{"title":"Microbial Buffer? The Human Lung Microbiome and Immune Responses to Diesel Exhaust.","authors":"Silke Schmidt","doi":"10.1289/EHP15252","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP15252","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Having a more diverse lung microbiome was associated better lung capacity and lower measures of airway inflammation among a small group of volunteers exposed to diesel exhaust-even in those with COPD.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"74002"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285853/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141792187","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}
Paige A Bommarito, Danielle R Stevens, Barrett M Welch, Maria Ospina, Antonia M Calafat, John D Meeker, David E Cantonwine, Thomas F McElrath, Kelly K Ferguson
{"title":"Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardants and Plasticizers in Relation to Fetal Growth in the LIFECODES Fetal Growth Study.","authors":"Paige A Bommarito, Danielle R Stevens, Barrett M Welch, Maria Ospina, Antonia M Calafat, John D Meeker, David E Cantonwine, Thomas F McElrath, Kelly K Ferguson","doi":"10.1289/EHP14647","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP14647","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Organophosphate esters (OPEs), used ubiquitously as flame retardants and plasticizers in consumer products, are suspected of having developmental toxicity.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Our study aimed to estimate associations between prenatal exposure to OPEs and fetal growth, including both ultrasound (head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight) and delivery [birth weight <i>z</i>-score, small-for-gestational age (SGA), and large-for-gestational age (LGA)] measures of growth.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In the LIFECODES Fetal Growth Study (2008-2018), an enriched case-cohort of 900 babies born at the small and large ends of the growth spectrum, we quantified OPE biomarkers in three urine samples per pregnant participant and abstracted ultrasound and delivery measures of fetal growth from medical records. We estimated associations between pregnancy-averaged log-transformed OPE biomarkers and repeated ultrasound measures of fetal growth using linear mixed-effects models, and delivery measures of fetal growth using linear (birth weight) and logistic (SGA and LGA) regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most OPE biomarkers were positively associated with at least one ultrasound measure of fetal growth, but associations with delivery measures were largely null. For example, an interquartile range (IQR; <math><mrow><mn>1.31</mn><mtext> ng</mtext><mo>/</mo><mi>mL</mi></mrow></math>) increase in bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate concentration was associated with larger <i>z</i>-scores in head circumference [mean difference (difference): 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.17], abdominal circumference (difference: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.18), femur length (difference: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.19), and estimated fetal weight (difference: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.22) but not birth weight (difference: 0.04; 95% CI: <math><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>0.08</mn></mrow></math>, 0.17). At delivery, an IQR (<math><mrow><mn>1.00</mn><mtext> ng</mtext><mo>/</mo><mi>mL</mi></mrow></math>) increase in diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) concentration was associated with an SGA birth (odds ratio: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.94).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In a large prospective cohort, gestational OPE exposures were associated with larger fetal size during pregnancy, but associations at delivery were null. DPHP concentrations were associated with heightened risk of an SGA birth. These findings suggest that OPE exposure may affect fetal development. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14647.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"77001"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11225970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141537710","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":"An Inflammatory Question? Prenatal Air Pollution, Childhood Allergic Rhinitis, and Healthy Fats.","authors":"Silke Schmidt","doi":"10.1289/EHP15219","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP15219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A study of more than 650 toddlers found that two polyunsaturated fatty acids were associated with fewer cases of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in children who had been exposed prenatally to higher levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub>.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"74001"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11249087/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141619687","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}
Kate Porterfield, Paromita Hore, Stephen G Whittaker, Katie M Fellows, Anshu Mohllajee, Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon, Berna Watson, Isabel Grant, Richard Fuller
{"title":"A Snapshot of Lead in Consumer Products Across Four US Jurisdictions.","authors":"Kate Porterfield, Paromita Hore, Stephen G Whittaker, Katie M Fellows, Anshu Mohllajee, Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon, Berna Watson, Isabel Grant, Richard Fuller","doi":"10.1289/EHP14336","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP14336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Following the removal of lead from gasoline, paint and pipes were thought to be the main sources of lead exposure in the United States. However, consumer products, such as certain spices, ceramic and metal cookware, traditional health remedies, and cultural powders, are increasingly recognized as important sources of lead exposure across the United States.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This paper reviews data from four US jurisdictions that conduct in-home investigations for children with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) to examine the prevalence of lead exposures associated with consumer products, in comparison with housing-related sources.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Authors reviewed investigation data (2010-2021) provided by California, Oregon, New York City, and King County, Washington, and compared the extent of lead exposures associated with housing-related vs. consumer products-related sources.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The proportion of investigations identifying consumer products-related sources of lead exposure varied by jurisdiction (range: 15%-38%). A review of US CDC and US FDA alerts and New York City data indicates that these types of lead-containing products are often sourced internationally, with many hand carried into the United States during travel. Based on surveillance data, we believe that US immigrant and refugee communities are at an increased risk for lead exposures associated with these products. To engage health authorities, there is a need for evidentiary data. We recommend implementing a national product surveillance database systematically tracking data on consumer products tested by childhood lead poisoning prevention programs<b>.</b> The data repository should be centralized and accessible to all global stakeholders, including researchers and governmental and nongovernmental agencies, who can use these data to inform investigations. Effectively identifying and addressing the availability of lead-containing consumer products at their source can focus resources on primary prevention, reducing lead exposures for users abroad and in the United States. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14336.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"75002"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11251510/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626368","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}
Marcia Pescador Jimenez, Maude Wagner, Francine Laden, Jaime E Hart, Francine Grodstein, Peter James
{"title":"Midlife Residential Greenness and Late-Life Cognitive Decline among Nurses' Health Study Participants.","authors":"Marcia Pescador Jimenez, Maude Wagner, Francine Laden, Jaime E Hart, Francine Grodstein, Peter James","doi":"10.1289/EHP13588","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP13588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Midlife residential exposure to greenspace may slow cognitive decline by increasing opportunities for physical activity and social connection, restoring attention, or reducing stress or adverse environmental exposures. However, prospective studies on the association between greenness and cognitive decline are sparse.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We investigated the prospective association between greenness at midlife and cognitive decline later in life. We explored effect measure modification by apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ɛ4 carrier status, neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES), and rural/urban regions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Nurses' Health Study (<math><mrow><mi>N</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>121,700</mn></mrow></math>) started in 1976 with married female nurses, 30-55 years of age, located across 11 US states. We examined 16,962 nurses who were enrolled in a substudy starting in 1995-2001 (mean <math><mrow><mtext>age</mtext><mo>=</mo><mn>74</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>y</mi></mrow></math>) through 2008. We assessed average summer residential greenness in a <math><mrow><mn>270</mn><mtext>-m</mtext></mrow></math> buffer using Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data from 1986-1994. Starting in 1995-2001, participants underwent up to four repeated measures of five cognitive tests. A global composite score was calculated as the average of all <math><mi>z</mi></math>-scores for each task to evaluate overall cognition. We used linear mixed models to evaluate the association of average greenness exposure at midlife with cognitive decline in later life, adjusted for age, education, NSES, and depression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In adjusted models, higher midlife greenness exposure [per interquartile range (IQR): 0.18] was associated with a 0.004-unit (95% CI: 0.001, 0.006) slower annual rate of cognitive decline. For comparison, we found that 1 year of age is related to a <math><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>0.006</mn></mrow></math> mean annual difference for global cognition in the full sample; thus, higher midlife greenness appeared equivalent to slowing cognitive decline by <math><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>8</mn></mrow></math> months. In analysis exploring gene-environment interactions, we found that among APOE-ɛ4 carriers, an IQR increase in greenness was associated with a rate of decline that was slower by 0.01 units of global composite score (95% CI: 0.0004, 0.02). This association was attenuated among APOE-ɛ4 noncarriers. We did not observe associations between greenness and baseline or annual rate of cognitive decline of verbal memory.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Higher midlife greenness exposure is associated with slower cognitive decline later in life. Future research is necessary to confirm these findings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13588.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"77003"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11253812/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626372","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":"Invited Perspective: Blue Skies and Alzheimer's Disease.","authors":"Clas Linnman","doi":"10.1289/EHP15478","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP15478","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"71303"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11259244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141727012","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":"Combined Exposures and Mixtures Research: An Enduring NIEHS Priority.","authors":"Danielle J Carlin, Cynthia V Rider","doi":"10.1289/EHP14340","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP14340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) continues to prioritize research to better understand the health effects resulting from exposure to mixtures of chemical and nonchemical stressors. Mixtures research activities over the last decade were informed by expert input during the development and deliberations of the 2011 NIEHS Workshop \"Advancing Research on Mixtures: New Perspectives and Approaches for Predicting Adverse Human Health Effects.\" NIEHS mixtures research efforts since then have focused on key themes including <i>a</i>) prioritizing mixtures for study, <i>b</i>) translating mixtures data from <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies, <i>c</i>) developing cross-disciplinary collaborations, <i>d</i>) informing component-based and whole-mixture assessment approaches, <i>e</i>) developing sufficient similarity methods to compare across complex mixtures, <i>f</i>) using systems-based approaches to evaluate mixtures, and <i>g</i>) focusing on management and integration of mixtures-related data.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to describe NIEHS driven research on mixtures and combined exposures over the last decade and present areas for future attention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Intramural and extramural mixtures research projects have incorporated a diverse array of chemicals (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, botanicals, personal care products, wildfire emissions) and nonchemical stressors (e.g., socioeconomic factors, social adversity) and have focused on many diseases (e.g., breast cancer, atherosclerosis, immune disruption). We have made significant progress in certain areas, such as developing statistical methods for evaluating multiple chemical associations in epidemiology and building translational mixtures projects that include both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> models.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Moving forward, additional work is needed to improve mixtures data integration, elucidate interactions between chemical and nonchemical stressors, and resolve the geospatial and temporal nature of mixture exposures. Continued mixtures research will be critical to informing cumulative impact assessments and addressing complex challenges, such as environmental justice and climate change. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14340.</p>","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"75001"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11225971/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141537709","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}
Michael Leung, Marc G Weisskopf, Anna M Modest, Michele R Hacker, Hari S Iyer, Jaime E Hart, Yaguang Wei, Joel Schwartz, Brent A Coull, Francine Laden, Stefania Papatheodorou
{"title":"<ArticleTitle xmlns:ns0=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\">Using Parametric g-Computation for Time-to-Event Data and Distributed Lag Models to Identify Critical Exposure Windows for Preterm Birth: An Illustrative Example Using <ns0:math><ns0:mrow><ns0:mi>P</ns0:mi><ns0:mrow><ns0:msub><ns0:mrow><ns0:mi>M</ns0:mi></ns0:mrow><ns0:mrow><ns0:mrow><ns0:mn>2.5</ns0:mn></ns0:mrow></ns0:mrow></ns0:msub></ns0:mrow></ns0:mrow></ns0:math> in a Retrospective Birth Cohort Based in Eastern Massachusetts (2011-2016).","authors":"Michael Leung, Marc G Weisskopf, Anna M Modest, Michele R Hacker, Hari S Iyer, Jaime E Hart, Yaguang Wei, Joel Schwartz, Brent A Coull, Francine Laden, Stefania Papatheodorou","doi":"10.1289/EHP13891","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP13891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parametric g-computation is an attractive analytic framework to study the health effects of air pollution. Yet, the ability to explore biologically relevant exposure windows within this framework is underdeveloped.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We outline a novel framework for how to incorporate complex lag-responses using distributed lag models (DLMs) into parametric g-computation analyses for survival data. We call this approach \"g-survival-DLM\" and illustrate its use examining the association between <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth (PTB).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We applied the g-survival-DLM approach to estimate the hypothetical static intervention of reducing average <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> in each gestational week by 20% on the risk of PTB among 9,403 deliveries from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 2011-2016. Daily <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> was taken from a <math><mrow><mn>1</mn><mtext>-km</mtext></mrow></math> grid model and assigned to address at birth. Models were adjusted for sociodemographics, time trends, nitrogen dioxide, and temperature. To facilitate implementation, we provide a detailed description of the procedure and accompanying R syntax.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 762 (8.1%) PTBs in this cohort. The gestational week-specific median <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> concentration was relatively stable across pregnancy at <math><mrow><mo>∼</mo><mn>7</mn><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>μ</mi><mi>g</mi><mo>/</mo><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></mrow></math>. We found that our hypothetical intervention strategy changed the cumulative risk of PTB at week 36 (i.e., the end of the preterm period) by <math><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>0.009</mn></mrow></math> (95% confidence interval: <math><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn>0.034</mn></mrow></math>, 0.007) in comparison with the scenario had we not intervened, which translates to about 86 fewer PTBs in this cohort. We also observed that the critical exposure window appeared to be weeks 5-20.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>We demonstrate that our g-survival-DLM approach produces easier-to-interpret, policy-relevant estimates (due to the g-computation); prevents immortal time bias (due to treating PTB as a time-to-event outcome); and allows for the exploration of critical exposure windows (due to the DLMs). In our illustrative example, we found that reducing fine particulate matter [particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter <math><mrow><mo>≤</mo><mn>2.5</mn><mspac","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"77002"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11243950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141589948","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":"Invited Perspective: Why Aren't We Doing More to Ensure Consumer Products Are Free of Lead?","authors":"Adrienne S Ettinger","doi":"10.1289/EHP15322","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP15322","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"71301"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11251511/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626370","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}
Olivia K Puckett, Christine Fennema-Notestine, Donald J Hagler, Meredith N Braskie, Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Caleb E Finch, Joel D Kaufman, Andrew J Petkus, Chandra A Reynolds, Lauren E Salminen, Paul M Thompson, Xinhui Wang, William S Kremen, Carol E Franz, Jeremy A Elman
{"title":"The Association between Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and MRI-Assessed Locus Coeruleus Integrity in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA).","authors":"Olivia K Puckett, Christine Fennema-Notestine, Donald J Hagler, Meredith N Braskie, Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Caleb E Finch, Joel D Kaufman, Andrew J Petkus, Chandra A Reynolds, Lauren E Salminen, Paul M Thompson, Xinhui Wang, William S Kremen, Carol E Franz, Jeremy A Elman","doi":"10.1289/EHP14344","DOIUrl":"10.1289/EHP14344","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Increased exposure to ambient air pollution, especially fine particulate matter <math><mrow><mo>≤</mo><mn>2.5</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math> (<math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math>) is associated with poorer brain health and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. The locus coeruleus (LC), located in the brainstem, is one of the earliest regions affected by tau pathology seen in AD. Its diffuse projections throughout the brain include afferents to olfactory areas that are hypothesized conduits of cerebral particle deposition. Additionally, extensive contact of the LC with the cerebrovascular system may present an additional route of exposure to environmental toxicants.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Our aim was to investigate if exposure to <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> was associated with LC integrity in a nationwide sample of men in early old age, potentially representing one pathway through which air pollution can contribute to increased risk for AD dementia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined the relationship between <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> and <i>in vivo</i> magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) estimates of LC structural integrity indexed by contrast to noise ratio (<math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mtext>LC</mtext></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mtext>CNR</mtext></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math>) in 381 men [<math><mrow><mtext>mean age</mtext><mo>=</mo><mn>67.3</mn></mrow></math>; standard deviation <math><mrow><mo>(</mo><mtext>SD</mtext><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>2.6</mn></mrow></math>] from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA). Exposure to <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> was taken as a 3-year average over the most recent period for which data were available (average of 5.6 years prior to the MRI scan). We focused on <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mtext>LC</mtext></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mtext>CNR</mtext></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> in the rostral-middle portion of LC due to its stronger associations with aging and AD than the caudal LC. Associations between <math><mrow><mrow><msub><mrow><mrow><mi>PM</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mrow><mn>2.5</mn></mrow></mrow></msub></mrow></mrow></math> exposures and LC integrity were tested using linear mixed effects models adjusted for age, scanner, education, household income, and interval between exposure and MRI. A co-twin control analysis was also performed to investigate whether associations remained after controlling for genetic confounding and rearing environment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mu","PeriodicalId":11862,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Perspectives","volume":"132 7","pages":"77006"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11259243/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141727013","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}