International Journal of Environmental Health Research最新文献

A common factor across chronic liver diseases is oxidative stress, which exacerbates disease pathology irrespective of the underlying causes. Exercise training (ET) and antioxidant-enriched supplements (AES) have emerged as recognized strategies for managing and preventing metabolic disorders, including those affecting liver health. This study conducted an in silico analysis to identify switchable hub genes implicated in environmentally driven fatty liver disease, which were subsequently validated by qPCR. Notably, dysregulation of key genes, including Il1-β, Fabp1, PPAR-γ, Cpt2, and Lxr, was observed in the air pollution (APE) group. Both ET and AES demonstrated regulatory effects on gene expression profiles before and after APE. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the expression levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) Neat1 and H19 were significantly enhanced in the APE group. Notably, both ET and AES were shown to modulate the expression levels of these lncRNAs, further supporting the therapeutic potential of these interventions. Overall, our results suggest that APE alters the expression of mRNAs and lncRNAs, contributing to increased inflammation and metabolic disorders, while ET and AES offer promising strategies for the management and prevention of environmentally driven fatty liver disease.

Pakistan has the highest child diarrhoea mortality in South Asia, but the impact of household air pollution from polluting cooking fuels remains understudied. This study explores the association between exposure to such fuels and the odds of diarrhoea in children under five, using PDHS 2017-18 data. Diarrhoea prevalence was based on maternal self-reports of episodes in the past two weeks. Household air pollution exposure was measured using the household's primary cooking fuel. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied, adjusting for socioeconomic, child, maternal, nutritional, and water, sanitation, and hygiene factors. Among 11,947 children included, diarrhoea was reported in 2107 (17.6%). In the fully adjusted model, exposure to polluting cooking fuels was associated with higher odds of diarrhoea (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.25, P-value = 0.013). Fuel-specific analysis showed that children in households using animal dung had the highest odds of diarrhoea (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06-1.84, P-value = 0.015). Subgroup analyses showed the strongest association among infants under 1 year, children with stunting, and those born to uneducated mothers. This study found that cooking with solid fuels increases childhood diarrhoea in Pakistan. Transitioning to clean fuels is crucial for public health in Pakistan and similar countries to reduce this burden.

Total PM_2.5 mass has been shown to be associated with mumps. However, the individual and joint associations of PM_2.5 components with mumps and the importance of each PM_2.5 component remain unclear. To our knowledge, this ecological study is the first to investigate the associations of PM_2.5 components with mumps. We collected the monthly mumps incidence in Northwest China from 2013 to 2019 to investigate the individual and joint effects of PM_2.5 components on mumps using geographical probes, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR) models. We found that sulfate (SO₄^2-) and black carbon (BC) were associated with mumps, and SO₄^2- (weight: 0.143) and organic matter (OM) (weight: 0.857) were positively correlated to mumps according to the qgcomp results. BKMR revealed that BC and OM were the dominant factors for the increasing monthly mumps incidence. The joint associations of PM_2.5 components with mumps were positive at the high concentrations, and the single-pollutant models suggested that the individual associations of BC and OM with mumps were positive. Our evidence emphasizes that targeted control of anthropogenic sources of PM_2.5 components (especially BC and OM) can help mitigate the monthly mumps incidence.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that poses significant health risks, which include neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review examines the effects of lead neurotoxicity on synaptic pathways which are relatively unexplored and their potential role in the development of ASD. Lead exposure occurs through various environmental sources, including contaminated water, soil, paint, and industrial appliances. Once absorbed, lead accumulates in soft tissues and bones, causes prolonged neurological damage, especially in children. ASD is characterised by impaired communication, repetitive behaviours, and cognitive challenges, with increasing evidence linking environmental factors like heavy metal exposure to its onset. Synaptic signalling disruption is a key aspect of ASD and lead interferes with the synaptic pathways by inhibiting calcium influx, leading to cognitive impairments and memory issues. This review is an overview of the previously reported findings that explains the role of lead in reducing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) function, disrupting the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway, and impairing Wnt, GABAergic and dopaminergic signalling pathways. These alterations result in cognitive decline, impaired synaptic plasticity and increased ASD symptoms. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of lead exposure on neurodevelopment.

Urban stormwater management failures lead to floodingg. Potentially toxic elements (PTE) are commonly found in floods exposing population and ecosystems. Flooding is a persistent problem in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora thus PTE concentrations were determined, including threats to receiving ecosystems and population. The PTE concentrations were determined by MP-AES and compared to national and international guidelines. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were evaluated for adults and children following the EPA protocols. Al, Fe and Zn showed the highest concentrations. The concentrations exceeded consulted guideline criteria. PTE groups were identified relating to their sources and origin: (1) Fe, Mn, Ti and Al, (2) Cu, Cd and Cr, (3) Pb, Ni and Zn. Non-carcinogenic health effects and cancer risk were observed in the analyzed floodwater indicating that management measures should be taken to protect the flood-affected population.

Outdoor air pollution poses a significant threat to children, especially those in low socioeconomic areas exposed to dense traffic pollutants. This study explores the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and air pollution exposure among primary school children in Auckland, New Zealand. Findings indicate that NO₂ levels do not vary significantly between schools in low versus high SES areas; however, Pacifica children experience the highest exposure, with levels reaching up to 13.37 μg/m³. Central regions of Auckland show particularly high pollution levels, measuring 15.7 μg/m³-significantly above the regional average of 13.16 μg/m³, which amplifies health risks for children in these areas. These findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution. Future research should broaden the scope to include more pollutants and utilize more recent data to assess the health impacts of air pollution.   .

We aimed to investigate the association between occupational exposure to respirable crystalline quartz (RCQ) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a Danish register-based cohort (DOC*X Dust, n = 903,415). Through 1976-2017, information on occupation was linked to quantitative exposure estimates of RCQ, obtained from the job-exposure matrix of SYN-JEM. The follow-up period (1996-2018) counted 19,357,326 person-years, where 35,511 first-time AMIs occurred, according to register-based hospital contacts. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for AMI based on cumulative, recent, and maximum exposure were computed using Poisson regression adjusted for socio-economic factors, comorbidities, air pollution, and other occupational exposures such as noise, physically demanding work, exposure to diesel exhaust, and job strain. For cumulative exposure, the IRR for AMI in the unadjusted model was highest in the two lowest exposed quartiles (IRR for Q1 = 1.19 (95%CI: 1.13-1.25), IRR for Q2 = 1.12 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.17)). However, in the fully adjusted model, these associations were no longer significant and even inverse for exposed above 25^th percentile. The lowest IRR was observed in the highest RCQ exposure quartile (IRR = 0.87, (95%CI: 0.83-0.92)). In general, the RCQ exposure levels in the DOC*X Dust cohort were presumed to be lower than in countries that - contrary to Denmark - have an active mining industry. In conclusion, no increased risk of AMI due to RCQ exposure was observed, but cautious interpretation is warranted because of potential bias from the healthy worker survivor effect.

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.

This study examines the spatiotemporal relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cardiorespiratory mortality across Thailand from 2015 to 2019, addressing a critical research gap in geographical coverage. Analysis of satellite-based PM2.5 data revealed significant correlations between monthly PM2.5 levels and cardiorespiratory mortality, with stronger effects observed in the central and northern provinces. The association was most pronounced during the dry season (November to April), showing a 6% increase in mortality compared to other months. Areas with monthly PM2.5 levels of 30.1-37.5 μg/m³ and above 37.5 μg/m³ were associated with mortality increases of 3% (95% CI: 1%-5%) and 5% (95% CI: 3%-7%), respectively, relative to the overall mean, while levels below 20 μg/m³ corresponded to a 4% (95% CI: 3%-6%) reduction. These findings underscore the need for region-specific monthly PM2.5 guidelines to mitigate health risks, particularly during high-pollution periods and in vulnerable regions.