International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013
Mosquito surveillance in Europe is essential for early detection of invasive species with public ... more Mosquito surveillance in Europe is essential for early detection of invasive species with public health importance and prevention and control of emerging pathogens. In Portugal, a vector surveillance national program-REVIVE (REde de VIgilância de VEctores)-has been operating since 2008 under the custody of Portuguese Ministry of Health. The REVIVE is responsible for the nationwide surveillance of hematophagous arthropods. Surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) and other flaviviruses in adult mosquitoes is continuously performed. Adult mosquitoes-collected mainly with Centre for Disease Control light traps baited with CO2-and larvae were systematically collected from a wide range of habitats in 20 subregions (NUTS III). Around 500,000 mosquitoes were trapped in more than 3,000 trap nights and 3,500 positive larvae surveys, in which 24 species were recorded. The viral activity detected in mosquito populations in these years has been limited to insect specific flaviviruses (ISFs) non-pathogenic to humans. Rather than emergency response, REVIVE allows timely detection of changes in abundance and species diversity providing valuable knowledge to health authorities, which may take control measures of vector populations reducing its impact on public health. This work aims to present the REVIVE operation and to expose data regarding mosquito species composition and detected ISFs.
Exposure from the Chernobyl accident had adverse effects on erythrocytes, leukocytes, and, platel... more Exposure from the Chernobyl accident had adverse effects on erythrocytes, leukocytes, and, platelets in children in the Narodichesky region, Ukraine: A 6-year follow-up study
After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territor... more After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territory of the Narodichesky region, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine, were obliged to participate in a yearly medical examination. We present the results from these examinations for the years 1993 to 1998. Since the hematopoietic system is an important target, we investigated the association between residential soil density of 137 Caesium ( 137 Cs) and hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte, platelet, and leukocyte counts in 1,251 children, using 4,989 repeated measurements taken from 1993 to 1998.
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental h... more The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental health problems. This paper reports on the environmental health conditions in Ukraine after the accident and the health policy approaches employed to respond to the environmental conditions and health problems. Crisis conditions and a period of rapid change in Ukraine contributed to the difficulties of developing and implementing policy to address serious environmental health problems. Despite these difficulties, Ukraine is taking effective action. The paper describes the primary environmental health problem areas and the efforts taken to solve them. The effect of intense public fear of radiation on policymaking is described. The paper discusses the ability of public fear to distort health policy towards certain problems, leaving problems of greater importance with fewer resources. 35 refs., 1 fig.
The dependence of some parameters of L-cells culture viability on different concentrations of hea... more The dependence of some parameters of L-cells culture viability on different concentrations of heavy metals was studied. Considerable cytotoxic effect of low concentrations of nickel (0.025 mcg/ml) and lead (0.05 mcg/ml) was shown. Copper and chrome at concentrations of 0.25-0.5 mcg/ml promote cells proliferation between third and fifth days of cultivation. Nickel at concentration 0.025 mcg/ml and lead at all investigated concentrations synchronize cells division in culture. Increasing of giant polynucleas cells level in culture was characteristic for investigated metals. The maximum levels of this type cells were caused by the action of nickel, chrome and copper.
Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2015
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident represents one of the most significant civilian... more The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident represents one of the most significant civilian releases of 137 Cesium ( 137 Cs, radiocesium) in human history. In the Chernobyl-affected region, radiocesium is considered to be the greatest on-going environmental hazard to human health by radiobiologists and public health scientists. The goal of this study was to characterize dosimetric patterns and predictive factors for whole-body count (WBC)-derived radiocesium internal dose estimations in a CNPP-affected children's cohort, and cross-validate these estimations with a soil-based ecological dose estimation model. WBC data were used to estimate the internal effective dose using the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 67 dose conversion coefficient for 137 Cs and MONDAL Version 3.01 software. Geometric mean dose estimates from each model were compared utilizing paired t-tests and intra-class correlation coefficients. Additionally, we developed predictive models for WBC-derived dose estimation in order to determine the appropriateness of EMARC to estimate dose for this population. The two WBC-derived dose predictive models identified 137 Cs soil concentration (P o 0.0001) as the strongest predictor of annual internal effective dose from radiocesium validating the use of the soil-based EMARC model. The geometric mean internal effective dose estimate of the EMARC model (0.183 mSv/y) was the highest followed by the ICRP 67 dose estimates (0.165 mSv/y) and the MONDAL model estimates (0.149 mSv/y). All three models yielded significantly different geometric mean dose (P o 0.05) estimates for this cohort when stratified by sex, age at time of exam and season of exam, except for the mean MONDAL and EMARC estimates for 15-and 16-year olds and mean ICRP and MONDAL estimates for children examined in Winter. Further prospective and retrospective radio-epidemiological studies utilizing refined WBC measurements and ecological model dose estimations, in conjunction with findings from animal toxicological studies, should help elucidate possible deterministic radiogenic health effects associated with chronic low-dose internal exposure to 137 Cs.
After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territor... more After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territory of the Narodichesky region, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine, were obliged to participate in a yearly medical examination. We present the results from these examinations for the years 1993 to 1998. Since the hematopoietic system is an important target, we investigated the association between residential soil density of 137 Caesium ( 137 Cs) and hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte, platelet, and leukocyte counts in 1,251 children, using 4,989 repeated measurements taken from 1993 to 1998.
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental h... more The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental health problems. This paper reports on the environmental health conditions in Ukraine after the accident and the health policy approaches employed to respond to the environmental conditions and health problems. Crisis conditions and a period of rapid change in Ukraine contributed to the difficulties of developing
... Alexandra Kravets studied Biophysics at Kiev National University (KNU), Ukraine, obtaining he... more ... Alexandra Kravets studied Biophysics at Kiev National University (KNU), Ukraine, obtaining her Master's in 1975. ... varieties of soil influence the dynamics and level of dose accumulation from the incorporated radionuclides that enter the human body through meals (Likhtarev et al ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012
Background: Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devas... more Background: Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devastating effects. While much is known about their immediate devastation, far less is known about long-term impacts of these disasters. Extensive latent and chronic long-term public health effects may occur. Careful evaluation of contaminant exposures and long-term health outcomes within the constraints imposed by limited OPEN ACCESS financial resources is essential. Methods: Here, we review epidemiologic methods lessons learned from conducting long-term evaluations of four environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants at Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville (South Carolina, USA). Findings: We found several lessons learned which have direct implications for the on-going disaster recovery work following the Fukushima radiation disaster or for future disasters. Interpretation: These lessons should prove useful in understanding and mitigating latent health effects that may result from the nuclear reactor accident in Japan or future environmental public health disasters.
Background and Objective: Hot and cold temperatures significantly increase the risk of death in m... more Background and Objective: Hot and cold temperatures significantly increase the risk of death in many regions of the world. Different measures of temperature, including minimum, maximum and apparent temperature, have been used in previous research. Which temperature measure is the best predictor of mortality is not known. Methods: We used mortality data from 106 cities in the US NMMAPS study (years 1987-2000). We examined the association between temperature and mortality using Poisson regression and fitted a non-linear spline for temperature. We examined five measures of temperature, the effect of including relative humidity, and various degrees of freedom for the temperature spline. The best model was defined as that with the minimum absolute residual. The residuals were calculated using crossvalidation. Results: Maximum temperature was selected as the best temperature measure the most often (40 cities in the Ն65-year age group), and apparent temperature the least often (8 cities in the Ͻ65-year age group). Maximum temperature was the best measure in 10 out of 12 months in both age groups. Geographically, maximum temperature was the best measure in cold regions, and minimum temperature in warm regions. Humidity was important in almost every city in the Ն65 year age group. The seasonal variation in humidity showed a surprising peak in usefulness in winter. Conclusion: Apparent temperature is no better than standard measures of temperature in predicting mortality. Maximum temperature was generally the best measure in cold climates and minimum temperature in warm climates. Humidity is an important predictor of mortality in the elderly and its effect should be estimated separately from temperature.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013
Mosquito surveillance in Europe is essential for early detection of invasive species with public ... more Mosquito surveillance in Europe is essential for early detection of invasive species with public health importance and prevention and control of emerging pathogens. In Portugal, a vector surveillance national program-REVIVE (REde de VIgilância de VEctores)-has been operating since 2008 under the custody of Portuguese Ministry of Health. The REVIVE is responsible for the nationwide surveillance of hematophagous arthropods. Surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) and other flaviviruses in adult mosquitoes is continuously performed. Adult mosquitoes-collected mainly with Centre for Disease Control light traps baited with CO2-and larvae were systematically collected from a wide range of habitats in 20 subregions (NUTS III). Around 500,000 mosquitoes were trapped in more than 3,000 trap nights and 3,500 positive larvae surveys, in which 24 species were recorded. The viral activity detected in mosquito populations in these years has been limited to insect specific flaviviruses (ISFs) non-pathogenic to humans. Rather than emergency response, REVIVE allows timely detection of changes in abundance and species diversity providing valuable knowledge to health authorities, which may take control measures of vector populations reducing its impact on public health. This work aims to present the REVIVE operation and to expose data regarding mosquito species composition and detected ISFs.
Exposure from the Chernobyl accident had adverse effects on erythrocytes, leukocytes, and, platel... more Exposure from the Chernobyl accident had adverse effects on erythrocytes, leukocytes, and, platelets in children in the Narodichesky region, Ukraine: A 6-year follow-up study
After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territor... more After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territory of the Narodichesky region, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine, were obliged to participate in a yearly medical examination. We present the results from these examinations for the years 1993 to 1998. Since the hematopoietic system is an important target, we investigated the association between residential soil density of 137 Caesium ( 137 Cs) and hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte, platelet, and leukocyte counts in 1,251 children, using 4,989 repeated measurements taken from 1993 to 1998.
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental h... more The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental health problems. This paper reports on the environmental health conditions in Ukraine after the accident and the health policy approaches employed to respond to the environmental conditions and health problems. Crisis conditions and a period of rapid change in Ukraine contributed to the difficulties of developing and implementing policy to address serious environmental health problems. Despite these difficulties, Ukraine is taking effective action. The paper describes the primary environmental health problem areas and the efforts taken to solve them. The effect of intense public fear of radiation on policymaking is described. The paper discusses the ability of public fear to distort health policy towards certain problems, leaving problems of greater importance with fewer resources. 35 refs., 1 fig.
The dependence of some parameters of L-cells culture viability on different concentrations of hea... more The dependence of some parameters of L-cells culture viability on different concentrations of heavy metals was studied. Considerable cytotoxic effect of low concentrations of nickel (0.025 mcg/ml) and lead (0.05 mcg/ml) was shown. Copper and chrome at concentrations of 0.25-0.5 mcg/ml promote cells proliferation between third and fifth days of cultivation. Nickel at concentration 0.025 mcg/ml and lead at all investigated concentrations synchronize cells division in culture. Increasing of giant polynucleas cells level in culture was characteristic for investigated metals. The maximum levels of this type cells were caused by the action of nickel, chrome and copper.
Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2015
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident represents one of the most significant civilian... more The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident represents one of the most significant civilian releases of 137 Cesium ( 137 Cs, radiocesium) in human history. In the Chernobyl-affected region, radiocesium is considered to be the greatest on-going environmental hazard to human health by radiobiologists and public health scientists. The goal of this study was to characterize dosimetric patterns and predictive factors for whole-body count (WBC)-derived radiocesium internal dose estimations in a CNPP-affected children's cohort, and cross-validate these estimations with a soil-based ecological dose estimation model. WBC data were used to estimate the internal effective dose using the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 67 dose conversion coefficient for 137 Cs and MONDAL Version 3.01 software. Geometric mean dose estimates from each model were compared utilizing paired t-tests and intra-class correlation coefficients. Additionally, we developed predictive models for WBC-derived dose estimation in order to determine the appropriateness of EMARC to estimate dose for this population. The two WBC-derived dose predictive models identified 137 Cs soil concentration (P o 0.0001) as the strongest predictor of annual internal effective dose from radiocesium validating the use of the soil-based EMARC model. The geometric mean internal effective dose estimate of the EMARC model (0.183 mSv/y) was the highest followed by the ICRP 67 dose estimates (0.165 mSv/y) and the MONDAL model estimates (0.149 mSv/y). All three models yielded significantly different geometric mean dose (P o 0.05) estimates for this cohort when stratified by sex, age at time of exam and season of exam, except for the mean MONDAL and EMARC estimates for 15-and 16-year olds and mean ICRP and MONDAL estimates for children examined in Winter. Further prospective and retrospective radio-epidemiological studies utilizing refined WBC measurements and ecological model dose estimations, in conjunction with findings from animal toxicological studies, should help elucidate possible deterministic radiogenic health effects associated with chronic low-dose internal exposure to 137 Cs.
After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territor... more After the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986, all children in the contaminated territory of the Narodichesky region, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine, were obliged to participate in a yearly medical examination. We present the results from these examinations for the years 1993 to 1998. Since the hematopoietic system is an important target, we investigated the association between residential soil density of 137 Caesium ( 137 Cs) and hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte, platelet, and leukocyte counts in 1,251 children, using 4,989 repeated measurements taken from 1993 to 1998.
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental h... more The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine produced severe environmental health problems. This paper reports on the environmental health conditions in Ukraine after the accident and the health policy approaches employed to respond to the environmental conditions and health problems. Crisis conditions and a period of rapid change in Ukraine contributed to the difficulties of developing
... Alexandra Kravets studied Biophysics at Kiev National University (KNU), Ukraine, obtaining he... more ... Alexandra Kravets studied Biophysics at Kiev National University (KNU), Ukraine, obtaining her Master's in 1975. ... varieties of soil influence the dynamics and level of dose accumulation from the incorporated radionuclides that enter the human body through meals (Likhtarev et al ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2012
Background: Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devas... more Background: Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devastating effects. While much is known about their immediate devastation, far less is known about long-term impacts of these disasters. Extensive latent and chronic long-term public health effects may occur. Careful evaluation of contaminant exposures and long-term health outcomes within the constraints imposed by limited OPEN ACCESS financial resources is essential. Methods: Here, we review epidemiologic methods lessons learned from conducting long-term evaluations of four environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants at Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville (South Carolina, USA). Findings: We found several lessons learned which have direct implications for the on-going disaster recovery work following the Fukushima radiation disaster or for future disasters. Interpretation: These lessons should prove useful in understanding and mitigating latent health effects that may result from the nuclear reactor accident in Japan or future environmental public health disasters.
Background and Objective: Hot and cold temperatures significantly increase the risk of death in m... more Background and Objective: Hot and cold temperatures significantly increase the risk of death in many regions of the world. Different measures of temperature, including minimum, maximum and apparent temperature, have been used in previous research. Which temperature measure is the best predictor of mortality is not known. Methods: We used mortality data from 106 cities in the US NMMAPS study (years 1987-2000). We examined the association between temperature and mortality using Poisson regression and fitted a non-linear spline for temperature. We examined five measures of temperature, the effect of including relative humidity, and various degrees of freedom for the temperature spline. The best model was defined as that with the minimum absolute residual. The residuals were calculated using crossvalidation. Results: Maximum temperature was selected as the best temperature measure the most often (40 cities in the Ն65-year age group), and apparent temperature the least often (8 cities in the Ͻ65-year age group). Maximum temperature was the best measure in 10 out of 12 months in both age groups. Geographically, maximum temperature was the best measure in cold regions, and minimum temperature in warm regions. Humidity was important in almost every city in the Ն65 year age group. The seasonal variation in humidity showed a surprising peak in usefulness in winter. Conclusion: Apparent temperature is no better than standard measures of temperature in predicting mortality. Maximum temperature was generally the best measure in cold climates and minimum temperature in warm climates. Humidity is an important predictor of mortality in the elderly and its effect should be estimated separately from temperature.
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Papers by Marina Naboka