri, 10 June 2011 09:00 EDT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release the 12th Report on Carcinogens on Friday, June 10, 2011. The Report on Carcinogens is a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that represent cancer hazards. Eight new substances have been added in this edition of the Report on Carcinogens.

Women Who Start Prenatal Vitamins Early are Less Likely to have Children with Autism

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:00 EDT

Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements — and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found.

World Asthma Day: NIH Research Advances Help People with Asthma

Tue, 03 May 2011 08:00 EDT

Today, the National Institutes of Health joins with public health officials, health organizations, and patient groups around the world to recognize World Asthma Day. As NIH's leading supporters of asthma research, we at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) renew our commitment to advancing studies that will help improve asthma prevention, diagnosis, and management. Our diverse programs provide a critical foundation for improving outcomes for patients with asthma. Each of our institutes focuses on a fundamentally different aspect of asthma, and we work closely together to coordinate our research programs. Our goal is to make this year's theme, You Can Control Your Asthma, not just a slogan but a reality.

NIH Investigators Find Link Between DNA Damage and Immune Response

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:00 EDT

Researchers offer the first evidence that DNA damage can lead to the regulation of inflammatory responses, the body's reaction to injury. The proteins involved in the regulation help protect the body from infection.

Submit Your Visionary Ideas About Environmental Health Research

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is seeking input from the public as well as researchers for its new strategic plan. To get involved, submit an idea for research or nominate a workshop participant.

New Robot System to Test 10,000 Chemicals for Toxicity

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:00 EDT

Several federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, today unveiled a new high-speed robot screening system that will test 10,000 different chemicals for potential toxicity. The system marks the beginning of a new phase of an ongoing collaboration, referred to as Tox21, that is working to protect human health by improving how chemicals are tested in the United States.

Media Advisory: NIH Joins SOT to Celebrate 50 Years of Toxicology Science

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will mark the 50th anniversary of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) at the SOT annual meeting in Washington, D.C., March 6-10, 2011.

NIH Launches Largest Oil Spill Health Study

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00 EDT

GuLF STUDY to follow 55,000 cleanup workers and volunteers for up to 10 years. The GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study) is the largest health study of its kind ever conducted among cleanup workers and volunteers, and is one component of a comprehensive federal response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The study is being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and is expected to last up to 10 years Many agencies, researchers, outside experts, as well as members of the local community, have provided input into how the study should be designed and implemented.

Media Advisory: Largest Oil Spill Health Study to Launch Along Gulf Coast

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00 EDT

The GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study), to help learn if oil spills and exposure to crude oil and dispersants affect physical and mental health, will launch in states along the Gulf Coast in February 2011. The study is being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NIEHS Grantees, NYU and WHOI, Discover Genetic Mutation Allowing Hudson River Fish to Adapt to PCBs

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00 EDT

A research group led by an NYU School of Medicine scientist discovered a genetic variant that allows a fish in the Hudson River to live in waters heavily polluted by PCBs. In a study published in the February 18, 2011, online issue of Science, they report that a population of Hudson River fish apparently evolved rapidly in response to the toxic chemicals, which were first introduced in 1929, and were banned fifty years later. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, especially as electrical insulators.

NIH Study Finds Two Pesticides Associated with Parkinson's Disease

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:00 EDT

New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson's disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users. The study was a collaborative effort conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif. "Rotenone directly inhibits the function of the mitochondria, the structure responsible for making energy in the cell," said Freya Kamel, Ph.D., a researcher in the intramural program at NIEHS and co-author of the paper appearing online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. "Paraquat increases production of certain oxygen derivatives that may harm cellular structures. People who used these pesticides or others with a similar mechanism of action were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease."

Members of a Federal Advisory Group on Autism Mobilize in Response to a Mother's Plea

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:00 EDT

IMH, along with three other NIH Institutes, will be supporting a joint effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Autism Speaks, a private advocacy organization, to investigate reports of elevated prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children born to Somali immigrants living in Minneapolis, Minn.

HHS Proposed Recommendation on Fluoride

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00 EDT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today are announcing important steps to ensure that standards and guidelines on fluoride in drinking water continue to provide the maximum protection to the American people to support good dental health, especially in children. HHS is proposing that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water can be set at the lowest end of the current optimal range to prevent tooth decay, and EPA is initiating review of the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water.

Media Advisory: National Toxicology Program Workshop: Role of Environmental Chemicals in the Development of Diabetes and Obesity

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:00 EDT

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is hosting this workshop on Jan. 11-13, 2011, because there is a growing body of research showing that chemicals in our environment may be contributing to diabetes and obesity worldwide, and that chemical exposures need to be considered along with nutrition and diet. Six chemical classes will be discussed at the workshop, including 1) arsenic and other metals, 2) bisphenol A (BPA), 3) organotins and phthalates, 4) nicotine, 5) pesticides, and 6) persistent organic pollutants. For the first time, new computer-generated data, also known as high-throughput analysis, will be considered along with animal and human studies, as part of the NTP workshop. The workshop is organized by the NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The plenary sessions of the workshop can be viewed at http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/evals/diabetesobesity/.

Jackson Laboratory CEO Woychik to depart for NIEHS

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:00 EDT

Jackson Laboratory President and CEO Richard Woychik, Ph.D., announced today that he will leave the institution in January 2011 to accept a new position as deputy director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "It has been a great honor to serve The Jackson Laboratory," Woychik said. "I will miss the many fine people who have contributed to the Laboratory’s success during my time here, and I am confident that the institution will continue to grow and prosper." Brian Wruble, chairman of the Jackson Board of Trustees, said, "We owe a tremendous debt to Rick Woychik. Under his leadership, the Laboratory has achieved a great deal, both scientifically and operationally. The Laboratory is financially stronger today than ever before in its history. We wish Rick the very best of luck in the future. He will be sorely missed."

Succimer Found Ineffective for Removing Mercury

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:00 EDT

Succimer, a drug used for treating lead poisoning, does not effectively remove mercury from the body, according to research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Some families have turned to succimer as an alternative therapy for treating autism. "Succimer is effective for treating children with lead poisoning, but it does not work very well for mercury," said Walter Rogan, M.D., head of the Pediatric Epidemiology Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, and an author on the paper that appears online in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Five NIH Leaders Elected to the Institute of Medicine

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:00 EDT

The National Academy of Sciences today announced that five leaders at the National Institutes of Health have been elected to the Institute of Medicine. Election to the IOM is one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health. The NIH officials elected are: Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); Ira H. Pastan, M.D., chief of the laboratory of cell biology, Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute; Thomas E. Wellems, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the laboratory of malaria and vector research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Carl Wu, Ph.D., chief of the laboratory of biochemistry and molecular biology, Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute. They are among 65 new members and five foreign associates of the IOM, which is a national resource for independently informed analysis and recommendations of issues related to human health. With their election, members make a commitment to devote a significant amount of time as volunteers for IOM committees, which conduct a broad range of studies on health policy issues.

University of Louisville to Host Community Forum on Social and Environmental Determinants of Health

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:00 EDT

The University of Louisville Center for Environmental Genomics and Integrative Biology (CEGIB) will host a community forum on the social and environmental determinants of health on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m., at The Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway.

Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), will lead the discussion. The panel also includes UofL scientists and representatives from Rubbertown Emergency Action network (REACT), West Jefferson County Community Task Force (WJCTF), Rubbertown Community Advisory Council (RCAC) and Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.

Children, Males and Blacks are at Increased Risk for Food Allergies

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:00 EDT

A new study estimates that 2.5 percent of the United States population, or about 7.6 million Americans, have food allergies. Food allergy rates were found to be higher for children, non-Hispanic blacks, and males, according to the researchers. The odds of male black children having food allergies were 4.4 times higher than others in the general population. The research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health and appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, is the first to use a nationally representative sample, as well as specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) or antibody levels to quantify allergic sensitization to common foods, including peanuts, milk, eggs, and shrimp. The hallmark of food allergy is production of IgE antibodies to a specific food protein. Once IgE antibody is made, further exposure to the food triggers an allergic response. IgE levels are often high in people with allergies.

NIEHS to Fund $36 Million in Worker Safety Training

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:30 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is awarding $36 million in grants to 20 organizations that develop safety and health training for workers involved in hazardous waste operations and transportation, environmental restoration of contaminated facilities, and chemical emergency response. These training programs can receive annual funding for up to five years. Five awardees in the Gulf Coast region will use the money to continue ongoing safety and health training activities in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Oil cleanup experts and hazardous material trainers are providing curricula review and assistance with quality assurance to BP, while also delivering classroom and onsite safety and health training. Awardees will also be analyzing and documenting the effectiveness of oil spill response training to prepare for future efforts.

Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation Announce Recipients of $1 Million Heinz Awards

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00 EDT

Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation today announced the winners of the 16th annual Heinz Awards, honoring the contributions of 10 innovative and inspiring individuals whose work has addressed environmental challenges. Each recipient receives an unrestricted cash prize of $100,000. "We're living in a time of unprecedented global change. Our planet is facing rising temperatures and our communities are affected by toxic chemicals that weren't on the market a hundred years ago," said Teresa Heinz, chairman of the Heinz Family Foundation. “We’re recognizing innovators who are tackling some of the most vexing problems facing our planet."

NIH to Launch Gulf Oil Spill Health Study

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00 EDT

The National Institutes of Health will launch a multi-year study this fall to look at the potential health effects from the oil spill in the Gulf region. The Gulf Worker Study, announced by NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., in June, is in response to the largest oil spill in U.S. history, caused by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Collins pledged $10 million in NIH funding for the study's initial phases. To help expedite the launch of the study, BP will contribute an additional $10 million to NIH for this and other important health research. The BP funding will come through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI). The GRI is a ten-year, $500 million independent research program established by BP to better understand and mitigate the environmental and potential health effects of the Gulf spill. The NIH will have full autonomy regarding the distribution of the $10 million, with input from external scientific experts in environmental health and who are familiar with the Gulf region.

Atrazine Causes Prostate Inflammation in Male Rats and Delays Puberty

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00 EDT

A new study shows that male rats prenatally exposed to low doses of atrazine, a widely used herbicide, are more likely to develop prostate inflammation and to go through puberty later than non-exposed animals. The research adds to a growing body of literature on atrazine, a herbicide predominantly used to control weeds and grasses in crops such as corn and sugar cane. Atrazine and its byproducts are known to be relatively persistent in the environment, potentially finding their way into water supplies. The research, which is available online and will be featured on the cover of Reproductive Toxicology (Volume 30; Issue 4), found that the incidence of prostate inflammation went from 48 percent in the control group to 81 percent in the male offspring who were exposed to a mixture of atrazine and its breakdown products prenatally. The severity of the inflammation increased with the strength of the doses. Puberty was also delayed in the animals who received atrazine.

New Breast Cancer Committee to Establish Federal Research Agenda

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:00 EDT

A newly formed advisory committee will develop and coordinate a strategic federal research agenda on environmental and genetic factors related to breast cancer. The 19-member Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee (IBCERCC) was established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to review all breast cancer research efforts conducted or supported by federal agencies. The committee will develop recommendations for the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal agencies, to improve existing research programs related to breast cancer research. Additionally, the IBCERCC will create a comprehensive plan to expand opportunities for collaborative, multi-disciplinary research, and develop a summary of advances in federal breast cancer research.

NIH-Supported Study Finds Novel Pathway May Open Doors for New Blood Pressure Treatments

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00 EDT

Researchers have found that increasing certain proteins in the blood vessels of mice, relaxed the vessels, lowering the animal’s blood pressure. The study provides new avenues for research that may lead to new treatments for hypertension. "The paper demonstrates that cytochrome P450 plays an important role in the management of high blood pressure, a disease of enormous public health concern," said Darryl Zeldin, M.D., acting clinical director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and senior author on the paper.

NIH Institutes Renew Dedication to Asthma Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:00 EDT

May 4, 2010 marks World Asthma Day, when public officials, health organizations, and patient groups around the world take action to increase public awareness of the global burden of asthma and promote better asthma diagnosis and treatment. For decades, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has supported groundbreaking research that has led to improvements in outcomes for people with asthma. As the NIH’s leading Institutes in this field, we at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) renew our dedication to asthma prevention, diagnosis, and management.

NIH-led Interagency Group Identifies Research Needs to Study Climate Change and Human Health Impacts

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:00 EDT

A report released today by a federal working group highlights 11 key categories of diseases and other health consequences that are occurring or will occur due to climate change. The report, A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/climatereport), provides a starting point for coordination of federal research to better understand climate’s impact on human health. The recommendations of the working group include research to identify who will be most vulnerable, and what efforts will be most beneficial.

Targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier May Delay Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:00 EDT

Researchers may be one step closer to slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. An animal study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, shows that by targeting the blood-brain barrier, researchers are able to slow the accumulation of a protein associated with the progression of the illness. The blood-brain barrier separates the brain from circulating blood, and it protects the brain by removing toxic metabolites and proteins formed in the brain and preventing entry of toxic chemicals from the blood.

Leading Toxicologists Highlight Advances to Safeguard Public Health: NIEHS and NTP Research Showcased at SOT Annual Meeting

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:00 EDT

The governments leading toxicologists and environmental health scientists will share their latest scientific accomplishments, offer continuing education courses, discuss funding and training opportunities, receive input on future research priorities, and more, at the Society of Toxicology (SOT) annual meeting. Staff from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) will speak at more than 30 different sessions and present 60 posters on topics ranging from improving toxicity testing to translational research. Many NIEHS grantees will also showcase their research. For the first time this year, live updates will be provided by conference participants on the NIEHS and NTP web sites. "If you are interested in knowing what researchers and toxicologists in government, academia and industry are doing to advance the pace of biomedical research and safeguard the public's health, the SOT meeting is the place to be," said NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D. "For toxicologists, this is our Olympics." The SOT Annual Meeting is the largest toxicology meeting and exhibition in the world, attracting approximately 6,500 scientists from industry, academia, and government. When: March 7-11, 2010. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting - All events will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information about the SOT annual meeting, visit http://www.toxicology.org/AI/MEET/AM2010/

FDA Update on Bisphenol A (BPA) for Use in Food

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:00 EDT

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s. Studies employing standardized toxicity tests have thus far supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. However, on the basis of results from recent studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, both the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children. In cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research is carrying out in-depth studies to answer key questions and clarify uncertainties about the risks of BPA.

NIH-Funded Study Unveils Potential Genetic Links to Lung Disease Risk

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:00 EDT

A new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function. The research, an analysis that combined the results of several smaller studies, provides insight into the mechanisms involved in reaching full lung capacity. The findings may ultimately lead to better understanding of lung function and diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

News Advisory - Scientific Panel Evaluates Soy Infant Formula Safety

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:00 EDT

Members of the media are invited to attend a press availability period at noon on Friday, December 18, 2009 that will follow a scientific meeting evaluating the safety of soy infant formula. An independent panel of 14 scientists will evaluate the most current research on soy infant formula to determine whether exposure to soy infant formula is a risk to human development. The expert panel will also indentify data gaps and research needs. The panel is convened by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

Scientists Explore Role of Environmental Stressors in the Developmental Origins of Disease

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Experts from around the world will gather December 7 - 10 at the Loews Hotel in Miami, Florida, to examine the animal and human data supporting a hypothesis that subtle effects during fetal and postnatal development can lead to functional deficits and increased disease risk later in life.

NIH Teams Up With The Lancet and Leading International Organizations to Address Public Health Impacts of Climate Change: New Strategies Promote Health and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Today, new studies published in The Lancet show that strategies to reduce greenhouse gases also benefit human health. The Lancet series highlights case studies on four climate change topics — household energy, transportation, electricity generation, and agricultural food production. Researchers say that cost savings realized from improving health will offset the cost of addressing climate change and, therefore, should be considered as part of all policy discussions related to climate change. Key researchers and public health officials gathered in the Unites States and Britain gathered together via satellite simulcast to unveil new research.

NIEHS Awards Recovery Act Funds to Focus More Research on Health and Safety of Nanomaterials

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, is increasing its investment in understanding the potential health, safety and environmental issues related to tiny particles that are used in many everyday products such as sunscreens, cosmetics and electronics. The NIEHS will award about $13 million over a two-year period, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to bolster the NIEHS’s ongoing research portfolio in the area of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Engineered nanomaterials are very tiny materials about 100,000 times smaller than a single strand of hair. They represent a significant breakthrough in material design and development for industry and consumer products, including stain-resistant clothing, pesticides, tires, and electronics, as well as in medicine for purposes of diagnosis, imaging and drug delivery.

NIEHS Awards Recovery Act Funds to Address Bisphenol A Research Gaps

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT

Researchers studying the health effects of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) gathered in North Carolina to launch an integrated research initiative to produce data that will allow for a comprehensive assessment of its possible human health effects. Researchers who just received funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to study BPA were brought together to meet with scientists from academia and government already working on the compound. The meeting was held Oct. 6, 2009 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The meeting is part of an effort to support human and animal research that will help determine if current exposures to BPA in the general population pose a potential health risk. NIEHS is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has the lead in supporting research to study the potential effects that chemicals, such as BPA, may have on human health. President Obama allocated $5 billion in Recovery Act funds to the NIH, with about $14 million going to NIEHS for research on BPA.

A Call to Copenhagen - Health Effects of Climate Change: Major Study Unveiled, Evaluates Strategies to Reduce Green House Gas Emissions

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Members of the press are invited to the unveiling and policy discussion of a major international study on the Public Health Impacts of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions being published in Lancet, just in time for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the event which will feature speakers from around the world gathered in Washington, DC and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine participating via live video conferencing.

Sister Study Exceeds Recruitment Goal: Now the Real Work Begins

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, has many reasons to celebrate this October as it recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The NIEHS Sister Study began recruiting women for this landmark study during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2004 and this October has reached a milestone. It has recruited nearly 51,000 women from all walks of life, whose sisters had breast cancer, to participate in this long-term study that is focusing on uncovering environmental and genetic factors that influence breast cancer risk. These sisters and researchers have joined together in a long-term commitment to help prevent breast cancer.

NIH Funds Grantees Focusing on Epigenomics of Human Health and Disease

Sun, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT

The National Institutes of Health announced today that it will fund 22 grants on genome-wide studies of how epigenetic changes -- chemical modifications to genes that result from diet, aging, stress, or environmental exposures -- define and contribute to specific human diseases and biological processes.

Electronic Nose Sniffs out Toxins

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Imagine a polka-dotted postage stamp-sized sensor that can sniff out some known poisonous gases and toxins and show the results simply by changing colors. Support for the development and application of this electronic nose comes from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Sun Exposure May Trigger Certain Autoimmune Diseases in Women

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight may be associated with the development of certain autoimmune diseases, particularly in women, according to a study by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health.

A Child's IQ Can Be Affected by Mother's Exposure to Urban Air Pollutants

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT

A mother’s exposure to urban air pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can adversely affect a child’s intelligence quotient or IQ, a study reports. PAHs are chemicals released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco. In urban areas motor vehicles are a major source of PAHs.

Researchers at the Most Comprehensive Study of Earliest Possible Causes of Autism to Hold Media Conference Call

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Leading autism researchers from coast-to-coast will hold a media teleconference to launch one of the largest research studies of its kind to investigate early risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The research network, called the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI), will follow a cohort of up to 1,200 pregnant women who already have a child with autism. The study is considered one of the best-equipped to discover biological markers and environmental risk factors for autism. The researchers will be joined on the call by the study’s funders, the National Institutes of Health and Autism Speaks. WHEN: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009, 1:00 PM EST. DIAL-IN: (888) 508-3712; Passcode: 1369035.

Well Water Should Be Tested Annually to Reduce Health Risks to Children

Tue, 26 May 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Private well water should be tested yearly, and in some cases more often, according to new guidance offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, took a lead role in working with the AAP to develop these recommendations and draft a new AAP policy statement about the things parents should do if their children drink well water.

World Asthma Day: May 5, 2009

Tue, 05 May 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Today, on World Asthma Day, we at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), components of the National Institutes of Health, stand together with the international community to renew our dedication to understand the causes of asthma and to find better ways to treat, prevent and manage this disease.

New Data Analysis Shows Possible Link between Childhood Obesity and Allergies

Mon, 04 May 2009 13:00:00 EDT

A new study indicates there may be yet another reason to reduce childhood obesity — it may help prevent allergies. The study published in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that obese children and adolescents are at increased risk of having some kind of allergy, especially to a food. The study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), both parts of the National Institutes of Health.

NIEHS Teams with Federal and City Groups to Conduct Disaster Response Training Exercise

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) will take part on May 1 in a disaster training exercise with several other agencies in Cincinnati, Ohio. The exercise will include a table top instructional activity to respond to a simulated explosion and dispersion of chemicals from a Cincinnati business, as well as displays and stations for the participants to conduct hands-on work. The training exercise will begin with briefings at the Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, followed by activities at the nearby Riverside Transit Center during the April 30 – May 1, 2009 NIEHS WETP Conference: "Local, State and Federal Partnerships for Chemical Preparedness and Response" (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/events.cfm?id=2474). The NIEHS WETP is administered by the NIEHS, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Countries Unite to Reduce Animal Use in Product Toxicity Testing Worldwide: U.S., Canada, Japan and European Union Sign International Agreement

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Representatives from four international agencies, including the director of the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP), today signed a memorandum of cooperation that could reduce the number of animals required for consumer product safety testing worldwide. The agreement between the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union will yield globally coordinated scientific recommendations on alternative toxicity testing methods that should speed their adoption in each of these countries, thus reducing the number of animals needed for product safety testing. The memorandum is available at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/about_docs/ICATM-MOC.pdf

First Sister Study Results Reinforce the Importance of Healthy Living

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Women who maintain a healthy weight and who have lower perceived stress may be less likely to have chromosome changes associated with aging than obese and stressed women, according to a pilot study that was part of the Sister Study. The long-term Sister Study is looking at the environmental and genetic characteristics of women whose sister had breast cancer to identify factors associated with developing breast cancer. This early pilot used baseline questionnaires and samples provided by participants when they joined the Sister Study.

Hear About Emerging Trends in Toxicology Research: NIEHS and NTP Research Showcased at SOT Annual Meeting in Baltimore

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will have a major presence at the annual Society of Toxicology (SOT) meeting in Baltimore, Md. Scientists from the NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), which NIEHS administers, as well as their grantees and collaborators, will share the newest advances, applications and thinking in the field of toxicology. The SOT Annual Meeting is the largest toxicology meeting and exhibition in the world, attracting approximately 6,500 scientists from industry, academia and government. Toxicology plays an important role in understanding the effects that chemical agents have in our environment. Attending or arranging phone interviews will allow reporters to meet Linda Birnbaum, the new NIEHS/NTP director; hear about the new criteria NTP will be using to evaluate non-cancer studies; learn about new research funding opportunities including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; and hear about cutting-edge science.

Research Finds New Cause of Ozone Wheezing and Potential Treatments

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and Duke University have discovered a cause of airway irritation and wheezing after exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant. Using an animal model, the researchers were also able to identify several ways to stop the airways from narrowing. These findings help identify potential new targets for drugs which may eventually help physicians better treat emergency room patients suffering from wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., Named New Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Dr. Raynard S. Kington, acting director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), today announced the appointment of Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., as director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Dr. Birnbaum, who is currently a senior advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she served for 16 years as director of the Experimental Toxicology Division, will begin her appointment in January 2009.

ADHD Medications Do Not Cause Genetic Damage in Children

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EDT

In contrast to recent findings, two of the most common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not appear to cause genetic damage in children who take them as prescribed, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Duke University Medical Center.

Healing Process Found to Backfire in Lung Patients

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT

A mechanism in the body which typically helps a person heal from an injury, may actually be causing patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to get worse, researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and their collaborators have found.

NIH's National Children's Study Enters Next Phase: Increase In Number of Centers Recruiting Volunteers, Collecting Data

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 9:00:00 EDT

The National Institutes of Health announced today that its comprehensive study to examine the effect of genes and the environment on children’s health had entered the next phase of operations. At a briefing on the latest developments in the National Children’s Study, NIH officials named the study centers funded for 2008.

NIH Announces Funding for New Epigenomics Initiative

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 9:00:00 EDT

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces funding for the new NIH Roadmap Epigenomics Program. Epigenetic processes control normal growth and development, and epigenomics is a study of epigenetic processes at a genome-wide scale. The NIH will invest more than $190 million over the next five years to accelerate this emerging field of biomedical research. The first grants will total approximately $18 million in 2008.

NIEHS Invests $21.25 Million to Find Environmental Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 9:00:00 EDT

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced today that it will award three new grants totaling $21.25 million over a five-year period to study how environmental factors contribute to the cause, prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other related disorders.

NTP Finalizes Report on Bisphenol A

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 8:30:00 EDT

Current human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in many polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is of “some concern” for effects on development of the prostate gland and brain and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children, according to a final report released today by the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

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