Development of a consumer product ingredient database for chemical exposure screening and prioritization

Consumer products are a primary source of chemical exposures, yet little structured information is available on the chemical ingredients of these products and the concentrations at which ingredients are present. To address this data gap, we created a database of chemicals in consumer products using product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) publicly provided by a large retailer. The resulting database represents 1797 unique chemicals mapped to 8921 consumer products and a hierarchy of 353 consumer product "use categories" within a total of 15 top-level categories. We examine the utility of this database and discuss ways in which it will support (i) exposure screening and prioritization, (ii) generic or framework formulations for several indoor/consumer product exposure modeling initiatives, (iii) candidate chemical selection for monitoring near field exposure from proximal sources, and (iv) as activity tracers or ubiquitous exposure sources using "chemical space" map analyses. Chemicals present at high concentrations and across multiple consumer products and use categories that hold high exposure potential are identified. Our database is publicly available to serve regulators, retailers, manufacturers, and the public for predictive screening of chemicals in new and existing consumer products on the basis of exposure and risk.

Human fascioliasis in Corozal, Puerto Rico

A limited survey for human infection with F. hepatica was conducted in the mountain region of Corozal, Puerto Rico. This region was selected because bovine fascioliasis was hyperendemic, watercress was grown locally for human consumption, and Lymnaea cubensis snails (an intermediate host for F. hepatica in Puerto Rico) were found in the watercress farms. Of 110 fecal samples examined 12 were positive for F. hepatica. Seven matched serum samples were also positive for F. hepatica antibodies by counterelectrophoresis. Eleven of the 12 infected individuals had a history of eating watercress. This is the first survey to demonstrate a relatively large proportion of asymptomatic. F. hepatica-infected humans in Puerto Rico. Other helminth parasites commonly found in the study population included Trichuris trichiura and hookworm.