Gaowei Duan , Hong Hong , Yuanhang Liu , He Xiao , Yuan Ding , Muhammad Amjad , Peixuan Wu , Li Zhong , Xu Wang , Xin Meng , Haiyan Zhang
{"title":"Perfluorooctanoic acid impairs myogenic differentiation and muscle function via activation of the hippo-YAP pathway in mice and C2C12 myoblasts","authors":"Gaowei Duan , Hong Hong , Yuanhang Liu , He Xiao , Yuan Ding , Muhammad Amjad , Peixuan Wu , Li Zhong , Xu Wang , Xin Meng , Haiyan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a widely distributed environmental pollutant, exerts toxic effects on multiple human organs and tissues. However, its impact on skeletal muscle function and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we first observed that PFOA exposure caused muscle dysfunction in juvenile mice, characterized by reduced grip strength and impaired motor coordination; to explore the underlying mechanism, we further conducted in vitro experiments using C2C12 myoblasts. Long-term treatment with 100 μacid (PFOA), a widely distributed environmental pollutant, exerts toxic effects on multiple human organs and tissues. However, its impact on myotubes. Transcriptome sequencing revealed a significant decrease in the expression of key myogenic regulatory factors (e.g., myosin heavy chain MYHC and myogenin) in PFOA-treated cells, findings that were confirmed by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Mechanistically, PFOA treatment activated the Hippo signaling pathway, as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of the YAP protein. Treatment with taurine, an indirect activator of YAP, significantly restored the expression of myogenic genes and effectively promoted myotube formation. In summary, this study demonstrates that PFOA impairs muscle function by activating the Hippo signaling pathway and suppressing the transcription of key myogenic factors, providing new insights into PFOA-induced myotoxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791656","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}
Changda Yu , Zeeshan Mohammed , Hong-Zhi Zhang , Dao-Sen Wang , Yun-Ting Zhang , Guang-Hui Dong , Mei-Po Kwan , Li-Zi Lin
{"title":"Eye-level greenspace exposure and residents’ diabetes/glucose homeostasis status in Northeast China: A gender perspective","authors":"Changda Yu , Zeeshan Mohammed , Hong-Zhi Zhang , Dao-Sen Wang , Yun-Ting Zhang , Guang-Hui Dong , Mei-Po Kwan , Li-Zi Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2026.100170","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2026.100170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease. Its interaction with environmental factors, especially greenspace, has garnered substantial scholarly attention. However, prevailing research has yielded disparate outcomes. The objective of our research was to elucidate the association between individual eye-level greenspace exposure and diabetes risk, employing data acquired from the 33 Communities Chinese Health Study, comprising 15,477 participants in Liaoning Province, China. Greenspace exposure was measured using the Greenness Visibility Index (GVI) from street view images, while the markers of blood glucose were ascertained via a systematic oral glucose tolerance test. Our findings indicate that eye-level greenspace exposure retains a substantial inverse association with the risk of diabetes, fasting and 2-hour glucose levels. Nevertheless, no significant associations were identified between eye-level greenspace exposure and either fasting or 2-hour insulin levels when gender was not considered. However, upon taking gender into consideration, a positive association was manifested between greenspace exposure and fasting insulin levels in male subjects, while a reverse association was exhibited in females. Regarding markers of Homeostasis Model Assessment, eye-level greenspace exposure had a significant negative relationship with the HOMA-IR index, which implies a conceivable connection with diminished levels of insulin resistance. Concurrently, a positive association was discerned between eye-level greenspace exposure and the HOMA-β index, hinting at a possible relationship with augmented beta-cell functionality. Nonetheless, these associations varied across different greenspace components and gender groups. This study provides novel evidence in revealing a negative association between individual eye-level greenspace exposure in residential environments and the prevalence of diabetes. It also sheds light on the intricate relationships between eye-level greenspace exposure and diverse markers of blood glucose homeostasis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037756","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}
Yongke He , Yixian Ren , Hangqian Zhang , Runping Liang , Kangyong Wu , Zhenming Zheng , Zhou Li , Wanmin Liang , Liping Zhou , Jiu Chen , Guanhao Guo , Shihua Wu , Xueji Yang , Weijie Ling , Jiaming Guo , Yanmei Ruan , Wenchong Tan , Bin Wang , Zhi Wang
{"title":"NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition attenuates liver injury and dysfunction induced by noise exposure in rats","authors":"Yongke He , Yixian Ren , Hangqian Zhang , Runping Liang , Kangyong Wu , Zhenming Zheng , Zhou Li , Wanmin Liang , Liping Zhou , Jiu Chen , Guanhao Guo , Shihua Wu , Xueji Yang , Weijie Ling , Jiaming Guo , Yanmei Ruan , Wenchong Tan , Bin Wang , Zhi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Noise, a significant environmental stressor, has been demonstrated to induce dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the precise molecular mechanisms driving liver dysfunction in noise-induced dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism remain incompletely elucidated. Recent studies have underscored the pivotal role of the NLRP3 (Nod-like receptor protein 3) inflammasome in the context of liver pathology. To this end, a noise-exposure rat model was established (100 dB, 4 h/day for 30 days) to investigate whether the NLRP3 inflammasome mediates noise-caused hepatic injury and dysfunction. Exposure to noise resulted in significant alterations to liver architecture and dysfunction in rats. Furthermore, we found that noise triggered assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, effects that were suppressed by the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. Such inhibition thereby attenuated liver damage and improved hepatic function. In conclusion, our findings indicate that noise-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation promotes hepatic inflammation, contributing to liver injury and dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. These results provide new mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of noise-induced liver damage and dysfunction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927214","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}
Ramya S. Nayaka , Jennifer L. Chan , Michael S. Bloom , Hemant Purohit
{"title":"Analyzing novel crowdsourced data sources and their role in understanding health outcomes of climate change-driven disasters","authors":"Ramya S. Nayaka , Jennifer L. Chan , Michael S. Bloom , Hemant Purohit","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2026.100167","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2026.100167","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters that pose significant mental and physical health risks to the public during and after the event. Simultaneously, the dependency on social media to provide real-time information on how a disaster unfolds has also grown. We performed a scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley framework to identify how crowdsourced data from social media platforms from the year 2010 to 2024 can be used to understand health outcomes during climate change-driven natural disasters in the United States. We reviewed thirty-four peer-reviewed articles using an interdisciplinary multi-method approach of human-machine collaboration. Two key research questions guided the review: (1) How is social media used to inform early warning systems for public health risks during climate-related disasters? and (2) Do social media indicators reflect disparities in health outcomes across different populations and geographic regions in such disaster events? The scoping review revealed four dominant thematic areas where the value of social media has been demonstrated: Health Concerns, Affected Populations, Disaster Impact & Response, and Environmental Factors. Social media platforms have frequently supported early warning efforts and detection of health risks, offering real-time insights into public perceptions and changing situations on the ground. Our findings highlight the value of social media as a complementary tool for real-time surveillance of disaster situations and public health response. The insights from social media can support timely action by public health officials, emergency services, nonprofits, and volunteers to plan and act efficiently during disaster response and relief. Future research should focus on extracting granular health-related information from social media data to enhance disaster response effectiveness and support for affected communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100167"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037755","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}
Wenzhuo Deng , Fei Li , Xiyao Chen , Jinyuan Guo , Chang Gao , Junrui Zhao , Tianwei Sun , Jingdong Zhang
{"title":"Unraveling co-contamination characteristics of heavy metals in soil-crop system and collaborative management of their health risk across China","authors":"Wenzhuo Deng , Fei Li , Xiyao Chen , Jinyuan Guo , Chang Gao , Junrui Zhao , Tianwei Sun , Jingdong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil and crops directly affects the food safety and public health. A comprehensive national-scale assessment from an integrated soil-crop perspective in China remains limited. To address this gap, this study conducted a systematic review using an optimized bibliometric approach enhanced with uncertainty control and case mining. 1157 publications reporting on eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in agricultural soils, grains, and vegetables across China were analyzed. Key findings include: (1) Cadmium (Cd) was the most widespread pollutant in soils, whereas mercury (Hg) showed highly concentrated hotspots. (2) A discrepancy was observed between soil pollution levels and the corresponding crop contamination indicating that the relationship between them is not fully synergistic. (3) Health risk assessment revealed that the total carcinogenic risk from soil exposure (10⁻⁶ - 10⁻⁵) was significantly lower than that from ingestion of contaminated grains and vegetables (10⁻⁴ - 10⁻³). Arsenic (As) and Cd were identified as the primary risk contributors in most provinces. (4) Geographically, integrated high-risk areas were classified as Class I (Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan) and Class II (Hunan). Risk sources in Yunnan and Guizhou were attributed to both geogenic and anthropogenic activities, with exposure dominated by vegetable and grain ingestion, respectively. In contrast, risks in Guangdong and Hunan were primarily linked to human activities (industrial, mining, and agricultural), with comparable exposure from both crops. Based on these findings, tailored risk mitigation strategies are proposed for the identified high-risk provinces, considering their distinct exposure pathways and contamination sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159072","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}
Wei Jia , Aimin Chen , Kimberly Yolton , Yingying Xu , He Lili , Roman A. Jandarov
{"title":"Assessing the longitudinal impact of environmental chemical mixtures on children’s neurodevelopment: A Bayesian approach","authors":"Wei Jia , Aimin Chen , Kimberly Yolton , Yingying Xu , He Lili , Roman A. Jandarov","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This manuscript presents a novel Bayesian varying coefficient quantile regression (BVCQR) model designed to assess the longitudinal effects of chemical exposure mixtures on children’s neurodevelopment. Recognizing the complexity and high-dimensionality of environmental exposures, the proposed approach addresses critical gaps in existing research by offering a method that can manage the sparsity of data and provide interpretable results. The proposed BVCQR model estimates the effects of mixtures on neurodevelopmental outcomes at specific ages, leveraging a horseshoe prior for sparsity and utilizing a Bayesian method for uncertainty quantification. Our simulations demonstrate the model’s robustness and effectiveness in handling high-dimensional data, offering significant improvements over traditional models. The model’s application to the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study further illustrates its utility in identifying significant chemical exposures affecting children’s growth and development. The findings underscore the potential of BVCQR in environmental health research, providing a sophisticated tool for analyzing the longitudinal impact of complex chemical mixtures, with implications for future studies aimed at understanding and mitigating environmental risks to child health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050127","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}
Zhongzhi Xu , Xin Xu , Shao Lin , Bing Xia , Shanyu Zhou , Shu Wang , Yawei Guo , Lulu Lin , Huiyuan Zhong , Lerong Liu , Yongshun Huang , Wangjian Zhang
{"title":"Pre-existing pulmonary function abnormality exacerbates the impact of occupational dust exposure on incident hypertension: Evidence from a large occupational cohort","authors":"Zhongzhi Xu , Xin Xu , Shao Lin , Bing Xia , Shanyu Zhou , Shu Wang , Yawei Guo , Lulu Lin , Huiyuan Zhong , Lerong Liu , Yongshun Huang , Wangjian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to examine the independent and joint effects of occupational dust exposure (ODE) and pulmonary function abnormalities (PFA) on the incidence of hypertension, and to assess whether pre-existing PFA modifies the ODE–hypertension relationship. A prospective cohort design was used, drawing data from the Guangdong Key Occupational Diseases Surveillance Project (2021–2023), which included 144,627 workers from 21 cities in Guangdong, China. ODE and PFA were assessed using standardized protocols, and hypertension was defined as elevated blood pressure or use of antihypertensive medication. Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic splines, and interaction analyses were performed to evaluate associations, and Mendelian randomization (MR) using UK Biobank data was conducted to assess causality. At baseline, 33,766 participants (23.3 %) had PFA, and during follow-up, 14,996 (10.4 %) developed hypertension. Both ODE (HR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.08–1.16) and PFA (HR = 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.14–1.23) were independently associated with increased hypertension risk (<em>P</em> < 0.001), with a higher combined effect (HR = 1.39, 95 % CI: 1.31–1.47). A positive trend was observed between dust exposure duration and hypertension risk (HR = 1.11 for ≥6 years vs. <2 years; <em>P</em> for trend = 0.017). Respirable dust (≤10 μm) and inorganic dust were significantly associated with increased hypertension risk (HR = 1.16 and 1.13). MR analysis supported a causal relationship between ODE, PFA, and hypertension. These findings indicate that pre-existing PFA amplifies the hypertensive effects of ODE, highlighting the importance of respiratory health interventions to reduce hypertension risk among dust-exposed workers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100157"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528404","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}
Xin Wang , Ziqin Cao , Kelly M. Bakulski , Henry L. Paulson
{"title":"Exposure to cadmium and cerebrovascular mortality in the United States","authors":"Xin Wang , Ziqin Cao , Kelly M. Bakulski , Henry L. Paulson","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cerebrovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in the U.S., and emerging evidence suggests that environmental toxicants such as cadmium may contribute to cerebrovascular risk. This study investigates the association between cadmium exposure and cerebrovascular mortality in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed data from adults aged ≥40 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2016 cycles, with mortality follow-up through 2019. Blood cadmium was measured in 23,455 participants, and urinary cadmium was measured in 8929 participants. Cerebrovascular deaths were identified through linkage with the National Death Index. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between cadmium concentrations and cerebrovascular mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Over a mean follow-up of 10.2 years, 247 cerebrovascular deaths were observed. Each interquartile range increase in blood cadmium (0.40 µg/L) was associated with a 23 % higher risk of cerebrovascular mortality (HR = 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.04–1.46). Urinary cadmium was also associated with higher cerebrovascular mortality, although marginally significant (HR = 1.36 per doubling, 95 % CI: 0.99–1.87). Associations appeared stronger among former and current smokers, though interaction terms were not statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Cadmium exposure is associated with increased cerebrovascular mortality in the U.S. population. These findings support cadmium as a modifiable environmental risk factor and underscore the need for public health interventions to reduce exposure through tobacco control, dietary regulations, and environmental policy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100156"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268132","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}
Na Li , Ting Fan Leung , Linwei Tian , Huachang Hong , Wen-Jing Deng
{"title":"Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) of children (1-12y) in Guangxi, China: Predictors evaluation by machine learning","authors":"Na Li , Ting Fan Leung , Linwei Tian , Huachang Hong , Wen-Jing Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely employed as flame-retardants and plasticizers, have been linked to adverse health outcomes in children. This study evaluated the predictors of OPE exposure in children aged 1 to 12 years in Guangxi, China. Eleven OPEs were detected in a cohort of 84 children and their parents’ urine, with geometric mean (GM) levels ranging from 0.11 ng/g<sub>crea</sub> (tri-n-propyl phosphate, TPP) to 25.93 ng/g<sub>crea</sub> (tris(2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate, TDCPP) in children, and from 0.04 ng/g<sub>crea</sub> (triphenyl phosphate, TPHP) to 18.71 ng/g<sub>crea</sub> (TDCPP) in parents. These findings are consistent with values reported in several large-scale national urinary biomonitoring studies on OPEs. Significant positive correlations among most target OPEs and no significant gender and age differences in children’s urine were found. The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) coupled with Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP), was employed to analyse the importance of 93 variables from the questionnaire and interpret the levels of OPEs in children’s urine. Models for six OPEs were constructed, revealing that daily use of fans affected the levels of five OPEs. Additionally, egg consumption and the number of family members were associated with higher levels of TPP/TCEP, and CDP/TEHP, respectively. There is a need to conduct more precise quantitative assessments of OPE exposure routes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623864","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}