{"title":"Dysregulation of Long Non-coding RNAs-the Novel lnc in Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis.","authors":"Zhishan Wang, Po-Shun Wang, Chengfeng Yang","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00468-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00468-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Metals are common environmental pollutants. Acute and chronic exposures to non-essential toxic metals or excessive essential metals cause various diseases including cancer in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been well understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to RNA transcripts that have more than 200 nucleotides but do not have significant protein coding capacities. While lncRNAs were once considered transcription noise, they have become increasingly recognized as crucial players in various physiological and pathogenesis processes. The goal of this article is to review and discuss recent studies that show important roles of lncRNA dysregulations in metal toxicity and carcinogenesis.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent studies showed that metal exposures dysregulate expression of lncRNAs in cultured cells, animals and humas. However, only a few studies determined the mechanisms of how metal exposure dysregulated expression of lncRNAs. The majority of the studies reported the association of abnormally expressed lncRNAs with various toxic effects of metal exposures, only limited studies established causal relationships demonstrating causal roles of dysregulated lncRNAs in metal toxicity and carcinogenesis. Mechanistically, most studies reported that dysregulated lncRNAs functioned as microRNA sponges to regulate gene expression, much less studies explored other mechanisms of lncRNA actions. It is evident that metal exposures dysregulate expression of lncRNAs, which may serve as novel mediators in metal toxicity and carcinogenesis. Further studies are needed to establish dysregulated lncRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for metal exposure-associated diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":"12 1","pages":"3"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755759/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142881689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael D Garber, Tarik Benmarhnia, Jacob Mason, Emily Morales-Zamora, David Rojas-Rueda
{"title":"Parking and Public Health.","authors":"Michael D Garber, Tarik Benmarhnia, Jacob Mason, Emily Morales-Zamora, David Rojas-Rueda","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00465-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00465-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Parking is a ubiquitous feature of the built environment, but its implications for public health are under-examined. This narrative review synthesizes literature to describe pathways through which parking may affect population health.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>We begin by contextualizing the issue, outlining key terminology, the sheer scale of land dedicated to parking, and the historical factors that led to this dominant land use. Next, we delineate four pathways linking parking with public health: 1) Promoting driving and car dependency, affecting air pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions, physical activity, traffic-related injuries and fatalities, and accessibility; 2) Creating impervious surfaces, with consequences for urban heat, flooding, water pollution, and green space; 3) Affecting housing affordability and associated health outcomes of this social determinant; and 4) Design, construction, and maintenance, the health impacts of which include on-street parking's positive and negative impacts on safety for all roadway users, air-quality effects of parking's construction and maintenance, and the potential for green parking lots to mitigate some health consequences of impervious surfaces. While evidence supports each pathway, additional empirical research is needed to evaluate impacts of parking on public-health outcomes. As a dominant feature of the built environment with many health implications, parking warrants attention by public-health research and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":"12 1","pages":"2"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11631998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142806296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachit Sharma, Leah H Schinasi, Brian K Lee, Jennifer Weuve, Marc G Weisskopf, Perry E Sheffield, Jane E Clougherty
{"title":"Air Pollution and Temperature in Seizures and Epilepsy: A Scoping Review of Epidemiological Studies.","authors":"Rachit Sharma, Leah H Schinasi, Brian K Lee, Jennifer Weuve, Marc G Weisskopf, Perry E Sheffield, Jane E Clougherty","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00466-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00466-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of the review: </strong>Seizures and epilepsy can be debilitating neurological conditions and have few known causes. Emerging evidence has highlighted the potential contribution of environmental exposures to the etiology of these conditions, possibly manifesting via neuroinflammation and increased oxidative stress in the brain. We conducted a scoping review of epidemiological literature linking air pollution and temperature exposures with incidence and acute aggravation of seizures and epilepsy. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and APA PsycINFO databases for peer-reviewed journal articles published in English from inception to February 7, 2024.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>We identified a total of 34 studies: 16 examined air pollution exposure, 12 ambient temperature, and six examined both air pollution and ambient temperature. Most studies were conducted in Asia (China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan). Nearly all studies retrospectively derived acute (daily average), ambient, and postnatal exposure estimates from ground monitoring systems and ascertained epilepsy cases or seizure events through record linkage with medical records, health registry systems, or insurance claims data. Commonly assessed exposures were particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>), nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O<sub>3</sub>), and daily mean ambient temperature. Overall, the main findings across studies lacked consistency, with mixed results reported for the associations of air pollutants and temperature metrics with both seizure incidence and acute aggravations of epilepsy.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":"12 1","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11631820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142799673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Review of Urban Planning Approaches to Reduce Air Pollution Exposures.","authors":"Dung-Ying Lin, S Travis Waller, Ming-Yeng Lin","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00459-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00459-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>With only 12% of the human population living in cities meeting the air quality standards set by the WHO guidelines, there is a critical need for coordinated strategies to meet the requirements of a healthy society. One pivotal mechanism for addressing societal expectations on air pollution and human health is to employ strategic modeling within the urban planning process. This review synthesizes research to inform coordinated strategies for a healthy society. Through strategic modeling in urban planning, we seek to uncover integrated solutions that mitigate air pollution, enhance public health, and create sustainable urban environments.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Successful urban planning can help reduce air pollution by optimizing city design with regard to transportation systems. As one specific example, ventilation corridors i.e. aim to introduce natural wind into urban areas to improve thermal comfort and air quality, and they can be effective if well-designed and managed. However, physical barriers such as sound walls and vegetation must be carefully selected following design criteria with significant trade-offs that must be modeled quantitatively. These tradeoffs often involve balancing effectiveness, cost, aesthetics, and environmental impact. For instance, sound walls are highly effective at reducing noise, provide immediate impact, and are long-lasting. However, they are expensive to construct, visually unappealing, and may block views and sunlight. To address the costly issue of sound walls, a potential solution is implementing vegetation with a high leaf area index or leaf area density. This alternative is also an effective method for air pollution reduction with varying land-use potential. Ultimately, emission regulations are a key aspect of all such considerations. Given the broad range of developments, concerns, and considerations spanning city management, ventilation corridors, physical barriers, and transportation planning, this review aims to summarize the effect of a range of urban planning methods on air pollution considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"557-566"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142092515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Idoia Meaza, Aggie R Williams, Sandra S Wise, Haiyan Lu, John Pierce Wise
{"title":"Carcinogenic Mechanisms of Hexavalent Chromium: From DNA Breaks to Chromosome Instability and Neoplastic Transformation.","authors":"Idoia Meaza, Aggie R Williams, Sandra S Wise, Haiyan Lu, John Pierce Wise","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00460-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00460-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a well-established human carcinogen, yet the mechanisms by which it leads to carcinogenic outcomes is still unclear. As a driving factor in its carcinogenic mechanism, Cr(VI) causes DNA double strand breaks and break-repair deficiency, leading to the development of chromosome instability. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss studies assessing Cr(VI)-induced DNA double strand breaks, chromosome damage and instability, and neoplastic transformation including cell culture, experimental animal, human pathology and epidemiology studies.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent findings confirm Cr(VI) induces DNA double strand breaks, chromosome instability and neoplastic transformation in exposed cells, animals and humans, emphasizing these outcomes as key steps in the mechanism of Cr(VI) carcinogenesis. Moreover, recent findings suggest chromosome instability is a key phenotype in Cr(VI)-neoplastically transformed clones and is an inheritable and persistent phenotype in exposed cells, once more suggesting chromosome instability as central in the carcinogenic mechanism. Although limited, some studies have demonstrated DNA damage and epigenetic modulation are also key outcomes in biopsies from chromate workers that developed lung cancer. Additionally, we also summarized new studies showing Cr(VI) causes genotoxic and clastogenic effects in cells from wildlife, such as sea turtles, whales, and alligators. Overall, across the literature, it is clear that Cr(VI) causes neoplastic transformation and lung cancer. Many studies measured Cr(VI)-induced increases in DNA double strand breaks, the most lethal type of breaks clearly showing that Cr(VI) is genotoxic. Unrepaired or inaccurately repaired breaks lead to the development of chromosome instability, which is a common phenotype in Cr(VI) exposed cells, animals, and humans. Indeed, many studies show Cr(VI) induces both structural and numerical chromosome instability. Overall, the large body of literature strongly supports the conclusion that Cr(VI) causes DNA double strand breaks, inhibits DNA repair and chromosome instability, which are key to the development of Cr(VI)-induced cell transformation.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"484-546"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11872169/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142521261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using Geovisualizations to Educate the Public About Environmental Health Hazards: What Works and Why.","authors":"Catherine E Slavik, Carolyn Fish, Ellen Peters","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00461-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00461-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Informing the public about environmental risks to health is crucial for raising awareness around hazards, and promoting actions that minimize exposures. Geographic visualizations-geovisualizations-have become an increasingly common way to disseminate web-based information about environmental hazards, displaying spatial variations in exposures and health outcomes using a map. Unfortunately, ineffective geovisualizations can result in inaccurate inferences about a hazard, leading to misguided actions or policies. In this narrative review, we discuss key considerations for the use of geovisualizations to promote environmental health literacy.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Many conventional geovisualizations used for hazard education and risk communication fail to consider how people process visual information. Design choices that prompt viewers to think and feel, leveraging processes such as individual attention, memory, and emotion, could promote improved comprehension and decision making around environmental health risks using geovisualizations. Based on the studies reviewed, we recommend six strategies for designing effective, evidence-based geovisualizations, synthesizing evidence from the cognitive sciences, cartography, and environmental health. These strategies include: Displaying only key data, tailoring and testing geovisualizations with the desired audience, using salient cues, leveraging emotion, aiding pattern recognition, and limiting visual distractions. Geovisualizations offer a promising avenue for advancing public awareness and fostering proactive measures in addressing complex environmental health challenges. This review highlights how incorporating evidence-based design principles into geovisualizations could promote environmental health literacy. More experimental research evaluating geovisualizations, using interdisciplinary approaches, is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"453-467"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142343121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction: Tear Fluid as a Matrix for Biomonitoring Environmental and Chemical Exposures.","authors":"Parshawn Amini, Joseph O Okeme","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00458-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00458-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"567"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142281636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Food: Current Status, Health Risks, and Mitigation Strategies.","authors":"Di Zhao, Peng Wang, Fang-Jie Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00462-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00462-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Exposure to toxic metals/metalloids, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), through food consumption is a global public health concern. This review examines the contamination status of these metals/metalloids in food, assesses dietary intake across different populations, and proposes strategies to reduce metal/metalloid exposures throughout the food chain.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>For the general population, dietary intake of metals/metalloids is generally lower than health-based guidance values. However, for vulnerable populations, such as infants, children, and pregnant women, their dietary intake levels are close to or even higher than the guidance values. Among different food categories, seafood shows higher total As, but largely present as organic species. Rice accumulates higher As concentration than other cereals, with inorganic As (iAs) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) being the main As species. Methylated thioarsenate species, such as dimethylmonothioarsenate, have also been detected in rice. The distribution of iAs and DMA in rice shows geographical variation. Additionally, seafood and cocoa products generally contain more Cd than other food, but seafood consumption does not significantly increase in adverse health effects due to its high zinc and iron content. Compared to As and Cd, Pb concentrations in food are generally lower. To minimize the health risks of metal/metalloid exposure, several strategies are proposed. Food contamination with toxic metals/metalloids poses significant concerns for human health, particularly for vulnerable populations. This review provides scientific evidence and suggestions for policy makers to reduce human exposure of metals/metalloids via dietary intake.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"468-483"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11588791/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142343120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanisms of Metal-Induced Hepatic Inflammation.","authors":"Nivetha K Subramaniam, Koren K Mann","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00463-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00463-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Worldwide, there is an increasing prevalence of hepatic diseases. The most common diseases include alcoholic-associated liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease/ metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MAFLD/MASH) and viral hepatitis. While there are many important mediators of these diseases, there is increasing recognition of the importance of the inflammatory immune response in hepatic disease pathogenesis.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Hepatic inflammation triggers the onset and progression of liver diseases. Chronic and sustained inflammation can lead to fibrosis, then cirrhosis and eventually end-stage cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma. Importantly, growing evidence suggest that metal exposure plays a role in hepatic disease pathogenesis. While in recent years, studies have linked metal exposure and hepatic steatosis, studies emphasizing metal-induced hepatic inflammation are limited. Hepatic inflammation is an important hallmark of fatty liver disease. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr)-induced hepatic inflammation as they contribute to hepatic toxicity and to identify data gaps for future investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"547-556"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Portable x-ray fluorescence for bone lead measurement: Current approaches and future directions.","authors":"Aaron J Specht, Christian Hoover, Thomas Grier","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00450-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00450-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Legacy lead exposures persist as a widespread problem. Blood lead is traditionally used for lead exposure surveillance; however, bone lead proves to be a cheaper, more accessible, and more revealing tool for surveillance that can be measured using portable x-ray fluorescence techniques. We outline how this approach excels for bone lead measurements.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Portable XRF offers quick, non-invasive in vivo quantification of bone lead. Compared to traditional KXRF systems, pXRF is limited to cortical bone but allows for quicker and similar results. Current methodologies of lead exposure need re-evaluation as lead-related disease burden and trends are dependent on both cumulative and acute impacts. We examined the evolution of XRF techniques for measuring bone lead, comparing current methods with previous ones. We assessed their accuracy, identified limitations, and discussed potential advances in future techniques. Legacy lead exposures call for a revitalization of lead surveillance methods, and pXRF measurement of bone lead offers such a solution.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":" ","pages":"443-451"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141075329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}