Laboring Over Children’s Health
Study Focuses on Protecting Children from Environmental Risk
C
“Children are not miniature adults,” emphasizes
pediatrician and environmental epidemiologist Dr.
Lynn Goldman. “Pound for pound, children breathe
more air, eat more food, and drink more water than
adults, and therefore bear a greater burden of
environmental insults than adults.” For Goldman,
affording special protections for children must spring
from the conviction that environmental standards
should protect all susceptible populations.
from conception into adulthood, researchers will be
able to describe the sequence and timing of potentially
harmful exposures, as well as public health
interventions that can be developed to protect future
generations of children. “The study is unique,” says
Goldman. “No research has ever attempted to examine
the long-term effects of environmental health hazards
and other environmental exposures on the health and
development of infants and children.”
As EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of
Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Goldman
worked to develop regulatory and science policies to
address risks to children. In 1999, she left the EPA and
joined the faculty in the Department of Environmental
Health Sciences. These days, she continues to
champion the cause of protecting children through her
research to better understand the role of environmental
factors in diseases and exposures of children and the
role of developmental stage in
susceptibility.
The study brings together researchers from many
fields to tackle these complex questions and opens the
door to understanding the environmental origins of
diseases. “By tracking the impact of early childhood
risk factors for diseases such as diabetes, obesity,
hypertension, and asthma,” says project coordinator
Ruth Quinn, “we hope to promote sustainable and
healthful environments for children.” The study’s
overarching objective will be to explore how biological,
genetic, social and environmental
factors contribute separately
and in combination to
childhood diseases and to
chronic disease later in life.
Toward that end, Goldman is
developing a statewide
longitudinal cohort study of
children and preventable risk
factors for childhood
disease and chronic
disease later in life. The
Maryland Mothers &
Babies Study (MMBS) is
investigating the health
Doctoral students Ben
impact of a broad array
Apelberg and Julie
of environmental
Herbstman are helping
exposures on children
Dr. Lynn Goldman
born in Maryland. Because
improve infant health.
the cohort will be followed
As part of this initiative,
Goldman is principal
investigator for the
LIFE (Longitudinal
Investigation of
Fertility and the
Environment)
Study, funded by
the National
Institute for Child
continued on page 3
Under the Microscope
Research news of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Rising to the Challenge
Bakers Yeast Aids Research into New Pathways of Metal Trafficking
Y
Yeast, one of the key ingredients in bakeries and
breweries, is playing a key role in Dr. Valeria Culotta’s
pioneering study to find answers underlying the motor
neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “Yeast cells are
an excellent model organism in which to study the
gene that can cause ALS,” explains Culotta. “Not only
do they grow rapidly in the laboratory, but many yeast
genes have human homologues.” Using bakers’ yeast
as a model, Culotta’s lab has been conducting a
comparative biology study to analyze the gene
superoxide dismutase (SOD1), which is nearly
identical in humans and yeast, to uncover the gene’s
role in selective loss of motor neurons characteristic
of ALS.
Finding the Culprit
ALS affects the communication between nerves
and muscles, resulting in the inability of the brain to
control muscle movement. The progressive
degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually
leads to their death. Two classifications of ALS are
dominant in the United States—sporadic, the most
common form and familial, the genetic or inherited
form. Researchers have identified a defective SOD1
gene on chromosome 21 as responsible for some
cases of familial ALS. Scientists know that some ALS
patients show an unnatural clumping or aggregation
of the protein SOD1. Culotta suspects these clumps
might wreak mayhem with motor neurons and trigger
symptoms of the disease. Understanding the function
these protein aggregates may play in ALS and how to
prevent them from clumping is at the center of
Culotta’s research. One of the theories for how
aggregates of SOD1 cause ALS involves their
interaction with mitochondria. Culotta has shown
that the SOD1 enzyme is capable of entering
mitochondria. “Mitochondria can be thought of
as a cell’s battery, producing energy through
cellular respiration,” says Culotta. “When
enough of the SOD1 aggregates build up, they
can perturb the normal function of this
important battery.”
The Big Mystery
Why these clumps form in motor neurons is still a
mystery. Normally, the SOD1 enzyme does not
aggregate and plays a vital role by protecting cells
from the toxicity of oxygen. To function properly
SOD1 requires copper. Copper binding to SOD1 can
also prevent misfolding and aggregation of the
protein. But inside the cell, SOD1 cannot find copper
on its own. Copper is distributed to distinct
localizations in the cell through diverse pathways.
Through genetic studies on yeast, Culotta found that
the delivery of copper to SOD1 is mediated by a
family of intracellular proteins termed copper
chaperones. “These
chaperones can
be thought of
as mailmen,”
muses
Culotta.
“They
isolate
copper,
which can be
potentially
toxic otherwise,
and wind
Dr. Valeria Culotta, Professor of Toxicological
Sciences, Department of Environmental Health
Science and Co-Director of Molecular
Toxicology Research Core, NIEHS Center in
Urban Environmental Health
continued on page 8
continued from page 1
Health and Human Development. The LIFE Study
goal is to learn more about how the environment
affects fertility. The study will recruit and follow 250
couples who are attempting pregnancy to assess the
potential reproductive and developmental toxicity of
persistent environmental chemicals.
Another project under the MMBS umbrella is the
Baltimore THREE Study (Tracking Health Related to
Environmental Exposures), a collaborative study
designed to investigate the way newborns are exposed
to environmental chemicals in utero and how this may
affect their growth and development. To this end,
Goldman is collaborating with Principal Investigator
Dr. Frank Witter, faculty at the School of Medicine and
Chief of Labor and Delivery at the Hospital. CDC
Laboratories will analyze 300 cord blood samples for
an array of 25 chemicals. Doctoral student Julie
Herbstman, funded by the Center for a Livable Future,
is looking at PBDEs as part of this study. Assistant
Professor Rolf Halden is Principal Investigator for the
Human Fetal Exposure to Drinking Water Carcinogens
in Maryland Study, funded by the Cigarette Restitution
Fund, which is collaborating with Goldman and Witter
to look at water pollutants and cord tissue collected by
the THREE Study. “During development, fetuses are
especially vulnerable to a broad array of environmental
exposures,” explains Goldman. “By looking at cord
blood, we will have an idea of what exposures occurred
in utero.” The THREE Study will evaluate some of the
immediate health outcomes of such exposures,
including birth weight, gestational age, and other
indicators of growth and development to determine if
these indices are related to the levels of chemicals in
the cord blood. “While exposure to environmental
chemicals in utero may have immediate health effects,”
concludes Goldman, “there is growing evidence that
early exposures may also be linked to chronic diseases
in adulthood, including cardiovascular disease and
cancer.” Under the MMBS umbrella, Goldman, Witter
and Halden are creating a repository of specimens
from these efforts that will bring opportunities for
research for other faculty and students in the future. In
addition to the research component, MMBS organizes
several workshops and sponsors several seminars
annually to explore relevant topics associated with
childhood risks and development.
In print
Published Research of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Scientists Identify Compounds That Mimic
Calorie Restriction
I
Investigators from an international consortium of
research institutes, including the Bloomberg School,
have identified compounds that mimic the effects of
a low-calorie diet without changing the amount of
essential nutrients. Researchers believe it may be
possible to design drugs that imitate many of the
beneficial effects of calorie restriction resulting in the
prevention of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease
and cancer, which are more common in people who
are overweight. Co-author Thomas W. Kensler, PhD,
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the
Bloomberg School, explained that calorie restriction
has intrigued scientists for decades because it
increases the life span of almost every species studied.
In mammals, calorie restriction suppresses many
diseases associated with the obesity epidemic. Their
findings are published in the October 29, 2004 issue
of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Gene Found to Defend Against Pollutants
and Pulmonary Emphysema
R
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health and other institutions have
identified a “master gene” in mice that controls the
action of 50 other genes whose products protect
the lungs against environmental pollutants. The
researchers believe their findings will provide a
better understanding of the human body’s
defense mechanisms and could lead to the
identification of what factors make some people
more susceptible to lung diseases. Shyam Biswal,
PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of
Environmental Health Sciences, was senior author of
the study along with Tirumalai Rangasamy, PhD, first
coauthor of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in
Biswal’s lab. “Genetic ablation of Nrf2 enhances
susceptibility to cigarette smoke-induced emphysema
in mice” is published in the November 1, 2004, issue
of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
In the Community
Outreach News of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Swimming in Sewage
Sewage Overflows Threaten Baltimore City Waterways
A
A report released by the Baltimore Sanitary Sewer
Oversight Coalition (BSSOC) finds that many urban
streams in Baltimore suffer from sewage
contamination. The report was written to draw
attention to the ongoing contamination of City
streams, many of which flow through municipal parks
and residential areas. The goal of the report is to
provide information to help identify ways to better
protect our urban waterways from sewage
contamination.
report will help us recognize the opportunities we
have to solve them.”
Sewage discharges caused by storm overflows and
an aging infrastructure allow untreated human waste
and personal care products to flow into local creeks
and streams. According to a consent decree with the
U.S. Department of Justice, Baltimore City has until
2016 to significantly reduce sewage overflows. The
cost of the work, estimated at $1.3 billion, will be paid
for by increases in residents’ water and sewer rates.
The water
Each year, there are about 100 overflows into our
quality report
streams and many more sewage backups into private
includes findings
homes from various causes - sometimes from defects
from research
on owners’ properties; sometimes from backups in
conducted by
City mains.
Rolf Halden,
PhD, PE,
“I hope this report will raise public awareness of
assistant
potential human health risks, and focus resources and
professor in the
actions to address water quality problems caused by
Department of
sewage spills,” said Halden. (see related story, page 14)
Environmental Health
Sciences at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health,
and Daniel Paul, a research intern and
graduate student in the Johns Hopkins
University Zanvyl Krieger School of
Arts & Sciences. Halden’s study, which
analyzed water samples from six urban
streams, identified several areas where
high levels of antimicrobial
compounds indicated massive
wastewater inputs. Perhaps the study’s
most alarming discovery was that the
water flowing from Gwynns Run into
Gwynns Falls was at times chemically
indistinguishable from raw sewage.
The study was funded by the Johns
Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
“This report is important because it
presents scientific evidence of
unhealthy levels of pollution from
(From left) Dr. Rolf Halden, Dr. Kellogg Schwab, Cristina Matos,
sewage,” said Dr. Halden. “We’ve
Tanveer Huq, and Tanikka Toler sampled water from several
known we have sewage problems. This
Baltimore City waterways to test for sewage contamination.
Taking Our Temperature
Global Environmental Scientist Answers Our Questions About Global Warming
A
A recent eight-nation report stating that global
warming is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as
the rest of the planet prompted us to sit down with
Dr. Cindy Parker, a faculty member in the
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, to
discuss the report and the impact of global
environmental change. Parker teaches a 4-credit
course “The Global Environment and Public Health,”
which explores the influence of development and
industrialization on the global environment such as
stratospheric ozone depletion, global climate change,
desertification, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, as
well as potential solutions to these problems. To learn
more about the course, offered during the 4th term,
contact Dr. Parker at (443) 287-6734 or
[email protected].
Does this report surprise you?
The report provides strong additional
evidence to what global scientists have been
cautioning for decades, Earth’s
thermometer is reflecting a big change,
affecting much of our planet including
the accelerated melting of glaciers and
polar ice caps.
What is causing our planet to
heat up?
The burning of fossil fuels has made
greenhouse gases, such as CO2 more abundant
in our atmosphere. Those gases capture heat from
the sun. The more heat our atmosphere traps, the
warmer our planet becomes. Glacial ice cores, which
contain small sealed pockets of air from ancient to
more recent times, tell scientists that the levels of
atmospheric CO2 have risen dramatically since the
start of the industrial revolution.
What temperature changes can we expect
from global warming?
This report documents that arctic temperatures
have already risen 5.4° to 7.2° F over the past 50 years,
and scientists project another 7° to 13° F in the next
century. Complex computer models project average
global surface temperature rises of 3o to 10.5o F over
the next 100 years.
The rise in temperature of a few degrees
doesn’t sound so bad. I never liked the
cold Maryland winters anyway.
Five degrees may not sound like much but that’s a
big jump for our planet. Small rises in temperature
can have huge impacts. Global warming isn’t just
about warmer temperatures. It will likely disrupt
climate patterns around the world and could lead to
outbreaks of disease. We are already seeing the
symptoms such as rising sea levels, shrinking glaciers,
and shifts in habitats.
Rising seas levels? Isn’t this the stuff
movies are made of?
Sea level is not fixed and you don’t have to
look far for evidence of its rising. The
Chesapeake Bay once contained
many islands, which today are
gone due to a combination
of rising sea levels and
sinking land mass. Smith
Island, the last
inhabited island in the
Bay, is currently being
threatened by rising
sea levels.
So will beach
replenishments and
sea walls keep Ocean
City dry?
Technology—and money—often help wealthier
nations protect their coast lines, but that’s not a
realistic option in the long run. Beach replenishment
is costly and disrupts ecosystems. Sea walls may
actually accelerate erosion. A better solution may be
soft barriers, such as natural plants. It is difficult to
come up with one simple strategy because of the
interrelation of our planet’s systems, but the more we
understand these complex interactions, the better
equipped we are to find solutions. In my course, I
help students appreciate the big picture of the
changing global environment and its potential impact
on public health. After all, it is hard to have healthy
people in an unhealthy environment.
Student News
Department of Environmental Health Sciences Student Activities
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
EHS Student Organization Sponsors Annual Outing
T
Tickets sold out fast
for the annual
Environmental Health
Sciences Student
Organization (EHSSO)
baseball game. More
than 200 departmental
students, faculty, staff,
and friends enjoyed
old-fashioned barbecue
sandwiches and beer
before taking to the
stands to watch the
Baltimore Orioles beat
the New York Yankees. The student group
sponsors several such activities to afford the
opportunity for students to network in a casual,
friendly environment.
EHS Team Raises Money for Breast Cancer Research
W
When EHS students aren’t studying, they’re raising
money for a good cause. On a sunny warm Saturday
morning, the EHS team, consisting of EHS staff,
students, and friends jogged their way toward a cure
for breast cancer at the annual Race for the Cure. The
annual event began at the Raven’s stadium and
included a 5K course around Baltimore City. This
year’s EHS team raised more than $700 for breast
cancer research and outreach. The money goes
directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation. By running and walking together, EHS
honored those who struggle with cancer personally, as
well as family and friends whose lives have been
impacted by cancer. “The money raised will come full
circle because some of the money funds research that
takes place right here in Maryland,” says EHS staff
member Dan Gudgel. Pictured (left to right) are team
members Matt Rich, Sharon Nappier, Dan Gudgel,
and Shoba Iyer.
Student Highlights
Student Highlights of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Trekking From Nepal
A Traveling Student’s Guide
A
Ask Amir Sapkota how his life could have turned
out differently and you’ll get a very straightforward
answer. He doesn’t know. Could he perhaps have
stayed with the large farming family he was born into
in eastern Nepal? He won’t say. “Once I’ve made a
decision I don’t look backward. I look where I want
to be, not where I could have been.”
That focus and determination took him from his
village public school to a private high school outside
Katmandu where he focused more intently on
science. Coming to Clark University in Worcester, MA
in 1993, he settled on a double major in chemistry and
environmental science. Time spent as a research
assistant at Harvard University after graduation
convinced him that public
health was the right
direction for a further
degree.
Amir knew that
the PhD program in
Environmental Health
Sciences at Hopkins
would put him on
the cutting
edge of
public
health
research. He knew that the Hopkins name would
open doors to future success like a degree from
nowhere else. He knew it would be hard, hard work.
But there were still plenty of surprises.
For one, he was amazed at just how diverse the
areas of research can be within one institution. “It’s
all ‘Public Health’ work being done here,” Amir says,
“but it’s on the extreme edges of the field as well as
through the middle.” Any and all aspects of public
health, from the molecular to the global, are receiving
attention. The critical mass of people with such
exciting ideas, all working at the peak of their abilities,
has a definite sharpening effect on research creativity
for all, Amir assures me.
There was surprise, too, that the faculty in a large
department in the oldest, largest, most academically
acclaimed school of public health in the country
would be so remarkably laid back, relaxed and
accessible. It’s not that they aren’t driven, energetic
people, Amir is quick to point out. But in many other
schools, the students rarely make it past a screen of
post-docs to actually interact with faculty. In short,
Amir says, the department’s open door policy works
wonderfully to encourage beneficial, meaningful
research relationships between students and faculty.
One of Amir’s main interests, and the focus of the
dissertation he successfully defended in September of
this year, is the carcinogens released in automobile
exhaust, and how they impact human health. Of
particular interest is 1,3-butadiene, which was recently
upgraded by the EPA and the National Toxicology
Program to the status of ‘Known Human
Carcinogen.’ Specifically, the project was concerned
with relating biomarkers of 1,3-butadiene in urine to
level and duration of exposure. In addition to
laboratory work, Amir conducted a study of toll
booth workers, a key research group due to their
workplace’s inundation with auto exhaust. As he
moves this research forward, the next step is to
accurately predict risk from 1,3-butadiene exposure.
continued on page 8
continued from page 2
through intracellular pathways to deliver the metal
ions safely to the SOD1 protein. Culotta hypothesizes
that the SOD1 clumping might be caused by a
malfunction in the delivery of copper to the SOD1
enzyme.
The Next Step
Her ALS studies, supported by the Robert Packard
Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins and an
NIH grant, have found that the clumping/
aggregation of mutant SOD1 can be prevented by the
copper chaperone. Cultures of mouse cells lacking
copper chaperones but which, instead, seem to
depend upon alternative routes for their copper, show
an increase in the aggregation or clumping of SOD1.
This suggests to Culotta that the copper chaperone
may be truly beneficial in preventing the aggregation
and toxicity from ALS mutant SOD1.
Mapping out the basic science of copper transport
to SOD1 moves Culotta one step closer to her goal
of developing a technique to control the aggregation
and toxicity from mutant SOD1. Culotta hopes that
her research will lead to new ways of controlling
copper binding to the ALS mutant SOD1 molecules
in humans. This information could be useful to
ultimately design methods for controlling copper
insertion into human SOD1 and preventing ALS.
Culotta’s ALS studies fit into the larger picture of
her research interests, which involve the transport of
environmental metals to enzymes and the role these
metal ions play in disease. In addition to her studies
on copper and SOD1, Culotta has been examining
how other metals that are potentially toxic, yet
How Similar Are We To Baker’s Yeast?
It is humbling to accept
that baker’s yeast is our
relative. What can we possibly
have in common with this
single-celled fungi, better
known as the building blocks
of bread, beer and wine? The
answer is surprising. We are
so similar to yeast that much
of what is known about
living systems and the way
that they function has been learned not from
the study of humans but from the study of
yeast. In fact, nearly everything we know
about the human cell cycle was originally
learned through the study of yeast.
important nutrients, are handled inside living cells.
For example, the metals manganese and iron are
potent neurotoxins and have been associated with
both environmental and genetic based diseases. But
these same metals need to be acquired by all cells for
the proper functioning of enzymes. Culotta has been
using genetic techniques in yeast to map out the
highways and special delivery mailmen needed for
intracellular trafficking of these metals as well.
Listening to Culotta converse about her research,
one thing comes to this humbled writer’s mind—yeast
isn’t just for baking anymore!
continued from page 7
Not satisfied with one area of research, Amir’s
other current project focuses on the intercontinental
transport of air pollutants. The effects of these
pollution sources on air quality are only beginning to
be understood. Many readers will remember when a
cloud of smoky particulate matter from Canadian
forest fires blanketed much of the eastern seaboard in
July, 2002. As the rest of us coughed and squinted,
Amir was inspired to study the broader implications
and effects of the international exchange of
pollution. A recently published paper he authored has
clearly shown an adverse linkage between this largescale transport of particulate matter and air quality.
Inspired in part by the mentors he’s had at the
Bloomberg School, Amir’s future plans include
teaching while continuing to work on air pollution
issues, with a particular focus on the developing
world. “With a host of issues with instant implication
surrounding them and limited resources to spend,
environmental health is not on the front burner of
policymakers in developing countries, and that is
where the solution begins,” Amir states. The energy
that has made him so successful thus far should have
no trouble sustaining him across the globe.
Seminar Summary
Seminars Highlighting Department of Environmental Health Sciences Faculty and Activities
Is the Glass Half Empty? Human Impact on Water Resources
K
Kellogg Schwab had three words of advice for his
audience: “Wash you hands! If you take away one
thing from this talk, let it be: ‘Wash Your Hands.’
Anything else you remember
is a bonus.” He backed up his
initial advice by noting that
Mahatma Gandhi, who
devoted his adult life to
achieving India’s
independence, once declared,
‘Sanitation is more important
than independence.’
The assistant professor of
environmental health sciences
was the featured speaker at
the 6th Annual Dr. Leroy E.
Burney Lecture. A national
expert on water-related public
health issues, Schwab’s September 29th lecture focused
on the contamination of water supplies by human
enteric viruses. “While people in many areas of the
world do not have access to clean drinking water,
that’s not the case in the United States,” explained
Schwab. “In the U.S. we take it for granted that we
can drink a glass of water and not die from it, that we
can flush the toilet and not have that sewage back
up.” However, microorganisms such as
Cryptosporidium and E. coli spell potential disaster to
the quality of our water supply. Schwab’s work
focuses on the microorganisms—viruses, bacteria and
parasites—that pollute our water supplies and new
ways to detect and combat those waterborne
microorganisms. He stated that on any one day, 200
million people on earth are afflicted with
gastroenteritis from drinking contaminated water;
worldwide, that adds up to 3 to 5 billion cases
annually and 5 to 10 million deaths.
Serious Sources of Contamination
According to Schwab, agriculture contributes the
most pollutants to the environment. And, within
agriculture, the most spectacular point-source
polluters, he said, are the concentrated animal feeding
operations (CAFOs—the so-called “factory farms”).
Animal waste stored in lagoons can overflow
during heavy rains, befouling nearby rivers, streams
and groundwater with not just dangerous
contaminants but also
antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Finally, he noted that
500,000 miles of sewage lines
snake across the United States,
and that along every 1,000 miles
of this system, there are going
to be an average of 143 breaks.
What Can We Do?
“Cable TV can cost $120 a
month,” said Schwab, “but
we’re billed about a dollar a day
per household for drinking and
flushing.” According to Schwab,
even though water is still priced below its value in this
country, we must realize that we are living in a dream
world and start conserving water. And we must realize
that CAFOs are not merely a source of cheap meat,
but that they have other, darker implications for the
planet.
Also, when citizens discover a sanitary stack that is
overflowing, or any sewage leak, report the leak to
public works or your local watershed association. Let
your legislators know that maintaining the sewer
infrastructure is important.
And, added Kellogg Schwab one
last time, “Wash your hands.”
The Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis
Symposium Honors 40 Years of Tuberculosis Research
O
On October 6, to honor Dr. Arthur Dannenberg’s
80th birthday, faculty, staff and friends attended a
day-long symposium focusing on the pathogenesis of
tuberculosis. Dannenberg has spent his entire research
career on tuberculosis, the past 40 years of it at Johns
Hopkins. His studies are currently being assembled
into a book to be published by the American Society
of Microbiology. The
scientific portion of the
symposium commenced
after personal and
professional overviews
of Dr. Dannenberg by
his son Andrew L.
Dannenberg, MD and
by Dr. John Groopman,
Anna Baetjer Chair of
the Department of
Environmental
Sciences.
vibrant career.
In addition to Dannenberg’s wife, son, two
daughters and their families, attendees included Dr.
William Bennett, one of Dr. Dannenberg’s longest
standing research partners, and Jacques H. Grosset, a
tuberculosis luminary recently recruited from
retirement in Paris into
the Johns Hopkins
Center for Tuberculosis
Research. Over seventy
people were on hand
when the symposium
began at 8 am, and
attendance had swelled
to over a hundred by the
afternoon sessions.
The symposium
concluded with a
reception and birthday
celebration. In addition
Distinguished
to the presentations, the
tuberculosis researchers
day afforded the
such as Jerrold Ellner
Dr. Dannenberg is joined by family during the reception.
opportunity for
of the University of
scientists to network
Medicine and Dentistry
with many of the nation’s leading tuberculosis
of New Jersey, David McMurray of Texas A & M
investigators. Attendees mingled over lunch and cake,
University, Glyn Hewinson of Weybridge Veterinary
renewing old acquaintances and making new working
Laboratory (UK) and William Bishai of the Johns
connections. The insights provided can be used to
Hopkins University School of Medicine provided
understand the effects of new drugs and potential
insight into the state of current research on
vaccines on the course of tuberculosis.
tuberculosis, while peppering their lectures with asides
on Dr. Dannenberg’s contributions to both the field
Along with Yuka Manabe, the symposium was
and their individual careers. Dr. George Comstock, an
organized by Noreen Hynes, also of the Hopkins
early pioneer in studying the disease, supplied the
School of Medicine, with the assistance of the staff
historical context to judge how far the battle against
of the Department of Environmental Health
tuberculosis has come. Richard Chaisson and
Sciences. Financial
symposium organizer Yuka Manabe of the School of
support for the
Medicine, along with Michael Iseman of the
event was provided
University of Colorado School of Medicine wrapped
by the Department,
up the presentations by looking forward to the future
the School of
of tuberculosis modeling in animals, hopes and
Medicine, the
challenges for a vaccine, and how Dannenberg and
Center for
his research will continue to contribute to the field.
Tuberculosis
Research, Aeras
After the first morning session, Dr. Dannenberg
Global TB Vaccine
was moved to make an impromptu address of thanks
Foundation, Pfizer,
to his family and the assembled crowd for their
Inc., and BectonDr. Dannenberg shares a moment
support over the years. The audience rewarded him
of appreciation with symposium
Dickinson.
with a standing ovation in honor of his long and still
co-organizer Yuka Manabe.
Of Interest
News from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Reflections on Toxicology
Anna Baetjer Lecture focuses on history of toxicology at Hopkins
T
The 16th annual Anna Baetjer Lecture took place
October 5, at the Bloomberg School of Public
Health. Dr. John Groopman opened the event by
welcoming all who attended and introducing this
year’s speaker, Dr. Robert J. Rubin, professor emeritus.
Rubin delivered an engaging lecture, entitled Reflections
on Toxicology on the 40th Anniversary of its Establishment by
Anna Baetjer at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, recounting the history of toxicology
from its inception at the School. In 1964, Rubin was
recruited by Baetjer to be director of the nation’s first
training program in environmental toxicology. “At
that time,” Rubin recounted, “toxicology was an
offshoot of pharmacology and only beginning to
Dr. Robert J. Rubin; Anna M. Baetjer Professor
Dr. John D. Groopman; and last year’s speaker
Dr. Edyth Schoenrich mingle during the
reception in front of Anna Baetjer’s portrait.
break away on its own.” The program has continued
to grow and flourish since then. Rubin is best known
for his extraordinary discovery that vinyl used in
blood storage resulted in a slow migration of
plasticizer into blood. During his seminar, he spoke
about the challenges facing the new toxicology
program, and occasionally interjected humor by
sharing insider stories about his research. Following
the lecture was a luncheon reception to honor Rubin.
Environmental Health Sciences Researchers Receive Aerosol Paper Award
D
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
2004 graduate Aleksandr Stefaniak, PhD, and
Professor Patrick Breysse, PhD, MHS, along with coauthors, were recently awarded the David L. Swift
Memorial Award. The award is given annually by the
Aerosol Technology Committee of the American
Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). The paper,
entitled, “Surface Area of Respirable Beryllium Metal,
Oxide and Copper Alloy Aerosols and Implications
for Assessment of Exposure Risk of Chronic
Beryllium Disease,” deals with chronic beryllium
disease in the work place. Epidemiologic studies of
chronic beryllium
disease suggest that all
beryllium materials from
different sources with
different chemical
properties may have
different toxicity. The
award was presented at
the AIHA’s 2004
Conference and Expo.
Patrick Breysse, PhD, MHS
The Urb Blurb
News from the Johns Hopkins Center in Urban Environmental Health
EnviroMysteries Takes Center Stage in Hollywood
N
Not even the Harry Potter series is doing as well
recognized by EMA,” said Michael Trush, Center
these days as EnviroMysteries. Fresh off its summer
Deputy Director. “EnviroMysteries is playing a key
Emmy award in the Children’s Programs category,
role in helping to focus the next generation of
EnviroMysteries: Breaking the
scientists on important
Mold has received an
environmental issues.”
environmental media award in
Educational experts from
the Children’s Television—Live
Maryland Public Television
Action category.
and the NIEHS Center in
Environmental Media Awards
Urban Environmental Health
honor film and television
teamed up to create
productions that increase
EnviroMysteries.
public awareness of
EnviroMysteries is an
environmental problems and
ongoing video series for
inspire personal action on
middle-school students,
these problems. The Awards
which explores the
recognize writers, producers,
relationship between our
directors, actors, and others in
health and the environment.
the entertainment industry
Developed with the support
who actively expressed their
of an NIEHS grant, the
Hollywood isn’t the only place producing award
concern for the environment
series shows students how to
winning mystery movies. In EnviroMysteries:
through their work. First
become active participants in
Breaking the Mold, the main character follows the
presented in 1991, these
process of scientific inquiry, from observation to
local, national, and global
awards are given annually by
hypothesis development and testing to forming a
environmental health issues
the Environmental Media
conclusion in order to solve the mold mystery
by becoming literate in
Association (EMA).
presented during the video.
science and health. The video
EnviroMysteries shared the
features dramas and mini-documentaries, along with
evening limelight with such notables as Daryl Hannah
accompanying lesson plans and student activities.
and Willie Nelson. “It is an honor to have our work
UPCOMING CENTER EVENTS
The Johns Hopkins Center in Urban Environmental Health has worked with Maryland Public
Television for several years to help Maryland educators make the connection between the
environment and health through a NIEHS-funded program called EnviroHealth Connections.
Together they will be offering a Winter Colloquim on February 25, 2005 for middle school
teachers who are recruited to develop environment-related lessons and activities.
Center Represented at APHA Annual Meeting
C
COEP Director Dr. Michael Trush and
Community Relations Coordinator Pat Tracey were on
hand at the recent American Public Health
Association (APHA) 2004 Public Health Exposition,
showcasing the fact that NIEHS has long been a
leader in reducing the burden of human illness from
environmental causes by understanding each of these
elements and how they interrelate. The Expo was part
of the APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition, which
took place November 6-10 in Washington, DC.
Pat Tracey and Dr. Michael Trush were available
during the APHA Expo to answer questions about
NIEHS’s role in public health.
The Expo is the largest public health exhibit
featuring more than 620 booths of information, stateof-the-art products, and services geared towards
public health professionals. “The Expo provided an
excellent opportunity for our Center members to
meet others in the public health field,” said Pat Tracey.
Center in Urban Environmental Health Offers Research Grants
T
The Johns Hopkins Center in Urban
Environmental Health is a multidisciplinary Center
funded by the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences to integrate, coordinate and foster
research related to the effects of urban environmental
factors on human health. The overall objective of the
Center’s Pilot Project Program is to fund feasibility
studies and to assist investigators in the generation of
preliminary data for inclusion in applications
submitted to extramural agencies for research
support. The budgetary period for 2005-2006 Pilot
Projects will be from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006
and pilot grants will be awarded for up to $20,000.
Investigators from any department of the University
interested in conducting research in fields associated
with Environmental Health Sciences are encouraged
to apply. Awardee’s are expected to fully participate in
Center activities including a presentation of their
findings at a Pilot Project Program Workshop. In
addition, a written progress
report is required 4 months
after the end of the budgetary
period. The deadline for
submission is January 14, 2005.
Grants will be awarded by
March 31, 2005. For more
information or to receive an
application, contact Kay
Castleberry at (410) 955-3720
or [email protected].
Pilot Project Grants are designed to stimulate
new lines of research on such topics as:
• The adverse health impact of hazardous
environmental exposures on populations
• How interaction of socioeconomic status and
environmental exposure contributes to health
disparities
• Early biological effects of environmental agents in
urban populations
• Community outreach and environmental health
education
• The molecular epidemiology, exposure assessment,
and mechanisms of action of agents found in the
urban environment
Pilot projects are intended to:
provide initial support for new investigators to
establish new lines of research relevant to
environmental health;
allow exploration of innovative new directions from
ongoing funded research for established
investigators in environmental health sciences;
stimulate investigators from other areas of endeavor
to apply their research expertise to environmental
health problems;
stimulate collaborations between investigators from
different disciplines to address environmental health
problems.
Autumn Hike—EHS Style
I
Students take sewage stroll along Stoney Run
It is a gorgeous autumn afternoon with mild
temperatures and clear skies. A group of EHS
students winds their way along a small stream,
stopping periodically to enjoy the tranquil setting.
Upon closer inspections however, we soon learn that
this is no ordinary walk in the park. Guy Hollyday of
the Baltimore Sewer Oversight Coalition is leading
EHS students on a guided tour along Stoney Run, a
small urban creek running through Baltimore City.
Hollyday is showing students areas where sewage has
overflowed in recent years. The sewage may contain
fecal coliform, E. coli, other bacteria and pathogens
that can be a health hazard to children playing in the
streams or to pets drinking from the streams. See
related story on page 4, Swimming in Sewage.
The Monthly Jolt
E
EHS faculty, students and staff gather monthly in
the departmental office to begin their day with
doughnuts and coffee. These gatherings provide an
opportunity to network and
discuss issues with others
from across the
department. “By
exchanging ideas and
sharing insights, the
monthly get-together is devoted
to developing a stronger, more
productive department,” says
Departmental Chair Dr. John Groopman. “And if
nothing else, at least our busy students are assured of
one breakfast each month.”
About our publication
Connection is a free e-publication of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The name Connection reflects the department’s role, linking
basic, population and clinical research in environmental health to public health intervention strategies.
Editorial Staff
Brian Fitzek, Research Associate
Dan Gudgel, Publication Specialist
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205
tel: (443) 287-2905 Œ fax: (410) 955-0617 Œ email: [email protected]
Departmental website: www.jhsph.edu/Dept/EHS
Center in Urban Environmental Health website: www.jhsph.edu/Dept/EHS/Centers