Gary H. Spivey

Selenium levels in human blood, urine, and hair in response to exposure via drinking water.

Blood, hair, urine, and tap water samples were obtained from participants in a population exposed to varying amounts of selenium via water from home wells. Concentrations of selenium in urine and hair produced significant positive correlations with well-water selenium levels. Blood selenium with well-water selenium did not produce a significant correlation. Urine selenium correlation with hair selenium and urine selenium correlation with blood selenium were found to be significant. No significant correlation for hair selenium with blood selenium was found. We conclude that blood selenium alone is not an adequate monitor of selenium exposure or body burden at levels below chronic toxicity.

Health habits and risk factors among truck drivers visiting a health booth during a trucker trade show

Purpose. The purpose of this report is to provide general information on the personal characteristics, health status, and health interests reported by long-haul truck drivers. Design. A cross-sectional survey was conducted based on a convenience sample. Statistical independence between comparison groups for driver type, age, and gender were tested with the Pearson chi-square test. Setting. The study population consisted of truck drivers who stopped at one of 65 truck stops participating in a trucker trade show. Subjects. Subjects were 2,945 male self-identified truck drivers and 353 female self-identified truck drivers who visited health booths at the trade show. It was estimated that two thirds of visitors to the health booth participated. Measures. A self-administered, close-ended questionnaire recorded the participants personal characteristics, health status, and health interests. Blood pressure was measured by trained volunteers. Results. A large percentage of male truck drivers smoked cigarettes (54 % vs. 30 % of U.S. white males), did not exercise regularly (92%), were overweight (50% vs. 25% of U.S. white males), and/or were not aware they had high blood pressure (66% vs. 46% of U.S. population). Also, 23% of surveyed truck drivers tested positive on one measure of alcoholism. Conclusions. Although a scientific sampling frame was not used, the health status and lifestyle observed in this study suggest truck drivers would clearly benefit from a health education and promotion program. The truck stops should be evaluated as a possible setting for such a program.

Health risk communication-a view from within industry

Health risk communication is discussed in respect to four principles of biomedical ethics: (1) autonomy, the need to protect confidentiality and provide decision-making information; (2) beneficence, an obligation to inform and to develop trust; (3) non-maleficence, not covering up study findings, not over- or underinterpreting data; and (4) justice, helping place risk in proper perspective. The epidemiologists role in risk communication includes responsible interpretation of data, balanced and non-judgemental risk communication and careful attention to the biologic and population significance of study findings. Potential problem areas for epidemiologists which are discussed include deciding when risk is significant, working for an agency which does not want a communication to take place and the occasional need to violate confidentiality for overriding societal goals. The paper concludes with an example risk communication which illustrates some of the principles covered in the paper.

The health of American Indian Children in multi-problem families

Abstract Health histories of American Indian children from families with multiple psychosocial problems were compared to those of children from adequately functioning families living in similar conditions on reservations. The data were derived from reviews of hospital and clinic charts. Distinc differences were found for the first year of life, with children of multi-problem families having more illness and less well-baby care than children of control families. Children of multi-problem families will benefit from special medical and social services, particularly those which will improve their general socioeconomic and environmental conditions.