Residential Proximity Research Articles

Association of distance to swine concentrated animal feeding operations with immune-mediated diseases: An exploratory gene-environment study

BackgroundConcentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are a source of environmental pollution and have been associated with a variety of health outcomes. Immune-mediated diseases (IMD) are characterized by dysregulation of the normal immune response and, while they may be affected by gene and environmental factors, their association with living in proximity to a CAFO is unknown. ObjectivesWe explored gene, environment, and gene-environment (GxE) relationships between IMD, CAFOs, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of prototypical xenobiotic response genes AHR, ARNT, and AHRR and prototypical immune response gene PTPN22. MethodsThe exposure analysis cohort consisted of 6,464 participants who completed the Personalized Environment and Genes Study Health and Exposure Survey and a subset of 1,541 participants who were genotyped. We assessed the association between participants’ residential proximity to a CAFO in gene, environment, and GxE models. We recombined individual associations in a transethnic model using METAL meta-analysis. ResultsIn White participants, ARNT SNP rs11204735 was associated with autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ARNT SNP rs1889740 was associated with RA. In a transethnic genetic analysis, ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 and PTPN22 SNP rs2476601 were associated with autoimmune diseases and RA. In participants living closer than one mile to a CAFO, the log-distance to a CAFO was associated with autoimmune diseases and RA. In a GxE interaction model, White participants with ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 living closer than eight miles to a CAFO had increased odds of RA and autoimmune diseases, respectively. The transethnic model revealed similar GxE interactions. ConclusionsOur results suggest increased risk of autoimmune diseases and RA in those living in proximity to a CAFO and a potential role of the AHR-ARNT pathway in conferring risk. We also report the first association of ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 with RA. Our findings, if confirmed, could allow for novel genetically-targeted or other preventive approaches for certain IMD.

Associations between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticides exposure and birth outcomes.

Pesticides are widely used globally. Due to their widespread use, exposure to pesticides is of concern. In addition to occupational exposure, residential exposure during pesticide application is a concern for those living in or near agricultural areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and birth outcomes. The association between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure and birth outcomes was explored in a birth cohort including 283 pregnant women from a medical center in Hualien during 2013-2016. In the third trimester, we collected demographic information and the residential addresses of pregnant women via structured questionnaires. After delivery, newborn birth weight, gestational age, and head circumference were collected from medical records. Maternal residential address during pregnancy was collected for geospatial mapping. The percentages of farmland area within circular buffers of different sizes were applied to estimate pesticide exposure. Associations between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure and birth outcomes were analyzed by multiple linear regression analyses. A significantly smaller head circumference was associated with agricultural farmland located within 400m (β = - 0.51 [95% CI, - 0.99, - 0.03], P = 0.037) and 500m (β = - 0.67 [95% CI, - 1.14, - 0.19], P = 0.006) radii of residences in the tertile 2 group. A significantly smaller head circumference was also associated with dry farming area within 400m (β = - 0.70 [95% CI, - 1.17, - 0.24], P = 0.003) and 500m (β = - 0.81 [95% CI, - 1.27, - 0.34], P = 0.001) radii of residences in the tertile 2 group. The multivariate linear regression analyses did not show any significant association between residential farmland area and birth weight or gestational age. In conclusion, residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure was associated with negative infant birth outcomes, especially a small head circumference. In the future, agricultural land use information could be combined with biological samples to more accurately assess exposure in pregnant women.

Association of residential road proximity with cognitive decline and dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence links higher midlife air pollution exposures to increased risk of cognitive impairment, and there is growing interest in the role of noise in cognitive aging. Although associations of incident dementia with risk factors are often strongest when values of risk factors in midlife are considered, few studies have considered such associations with mid‐life exposures to traffic‐related air pollution or road noise. Thus, our objective was to determine if midlife residential proximity to major roads, a proxy for traffic‐related air pollution exposure and road noise, is associated with increased risk of incident dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.MethodARIC participants were enrolled from 4 US sites in 1987‐1989 at ages 45 to 65. We considered data from 12,135 participants who participated in ARIC Visit 2 (1990‐1992, study baseline). We calculated midlife residential Euclidean distance to a major (A1, A2, or A3) road based on geocoded residential addresses at Visit 2. We ascertained dementia status through 2019 via in‐person study visits with neurocognitive assessment, telephone cognitive interview, informant interview, and access to hospitalization and death records. We estimated the association between residential road proximity in midlife and incident dementia using adjusted Weibull models.ResultAt study baseline, the mean age of participants was 57 years, 22% were black, 56% were female, 48% lived within 200m of a major road, and 36% lived within 200 to 500m of a major road. 20% developed dementia during follow‐up. While residing closer to major roads in midlife was associated with increased risk of incident dementia in unadjusted models, this association did not persist in adjusted analyses.ConclusionResidence near a major road in midlife, which may lead to higher exposure to traffic‐related air pollution and noise, does not appear to increase risk of dementia.

Assessing associations between residential proximity to greenspace and birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

BackgroundResidential proximity to greenspace is associated with various health outcomes. ObjectivesWe estimated associations between maternal residential proximity to greenspace (based on an index of vegetation) and selected structural birth defects, including effect modification by neighborhood-level factors. MethodsData were from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997–2011) and included 19,065 infants with at least one eligible birth defect (cases) and 8925 without birth defects (controls) from eight Centers throughout the United States. Maternal participants reported their addresses throughout pregnancy. Each address was systematically geocoded and residences around conception were linked to greenspace, US Census, and US Department of Agriculture data. Greenspace was estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI); average maximum NDVI was estimated within 100 m and 500 m concentric buffers surrounding geocoded addresses to estimate residential NDVI. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals comparing those in the highest and lowest quartiles of residential NDVI and stratifying by rural/urban residence and neighborhood median income. ResultsAfter multivariable adjustment, for the 500 m buffer, inverse associations were observed for tetralogy of Fallot, secundum atrial septal defects, anencephaly, anotia/microtia, cleft lip ± cleft palate, transverse limb deficiency, and omphalocele, (aORs: 0.54–0.86). Results were similar for 100 m buffer analyses and similar patterns were observed for other defects, though results were not significant. Significant heterogeneity was observed after stratification by rural/urban for hypoplastic left heart, coarctation of the aorta, and cleft palate, with inverse associations only among participants residing in rural areas. Stratification by median income showed heterogeneity for atrioventricular and secundum atrial septal defects, anencephaly, and anorectal atresia, with inverse associations only among participants residing in a high-income neighborhood (aORs: 0.45–0.81). DiscussionOur results suggest that perinatal residential proximity to more greenspace may contribute to a reduced risk of certain birth defects, especially among those living in rural or high-income neighborhoods.

Greenspace and children's lung function in China: A cross-sectional study between 2013 and 2015

This study aims to investigate how surrounding greenspace density and proximity were associated with children's lung function. Between 2013 and 2015, spirometry and a parental survey were performed with children from four primary schools in two Chinese cities. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1, L), forced vital capacity (FVC, L), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF, L/s), and forced expiratory flow at 25 % (FEF25, L/s) and 75 % (FEF75, L/s) of FVC were measured. Outdoor surrounding greenspace index incorporated residential, school and commuting greenness and was weighted using assumed daytime hours spent at home and school. Residential proximity to greenspace index was defined as walking distance to nearest park. A total of 913 children (48.7 % female) were included. Overall, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in outdoor surrounding greenspace was associated with decreased FVC (0.06 L, 95%CI 0.01–0.11), but increased FEV1/FVC (2.03, 1.13–3.04), PEF (0.26 L/s, 0.13–0.39), and FEF25 (0.30 L/s, 0.17–0.42). Residential proximity to greenspace was associated with increased FEV1 (0.05 L, 0.02–0.08) and FVC (0.04 L, 0.01–0.07) per IQR decrease in distance. Protective effect was significant for children whose parents were less educated and those living in higher road density areas, though interactions were not significant. Structural equation modeling showed that higher level of surrounding greenspace was associated with lower ambient air pollution and in turn with better lung function. Greenspace density and proximity could influence children's lung function differently.

Historic racism in Kansas City affects Today's pediatric asthma burden.

Asthma morbidity is unequally distributed across populations throughout the United States, and reasons remain unclear. To assess how historical structural racism correlates with current day asthma disparities, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 10,736 pediatric patients, ages 3-19 years, with two or more asthma encounters between October 2017-October 2019. Patient addresses were matched with historic Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps - which provide a measure of historic structural racism. Residential proximity to pollution sources served as an additional exposure measure. Healthcare utilization and asthma severity were studied against age, race, SES, geographic proximity to pollution, and HOLC grades. Patients living in historically divested neighborhoods and BIPOC patients were likely to require more acute care for asthma, even when adjusting for present day SES and residential proximity to pollution sources. This supports the assertion that historic structural racism influences present-day health.

Residential proximity to croplands at birth and childhood leukaemia

BackgroundDomestic and parental occupational pesticide exposures are suspected of involvement in the occurrence of childhood acute leukaemia (AL), but the role of exposure to agricultural activities is little known. In a previous ecological study conducted in France, we observed an increase in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) incidence rate with increasing viticulture density in the municipalities of residence at diagnosis.ObjectivesThis study aimed to test the hypothesis that residential proximity to croplands at birth increases the risk of childhood AL, with a particular focus on vineyards.MethodsWe identified all the primary AL cases diagnosed before the age of 15 years in the cohorts of children born in the French municipalities between 1990 and 2015. We estimated crop densities in each municipality of residence at birth using agricultural census data, for ten crop types. Variations in standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were evaluated with Poisson regression models, for all AL, ALL and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), separately.ResultsAmong the 19,809,700 children born and residing in mainland France at birth in 1990–2015, 8,747 AL cases (7,236 ALL and 1,335 AML) were diagnosed over the period. We did not evidence any statistically significant positive association between total crop density or any specific crop density in the municipality of residence at birth and all AL, ALL or AML. Interestingly, we observed a higher ALL incidence rate in the municipalities with the highest viticulture densities (SIR = 1.25 95%CI [1.01–1.54]). Adjusting for the main potential confounders did not change the results.ConclusionOur study does not support the hypothesis that residential proximity to croplands, particularly vineyards, around birth plays a role in childhood leukaemia. The slightly higher ALL incidence rate in children born in the municipalities with the highest viticulture densities may reflect the previously-observed association at diagnosis.

Residential Proximity to Urban Play Spaces and Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Barcelona, Spain: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.

Findings on the relationship between play spaces and childhood overweight and obesity are mixed and scarce. This study aimed to investigate the associations between residential proximity to play spaces and the risk of childhood overweight or obesity and potential effect modifiers. This longitudinal study included children living in the city of Barcelona identified in an electronic primary healthcare record database between 2011 and 2018 (N = 75,608). Overweight and obesity were defined according to the WHO standards and we used 300 m network buffers to assess residential proximity to play spaces. We calculated the risk of developing overweight or obesity using Cox proportional hazard models. A share of 29.4% of the study population developed overweight or obesity, but we did not find consistent associations between play space indicators and overweight or obesity. We did not find any consistent sign of effect modification by sex, and only some indications of the modifying role of area socioeconomic status and level of exposure. Although it is not possible to draw clear conclusions from our study, we call for cities to continue increasing and improving urban play spaces with an equitable, healthy, and child-friendly perspective.

Residential proximity to oil and gas production sites and hematologic malignancies: A case-control study.

We investigated the association between residential proximity to oil and gas production sites and hematologic malignancies, due to a cancer cluster in the German state of Lower Saxony. A registry-based case-control study was conducted including 3978 cases of hematologic malignancies diagnosed within 2013-2016 and 15,912 frequency-matched controls randomly drawn by population registries. Residential proximity to 5333 oil and gas production sites at the time of diagnosis was calculated. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between living within 1 km of any exposure site and developing a hematologic malignancy. Models were adjusted for matching variables sex, age group, district, and year of diagnosis as well as for proximity to main streets and to agricultural land. We found no association between the development of hematologic malignancies and the proximity to all oil and gas production sites (odds ratio: 0.97; 95% confidence interval: 0.85, 1.11). Focusing on gas production sites increased the odds of developing hematologic cancer (odds ratio: 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 0.97, 1.45). In stratified analyses, associations were stronger in women and for acute myeloblastic leukemia. We also found an association in the district where the initial cluster occurred. Our results suggest that residential proximity to oil and gas production is not a risk factor for all hematologic malignancies in general. Sporadic and past exposures are the most likely scenarios for mechanisms involving oil and gas production, leading to increased risk for certain subtypes of cancer in certain populations.

The effect of residential proximity to brownfields, highways, and heavy traffic on serum metal levels in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study.

Research in environmental sciences has demonstrated that land in close proximity to brownfields and heavily trafficked highways is contaminated with toxic metals. Despite this, little is known about the influence of brownfields and highways on metal levels in residents living nearby. We used data from 774 participants in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study to estimate the effect of residential proximity to brownfields, highways, and present-day traffic on serum levels of lead, mercury, manganese, and copper using generalized estimating equations. We found that a 1 standard deviation increase in residential brownfield density within 200m was associated with increased serum lead levels (β: 0.04, 95% CI: -0.01, 0.09). The same modeled increase in a subset of historic industrial-use brownfields was associated with elevated serum mercury (β: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.09). Increased highway and traffic density was positively associated with serum manganese (β: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.04). Highway and traffic density was also positively associated with serum lead (β: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03) after restricting the analysis to participants who did not move during the study follow-up period. These findings draw attention to the importance of remediating polluted post-industrial sites in heavily populated areas, particularly as residents continue to move into densely populated cities around the globe.

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and risk-taking behaviors in young adults from the CHAMACOS study

BackgroundPrenatal pesticide exposure has been associated with poorer neurodevelopment during childhood, which could lead to greater risk-taking behaviors and delinquency in adolescence. This association may be augmented by adversity exposure. ObjectivesEvaluate the relationship between prenatal pesticide exposure and risk-taking behavior in young adults at 18-years of age. Assess whether adversity exposure modifies these associations. MethodsParticipants included mother-child dyads (n = 467) enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children Of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, a longitudinal birth cohort set in the agricultural Salinas Valley of California. We estimated agricultural pesticide use within one km of maternal residences during pregnancy using a geographic information system, residential addresses, and California's Pesticide Use Reporting data. We used Bayesian hierarchical regression to evaluate associations of prenatal exposure to a mixture of 11 neurotoxic pesticides with self-reported police encounters, risk-taking behaviors, and unique types and frequency of delinquent acts. We also evaluated effect modification of these relationships by adversity exposure. ResultsWe observed generally null associations of neurotoxic pesticide use with risk-taking behaviors. Prenatal residential proximity to chlorpyrifos use was associated with higher risk of a police encounter, a delinquent act, and higher incidence of both unique types of acts committed and total frequency of delinquent acts. Prenatal residential proximity to dimethoate use was associated with a higher incidence of police encounters and methomyl with a higher risk of committing a delinquent act. There were no consistent differences when stratified by the number of adverse childhood experiences. ConclusionsWe observed mostly null associations between prenatal residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and risk-taking behaviors at age 18, with little evidence of effect modification by childhood adversity. There were suggestive associations for chlorpyrifos use with having any police encounter and with all measures of delinquent acts that warrant confirmation in other studies.

Geographic and socioeconomic access disparities to Phase 3 clinical trials in ophthalmology in the United States.

To identify geographic and socioeconomic variables associated with residential proximity to Phase 3 ophthalmology clinical trial sites. The geographic location of clinical trial sites for Phase 3 clinical trials in ophthalmology was identified using ClinicalTrials.gov. Driving time from each United States (US) census tract centroid to nearest clinical trial site was calculated using real traffic patterns. Travel data were crosslinked to census-tract level public datasets from United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS). Cross-sectional multivariable regression was used to identify associations between census-tract sociodemographic factors and driving time (>60 min) from each census tract centroid to the nearest clinical trial site. There were 2330 unique clinical trial sites and 71,897 census tracts. Shortest median time was to retina sites [33.7 min (18.7, 70.1 min)]. Longest median time was to neuro-ophthalmology sites [119.8 min (48.7, 240.4 min)]. Driving >60 min was associated with rural tracts [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.60; 95% CI (5.66-10.20), p < 0.0001]; Midwest [aOR 1.84(1.15-2.96), p = 0.01], South [aOR 2.57 (1.38-4.79), p < 0.01], and West [aOR 2.52 (1.52-4.17), p < 0.001] v. Northeast; and tracts with higher visual impairment [aOR 1.07 (1.03-1.10), p < 0.001)]; higher poverty levels [4th v.1st Quartile of population below poverty, aOR 2.26 (1.72-2.98), p < 0.0001]; and lower education levels [high school v. Bachelor's degree or higher aOR 1.02 (1.00-1.03), p = 0.0072]. There are significant geographic and socioeconomic disparities in access to ophthalmology clinical trial sites for rural, non-Northeastern, poorer, and lower education level census tracts, and for census tracts with higher levels of self-reported visual impairment.

Association of residential road proximity with cognitive decline and dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Increasing evidence links higher air pollution exposures to increased risk of cognitive impairment, and there is growing interest in the role of noise in cognitive aging. Although risk factor associations with incident dementia are often strongest when midlife values of risk factors are considered, few studies have considered associations between midlife exposures to traffic-related air pollution or road noise and late life cognition. Our aim was to determine if midlife residential proximity to major roads, a proxy for traffic-related air pollution exposure and road noise, is associated with increased risk of incident dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. METHODS: ARIC participants were enrolled from 4 US sites in 1987-1989 at ages 45 to 65. We considered data from 12,135 participants of ARIC Visit 2 (1990-1992, study baseline). We calculated midlife residential Euclidean distance to a major (A1, A2, or A3) road based on geocoded residential addresses at Visit 2. We ascertained dementia status through 2019 via in-person study visits with neurocognitive assessment, telephone cognitive interview, informant interview, and access to hospitalization and death records. We estimated the association between midlife residential road proximity and incident dementia using adjusted Weibull models. RESULTS: At study baseline, the mean age of participants was 57 years, 22% were black, 56% were female. 48% lived within 200m and 36% lived within 200 to 500m of a major road. 20% developed dementia during follow-up. While residing closer to major roads in midlife was associated with increased risk of incident dementia in unadjusted models, this association did not persist in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Residence near a major road in midlife, a proxy for higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution and noise, does not appear to increase risk of dementia. KEYWORDS: dementia, air pollution, roadway, roads, particulate matter, cognition, aging, epidemiology

Residential proximity to greenspace and human birth defects

BACKGROUND: Residential proximity to greenspace is associated with various health outcomes. We estimated associations between maternal residential proximity to greenspace and selected structural birth defects, including effect modification by neighborhood-level factors. METHODS: Data were from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2011) and included 19,065 infants with at least one eligible birth defect (cases) and 8,925 without birth defects (controls) from eight Centers throughout the United States. Participants provided their addresses throughout pregnancy, which were systematically geocoded and linked to greenspace, US Census and Department of Agriculture data. Greenspace was estimated using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI); average maximum NDVI was calculated within 100m and 500m concentric buffers surrounding each geocoded address at conception to estimate residential NDVI. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals comparing those in the highest and lowest quartiles of residential NDVI, and subsequently stratifying by rural/urban and neighborhood median income. RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, for the 500m buffer, inverse associations were observed for tetralogy of Fallot, secundum atrial septal defects, anencephaly, anotia/microtia, cleft lip &amp;#xb1; cleft palate, transverse limb deficiency, omphalocele, and gastroschisis (aORs: 0.54-0.86). Significant heterogeneity was observed after stratification by rural/urban for hypoplastic left heart, coarctation of the aorta, and cleft palate with inverse associations only among those in rural areas. Stratification by neighborhood median income showed significant heterogeneity for secundum atrial septal defects, anencephaly, anotia/microtia, and anorectal atresia with inverse associations only among those in a high-income neighborhood (aORs: 0.45-0.81). Results were similar for 100m buffer analyses and similar patterns were observed for other defects, though results were less precise. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that perinatal residential proximity to more greenspace may contribute to a reduced risk of certain birth defects, especially among those living in rural or high-income neighborhoods. KEYWORDS: Greenspace, birth defects, neighborhood, NDVI

Residential green space is associated with a buffering effect on stress responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in mothers of young children, a prospective study

Background and Aim Green spaces are associated with increased well-being and reduced risk of developing psychiatric disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate how residential proximity to green spaces was associated with stress response buffering during the COVID-19 pandemic in a prospective cohort of young mothers. Methods We collected information on stress in 766 mothers (mean age: 36.6 years) from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort at baseline of the study (from 2010 onwards), and during the COVID-19 pandemic (from December 2020 until May 2021). Self-reported stress responses due to the COVID-19 pandemic were the outcome measure. Green space was quantified in several radiuses around the residence based on high-resolution (1 m2) data. Using ordinal logistic regression, we estimated the odds of better resistance to reported stress, while controlling for age, socio-economic status, stress related to care for children, urbanicity, and household change in income during the pandemic. In sensitivity analyses we corrected for pre-pandemic stress levels, BMI, physical activity, and changes in health-related habits during the pandemic. Results We found that for an inter-quartile range contrast in residential green space 300 m and 500 m around the residence, participants were respectively 24% (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.03 to 1.51) and 29% (OR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.60) more likely to be in a more resistant category, independent of the aforementioned factors. These results remained robust after additionally controlling for pre-pandemic stress levels, BMI, physical activity, smoking status, urbanicity, psychological disorders, and changes in health-related habits during the pandemic. Conclusion This prospective study in young mothers highlights the importance of proximity to green spaces, especially during challenging times.

The impact of farm animal exposures on Campylobacter jejuni antibody levels in rural agricultural communities of Iowa, USA

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Campylobacter infections transmitted primarily through improperly cooked meat are the leading bacterial cause of diarrhea worldwide. How exposures to farm animals and animal waste (e.g., through occupational contact or residential proximity to animal feeding operations [AFOs]) contribute to infections has been relatively understudied. METHODS: We measured antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in participants from Iowa in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture study (n=304 farmers; n=146 non-farming controls from similar communities). Participants self-reported occupational animal contact within the past year. We used a statewide database of permitted AFOs that included animal counts standardized by animal size and manure production to characterize the intensity of AFO exposure within 5km of participants’ residences. We performed linear regressions of log-transformed optical density units (ODs) for immunoglobulin (Ig) A, G, and M antibody levels in relation to occupational animal and low/high AFO exposures, using non-farming controls with low AFO exposure (n=96) as the referent group. We adjusted for age, season, and other potential confounders. We further examined antibody levels by occupational contact with specific animal types. RESULTS: Occupational animal contact was associated with elevated IgA and IgG OD levels in those with low AFO exposure (geometric mean ratio [95% confidence interval]; IgA:1.34[1.07-1.67]; IgG:1.34[1.13-1.57]) as well as those with high AFO exposure (IgA:1.48[1.12-1.95]; IgG:1.34[1.09-1.65]). Antibody levels were higher in farmers raising poultry (IgA:2.20[1.03-4.71]; IgG:2.11[1.35-3.32]), swine (IgA:1.52[1.04-2.22]; IgG:1.50[1.17-1.94]), and dairy cattle (IgG:1.65[1.18-2.31]), particularly for IgG levels in those who reported spending time in poultry (2.29[1.25-4.19]) or swine (1.63[1.25-2.12]) confinements within the past month. We found no significant relationships between occupational animal contact and IgM or AFO exposure alone and any antibody levels. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational animal contact may be a stronger determinant of C. jejuni exposure than residential proximity to AFOs in agricultural communities. KEYWORDS: Campylobacter, animal exposures

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and respiratory health in the CHAMACOS study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We previously observed associations in the Center for the Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) cohort study between pesticide exposure (including organophosphate metabolites in children’s urine and residential proximity to agricultural sulfur use) and respiratory symptoms and lung function at 7-years of age. In the current analysis, we examined respiratory health in relation to residential proximity to agricultural use of manganese (Mn) containing pesticides while accounting for other pesticide exposures previously associated with these outcomes in this cohort. METHODS: Our population includes participants with pesticide exposure estimates available that completed the 7-year assessment. We evaluated agricultural use of Mn pesticides within 1 and 3 km of residences during pregnancy, early life (birth to 6y of age) and the year prior to the assessment (6 to 7y of age) using a Geographic Information System to link residential histories with California’s Pesticide Use Reporting data. We assessed probable asthma from maternal report of symptoms and conducted lung function measurements using spirometry. The number of participants ranged from 276 – 330 for probable asthma and 204 – 265 for lung function measurements. We adjusted regression models for potential confounders and exposures that have been associated with these outcomes in this cohort. RESULTS: We observed an association between residential proximity to Mn pesticide use and probable asthma. A two-fold increase in use within 1 km during the year prior to the assessment was associated with a relative risk for probable asthma of 2.1 (95% confidence interval = 1.4, 3.1) after adjusting for other exposures previously related to this outcome in this cohort. We did not observe any associations with proximity to use and lung function impairment at 7-years of age. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a higher risk of probable asthma with residential proximity to higher Mn pesticide use.

Residential exposure to pesticides and birth outcomes using the Dutch birth registry

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To explore associations between residential exposure to specific pesticides and birth outcomes using individual level exposure and pregnancy/birth data. METHODS: From all singleton births from 2009-2013 in the Dutch birth registry we selected mothers &amp;#x3e;16 years-old living in non-urban areas that had complete address history and changed addresses at most once during pregnancy (N=325,435). We selected 12 active ingredients (AIs) with some evidence of reproductive toxicity and that were used in the Netherlands according to a farmers’ survey from 2008 and explored a further 127 AIs. We estimated amount used (kg) within buffers of 50, 100, 250 and 500 meters around each mother&amp;#x27;s home during pregnancy. We used generalized linear models to investigate associations between AIs and gestational age, birth weight, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), still births/infant mortality, and prematurity, adjusting for individual and area-level confounders. We further used minimax concave penalty with a stability selection step to identify which AIs could further be related to the birth outcomes among the 12 and the additional 127 AIs. RESULTS: Maternal residential exposure to linuron was associated with increased birth weight [β [95% confidence interval] 296.49 [56.07, 536.90], 74.32 [27.92, 120.72], 13.87 [6.86, 20.88] and 1.93 [0.56, 3.30], in 50m, 100m, 250m and 500m buffers) and higher odds of LGA babies (OR [95% CI] 5.72 [1.04, 31.58], 1.49 [1.06, 2.08], 1.07 [1.02, 1.13], 1.01 [1.00, 1.02], respectively). Variable selection also yielded the same associations, and further identified signals for a relationship between fluroxypir-meptyl and gestational age, picoxystrobin and LGA, and glufosinate and LBW. CONCLUSIONS: Residential proximity to linuron during pregnancy was associated to increased birth weight and being large for gestational in babies. Other possible associations were identified that need further investigation. KEYWORDS: residential pesticide exposure, birth registry

Associations between Residential Proximity to Major Roads and Semen Quality: Results from a North American Preconception Cohort Study

Associations between Residential Proximity to Major Roads and Semen Quality: Results from a North American Preconception Cohort Study

Exploring blue spaces’ effects on childhood leukaemia inci-dence: A population-based case-control study in Spain

Background and aim: Blue spaces have been a key part of human evolution, providing resources and helping economies develop. To date, no studies have been carried out to explore how they may be linked to paediatric oncological diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the possible relationship of residential proximity to natural and urban blue spaces on childhood leukaemia. Methods: A population-based case control study were conducted in four regions of Spain across the period 2000-2018. 936 incident cases and 5,616 controls were included, individually matched by sex, year-of-birth and place-of-residence. An exposure proxy with four distances (250m, 500m, 750m and 1 km) to blue spaces was built using the geographical coordinates of the participants’ home residences. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), blue space exposure were calculated for overall childhood leukaemia, and the acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) subtypes, with adjustment for socio-demographic and environmental covariates. Results: A decrease in overall childhood leukaemia and ALL-subtype incidence was found as we came nearer to children’s places of residence, showing, for the study as a whole, a reduced incidence at 250m (odds ratio (OR)=0.77; 95%CI=0.60-0.97), 500m (OR=0.78; 95%CI=0.65-0.93), 750m (OR=0.80; 95%CI=0.69-0.93) and 1000m (OR=0.84; 95%CI=0.72-0.97). AML model results showed an increasing incidence at closest to subjects’ homes (OR at 250m = 1.06; 95%CI=0.63-1.71). Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible association between lower childhood-leukaemia incidence and blue-space proximity. This study is a first approach to blue spaces’ possible effects on childhood leukaemia incidence; consequently, it is necessary to continue studying these spaces – while taking into account more individualized data and other possible environmental risk factors. Keywords: urban blue spaces; environmental factors; childhood cancer; childhood leukaemia; incidence; spatial epidemiology.