Adverse Respiratory Health Research Articles

Mediating effect of respiratory symptoms on the association between residential distance and the quality of life among residents living near waste incineration plants in Dongguan, Southern China

BackgroundLiving near waste incineration plants (WIPs) may have adverse effects on health associated with quality of life (QOL) among local residents. This study was undertaken to measure the QOL of residents living near WIPs in China, identify the association between residential distance from the WIPs and QOL, and assess the mediating effect of respiratory symptoms on the association between residential distance and QOL.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in communities surrounding three municipal WIPs in Dongguan, China. The QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF and respiratory symptoms using the Medical Research Council Questionnaire (MRCQ) on Respiratory Symptoms were measured in 881 residents (454 living 3 km of their local WIP vs. 427 living 3–8 km from the WIP). Differences in respiratory symptoms and QOL in two separate items and four domains were analyzed. The associations of distance with respiratory symptoms and QOL were evaluated by multiple linear regression and logistic regression, respectively. Mediating effect of respiratory symptoms on the association between distance and QOL were tested using mediation analysis.ResultsCompared with the 3–8 km group, residents in the 0–3 km group had significantly lower scores in the physical health domain (β= − 2.02, p = 0.027), social relationships domain (β= − 2.47, p = 0.016) and environment domain (β= − 3.55, p < 0.001). There were no significant associations between distance and psychological domain, overall QOL, and satisfaction with health after adjusting for other variables. Residents in the 0–3 km group were more likely to report respiratory symptoms than residents in the 3–8 km group (OR = 1.46, 95%CI 1.09–1.96, p = 0.011). Respiratory symptoms had a significant effect on physical health (β= − 7.48, p < 0.001), social relationships (β= − 5.02, p < 0.001) and environment domains (β= − 7.28, p < 0.001). Respiratory symptoms fully mediated the association of residential distance on physical health (31.7%), and partially mediated the associations of residential distance on social relationships (18.8%) and environment domains (17.3%).ConclusionsResidential distance from a WIP was significantly associated with QOL, and the association between residential distance and QOL was mediated by respiratory symptoms. Future longitudinal studies on adverse respiratory health effects of exposure to WIP emissions are required using objective assessments.

Assessment of the Physicochemical Properties of Ultrafine Particles (UFP) from Vehicular Emissions in a Commercial Parking Garage: Potential Health Implications.

Vehicular emissions are a major culprit in the rise of urban air pollution. The particulate matter (PM) emitted from vehicular sources includes primarily ultrafine particles (UFPs) with aerodynamic diameters less than 0.1 µm (PM0.1) and is linked to adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Despite this knowledge, few exposure assessment studies exist that detail the physicochemical properties of PM in parking garages. In this study, airborne PM emitted by vehicles in a parking garage of a hospital in New Jersey was sampled, during winter and summer seasons, and physicochemically characterized. The results indicate that the mass concentrations of the UFPs in the garage were 2.51 µg/m3 and 3.59 µg/m3, respectively. These UFPs contained a large percentage of elemental carbon and toxic elements. They also contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), having deleterious health effects. An inhalation particle modeling revealed that 23.61% of these UFPs are deposited in the pulmonary region of the lung, translating to a dose of 10.67 µg for winter and 15.25 µg for summer, over a typical 40 h work week. These high deposited levels of UFPs and their complex chemistry levels further warrant the need for toxicological assessment of UFPs related to vehicular emissions.

Assessment of Environmental Pollutants and their Relationship with Chronic Respiratory Disease Exacerbations in Jamshoro: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: COPD and Asthma are a burden to our society and in a city like Jamshoro having industries and power plants in close vicinity, this becomes a greater concern. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship between air quality indices (AQIs) and exacerbations in chronic obstructive respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, prevalent among the general population in Jamshoro. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from August 2023 to February 2024 at LUMHS, Jamshoro (ERC approval: 14287/23/081), used purposive sampling to recruit 300 adults with asthma or COPD. Air quality data (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2) were collected, and respiratory outcomes were measured via spirometry and a validated questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyzed the association between air quality and exacerbations. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between PM10, NO2, and FEV1 (r = -0.45, p &lt; 0.01; r = -0.40, p &lt; 0.01). Chi-square analysis indicated a strong association between AQI categories and exacerbation rates (χ² = 25.6, df = 3, p &lt; 0.001). Multiple regression showed that PM10 and NO2 were significant independent predictors of respiratory exacerbation (β = 0.049, p &lt; 0.01; β = 0.038, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: The study underscores the adverse respiratory health consequences of poor air quality in Jamshoro and recommends the implementation of effective air quality management policies.

Exposure to agricultural pesticides and wheezing among 5-12-year-old children in the Imperial Valley, CA, USA.

Exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. We leveraged the Children's Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment cohort located in the rural community of Imperial Valley near the US-Mexico border. We calculated the kilograms of total pesticides applied within 400 m of children's residential addresses for the years 2016-2020. Estimated pesticide usage near homes was categorized into three groups (none vs. low vs. high [split at the median]). All health variables (i.e., asthma status and wheezing) were derived from a parent-reported questionnaire on respiratory health. We used generalized linear models, controlling for child sex, the language of survey, health insurance, respondents' highest education, and exposure to environmental secondhand smoking, to calculate prevalence differences between none versus low and high exposure to agricultural pesticides. Approximately 62% of the 708 children (aged 5-12 years) lived within 400 m of at least one pesticide application within 12 months prior to survey administration. Exposure to pesticides within 400 m of children's residences was associated with 12-month prior wheeze. Those in the "high" exposure group had a prevalence of wheezing that was 10 (95% confidence interval: 2%, 17%) percentage points higher than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. Associations for high exposure to specific categories of pesticide applications, sulfur only, all pesticides except sulfur, chlorpyrifos, and glyphosate, also were observed with a higher prevalence of wheezing than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. We observed associations between living near pesticide applications and more wheeze symptoms among children.

Unveiling the Nexus: Sulphur Dioxide Exposure, Proximity to Mining, and Respiratory Illnesses in Kankoyo: A Mixed-Methods Investigation.

The emission of sulphur dioxide (SO 2) from mining activities presents significant health hazards, particularly to communities near industrial zones. This mixed-methods study investigates the nexus between (SO 2) exposure and respiratory health in Kankoyo Township, Zambia. Employing community engagement, expert interviews, spatial analysis, and a retrospective examination of 15 years of health and (SO 2) data, the research identified a troubling correlation between (SO 2) exposure and adverse respiratory health effects among the local population. Expert interviews highlighted that respiratory issues constituted approximately 75% of health complications, with a notable reduction in asthma cases following the installation of a monitoring station and upgrades to smelter operations. Spatial analysis demonstrated that (SO 2) levels in Kankoyo exceeded the Zambian Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) limits by 1713% identifying it as a significant pollution hotspot. Additionally, wind profile analysis indicated frequent low-speed winds from the east-northeast (ENE), contributing to pollutant accumulation. Based on these insights, the study recommends implementing real-time pollution data sharing, affordable air quality sensors, addressing medication shortages, establishing specialized respiratory clinics, launching IT-driven awareness campaigns, and further research into additional pollutants and confounding factors.

Association of ambient air pollution and pesticide mixtures on respiratory inflammatory markers in agricultural communities

Air pollution exposure is associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes. Evidence from occupational and community-based studies also suggests agricultural pesticides have negative health impacts on respiratory health. Although populations are exposed to multiple inhalation hazards simultaneously, multidomain mixtures (e.g. environmental and chemical pollutants of different classes) are rarely studied. We investigated the association of ambient air pollution-pesticide exposure mixtures with urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4), a respiratory inflammation biomarker, for 75 participants in four Central California communities over two seasons. Exposures included three criteria air pollutants estimated via the Community Multiscale Air Quality model (fine particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide) and urinary metabolites of organophosphate (OP) pesticides (total dialkyl phosphates (DAPs), total diethyl phosphates (DE), and total dimethyl phosphates (DM)). We implemented multiple linear regression models to examine associations in single pollutant models adjusted for age, sex, asthma status, occupational status, household member occupational status, temperature, and relative humidity, and evaluated whether associations changed seasonally. We then implemented Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to analyse these criteria air pollutants, DE, and DM as a mixture. Our multiple linear regression models indicated an interquartile range (IQR) increase in total DAPs was associated with an increase in urinary LTE4 in winter (β: 0.04, 95% CI: [0.01, 0.07]). Similarly, an IQR increase in total DM was associated with an increase in urinary LTE4 in winter (β:0.03, 95% CI: [0.004, 0.06]). Confidence intervals for all criteria air pollutant effect estimates included the null value. BKMR analysis revealed potential non-linear interactions between exposures in our air pollution-pesticide mixture, but all confidence intervals contained the null value. Our analysis demonstrated a positive association between OP pesticide metabolites and urinary LTE4 in a low asthma prevalence population and adds to the limited research on the joint effects of ambient air pollution and pesticides mixtures on respiratory health.

Associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness with incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northern Europe: The Life-GAP project

BackgroundProlonged exposure to air pollution has been linked to adverse respiratory health, yet the evidence concerning its association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is inconsistent. The evidence of a greenness effect on chronic respiratory diseases is limited. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and greenness (as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index - NDVI) and incidence of self-reported chronic bronchitis or COPD (CB/COPD). MethodsWe analyzed data from 5355 adults from 7 centers participating in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study. Mean exposures to air pollution and greenness were assessed at available residential addresses in 1990, 2000 and 2010 using air dispersion models and satellite data, respectively. Poisson regression with log person-time as an offset was employed to analyze the association between air pollution, greenness, and CB/COPD incidence, adjusting for confounders. ResultsOverall, there were 328 incident cases of CB/COPD during 2010–2023. Despite wide statistical uncertainty, we found a trend for a positive association between NO2 exposure and CB/COPD incidence, with incidence rate ratios (IRRs) per 10 μg/m³ difference ranging between 1.13 (95% CI: 0.90–1.41) in 1990 and 1.18 (95% CI: 0.96–1.45) in 2000. O3 showed a tendency for inverse association with CB/COPD incidence (IRR from 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66–1.07) in 2000 to 0.88 (95% CI: 0.69–1.14) in 2010. No consistent association was found between PM, BC and greenness with CB/COPD incidence across different exposure time windows. ConclusionConsistent with prior research, our study suggests that individuals exposed to higher concentrations of NO2 may face an elevated risk of developing COPD, although evidence remains inconclusive. Greenness was not associated with CB/COPD incidence, while O3 showed a tendency for an inverse association with the outcome.

Respiratory Health Associated With Systemic Metal Exposure in Post-9/11 Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs Toxic Embedded Fragment Registry.

Adverse respiratory outcomes in post-9/11 veterans with elevated urinary metal measures and enrolled in the VA's Toxic Embedded Fragment registry were compared to those without elevated urinary metals. Veterans completed questionnaires, underwent pulmonary physiology tests (pulmonary function and oscillometry), and provided urine samples for analysis of 13 metals. Respiratory symptoms, diagnoses, and physiology measures were compared in veterans with ≥1 urine metal elevation to those without metal elevations, adjusted for covariates, including smoking. Among 402 study participants, 24% had elevated urine metals, often just exceeding upper limits of reference values. Compared to veterans without elevated metals, those with elevated metals had had higher FEV 1 values but similar frequencies of respiratory symptoms and diagnoses and abnormalities on pulmonary physiology tests. Mild systemic metal elevations in post-9/11 veterans are not associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes.

Self-reported exposure to dust and diesel exhaust, respiratory symptoms, and use of respiratory protective equipment among Arctic miners

ABSTRACT Arctic miners face significant risks from diesel exhaust and dust exposure, potentially leading to adverse respiratory health. Employers must limit harmful exposures, using personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense. This study explored the association between reported respiratory exposure and symptoms, and PPE training and usage. Data from the MineHealth study (2012–2014) included a total of 453 Arctic open pit miners in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Participants answered questions on exposure to dust and diesel exhaust, respiratory symptoms, and PPE use, in addition to age, gender, BMI, smoking, and self-rated health. Estimated exposure to dust was common, reported by 91%, 80%, and 82% and that of diesel exhaust by 84%, 43%, and 47% of workers in Sweden, Finland, and Norway, respectively. Reported dust exposure was significantly related to respiratory symptoms (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.7), diesel exposure increased the occurrence of wheezing (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3–5.4). PPE use varied between the studied mines. Non-use was common and related to reduced visibility, wetness, skin irritation and fogging of the respiratory PPE. Future research should employ more precise exposure assessment, respiratory function as well as explore the reasons behind the non-compliance of PPE use.

Saharan dust induces the lung disease-related cytokines granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Desert dust exposure is associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Desert dust is a complex pollutant mixtures that includes respirable crystalline and amorphous particles, metals, and microbial constituents. Given the health effects of desert dust and its heterogeneity, as yet unidentified harmful biological pathways may be triggered. Therefore, we exposed human in vitro air–liquid interface co-cultures of alveolar epithelial A549 cells and THP-1 macrophages to Saharan dust (SD). For comparison, we used the known pulmonary toxicant DQ12 quartz dust. Via RNA sequencing, we identified that SD but not DQ12 increased the gene expression of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF). These findings were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. SD dose-dependently upregulated GMCSF and GCSF expression with significant 7 and 9-fold changes, respectively, at the highest tested concentration of 31 µg/cm2. Furthermore, we observed that SD significantly enhanced the secretion of GM-CSF and G-CSF by 2-fold. Both cytokines have previously been associated with lung diseases such as asthma and fibrosis. Hence, we present two molecular messengers that may contribute to the adverse health effects of desert dust and might serve as drug targets for this globally relevant non-anthropogenic air pollutant.

Air pollution related adverse respiratory health outcomes in California’s San Joaquin Valley: evidence from 2016 linked emergency department and hospital records

The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California has been consistently identified as having one of the highest levels of air pollution in the US. Despite federal and state standards, the SJV has been in non-attainment status for daily PM2.5 concentrations, extreme non-attainment for 8 hr O3 levels, and attainment for NO2. An epidemiological time-stratified case-crossover design was used to estimate the relationship between exposure to NO2, O3, PM2.5 and adverse health outcomes in asthma and upper respiratory infections (URIs). This study compared pollutant exposure effects for each case during limited time intervals and adjusted for seasonality. Elevated concentrations of three criteria outdoor air pollutants are associated with increased asthma and URI-related ED visits and hospitalizations in the SJV for all ages. NO2 exposure increased the odds of having an ED visit by 2.4% in lag 1 (95% CI: 1.017, 1.031). Lags 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 14 were statistically significant. O3 modestly increased the odds of ED visits by 0.3% (95% CI:1.000, 1.006) after immediate exposure in the warm season. In the cold season, PM2.5 estimates were significant for all lags except for lags 4 and 12. The two-week lag increased the odds by 28% (95% CI:1.218, 1.345) for ED visits, and 16.5% (95% CI:1.009, 1.345) increased the odds of being hospitalized after cumulative exposure to PM2.5. Findings suggest that SJV residents experience adverse health effects due to elevated exposure to NO2 despite attainment of federal and state pollutant standards. This study provides new evidence about the effects of three criteria air pollutants and adverse health outcomes in the SJV region. The air quality regulatory and public health governing bodies should consider revisions to regional pollutant thresholds and local public health strategies to prevent adverse health outcomes during short and prolonged periods of air pollution exposure.

Global Public Health Implications of Traffic Related Air Pollution: Systematic Review.

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has significant public health implications and a wide range of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular, respiratory, pulmonary, and other health problems. This study aimed to determine the public health impacts of traffic-related air pollution across the world that can be used as an input for protecting human health. This study considered studies conducted across the world and full-text articles written in English. The articles were searched using a combination of Boolean logic operators (AND, OR, and NOT), MeSH, and keywords from the included electronic databases (SCOPUS, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholars). The quality assessment of the articles was done using JBI tools to determine the relevance of each included article to the study. In this study, 1 282 032 participants ranging from 19 to 452 735 were included in 30 articles published from 2010 to 2022. About 4 (13.3%), 9 (30.0%), 12 (40.0%), 8 (26.7%), 2 (6.7%), 15 (50.0%), 3 (10.0%), 3 (10.0%) 1 (3.3%), and 3 (10.0%) of articles reported the association between human health and exposure to CO, PM10, PM2.5, NOx, NO, NO2, black carbon, O3, PAH, and SO2, respectively. Respiratory diseases, cancer, cognitive function problems, preterm birth, blood pressure and hypertension, diabetes, allergies and sensitization, coronary heart disease, dementia incidence, and hemorrhagic stroke were associated with exposure to TRAP. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter was associated with various health effects. This revealed that there is a need for the concerned organizations to respond appropriately.

Costs of Air Pollution in California's San Joaquin Valley: A Societal Perspective of the Burden of Asthma on Emergency Departments and Inpatient Care.

The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is often recognized as one of the most polluted regions in the US. Periods of pollution exposure are associated with increased health burden related to respiratory inflammation and undermined lung function, which aggravates respiratory diseases such as asthma and leads to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. Asthma costs US$ 82 billion annually in healthcare costs, missed work and school in the US. Employing a societal perspective, a cost of illness design was combined with environmental epidemiological methods to analyze the economic impact of O3, NO2, and PM2.5-related adverse respiratory health outcomes amongst SJV residents who attended the emergency department (ED) or were hospitalized in 2016. Asthma exacerbations monetized value ranged from US$ 3353 to US$ 5003 per ED visit and for hospital admissions US$ 2584 per inpatient day for adults 65 years and older to US$ 3023 per child. The estimated value to society in healthcare costs, productivity losses, school absences, and opportunity costs from air pollution adverse health outcomes totaled US$ 498,014,124 in ED visits and US$ 223,552,720 in hospital admissions for the SJV population in 2016. The marginal reduction in the background concentrations of pollutants would avert 21,786 ED adverse events and 19,328 hospitalizations from the health burden on the SJV population or US$ 8,024,505 cost savings due to O3, US$ 82,482,683 from NO2 reductions, and US$ 46,214,702 from decreased concentration of PM2.5. This study provides evidence that air pollution is a negative externality that imposes substantial social, environmental, and healthcare costs on the SJV. Furthermore, the region would avert significant adverse health outcomes realizing economic savings by reducing air pollution and exposures.

The application of the mobile application for the assessment of cleaning workers' exposure to cleaning products: a pilot study.

Cleaning product use has been associated with adverse respiratory health effects such as asthma in cleaning staff and healthcare workers. Research in health effects from cleaning products has largely depended upon collecting exposure information by questionnaires which has limitations such as recall bias and underestimation of exposure. The aim of this study was to develop a Cleaning and Hazardous Products Exposure Logging (CHaPEL) app with a barcode scanner and to test the feasibility of this app with university cleaners. The CHaPEL app was developed to collect information on demographics, individual product information, and exposure information. It also included an ease-of-use survey. A pilot study with university cleaning workers was undertaken in which cleaning workers scanned each product after use and answered the survey. Respiratory hazards of cleaning substances in the scanned cleaning products were screened by safety data sheets, a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship model and an asthmagen list established by an expert group in the US. Eighteen university cleaners participated in this study over a period of 5 weeks. In total, 77 survey responses and 6 cleaning products were collected and all reported that using the app was easy. The most frequently used product was a multi-surface cleaner followed by a disinfectant. Out of 14 substances in cleaning products, ethanolamine and Alkyl (C12-16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride were found as respiratory hazardous substances. The CHaPEL app is a user-friendly immediate way to successfully collect exposure information using the barcodes of cleaning products. This tool could be useful for future epidemiological studies focused on exposure assessment with less interruption to the workers.

Estimation of historical daily airborne pollen concentrations across Switzerland using a spatio temporal random forest model

High concentrations of airborne pollen trigger seasonal allergies and possibly more severe adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health events. Predicting pollen concentration accurately is valuable for epidemiological studies, in order to study the effects of pollen exposure. We aimed to develop a spatiotemporal machine learning model predicting daily pollen concentrations at a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 km across Switzerland between 2000 and 2019. Daily pollen concentrations for five common, highly allergenic pollen types (hazel, alder, birch ash, and grasses) were available from fourteen measurement sites across Switzerland. We considered several predictors such as elevation, species distribution, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, satellite-observed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and land-use (CORINE, Landsat satellite) to explain variation in pollen concentration. We employed feature engineering techniques to encode categorical variables and fill in missing values. We applied a random forest machine learning model with 5-fold cross-validation. The 5th–99th percentiles for concentrations of hazel, alder, birch, ash, and grass pollen at the pollen monitoring stations were 0–298, 0–306, 0–1153, 0–800, and 0–290 pollen grains/m3, respectively. The results of a predictive model for these concentrations yielded overall R2 values of 0.87, 0.84, 0.89, 0.88, and 0.91, and temporal root mean squared errors (RMSEs) of 16.07, 16.72, 69.04, 41.50, and 22.45 pollen grains/m3. An analysis of predictor variable importance indicates that the average national daily pollen concentration is the most important predictor of pollen concentrations for all pollen types. Furthermore, meteorological variables including temperature, total precipitation, humidity, boundary layer height, wind speed, and wind direction, as well as date and satellite features, are important factors in pollen concentration prediction. These spatiotemporal pollen models will serve to estimate individual residential pollen exposure for epidemiological studies. Resulting estimates will enable us to study respiratory and cardiovascular mortality and hospital admissions in Switzerland.

Bisphenol and phthalate exposure during pregnancy and the development of childhood lung function and asthma. The Generation R Study

BackgroundFetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates may lead to alterations in the respiratory and immune system development in children, and to adverse respiratory health. AimTo study the associations of fetal bisphenols and phthalates exposure with lung function and asthma at age 13 years. Study design and methodsThis study among 1020 children was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study. We measured maternal urine bisphenol and phthalate concentrations in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, and lung function by spirometry and asthma by questionnaires at age 13 years. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were applied. ResultsMaternal urine bisphenol and phthalate concentrations averaged during pregnancy were not associated with childhood lung function or asthma. Associations of maternal urine bisphenol and phthalate concentrations in specific trimesters with respiratory outcomes showed that one interquartile range increase in the natural log-transformed maternal urine mono-isobutyl phthalate concentration in the second trimester was associated with a higher FEV1/FVC, but not with asthma, accounting for confounders and multiple-testing correction. Although there were associations of higher second trimester bisphenol S with a lower FVC and FEV1 in boys and girls, and of higher first trimester bisphenol S with a decreased risk of asthma in boys and an increased risk of asthma in girls, these results did not remain significant after correction for multiple testing. Results were not modified by maternal history of asthma or atopy. ConclusionsMaternal urine bisphenol and phthalate concentrations averaged or in specific trimesters during pregnancy were not strongly associated with childhood lung function and asthma at age 13 years. BPS, as a BPA substitute, tended to be associated with impaired lung function and altered risk of asthma, partly sex-dependent, but its strength was limited by a relatively low detection rate and should be queried in contemporary cohorts.

Exposure to Disinfectants and Cleaning Products and Respiratory Health of Workers and Children in Daycares: The CRESPI Cohort Protocol.

Although cleaning tasks are frequently performed in daycare, no study has focused on exposures in daycares in relation to respiratory health. The CRESPI cohort is an epidemiological study among workers (n~320) and children (n~540) attending daycares. The purpose is to examine the impact of daycare exposures to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCP) on the respiratory health of workers and children. A sample of 108 randomly selected daycares in the region of Paris has been visited to collect settled dust to analyze semi-volatile organic compounds and microbiota, as well as sample indoor air to analyze aldehydes and volatile organic compounds. Innovative tools (smartphone applications) are used to scan DCP barcodes in daycare and inform their use; a database then matches the barcodes with the products' compositions. At baseline, workers/parents completed a standardized questionnaire, collecting information on DCP used at home, respiratory health, and potential confounders. Follow-up regarding children's respiratory health (monthly report through a smartphone application and biannual questionnaires) is ongoing until the end of 2023. Associations between DCP exposures and the respiratory health of workers/children will be evaluated. By identifying specific environments or DCP substances associated with the adverse respiratory health of workers and children, this longitudinal study will contribute to the improvement of preventive measures.

Nontraditional Occupational Exposures to Crude Oil Combustion Disasters and Respiratory Disease Risk: A Narrative Review of Literature.

Burning of petroleum products has been consistently associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Combustion of crude oil, specifically, produces toxic byproducts, but there have been relatively few studies of health effects. Burning of crude oil is increasingly employed as a means of mitigating environmental disasters despite the potential health risks to workers involved in clean-up efforts. Here, we review epidemiological studies of respiratory effects following unique crude oil burning events to (1) characterize respiratory health effects from this nontraditional occupational exposure and (2) identify approaches used to characterize exposures that could be applied to future disaster-related studies. We searched PubMed and EMBASE for references from inception to January 30, 2023. We also manually screened references cited in eligible articles. We identified 14 eligible publications. Our review suggests that exposure to crude oil combustion has adverse respiratory effects, including reduced lung function and increased occurrence of respiratory symptoms and disease. However, the evidence is inconsistent, and quality of data varied across studies.While some studies used quantitative, modeled exposure estimates, most used self-reported proxies of exposure. Although disasters involving crude oil combustion are relatively rare, limited evidence suggests that some worker populations may be at risk for respiratory effects from burning exposures in disaster settings. Future studies that use improved exposure assessment methods (e.g., personal monitors, remote sensing data) may help further quantify the respiratory risk from crude oil burning exposures.

A qualitative study on the morbidity experiences of under-five children in oil spill communities

Introduction: Under-five years old (U5) children that reside in oil spill communities are exposed to various pollutants, and therefore are prone to respiratory symptoms and diseases. This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding on the lived experiences of U5 children residing in these communities. Methods: The study was done in August, 2022 , on eleven caregivers/parents of U5 children, aged 26-45 years old via purposive sampling. This study utilized a phenomenological research design through in-depth interviews and audio recordings. Results: Findings revealed that numerous oil spills have occurred, and are still occurring. According to the respondents, these spills are caused majorly by poor maintenance of old, rusted pipelines of oil companies; and pipeline vandalism, leading to land, water and air pollution. Results also showed that these spills have led to several adverse respiratory health (RH) experiences in U5, including cough, catarrh, chest pain and other health emergencies that have resulted in frequent hospital visitations and admissions like difficulty/fast breathing, pneumonia, hemoptysis, exacerbation of previously existing conditions, asthma development, etc. The destruction of their source of livelihood, have contributed to worsening these symptoms. Conclusion: U5 children living in crude oil polluted areas are burdened with a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases. Implementation of already existing regulatory laws on oil pollution, prompt clean-up of oil spills, provision of standard health facilities, and trained health personnels, were some of the measures recommended to curb the menace of crude oil spills and its RH effects.

Systematic Review: Association of Pesticide Exposure and Child Wheeze and Asthma.

The prevalence of wheeze and asthma has risen over recent decades for all age groups, especially children. These disorders can lead to decreased quality of life, missed school, urgent care and emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and increased health care costs. Environmental exposures, including pesticide exposure, are likely a contributing factor to this increased prevalence. To evaluate the association of pesticide exposure with childhood wheeze and asthma. We conducted a systematic review evaluating studies of pesticide exposure (measured objectively) and child respiratory outcomes. We searched PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Wiley), and ClinicalTrials. gov from 1988 - 2021. Main search keywords included "pesticides", "insecticides", "herbicides", "respiratory", "asthma" and "wheeze". Out of 5767 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria; eight evaluated prenatal pesticide exposure (n=8407), twelve evaluated postnatal exposures (n= 50,488), and five evaluated pre-and postnatal exposures (n=20,919). Main pesticides investigated were dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) (14 studies) followed by organophosphates (7 studies). Primary methods of outcome assessment were questionnaire-based (84%), followed by spirometry (16%), registry data, and blood measures. Studies varied in the strength of evidence relating to study design and measures. Most studies (84%) reported a positive association of exposure with adverse child respiratory health. The studies suggest an association of pesticide exposure and childhood wheeze and asthma. The varying results and methods reinforce the need for more research and standardized approaches to these studies to confirm the suggested association of pesticide exposure and childhood wheeze and asthma.