Health Effects Research Articles

Assessment of Mycotoxins in Infants and Children Cereal-Based Foods: Dietary Exposure and Potential Health Risks

AbstractPublic health concerns are rising regarding potential mycotoxin contamination in processed cereal-based products consumed by infants and young children. Due to their developing physiological systems and greater vulnerability, children are particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects of mycotoxins. This study investigated the presence of a wide range of mycotoxins (20 in total, encompassing various chemical classes, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenones, fumonisins, citrinin and sterigmatocystin) in readily available processed cereal-based foods targeted towards infants and children in Portugal. Among the 148 analysed samples, 43% contained at least one of the targeted mycotoxins. Aflatoxin B1 (8.1%) and fumonisin B1 (10.8%) were the most commonly detected regulated mycotoxins, while emerging mycotoxins like enniatin B (14.9%) and beauvericin (10.1%) were also prevalent. The most commonly co-occurring mycotoxins were ENNB + BEA and FB1 + FB2. Although the Estimated Daily Intake of non-carcinogenic mycotoxins in most products was below their respective Tolerable Daily Intake (DONs and FBs (1 μg/kg bw/day), HT-2 and T-2 (0.02 μg/kg bw/day), ZEN (0.25 μg/kg bw/day), and CIT (0.2 μg/kg bw/day)), Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index values exceeded safe thresholds, indicating potential health risks.

Computer use and cardiovascular risk biomarkers in midlife and older adults

With increased computer usage amongst midlife and older adults, concerns are emerging with regards to the potential adverse health effects of computer use given the sedentary habits it may encourage. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between computer use and cardiovascular risk in midlife and older adults. From the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States II: Biomarker Project (2004–2009) and the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), 2004–2006, we examined five cardiovascular risk biomarkers—high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein—in relation to self-reported general computer use frequency and computer use at work frequency. Our results show that general computer use frequency and computer use at work frequency were not significant predictors of any of the five cardiovascular risk biomarkers—HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein. However, our exploratory analysis showed that employment status significantly moderated the relationship between general computer use frequency and LDL cholesterol. Our study highlights the importance of a more nuanced approach to understanding the health implications of computer use and sedentary behaviour in general.

7281 Increased Incidence Of Fracture And Predicted Fracture Risk In Patients With Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion

Abstract Disclosure: R. Sagar: None. A. Saadulla: None. A. Abbas: None. Background: Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is common in patients presenting with adrenal incidentalomas (AI) and has been associated with cardiovascular and metabolic co-morbidities. Whilst there is growing evidence to support the increased risk of cardiometabolic co-morbidity in this cohort, the bone health effects are less well characterised. Our study evaluated the prevalence of fragility fracture and fracture risk in patients with AI and MACS compared with a cohort of patients with benign, non-functional AI. Methods: Retrospective observational data were collected on 391 patients with MACS and an AI along with 626 patients with a benign, non-functional AI. Demographic, biochemical, radiological and bone health data were recorded. FRAX, a validated fracture risk stratifying tool, was used to calculated risk scores for all patients aged between 40 and 90 and risk category according to national guidance were also recorded. Results: MACS cohort (mean age 69±10 and 53% female) had a mean cortisol on overnight dexamethasone suppression test of 76.6±21nmol/l. Benign, non-functional patients had a mean age 61.4±12 and 57% female. Both cohorts had predominantly unilateral lesions (76% in MACS versus 84%). Patients with MACS had a significantly higher prevalence of all fragility fractures, 15.9% compared with 6.7% in the benign, non-functional group, p<0.0001. Patients with MACS had a significantly higher 10-year risk of major osteoporotic fracture (10.6±3.8% versus 7.1±5.4%, p<0.0001) and also hip fracture (7.2±4.1% versus 1.9±2.7%, p<0.0001). 17% of MACS cohort were classed as either high or very high fracture risk, with a further 28% classed as intermediate risk requiring further assessment of bone health compared with 3% high/very high risk in the non-functional group. Despite this only 31% of the MACS group had undergone DEXA scan to assess bone mineral density compared to 13% of the non-MACS group. Only 5% of MACS patients were on osteoporosis treatment (3% in non-MACS cohort). Conclusions: Patients with MACS make up a large proportion of those presenting with adrenal incidentaloma. Our study suggests an increased prevalence of fragility fractures along with increased fracture risk in patients with MACS compared to those with non-functional AI. However, we also demonstrate an unmet need, with less than 1/3 of patients with MACS undergoing formal bone health assessment and just 5% of the total cohort on treatment for osteoporosis despite a significant proportion meeting intervention thresholds. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Health effects related to wind turbine sound - a rapid evidence review covering 2020 - 2024

Wind energy plays an important role in the delivery of net zero and energy security commitments, and globally wind additions are forecast to more than double by 2028 compared with 2022. Permitting frameworks have been identified as a key barrier to growth of onshore wind, and the health effects of wind turbine sound emissions remain a primary concern to local communities. Evidence reviews published in 2017 and 2020-21 concluded that the health effects literature is increasing, but there are still gaps, especially for health endpoints other than annoyance, and how non-acoustic factors can moderate and/or mediate self-reported health outcomes. We carried out a rapid evidence review covering the period July 2020 to February 2024 to determine if newer evidence is addressing these gaps. Of the 22 studies about health effects, most focused on self reported health, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Studies about other health effects remains limited. Studies on "social acceptance" (n=10) continue to show the importance of non-acoustic factors,such as attitudes and personal characteristics are in impacting outcomes. No intervention studies were identified. Due to variations in study design, exposure and outcome measures, and how non-acoustic factors are characterised, it remains challenging to make generalised recommendations to mitigate health impacts.

Study of noise perception and health effects on population through a questionnaire in Spanish households during the COVID-19 lockdown

During the first wave of COVID-19, an online questionnaire was conducted to gather the Spanish population's perception of noise from households and its relationship with health effects. This research, which was conducted with 582 participants, examined several sources of noise (general noise, noise produced by family members inside the home, noise from neighbors, noise from common areas, facilities, and exterior noise) and various self-declared health effects by the participants such as stress, lack of concentration, sleep disturbances, anxiety, or irritability. A descriptive and statistical analysis was established between variables to observe relational trends for two periods (before and during confinement). The study demonstrates interesting relational trends that allow for both associating different noise sources with potential health effects and contextualizing them against other causes that remained consistent in both periods.

Effect of Health on Economic Growth in the Republic of Congo: The Case of Manultrition

Effect of Health on Economic Growth in the Republic of Congo: The Case of Manultrition

Comparison of noise exposure cost and annoyance-related indicators in microscopic traffic simulations

Road traffic noise is one of the major sources of environmental noise and has been shown to increase risk of adverse health effects. For this reason, noise mapping is an efficient tool to assess and monitor city-wide noise levels in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive (END). To relate these noise levels to the associated health effects, the noise map may be further analysed using exposure-response models, or with cost models that calculate the noise-related externalities of the traffic. With the use of microscopic traffic simulations, this assessment may be performed at a vehicle-specific level. A recently introduced methodology, the noise exposure cost, calculates the vehicle-specific contribution to the long-term social cost estimated at a macro-level based on the vehicle-specific noise contributions. However, the noise exposure cost methodology may not reflect the relative noise impact of individual vehicles, but rather solely reflect the noise contribution regardless of its relative impact to the noise levels at the time. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility to use the linear sensitivity indicator as a basis for a non-linear weighting function in the noise exposure cost methodology, to allow the vehicle-specific noise exposure cost to better reflect the relative impact.

Toward the symbiosis and co-prosperity between Narita International Airport and the local community in line with airport capacity enhancement

Narita International Airport is working toward "Further capacity enhancement of Narita International Airport", and will be able to increase the annual departure and arrival capacity from the current 300,000 to 500,000 times by constructing Runway C, as well as the extension of Runway B. This report describes what kind of initiatives and measures Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) takes in collaboration with the local municipalities and residents based on the basic idea that "Airport development is regional community development" including the efforts to investigate noise impact on the living environment, including health effects. Narita International Airport has been regarding its symbiosis measures, airport development, and regional development as a trinity and various efforts have been made. In addition, since the opening of the airport, NAA has taken detailed measures from various angles to address the problems stem from being an inland airport. This report describes the background to the implementation of the investigation of the impact of aircraft noise on the living environment, including the impact on health effects, at Narita International Airport. The technical aspects of the study will be presented in another report.

A scalable two-stage Bayesian approach accounting for exposure measurement error in environmental epidemiology.

Accounting for exposure measurement errors has been recognized as a crucial problem in environmental epidemiology for over two decades. Bayesian hierarchical models offer a coherent probabilistic framework for evaluating associations between environmental exposures and health effects, which take into account exposure measurement errors introduced by uncertainty in the estimated exposure as well as spatial misalignment between the exposure and health outcome data. While two-stage Bayesian analyses are often regarded as a good alternative to fully Bayesian analyses when joint estimation is not feasible, there has been minimal research on how to properly propagate uncertainty from the first-stage exposure model to the second-stage health model, especially in the case of a large number of participant locations along with spatially correlated exposures. We propose a scalable two-stage Bayesian approach, called a sparse multivariate normal (sparse MVN) prior approach, based on the Vecchia approximation for assessing associations between exposure and health outcomes in environmental epidemiology. We compare its performance with existing approaches through simulation. Our sparse MVN prior approach shows comparable performance with the fully Bayesian approach, which is a gold standard but is impossible to implement in some cases. We investigate the association between source-specific exposures and pollutant (nitrogen dioxide [NO2])-specific exposures and birth weight of full-term infants born in 2012 in Harris County, Texas, using several approaches, including the newly developed method.

A review of the surveys on health effect of aircraft noise for Narita International Airport

In this paper, we review two previous projects on health effects of aircraft noise for residents living around Narita International Airport, and introduce a summary of the new project which started since 2019. The airport was equipped with a Runway‐A at the opening, and a Runway‐B was constructed to keep pace with increased demand for air transport in 2002. The Runway‐C will be accomplished at the end of fiscal year 2028. The first project on health effects of aircraft noise was conducted in 1998 when the airport had only Runway‐A. And then, second project on health effects of aircraft noise was conducted in 2014 after beginning of conditional relaxation of curfew. These two projects were based on cross‐sectional study, and implemented using a questionnaire to investigate psychological effects like noise annoyance, night‐time insomnia, mental effects like emotional instability and depressive tendency, and physical effects like high‐blood pressure. Since 2019, third project on health effects have been started because of disestablishment of nighttime flight restrictions for the Runway‐A. In this new project, longitudinal data are also included and we have a plan to investigate using objective method. The progress of this project until 2022 is reported in this paper.

Aligning residential acoustic design guidance with the health evidence: a new proposal for the UK

BS 8233 is a British Standard widely used for its residential design guidance. The current version specifies guidelines for internal sound levels within dwellings with partially open or closed windows. However, the epidemiological evidence on the health effects of environmental noise is largely expressed in terms of external sound levels. We propose a change to a two-step approach. First the external sound levels are used as the primary design driver for good environmental acoustic design, to align with the noise and health evidence. Good environmental acoustic design is a process that can minimise external sound impact through appropriate measures such as site layout, building orientation, massing, landscaping, and noise barriers. The impact of environmental sound is quantified in terms of its health effect (DALYs) and monetary social cost (GBP) to define categories of adverse effect that can help inform decision-making. Once external levels are minimised through good environmental acoustic design, the building envelope can provide mitigation to achieve a good internal environmental quality. The proposed approach moves away from prescribing fixed internal targets in all cases. Instead, it considers ventilation needs for indoor air quality and provisions for mitigating overheating risks holistically alongside internal acoustic conditions.

Improving resilience and mental well-being among refugees residing at asylum centers in the Netherlands: A pre-post feasibility study

BackgroundFew studies have explored the effects of mental health and psychosocial support programs among refugees residing at asylum centers. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a positive psychology intervention called BAMBOO among refugees temporarily residing at asylum centers in the Netherlands. MethodData was collected at 35 asylum centers from 243 participants who completed five weekly two-hour sessions. Pre- and post-changes in resilience, happiness, and positive and negative affect were assessed using a one-group pretest–posttest design. Also, program fidelity, participant satisfaction, and program activity suitability were evaluated. ResultsCompleter and intention-to-treat analyses revealed a significant medium increase in resilience, a large increase in happiness, a small increase in positive affect, and a medium decrease in negative affect. Reliable change indices showed a positive change in 24 % of the participants on resilience and 13 % on positive and negative affect, respectively. Participant retention was 80 %. Moreover, participant satisfaction was high. Also, a substantial proportion of participants evaluated reading and writing-based activities as less suitable in comparison to activities based on verbal and creative expression, physical movement, and meditation/prayer. ConclusionsFindings showed significant increases in scores from pre- to post-assessment on resilience, happiness, and positive affect and a decrease in negative affect. Since the study design limits the ability to attribute causation, future controlled studies should be conducted to stablish stronger evidence regarding the program's effects. Additionally, the program could benefit from further adaptation to enhance its cultural sensitivity. Trial registration number: ISRCTN18019972

Identifying the ways in which tobacco cessation interventions have been tailored for sexual and gender minority individuals: A systematic review.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals smoke at higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. SGM persons, especially transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals, face unique, adverse health effects associated with smoking. As such, SGM individuals may benefit from smoking cessation interventions that are tailored to meet their needs. This systematic review aims to describe the ways in which these interventions have been tailored for SGM individuals and summarize available acceptability and efficacy data. Four databases were searched to identify smoking cessation interventions adapted for SGM populations. Thirteen articles were identified, with tailored aspects focusing on culturally tailored references, SGM-specific psychoeducation, and intra-community support strategies. No clear patterns of efficacy were identified, and only one study included bioverified abstinence. Preliminary evidence suggests that smoking cessation interventions can be acceptably tailored to SGM individuals, however, additional research is needed to determine if SGM-tailored interventions are more efficacious than non-tailored approaches.

Perceptual evaluation of sound synthesis of wind turbine noise

This study brings together several laboratories with the aim of assessing the health effects of "audible" noise (> 20 Hz) and infrasound (< 20 Hz) emitted by wind turbines. To study loudness and annoyance due to this noise, perceptual tests are planned at the LMA, where a restitution cabin has been developed, specifically designed to diffuse very low frequencies and infrasound. As recording wind turbine noise is only possible at low wind speeds for a good quality sound reproduction, it would be interesting to be able to use sound synthesis of wind turbine noise. From sounds recorded in a wind farm for different meteorological conditions, the corresponding sounds have been synthesized. A physical model synthesis was performed, based on an extended-source aeroacoustic model taking into account propagation over flat ground. Dissimilarity tests including recorded and synthesized sounds enabled a 2D perceptual space to be built. Synthesized and the corresponding recorded sounds are closed together in the perceptual space, but some differences can be perceived, mainly due to difference in amplitude of fluctuation and spectral balance. The analysis of the perceptual space opens up interesting prospects for improving the sound synthesis and its use for future perceptual tests.

Impact of road noise components (rolling/propulsion) by vehicle categories (light-duty, heavy-duty and two-wheeled vehicles) on population's noise exposure and associated adverse health effects

Exposure to road traffic noise can lead to various adverse health effects, ranging from annoyance and night-time sleep disturbances to ischemic heart diseases. The aim of this paper is to identify the contribution of the road noise components (rolling/propulsion) for each vehicle category (light-duty, heavy-duty and two-wheeled vehicles) on population's noise exposure and the associated adverse health effects. This analysis focuses on the case study of Lyon, France. The input data align with the requirements of the 4th deadline of Directive 2002/49/CE and adhere to the CNOSSOS calculation standard. The results reveal that the rolling noise component of light-duty vehicles is predominant due to vehicle speed and traffic volume. It is the sole noise component (i) significantly exposing a portion of the population to Lden > 68 dBA, noise limit set by the French decree of April 4, 2006, and (ii) where over half of the population is exposed to Lden > 53 dBA, recommended threshold by the World Health Organization (2018). By using transfer functions established between noise components for each vehicle category, and population's noise exposure, noise source-abatement solutions can be quantified in terms of their impact on population's noise exposure, thus determining the reduction in health impacts.

Groundwater geochemistry using modified integrated water quality index (IWQI) and health indices with special emphasis on nitrates and heavy metals in southern parts of Tirupati, South India.

Groundwater is particularly vulnerable to pollution in places with a high population density and extensive human usage of the land, especially in southern parts of Tirupati, India. To assess this, 60 bore-well samples were obtained and assessed for physical specifications, ion chemistry, and heavy metals during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons 2022. The current investigation employed a modified integrated water quality index (IWQI), conventional graphical and human health risk assessment (HHRA) of nitrates and heavy metals to know the groundwater chemistry and its detrimental health effects on humans. The major ions were analyzed using American public health association (APHA)standards, whereas heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES). Additionally, pH Redox Equilibrium and C (PHREEQC),a geochemical model written in C programming language was employed to determine the saturation indices of mineral facies and ArcGIS 10.3.1 was used for spatial distribution patterns of IWQI. Then, the HHRA of nitrates and heavy metals was performed using United States environmental protection agency (USEPA)guidelines. The noteworthy outcomes include elevated levels of Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, NO3-, Cu,Fe, Mn, and Pb, demonstrating rock-water interaction, silicate weathering, Ca-Mg-HCO3 followed by mixed water facies, dissolution/precipitation, reverse exchange, and anthropogenic contamination are the major controlling processes in groundwater of southern Tirupati, India. The modified IWQI reveals that most groundwater samples (38%) fall under the bad quality class, with (47%) in the poor quality class and only (15%) classified as medium qualityclass in pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Elevated IWQI were observed in all directions except in the east, which is suitable for drinking. Moreover, the major hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI)for nitrates (NO3-) and heavy metals like copper(Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) are above the critical value of 1, revealing potential risk to humans, especially infants, followed by children and adults, entailing the instantaneous implementation of proper remedial measures and stringent policies to reduce the risk associated with groundwater pollution in the southern parts of Tirupati.

Aircraft noise and ischemic heart disease: an update of the evidence

Aircraft noise exposure is harmful to health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) summarized the evidence on health effects of environmental noise up to 2015. We updated the evidence by conducting a systematic review with meta-analysis including scientific literature from 01/01/2015 to 03/02/2023. The study protocol was registered a priori at PROSPERO. Three publications on incident ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) and six publications on IHD mortality met our eligibility criteria. Four studies on IHD mortality were included in the meta-analysis, revealing an increase in IHD mortality by about 9% per 10 dB Lden aircraft noise (starting point 30 dB; risk ratio RR=1.085, 95% confidence interval CI 0.997-1.181, p=0.06). For IHD incidence fewer than three comparable new studies were available. In addition, we pooled our studies with the WHO results. The risk of aircraft-noise related IHD mortality was statistically significantly increased by 7% per 10 dB Lden (RR=1.069, 95% CI 1.004-1.139, p=0.04). For IHD incidence, the pooled risk estimate was 2% per 10 dB (RR=1.020, 95% CI 0.986-1.054, p=0.25). Limit values for aircraft noise should take into account risk increases for IHD even at relatively low aircraft noise levels. We thank the Frankfurt Aircraft Noise Commission (FLK) for funding!

Perceived social, economic, environmental and health effects of solid waste management practices in logia town, afar, ethiopia

Improper solid waste management in urban and semi-urban areas has led to adverse impacts on the environment, public health, and the economic well-being of communities. Therefore, this study analyzes the status of household solid waste management practices and their effects in Logia Town, Afar, Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the study utilizes both descriptive and econometric models (binary logistic regression model). The descriptive results of the study revealed that there is general awareness of the importance of solid waste management (SWM) and its impact on the environment, economy, and human health among the respondents. Regarding respondents’ attitudes, the majority of households understand the responsibility of proper waste disposal and its impact. However, in terms of solid waste management practices, 80% of households do not properly segregate their waste, 59.3% do not separate solid waste (SW) before disposal, and 74% of households engage in improper disposal practices. About 95.9% of respondents were aware that improper waste management can lead to diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera. Around 65% of the sampled households considered solid waste as a source of wealth, and, as a result, 56% of them reuse, recycle, and reduce waste. This indicates that solid waste has economic value for society. Regarding the environmental impact of SW, about 89% of respondents argued that SW adversely affects the environment by polluting rivers, lakes, wells, and air. This environmental impact negatively affects the well-being and economic status of the community. The binary logistic regression model found that having adequate solid waste landfills, access to door-to-door solid waste collection, knowledge of SWM rules and regulations, treating waste as a resource, and understanding the 3Rs (recycle, reuse, reduce) had positive and significant effects on the adoption of proper solid waste management practices in the study area. Therefore, to reduce undesirable effects and improve the value of SW, the relevant authorities should provide adequate solid waste landfills and door-to-door collection services, create awareness about SWM rules and regulations, and promote knowledge of the 3Rs.

Railway-induced vibration combined with railway noise - a systematic review with exposure-effect curves

The combined health impact of concurrent railway noise and railway vibration exposure is not yet well understood. This systematic review aimed to investigate the combined effects of vibration and concurrent noise. We converted the vibration metric to an equivalent noise level and calculated an overall noise level by energetically summing the equivalent and railway noise level. The combined health effect was determined by using published evidence-based exposure-effect formulas. Studies included in this systematic review predominately investigated annoyance and self-reported sleep disturbances; no studies on manifest diseases were identified. For the combined effects of vibration and noise on "total" annoyance, the results based on the pooled analysis of CargoVibes project are recommended as conservative approach. Our results based on epidemiological studies are corroborated by findings of laboratory studies. Converting railway vibration into equivalent noise levels in dB may offer a pragmatic approach to assess the combined health effects of railway noise and railway vibration exposure. Future studies should include cardiovascular and mental diseases in addition to vibration-induced annoyance and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, future studies should include in-depth investigations of the interaction between railway noise and railway vibration to allow for a more accurate assessment of the railway-induced burden of disease.

Evidence-based recommendation of threshold values for protection against adverse health effects of aircraft noise

For communities around airports, the German Aircraft Noise Protection Act (FluLaermG) defines two noise protection zones (NPZ) for the daytime (6am - 10pm) and one for the night-time (10pm - 6am). Threshold values of aircraft noise exposure demarcate these zones. For residential properties within the NPZ, the FluLaermG regulates building restrictions and the eligibility for reimbursement of noise insulation, which, regarding the daytime, are stricter for NPZ day 1 than for NPZ day 2. On behalf of the Aircraft Noise Commission, Frankfurt, an expert opinion was prepared to evaluate the threshold values for airport regions in the FluLaermG from the perspective of noise effect research. For this, a threshold value system (TVS) for demarcation of the protection zones was developed based on results of a systematic literature review on health effects of aircraft noise. This contribution provides an overview of key results of the review underlying the TVS and outlines the rationale for the system. The proposed compelling threshold values for avoiding unacceptable health effects of aircraft noise for civil airport regions are 56 dB LAeq,day (NPZ day 1), 51 dB LAeq,day (NPZ day 2), and 44 dB LAeq,night (NPZ night).