Environmental Health[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Prospective study of oil spill cleanup-related exposure to volatile organic compounds and glycemic dysregulation.
Jardel HV, Keil AP, Martin CL … +6 more , Richardson DB, Stenzel MR, Stewart PA, Christenbury KE, Sandler DP, Engel LS
Environ Health · 2025 Sep · PMID 41013526 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Exposures to volatile organic compounds could influence glycemic regulation. This study examines hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in a cohort of oil spill cleanup workers up to 6 years post-exposure in relation to benz...
BACKGROUND: Exposures to volatile organic compounds could influence glycemic regulation. This study examines hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in a cohort of oil spill cleanup workers up to 6 years post-exposure in relation to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) exposures, individually and as a mixture, as well as a separate estimation of the aggregate sum of BTEX (total BTEX). METHODS: Data for this analysis are from the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study– a prospective cohort of workers involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup. HbA1c and medication information were obtained at Home Visit and Clinical Exam phases 1–3 years and up to 6 years post-exposure, respectively. Cumulative inhalation exposure to the individual BTEX chemicals and to total BTEX were estimated using a job-exposure matrix linking air measurements to detailed individual worker cleanup work histories. We used Tobit regression models to examine associations between exposure to the chemicals and latent, untreated HbA1c, accounting for medication-reduced HbA1c. We used quantile g-computation to examine exposure to the mixture of BTEX chemicals and HbA1c. RESULTS: In results examining Home Visit HbA1c we observed no discernable patterns but found suggestive evidence of an association with total BTEX. In results for Clinical Exam HbA1c, we did not observe monotonic patterns, but rather an inverted-U pattern with elevations in Q2 or Q3 or no clear pattern. Similarly, in results for final HbA1c adjusting for initial HbA1c, total BTEX difference estimates showed an inverted-U pattern in point estimates across Q2 (0.24 95%CI (0.14, 0.34)), Q3 (0.13 95%CI (0.03, 0.24)), and Q4 (0.00 95% CI (-0.11, 0.10)), compared to Q1. CONCLUSION: Exposures to the moderate levels of the BTEX chemicals observed in this study population, individually and as an aggregate, may be associated with elevated HbA1c up to 6 years after exposure, with an inverted-U pattern.
Impact of prenatal and postnatal household air pollution exposure on respiratory morbidity and lung function in sub-Saharan African children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zigabe SM, Tamuzi JL, Toelen J … +2 more , Hoet PHM, Katoto PDMC
Environ Health · 2025 Sep · PMID 41013492 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel combustion is a major contributor to respiratory morbidity and mortality among children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the growing body of evidence, the e...
BACKGROUND: Household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel combustion is a major contributor to respiratory morbidity and mortality among children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the growing body of evidence, the effects of prenatal and postnatal HAP exposure on child respiratory outcomes remain incompletely understood. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the impact of prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to HAP on respiratory health in children aged < 18 years in SSA. We searched eight major databases up to March 31, 2025, and assessed risk of bias using ROB2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled relative risks (RR) and mean differences (MD), with heterogeneity assessed by I² statistics. RESULTS: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including randomized trials, cross-sectional, and case-control designs from ten SSA countries. Exposure to CO, NO₂, PM, and PM was significantly associated with increased risk of respiratory disease. CO exposure was linked to respiratory symptoms (mean concentration = 0.44 ppm; 95% CI [0.27, 0.62]), NO₂ to pulmonary tuberculosis (mean concentration = 20.16 ppm; 95% CI [14.15, 26.16]), and PM and PM to acute respiratory infections (mean concentration = 61.25 µg/m³ and 27.36 µg/m³ respectively; p < 0.001). Postnatal and prenatal exposures both increased the risk of pneumonia and impaired lung function, including reduced FVC and FEV1. Improved cookstove interventions reduced general respiratory symptoms (RR = 0.80; 95% CI [0.75, 0.85]) but showed limited effect on severe outcomes such as pneumonia. Overall, our findings yielded moderate evidence. CONCLUSION: Prenatal and postnatal exposure to HAP is associated with increased respiratory morbidity and impaired lung function among children in SSA. While clean cooking interventions may reduce symptoms, substantial pollutant reductions are needed to achieve meaningful health outcomes. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs, refined exposure assessment, and the identification of critical exposure windows to inform targeted interventions.
Impact of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution on cardiovascular disease outpatient visits: a time-series study in Yichang, China.
Wang W, Ming X, Chen L … +4 more , Chen Y, Yang Z, Hu C, Zhang Q
Environ Health · 2025 Sep · PMID 40993697 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Rapid industrialization has exacerbated ambient air pollution in Yichang, China, posing cardiovascular health risks. This study evaluates the short-term impact of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular dise...
BACKGROUND: Rapid industrialization has exacerbated ambient air pollution in Yichang, China, posing cardiovascular health risks. This study evaluates the short-term impact of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outpatient visits and assesses the effectiveness of environmental policies implemented post-2018. METHODS: We analyzed 510,831 CVD outpatient records alongside daily concentrations of PM, PM, SO, NO, CO, and O from five monitoring stations. Generalized additive Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) quantified associations between ambient air pollutant exposure (per interquartile range (IQR) increase) and daily visits, adjusting for meteorological factors, time trends, and COVID-19. Effects pre- and post-2018 policy implementation (targeting riverside chemical industry relocation) were compared. RESULTS: Short-term exposure to NO₂ (lag05, RR = 1.253, 95% CI: 1.192-1.317), SO₂ (lag0, RR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.011-1.096), and CO (lag01, RR = 1.063, 95% CI: 1.016-1.111) was significantly associated with increased cardiovascular disease outpatient visits. Concentrations of five major ambient air pollutants (excluding O₃) showed significant reductions after 2018 (P < 0.001). The associations of SO₂, CO, and PM₁₀ with CVD visits were attenuated after 2018. NO₂ effects were stronger in colder seasons and remained robust in two-pollutant models. No statistically significant associations were observed for PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and O₃. CONCLUSION: Short-term exposure to NO₂, SO₂, and CO demonstrated statistically significant positive associations with cardiovascular disease outpatient visits. Environmental policies reduced ambient air pollutant levels and attenuated health impacts, supporting continued air quality interventions.
A large language model-based tool for identifying relationships to industry in research on the carcinogenicity of benzene, cobalt, and aspartame.
DeBono NL, Amar V, Hardy H … +3 more , Schubauer-Berigan MK, Ruths D, King NB
Environ Health · 2025 Sep · PMID 40993649 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Industry-funded research poses a threat to the validity of scientific inference on carcinogenic hazards. Scientists require tools to better identify and characterize industry sponsored research across bodies...
BACKGROUND: Industry-funded research poses a threat to the validity of scientific inference on carcinogenic hazards. Scientists require tools to better identify and characterize industry sponsored research across bodies of evidence to reduce the possible influence of industry bias in evidence synthesis reviews. We applied a novel large language model (LLM)-based tool named InfluenceMapper to demonstrate and evaluate its performance in identifying relationships to industry in research on the carcinogenicity of benzene, cobalt, and aspartame. METHODS: All epidemiological, animal cancer, and mechanistic studies included in systematic reviews on the carcinogenicity of the three agents by the IARC Monographs programme. Selected agents were recently evaluated by the Monographs and are of commercial interest by major industries. InfluenceMapper extracted disclosed entities in study publications and classified up to 40 possible disclosed relationship types between each entity and the study and between each entity and author. A human classified entities as 'industry or industry-funded' and assessed relationships with industry for potential conflicts of interest. Positive predictive values described the extent of true positive relationships identified by InfluenceMapper compared to human assessment. RESULTS: Analyses included 2,046 studies for all three agents. We identified 320 disclosed industry or industry-funded entities from InfluenceMapper output that were involved in 770 distinct study-entity and author-entity relationships. For each agent, between 4 and 8% of studies disclosed funding by industry and 1-4% of studies had at least one author who disclosed receiving industry funding directly. Industry trade associations for all three agents funded 22 studies published in 16 journals over a 37-year span. Aside from funding, the most prevalent disclosed relationships with industry were receiving data, holding employment, paid consulting, and providing expert testimony. Positive predictive values were excellent (≥ 98%) for study-entity relationships but declined for relationships with individual authors. CONCLUSIONS: LLM-based tools can significantly expedite and bolster the detection of disclosed conflicts of interest from industry sponsored research in cancer prevention. Possible use cases include facilitating the assessment of bias from industry studies in evidence synthesis reviews and alerting scientists to the influence of industry on scientific inference. Persistent challenges in ascertaining conflicts of interest underscore the urgent need for standardized, transparent, and enforceable disclosures in biomedical journals.
Impact of prenatal drought exposures on under-5 childhood stunting in 32 low-and-middle-income countries: a global analysis using demographic and health survey.
Seposo X, Celis-Seposo AK, Uttajug A … +2 more , Tajudin MABA, Ueda K
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40883801 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Child stunting affects a substantial number of children globally, with an estimated 149 million worldwide. Environmental factors, including poor nutrition, household environment, inadequate sanitation, and me...
BACKGROUND: Child stunting affects a substantial number of children globally, with an estimated 149 million worldwide. Environmental factors, including poor nutrition, household environment, inadequate sanitation, and meteorological variables have also significantly contributed to child stunting. Apart from temperature and rainfall, large-scale events such as drought have been found to influence the risk of stunting. While previous studies focused on post-natal drought, this research investigates the impact of pre-natal drought on childhood stunting in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: We used nationally representative survey data of under 5 stunted children collected between 2013 and 2019 from Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) surveys for 32 low-income to middle-income countries in combination with high-resolution weather data from ERA5-Land climate re-analysis in generating the drought index (Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index) that was then classified into various pre-natal and post-natal exposure periods. We used a generalized additive mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression modelling approach to assess the association between pre-natal drought and the risk of stunting. RESULTS: In examining the association between pre-natal drought exposure and under-5 child stunting, we analyzed a total of 284,702 children with geolocated, anthropometric data, composed of 147,448 (51%) girls and 137,254 (49%) boys. Pre-natal (or pre-natal) drought exposure on a long-term time scale increased the risk of under-5 stunting by 2.07% (95% CI: 0.48%, 3.63%). Pre-natal drought exposure particularly in the second and third trimesters were associated with 1.76% (95% CI: 0.22%, 3.27%) and 1.60% (95% CI: 0.15%, 3.02%) increase in the risk of under-5 childhood stunting, respectively. We found marginally significant association between the first trimester pre-natal drought exposure and the risk of stunting (1.53%; 95% CI: -0.13, 3.16%). CONCLUSION: Our large-scale population study of 32 LMICs has found that pre-natal drought exposure was significantly associated with under-5 child stunting, with pronounced risks during the second and third trimesters exposures. Drought plays a significant role in exacerbating child stunting, underscoring the necessity for effective drought management strategies and interventions to safeguard child nutrition and development.
Correction: Childhood mercury exposure and early death in Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: a retrospective study.
Mergler D, Philibert A, Fillion M … +1 more , Da Silva J
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40847305 · Full text
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How criminology can support environmental health: the case of PFAS.
Bisschop L, Hendlin Y
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40836338 · Full text
This commentary argues that the field of criminology can aid in addressing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution, providing levers to achieve public health aims of drastically lowering and abating new PFAS...
This commentary argues that the field of criminology can aid in addressing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution, providing levers to achieve public health aims of drastically lowering and abating new PFAS emissions while addressing historic exposure. Based on a European example of the large DuPont de Nemours (now Chemours) industrial facility in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, we frame the history of PFAS exposures as a crime. We discuss how PFAS pollution emerged in part due to knowledge asymmetries, perpetuated by the close alignment of corporate and governmental interests, and the fragmentation of regulatory enforcement, both historic and contemporary.
Individual and combined effects of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure on preterm birth: a nested case-control study in China.
Hu Y, Chen H, Sun S … +7 more , Zhang L, Yang D, Zhao J, Zhang Q, Pan Y, Liu X, Liu Z
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40826094 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic chemicals with ubiquitous human exposure. Maternal PFAS exposure has been linked with adverse birth outcomes, but their associations w...
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic chemicals with ubiquitous human exposure. Maternal PFAS exposure has been linked with adverse birth outcomes, but their associations with preterm birth (PTB) remained ambiguous. METHODS: To assess the associations of individual and mixed PFAS exposure with preterm birth (PTB) and its subtypes (spontaneous and iatrogenic), a nested case-control study involving 177 PTB cases and 531 controls was conducted in Shanghai, China. Serum concentration of seven PFAS were measured in early pregnancy via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). PTB, gestational weeks and birth weight were obtained from electronic medical record system. Conditional logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) were used for individual assessment. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g-computation (QGC), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted for PFAS mixture. Subtype analysis and sex stratified analysis were further examined. RESULTS: Both individually and in mixtures, significant associations were observed between elevated PFAS concentrations and increased PTB risk, along with reduced gestational weeks and lower birth weight. The WQS, QGC, and BKMR identified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), per-fluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) as the major contributors, with PFOA being particularly significant. Moreover, higher risks of PFAS-associated PTB were observed in the iatrogenic PTB subgroup and pregnant women with male infants. CONCLUSION: Maternal exposure to PFAS, whether individually or in mixtures, was significantly associated with increased risk of PTB. These associations might be subtype-specific and sex-specific. Further research is needed to validate our results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in maternal and umbilical cord plasma and their associations with birthweight in the GUSTO cohort.
Ng S, Chen LW, Chen ZY … +11 more , Chen MH, Chu AHY, Godfrey KM, Tan KH, Gluckman PD, Eriksson JG, Yap F, Chen PC, Chong YS, Chen CY, Chan SY
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40826080 · Full text
BACKGROUND: With daily exposure to multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), understanding individualized co-exposure patterns could better identify chemicals that threaten health. This is particularly pertinent fo...
BACKGROUND: With daily exposure to multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), understanding individualized co-exposure patterns could better identify chemicals that threaten health. This is particularly pertinent for the vulnerable fetus during in-utero development, where exposure can have long lasting health consequences. As there is limited information of EDC exposure in Asian maternal-offspring populations, this study aimed to (1) determine levels of a selected range of EDCs (focusing on Substances of Very High Concern by the European Chemical Agency) in maternal and corresponding cord blood plasma, (2) investigate the sociodemographic factors associated with plasma EDC concentrations, and (3) associate EDC-mixtures with birthweight, in a Singapore cohort. METHODS: Targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the concentration of 30 chemicals of interest in 780 maternal and 782 cord plasma samples collected at delivery in the multi-ethnic Asian (Chinese, Malay, Indian) mother-offspring GUSTO study. Quantile-based g-computation was used to estimate the combined effect of chemical mixtures and its association with birthweight. RESULTS: Twenty-seven out of the thirty selected chemicals were reliably detected in both maternal and cord plasma. Perfluorooctanesulfonic, perfluorooctanoic, perfluorobutanesulfonic and perfluorobutanoic acids (PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, PFBA, respectively) were the predominant perfluoroalkyl acids (detected in > 90% of samples), while mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and monobutyl phthalate were the main phthalate metabolites (detected in > 99% of samples). Concentrations of fourteen chemicals, including PFBA, PFBS and bisphenol S (BPS) were higher in cord plasma than in corresponding maternal plasma; eight being > 1.5 times higher (ranging from 1.75 to 2.93). A mixture of chemicals in cord plasma associated with higher birthweight [116.5 g (95%CI 3.1, 229.9) per quantile increase], but no association was observed for the maternal mixture. Further, different chemicals from the same EDC group in either cord or maternal plasma showed associations in opposite directions with birthweight. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest substantial transplacental transfer and fetal accumulation of many chemicals, particularly the newer replacement compounds. Stronger associations with birthweight were found for the cord chemical mixture than for the maternal mixture, supporting the idea that these chemicals may have direct effects in the fetus to influence growth. Moreover, individual chemicals within each EDC group appear to have different mechanisms of effect resulting in divergent associations with birthweight. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the growing concern about the impact of EDCs, especially the newer chemicals on vulnerable groups such as the developing fetus, warranting further research on the potential effects of in-utero EDC exposure on child health.
Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology.
Prada D, Ritz B, Bauer AZ … +1 more , Baccarelli AA
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40804730 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter pain and fever medication taken during pregnancy, with > 50% of pregnant women using acetaminophen worldwide. Numerous well-designed studies have indic...
BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter pain and fever medication taken during pregnancy, with > 50% of pregnant women using acetaminophen worldwide. Numerous well-designed studies have indicated that pregnant mothers exposed to acetaminophen have children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), at higher rates than children of pregnant mothers who were not exposed to acetaminophen. METHODS: We applied the Navigation Guide methodology to the scientific literature to comprehensively and objectively examine the association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and NDDs and related symptomology in offspring. We conducted a systematic PubMed search through February 25, 2025, using predefined inclusion criteria and rated studies based on risk of bias and strength of evidence. Due to substantial heterogeneity, we opted for a qualitative synthesis, consistent with the Navigation Guide's focus on environmental health evidence. RESULTS: We identified 46 studies for inclusion in our analysis. Of these, 27 studies reported positive associations (significant links to NDDs), 9 showed null associations (no significant link), and 4 indicated negative associations (protective effects). Higher-quality studies were more likely to show positive associations. Overall, the majority of the studies reported positive associations of prenatal acetaminophen use with ADHD, ASD, or NDDs in offspring, with risk-of-bias and strength-of-evidence ratings informing the overall synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses using the Navigation Guide thus support evidence consistent with an association between acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and increased incidence of NDDs. Appropriate and immediate steps should be taken to advise pregnant women to limit acetaminophen consumption to protect their offspring's neurodevelopment.
Modification of associations between ambient PM and vital signs by β-blocker prescription status among individuals with heart failure.
Narain M, Breen M, Carll AP … +3 more , Hazari M, Farraj A, Ward-Caviness CK
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40775722 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Fine particulate matter (PM) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity, especially among individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure (HF). Medical management with β-blocke...
BACKGROUND: Fine particulate matter (PM) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity, especially among individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure (HF). Medical management with β-blockers may modify the association between PM and heart rate (HR) as β-blockers act on similar neurophysiologic pathways as PM. METHODS: To examine potential medication-PM interactions, we utilized electronic health records (EHRs) from 26,653 individuals with HF in North Carolina observed from 2014 to 2016. Linear mixed effect models with a random intercept for individual were adjusted for individual and census level demographics and socioeconomic confounders. We examined 0-4-daily PM lags as well as the 5-day moving average. We stratified observations based β-blocker prescription status and quantified differences using a multiplicative interaction model. We also utilized data from an in vivo study of diesel exhaust exposure and β-blocker usage in HF prone rats to validate results and examine additional outcomes unavailable in the EHR data. RESULTS: Stratified analyses and the multiplicative interaction model revealed a significant difference in the association between PM and HR based on β-blocker prescription status. For 5-day average PM we observed a significant interaction (β = -0.68, 95% CI: -0.82, -0.55) indicating that the association between PM and HR decreased for observations occurring after prescription of a β-blocker to study participants. This observation was reflected in the in vivo study as well. CONCLUSIONS: β-blocker usage likely attenuates associations between short-term PM and HR. Accounting for this in future studies may reveal novel means of reducing PM-related cardiovascular morbidity and reduce confounding in population with high rates of β-blocker usage.
The elderly as a population at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality due to ambient ozone exposure: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
Fang H, Wang Q
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40760464 · Full text
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance on management strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this study systematically analyzed the burden of the disease due to ozone (O) exposure in adults ag...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance on management strategies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this study systematically analyzed the burden of the disease due to ozone (O) exposure in adults aged ≥ 65 years. METHODS: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyse trends in the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for O-related COPD in the elderly (≥ 65 years). Age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to analyse independent age, period and cohort effects. Spearman's correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between ASMR and socio-demographic index (SDI). Decomposition analysis decomposed the drivers of change. Cross-country inequality analysis assessed health inequalities between countries. Frontier analysis estimated optimal health outcomes. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, the number of O-related COPD deaths in the elderly increased from 0.187 to 0.420 million globally. Male ASMR was higher than female ASMR and tended to decrease, whereas female adults ≥ 90 years of age had increased ASMR. ASMR is decreasing in 93 countries and increasing in 78 countries. The global burden of disease was largely driven by population and ageing, but low and low-middle SDI regions were positively affected by ageing, population and epidemiological changes. Global health inequalities remained pronounced, particularly in lower-developed countries. Frontier analyses also showed that countries and regions with lower levels of development had greater potential to improve the burden. CONCLUSION: Despite an overall reduction in the disease burden, O-related COPD mortality remains a major health threat to the elderly, particularly in less developed countries and regions.
Assessing ambient air pollution's effects on birth outcomes: a Scottish IVF cohort study (2010 -2018).
Song H, Clemens T, Doherty RM … +2 more , Stocker J, Bhattacharya S
Environ Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 40760439 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution exposure during and before the pregnancy could result in adverse birth outcomes. This study uses data from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) data to investigate the associati...
BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution exposure during and before the pregnancy could result in adverse birth outcomes. This study uses data from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) data to investigate the associations between ambient air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: This study analyses the associations between adverse birth outcomes, namely low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth and daily mean air pollution exposure during each of four IVF windows. The air pollutants considered were particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 µm (PM) and 2.5 µm (PM), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO), which were estimated using the Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS-Urban). This data was linked to the IVF patients' postcode providing estimates of exposure to air pollutants. Logistic regression models were used to quantify the associations between air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes, and conditioning confounding factors. A subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the differences in the effects of ambient air pollution exposure on the ICSI and IVF groups. RESULTS: From January 2010 to May 2018, there are 2069 babies were able to be included in this study. We found no significant associations between air pollution exposure and the risk of adverse birth outcomes during window 1(85 days before oocyte retrieval) and 2 (14 days after gonadotrophin medication). With 1 µg⋅m increase in PM concentration during window 3 (14 days after embryo transfer) and 4 (embryo transfer to delivery) led to a 5% (95% CI: 1.05-1.06) and 10% (95% CI: 1.01-1.21) increase in the odds of preterm birth, but not other outcomes. In window 3, every 1 µg⋅m increase in NO concentrations resulted in a 2% (95% CI: 1.00 - 1.04) increase in the odds of LBW and a 3% (95% CI: 1.00 -1.05) increase in the odds of SGA but showed no effect for preterm birth. The results of the subgroup analysis suggest that the air pollution exposure may have a greater impact on the IVF group compared to the ICSI group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that exposure to air pollution during the very early stage of pregnancy (14 days after conception) may represent the most critical window of susceptibility to an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes.
Long-term exposure to elemental carbon and disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kasdagli MI, Stamatiou D, Analitis A … +5 more , Katsouyanni K, Lazaridis M, Gini MI, Eleftheriadis K, Samoli E
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40713661 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies have documented the health effects of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, while there is a growing number of studies looking into associations with one of its main compone...
INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies have documented the health effects of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, while there is a growing number of studies looking into associations with one of its main components elemental carbon (EC) and its related metrics such as black carbon (BC), black smoke (BS) or aerosol light absorption coefficient often referred as "PM absorbance". We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the associations between long-term exposure to elemental carbon (EC) and disease incidence. METHODS: We searched for studies published up to April 2025, assessing long-term to EC-related exposure (also including BC, BS, PM absorbance) and incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer in adults, and asthma and acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children. We pooled effect estimates by random-effects models and investigated heterogeneity by region and risk of bias assessments. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development approach. RESULTS: We included 51 studies assessing long-term exposure to EC and disease incidence. The pooled relative risk (RR) for a 1 µg/m increase in EC was 1.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.17), 1.11 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), for incidence of lung cancer and IHD in adults, while a null association was observed for COPD risk. We estimated RR 1.06 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.21) and 1.37 (95% CI: 0.89, 2.04) for asthma and ALRI in children respectively. There was moderate to high heterogeneity in all associations, with the exception of lung cancer incidence for which the certainty of evidence was rated high. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis supports an increased risk of lung cancer following long term exposure to EC and indicates associations for IHD in adults and respiratory outcomes in children. Although the evidence base on the effects of EC on diseases incidence has been increasing, further research is needed in the associations between long- term exposure to EC and various diseases' incidence.
Occupational Exposure to Engine Exhausts and Prostate Cancer Risk.
Barul C, Rousseau MC, Parent ME
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40713642 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Some engine exhausts (EEs) have been classified as carcinogens and/or can have hormone-modulating properties that could play a role in prostate cancer development. OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations betw...
BACKGROUND: Some engine exhausts (EEs) have been classified as carcinogens and/or can have hormone-modulating properties that could play a role in prostate cancer development. OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between lifetime occupational exposure to various EEs and prostate cancer risk, overall and for aggressive cancers. METHODS: In a population-based case-control study conducted in Montreal, Canada, 1,924 incident histologically-confirmed prostate cancer cases (436 aggressive) and 1,989 population controls were recruited. Socio-demographics, lifestyle factors and a detailed occupational history were collected during in-person interviews. Industrial hygienists conducted evaluations of intensity, frequency and reliability of exposure to EEs resulting from the combustion of several fuels (any diesel, light- and heavy-duty diesel, leaded and unleaded gasoline, propane and jet fuel) in each job held ≥ 2 years. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for exposure to each EE, in association with prostate cancer risk, adjusting for age and then for potential lifestyle and occupational confounders, accounting for a 5-year latency period. As most associations were not linear, we fitted functions for changes in percentile distributions based on natural cubic splines. RESULTS: There was no evidence of associations between exposure to the various EEs and overall prostate cancer. However, for high-grade cancers, based on the fully-adjusted model, a change from the 25th to the 75th percentile of the exposure distribution of any diesel EE yielded an OR of 1.24 (95%CI 0.96-1.61), and of 1.27 (95% CI 0.80-2.01) for a change from the 75th to the 95th percentile. These increases reflected exposure to diesel EE from light-duty vehicles, associated with similar ORs. For leaded gasoline EE, a change from the 75th to the 95th percentile resulted in an age-adjusted OR of 1.36 (95%CI 0.88-2.11), which was attenuated to 1.12 (95%CI 0.63-2.02) after full adjustment. There were no associations with EE from unleaded gasoline, diesel from heavy-duty vehicles, jet fuel and propane. CONCLUSION: There was suggestive evidence for a deleterious role of occupational exposure to EE resulting from the combustion of any diesel, light-duty diesel and from leaded gasoline in the development of aggressive prostate cancer. Results were independent from prostate cancer screening patterns.
Association of mold exposure and solid household fuel use with depression and anxiety among older adults in China.
Ma X, Zhao H, Wang Y … +3 more , Hou M, Liu W, Sun M
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40696404 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Exposure to mold and solid cooking fuels represents a significant environmental health concern, contributing substantially to indoor air pollution among elderly populations. However, the association between m...
BACKGROUND: Exposure to mold and solid cooking fuels represents a significant environmental health concern, contributing substantially to indoor air pollution among elderly populations. However, the association between mold exposure, household fuel use, and mental health remains poorly understood. Here we examine individual and joint associations of these exposures on depression, anxiety, and their co-occurrence in older adults. METHODS: We evaluated 9,243 elderly participants from the eighth survey wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) to explore the associations between mold exposure, solid fuel use, and depression, anxiety, and their co-occurrence. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to quantify these relationships, with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) reported. RESULTS: The study identified a depression prevalence of 13.61% and an anxiety prevalence of 11.79%. Participants exposed to mold demonstrated significantly higher odds of depression (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.93-2.63), anxiety (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.80-2.48), and their co-occurrence (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 2.10-3.16), compared to participants without mold exposure. Moreover, the use of solid fuels for cooking, as opposed to clean fuels, was correlated with higher occurrence of depression (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.10-1.47), anxiety (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.12-1.52), and their co-occurrence (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.10-1.67). Notably, solid fuel use appeared to attenuate the association between mold exposure and anxiety (Relative excess risk due to interaction [RERI] = -0.22, 95% CI = -0.44, -0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that exposure to mold and use of solid fuels may be associated with higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and their co-occurrence. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate our findings.
Association between high polygenic risk scores and long-term exposure to air pollution in asthma development: a hospital-based case-control study.
Chen IC, Chen YM, Chen YW … +5 more , Hsiao TH, Yang HW, Tang KT, Lin CH, Chu YW
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40682162 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Air pollution is widely associated with allergic diseases, including asthma. Although previous studies have suggested an epidemiological link between air pollution and asthma, the combined effects of air poll...
BACKGROUND: Air pollution is widely associated with allergic diseases, including asthma. Although previous studies have suggested an epidemiological link between air pollution and asthma, the combined effects of air pollutants and polygenic risk scores (PRSs) on asthma risk remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to examine the impact of air pollutants and PRS on asthma risk among patients in a Taiwan medical institution. METHODS: This retrospective matched case-control study utilized data from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) project to compare asthma patients with a non-asthmatic control group. Participants were stratified into quartiles based on their asthma PRS, while air pollutant exposure was assessed by both duration and concentration. Conducted at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, the study followed participants from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships between air pollution exposure, genetic risk, and asthma incidence. RESULTS: A total of 9,756 participants were included (3,252 asthma patients and 6,504 controls). Individuals in the highest PRS quartile demonstrated a significantly increased asthma risk (odds ratio = 1.532, 95% CI = 1.333-1.762, p < 0.0001). Long-term exposure to low levels of PM, PM, NO, Mn, and O further elevated asthma risk, with the association becoming more pronounced under conditions of high air pollution. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to low concentrations of air pollutants significantly increases asthma risk, especially among individuals with high genetic susceptibility. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized health management for individuals with elevated PRS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.
Paternal and maternal exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and birth outcomes: a multi-country cohort study.
Guo P, Luo J, Zhang J … +8 more , Bonde JP, Struciński P, Ohniev V, Arah OA, Deziel NC, Warren JL, Toft G, Liew Z
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40652244 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Maternal prenatal exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to adverse birth outcomes. However, few investigations have considered paternal PFAS exposure. We estimated the paren...
BACKGROUND: Maternal prenatal exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to adverse birth outcomes. However, few investigations have considered paternal PFAS exposure. We estimated the parent-specific associations of prenatal PFAS exposures with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: This study included 498 couples from the INUENDO cohort recruited at antenatal care visits in Greenland, Poland, and Ukraine during 2002-2004. We measured five major types of PFAS in parental serum during pregnancy. We analyzed three birth outcomes ascertained from medical records, including gestational age, birth weight, and birth length. We used weighted least squares linear regression to evaluate parent-specific associations of serum PFAS with the birth outcomes, adjusting for parental co-exposures and covariates. We also used quantile g-computation for mixture modeling of the birth outcomes of paternal and/or maternal exposures to multiple PFAS. RESULTS: No associations were found between maternal and paternal PFAS exposures and gestational age. However, after adjusting for paternal PFOA, a higher level of maternal serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) was linked to a tendency towards lower birth weight and shorter birth length. Paternal exposure to several PFAS was also associated with a tendency for shorter birth length, but the estimated effect sizes were small. We found no joint exposure effects in the mixture analyses. CONCLUSIONS: While the evidence was inconclusive, maternal PFOA and paternal PFAS exposures seemed to be associated with lower offspring birth weight and shorter birth length, respectively. Parent-specific effects of PFAS exposures on offspring growth and development warrant further research.
Association of multiple environmental toxicants with markers of early kidney injury in pregnant women: an exposome approach.
Chen JJ, Wu CF, Li SS … +6 more , Chen CC, Wang YH, Hsieh CJ, Wang SL, Chen ML, Wu MT
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40635015 · Full text
Pregnant women are regularly exposed to a variety of environmental toxicants in daily life, posing a potential threat of kidney injury before presence of clinical manifestations. As there is a paucity of studies employin...
Pregnant women are regularly exposed to a variety of environmental toxicants in daily life, posing a potential threat of kidney injury before presence of clinical manifestations. As there is a paucity of studies employing an exposome-based approach of kidney health in pregnant women, this study utilizes the above-mentioned strategy to identify the most significant environmental toxicants associated with early kidney injury in pregnant women in the cohort of TMICS (Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study). A total of 1,139 third-trimester pregnant women (weeks 29-40) were recruited between 2012 and 2015, and one-spot urine samples were successfully collected for study. Sixteen biomonitoring chemicals were measured in urine, including exposure measurements of melamine, 9 phthalate metabolites, nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP), and outcome measurements of NAG (N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). A two-tier strategy of statistical analyses was employed and data was randomly and evenly split to both training (n = 569) and validation (n = 570) sets. Using a weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression in the training set and subsequently a multivariate regression in the validation set, we found that NP was the most important chemical to link with early markers of kidney injury, both ACR and NAG. Our findings indicate that short-term exposure to NP is associated with markers of subclinical kidney injury in pregnant women in Taiwan. Further research is warranted to determine whether NP exposure is linked to clinically relevant kidney outcomes.
Socioeconomic and racial-ethnic disparities in flame retardant exposure and executive function skills in preschool children.
Merculief A, McClelland M, Foster S … +4 more , Geldhof J, Lipscomb S, Anderson K, Kile ML
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40629376 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) are commonly used as flame retardants. Limited research exists on socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to these comp...
BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) are commonly used as flame retardants. Limited research exists on socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to these compounds and their impact on executive functioning (EF) in early childhood. The present study examined independent and joint effects of income and race/ethnicity on flame retardant exposure in early childhood and investigated associations between flame retardant exposure and children's EF. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 349 preschool children recruited in Oregon. Children wore silicone wristband samplers for seven days, with exposures to 41 flame retardant compounds analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. We focused on exposure to 6 compounds (BDE 47, BDE 99, BDE100, TCPP, TDCPP, TPP) and two composite indices (ΣPBDE, ΣOPE). Wilcoxon rank-sum tests examined exposure differences by race/ethnicity and income (low income = below federal poverty level). Multiple linear regression models, nested within classrooms, assessed the association between PBDE and OPE exposure and EF, measured by the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders-Revised (HTKS-R) and Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) tasks. RESULTS: Children were 5.1 years old (SD = 0.3), 29.9% were from underserved racial/ethnic backgrounds, and 27.8% of families were low income. Compared with higher income families, children from low income families were exposed to 83.4% greater ΣPBDE exposures and 36% greater TDCPP exposures. There was no evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in PBDE or OPE exposures. Controlling for age, sex, income, race/ethnicity, and disability or cognitive delay, neither PBDE nor OPE exposures were consistently related to EF, but children from lower income families scored 28.6% lower on the HTKS-R, and children from underserved races/ethnicities scored 25.9% lower on the HTKS-R. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight persistent income disparities in PBDE exposures at a pivotal point in children's development, and reveal similar disparities in TDCPP exposures. Furthermore, socioeconomic disadvantage was more strongly associated with reduced EF than either PBDE or OPFR exposures. These findings underscore the need to address structural social inequities, and also highlight the need for greater representation of children from underserved backgrounds in research that seeks to characterize chemical and social exposures within neighborhood and preschool environments.
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