Letter health consultation : foundry slag used for road rock, Washington County, Iowa (2008)

A resident within one of the counties in your region has expressed some concern regarding potential adverse health effects from dust and material that may be found within foundry slag that has been used as a replacement for road rock. This consultation includes a comparison of nuisance issues from dust generated from a road constructed of foundry slag and dust generated from a road constructed from typical road rock. This consultation also includes a discussion of the potential health effects of exposure of heavy metals from incidental ingestion of foundry slag.

Public health assessment : Railroad Avenue groundwater contamination, West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa EPA facility ID: IA0001610963 (2004)

The Railroad Avenue groundwater contamination site (the site) is in West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Located on approximately 120 acres. The site comprises mixed residential, industrial and commercial properties. Underneath the site, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have contaminatcd the shallow (i.e., 30-50 feet deep) groundwater. These compounds have compromised several shallow wells within the West Des Moines water works system. A contamination source, however, has not yet been identified. In 1993, routine water analysis by the City of West Des Moines identified 1, 2 cis-dichlorocthylcne (1, 2 cis-DCE) at a concentration of 1.2 μg/L (micrograms) per liter of water) in the water supply. Subsequently. several shallow municipal wells were found to be contaminated by VOCs, including 1. 2 cis-DCE, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and benzene. Five of these wells have been taken out of service. Because of the impact on the West Des Moines water supply, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has assigned the site to the National Priorities List. Surface water und sediment at the site have not been impacted by the VOCs. Testing for VOCs in surface soils has not revealed any significant VOC contamination. Subsurface soils -- generally 8 feet or greater in depth -- are contaminated with VOCs, but at levels which should not present a health hazard. The past, present, and future health hazard category chosen for this site is no apparent public health hazard. This category is used when exposure to toxins might be occurring or might have occurrcd in the past, but at levels below any known health hazard. Analysis of available environmental data has not revealed that residental or commercial water customers are or have been exposed to VOCs at concentrations that might cause any adverse health effects.

Burden of invasive pneumococcal disease in Harris County, Texas (2003--2010) and the implication for enhanced public health surveillance of isolates

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) causes significant health burden in the US, is responsible for the majority of bacterial meningitis, and causes more deaths than any other vaccine preventable bacterial disease in the US. The estimated National IPD rate is 14.3 cases per 100,000 population with a case-fatality rate of 1.5 cases per 100,000 population. Although cases of IPD are routinely reported to the local health department in Harris County Texas, the incidence (IR) and case-fatality (CFR) rates have not been reported. Additionally, it is important to know which serotypes of S. pneumoniae are circulating in Harris County Texas and to determine if ‘replacement disease’ is occurring. ^ This study reported incidence and case-fatality rates from 2003 to 2009, and described the trends in IPD, including the IPD serotypes circulating in Harris County Texas during the study period, particularly in 2008 and 2010. Annual incidence rates were calculated and reported for 2003 to 2009, using complete surveillance-year data. ^ Geographic information system (GIS) software was used to create a series of maps of the data reported during the study period. Cluster and outlier analysis and hot spot analysis were conducted using both case counts by census tract and disease rate by census tract. ^ IPD age- and race-adjusted IR for Harris County Texas and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 1.40 (95% CI 1.0, 1.8), 1.71 (95% CI 1.24, 2.17), 3.13 (95% CI 2.48, 3.78), 3.08 (95% CI 2.43, 3.74), 5.61 (95% CI 4.79, 6.43), 8.11 (95% CI 7.11, 9.1), and 7.65 (95% CI 6.69, 8.61) for the years 2003 to 2009, respectively (rates were age- and race-adjusted to each year's midyear US population estimates). A Poisson regression model demonstrated a statistically significant increasing trend of about 32 percent per year in the IPD rates over the course of the study period. IPD age- and race-adjusted case-fatality rates (CFR) for Harris County Texas were also calculated and reported. A Poisson regression model demonstrated a statistically significant increasing trend of about 26 percent per year in the IPD case-fatality rates from 2003 through 2009. A logistic regression model associated the risk of dying from IPD to alcohol abuse (OR 4.69, 95% CI 2.57, 8.56) and to meningitis (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.46, 4.03). ^ The prevalence of non-vaccine serotypes (NVT) among IPD cases with serotyped isolates was 98.2 percent. In 2008, the year with the sample more geographically representative of all areas of Harris County Texas, the prevalence was 96 percent. Given these findings, it is reasonable to conclude that ‘replacement disease’ is occurring in Harris County Texas, meaning that, the majority of IPD is caused by serotypes not included in the PCV7 vaccine. Also in conclusion, IPD rates increased during the study period in Harris County Texas.^

Prevalence and trends of substance abuse in Harris County, Texas, 1989 to 1991

In the late 1980s, Harris County, Texas began experiencing an escalation of drug-related activities. Various indicators used in this analysis tracked drug-related trends from 1989 to 1991 to determine patterns for comparison of local (Houston/Harris County, Texas) to national levels.^ An important indicator of the drug scenario was drug-related activities among youths, which increased during the period of this study. The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department showed that among arrests for drug-related activities, felonies increased from 25% in 1988 to 53% in 1991. With the rise in drug-related crimes, and substance abuse among the student body, school districts were forced to institute drug education programs in an effort to curtail such activities.^ Law enforcement agencies in the county saw increased demands for their services as a result of drug activities. Harris County Sheriffs Department reported a 32% plus increase in drug-related charges between 1986 and 1991. Houston Police Department reported an increase of 109% for the same period.^ Data from the Harris County Medical Examiner, the National Institute of Justice's Drug Use Forecasting System (Houston), and drug treatment facilities around Houston/Harris County, Texas indicated similar drug usage trends. Over a four-year period (1988-91), the drugs most frequently detected during blood and urine analyses were cocaine, followed by marijuana, heroin, LSD, and methamphetamines.^ From 1988 to 1991, most drug rehabilitation organizations experienced increased demands for their services by approximately 35%. Several other organizations experienced as much as a 70 percent increase. Males accounted for roughly 70% and females about 30% of persons seeking treatment. However, the number of females pursuing treatment increased, thereby reducing the gender gap.^ Blacks in Houston/Harris County were at higher risk for drug usage among the general population, but sought treatment more readily than other ethnic groups. Whites sought treatment in similar numbers as Blacks, but overall the risk appeared smaller because they made up a larger portion of the Houston/Harris County population.^ This analysis concluded that drug trends for the Houston/Harris County, Texas did not follow national trends, but showed patterns of its own. It was recommended that other communities carry out similar studies to determine drug use trends particular to their local. ^

Addressing teenage pregnancy in rural areas: A case study from Liberty County, Texas

This study explores the issue of teenage pregnancy in a case study of Liberty County, a rural area in Texas with no public health department. It also describes the decision-making process and barriers faced in the beginning phases of adopting a sexual education program, and sets forth an implementation plan for two school districts on disseminating an evidence-based, comprehensive curriculum. Methods include a review of epidemiological data surrounding teenage pregnancy on the national, state, and county level; a literature review of factors related to teenage pregnancy and past interventions implemented in a rural community; a policy review of past and current bills in Legislature; and an analysis of barriers and decision making in implementing an evidence based program through qualitative observations, discussions with community members during meetings, presentations, and discussions. Results of this study indicate that there is a lack of research conducted in rural areas in the field of teenage pregnancy prevention and sexual education programs. Barriers experienced in Liberty County are shown to be consistent in scientific literature such as funding, logistical issues, and problems approaching the School Board in adopting a comprehensive sexual education program. This study fills a large gap in the literature on rural adolescents and attempts to analyze the process of decision-making in a rural area related to adoption of sexual education programming. In order to relieve this health disparity, further research should focus on rural areas to gain insight on the attitudes and behaviors of rural adolescents and beliefs among community stakeholders.^

An investigation of pertussis cases in a Texas county from 2008 through 2012

Background: Once thought to be eradicated, pertussis is now making a steady comeback throughout Texas and the United States. Pertussis can have an effect on all demographics, but infants have the greatest health concern as they suffer the highest case-fatality rate. The objective of this study was to create and report a comprehensive summary of confirmed or probable pertussis cases in a Texas County during the 2008 through 2012 time period.^ Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to show at risk populations in a Texas county using descriptive statistics of data from probable and confirmed pertussis cases in this Texas County from 2008-2012. Data was collected during routine pertussis investigations conducted by the local health department of this Texas County.^ Results: There was a sharp increase in pertussis cases seen in this county in 2012. Hispanics made up the majority of cases (74.9%) as compared to 12.8% of cases among Whites, 3.1% of cases among Blacks and 9.2% of cases among unknown/other. The population of Hispanics within this county was 58.9%. Almost a quarter of cases (24.2%) in this study were hospitalized. There was no difference identified in the proportion of male sources of exposure (48.9%) as compared to female (51.1%). Household contacts were the main sources of exposure: siblings (29.2%), fathers (14.5%), children (14.6%), and mothers (12.5%).^ Conclusion: Prevention intervention needs to be designed to target vulnerable populations and reduce the effect of this sometimes fatal disease. These results show pertussis proportionally has a greater effect on Hispanics. Additional research needs to be conducted on risk factors such as household crowding and immunization status among Hispanics to identify if ethnicity plays a role in risk of transmission of pertussis. The results were limited due to the large amount of missing data in vaccination history and identification of source of exposure.^

Drinking-water quality and variations in water levels in the fractured crystalline-rock aquifer, west-central Jefferson County, Colorado /

Mode of access: Internet.

Department of Energy fiscal year 1983 budget on environment, health, and safety [microform] : hearing before the Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research, and Environment of the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, March 11, 1982.

"No. 97."

Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Act : (20 ILCS 1705/0.01 et seq.)

"Including selected sections of the Civil Administrative Code."

Annual report of the Department of Health of the City of New York ...

1881-1888 never published; statistical report for those years published in the report for 1892.

Weekly report of the Department of Health of the City of New York.

Caption title.

Iowa Department of Public Health Regulatory Plan FY 2016, August 1, 2015

The Department’s vision and mission statements broadly describe the obligations imposed on the Department of Public Health by statute. This plan was approved by Gerd Clabaugh, MPA, Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. The following table, arranged by Department Divisions, summarizes the administrative rules currently under active consideration or development for fiscal year 2016.

Iowa Department of Public Health, Occupational Health & Safety Surveillance Program Annual Report, July 1, 2013- June 30, 2014, August 1, 2014

The mission of the Iowa OHSSP is to promote and protect the health and safety of Iowans in the workplace. The fundamental or core program provides administrative coordination and continuity across all IDPH OHSSP projects, explores options to improve the surveillance and data translation capacity of the entire program, and provides outreach, dissemination, and evaluation functions to support each project. The core program is also responsible for the Occupational Health Indicators project and Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES), as well as working with external partner projects and reports.