Multiple Adverse Health Effects Research Articles

Air Pollution Effects on Mental Health Relationships: Scoping Review on Historically Used Methodologies to Analyze Adult Populations

Air pollution’s effects on physical health, especially cardiovascular and respiratory, are well known. Exposure to air pollution may damage every organ and cell in the human body. New evidence is emerging showing that air pollution adversely affects human mental health. Current research suggests that high air pollution levels have long-term mental health effects, such as reduced mental capacity and increased cognitive decline, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Objectives: This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods used in epidemiological literature to ascertain the existence of links between outdoor particulate matter (PM) and multiple adverse mental health (MH) effects (depression, anxiety, and/or stress). A better understanding of the practical research methodologies could lead to improved air quality (AQ) management and enhanced well-being strategies. Methods: This paper undertakes a scoping review. PubMed and EMBASE databases from 2010 to 2024 were searched for English-language human cohort observational studies stating methodologies used in analyzing the link between outdoor particulate matter (ultrafine (UFT) (<0.1 μm), fine (<2.5 μm), and course (<10 μm)) and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress) in adults (>18 years), excluding vulnerable populations (i.e., elderly, children, and pregnant women). The study focuses on urban, suburban areas, and rural areas. Results: From an initial search of 3889 records, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. These studies spanned various countries and employed robust quantitative methodologies to assess AQ and MH. All included studies investigated the impact of PM on mental health, with some (n = 19/65.52%) also examining nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). Depression was the most frequently studied outcome (n = 10/34.48%), followed by anxiety and depression (n = 6/20.69%), and anxiety, stress, and depression, and stress (n = 4/13.79%, each). Depression, anxiety, and stress together were examined in a single study (n = 1/3.45%). Standardized questionnaires involving psychological scales such as Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) (n = 7/24.14%) and The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) (n = 3/10.34%) for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD) (n = 2/6.90%) for anxiety were commonly used MH tools. 27 out of 29 studies found a significant negative impact of air pollution on mental health, demonstrating a solid consensus in the literature. Two studies did not find a significant correlation. The results consistently indicated that higher levels of air pollution were associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Of the 3889 identified studies, 29 were suitable for inclusion in the scoping review per inclusion criteria. The results show the most preferred methods in assessing air quality and mental health in relevant studies, providing a detailed account of each method’s strengths and limitations used in studies. This scoping review was conducted to assist future research and relieve the decision-making process for researchers aiming to find a correlation between air quality and mental health. While the inclusion criteria were strict and thus resulted in few studies, the review found a gap in the literature concerning the general adult population, as most studies focused on vulnerable populations. Further exploration of the methodologies used to find the relationship between air quality and mental health is needed, as reporting on these outcomes was limited.

Insights into the Effect of Light Pollution on Mental Health: Focus on Affective Disorders-A Narrative Review.

The presence of artificial light at night has emerged as an anthropogenic stressor in recent years. Various sources of light pollution have been shown to affect circadian physiology with serious consequences for metabolic pathways, possibly disrupting pineal melatonin production with multiple adverse health effects. The suppression of melatonin at night may also affect human mental health and contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals. Due to the high burden of circadian disruption in affective disorders, it has been hypothesized that light pollution impacts mental health, mainly affecting mood regulation. Hence, the aim of this review was to critically summarize the evidence on the effects of light pollution on mood symptoms, with a particular focus on the role of circadian rhythms in mediating this relationship. We conducted a narrative review of the literature in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science datasets. After the screening process, eighteen papers were eligible for inclusion. The results clearly indicate a link between light pollution and the development of affective symptoms, with a central role of sleep disturbances in the emergence of mood alterations. Risk perception also represents a crucial topic, possibly modulating the development of affective symptoms in response to light pollution. The results of this review should encourage a multidisciplinary approach to the design of healthier environments, including lighting conditions among the key determinants of human mental health.

Maternal APOE ε2 as a possible risk factor for elevated prenatal Pb levels

Lead (Pb) is a global contaminant associated with multiple adverse health effects. Humans are especially vulnerable during critical developmental stages. During pregnancy, exposure to Pb can occur through diet and release from maternal bones. Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variants (ɛ2, ɛ3, ɛ4 alleles) may influence sex steroid hormones, bone metabolism, and Pb kinetics.We examined the interplay among maternal APOE (mAPOE) genotypes, fetal sex, parity, and Pb in maternal and cord blood (mB-Pb, CB-Pb) using linear regression models. Our study involved 817 pregnant women and 772 newborns with measured adequate levels of zinc and selenium. We compared carriers of the ε2 and ε4 alleles to those with the ε3/ε3 genotype.The geometric means (range) of mB-Pb and CB-Pb were 11.1 (3.58–87.6) and 9.31 (1.82–47.0) ng/g, respectively. In cases with female fetuses, the maternal mAPOE ε2 allele was associated with higher, while the mAPOE ε4 allele was associated with lower mB-Pb and CB-Pb levels. Nulliparity increased the strength of the observed associations. These findings highlight the significance of mAPOE genetics, fetal sex, and parity in prenatal Pb kinetics. Notably, the maternal ε2 allele may increase the risk of Pb exposure.

Altered reward processing following sucrose bingeing in male and female mice

ABSTRACT Objectives: Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder associated with multiple adverse health effects, especially mental health issues, including substance use disorders and mood and anxiety disorders. Given these high comorbidities, the objective of our study was to examine whether bingeing behavior would lead to altered perception of reinforcing properties of EtOH and changes in well-being. Methods: We used a sucrose bingeing model based on an intermittent access paradigm with a two-bottle choice, without fasting, in male and female mice. We examined the effect of 2-week sucrose paradigm on ethanol-reinforcing properties using a conditioned place preference test (CPP). Well-being, anxiety- and depressive-like behavioral tests were performed to assess emotional state following 2 and 8-week sucrose bingeing paradigm. Results: Mice with intermittent access to sucrose developed a binge-like behavior assessed by higher sucrose intake and escalation rate during the 1st hour of access, in comparison with mice with a continuous sucrose access. We show for the first time that sucrose bingeing in mice modifies positive reinforcing effect of EtOH in a CPP paradigm without marked alteration of emotional state. Interestingly, prolonging sucrose access for 8 weeks revealed an exacerbated bingeing behavior in female mice, and some signs of emotional state alterations in female with continuous access. Discussion : In sum, our findings broaden the understanding of behavioral alterations associated with bingeing, highlighting the need to investigate addictive-like properties of palatable food both in male and female mice.

Subchronic inhalation exposure to ultrafine particulate matter alters the intestinal microbiome in various mouse models

Exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) has been associated with multiple adverse health effects. Inhaled UFPs could reach the gastrointestinal tract and influence the composition of the gut microbiome. We have previously shown that oral ingestion of UFPs alters the gut microbiome and promotes intestinal inflammation in hyperlipidemic Ldlr−/− mice. Particulate matter (PM)2.5 inhalation studies have also demonstrated microbiome shifts in normolipidemic C57BL/6 mice. However, it is not known whether changes in microbiome precede or follow inflammatory effects in the intestinal mucosa. We hypothesized that inhaled UFPs modulate the gut microbiome prior to the development of intestinal inflammation. We studied the effects of UFP inhalation on the gut microbiome and intestinal mucosa in two hyperlipidemic mouse models (ApoE−/− mice and Ldlr−/− mice) and normolipidemic C57BL/6 mice. Mice were exposed to PM in the ultrafine-size range by inhalation for 6 h a day, 3 times a week for 10 weeks at a concentration of 300–350 μg/m3.16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to characterize sequential changes in the fecal microbiome during exposures, and changes in the intestinal microbiome at the end. PM exposure led to progressive differentiation of the microbiota over time, associated with increased fecal microbial richness and evenness, altered microbial composition, and differentially abundant microbes by week 10 depending on the mouse model. Cross-sectional analysis of the small intestinal microbiome at week 10 showed significant changes in α-diversity, β-diversity, and abundances of individual microbial taxa in the two hyperlipidemic models. These alterations of the intestinal microbiome were not accompanied, and therefore could not be caused, by increased intestinal inflammation as determined by histological analysis of small and large intestine, cytokine gene expression, and levels of fecal lipocalin. In conclusion, 10-week inhalation exposures to UFPs induced taxonomic changes in the microbiome of various animal models in the absence of intestinal inflammation.

Differential Developmental Neurotoxicity and Tissue Uptake of the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Alternatives, GenX and PFBS.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals with several applications. Multiple adverse health effects are reported for longer carbon chain (≤C8) PFAS. Shorter carbon chain PFAS, [e.g., hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; GenX) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)] were introduced as alternatives. Past studies indicate that longer-chain PFAS are neurotoxic targeting the dopamine pathway, but it is not known if shorter-chain PFAS act similarly. This study aimed to evaluate developmental neurotoxicity and tissue uptake of GenX and PFBS using the zebrafish (Danio rerio). First, acute toxicity was assessed by measuring LC50 at 120 h postfertilization (hpf). Body burden was determined after embryonic exposure (1-72 hpf) to sublethal concentrations of GenX or PFBS by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Locomotor activity using a visual motor response assay at 120 hpf and dopamine levels at 72 hpf was assessed after embryonic exposure. PFBS was more acutely toxic and bioaccumulative than GenX. GenX and PFBS caused hyperactivity at 120 hpf, but stronger behavioral alterations were observed for PFBS. An increase in whole organism dopamine occurred at 40 ppb of GenX, while a decrease was observed at 400 ppb of PFBS. Differences detected in dopamine for these two PFAS indicate differential mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity.

Translational toxicology of metal(loid) species: linking their bioinorganic chemistry in the bloodstream to organ damage onset.

The quantification of arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead in the human bloodstream is routinely used today to assess exposure to these toxic metal(loid)s, but the interpretation of the obtained data in terms of their cumulative health relevance remains problematic. Seemingly unrelated to this, epidemiological studies strongly suggest that the simultaneous chronic exposure to these environmental pollutants is associated with the etiology of autism, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel disease and other diseases. This from a public health point of view undesirable situation urgently requires research initiatives to establish functional connections between human exposure to multiple toxic metal(loid) species and adverse health effects. One way to establish causal exposure-response relationships is a molecular toxicology approach, which requires one to unravel the biomolecular mechanisms that unfold after individual toxic metal(loid)s enter the bloodstream/organ nexus as these interactions ultimately determine which metabolites impinge on target organs and thus provide mechanistic links to diseases of unknown etiology. In an attempt to underscore the importance of the toxicological chemistry of metal(loid)s in the bloodstream, this review summarizes recent progress into relevant bioinorganic processes that are implicated in the etiology of adverse organ-based health effects and possibly diseases. A better understanding of these bioinorganic processes will not only help to improve the regulatory framework to better protect humans from the adverse effects of toxic metal(loid) species, but also represents an important starting point for the development of treatments to ameliorate pollution-induced adverse health effects on human populations, including pregnant women, the fetus and children.

Current Review of Increasing Animal Health Threat of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Harms, Limitations, and Alternatives to Manage Their Toxicity.

Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), more than 4700 in number, are a group of widely used man-made chemicals that accumulate in living things and the environment over time. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they are extremely persistent in our environment and body. Because PFAS have been widely used for many decades, their presence is evident globally, and their persistence and potential toxicity create concern for animals, humans and environmental health. They can have multiple adverse health effects, such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility problems, and cancer. The most significant source of living exposure to PFAS is dietary intake (food and water), but given massive industrial and domestic use, these substances are now punctually present not only domestically but also in the outdoor environment. For example, livestock and wildlife can be exposed to PFAS through contaminated water, soil, substrate, air, or food. In this review, we have analyzed and exposed the characteristics of PFAS and their various uses and reported data on their presence in the environment, from industrialized to less populated areas. In several areas of the planet, even in areas far from large population centers, the presence of PFAS was confirmed, both in marine and terrestrial animals (organisms). Among the most common PFAS identified are undoubtedly perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two of the most widely used and, to date, among the most studied in terms of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the toxic potential of PFAS, their exposure, and related mechanisms.

Early life exposure to low-dose perfluorooctane sulfonate disturbs gut barrier homeostasis and increases the risk of intestinal inflammation in offspring

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of the legacy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is associated with multiple adverse health effects on children. However, much remains to be known about its potential impacts on intestinal immune homeostasis during early life. Our study found that PFOS exposure during pregnancy in rats significantly increased the maternal serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and zonulin, a gut permeability biomarker, and decreased gene expressions of Tight junction protein 1 (Tjp1) and Claudin-4 (Cldn4), the tight junction proteins, in maternal colons on gestation day 20 (GD20). Being exposed to PFOS during pregnancy and lactation in rats significantly decreased the body weight of pups and increased the offspring's serum levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on postnatal day 14 (PND14), and induced a disrupted gut tight junction, manifested by decreased expressions of Tjp1 in pup's colons on PND14 and increased pup's serum concentrations of zonulin on PND28. By integrating high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics, we demonstrated that early-life PFOS exposure altered the diversity and composition of gut microbiota that were correlated with the changed metabolites in serum. The altered blood metabolome was associated with increased proinflammatory cytokines in offspring. These changes and correlations were divergent at each developmental stage, and pathways underlying immune homeostasis imbalance were significantly enriched in the PFOS-exposed gut. Our findings provide new evidence for the developmental toxicity of PFOS and its underlying mechanism and explain in part the epidemiological observation of its immunotoxicity.

Acute effects of air pollution and extreme temperatures on cause-specific mortality in Italy. Results of the BIGEPI project.

Air pollution and extreme temperatures have been associated with multiple adverse health effects, especially on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The evidence of a relationship between daily exposures and mortality from metabolic, nervous and mental causes needs to be strengthened. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between daily exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and extreme temperatures (heat and cold) with cause-specific mortality in the entire Italian population. The daily counts of deaths from natural, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, diabetes, nervous and mental causes were provided by Istat at the municipal level for the period 2006-2015. Through the application of machine-learning models based on satellite data and spatiotemporal variables, population-weighted exposures to daily mean PM2.5 (2013-2015) and air temperature (2006-2015) were estimated at municipality level. Time-series models adjusted for seasonal and long-term trends were applied, and associations between the above exposures and different causes of death at the national level were estimated. The study found a marked effect of PM2.5 on deaths from nervous causes, with a % increase of risk (IR%) of 6.55% (95% confidence interval: 3.38%-9.81%) per PM2.5 increases of 10 µg/m3. The study also highlighted significant effects of low and high temperatures on all study outcomes. The effects were greater for high temperatures. In particular, the effects of heat, expressed as a % increase in risk per temperature increase from the 75th to the 99th percentile, show the highest associations with mortality from nervous causes (58.3%; 95%CI: 49.7%-67.5%), mental causes (48.4%; 95%CI: 40.4%-56.9%), respiratory causes 45.8%; 95%CI: 39.7%-52.1%) and metabolic causes (36.9%; 95%CI: 30.6%-43.5%). The study showed a strong association between daily exposure to PM2.5 and extreme temperatures, especially heat, with mortality outcomes, especially those under-investigated, such as diabetes, metabolic, nervous and mental causes.

Imaging of Intimate Partner Violence, From the AJR Special Series on Emergency Radiology.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent public health issue with multiple adverse health effects. Radiologists are well suited to assessing a patient's likelihood of IPV. Recognition of common IPV injury mechanisms and resulting target and defensive injury patterns on imaging and understanding of differences between patients who have experienced IPV and those who have not with respect to use of imaging will aid radiologists in accurate IPV diagnosis. Target injuries often involve the face and neck as a result of blunt trauma or strangulation; defensive injuries often involve an extremity. Awareness of differences in injury patterns resulting from IPV-related and accidental trauma can aid radiologists in detecting a mismatch between the provided clinical history and imaging findings to support suspicion of IPV. Radiologists should consider all available current and prior imaging in assessing the likelihood of IPV; this process may be aided by machine learning methods. Even if correctly suspecting IPV on the basis of imaging, radiologists face challenges in acting on that suspicion, including appropriately documenting the findings, without compromising the patient's confidentiality and safety. However, through a multidisciplinary approach with appropriate support mechanisms, radiologists may serve as effective frontline physicians for raising suspicion of IPV.

QUESTÕES REGULATÓRIAS SOBRE A DESINFECÇÃO DA ÁGUA E O IMPACTO DA GERAÇÃO DE DBPs NA QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA TRATADA

REGULATORY ISSUES ON WATER DISINFECTION AND THE IMPACT OF DBP GENERATION ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY. Drinking water disinfection has been viewed as one of the major advances in public health protection in history. However, while it has been very successful in assuring microbiological safety, disinfection also brought relevant concerns about chemical safety and the potential unintended health hazards associated with disinfection byproduct (DBP) exposure. DBPs represent one of the most important groups of chemical compounds to which humans are exposed through drinking water, as epidemiological studies have consistently associated long-term exposure with multiple adverse health effects. It is established that disinfection is an essential component of providing microbiologically safe drinking water and shall never be compromised. Yet, chemical safety regarding DBP exposure remains a largely uncovered and highly discussed topic. Several DBPs have been reported in the past few decades, yet research on formation, toxicity and occurrence remains scarce for most compounds. Also, for each identified DBP, many remain undiscovered. In view of an ever-growing list of DBPs and the existing gaps in available research, identifying overall driving agents of toxicity is still a major challenge for public health protection. This review attempts to provide an insight on contemporary issues regarding the overall safety of drinking water and the trade-off between microbiological and chemical risks, considering current challenges in water and sanitation access and existing regulations.

Minimizing Lead Exposure among Children

Lead is a toxic metal being employed in numerous industries across the world, and is responsible for environmental contamination and multiple adverse health effects during its processing, use, and disposal. The good thing is that all such effects are avoidable, but we are falling short in all possible dimensions. Even though various potential sources of exposure have been identified for environmental contamination or human adverse effects, lead paint is one of the most important ones. From a financial perspective, the use of these paints is associated with both direct and indirect economic costs and is immense in developing nations. Moreover, some nations have already adopted measures to reduce exposure to lead paint, but their practical implementation is lagging in most places. To conclude, lead exposure during childhood has been associated with multiple acute and chronic side effects. It is high time that international stakeholders realize the concern and prioritize it to reduce its level in the environment.

Computational chromatography: A machine learning strategy for demixing individual chemical components in complex mixtures

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) holds exceptional promise as a streamlined chemical detection strategy for biological and environmental contaminants compared with current laboratory methods. Priority pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), detectable in water and soil worldwide and known to induce multiple adverse health effects upon human exposure, are typically found in multicomponent mixtures. By combining the molecular fingerprinting capabilities of SERS with the signal separation and detection capabilities of machine learning (ML), we examine whether individual PAHs can be identified through an analysis of the SERS spectra of multicomponent PAH mixtures. We have developed an unsupervised ML method we call Characteristic Peak Extraction, a dimensionality reduction algorithm that extracts characteristic SERS peaks based on counts of detected peaks of the mixture. By analyzing the SERS spectra of two-component and four-component PAH mixtures where the concentration ratios of the various components vary, this algorithm is able to extract the spectra of each unknown component in the mixture of unknowns, which is then subsequently identified against a SERS spectral library of PAHs. Combining the molecular fingerprinting capabilities of SERS with the signal separation and detection capabilities of ML, this effort is a step toward the computational demixing of unknown chemical components occurring in complex multicomponent mixtures.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: case report and literature review.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a multisystem disorder characterised by asthma, blood and tissue eosinophilia and small-vessel vasculitis. Eosinophilic tissue infiltration and extravascular granuloma formation can lead to damage in any organ, but it is classically seen to cause pulmonary infiltrates, sino-nasal disease, peripheral neuropathy, renal and cardiac involvement, and rashes. EGPA is part of the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis syndromes, with the antibody being detected in ∼30-40% of cases and mostly against myeloperoxidase. Two genetically and clinically distinct phenotypes, defined by the presence or absence of ANCA have been identified. Treatment for EGPA focuses on inducing and maintaining disease remission. To date, oral corticosteroids remain first-line agents whilst second-line treatments include immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil. However, long-term steroid usage results in multiple and well-known adverse health effects and new insights into the pathophysiology of EGPA have allowed for the development of targeted biologic therapies, like the anti-eosinophilic, anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibodies.

Smokeless tobacco industry's brand stretching through FM radio: A study from Delhi National Capital Region, India.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is associated with multiple adverse health effects and mortality, with the highest burden in India. The WHO FCTC has banned tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship via Article 13. Indian laws also prohibit any kind of direct or indirect advertisements in all forms of audio, visual, and print media; brand promotion; and sponsorship of tobacco products. However, the tobacco industry continues to find aggressive marketing ways to advertise their products. This study aims to assess the extent of surrogate advertisement of smokeless tobacco products through frequency modulation (FM) radio stations in the city of Delhi (National Capital Territory of India). In this study, the advertisements broadcasted over FM radio across different channels (private and government owned) in total 162 h were analyzed. The time duration was spread evenly over morning peak hours, off hours, and evening peak hours. It was found that multiple brands including Vimal, Kamla Pasand, and Rajshree have used surrogate advertising to market their brands that are commonly associated with smokeless tobacco products. However, no such advertisement was found to be aired on government-owned FM channels. The total surrogate advertisements broadcasted were over 286 times, where no significant difference was found in distribution among peak and non-peak hours. The study indicated that the tobacco industry is making its way to sell the products through indirect advertisements. The need of the hour is to not only enforce tobacco advertising ban laws in all forms of advertising media but also to strictly regulate smokeless tobacco products.

Microplastics/microfibers in settled indoor house dust—exploratory case study for 10 residential houses in the Kanto area of Japan

AbstractAlthough microplastic (size ≤5 mm) pollution in marine ecosystems has received global attention, the presence of microplastics and microfibers in indoor environments is also a major concern. Compared to the available field survey data on microplastics in the ocean, such information remains limited for indoor environments. Microplastics in indoor environments may act as adsorbents for chemical compounds, which may result in multiple adverse health effects on residents. Establishment of reproducible sampling and analysis methods aiding comprehensive field measurements of indoor microplastics in Japan is required. This study conducted the first field survey of indoor microplastics in settled dust in 10 residential houses in the Kanto area of Japan and explored their composition and morphology. Micro‐Fourier transform infrared (μ‐FT‐IR) spectrophotometry and laser direct infrared (LDIR) analysis were used for the qualitative analysis of microplastics. The μ‐FT‐IR and LDIR analyses revealed the presence of large quantities of microplastics in the settled dust. The samples were composed of cellulose, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, alkyd resins, polysulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyamides. The μ‐FT‐IR and LDIR analyses were suitable for identifying large fibrous materials and small particles, respectively. Thus, the two methods are complementary for the comprehensive identification of microplastic composition in settled dust.

Vitamin D: Before, during and after Pregnancy: Effect on Neonates and Children.

A worldwide high prevalence of vitamin D (VD) deficiency has become of growing concern because of potential adverse effects on human health, including pregnant women and their offsprings. Beyond its classical function as a regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism, together with its fundamental role in bone health in every stage of life, its deficiency has been associated to multiple adverse health effects. The classic effects of VD deficiency in pregnancy and neonates have been late hypocalcemia and nutritional rickets. Nevertheless, recent studies have linked VD to fertility and 25(OH)D with several clinical conditions in pregnancy: preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, higher incidence of cesarean section and preterm birth, while in infants, the clinical conditions are low birth weight, lower bone mass and possible relationship with the development of such diseases as bronchiolitis, asthma, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and autism included as VD non-classical actions. The supplementation with Vitamin D and achievement of optimal levels reduce maternal-fetal and newborn complications. Supplementation in children with VD deficiency reduces the risk of respiratory infections and possibly autoimmune diseases and autism. This review emphasizes the roles of Vitamin D deficiency and the consequences of intervention from preconception to infancy.

Magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence against women in East Africa: multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health survey

BackgroundViolence against women is a significant public health problem, and human rights abuse, and is associated with multiple adverse physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health effects. The current study aimed to determine the magnitude of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its determinant factors in East African countries.MethodsWe utilized the most recent demographic and health survey data from 11 East African countries, which was comprised of a weighted sample of 55,501 ever-married women. A multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied. We used an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% CI and a p value ≤ 0.05 in the multilevel logistic model to declare significant factors associated with IPV.ResultsThe overall prevalence of all forms of IPV in East African countries was 32.66% [95% CI 32.27, 33.05], with the highest IPV occurring in Uganda (14.93%) and the lowest IPV recorded in Comoros (0.87%). In the multivariable multilevel logistic regression model, women’s education, residence, sex of household head, current pregnancy, husband drinking alcohol, attitude towards wife-beating husband controlling behavior, and women’s decision-making autonomy were significantly associated with IPV.ConclusionThe risk factors noted above increase the likelihood of a woman experiencing IPV. Therefore, we recommend establishing effective health and legal response services for IPV, raising awareness of the existing legislation service and improving its application, strengthening legislations on purchasing and selling of alcohol, strengthening joint (both husband and wife) decision-making power by empowering women, improving the educational level of women, and establishing measures to break the culture of societal tolerance towards IPV.

Prevalence of night eating syndrome among inbound call centre employees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Background: Night eating syndrome (NES) is described as a disordered eating pattern relative to sleep, where consumption of food occurs in the evening and night. Numerous studies had been conducted in various populations but studies on (NES) among call centre employees are limited. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NES and its determinants among selected inbound call centre employees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 217 inbound call centre employees were recruited through random sampling. A self-administered socio-demographic and work-related questionnaire was used to collect data on the background of the respondents. Information on NES and well-being was obtained by using the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) and World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) respectively. Data on dietary intakes, smoking habits, alcohol intakes and life stress were acquired using a Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ) while eating behaviour of the respondents was studied using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-18). Results: The mean age of the respondents was 24.1 ± 6.0 years. The prevalence of NES was 12.0% (95% CI = 8.12-17.24). The binary logistic regression identified that NES is significantly associated with adequate exercise (AOR = 4.250, p = 0.012) and emotional eating (AOR = 6.510, p = 0.014). Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of NES was high in the call centre and repeated nocturnal eating can have multiple adverse health effects. Therefore, promoting healthy eating habits are crucial to reduce the impacts of NES.