Authors: Patricia A. Richter, Ellen E. Bishop, Jiantong Wang and Monica H. Swahn

Article title: Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Levels of Urinary Metals in the U.S. Youth and Adult Population: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(7), 1930–1946; doi:10.3390/ijerph6071930

Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/6/7/1930

Authors: Athanasios Valavanidis, Thomais Vlachogianni and Konstantinos Fiotakis

Article title: Tobacco Smoke: Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Stable Free Radicals in Mechanisms of Oxidative Damage, Carcinogenesis and Synergistic Effects with Other Respirable Particles

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(2), 445–462; doi:10.3390/ijerph6020445

Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/6/2/445

Author: Melanie Swan

Article title: Emerging Patient-Driven Health Care Models: An Examination of Health Social Networks, Consumer Personalized Medicine and Quantified Self-Tracking

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(2), 492–525; doi:10.3390/ijerph6020492

Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/6/2/492

Authors: Jong-Su Seo, Young-Soo Keum and Qing X. Li

Article title: Bacterial Degradation of Aromatic Compounds

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(1), 278–309; doi:10.3390/ijerph6010278

Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/6/1/278

Authors: Johanna Brinkel, Mobarak H. Khan and Alexander Kraemer

Article title: A Systematic Review of Arsenic Exposure and Its Social and Mental Health Effects with Special Reference to Bangladesh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(5), 1609–1619; doi:10.3390/ijerph6051609

Available online: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/6/5/1609

The prize awarding committee merits the article “Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Levels of Urinary Metals in the US Youth and Adult Population: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004” as “…a nice epidemiological study that establishes a correlation between tobacco smoke and heavy metals exposure. It further provides a comprehensive analysis of the link between exposure and health disparities…”. The article “Tobacco Smoke: Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Stable Free Radicals in Mechanisms of Oxidative Damage, Carcinogenesis and Synergistic Effects with Other Respirable Particles” reported “…an excellent research that elucidates the role of oxidative stress on tobacco-smoke-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity. It further demonstrates its synergistic effects with other respirable particulate matters…”. The article “Emerging Patient-Driven Health Care Models: An Examination of Health Social Networks, Consumer Personalized Medicine and Quantified Self-Tracking” discussed “…novel strategies to health care delivery by examining social networks, personalized medicine, and quantified self-tracking…”.

These five exceptional papers are valuable contributions to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and the public health field. On behalf of the Prize Awarding Committee and the Editorial Board of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, we would like to congratulate these five teams for their excellent work. In recognition of their accomplishment, Drs. Patricia A. Richter, Athanasios Valavanidis and Melanie Swan will receive a prize of 600 CHF, 400 CHF, and 200 CHF, respectively, and the privilege to publish an additional paper free of charge in open access format in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, after normal peer-review. Drs. Qing X. Li and Mobarak H. Khan will be awarded the privilege of publishing an additional research paper free of charge in open access format in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, after normal peer-review.