Multiple air pollutant exposure is associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in dialysis patients: a French registry-based nationwide study.

Background: Little is known about the effect of combined exposure to different air pollutants on mortality in dialysis patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of multiple exposures to air pollutants with all-cause and cause-specific death in dialysis patients. Materials and methods: This registry-based nationwide cohort study included 90,373 adult kidney failure patients initiating maintenance dialysis between 2012 and 2020 identified from the French REIN registry. Estimated mean annual municipality levels of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 between 2009 and 2020 were combined in different composite air pollution scores to estimate each participant's exposure at the residential place one to 3 years before dialysis initiation. Adjusted cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) per interquartile range (IQR) greater air pollution score. Effect measure modification was assessed for age, sex, dialysis care model, and baseline comorbidities. Results: Higher levels of the main air pollution score were associated with a greater rate of all-cause deaths (HR, 1.082 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.057-1.104] per IQR increase), regardless of the exposure lag. This association was also confirmed in cause-specific analyses, most markedly for infectious mortality (HR, 1.686 [95% CI, 1.470-1.933]). Sensitivity analyses with alternative composite air pollution scores showed consistent findings. Subgroup analyses revealed a significantly stronger association among women and fewer comorbid patients. Discussion: Long-term multiple air pollutant exposure is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among patients receiving maintenance dialysis, suggesting that air pollution may be a significant contributor to the increasing trend of CKD-attributable mortality worldwide.

Quantile regression for longitudinal data with values below the limit of detection and time-dependent covariates-application to modeling carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposures.

BACKGROUND: In studies of occupational health, longitudinal environmental exposure, and biomonitoring data are often subject to right skewing and left censoring, in which measurements fall below the limit of detection (LOD). To address right-skewed data, it is common practice to log-transform the data and model the geometric mean, assuming a log-normal distribution. However, if the transformed data do not follow a known distribution, modeling the mean of exposure may result in bias and reduce efficiency. In addition, when examining longitudinal data, it is possible that certain covariates may vary over time. OBJECTIVE: To develop predictive quantile regression models to resolve the issues of left censoring and time-dependent covariates and to quantitatively evaluate if previous and current covariates can predict current and/or future exposure levels. METHODS: To address these gaps, we suggested incorporating different substitution approaches into quantile regression and utilizing a method for selecting a working type of time dependency for covariates. RESULTS: In a simulation study, we demonstrated that, under different types of time-dependent covariates, the approach of multiple random value imputation outperformed the other approaches. We also applied our methods to a carbon nanotube and nanofiber exposure study. The dependent variables are the left-censored mass of elemental carbon at both the respirable and inhalable aerosol size fractions. In this study, we identified some potential time-dependent covariates with respect to worker-level determinants and job tasks. CONCLUSION: Time dependency for covariates is rarely accounted for when analyzing longitudinal environmental exposure and biomonitoring data with values less than the LOD through predictive modeling. Mistreating the time-dependency as time-independency will lead to an efficiency loss of regression parameter estimation. Therefore, we addressed time-varying covariates in longitudinal exposure and biomonitoring data with left-censored measurements and illustrated an entire conditional distribution through different quantiles.

Effects of environmental phenols on eGFR: machine learning modeling methods applied to cross-sectional studies.

Purpose: Limited investigation is available on the correlation between environmental phenols' exposure and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Our target is established a robust and explainable machine learning (ML) model that associates environmental phenols' exposure with eGFR. Methods: Our datasets for constructing the associations between environmental phenols' and eGFR were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2013-2016). Five ML models were contained and fine-tuned to eGFR regression by phenols' exposure. Regression evaluation metrics were used to extract the limitation of the models. The most effective model was then utilized for regression, with interpretation of its features carried out using shapley additive explanations (SHAP) and the game theory python package to represent the model's regression capacity. Results: The study identified the top-performing random forest (RF) regressor with a mean absolute error of 0.621 and a coefficient of determination of 0.998 among 3,371 participants. Six environmental phenols with eGFR in linear regression models revealed that the concentrations of triclosan (TCS) and bisphenol S (BPS) in urine were positively correlated with eGFR, and the correlation coefficients were ß = 0.010 (p = 0.026) and ß = 0.007 (p = 0.004) respectively. SHAP values indicate that BPS (1.38), bisphenol F (BPF) (0.97), 2,5-dichlorophenol (0.87), TCS (0.78), BP3 (0.60), bisphenol A (BPA) (0.59) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (0.47) in urinary contributed to the model. Conclusion: The RF model was efficient in identifying a correlation between phenols' exposure and eGFR among United States NHANES 2013-2016 participants. The findings indicate that BPA, BPF, and BPS are inversely associated with eGFR.

Multiple factors influence telomere length and DNA damage in individuals environmentally exposed to a coal-burning power plant.

Coal is a mixture of several chemicals, many of which have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects and are a key contributor to the global burden of mortality and disease. Previous studies suggest that coal is related to telomeric shortening in individuals occupationally exposed, however little is known about the effects of mining and burning coal on the telomeres of individuals living nearby. Therefore, the primary objective of this investigation was to assess the impact of proximity to coal power plants and coal mines on the genomic instability of individuals environmentally exposed, while also exploring potential associations with individual characteristics, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and the presence of inorganic elements. This study involved 80 men participants from three cities around a thermoelectric power plant and one city unexposed to coal and byproducts. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from each participant, and the telomeres length (TL) was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methodology. No significant difference was observed between exposed individuals (6227 ± 2884 bp) when compared to the unexposed group (5638 ± 2452 bp). Nevertheless, TL decrease was associated with age and risk for cardiovascular disease; and longer TL was found to be linked with increased concentrations of silicon and phosphorus in blood samples. No correlations were observed between TL with comet assay (visual score), micronucleus test, oxidative stress, and inflammatory results. Additional research is required to ascertain the potential correlation between these changes and the onset of diseases and premature mortality.

Climate change and children's respiratory health.

Climate change has significant consequences for children's respiratory health. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events increase children's exposure to allergens, mould, and air pollutants. Children are particularly vulnerable to these airborne particles due to their higher ventilation per unit of body weight, more frequent mouth breathing, and outdoor activities. Children with asthma and cystic fibrosis are at particularly high risk, with increased risks of exacerbation, but the effects of climate change could also be observed in the general population, with a risk of impaired lung development and growth. Mitigation measures, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by healthcare professionals and healthcare systems, and adaptation measures, such as limiting outdoor activities during pollution peaks, are essential to preserve children's respiratory health. The mobilisation of society as a whole, including paediatricians, is crucial to limit the impact of climate change on children's respiratory health.

Hearing health and noise exposure in population between 18 to 64 years old in Bogotá, Colombia, 2014-2018 / Salud auditiva y exposición a ruido ambiental en población de 18 a 64 años de Bogotá, Colombia, entre el 2014 y el 2018.

Introduction: Hearing health is a public health concern that affects the quality of life and can be disturbed by noise exposure, generating auditory and extra-auditory symptoms. Objective. To identify the hearing health status in adults living in Bogotá and its association with environmental noise exposure and individual and otological factors. Objective: To identify the hearing health status in adults living in Bogotá and its association with environmental noise exposure and individual and otological factors. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a database with 10,311 records from 2014 to 2018, consigned in a structured survey of noise perception and hearing screening. We performed a descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the included participants, 35.4% presented hearing impairment. In the perception component, 13.0 % reported not hearing well; 28.8 % had extra-auditory symptoms, 53.3 % informed otological antecedents and 69.0 % presented discomfort due to extramural noise. In the logistic regression, the variables with the highest association for hearing impairment were living in noisy areas (OR = 1.50) (95% CI: 1.34-1.69), being male (OR = 1.85) (95% CI: 1.64-2.09), increasing age (for each year of life, the risk of hearing impairment increased 6%), and having history of extra-auditory symptoms (OR = 1.86) (95% CI: 1.66-2.08). Conclusions: Hearing impairment is multi-causal in the studied population. The factors that promote its prevalence are increasing age, being male, smoking, ototoxic medications, living in areas with high noise exposure, and extra-auditory symptoms.

Introducción. La salud auditiva es un tema de interés en salud pública que afecta la calidad de vida y que puede afectarse por la exposición continua al ruido, un factor de riesgo que genera síntomas auditivos y extraauditivos. Objetivo. Identificar el estado de salud auditiva de adultos que viven en Bogotá, y su asociación con factores de exposición a ruido ambiental, individuales y otológicos. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal mediante el análisis de una base de datos con 10.311 registros, obtenidos entre los años 2014 y 2018, producto de una encuesta estructurada de percepción de ruido y tamizaje auditivo. Se hizo un análisis descriptivo bivariado y una regresión logística binaria. Resultados. El 35,4 % de los participantes presentó disminución auditiva. En el componente de percepción: 13,0 % refirió no escuchar bien, 28,8 % informó síntomas extraauditivos, 53,3 % tenía antecedentes otológicos, y 69,0 % manifestó molestia por ruido extramural. En la regresión logística, las variables más asociadas con disminución auditiva fueron: de las ambientales, vivir en zonas de mayor ruido (OR = 1,50) (IC95%: 1,34-1,69); de las individuales, ser hombre (OR = 1,85) (IC95%: 1,64-2,09) y la edad (por cada año de vida, el riesgo de disminución auditiva aumentó 6 %); y de las otológicas, tener antecedente de síntomas otológicos (OR = 1,86) (IC95%: 1,66-2,08). Conclusiones. La disminución auditiva es multicausal en la población evaluada. Los factores que aumentan su prevalencia son incremento de la edad, ser hombre, tabaquismo, medicamentos ototóxicos, vivir en zonas de mayor exposición a ruido y presentar síntomas extraauditivos.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Generated from Disposable Water Bottles Induce Interferon Signaling Pathways in Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells.

Microplastics (MPs) are present in ambient air in a respirable size fraction; however, their potential impact on human health via inhalation routes is not well documented. In the present study, methods for a lab-scale generation of MPs from regularly used and littered plastic articles were optimized. The toxicity of 11 different types of MPs, both commercially purchased and in-lab prepared MPs, was investigated in lung epithelial cells using cell viability, immune and inflammatory response, and genotoxicity endpoints. The underlying mechanisms were identified by microarray analysis. Although laborious, the laboratory-scale methods generated a sufficient quantity of well characterized MPs for toxicity testing. Of the 11 MPs tested, the small sized polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) MPs prepared from disposable water bottles induced the maximum toxicity. Specifically, the smaller size PETE MPs induced a robust activation of the interferon signaling pathway, implying that PETE MPs are perceived by cells by similar mechanisms as those employed to recognize pathogens. The PETE MPs of heterogenous size and shapes induced cell injury, triggering cell death, inflammatory cascade, and DNA damage, hallmark in vitro events indicative of potential in vivo tissue injury. The study establishes toxicity of specific types of plastic materials in micron and nano size.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine aerosol causes irreversible changes in blood proteins that associated with the severity of lung injury.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) is a positively charged polymer used as a disinfectant that kills microbes but can cause pulmonary fibrosis if inhaled. After the long-term risks were confirmed in South Korea, it became crucial to measure toxicity through diverse surrogate biomarkers, not only proteins, especially after these hazardous chemicals had cleared from the body. These biomarkers, identified by their biological functions rather than simple numerical calculations, effectively explained the imbalance of pulmonary surfactant caused by fibrosis from PHMG exposure. These long-term studies on children exposed to PHMG has shown that blood protein indicators, primarily related to apolipoproteins and extracellular matrix, can distinguish the degree of exposure to humidifier disinfectants (HDs). We defined the extreme gradient boosting models and computed reflection scores based on just ten selected proteins, which were also verified in adult women exposed to HD. The reflection scores successfully discriminated between the HD-exposed and unexposed groups in both children and adult females (AUROC: 0.957 and 0.974, respectively) and had a strong negative correlation with lung function indicators. Even after an average of more than 10 years, blood is still considered a meaningful specimen for assessing the impact of environmental exposure to toxic substances, with proteins providing in identifying the pathological severity of such conditions.

Respiratory system: Highly exposed yet under-reported organ in pyrethrin and pyrethroid toxicity.

Pyrethrin and pyrethroid are a relatively new class of pesticides with potent insecticidal properties. Pyrethrins are naturally occurring pesticides obtained from the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium flower, while pyrethroids are their synthetic derivatives. They are widely used as the insecticides of choice in agriculture, veterinary medicine, public health programs, and household activities. Pyrethrin, being a broad-spectrum insecticide kills a wide range of pests, while pyrethroids last longer in the environment owing to low susceptibility to sunlight, and greater stability and efficacy than parent molecules. Humans can be exposed through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal routes. Indoor usage of an insecticide poses a serious risk to human health, especially to women, children, and stay-at-home people. Although pyrethrin and pyrethroid are generally considered safe, sustained skin or inhalation exposure or direct contact with open wounds results in higher toxicity to mammals. There is a paucity of data on the impact of pyrethrin and pyrethroid on overall pulmonary health. The respiratory system, from the nose, nasal passages, airways, and bronchi to the pulmonary alveoli, is vulnerable to environmental contaminants such as pesticides because of its anatomical location as well as being a highly blood profused organ. Under and over-functioning of the respiratory system triggers diverse pathologies such as serious infections, allergies, asthma, metastatic malignancies, and auto-immune conditions. While the association between workplace-related pesticide exposures and respiratory diseases and symptoms is well documented, it is important to understand the adverse health impact of pyrethrin and pyrethroid on the general population for awareness and also for better regulation and implementation of the law.

Exploring the association between atmospheric pollutants and preterm birth risk in a river valley city.

Objective: To investigate the association between exposure to atmospheric pollutants and preterm birth in a river valley-type city and its critical exposure windows. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was used to collect data from the medical records of preterm and full-term deliveries in two hospitals in urban areas of a typical river valley-type city from January 2018 to December 2019. A total of 7,288 cases were included in the study with general information such as pregnancy times, the number of cesarean sections, occupation, season of conception and regularity of the menstrual cycle. And confounding factors affecting preterm birth were inferred using the chi-square test. The effects of exposure to each pollutant, including particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), particulate matter 10 (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3), during pregnancy on preterm birth and the main exposure windows were explored by establishing a logistic regression model with pollutants introduced as continuous variables. Results: Maternal age, pregnancy times, number of births, number of cesarean sections, season of conception, complications diseases, comorbidities diseases, hypertension disorder of pregnancy and neonatal low birth weight of the newborn were significantly different between preterm and term pregnant women. Logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the above confounders showed that the risk of preterm birth increases by 0.9, 0.6, 2.4% in T2 and by 1.0, 0.9, 2.5% in T3 for each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2 concentrations, respectively. The risk of preterm birth increases by 4.3% in T2 for each 10 µg/m3 increase in SO2 concentrations. The risk of preterm birth increases by 123.5% in T2 and increases by 188.5% in T3 for each 10 mg/m3 increase in CO concentrations. Conclusion: Maternal exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO was associated with increased risk on preterm birth in mid-pregnancy (T2) and late pregnancy (T3), SO2 exposure was associated with increased risk on preterm birth in mid-pregnancy (T2).

Lead contamination in human milk affects infants' language trajectory: results from a prospective cohort study.

Infants growing up in low- and middle-income countries are at increased risk of suffering adverse childhood experiences, including exposure to environmental pollution and lack of cognitive stimulation. In this study, we aimed to examine the levels of metals in the human milk of women living in São Paulo City, Brazil, and determine the effects on infants' neurodevelopment. For such, a total of 185 human milk samples were analyzed for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We applied the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development Third Edition (Bayley-III) to assess developmental milestones. In our analysis, we found a mean (standard deviation) concentration of As in human milk equal to 2.76 (4.09) µg L-1, followed by Pb 2.09 (5.36) and Hg 1.96 (6.68). Cd was not detected. We observed that infants exposed to Pb presented language trajectories lower than non-exposed infants (ß = -0.413; 95% CI -0.653, -0.173) after adjustment for infant age, maternal education, socioeconomic status, infant sex, and sample weights. Our results report As, Pb, and Hg contamination in human milk, and that infant exposure to Pb decreased infants' language development. These results evidence maternal-child environmental exposure and its detrimental impact on infants' health.

A Comprehensive Review on Pesticide Residues in Human Urine.

Numerous studies worldwide have evaluated pesticide residues detected in urine. This review serves as a contribution to this field by presenting an overview of scientific research studies published from 2001 to 2023, including details of study characteristics and research scope. Encompassing 72 papers, the review further delves into addressing key challenges in study design and method used such as sampling and analytical approaches, results adjustments, risk assessment, estimations, and results evaluation. The review explores urinary concentrations and detection frequency of metabolites of organophosphates and pyrethroids, as well as herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate and their metabolites, across various studies. The association of the results with demographic and lifestyle variables were explored. While farmers generally have higher pesticide exposure, adopting organic farming practices can reduce the levels of pesticides detected in their urine. Residence close to agricultural areas has shown high exposure in some cases. Dietary exposure is especially high among people adopting a conventionally grown plant-rich dietary pattern. A higher detection level and frequency of detection are generally found in females and children compared to males. The implications of transitioning to organic and sustainable plant-rich diets for reducing pesticide exposure and potential health benefits for both adults and children require further investigation.

Blood levels of 21 metals and metalloids in riverside villagers of the Brazilian Amazon: A human biomonitoring study with associations with sociodemographic, dietary, and lifestyle factors.

Human biomonitoring of toxic and essential trace elements is critically important for public health protection. Amazonian riverine communities exhibit distinctive dietary patterns, heavily reliant on locally sourced fish, fruits, and vegetables. These habits may result in unique exposure profiles compared to urban populations. However, comprehensive assessments of their exposure to toxic and essential metals are lacking, representing a critical gap in understanding the health risks faced by these communities. This study aimed to establish baseline levels of 21 metals and metalloids in human blood and explore the influence of sociodemographic factors, dietary habits, and lifestyle choices as potential sources of exposure to these elements. A cross-sectional biomonitoring investigation was conducted with 1,024 individuals from 13 communities in the Tapajós and Amazon Basins (Pará, Brazil). Most of the elements in study was determined for the first time in the region. Blood samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The levels of all elements were summarized by quantiles and compared with cutoff values from other Brazilian populations. Multiple linear regression was used to assess possible associations between element concentrations and sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, and lifestyle choices. High detection rates (64%-100%) were observed, indicating the widespread presence of these elements. Elevated blood concentrations were found for mercury (median 21.1 µg.L-1, interquartile range: 12-34 µg.L-1), selenium (median 166 µg.L-1, interquartile range: 137-208 µg.L-1), and lead (median 34 µg.L-1, interquartile range: 20.8-64 µg.L-1). Regression analysis revealed a positive association between mercury levels and fish consumption, while manioc flour intake showed no relationship to lead levels. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the need for continued monitoring and public policy development for these vulnerable populations. Further studies should assess long-term trends and investigate the health implications of prolonged exposure to diverse chemicals in Amazonian riverside communities.

Gastroesophageal Disease and Environmental Exposure: A Systematic Review.

Environmental exposure-associated disease is an active area of study, especially in the context of increasing global air pollution and use of inhalants. Our group is dedicated to the study of exposure-related inflammation and downstream health effects. While many studies have focused on the impact of inhalants on respiratory sequelae, there is growing evidence of the involvement of other systems including autoimmune, endocrine, and gastrointestinal. This systematic review aims to provide a recent update that will underscore the associations between inhalation exposures and upper gastrointestinal disease in the contexts of our evolving environmental exposures. Keywords focused on inhalational exposures and gastrointestinal disease. Primary search identified n = 764 studies, of which n = 64 met eligibility criteria. In particular, there was support for existing evidence that PM increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal diseases. Smoking was also confirmed to be major risk factor. Interestingly, studies in this review have also identified waterpipe use as a significant risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux and gastric cancer. Our systematic review identified inhalational exposures as risk factors for aerodigestive disease, further supporting the association between environmental exposure and digestive disease. However, due to limitations on our review's scope, further studies must be done to better understand this interaction.

Prevalence and risk factors of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) among veterans in the airborne hazards and open burn pit registry: a prospective, observational, nested study.

BACKGROUND: Veterans have unique military risk factors and exposures during deployment that may augment their risk of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). The purpose of this study is to identify potential risk factors for PASC among Veterans in the national Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR). METHODS: This prospective observational study consisted of a semi-structured interview conducted via phone or videoconference from November 2021 to December 2022 among a stratified random sample of deployed Veterans nested within the national AHOBPR with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. PASC was defined as persistent new-onset symptoms lasting more than 2 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. Deployment history, airborne hazards exposure and symptoms were obtained from the AHOBPR self-assessment questionnaire completed prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection (past). Post-infection symptoms and health behaviors obtained at study interview (present) were used to test the hypothesis that deployment experience and exposure increases the risk for PASC. RESULTS: From a sample of 212 Veterans, 149 (70%) met criteria for PASC with a mean age of 47 ± 8.7 years; 73 (49%) were women and 76 (51%) were men, and 129 (82.6%) continued to experience persistent symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 (596.8 ± 160.4 days since initial infection). Neither exposure to airborne hazards (OR 0.97, CI 0.92-1.03) or to burn pits (OR 1.00, CI 0.99-1.00) augmented risk for PASC. CONCLUSIONS: PASC is highly common among Veterans enrolled in the AHOBPR, but we did not observe any unique military risk factors (e.g., airborne hazards exposure) that augmented the risk of PASC. Our findings may provide guidance to clinicians in the VHA network to administer appropriate care for Veterans experiencing PASC.

Association between pancreatic adenocarcinoma risk and concentration of organochlorine pesticides in adipose tissue and urine: A targeted-screening analysis case-control study (PESTIPAC).

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about environmental pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) risk factors, including pesticide exposure, remains limited. Organochlorine (OC) accumulates in adipose tissue and can help reflect long-term exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Age and body mass index (BMI) of patients with PA were matched with those undergoing a surgery for a benign disease on age and BMI (1:1). Targeted analyses screened 345 pesticides and metabolites, including 29 OC, in adipose tissue and urine samples. The primary aim was to investigate the association between organochlorine concentrations in visceral fat or urine, and PA. Adjusted conditional logistic regressions were carried out accounting for multiple testing. RESULTS: Trans-nonachlor (odds ratio [OR] = 1.325, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.108-1.586]), cis-nonachlor (OR = 15.433, 95% CI [2.733-87.136]), Mirex (OR = 2.853, 95% CI [1.213-6.713]) and 4,4 DDE (OR = 1.019, 95% CI [1.005-1.034]) in fat and a greater number of positive samples (OR = 1.758 95% CI [1.11-2.997]) were significantly associated with higher odds of PA. In contrast, as awaited, urine samples did not yield any statistically significant associations for all tested pesticides. CONCLUSION: Some OCs were associated with higher odds of PA. The underlying mechanisms of pancreatic aggression need to be investigated to refine these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04429490.

Livestock-associated spatial risk factors for human salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis.

AIMS: Most human infections with non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) or Campylobacter are zoonotic in nature and acquired though consumption of contaminated food of mainly animal origin. However, individuals may also acquire salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis through non-foodborne transmission pathways, such as those mediated by the environment. This emphasizes the need to consider both direct and indirect exposure to livestock sources as a possible transmission route for NTS and Campylobacter. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing whether salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis incidence is spatially associated with exposure to livestock (i.e. small ruminants, dairy cows, veal calves, laying hens, broiler chickens and pigs) in the Netherlands for the years 2007-2019 and 2014-2019 respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS: Risk factors (population-weighted number of animals) and their population attributable fractions were determined using a Poisson regression model with a log-link function fitted using integrated nested Laplace approximation. The analyses were performed for different hexagonal sizes (90, 50, 25 and 10 km2) and accounted for geographical coverage of the diagnostic laboratory catchment areas. Moreover, serological data were used to look into the possible effects of acquired immunity due to repeated exposure to the pathogen through the environment that would potentially hinder the analyses based on the incidence of reported cases. A linear mixed-effects model was then fitted where the postal code areas were included as a random effect. Livestock was not consistently significantly associated with acquiring salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis in the Netherlands. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that living in livestock-rich areas in the Netherlands is not a consistently significant, spatially restricted risk factor for acquiring salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis, thereby supporting current knowledge that human infections with Salmonella and Campylobacter are mainly foodborne.

Promotion of environmental public health and environmental justice in communities affected by large and long lasting industrial contamination: methods applied and lessons learned from the case study of Porto Torres (Italy).

Introduction: Communities affected by large scale and long lasting industrial contamination are often keen to understand whether their health has been impaired by such contamination. This requires answers that integrate environmental public health and environmental justice perspectives. At these sites, exposure scenarios from environmental contamination over time by multiple chemicals, often involving different environmental matrices, are complex and challenging to reconstruct. Methods: An approach for describing the health of such communities in association with environmental contamination is presented, with the methods applied across the three domains of environmental contamination, population exposure and toxicology, environmental and social epidemiology, and environmental public health communication. The approach is described with examples from its application to the case study of Porto Torres, a town with a substantial industrially conditioned evolution. Results: Activities in the field of environmental contamination, population exposure and toxicology focus on the collection and systematization of available contamination data, the identification of priority pollutants based on their toxicological profiles, the qualitative assessment of the likelihood of exposure for the population to priority pollutants and their known health effects. Environmental and social epidemiology methods are applied to describe the health profiles and socioeconomic conditions of the local population, taking into account multiple health outcomes from local information systems and considering specific diseases based on exposure and toxicological assessments. The environmental public health communication methods are directed to produce a communication plan and for its implementation through interaction with local institutional and social actors. The interpretation of health profiles benefits from a transdisciplinary analysis of the results. Discussion: The proposed approach combines the needs of environmental public health and environmental justice allowing the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge to define recommendations for reducing and/or preventing hazardous environmental exposures and adverse health effects, stimulating the interactions between stakeholders, and making the study results more accessible to citizens.

Outdoor air pollution and brain development in childhood and adolescence.

Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been linked to adverse health effects, including potential widespread impacts on the CNS. Ongoing brain development may render children and adolescents especially vulnerable to neurotoxic effects of air pollution. While mechanisms remain unclear, promising advances in human neuroimaging can help elucidate both sensitive periods and neurobiological consequences of exposure to air pollution. Herein we review the potential influences of air pollution exposure on neurodevelopment, drawing from animal toxicology and human neuroimaging studies. Due to ongoing cellular and system-level changes during childhood and adolescence, the developing brain may be more sensitive to pollutants' neurotoxic effects, as a function of both timing and duration, with relevance to cognition and mental health. Building on these foundations, the emerging field of environmental neuroscience is poised to further decipher which air toxicants are most harmful and to whom.

Factors moderating cadmium bioavailability: Key considerations for comparing blood cadmium levels between groups.

Cadmium (Cd) is recognized as a significant hazard to human health, with exposure linked to a variety of adverse outcomes including various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and osteoporosis. Residing in areas contaminated with Cd is undoubtedly a risk factor for developing the aforementioned conditions. However, the risk of developing Cd-related disorders is not uniform among individuals. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, and calcium, along with iron deficiency anemia, decreased lung function often seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and low circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), may enhance Cd intestinal absorption. Conversely, chronic liver disorders can lead to the progressive loss of hepatocytes and the release of free Cd into the circulation, resulting in elevated Cd blood levels. Moreover, studies comparing Cd blood levels between different regions within a country or between two groups of individuals, for example, those with and without osteoporosis, should consider all variables that may impact Cd levels. These include age, sex, alcohol consumption, blood levels of iron, calcium, and zinc, the presence of anemia, COPD, PTH levels, and the presence of liver or kidney disease. In this review, we delve into all factors that could influence Cd blood levels, providing a comprehensive analysis.