Environmental Health[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Higher plasma AFB1 concentration is associated with increased risk of HPV 16 and HPV 18 detection and persistence among Ugandan women.
Tong Y, Nakalembe M, Mpamani C … +13 more , Nakisige C, Namugga J, Banturaki G, Tonui P, Orang'o O, Muthoka K, Ngeresa A, Groopman J, Burke S, Ermel A, Musick B, Loehrer P, Brown DR
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40624712 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Aflatoxins are environmental hazards; potent carcinogenic and immunosuppressive agents that contaminates corn and other crops. A high proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma cases are caused by exposure to d...
INTRODUCTION: Aflatoxins are environmental hazards; potent carcinogenic and immunosuppressive agents that contaminates corn and other crops. A high proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma cases are caused by exposure to dietary aflatoxins. Cervical cancer is common among Ugandan women; this malignancy is caused by persistent infection with oncogenic HPV types. An analysis was performed to examine associations between plasma aflatoxin B (AFB) detection and oncogenic HPV detection (HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68) and persistence among Ugandan women. METHODS: Ugandan women were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Annual cervical swabs (Enrollment, Month 12 and Month 24) were tested for oncogenic HPV. Plasma AFB concentration was measured (as AFB-lysine conjugate, or AFB-lys) at Enrollment and Month 12. Multivariable regression models were fitted to examine associations of plasma AFB-lys concentrations and oncogenic HPV controlling for demographic and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: The analytical sample consisted of 114 women with a mean age of 33.2 years; 60 women were living with HIV; 59 were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at enrollment. AFB-lysine adducts (AFB-lys) was detected in plasma from all 114 women. Multivariable regression models showed that plasma AFB-lys concentration was associated with a higher risk of detection of HPV 16 (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.42-4.90, p = 0.002) and HPV 18 (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.27-3.96, p = 0.005), and persistence of HPV 16 (OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.59-6.26, p = 0.001) and HPV 18 (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.09-3.90, p = 0.025), controlling for age, marital status, years of education, home ownership, distance to health care, number of lifetime sex partners, age of first sex, and HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: AFB is an environmental hazard that is prevalent among Ugandan women. Higher plasma AFB-lys concentration was associated with detection and persistence of HPV 16 and HPV 18; this association was independent of HIV status. As a result, these women may be at increased risk of cervical cancer. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms involved.
Exposure to vehicle traffic in childhood and lung function in young adulthood-a prospective cohort study in an area with low traffic-flows.
Bermúdez Barón N, Backman H, Hedman L … +2 more , Rönmark E, Andersson M
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40624499 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Exposure to high levels of vehicle traffic during childhood seems to have a negative effect on lung function. Less is known about the effects of exposure to relatively low levels during childhood. We aimed to...
BACKGROUND: Exposure to high levels of vehicle traffic during childhood seems to have a negative effect on lung function. Less is known about the effects of exposure to relatively low levels during childhood. We aimed to study how exposure to vehicle traffic in childhood is associated with lung function and asthma in young adulthood in a 10-year follow-up of a population-based cohort in a municipality with relatively low levels of vehicle traffic. METHODS: The Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) pediatric cohort II was recruited in 2006 at age 8 years. Exposure to vehicle traffic at baseline was studied in relation to lung function at follow-up at age 19 years (n = 1056 participants). Lung function measures included FEV, FVC and FEV/FVC. Different exposure thresholds were defined based on proximity (within a 200 m radius from the home address) to a road with a minimum daily count of heavy vehicles (≥ 250 and ≥ 500) or any type of vehicle (≥ 4000 and ≥ 8000). The association between exposure to vehicle traffic at baseline and lung function at follow-up was analyzed by linear regression adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: In general, those above the exposure thresholds had lower lung function than those below, but not significantly so in all comparisons. Those exposed to ≥ 250 heavy vehicles/day had lower mean FEV z-score at follow-up (-0.38) compared with those exposed to < 250 heavy vehicles/day (-0.21), p = 0.033, and this association remained after adjustment for confounders (p = 0.036). Also, those exposed to ≥ 8000 vehicles/day had lower mean FVC z-score (-0.19) than those exposed to < 8000 vehicles/day (-0.02), p = 0.047, with p = 0.032 after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to vehicle traffic in childhood, in a relatively low traffic-flow environment, may be associated with a slightly lower lung function in young adulthood.
Human health risk assessment for microbial pesticides in the EU: challenges and perspectives.
Barrero-Canosa J, Ebeling J, Kenny EF … +4 more , Marx-Stoelting P, Paege N, Feustel S, Leme DM
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40605039 · Full text
The risk assessment of microbial pesticides in the European Union (EU) is covered by a regulatory framework based on EU Regulation 1107/2009 and 546/2011 together with the data requirements in EU Regulation 283/2013 and...
The risk assessment of microbial pesticides in the European Union (EU) is covered by a regulatory framework based on EU Regulation 1107/2009 and 546/2011 together with the data requirements in EU Regulation 283/2013 and 284/2013, Part B, respectively (all amended in 2022). Furthermore, several guidance documents specify the data requirements for the human health assessment. As in other regulatory contexts, the assessment of hazardous properties of a microbial plant protection product (PPP) can be based on in vivo data. In order to decrease the use of test animals, support high-throughput data generation with larger repetition, and to facilitate faster testing methods, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for this field need to be developed. Here we focus on the assessment of the potential pathogenicity/infectivity and the presence of transferable antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of a microorganism when utilised as the active substance (AS) in a PPP. For the purpose of risk assessment of microbial PPPs, NAMs developed in view of the Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) for chemicals can be applied. However, major drawbacks in the ability to use existing NAMs in the risk assessment of microbial pesticides are the reliability of Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) generated data for humans and the practicability of in vitro methods to test living microorganisms. It must be emphasised that tests for risk assessment are only useful if the test interpretation is clearly defined. Without prior definition of the possible effects and their interpretation, including the possible outcome for risk assessment, the test has limited value, as the results may raise more questions than answers. Overall, the regulatory assessment of the human health effects of microbial pesticides used in PPP needs reliable and robust data. These data should ideally be presented by an applicant based on animal-free study setups together with thorough literature searches.
The impact of burn pit waste segregation practices on respiratory and cardiovascular health risks among US military veterans deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bello A, Savitz DA, Rennix C … +4 more , Jiang L, Trivedi AN, Wellenius GA, Woskie SR
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40598547 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Open-air burning was a prevalent waste management method at many U.S. military bases during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Past studies of the health impacts of burn pit exposure have relied on exposure as...
BACKGROUND: Open-air burning was a prevalent waste management method at many U.S. military bases during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Past studies of the health impacts of burn pit exposure have relied on exposure assessments that did not account for waste segregation practices introduced in the later years of the wars, such as removing hazardous and medical waste before open burning and the use of incinerators. OBJECTIVE: We developed a refined exposure assessment that accounts for waste management practices on military bases and evaluated the impact of waste segregation and incineration on cardiovascular and respiratory health outcomes among veterans deployed during these conflicts. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 459,381 Army and Air Force veterans who were deployed between 2005 and 2011 and received health care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) after deployment. The 109 most populated military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq were classified into four waste disposal categories by year: unsegregated, segregated, incineration, and no burning or incineration. Individual exposure was defined as the total number of days spent at bases based on the Department of Defense deployment histories. Health outcomes were determined through VHA healthcare records, from the end of deployment through the end of follow-up in 2020. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between deployment to bases with varying waste management practices and the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. RESULTS: Deployment to bases using burn pits with unsegregated waste was associated with elevated risks of hypertension and asthma, whereas deployment to bases that segregated waste or used incinerators was not. Prolonged deployment (highest duration tertile of > 240 days) to bases with unsegregated waste burning was associated with a 16% higher risk of hypertension (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.13-1.19) compared to those never stationed at such bases. There was a clear deployment duration-response association for hypertension, but this was not observed for asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The observed increased risk of hypertension and asthma among military veterans deployed to bases that used open burning of unsegregated waste - but not among those deployed to bases that segregated waste or used incinerators - highlights the importance of considering waste management methods in future studies examining the health effects of burn pit exposures among military veterans.
Mortality of individuals in a long-term cohort exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs).
Terrell ML, Adili A, Hood RB … +4 more , Bursley MP, Barton H, Pearson M, Marcus M
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40598219 · Full text
BACKGROUND: This study is a long-term follow-up of individuals exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). Widespread contamination of PBBs began in 1973 in Michigan when PBBs entered the food chain. PBBs are synthetic c...
BACKGROUND: This study is a long-term follow-up of individuals exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). Widespread contamination of PBBs began in 1973 in Michigan when PBBs entered the food chain. PBBs are synthetic chemicals that were once used in industrial products. Their production in the United States ended following this incident. PBBs and other brominated flame retardants belong to a class of persistent organic pollutants that have been shown to affect human health. We conducted this study to investigate whether PBB exposure was associated with all-cause or cause-specific mortality risk. METHODS: We included cohort data from 1976 (when the study began) and linked to National Death Index data obtained through the early release of 2021. Serum PBB concentrations were measured at enrollment in the study. We used survival analysis to estimate sex-specific hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for age and other important risk factors. The mortality study included 3,954 individuals. RESULTS: In age-stratified analyses, higher PBB exposure was not associated with all-cause mortality risk in males or females. In cause-specific analyses conducted in the 16 or older group, we found no association between PBB exposure and circulatory system disease mortality. For all-cancer mortality, we found higher PBB exposure associated with increased risk of mortality in females (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.02-2.22), which was inversed in males (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.01). BMI appeared to modify the association between PBB exposure and all-cause mortality risk in males and all-cancer mortality risk in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive study found that the association between PBB exposure and cancer mortality risk varied by sex. Further research is needed to understand these sex-specific differences.
Drinking water access and quality in the Gaza Strip prior to 7 October 2023 and implications for reconstruction.
Brugger C, Owen BN, Abu Hamad B … +5 more , van Gastel T, Sittaro F, Rossi R, Probst-Hensch N, Winkler MS
Environ Health · 2025 Jul · PMID 40597290 · Full text
BACKGROUND: The water supply of the Gaza Strip has been unstable and under great strain for decades, resulting in major problems with the quality, reliability, and acceptability of drinking water. Destruction of water in...
BACKGROUND: The water supply of the Gaza Strip has been unstable and under great strain for decades, resulting in major problems with the quality, reliability, and acceptability of drinking water. Destruction of water infrastructure and concerns over the quality of piped water have resulted in a complex constellation of drinking water sources. We aim to describe the different types of drinking water sources used by households, compare water quality from drinking water samples, present different water treatments used in households and highlight different insecurities around water access in households. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in North Gaza, Gaza and Rafah between January and March 2023. Using an interviewer-administered survey, we collected information on drinking water sources and insecurities and obtained a drinking water sample from the tap in the household. The water samples were analyzed for microbial contamination, nitrate, sodium and mineral content. RESULTS: We collected data from 905 households. Only 3% had access to a single water source, 87% had access to two sources and 96% had access to piped water from the municipality. Piped municipal water was mainly used for hygiene and bathing, while the three most used sources for drinking were tanker trucks (82%), public taps (10%) and piped water from the municipalities (3.7%). Fecal coliform was present in 20% of water samples, 1% had high nitrate levels and nearly all samples had low mineral content. While around 15-19% of the households were sometimes or often water insecure, over 90% reported never drinking from undesirable sources, drinking unsafe water, or going to sleep thirsty. Households using municipal piped water tended to be most water secure. CONCLUSIONS: The water quality and insecurity about accessibility and quality of water pose a health threat and need to be addressed at system level. Rebuilding the water infrastructure will be a key element during the reconstruction after the current war. It is crucial that the shortcomings of the pre-war water system are not rebuilt, and lessons are learnt from pre-war data to establish a health-promoting water system in the Gaza Strip. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
Childhood mercury exposure and early death in Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: a retrospective study.
Mergler D, Philibert A, Fillion M … +1 more , Silva JD
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40545538 · Full text
BACKGROUND: In 1962, a chloralkali plant began discharging mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon-English River system, contaminating the territorial waters of Grassy Narrows First Nation, whose traditions, livelihood and diet c...
BACKGROUND: In 1962, a chloralkali plant began discharging mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon-English River system, contaminating the territorial waters of Grassy Narrows First Nation, whose traditions, livelihood and diet centered on fish. Data from 1970 to 1997 government Hg biomonitoring programs were repatriated by Grassy Narrows. Our researcher-community partnership carried out secondary analyses to examine the association between childhood Hg exposure (between 5 and 15y) and survival to July 1, 2024. METHODS: Information from the governmental biomonitoring programs and from Grassy Narrows Registry of Band members were used to create a retrospective year-based equivalent hair Hg (HHg) database, with dates of birth, sampling and death (N = 317). Apparent cause of death was reported by community members. Different approaches were used to minimize potential unmeasured confounders in examining the relation between Hg exposure and early death: (i) matched pairs (deceased/alive; same sex, year of birth (± 1) (n = 81) pairs for dissymmetry analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models (ii) Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM) with individuals who had at least 7 year-based HHg measurements (n = 35), and (iii) trajectory techniques modelling exposure. RESULTS: HHg measurements (n = 1031) were available for 167 boys and 150 girls. Mean age at sampling was 10.5 y (SD: 2.9); 44.2% had HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once. By July 1, 2024, 97 individuals (30.6%) had died (median age: 39 years (IQR: 24-49)). The Cox Hazard Ratio for HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once was 1.96 [1.18-3.28]. LMEM showed that HHg was 1.46 µg/g higher over the sampling period for the deceased compared to the living. Significant associations (p ≤ 0.001) were also observed for early death with respect to HHg trajectory summary scores (OR: 1.14 to 1.24; SE ≤ 0.78). Reported suicide, liver disease and cardiovascular/metabolic conditions made up 60% of all deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality in Grassy Narrows First Nation is higher than other First Nations and the non-Indigenous populations in Canada. Convergent findings from different approaches and statistical techniques support an association between childhood Hg exposure and early death. Morbidity and mortality in this community require follow-up.
Environmental exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Northeast China: exploring links to nodular goiter and papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Sun Z, Liu B, Ding R … +3 more , Wang X, Chen Y, Wang Y
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40524145 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Environmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been related to some adverse health effects. An increasing number of people are suffering from nodular goiter (NG) and papillary thyroi...
BACKGROUND: Environmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been related to some adverse health effects. An increasing number of people are suffering from nodular goiter (NG) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the specific types of thyroid tumors with the highest prevalence. In vivo and in vitro studies have indicated that exposure to PFAS can disrupt thyroid homeostasis and exhibit apparent endocrine-disrupting toxicity, including the decreased thyroid hormone levels and abnormal expression of thyroid-related genes. However, epidemiological evidence supporting the cause-effect relationship between PFAS exposure and the risk of NG and PTC is still lacking. METHODS: We enrolled 290 participants to explore the relationship between PFAS exposure and NG/PTC risk. 21 urinary PFAS were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation (qgcomp) models were adopted to examine effects of single and mixed PFAS exposure on NG/PTC risk. RESULTS: Our data showed that perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) (P = 0.033) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (P = 0.003) levels in NG cases and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) (P = 0.008) levels in PTC cases were significantly higher than those in the controls. After adjustment for confounders, PFHxS was significantly related to higher NG/PTC risk (all P for trend < 0.05). A remarkable non-linear association was found between PFHpA exposure and PTC risk (P-overall < 0.001, P-non-linear = 0.001). The BKMR model indicated that PFAS mixtures significantly increased NG risk, with PFHxS contributing the most (groupPIP: 0.886, condPIP: 0.658). In stratified analyses, PFAS mixtures were positively associated with NG/PTC risk in females and normal-weight subjects. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that environmental exposure to PFAS mixtures may be associated with increased NG/PTC risk, and each PFAS may contribute to NG/PTC risk in very different ways. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological study to examine effects of PFAS exposure on NG/PTC risk.
Changes in the short-term relationship between air pollution and mortality in New York City, 1990-2019.
Goldberg R, Spira-Cohen A, Pitiranggon M … +2 more , Johnson S, Ito K
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40514701 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined how short-term associations between air pollution and mortality have evolved over recent decades when air quality has improved. Public health policy can benefit from timely informati...
BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined how short-term associations between air pollution and mortality have evolved over recent decades when air quality has improved. Public health policy can benefit from timely information. METHODS: We applied time-series models to estimate the mortality impacts of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (warm season only), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 5-year moving time windows between 1990 and 2019 (2000–2019 for PM2.5) in New York City (NYC). We modeled full-year, warm (May through September) and cold (October through March) season NO2 and PM2.5, adjusting for temperature, temporal trends, day-of-week, and holidays. We also estimated Total Risk Index (TRI) to characterize changes in the combined risk from exposure to two and three pollutants. RESULTS: All three pollutants showed the strongest association at one lag day. Despite major declines in PM2.5 and NO2 levels over the study period, risk estimates showed no apparent trend, remaining generally positive, but became less precise over time as concentration variability also declined. The estimated overall 1-day lag percent excess risk for PM2.5 was 0.49% (95% confidence interval: 0.12, 0.86) per 10 µg/m3 24-hr average, and for NO2, 0.90% (0.30, 1.50) per 30 ppb daily 1-hr maximum for full year models. Ozone, which slightly increased over the period, had a 1-day lag risk estimate of 1.43% (0.56, 2.30) per 30 ppb daily 8-hr maximum. The TRI followed a similar pattern to individual pollutants’ estimates. CONCLUSIONS: With no clear evidence of risk per unit increase changing over time, the reductions in PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations imply declines in excess deaths. Notably, ozone levels and health burden persist. NO2, which was most robustly associated with mortality and represents two major combustion sources—traffic and fossil fuel combustion in buildings—may be the most relevant indicator of energy transition progress in urban areas like NYC in the coming decade.
Carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure from prenatal life to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Panzacchi S, Tibaldi E, De Angelis L … +24 more , Falcioni L, Giovannini R, Gnudi F, Iuliani M, Manservigi M, Manservisi F, Manzoli I, Menghetti I, Montella R, Noferini R, Sgargi D, Strollo V, Truzzi F, Antoniou MN, Chen J, Dinelli G, Lorenzetti S, Mantovani A, Mesnage R, Perry MJ, Vornoli A, Landrigan PJ, Belpoggi F, Mandrioli D
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40490737 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the world's most widely used weed control agents. Public health concerns have increased since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosat...
BACKGROUND: Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the world's most widely used weed control agents. Public health concerns have increased since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen in 2015. To further investigate the health effects of glyphosate and GBHs, the Ramazzini Institute launched the Global Glyphosate Study (GGS), which is designed to test a wide range of toxicological outcomes. Reported here are the results of the carcinogenicity arm of the GGS. METHODS: Glyphosate and two GBHs, Roundup Bioflow used in the European Union (EU) and RangerPro used in the U.S., were administered to male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, beginning at gestational day 6 (via maternal exposure) through 104 weeks of age. Glyphosate was administered through drinking water at three doses: the EU acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day, 5 mg/kg body weight/day and the EU no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 50 mg/kg body weight/day. The two GBH formulations were administered at the same glyphosate-equivalent doses. RESULTS: In all 3 treatment groups, statistically significant dose-related increased trends or increased incidences of benign and malignant tumors at multiple anatomic sites were observed compared to historical and concurrent controls. These tumors arose in haemolymphoreticular tissues (leukemia), skin, liver, thyroid, nervous system, ovary, mammary gland, adrenal glands, kidney, urinary bladder, bone, endocrine pancreas, uterus and spleen (hemangiosarcoma). Increased incidences occurred in both sexes. Most of these involved tumors that are rare in SD rats (background incidence < 1%) with 40% of leukemias deaths in the treated groups occurring before 52 weeks of age and increased early deaths were also observed for other solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Glyphosate and GBHs at exposure levels corresponding to the EU ADI and the EU NOAEL caused dose-related increases in incidence of multiple benign and malignant tumors in SD rats of both sexes. Early-life onset and mortality were observed for multiple tumors. These results provide robust evidence supporting IARC's conclusion that there is "sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity [of glyphosate] in experimental animals". Furthermore, our data are consistent with epidemiological evidence on the carcinogenicity of glyphosate and GBHs.
Extreme heat and pediatric health in a warming world: a space-time stratified case-crossover investigation in Ontario, Canada.
Kassem H, Lavigne E, Weinberger K … +1 more , Brauer M
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40483440 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Globally, climate change is causing frequent and severe extreme heat events (EHEs). A large body of literature links EHEs to multiple health endpoints. While children's physiology and activity patterns differ...
BACKGROUND: Globally, climate change is causing frequent and severe extreme heat events (EHEs). A large body of literature links EHEs to multiple health endpoints. While children's physiology and activity patterns differ from those of adults in ways that are hypothesized to increase susceptibility to such endpoints, research gaps remain regarding the specific impacts of EHEs on child health. This study evaluated pediatric emergency healthcare utilizations associated with EHEs in Ontario. METHODS: Applying a space-time stratified case-crossover design, associations between EHEs (same-day or lagged exposure to 2 consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures above percentile thresholds) and 15 causes of pediatric emergency healthcare use in Ontario, Canada from 2005 to 2015 were analysed using conditional quasi-Poisson regression. In primary analyses, EHEs were defined as two or more consecutive days with temperatures above the 99th percentile of temperature within each respective forward sortation area (FSA). Emergency healthcare use was measured using hospital admissions as an indicator of severe outcomes, and emergency department (ED) visits as a sensitive measure of outcomes. RESULTS: Relative to non-EHE days, EHEs increased the rates of pediatric hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses by 26% (95% CI: 14-40%), asthma by 29% (16-44%); infectious and parasitic diseases by 36% (24-50%), lower respiratory infections by 50% (36-67%), and enteritis by 19% (7-32%). EHEs also increased the rates of ED visits for lower respiratory infections by 10% (0-21%), asthma by 18% (7-29%), heat-related illnesses by 211% (193-230%), heatstroke by 590% (550-622%), and dehydration by 35% (25-46%), but not for other causes. Admissions and ED visits due to injuries and transportation related injuries were negatively associated with EHEs. Neither all-cause hospital admissions nor ED visits were associated with EHEs. CONCLUSIONS: In Ontario, EHEs decreased the rates of pediatric emergency healthcare utilization for injuries and increased the rates of respiratory illnesses, asthma, heat-related illnesses, heatstroke, dehydration, infectious and parasitic diseases, lower respiratory infections, and enteritis. Tailored policies and programs that reflect the specific heat-related vulnerabilities of children to respiratory and infectious illnesses are warranted in the face of a rapidly warming climate.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), thyroid hormones, sexual hormones and pubertal development in adolescents residing in the neighborhood of a 3M factory.
van Larebeke N, Cox B, Remy S … +6 more , Voorspoels S, Den Hond E, Colles A, Leermakers M, Schoeters G, Verheyen V
Environ Health · 2025 Jun · PMID 40483423 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Near Antwerp a 3M factory has been active since 1971 emitting PFAS, mainly PFOS, in the local environment. Production of C8 compounds was stopped in 2002, production of other PFAS continued until 2024. This s...
BACKGROUND: Near Antwerp a 3M factory has been active since 1971 emitting PFAS, mainly PFOS, in the local environment. Production of C8 compounds was stopped in 2002, production of other PFAS continued until 2024. This study aimed to examine the association between internal PFAS concentrations and thyroid hormones, sexual hormones, and pubertal development in adolescents living in the neighborhood of the factory. METHODS: We measured PFAS in serum of 146 female and 139 male adolescents. For males sex hormones (LH, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, inhibin B, FSH) and SHBG were measured in serum. For males and females we assessed serum thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, T4 and T3/T4) and pubertal development parameters self-assessed through a standardized questionnaire. Associations between PFAS concentrations and effect biomarkers/health effects were assessed through Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), using linear models for continuous outcomes, logistic models for binary outcomes, and proportional odds models for ordinal outcomes. RESULTS: For males LH, total and bioavailable testosterone showed significant negative associations with PFHxS and PFOA. LH and bioavailable testosterone also showed significant negative associations with other PFAS compounds. SHBG showed significant positive associations with PFDA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFOS and the sum of the linear forms of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS. Males' length and growth spurt showed significant negative associations with PFOS, PFOA and PFAS sum parameters and length and growth spurt separately also with other PFAS compounds. For females growth spurt showed significant negative association with PFOA and a significant positive association with PFOS(branched). For both males and females body hair development showed significant negative associations with PFHxS, and, for males and females separately also with other PFAS compounds. For females, breast development showed significant negative associations with PFOA, pubertal development scale showed significant negative associations with PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS(linear) and the sum of 4 PFAS. For males, TSH showed a significant negative association with PFDA and FT3 showed significant positive associations with PFOA, PFOA and PFNA. For females, FT3 showed a significant negative association with PFOS(branched). CONCLUSION: We observed significant, consistent and biologically relevant associations of PFAS serum concentrations with sex hormone and SHBG levels in male adolescents. Moreover, a significant delay in physiological processes occurring in puberty was observed in females and males. Associations with thyroid hormones differed significantly by sex.
Exposure to violence and socioeconomic deprivation in susceptibility to nitrogen dioxide on term infant birthweight in New York City.
Remigio RV, Burris HH, Clougherty JE
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40450324 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Air pollution has been associated with adverse birth outcomes, with variation by socioeconomic position (SEP). However, it remains unknown which aspects of lower SEP - comprised of myriad physical and psych...
INTRODUCTION: Air pollution has been associated with adverse birth outcomes, with variation by socioeconomic position (SEP). However, it remains unknown which aspects of lower SEP - comprised of myriad physical and psychosocial stressors - may best explain observed pollution susceptibilities. Building upon previous studies that estimated joint associations of air pollution and socioeconomic deprivation on term birth weight in New York City (NYC), this study seeks to identify specific social stressors underlying that relationship. METHODS: We examined records for 243,853 term births in NYC from 2007-2010. Residence-specific pregnancy-average NO was estimated using NYC Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) and EPA regulatory data. Twenty-six community social stressor indicators were tested as modifiers of NO-birthweight associations in linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for particulate matter (PM), individual-level maternal characteristics, and other covariates. In sensitivity analyses, we also examined non-linear interactions between continuous NO and census-tract level violence and deprivation terms. RESULTS: Consistent with previous work, a 1-IQR (6.2 ppb) increase in average prenatal NO exposure was associated with a 12.6 (SE = 2.7)-gram decrease in term birthweight.We observed similar values in independent models for most stressors related to violent crime or SEP and significantly lower birthweights with higher stressor exposures. In models of effect modification, however, we found that - despite lower average birthweights in high-stressor communities - NO-birthweight associations were weaker in higher-stressor communities, particularly for violence-related stressors. For example, in the highest-quartile communities for assault, a 1-IQR increase in NO exhibited a decrement of only 7.3 g, on average, compared to 16.9 g in the lowest-assault quartile (p = .01 trend across quartiles). Exposures to non-violent stressors were not significantly associated with lower birthweights, nor modified observed NO-birthweight associations. CONCLUSIONS: We found significantly lower term-infant birthweights with higher NO or community stressors. Counter to hypotheses, however, in communities with very high stressor exposures (esp. violent crimes), despite lower overall birthweights, associations for NO were weaker than in low-stressor communities. Our results suggest a possible saturation effect in stress-pollution interactions, wherein very high stressor exposures appear to overwhelm any effects of pollution. In addition, we observed stronger effects for violent crimes, in relation to other social stressors.
The role of artificial intelligence in occupational health in radiation exposure: a scoping review of the literature.
Fazli Z, Sadeghi M, Vali M … +1 more , Ahmadinejad P
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40380224 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly enhance workplace safety and mitigate occupational radiation exposure risks by improving the accuracy of assessment and management of these ha...
INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly enhance workplace safety and mitigate occupational radiation exposure risks by improving the accuracy of assessment and management of these hazards. This study aims to review research on the use of AI in the assessment, monitoring, control, and protection of occupational radiation exposure. METHOD: This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases from inception to April 2024. The search strategy was designed based on the PICO principle and included keywords related to artificial intelligence, occupational exposure, radiation, and industry. The inclusion criteria explored the application of artificial intelligence in the assessment, monitoring, control, and protection against occupational radiation exposure. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the MMAT critical appraisal tool. RESULT: In this review, the initial literature search in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases identified 2920 articles. After removing duplicate references, screened based on title, keywords, and abstract, Ultimately, 59 eligible articles were selected, which utilized various artificial intelligence tools, such as expert systems, machine learning, deep learning, and other applied AI models. Of all the articles, 76% had high scores and were considered strong. These studies were categorized into three groups: supervision and assessment, detection and monitoring, protection, control, and personal protective equipment. CONCLUSION: The successful application of AI can potentially improve occupational radiation exposure management, but several key challenges must be addressed. These include the need for high-quality training data, interpretability of complex AI algorithms, alignment with safety standards, integration with existing systems, and the lack of interdisciplinary expertise. Addressing these research gaps through further study and collaboration will be crucial to realizing the benefits of AI in this domain, which has long been a critical concern in human and work environments.
Adverse effects and underlying mechanism of rare earth elements.
Wang X, Wang F, Yan L … +6 more , Gao Z, Yang S, Su Z, Chen W, Li Y, Wang F
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40350425 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Rare earth elements (REEs) have found broad application in a range of industries, including electronics, automotive, agriculture, and healthcare. However, their widespread utilization and release into the env...
BACKGROUND: Rare earth elements (REEs) have found broad application in a range of industries, including electronics, automotive, agriculture, and healthcare. However, their widespread utilization and release into the environment pose potential risks of human exposure. Despite extensive research on REEs toxicity, the relationship between exposure and subsequent health concerns remains ambiguous. Given that the biological effects of REEs can vary based on their design and application, assessing their toxicity can be highly challenging. OBJECTIVE: This review is to offer a thorough comprehension of REEs' application and toxicity, guiding future research and policy-making to safeguard public health and environmental integrity. METHODS: A systematic search across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted using the terms: ("rare earth" OR "lanthanoid") AND ("health hazard" OR "toxic" OR "adverse health effect"). From 5,924 initial records, 89 studies were selected through deduplication and two-stage screening to assess systemic toxicity of REEs. An additional 100 articles on REEs mechanisms and applications were incorporated via citation tracking. All selections followed PRISMA guidelines with dual-author verification to ensure rigor. CONCLUSION: The review emphasizes REEs' applications in various domains and documents potential environmental pathways. Furthermore, it elaborates on current processes to assess REEs-related toxicity across different model organisms and cell lines, estimating health threats posed by REEs exposure. Finally, based on the findings of both in vivo and in vitro experiments, the potential toxic mechanisms of REEs are detailed. To guide future research and policy development to safeguard public health and environmental integrity.
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their associations with serum lipid profiles in the general Korean adult population.
Shin S, Kim Y, Choe Y … +4 more , Kim SH, Cho J, Kim C, Kim KN
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40350418 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Previous studies on associations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lipid profiles are limited. We investigated the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and serum lipid profiles using...
BACKGROUND: Previous studies on associations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lipid profiles are limited. We investigated the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and serum lipid profiles using a representative sample of Korean adults. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2018-2020) (n = 2,516). The associations of PAH metabolites, heavy metals, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which are ubiquitous pollutants, with lipid indicators and dyslipidemia types were evaluated using linear and logistic regression models, respectively. We examined the associations between a mixture of PAH metabolites, heavy metals, and PFASs and lipid profiles using quantile g-computation analyses. RESULTS: A doubling of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) concentrations was associated with higher total cholesterol (TC) [β = 2.50 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 3.91], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (β = 2.39 mg/dL, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.63), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentrations (β = 2.13 mg/dL, 95% CI: 0.77, 3.49). A doubling of 1-OHP concentrations was also linked to higher odds of high TC [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.30]. Additionally, 2-naphthol concentrations were associated with higher odds of high TC (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.29) and high LDL-C (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.51). Lead concentrations were associated with higher levels of TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as with higher odds of high TC, high LDL-C, and high non-HDL-C. Mercury concentrations were associated with higher levels of TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C, and with higher odds of high TC. Several PFASs, such as perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid, were also associated with lipid profiles. A mixture of PAH metabolites, heavy metals, and PFASs was associated with higher TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and HDL-C concentrations. This mixture was also linked to higher odds of high TC and high LDL-C. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of PAH metabolites, heavy metals, and PFASs were associated with unfavorable lipid profiles in the general adult population.
"Low-to-moderate arsenic exposure: a global systematic review of cardiovascular disease risks".
Gopang M, Yazdi MD, Moyer A … +2 more , Smith DM, Meliker JR
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40346670 · Full text
High arsenic (As) exposure (≥ 100 µg/l) is associated with cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes, however, the CVD risk from low-to-moderate As exposure (< 100 µg/l) has been less explored. There is a paucity of systematic revie...
High arsenic (As) exposure (≥ 100 µg/l) is associated with cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes, however, the CVD risk from low-to-moderate As exposure (< 100 µg/l) has been less explored. There is a paucity of systematic reviews that comprehensively evaluate both urine and water As exposure metrics in assessing As-related CVD outcomes within the general population. To fill this gap, this review sought to update and consolidate data regarding the correlation between low-to-moderate As exposure and specific CVD outcomes, including stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and heart failure (HF). A search for peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, the Global Medicos Index, and Web of Science and unpublished dissertations in Prospero until October 31, 2024, was performed. Nineteen studies were included. Relative risks were pooled by contrasting the highest v/s lowest exposure groups across studies. Positive associations were observed between urine As and stroke incidence, and water As with IHD incidence. Associations between water As and IHD and AMI mortality were suggestive and became stronger after excluding ecological studies. Sex-stratified analyses suggested an increased risk for all groups with strongest indication of an increased risk of AMI mortality in men. Increased risk was suggested for HF but only two studies assessed this outcome. These findings underscore potential risk for CVD outcomes in relation to low-to-moderate As exposure, and highlight the necessity for additional rigorous, well-structured studies to more clearly delineate the possible effects of low-to-moderate As exposure on different CVD outcomes.
Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter and asthma exacerbation: a large population-based case-crossover study in Southern Thailand.
Varopichetsan S, Bunplod N, Dejchanchaiwong R … +2 more , Tekasakul P, Ingviya T
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40336109 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations remain a significant global health issue despite advances in management. Fine particulate matter (PM, particles ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter) is a known trigger for asthma exacerbations. However,...
BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations remain a significant global health issue despite advances in management. Fine particulate matter (PM, particles ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter) is a known trigger for asthma exacerbations. However, studies on the acute effects of PM, particularly in regions with relatively low pollution levels, are limited. This study examined the time-lagged association between daily PM exposure and asthma exacerbations in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, where PM concentrations frequently approach the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines. Approximately 41% of days during the study period had PM concentrations below the 2021 Guideline level of 15 µg/m³. Additionally, the province is periodically affected by seasonal transboundary haze from forest fires. METHODS: A case-crossover study was conducted using daily PM and meteorological data from January 2010 to December 2023, alongside health records of asthma patients from Songklanagarind Hospital. District-level daily PM concentrations were estimated through inverse distance weighted interpolation. Conditional logistic regression, incorporating time-lagged models and cubic splines, was applied. RESULTS: The study included 11,848 case days and 39,810 control days, with a mean daily PM concentration of 18.2 µg/m³. PM concentrations > 50 µg/m³ were significantly associated with asthma exacerbations at multiple time lags (lag0, lag2, and lag01 to lag03), with odds ratios ranging from 1.41 to 1.64, compared to the lowest concentration group (PM 0-15 µg/m³). Temperature showed no significant effect, while relative humidity was positively associated with asthma exacerbations at lag3, lag06, and lag07. Subgroup analyses revealed associations between PM exposure and asthma exacerbations at early lags for both males and females. Additionally, children aged 6-11 years and 12-17 years exhibited greater susceptibility to asthma exacerbations, particularly at PM concentrations of 15-25 µg/m³. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the short-term effects of PM on asthma exacerbations, particularly during high-pollution episodes of transboundary haze in regions that generally experience low levels of air pollution. These findings emphasize the importance of achieving the WHO air quality targets to mitigate the health impacts from PM.
Environmental change increases the transmission risk of visceral leishmaniasis in central China around the Taihang mountains.
Meng Z, Fan PW, Fan ZX … +18 more , Chen S, Jiang H, Shi Y, Yao L, Yao JY, Wang YP, Hao MM, Xie WQ, Bai YQ, Wang Q, Sun K, Xie XL, Zhou JW, Jiang D, Zheng CJ, Wu H, Ma T, Ding FY
Environ Health · 2025 May · PMID 40320525 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected life-threatening sandfly-borne disease, which brings a growing public health threat in Central China around the Taihang Mountains. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of...
BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected life-threatening sandfly-borne disease, which brings a growing public health threat in Central China around the Taihang Mountains. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis in the local community and the potential driving factors remain poorly understood. METHODS: We analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of new reported visceral leishmaniasis cases in the region from 2006 to 2023, and combined random forest modeling approach with environmental covariates to identify the main influencing factors related to transmission risk of the disease. RESULTS: Our results show that there was a total number of 800 reported human visceral leishmaniasis cases, affecting 29 cities, and 113 counties across the region, exhibiting a geographic expansion of the disease during this period, especially in Shanxi province. Two high-risk clusters were identified in the study. Environmental change-related factors, including standardized precipitation deviation, forest cumulative change ratio, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) cumulative change, played important roles in increasing the transmission risk of visceral leishmaniasis, with their relative contributions summing up to 66.17%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a better understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of visceral leishmaniasis recurrence across Central China around the Taihang Mountains, which underscore prevention and control measures should be taken immediately to reduce the risk.
Individual and mixtures of PFAS during pregnancy are associated with maternal cardiometabolic outcomes during pregnancy.
Sims CR, Sehgal N, Turner D … +6 more , Havens LA, Morris AJ, Shankar K, Pearson KJ, Everson TM, Andres A
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40307774 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and widespread environmental contaminants. PFAS cross the placental barrier and reach the developing fetus with potential impact...
INTRODUCTION: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and widespread environmental contaminants. PFAS cross the placental barrier and reach the developing fetus with potential impacts on many organ systems. There are no studies of PFAS in residents of central Arkansas despite reports of environmental contamination in the region. We aimed to quantify PFAS concentrations in repeated serum samples from participants living in central Arkansas and to investigate relationships with maternal cardiometabolic health during pregnancy. METHODS: Participants were enrolled during early pregnancy in a longitudinal study (NCT01131117) from 2010 to 2014. PFAS concentrations were measured in serum from each trimester (first trimester n = 282, second trimester n = 217, and third trimester n = 195). PFAS were compared across pregnancy. Linear and linear-mixed effects models were used to investigate relationships between trimester-specific PFAS levels, as single exposures, and maternal outcomes. Effects of PFAS as an exposure mixture were estimated using quantile g-computation. RESULTS: Six PFAS were detected in more than 70% of the maternal serum samples: PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHxA. In adjusted linear-mixed models and quantile g-computation models, maternal serum PFAS levels were significantly negatively associated with triglycerides [effect estimates (β)= -16.29; 95% confidence interval (CI)= -24.95, -7.63], total cholesterol (β= -12.77; 95%CI= -19.80, -5.74), low-density lipoproteins (β= -10.83; 95%CI = -16.72, -4.93), high-density lipoproteins (β= -4.10; 95%CI= -6.23, -1.96), and pulse (β= -1.60; 95%CI= -2.85, -0.35). Maternal serum PFAS, as a mixture, was not associated with maternal diastolic blood pressure, but separately, PFAS, PFOS, PFOA and PFNA had significant positive associations. CONCLUSION: This study evaluated PFAS exposures during pregnancy in central Arkansas. We show that PFAS exposure during pregnancy influences maternal cardiometabolic outcomes and a case in point that future studies are needed to determine the impact on maternal health and to investigate potential interventions to limit the effects of PFAS exposure during pregnancy.
About
- Frequency
- Sun
- Papers found
- 200
- RSS feed
- Subscribe