BackgroundParabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage processing.ObjectivesWe assessed exposure to methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens in a representative sample of persons ≥ 6 years of age in the U.S. general population from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.MethodsWe analyzed 2,548 urine samples by using online solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution–high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsWe detected methyl paraben (MP) and propyl paraben (PP) in 99.1% and 92.7% of the samples, respectively. We detected ethyl (42.4%) and butyl (47%) parabens less frequently and at median concentrations at least one order of magnitude lower than MP (63.5 μg/L) and PP (8.7 μg/L). Least-square geometric mean (LSGM) concentrations of MP were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) among non-Hispanic blacks than among non-Hispanic whites except at older ages (≥ 60 years). Adolescent and adult females had significantly higher (p < 0.01) LSGM concentrations of MP and PP than did adolescent and adult males. Females were more likely than males [adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs): MP, 3.2 (2.99–5.27); PP, 4.19 (2.34–7.49)] and non-Hispanic blacks were more likely than non-Hispanic whites [MP, 4.99 (2.62–9.50); PP, 3.6 (1.86–7.05)] to have concentrations above the 95th percentile.ConclusionsThe general U.S. population was exposed to several parabens during 2005–2006. Differences in the urinary concentrations of MP and PP by sex and race/ethnicity likely reflect the use of personal care products containing these compounds.

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Background: Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is widespread. After exposure, BPA is rapidly metabolized and eliminated in urine. Therefore, there is considerable within-person and between-person variability of BPA concentrations in spot urine samples. However, no information exists on the within-day variability of urinary BPA concentrations.Objectives: We examined the between-person and within-person and between-day and within-day variability in the urinary BPA concentrations of eight adults who collected all voids for 1 week to investigate the impact of sampling strategy in the exposure assessment of BPA using spot, first morning, or 24-hr urine collections.Methods: We determined the urinary concentrations of BPA using on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.Results: The between-day and within-person variability was the primary contributor to the total variance both for first morning voids (77%) and 24-hr urine collections (88%). For the spot collections, we observed considerable within-day variance (70%), which outweighed the between-person (9%) and between-day and within-person (21%) variances.Conclusions: Regardless of the type of void (spot, first morning, 24-hr collection), urinary BPA concentrations for a given adult changed considerably—both within a day and for the 7 days of the study period. Single 24-hr urine collections accurately reflect daily exposure but can misrepresent variability in daily exposures over time. Of interest, when the population investigated is sufficiently large and samples are randomly collected relative to meal ingestion times and bladder emptying times, the single spot–sampling approach may adequately reflect the average exposure of the population to BPA.

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Diagnostic tests for detecting emerging influenza virus strains with pandemic potential are critical for directing global influenza prevention and control activities. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received US Food and Drug Administration approval for a highly sensitive influenza polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Devices were deployed to public health laboratories in the United States and globally. Within 2 weeks of the first recognition of 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed and began distributing a new approved pandemic influenza H1N1 PCR assay, which used the previously deployed device platform to meet a >8-fold increase in specimen submissions. Rapid antigen tests were widely used by clinicians at the point of care; however, test sensitivity was low (40%-69%). Many clinical laboratories developed their own pandemic influenza H1N1 PCR assays to meet clinician demand. Future planning efforts should identify ways to improve availability of reliable testing to manage patient care and approaches for optimal use of molecular testing for detecting and controlling emerging influenza virus strains.

The emergence in April 2009 and subsequent spread of the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus resulted in the first pandemic of the 21st century. This historic event was associated with unusual patterns of influenza activity in terms of the timing and persons affected in the United States throughout the summer and fall months of 2009 and the winter of 2010. The US Influenza Surveillance System identified 2 distinct waves of pandemic influenza H1N1 activity--the first peaking in June 2009, followed by a second peak in October 2009. All influenza surveillance components showed levels of influenza activity above that typically seen during late summer and early fall. During this period, influenza activity reached its highest level during the week ending 24 October 2009. This report summarizes US influenza surveillance data from 12 April 2009 through 27 March 2010.

The ontogenetic changes in the diet and dietary overlap of three commercially important rajid species inhabiting the slope and shelf waters of the Falkland Islands were investigated. The white dotted skate (Bathyraja albomaculata) was a specialized amphipod and polychaete feeder. The broad nose skate (B. brachyurops) had a diverse diet, consuming a wide variety of crustaceans and fish. The grey tail skate (B. griseocauda) also had a broad diet but consumed a high proportion of amphipods and isopods (e.g. Serolis spp.). Larger individuals of the latter species were more piscivorous and consumed more squid. The diets of all three species showed a marked variation with ontogeny. Dietary overlap was greatest for smaller animals (<30 cm disk width), after which each species became more specialized in their diets. Smaller animals also showed some differences in depth of distribution, which may be an adaptation to reduce inter-specific competition.