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Department of Health and  Human Services
Principal Areas of Focus Four National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes support research on the
health effects of ultraviolet (UV) and near-UV radiation. Their principal objectives
include an increased understanding of the effects of UV and near-UV radiation
exposure on target organs (e.g., eyes, skin, immune system) and of the
molecular changes that lead to these effects, and the development of strategies
to prevent the initiation or promotion of disease before it is clinically defined.
In addition, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
supports research on the health effects of chlorofluorocarbon replacement chemicals,
including studies on the metabolism and toxicity of hydrofluorocarbons and
halogenated hydrocarbons. HHS (NIH and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention) also conducts research related to other impacts of global change
on human health, including renewed concern about infectious diseases whose
incidence could be affected by environmental change. In addition, NIH sponsors
a program to assess the impact of population change on the physical environment
and to account for effects of the physical environment on population change.
Program Highlights for FY 2004 and FY 2005 The NIEHS program supports grants and intramural projects that investigate
the effects of UV exposure on the immune system, aging process, sensitive tissues
such as the retina and skin, and methods to reduce these harmful effects. Other
projects involve the comparison of the mutagenic potential in bacteria of UV
and near-UV radiation at levels found in natural sunlight and at levels anticipated
with a 15% depletion of stratospheric ozone. Several projects supported by
NIEHS are investigating molecular changes in DNA that lead to aberrations and
mutations in human tissue, rodents, fruit flies, and bacteria, and the variety
of ways these organisms repair damage to DNA resulting from UV exposure. The NEI supports studies on the impacts of UV radiation on the eye (retinal
damage as well as corneal capacity). A major initiative is underway to determine
how and why eye cataract develops and to search for ways to prevent or slow
the progression of cataract, an age-related eye disease that affects 17-20
million people globally. This project is investigating the role of UVB radiation,
which has been implicated as a specific risk factor in cataract development.
Another important area of research is the understanding of certain detoxification
systems in the eye and how they combat damage from UVB radiation. The goal
of this effort is to identify drugs that might have therapeutic or preventative
applications. The NCI is supporting a wide range of studies to characterize the etiology,
biology, immunology, and pathology of a variety of changes in the skin (morphological
effects that might precede skin cancer), including photoaging, non-melanoma
skin cancers, and melanoma caused by exposure to UV radiation. Other research
is exploring UV-induced immunosuppression, which is critical to the development
of UV-induced skin tumors, and the cellular and molecular basis for the genetic
predisposition to UVB-induced skin cancer in people with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome. The NIAMS supports basic and clinical research on the effect of UVA and UVB
radiation on skin. Related Research In addition to research areas designated as part of the CCSP budget, HHS agencies
conduct other research relevant to the overall CCSP program. Climatic models have indicated that a possible result of global climate change
would be an increase in the number and intensity of heat waves impacting the
U.S. population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects conducts intramural research
to investigate morbidity and mortality associated with exposure to excess heat.
Key program components include conducting epidemiologic investigations on heat-related
mortality and morbidity, providing technical assistance to municipal agencies
in the development of Heat Emergency Response Plans aimed at reducing the public
health impact of heat waves, and publishing an annual summary of heat-related
mortality in the United States. CDC's scientists provided technical advice
and support to the French Ministry of Health in responding to the massive heat
wave that struck Europe in August 2003 and have identified critical components
for effective response plans that will be published in FY 2004. Renewed concern about emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases has prompted
increased attention to a variety of diseases whose incidence would be affected
by environmental change. CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases
is currently collaborating on studies to outline adaptation measures for vector-borne
infectious diseases that may be affected by climate change. Its Guatemala field
station is studying the impact that adverse climatological events, such as
El Niño and Hurricane Gilbert, have had on the transmission dynamics
of malaria and other diseases. These catastrophic events create tremendous
changes that can simultaneously create new vector habitat, reduce the levels
of sanitation, and overwhelm the ability of public health systems to respond.
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