{"title":"Global Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases from E-Cigarette Exposure: Trend Analysis and 2050 Projections","authors":"Xiaoxing Zhang, Xinmo Ma, Dan Yu, Zengliang Ruan, Jinfang Sun, Ting Zhang","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00636","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00636","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The global rise in e-cigarette use has sparked significantpublichealth concerns, particularly regarding its potential associationwith major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including chronic respiratoryconditions, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders.A systematic evaluation of the NCD burden attributable to e-cigarettesis critically needed to inform policy. Therefore, this study aimsto quantify the burden of major NCDs attributable to e-cigarette usebetween 2010 and 2021 and project future trends through 2050. Thisstudy used deidentified 2010–2021 NCD data from GBD 2021. Weapplied a comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the burdenof NCDs attributable to e-cigarette use and used a generalized additivemodel to project future trends. We found that between 2010 and 2021,global prevalence of current e-cigarette use increased from 0.90%(95% CI, 0.46–1.48) to 8.73% (95% CI, 5.24–12.99). Duringthis period, prevalent cases and DALYs for major NCDs showed consistentupward trends worldwide. Notably, NCD DALYs attributable to e-cigaretteuse increased from 2010 to 2021. Projections indicate that this concerningtrend will continue, with marked increases in e-cigarette-attributableNCD burden anticipated through 2050. This study demonstrates the urgentneed to incorporate electronic cigarette control measures into NCDprevention strategies, particularly targeting adolescent populationswhere usage rates are rising most rapidly.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1469–1479"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.6c00030
Yuzhu Zhang, Qunfang Zhou, Shanjun Song, Qian Liu
{"title":"Gaps between Laboratory Experiments and Real-World Exposure: Toxicological Assessment of Microplastics Is Based on Inadequate Evidence","authors":"Yuzhu Zhang, Qunfang Zhou, Shanjun Song, Qian Liu","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00030","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00030","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Theglobal significance of microplastic (MP) toxicity assessmentis widely acknowledged. Current studies have enhanced our understandingof the mechanisms behind MP toxicity; however, most research mainlyfocused on the toxicity of individual MPs, overlooking the environmentalcomplexity that arises from the diversity of MPs and the combinedeffects of multiple pollutants. Furthermore, a notable gap existsin research concerning low-dose and long-term exposure, which significantlylimits the relevance of current toxicity data for risk assessments.To address these challenges, we suggest a more thorough and logicalapproach to evaluating MP toxicity, including: enhancing the harmonizationof methods for detecting and quantifying MPs in various environmentaland biological matrixes; leveraging AI to simulate real environmentalexposures and to predict the complex interactions between MPs andother environmental factors; and combining insights from environmentalscience, toxicology, materials science, and other relevant fieldsto bridge the gap between laboratory findings and real-world conditions.Collectively, these efforts could transform fragmented data into riskintelligence, delivering actionable governance solutions for globalMP challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1317–1330"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification and Characterization of Key Hazardous Substances in Precocious Puberty Children: An Internal Exposure Assessment in China’s Typical Coastal Cities","authors":"Xu Li, He Zhang, Xueqin Zhao, Feng Ren, Jing Jin, Yihou Peng, Cuicui Guo, Yubing Dai, Rong Cao, Ningbo Geng, Jiping Chen, Lidong Wu","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00693","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00693","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Epidemiological studies indicate associations betweenexposuresto endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with reproductive disorders(e.g., early puberty). However, the scientific evidence remains limited,particularly in studies on clinically diagnosed precocious puberty(PP), and the specific pollutant drivers underlying this conditionare poorly characterized. Identifying the key hazardous substancescontributing to PP thus represents a critical research priority. Thisstudy conducted a population-based case–control study to profilethe internal exposure to organic pollutants. Using a combination ofliquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction,we performed suspect screening and nontargeted analysis with high-resolutionmass spectrometry (HRMS) (liquid chromatography-/GC-Orbitrap HRMS).Nontargeted analysis revealed a broad spectrum of EDCs, includingpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters (PAEs), organophosphateesters (OPEs), phenols, amides, and acrylates. Differential analysisbetween cases and controls further highlighted several pollutant classes,such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols, and chlorinatedparaffins. These pollutants were significantly elevated in the PPgroup. These findings provide new internal exposure data and methodologicalsupport for environmental health research. They also offer a scientificfoundation for targeted source–control strategies to reducechildren’s exposure to harmful pollutants, supporting the broaderpublic health objectives of “Healthy China 2030”.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1480–1489"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-04-20DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00747
Rui Hou, Ye-xuan Zhang, Si-si Chen, Sen Zhang, Li Mao, Hong-juan Chen, Yong Wang, Wei-juan Zheng, Hong-wei Wang, Hong-zhen Lian
{"title":"The Opposite Roles of Benzo[a]pyrene Eco-Corona and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Biocorona in the Cytotoxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics","authors":"Rui Hou, Ye-xuan Zhang, Si-si Chen, Sen Zhang, Li Mao, Hong-juan Chen, Yong Wang, Wei-juan Zheng, Hong-wei Wang, Hong-zhen Lian","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00747","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00747","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Microplastics (MPs) have recently become a worldwideconcern asnewly emerging airborne pollutants, particularly because they canassociate with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Upon inhalation,MPs encounter bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), resulting in theformation of protein coronas that govern their biological identityand behavior. Herein, polystyrene (PS) MPs were selected as modelMPs, and PS@BALF, PS@BaP, and PS@BaP@BALF MPs were simultaneouslyprepared to study the combined effects of eco- and biocorona formationfor the first time. We investigated the compositions of protein coronasformed on PS and PS@BaP MPs in BALF, revealing that BaP adsorptionsignificantly altered protein species and relative abundance. It wasfound that the protein corona enhanced uptake of PS MPs by RAW264.7macrophages through caveolin-mediated endocytosis, with SP-A identifiedas a key mediator. Moreover, cytotoxicity assessments demonstratedthat the protein corona mitigated membrane damage and apoptosis inducedby MPs, whereas BaP adsorption significantly intensified cellulartoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptotic responses, illustratingthe opposing effects of two coronas. Notably, the protein corona contributedto oxidative stress, potentially due to increased cellular uptake.Finally, toxicoproteomics analysis elucidated potential mechanismsof MP-induced toxicity. These findings underscore the importance ofincorporating both pollutant adsorption and biomolecular corona formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1567–1580"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-03-13DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00350
Bevin E. Blake, Vesna A. Chappell, Colette N. Miller, Helen Nguyen, Trina P. Phan, Dhiral P. Phadke, Michele R. Balik-Meisner, Ignacio J. Tripodi, Deepak Mav, Ruchir R. Shah, Suzanne E. Fenton
{"title":"Transcriptomic Perturbations in Placental Gene Expression Following Developmental Exposure to Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) or Hexafluoropropylene Oxide-Dimer Acid (HFPO–DA or GenX) in CD-1 Mice Are Consistent with Placental Insufficiency","authors":"Bevin E. Blake, Vesna A. Chappell, Colette N. Miller, Helen Nguyen, Trina P. Phan, Dhiral P. Phadke, Michele R. Balik-Meisner, Ignacio J. Tripodi, Deepak Mav, Ruchir R. Shah, Suzanne E. Fenton","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00350","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00350","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise agroup ofsynthetic chemicals that are ubiquitous global contaminants. Exposureto certain PFAS has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomesin humans and animal models including preeclampsia and low birth weight.The placenta is critical for a healthy pregnancy, and evidence suggestsadverse pregnancy outcomes associated with exposure to certain PFASmay arise from aberrant placental development and/or function. Toinvestigate the effects of two different PFAS on the placenta, samplescollected from a prior study of pregnant CD-1 mice exposed to perfluorooctanoicacid (PFOA; 1 or 5 mg/kg) or hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid(HFPO–DA, or GenX; 2 or 10 mg/kg) via oral gavage from embryonicday (E) 1.5 to E 11.5 or E 17.5 were used. Placentas were evaluatedfor morphometric, transcriptomic, and pathway-level effects. Althoughrelatively few genes were significantly differentially expressed,multiple significantly enriched pathways were identified and wereinvolved in biological processes related to hemostasis (e.g., coagulationand angiogenesis), the innate immune response (e.g., acute phase responsesignaling), and metabolism, synthesis, and transport of cholesterol,lipids, and bile acids (e.g., FXR/RXR activation and fatty acid metabolism).These pathway-level observations provide a mechanistic basis for observedmorphometric changes, fetal:placental weight changes, and previouslyreported histopathological changes. Overall, these findings confirmproposed Adverse Outcome Pathways consistent with placental insufficiencyand fetal nutrient restriction and PFAS-induced maternal vascularmalperfusion of the placenta.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1417–1432"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-04-20DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00788
Nicole C. Auvil, Mark E. Bier
{"title":"E-Cigarettes Generate Gas Phase Ions","authors":"Nicole C. Auvil, Mark E. Bier","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00788","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00788","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Massspectrometry (MS) evidence shows that electronic cigarettes(e-cigs) can directly emit gas phase ions at levels orders of magnitudegreater than detected from typical ambient air or smoke from the mouthpieceof a traditional tobacco cigarette (t-cig). These ions, generatedupon atomization of the e-liquid into an e-cig aerosol, are presumablyinhaled by e-cig users. Emissions from disposable e-cigs were sampledat atmospheric pressure directly into a mass spectrometer withouta conventional ion source. All four e-cigs produced mass spectra withhigh ion intensities, indicating that their aerosols were ion-richupon exiting the mouthpieces. While multiple ionization pathways maycontribute, atmospheric pressure thermospray ionization (APTSI) appearedto be the dominant pathway. The e-cig self-ionization process providesa direct method of aerosol analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) andeliminates the need for precollection and conventional MS ion sources.This finding has implications for e-cig user exposure that warrantfurther mechanistic and toxicological study.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1556–1566"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00410
Hai-Tao Fang, Ke-Da Zhang, Yao Zhang, Xin-Lei Wang, Wei Pan, Qiao-Guo Tan, Neng Yan, Rong Ji, Ai-Jun Miao
{"title":"Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Nanoplastics in Daphnia magna are Polymer-Type Dependent","authors":"Hai-Tao Fang, Ke-Da Zhang, Yao Zhang, Xin-Lei Wang, Wei Pan, Qiao-Guo Tan, Neng Yan, Rong Ji, Ai-Jun Miao","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00410","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.5c00410","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diverse polymer types of nanoplastics (NPs) pose significantecologicalrisks in aquatic ecosystems. However, current research has largelycentered on polystyrene NPs (PS NPs), which constitute only a minorportion of total NPs in freshwater environments. In this study, weapplied a toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) modeling framework tocomparatively assess the accumulation, elimination, and toxicity offour polymer types of NPs (PS, polyvinyl chloride [PVC], poly(methylmethacrylate) [PMMA], and polycarbonate [PC]; all ∼ 80 nm)in <em>Daphnia magna</em>. Aggregation-induced-emission fluorogenlabeling enabled precise tracking of NPs. Our findings revealed clearpolymer-type-dependent differences: <em>D. magna</em> accumulatedand eliminated PMMA and PC NPs more efficiently than PS and PVC NPs.Toxicity followed the order: PS > PVC > PMMA > PC. Transcriptomicanalyses indicated that NPs disrupt nutrient digestion, oxidativestress responses, and nervous system function. Using TK-TD modeling,we further predicted the time-dependent median lethal concentrations(LC<sub>50</sub>) and no-effect concentrations (NEC) for the NPs.The 48-h LC<sub>50</sub> values for PS, PVC, PMMA, and PC NPs were15.0, 43.1, 66.5, and 389.7 mg L<sup>–1</sup>, respectively,while the corresponding NECs were 4.5, 7.0, 13.5, and 60.0 mg L<sup>–1</sup>. Our study provides a comprehensive ecological riskassessment of NPs from different polymer types, offering quantitativethresholds to inform the development of polymer-specific water qualitycriteria for NPs in aquatic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1408–1416"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environment & HealthPub Date : 2026-07-17Epub Date: 2026-06-04DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.6c00017
Aurora Hirvonen, Laura Pellegrinelli, Sandro Binda, Elena Pariani
{"title":"Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Infectious Diseases: A New Trick for an Old Threat","authors":"Aurora Hirvonen, Laura Pellegrinelli, Sandro Binda, Elena Pariani","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00017","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00017","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an innovativeapproach toepidemiology that offers unique opportunities for public health surveillance.Its potential had been recognized in various applications over theyears, but it was the global scale of the response to the SARS-CoV-2pandemic that truly brought WBE to the fore. In this perspective paperwe explore the untapped potential of WBE as a catalyst for infectiousdisease surveillance and as a One Health epidemiological tool, andthe future horizons and innovative applications of WBE. It is clearthat WBE will address a growing number of pathogens of concern tohuman health, such as avian influenza viruses, mpox, enterovirus D68, <em>Candida auris</em>, and antimicrobial resistance. In addition,it will contribute to epidemic intelligence by monitoring mass gatheringevents, and by predictive modeling and forecasting in combinationwith artificial intelligence to mitigate and prevent infectious diseasesfrom reaching the highest level of clinical complexity. We believethat the maximum performance and complete institutional integrationinto public health of WBE is yet to be realized on a global scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1309–1316"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Size-Resolved PAC Emissions to Age-Specific Respiratory Deposition: Toxicity Potential of Particulate PACs from Residential Coal and Biomass Combustion","authors":"Yu Peng, Feiyan Cao, Yingjun Chen, Hongxing Jiang, Mingliang Fang, Jianming Chen","doi":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00050","DOIUrl":"10.1021/envhealth.6c00050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Residential solid fuel combustion (RSFC) emits particulatepolycyclicaromatic compounds (PACs), but their distribution across the fullparticle size spectrum and their age-specific deposition are stillnot well quantified. Here, we combusted six Chinese coals and sixbiomass fuels at 500 °C (LIT) and 800 °C (HIT). We measuredPM and particle-phase PACs (16 parent PAHs and 9 oxygenated PAHs)in 14 size bins ranging from 0.016 to 10 μm. Higher ignitiontemperature shifted PAC composition toward more toxic species, withbiomass showing a stronger shift than coal. Submicron particles (0.10–0.60μm) carried most of the PAC burden and toxicity, accountingfor >60% of total PACs and dominating the equivalent toxicity.Ultrafineparticles (UFPs, <0.10 μm) contributed only ∼3% ofPM mass but carried up to ∼20% of total PACs. Their mass-specifictoxicity (equivalent toxicity per unit PM mass) was 2–10 timeshigher than that of submicron particles. Respiratory deposition modelingshowed clear age dependence: under the same exposure scenario, childrenhad ∼40% higher total respiratory deposition of particulatePACs than adults. About 70% of UFP-bound PACs deposited in the pulmonaryregion, with their contribution to pulmonary deposition being higherin children than in adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":29795,"journal":{"name":"Environment & Health","volume":"4 7","pages":"1490–1501"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}