Environmental Health[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
The association between hot days and substance-related suicides: a time-stratified case-crossover analysis in British Columbia, Canada.
Li K, Henderson SB, Coker ES … +2 more , McLean KE, Lee MJ
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40301881 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Hot weather can negatively impact mental health and increase the risk of suicide. The relationship between heat and risk of suicide is not fully understood, and varies geographically across regions with diffe...
BACKGROUND: Hot weather can negatively impact mental health and increase the risk of suicide. The relationship between heat and risk of suicide is not fully understood, and varies geographically across regions with differing climates, cultures, and socio-economic factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between hot summer days and suicides in British Columbia, Canada (BC). METHODS: A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to estimate the relationship between hot days (exposure) and suicide (outcome), considering same-day and two-day mean temperature. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for the association between hot days and suicides for three outcomes including: (1) suicide attempts by self-poisoning extracted from BC Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) database (2012-2023); (2) completed suicides by self-poisoning extracted from BC vital statistics (2004-2023); and (3) completed suicides by violent methods extracted from BC vital statistics (2004-2023). Analyses were stratified by sex, age, ecological region, substance types used in self-poisonings, and by methods of violent suicide. RESULTS: There were 9,599 suicide attempts via self-poisoning and 2,571 suicide deaths included in this study. Overall, hot days were associated with increased odds of self-poisoning suicide attempts and deaths, but not with suicide deaths via violent methods. The odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for suicide attempts via self-poisoning on hot days was 1.19 [1.11, 1.29], and 1.48 [1.12, 1.95] for suicide deaths. There was no effect of hot days on suicide deaths by violent methods. The associations varied by day of exposure, sex, age groups, and geography. The effect of hot days was greatest for suicide attempts and deaths involving opioids and elevated for suicide attempts involving opioid and analgesia combinations, analgesics alone, and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of suicide via self-poisoning was increased on hot summer days in BC, Canada. However, the relationship was influenced by other factors that vary among individuals and geographies. Policy decisions and future research for suicide-prevention during hot weather should consider sub-population susceptibility.
From inequalities to vulnerability paradoxes: juxtaposing older adults' heat mortality risk and heat experiences.
Wrotek M, Marginean I, Boni Z … +4 more , Chwałczyk F, Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Salvador C, Jancewicz B
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40287706 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Increasing temperatures across the globe, including in Europe, pose one of the biggest threats to human health and wellbeing. Different kinds of inequalities, determined by age, sex/gender, isolation, socio-e...
BACKGROUND: Increasing temperatures across the globe, including in Europe, pose one of the biggest threats to human health and wellbeing. Different kinds of inequalities, determined by age, sex/gender, isolation, socio-economic status, occupation, living in the city, and health situation, create vulnerability factors influencing people's heat-related mortality risk and their daily experiences during summer. METHODS: Our study uses an interdisciplinary approach to research how intersecting inequalities generate vulnerabilities to heat stress among older adults (65+) in two European cities: Warsaw and Madrid. We combine three methodological approaches juxtaposing quantitative and qualitative data: (1) epidemiological analysis that uses daily mortality data in Warsaw and Madrid coupled with meteorological station temperature data from HadISD; (2) the OLS regression based on the survey conducted in Warsaw and Madrid in 2022; and (3) the focus group interviews conducted in Warsaw in 2021. RESULTS: Our data confirms that good health and financial situation protect people both from mortality risk and negative heat experiences. Interestingly, both air conditioning (A/C) usage and being physically active increase the negative heat experiences people reported. Finally, we identified two vulnerability paradoxes understood as situations when a person or a group might be more at risk but not experience or perceive negative impacts of heat. These paradoxes affect the oldest adults (80+) and older people living alone in both cities. CONCLUSIONS: Studies on vulnerability and adaptation need to incorporate both large scale top-down data sets and bottom-up, localized data based on individual experience. Combining various methods and disciplinary approaches enables identification of inequality factors and vulnerability paradoxes that remain unnoticed or underestimated while increasing people's vulnerability to heat stress.
The burden and trend prediction of ischemic heart disease associated with lead exposure: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021.
Ding Y, Deng A, Qi TF … +3 more , Yu H, Wu LP, Zhang H
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40264156 · Full text
AIM: The purpose of this study was to quantify the global burden of ischemic heart disease associated with lead exposure, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, 2021. METHODS: Data on the burden of...
AIM: The purpose of this study was to quantify the global burden of ischemic heart disease associated with lead exposure, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, 2021. METHODS: Data on the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) associated with lead exposure were compiled globally from 1990 to 2021. These data were further stratified by dimensions including gender, age, GBD regions, and countries. Utilizing the Joinpoint regression model, we analyzed long-term trends in the burden of IHD disease associated with lead exposure and derived estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). For future projections, we used an ARIMA model to predict potential trends in the burden of IHD disease associated with lead exposure over the next decade. RESULTS: The study's findings reveal that in 2021, there were 590,370 deaths attributed to IHD (95% UI (Uncertainty interval (UI) is derived from the Bayesian school of statistical analysis used in the GBD studies. Unlike the frequency school of thought, which constructs confidence intervals (CI), the Bayesian school of thought views probability as a measure of confidence in an event, and in this approach the actual mean is viewed as a random variable dependent on the data and prior knowledge, with UI indicating that there is a specific probability (e.g., 95%) that the actual mean will fall within the interval.): -83,778 to 1,233,628) and 11,854,661 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (95% UI: -1,668,553 to 24,791,275) globally due to lead exposure, reflecting an increasing and then stabilizing trend from 1990 to 2021. Comparative analysis across study regions indicated a higher disease burden for IHD in regions with lower Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) values, contrasting with the lower burden in regions with higher SDI values. Furthermore, IHD mortality and DALYs peak in the 70-80 age cohort, with males exhibiting higher rates compared to females. Decadal projections indicate a downward trend in IHD mortality and DALYs for regions with higher SDI, in contrast to an anticipated upward trend in regions with lower SDI. CONCLUSION: The global burden of ischemic heart disease associated with lead exposure is increasing, particularly in regions with low SDI values and within the elderly population. Considering the profound threat posed by lead exposure to the global burden of IHD, there is an imperative to consistently reinforce and execute robust prevention strategies to mitigate environmental lead exposure.
Associations between dietary exposure to profiles of metalloestrogens and estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer risk in the French E3N cohort.
Saint-Martin F, Marques C, Ren X … +3 more , Lequy E, Mancini FR, Frénoy P
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40247249 · Full text
Metalloestrogens are ionic metals and metalloids that can activate estrogen receptor, and are suspected to play a role in breast cancer occurrence. This study explored the relationship between dietary exposure profiles t...
Metalloestrogens are ionic metals and metalloids that can activate estrogen receptor, and are suspected to play a role in breast cancer occurrence. This study explored the relationship between dietary exposure profiles to metalloestrogens and estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (ERP-BC) risk among women in the French E3N cohort.A prospective study was conducted involving 66 722 women who completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1993. Food consumption data were combined with food contamination data obtained from the Second French Total Diet Study, to estimate the dietary intake of 14 metalloestrogens. A principal component analysis was performed to identify the main dietary exposure profiles to metalloestrogens. The retained principal components were included in Cox regression models, used to estimate Hazard Ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between the adherence to the identified profiles and ERP-BC risk identified until 2014, adjusted for confounding factors selected using a directed acyclic graph.After an average follow-up of 17.7 years, 3 739 incident cases of ERP-BC were identified. Four principal components were retained, explaining 80.5% of the variance. A statistically significant positive association between the third principal component, mainly characterized by dietary intake of inorganic arsenic and vanadium, and ERP-BC risk was estimated (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.07, p-value: 0.03). No statistically significant association was found when evaluating the effect of each metalloestrogen individually.The results suggests that even relatively low levels of exposure to inorganic arsenic and vanadium, when combined, could increase the risk of ERP-BC.
Spatial distribution of acute myeloid leukaemia in Denmark.
Jensen RH, Teglgaard C, Nielsen LH … +4 more , Bertelsen LD, Christensen HS, Bøgsted M, Severinsen MT
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40221791 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Although various occupational and environmental exposures are suspected risk factors for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the aetiology of AML is largely unknown. We present an analysis of the spatial distribut...
BACKGROUND: Although various occupational and environmental exposures are suspected risk factors for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the aetiology of AML is largely unknown. We present an analysis of the spatial distribution of AML in Denmark on an unprecedented, detailed scale. Such investigations have the potential to uncover geographical areas of increased risk, which may in turn be tied to environmental or occupational exposures. METHODS: Individuals diagnosed with AML during 2000-2020 were obtained from the Danish National Acute Leukaemia Registry and assigned to a parish based on their residence six months prior to diagnosis. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) by parish was calculated as the ratio between the age- and sex-standardised incidence rate and the national incidence rate. The IRRs were smoothed using a spatial Poisson distributed generalised linear mixed model with a conditional autoregressive correlation structure. Parishes with a smoothed IRR > 1.10 with a posterior probability > 75% were considered to have an increased risk of AML. RESULTS: The study included 5,177 AML cases. The spatial model showed a homogeneous distribution of AML in Denmark with no parishes having an increased risk. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that the risk of developing AML in Denmark is not affected by place of residence, suggesting that if an unknown environmental or occupational risk factor is present, it does not seem to be associated with specific areas.
Sex differences in the impact of extreme heat on cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhou Y, Larochelle L, Khan FA … +1 more , Pilote L
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40221760 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Climate change is intensifying extreme heat events, posing significant risks to cardiovascular health. While sex differences in heat vulnerability have been observed, the evidence remains inconsistent. This s...
BACKGROUND: Climate change is intensifying extreme heat events, posing significant risks to cardiovascular health. While sex differences in heat vulnerability have been observed, the evidence remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined sex-specific associations between extreme heat exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes over the past decade. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus for studies published between 2004 and 2024 that reported sex-stratified cardiovascular outcomes associated with heat exposure following the PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the evidence was evaluated following the Navigation Guide Criteria. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled relative risk ratios (RRR) comparing males to females for studies addressing incremental temperature increase. Heat wave studies were synthesized narratively due to methodological heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of 6126 articles, 79 met inclusion criteria (62 in meta-analysis, 17 in narrative synthesis), primarily from East Asia, Europe, and North America. A 1 °C temperature increase was associated with elevated cardiovascular risks for both sexes. The pooled relative risk ratio (RRR) comparing males to females was 1.008 [1.002-1.014] for mortality, suggesting slightly higher female vulnerability, but not for morbidity (RRR 0.996 [0.987-1.004]). Significant heterogeneity was noted (Mortality I² = 50.3%, Morbidity I² = 70.3%). Heat wave studies showed inconsistent sex-specific impacts across populations. CONCLUSIONS: Females showed marginally higher vulnerability to heat-related cardiovascular mortality compared to males, while no significant sex differences were observed for morbidity outcomes. Future research should focus on understanding these mechanisms and developing sex-specific interventions.
Impact of early life exposure to heat and cold on linguistic development in two-year-old children: findings from the ELFE cohort study.
Barbalat G, Guilbert A, Adelaïde L … +5 more , Charles MA, Hough I, Launay L, Kloog I, Lepeule J
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40205441 · Full text
BACKGROUND: A number of negative developmental outcomes in response to extreme temperature have been documented. Yet, to our knowledge, environmental research has left the question of the effect of temperature on human n...
BACKGROUND: A number of negative developmental outcomes in response to extreme temperature have been documented. Yet, to our knowledge, environmental research has left the question of the effect of temperature on human neurodevelopment largely unexplored. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of ambient temperature on linguistic development at the age of 2 years-old. METHODS: We used data from the prospective national French birth cohort ELFE (N = 12,163) and highly-resolved exposure models with daily temporal resolution and 200 m to 1 km spatial resolution. We investigated the effect of weekly averages of overall, daytime and night-time temperature in the prenatal (first 30 weeks of gestation) and postnatal (91 weeks after birth) period on vocabulary production scores from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI) at 2 years-old. Exposure-response and lag-response relationships were modeled with confounder-adjusted distributed lag non-linear models. RESULTS: Scores at the MB-CDI decreased by 3.2% (relative risk (RR) 0.968, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.939-0.998) following exposure to severe night-time heat of 15.6 °C (95th percentile) vs. 8.3 °C (median) throughout gestational weeks 14 to 19. In the postnatal period, scores at the MB-CDI decreased by 14.8% (RR 0.852; 95% CI: [0.756-0.96]) for severe overall heat of 21.9 °C (95th percentile) vs. 11.5 °C (median) throughout weeks 1 to 28. Consistent results were found for daytime and night-time heat. We observed positive effects of overall and night-time heat in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Night-time cold in the pre-natal period also resulted in improved scores at the MB-CDI. Adjusting our models for air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10 and NO2) tended to confirm these observations. Finally, there were no significant differences in temperature effects between boys and girls. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort study, we showed a negative impact of hot temperatures during pregnancy and after birth on language acquisition. Positive associations observed in the first few weeks of pregnancy are likely the results of methodological artifacts. Positive associations with night-time cold during the prenatal period are likely truly protective, as colder temperatures may encourage staying indoors at a comfortable temperature. Policymakers should consider neurodevelopment impairments as a deleterious effect of climate change.
Association between long-term exposure to PM and thyroid nodules in school-aged children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Eastern China.
Liu M, Wang PH, Ye YJ … +5 more , Shang L, Xia YT, Wang Y, Ding Z, Xu Y
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40197532 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM) are linked to thyroid nodules in adults, but epidemiological evidence in children and adolescents and adjustments for key confo...
BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM) are linked to thyroid nodules in adults, but epidemiological evidence in children and adolescents and adjustments for key confounders are lacking. This study aimed to explore the association between long-term exposure to PM and the prevalence of thyroid nodules in school-aged children and adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 10,739 primary and junior high school students was conducted in Jiangsu Province, China, in 2021. Annual PM concentrations were estimated by a satellite based space-time model based on machine learning. Individual exposure concentrations were assigned according to the school addresses of the participants. High-resolution diagnostic ultrasound imaging was used to detect the thyroid nodules. After adjustment for covariates, the link between the two-year (2019-2020) average PM concentrations and thyroid nodules was estimated using a generalized linear mixed-effects model. The concentration-response (C-R) curves were smoothed using a restricted cubic spline function. Stratified analyses were performed to evaluate the modification effects of covariates on associations. RESULTS: The average age of the 10,067 participants (51.9% boys) was 11 years, with a thyroid nodule prevalence of 30.5%. A non-linear positive correlation was found between the increase in prevalence of thyroid nodules and two-year average exposure concentration of PM. The C-R relationship curve between thyroid nodules and PM had a J-shaped structure with a threshold value of 39.7 µg/m. Following covariates adjustment, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) linked to thyroid nodules were 1.515 (1.199, 1.915) for per standard deviation (SD) increase in two-year average PM concentrations (> 39.7 µg/m). The sex-specific associations found among adults were not observed in our stratified analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that long-term exposure to PM was associated with a higher prevalence of thyroid nodules in children and adolescents. Strategies that consistently reduce PM pollution levels to ease the burden of non-communicable diseases have important public health implications.
Environmental contamination associated with biofuel production involving pesticide-coated seed corn as feedstock: a survey of community environmental and health impacts.
Gribben KC, Johnson K, Greenberg P … +7 more , Mencia R, Taiba J, Kintziger KW, Michaud K, Rogan E, Uhing T, Bell JE
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40189568 · Full text
BACKGROUND: A United States ethanol company used pesticide-coated seed corn for fuel ethanol production, resulting in highly contaminated byproducts. Improper storage and disposal of the waste led to widespread environme...
BACKGROUND: A United States ethanol company used pesticide-coated seed corn for fuel ethanol production, resulting in highly contaminated byproducts. Improper storage and disposal of the waste led to widespread environmental contamination. Detectable levels of neonicotinoids have been found in soil, water, and air samples, raising questions about the potential impacts to the environment and human health. The study objective was to evaluate the community's perceived physical and mental health impacts and needs resulting from the contamination linked to bioenergy production by a single company. METHODS: A 54-question survey was administered to households located within a 10-mile radius of the facility. Respondents could complete the paper survey and return it by mail or electronically. The general topics were household members' awareness, concerns, and perceptions of environmental and health impacts. Quantitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were grouped into themes based on keywords and summarized as counts. RESULTS: A total of 459 respondents completed the survey, a 38% response rate. The average household size was 2.7 (SD = 1.4). Responding households were primarily single-family homes (89%) that were owned (85%), and were long-time residents (mean = 18.4 years, SD = 15.5). A total of 36% of households included children aged 18 or younger. Respondents were concerned about contaminants affecting water (82%), soil (79%), and air (72%) quality. Most respondents (74%) felt some or a lot of stress related to potentially compromised health; however, 51% did not believe they had health symptoms resulting from the contamination. The most common self-reported symptoms among primary respondents were sinus (n = 17), respiratory (n = 22), cognitive/neurological symptoms (n = 15), and allergies (n = 17). Depression and anxiety were the primary mental health symptoms reported with 31 mentions. The top community need was wanting the environment cleaned-up, including proper removal of waste and land restoration. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated community-level perceived impacts of environmental contamination directly related to an ethanol plant's improper handling of production waste containing pesticides. Findings can support immediate actions by state officials and community leaders and serve as a baseline for future health and environmental monitoring.
Serum concentrations of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Danish pregnant women-temporal trends during pregnancy, correlations with partners, associations with physical activity, and blood lipid concentrations.
Jensen IKB, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Lindh C … +9 more , Roland CB, de Place Knudsen S, Bendix JM, Molsted S, Clausen TD, Stallknecht B, Mortensen OH, Løkkegaard E, Knudsen LE
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40176054 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyflouralkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent chemicals used extensively in industries and consumer products due to their water-repellent properties. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to...
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyflouralkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent chemicals used extensively in industries and consumer products due to their water-repellent properties. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, and human exposure to PFAS, especially during pregnancy, is of great concern. In this study, we report how serum PFAS concentrations during pregnancy correlated with serum PFAS of partners from the same household. Further, we report how serum PFAS concentrations change during the course of pregnancy and associations between PFAS and blood lipid concentrations as well as exploratory analyses of associations between physical activity and PFAS concentrations. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of data from the FitMum study conducted from 2018 to 2021, 216 healthy, pregnant women, and 110 of their partners were included. Non-fasting venous blood samples were collected from the mothers at three test visits during pregnancy and at delivery, where blood from partners were also collected. Serum samples from all timepoints were analyzed for 15 short- and long-chained PFAS using liquid chromatography triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride blood concentrations were measured at three test visits during pregnancy and at delivery. Physical activity was measured with a wrist-worn activity tracker 24/7 from inclusion before gestational age week 15 + 0 and throughout pregnancy. RESULTS: In serum samples we detected the following PFAS: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA. The maternal median concentrations at baseline were: PFOS: 4.09 ng/mL, PFOA: 0.81 ng/mL, PFHxS: 0.29 ng/mL, PFNA: 0.42 ng/mL, PFDA: 0.25 ng/mL, and PFUnDA: 0.19 ng/mL. Partner serum PFAS concentrations were 3-145% higher than maternal concentration (except for PFUnDA). PFAS concentrations correlated within couples. All PFAS decreased significantly during pregnancy (PFOS -23.1 percent 95%-CI [-31.9;-13.2] from baseline to delivery). All PFAS concentrations were associated with increased HDL-C concentrations. No associations between physical activity and maternal PFAS concentrations were found. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, serum PFAS concentrations decreased during pregnancy. PFAS concentrations within households were strongly correlated. PFAS and HDL-C concentrations were positively associated. We found no associations between physical activity and serum PFAS concentrations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT03679130; 20/09/2018.
Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenol A during pregnancy and birth size in children from the Odense Child Cohort.
Beck AL, Bräuner EV, Uldbjerg CS … +5 more , Lim YH, Boye H, Frederiksen H, Andersson AM, Jensen TK
Environ Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 40170055 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of plastics. BPA can pass the placental barrier and influence fetal development. Due to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BPA may contribute...
BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of plastics. BPA can pass the placental barrier and influence fetal development. Due to its estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, BPA may contribute sex-specific differences in developmental effects. We examined associations between maternal urinary concentrations of BPA and birth size. METHODS: In this cohort study of 832 mother-child pairs from the Odense Child Cohort, pregnant women provided spot urine samples at gestational week 28, which were analyzed for BPA by isotope diluted LC-MS/MS. Osmolality adjusted urinary BPA concentrations were categorized into quartiles. Mother-child characteristics were obtained from hospital records and questionnaires. Linear regression analyses examining the association between BPA concentrations and offspring birth size (weight, length, head, and abdominal circumference) were performed for the full cohort and stratified by offspring sex. RESULTS: BPA was detected above the limit of detection in 85% of the urine samples with a median concentration of 1.33 ng/ml. In the full cohort, birth weight decreased significantly across increasing quartiles of maternal urinary BPA concentration, with the exception of the third quartile, which showed no significant association. In sex-stratified analyses, statistically significant decreases in birth weight were observed among male offspring in the highest quartile of maternal urinary BPA concentrations (β: -115 g, 95% CI: - 225, -4, p = 0.04) compared to male offspring of the lowest quartile and a possible dose-response association was suggested (p-trend = 0.06). No statistically significant associations were observed for birth weight amongst female offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a negative association between maternal urinary BPA exposure and birth weight, driven by a lower birth weight in male offspring. Further research is required to explore the underlying mechanisms of BPA's possible sex-specific associations.
Maternal metabolomics linking prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter and birth weight: a cross-sectional analysis of the MADRES cohort.
Chen W, Qiu C, Hao J … +8 more , Liao J, Lurmann F, Pavlovic N, Habre R, Jones DP, Bastain TM, Breton CV, Chen Z
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40158186 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of low birth weight. Disrupted metabolism may serve as an underlying mechanism, but the specific metabolic pathways involved remai...
BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of low birth weight. Disrupted metabolism may serve as an underlying mechanism, but the specific metabolic pathways involved remain unclear. METHODS: In the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) study, 382 third-trimester maternal serum samples were analyzed for untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography with Fourier transform high-resolution mass spectrometry. Ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM), particulate matter ≤ 10 μm in diameter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O) were estimated using inverse-distance-squared weighted spatial interpolation based on daily residential histories. Birth weight was retrieved from medical records. Linear regression identified metabolomic features associated with air pollution exposure or birth weight, followed by Mummichog pathway enrichment and mediation analyses for the selected features. RESULTS: Second-trimester PM exposure was associated with lower birth weight. Fourteen metabolic pathways were significantly associated with second-trimester PM exposure, with C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism showing the most significant association. Sixteen metabolic pathways were significantly associated with birth weight, with vitamin A (retinol) metabolism being the most significantly enriched pathway. Seven pathways were associated with both PM exposure and birth weight, including C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, ascorbate (vitamin C) and aldarate metabolism, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) metabolism, vitamin A (retinol) metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. Overweight or obese women exhibited more metabolomic features and metabolic pathways associated with PM exposure compared to underweight or normal-weight women. No associations were observed between PM, NO, or O and birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal metabolic pathways involving steroid metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation, vitamin metabolism, and DNA damage may link prenatal PM exposure to lower birth weight, with overweight or obese women potentially more susceptible to these metabolic disruptions.
Plasma perfluoroalkyl substances and breast cancer risk in Brazilian women: a case-control study.
Itoh H, Harada KH, Hamada GS … +6 more , Lyu Z, Fujitani T, Harada Sassa M, Yamaji T, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40155936 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants, and have been detected in human blood. Although PFAS may increase the risk of breast cancer in humans, findings from previou...
BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants, and have been detected in human blood. Although PFAS may increase the risk of breast cancer in humans, findings from previous epidemiological studies on the link between PFAS and breast cancer are controversial. Additionally, most studies of PFAS to date did not distinguish between isomers. Here, we examined the association of PFAS exposure and breast cancer risk in Brazilian women, who represent a racially and ethnically diverse group. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 471 women with breast cancer and 471 matched controls attending hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil from 2001 to 2006. Plasma concentrations of PFAS congeners were measured using in-port arylation gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry with electron capture negative ionization. Linear and branched PFAS isomers were isolated and quantified separately. We derived multivariable-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for breast cancer and hormone-receptor subtypes according to plasma PFAS concentration. RESULTS: In overall analyses, higher plasma concentrations of n-perfluoroheptane sulfonate (n-PFHpS), perfluoro-3-methyl-heptane sulfonate (3 m-PFOS), and n-perfluorononanoic acid were significantly associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Adjusted odds ratios for low, medium, and high n-PFHpS concentrations were 1.00, 1.28, and 2.00 (95% confidence interval = 1.15, 3.48), respectively (P for trend = 0.015). Furthermore, plasma 3 m-PFOS concentration and total perfluorooctanoic acid concentration were significantly associated with increased risk of breast cancer among mixed-ethnicity women. In Caucasian women, a higher plasma perfluoro-4-methyl-heptane sulfonate concentration was also associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Increased plasma n-PFHpS concentration was significantly associated with higher risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer but not with increased risk of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Several plasma PFAS appear to increase the risk of breast cancer. Our findings suggest the importance of isomer analysis, subgroup analysis by ethnicity, and breast cancer subtype analysis for accurately characterizing this risk. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
Risk of longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard cohort study - five years of follow-up.
Denic-Roberts H, Engel LS, Buchanich JM … +7 more , Miller RG, Talbott EO, Thomas DL, McAdam J, Emerick JE, Costacou T, Rusiecki JA
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40121483 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Long-term endocrine and metabolic health risks associated with oil spill cleanup exposures are largely unknown, despite the endocrine-disrupting potential of crude oil and oil dispersant constituents. We ai...
INTRODUCTION: Long-term endocrine and metabolic health risks associated with oil spill cleanup exposures are largely unknown, despite the endocrine-disrupting potential of crude oil and oil dispersant constituents. We aimed to investigate risks of longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions among U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) responders to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. METHODS: Our study population included all active duty DWH Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort members (N = 45,224). Self-reported spill exposures were ascertained from post-deployment surveys. Incident endocrine and metabolic outcomes were defined using International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision) diagnostic codes from military health encounter records up to 5.5 years post-DWH. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for various incident endocrine and metabolic diagnoses (2010-2015, and separately during 2010-2012 and 2013-2015). RESULTS: The mean baseline age was 30 years (~ 77% white, ~ 86% male). Compared to non-responders (n = 39,260), spill responders (n = 5,964) had elevated risks for simple and unspecified goiter (aHR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.29-3.38) and disorders of lipid metabolism (aHR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00-1.18), including its subcategory other and unspecified hyperlipidemia (aHR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21). The dysmetabolic syndrome X risk was elevated only during 2010-2012 (aHR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.22-3.51). Responders reporting ever (n = 1,068) vs. never (n = 2,424) crude oil inhalation exposure had elevated risks for disorders of lipid metabolism (aHR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.00-1.53), including its subcategory pure hypercholesterolemia (aHR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.08-2.72), the overweight, obesity and other hyperalimentation subcategory of unspecified obesity (aHR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.09-2.13), and abnormal weight gain (aHR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.04-6.55). Risk estimates for endocrine/metabolic conditions were generally stronger among responders reporting exposure to both crude oil and dispersants (vs. neither) than among responders reporting only oil exposure (vs. neither). CONCLUSION: In this large cohort of active duty USCG responders to the DWH disaster, oil spill cleanup exposures were associated with elevated risks for longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions.
Neuromotor effects of early-life exposure to a mixture of endocrine disruptors in Belgian preschool children.
Barrea C, Dufour P, Catherine P … +4 more , Charlier C, Brevers F, Parent AS, Rousselle L
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40091032 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: Children gradually develop motor skills that enable them to move efficiently in various daily activities such as self-care, academics and sports. The impact of prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs)...
OBJECTIVE: Children gradually develop motor skills that enable them to move efficiently in various daily activities such as self-care, academics and sports. The impact of prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs) on these performances remains understudied and current results are inconsistent. This study aims at examining the neuromotor function of Belgian preschoolers exposed in utero to a mixture of some of these chemicals. METHODS: From 2014 to 2016, 66 children (35 boys and 31 girls) were recruited for a longitudinal cohort study. Two polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and four perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in cord serum. A standardized motor evaluation, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children II (MABC-II), and a clinical sensori-motor assessment examining minor neurological dysfunction were administered at 6 years of age. The impact of the mixture of EDCs on neuromotor outcome measures was evaluated using two validated statistical models. Sex-specific analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: Using a principal component analysis, a negative association was identified between a mixture of PCB-153 and - 180 and the Total Clinical examination score in the whole population (β (95% CI) = -15.8 (-26.51; -5.09), p = 0.005). After stratification by sex, negative associations were observed between the Gross Motor score of the MABC-II test and prenatal exposure to a mixture of PFASs and PCB-180, specifically in boys. This association was consistent across both the weighted quantile sum regression model (β (95% CI) = -2.36 (-3.42; -0.62), p = 0.023) and the principal component approach (β (95% CI) = -1.09 (-2.15; -0.13), p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the neuromotor function of young children is adversely influenced by prenatal exposure to toxicants in a sex-specific manner.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in circulation in a Canadian population: their association with serum-liver enzyme biomarkers and piloting a novel method to reduce serum-PFAS.
Schlezinger JJ, Bello A, Mangano KM … +6 more , Biswas K, Patel PP, Pennoyer EH, Wolever TMS, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Bello D
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40089764 · Full text
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has resulted in their ubiquitous presence in human blood. PFAS exposures have been associated with multiple adverse human health effects. Biomonitoring studies...
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has resulted in their ubiquitous presence in human blood. PFAS exposures have been associated with multiple adverse human health effects. Biomonitoring studies have focused on long-chain PFASs, but these are being replaced by short-chain PFASs or with alternate PFAS chemistries (or replacement chemistries such as GenX), resulting in changes in human exposures with time. Here, we take advantage of serum samples collected as part of a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a dietary fiber intervention to reduce serum cholesterol to investigate exposure to PFASs in Canadian participants. Serum samples were collected from 72 participants (adult males with elevated cholesterol) in 2019-2020 at baseline and after 4 weeks of the intervention and were analyzed for 17 PFASs. The highest geometric mean serum concentrations of PFAS measured at baseline corresponded to PFOSA (7.1 ng/ml), PFOS (4.2, ng/ml), PFOA (1.8 ng/ml) and PFHxS (1.3 ng/ml). Four long-chain PFASs (PFOA, PFOS, PFOSA and PFHxS) and two short-chain PFASs (PFBA, PFHxA) were detected in 100% of participants. GenX was detected in 71% of participants. Analyses of associations between serum-PFAS concentrations and biomarkers of adverse health outcomes showed the PFBA, PFHxA, PFDA and PFOSA were associated with higher serum gamma-glutamyl transferase concentrations but not with measures of serum-total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Comparison of PFAS concentrations at baseline and after a 4-week follow-up showed that the total PFAS detected decreased in both the control and cholesterol intervention groups. However, the suite of long-chain PFASs of concern identified by the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, significantly decreased only in the cholesterol intervention group. This observation suggests that a sustained dietary fiber intervention may reduce long-chain PFAS body burden, but future intervention studies need to control for PFAS exposure sources and extend the dietary supplement intake beyond 4 weeks. Overall, the results show that exposures to short-chain and replacement chemistry PFASs are common in this Canadian population.
Domestic water hardness, genetic risk, and distinct phenotypes of cardiovascular disease.
Tian F, Yu G, Yang M … +6 more , Sun Y, Gui Z, Zhao X, Wang N, Wan H, Peng X
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40087673 · Full text
AIMS: The study aimed to investigate the association between domestic water hardness and the incidence of AF and the interaction effects between water hardness and genetic susceptibility to incident AF risk. As a seconda...
AIMS: The study aimed to investigate the association between domestic water hardness and the incidence of AF and the interaction effects between water hardness and genetic susceptibility to incident AF risk. As a secondary objective, its associations with incident heart failure (HF), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke were measured. METHODS: The UK Biobank is a prospective cohort study comprising over 500,000 participants recruited in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010, aged 37 to 73 years. A total of 447,950 participants did not have prevalent AF, and 423,946 participants who were free of HF, CHD, and stroke at baseline were included. Water hardness was assessed by CaCO concentration. The genetic risk score for AF was based on the standard polygenic risk score. Cox proportional hazards regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were conducted. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.74 years, 30,726 (6.86%) individuals were diagnosed with AF for the first time. Compared with those with water hardness ≤ 60 mg/L, individuals with domestic water hardness 121-180 mg/L had a 17% lower risk of developing AF (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.79-0.87), but water hardness of 61-120 mg/L and > 180 mg/L was associated with a higher risk of incident AF (both 1.04, 1.01-1.07). A non-linear relationship between water hardness and incident AF (P for non-linear = 0.001) was found. Individuals with water hardness 121-180 mg/L were also significantly associated with a lower risk of incident HF (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75-0.89), CHD (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76-0.84) and stroke (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.95). There were no significant interaction effects between water hardness level and genetic susceptibility to AF, HF, CHD, and stroke risk (all P for interaction > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Potential U-shaped associations between domestic water hardness and incident AF across varying levels of genetic risk were found. Hard water (121-180 mg/L) may offer the most benefits compared to soft water when considering overall cardiovascular health, including AF, HF, CHD, and stroke.
Temporal and Spatial Effects of Extreme Drought Events on Human Epidemics over Ancient China in 1784-1787 CE.
Hang X, Sun Z, He J … +6 more , Xin J, Zhang S, Zhao Y, Tan Z, Han L, Hao Y
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40069762 · Full text
Extreme drought events can impact human health, notably triggering epidemics that impose significant global health and economic burdens. Understanding these effects and developing response strategies is crucial. However,...
Extreme drought events can impact human health, notably triggering epidemics that impose significant global health and economic burdens. Understanding these effects and developing response strategies is crucial. However, there is limited epidemiological evidence on how climate change influenced ancient epidemics before large-scale urbanization and frequent population movements. In this study, we utilized the Reconstructed East Asian Climate Historical Encoded Series (REACHES) climate database and the self-constructed ancient Chinese epidemics database to examine extreme drought events in ancient China from 1784-1787 CE. We analyzed factors like grain prices, population density, and socioeconomic conditions to explore the temporal and spatial mechanism and influence the degree of extreme drought events on epidemics outbreaks. The results show that there is a clear positive link between drought and the spread of epidemics, with a notable one-year lag effect of drought. Drought impacts epidemics directly and indirectly through locust plague, famine, crop failure, and social turmoil, with famine being the most crucial factor. Official disaster management can mitigate epidemics. This study intuitively shows the relationship between extreme drought events and epidemics in ancient China and offering insights into the climate change-epidemic relationship. Placing the conclusions of this paper in a broader context has global implications, providing historical experience for polycrisis and modern challenges.
PM constituent exposures and maternal circulatory homocysteine in early pregnancy.
Li X, Ran M, Wang M … +6 more , Liu A, Qiao B, Han B, Wang J, Bai Z, Zhang Y
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40055787 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is a pathogenic mechanism of adverse pregnancy outcomes and PM-induced cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the associations of fine particulate matter (PM) and chemical consti...
BACKGROUND: Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is a pathogenic mechanism of adverse pregnancy outcomes and PM-induced cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the associations of fine particulate matter (PM) and chemical constituent exposures with maternal circulatory Hcy in early pregnancy. METHODS: Serum Hcy and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in 324 women with pregnancy (162 normal early pregnancy [NEP] and 162 early pregnancy loss [EPL]) were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Daily exposures to PM and constituents (black carbon [BC], organic matter, nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate) were accessed using data of Tracking Air Pollution in China platform. Nonlinear and linear associations of average pollutant exposures during the post-conception period with serum Hcy were estimated using generalized additive models and multivariable linear regression models, respectively. Weekly cumulative and distributed lag associations between pollutant exposures within three months before serum collection and Hcy were analyzed by distributed lag nonlinear models combined with multivariable linear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using constituent residuals instead of constituent concentrations. RESULTS: Three-month PM and the five constituent exposures were associated with elevated serum Hcy in all participants, EPL group, and NEP group, with 3-12 weeks before serum collection being the susceptible exposure time windows. Pollutants-related Hcy were generally higher in EPL group than in NEP group. Higher post-conception PM, BC, and sulfate exposures increased serum Hcy in lower but not in higher 5-methyltetrahydrofolate subgroup. Sulfate was the highest risk constituent with residual-related increased Hcy. BC residuals of both post-conception and three-month periods increased Hcy in EPL group but not in NEP group. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal circulatory Hcy in early pregnancy increased with PM and constituent exposures, with sulfate being the highest risk constituent. BC-related increased Hcy may induce EPL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered for clinical trials (ChiCTR1900028619) on December 29, 2019.
Perinatal exposure to ambient fine particle air pollution and risk of childhood ewing sarcoma in a population-based case-control study in California (1988-2015).
Clark CJ, Wang R, Wiemels JL … +3 more , Metayer C, Deziel NC, Ma X
Environ Health · 2025 Mar · PMID 40055781 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Incidence of childhood Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer affecting bones and soft tissues, is increasing. Environmental exposures during the perinatal period, like air pollution, may play a role. We examined expos...
BACKGROUND: Incidence of childhood Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer affecting bones and soft tissues, is increasing. Environmental exposures during the perinatal period, like air pollution, may play a role. We examined exposure to perinatal ambient fine particulate matter (PM) and childhood Ewing sarcoma risk in a case-control linkage study nested within a California birth cohort. METHODS: The study included 388 children born in California (1982-2015) and diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at age 0-19 years (1988-2015), and 19,341 California-born cancer-free controls frequency-matched to cases on birth year (50:1 ratio). Ambient PM concentrations at the maternal residence were averaged separately over two time periods, gestation and the first year after birth, using a validated ensemble-based model (categorized as quartiles). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between perinatal PM exposure and Ewing sarcoma risk, adjusting for sex, birth year, race, ethnicity, birth weight, and maternal education and stratifying by Hispanic ethnicity to assess potential disparities in PM-related cancer risk. RESULTS: In the overall population, perinatal ambient PM exposure was not associated with Ewing sarcoma risk when considering exposure during gestation or the year after birth. Among Hispanic children, who experienced greater air pollution exposure compared to non-Hispanic children, higher PM levels during gestation yielded elevated odds of Ewing sarcoma compared to the first quartile (Q2 OR [95% CI] = 1.53 [0.94-2.51]; Q3 = 1.56 [0.95-2.56]; Q4 = 1.39 [0.79-2.47]). Hispanic children also experienced elevated risk in relation to exposure during the year after birth. CONCLUSION: Our results provide new suggestive evidence that ambient PM may contribute to Ewing sarcoma risk, although these findings were not statistically significant and were specific to Hispanic children. These findings require replication and underscore the need to further evaluate the potential role of ethnicity in the PM-cancer relationship with genetic ancestry measures and through the lens of environmental justice.
About
- Frequency
- Sun
- Papers found
- 200
- RSS feed
- Subscribe