Health Effects Of Exposure Research Articles

Effects of indoor air pollution exposure on lung function of children in selected schools in Kigali, Rwanda

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) in schools significantly contributes to respiratory problems among children found in such learning environments. There is limited information about the health effects of exposure to PM in schools in Rwanda. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse effects of PM on children’s lung function in selected schools in Kigali, Rwanda. The study was conducted in six public primary schools classified as highly or moderately exposed schools based on their proximity to pollution sources. The study involved 107 randomly selected children aged 8 to 15. The study measured the indoor air concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 and tested the lung function of school children. Three lung function indicators including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured. Both forms of data were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. Air quality was monitored in classrooms using Purple Air PA-II sensors, and the children’s lung function was measured using a spirometer. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and lung function at p = 0.05. The findings showed that the concentrations of PM2.5 were two to five times higher, and PM10 levels were about two times higher than the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines. Both PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with reduced lung function, regardless of the season. The present study shows significant adverse effects of exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 on the lung function of children in the selected schools. Hence there is the need to take measures to improve air quality and protect the health of school communities.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in adults is associated with immune cell gene expression related to inflammation, the electron transport chain and cell cycle regulation.

Abstract Exposure to air pollution and an unhealthy built environment increase disease risk by impacting metabolic risk factors and inflammation, potentially via epigenetic modifications and effects on gene expression. We aimed to explore associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, distance to nearest water body, normalized difference vegetation index, and impervious surface and gene expression profiles in adults. This study is a part of the LongITools project and includes cross-sectional data from the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study, and NoMa, a randomized controlled trial. Environmental exposures were assigned using land-use regression (LUR) models and satellite data. Gene expression was assessed with whole blood RNA sequencing (Rotterdam Study, n=758) and microarray analyses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (NoMa, n=100). We analyzed transcriptomic profiles and enriched pathways associated with each of the environmental exposures. PM2.5 had the strongest gene expression associations, while only a few significant associations were observed for the other environmental exposures. In both populations, exposure to PM2.5 was associated with genes and pathways related to inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA metabolism, cell cycle regulation, histones, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation and neural signaling. This study is limited by different methods for RNA quantification, a cross-sectional design and a small sample size. However, in both populations, exposure to PM2.5 resulted in the maximum number of associations with gene expression. In conclusion, PM2.5 is strongly associated with various gene expression profiles, which provide information about the underlying mechanisms of the detrimental health effects of exposure to PM2.5.

Current understanding of human bioaccumulation patterns and health effects of exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Current understanding of human bioaccumulation patterns and health effects of exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Morphological and chemical characterization of nanoplastics in human tissue.

Micro- (≤ 5 mm) and nano- (≤ 1 µm) plastics have become ubiquitous resulting in inevitable human exposure. Evidence exists of mass-based accumulation of plastic in human tissues with visualization of micron-sized particles (> 1 µm). To date, there is little evidence to address accumulated nanoplastics. Understanding internalized plastic particle morphological and chemical characteristics is essential to facilitate proper design of future mechanistic and controlled exposure health effects studies to determine whether any health-related risks exist. Here we show microscopic evidence and quantitative dimensional analysis of nanoplastics in human decedent brain, kidney, and liver tissues. Mean particle lengths (nm) across the five decedents were 171.2±4.6 for brain, 124.4±3.6 for kidney, and 147.6±6.6 for liver. Mean particle widths (nm) were 45.9±1.5 for brain, 32.3±0.7 for kidney, and 36.1±1.3 for liver. When examining the aspect ratio, 78-83% consisted mostly of an elongated nanometer sized fiber morphology. The study provides isolation with physical and chemical characterization of nanoplastics in human tissues. Interestingly, differences were greater between tissues of a single decedent than across decedents. Consistently, the nanoplastics were largest in the brain. The observations overall suggest specificity with respect to systemic internalization and subsequent tissue accumulation of plastic particles less than one micron.

Agricultural Employer Perspectives on Occupational Wildfire Smoke Rules

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of the study was to examine the perspectives of agricultural employers and managers regarding wildfire smoke-related occupational health and safety protections. The aims were to (1) explore implementation and evaluation of the Washington (WA) State Department of Labor and Industries Wildfire Smoke Rule, (2) develop a survey to explore perspectives on the rule, and (3) examine the relationship between occupational roles and knowledge and training received related to components of the rule. Methods We used exploratory sequential mixed methods, including key informant interviews with industry stakeholders, survey design, and online survey administration for agricultural employers and managers. Thematic analysis of interviews informed survey design. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze survey results. Results Our team interviewed seven agricultural industry stakeholders. Three themes were identified: (1) competing demands and regulation fatigue, (2) workplace attitude and culture, and (3) suggestions for rule implementation and evaluation. Themes and components of the smoke rule were used to develop the survey. Of the 128 survey respondents, almost half (45.1%) reported owner or grower as their role and 39.3% reported supervisors or managers. Over half (51.6%) of respondents reported fewer than 25 employees in their workplace and 17.2% reported 250 or more employees. Respondents were from multiple WA counties and worked with various crops. Most employers and workers they supervise reported wildfire smoke exposure at work and related adverse symptoms. Almost one-third of respondents reported they had not heard of the smoke rule (33.3%). Over half of respondents have not received training on managing workers with smoke-related symptoms (53.9%). About one-third has not received training on air quality monitoring (40.0%), health effects of exposure (36.8%), and implementing protective controls (31.0%). Differences in knowledge and training on rule components by occupational role were insignificant. Conclusion Findings identify gaps in awareness and training regarding protection from wildfire smoke in the agricultural workplace, especially around symptom recognition and management. Barriers to implementing protective controls in the workplace were identified. Findings will inform targeted outreach and educational toolkits for the agricultural industry and support the development and evaluation of protective occupational health rules.

Hematological biochemical and liver function changes associated with BTEX exposure in a six year retrospective cohort study

This 6-year retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the health effects of exposure to BTEX compounds in a petroleum products distribution company in Iran. Blood samples were collected annually from both exposed and control groups at the start of each work shift and analyzed for a range of hematological, biochemical, and liver function parameters, including lymphocyte, neutrophil, ALT, AST, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCHC, platelet, WBC, RBC, TG, LDL, and HDL. Annual monitoring of BTEX exposure was conducted using the standard NIOSH 1501 method. The study found significant time-dependent effects of BTEX exposure on liver function, lipid profile, and hematopoietic parameters. Linear mixed-effects models revealed consistent increases in ALT, TG, Hb, and MCHC levels in the exposed group compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences (β = 1.10, p = 0.029; β = 6.56, p = 0.016; β = 0.85, p = 0.013; β = 0.87, p = 0.027). Additionally, the model fitting results for LDL indicated a decreasing trend in the exposed group compared to the control group, which was also statistically significant (β = -1.76, p = 0.034). These findings suggest that long-term exposure to BTEX compounds may have adverse health effects on the liver, lipid profile, and hematopoietic system. Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to confirm these findings and explore the long-term health effects of BTEX exposure.

Modifying effects of prenatal exposure to rare earth elements on birth outcomes through maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy.

Modifying effects of prenatal exposure to rare earth elements on birth outcomes through maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy.

Experimental study of the combined effect of benzene exposure and physical load in rats

Introduction. The working process in many industries is often associated not only with chemical exposures but also with heavy physical workload, which can be potent of toxic effects of the former differently. The purpose of the study was to establish body responses to effects of benzene exposure combined with exercise in an experiment on rats. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on mature male Wistar rats, ten animals in each of the following groups: “Control”, “Running”, “Benzene exposure”, and “Benzene exposure + running”. Subchronic toxicity was modelled by intragastric administration of benzene thrice a week for 4 weeks in a cumulative dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Exercise was modelled by means of 10-minute forced running sessions at a speed of 25 m/min 5 times a week for 4 weeks. We then measured post-exposure biochemical and hematological indices and the proportion of different types of cells in imprint smears of rat internal organs. Statistical data analysis was carried out using the Student’s t-test with p<0.05. For mathematical modelling of the combined effect of factors, we applied a Response Surface Method (RSM) with the construction of Loewe isobols on its basis. Results. Almost no statistically significant changes were registered in the rodents who exercised while statistical ones were sporadic and diagnostically insignificant in most cases. Benzene exposure induced changes in blood indices indicating blood clotting disorders, typical of chronic exposure to benzene, and in the antioxidant system. The impact of running on health effects of benzene exposure was ambiguous but isobolographic analysis showed possible additivity and even synergy, both detrimental to health, in 15.6 % of cases. Limitations. Extrapolation of the study results to human should be done with caution, since the combined effect has been examined only for subchronic exposure using a single species and sex of laboratory animals. Conclusion. Additivity proven by a number of indices of toxic effect gives important information for understanding and predicting health effects of exposure to organic pollutants combined with physical activity.

Distributed lag models for retrospective cohort data with application to a study of built environment and body weight.

Distributed lag models (DLMs) estimate the health effects of exposure over multiple time lags prior to the outcome and are widely used in time series studies. Applying DLMs to retrospective cohort studies is challenging due to inconsistent lengths of exposure history across participants, which is common when using electronic health record databases. A standard approach is to define subcohorts of individuals with some minimum exposure history, but this limits power and may amplify selection bias. We propose alternative full-cohort methods that use all available data while simultaneously enabling examination of the longest time lag estimable in the cohort. Through simulation studies, we find that restricting to a subcohort can lead to biased estimates of exposure effects due to confounding by correlated exposures at more distant lags. By contrast, full-cohort methods that incorporate multiple imputation of complete exposure histories can avoid this bias to efficiently estimate lagged and cumulative effects. Applying full-cohort DLMs to a study examining the association between residential density (a proxy for walkability) over 12years and body weight, we find evidence of an immediate effect in the prior 1-2years. We also observed an association at the maximal lag considered (12years prior), which we posit reflects an earlier ($\ge$12years) or incrementally increasing prior effect over time. DLMs can be efficiently incorporated within retrospective cohort studies to identify critical windows of exposure.

Development of a framework to structure decision-making in environmental and occupational health: A systematic review and Delphi study.

Environmental and occupational health (EOH) assessments increasingly utilize systematic review methods and structured frameworks for evaluating evidence about the human health effects of exposures. However, there is no prevailing approach for how to integrate this evidence into decisions or recommendations. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence-to-decision (EtD) frameworks provide a structure to support standardized and transparent consideration of relevant criteria to inform health decisions. This study identifies and synthesizes available EOH decision frameworks and evaluates the applicability and usability of an existing GRADE EtD perspective to advance the development of a tailored EOH EtD framework. We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, and a manual search of gray literature to identify frameworks that inform decision-making about EOH exposures from the years 2011 to 2021. We abstracted and analyzed decision considerations from each framework through narrative synthesis. Next, we conducted a two-round Delphi process, engaging stakeholders from the following perspectives within environmental and occupational health: risk assessment and management, nutrition and food safety, cancer, and socio-economic analysis. Panelists rated the relevance and wording of each consideration on a 7-point Likert scale and provided free-text comments during both phases. Considerations that did not meet predetermined thresholds were excluded. Out of 5,196 unique references, we identified 22 published reports of EOH decision frameworks. We identified another 16 frameworks in a search of gray literature, totaling 38 source frameworks. We abstracted 560 individual decision considerations from these frameworks, 104 of which may contribute additional information to the guidance, scope, context, or assessment criteria of the GRADE EtD framework. In round 1 of the Delphi study, 50 decision considerations were aggregated or removed, and 9 were aggregated or removed after round 2, for a final total of 47. No new decision considerations were added in either round. We identified several differences between decision criteria that are applied in EOH and the GRADE EtD framework, including vocabulary that is specific to EOH (e.g., toxicity, the precautionary principle), and granularity of the EOH decision considerations (e.g., detailed signaling questions to assess feasibility and resources required). However, this study did not identify any EOH decision criteria that are completely distinct from the GRADE EtD framework. Findings of this mixed-methods study comprise a foundation for a GRADE EtD that is applicable for use in EOH decision-making, with implications for approaches to regulation of environmental and occupational exposures and the formulation of recommendations for interventions to prevent or mitigate undesirable health and other consequences.

Medical Consequences After a Fume Event in Commercial Airline Crews

INTRODUCTION: Many questions are still being asked about the actual health effects of exposure to a fume event for airline crewmembers. To shed new light on this controversy about so-called aerotoxic syndrome, we undertook a large-scale epidemiological study. METHODS: We present a retrospective cohort study involving 14,953 crewmembers, including 2577 exposed to a fume event and 12,376 matched controls to estimate the hazard ratio of a subsequent sickness. RESULTS: Prevalence of diseases that could be related to the fume event based on “possible” or “probable” level and date of occurrence after the fume event was for exposed (controls): neurological 2.9% (2.9%), psychiatric 2.5% (2.4%), vegetative 1.8% (1.5%), irritative 5.1% (4.5%), and functional 2.8% (3.2%). Differences were not significant. Incidences of having any related disease are estimated at 1552 per 100,000 person-years for exposed and 1497 per 100,000 person-years for controls, with a nonsignificant hazard ratio of 1.04 (0.86–1.25) in the Cox model. A subset of 2577 matched pairs exposed/control allowing specific statistical tests for paired data confirmed the lack of difference between exposed and controls: matched-pair risk ratio for any fume event related disease was 1.07 (0.85–1.34). DISCUSSION: Our results clearly show that fume events are not associated with significant clinical consequences for cabin and cockpit crew. This work does not support the proposal of an “aerotoxic syndrome” in association with exposure to fume events. Klerlein M, Dubiez L. Medical consequences after a fume event in commercial airline crews. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(1):12–17.

Medical Consequences After a Fume Event in Commercial Airline Crews.

Many questions are still being asked about the actual health effects of exposure to a fume event for airline crewmembers. To shed new light on this controversy about so-called aerotoxic syndrome, we undertook a large-scale epidemiological study. We present a retrospective cohort study involving 14,953 crewmembers, including 2577 exposed to a fume event and 12,376 matched controls to estimate the hazard ratio of a subsequent sickness. Prevalence of diseases that could be related to the fume event based on "possible" or "probable" level and date of occurrence after the fume event was for exposed (controls): neurological 2.9% (2.9%), psychiatric 2.5% (2.4%), vegetative 1.8% (1.5%), irritative 5.1% (4.5%), and functional 2.8% (3.2%). Differences were not significant. Incidences of having any related disease are estimated at 1552 per 100,000 person-years for exposed and 1497 per 100,000 person-years for controls, with a nonsignificant hazard ratio of 1.04 (0.86-1.25) in the Cox model. A subset of 2577 matched pairs exposed/control allowing specific statistical tests for paired data confirmed the lack of difference between exposed and controls: matched-pair risk ratio for any fume event related disease was 1.07 (0.85-1.34). Our results clearly show that fume events are not associated with significant clinical consequences for cabin and cockpit crew. This work does not support the proposal of an "aerotoxic syndrome" in association with exposure to fume events. Klerlein M, Dubiez L. Medical consequences after a fume event in commercial airline crews. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(1):12-17.

Introducing the OECD guidance document on occupational biomonitoring: A harmonized methodology for deriving occupational biomonitoring levels (OBL).

Introducing the OECD guidance document on occupational biomonitoring: A harmonized methodology for deriving occupational biomonitoring levels (OBL).

LIFETIME ABUSE VICTIMIZATION AND PROSPECTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Lifetime abuse victimization indicates cumulative violence exposures or repeated victimizations within and/or across different life stages. The current study aims to examine the patterns of lifetime abuse victimization that span childhood to older adulthood and evaluate the associations between lifetime abuse victimization and prospective health outcomes in late adulthood. Data were drawn from 4907 older adults (mean age = 80) from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. We assessed the exposure to interpersonal violence including childhood abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse until the respondents’ age of early 70s. A series of multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the associations of a cumulative score of lifetime abuse victimization with depression, physical health status, and memory in respondents’ age of early 80s. On average, respondents experienced 1.1 exposure to lifetime abuse victimization (SD = 1.53). Greater exposure to lifetime abuse was associated with a significantly higher risk of depression and a greater number of limitations in physical functioning, but not with memory performance. When examined separately by abuse type, childhood abuse was associated with more health limitations and elder abuse was associated with a higher risk of depression and more health limitations. Our results support the interrelations of interpersonal violence across the life course and the lasting health effects of exposure to lifetime abuse, which can lead researchers and practitioners to adopt a more comprehensive conceptualization of interpersonal violence victimization. Findings also highlight the need for a life course-based, trauma-informed approach in prevention and intervention programs for older adults.

Polyherbal dentifrice: A review of literature

Overall well-being depends on one's oral health. It impacts not just our general health but also our capacity to eat; speak; and smile with assurance. Numerous systemic disorders; Poor oral health has been linked to conditions including diabetes; heart disease; and respiratory infections. Toothpaste is essential for preserving dental health. Plaque and germs are eliminated; cavities are avoided; foul breath is lessened; and gum disease is avoided. Certain toothpastes have components that can help whiten teeth and get rid of surface stains. Growing knowledge of natural components: People are looking for natural substitutes for synthetic chemicals as they become more aware of the substances in the items they consume. Concerns about chemical exposure is the Many people are concerned about the potential long-term health effects of exposure to chemicals found in conventional toothpastes. Polyherbal toothpastes; composed of a blend of natural herbs; offer a range of pharmacological activities that contribute to oral health. People are trying to replace these products with safe; affordable; and natural alternatives that have notable effects. The effectiveness of natural excipients as teeth-whitening agents was the main topic of this paper.

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.

A critical review on the toxicological and epidemiological evidence integration for assessing human health risks to environmental chemical exposures.

Toxicology and epidemiology are the two traditional public health scientific disciplines which can contribute to investigate harmful health effects of exposure to toxic substances. Several frameworks for integrating different lines of evidence were proposed since 2011, evolving based of the emergence of new methodologies and approaches. Through the comparison of various theoretical frameworks for evidence integration, we examined similarities, differences, strengths, and weaknesses to provide insights into potential directions for future research. We identified several key challenges of the integration approach to be applied to risk assessment. More specifically, collaboration within a multidisciplinary team of scientists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and risk assessors, is strongly recommended to be aligned with key regulatory objectives and promote a harmonized approach. Moreover, literature search transparency and systematicity have to be ensured by following validated guidelines, developing parallel protocols for collecting epidemiological and toxicological evidence from various sources, including human, animal, and new approach methodologies (NAMs). Also, the adoption of tailored quality assessment tools is essential to grade the certainty in evidence. Lastly, we recommend the use of the Adverse Outcome Pathway framework to provide a structured understanding of toxicity mechanisms and allow the integration of human, animal, and NAMs data within a single framework.

Gaps in Knowledge Relevant to the "ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz TO 300 GHz)".

In the last 30 y, observational as well as experimental studies have addressed possible health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) and investigated potential interaction mechanisms. The main goal of ICNIRP is to protect people and the environment from detrimental exposure to all forms of non-ionizing radiation (NIR), providing advice and guidance by developing and disseminating exposure guidelines based on the available scientific research on specific parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. During the development of International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection's (ICNIRP's) 2020 radiofrequency EMF guidelines some gaps in the available data were identified. To encourage further research into knowledge gaps in research that would, if addressed, assist ICNIRP in further developing guidelines and setting revised recommendations on limiting exposure, data gaps that were identified during the development of the 2020 radiofrequency EMF guidelines, in conjunction with subsequent consideration of the literature, are described in this Statement. Note that this process and resultant recommendations were not intended to duplicate more traditional research agendas, whose focus is on extending knowledge in this area more generally but was tightly focused on identifying the highest data gap priorities for guidelines development more specifically. The result of this distinction is that the present data gap recommendations do not include some gaps in the literature that in principle could be relevant to radiofrequency EMF health, but which were excluded because either the link between exposure and endpoint, or the link between endpoint and health, was not supported sufficiently by the literature. The evaluation of these research areas identified the following data gaps: (1) Issues concerning relations between radiofrequency EMF exposure and heat-induced pain; (2) Clarification of the relation between whole-body exposure and core temperature rise from 100 kHz to 300 GHz, as a function of exposure duration and combined EMF exposures; (3) Adverse effect thresholds and thermal dosimetry for a range of ocular structures; (4) Pain thresholds for contact currents under a range of exposure scenarios, including associated dosimetry; and (5) A range of additional dosimetry studies to both support future research, and also to improve the application of radiofrequency EMF exposure restrictions in future guidelines.

An Intercriteria Approach to Assessing the Impact of Air Pollutants on Premature Deaths in the European Union

Abstract Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe, with heart disease and stroke being the most common causes of premature death due to air pollution. This study estimates the health effects of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) in terms of years of life lost (YLL) and premature mortality within the European Union over a five-year period from 2018 to 2022. The InterCriteria Approach (ICrA) is employed, utilizing data provided by the European Environment Agency. ICrA, which is based on the theories of intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and index matrices (IMs), offers a modern interpretation of classical correlation analysis under parameter uncertainty. ICrA refrains from using the term “correlation” between criteria and instead employs the terms “positive consonance”, “negative consonance”, and “dissonance”. IFS theory, an extension of Zadeh’s fuzzy sets, handles uncertain data, while IMs digitize intuitionistic fuzzy information for ICrA application. The results highlight the primary air pollutants that significantly influence years of life lost and premature mortality, providing valuable insights for public health policies in the European Union.

The Role of Simulation Science in Public Health at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: An Overview and Analysis of the Last Decade.

Environmental exposures are ubiquitous and play a significant, and sometimes understated, role in public health as they can lead to the development of various chronic and infectious diseases. In an ideal world, there would be sufficient experimental data to determine the health effects of exposure to priority environmental contaminants. However, this is not the case, as emerging chemicals are continuously added to this list, furthering the data gaps. Recently, simulation science has evolved and can provide appropriate solutions using a multitude of computational methods and tools. In its quest to protect communities across the country from environmental health threats, ATSDR employs a variety of simulation science tools such as Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling, and benchmark dose (BMD) modeling, among others. ATSDR's use of such tools has enabled the agency to evaluate exposures in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. ATSDR's work in simulation science has also had a notable impact beyond the agency, as evidenced by external researchers' widespread appraisal and adaptation of the agency's methodology. ATSDR continues to advance simulation science tools and their applications by collaborating with researchers within and outside the agency, including other federal/state agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and academia.