{"title":"Gestational phthalate exposure and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children with increased likelihood of autism spectrum disorder","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Experimental studies have shown associations between gestational phthalate exposure and behavioral problems among offspring; however, epidemiological evidence is still mixed. This study aims to investigate whether gestational phthalate exposure is associated with behavioral problems in preschool-aged children.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants include 178 mother-child pairs from MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies – Learning Early Signs), a cohort with high familial likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We quantified 14 phthalate metabolites in multiple maternal urine samples collected during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Preschool behavior problems were assessed using the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), a standardized instrument for evaluating behavior problems of children aged 1.5–5 years. To examine associations of CBCL scores with both individual phthalate biomarker concentrations and their mixture, we used negative binomial regression and weighted quantile sum regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, maternal phthalate biomarker concentrations were not associated with child behavior problems. Monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) concentrations were inversely associated with child anxious/depressed symptoms and somatic complaints. Mono-hydroxy-isobutyl phthalate (MHiBP) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) were also inversely associated with somatic complaints. When assessing trimester-specific associations, more behavior problems were associated with the 2nd trimester biomarker concentrations: mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) and monocarboxyisononyl phthalate (MCNP) were positively associated with somatic complaints. All associations became non-significant after false discovery rate correction. No association between a mixture of phthalates and CBCL scores was found.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study observed no clear evidence of gestational phthalate exposure on child behavior problems. However, our findings based on the biomonitoring assessment of multiple samples per participant could improve our understanding of gestational phthalate exposure in association with behavior problems in preschool-aged children.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585423","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":"Time-trends of blood lead levels from 2020 to 2023 in pregnant and breastfeeding women from Adjara, Georgia—A birth registry-based study","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In response to substantial lead exposure, the autonomous republic of Adjara in Georgia initiated complementary blood lead level (BLL) testing for pregnant women as part of their antenatal care services in 2020.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To study the background BLLs in pregnant and breastfeeding women in Adjara and explore the time-trends of BLLs from September 2020 to July 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used data on BLLs during pregnancy or postpartum from the lead screening program in Adjara, combined with data from the Georgian Birth Registry, totaling 9,510 women. To study the temporal changes in BLLs, we used independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In 2020, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) BLL was 8.8 (5.4) μg/dL, declining annually by 1.0–2.2 μg/dL to reach 3.6 (2.5) μg/dL in 2023. The prevalence of pregnant women with BLLs ≥3.5, ≥5.0, and ≥10.0 μg/dL also decreased from 2020 to 2023. Specifically, 21.2% of women in their first trimester had BLLs ≥10 μg/dL in 2020, compared with 2.3% in 2023. Similarly, 73.5% had BLLs ≥5.0 μg/dL in 2020, which declined to 20.4% in 2023. Lastly, 89.1% had BLLs ≥3.5 μg/dL in 2020, decreasing to 38.6% in 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>In 2023, nearly 40% of women in their first trimester had BLLs of ≥3.5 μg/dL, a level considered the reference value in the United States (US) and corresponding to the 97.5th percentile among US children. From 2020 to 2023, the mean BLL in pregnant women decreased by 59%, accompanied by a considerable decline in the prevalence of women with BLLs ≥3.5, ≥5.0, and ≥10.0 μg/dL. Despite the encouraging downward trend in BLLs throughout the study period, our data indicate that a considerable number of fetuses continue to be exposed to harmful levels of lead and that lead exposure remains a significant public health challenge in Adjara.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142555636","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":"Comparison of urinary 3-hydroxybenzo(a)Pyrene (3-OHBaP) and trans-anti-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)Pyrene (TetraolBaP) as biomarkers of exposure to carcinogenic BaP","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Biomonitoring of exposure to carcinogenic Benzo(a)Pyrene is generally based on measurement of urinary 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (3-OHBaP), but its analysis is complex and only reflects the BaP detoxification pathway. TetraolBaP, another BaP metabolite resulting from the metabolic activation pathway, is now available but has not yet been studied in occupational settings or compared with 3-OHBaP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Biomonitoring was carried out on 118 subjects working in the aluminium smelting industry. 3 urine samples were collected from each subject at the beginning and end of the working week. Pyrene metabolite (1-hydroxypyrene) and the two BaP biomarkers (3-OHBaP and TetraolBaP) were analysed using LC-Fluorescence and GC-NCI-MS-MS.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The workers studied were found to be highly exposed, with 1-OHP and 3-OHBaP frequently exceeding maximum recommended values in occupational settings. Maximum concentrations were measured at end of shift+16h for all biomarkers, highlighting dermal exposure and/or temporary storage. Correlations were strong between 1-OHP and 3-OHBaP (r = 0.68–0.75) as well as between 3-OHBaP and TetraolBaP (r = 0.67–0.78), and moderate between 1-OHP and TetraolBaP (r = 0.59–0.76). While TetraolBaP levels were higher at low PAH exposures, TetraolBaP increased much more slowly at high exposures, indicating progressive saturation of the bioactivation pathway. The [3-OHBaP]/[TetraolBaP] ratio was found to be significantly lower in chronically exposed workers. Urinary TetraolBaP levels corresponding to 1-OHP (2.5 μg/L or 1 μmol/mol creatinine) or 3-OHBaP (0.4 nmol/mol creatinine) guidance values were found to range between 0.84 and 0.95 nmol/mol creatinine.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TetraolBaP, resulting from carcinogenic BaP's metabolic activation pathway, was shown to be a diagnostically specific and sensitive biomarker for determining subjects' toxic internal exposure to PAHs in different contexts (occupational settings, environment) and assessing health risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142515357","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":"Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos of French children from the Elfe cohort","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos was widely used in the European Union before its ban in 2020 and was associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, within the concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, <em>in utero</em> exposure to chlorpyrifos can lead to neurodevelopmental effects in developing children.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this study was to estimate fetal exposure to chlorpyrifos using biomonitoring data measured in Elfe pregnant women and a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) approach and compare exposure to toxicological reference values.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A pregnancy-PBPK model was developed based on an existing adult chlorpyrifos model and a new toxicological reference value was proposed for neurodevelopmental effects. The pregnant women exposure was estimated based on dialkylphosphate (DAP) levels in urine assuming constant exposure to chlorpyrifos and compared to both the existing toxicological reference value and the new proposed draft toxicological reference value. Fetal internal concentrations in target tissues were then predicted using the developed pregnancy-PBPK model. Urinary concentrations of the chlorpyrifos-specific metabolite (TCPy) were also predicted for comparison with other biomonitoring data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The median daily exposure to chlorpyrifos for the French pregnant women from the Elfe cohort was estimated at 6.3x10<sup>−4</sup> μg/kg body weight/day. The predicted urinary excretion of TCPy, the chlorpyrifos-specific metabolite, is in the same range as observed in other European cohorts (mean: 2.13 μg/L). Predicted brain chlorpyrifos levels were similar in pregnant women and their fetus and were 10-fold higher than the predicted blood chlorpyrifos levels. It was estimated that 6% and 20% of the pregnant women population had been exposed to levels exceeding the general population and draft toxicological reference values, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos was estimated for the French population based on data from the Elfe cohort. Internal chlorpyrifos concentrations in target tissues (brain and blood) were predicted for fetuses at the end of the pregnancy. Under a conservative assumption, a small percentage of the population was identified as being exposed to levels exceeding the toxicological reference values.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142446306","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":"Depressive symptoms modify the association between noise and adiposity biomarkers: Evidence from a population study of Czech adults","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Environmental noise exposure is associated with adiposity. However, less is known about the individual vulnerability to environmental noise in abnormal adiposity development, particularly in relation to mental health. This study investigated the association between environmental noise exposure and four adiposity biomarkers and tested the moderation effect of depressive symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional population-based sample of 2031 participants aged 25–64 years (54.70% women) was drawn from the Kardiovize study in 2013. Global combined (road, railway, and airport) L<sub>den</sub> (day-evening-night) noise exposures were obtained from the geographical prediction modelling for the 2nd report of Strategic noise mapping in the Czech Republic (2012). Four adiposity biomarkers (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and visceral fat area) were assessed. Depressive symptoms were measured by PHQ-9. Linear regression was used to estimate the separate effects of quartiles of noise exposure and depressive symptoms on adiposity biomarkers and to examine the interaction between noise exposure and depressive symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The average noise exposure was 53.79 dB, ranging from 42.50 dB to 66.97 dB. All biomarkers were significantly elevated in the highest noise exposure quartile (>56 dB), compared to the lowest quartile (<51 dB) (p < 0.05). The association between noise and adiposity biomarkers was modified by presence of depressive symptoms; the increase in all adiposity biomarkers in the highest quartile of noise was significantly larger among subjects with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (p < 0.005).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study confirmed the association between environmental noise exposure and several adiposity measures. The association was stronger in the presence of depressive symptoms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142441713","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":"Current exposure to environmental pollutants in the general adult population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A cross-sectional study","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Environmental pollution is a serious public health problem because of its adverse effects on both human health and biodiversity. In Western countries, many human biomonitoring (HBM) studies are conducted to assess population exposure to pollutants. In contrast, the number of HBM studies in Africa is very low.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To measure contamination by arsenic, lead, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4′-DDE) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the adult population of Kinshasa and to identify the susceptible population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In the present work, we measured the contamination by arsenic in urine and lead in blood and by 4,4′-DDE and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in serum in samples collected from 151 volunteers recruited in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The PCBs 180, -153 and −138 were detected in most samples with median concentrations of 0.04, 0.05 and 0.04 ng/ml, respectively. The median concentration of 4,4′-DDE was 0.83 ng/ml and 12.7% of our population showed contamination above the threshold of 3.675 ng/ml, which is associated with a significantly higher risk of cancer. Arsenic concentrations were also high (median: 48.1 μg/L in urine). Finally, exposure to lead is problematic: the median blood concentration was 54.9 μg/L, which is above the thresholds proposed by the WHO and the US CDC (50 μg/L and 35 μg/L respectively) to initiate clinical intervention, and 12.6% of the population had a lead level above 100 μg/L, which is associated with several health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our results highlight the need for further HBM studies in Africa and should encourage the authorities of the DRC to implement laws and regulations to reduce pollution and population exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142434128","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":"Sewer transport conditions and their role in the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and pepper mild mottle virus from source to collection","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the decay patterns of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) within wastewaters spiked with stool from infected patients expressing COVID-19 symptoms, and hence explores the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV targets in wastewaters from source to collection of the sample. Stool samples from infected patients were used as endogenous viral material to more accurately mirror real-world decay processes compared to more traditionally used lab-propagated spike-ins. As such, this study includes data on early decay stages of endogenous viral targets in wastewaters that are typically overlooked when performing decay studies on wastewaters harvested from wastewater treatment plants that contain already-degraded endogenous material. The two distinct sewer transport conditions of dynamic suspended sewer transport and bed and near-bed sewer transport were simulated in this study at temperatures of 4 °C, 12 °C and 20 °C to elucidate decay under these two dominant transport conditions within wastewater infrastructure. The dynamic suspended sewer transport was simulated over 35 h, representing typical flow conditions, whereas bed and near-bed transport extended to 60 days to reflect the prolonged settling of solids in sewer systems during reduced flow periods. In dynamic suspended sewer transport, no decay was observed for SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, or total RNA over the 35-h period, and temperature ranging from 4 °C to 20 °C had no noticeable effect. Conversely, experiments simulating bed and near-bed transport conditions revealed significant decreases in SARS-CoV-2 and total RNA concentrations by day 2, and PMMoV concentrations by day 3. Only PMMoV exhibited a clear trend of increasing decay constant with higher temperatures, suggesting that while temperature influences decay dynamics, its impact may be less significant than previously assumed, particularly for endogenous RNA that is bound to dissolved organic matter in wastewater. First order decay models were inadequate for accurately fitting decay curves of SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, and total RNA in bed and near-bed transport conditions. F-tests confirmed the superior fit of the two-phase decay model compared to first order decay models across temperatures of 4 °C–20 °C. Finally, and most importantly, total RNA normalization emerged as an appropriate approach for correcting the time decay of SARS-CoV-2 exposed to bed and near-bed transport conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering decay from the point of entry in the sewers, sewer transport conditions, and normalization strategies when assessing and modelling the impact of viral decay rates in wastewater systems. This study also emphasizes the need for ongoing research into the diverse and multifaceted factors that influence these decay rates, which is crucial for accurate public health monitoring and response strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142396299","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":"Association of specific PM2.5 chemical constituents and ozone exposure with pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment in central China","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The associations of air pollutants exposure with assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancy outcomes are mixed, and the effects of specific components of fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) are not well understood. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study to explore the association of PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and O<sub>3</sub> exposure with three ART outcomes among women undergoing ART treatment. The exposure window was segmented into five periods corresponding to the cycle of ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval procedure. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was applied to explore the relationships between PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents, O<sub>3,</sub> Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) exposure and three ART outcomes. The combined effect of PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents was evaluated by the quantile g (qg)-computation. We also explored the modifying effect of different covariate. Elevated exposure level of PM<sub>2.5</sub> (OR = 0.915, 95% CI: 0.859, 0.974) and its constituents (BC: 0.905, 95% CI: 0.840, 0.975; OM: 0.910, 95% CI: 0.848, 0.976; NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>: 0.909, 95% CI: 0.850, 0.972, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>: 0.905, 95% CI: 0.846, 0.968, and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>: 0.902, 95% CI: 0.842, 0.966) exposure throughout the year before oocyte retrieval (period 1) was correlated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) of live birth with statistical significance. Similarly, for each interquartile range (IQR) increase in O<sub>3</sub> exposure during periods 2 (85 days prior to oocyte retrieval), 3 (30 days prior to oocyte retrieval), 4 (oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer) and 5 (embryo transfer to hCG test) was significantly related to a decreased OR of live birth. Especially, participants who underwent fresh embryo transfer cycles and received two cleavage-stage embryo transfer, and were younger than 30 years old, showed a higher susceptibility to particulate matter. Findings from this study suggest that PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and O<sub>3</sub> exposure may have adverse effects on the ART outcomes, highlighting the importance of identifying critical exposure periods for various air pollutants and the need for meticulous management of particulate matter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142396298","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":"Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and subsequent risk of lower respiratory tract infections in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pregnancy represents a critical window of vulnerability to the harmful effects of air pollution on health. However, long-term consequences such as risk of having lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are less explored. This systematic review aims to synthesize previous research on prenatal exposure to ambient (outdoor) air pollution and LRTIs in childhood and adolescence.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically searched Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, and Global Health up to May 17, 2024. We included peer-reviewed publications of studies which investigated the association between prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and LRTIs up to the age of 19. We excluded conference abstracts, study protocols, review articles, and grey literature. Screening and data extraction was conducted by two reviewers independently. We used the Office of Health Assessment and Translation tool to assess risk of bias and conducted a narrative synthesis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The search yielded 6056 records, of which 16 publications describing 12 research studies were eligible for the synthesis. All studies were conducted in high- or upper-middle-income countries in Europe or Asia. Half (6) of the studies focused on LRTIs occurring within the first three years of life, and the others also included LRTIs in older children (up to age 14). Air pollutants investigated included nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>: diameter ≤2.5 μm and PM<sub>10</sub>: diameter ≤10 μm), carbon monoxide, ozone, and benzene. Findings on a potential association between prenatal ambient air pollution exposure and LRTIs were inconclusive, without a clear and consistent direction. There was some suggestion of a positive association with prenatal PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure. The small number of studies identified, their poor geographical representation, and their methodological limitations including concerns for risk of bias preclude more definitive conclusions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The available published evidence is insufficient to establish whether prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution increases risk of LRTIs in children and adolescents. With many populations exposed to high levels of air pollution, there is an urgent need for research in more diverse settings, more transparent reporting of methods, and exploring how, when, and for whom prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution leads to the greatest health risks.</div></div><div><h3>PROSPERO registration number</h3><div>CRD42023407689.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142378725","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":"Exposure to submicron particulate matter and long-term survival: Cross-cohort analysis of 3 Chinese national surveys","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cohort evidence linking increased mortality with airborne fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>, particulate matter [PM] with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) exposure was extensively validated worldwide. Nevertheless, long-term survival associated with submicron particulate matter (PM<sub>1</sub>, PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤1 μm) exposure remained largely unstudied, particularly in highly exposed populations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed a population-based investigation involving 86844 adults aged 16+ years from 3 national dynamic cohorts spanning from 2005 to 2018. Residential annual exposure to PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> was assigned for each follow-up year using satellite-derived spatiotemporal estimates at a 1-km<sup>2</sup> resolution. The concentration of PM<sub>1-2.5</sub> (PM with aerodynamic diameter between 1 and 2.5 μm) was calculated by subtracting PM<sub>1</sub> from PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Time-independent Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to assess the associations of all-cause mortality with long-term exposure to size-specific particles. To investigate the effect of PM<sub>1</sub> on PM<sub>2.5</sub>-mortality associations, we categorized participants into low, medium, and high groups based on PM<sub>1</sub>/PM<sub>2.5</sub> ratio and examined the risk of PM<sub>2.5</sub>-associated mortality in each stratum. Effect modifications were checked via subgroup analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 18722 deaths occurred during 497069.2 person-years of follow-up (median 5.7 years). Participants were exposed to an average annual concentration of 31.8 μg/m³ (range: 7.6–66.8 μg/m³) for PM<sub>1</sub>, 56.3 μg/m³ (range: 19.8–127.2 μg/m³) for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and 24.5 μg/m³ (range: 7.3–60.3 μg/m³) for PM<sub>1-2.5</sub>. PM<sub>1</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>1-2.5</sub> were consistently associated with elevated mortality risks, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.029 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.013–1.046), 1.014 (95% CI: 1.005–1.023), and 1.019 (95% CI: 1.001–1.038) for each 10-μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in exposure, respectively. Compared with low (HR = 0.986, 95% CI: 0.967–1.004) and medium (HR = 1.015, 95% CI: 1.002–1.029) PM<sub>1</sub>/PM<sub>2.5</sub> ratio groups, PM<sub>2.5</sub>-related risk of mortality was more pronounced in high PM<sub>1</sub>/PM<sub>2.5</sub> ratio stratum (HR = 1.041, 95% CI: 1.019–1.064). Greater risks of mortality associated with size-specific particles were found among the elderly (>80 years old), southeastern participants, and those living in warmer areas.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrated that long-term exposure to PM<sub>1</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>1-2.5</sub> was associated with heightened mortality, and PM<sub>1</sub> may play a predominant role in PM<sub>2.5</sub>-induced risk. Our results emphasized the population health implications of establishing amb","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142383065","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}