Personal Exposure Research Articles

UV Solar Energy and Erythemal Exposure: Mathematical Models to Assess the Dose on Vertical and Inclined Planes in Different Sky Conditions

Ultra violet (UV) solar energy can cause several negative effects to the skin and eyes in case of overexposure. To protect people from erythemal damage, personal erythemal exposure must be carefully assessed when outdoor activities are carried out. The direct measure with scientific instruments is impracticable to common people, and indirect methods assess the exposure only on the horizontal plane: this work developed a mathematical model to assess erythemal exposure to all the body districts. UVA irradiance and erythemal irradiance were measured on several inclined planes, oriented to the four cardinal directions, in seven environments with multiple sky conditions. The UV erythemal (UVE) ratio between erythemal irradiance on an inclined plane (Iery°) and UVA irradiance on a horizontal plane (IUVAh) was calculated. The results indicate that the UVE = Iery°/IUVAh is variable across the day and depends on the plane orientation, its degree of inclination, and sky conditions. Mathematical models to calculate erythemal exposure in clear, intermediate and overcast sky conditions on planes with different inclinations and orientations were derived from the daily trends of the UVE = Iery°/IUVAh. The application procedure of the mathematical model to the vertical plane oriented to the south is provided as an example.

Indoor and ambient influences on PM2.5 exposure and well-being for a rail impacted community and implications for personal protections

Abstract Background
Higher air pollution concentrations can be observed near rail networks, local and highway automobile corridors, and shipyards. Communities adjacent to such sources are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from these stationary and mobile sources. One such community is West San Bernardino in California, where households are feet away from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe intermodal facility and are impacted by activities that are estimated to continuously emit air pollutants due to 24/7 operation.
Objective
This study aimed to (1) quantify the impact of personal mobility and housing characteristics on daily PM2.5 exposures and well-being for West San Bernardino community members, and (2) develop individualized resilience plans for community collaborators to support future PM2.5 exposure reduction. 
Methods
Personal PM2.5 exposures were measured for community collaborators for seven consecutive days during three deployment periods: October 2021, January 2022, and March 2022. Indoor and ambient PM2.5 levels were also continuously measured for five households over six months using PurpleAir Classic monitors. Demographic and well-being data were collected upon recruitment and after each week of engagement, respectively. 
Results
Personal exposures in home microenvironments were highest near the railyard and lower farthest away from the railyard. Home exposures were 40% higher on average compared to non-home microenvironments. Household PM2.5 had a higher-than-expected average infiltration factor of 0.55, and indoor 98th percentiles across the households far exceeded a healthy level at an average of 165 μg/m3. Resilience plans featured summaries of personal data and recommendations for mitigating exposures. 
Significance
Results suggest that surrounding land use and residential building characteristics compound to worsen air pollution exposures beyond what is expected for exposures in non-industrialized areas. Findings prompt a call for stronger regulation, not only for emissions, but also for indoor air quality and zoning standards that specifically protect disproportionately impacted communities.

Assessment of occupational exposure to micro/nano particles generated from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic processing.

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are leading functional materials with superior strength and low mass density compared to metal. Our previous factory site analyses found that CFRP processing generates fibrous debris and fine micro/nano-sized particles of various shapes. The present interventional study was conducted at a factory located in Japan and evaluated debris consisting of various-sized particles generated during the industrial processing of CFRP, such as cutting, grinding, and turning of CFRP pipes, using real-time particle monitoring devices of the following: PM4 Digital Dust Monitor (DDM), handled Optical Particle Counter (OPC), Condensation Particle Counter (CPC), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS). In addition, personal exposure of workers was evaluated using a novel wearable PM2.5-compatible device (P-sensor). First, we confirmed the presence of micro/nano particles in the dust generated during industrial processing of CFRP. Finer CFRP-generated particles were detected by the nanoparticle-compatible devices; CPC and SMPS, but not by OPC or DDM. The dynamic detection pattern of the P-sensor resembled that recorded by the nanoparticle-compatible devices. The novel wearable P-sensor can be used to measure finer particles generated by CFRP processing in occupational settings. Second, the exposure assessment was conducted twice and the levels of the micro/nano particles in the second survey were significantly (less than half) lower than that in the first survey. By avoiding immediate power-off of the exhaust system after operations, the scattering of particles was effectively reduced. Our results indicate that effective use of local exhaust ventilation system improves the workplace environment for particle exposure.

Religious Belief, Calling, and Marginalized Communities

This paper attempts to identify the Christian religious beliefs that motivate and sustain engagement in neighborhood revitalization efforts with marginalized communities and to identify a possible causal mechanism of these beliefs. The argument of the paper is that a transcendent calling forms consistently salient beliefs that operate on a deontological (versus utilitarian) level through sacred values. Using a mixed-method approach of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interviews) data, the results find significant differences in beliefs between local congregants and practitioners in Evansville, Indiana, USA. In one-on-one semi-structured interviews, practitioners cite a transcendent calling with deontological language as the reason for their engagement with marginalized communities. Utilitarian language was not entirely absent during these interviews, but it occurred primarily in relation to the sustaining of the behavior, thereby hinting at a hierarchical and sequential structure where the primary and initial motivation is deontological in nature followed and sustained through utilitarian language. Narrative evidence for this initial deontological shift is that of taking a “step of faith.” The large majority of practitioners report receiving this call after their initial engagement with a marginalized community suggesting that increasing this behavior is more a matter of increasing personal exposure rather than articulating better rational arguments.

A fingerprint of source-specific health risk of PM2.5-bound components over a coastal industrial city

The influence of specific local land-use activities (continuously redistributing elements across environments) and environmental conditions (altering the chemical composition of airborne particulate matter) on the intrinsic health risk of PM2.5 exposure is sparsely reported. To fill this gap, we employed a novel integrated approach to address the influence of short-term changes in source-specific PM2.5 composition on the exposure-response risk, while controlling for weather conditions. We combine receptor-based source apportionment with conditional logistic regression in a space-time-stratified case-crossover design. This approach is different from previous studies as it: i) controls the impact of spatiotemporal variations in air pollution and human mobility using multilocation-specific fixed and disjointed space-time strata ii) addresses the spatial heterogeneity of personal exposure separating its variable effect from other predictors by allowing different baseline hazards for each space-time stratum; iii) aligns case/control periods with strong/regular episodes of source-specific PM-multipollutant fingerprint contributions rather than health outcomes. This enabled comprehensive examination of the association between source-specific PM2.5-bound species and cardiorespiratory disease hospitalizations. The epidemiological findings were that primary anthropogenic emissions [industrial (ORs 2.5 – 4.8)] were associated with higher 1-day moving average PM-induced risks. Natural-related sources [fresh / aged sea salt aerosol, dust, soil resuspension] and secondary sulfate formation were consistently associated with higher health risks (ORs 1.0 – 1.54) after 1 to 5-days since exposure. The results emphasize the importance of source-specific air quality management in complex areas and our research provides an adaptable universal tool to support targeted place-based policy interventions to mitigate air pollution impacts on health.

Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels

Black carbon (BC) is a critical environmental pollutant with significant implications for human health. This study aims to quantify personal exposure to BC by focusing on the influence of microenvironments and time-activity patterns in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas, USA. Over eight days in March and April 2023, a portable aethalometer and GPS tracking instruments were used to measure BC exposure among a study participant, alongside recording the time spent in various microenvironments. The BC measurements were correlated to the time activity patterns to calculate BC inhaled dosage values thereby elucidating its impact on human health. The mean values for different hours ranged from the lowest,0.26 µg/m³ ± 0.29 at 02:00, to the highest, 1.07 µg/m³ ± 1.40 at 17:00. The study also identified peak BC levels in areas near major roadways and airports. Outdoor activities accounted for 31% - 33% of the BC inhaled dosage on weekends, which was much higher than the 0.10% - 1.42% contribution observed on weekdays. The results also reflect a negative impact of Mexican wildfire activities on black carbon in this border region. This research provides insights into one of the first black carbon measurement studies conducted in the South Texas, U.S.– Tamaulipas State, Mexico border region.

Assessing Barriers to COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing in Community Pharmacies: Insights from Alabama.

The COVID-19 pandemic stressed the critical role of diagnostic testing in controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Due to their accessibility and presence in underserved areas, community pharmacies have become vital in decentralizing COVID-19 testing. Despite their potential, pharmacies face significant barriers in integrating testing services. This study aimed to assess the provision of COVID-19 diagnostic testing across community pharmacies in Alabama and investigate how various pharmacist and pharmacy characteristics, along with perceived barriers, influence the likelihood of offering COVID-19 testing services. A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting 1,172 community pharmacies in Alabama. Data were collected via a mixed-mode survey from February to April 2023, achieving a response rate of 20.5% (n = 240). The primary measure was the new Pharmacist Perceived COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Barriers (PDT-B), a nine-item Likert scale. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with testing provision. Out of 240 pharmacies, 28.3% provided COVID-19 testing. Providers were significantly more likely to be corporately-owned (61.8%, p < 0.001); they also had higher prescription volumes (median 300, p < 0.001) compared to independent pharmacies. Lower perceived barriers in Organizational Logistics significantly increased the likelihood of offering testing (OR = 0.55, p = 0.028). In corporately-owned pharmacies, lower perceived personal exposure risk was a significant factor (OR = 0.65, p = 0.047), whereas independent pharmacies faced challenges related to regulatory compliance (OR = 0.35, p = 0.025). The study highlights distinct barriers faced by corporately-owned and independent pharmacies. Corporately-owned pharmacies benefited from higher operational capacities but faced notable exposure concerns. Independent pharmacies, however, struggled with regulatory compliance, which impacted their testing service provision. Addressing the unique barriers different pharmacy settings face with tailored strategies is crucial for enhancing COVID-19 testing accessibility and strengthening public health efforts and pandemic preparedness.

Accurate low-dose exposure assessment of benzene and monoaromatic compounds by diffusive sampling: Sampling and analytical method validation according to ISO 23320 for radiello® samplers packed with graphitised charcoal and suitable for thermal desorption

This research was aimed at providing an accurate low-dose benzene exposure assessment method, prospectively suitable to exposure limit values in the low ppb range, such as in the present-day chemical, petrochemical, foundry and pharmaceutical industry. The project addresses the need for a robust and fully validated method of personal exposure measurements considering that the Occupational Exposure Limit Value for benzene will be significantly lowered in the next few years. Diffusive sampling offers a reliable alternative to pumped sampling methods, intrinsic safety in potentially explosive atmospheres, lightness and ease of use. The tested diffusive sampler is radiello® with the RAD145 adsorption substrate. This configuration is packed with graphitised charcoal suitable for thermal desorption and analysis by HRGC-FID or HRGC-MS.The experiments have been conducted following the ISO 23320 standard in the range from 0.005 to 0.1 ppm (16 to 320 µg/m3), yielding a full validation of the sampling and analytical method. The sampler performances have fulfilled all requisites of the ISO 23320 standard, in particular: bias due to the selection of a non-ideal sorbent is lower than 10 % (no significant back diffusion of benzene due to concentration change in the atmosphere); bias due to storage of samples for up to 2 months is lower than 10 %; nominal uptake rate for benzene on RAD145 is 32.3 mL/min; expanded uncertainty of the sampling and analytical method is 22.1 % in the concentration range from 80 to 320 µg/m³. The sampling and analytical method is therefore fit-for-purpose for the personal exposure measurements aimed at testing compliance with lowered occupational exposure limit values for benzene. The method is also fit for short duration exposure monitoring related to specific tasks, and other volatile organic compounds, usually found in the same workplaces, such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and some oxygenated compounds, have been also studied. In particular, n-hexane and isopropyl benzene (also known as cumene), whose classification is currently under revision, can be efficiently monitored by this technique.

Development of a Medical Device Lifecycle Research Database at the MFDS

Abstract So-called big data are potentially useful in the healthcare field and are of interest to researchers, industry, and government agencies. Over the past 10 years, Europe, the United States, and Asia have been making efforts to collect and systematically manage information on the entire process from clinical trials to follow-up management of medical devices (MD). We developed MD lifecycle research database at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea, consisting of 61 tables and 2,053 variables. The MFDS possesses statistical information on all MD, pharmaceuticals, foods, and human tissues produced and distributed. The information in the database is categorized according to four MD lifecycle phases-clinical trial, approval, production, and post-approval. For the clinical trial phase, the database contains information on planning and approval of clinical trial and non-clinical trial. The approval phase includes information on models, raw materials, quality, and changes, while the production phase stores information on production, import, export, supply and use. For the last step, follow-up management phase, provide information on post-marketing safety management, risk management, and administrative disposition. All four steps are linked based on primary key, so it is possible to understand information on the overall MD lifecycle. The MD Lifecycle Research Database will help strengthen the industry’s competitiveness in terms of cost-effectiveness in MD development and facilitate policy monitoring by improving its utilization in the public interest. This database contains information on all MD produced and distributed in Korea depending on the phases of the MD lifecycle, and data is easily accessible due to the lack risk of personal information exposure, so it can be widely used by individual researchers, industries, academia, and governments. Funding This research was supported by a grant (22063MFDS498) from ministry of food and drug safety in 2024. Key messages • We developed a medical device lifecycle database that enables tracking management according to the medical device lifecycle. • This database can be used as a scientific basis to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of medical devices.

A new personalized environment control system for hospital beds with design optimization by Taguchi-based grey relational analysis

The current ward environments consume excessive energy and fail to meet the personal comfort and health needs of patients. A promising solution is to create a personalized bed micro-environment and then extend the ward set-point temperature range. However, there is currently no suitable bed environment control system. This study proposes a novel bedside integrated system with three perforated panels that supplies conditioned air from different directions and prevents direct airflow towards the patient's head region. The system design was optimized using Taguchi-based grey relational analysis (GRA), with predicted mean vote (PMV), draft risk (DR), and personal exposure effectiveness (PEE) considered as response variables. The design variables included supply air temperature, airflow rate, and supply air angles. Taguchi's L16 (44) orthogonal array was employed for the experimental design. The results demonstrate that a low-velocity cold air lake can form above the bed, with the maximum velocity near the patient's head at only 0.2 m/s. In a 28 °C ward, the PMV, maximum DR, and PEE at the bed micro-environment are 0.13, 14.1 %, and 0.67, respectively. This implies that the proposed bed environment control system has the potential to provide both comfort and health benefits while reducing energy consumption. After optimization, the optimal supply air temperature, airflow rate, angles of top panel and side panels are 22 °C, 25 L/s, 0° and 45°, respectively, with an improvement of 5.8 % in the grey relational grade. This study provides a new solution for creating a comfortable and healthy ward environment in an energy-efficient manner.

Identifying Barriers to Implementing Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies in Rhode Island Health Care Systems: A Qualitative Approach.

Introduction: Complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies are widely used and make up billions of dollars in out-of-pocket expenditures. This quality improvement project aimed to identify stakeholders' perceptions of implementing CIH therapies in health care systems to examine the barriers and facilitators to CIH implementation in Rhode Island (RI). Methods: A qualitative approach guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to conduct interviews with key stakeholder groups: health care administrators, health insurance administrators, physicians, and CIH practitioners. Interviews were analyzed by directed content analysis of transcripts with CFIR as the a priori coding framework. Results: Eleven subconstructs within four major domains were most prominent in interviews across all stakeholder groups. Key barriers in the "innovation" domain include a perceived lack of evidence and credibility of CIH therapies, logistical and administrative complexity of implementation, high costs to patients, and little financial incentive for hospitals and insurance companies. The "outer setting" domain highlights the utility of market pressure in decision making to implement CIH and the role of health policy. The "inner setting" domain demonstrates the varied personal beliefs about CIH, credentialing challenges, and the dissonance between medical system priorities and patient needs. Positive facilitation of implementation is marked by personal exposure to CIH and provider satisfaction in the "implementation process" domain. Conclusion: CIH therapies offer the medical system low risk and effective interventions that meet patient needs not currently met by Western medicine. However, implementation is difficult due to poor perception of evidence and lack of financial gain for the medical system. Acupuncture and massage may be modalities better situated for implementation in the RI medical system. Further education, awareness, and advocacy for CIH therapies would help meet patients' needs for CIH availability.

How Does Judges’ Personal Exposure to Financial Fraud Affect White‐Collar Sentencing?

ABSTRACTWe study whether federal judges’ personal exposure to financial fraud affects their professional behavior, in the form of sentencing outcomes in white‐collar cases. Following the methodology outlined in our registered report, we construct a novel measure of financial fraud exposure based on judges’ direct shareholdings in firms that commit financial fraud. Using this measure, we exploit the random assignment of cases to judges to examine whether judges exposed to fraud in one firm are (1) less likely to rule in favor of defendants in white‐collar cases involving other firms and (2) less likely to grant favorable pretrial motions to defendants. We find minimal evidence in support of either (1) or (2), concluding that for all but the most serious frauds, judges are unlikely to let their personal victimhood experience affect their professional sentencing behavior with respect to related cases. Our study broadens our understanding of the spillover effects of financial fraud enforcement and contributes to the literature on how judges’ personal experiences can shape judicial decision‐making.

Evaluation of Ventilation Strategies to Mitigate Airborne Infection Risk in a Dental School: A Three-Dimensional CFD Analysis of Airflow Patterns and Ventilation Efficiency

Infection prevention and control is a crucial element in providing a safe environment for dental clinics and reducing airborne infections risks during dental procedures. In response to the prevailing COVID-19 situations, the clinical space in the dental school was operated with ventilation strategies, increasing air exchanges and incorporating supply and return air arrangement based on seating positions. This study evaluated airflow patterns to examine personal exposure to airborne infection risk under these strategies. The three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics technique using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed in 50 multi-units of the dental school of the university in Bangkok, Thailand. The results revealed substantial improvements in indoor ventilation. Improvement of airflow patterns and directions surpassed conventional design of the pre-existing building’s system and helped reduce airborne contaminant concentrations. The further discussion of occupant-based design in dental schools is needed to optimize ventilation systems and engineering controls concerning indoor airborne infections.

Warmer Temperatures Are More Predictive Than Solar Radiation for the Number of Skin Cancer Removal Procedures.

Solar radiation is the primary risk factor for skin cancer, with personal exposure influenced by environmental and behavioral factors. At higher temperatures, behavioral changes increase solar radiation exposure. Examine the relationships between solar radiation, ambient temperature, age, and skin cancer. For the contiguous United States, we obtained the state mean global horizontal irradiance (GHI), daily maximum temperature, and number of skin cancer removals in the Medicare population. For skin cancer removals, we defined more sun-exposed skin as the head, neck, hands, and feet, and less sun-exposed skin as the trunk, arms, and legs. By comparing the temperature thresholds 17°C, 20°C, 24°C, 27°C, 31°C, and 34°C, we found that the annual number of days above 24°C was the strongest temperature-related predictor of skin cancer removals. Multivariable linear regression showed that the number of days above 24°C predicted more skin cancer removals for all body locations and less sun-exposed skin (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively), while GHI did not (p = 0.1 and p = 0.8, respectively). GHI only predicted more skin cancer removals for more sun-exposed skin (p = 0.02). More days above 24°C was a better predictor of skin cancer removals than GHI for all skin locations and less sun-exposed skin, suggesting that the behavioral changes occurring at warmer temperatures are more predictive of skin cancer removals than solar irradiance. Due to rising global temperatures, skin cancer incidence may further increase. Temperature-related behavioral changes represent a potential target for skin cancer prevention efforts.

Major air pollution and climate policies in NYC and trends in NYC air quality 1998-2021.

Air pollution poses serious health risks to humans, with particular harm to children. To address the gap in understanding the efficacy of policies to reduce exposure to air pollution, we sought to assess the temporal relationship between the enactment of major air pollution and climate policies in NYC and trends in air quality during the period 1998-2021. We used previously available data from citywide monitoring and new data from the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) longitudinal cohort studies of mothers and children living in communities in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. We utilized publicly available citywide air monitoring data for particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2009 to 2021 from the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) database and CCCEH cohort data on residential exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 and personal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during pregnancies occurring from 1998-2016 and 1998-2021, respectively. We compared annual and overall reductions in PM2.5 and NO2 citywide and reductions in PAH concentrations in the cohort studies. As previously reported, annual average concentrations of pollutants in NYC dropped significantly over time. Between 1998 and 2021, PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were reduced citywide by 37 and 31%, respectively. In our CCCEH cohorts, between 1998 and 2016, the annual average PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations also decreased significantly by 51 and 48%, respectively. Between 1998 and 2020, PAH concentrations decreased significantly by 66%. While it is not possible to link improved air quality to a single policy, our analysis provides evidence of a cumulative beneficial effect of clean air and climate policies enacted between 1998 and 2021 both city-wide and in our cohorts residing in communities that have been disproportionately affected by air pollution. There are important implications for health benefits, particularly for children, who are known to be especially vulnerable to these exposures. The results support further environmental and social policy changes to prevent the serious health impacts of air pollution from fossil fuel emissions.

Potential health risks of inhaling hazardous chemical exposures at fuel stations: a pilot study in a hot, arid environment

In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the issue of exposure to hazardous chemical compounds and the potential health risks associated with them. Fuel stations play a critical role in society, supporting the transportation industry and serving the general public. However, the routine activities at these stations expose workers and customers to dangerous chemical compounds, posing potential health risks. As part of a pilot study, the exposure of workers and customers to hazardous chemical compounds at fuel stations in Kuwait, characterized by its hot and arid environment, was investigated. The study specifically looked at volatile organic compounds (VOC) concentration and their effects on human health. Three hundred-eight air samples were collected in a hot, arid environment, focusing on fuel stations. Two sampling methods were used in this pilot study: personal inhalation exposure using active sampling and workplace air sampling using passive sampling. Samples were collected in fuel filling areas, indoor control rooms, and through personal exposures, adhering to ISO procedures (EPA TO-17). The study also assessed the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to human health to potential exposure to hazardous hazardous chemicals. The findings revealed that hazardous chemicals levels in the pump area were lower than those in the indoor control rooms. Workers’ inhalation exposure to hazardous chemicals remained below the international occupational exposure limit (OEL). However, the study identified unsafe inhalation exposure levels to Benzene, which could have adverse carcinogenic effects. In contrast, exposure to ethylbenzene was found to be within safe limits, with no associated carcinogenic effects. This study underscores the importance of identifying the risks associated with exposure to hazardous chemical compounds to minimize human health risks and promote a safe working environment.

Brighter nights and darker days predict higher mortality risk: A prospective analysis of personal light exposure in >88,000 individuals

Light enhances or disrupts circadian rhythms, depending on the timing of exposure. Circadian disruption contributes to poor health outcomes that increase mortality risk. Whether personal light exposure predicts mortality risk has not been established. We therefore investigated whether personal day and night light, and light patterns that disrupt circadian rhythms, predicted mortality risk. UK Biobank participants (N = 88,905, 62.4 ± 7.8 y, 57% female) wore light sensors for 1 wk. Day and night light exposures were defined by factor analysis of 24-h light profiles. A computational model of the human circadian pacemaker was applied to model circadian amplitude and phase from light data. Cause-specific mortality was recorded in 3,750 participants across a mean (±SD) follow-up period of 8.0 ± 1.0 y. Individuals with brighter day light had incrementally lower all-cause mortality risk (adjusted-HR ranges: 0.84 to 0.90 [50 to 70th light exposure percentiles], 0.74 to 0.84 [70 to 90th], and 0.66 to 0.83 [90 to 100th]), and those with brighter night light had incrementally higher all-cause mortality risk (aHR ranges: 1.15 to 1.18 [70 to 90th], and 1.21 to 1.34 [90 to 100th]), compared to individuals in darker environments (0 to 50th percentiles). Individuals with lower circadian amplitude (aHR range: 0.90 to 0.96 per SD), earlier circadian phase (aHR range: 1.16 to 1.30), or later circadian phase (aHR range: 1.13 to 1.20) had higher all-cause mortality risks. Day light, night light, and circadian amplitude predicted cardiometabolic mortality, with larger hazard ratios than for mortality by other causes. Findings were robust to adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, photoperiod, and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Minimizing night light, maximizing day light, and keeping regular light-dark patterns that enhance circadian rhythms may promote cardiometabolic health and longevity.

Midwife students' attitudes towards violence against women: A pilot study.

The United Nations define violence against women (VAW) as any gender-based violence that causes mental, physical, or economic harm and restricts freedom. The topic has not been studied before in the context of the midwifery curriculum in Estonia. The purpose of the study is to investigate the attitudes of midwife students towards VAW. This pilot study followed a mixed-methods approach. The study population consisted of 77 midwifery students at Tallinn Health Care College from 2022-2023. The online survey was distributed to all Tallinn Health Care College midwifery students. The pilot study is used to validate the questionnaire and obtain initial information. The results show that the midwife students of this study have personal experiences and exposures to different types of violence, and some midwife students had sociocultural misconceptions about VAW. Midwife students have limited knowledge of the impact of violence on women's health and the legislation regarding violence. Midwife students stated that they would not be able to properly help the woman as a victim, as they lack knowledge, skills, and experience, which is an unfortunate factor. The present pilot study showed that midwife students' attitudes towards VAW need improvement. The study raises the need to investigate midwife students' attitudes towards VAW with a larger sample, better-designed method, and validated questionnaire. Topics related to violence should be included in the midwifery curriculum, along with developing practical skills.

Surgical Face Mask as an Air Sampling Device for Assessing Personal Exposure to Airborne Antimicrobial Resistance Gene-Bearing Bacteria.

In this study, we assessed the feasibility of using a surgical face mask as a sampling device to collect airborne antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). The method entails collection of ARG-bearing microbes on face masks, followed by their DNA extraction and quantification by qPCR analysis. Analysis of masks worn by volunteers showed an apparent mask wearing time-dependent accumulation of 16S rRNA gene and select ARGs trapped on masks, highlighting the applicability of the method in monitoring personal ARG exposure through inhalation. The sampling method was then validated for reproducibility and compared with a filter-based sampling method before application in different environmental settings to further assess personal exposure to ARGs. In comparison with the filter-based method, our new sampling method does not require a sampling pump and is more user-friendly. More importantly, it records ARG exposure down to the personalized level; thus, it may be used in routine monitoring of occupational exposure and surveillance of ARG concentrations in indoor environments.

Comparative analysis of particle exposure in commuters: Evaluating different modes of transportation in Tehran

Daily commuting significantly contributes to the overall exposure to particulate matter (PM) in urban areas, underscoring the need to understand the factors influencing PM exposure. This study assessed personal exposure levels and inhalation doses of PM2.5, and PM10 across various transportation modes in Tehran, Iran. The study included buses, open-window taxis, subways, walking, and cycling for over 125 trips. Data were collected during the morning and evening peak hours using low-cost sensors, with an average trip distance of 7.50 km. On average, buses exhibited the highest mean PM2.5 concentration (25.0 μgm3), followed by subways (17.0 μgm3), taxis (14.4 μgm3), cycling (13.5 μgm3), and walking (8.80 μgm3). Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong relationship between traffic volume and PM concentrations in taxi and bus modes (r = 0.78 and 0.56, respectively). Subway commuters experienced the lowest PM2.5 inhalation dose (2.50 μg), whereas bus commuters experienced the highest (6.20 μg). Pedestrians had the highest average inhalation dose of PM2.5 with 20.7 μg due to longer trip durations. The daily average PM2.5 levels in all transportation modes exceeded the WHO thresholds by 1.60 times. These findings offer crucial insights into personal exposure concentrations among commuters and serve as a basis for effective air quality management plans and broader global investigations of air pollution.