Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-05-22DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00450-x
Aaron J Specht, Christian Hoover, Thomas Grier
Purpose of review: Legacy lead exposures persist as a widespread problem. Blood lead is traditionally used for lead exposure surveillance; however, bone lead proves to be a cheaper, more accessible, and more revealing tool for surveillance that can be measured using portable x-ray fluorescence techniques. We outline how this approach excels for bone lead measurements.
Recent findings: Portable XRF offers quick, non-invasive in vivo quantification of bone lead. Compared to traditional KXRF systems, pXRF is limited to cortical bone but allows for quicker and similar results. Current methodologies of lead exposure need re-evaluation as lead-related disease burden and trends are dependent on both cumulative and acute impacts. We examined the evolution of XRF techniques for measuring bone lead, comparing current methods with previous ones. We assessed their accuracy, identified limitations, and discussed potential advances in future techniques. Legacy lead exposures call for a revitalization of lead surveillance methods, and pXRF measurement of bone lead offers such a solution.
审查目的:遗留的铅暴露一直是一个普遍存在的问题。传统上,血铅被用于监测铅暴露;但事实证明,骨铅是一种更便宜、更易获得、更能揭示问题的监测工具,可使用便携式 X 射线荧光技术进行测量。我们概述了这种方法在骨铅测量中的优势:便携式 X 射线荧光技术可对骨铅进行快速、无创的体内量化。与传统的 KXRF 系统相比,pXRF 只适用于皮质骨,但却能更快地得出相似的结果。目前的铅暴露方法需要重新评估,因为与铅相关的疾病负担和趋势取决于累积影响和急性影响。我们研究了用于测量骨铅的 XRF 技术的演变,并将目前的方法与以前的方法进行了比较。我们评估了这些方法的准确性,确定了其局限性,并讨论了未来技术的潜在进步。历史遗留的铅暴露要求重振铅监测方法,而骨铅的 pXRF 测量则提供了这样一种解决方案。
{"title":"Portable x-ray fluorescence for bone lead measurement: Current approaches and future directions.","authors":"Aaron J Specht, Christian Hoover, Thomas Grier","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00450-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00450-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Legacy lead exposures persist as a widespread problem. Blood lead is traditionally used for lead exposure surveillance; however, bone lead proves to be a cheaper, more accessible, and more revealing tool for surveillance that can be measured using portable x-ray fluorescence techniques. We outline how this approach excels for bone lead measurements.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Portable XRF offers quick, non-invasive in vivo quantification of bone lead. Compared to traditional KXRF systems, pXRF is limited to cortical bone but allows for quicker and similar results. Current methodologies of lead exposure need re-evaluation as lead-related disease burden and trends are dependent on both cumulative and acute impacts. We examined the evolution of XRF techniques for measuring bone lead, comparing current methods with previous ones. We assessed their accuracy, identified limitations, and discussed potential advances in future techniques. Legacy lead exposures call for a revitalization of lead surveillance methods, and pXRF measurement of bone lead offers such a solution.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141075329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-07-30DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00457-4
Kim N Cajachagua-Torres, Hugo G Quezada-Pinedo, Tong Wu, Leonardo Trasande, Akhgar Ghassabian
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Evidence suggests neurotoxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sensitive periods of development. We present an overview of pediatric population neuroimaging studies that examined brain influences of EDC exposure during prenatal period and childhood. RECENT FINDINGS: We found 46 studies that used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine brain influences of EDCs. These studies showed associations of prenatal exposure to phthalates, organophosphate pesticides (OPs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons and persistent organic pollutants with global and regional brain structural alterations. Few studies suggested alteration in functional MRI associated with prenatal OP exposure. However, studies on other groups of EDCs, such as bisphenols, and those that examined childhood exposure were less conclusive. These findings underscore the potential profound and lasting effects of prenatal EDC exposure on brain development, emphasizing the need for better regulation and strategies to reduce exposure and mitigate impacts. More studies are needed to examine the influence of postnatal exposure to EDC on brain imaging.
综述目的:有证据表明,内分泌干扰化学物(EDCs)会在发育的敏感时期造成神经毒性。我们概述了儿科人群的神经影像学研究,这些研究考察了产前和儿童期接触 EDC 对大脑的影响。最新发现:我们发现有 46 项研究使用磁共振成像 (MRI) 来检测 EDC 对大脑的影响。这些研究表明,产前接触邻苯二甲酸盐、有机磷农药(OPs)、多芳烃和持久性有机污染物与整体和区域性大脑结构改变有关。很少有研究表明功能性核磁共振成像的改变与产前暴露于 OP 有关。然而,对双酚等其他 EDCs 类别的研究以及对儿童期暴露的研究则不太确定。这些研究结果强调了产前 EDC 暴露对大脑发育可能产生的深远而持久的影响,强调需要更好的监管和策略来减少暴露和减轻影响。还需要进行更多的研究来探讨产后接触 EDC 对大脑成像的影响。
{"title":"Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors in Early life and Neuroimaging Findings in Childhood and Adolescence: a Scoping Review.","authors":"Kim N Cajachagua-Torres, Hugo G Quezada-Pinedo, Tong Wu, Leonardo Trasande, Akhgar Ghassabian","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00457-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00457-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Evidence suggests neurotoxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sensitive periods of development. We present an overview of pediatric population neuroimaging studies that examined brain influences of EDC exposure during prenatal period and childhood. RECENT FINDINGS: We found 46 studies that used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine brain influences of EDCs. These studies showed associations of prenatal exposure to phthalates, organophosphate pesticides (OPs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons and persistent organic pollutants with global and regional brain structural alterations. Few studies suggested alteration in functional MRI associated with prenatal OP exposure. However, studies on other groups of EDCs, such as bisphenols, and those that examined childhood exposure were less conclusive. These findings underscore the potential profound and lasting effects of prenatal EDC exposure on brain development, emphasizing the need for better regulation and strategies to reduce exposure and mitigate impacts. More studies are needed to examine the influence of postnatal exposure to EDC on brain imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11324673/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141792134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-06-07DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00452-9
Steven Jerie, Timothy Vurayayi Mutekwa, Olivia C Mudyazhezha, Tapiwa Shabani, Takunda Shabani
Purpose of the review: Wastewater is a term used to describe water that has undergone degradation in quality owing to anthropogenic activities or natural processes. Wastewater encompasses liquid waste originating from academic institutions, households, agricultural sector, industries, mines and hospitals. Hospital wastewater contains potentially hazardous substances including residues of pharmaceuticals, radioisotopes, detergents and pathogens, with detrimental impacts to the environment and human health. Nevertheless, studies related to hospital waste management are limited in Africa, particularly in Southern Africa. This research offers an overview of aspects surrounding hospital wastewater in Southern Africa, focusing on Zimbabwe. Already published and grey literature was reviewed to compile the paper.
Recent findings: Number of patients, nature of medical services offered and hospital size influences generation of hospital wastewater. Partially and non-treated hospital wastewater is managed together with municipal wastewater. Management of hospital wastewater is impeded by shortage of resources, lack of co-ordination among responsible authorities and ineffective legal framework enforcement, among other challenges. Inappropriate hospital wastewater management results in environmental contamination, causing human ailments. Attainment of sustainable hospital wastewater management requires clearly defined and enforced legislation, collaboration of accountable stakeholders, sufficient resources and enhanced awareness of involved stakeholders. Application of technologies that uphold recycling and reuse of wastewater is essential to reach Sustainable Development Goals, Zimbabwe Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 targets, particularly those dealing with environmental protection while upholding human health.
{"title":"Environmental and Human Health Problems Associated with Hospital Wastewater Management in Zimbabwe.","authors":"Steven Jerie, Timothy Vurayayi Mutekwa, Olivia C Mudyazhezha, Tapiwa Shabani, Takunda Shabani","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00452-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00452-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of the review: </strong>Wastewater is a term used to describe water that has undergone degradation in quality owing to anthropogenic activities or natural processes. Wastewater encompasses liquid waste originating from academic institutions, households, agricultural sector, industries, mines and hospitals. Hospital wastewater contains potentially hazardous substances including residues of pharmaceuticals, radioisotopes, detergents and pathogens, with detrimental impacts to the environment and human health. Nevertheless, studies related to hospital waste management are limited in Africa, particularly in Southern Africa. This research offers an overview of aspects surrounding hospital wastewater in Southern Africa, focusing on Zimbabwe. Already published and grey literature was reviewed to compile the paper.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Number of patients, nature of medical services offered and hospital size influences generation of hospital wastewater. Partially and non-treated hospital wastewater is managed together with municipal wastewater. Management of hospital wastewater is impeded by shortage of resources, lack of co-ordination among responsible authorities and ineffective legal framework enforcement, among other challenges. Inappropriate hospital wastewater management results in environmental contamination, causing human ailments. Attainment of sustainable hospital wastewater management requires clearly defined and enforced legislation, collaboration of accountable stakeholders, sufficient resources and enhanced awareness of involved stakeholders. Application of technologies that uphold recycling and reuse of wastewater is essential to reach Sustainable Development Goals, Zimbabwe Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 targets, particularly those dealing with environmental protection while upholding human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141287863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-06-19DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00451-w
Himal Suthar, Roselyn B Tanghal, Lida Chatzi, Jesse A Goodrich, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Max Aung
Purpose of review: Depression during the perinatal or antenatal period affects at least 1 in 10 women worldwide, with long term health implications for the mother and child. Concurrently, there is increasing evidence associating maternal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We reviewed the body of evidence examining both the associations between PFAS exposure and perturbations in the maternal metabolome, and the associations between the maternal metabolome and perinatal/antenatal depression. Through this, we sought to explore existing evidence of the perinatal metabolome as a potential mediation pathway linking PFAS exposure and perinatal/antenatal depression.
Recent findings: There are few studies examining the metabolomics of PFAS exposure-specifically in pregnant women-and the metabolomics of perinatal/antenatal depression, let alone studies examining both simultaneously. Of the studies reviewed (N = 11), the majority were cross sectional, based outside of the US, and conducted on largely homogenous populations. Our review identified 23 metabolic pathways in the perinatal metabolome common to both PFAS exposure and perinatal/antenatal depression. Future studies may consider findings from our review to conduct literature-derived hypothesis testing focusing on fatty acid metabolism, alanine metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism when exploring the biochemical mechanisms conferring the risk of perinatal/antenatal depression due to PFAS exposure. We recommend that researchers also utilize heterogenous populations, longitudinal study designs, and mediation approaches to elucidate key pathways linking PFAS exposures to perinatal/antenatal depression.
{"title":"Metabolic Perturbations Associated with both PFAS Exposure and Perinatal/Antenatal Depression in Pregnant Individuals: A Meet-in-the-Middle Scoping Review.","authors":"Himal Suthar, Roselyn B Tanghal, Lida Chatzi, Jesse A Goodrich, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Max Aung","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00451-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00451-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Depression during the perinatal or antenatal period affects at least 1 in 10 women worldwide, with long term health implications for the mother and child. Concurrently, there is increasing evidence associating maternal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We reviewed the body of evidence examining both the associations between PFAS exposure and perturbations in the maternal metabolome, and the associations between the maternal metabolome and perinatal/antenatal depression. Through this, we sought to explore existing evidence of the perinatal metabolome as a potential mediation pathway linking PFAS exposure and perinatal/antenatal depression.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>There are few studies examining the metabolomics of PFAS exposure-specifically in pregnant women-and the metabolomics of perinatal/antenatal depression, let alone studies examining both simultaneously. Of the studies reviewed (N = 11), the majority were cross sectional, based outside of the US, and conducted on largely homogenous populations. Our review identified 23 metabolic pathways in the perinatal metabolome common to both PFAS exposure and perinatal/antenatal depression. Future studies may consider findings from our review to conduct literature-derived hypothesis testing focusing on fatty acid metabolism, alanine metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism when exploring the biochemical mechanisms conferring the risk of perinatal/antenatal depression due to PFAS exposure. We recommend that researchers also utilize heterogenous populations, longitudinal study designs, and mediation approaches to elucidate key pathways linking PFAS exposures to perinatal/antenatal depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11324697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141426567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-07-05DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00454-7
Parshawn Amini, Joseph O Okeme
Purpose: Exposures to hazardous chemicals have been linked to many detrimental health effects and it is therefore critical to have effective biomonitoring methods to better evaluate key environmental exposures that increase the risk of chronic disease and death. Traditional biomonitoring utilizing blood and urine is limited due to the specialized skills and invasiveness of collecting these fluid samples. This systematic review focuses on tear fluid, which is largely under-researched, as a promising complementary matrix to the traditional fluids used for biomonitoring. The objective is to evaluate the practicability of using human tear fluid for biomonitoring environmental exposures, highlighting potential pitfalls and opportunities.
Recent finding: Tear fluid biomonitoring represents a promising method for assessing exposures because it can be collected with minimal invasiveness and tears contain exposure markers from both the external and internal environments. Tear fluid uniquely interfaces with the external environment at the air-tear interface, providing a surface for airborne chemicals to diffuse into the ocular environment and interact with biomolecules. Tear fluid also contains molecules from the internal environment that have travelled from the blood to tears by crossing the blood-tear barrier. This review demonstrates that tear fluid can be used to identify hazardous chemicals from the external environment and differentiate exposure groups.
{"title":"Tear Fluid as a Matrix for Biomonitoring Environmental and Chemical Exposures.","authors":"Parshawn Amini, Joseph O Okeme","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00454-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00454-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Exposures to hazardous chemicals have been linked to many detrimental health effects and it is therefore critical to have effective biomonitoring methods to better evaluate key environmental exposures that increase the risk of chronic disease and death. Traditional biomonitoring utilizing blood and urine is limited due to the specialized skills and invasiveness of collecting these fluid samples. This systematic review focuses on tear fluid, which is largely under-researched, as a promising complementary matrix to the traditional fluids used for biomonitoring. The objective is to evaluate the practicability of using human tear fluid for biomonitoring environmental exposures, highlighting potential pitfalls and opportunities.</p><p><strong>Recent finding: </strong>Tear fluid biomonitoring represents a promising method for assessing exposures because it can be collected with minimal invasiveness and tears contain exposure markers from both the external and internal environments. Tear fluid uniquely interfaces with the external environment at the air-tear interface, providing a surface for airborne chemicals to diffuse into the ocular environment and interact with biomolecules. Tear fluid also contains molecules from the internal environment that have travelled from the blood to tears by crossing the blood-tear barrier. This review demonstrates that tear fluid can be used to identify hazardous chemicals from the external environment and differentiate exposure groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141533912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-06-18DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00453-8
Ro-Ting Lin, Hathaichon Boonhat, Yu-Yu Lin, Sonja Klebe, Ken Takahashi
Purpose of review: Numerous epidemiological studies have shown increased health risks among workers and residents living near nuclear power plants exposed to radiation levels meeting regulatory dose limits. This study aimed to evaluate the association between radiation exposure and disease risks among these populations exposed to radiation levels meeting the current regulatory dose limits.
Recent findings: We searched four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) for studies published before August 2023, screened eligible studies (inclusion and exclusion criteria based on population, exposure, comparator, and outcome framework), and collected data on exposure indicators and disease risks. We applied random-effects models of meta-analysis to estimate the pooled effects and meta-regression to assess the dose-response relationship (radiation dose rate for workers and distance for residents). We identified 47 studies, 13 with worker and 34 with resident samples, covering 175 nuclear power plants from 17 countries, encompassing samples of 480,623 workers and 7,530,886 residents. Workers had a significantly lower risk for all-cancer and a significantly higher risk for mesothelioma. Residents had significantly higher risks for all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia. Notably, children under 5 years old showed the highest risk for all-cancer. Our meta-regression showed a significantly positive dose-response relationship between cumulative dose of radiation exposure and risk for circulatory disease among workers. Our findings demonstrated higher risks for mesothelioma for workers and all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia for residents exposed to low-dose radiation from nuclear power plants. Some included studies did not adjust for cancer risk confounders, which could overestimate the association between radiation exposure and cancer risk and increase the risk of bias.
{"title":"Health Effects of Occupational and Environmental Exposures to Nuclear Power Plants: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.","authors":"Ro-Ting Lin, Hathaichon Boonhat, Yu-Yu Lin, Sonja Klebe, Ken Takahashi","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00453-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00453-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Numerous epidemiological studies have shown increased health risks among workers and residents living near nuclear power plants exposed to radiation levels meeting regulatory dose limits. This study aimed to evaluate the association between radiation exposure and disease risks among these populations exposed to radiation levels meeting the current regulatory dose limits.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>We searched four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) for studies published before August 2023, screened eligible studies (inclusion and exclusion criteria based on population, exposure, comparator, and outcome framework), and collected data on exposure indicators and disease risks. We applied random-effects models of meta-analysis to estimate the pooled effects and meta-regression to assess the dose-response relationship (radiation dose rate for workers and distance for residents). We identified 47 studies, 13 with worker and 34 with resident samples, covering 175 nuclear power plants from 17 countries, encompassing samples of 480,623 workers and 7,530,886 residents. Workers had a significantly lower risk for all-cancer and a significantly higher risk for mesothelioma. Residents had significantly higher risks for all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia. Notably, children under 5 years old showed the highest risk for all-cancer. Our meta-regression showed a significantly positive dose-response relationship between cumulative dose of radiation exposure and risk for circulatory disease among workers. Our findings demonstrated higher risks for mesothelioma for workers and all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia for residents exposed to low-dose radiation from nuclear power plants. Some included studies did not adjust for cancer risk confounders, which could overestimate the association between radiation exposure and cancer risk and increase the risk of bias.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11324671/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141418288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-07-22DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00455-6
Megan C Hansel, Abigail M Rosenberg, Carolyn W Kinkade, Camila Capurro, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Emily S Barrett
Purpose of review: Many synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in the environment and highly detected among pregnant people. These chemicals may disrupt maternal and/or fetal sex steroid hormones, which are critical to pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. Here, we review the epidemiological literature examining prenatal exposure to common synthetic EDCs in relation to maternal and fetal sex steroid hormones.
Recent findings: We performed a literature search using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase, ultimately identifying 29 articles for full review. Phenols, parabens, and persistent organic pollutants generally showed inverse associations with androgens, estrogens, and progesterone. Phthalates and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances tended to be inversely associated with progesterone, while evidence regarding androgens and estrogens was mixed. Inconsistent, but noteworthy, differences by fetal sex and timing of exposure/outcome were observed. Overall, the literature suggests EDCs may disrupt maternal and fetal sex steroid activity, though findings are mixed. Given the pervasive, high-volume production of these synthetic chemicals and the critical functions sex steroid hormones play during gestation, additional research is warranted.
审查目的:许多合成的干扰内分泌的化学物质(EDCs)在环境中无处不在,在孕妇中的检出率也很高。这些化学物质可能会干扰母体和/或胎儿的性类固醇激素,而这些激素对妊娠维持和胎儿发育至关重要。在此,我们回顾了流行病学文献,研究了产前接触常见合成 EDC 与母体和胎儿性类固醇激素的关系:我们使用 PubMed、SCOPUS 和 Embase 进行了文献检索,最终确定了 29 篇文章进行全面审查。酚类、对羟基苯甲酸酯类和持久性有机污染物通常与雄激素、雌激素和孕酮呈反向关系。邻苯二甲酸盐和全氟及多氟烷基物质与孕酮呈反向关系,而雄激素和雌激素方面的证据则不尽相同。根据胎儿性别和接触时间/结果,观察到了不一致但值得注意的差异。总体而言,文献表明 EDC 可能会干扰母体和胎儿的性类固醇活性,但研究结果不一。鉴于这些合成化学物质的普遍、大量生产以及性类固醇激素在妊娠期间发挥的关键作用,有必要开展更多的研究。
{"title":"Exposure to Synthetic Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Relation to Maternal and Fetal Sex Steroid Hormones: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Megan C Hansel, Abigail M Rosenberg, Carolyn W Kinkade, Camila Capurro, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Emily S Barrett","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00455-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00455-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Many synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in the environment and highly detected among pregnant people. These chemicals may disrupt maternal and/or fetal sex steroid hormones, which are critical to pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. Here, we review the epidemiological literature examining prenatal exposure to common synthetic EDCs in relation to maternal and fetal sex steroid hormones.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>We performed a literature search using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase, ultimately identifying 29 articles for full review. Phenols, parabens, and persistent organic pollutants generally showed inverse associations with androgens, estrogens, and progesterone. Phthalates and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances tended to be inversely associated with progesterone, while evidence regarding androgens and estrogens was mixed. Inconsistent, but noteworthy, differences by fetal sex and timing of exposure/outcome were observed. Overall, the literature suggests EDCs may disrupt maternal and fetal sex steroid activity, though findings are mixed. Given the pervasive, high-volume production of these synthetic chemicals and the critical functions sex steroid hormones play during gestation, additional research is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11324767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141733735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-01Epub Date: 2024-07-10DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00456-5
Emily S Barrett, Jennifer L Ames, Stephanie M Eick, Alicia K Peterson, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Anne P Starling, Jessie P Buckley
Purpose of review: Environmental chemical exposures may disrupt child development, with long-lasting health impacts. To date, U.S. studies of early environmental exposures have been limited in size and diversity, hindering power and generalizability. With harmonized data from over 60,000 participants representing 69 pregnancy cohorts, the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is the largest study of U.S. children's health. Here, we: (1) review ECHO-wide studies of chemical exposures and maternal-child health; and (2) outline opportunities for future research using ECHO data.
Recent findings: As of early 2024, in addition to over 200 single-cohort (or award) papers on chemical exposures supported by ECHO, ten collaborative multi-cohort papers have been made possible by ECHO data harmonization and new data collection. Multi-cohort papers have examined prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, phenols and parabens, organophosphate esters (OPEs), metals, melamine and aromatic amines, and emerging contaminants. They have primarily focused on describing patterns of maternal exposure or examining associations with maternal and infant outcomes; fewer studies have examined later child outcomes (e.g., autism) although follow up of enrolled ECHO children continues. The NICHD's Data and Specimen Hub (DASH) database houses extensive ECHO data including over 470,000 chemical assay results and complementary data on priority outcome areas (pre, peri-, and postnatal, airway, obesity, neurodevelopment, and positive health), making it a rich resource for future analyses. ECHO's extensive data repository, including biomarkers of chemical exposures, can be used to advance our understanding of environmental influences on children's health. Although few published studies have capitalized on these unique harmonized data to date, many analyses are underway with data now widely available.
{"title":"Advancing Understanding of Chemical Exposures and Maternal-child Health Through the U.S. Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Emily S Barrett, Jennifer L Ames, Stephanie M Eick, Alicia K Peterson, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Anne P Starling, Jessie P Buckley","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00456-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00456-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Environmental chemical exposures may disrupt child development, with long-lasting health impacts. To date, U.S. studies of early environmental exposures have been limited in size and diversity, hindering power and generalizability. With harmonized data from over 60,000 participants representing 69 pregnancy cohorts, the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program is the largest study of U.S. children's health. Here, we: (1) review ECHO-wide studies of chemical exposures and maternal-child health; and (2) outline opportunities for future research using ECHO data.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>As of early 2024, in addition to over 200 single-cohort (or award) papers on chemical exposures supported by ECHO, ten collaborative multi-cohort papers have been made possible by ECHO data harmonization and new data collection. Multi-cohort papers have examined prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, phenols and parabens, organophosphate esters (OPEs), metals, melamine and aromatic amines, and emerging contaminants. They have primarily focused on describing patterns of maternal exposure or examining associations with maternal and infant outcomes; fewer studies have examined later child outcomes (e.g., autism) although follow up of enrolled ECHO children continues. The NICHD's Data and Specimen Hub (DASH) database houses extensive ECHO data including over 470,000 chemical assay results and complementary data on priority outcome areas (pre, peri-, and postnatal, airway, obesity, neurodevelopment, and positive health), making it a rich resource for future analyses. ECHO's extensive data repository, including biomarkers of chemical exposures, can be used to advance our understanding of environmental influences on children's health. Although few published studies have capitalized on these unique harmonized data to date, many analyses are underway with data now widely available.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11324705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141562880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-28DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00459-2
Dung-Ying Lin, S Travis Waller, Ming-Yeng Lin
Purpose of review: With only 12% of the human population living in cities meeting the air quality standards set by the WHO guidelines, there is a critical need for coordinated strategies to meet the requirements of a healthy society. One pivotal mechanism for addressing societal expectations on air pollution and human health is to employ strategic modeling within the urban planning process. This review synthesizes research to inform coordinated strategies for a healthy society. Through strategic modeling in urban planning, we seek to uncover integrated solutions that mitigate air pollution, enhance public health, and create sustainable urban environments.
Recent findings: Successful urban planning can help reduce air pollution by optimizing city design with regard to transportation systems. As one specific example, ventilation corridors i.e. aim to introduce natural wind into urban areas to improve thermal comfort and air quality, and they can be effective if well-designed and managed. However, physical barriers such as sound walls and vegetation must be carefully selected following design criteria with significant trade-offs that must be modeled quantitatively. These tradeoffs often involve balancing effectiveness, cost, aesthetics, and environmental impact. For instance, sound walls are highly effective at reducing noise, provide immediate impact, and are long-lasting. However, they are expensive to construct, visually unappealing, and may block views and sunlight. To address the costly issue of sound walls, a potential solution is implementing vegetation with a high leaf area index or leaf area density. This alternative is also an effective method for air pollution reduction with varying land-use potential. Ultimately, emission regulations are a key aspect of all such considerations. Given the broad range of developments, concerns, and considerations spanning city management, ventilation corridors, physical barriers, and transportation planning, this review aims to summarize the effect of a range of urban planning methods on air pollution considerations.
{"title":"A Review of Urban Planning Approaches to Reduce Air Pollution Exposures.","authors":"Dung-Ying Lin, S Travis Waller, Ming-Yeng Lin","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00459-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-024-00459-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>With only 12% of the human population living in cities meeting the air quality standards set by the WHO guidelines, there is a critical need for coordinated strategies to meet the requirements of a healthy society. One pivotal mechanism for addressing societal expectations on air pollution and human health is to employ strategic modeling within the urban planning process. This review synthesizes research to inform coordinated strategies for a healthy society. Through strategic modeling in urban planning, we seek to uncover integrated solutions that mitigate air pollution, enhance public health, and create sustainable urban environments.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Successful urban planning can help reduce air pollution by optimizing city design with regard to transportation systems. As one specific example, ventilation corridors i.e. aim to introduce natural wind into urban areas to improve thermal comfort and air quality, and they can be effective if well-designed and managed. However, physical barriers such as sound walls and vegetation must be carefully selected following design criteria with significant trade-offs that must be modeled quantitatively. These tradeoffs often involve balancing effectiveness, cost, aesthetics, and environmental impact. For instance, sound walls are highly effective at reducing noise, provide immediate impact, and are long-lasting. However, they are expensive to construct, visually unappealing, and may block views and sunlight. To address the costly issue of sound walls, a potential solution is implementing vegetation with a high leaf area index or leaf area density. This alternative is also an effective method for air pollution reduction with varying land-use potential. Ultimately, emission regulations are a key aspect of all such considerations. Given the broad range of developments, concerns, and considerations spanning city management, ventilation corridors, physical barriers, and transportation planning, this review aims to summarize the effect of a range of urban planning methods on air pollution considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142092515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-02-22DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00436-9
Arce Domingo-Relloso, Maria Tellez-Plaza, Linda Valeri
Purpose of review: Epigenetic changes can be highly influenced by environmental factors and have in turn been proposed to influence chronic disease. Being able to quantify to which extent epigenomic processes are mediators of the association between environmental exposures and diseases is of interest for epidemiologic research. In this review, we summarize the proposed mediation analysis methods with applications to epigenomic data.
Recent findings: The ultra-high dimensionality and high correlations that characterize omics data have hindered the precise quantification of mediated effects. Several methods have been proposed to deal with mediation in high-dimensional settings, including methods that incorporate dimensionality reduction techniques to the mediation algorithm. Although important methodological advances have been conducted in the previous years, key challenges such as the development of sensitivity analyses, dealing with mediator-mediator interactions, including environmental mixtures as exposures, or the integration of different omic data should be the focus of future methodological developments for epigenomic mediation analysis.
{"title":"Methods for the Analysis of Multiple Epigenomic Mediators in Environmental Epidemiology.","authors":"Arce Domingo-Relloso, Maria Tellez-Plaza, Linda Valeri","doi":"10.1007/s40572-024-00436-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40572-024-00436-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Epigenetic changes can be highly influenced by environmental factors and have in turn been proposed to influence chronic disease. Being able to quantify to which extent epigenomic processes are mediators of the association between environmental exposures and diseases is of interest for epidemiologic research. In this review, we summarize the proposed mediation analysis methods with applications to epigenomic data.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The ultra-high dimensionality and high correlations that characterize omics data have hindered the precise quantification of mediated effects. Several methods have been proposed to deal with mediation in high-dimensional settings, including methods that incorporate dimensionality reduction techniques to the mediation algorithm. Although important methodological advances have been conducted in the previous years, key challenges such as the development of sensitivity analyses, dealing with mediator-mediator interactions, including environmental mixtures as exposures, or the integration of different omic data should be the focus of future methodological developments for epigenomic mediation analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10775,"journal":{"name":"Current Environmental Health Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139930433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}