Background: Oil spill chemicals (OSCs) result not only from the crude oil components but also from dispersants used in the clean-up activities, where some may result in adverse health effects under certain exposure and dosage conditions. One of the main populations of concern for exposure to OSCs are children, who are frequent beach users. Activities such as ingestion of and digging in sand can increase dermal and ingestion exposure. Longer times spent at the beach can also increase exposures for all routes. Objectives: The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEaCHeS) was initiated to evaluate the risk of exposure to children from oil contaminants. Reported here are results for surveys collected, as a part of the project, to address exposure-related behavior patterns and risk perception for parents or guardians who visit the beach. Methods: Over 400 parental surveys were collected at four beaches, two in Miami and two in Texas, to evaluate children’s exposure related activities. Surveys consisted of three general sections: demographics, exposure, and risk perception. Surveys were analyzed in REDcap and Stata to evaluate demographic and regional differences on activities related to beach behavior and potential exposures to oil contaminants (e.g., how much time spent on beach, cleaning habits following beach activities). The statistical analysis included the mean and standard errors, along with regressions to evaluate associations between parameters. Results: Overall, the data showed high variability in how children play on the beach, influenced more by age and less by gender. Variations were also seen in certain variables by beach region (e.g., hygiene practices). By race, variations were seen in income, distance of travel to beach, and preferred method of communication for beach warning. Other important findings are reflected in the article. Discussion: The data presented here may prove useful for those evaluating children exposures to a variety of contaminants, chemical, or bacterial in origin. In addition, coastal managers may find the risk perception and general behaviors useful for planning and maintenance of beach areas.

Abstract A community outreach hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection screening program provided low yield of detecting HCV-infected patients, linking them to our hepatology clinic for treatment. Our data underscore that most of the yield was related to addiction centers and birth cohort; these groups should be targeted by future interventions.

Hoy la tecnología de internet y de los teléfonos inteligentes estructuran las subjetividades. Así, la imaginabilidad urbana se vuelve materia prima para compartir por la vía virtual. Estas nuevas tecnologías, además, han modificado el modo de ver y comentar los problemas urbanos. Es decir, han aparecido en redes los cronistas digitales, narradores improvisados que con sus imágenes y comentarios combinan los gustos del imaginario popular con cierta base académica y, a veces, hasta artística. La estética de la simulación y del exceso es algo presente en estos medios digitales. Se tomaron las fotos del espacio público por ser un lugar nodal donde convergen distintas formas de entender la vida políticocultural de los habitantes de una ciudad. La pregunta central, y por tanto el objetivo perseguido, es identificar de qué manera las tecnologías ya planteadas modifican nuestra manera de ver, entender y vivenciar el problema urbano y si esta nueva forma impacta en la construcción de una identidad en el ciudadano. La metodología seguida en este trabajo consiste en la descripción de los elementos, en cuadro y fuera de éste, de las fotografías digitales compartidas, junto con su interactividad. Los resultados encontrados apuntan a afirmar que, para el ciudadano común, existe una mayor visibilización del problema urbano, pero no necesariamente un mayor involucramiento de los actores en las soluciones. La vía virtual deviene en un simulador que no asegura mayor participación ciudadana ni concepciones más sofisticadas de la dinámica de la urbe.

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