Reduce Health Risks Research Articles

Nutritional Factors and Pubertal Disorders: Implications of Obesity and Early Puberty Onset

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between early puberty onset and childhood dietary patterns in Indonesian adolescents, as well as the effects of nutritional factors including obesity, on pubertal disorders. Approach, methodology, and design: Eighty-five sixth-graders participated in a non-randomized intervention trial at Elementary School Muhammadiyah 16 Surabaya. Pediatricians conducted seminars that provided participants with information regarding puberty. The data was analyzed using SPSS, and knowledge was assessed through pre-and post-tests. Findings: The results highlighted a double burden of malnutrition, with 49.4% having insufficient dietary intake and 50.5% having excessive intake. The effect was not significant, despite a minor increase in knowledge following the seminar. Every participant’s pubertal timing was within the normal range. The results highlight the necessity of treating both undernutrition and overnutrition to prevent early puberty and other health issues in the future. Limitations/Implications: The results’ generalizability is limited by the study’s non-randomized design and emphasis on a single institution. Practical Implications: The results demonstrate the necessity of comprehensive nutritional interventions in schools to promote balanced diets and reduce health risks related to early puberty and malnutrition. Originality/Value: By contributing insights for focused campaigns to promote health in adolescent populations, the study improves our knowledge of dietary imbalances.

Intelligent food packaging for smart sensing of food safety.

In this contemporary era, with over 8 billion people worldwide, ensuring food safety has become more critical than ever. To address this concern, the introduction of intelligent packaging marks a significant breakthrough. Essentially, this innovation tackles the challenge of rapid deterioration in perishable foods, which is vital to the well-being of communities and food safety. Unlike traditional methods that primarily emphasize shelf-life extension, intelligent packaging goes further by incorporating advanced sensing technologies to detect signs of spoilage and contamination in real-time, such as changes in temperature, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, humidity, and the presence of harmful microorganisms. The innovation can rely on various packaging materials like plastics, metals, papers, or biodegradable polymers, combined with sophisticated sensing techniques such as colorimetric sensors, time-temperature indicators, radio-frequency identification tags, electronic noses, or biosensors. Together, these elements form a dynamic and tailored packaging system. This system not only protects food from spoilage but also offers stakeholders immediate and adequate information about food quality. Moreover, the real-world application on seafood, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables demonstrates the feasibility of using intelligent packaging to significantly enhance the safety and shelf life of a wide variety of perishable goods. By adopting intelligent packaging for smart sensing solutions, both the food industry and consumers can significantly reduce health risks linked with contamination and reduce unnecessary food waste. This underscores the crucial role of intelligent packaging in modern food safety and distribution systems, showcasing an effective fusion of technology, safety, and sustainability efforts aimed at nourishing a rapidly growing global population.

Norway's Battery Electric Vehicles and Public Health- Findings From the Literature.

The transportation sector is among the highest contributors to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in European nations, with private cars emerging as the primary source. Although reducing emissions presents a formidable challenge, the emergence of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) offers a promising and sustainable avenue toward achieving zero greenhouse gases within the transportation infrastructure. Since the 1990s, the Norwegian parliament has fervently supported this transition, leveraging public awareness campaigns and a range of financial incentives for its users nationwide. The widespread utilization of BEVs promises substantial health benefits, including ensuring cleaner air for all citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status and fostering improvements in public health outcomes. This transition potentially curtails hundreds of thousands of annual deaths attributed to climate change, enhances the quality of life, bolsters civilian productivity, and fuels economic and population growth. The adoption of BEVs offers a myriad of advantages, including reduced health risks and premature mortality, as well as a quieter environment with diminished noise pollution. Nonetheless, the integration of BEVs necessitates robust road infrastructure with considerable maintenance costs, alongside limitations on driving range for users. Concerns arise regarding potential particle emissions from BEV tire wear due to the increased weight of batteries compared to conventional vehicles. Rapid acceleration capabilities may accelerate tire degradation, contributing to higher particle emissions, of which only 10% to 20% remain suspended in the air, whereas the majority settles on road surfaces, posing a threat to nearby aquatic ecosystems when washed into water bodies and soils. While BEVs hold promise for valuable benefits, successful policy creation and implementation require a detailed awareness of their limitations and challenges to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainable mobility and public health improvement. Therefore, more research on the limitations of BEVs can help inform improved tactics for maximizing their benefits while limiting potential disadvantages.

Mapping COVID-19's potential infection risk based on land use characteristics: A case study of commercial activities in two Egyptian cities

The contagious COVID-19 has recently emerged and evolved into a world-threatening pandemic outbreak. After pursuing rigorous prophylactic measures two years ago, most activities globally reopened despite the emergence of lethal genetic strains. In this context, assessing and mapping activity characteristics-based hot spot regions facilitating infectious transmission is essential. Hence, our research question is: How can the potential hotspots of COVID-19 risk be defined intra-cities based on the spatial planning of commercial activity in particular? In our research, Zayed and October cities, Egypt, characterized by various commercial activities, were selected as testbeds. First, we analyzed each activity's spatial and morphological characteristics and potential infection risk based on the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) criteria and the Kriging Interpolation method. Then, using Google Mobility, previous reports, and semi-structured interviews, points of interest and population flow were defined and combined with the last step as interrelated horizontal layers for determining hotspots. A validation study compared the generated activity risk map, spatial COVID-19 cases, and land use distribution using logistic regression (LR) and Pearson coefficients (rxy). Through visual analytics, our findings indicate the central areas of both cities, including incompatible and concentrated commercial activities, have high-risk peaks (LR = 0.903, rxy = 0.78) despite the medium urban density of districts, indicating that urban density alone is insufficient for public health risk reduction. Health perspective-based spatial configuration of activities is advised as a risk assessment tool along with urban density for appropriate decision-making in shaping pandemic-resilient cities.

Review of the Marriage Age Limit Policy in Indonesia Through the Saad al-Dzari'ah Principles

This research examines the latest policy regarding the age limit for marriage in Indonesia, which sets a minimum age of 19 years for both sexes. The main objective is to assess the impact and effectiveness of this policy in the context of social, health and gender equality, through the lens of Saad al- Dzari'ah principles which are oriented towards preventing social damage before it occurs. The methodology used includes a juridical-normative approach with statistical data analysis, case studies, and in-depth interviews with various stakeholders. The results showed a significant reduction in early marriage, an increase in education and economic preparedness, and a reduction in reproductive health risks. This study also identified that the application of Saad al-Dzari'ah principles has been effective in preventing social problems related to early marriage and supporting gender equality. Policy recommendations include increasing the minimum marriage age, broader educational campaigns, integration of religious values in public policy, and regular monitoring and evaluation. This research provides valuable insights for policy makers in formulating marriage regulations that are responsive to ongoing social dynamics, while respecting the juridical, social and religious values of Indonesian society.

Sculpting the future of meat: Biomaterial approaches and structural engineering for large‐scale cell‐based production

AbstractNovel foods are an increasing reality (and necessity) for our global food system and need to be protein‐rich for good nutrition. Cell‐based meats use the edible biomass of in vitro cultured animal cells harvested from the muscle tissue of live animals, removing the need to raise and slaughter animals. It is a viable alternative that is environmentally friendly, lowers resource consumption, and reduces health risks associated with traditional livestock farming. The cell‐based meat industry has boomed over the last 5 years with dozens of start‐ups being founded and millions of dollars in capital raised. While cell‐based meat faces technical, socio‐political, and regulatory challenges, it is a nascent technology with key technical challenges such as cell line stability, non‐animal‐derived culture media development, and bioprocessing for commercial‐scale uses. Here, we review the current field of cell‐based meat production at a lab scale and assess the feasibility and scalability of commercial production and the challenges that these production methods face. Moreover, we discuss the advancements in technologies for large‐scale manufacturing of cell‐based meat covering aspects including optimized culture media formulations, edible scaffold designs, and bioreactors for high‐density cell culture to reduce production costs.

Quantification of ambient PM2.5 concentrations adjacent to informal brick kilns in the Vhembe District using low-cost sensors

The widespread exposure to ambient PM2.5 poses a substantial health risk globally, with a more pronounced impact on low- to medium-income nations. This study investigates the spatiotemporal distribution of PM2.5 in the communities hosting informal brickmaking industries in Vhembe District. Utilizing Dylos DC1700, continuous monitoring of PM2.5 was conducted at nine stations adjacent to informal brick kilns from March 2021 to February 2022. The study determined the correction factor for PM2.5 measurements obtained from the Dylos DC1700 when it was collocated with the GRIMM Environmental Dust Monitor 180. Additionally, the diurnal and seasonal variations across monitoring stations were assessed, and potential PM2.5 sources were identified. The study also evaluated the compliance of ambient PM2.5 concentrations across the stations with the South African National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) limits. Annual PM2.5 concentrations for the stations ranged from 22.6 to 36.2 μgm−3. Diurnal patterns exhibited peak concentrations in the morning and evening, while seasonal variations showed higher concentrations in winter and lower concentrations in summer and spring. All monitoring stations reported the highest daily exceedance with respect to the daily NAAQS limit in the winter. Major PM2.5 sources included domestic biomass combustion, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, and construction sites. Well-calibrated low-cost sensors could be employed in suburb regions with scarce air quality data. Findings from the study could be used for developing mitigation strategies to reduce health risks associated with PM2.5 exposure in the area.

The Impact of Health Status and Experienced Disutility on Air Quality Valuation

This paper examines the impact of health status, and of experienced disutility caused by air pollution, on individuals' preferences regarding the health risk reductions resulting from air quality improvement. We investigate if changes in the level of experienced disutility due to air pollution mediate the relationship between individuals' respiratory health status and their preferences regarding health risk reductions. For this purpose, we conducted a choice experiment study among inhabitants of four big Polish cities that have varying levels of particulate matter pollution. We used the modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale, verified in clinical trials, to obtain information about respondents’ health status, except for usually applied health status measures in stated preference surveys. We do not find any direct impact of health status (apart from smoking) on willingness to pay for air quality improvement. Our results indicate, however, that individuals who self-reported a respiratory diagnosis, as well as those who scored high on the breathlessness scale, are more likely to display a latent trait indicating experienced disutility due to air pollution, and that those who experience this disutility are, in general, more in favour of air quality improvement programmes.

Metals bioaccumulation in fish captured from Araguari River upper section (Amazon biome), and risk assessment to human health resulting from their consumption

BackgroundThe Araguari River is one of the most important rivers from Amapá State and its waters are essential as source of drinking water and food, especially for the traditional Amazonian populations. These populations have fish as their main protein source; however, studies have shown the metals bioaccumulation in fish caught in the Araguari River and the risks to human health resulting from fish consumption. Our objective was to investigate the bioaccumulation of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Hg in muscle tissue from the fish species Ageneiosus inermis and Hoplias aimara, and to evaluate the risks to human health resulting from their consumption. MethodsFish sampling was carried out between September and October 2018 at two sampling sites located in the Araguari River upper section. The metal concentrations quantification was performed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, except for Hg whose concentrations were determined using a hydride generator coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. For risk assessment of each metal individually we use the risk quotient (RQ) approach. To assess the risk of metal mixtures, present in fish muscle samples, we used the risk index (RI) approach. We also calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI). ResultsThere was no statistical difference in the bioaccumulation of metals between both fish species. Only Cd and Pb presented average concentrations higher than the maximum limits established by Brazilian legislation aimed at protecting human health. The RI values obtained for both fish species were > 25, which indicates high risks to human health. The EDI values obtained for Hg in both fish species exceeded their reference dose (RfD). Taken together, our results show that these fish species are unfit for consumption. ConclusionsBased on our results we recommend that the population does not consume the species A. inermis and H. aimara. When suspending consumption of both species is not possible, reducing their consumption is mandatory to reduce the exposure of human populations to toxic metals bioaccumulated in fish muscle tissue and thus reduce health risks.

Moral hazard in public health policies

ABSTRACTThis paper studies the role of medical preparedness in the incentive of policymakers to protect their constituents against public health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitigation measures such as stay-at-home orders reduce health risks but result in economic losses. The goal is to examine moral hazard in determining the stringency of mitigation measures theoretically and empirically. Theoretical analysis shows that measures tend to be more lenient in better medically-prepared jurisdictions with higher hospital capacity, implying moral hazard in public health policies. The paper then empirically tests the theoretical prediction based on data on statewide stay-at-home orders across 50 states during the COVID-19 pandemic, and empirical evidence shows that one additional hospital bed per 10,000 population decreases the duration of the order by 1.8 days, lending support to the theoretical prediction. To avoid moral hazard, independent health experts should be part of the policy-making body.

Health risks associated with smoking versus injecting fentanyl among people who use drugs in California

BackgroundGiven the attention, funding, and services that seek to reduce overdose mortality from fentanyl, it is important to understand whether a potential solution is for more people to switch from injecting to smoking fentanyl. As such, we set out to conduct a study to compare health and healthcare utilization outcomes associated with different modes of illicit fentanyl administration. MethodsFrom January to February 2023, we recruited people who use drugs from 34 syringe services programs across California, USA (N=999) and surveyed their substance use, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization. We compared health risks among people who injected fentanyl (78% of whom also smoked) to people who solely smoked fentanyl (n=563). ResultsOf the 563 participants, forty-one percent injected fentanyl and 59% only smoked fentanyl. People who injected fentanyl were 40% more likely to have experienced a non-fatal overdose in the past 3 months (27% vs. 19%; aRR=1.40; 95% CI=1.03, 1.93) and 253% more likely to have had a skin and soft tissue infection in the past 3 months (39% vs. 15%; aRR=2.53; 95% CI=1.74, 3.67), compared to people who only smoked fentanyl. The average number of nights spent in the hospital was higher among people who injected fentanyl (average 1.2 nights vs. 0.7 nights; aIRR=1.78; 95% CI=1.02, 3.09; p=0.04).There were non-significant associations between mode of fentanyl administration and number of emergency department visits and probability of hospitalization. ConclusionsFindings suggested that people who injected fentanyl were at higher risk for overdose and skin and soft tissue infections than people who only smoked fentanyl. Distribution of safe smoking supplies may facilitate transitions from injecting to smoking fentanyl, thereby reducing health risks associated with fentanyl use.

κ-Carrageenan inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end products in cakes: Inhibition mechanism, cake characteristics, and sensory evaluation.

Inhibiting the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the heat-processed food can reduce health risks related to diabetic complications. However, additives used for this purpose may also affect the sensory characteristics of food products. In this study, the effects of six hydrocolloids on the formation of AGEs were evaluated in the lysine-glucose model, with κ-carrageenan exhibited the highest inhibitory activity. Mechanistic investigations indicated that κ-carrageenan conjugated with the key intermediates of AGEs, namely glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO). Subsequently, the inhibitory effect of κ-carrageenan on AGEs formation in cakes was verified. The data showed that κ-carrageenan in cakes significantly inhibited the formation of fluorescent and non-fluorescent AGEs. In addition, analysis of cake characteristics and sensory evaluation showed that cakes with 1% (w/w) κ-carrageenan had the highest quality and overall acceptance. Overall, κ-carrageenan is an effective inhibitor of AGEs formation in heat-processed food.

Peer group leadership for dementia health risk reduction

AbstractBackgroundWith the worldwide number of persons with dementia predicted to triple by 2050 and a current lack of curative treatment [1], reduction of modifiable risks is increasingly important. In 2020 the Lancet Commission on Dementia, Prevention, and Care reported on twelve health risk management factors that could potentially reduce the risk of dementia [2]. Peer support groups have a history in supporting self‐management of health risk behaviour [3,4]. We wanted to learn if older adults have successfully provided peer leadership in group interventions for older adult health management.MethodUsing the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews we searched three databases (Medline, Embase, and AgeLine) for articles describing older adult leadership for older adult health improvement in older adult health promotion or improvement groups. From the initial 16,000+ results, 19 studies met the criteria for full text screening and analysis.ResultOf the 19 studies, 12 used peer leaders and seven had a reciprocal support model. For those using peer leaders, training varied from none to 30 weeks. Older adult leadership or reciprocal support occurred in a range of settings. There were studies examining an older adult run seniors centre and a supportive community engagement program. Six studies focused on diabetes or hypertension, conditions linked with dementia risks. Interventions lasted from four weeks to 24 years. No quantifiable patterns of health management were observed. The only pattern that emerges is that positive physical and behaviour changes occurred more often when peer leaders or co‐facilitators were expected to motivate or encourage participant engagement or mutual support and where expectations included participant goal setting behaviour. Most of the studies of 12 weeks or less did not see lasting changes.ConclusionsWhen asked participants preferred and appreciated peer leadership; however, peer leadership itself was not sufficient for positive health changes. Research with a sharing and empowerment focus within groups often led to improved self‐efficacy and self‐management behaviours. Research with longer participant engagement may result in longer lasting health habits.

An Entangled Relationship between Bullying Perception and Psychosocial Dimensions in a Sample of Young Adolescents.

Bullying is a hostile behavior repeated over a time period, affecting children and adolescents in different social settings, mainly small and stable ones like school, with negative effects on mental and physical health. In this study, we aimed to provide the degree of impairment of different variables related to health and well-being in bullying conditions, with attention to sex differences. Data were obtained from 5390 adolescents (mean age 13.08 ± 1.89; male 2729), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire. In all students, mood and emotion, self-perception, and parental relationships are the dimensions more compromised in bullying conditions, while lifestyle habit is the variable less involved. Bullied girls show a significant impairment of all HRQoL variables both with respect to the socially accepted counterpart and to the male population. Our study highlights the strict association between bullying and emotional and social dimensions, suggesting that enhancing them preventively could facilitate earlier detection of problems, thereby reducing health risks.

Application of natural preservatives and sweeteners in fruit products to reduce health risks - a review

The costs of food deterioration in terms of both money and health are rising. Fungi, bacteria, yeast, insects, and rodent contamination of food supplies continue to be a major public health concern. Chemical preservatives are effective but can be potentially fatal to human health in certain cases. As potent food preservatives, essential oils made from plants are a great alternative to synthetic preservatives. They also possess a variety of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. The use of artificial sweeteners in food products, which raises safety questions and health issues while also having reduced nutritional value, is another problem in the food industry. Because natural sweeteners are linked to a healthy lifestyle and have superior nutritional qualities, consumers today prefer them. This article goes through the issues with artificial sweeteners and preservatives and goes into great length about the many different essential oils and natural sweeteners that are much safer and healthier alternatives.

Rapid reduction of air pollution and short-term exposure risks in China

With the continuous control of anthropogenic emissions, China's air quality has improved significantly in recent years. Given this background, research on how the short-term exposure risks caused by air pollution in China have changed is insufficient. This study utilized hourly concentration data from ground observation stations and the official air quality guidelines of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China and the World Health Organization as standards to systematically investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics and short-term exposure risks of air pollution in China from 2015 to 2022. The results indicate that various atmospheric pollutants except for ozone showed a decreasing trend yearly. Nationwide, both single pollutant air pollution days (SAPDs) and multiple pollutant air pollution days (MAPDs) showed varying degrees of reduction within 15 and 25 days, respectively. SAPD was dominated mainly by excessive PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants, while MAPD was dominated mainly by excessive pollutant combinations, including PM2.5 + PM10, CO + PM2.5 + PM10, and SO2 + PM2.5 + PM10. As the concentration of atmospheric pollutants decreased, the total excess risk (ER) decreased yearly from 2015 to 2022, but there were significant regional differences. Now, the ER is less than 0.25% in southern China, in the range of 0.25%-0.5% in the North China Plain and some cities in the northeast, and higher than 1% in the northwest. Particulate matter is currently the primary pollutant posing short-term exposure risk in China, especially due to the impact of sandstorm weather. This study indicates that China's atmospheric cleaning action is significantly beneficial for reducing health risks.

Good practices in aquaculture production and pathogen detection in rainbow trout farms

Objective: Evaluate compliance with Good Aquaculture Production Practices (BPPA) in Aquaculture Production Units (UPAs) for the incubation of rainbow trout eggs and detection of Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas hydrophila using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
 Design/methodology/approach: Seven egg incubation UPAs were located in Puebla and three in Veracruz. A structured questionnaire was applied to assess compliance with BPPA. Samples were taken from batches of trout hatchlings and analyzed for the presence of A. salmonicida and A. hydrophila using PCR. The results were compared with the health characteristics of the fish from each batch.
 Results: The UPAs certified for BPPA complied with authority recommendations and did not present fish morbidity. The UPAs that complied with fewer BPPA regulations had sanitary/health problems. Aeromonas hydrophila was detected in fish from UPAs that were less compliant with BPPA regulations. Aeromonas salmonicida was not detected.
 Study limitations/implications: Failure to comply with BPPA can cause infection from other trout pathogens that were not considered in this study.
 Findings/conclusions: Compliance with BPPA reduces health risks in the UPAs that incubate trout eggs.

Determination of Hg and Se in swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from Mediterranean Sea: Implications for nutritional recommendations during pregnancy and childhood

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are important marine predators facing potential mercury (Hg) contamination. This study analyzed Hg levels in swordfish muscle tissue from two Mediterranean Sea stocks. Italian specimens showed significantly higher Hg concentrations (1.4 ± 0.8 mg kg−1 ww) than Spanish ones (0.8 ± 0.5 mg kg−1 ww), with many samples exceeding EU's safety limit (1 mg kg−1 ww). Selenium (Se) content and Se:Hg ratios were examined, along with the maximum safe fish meals per month for vulnerable consumers. These results highlight the urgent need for monitoring and mitigation strategies to reduce health risks, especially for susceptible populations.

Software defined radio frequency sensing framework for Internet of Medical Things

The escalating demand for biomedical systems that can precisely diagnose and manage critical diseases underscores the need for innovative solutions. A non-invasive and intelligent Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) system emerges as a promising technology, potentially enabling physicians to assess patients with reduced health risks. The respiratory rate is a pivotal vital sign among the primary clinical assessments. The allure of Radio Frequency (RF) sensing lies in its ability to monitor respiratory patterns without direct contact. However, the practical implementation of such systems often necessitates supplementary hardware to manage the extensive data and radio functionalities, leading to concerns related to cost and feasibility. Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology presents itself as a viable solution to these challenges. This research introduces a comprehensive framework for the IoMT system, aiming to diagnose respiratory abnormalities early through RF sensing and SDR technology. We employ a deep learning framework and compare its performance with traditional machine learning models to ensure reliable and precise classification of respiratory abnormalities. The achieved results underscore the superiority of deep learning frameworks over conventional machine learning models in classifying respiratory anomalies. Specifically, the deep learning framework exhibits exceptional performance in discerning the temporal dependencies and patterns inherent in respiratory abnormalities, achieving an average accuracy exceeding 98% for each respiratory abnormality classification.

Cigarette smoke and tobacco heating aerosol on the aging of clear aligners.

The treatments with clear aligners (CA) showed an exponential higher percentage in the last years being almost invisible with major patient acceptability and a resulting improvement in quality of life. CA are composed of thermoplastic polyurethane not inert but subjected to changes due to heating and humidity, chewing forces, and prolonged exposure to enzymes in saliva in the oral cavity and external factors. Cigarette smoke (CS) and the aerosol produced by tobacco products with reduced health risks may be considered among the external factors affecting CA. The purpose of this study was the assessment of optical properties (absorbance and transmittance) and roughness of CA after in vitro aging due to exposition to CS and THS2.2, compared to controls. The secondary objective will be the investigation of CS and THS2.2 effects on resin composite inside aligners used for attachments during treatment with CA. A total number of 60 CA units will be used and equally divided in three different groups (20 in each): CS group exposed to reference cigarettes smoking, THS2.2 group exposed to aerosol from 20 heat-not-burn sticks, and control group, CG to pure air only. The aligners will present ten introflection for the attachments on the anterior part. In accordance with ISO standard 3402, 3R4F cigarettes and THS2.2 tobacco sticks must undergo conditioning for a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 21 days at a temperature of 22±1 °C and a relative humidity of 60±3%. Using spectrophotometry, the optical characteristics (absorbance and transmittance) of each aligner will be evaluated after aging (Jasco UV-vis V630PC, Tokyo, Japan). Each aligner will be cut with a rotating saw from canine to canine prior to the measurements in order to lop off the lingual region and displaying the labial barrier. The absorbance and transmittance measurements will be collected and statistically analyzed with a significance of P<0.05. Surface roughness of the aligners and attachments inside them will be assessed by 3D scanning microscopy (Infinite Focus G4h). Color of resin composite will be assessed using the (CIE Lab) Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage L*a*b* color space by means of Olympus CrystalEyef dental spectrophotometer. Clinicians should advise patients to refrain from smoking and drinking coffee or tea while wearing aligners for two reasons: first, the color change is unacceptably noticeable when wearing aligners, and second, the material's chemical composition may be slightly altered, which could affect the intended dental movements.