Environmental Health Perspectives最新文献

{"title":"Beyond the Surface: Mapping DDE's Metabolic Footprint on Adolescent Obesity.","authors":"Zhenjiang Li, Shudi Pan, Brittney O Baumert, Jiawen Carmen Chen, Jesse A Goodrich, Hongxu Wang, Sarah Rock, Justin Ryder, Damaskini Valvi, Todd Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Xiangping Lin, Scott M Bartell, Thomas H Inge, Stavra Xanthakos, Brooklynn McNeil, Anna R Robuck, Catherine E Mullins, Sandrah P Eckel, Rob S McConnell, Michele A La Merrill, Douglas I Walker, David V Conti, Lida Chatzi","doi":"10.1289/EHP16341","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP16341","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bariatric surgery is an intervention for severe obesity, leading to significant weight loss and metabolic improvements. However, the release of lipophilic chemicals accumulated in adipose tissue during weight loss presents a unique clinical challenge and research opportunity. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is a persistent organic pollutant increasingly recognized as obesogen, while the biological mechanisms through which DDE influences body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to identify metabolic signatures mediating the association between DDE exposure and weight loss by plasma and adipose tissue metabolomics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a longitudinal study involving 60 adolescents with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. We quantified <i>p,p'</i>-DDE concentrations in visceral adipose tissue collected during surgery and analyzed metabolic profiles from both adipose tissues collected at surgery and plasma samples collected at surgery, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years postoperatively, using gas/liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. We used meet-in-the-middle approach coupled with a series of metabolome-wide association analyses to identify overlapping metabolite associated with both DDE exposure and weight loss outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings revealed that DDE concentrations in visceral adipose tissue are associated with significant alterations in metabolites locally in adipose tissue pre-surgery and systemically in plasma post-surgery. Eight plasma metabolites were significantly associated with DDE exposure over time, while 27 were associated with BMI. Notably, methylbutyroylcarnitine was identified as a potential mediator, showing a positive association with both exposure and outcome. Eight adipose tissue metabolites were associated with both DDE and longitudinal changes in plasma metabolites, suggesting an indirect pathway linking DDE and weight changes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings enhance our understanding of DDE's obesogenic effect. The involved metabolic changes could attenuate the efficacy of bariatric surgery in achieving sustained weight loss, underscoring the importance of integrating environmental health considerations into clinical practice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16341.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum: \"Effects of Bisphenol A and Retinoic Acid Exposure on Neuron and Brain Formation: A Study in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Zebrafish Embryos\".","authors":"Tomomi Nishie, Tomoki Taya, Shunichi Omori, Kenya Ueno, Yoshinori Okamoto, Shogo Higaki, Marina Oka, Yachiyo Mitsuishi, Taiga Tanaka, Mana Nakamoto, Hideaki Kawahara, Natsuki Teraguchi, Tomoyuki Kotaka, Misaki Sawabe, Miu Takahashi, Shoko Kitaike, Minori Wada, Keiko Iida, Akihiro Yamashita, Hideto Jinno, Atsuhiko Ichimura, Ikuo Tooyama, Noriyoshi Sakai, Masahiko Hibi, Akira Hirasawa, Tatsuyuki Takada","doi":"10.1289/EHP17963","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP17963","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"133 6","pages":"69002"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12187078/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144483680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sociodemographic Disparities in Exposures to Inorganic Contaminants in United States Public Water Systems.","authors":"Mona Q Dai, Xindi C Hu, Brent A Coull, Chris Campbell, David Q Andrews, Olga V Naidenko, Elsie M Sunderland","doi":"10.1289/EHP14793","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP14793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maximum contaminant level violations occur more frequently among some public water systems (PWS) serving marginalized communities across the United States. Spatially resolved PWS service area data are now available, allowing for better understanding of relationships between sociodemographic factors and water quality.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We examined associations between detection and concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) and the sociodemographic characteristics of residents served by PWS at two spatial scales: PWS service areas and counties.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We leveraged data on inorganic contaminants in <math><mrow><mo>></mo><mn>273,000</mn></mrow></math> drinking water samples from <math><mrow><mo>></mo><mn>21,000</mn></mrow></math> PWS collected by state agencies and the US Environmental Protection Agency over the decade between 2005-2015 and curated in a national database developed by the Environmental Working Group. Sociodemographic data were from the 2006-2015 American Community Survey. We developed two-step hurdle models that included: <i>a</i>) a categorical model predicting contaminant detection and <i>b</i>) a continuous model predicting contaminant concentration. We developed these hurdle models using PWS service areas or counties as spatial units of analysis and compared results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PWS serving 5% higher proportions of limited English-speaking households had significantly greater detections of As, Cr, and Se, ranging from 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18, 1.32] times higher probability of Cr detection to 1.69 (95% CI: 1.58, 1.80) times higher probability of Se detection. Small PWS (<math><mrow><mo>≤</mo><mn>10,000</mn></mrow></math> customers) had higher concentrations of these same three contaminants. PWS serving greater proportions of Black residents had a lower probability of detecting As, Cr, and Se, but significantly higher concentrations of Cr, Mn, and Se, particularly outside large urban areas. The direction of significant associations was consistent between spatial units of analysis, but county results tended to exhibit greater effect sizes and fewer significant associations.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>PWS service area data help to identify drinking water concerns specific to served communities and reduce issues related to statistical bias at larger spatial scales. Targeted subsidies for water infrastructure in communities served by small PWS would help reduce disparities in exposures to drinking water contaminants. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14793.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":"67003"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12129305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum: \"Evaluation of Neural Regulation and Microglial Responses to Brain Injury in Larval Zebrafish Exposed to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate\".","authors":"Shannon E Paquette, Nathan R Martin, April Rodd, Katherine E Manz, Eden Allen, Manuel Camarillo, Hannah I Weller, Kurt Pennell, Jessica S Plavicki","doi":"10.1289/EHP17959","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP17959","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"133 6","pages":"69001"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144316245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of extreme heat exposure on heatstroke and liver injury in mice: The role of PPARα.","authors":"Guoqing Zhang, Lisha Zhao, Jiahui Wang, Kunyi Wang, Xiuyu Ji, Renjie Hu, Tong Hou, Lu Zhang, Ran Li, Qinghua Sun, Kezhong Zhang, Cuiqing Liu","doi":"10.1289/EHP15326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP15326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Liver injury is a frequent complication of heatstroke and constitutes a direct cause of death. However, only a few studies examined the mechanism underlying heatstroke-induced liver injury.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to evaluate the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in heatstroke-induced liver injury and explore the potential mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Male C57BL/6N mice were subjected to control (22 ± 1°C) or extreme heat temperature (39.5 ± 0.5°C) to induce a heatstroke-associated liver injury animal model. PPARα agonist, ferroptosis inhibitor and AAV8-mediated PPARα overexpression were administered to the mice to investigate the role of PPARα and ferroptosis in the heatstroke-induced liver injury. Serum was collected for liver function evaluation. Liver tissues were applied for morphological observation, staining detection, ferroptosis examination and mechanistic exploration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the control group, extreme heat exposure induced temperature dysregulation, impaired liver function and morphological damage in mice. Proteomics screened PPARα as protein of interest, with its level being significantly decreased in response to extreme heat exposure. Both PPARα activation and overexpression attenuated extreme heat-induced heatstroke and liver injury. Hmox1 was next screened and higher Hmox1 expression was identified, accompanied with elevated markers of ferroptosis including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2), malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and Fe²⁺ levels. Ferroptosis inhibition mitigated heatstroke and liver injury induced by heat exposure. In the setting of extreme heat exposure, PPARα activation suppressed Hmox1 expression and levels of ferroptosis markers. It not only induced differences in the expression of members of iron generation, efflux and uptake process and reduced hepatic intracellular Fe²⁺ accumulation, but also stimulated expression of molecules for countering lipid peroxidation including Nrf2-SLC7A11-GPX4 axis and FSP1 signaling.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>PPARα played an essential role in extreme heat exposure-induced heatstroke and liver injury, and PPARα intervention conferred protection against it via inhibition of ferroptosis. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP15326.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-behavioral phenotyping in early-life-stage zebrafish for identifying disruptors of non-associative learning.","authors":"David Leuthold, Nadia K Herold, Jana Nerlich, Kristina Bartmann, Ilka Scharkin, Stefan J Hallermann, Nicole Schweiger, Ellen Fritsche, Tamara Tal","doi":"10.1289/EHP16568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16568","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The vertebrate nervous system is vulnerable to chemical toxicity and the widespread release of chemicals into the environment outstrips the capacity to assess their safety. The zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) is a powerful vertebrate model that can bridge the gap between <i>in vitro</i> and mammalian-based <i>in vivo</i> studies. However, the behavior-rich repertoire of larval zebrafish, a 3R-compliant model amenable to higher-throughput chemical screens, has yet to be fully deployed to identify and characterize chemical compounds that cause neurotoxicity.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We sought to establish a multi-behavioral phenotyping approach in larval zebrafish to identify and mechanistically elucidate neuroactive chemicals, with particular focus on chemical compounds that affect non-associative habituation learning.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We devised a battery of automated behavior assays in larval zebrafish. The battery captures stereotypical visual and acoustic behaviors including habituation, a form of non-associative learning. To elucidate mechanisms underlying exposure-induced behavioral alterations in zebrafish, <i>in silico</i> target predictions, pharmacological interventions, patch-clamp recordings in cultured mouse cortical neurons, and human multi-neurotransmitter (hMNR) assay in 3D BrainSpheres were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Known pharmacological modulators of habituation in zebrafish evoked distinct behavioral patterns. By screening chemicals positive for <i>ex vivo</i> N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulation, we identified chlorophene, a biocide that caused sedation, paradoxical excitation, and reduced habituation in zebrafish. Using <i>in silico</i> target predictions and pharmacological interventions, we discovered that chlorophene acts via gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors (GABA_ARs), a previously unknown target site. Orthogonal validation in cultured mouse cortical neurons and human stem cell-derived BrainSpheres confirmed chlorophene's interaction with GABA_ARs. Chlorophene's behavioral profile resembled that of flupirtine, a Kv7 potassium channel (M-current) activator, suggesting that habituation deficits stem from M-current rather than GABA_AR modulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These studies combined a series of behavior assays in a phenotypically rich, rapid, and inexpensive non-mammalian vertebrate test system to screen chemicals for neurotoxicity. Together with <i>in silico</i> target predictions and mouse- and human-based models, our findings establish multi-behavioral phenotyping in zebrafish as a powerful toolkit for neurotoxicity testing and mechanism identification, with relevance for humans. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16568.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thirdhand Smoke Exposes Children Living with Smokers and Nonsmokers to Tobacco Smoke Toxicants: Racial, Income, and Housing Disparities in Hand Nicotine and Saliva Cotinine Levels.","authors":"E Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, Ashley L Merianos, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Penelope J E Quintana, Eunha Hoh, Nathan G Dodder, Lara Stone, Chase A Wullenweber, Georg E Matt","doi":"10.1289/EHP16332","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP16332","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Children may be involuntarily exposed to chemical residue from thirdhand tobacco smoke (THS) in environments where tobacco has previously been used. Factors contributing to this exposure among children of nonsmokers with no known secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure are currently unknown.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To understand the contribution of THS residue to the overall tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) among children of nonsmokers and smokers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of parents and their children (≤11 years; N=1013) at a children's hospital in the US. Hand nicotine (HN) and saliva cotinine (SC) were markers of THS pollution and TSE, respectively. Children were considered protected from tobacco smoke if there were no household smokers or vapers, strict household smoking bans, and no SHS exposure during the past week. Cluster-adjusted regression models were used to test hypotheses about HN and SC levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 94.5% and 98.9% of protected and unprotected children had detectable HN, respectively. Children who were Black and protected (GeoM= 6.0 ng/wipe; 95%CI=[3.8, 9.1]) or unprotected (GeoM= 43.8 ng/wipe; 95%CI=[33.6; 57.1]) had approximately three times higher HN levels than children who were White and protected (GeoM= 1.8 ng/wipe; 95%CI=1.6; 2.0]) or unprotected (GeoM= 15.0 ng/wipe; 95%CI=[11.2; 19.8]). Unprotected children whose parents had ≤high school education had HN levels that were almost 12 times higher (87.8 ng/wipe) than unprotected children of parents who graduated college (7.5 ng/wipe). Unprotected children with ≤$15,000 household income had HN levels >25 times higher (73.3 ng/wipe) than unprotected children with >$90,000 income (≤ 2.8 ng/wipe). Household smoking bans were unsuccessful in lowering HN levels in Black children, but they were successful for White children (χ²(3)=12.7, p<0.01). HN was associated with SC in children with no SHS exposure (βˆ= 0.10), with stronger associations in the presence of 1 (βˆ= 0.28) and 2+ active smokers (βˆ= 0.32; all p<0.01).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>THS is a pervasive source of exposure to tobacco smoke pollutants. Stark disparities were noted, with higher exposure in Black and lower income children. Findings provide the strongest evidence to date on the contribution of THS as a significant source of overall TSE in children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16332.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144181057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and liver cancer risk: a nested case-control analysis of individual participant data from 12 prospective cohorts.","authors":"Cody Z Watling,Jessica L Petrick,Barry I Graubard,Xuehong Zhang,Matthew J Barnett,Julie E Buring,Yu Chen,A Heather Eliassen,Michael Gaziano,Jae H Kang,Jill Koshiol,Wen-Yi Huang,I-Min Lee,Steven C Moore,Lorelei A Mucci,Marian L Neuhouser,Christina C Newton,Julie R Palmer,Lynn Rosenberg,Howard D Sesso,Martha Shrubsole,Lesley Tinker,Matthew Triplette,Caroline Y Um,Kala Visvanathan,Jean Wactawski-Wende,Walter Willett,Fen Wu,Wei Zheng,Jonathan Hofmann,Mark P Purdue,Peter T Campbell,Dinesh Barupal,Katherine A McGlynn","doi":"10.1289/ehp16980","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp16980","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been associated with numerous deleterious health outcomes including liver damage. However, whether exposure to PFAS is associated with liver cancer risk remains unclear.METHODSWe conducted a matched nested case-control study among 12 prospective cohort studies located in the United States. Pre-diagnostic PFAS, namely perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), were measured from blood samples among 853 individuals who developed liver cancer and 853 matched control participants. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable-adjusted conditional logistic regression for liver cancer risk by study-specific quartiles of concentrations and per 90th vs. 10th percentile incremental increase.RESULTSIn the main multivariable-adjusted model, circulating PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS levels were not associated with liver cancer risk (OR per 90th vs. 10th percentile increase: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.79-1.28; 0.92, 0.73-1.15; and 0.95, 0.75-1.21, respectively). However, when analyses were stratified by sex, PFOA concentrations were positively associated with liver cancer risk in males (OR per 90th vs. 10th percentile increase: 1.62 95% CI:1.07-2.45), whereas an inverse association was observed amongst females (OR per 90th vs. 10th percentile increase:0.68, 0.50-0.92; p-interaction=0.005). Analyses separating liver cancer subtypes, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, showed no evidence of heterogeneity, although associations were stronger but not significant for HCC. No evidence of interaction was observed by time to diagnosis, time period of blood draw, body mass index, alcohol intake, ethnicity, or diabetes status.CONCLUSIONSIn the largest study to date, none of the measured circulating PFAS were associated with liver cancer risk; however, PFOA associations appeared to differ by sex and further research is needed to explore these apparent differences by sex. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16980.","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of Temperature-Mortality Associations Across the Middle East Using Different Exposure Estimation Approaches.","authors":"Yazan Alwadi,Barrak Alahmad,Marc G Weisskopf,Petros Koutrakis","doi":"10.1289/ehp16010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp16010","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDTraditional temperature-health studies have predominantly relied on temperature measurements from stations or modelled spatial averages from gridded temperature datasets. It has been suggested that population-weighted spatial averages would perform better in remote regions with large temperature and population variability. This would be particularly true in regions other than North America and Europe where outcome data is often only available on a crude spatial scale, but no studies have examined this in such regions, where temperatures can be particularly hot.OBJECTIVEUsing the Middle East as a climate hotspot, our objective was to illustrate the utility of population weighting temperature exposures in understudied regions with large health data aggregation areas.METHODSWe used a daily 1km × 1km temperature dataset for 152 administrative regions in 12 Middle Eastern countries. From 2003 to 2020, for each administrative region, we computed daily minimum and maximum population-weighted and unweighted spatial average temperatures. To illustrate, we examined temperature-mortality associations in two countries: Kuwait and Jordan. We used distributed lag non-linear models to estimate the daily timeseries temperature-mortality associations in using three temperature exposure measurement approaches: station temperatures, unweighted spatial averages, and population-weighted temperatures. For each scenario, we fitted country-specific optimized parameters and compared them using three metrics: 1) exposure-response relationships, 2) minimum mortality temperatures and 3) attributable mortality estimates.RESULTSThe study region had geographically sporadic yet densely populated areas within each country. In both Kuwait and Jordan, population-weighted and unweighted spatial average temperatures resulted in fairly similar exposure-response curves, whereas both were notably different from station temperatures. Minimum mortality temperatures were 30.2, 28.6, and 28.3°C in Kuwait for station, unweighted spatial average, and population-weighted temperatures, respectively. In Jordan, the corresponding temperatures were 20.6, 20.9, and 20°C. Heat attributable mortality calculated using population-weighted temperatures increased by 15% compared to the traditionally used station temperatures in Kuwait and Jordan, respectively, and -0.4% and 5% compared to unweighted spatial average temperatures.DISCUSSIONSpatial averaging, whether weighted or unweighted, is a valuable tool for estimating heat-attributable mortality. This is especially true in regions like the Middle East, where granular temperature data are often unavailable and health studies are urgently needed. Population-weighted temperatures may better capture localized exposures in areas with significant population clustering, though their exact added effect on top of unweighted spatial averages remains a tentative conclusion.. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16010.","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"88 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of household air pollution on the gut microbiome and virome of adult women living in Uganda.","authors":"Ching-Ying Huang,Edwin Nuwagira,Michael Tisza,Minsik Kim,Mellon Tayebwa,Jacob Vieira,Nicholas Lam,Eli Wallach,Matthew Wiens,Alexander C Tsai,Linda Valeri,Jose Vallarino,Joseph G Allen,Peggy S Lai","doi":"10.1289/ehp16002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp16002","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDEmerging observational studies suggest air pollution can influence the gut microbiome. However, this association is often highly confounded by factors such as diet and poverty. The gut virome may influence respiratory health independent of the gut microbiome. We recently demonstrated in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03351504) that a clean lighting intervention reduced personal exposure to air pollution among adult women in rural Uganda.OBJECTIVESTo determine the effect of a solar lighting intervention on changes to the gut microbiome and virome and secondarily to determine association between these changes on lung health.METHODSBetween 2018 and 2019, we collected stool samples and assessed respiratory symptoms and spirometry from 80 adult women living in rural Uganda at baseline, 12 and 18 months post-randomization. The intervention group received a solar lighting system after randomization, while the waitlist-controlled group received one at 12 months. Deep metagenomics sequencing of stool was performed and profiled for non-viral and viral taxonomic composition. The primary analysis focused on pre- vs. post-intervention changes due power considerations, adjusting for potential confounding by age, diet, antibiotic use, and season. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using intention-to-treat principles. When comparing pre- vs. post-intervention periods, we used sparse partial least squares models to identify non-viral and viral signatures of reduced air pollution exposure. Mixed effects models were used to evaluate changes in health outcomes as well as associations between microbial signatures of reduced air pollution exposure and health.RESULTSThe average age was 39.2 years. The solar lighting intervention led to larger changes in viral compared to non-viral microbial community structure and differential abundance of bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses. Provision of solar lighting systems was associated with a reduction in the presence of respiratory symptoms from 57.1% to 36.1% (p = 0.002) while there was no impact on lung function. Microbiome and virome signatures had AUCs of 0.74 and 0.76 respectively, in predicting pre- vs. post-intervention stool samples. Microbiome signatures were associated with a lower risk of respiratory symptoms (OR 0.68 (0.49-0.94), p = 0.020).CONCLUSIONAmong adult women living in rural Uganda, both non-viral and viral components of the gut microbial community changed after a clean lighting intervention. Microbiome signatures reflective of lower air pollution exposures were associated with improved respiratory symptoms. These observations suggest that air pollution may influence lung health through the gut-lung axis, warranting further exploration in future intervention studies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16002.","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}