International Journal of Environmental Health Research最新文献

Climate change poses a significant threat to human health. Long-term climate effects on childhood asthma hospitalizations depend on the population's geographic region. These effects in tropical drylands are not well understood. The objective of this study is to examine the long-term association between childhood asthma hospitalizations and the climate of a tropical dryland. The study covered 14 municipalities in the Brazilian semiarid. Monthly trends in hospitalizations and climatic variables were calculated. A generalized additive model analyzed the association between these trends, and the Mann-Kendall test determined if trends were increasing, decreasing, or not significant. Thirteen municipalities showed a significant link between hospitalizations and climate variables, especially wind speed, maximum temperature, and humidity. Overall, hospitalizations decreased, correlating with decreasing wind speed and humidity, and increasing temperature. However, no discernable pattern was found between hospitalizations and precipitation. The study emphasizes the need for climate-health analysis to manage childhood asthma amid climate change.

Few epidemiological studies have investigated associations between anthropogenic heat emissions (AE) and serum lipids. We recruited 15,477 adults from 33 communities in northeastern China in 2009. We estimated AE flux by using data on energy consumption and socio-economic statistics covering building, transportation, industry, and human metabolism. We assessed the associations between AE and blood lipids and dyslipidemia prevalence using the restricted cubic spline models. The regression coefficients (β) and the 95% CI of total cholesterol for the 75th and 95th percentiles of the exposure were 0.23 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.15, 0.30) and 0.25 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.18, 0.32). We also found AE was positively associated with dyslipidemia. Participants who were female or who had low incomes exhibited more pronounced associations. Our research showed that exposure to AE was significantly associated with serum lipids. These novel, valuable findings are useful to inform policymakers to estimate the risks to human health from anthropogenic heat.

This study aimed to assess post-earthquake trauma levels in adults and explore the relationship between trauma, sleep disorders, dietary habits, and emotional eating. Conducted with 708 adults using snowball sampling, the study utilized the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Scale, the Post-earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale, and the Feeding Your Feelings: Emotional Eating Scale. Results revealed that factors such as gender, exposure to earthquake-related content on social media, time spent on social media before sleep, losing a loved one, and emotional eating tendencies significantly influenced trauma levels (Adj. R²:0.166, p<0.001). Bidirectional relationships were found between trauma, sleep disorders, and emotional eating. Given the results achieved, the earthquake on 6 February not only triggered trauma among individuals living in the affected regions but also across the entire society, negatively impacting dietary habits. These findings underscore the importance of psychosocial support after natural disasters to mitigate negative effects like sleep issues and emotional eating.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between earthquake-related post-traumatic stress disorder, eating behaviours, and sleep disorders. Conducted online with 515 participants (80.2% female; mean age: 32.1 ± 14.0), it utilized a questionnaire including socio-demographics, PTSD-Short Scale (PTSD), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (measuring cognitive restraint-CR, uncontrolled eating-UE, emotional eating-EE, and hunger sensitivity-HS). 28.5% of the participants lived in the earthquake zone. The rate of destroyed house, losing a loved one, and injury were significantly higher in those with PTSD. A significant correlation was found between the ISI and PTSD scores (r = 0.509, p < 0.001). PTSD score (β = 0.162), age (β=-0.335), body mass index (β = 0.269), and body weight change (β=-0.179) significantly related the CR. ISI and PTSD scores were positively associated with UE and HS. PTSD triggers the occurrence of insomnia and maladaptive eating behaviours such as emotional or uncontrolled eating..

Neck and shoulder pain (NSP) is a common issue among college students, yet no studies have linked digital device usage to NSP prevalence in China. This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore this relationship among students in Shanghai. A total of 6,000 students were randomly selected, with 4,848 (80.8%) completing a self-reported questionnaire on NSP prevalence and severity. The results showed a 39.1% NSP prevalence, higher in females (45.0%) than males (32.4%). Logistic regression revealed significant correlations between NSP and factors such as gender, poor posture, and prolonged digital device use. Additionally, neck muscle activity increased with spinal inclination, as assessed by the AnyBody platform. The findings suggest promoting a healthy spinal curvature lifestyle to reduce NSP among college students..

Objective: To verify the association between different types of ambient ventilation in Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values, and respiratory symptoms of workers .

Methods: CSSD workers from five hospitals were evaluated in three different ventilation systems: negative air pressure, air conditioning, and natural ventilation. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was evaluated by The European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The respiratory inflammatory response was evaluated utilizing FeNO level measurements.

Results: There was a general prevalence of respiratory symptoms in 5% of the workers investigated; there was no association between respiratory symptoms and ventilation systems (p = 0.170). Of the total workers investigated, 22% had FeNO levels ≥ 25 parts per billion (ppb), considered above the normal range, and there was a statistically significant difference between ventilation systems (p = 0.009) favoring natural ventilation.

Conclusion: Exposure to the natural ventilation system reduced the chance of developing FeNO levels ≥ 25 by 94.3%.

Humans are widely exposed to phenols, parabens, and phthalates with health risks, while the effects of these chemicals on biological aging remain unclear. Among 3,441 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010, phenol, paraben, and phthalate concentrations were measured and phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) was calculated. Linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to evaluate the associations of single and mixed chemicals with PhenoAgeAccel. Stratified analyses by chronological age and lifestyle were also performed. Individual phthalates were positively associated with PhenoAgeAccel. The WQS model found the positive relationship between mixed chemicals with PhenoAgeAccel (β = 0.175, 95%CI: 0.001, 0.349). The adverse impacts of phenols and phthalates on biological aging were stronger in older participants with significant interactions. Adherence to healthier lifestyle might partly reduce the positive relationships of phenols and phthalates with biological aging, especially among older adults, which is expected to be a viable intervention in the future.

This paper highlights potential active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) generations from improper disposal of medicines and captures the perceptions of key stakeholders - households and pharmaceutical actors in Upper Citarum River Basin (UCRB). Most pharmaceutical waste is disposed of with household waste, suggesting landfills are the most significant APIs contamination sources. We highlight the complex relationship between knowledge, risk perception, and behavioural intentions, stressing the relevance of risk perception as a mediator when studying how knowledge affects behaviour. Age and income are suggested to moderate risk perception and behavioural intention. There is a heavy use of over-the-counter and prescription drugs in UCRB, especially Paracetamol (426.1 tons/year) and Amoxicillin (343.7 tons/year). Measured herbal APIs highlight the cultural significance and dependence on traditional medicine. We suggest examining the influence of affect on perception and behaviour in safe medicine disposal and the environmental and health risk impact of APIs in the water systems.

Previous research yields inconsistent findings on the association between air pollution and breast cancer risk, with no definitive causal relationship established. To address this, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study on data from the IEU open GWAS databases and the Breast Cancer Association Consortium to explore the potential link between air pollution (including PM_2.5, PM_2.5 absorbance, PM_2.5-10, PM₁₀, NO₂, and NO_x) and breast cancer risk. We found that PM₁₀ (odds ratio (OR) = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07-1.80, p = 0.013) and NO_x (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.16-2.41, p = 0.006) were significantly associated with elevated breast cancer risk. Furthermore, PM_2.5 (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.09-4.03, p = 0.027) and NO_x (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.24-7.64, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with an elevated risk of luminal B/HER2-negative-like cancer. Results were stable in sensitivity analyses. This suggested that controlling air pollution could potentially reduce breast cancer risk.

This study utilized a validated questionnaire that aimed to assess pharmacists' awareness and attitude towards drug repurposing for antimicrobial use. Despite the reasonable awareness, pharmacists reported unfavourable attitudes. Pharmacists with a B.Pharm. or Pharm.D. degree reported less awareness than pharmacists with a master's or PhD degree. In contrast, pharmacists who dispensed fewer than 10 prescriptions or 10-29 prescriptions had significantly higher awareness than those who dispensed 30 prescriptions daily or more. Pharmacists who had 1-5 years of experience and those who dispensed less than 10 prescriptions daily had significantly lower attitude scores than their counterpats. The most reported facilitator was the reduced risk of antimicrobial resistance, while the most reported barrier was patient safety. Pharmacists' perception of drug repurposing for antimicrobial needs to improve via implementing educational sessions that highlight the impact of drug repurposing on supporting the fight against antimicrobial resistance and promoting a more sustainable and resilient healthcare system.