Audrey R. Yang , James M. Bowling , Camille E. Morgan , Jamie Bartram , Georgia L. Kayser
{"title":"Predictors of household drinking water E. coli contamination: Population-based results from rural areas of Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia","authors":"Audrey R. Yang , James M. Bowling , Camille E. Morgan , Jamie Bartram , Georgia L. Kayser","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114507","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In sub-Saharan Africa, rural areas have lower rates of access to safe drinking water compared to urban areas. We investigated predictors of <em>Escherichia coli</em> contamination in drinking water of rural households in Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used a population-based, cluster randomized sampling design to select rural households in each country. Household interviews on water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) practices and demographic characteristics were conducted and water samples from every fifth household were collected and enumerated for <em>E. coli</em>. Negative binomial regression models with survey sampling weights were run to evaluate predictors of <em>E. coli</em> contamination.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 18,747 rural household surveys (2,378–2,804 per country) were conducted and a total of 3,848 water samples (460–660 per country) were collected. Of surveyed rural households, 61–78% of households had high (11–100 <em>E. coli</em> cfu/100 mL) or very high (>100 cfu/100 mL) risk water quality in Ghana, Niger, and Uganda. Statistically significant WaSH predictors associated with lower <em>E. coli</em> incidence rates included using an improved-type primary water source (Mozambique), storing water in a narrow-mouthed container or container with a spigot (Niger), having continuous water supply during the dry season (Ghana), paying for water service (Rwanda), having soap or ash at handwashing points (Mozambique), having an improved-type household sanitation facility (Malawi), and attaining an education level greater than primary school (Niger and Zambia).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights the variability in WaSH access between rural areas of the study countries in association with microbial drinking water quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114507"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142815343","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":"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in paired serum and breastmilk samples among pregnant farmworkers in Thailand","authors":"Stephanie M. Eick , Neha Sehgal , Amina Salamova , Nancy Fiedler , Robert B. Hood , Volha Yakimavets , Nattawadee Promkam , Tippawan Prapamontol , Panrapee Suttiwan , Supattra Sittiwang , Ampica Mangklabruks , Warangkana Naksen , Parinya Panuwet , Dana Boyd Barr","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely detected in pregnant persons and can be transferred to the developing fetus <em>in utero</em>. Breastfeeding may represent an important source of PFAS exposure for infants. However, studies quantifying levels of PFAS in breastmilk samples remain scarce, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We examined breastmilk as a postnatal PFAS exposure source among mother-infant pairs in Thailand. Pregnant farmworkers were enrolled in the Study of Asian Women and their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE), a prospective birth cohort in Northern Thailand, between 2017 and 2019. We quantified levels of eight PFAS in maternal serum samples obtained during the second trimester, as well as in breastmilk samples obtained at 9.5 months and 11.5 months in infancy (N = 46 matched pairs). For each PFAS, we calculated lactational (serum to milk) transfer efficiencies and lactational estimated daily intake. PFOA, PFOS PFHxS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA were detected in >90% of serum samples. PFOS was detected in >60% of breastmilk samples obtained at 9.5 and 11.5 months, while PFNA was detected in >50% of 9.5-month breastmilk samples only. All remaining PFAS were detected in <50% of breastmilk samples. The lactational transfer efficiency for PFOS was 7.03% (SD = 5.78) and 5.83% (SD = 5.21) at 9.5 and 11.5 months, respectively. The lactational estimated daily intake for PFOS was 12.1 ng/kg bodyweight/day (SD = 5.49) and 10 ng/kg bodyweight/day (SD = 6.22) at 9.5 and 11.5 months, respectively. For PFNA, the lactational transfer efficiency and estimated daily intake at 9.5 months was 14.7% (SD = 14.3) and 6.14% (SD = 3.40), respectively. Within one of the first PFAS biomonitoring studies conducted in Thailand, we found that legacy PFAS were widely detected in serum, and some compounds were also detected in breastmilk of farmworkers. This study provides new evidence enhancing our understanding of postnatal exposure to PFAS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114509"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142796542","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}
Chinonso Christian Odebeatu , Darsy Darssan , Joana A. Revez , Charlotte Roscoe , Phu Do , Simon Reid , Nicholas J. Osborne
{"title":"The role of greenspace in vitamin D status: cross-sectional, observational evidence from the UK Biobank","authors":"Chinonso Christian Odebeatu , Darsy Darssan , Joana A. Revez , Charlotte Roscoe , Phu Do , Simon Reid , Nicholas J. Osborne","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Exposure to greenspace is associated with positive health outcomes. This relationship is poorly understood, with limited knowledge on the mechanisms through which greenspace affects health, including biomarkers of greenspace effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used data from the UK Biobank to examine the cross-sectional association between greenspace exposure and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Greenspace was assessed in a 300- and 1000-m buffer of land cover around each participant's home location, while 25(OH)D was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. We used multinomial regression models accounting for individual and area-level covariates. Additionally, we conducted mediation analysis by physical activity and time spent outdoors and performed various stratifications and sensitivity analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 443 810 participants (mean age: 56.51 [SD: 8.1] years, 53.6% females) were included in the study. Compared to the first quartile (within 1000 m buffer of participants’ home locations), we found positive associations between the highest quartile of greenspace and insufficient (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.21) and sufficient 25(OH)D (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.42) categories after adjusting for individual- and areal-level covariates. Other quartiles showed similar but smaller effect estimates. The observed association exhibited similar directionality when a 300 m buffer was used, and was more pronounced among males, and most deprived individuals. Physical activity and time spent outdoors partially explained the relationship between greenspace quartiles and sufficient serum 25(OH)D.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We found positive associations between greenspace quartiles and serum 25(OH)D categories. This has implications for greening policies aimed at reducing vitamin D deficiency through controlled sun exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114502"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142792680","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}
Yvette Christopher-de Vries , Igor Burstyn , Mette Wulf Christensen , Hilde Notø , Kurt Straif , Eero Pukkala , Vivi Schlünssen , Stephen Bertke , Martie van Tongeren , Henrik A. Kolstad , Damien McElvenny , Ioannis Basinas
{"title":"Assessing occupational styrene exposure in the European and US Glass Reinforced Plastics Industry for the period between 1947 and 2020","authors":"Yvette Christopher-de Vries , Igor Burstyn , Mette Wulf Christensen , Hilde Notø , Kurt Straif , Eero Pukkala , Vivi Schlünssen , Stephen Bertke , Martie van Tongeren , Henrik A. Kolstad , Damien McElvenny , Ioannis Basinas","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114494","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114494","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>We aimed to develop a method for assessing occupational styrene exposures for application in epidemiological studies on risks of lymphohematopoietic neoplasms and other malignant and non-malignant diseases in the European and the US glass reinforced plastics industries.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We estimated a linear mixed effects model based on individual airborne personal measurements of styrene from the glass reinforced plastics industry in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, UK, and the US. The most suitable model was chosen based on its predictive power as assessed using cross validation with different combinations of predictors; and by comparing their prediction errors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We created a database containing 21,201 personal and area measurements but a subset of 14,440 personal measurements that spanned a period from 1962 to 2018, were used in the analysis. The selected model included fixed effects for year, sampling duration, measurement reason, product, process and random effects for country and worker. There was strong agreement between the model's predictions and actual exposure values indicating a good fit (Lin's CCC: 0.85 95% CI 0.84, 0.85). There were regional differences in exposure levels, with the UK and the US having comparable exposures that were higher than those in the Nordic countries. Higher exposures were consistent with measurements collected for inspection purposes, the lamination process, and specific products. Styrene exposure levels have decreased annually on average by 7%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our exposure model and the resulting exposure predictions will enable estimation of lifetime occupational exposure for individual workers in the European and the US glass reinforced plastics industry and possibly related health risks among employees. The approach facilitates understanding of the uncertainty in our prediction model and can inform analysis of the bias that application of our exposure assessment approach can produce in epidemiologic analyses of exposure-response associations. Addressing systematic sources of bias can increase confidence in the conclusions of the epidemiologic analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114494"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142792679","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}
Tal Michael , Ido Solt , Sharon Daniel , Amalia Levy , Ori Hochwald , Liron Borenstein-Levin , Ariela Hazan , Matitiahu Berkovitch , Anna Brik , Adi Malkoff Rabin , Moshe Betser , Miki Moskovich , Ayelet Livne , Rimona Keidar , Frieda Schwartsburd , Zeev Weiner , Elkana Kohn
{"title":"The association of prenatal volatile organic compounds exposure and newborn anthropometrics: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Tal Michael , Ido Solt , Sharon Daniel , Amalia Levy , Ori Hochwald , Liron Borenstein-Levin , Ariela Hazan , Matitiahu Berkovitch , Anna Brik , Adi Malkoff Rabin , Moshe Betser , Miki Moskovich , Ayelet Livne , Rimona Keidar , Frieda Schwartsburd , Zeev Weiner , Elkana Kohn","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Several studies have associated prenatal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with adverse health outcomes among newborns. However, little is known about the associations of VOCs at relatively low concentrations with newborn outcomes. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the potential associations between prenatal exposure to VOCs and VOC mixtures with newborn anthropometric measures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this cross-sectional study, 883 mother–term infant pairs who lived in urban areas in Israel and were admitted to the delivery rooms of two major hospitals between 2016 and 2020 were recruited. Associations between VOC metabolites detected in maternal urine samples on the day of delivery with weight, length, and head circumference at birth were estimated using single-exposure linear models and weighted quantile sum (WQS) approach.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Toluene, ethylbenzene/styrene, and xylene metabolites were detected in most samples at levels comparable to OECD populations. In male newborns, higher levels of phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA), a metabolite of ethylbenzene/styrene, were associated with lower birth weight (β = −0.08, 95% CI: 0.14, −0.01; P = 0.03). WQS models suggested PGA as the most prominent contributor to this association.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study suggests that moderate exposure to ethylbenzene/styrene may be associated with reduced birth weight in male newborns. The sex-specific finding requires further research for the potential endocrine-disrupting mechanisms of these compounds. While the effect size was small, these results highlight the need to better understand the associations of frequent VOC exposures in levels similar to those common in OECD countries with fetal and child development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114493"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142782246","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}
Stine Søgaard Normann , Yanying Ma , Helle Raun Andersen , Maria João Valente , Kostja Renko , Selina Arnold , Richard Christian Jensen , Marianne Skovsager Andersen , Anne Marie Vinggaard
{"title":"Pyrethroid exposure biomarker 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) binds to transthyretin and is positively associated with free T3 in pregnant women","authors":"Stine Søgaard Normann , Yanying Ma , Helle Raun Andersen , Maria João Valente , Kostja Renko , Selina Arnold , Richard Christian Jensen , Marianne Skovsager Andersen , Anne Marie Vinggaard","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pyrethroids constitute a large group of insecticides widely used in agriculture, indoor environments, and in vector control. Structurally, pyrethroids resemble thyroid hormones, and have been suggested to be thyroid hormone disruptors based on experimental studies. During pregnancy, even minor disturbances in maternal levels can affect fetal brain development. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether three commonly used pyrethroids and their common metabolite, 3-PBA, were able to trigger thyroid disrupting effects on thyroid hormone production and transport, activation or deactivation of thyroid hormones, recycling of iodine, or on iodide uptake into the thyroid. Furthermore, we investigated associations between urinary 3-PBA concentrations (as biomarker of pyrethroid exposure) and serum concentrations of thyroid hormones in early pregnancy in the large prospective Odense Child Cohort (OCC).</div><div>We found that the generic metabolite, 3-PBA, was capable of binding to transthyretin (TTR) at low concentrations, comparable to those reported in human cord blood. Among pregnant women in OCC, we found urinary 3-PBA concentrations to be positively associated with free triiodothyronine (fT3) serum levels. Displacement of thyroid hormones from TTR by pyrethroid exposure in early pregnancy may disturb the transplacental transport of thyroid hormones to the fetus during a very vulnerable window of development, including neural maturation. We did not find any evidence for thyroid disrupting effects <em>in vitro</em> for the three pyrethroids: Deltamethrin, α-cypermethrin, and etofenprox.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114495"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142745910","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}
Kristin Macey , Rosa Lange , Petra Apel , Devika Poddalgoda , Antonia M. Calafat , Marike Kolossa-Gehring , Judy S. LaKind , Lisa Jo Melnyk , Shoji F. Nakayama , Annie St-Amand , Tyler Pollock
{"title":"Human biomonitoring health-based guidance values: A case study of the HB2GV Dashboard and DEHP","authors":"Kristin Macey , Rosa Lange , Petra Apel , Devika Poddalgoda , Antonia M. Calafat , Marike Kolossa-Gehring , Judy S. LaKind , Lisa Jo Melnyk , Shoji F. Nakayama , Annie St-Amand , Tyler Pollock","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 2022, the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) International Human Biomonitoring (i-HBM) Working Group launched a free, online repository of biomonitoring guidance values referred to as the Human Biomonitoring Health-Based Guidance Value (HB2GV) Dashboard. The goal of the Dashboard is to assist global human biomonitoring data users (e.g., risk assessors, risk managers) and human biomonitoring programs with a readily available compilation of guidance values for the general population. The Dashboard contains approximately 600 HB2GVs for over 150 chemicals or their metabolites. Although there are many different types of HB2GVs, most are Biomonitoring Equivalents (BEs), Human Biomonitoring (HBM-I and HBM-II) values, or Human Biomonitoring Guidance Values (HBM-GVs). For users new to human biomonitoring, understanding how the different types of HB2GVs are derived and how to interpret those values in the context of human biomonitoring data can be difficult. Therefore, there is a need to inform users of the differences among available guidance values and to help users identify the HB2GV that could be most suitable for their purposes. Here, we summarize the derivation of HB2GVs for a case study chemical, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). We selected DEHP as there are 36 unique HB2GVs available from three of the most common types of guidance values (i.e., BE, HBM-I value, HBM-GV). We also compare the available HB2GVs with a focus on the differences among their derivation methods, relative quality and confidence, and interpretation. This case study provides guidance on the use of existing HB2GVs for health-based interpretation of human biomonitoring data that may be applied to other chemicals. As with any other type of guidance or regulatory value (e.g., RfDs, MRLs), thoughtful selection and use are strongly encouraged. Appropriately interpreting HBM data with the aid of guidance values can result in improved decision making which, ultimately, could lead to better protection of public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 114490"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142701337","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}
Thea Grindstad , Siri E. Håberg , Olga Basso , Hans Ivar Hanevik , Ida H. Caspersen , Lise A. Arge , Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen , Mikko Myrskyla , Maria C. Magnus
{"title":"Environmental exposures and fecundability: The Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort study","authors":"Thea Grindstad , Siri E. Håberg , Olga Basso , Hans Ivar Hanevik , Ida H. Caspersen , Lise A. Arge , Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen , Mikko Myrskyla , Maria C. Magnus","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have linked certain environmental exposures to reduced fecundability, influencing exposure recommendations. We continue to encounter numerous environmental exposures in our everyday lives, and further evidence is needed regarding their effects on fecundability. We evaluated associations between various self-reported environmental exposures and fecundability, measured as time to pregnancy, in 64,942 women and 53,219 men participating in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort study (MoBa). Women reported on 17, and men on 19, environmental exposures, including heavy metals, pesticides, paints, and radiation. Fecundability ratios (FR) were estimated using log-binomial regression, comparing likelihood of conception during a given menstrual cycle between exposed versus unexposed participants. About 50 % of women and 75 % of men reported minimum one environmental exposure. Exposure to any pesticide (FR 0.94 [95 % CI 0.91–0.98]), and frequent exposure to photographic chemicals (FR 0.84 [95 % CI: 0.73–0.96]), was associated with decreased fecundability in women. We also observed a tendency of a slightly higher fecundability among women and men exposed to disinfectants (FR 1.02 [95 % CI: 1.00–1.04] and 1.03 [95 % CI: 1.00–1.06], respectively). Our results suggests that exposure to pesticides and photographic chemicals could affect women's fecundability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 114492"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142696258","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":"Association between chronic long-term exposure to airborne dioxins and breast cancer","authors":"Delphine Praud , Amina Amadou , Thomas Coudon , Margaux Duboeuf , Benoît Mercoeur , Elodie Faure , Lény Grassot , Aurélie MN. Danjou , Pietro Salizzoni , Florian Couvidat , Laure Dossus , Gianluca Severi , Francesca Romana Mancini , Béatrice Fervers","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Environmental pollutants, specifically those with endocrine disrupting properties like dioxins, may impact breast cancer development. Current epidemiological studies on the association between exposure to dioxins and the risk of breast cancer show inconsistent results. To address these uncertainties, our objective was to investigate the impact of airborne dioxin exposure on breast cancer risk within the E3N cohort, encompassing 5222 cases identified during the 1990–2011 follow-up and 5222 matched controls. Airborne dioxin exposure was assessed using a Geographic Information System-based metric considering residential proximity to dioxin emitting sources, their technical characteristics, exposure duration and wind direction. Additional analyses were performed using dioxin concentrations estimated by a chemistry transport model, CHIMERE. The results suggest a slightly increased risk between cumulative dioxin exposure at the residential address and overall breast cancer risk (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99–1.07, for a one standard deviation (SD) increment among controls (14.47 log-μg-TEQ/m<sup>2</sup>). The associations remained consistent for sources within 3, 5, and 10 km, and when restricting exposure to dioxin emissions from household waste incinerators. Similar OR estimates (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.97–1.07, for a one SD increment) were obtained using the CHIMERE model. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of an increased risk of breast cancer associated with long-term residential exposure to dioxins and emphasize the importance of efforts to mitigate air pollution exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 114489"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142696151","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}
Daniel A. Nwaubani, Rakshya Baral, Tamunobelema Solomon, Oladele Idris, Samendra P. Sherchan
{"title":"Wastewater surveillance of Candida auris in Baltimore","authors":"Daniel A. Nwaubani, Rakshya Baral, Tamunobelema Solomon, Oladele Idris, Samendra P. Sherchan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Candida auris (C. auris)</em>, an opportunistic fungus causing disease, poses a growing global health concern due to its significant mortality rate, resistance to antifungal treatment, and ability to persist in healthcare settings. Over a span of 47 weeks, untreated wastewater samples were regularly gathered from two wastewater treatment plants (referred to as WWTP-A and WWTP-B) in Baltimore, from July 27, 2022, to June 23, 2023. Throughout the study period, 110 primary influent (PI) samples were collected from both WWTP-A and WWTP-B. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was used to analyze <em>C. auris</em> captured on filters (0.45 μm) from these samples. Positive <em>C. auris</em> detection (11.81%) occurred in the influent samples, with a higher frequency of detection in WWTP-B. Influent wastewater concentrations ranged from 1.2 to 7.9 log10 gene copies per liter (gc/L). Interestingly, seasonal analysis showed that <em>C. auris</em> presence in wastewater was more pronounced during the spring season, indicating a sustained existence of the pathogen as seasons changed. Integration of wastewater surveillance and clinical data reveals temporal correlations in <em>C. auris</em> dynamics. The resulting Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.27 reveals a weak positive correlation between the number of new <em>C. auris</em> cases in Baltimore and the quantity of detected gene copies in wastewater. This study marks the first instance of detecting <em>C. auris</em> in Baltimore's wastewater. The results emphasize that wastewater monitoring could serve as an additional early warning tool for anticipating and managing future outbreaks of <em>C. auris</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 114486"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690098","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}