Health Effects Of Exposure Research Articles

PFAS Exposures and the Human Metabolome: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies.

There is a growing interest in understanding the health effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through the study of the human metabolome. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify consistent findings between PFAS and metabolomic signatures. We conducted a search matching specific keywords that was independently reviewed by two authors on two databases (EMBASE and PubMed) from their inception through July 19, 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. We identified a total of 28 eligible observational studies that evaluated the associations between 31 different PFAS exposures and metabolomics in humans. The most common exposure evaluated was legacy long-chain PFAS. Population sample sizes ranged from 40 to 1,105 participants at different stages across the lifespan. A total of 19 studies used a non-targeted metabolomics approach, 7 used targeted approaches, and 2 included both. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (n = 25), including four with prospective analyses of PFAS measured prior to metabolomics. Most frequently reported associations across studies were observed between PFAS and amino acids, fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, phosphosphingolipids, bile acids, ceramides, purines, and acylcarnitines. Corresponding metabolic pathways were also altered, including lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, nucleotide, energy metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. We found consistent evidence across studies indicating PFAS-induced alterations in lipid and amino acid metabolites, which may be involved in energy and cell membrane disruption.

Assessing the chemical composition, potential toxicity and cancer risk of airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) near a petrochemical industrial area

In the vicinity of a petrochemical industrial region in São Paulo, Brazil, PM2.5-bound organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, hopanes, and inorganic species were evaluated. Oxidative potential (OP), burden (OB), and Alivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition (AFBIA) assays were conducted to determine the potential health effects of exposure to these compounds. The PM2.5 mean concentration was 32.0 ± 18.2 µg m−3, and benzo (a)pyrene was found to exceed recommended levels by at least four times. Secondary sources and vehicular emissions were indicated by nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, and inorganic species. The OP and OB results revealed that secondary compounds favored antioxidant depletion. The AFBIA results showed that 64 % of the samples were toxic. These findings emphasize the need to reduce the exposure risk and take measures to protect human health.

Long-term health and human capital effects of in utero exposure to an industrial disaster: a spatial difference-in-differences analysis of the Bhopal gas tragedy

ObjectivesGlobalisation and industrialisation can increase economic opportunity for low/middle-income nations, but these processes may also increase industrial accidents and harm workers. This paper examines the long-term, cohort-based health effects of...

Integrative literature review: Ethylene oxide exposure signs and symptoms.

Although ethylene oxide (EtO) gas is designated as a human carcinogen, extant literature reports mixed findings on the health effects of exposure. The disparate findings may reflect industry bias as many studies were funded by a large chemical industry lobby. To conduct an integrative review of studies free from industry bias to facilitate compilation of a comprehensive list of reported signs and symptoms of EtO exposure. We reviewed 1887 papers of which 42 articles met inclusion criteria. The authors conducted this review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The presence of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. Non-industry biased literature confirmed serious adverse health effects associated with EtO exposure at the occupational, hospital, and community level. EtO represents a carcinogen, neurotoxin, and respiratory irritant. After removal of industry-biased studies, EtO was unequivocally found to pose a threat to human health. There remains a gap in the number of studies examining community-level exposure, which is essential to understanding the impact of EtO. Given that EtO-emitting facilities are concentrated in diverse and disadvantaged communities, further study of EtO exposure health effects is warranted to inform public policy on toxic air emissions.

The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?

Exposure to asbestos fibres causes asbestosis, mesothelioma and several other cancers, which together are commonly referred to as asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). The use of asbestos increased rapidly in Australia and overseas throughout the 1900s, but knowledge about the health effects of exposure and subsequent controls came about more gradually. In Australia today, an estimated 4000 people still die annually from ARDs. While most of these deaths are due to past occupational exposures, there is ongoing concern about the many potential sources of asbestos exposure remaining in homes and the broader built environment as a legacy of past use. Current evidence indicates that Australians will continue to be exposed to legacy asbestos occupationally and non-occupationally, and continue to develop ARDs, without targeted action to prevent it. Evidence of ongoing exposure highlights the importance of better understanding how and why such exposures might still occur, and how they can be effectively prevented or controlled, with the aim of preventing the disease in the future. A better characterisation of this risk is also necessary to enable effective risk management and appropriate risk communication that is relevant to the current Australian context. This article explores the past, present and future of ARDs in Australia, considers the risk of a new wave of ARDs from legacy asbestos, and identifies where further study is required so that sustainable policies and practices can be developed to prevent a future wave of diseases.

147 Keynote: Bioaerosols Associated with Waste and Recycling – Balancing the Circular Economy with Occupational Health and Safety

Abstract Economic and environmental pressures are increasingly driving all areas of industry, not least waste and recycling. For many years waste disposal was the forgotten industrial sector, with little attention paid other than finding an out-of-the-way location for a landfill site. Initially, concerns about environmental consequences of pollution stimulated alternative approaches. This led to recycling becoming a virtue, then a legal necessity through reduce-reuse-recycle and targets driven by national and international legislation. However, the virtues and legal requirements to minimise single use disposal of waste materials and encouraging greater recycling has to be done without adding to human health risk. Domestic and commercial waste is by definition a complex and diverse mix of materials requiring separation into individual recyclable products. Despite increasing automation, waste recycling still remains (and will for some time to come) labour-intensive. Some practices associated with waste recycling may increase the potential for workers to be exposed to dusts, chemicals and, where organic materials are involved, bioaerosols (airborne micro-organisms or their products). Uncontrolled exposure to bioaerosols via inhalation can increase the potential for allergic lung disease, potentially putting waste and recycling workers at risk. Engineering control such as the use of local exhaust ventilation is feasible but can be difficult to apply, and personal protection often is not a practical alternative. This presentation will describe research showing potential exposure to bioaerosols in waste composting, materials recycling facilities and energy from waste, the possible health consequences of exposure, and will consider practical mitigations applicable to the industry.

65 The Adverse Health Effects of Exposure to PM2.5 on the London Underground

Abstract Transport for London (TfL) employed 36,506 staff between 2014 and 2019, 22,202 worked within the London Underground (LU). Employees were regularly exposed to PM2.5 concentrations 15-fold higher than those found above ground in London. However, PM2.5 in the LU differs in physical and chemical characteristics relative to outdoor air, and the health impacts are largely unquantified. This project aims to quantify LU PM exposure of staff and measure its impact on cardiorespiratory sickness absence. A job exposure matrix was developed to model TfL employee PM2.5 exposure based on their jobs. Measurement campaigns were deployed across the LU network to validate and revise staff PM2.5 exposure, which was then linked to sickness absence records. Poisson models were developed to explore the relationship with cardiorespiratory sickness absence. PM2.5 exposure of customer service staff varied depending on their grade and tasks they undertake. Concentrations ranged from 2 to 138 µg/m3 in the offices and 3 to 1,036 µg/m3 on the platforms. Drivers’ PM2.5 exposure was dependent on the line they worked on and the amount of time the train spent underground. Drivers have the highest PM2.5 exposure (median: 130 µg/m3) among all TfL staff and the highest mean number of all-cause (6.7) and respiratory (1.5) sickness absence episodes. This is the largest study to quantify LU PM exposure and the associated health effects within a London occupational cohort. It will contribute to a safer working environment for staff and to a better understanding of the potential health impact on the commuting population.

Impact of Particulate Matter Concentration on Human Health: A Glance of Review

Particulate matter (PM) concentration and its impact on human health attracted a lot of attention globally during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Monitoring and analysis of PM concentration was being done but not to the extent required on the global scale. The covid epidemic caused more emphasis on the monitoring and analysis of PM concentrations due to their impact on the human respiratory system. Thus, an attempt was made to review the monitoring, analysis, and health effects of exposure to PM. It was reported that PM2.5 concentrations not only impact human health via the respiratory system but also lead to Type II diabetes. This paper reviewed some of the mechanisms involved in the development of Type II diabetes on exposure to PM2.5, and the impact of particulate matter on respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. Furthermore, carcinogenicity effects on humans of exposure to PM in the atmosphere were briefly review.

Cascading disasters and mental health: The February 2021 winter storm and power crisis in Texas, USA

In February 2021, the state of Texas and large parts of the US were affected by a severe cold air outbreak and winter weather event. This event resulted in large-scale power outages and cascading impacts, including limited access to potable water, multiple days without electricity, and large-scale infrastructure damage. Little is known about the mental health implications of these events, as most research has predominantly focused on the mental health effects of exposure to hurricanes, wildfires, or other natural disasters that are more commonly found in the summer months. This study aimed to analyze the crisis responses from the 2021 winter weather event in Texas using Crisis Text Line, a text-based messaging service that provides confidential crisis counseling nationwide. To date, Crisis Text Line is the largest national crisis text service, with over 8 million crisis conversations since its inception in 2013. We employed multiple analytic techniques, including segmented regression, interrupted time series, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and difference-in-difference (DID), to investigate distinct time periods of exposure for all crisis conversations. ARIMA and DID were further utilized to examine specific crisis outcomes, including depression, stress/anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Results found increases in total crisis conversations and for thoughts of suicide after the initial winter weather event; however, crisis outcomes varied in time. Thoughts of suicide in high-impact regions were higher across multiple time periods (e.g., 4-weeks, 3-months, 6-months, 9-months and 11-months) compared to low-impact regions and were elevated compared to pre-event time periods for 6-months and 11-months from the initial event. Total crisis volume also remained elevated for high-impact regions compared to low-impact regions up to 11-months after the beginning of the winter event. Our work highlights that cascading winter weather events, like the Texas 2021 Winter storm, negatively impacted mental health. Future research is needed across different disaster types (e.g., cascading, concurrent events) and for specific crisis outcomes (e.g., depression, suicidal ideation) to understand the optimal timing of crisis intervention post-disaster.

Measurement in the study of human exposure to animal feces: A systematic review and audit.

Human exposure to animal feces is increasingly recognized as an important transmission route of enteric pathogens. Yet, there are no consistent or standardized approaches to measurement of this exposure, limiting assessment of the human health effects and scope of the issue. To inform and improve approaches to the measurement of human exposure to animal feces, we audited existing measurement in low- and middle-income countries. We systematically searched peer-reviewed and gray literature databases for studies with quantitative measures of human exposure to animal feces and we classified measures in two ways. First, using a novel conceptual model, we categorized measures into three 'Exposure Components' identified a priori (i.e., Animal, Environmental, Human Behavioral); one additional Component (Evidence of Exposure) inductively emerged. Second, using the exposure science conceptual framework, we determined where measures fell along the source-to-outcome continuum. We identified 1,428 measures across 184 included studies. Although studies overwhelmingly included more than one single-item measure, the majority only captured one Exposure Component. For example, many studies used several single-item measures to capture the same attribute for different animals, all of which were classified as the same Component. Most measures captured information about the source (e.g. animal presence) and contaminant (e.g. animal-sourced pathogens), which are most distal from exposure on the source-to-outcome continuum. We found that measurement of human exposure to animal feces is diverse and largely distal from exposure. To facilitate better assessment of the human health effects of exposure and scope of the issue, rigorous and consistent measures are needed. We recommend a list of key factors from the Animal, Environmental, and Human Behavioral Exposure Components to measure. We also propose using the exposure science conceptual framework to identify proximal measurement approaches.

Risk of adverse newborn outcomes among women who experienced physical and psychological intimate partner abuse during pregnancy in Ghana's northern region

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is common worldwide. However, the health effects of exposure to IPV during pregnancy are significantly more severe. We investigated the relationship between exposure to IPV during pregnancy and the risk of preterm and low birthweight births among women in Ghana's northern region. MethodsWe recruited 402 postnatal women aged 15–49 years from five selected public health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis of the northern region of Ghana. Using Kobo Collect, information on a wide range of factors, including exposure to IPV during the last pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, was collected electronically. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted in Stata to determine the associations between prenatal exposure to IPV and binary measures of gestational age at birth and birthweight. ResultsOverall, 35.1% (95% CI: 30.5, 39.9) of the respondents experienced IPV during their recent pregnancy; 6.7% (95% CI: 4.6, 9.6) experienced physical IPV; and 34.8% (95% CI: 30.3, 39.6) experienced psychological IPV. The prevalence of preterm and low birthweight deliveries was 18.9% (95% CI: 15.4, 23.1) and 9.0% (95% CI: 6.5, 12.2), respectively. Prenatal exposure to IPV was linked to poor newborn outcomes by multivariable binary regression models. Women who suffered IPV during their last pregnancy were three times more likely to deliver low birthweight babies (AOR = 3.12: 95% CI: 1.42, 6.84). Exposed women were also about twice as likely to deliver prematurely, although this association was not statistically significant (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 0.97, 3.38). ConclusionExposure to IPV during pregnancy increases a woman's risk of delivering prematurely and having a low birthweight baby. IPV screening should be a regular part of ANC, so that pregnant women who are experiencing IPV can be monitored and supported to avoid adverse outcomes for their babies.

Air pollution and respiratory health-Do we really need more evidence?

Air pollution and respiratory health-Do we really need more evidence?

Health effects of exposure to particulate matter and physical activity by individual sustainable commuting modes

Promotion of sustainable commuting modes (e.g., walking, cycling and electric mobility) is considered as a promising solution to achieve sustainability. Active travel may also increase physical activity, which is beneficial for health. But it increases health burdens by directly exposing commuters to air pollution. There is a lack of generalizable quantitative approaches to comprehensively evaluate the health outcomes of sustainable plans during the design period. In this research, we aim to examine the long-term combined health impacts of commuting by walking, cycling, and e-moped in Cangzhou, China, a populous industrial city with high air pollution levels, to inform decision-making prior to the implementation of sustainable strategies. A taxi-based mobile remote sensing system was implemented to create a link-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration map to overcome the insufficiency of sparse fixing monitoring network, which allows researchers to determine joint relative risks of all-cause mortality at a finer spatial scale. Results show that the benefits always outweighed the risks for active commuting at the case study site, even in high polluted days. E-moped commuters experienced a negative burden. In our case, encouraging these commuters to travel during off-peak periods to reduce exposure might not be effective and could even lead to greater PM2.5 exposure than during peak periods (up to 0.37 μg/km). The proposed method can be applied to different locations, providing decision makers with the information needed to target interventions to achieve sustainability.

Outlining Potential Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect to Critical Minerals: Nutritionally Essential Trace Elements and the Rare Earth Elements.

Emerging and low-carbon technologies and innovations are driving a need for domestic sources, sustainable use, and availability of critical minerals (CMs)-those vital to the national and economic security of the United States. Understanding the known and potential health effects of exposures to such mineral commodities can inform prudent and environmentally responsible handling and harvesting. We review the occurrence, use, predominant exposure pathways, and adverse outcome pathways (AOP) for human and fish receptors of those CMs that are nutritionally essential trace metals (specifically, cobalt, chromium, manganese, nickel, and zinc), as well as the rare earth elements. Biological responses to some elements having comparable biogeochemistry can sometimes be similar. Candidate quantifiable biomarkers for assessing potential AOP are conveyed.

Construction noise effects on human health: Evidence from physiological measures

Noise pollution caused by construction activities in urban areas is a serious problem. Construction noise can affect human health and well-being negatively. This study utilised physiological data including heart rate parameters, Respiratory Rate (RR), and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) to explore the effects of construction noise on human health. Different construction noise types (saw, jackhammer, pile driver, bulldozer), levels (55, 65, 75 and 85 dBA), and exposure durations (30, 60, 120, and 180 s) were examined in a lab-based experiment. The noise conditions were reproduced for twenty-three participants through speakers. To statistically analyse the changes in the physiological measures caused by the examined noise conditions, mixed models were utilised. The results revealed significant effects of the construction noise types on heart rate parameters including heart rate (HR), high frequency (HF), and standard deviation of the normal beat intervals (SDNN). In addition, the results showed that exposure duration significantly affects physiological responses, including RR and SDNN. This study will help to identify the non-auditory health effects of exposure to construction noise. The outputs of this research will provide critical inputs to revisit the current environmental noise regulations to protect the community against the negative health effects of construction noise more efficiently.

Health effects of exposure to β-carboline heterocyclic amines: insight into metabolic perturbations and biochemical analysis.

As a class of bioactive and toxic compounds widely present in foodstuffs, the health effects of dietary exposure to β-carboline heterocyclic amines (HAs) have not been elucidated. Based on our previous research that a typical β-carboline HA (harmane) affects blood glucose metabolism and organ dysfunction, the present study mainly focused on the health effects of dietary exposure to harmane in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Twenty-four GK rats were administered daily with harmane (0.1 mg per kg body weight) for eight weeks. A comprehensive evaluation of the health effects of harmane was conducted on serum biochemistry, histopathology, and GC-TOF-MS-based metabolomics. The results showed that harmane exerts non-significant effects on the blood glucose metabolism of GK rats. However, it did cause pathological damage to gastrocnemius nerves and showed adverse effects on brain neurons by significantly activating astrocytes and downregulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are potential mechanisms related to the disruption of the normal glutamine-glutamate/γ-aminobutyric acid cycle. Moreover, an increased value of AST and urea, alterations in the amino acid, carbohydrate, purine, pyrimidine, and gut microbiota metabolism as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle could be associated with kidney, liver, and gut dysfunction. Our results suggest that given the role of harmane in nerve injury in GK rats, reducing the production and consumption of β-carboline heterocyclic amines in our daily diets should be considered.

Health issues using 5G frequencies from an engineering perspective: Current review

Abstract The possible adverse health effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure have been in research focus since radio waves were introduced to telecommunication. Broadcast radio systems, satellites, and mobile communication devices use different bands of the radio spectrum, antennas, modulations, and radiated power. The proliferation of cellular networks and mobile phones as user devices have brought transmitting and receiving antennas in the close proximity of the human body and the head. Hundreds of experiments have been conducted to prove and disprove adverse health effects of exposure. Literature reviews of experimental results have also followed the current developments in technology; however, an exhaustive analysis performed on the methodologies has revealed many flaws and problems. This article focuses on the latest results on frequency bands mostly used for 5G below and above 6 GHz in the mmWave band. Current results do not indicate significant health effects and responses below the current safety limits. Nevertheless, further research directions can be identified, especially for mmWave radiation.

Health effects of exposure to sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide between 1980 and 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The burden of disease attributed to the indoor exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), ozone (O3 ), and carbon monoxide (CO) is not clear, and the quantitative concentration-response relationship is a prerequisite. This is a systematic review to summarize the quantitative concentration-response relationships by screening and analyzing the polled effects of population-based epidemiological studies. After collecting literature published between 1980 and 2019, a total of 19 health outcomes in 101 studies with 182 health risk estimates were recruited. By meta-analysis, the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis and Egger's test for publication bias, the robust and reliable effects were found for SO2 (per 10μg/m3 ) with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (pooled relative risks [RRs] 1.016, 95% CI: 1.012-1.021) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (RR 1.012, 95%CI: 007-1.018), respectively. NO2 (per 10μg/m3 ) had the pooled RRs for childhood asthma, preterm birth, lung cancer, diabetes, and COPD by 1.134 (1.084-1.186), 1.079 (1.007-1.157), 1.055 (1.010-1.101), 1.019 (1.009-1.029), and 1.016 (1.012-1.120), respectively. CO (per 1mg/m3 ) was significantly associated with Parkinson's disease (RR 1.574, 95% CI: 1.069-2.317) and CVD (RR 1.024, 95% CI: 1.011-1.038). No robust effects were observed for O3 . This study provided evidence and basis for further estimation of the health burden attributable to the four gaseous pollutants.

Airborne Bacteria in Gliwice—The Industrialized City in Poland

The results of the study on the characteristics of the viable (culturable) and total bacterial particles in the ambient air in Gliwice, Poland, are presented. The concentration of viable bacteria in the air ranged from 57 CFU m−3 (Colony Forming Units per cubic meter) during winter to 305 CFU m−3 in spring, while the concentration of all bacteria (live and dead) in the air, measured in selected days, ranged from 298 cells m−3 in winter to over 25 thousand per m3 in autumn. A field study was also carried out to find out the level of the sterilization rate (k) for airborne bacteria. The obtained value of k for viable bacteria exposed to UV solar radiation in Gliwice was approximately 10 cm2 W−1s−1. The patterns of the size distributions of viable bacteria found in three seasons, spring, summer, and autumn, were similar, showing a peak in the range of 3.3–4.7 µm. In the winter season, the main peak was shifted into the smaller particles with an aerodynamic diameter ranging from 2.1 to 4.7 µm. The dominant group of culturable bacteria within the studied period was Gram-positive rods-forming endospores (34–55%), while the least frequent were Gram-negative rods (2%). This research can be used to assess the health effects of exposure to bacterial aerosols in people living in this area.

Radionuclides and Metals in the Parks of the City of Belgrade, Serbia: Spatial Distribution and Health Risk Assessment

In urban areas, forest patches and parks are usually the places where people spend most of their time outdoors. Because of poor environmental protection policy and insufficient investment in industry and energy, Serbia is often ranked among the European countries with the greatest environmental pollution. In recent years, ecological protests have been organized throughout the country with the aim of raising ecological awareness and resolving environmental issues. The topic has become particularly popular since the plans for opening new mining areas in western Serbia came to the fore. This study was conducted with the aim to investigate radioactivity levels and metals content in soil and foliage of the most popular parks in Belgrade, the capital and largest city of Serbia. Based on a GIS (geographic information system) approach, the spatial distribution maps of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 7Be, and 137Cs) and metals (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Na, Ni, Pb, Zn, K, Ca, Mg, and Mn) were made. Ambient dose-equivalent rate in air was also measured. The annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk from radionuclides were calculated. Health effects of exposure to heavy metals in soil were estimated by noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessment.