International journal of hygiene and environmental health最新文献

{"title":"Reading performance of alpine schoolchildren in relationship to physical, social, and perceptual characteristics of the home and school environments","authors":"Angel M. Dzhambov ,&nbsp;Peter Lercher ,&nbsp;Jan Spilski ,&nbsp;Johannes Rüdisser ,&nbsp;Matthew H.E.M. Browning ,&nbsp;Iana Markevych","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between the physical, social, and perceptual characteristics of the home and school environments and children's reading performance. A cross-sectional sample of 1251 8-12-year-old schoolchildren from the Tyrol region of Austria and Italy was analyzed. Reading performance was measured based on the number of correctly read sentences in 3 min. Teacher ratings of self-regulation and inattention, child reports of the restorative quality and safety of the residential area, and good family relations, as reported by mothers were also considered. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were obtained from mother questionnaires, and secondhand smoke exposure of the child was measured by cotinine in urine. A built environment score was constructed using imperviousness density, modeled traffic noise, and air pollution. Landscape diversity and natural surroundings around the school, and the presence of a domestic garden represented directly accessible nature. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between these variables. A positive parent-child relationship, higher maternal education, better self-regulation, being female, lower cotinine, and a greater level of school natural land use were associated with better reading performance. These associations were mediated by a combination of factors, including higher neighborhood safety and inattention. There was a positive association between reading and being native German speaker in North Tyrol. Exposure to the built environment and the absence of a domestic garden were also associated with better reading. Understanding local socioeconomic, land use, and cultural patterns can help better explain complex observed associations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 114683"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145278323","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}

{"title":"Prenatal nitrate and nitrite intake in mammals: A scoping review of effects and associations with pregnancy and maternal and child health","authors":"Leaf R. Kardol ,&nbsp;Amina Rhaman ,&nbsp;Erin Kelty ,&nbsp;Shannon Morgan ,&nbsp;Danielle J. Russell ,&nbsp;Aster Gebremedhin ,&nbsp;Sarah Bourke ,&nbsp;Caitlin S. Wyrwoll","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114712","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114712","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrate and nitrite are present in drinking water, vegetables and processed meats. While they may offer health benefits in some contexts, high levels, especially during pregnancy, can be harmful. This scoping review investigates prenatal nitrate/nitrite exposure and maternal, child, pregnancy and birth outcomes, in animal models and humans. Six databases were searched systematically for peer-reviewed publications relating to nitrate and/or nitrite exposure in pregnancy. 3834 unique papers were identified, with 133 meeting inclusion criteria. In human studies (n = 66), high processed meat nitrite exposure was associated with congenital anomalies and childhood cancer, although primarily in conjunction with nitrosatable medication exposure. Fresh vegetable sources of nitrate/nitrite were associated with neutral or positive health outcomes. Prenatal drinking water nitrate exposure was moderately associated with preterm birth, while evidence for congenital anomalies, growth restriction, preeclampsia and early puberty was limited or inconsistent. Associations appeared at concentrations as low as 5 % of the WHO drinking water guideline. However, other water contaminants and exposures such as nitrosatable medications were only addressed in a minority of studies. Animal studies (n = 67) reported effects of nitrate/nitrite exposure on mortality and birthweights through pathways involving methemoglobinemia, inflammation, DNA-damage and endocrine disruption, however, dosing was often extreme. While vegetable sources of nitrate/nitrite show some health benefits, exposure to meat and drinking water sources should be limited, although safe limits and causal evidence are not fully established. Public health policy should prioritise decreasing nitrate exposure within the context of broader water quality concerns and barriers to perinatal health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 114712"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544289","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}

{"title":"Effect of water, sanitation, and hygiene on childhood growth in Ethiopia: a cluster-randomized trial","authors":"Tahvi Frank ,&nbsp;Isabel J.B. Thompson ,&nbsp;Solomon Aragie ,&nbsp;Dionna M. Wittberg ,&nbsp;Wondyifraw Tadesse ,&nbsp;Adane Dagnew ,&nbsp;Dagnachew Hailu ,&nbsp;Jason S. Melo ,&nbsp;Taye Zeru ,&nbsp;Zerihun Tadesse ,&nbsp;Benjamin F. Arnold ,&nbsp;Matthew C. Freeman ,&nbsp;Scott D. Nash ,&nbsp;E Kelly Callahan ,&nbsp;Travis C. Porco ,&nbsp;Thomas M. Lietman ,&nbsp;Jeremy D. Keenan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child growth faltering contributes significantly to global morbidity and mortality, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Poor quality water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) has been identified as a risk factor, though prior studies have found mixed evidence for the effectiveness of WASH interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The WASH Upgrades for Health in Amhara (WUHA) trial was a two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomized trial carried out in three districts of the Wag Hemra Zone of Amhara from 2016 to 2019 (<span><span>ClinicalTrials.gov</span><svg><path></path></svg></span> #NCT02754583). The intervention consisted of hygiene infrastructure improvements and hygiene promotion at the household, community, and school level. Height and weight were pre-specified secondary outcomes that were measured annually in the longitudinal cohort of children aged 0–5 years at baseline.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty communities were randomized to the WASH intervention and 20 to the control (delayed WASH) arm. Anthropometric measurements were done at baseline for a random sample of 613 children in the WASH intervention arm and 644 children in the control arm. There was no statistically significant difference over the 3-year study period for either height (0.1 cm lower in the WASH arm, 95 %CI -0.5 to 0.2, <em>P</em> = 0.45) or weight (0.02 kg higher in the WASH arm, 95 %CI -0.06 to 0.10, <em>P</em> = 0.64).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>A comprehensive WASH intervention implemented for three years in rural Ethiopia did not improve growth among children 0–5 years old.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 114718"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614508","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}

{"title":"Microbial dynamics in a swine wastewater treatment plant and prediction of potential hosts of antibiotic resistance genes","authors":"Andressa Rezende Pereira ,&nbsp;Lauro Ângelo Gonçalves de Moraes ,&nbsp;Izinara Rosse ,&nbsp;Sérgio Francisco de Aquino ,&nbsp;Silvana de Queiroz Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using a culture-independent approach, this study aimed to evaluate microbial community changes in a swine wastewater treatment plant (SWWTP) and investigate the presence of bacteria for public health concerns, particularly those harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) with pathogenic potential. Through sequencing of fifteen samples collected across five sampling campaigns — at the influent, biodigester outlet, and final effluent — higher microbial diversity was observed in the untreated waste, reflected by a greater relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) linked to the families <em>Streptococcaceae</em> (up to 27 %), unidentified members of the order <em>Clostridiales</em> (up to 33 %), and <em>Moraxellaceae</em> (up to 19 %). A microbial succession was observed across subsequent treatment stages, characterized by an increased relative abundance of OTUs associated with <em>Clostridiaceae</em> (0–68 %) and <em>Peptostreptococcaceae</em> (8–25 %), likely driven by environmental conditions. Sequences related to the order <em>Clostridiales</em> and the family <em>Moraxellaceae</em> showed correlations with the resistance genes <em>bla</em>TEM, <em>erm</em>B, <em>qnr</em>B, <em>sul</em>1, and <em>tet</em>A, suggesting that members of these groups could serve as potential gene hosts. The detection of residual ARGs and OTUs related to potentially pathogenic genera such as <em>Clostridium butyricum</em> and <em>Terrisporobacter glycolicus</em> species in the treated effluent raises concerns about the final disposal of this waste, given the possibility of horizontal gene transfer in the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 114698"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145380595","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}

{"title":"Influence of anthropogenic inputs on microbial risks and resistance genes in a riverine environment","authors":"Guadalupe Ortiz-López ,&nbsp;Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes ,&nbsp;Alexis Téllez-Galván ,&nbsp;Víctor H. Bustamante ,&nbsp;Luz Breton-Deval","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rivers face significant anthropogenic pressures due to diverse water discharges, which alter microbial community structures and may facilitate the dissemination of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). This study used metagenomic analysis to characterize microbial and viral communities, determine antibiotic resistance profiles, and evaluate potential public health risks associated with different discharges sources. Water samples were collected from agricultural, hospital, untreated domestic wastewater, treated wastewater, and environmental inputs. Results revealed that hospital wastewater (HW) had microbial genera associated with the wastewater treatment plant; however, we were able to isolate a multidrug-resistant <em>Klebsiella aerogenes</em>, <em>Enterobacter</em> spp. and <em>Staphylococcus</em> spp. Untreated domestic wastewater (UW) was dominated by species such as <em>Arcobacter cryaerophilus</em>, <em>Acinetobacter johnsonii</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Acinetobacter lwoffii</em>, while treated wastewater (TW) showed the presence of <em>Arcobacter cryaerophilus</em>, <em>Aeromonas caviae</em>, <em>Prevotella copri</em>, <em>Arcobacter butzleri</em>, <em>Acinetobacter johnsonii</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Pseudomonas stutzeri</em>. Regarding ARGs, HW contributed significantly to ARGs diversity, particularly genes conferring resistance to critical antibiotics such as meropenem and vancomycin. TW exhibits the highest ARG diversity, including genes for broad-spectrum resistance to aminoglycosides, penicillins, and cephalosporins, suggesting cumulative contamination from multiple sources. These findings emphasize the importance of advancing efforts to tackle this challenge in wastewater treatment practices and stricter regulations to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance and pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 114699"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145396028","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}

{"title":"Hygiene system modeling for toileting in schools","authors":"Jonny Crocker ,&nbsp;Jeffrey Walters ,&nbsp;Jenala Chipungu ,&nbsp;Jay Bhagwan ,&nbsp;Michel Dione ,&nbsp;Robert Dreibelbis ,&nbsp;Maria Corazon Dumlao ,&nbsp;A.S.G. Faruque ,&nbsp;Meriel Flint-O'Kane ,&nbsp;Om Prasad Gautam ,&nbsp;Ndeye Aissatou Lakhe ,&nbsp;Richard Muga ,&nbsp;Arundati Muralidharan ,&nbsp;Idrissa Ndiaye ,&nbsp;Moussa Sarr ,&nbsp;Matthew C. Freeman","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hygienic toileting is associated with positive health outcomes; yet efforts to provide the necessary preconditions for this behavior, namely provision of anal cleansing materials, a well-maintained toilet facility, and handwashing, are often limited—especially in schools—by a complex set of determinants and upstream factors that hinder access to the materials and behavioral drivers required for effective practice. Systems thinking, and its associated tools, is one approach to understanding and developing interventions to address the complexity of an interconnected set of factors impacting hygiene program outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study modeled the interconnected factors influencing preconditions for hygienic toileting in schools using expert-based participatory systems modeling. Two global hygiene meetings were utilized to recruit participants for hygiene systems modeling, and to compare results across two distinct groups of model participants. Participants identified and prioritized hygiene system factors, created systems models, and performed structural analyses using influence maps and causal loop diagrams to compare key leverage points driving hygienic toileting in schools.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants prioritized nine factors. Three of the nine factors were found to be highly influential and to drive the core system dynamics across both groups of participants: WASH leadership, governance, and partnerships; resource mobilization; and human resource capacity.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Our study identified leverage points for system strengthening to deliver the preconditions for hygienic toileting in schools. Systems thinking should precede system strengthening to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and to enhance the sustainability of outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 114667"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109021","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}

{"title":"Association between residential greenness and coronary heart disease: A proteomics and miRNA microarray analysis","authors":"Le Yang ,&nbsp;Qinfei Wei ,&nbsp;Jianhui Guo ,&nbsp;Xingyan Xu ,&nbsp;Li Zhu ,&nbsp;Zhiyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Jungu Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuting Dong ,&nbsp;Donghong Wei ,&nbsp;Yeying Wen ,&nbsp;Liuyan Zheng ,&nbsp;Shaowei Lin ,&nbsp;XiaoXu Xie ,&nbsp;Huangyuan Li ,&nbsp;Siying Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Greenness has been linked to cardiovascular disease. However, the specific biological mechanisms through which greenness impacts coronary heart disease (CHD) remain unclear. We aim to explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms linking greenness and CHD by using proteomics and miRNA microarray. A total of 2387 participants were included in the population study, 816 of whom were diagnosed with CHD. Residential greenness exposure was characterized using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Generalized additive models and restricted cubic splines investigated the association between greenness and CHD. Mediation analysis examined whether cardiovascular metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, inflammation indicators, and glucose) mediated the association. After proteomics and miRNA microarray screening, Elisa and qRT-PCR validated selected proteins (THBS1, FCN3, and LTBP1) and miRNAs (miR-671-5p, miR-124-3p, and miR-379-5p) in CHD. Among these, LTBP1 and miR-379-5p showed significant differential expression (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and were examined as potential molecular mediators. Higher greenness exposure within a 1000-m area was associated with a lower risk of CHD (<em>OR</em>: 0.86, 95 % <em>CI</em>: 0.81, 0.92). Systolic blood pressure (6.32 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 1.49 %, 13.12 %]), lymphocyte (10.98 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 3.76 %, 22.00 %]), monocyte (9.94 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 3.42 %, 20.87 %]), and fasting blood glucose (3.41 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 0.56 %, 7.84 %]) mediated this association. LTBP1 and miR-379-5p were differentially expressed in CHD and mediated 7.19 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 0.01 %, 23.37 %] and 20.03 % [95 % <em>CI</em>: 2.85 %, 69.71 %] of greenness effect on CHD, respectively. Combining the population study and experiments, we found that miR-379-5p and LTBP1 may jointly modulate vascular constriction and immune inflammation in the association between greenness and CHD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 114675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145119020","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}

{"title":"Strengthening pathogen and antimicrobial resistance surveillance through environmental monitoring in sub-Saharan Africa: stakeholder perspectives","authors":"Ananda Tiwari ,&nbsp;Taru Miller ,&nbsp;Vito Baraka ,&nbsp;Marc Christian Tahita ,&nbsp;Vivi Maketa ,&nbsp;Bérenger Kaboré ,&nbsp;Paul Tunde Kingpriest ,&nbsp;Patrick Mitashi ,&nbsp;Eric Lyimo ,&nbsp;Hillary Sebukoto ,&nbsp;Ana Maria de Roda Husman ,&nbsp;Tarja Pitkänen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) is an emerging tool for monitoring emergence and trends of waterborne, respiratory, and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens. In many developing countries with limited pathogen surveillance systems, WES can complement and support existing monitoring efforts and strengthen pathogen surveillance capacity. This study explored priority pathogens for WES and assessed existing surveillance practices, including WES, in Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). National hybrid workshops were held in each country, engaging stakeholders from diverse fields, including academia, research, policy, environmental health, and healthcare. Two structured surveys, administered via Webropol platform and Mentimeter. com, were conducted during each workshop to gather information on existing clinical and environmental surveillance systems and potential WES targets. Survey responses were analysed thematically, with each theme thoroughly evaluated using scientific evidence from the literature. Key pathogens identified for WES included waterborne pathogens, such as poliovirus, <em>Salmonella</em> Typhi, <em>Vibrio cholerae</em>, and non-waterborne pathogens, such as influenza A&amp;B, SARS-CoV-2, measles, rubella. High-priority AMR targets for WES included multidrug-resistant <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>, <em>Salmonella</em> spp., and ESBL-producing <em>E. coli</em>. All three countries were found to use centralised electronic systems for clinical data collection, while WES was still limited and largely confined to project-based applications. Respondents highlighted that adopting WES could enhance surveillance systems, track circulating pathogens, and safeguard human, animal, and environmental health. Thus, WES could play a pivotal role in preventing waterborne outbreaks, protecting drinking water sources, and supporting integrated risk management, contributing to achieving various UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 114651"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926791","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}

{"title":"Enhancing data interoperability in human biomonitoring studies: the HBM data toolkit","authors":"Ruben Peeters ,&nbsp;Laura Rodriguez Martin ,&nbsp;Fen Zhang ,&nbsp;Hanny Willems ,&nbsp;Liese Gilles ,&nbsp;Jan Theunis ,&nbsp;Jos Bessems ,&nbsp;Caio Mescouto Terra de Souza ,&nbsp;Stijn Baken ,&nbsp;Dirk Devriendt ,&nbsp;Eva Govarts","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Harmonization and aggregation of heterogeneous data from Human Biomonitoring (HBM) studies is critical to enhance the reliability of conclusions and move towards FAIR (i.e., Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data. We introduce the HBM Data Toolkit developed by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek - VITO) with the primary goal of optimizing data integrity and interoperability, key steps towards FAIR, while using flexible templates and ensuring data confidentiality. The HBM Data Toolkit was built in 2023–2024 and made available for stakeholders (via <span><span>https://hbm.vito.be/tools</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>) within the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC eu-parc.eu). The toolkit consists of 4 modules including data harmonization, data validation, derived variables, and summary statistics calculation. A Python package was created to interpret the templates, making validation and transformation possible. Using Pyodide and WebAssembly, the toolkit runs entirely in the web browser, enabling secure, local execution of Python code without uploading any data. In the validation module, input files in common format (i.e., Excel) were used to configure data templates, aligning with standards and formats as specified under the HBM4EU project (hbm4eu.eu) and PARC. The HBM Data Toolkit allows harmonized data storage in the Personal Exposure and Health (PEH) data platform. Formatted and validated HBM data were made compatible with the Monte Carlo Risk Assessment (MCRA) platform. In the derived variables calculation module, the toolkit also allows users to calculate imputed censored data and standardize/normalize the biomarker data. Furthermore, summary statistics (e.g., geometric mean, percentiles) can be calculated and further visualized in the European HBM dashboard and integrated into the Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring (IPCHEM). In conclusion, the current toolkit proves effective in advancing data quality, harmonization, and aggregation in HBM studies. With local execution, user-friendly codebooks, and standardized schemas, it supports a unified framework that enables consistent analysis and interpretation across diverse studies and datasets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 114669"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145046484","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}

{"title":"Prenatal bisphenol analogues exposure, metabolites in breast milk and offspring anthropometric growth during infancy: The Wuhan twin birth cohort study","authors":"Hong Mei ,&nbsp;Liqin Hu ,&nbsp;Haoshuang Liu ,&nbsp;Neng Li ,&nbsp;Yunxia Li ,&nbsp;Jiali Xu ,&nbsp;Hailin Gu ,&nbsp;Feiyan Xiang ,&nbsp;Meng Yang ,&nbsp;Pan Yang ,&nbsp;Jianduan Zhang ,&nbsp;Han Xiao ,&nbsp;Aifen Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to explore the associations between trimester-specific prenatal bisphenol analogues (BPs) exposures and offspring growth during infancy. Additionally, it sought to evaluate the mediating effect of breast milk metabolites on this relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The research examined the associations among bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS) levels collected from mothers during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, breast milk metabolites when the offspring were 1 month old, and infant growth measurements at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. General linear models (GLM), multiple logistic regression models, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were employed to assess the relationships between BPs, breast milk metabolites and offspring growth. The mediation package was utilized to evaluate the mediating effect of breast milk metabolites.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Significant associations were observed between first-trimester BPA (BPA_1) and 369 breast milk metabolites, primarily influencing glycometabolism and lipid metabolism pathways. BPA_1 were positively associated with infants' growth and ZBMI trajectory. Breast milk metabolites were also correlated with growth measurements and trajectories, predominantly categorized as glycometabolites and lipids. A mediating role was identified for 10 breast milk metabolites in the relationship between prenatal BPA_1 and infants’ ZBMI at 12 months.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>First-trimester BPA exposure may promote early growth and high ZBMI trajectory, which are risk factors for obesity in later life. This study highlights BPA_1's impact on breast milk metabolites and first reports breast milk metabolites as mediators on relationship between prenatal BPA exposure and offspring growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13994,"journal":{"name":"International journal of hygiene and environmental health","volume":"270 ","pages":"Article 114678"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215028","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}