The health-related effects of asbestos have long been mired in controversy, with industry and plaintiff attorneys playing a significant role. This comprehensive book provides a balanced and extensive evidence-based critical analysis of the literature concerning asbestos-related diseases, from a scientific and historical perspective. The book presents a carefully referenced review of the medical literature on the health effects of asbestos, and reflects the extensive experience of the author in evaluating patients with asbestos-related disorders.

Biosensors are poised to make a large impact in environmental, food, and biomedical applications, as they clearly offer advantages over standard analytical methods, including minimal sample preparation and handling, real-time detection, rapid detection of analytes, and the ability to be used by non-skilled personnel. Covering numerous applications of biosensors used in food and the environment, Portable Biosensing of Food Toxicants and Environmental Pollutants presents basic knowledge on biosensor technology at a postgraduate level and explores the latest advances in chemical sensor technology for researchers. By providing useful, state-of-the-art information on recent developments in biosensing devices, the book offers both newcomers and experts a roadmap to this technology. In the book, distinguished researchers from around the world show how portable and handheld nanosensors, such as dynamic DNA and protein arrays, enable rapid and accurate detection of environmental pollutants and pathogens. The book first introduces the basic principles of biosensing for newcomers to the technology. It then explains how the integration of a "receptor" can provide analytically useful information. It also describes trends in biosensing and examines how a small-sized device can have portability for the in situ determination of toxicants. The book concludes with several examples illustrating how to determine toxicants in food and environmental samples.

This new, international and definitive guide to the investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of environmentally-acquired disorders is aimed at anyone specializing, or with a clinical interest, in environmental health issues.L Comprehensive, challenging, and informative, this book is a unique reference that brings into sharp focus the increasing importance of the practice of environmental medicine. Many topical and controversial subjects are put into evidence-based context.L The expert author team, drawn from a variety of backgrounds, has focused on the key issues in the field, placing emphasis on those most relevant to contemporary practice, with boxes providing detail on the more esoteric conditions. Hot topics include H1N1 influenza, climate change, air pollution, food contamination, and the health effects of air travel.

Deconditioning is an integrated physiological response of the body to a reduction in metabolic rate, that is, to a reduction in energy use or in exercise level. Deconditioning and Reconditioning presents selected background information on the many aspects of ground-based and in-flight physiological research and applications.
This multi-author volume emphasizes human research programs on prolonged bed rest, immersion and confinement studies simulating conditions of space flight, as well as data from humans in space. Consolidating this research, chapters cover the psycho-sociological aspects of confinement deconditioning, the effects of deconditioning and reconditioning on aerobic power, thermoregulation during deconditioning, and practical applications.

Work-related disability is an increasingly important issue in businesses and organisations, in terms of cost and competitiveness as well as being an obvious social and ethical issue. Moreover, changes in the nature of disability arising from developments in the nature of work warrant a new approach to this relatively important but understudied topic.
Significant developments have taken place in the understanding of risk in a changing labour market; in linking injury events with subsequent primary prevention efforts; in engaging all the key stakeholders in effective pre-injury prevention and post-injury disability management efforts; and in exploring the relative contributions of company-level interventions and economic incentives and regulatory interventions. These issues are examined and drawn together to form a unique, evidence-based, state-of-the-art research work revealing what works best in the prevention of workplace disability. It takes into account the changing nature of the workplace and work force; the newest evidence on what constitutes effective early and staged multi modal interventions in the workplace; psychological risk perception; and the essential linking of the workplace, the clinician, the insurer and the worker in the recovery process and in the prevention of subsequent disability events at work.

This volume illustrates the impact of environmental oxidants on the tissues of the eyes, lungs and skin, as well as on the immune system - highlighting common illnesses, injuries and pathologies induced by pro-oxidant environmental xenobiotics such as inflammation, immune response, signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, and carcinogenesis. It provides clinical presentations and discusses the effects of environmental oxidants on target organs.

Written by multidisciplinary experts in medicine, chemistry, and architecture, this book examines chemical sensitivity (CS). In 15 chapters fitted to 15 lectures, it discusses not only the medical explanation, but also the environmental factors of this hypersensitive reaction, such as chemistry and architectural aspects. The book overviews pollution-induced diseases such as Minamata Disease. It also points out the similarity of modern hypersensitivity syndromes to historical pollution diseases from the viewpoints of not only natural scientific aspects, but also social understanding of the disease.

Assessment of freshwater sediments can determine whether chemical concentrations are sufficient to cause adverse effects on aquatic organisms or organisms higher in the food chain, including humans. This book presents methods for assessing sediments and includes an integration of physical, chemical, and biological information. It examines the elements of quality assurance and control programs, considerations for the conduct of field surveys, screening-level analyses, chemical analyses, toxicity tests for assessing biological impacts, assessments of benthic invertebrate community structure, surveys of fish tumors and abnormalities, and data presentation and interpretation techniques.

The potential health hazards that might arise from the presence of organic substances in water are a matter of increasing concern to the water industry, environmentalists and the general public alike. This comprehensive reference draws together and systematises the vast body of information available on the occurrence and determination of organic substances in natural waters. Organic Compounds in Natural Waters provides a comprehensive description of organic substances in waters. Methods are provided in broad outline, with guidance on their applicability, their comparative advantages and disadvantages, possible interferences, sensitivity and detection levels. The book is an essential reference for analytical chemists working in industry, water utilities, government, non government organisations and regulatory agencies and environmental/analytical consultants.

A Proactive Approach to Improving and Protecting the Environment The accumulation of pharmaceuticals in the environment is a growing concern, the magnitude of which has not been determined, yet cannot be ignored. Touting the benefits of research and discovery as it relates to a pharmaceutical presence in the environment, Pharmaceutical Accumulation in the Environment: Prevention, Control, Health Effects, and Economic Impact explores ways to effectively minimize the harmful impact of environmental contaminants. It considers current practice in the field, provides a historical reference, and presents effective methods for detecting and containing low levels of environmental contaminants. It also offers practical suggestions for mobilizing private and public resources. Discusses Health Impacts and Risks to Humans and Other Living Species The contributors of this work consider important environmental contaminants that include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and special products, such as contrast agents and illicit drugs. This book describes current health impact concerns, methods for assessing risk, and lessening the negative impact on health through research and analysis. It examines the costs of wastewater treatment, and considers ways to potentially reduce the effect of environmental contaminants in treated water and in the soil. It looks at what may be done about contaminated soil and landfills, addresses the costs of contaminant elimination, and suggests ways to get rid of contaminants sensibly and consistently. It also includes case histories and chapters authored by specialists who are experts in their fields. Developed as a reference for professionals and senior undergraduate and graduate students in environmental science/ecotoxicology, the text proposes advancements and applications that can help control pharmaceutical accumulation and improve the environment. It serves as a resource for those in the pharmaceutical industries, personal care product industries, and related areas; scientists and researchers in related areas; as well as environmental protection agencies, physicians, and medical personnel.

This book explores environmental and human risk problems caused by contamination, from the perspective of real world applications with quantitative procedures. It includes risk methods for environmental problems where data are sparse or fuzzy, and incorporates political, social and economic considerations in determining directions of remediation solutions for environmental contaminant problems. It highlights the impact of contaminants on human health sometimes fatal - and the anthropogenic exacerbation of natural processes.