International journal of hygiene and environmental health最新文献

{"title":"Serum concentrations of persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals in U.S. military personnel: A comparison by race/ethnicity and sex","authors":"Karl C. Alcover ,&nbsp;Jordan McAdam ,&nbsp;Hristina Denic-Roberts ,&nbsp;Celia Byrne ,&nbsp;Andreas Sjodin ,&nbsp;Mark Davis ,&nbsp;Richard Jones ,&nbsp;Yawei Zhang ,&nbsp;Jennifer A. Rusiecki","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives/background</h3><div>We evaluated patterns of serum concentrations of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in a U.S. military sample by race/ethnicity (R/E) and sex.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twenty-three EDCs were measured in stored serum samples obtained between 1995 and 2010 for 708 service members from the Department of Defense Serum Repository. For each EDC, geometric means (GM) were estimated using log-transformed concentrations in a linear regression model, for eight combined R/E/sex groups: non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), non-Hispanic Asian (NHA), and Hispanic men and women, adjusted for age and service branch and stratified by age tertile (“younger age”: 17–23, “middle age”: 24–30, and “older age”: 31–52 years). Comparisons were made between our military sample and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004 data for NHW and NHB groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Within our military sample, the highest PCB concentrations were among older age NHB men and women and highest OCP concentrations among older age NHB women and NHA men. PBDE concentrations were generally highest in middle age Hispanic women and NHA men, though based on small sample size. Generally, NHB men and women had higher concentrations of EDCs in both the military and NHANES.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We found patterns of elevated EDC concentrations among NHB, NHA, and Hispanic groups in the military sample and for NHB men and women in NHANES. There were no consistent patterns of higher or lower EDCs comparing the military to NHANES. Future studies of EDCs and health outcomes should stratify by R/E/sex to account for potential disparities in EDC concentrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143438069","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":"DNA methylation of genes that mediate autophagosome formation contributes to iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis: A population-based study conducted at regions with different iodine levels in China","authors":"Bingxuan Ren ,&nbsp;Yun Chen ,&nbsp;Jinjin Liu ,&nbsp;Zheng Zhou ,&nbsp;Yanhong He ,&nbsp;Siyuan Wan ,&nbsp;Yao Chen ,&nbsp;Xianhao Wu ,&nbsp;Mengxue Du ,&nbsp;Haiyan Gao ,&nbsp;Lixiang Liu ,&nbsp;Hongmei Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) results from a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental factors. This study aims to examine the methylation patterns of genes that mediate autophagosome formation (MAF) between AIT patients and controls from areas with different water iodine levels.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to explore the interactions of autophagy-related genes (ARGs). The MCODE plugin in Cytoscape software identified two functional epigenetic modules. We included 176 AIT cases from regions with varying water iodine concentrations and matched controls at a 1:1 ratio. The MethylTarget™ assay was employed to assess DNA methylation changes in six MAF-related genes and analyzed the association between iodine levels and epigenetic modifications.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Significant methylation differences were observed in 11 targets with 75 CpG sites on MAF-related genes between AIT patients and controls (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Methylation levels were generally lower in AIT patients. A negative correlation was found between the methylation status of PRKAB1_36 and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) (<em>r</em>_<em>s</em> = −0.208, <em>P</em> = 0.006). In iodine-fortification areas (IFA), AIT patients exhibited significantly higher mRNA expression levels of six MAF-related genes in whole blood compared to controls (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Environmental water iodine concentration influences the DNA methylation status of MAF-related genes. Hypomethylated targets and sites in these genes were identified, and the relative mRNA expression levels of these genes were significantly increased in AIT cases from regions with a history of prolonged iodine deficiency followed by iodine supplementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143428117","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":"Serum concentrations of PFAS across Australian States and Territories","authors":"Sandra Nilsson ,&nbsp;Nathaniel Kucharski ,&nbsp;Julia Orr ,&nbsp;Jennifer Bräunig ,&nbsp;Kristie Thompson ,&nbsp;Olivier Jolliet ,&nbsp;Daman Langguth ,&nbsp;Carl Kennedy ,&nbsp;Peter Hobson ,&nbsp;Kevin V. Thomas ,&nbsp;Jochen F. Mueller ,&nbsp;Leisa-Maree Toms","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114542","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114542","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Australia's long running human biomonitoring (HBM) program has provided information on per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) serum concentrations in the general population since 2002. The program is based on pooling and analysis of surplus, de-identified, pathology specimens predominantly sourced from Australia's north-eastern state Queensland (QLD). To date, potential nationwide spatial differences across Australia have not been assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>The aim of this study was to assess spatial variation of background PFAS serum concentrations across all Australian States and Territories, and to assess if the long running HBM program, representing samples biased towards QLD, can be considered a national reference.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Surplus pathology serum samples were collected and stratified by States/Territories based on postcode. Pools representing three age groups (5–15, 31–45 and ≥ 60 years), stratified by sex were created. Up to two pools for each age/sex strata, consisting of up to 100 individuals, were created for Australian States and major Territories. Samples were analysed for PFAS using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussion</h3><div>There was a high degree of consistency in the PFAS serum concentration for a given age/sex among pools from the different States/Territories, particularly for perfluoro carboxylic acids. This suggests that PFAS serum concentrations and associated exposure is relatively consistent across Australia. PFAS concentrations measured in QLD pools were not statistically different from the national average, suggesting that the current Australian HBM program can be considered as a national reference of background PFAS serum concentrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114542"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420661","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 solvents and fetal outcomes in a Canadian pregnancy cohort","authors":"Jillian Ashley-Martin ,&nbsp;Leonora Marro ,&nbsp;Muzeyyen Kabasakal ,&nbsp;Susan H. MacPherson ,&nbsp;Michael M. Borghese ,&nbsp;Eric Gaudreau ,&nbsp;Gilles Provencher ,&nbsp;Tye E. Arbuckle ,&nbsp;Mandy Fisher","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The solvents N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) are established developmental toxicants; however, epidemiological data are lacking. We quantified associations between urinary NEP and NMP metabolites concentrations and pregnancy outcomes in participants enrolled in the pan-Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study (n = 1865) (2008–2011). Using discrete time survival analysis and logistic regression, we calculated the odds of preterm birth (PTB) and fetal loss. We used multivariable linear regression to quantify associations between metabolites and birth weight z-scores. Participants with quantifiable concentrations of the NEP metabolite 5-hydroxy-N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNEP) had a 41% increased odds of PTB (95% CI: 0.92–2.17). An interquartile range increase in concentrations of the NMP metabolite 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNMP) was associated with a reduced odds of fetal loss (OR = 0.51 95% CI: 0.30,0.89). All other effect estimates were centered around the null value. We report widespread, low-level exposure to NMP metabolites yet no evidence of adverse effects on fetal health. Our analysis of fetal loss was most likely subject to selection bias resulting from conditioning on pregnancies with available first trimester urine samples Our finding that 5-HNEP exposure may increase risk of preterm birth provides impetus for further biomonitoring and etiological research in a pregnant population with contemporary NEP exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114541"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420725","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":"Filling gaps in population estimates of phthalate exposure globally: A systematic review and meta-analysis of international biomonitoring data","authors":"Jonathan M. Acevedo ,&nbsp;Linda G. Kahn ,&nbsp;Kristyn A. Pierce ,&nbsp;Vittorio Albergamo ,&nbsp;Anna Carrasco ,&nbsp;Robbie S.J. Manuel ,&nbsp;Marissa Singer Rosenberg ,&nbsp;Leonardo Trasande","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many phthalates have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals because they alter hormone functions throughout the lifespan. Nationally representative biomonitoring data are available from the United States, Canada, and Europe, but data elsewhere are sparse, making extrapolations of related disease and disability burdens difficult. We therefore examined trends in urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in non-occupationally exposed populations in countries other than the United States, Canada, and Europe, where representative data are already available at the country level.</div><div>We systematically reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2023 and analyzed changes in urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations across time using mixed-effects meta-regression models with and without a quadratic term for time. We controlled for region, age, and pregnancy status, and identified heterogeneity using Cochran's Q-statistic and I² index.</div><div>Our final analysis consisted of 216 studies. Non-pregnant and youth populations exhibited nearly 2.0-fold or greater difference in concentration compared to pregnant and adult populations. Phthalates with significant regional differences had 10-fold higher concentrations in the Middle East and South Asia than in other regions. Our meta-regressions identified an exponential increase in DBP exposure through MnBP concentration internationally (beta: 0.65 ng/mL/year²) and in Eastern and Pacific Asia (EPA) (beta: 0.78 ng/mL/year²). Most DEHP and DnOP metabolites significantly declined internationally and in EPA, while MEP concentration declined by 10.62 ng/mL in Latin America and 8.98 ng/mL in Africa over time.</div><div>Our findings fill gaps in phthalate exposure data and set the stage for further analysis of the attributable disease burden and cost at regional and international levels, especially in low- and middle-income countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403690","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":"Effects of energy retrofits on the indoor microbiota in Northern European apartments","authors":"Minna Kempe ,&nbsp;Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy ,&nbsp;Pauli Tuoresmäki ,&nbsp;Martin Täubel","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While the urgent need for energy saving is triggering energy retrofit measures in buildings, there are still large gaps in our understanding of how these measures may impact indoor environmental quality, including particle, chemical, and microbial exposure, and ultimately human health. Here, we explore the effects of energy retrofits on the indoor microbiota characteristics of 193 apartments in 40 apartment buildings in two Northern European countries, Finland and Lithuania. Amplicon sequencing was used to characterise fungal and bacterial microbiota compositions in airborne, settled dust samples collected from apartments before and after energy retrofits, mostly targeting upgrades in insulation, heating and/or ventilation systems, and windows. Pairwise pre versus post testing of the most abundant fungal and bacterial taxa and diversity metrics, (generalized) linear mixed modelling ((G)LMM), and Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes (ANCOM) differential abundance testing were used to explore the effects of retrofits on indoor microbiota while accounting for confounding factors. The results indicated significant, country-dependent changes in the relative abundances of individual bacterial and fungal taxa, and a smaller proportion of human-sourced bacteria in Finnish buildings after compared to before retrofits. As in previous studies, factors such as outdoor temperature and type of ventilation were found to influence both bacterial and fungal composition indoors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dedicated, multi-country study on impacts of energy retrofits on indoor microbiota. Our novel findings offer a foundation for future research into this topic, including studies on the potential health relevance of energy retrofit associated indoor microbiome changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143388401","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":"“Is my tap water safe to drink?”: Examining the quality of a national sample of United States drinking water reports","authors":"Kayla Iuliano ,&nbsp;Mary Fox ,&nbsp;John H. Munroe ,&nbsp;Keeve Nachman ,&nbsp;Thomas Burke ,&nbsp;Bill Spannhake","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Environmental Protection Agency requires public water systems create an annual “Consumer Confidence Report” (CCR) for their customers. CCRs are meant to communicate water quality results, and are claimed to be the “centerpiece” of consumer right-to-know under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, previous research indicates that CCRs are not understandable to members of the American public.</div><div>This work analyzes a nationally-representative sample of 60 CCRs, collected from water systems of different sizes, and from communities experiencing various levels of social vulnerability. The content and communication quality of CCRs were both evaluated, and the results were analyzed to determine whether CCR quality varies based on water system size or by the demographic served by the utility.</div><div>Poorer-quality CCRs were more likely to originate from smaller systems, or those serving vulnerable communities – the same systems that are more likely to experience drinking water violations. Additional legal requirements for CCR content and language could have a marked impact in improving the reports to meet the needs of the American public, by giving underserved communities an important document to use for advocating for themselves – which could promote greater environmental justice in public drinking water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114536"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351298","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":"Associations of PFAS and pesticides with lung function changes from adolescence to young adulthood in the ESPINA study","authors":"Kayleigh Kornher ,&nbsp;Carlos F. Gould ,&nbsp;Jomel Meeko Manzano ,&nbsp;Katie Baines ,&nbsp;Georgia Kayser ,&nbsp;Xin Tu ,&nbsp;Jose Suarez-Torres ,&nbsp;Danilo Martinez ,&nbsp;Lisa A. Peterson ,&nbsp;Carin A. Huset ,&nbsp;Dana B. Barr ,&nbsp;Jose R. Suarez-Lopez","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114526","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114526","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pesticides are widespread environmental contaminants linked to adverse health outcomes; yet, their impact on lung function—individually and as mixtures—remains poorly understood. This study analyzed data from 381 adolescents in a longitudinal cohort in Ecuador, measuring serum levels of three PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS], and perfluorononanoic acid [PFNA]) and urinary levels of three pesticides (glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4-D], and ethylene thiourea [ETU]). Spirometric lung function was assessed in 2016 and 2022. We evaluated associations between individual chemical levels and lung measures in log-log models estimated via ordinary least squares regression. We used quantile g-computation to assess the association of the mixture of PFAS and pesticides with lung function outcomes. After accounting for multiple hypothesis testing, and in a range of socioeconomic, geographic variables, and tobacco exposure, no statistically significant associations were observed for individual or combined exposures with lung function outcomes, after correcting for multiple hypothesis testing. Slight, non-significant increases in FEV1/FVC were noted for PFOA, glyphosate, and ETU levels between 2016 and 2022. Our findings suggest that PFAS and pesticides, either individually or in combination, may not have substantial effects on adolescent lung function in this mid-to-high-altitude agricultural population. Further research is needed to assess these relationships in larger cohorts and over longer exposure periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114526"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143131780","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":"The effect of particulate matter 2.5 on seasonal influenza transmission in 1,330 counties, China: A Bayesian spatial analysis based on Köppen Geiger climate zones classifications","authors":"Xiaohan Si ,&nbsp;Liping Wang ,&nbsp;Kerrie Mengersen ,&nbsp;Chuchu Ye ,&nbsp;Wenbiao Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114527","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous research has linked seasonal influenza transmission with particulate matters (PM_2.5). However, the effect of PM_2.5 on seasonal influenza transmission varied by region. This study aims explore how PM_2.5 influenced seasonal influenza transmission in the elderly across 1330 counties in two Köppen Geiger climate zones in China, incorporating the socio-economic factors to enhance climate-driven early warning systems (EWS) for influenza. Data included weekly 2015–2019 influenza cases in those aged &gt;65 from China's national influenza surveillance system for 1330 counties in two Köppen Geiger climate zones: Temperate, Hot Summer with Dry Winter (Cwa) and No Dry Season (Cfa). PM_2.5 data from 2015 to 2019 were sourced from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Services. Additional data on floating population, population density and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita were collected from pertinent departments. A Bayesian spatial autoregressive model assessed the association of PM_2.5 and influenza transmission after adjustment of socio-economic factors. Our research results showed PM_2.5 (per 1 μg/m³ increase) was linked to increased influenza transmission in the Cwa zone during winter season (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.023, 95% Credible Interval (CI):1.008–1.040) but not in the Cfa winter (RR = 1.003, 95% CI: 0.992–1.015). Floating population significantly enhanced transmission in both zones (highest RR = 1.362, 95% CI:1.181–1.583), while GDP per capita growth was associated with reduced transmission risk (highest RR = 0.619, 95% CI: 0.445–0.861). The study identifies PM_2.5 as a significant factor influencing influenza transmission in the elderly, with effects varying by climate zone, suggesting the need to incorporate PM_2.5 and socio-economic factors into seasonal influenza EWS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 114527"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143076400","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 ambient temperature and couple fecundity: Insights from a large-scale cohort study in Yunnan, China","authors":"Bingxue Wu ,&nbsp;Tao Wang ,&nbsp;Yan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuyan Li ,&nbsp;Xing Chen ,&nbsp;Zhengyuan Xie ,&nbsp;Cai Kong ,&nbsp;Yuzhi Lan ,&nbsp;Hanfeng Ye ,&nbsp;Xiangjing Song ,&nbsp;Zigao Zhao ,&nbsp;Yan Che","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114525","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114525","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Direct evidence linking ambient temperature to human fecundity is sparse. We aimed to evaluate the potential impact of ambient temperature on time to pregnancy (TTP) and identify the optimal temperature range for initiating conception attempts.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Our analysis included 576 927 couples from the Chinese National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) in Yunnan Province, with a one-year follow-up post-enrollment. Each female partner's cycle-specific average temperatures (T_mean) at the couple residences were aggregated and summarized by daily concentrations with a resolution of 0.1° × 0.1°. We used discrete-time Cox regression nested with distributed lag non-linear models to estimate the fecundity odds ratio (FOR) for T_mean concerning one-, two-, or three-cycle preceding pregnancy attempts.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 576 927 couples (mean [SD] age: female partner, 27.6 [5.5] years; male partner, 30.1 [5.8] years), 193 710 couples conceived within 12 cycles, among which 52.1% were pregnant within 3 TTPs and 78.9% were pregnant within 6 TTPs. The cumulative pregnancy rate in 12 menstrual cycles was 38.87%. An inverted U-shaped exposure-response relationship between TTP and T_mean was identified for the cycles preceding the pregnancy attempt. The optimal temperature interval (TI) for conception attempts was determined to be 7.9 °C to 14.5 °C, correlating with a 0.3% (FOR: 1.003, 95%CI: 0.987–1.020) to 3.8% (FOR:1.038, 95%CI: 1.031–1.047) increase in fecundity, compared to the median T_mean of 15.9 °C. Temperatures below or above this interval were linked to a significant reduction in fecundity, ranging from 1.2% (FOR: 0.988, 95%CI: 0.977–1.000) to 6.8% (FOR: 0.932, 95%CI: 0.910–0.953) for the lower TI (&lt;7.9 °C), 2.3% (FOR: 0.977, 95%CI: 0.970–0.984) to 6.6% (FOR: 0.934, 95%CI: 0.921–0.948) for the higher TI (14.5 °C–24.6 °C), respectively, compared to the optimal TI. These findings were robust after stratifying by age and BMI of female or male partners.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Exposure to temperatures within the 7.9 °C to 14.5 °C, one to three menstrual cycles preceding pregnancy attempts, was associated with enhanced fecundity and a reduced TTP, suggesting that the optimal ambient temperature could be pivotal for conception success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 114525"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143061766","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}