This toxicology update reviews research over the past four years since publication in 2004 of the ¼rst measurement of intact esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast cancer tissues, and the suggestion that their presence in the human body might originate from topical application of bodycare cosmetics. The presence of intact paraben esters in human body tissues has now been con¼rmed by independent measurements in human urine, and the ability of parabens to penetrate human skin intact without breakdown by esterases and to be absorbed systemically has been demonstrated through studies not only in vitro but also in vivo using healthy human subjects. Using a wide variety of assay systems in vitro and in vivo, the oestrogen agonist properties of parabens together with their common metabolite ( p-hydroxybenzoic acid) have been extensively documented, and, in addition, the parabens have now also been shown to possess androgen antagonist activity, to act as inhibitors of sulfotransferase enzymes and to possess genotoxic activity. With the continued use of parabens in the majority of bodycare cosmetics, there is a need to carry out detailed evaluation of the potential for parabens, together with other oestrogenic and genotoxic co-formulants of bodycare cosmetics, to increase female breast cancer incidence, to interfere with male reproductive functions and to in½uence development of malignant melanoma which has also recently been shown to be in½uenced by oestrogenic stimulation.

This study assesses the validity and reproducibility of a 145-item self- This change has seen a need for dietary assessment tools which are able to measure long-term habitual nutrient intake. The cost efficiency, together with ease of both implementation and of data analysis, has lead to the popularity of the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) as a tool for use in large epidemiological studies.2 Studies involving investigation of nutrients or foods and age-related disease associations rely on dietary information obtained from older subjects. The FFQ offers advantages for application to elderly populations as it does not rely on shortterm memory and involves a relatively low burden to respondent^.^ Despite the fact that the population of interest is often elderly, few studies have investigated the validity of self-administered food frequency questionnaires among older subject^.^-^^ Of these, only a handful have involved comparison with weighed food records and fewer have used self-administered FFQs.A valid and reliable dietary assessment instrument that can be self-administered by older lay persons and analysed using software that requires minimal coding input from dietitians or nutritionists, may enable largescale epidemiological studies involving food intake as an exposure variable without significant increase in study costs.This study aimed to assess both the concurrent validity for nutrient estimates of a self-administered 145-item semi-quantitative FFQ compared to three, four-day weighed food records (WFRs) spaced evenly over a year among respondents in a representative older Australian population. WFRs collected over a year are generally acknowledged as the best standard available, but measurement errors and changes to normal food consumption habits during recording periods are likely to be sufficiently great that the WFR cannot be regarded as a true gold standard. So, instead of assessing criterion validity, we can only really assess concurrent validity against a different type of dietary measure.A secondary aim was to assess the FFQ's short-term and longer-term repeatability. The questionnaire was used in the populationbased Blue Mountains Eye Study. Methods Study PopulationThe Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a population-based survey of vision and common eye diseases among older urban residents (aged 49 and older) in two post- 456

Iron-folic acid supplementation is an under-resourced, affordable intervention with substantial potential for contributing to Millennium Development Goal 5 (maternal mortality reduction) in countries where iron intakes among pregnant women are low and anemia prevalence is high. This can be achieved in the near term, as policies are already in place in most countries and iron-folic acid supplements are already in lists of essential drugs. What is needed is to systematically adopt lessons about how to strengthen demand and supply systems from successful programs.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies adversely affect a third of the world's people. Consequently, a series of global goals and a serious amount of donor and national resources have been directed at such micronutrient deficiencies. Drawing on the extensive experience of the authors in a variety of institutional settings, the article used a computer search of the published scientific literature of the topic, supplemented by reports and published and unpublished work from the various agencies. In examining the effect of sex on the economic and social costs of micronutrient deficiencies, the paper found that: (1) micronutrient deficiencies affect global health outcomes; (2) micronutrient deficiencies incur substantial economic costs; (3) health and nutrition outcomes are affected by sex; (4) micronutrient deficiencies are affected by sex, but this is often culturally specific; and finally, (5) the social and economic costs of micronutrient deficiencies, with particular reference to women and female adolescents and children, are likely to be considerable but are not well quantified. Given the potential impact on reducing infant and child mortality, reducing maternal mortality, and enhancing neuro-intellectual development and growth, the right of women and children to adequate food and nutrition should more explicitly reflect their special requirements in terms of micronutrients. The positive impact of alleviating micronutrient malnutrition on physical activity, education and productivity, and hence on national economies suggests that there is also an urgent need for increased effort to demonstrate the cost of these deficiencies, as well as the benefits of addressing them, especially compared with other health and nutrition interventions.