Instructions to Authors

Who We Are

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly open-access journal that publishes peer-reviewed research and news concerning human health and the environment. One of the overarching principles of the journal is to provide a forum for the objective and balanced presentation of scientifically credible information.

Although EHP is sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), its editorial policies are independent of the institute. Papers submitted to the journal are assigned to an Associate Editor, who identifies reviewers and makes recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief. Members of the Editorial Review Board serve as a pool of potential reviewers of papers. Both the Board of Associate Editors and the Editorial Review Board are composed of leading scientists from all segments of the environmental health sciences.

All papers are evaluated initially by a group of consulting editors for scientific quality, environmental significance, appropriate degree of speculation, clarity of presentation, conciseness, originality, and potential impact to the area of environmental health sciences. In 2008, approximately 60% of papers submitted were returned to authors without further review. The overall acceptance rate of papers submitted to the journal in 2008 was 22%.

In 2003, EHP became an open-access journal. All News and Research articles published in EHP since 1972 are available free online (http://www.ehponline.org/). EHP is committed to promoting the discussion and exchange of information internationally, as described in detail at http://www.ehponline.org/international/. EHP is also committed to promoting the use and understanding of scientific literature through its Science Education Program (http://www.ehponline.org/science-ed-new/).

What We Publish

The environmental health sciences include many fields of study and increasingly comprise multidisciplinary research areas. EHP publishes articles from a wide range of scientific disciplines encompassing mechanistic research, experimental and observational human studies, and in vitro and in vivo animal research with a clear relationship to human health effects. Studies dealing with exposure science, climate change, ecologic issues, or effects on wildlife populations are welcome, but the relevance of the findings to human health should be made clear. Physicians and others working in environmental medicine are encouraged to submit Grand Rounds articles or Case Reports for publication. EHP also addresses ethical, legal, social, and policy issues related to environmental public health. Because children are uniquely sensitive to their environments, EHP devotes a research section specifically to issues surrounding children’s environmental health.

EHP provides information on emerging environmental issues through its News and Book Review sections. Although EHP welcomes ideas for News articles, Book Reviews, and Editorials, the journal typically does not accept unsolicited manuscripts of these types. Please contact the Editor-in-Chief for further information.

About your Manuscript

Types of Manuscripts

Manuscripts in any one of the categories below are welcome. All manuscripts except Correspondence are peer reviewed. All word limits include tables, figures, and references. See "Manuscript Preparation" for additional details.

Correspondence (≤ 750 words) should address specific scientific issues or questions raised by Research or News articles published in the print version of the journal within the previous 6 months. Authors cited in the Correspondence will be given the opportunity to respond. Letters addressing issues raised in other letters are discouraged. Correspondence may include a brief table or small figure if it is critical to the discussion. New data must not be included. Authors may include data from or redrawing of previously published materials as long as the work is cited and written permission from the original authors and/or publishers has been granted for republication in both printed and electronic form. Each figure is considered equivalent to 250 words toward the total word count. Correspondence that cites abstracts or unpublished observations is not acceptable and will not be published. Correspondence is not peer reviewed and is published at the discretion of the EHP editors. Letters that are highly polemic or personal in nature will not be published. Conclusions and opinions expressed by the authors do not 
necessarily reflect the policies of EHP.

Commentaries (≤ 5,000 words) present information and personal insight on a particular topic. Commentaries should not be extended critiques of single articles appearing in EHP or elsewhere. Factual data should be included to substantiate arguments. EHP reserves the right to reject Commentaries without review if they are perceived as being too polemic or personal in nature. EHP also reserves the right to propose that Commentaries be reviewed as one side of a point/counterpoint debate. Assuming the original author agrees, EHP will ask another author to address the opposite side of an argument. If both papers are accepted, EHP will publish them together.

Research articles (≤ 7,000 words) are original manuscripts reporting scientific research and discovery in the broad field of environmental health sciences. Original Research articles may come from any field of scientific research relevant to the study of human health and the environment. Manuscripts on ethical, legal, social, or policy issues may also be accepted in this category.

Reviews (≤ 10,000 words) that emphasize recent developments in a particular field of research are encouraged. Lengthy historical perspectives are generally not appropriate.

Meeting Reports (≤ 5,000 words) are intended to provide an overview of outcomes of conferences, symposia, or workshops. Authors should submit reports that review the state of the science for a particular area, identify research gaps and needs, and explain how the outcome of the conference addresses those gaps and needs. Meeting Reports may review existing information, summarize research findings on specific topics, and recommend methods, courses of action, or other further research needs for the scientific community. De novo data, participant lists, dialogue of workgroups or committees, and discussion of the internal organization of the meeting are not allowed. Meeting Reports must be submitted to EHP no later than 9 months after the events they describe. Prospective authors should consult with the Editor-in-Chief before submitting a Meeting Report.

Grand Rounds articles (≤ 6,000 words) present discussions of case presentations of patients or community health issues with a clearly established link of relevance to environmental exposures and environmental health, including children’s health. The format requires that a case scenario be presented to illustrate the environmental issues under consideration, followed by a discussion of the clinical and public health implications of these issues. Articles should be divided into an Abstract, Case Presentation (≤ 5,000 words), Discussion, and Conclusion. Visual images (e.g., X rays, microscopic pathology) or other graphics are encouraged.

Case Reports (≤ 6,000 words) differ from Grand Rounds articles in that the diagnosis pertaining to the clinical presentation is not necessarily conclusive. Instead, evidence for an environmental etiology may be indirect—for example, a case report of hepatitis suspected to be related to a chemical that has not been previously linked with hepatitis. Similar to Grand Rounds, Case Reports should include an Abstract, Case Presentation (≤ 5,000 words), Discussion, and Conclusion. Visual images (e.g., X rays, microscopic pathology) or other graphics are encouraged.

Article Length

All word limits include tables, figures, and references. Manuscripts that do not conform to the following word limits are subject to being returned to the author(s) for revision before the review process is initiated. Depending on the topic and potential impact of a paper, however, the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to waive word limits. Authors should assume each figure counts for 250 words of the total word count.

• Correspondence: 750 words
• Commentaries: 5,000 words
• Reviews: 10,000 words
• Research articles: 7,000 words
• Meeting Reports: 5,000 words
• Grand Rounds: 6,000 words
• Case Reports: 6,000 words.

Originality of Submission

Contributions submitted to EHP must be original works of the author(s) and must not have been previously published in print or online or simultaneously submitted to another publication.

Scientific Integrity

EHP requires assurances that animals used in a study have been treated humanely and with regard for the alleviation of suffering. Research involving humans must have been conducted according to the Common Rule (http://ori.dhhs.gov/education/&products/ucla/chapter2/page04b.htm). Research involving humans must also be approved by an appropriate institutional review board and comply with all relevant national, state, and local regulations. For research conducted outside the United States and thus exempt from U.S. federal regulations, authors must perform the research in accordance with principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/index.html).

EHP is sometimes confronted with issues regarding potential research misconduct, such as plagiarism or data fabrication. Authors should be aware that all papers submitted to EHP are checked routinely for plagiarism. Instances of documented plagiarism and allegations of data fabrication will be brought to the attention of the authors’ host institutions. Documented cases of plagiarism or data fabrication could lead to a 3-year ban on future publication in EHP by the authors and/or retraction of the paper. For additional information, see the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors, 10th edition (American Medical Association. 2007. New York:Oxford University Press, 155–160).

Dual Use Research

EHP anticipates receiving submissions on research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied by others to pose a threat to public health and safety, agriculture, plants, animals, the environment, or material (i.e., dual use research). Papers flagged for dual use issues by EHP editors will undergo an additional level of review concerning the implications to society of publishing such a paper. It is possible that the editors of EHP may not be technically qualified to evaluate such cases independently; thus, EHP reserves the right to seek expert advice in cases where such concerns may be evident. Authors should be aware that EHP could determine that the risks to public health and safety of publishing the paper outweigh the benefits of publishing even though the paper has otherwise been deemed acceptable for publication.

Public Databases

EHP has a policy of full disclosure. Authors must declare all actual or potential competing interests involving people or organizations that might reasonably be perceived as relevant. Disclosure of competing interests does not imply the information in the article is questionable or that conclusions are biased. Decisions to publish or reject an article will not be based solely on a declaration of a competing interest.

For each manuscript, authors must submit a Competing Financial Interests Declaration (CFID) form on behalf of all authors. The form is available online (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/cfi.pdf). Papers will not be processed for peer review unless a CFID form has been submitted. Authors of Correspondence, Editorials, and Book Reviews are also required to submit a CFID form.

A statement of disclosure consistent with the information contained in the CFID form must be included in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript submitted to the journal. Disclosures will be published if the paper is accepted. If there are no actual or potential competing financial interests, a declaration of “no competing interest” will be published in the Acknowledgments section of the paper.

• Authors must disclose actual or potential competing financial interests, including but not limited to grant support; employment (past, present, or firm offer of future); patents (pending or applied); payment for expert witness or testimony; personal financial interests by the authors, immediate family members, or institutional affiliations that may gain or lose financially through publication of the article; and forms of compensation, including travel funding, consultancies, board positions, patent and royalty arrangements, stock shares, or bonds. Diversified mutual funds or investment trusts do not constitute a competing financial interest. Authors employed by a for-profit or nonprofit foundation or an advocacy group, or working as a consultant must also declare employment. Authors should carefully examine the wording of documents such as grants and contracts to determine whether there might be an actual or potential competing interest.
• All actual or potential competing interests occurring during the last 3 years should be reported.
• As a condition of review and publication, authors must certify that their freedom to design, conduct, interpret, and publish research is not compromised by any controlling sponsor.
• Although not necessarily an issue for authors, both editors and reviewers should disclose to the Editor-in-Chief any actual or potential financial or nonfinancial interests that have occurred within the last 3 years that could reasonably be perceived as relevant. Competing nonfinancial interests include former or current mentor–student relationships, faculty appointments in the same department or organization, familial relationships, service on advisory boards that oversee the research under review, collaborations, or membership in organizations that hold ideologic views that are contradictory to the theme or topic under review.

EHP relies on the integrity of all authors to provide accurate disclosure statements. However, authors can expect scrutiny of their statements by the editors, reviewers, and readership. Alleged inaccuracies of declared competing interests should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief.

For each manuscript, authors must submit a declaration of competing interests on behalf of all authors. The form is available online (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/cfi.pdf). A statement of disclosure must be included in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript submitted to the journal. If a paper is accepted, a brief disclaimer describing the competing interest or a declaration of no competing interest will be published. Authors of correspondence, editorials, and book reviews will also be required to submit a declaration of competing interests.

• EHP will impose a 3-year ban on publication in EHP by any authors found to have willfully failed to disclose a competing interest. A paper may also be retracted or an Expression of Concern published and appended to the online version of the article.

Manuscript Preparation

Parts of a Manuscript

Manuscripts should include the following sections in this order:

• Author names
• Author affiliations
• Name and address of corresponding author
• Acknowledgments/grant support/competing
• financial interests declaration
• Short running head
• Key words
• Abbreviations
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• References
• Tables
• Figure legends
• Figures
• Supplemental material

All manuscripts must be submitted to EHP in English. Manuscript pages must be numbered consecutively, beginning with the title page, and lines should be numbered in the original submission. Standard font types (e.g., Helvetica, Times New Roman) and font size (12 point) must be used, and all parts of the manuscript, except tables, must be double-spaced. Authors should note that page charges are calculated by manuscript (Microsoft Word) page and that font types take up different amounts of space (e.g., 12-pt Helvetica takes up twice the space as 12-pt Times New Roman). The reference list, tables, and figure legends must each begin on a separate page. Pages should be numbered. For additional information, see the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors, 10th edition (American Medical Association. 2007. New York:Oxford University Press). A basic source for spelling is Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th 
edition. The format for in-text citations and references is described below.

Page 1: The first page must include a) manuscript title, b) authors (first or second names spelled out in full), c) full address of the institution where the work was performed, and d) affiliation of each author. Titles must not exceed 20 words and should generally not contain abbreviations or numerical values. Indicate the author to whom page proofs should be sent, and include complete address for express mail service, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.

Page 2: The second page must include a) a running title, not to exceed 50 characters and spaces; b) 5–10 key words for indexing purposes; c) acknowledgments and grant information, not to exceed 50 words; d) the competing financial interests declaration; and e) a list of all abbreviations and definitions used in the manuscript.

Page 3: All articles must include a structured abstract, which is not to exceed 250 words and should not contain references. No information should be reported in the abstract that does not appear in the text of the manuscript. Headings to be used in the structured abstracts vary by article type.

• Commentaries: Background, Objectives, Discussions, and Conclusions
• Reviews: Objective, Data Sources, Data Extraction, Data Synthesis, and Conclusions
• Research articles: Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
• Grand Rounds Articles or Case Reports: Context (the relevance to environmental exposures and environmental health), Case Presentation, Discussion, and Relevance to Clinical or Professional Practice.

Page 4 and subsequent pages: Text must begin on the fourth page. Concise headings (not to exceed 8 words each) may be used to designate major sections under the headings “Materials and Methods,” “Results,” “Discussion,” and “Conclusions.” Do not include tables and figures in the text; place tables after the References section and upload figures individually.

Results should be presented in a clear and unambiguous manner.

Clearly define all outcomes, exposures, predictors, confounders, and covariates, and describe the methods or assays used to characterize study data.

Comparison groups or reference conditions should be clearly indicated when reporting measures of association or effect, and when reporting p-values for statistical tests comparing outcomes or effects between groups.

We recommend against the use of “fold” terminology because it can be difficult to determine whether it is being used to describe relative versus absolute differences or changes between groups or conditions. For example, a relative risk (RR) of 3.0 would indicate that the outcome occurs 3 times as often in the exposed or experimental group than in the referent group, and that the probability of the outcome is 200% higher in the exposed group than the probability of the outcome in the referent group. Although this is technically equivalent to a 2-fold increase in risk, many investigators will report it as a 3-fold increase in risk. Therefore, to avoid confusion we recommend avoiding use of the term “fold” when describing results.

Whenever possible, provide an estimate of variability or precision when reporting measures of association or central tendency (e.g., confidence intervals for odds ratios, standard deviations or interquartile ranges for mean values), regardless of whether p-values are also reported for these estimates.

Resources for assistance with research, presentation, and language are available from the following organizations:

• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication (http://www.icmje.org/)
• AuthorAID (http://www.authoraid.info/).

Required Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany the manuscript and include the following points:

• Assurances that the manuscript a) is an original work, b) has not been previously published whole or in part, and c) is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
• A statement that animals used in research have been treated humanely according to institutional guidelines, with due consideration to the alleviation of distress and discomfort. The identity of the source of those guidelines must be provided.
• A statement that participation of human subjects did not occur until after informed consent was obtained.
• Confirmation that all authors have disclosed any actual or potential competing interests regarding the submitted article and the nature of those interests (the required CFID form is available at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/cfi.pdf).
• If applicable, written permission from any copyright holder (usually the publisher) to reproduce figures, tables, questionnaires, or a substantial block of text in both print and electronic forms.
• A statement indicating that all authors a) have read the manuscript, b) agree the work is ready for submission to a journal, and c) accept responsibility for the manuscript’s contents.
• The names and e-mail addresses of possible reviewers for the manuscript.

Competing Financial Interests Declaration

Authors must identify in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript any actual or potential competing financial interests. This statement of disclosure must be consistent with the information contained in the CFID form. As noted above, corresponding authors are required to submit with the manuscript a CFID form on behalf of all authors. The form is available at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/cfi.pdf.

Conformance to EHP Style Guidelines

Manuscripts submitted to EHP must conform to all EHP style requirements. Authors should take special note of requirements for citations and references, figures, and tables. Manuscripts that do not conform to style requirements are subject to being returned to the authors for modification before the initiation of the peer-review process. This step will cause a significant delay in the review and possible acceptance of the manuscript.

References and citations must be formatted according to EHP style. This will reduce copyediting time and the number of author queries included in page proofs. Authors should double-check all references for accuracy and completeness of information, spelling, diacritical marks, symbols, subscripts/superscripts, and italics. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of their references.

Preparing Tables and Figures

Tables. Each table must begin on a separate page. Tables must be numbered with Arabic numerals, followed by a brief title (not to exceed 25 words). When setting up tables, do not use table layout format; type tables as text and use tabs to align the columns. Tables should contain no more than three layers of column headings, and the entire table should fit on one journal page or less. Tables that are more than one page may be published online as Supplemental Material. A column heading must be provided for each column. Rather than placing additional column heads in the middle of a table, a new table should be created. List abbreviations and definitions under each table. General footnotes to tables must be indicated by lowercase superscript letters beginning with “a” for each table. Footnotes indicating statistical significance must be identified in the following order: asterisks (*, **), number signs (^#, ^##), and daggers (^†, ^††), and the comparison to which the p-value applies must be clearly indicated (e.g., “compared with untreated controls”). Type footnotes directly after the abbreviations, beginning on the next line.

Figures. Figure legends must be typed on one page using Microsoft Word; this page should precede the figures. Each figure legend should include a title for the entire figure and descriptors for each panel [e.g., “Figure 1. Incidences of hepatocellular adenomas (A) and carcinomas (B) in mice exposed to DEHP”]. Define error bars and any abbreviations not defined in the text. Footnotes indicating statistical significance must be identified in the following: order asterisks (*, **), number signs (^#, ^##), and daggers (^†, ^††), and the comparison to which the p-value applies must be clearly indicated (e.g., “compared with controls from the corresponding age group”). Type footnotes directly after the abbreviations beginning on the next line. Graphics must fit standard letter size paper (8.5 × 11 inches), and resolution should be at least 300 dpi. All letters, numbers, and lines must be clearly legible and easy to differentiate. Provide a key defining representational elements (e.g., dotted/dashed lines, symbols) for each figure. All axes must be clearly labeled, giving both the measure and the unit of measurement where applicable. No lines of demarcation or measurement should appear inside the graph itself, only on the axes. Consistency among terms and styles used in figures is desirable. Photomicrographs should include a scale bar in each image, and the length should be specified in the typed figure legend (e.g., bar = 10 µm). Multiple panels within a figure should fit on one page. Questions concerning figures should be sent to the journal at EHPmanuscripts@niehs.nih.gov.

Image integrity. Adjusting the image for brightness and contrast is acceptable if it is applied to the entire image. Background data of gels and blots must not be removed. The final image must accurately represent the original data.

Supplemental Material

EHP welcomes material suitable for inclusion as online documentation, such as kinetic studies, background material, and supporting tables, figures, or videos. Materials and Methods must be described in the manuscript, but some information, including tables or figures, may be included in Supplemental Material. Supplemental Material must be uploaded as a separate, preferably single, PDF file and designated as such. Questions regarding supplemental materials should be e-mailed to EHPManuscripts@niehs.nih.gov

Manuscript Submission

Manuscript Central

Manuscripts submitted to EHP will be processed using Manuscript Central, an online manuscript submission and tracking program (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ehp).

Initial Submission of a Manuscript

Authors may either log in or select the “Create a New Account” icon to create a new account. To determine if an account exists, e-mail EHPmanuscripts@niehs.nih.gov. Once logged in to the Manuscript Central site, authors must select the “Author Center” link. From this point, the system will guide the user through the submission process. Online help is available at all times during the process via the “Get Help Now” button in the upper right corner of the screen. Users may also exit and reenter the submission process at any time before completing a manuscript submission.

After completing an online submission, authors must submit a CFID form as soon as possible. This form can be found by selecting the “Instructions & Forms” link in the Author Center. The assigned manuscript number should be noted on the form. Authors should complete and sign the form, then submit a scanned document by e-mail to EHPManuscripts@niehs.nih.gov. Completed forms may also be faxed to 919-541-0273 or mailed to:

Editor-in-Chief
Environmental Health Perspectives
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Mail Drop K3-01
PO Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233 USA

Authors can monitor the progress of submissions at any time by logging in to the Author Center using their ID and password. Forgotten passwords may be obtained by selecting “Forgot Your Password.” If an account exists, instructions for resetting the password will be e-mailed to the user.

Manuscripts may be submitted only via the online system. Manuscripts submitted by other methods (e.g., hard copy, e-mail) will not be processed.

Peer Review

The criteria for publication are weighted toward scientific quality and environmental significance. Manuscripts are also assessed for the appropriate degree of speculation, clarity of presentation, conciseness, originality, and potential impact to the area of environmental health sciences.

At least two peer reviewers will be solicited for comments on the manuscript, and authors will not know the identity of the reviewers. Peer review is conducted electronically to accelerate the process, and each reviewer is asked to complete the review within 3 weeks. Authors may nominate up to six preferred reviewers for the manuscript. Providing the names and contact information, including e-mail addresses, is strongly encouraged. Authors may also identify up to six nonpreferred reviewers.

After editorial consideration, a decision letter and reviewers’ comments will be e-mailed to authors. If a revision of the manuscript is required, authors must submit the revised manuscript to EHP within 6 weeks of the request. If authors fail to meet this deadline, the submission will be canceled unless the authors have obtained prior permission for an extension from the Editor-in-Chief. Authors must submit both the revised manuscript and a letter responding to reviewers’ comments.

Resubmission of a Revised Manuscript

If EHP requests revisions or accepts the manuscript, authors will need to submit all of the following through Manuscript Central (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ehp):

• All text, tables, and figure legends must be in one electronic file (Microsoft Word). Make sure any symbols and/or equations appear correctly on printed copies and that all figures and tables are cited in the body text in numerical order.
• Each figure must be in a separate file in one of the following formats: TIFF, JPG, or EPS. Do not embed figures in a word processing file. Each figure must be labeled on the front with the figure number. For TIFF or JPEG format, the resolution should be 300 dpi for color images, 600 dpi for grayscale images, and 1200 dpi for line art (black-and-white art). JPEG files should be saved on the “highest quality” setting. Color images should be RGB and saved at a minimum of 8 bits per channel. Because figures may be reduced or enlarged to fit our layouts, sufficient resolution is essential. Vector images should be saved as editable EPS files. Any images embedded in the EPS should also be included in a separate file. Do not convert text to path outlines before submission.
• A cover letter with point-by-point responses to the reviewers’ comments. Authors should submit a revision with tracked changes.

Publication Sequence

Ahead of Print

EHP publishes unedited PDF versions of articles online as Ahead of Print articles (http://www.ehponline.org/) within 24 hours of acceptance. These articles have undergone peer review and initial author revisions but have not been copyedited. Ahead of Print articles are completely citable using the assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) number for the article. The DOI number enables the article to be immediately referenced and establishes publication priority. The PDF version of Ahead of Print articles will be replaced with the copyedited, formatted version as soon as possible, but importantly, the DOI number will remain with the copyedited article. In addition to the DOI number, the copyedited article will include assigned volume and page numbers that will allow full conventional citation.

Copyediting/Page Proofs

To prepare each paper for publication, EHP staff will convert electronic material to a desktop publishing format and copyedit the manuscript. The copyedited version, with embedded author queries, will be converted to a PDF version (page proofs) and sent to authors by e-mail. The authors can use free Acrobat Reader software (http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/) to proof the material. Authors should return corrected page proofs to the responsible editor by e-mail or fax (919-541-0273). A list of itemized changes (including their locations) must accompany the page proofs. The copyedited proofs of an article may be slightly different from the Ahead of Print version as a result of the editing process, but no substantive changes will be allowed. Any significant changes at this stage of processing will require a correction to be published at the end of the article. Extensive changes cannot be made at the proof stage; only minor changes, such as spelling, grammar, clarification, and referencing, should be requested. If new information has become available after acceptance of the manuscript, an addendum in proof can be included with the permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Articles will usually be published in the print version in order of acceptance as journal space permits.

Page and Color Figure Charges

On acceptance of the manuscript, authors will be required to pay page charges at the current rate of $30 per accepted manuscript page (excluding the first 3 pages containing the title page, key words, abbreviations, and outline of section headers). Authors will also be charged $500 for the first color figure and $100 for each additional color figure.

Publication Date of Record

Manuscripts accepted for publication in EHP will appear online within 24 hours of acceptance. The date the article is posted on the website will be considered the publication date of record.

Copyright, Reproduction, and Citation

EHP is a publication of the U.S. Government. Publication of EHP lies in the public domain and is therefore without copyright. Research articles from EHP may be reprinted freely. Use of materials published in EHP should be acknowledged (for example, “Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives”); pertinent reference information should be provided for the article from which the material was reproduced. Articles from the News section of EHP may contain photographs or figures copyrighted by other commercial organizations or individuals that may not be used without obtaining prior approval from the holder of the copyright. For further information, contact EHP Permissions (ehponline@niehs.nih.gov).

Press Releases and Embargo Policy

Research articles that are deemed especially newsworthy may be highlighted by an EHP press release. Authors will be notified upon acceptance of their paper if the paper has been selected for a press release, and corresponding authors may be asked to be ready to respond to any ensuing media inquiries. EHP press releases are reviewed by journal editors and corresponding authors prior to release.

Press releases will be sent to EHP’s restricted media distribution list up to 6 working days before online publication. A PDF copy of the article will be sent to those media who request it. All advance materials will be clearly identified as embargoed and will include the embargo date and time established by EHP in conjunction with the authors. Authors and media alike are responsible for ensuring that all third parties with whom they share pre-press materials honor the embargo.

Authors whose papers have been accepted for publication may arrange their own publicity, but they must adhere to EHP’s embargo policy. Authors should contact Susan Booker, EHP News Editor, at booker@niehs.nih.gov to coordinate embargo and publication dates. Authors should also provide EHP a copy of their final press release.

EHP Style

Plain Language

EHP covers all disciplines engaged in the broad field of the environmental health sciences. Authors should therefore write in a clear and simple manner, in the active voice, and avoid unnecessary jargon, so the article is understandable to readers in other disciplines and to those whose first language is not English. In deference to the breadth of the journal’s readership, please define terms that may not be universally recognized among all environmental health scientists.

In-Text References and Reference Lists

In-text references. All in-text references must be in name/date form. Place the citation immediately after the textual information cited, placing name and date within parentheses without a comma.

• Single author: (Wing 2002)
• Two authors: (Wing and Wolf 2000)
• Three or more authors: Use first author's last name plus “et al.” (Wing et al. 2008).
• Different first authors but same last name and date: Use first author's last name plus  initial(s) (Smith A 2000; Smith J 2000)
• Several sources cited at one time: List publications alphabetically by author in the citation. Separate publications by the same author(s) with commas and those by different authors with semicolons: (Aldridge et al. 2005; Jameson et al. 2006; Levin et al. 2007; Slotkin 2004a, 2004b; Slotkin et al. 2008)
• For quotations, provide references for any quotations used in the text. For example: According to Rubin et al. (2001), "it is only with a multidisciplinary and collaborative  approach that the environmental and public health significance of Pfiesteria will be fully understood."

All manuscripts submitted but not yet accepted, unpublished data, and personal communications—any items that must be cited but are not accessible to the public—must appear in the text in parentheses but should not be listed in the references: (Ramsdell JS, Moeller PDR, personal communication); (Reeves MK, unpublished data).

Reference list. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of their references. The list of references should begin on a separate page. All references must include:

• Author/editor last name plus initials (for six or fewer authors; if there are more than six authors, use "et al." after the sixth) or authoring agency

• Year of publication
• Full title of article or chapter (lower case)
• Title of journal (abbreviated according to Biosis or Index Medicus) or book/proceedings in title case
• For books, city/state/country of publication and name of publisher
• Volume and inclusive page numbers
• DOI number, if available, with online publication date

If you are uncertain what to include, please include all information.

List references alphabetically by the last name of the first author. If the first author has more than one publication, list references in alphabetical order (letter by letter) of subsequent authors. If the first author shares the last name with another first author (Smith JM vs. Smith RB), alphabetize by initials. If you list more than one publication by the same author/group of authors, arrange publications by date, early to late. If you list more than one publication published in the same year by the same author/group of authors, use a, b, c, d, and so on to distinguish the publications.

Sample alphabetical list:

Slotkin TA. 2004a. Cholinergic systems in brain development and disruption by neurotoxicants: nicotine, environmental tobacco smoke, organophosphates. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 198:132–151.

Slotkin TA. 2004b. Guidelines for developmental neurotoxicity and their impact on organophosphate pesticides: a personal view from an academic perspective. Neurotoxicology 25:631–640.

Slotkin TA. 2005. Developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphates: a case study of chlorpyrifos. In: Toxicity of Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides (Gupta RC, ed). San Diego:Elsevier Academic Press, 293–314.

Slotkin TA, MacKillop EA, Ryde IT, Tate CA, Seidler FJ. 2007. Screening for developmental neurotoxicity using PC12 cells: comparisons of organophosphates with a carbamate, an organochlorine and divalent nickel. Environ Health Perspect 115:93–101.

Slotkin TA, Persons D, Slepetis RJ, Taylor D, Bartolome J. 1984. Control of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in developing brain, kidney, and heart of the neonatal rat: effects of α-difluoromethylornithine, a specific, irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. Teratology 30:211–224.

Slotkin TA, Seidler FJ. 2007. Comparative developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphates in vivo: transcriptional responses of pathways for brain cell development, cell signaling, cytotoxicity and neurotransmitter systems. Brain Res Bull 72:232–274.

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Berglund M, Lind B, Björnberg KA, Palm B, Einarsson Ö, Vahter M. 2005. Inter-individual variations of human mercury exposure biomarkers: a cross-sectional assessment. Environ Health 4:20; doi:10.1186/1476-069X-4-20 [Online 3 October 2005].

Journal article, “in press”
Theppeang K, Glass TA, Bandeen-Roche K, Todd AC, Rohde CA, Schwartz BS. In press. Sex and race/ethnicity differences in lead dose biomarkers: predictors of lead in blood, tibia, and patella in older, community-dwelling adults in an urban setting. Am J Public Health.

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Agency as author
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Additional reference examples are available - click here.

Footnotes

Do not use footnotes. Place all textual information within the manuscript and all references in the proper form both in text and in the reference list.

Abbreviations

All nonstandard abbreviations [organochlorine (OC) pesticides, LOD (limit of detection), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and abbreviations for elements (e.g., Fe, Cu) and chemical compounds (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs; carbon dioxide, CO₂) should be defined in the text on first use and abbreviated thereafter.

Units of measure should be abbreviated only when a specific amount is given (e.g., “concentration of 10 ng/mL” versus “units of nanograms per milliliter”).

Types of references

Journal article—conventional reference
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2009.04.006 [Online 19 April 2009].

Journal article—conventional reference and DOI reference
Glas AM, Floore A, Delahaye LJ, Witteveen AT, Pover RC, Bakx N, et al. 2006. Converting a breast cancer microarray signature into a high-throughput diagnostic test. BMC Genomics 7:278; doi:10.1186/1471-2164-7-278 [Online 30 October 2006].

Journal article, “in press”
Holmes AK, Maisonet M, Rubin C, Kieszak S, Barr DB, Calafat AM, et al. In press. A pilot study of exposures to endocrine-disrupting compounds in pregnant women and children from the United Kingdom. Int J Child Adolesc Health.

Article in non-English language
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Grant M. 1997. The cell from hell. People, 19 May:101–103.

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Chapter in edited book
Gurevitch J, Hedges LV. 1993. Meta-analysis: combining the results of independent experiments. In: The Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments (Scheiner SM, Gurevitch J, eds). New York:Chapman & Hall, 378–398.

Book chapter, “in press”
McCoy KA, Guillette LJ. In press. Endocrine disruptors. In: Amphibian Biology. Vol 8. Conservation and Decline of Amphibians (Heatwole HF, ed). Chipping Norton, New South Wales, Australia:Surrey Beatty & Sons.

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Agency as author
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Abstract
Barbeito AG, Guelfi N, Varga MR, Pehar M, Beckman J, Barbeito L, et al. 2005. Chronic low-level lead exposure increases survival of G93A SOD-1 transgenic mice [Abstract]. In: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Beyond the Motor Neuron. Available: http://iibce.edu.uy/ALSmeeting/abstract.htm [accessed 14 April 2008].

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Executive order; federal regulation
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State document
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Law
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Court case
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Abbreviations

All nonstandard abbreviations [e.g., organochlorine (OC) pesticides, limit of detection (LOD), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and abbreviations for elements (e.g., Fe, Cu, Ag) and chemical compounds [e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), carbon dioxide (CO₂)] should be defined in the text on first use and abbreviated thereafter.

Standard abbreviations, which do not need to be defined, are shown below. Units of measure should be abbreviated only when a specific amount is given (e.g., “concentration of 10 ng/mL” versus “units of nanograms per milliliter”).

Å	angstrom
amu	atomic mass unit
ATP	adenosine 5´- triphosphate
bw	body weight
°C	degrees Celsius
cm	centimeter
cm2	square centimeter
cm3	cubic centimeter
Da	dalton
df	degrees of freedom
DMSO	dimethyl sulfoxide
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid
EDTA	ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay
ft	foot
g	gram
g	gravity (10,000 x g)
gal	gallon
ha	hectare
Gy	gray (unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation)
HEPES	N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N´-2-ethane sulfonic acid
HPLC	high-performance liquid chromatography
hr	hour
Hz	hertz
i.d.	inside diameter
in.	inch
IU	international unit
J	joule
kDa	kilodalton
kg	kilogram
km	kilometer
Km	Michaelis constant
L	liter
lb	pound
ln	natural logarithm
M	molar
m	meter
m2	square meter
m3	cubic meter
mCi	millicurie
µg	microgram
mg	milligram
mi	mile
µL	microliter
min	minute
mL	milliliter
mM	millimolar
mm	millimeter
mol	mole
mRNA	messenger RNA
n	number
ng	nanogram
nL	nanoliter
nmol	nanomole
o.d.	outside diameter
pg	picogram
ppb	parts per billion
ppm	parts per million
ppt	parts per trillion
RNA	ribonucleic acid
RNase	ribonuclease
SD	standard deviation
SDS/PAGE	sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
SE	standard error, standard error of the mean
sec	second
U	unit
V	volt
vol/vol	volume/volume
W	watt
wt	weight
wt/vol	weight/volume
yd	yard

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