Current Environmental Health Reports最新文献

Abstarct: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: It is widely accepted that maternal genes and the in-utero environment can impact offspring's health. While fathers have long been considered mere conduits of genetic information, emerging evidence suggests that the paternal preconception environment can also affect offspring's health. This review delves into the biological mechanisms, beyond DNA inheritance, by which paternal preconception exogenous exposures can shape offspring outcomes, and factors that influence these mechanisms. We also discuss practical and methodological hurdles in epidemiological studies of male lineage inheritance.

Recent findings: A wide range of paternal exposures, from environmental pollutants to diet and lifestyle factors, have been linked with offspring's health. Several biological mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications in sperm, alterations in seminal fluid microbiome, and changes in the chemical composition of semen, may mediate these effects. Currently, most data come from animal models. Human research is hindered by difficulties in establishing and maintaining cohorts, accurately assessing paternal exposures, untangling the complex interactions among epigenetic mechanisms, and defining relevant exposure windows. Fathers play a more significant role in shaping their children's health than previously thought. By unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying paternal environmental and genetic influence, we can potentially unlock new opportunities for transgenerational disease prevention and health promotion. The knowledge gained can empower the design of precision environmental health interventions that benefit future generations.

Purpose of review: Chemical (organic) ultraviolet (UV) filters-carbon-based compounds widely used in sunscreen formulations-are essential for protecting against harmful UV radiation. However, emerging evidence over the last decade (2014-2024) has raised concerns regarding their potential endocrine-disrupting effects, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation. This comprehensive review evaluates the endocrine, reproductive, and developmental health impacts of organic UV filters, with a focus on benzophenone derivatives such as BP-3, BP-2, and 4-OHBP.

Recent findings: The analysis incorporates data from 75 studies identified through PRISMA-guided screening of epidemiological and human research. Findings reveal significant hormonal disruptions, including reduced testosterone levels in adolescent males, altered thyroid hormones in pregnant women, and associations with delayed pubertal development in boys and early menarche in girls. Mixed exposures to multiple UV filters, frequently occurring in real-world scenarios, demonstrate cumulative and complex effects, particularly on thyroid hormone levels and reproductive health. In men, benzophenones are associated with decreased sperm quality and motility, while in women, their impact on ovarian reserve and fertility outcomes appears less pronounced. Prenatal exposure studies show mixed outcomes, ranging from reduced neonatal size and gestational age to increased placental-to-birth weight ratios. This review underscores the dual nature of organic UV filters, emphasizing their importance in photoprotection while highlighting the need for a balanced approach to safety evaluations. Future research should prioritize long-term cohort studies, assessments of mixed exposure effects, and the development of safer alternatives. Addressing these challenges is crucial for mitigating risks to human health and the environment while maintaining the protective benefits of sunscreens.

Purpose of review: Global air pollution has increased significantly in recent decades mainly due to anthropogenic emissions. This results in elevated concentrations of some airborne pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM). In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the toxicological effects of air pollution on airway epithelial cells, the first point of contact of the air pollutants with the body, using air-liquid interface (ALI) models.

Recent findings: Research on the health effects of air pollution has advanced through studies that take a multidisciplinary approach integrating toxicology, epidemiology, and molecular and cell biology. Submerged cell cultures have been used in most studies for the assessment of air pollution toxicity in vitro, but these show some important limitations. Thus, human airway cellular models based on ALI systems have emerged as very promising approaches in respiratory toxicology due to their closer resemblance to in vivo conditions. Results from 53 studies indicate that both, acute and prolonged exposures to air pollution induce oxidative, inflammatory, and genotoxic responses in airway epithelial cells. The changes in several biomarkers and genes related to the observed health effects were discussed through key molecular pathways, and particularly those related to the oxidative stress state. Lastly, we identified perspectives for future research in this field, such as the use of more complex test (e.g., photochemical ageing) atmospheres and exposure models that are reliable for long-term and repeated exposures. This review highlights the role of ALI cellular models as essential tools in respiratory toxicology and environmental health research, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms triggered by air pollution exposure.

Purpose of review: This paper synthesizes recent research about the impacts of climate change on farmworkers and analyzes notable features of existing laws in Canada and the United States designed to protect farmworkers from extreme heat.

Recent findings: Extreme heat presents a widespread and urgent threat to the wellbeing and productivity of agricultural workers globally, and it amplifies occupational exposures such as pesticides and air pollution. Other extreme weather events such as wildfires and flooding also heighten risks to agricultural workers. In Canada and the United States, laws designed to protect workers from extreme heat are limited to a handful of jurisdictions. Laws that regulate working in extreme heat are one tool to protect farmworkers from climate change. Important features of these laws include trigger temperatures at which extreme heat measures are required and heat-specific measures related to hydration, acclimatization and administrative controls. More research is needed to better understand how effective these laws are at protecting workers on the ground.

Purpose of review: Extreme heat is associated with mental health conditions such as suicide, anxiety, and substance use disorders. However, the integration of mental health in heat-health planning remains limited and no comprehensive assessment of its inclusion exists to date. This review aims to (1) identify and categorize mental health-related content in heat-health action plans globally; and (2) analyze the gaps in included interventions related to extreme heat and mental health.

Recent findings: A review of 83 heat-health action plans from 24 countries revealed that while 75.9% of plans mentioned mental health, only 31.3% acknowledged its specific impacts and 21.7% included targeted interventions. These plans covered approximately 2.2 billion people, representing about 26% of the 2024 global population. Most interventions were directed at the societal level, with limited attention to individual or community-level support. Individuals with mental illness were commonly grouped with other vulnerable populations without tailored support. Low-income countries were not represented, while 44 plans (53.0%) came from high- and upper-middle-income countries. Among lower-middle-income countries, most plans originated from India (35; 89.7%). Despite recognition of the impacts of extreme heat on mental health, heat-health action plans lack comprehensive strategies to address these risks. The findings highlight a broader challenge within climate adaptation policies, where the recognition of mental health risks is often not matched by necessary resources, planning, and interventions. Given the critical gaps in mental health inclusion, greater efforts and resources are needed to integrate targeted mental health strategies into heat-health plans and policies.

Purpose of review: Particulate matter (PM), a ubiquitous significant component of the ambient air pollution mixture, significantly contributes to increased global risk for chronic cardiopulmonary diseases, acute hospitalizations, and deaths. One of the causes of this increased risk is because PM exposure increases the incidence and severity of respiratory infections. The respiratory system is particularly vulnerable to air pollution and its impact on infection as it is a key site for exposure both to inhaled pollutants and infectious microbes or viruses. This review examines the current understanding of how PM affects antiviral host defense responses and possible underlying mechanisms.

Recent findings: While numerous studies have associated adverse health outcomes with combined or sequential exposure to inhaled pollutants and viruses, defining causal relationships and mechanisms remains limited. Particularly limited, are contemporary data focuses on low- and middle-income countries, including heavily polluted regions such as Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This manuscript focuses on how (1) PM, serving as a carrier for viruses, enhances the transmission of viruses; (2) PM impairs immune defense to viruses; and (3) PM impacts epithelial cell functions to exacerbate viral infections. Given the significant public health hazards on PM, particularly in heavily polluted regions such as Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa, it is critical to define specific mechanisms of PM on respiratory infection and how their impact may differ in these highly polluted regions. Ultimately, this could devise future public health measures and interventions to limit this substantial public health risk.

Purpose of review: Cadmium (Cd) remains a persistent threat to human and environmental health. To better understand causal relationships between genotype and disease phenotypes, a genetically tractable model, zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged. We summarize recent empirical evidence on the targets, mechanisms, and potential therapies for Cd toxicity.

Recent findings: Recent results show that waterborne Cd exhibits organ specific accumulation including in the eye, brain, heart, and gonads triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and altered methylation patterns that persist across generations. Novel mechanisms of Cd toxicity include the gut-brain axis, ionic antagonism, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and epigenetics, leading to potential therapeutics such as probiotics, selenium, and antioxidants. Based on the reviewed literature, more studies should examine the effects of dietary Cd on zebrafish behavior, brains, and cardiovascular function. Given that humans and wildlife are chronically exposed to Cd, leading to gonadal Cd accumulation, studies should conduct early-life exposures across the zebrafish lifespan and assess endpoints across generations to capture germline and epigenetic effects and mechanisms. The zebrafish's biomedical toolkit, along with high-content screening, should be utilized to develop and refine therapies.

Purpose of review: Oil and gas development is a rapidly expanding industry that may impact population health. However, much of the research to date is conducted state-by-state, partially due to exposure data limitations. New developments related to national-scale oil and gas development data sources offer the opportunity to extend studies beyond single-state analyses. We review the current data options, highlighting their advantages, disadvantages, and ideal use-cases.

Recent findings: Five data sources suitable for national-scale epidemiologic analyses of oil and gas development were identified. Private sector data offer detailed production information but have limited accessibility. Nongovernmental sources are often specialized, focusing on specific aspects like chemical or methane exposure. Government agency data, while typically less detailed, provide useful linkage tools for cross-industry analysis. This review clarifies the strengths and limitations of these sources, facilitating national-level exposure assessment and broadening the geographic reach of oil and gas development-related epidemiology in the U.S.