Short-term Exposure Research Articles

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ТЕМПЕРАТУРНИХ ПОЛІВ НА СТАЛЯХ З УРАХУВАННЯМ КІНЦЕВОЇ ШВИДКОСТІ РОЗПОВСЮДЖЕННЯ ТЕПЛА ПРИ МОДЕЛЮВАННІ УМОВ ОТРИМАННЯ НАНОСТРУКТУР У ПЛАЗМОВОМУ СЕРЕДОВИЩІ

The primary objective of the study was to determine the impact of variations in maximum temperatures and thermal stresses during laser radiation exposure on the material being processed (steel 38Х), taking into account the finite speed of heat propagation. The research was conducted on the material surface and its near-surface layer under a specified heat flux. A comparison of the obtained results showed that certain temperature variations occur in the area of heat propagation. When the finite speed of heat propagation was considered, additional temperature jumps were identified, which, during the development of the temperature fields, shifted from the central part to the edges. Thermal stresses were calculated considering thermal conductivity and thermoelasticity. Analyzing the changes in certain physical parameters revealed the nature of the temperature distribution on the material surface and in its near-surface layers. It was found that there is an increase in thermal stresses of up to 10% in regions of maximum temperature gradients and up to 30% in cases of sharp temperature jumps. These circumstances create favorable conditions for nanostructure formation. When determining the thermal conditions for the formation of nanostructures, especially in the case of short-term laser radiation exposure and high-energy heat fluxes of 10¹⁰ W/m² and above, considering the finite speed of heat propagation results in an increase in thermal stresses up to 10-20%, which can significantly affect the determination of the technological parameters required for nanostructure formation. At the same time, for lower heat flux values and longer laser radiation exposure times, the increase in thermal stresses will be less than 10%, which will not significantly influence the determination of laser radiation technological parameters. The conducted research is important for further theoretical studies on the creation of nanostructures on steels in a plasma environment.

Hardness-Dependent Freshwater Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms for Cadmium in China

Cadmium poses a significant threat to freshwater aquatic organisms and ecosystems, making it essential to establish regional freshwater quality criteria (FWQC) in China to safeguard these organisms. The toxicity database for cadmium covered 249 acute toxicity data from 52 species (seven phyla and 27 families) and 62 chronic toxicity data from 21 species (four phyla and 12 families). During short-term exposure, Morone saxatilis displayed the most sensitivity to cadmium, whereas Daphnia magna showed the most sensitivity in long-term exposure scenarios. Significant correlations were identified between water hardness and the toxicity data for cadmium, with the acute toxicity coefficient (KATD) at 1.0227 (n = 52, p < 0.05) and the chronic toxicity coefficient (KCTD) at 0.4983 (n = 21, p < 0.05). With the species sensitivity distribution method, the short-term freshwater quality criteria (S-FWQC) were derived with a normal distribution as the best fit (R2 0.9793), while the long-term freshwater quality criteria (L-FWQC) were calculated using a logistic distribution as the best fit (R2 0.9686). The formulas for the S-FWQC and L-FWQC were represented as 10(1.0227×lg(H)−1.5444) and 10(0.4983×lg(H)−1.7549), respectively, with water hardness serving as an independent variable. This study offers valuable insights for improving the management of cadmium to protect freshwater aquatic organisms in China.

Effect of Differentially Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Wastewater Treatment

Nanoplastics are widely distributed in the environment and can accumulate in organisms. Increasing attention has been paid to the toxic effects of nanoplastics in wastewater biological treatment processes. In this study, polystyrene nanoplastics with different charges were synthesized and used in sequencing batch activated sludge reactors for short-term nanoplastic exposure experiments. Both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics inhibited the nitrogen removal efficiency and gene expressions of nitrification and denitrification-related genes of activated sludge. The inhibiting effect on nitrification of both nanoplastics was enhanced with increasing concentration. The study further evaluated the molecular mechanisms by which differently charged nanoplastics affect denitrification efficiency using the model denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri （P. stutzeri）. The results showed that both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics affected the efficiency of biological denitrification by P. stutzeri, mainly including the promotion of NO3- to NO2- conversion and the significant acceleration of N2O production. Meanwhile, negatively charged nanoplastics inhibited the growth of P. stutzeri and disrupted the cell membrane of the bacterium； however, no change was observed in the expression of denitrification-related functional genes and the nanoplastics might have affected the enzymatic activities of Nir and Nos, which in turn affected the bioprocessing efficiency. This study can provide a certain reference for the evaluation of the biosafety of nanoplastics and provide a certain support for the stable operation of wastewater treatment plants.

Morphological Alterations and Oxidative Stress Induction in Danio rerio Liver After Short-Term Exposure to the Strobilurin Fungicide Dimoxystrobin

Unlike many other fungicides, strobilurins are applied several times during the growing season for prophylactic purposes, thus heightening the risk of environmental contamination. In the EU, the dimoxystrobin approval period lasted for 17 years. It has been classified as moderately toxic to birds and highly toxic to earthworms, and it is suspected to be carcinogenic to humans. However, it is still commercialized in several countries. The effects of dimoxystrobin are still largely underexplored, with only three studies reporting sublethal alterations in fish. Here, we evaluated for the first time the effects of dimoxystrobin on zebrafish liver after short-term exposure (96 h) to two sublethal and environmentally relevant concentrations (6.56 and 13.13 μg/L), providing evidence of morphological, functional, and ultrastructural modifications. We revealed severe alterations encompassing three reaction patterns: circulatory disturbance, regressive and progressive changes, which also showed a dose-dependent trend. Furthermore, we revealed that dimoxystrobin induced a significant increase in lipid content, a decrease in glycogen granules and affected the defensive response against oxidative stress through a significant downregulation of SOD and CAT. The information presented here demonstrates that the hazardous properties of dimoxystrobin may result from several pathological events involving multiple targets. Our results also emphasize the importance of the combined use of morphological, ultrastructural and functional investigation in ecotoxicological studies.

The effects of power posing on neuroendocrine levels and risk-taking

BackgroundThe current study attempted to replicate the original findings regarding the effects of power posing on testosterone and cortisol levels, risk-taking behavior, and perceived power. We further extended the investigation by testing the effect of power posing on estradiol and progesterone levels.MethodsA sample of 92 young adults (30 males; 32 females taking oral contraceptives; and 30 females not taking oral contraceptives who were in their midluteal phase) were randomly assigned to high-power-pose or low-power-pose conditions and asked about their feelings of power. They completed a risk-taking task, and their neuroendocrine levels were measured both at baseline and following the power manipulation.ResultsPower posing was not found to replicate the original results regarding effects on testosterone levels or feelings of power; however, our findings partially supported the original results regarding effects on cortisol levels and risk-taking. Among high-power posers, a decrease in cortisol levels was associated with risk tolerance. Power posing was not found to influence progesterone levels. However, among females taking oral contraceptives, high-power posing increased estradiol levels.ConclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest that estradiol is influenced by short-term exposure to social cues under specific hormonal profiles.

Short-term effects of air pollutants on hospitalization for childhood respiratory diseases in Suzhou City: a time-stratified case-crossover study

BackgroundShort-term exposure to air pollution has been demonstrated in previous studies to correlate with respiratory disease (RD) in children. Due to regional heterogeneity, our objective was to explore the correlation between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory ailments in children in Suzhou City from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022, alongside assessing the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on this relationship.MethodsWe collected data on air pollutant levels and hospital admissions for childhood respiratory disease (RD) in Suzhou, China, from 2017 to 2022. We utilized a time-stratified case-crossover design along with a conditional logistic regression model to assess the short-term impacts of air pollutants on RD in children through stratified analysis and sensitivity analysis.ResultsA total of 13,408 children with respiratory diseases were included in the study. The findings revealed significant associations between hospitalization for respiratory diseases in children and exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO. The maximum effect values (95%CI, best lag days) for each 10 µg/m3 increase in the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 were as follows: 1.017 (1.003–1.031, lag0-2), 1.015 (1.004–1.026, lag0-2), 1.117 (1.001–1.247, lag0-1), and 1.036 (1.009–1.064, lag0-7). Additionally, the maximum effect value (95%CI, best lag days) for each 1 mg/m3 increase in CO concentration was found to be 1.267 1.017–1.579, lag0-7). Stratified analysis indicated that sex, season of admission, and stage of admission did not modify these correlations significantly; however, differential effects on various age groups and sexes were primarily observed among school-age and older children as well as boys.ConclusionsThe short-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO in Suzhou, China, exhibited a positive correlation with RD hospitalization. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the adverse impacts of air pollutants on hospitalizations for childhood respiratory disease were mitigated compared to the period following the pandemic. Local governments should continue promoting decisions and measures for air pollution prevention and control to reduce further pollutant concentration, which is crucial for public health in reducing the burden of childhood respiratory diseases.

Association between humidity and respiratory health: the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BackgroundAmbient humidity has a significant impact on respiratory health and influences disease and symptoms. However, large-scale studies are required to clarify its specific effects on lung function and respiratory symptoms. We examined the relationship between relative humidity (RH), lung function, and respiratory symptoms using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from KNHANES participants aged ≥ 40 years, collected between 2016 and 2018. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and health questionnaires were used to assess lung function and respiratory symptoms. Individual environmental data, including RH, were obtained from the Community Multiscale Air Quality model and linked to the participants’ addresses. Short-term (0–14 days), mid-term (30–180 days), and long-term (1–5 years) RH exposures were examined. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between RH and PFTs. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to assess the risk of lung function abnormalities and respiratory symptoms.ResultsIn total, 10,396 participants were included (mean age: 58.3 years, male: 43.6%). In multiple regression analysis, higher RH was negatively associated with the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio across various time lags, while FVC was positively correlated with long-term RH exposure. In multiple logistic analysis adjusted for clinical and environmental covariates, long-term higher RH exposure was associated with a lower risk of restrictive lung disease (odds ratio [OR] at 4-year moving average [MA]: 0.978, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.959–0.997), while mid-term RH exposure decreased the risk of chronic cough (OR at 90-day MA: 0.968, 95% CI: 0.948–0.987) and sputum production (OR at 90-day MA: 0.985, 95% CI: 0.969–1.001).ConclusionsHigher RH was negatively associated with lung function and increased the risk of obstructive lung disease, whereas mid-term RH exposure reduced the risk of chronic cough and sputum production.

Impact of Short-Term Diesel Exhaust Exposure on Prothrombotic Markers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study.

Rationale: Growing evidence suggests that air pollution exposure is a major risk factor in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is associated with an increased prothrombotic state and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, much of this work is based on observational data or human exposure studies involving younger participants. The biological causality and mechanism of air pollution-induced prothrombotic response in patients with COPD remain to be explored. Objectives: The main aim of this work was to investigate the impact of short-term diesel exhaust (DE) exposure on circulating prothrombotic markers-fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)-and urinary eicosanoids in patients with COPD. Methods: Twenty-nine research participants were recruited in this randomized, double-blind, crossover, controlled human exposure study to DE. Participants included former smokers with and without mild or moderate COPD (ex-smokers [ES] and COPD group) and healthy never-smokers without COPD (nonsmoker [NS] group). Each participant was exposed to DE (300 μg/m3 of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) and filtered air for 2 hours on different occasions, in randomized order, separated by a 4-week washout. Blood and urine samples were collected before and 24 hours after each exposure. Plasma fibrinogen and serum PAI-1 concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Urinary eicosanoid concentrations were quantified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Linear mixed-effects models were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Participants with COPD showed an increase in plasma fibrinogen (effect estimate, 1.27 [1.06-1.53]; P = 0.01) after DE relative to filtered air, but no significant DE-associated change in serum PAI-1 (0.95 [0.87-1.04]; P = 0.26). In never-smokers and ex-smokers without COPD, fibrinogen (NS group, 1.10 [0.99-1.23]; P = 0.08; ES group, 0.86 [0.68-1.09]; P = 0.08] and PAI-1 (NS group, 1.12 [0.96-1.32]; P = 0.15; ES group, 0.90 [0.79-1.03]; P = 0.13) were not changed after DE exposure. Participants with COPD showed a DE-attributable increase in urinary thromboxane B2 (TXB2) metabolite concentrations as follows: 11-dehydro-TXB2 (1.45 [1.02-2.08]; P = 0.04) and 2,3-dinor-TXB2 (1.45 [1.05-2.00]; P = 0.03). Conclusions: Participants with COPD had increased plasma fibrinogen and urinary TXB2 metabolites after short-term DE exposure, suggesting they may be more susceptible to a pollution-attributable prothrombotic response than healthy control subjects or ex-smokers without COPD. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02236039).

Association between respiratory tract deposited dose of size-segregated PM and FeNO based on individual exposure assessment for Korean children

FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) is a crucial marker to understand children's respiratory diseases such as asthma, and severity may vary depending on PM diameter and respiratory tract region. This study investigates the relationship between size-segregated respiratory deposited PM dose and FeNO for children. Size-segregated PM (PM1.0, PM1.0–2.5, and PM2.5–10.0) and FeNO were measured for eighty children based on individual exposure assessment in five consecutive days. Individual physical activity was measured by an accelerometer device. Accordingly, a dosimetry model estimated the respiratory deposited dose by PM diameter in the extrathoracic (ET), tracheobronchial (TB), and pulmonary (PUL) regions. A linear mixed model (LMM) with distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used for analysis. The effects of home environment and traffic-related factors were also examined for sensitivity analysis. We found that IQR increases of PM2.5–10.0 and PM1.0 were associated with 15.1 % (95 % CI: 3.5, 28.1) and 15.9 % (95 % CI: 2.7, 30.9) FeNO increase in respiratory Total region in 0–12 h lag. In cumulative lag 0–24 h, PM1.0 was only associated with FeNO increase: 16.6 % (95 % CI: 1.5, 34.1) in total region. No association was observed in lag 12–24 h. PM2.5–10.0 was related to short-term airway inflammation in the upper respiratory tract whereas PM1.0 has a cumulative effect on both the upper and lower respiratory tract. In sensitivity analysis, PM2.5–10.0 was associated with a 0–12 h lag, whereas both PM2.5–10.0 and PM1.0 were associated with a cumulative lag of 0–24 h. Both home environment and traffic-related factors showed a synergetic effect with PM1.0 in short-term exposure and an antagonistic effect with PM2.5–10.0 in long-term exposure. This study highlights that airway inflammation depends on PM sizes, exposure durations, and respiratory tract regions.

The Lasting Effects of Wastewater Irrigation: Evaluating Alkylphenols Accumulation in Soil and Potential Health Risks for Farmers and Local Communities

Reclaimed wastewater is being utilized extensively in agriculture worldwide to tackle water scarcity due to the climate change. However, this practice raises concerns about endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) like alkylphenols (APs) in soil and their potential risks to human health. This study examined the presence of APs in both secondary treated wastewater (STW) and agricultural soil, which had been irrigated with wastewater for about 40 years. The study found significant accumulation of 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4-tert-Octylphenol (4-t-OP), in the agricultural soil compared to non-irrigated soil. The research also calculated the estrogenic equivalence (EEQ) of APs in agricultural soil and wastewater. The concentrations of APs in the agricultural soil were found to range from 5.33 to 89.0mg/kg dry weight (dw) for 4-NP and from non-detectable levels to 0.2643mg/kg dw for 4-t-OP, while in wastewater, the concentrations ranged from 0.42 to 14.61μg/L for 4-NP and 0.0127 to 0.0635μg/L for 4-t-OP. The study highlighted the potential health risks posed by accidental ingestion of contaminated soil and wastewater with APs, especially for children and adults who might face chronic, subchronic, or short-term exposure. The HQ for exposure to 4-NP in contaminated soil was significantly higher than 1 for chronic exposures involving individuals such as farmers, ranging from 3.35*10-4 to 3.31*102. For subchronic exposures affecting individuals like workers, the health risk ranged from 1.01*10-8 to 1.21*101. The hazard index values for chronic exposure to APs for adults exceed 1. There is a potential non-carcinogenic risk for children, with maximum health risk values significantly exceeding 1.

Multi-omics analysis of Nicotiana tabacum unveils tissue-specific regulatory expression strategies for cadmium accumulation

Cadmium accumulation in agricultural and industrial soils necessitates the exploration of effective phytoremediation strategies. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), a high-biomass cash crop, exhibits remarkable capacity of cadmium accumulation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study employed integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses to investigate gene and protein expression profiles in tobacco shoots and roots under short-term Cd exposure. Our results showed that root cells upregulated cell wall synthesis proteins, leading to cell wall thickening and restricting cadmium transporter proteins, thereby isolating cadmium ions in the apoplast. Conversely, shoot cells exhibit a significant increase in vacuolar transporter expression, facilitating cadmium compartmentalization and mitigating cadmium toxicity. These findings highlight the tissue-synergistic accumulation strategies employed by tobacco, revealing a different molecular regulatory mechanism for cadmium accumulation at the tissue level.

Novel layered nanofiber mat solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC-MS/MS for determining 15 biomarkers in plasma and urine of rats after exposure to heat-not-burn tobacco products

Biomarkers of smoke exposure (BoEs) are often used to assess the safety performance of tobacco products; however, there are few methods available for the simultaneous detection of multiple BoEs. A novel dual-layering packed fibers solid phase extraction (DL-PFSPE) was first developed by stacking two layers of nanofiber mats consisting of polystyrene (PS) nanofibers and polypyrrole (PPy) nanofibers separately, which can simultaneously extract polar and non-polar BoEs from plasma and urine samples. Coupled with HPLC-MS/MS, fifteen BoEs including cotinine, 4-(methyl nitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl) butanol (NNAL), N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoyl ethyl)-L-cysteine (AAMA), N-acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxy butyl)-L-cysteine (DHBMA), N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine (3-HPMA), N-acetyl-S-(3-carboxy-1-methylpropyl)-L-cysteine (3-HMPMA), and phenylmercuric acid (SPMA), 8-isomeric prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), 1-Hydroxy naphthalene (1-OH Nap), 2-hydroxy naphthalene(2-OH Nap), 1-hydroxy phenanthrene (1-OH Phe), 3-hydroxy phenanthrene (3-OH Phe), 2-hydroxy fluorene (2-OH Flu), 9-hydroxy fluorene (9-OH Flu), and 1-hydroxy pyrene (1-OH Pyr) in the plasma and urine of experimental rats exposed to short-term (2 h) smoke exposure can be analyzed. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the working curves for blood and urine samples was greater than 0.99, and the RSDs were 3.4 % (2-OH Nap) to 7.2 % (2-OH Ful) in plasma, 3.3 % (cotinine) to 7.6 % (2-OH Nap) in urine samples. Intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation were all less than 10 %. The analysis of 15 BoEs in the plasma and urine samples from experimental rats after short-term (2 h) exposure to heat-not-burn tobacco products revealed a significant increase of some BoEs in rats’ bodies. The proposed analytical strategy not only establishes a novel preparation of extraction cartridge but also confirms it as a promising alternative method for the accurate determination of BoEs in plasma and urine samples with good stability and reproducibility.

Association of ambient ozone exposure with early cardiovascular damage among general urban adults: A repeated-measures cohort study in China

Longitudinal evidence of long-term ozone exposure on heart rate variability (HRV, an early indicator of cardiovascular damage) is lacking and the potential mechanism remains largely unclear. Our objectives were to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of ozone exposure with HRV alteration, and the potential roles of protein carbonyl (PC, biomarker of oxidative protein damage) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in this association. This repeated-measures prospective study included 4138 participants with 6617 observations from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Ozone concentrations were estimated using a high temporospatial resolution model for each participant. HRV indices, PC, and TGF-β1 were also repeatedly measured. Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships of ozone exposure with HRV alteration were evaluated by linear mixed model. Cross-sectionally, the strongest lag effect of each 10 ppb increment in short-term ozone exposure showed a 12.40 %, 8.47 %, 4.31 %, 8.03 %, 3.69 %, and 2.41 % decrement on very low frequency (VLF, lag 3 weeks), LF (lag 2 weeks), high frequency (HF, lag 0–7 days), total power (TP, lag 2 weeks), standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN, lag 3 weeks), and square root of the mean squared difference between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (lag 2 weeks), respectively. Longitudinally, each 10 ppb increment of annual average ozone was related with an annual change rate of −0.024 ms2/year in VLF, −0.009 ms2/year in LF, −0.013 ms2/year in HF, −0.014 ms2/year in TP, and −0.004 ms/year in SDNN. Mediation analyses indicated that PC mediated 20.77 % and 12.18 % of ozone-associated VLF and TP decline, respectively; TGF-β1 mediated 16.87 % and 27.78 % of ozone-associated VLF and SDNN reduction, respectively. Our study demonstrated that ozone exposure was cross-sectionally and longitudinally related with HRV decline in general Chinese urban adults, and oxidative protein damage and increased TGF-β1 partly mediated ozone exposure-related HRV reduction.

Long-chain perfluoroalkylether carboxylic acids PFO5DoA and PFO4DA alter glucose, bile acid, and thyroid hormone homeostasis in fetal rats from 5-day maternal oral exposure

Chemical monitoring studies in North Carolina, USA and Shandong, China have reported detections of perfluoroalkylether carboxylic acids of increasing chain length with ether bonds between each fluorinated carbon. Despite detection there is limited hazard data available to inform risk assessment. Here, we exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to two of these compounds, perfluoro-3,5,7,9-butaoxadecanoic acid (PFO4DA) and perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid (PFO5DoA), from gestation days 18-22 across a series of doses (0.3-62.5mg/kg/d) via oral gavage. PFO5DoA was acutely toxic to rat dams and fetuses at the top two doses (30 and 62.5mg/kg), while PFO4DA did not cause acute toxicity at any doses tested. PFO5DoA significantly increased maternal liver weight (≥3mg/kg; 28% increase at 10mg/kg) while PFO4DA did not affect maternal liver weight up to 62.5mg/kg. PFO4DA and PFO5DoA both significantly reduced serum total thyroxine in maternal (≥10mg/kg for both) and fetal (≥1mg/kg) rats. Both compounds significantly reduced fetal liver glycogen concentrations, increased fetal serum total bile acids, and altered expression levels of multiple genes associated with glucose metabolism in the fetal liver. Serum concentrations of PFO5DoA were higher than PFO4DA in both rat dams and fetuses at equivalent maternal oral doses indicating greater accumulation. Dose response modelling of several fetal endpoints as a function of serum molar concentration indicates PFO5DoA was ∼3-4-fold more potent than PFO4DA. PFO5DoA and PFO4DA produced maternal and fetal toxicity from short-term oral maternal exposure indicating need for additional toxicity data to evaluate potential human health risks.

Impact of short-term aircraft noise on cardiovascular disease risk in the area surrounding London Heathrow airport: the RISTANCO epidemiological study.

Long-term exposure to aircraft noise has been associated with small increases in cardiovascular disease risk, but there are almost no short-term exposure studies. Research questions were: Is there an association between short-term changes in exposure to aircraft noise and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality? What are the key effect modifiers? Is there variability in risk estimates between areas with consistent versus changing patterns of noise exposure? Do risk estimates differ when using different noise metrics? Descriptive analyses of noise levels and variability at different times of day, analyses of inequalities in noise exposure and case-crossover analyses of cardiovascular events in relation to aircraft noise exposure. Area surrounding London Heathrow airport. 2014-18. Whole population in study area. Cardiovascular disease hospitalisations and mortality. Aircraft noise levels modelled using a standard noise model for: (1) daily equivalent continuous sound levels at different times of day; (2) daily number of events above defined noise thresholds (2018 only). National Health Service digital hospital admission records and Office for National Statistics mortality records for 2014-18 for cardiovascular outcomes, plus individual-level confounders available from healthcare records. Confounder data including road traffic noise (Leicester modelled), rail noise and air pollution (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), area level deprivation and ethnicity (UK Census). The morning shoulder period (06.00-07.00 hours) was the noisiest of all eight bands (mean: 50.92 dB). The morning shoulder period also had the third highest number of noisy events (flights) > 60 dB per day, with three events across postcodes on average. However, the highest number of noisy events occurred in daytime (highest between 07.00 and 15.00 hours, second highest 15.00 and 19.00 hours). To identify areas with high variability in aircraft noise exposure (due to changes in flight paths because of wind direction and airport operations), we used coefficients of variation (CoV). The period 24.00-04.30 hours had the highest mean CoV (67.33-74.16), followed by 04.30-06.00 hours and 23.00-24.00 hours. Postcodes in the least deprived quintiles of Carstairs index or avoidable death rate had the lowest noise levels. In case-crossover analyses, we observed increased risk for cardiovascular disease hospital admissions for evening noise 19.00-23.00 hours (odds ratio 1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.000 to 1.010 per 5 dB), but not for other periods or mortality. Further analyses suggested that increased risks were occurring in postcodes with low CoV for noise. We found effect modification by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation and season. The industry standard noise model, the Aviation Environmental Design Tool, used does not take account of wind direction, which may have led to some exposure misclassification. We developed a comprehensive dataset of daily aircraft noise variability. We found small associations between cardiovascular hospitalisations (but not deaths) and evening aircraft noise levels, particularly in areas with low variability of noise. More studies are needed to understand the effect of noise variation and respite/relief on cardiovascular disease. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme (NIHR award ref: 15/192/13) and is published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 12, No. 13. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Deciphering anammox response characteristics and potential mechanisms to polyethylene terephthalate microplastic exposure

Microplastics (MPs) are frequently detected in the wastewater. Herein, the short-term and long-term effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs on anammox granular sludge were investigated and the potential response mechanisms were analyzed. Results showed that although short-term exposure of anammox granular sludge to PET-MPs induced a stress response, the nitrogen removal performance was not significantly affected. By contrast, long-term exposure to PET-MPs inhibited nitrogen removal performance with increased exposure time and PET-MP concentration. The total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) decreased by 28.7% when sludge was exposed to 200mg/L of PET-MPs. However, the anammox activity recovered with prolonged operation time, and approximately 87% of the initial TNRE was recovered after three months. Microbial community evolution and metabolic exchange variations were the potential response mechanisms of anammox granular sludge to PET-MP exposure, with PET-MP exposure decreasing the anammox bacteria growth rate and relative symbiotic bacterial abundance in the anammox consortia and hindering cross-feeding pathways. The findings of this study provide novel insight into anammox behavior when treating wastewater containing PET-MPs.

Chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces renal fibrosis via ferroptosis

With the increasing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment, human health has become a growing concern. After entering the human body, MPs accumulate in the kidneys, indicating that the kidneys are their major target organs. This study investigated nephrotoxicity associated with MPs, with a specific focus on polystyrene (PS) MPs and amino-functionalized polystyrene (PS-NH2) MPs. Although previous studies have documented the nephrotoxic effects associated with short-term exposure to MPs, the mechanisms of kidney toxicity caused by chronic long-term exposure to MPs remain largely unclear. In animal models, mice were exposed to MPs (10mg/L) at concentrations that are accessible to humans, administered via drinking water over a period of six months. These findings indicate that MPs can induce renal fibrosis by facilitating the onset of inflammation and accumulation of a substantial number of inflammatory cells. Our in vitro study showed that long-term exposure to MPs (60μg/mL) induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells via ferritinophagy and secreted TGF-β1, leading to renal fibroblast activation. Conversely, the application of Fer-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, prevents ferroptosis in renal epithelial cells and reverses the activation of renal fibroblasts. Our study identified a novel toxicity mechanism for renal fibrosis induced by MPs exposure, offering new insights into the detrimental effects of environmental MPs on human health.

Association of Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution with Depression in Patients with Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study in Delhi, India

Association of Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution with Depression in Patients with Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study in Delhi, India

Association of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and temperature with bronchiectasis mortality: a nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study

Ambient pollution and non-optimal temperature are major risk factors for respiratory health. However, the relationships between short-term exposure to these factors and bronchiectasis mortality remain unknown. A nationwide, time-stratified case-crossover study across Mainland China was conducted from 2013 to 2019. Records of bronchiectasis deaths were extracted from the National Death Registration Reporting Information System. Daily concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM2.5-10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and daily temperature were obtained from high-resolution prediction models. We utilized conditional logistic regression model and distributed lag nonlinear model to explore the associations of these exposures with bronchiectasis mortality. We included a total of 19,320 bronchiectasis deaths. Air pollutant was associated with bronchiectasis mortality within the first 3 days after exposure and the exposure-response relationships were almost linear. An interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and O3 was associated with increments of 3.18%, 4.14%, and 4.36% in bronchiectasis mortality at lag 02 d, respectively. Additionally, lower temperature was associated with higher odds of bronchiectasis mortality. Compared to referent temperature (23.6°C), the odds ratio for bronchiectasis mortality associated with extremely low temperature (P1:-13.4°C) was 1.54 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.25). This national study provides compelling evidence, and highlights the necessity and importance of reducing air pollution exposures and keeping warm for susceptible populations. National Natural Science Foundation of China (81925001; 82330070); Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (202101070007-E00097); Program of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission (21DZ2201800); Program of Shanghai Shenkang Development Center (SHDC12023110); and Major Project of National Health Commission of China.

Behavioral, haematological, and physiological effects of oxygen-rich spray after simulated catch and release in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

This study investigated the impact of an oxygen-rich spray on rainbow trout subjected to short-term air exposure episodes. These episodes can be due to sampling procedures or catch-and-release (C&R) practices, focusing on behavioral, haematological, and physiological responses. For this, 12 rainbow trout were divided into two groups: control and oxygen-rich sprayed fish. The fish were chased for 3 min and exposed to air for 6 s, and blood and behavior parameters were assessed. Simulated C&R resulted in partial physiological reflex impairment across groups. However, sprayed fish exhibited significant differences during recovery in head complex reflex and faster tendencies to regain orientation compared to control. Haematological analyses revealed that the treated group displayed reduced erythrocyte swelling and maintenance of red blood cell (RBC) counts, indicating reduced need for compensatory responses to hypoxia. Meanwhile, stress-related indicators, including cortisol, glucose, and lactate, remained unaffected by the treatment, suggesting no interference of spraying with the fish ability to launch a healthy stress response. No adverse effects were observed on skin surfaces or gills after an exploratory analysis. Overall, the oxygen-rich spray exhibited favorable effects, indicating potential benefits in protecting rainbow trout during C&R practices or sampling episodes. Moreover, there is a possible wider application of this methodology to benefit other species of fish subjected to stressors such as aquaculture, research, and fisheries management.