Reviews on Environmental Health最新文献

This study aimed to comprehensively and methodically evaluate the correlation between cognitive impairment and indoor air pollution from solid fuel used for cooking/heating. PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to December January 2023. 13 studies from three countries with a total of 277,001 participants were enrolled. A negative correlation was discovered between solid fuel usage for cooking and total cognitive score (β=-0.73, 95 % CI: -0.90 to -0.55) and episodic memory score (β=-0.23, 95 % CI: -0.30 to -0.17). Household solid fuel usage for cooking was considerably associated with a raised risk of cognitive impairment (HR=1.31, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.57) and cognitive decline (HR=1.24, 95 % CI: 1.18-1.30). Compared to continuous solid fuel use for cooking, sustained use of clean fuel and switching from solid fuel to clean fuel were associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline (OR=0.55, 95 % CI: 0.42-0.73; OR=0.81, 95 % CI: 0.71-0.93). A negative association was found between solid fuel usage for heating and total cognitive score (β=-0.43, 95 % CI: -0.59 to -0.26) and episodic memory score (β=-0.22, 95 % CI: -0.34 to -0.10). Our research provided evidence that exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuel is a potential cause of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. Making the switch from solid fuels to cleaner fuels could be an important step in preventing cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) is an emerging pollutant that enters water resources and affects various marine organisms, such as fish. Consequently, numerous studies globally investigated TBBP-A concentrations in fish fillets of the current study were meta-analyze concentration of TBBP-A in fish fillets and estimate the associated health risks for consumers. The search encompassed international databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 2005, to July 20, 2023. The ranking of countries based on the pooled (Mean) concentration of TBBP-A in fish was as follows: China (1.157 µg/kg-ww) > Czech Republic (1.027 µg/kg-ww) > France (0.500 µg/kg-ww) ∼ Switzerland (0.500 µg/kg-ww) > Netherlands (0.405 µg/kg-ww) > Germany (0.33 µg/kg-ww) > Sweden (0.165 µg/kg-ww)>UK (0.078 µg/kg-ww) > Belgium (0.065 µg/kg-ww) > South Korea (0.013 µg/kg-ww) ∼ Japan (0.013 µg/kg-ww) > Ireland (0.005 µg/kg-ww). The risk assessment showed that the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of TBBP-A in China and France are higher compared to other countries; however, within all countries, these risks were found to be within acceptable limits.

In the last few decades, indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a major threat to public health. It is the fifth leading cause of premature death globally. It has been estimated that people spend ∼90 % of their time in an indoor environment. Consequently, IAQ has significant health effects. Although IAQ-related standards and guidelines, policies, and monitoring plans have been developed in a few countries, there remain several global inequalities and challenges. This review paper aims to comprehensively synthesize the current status of widely accepted IAQ guidelines and standards. It analyzes their global implementation and effectiveness to offer insights into challenges and disparities in IAQ policies and practices. However, the complexity of domestic environments and the diversity of international standards impede effective implementation. This manuscript evaluates international, national, and regional IAQ guidelines, emphasizing similarities and differences. In addition, it highlights knowledge gaps and challenges, urging the international scientific community, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate to advance IAQ standards and guidelines. The analysis evaluates the efficacy of guidelines, identifies deficiencies, and offers recommendations for the future of domestic air quality standards.

Introduction: Nonsmokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are neglected despite constituting half of all cases in studies from the developed world. Herein, we systematically reviewed the prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers in India.

Content: We searched Embase, Scopus, and PubMed databases for studies examining the prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers in India. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist to assess included studies' quality. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model.

Summary: Seven studies comprising 6,903 subjects were included. The quality of the studies ranged from 5/9 to 8/9. The prevalence of COPD varied between 1.6 and 26.6 %. Studies differed considerably in demographics and biomass exposure profiles of subjects. Among the four studies that enrolled both middle-aged and elderly Indian nonsmokers not screened based on biomass fuel exposure, the pooled prevalence of COPD was 3 % (95 % CI, 2-3 %; I²=50.52 %, p=0.11). The pooled prevalence of COPD among biomass fuel-exposed individuals was 10 % (95 % CI, 2-18 %; I²=98.8 %, p<0.001).

Outlook: Limited evidence suggests a sizable burden of COPD among nonsmokers and biomass fuel-exposed individuals in India. More epidemiological studies of COPD in nonsmokers are needed from low and middle-income countries.

Objective: Numerous evidence indicates the association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), an endocrine disrupter, with thyroid hormone disruption, contradictory findings also exist. Herein, we tried to address this question by performing a scoping review.

Content: The search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases from 2010 onwards. Animal studies on PCBs' effect on thyroid function were searched. The SYRCLE's RoB scale assessed the risk of bias. I2 and Q tests are used for investigating heterogeneity. A random-effects model with the pooled standard means difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) was performed for the TSH, TT4, TT3, and FT4 outcomes using Comprehensive Meta-Analyses (CMA) Software version 3. Also, we conducted subgroup analyses based on the different types of PCB. The initial search identified 1,279 publications from the main databases 26 of them fulfilled our eligibility criteria for the study, and then five studies among selected studies had sufficient data for analysis. Meta-analysis of data revealed that Aroclor 1260 (SDM: -0.47, 95 % CI: -0.92, -0.01, p=0.044) and PCB 126 (SDM: 0.17, 95 % CI: -0.40, 0.75, p=0.559) significantly increased TSH concentration in the exposed groups vs. the control groups. Related to the effects of PCBs on the TT4, our findings indicated a significant reduction the TT4 concentration of animals exposed to Aroclor 1260 (SDM: -5.62, 95 % CI: -8.30, -2.94, p=0.0001), PCB 118 (SDM: -6.24, 95 % CI: -7.76, -4.72, p=0.0001), PCB 126 (SDM: -1.81, 95 % CI: -2.90, -0.71, p=0.001), and PCB 153 (SDM: -1.32, 95 % CI: -2.29, -0.35, p=0.007) vs. the controls. Our meta-analysis indicated a significant increase in TT3 concentration following exposure to PCB 118 and PCB 153 (SDM: -0.89, 95 % CI: -1.36, -0.42, p=0.0001, and SDM: -1.45, 95 % CI: -2.15, -0.75, p=0.0001, respectively). Aroclor 1254 and PCB 126 significantly decreased TT3 concentration (SDM: 1.25, 95 % CI: 0.29, 2.21, p=0.01 and SDM: 3.33, 95 % CI: 2.49, 4.18, p=0.0001, respectively). PCB 126 significantly decreased FT4 in the exposed groups vs. the control groups (SDM: -7.80, 95 % CI: -11.51, -5.35, p=0.0001).

Summary: Our findings showed an association between PCBs exposure and hypothyroidism in rodents, fish, and chicken embryos.

Outlook: Regarding to the most evidence of hypothyroidism effects of PCBs in animal species, it is necessary to consider large cohort studies to address the association between PCBs exposure and thyroid function impairment in humans.

This paper presents the results of modeling the distribution process of industrial emission components at specified distances from the emission source along the normal. The model uses a system of differential diffusion equations to compute the concentration profiles of aerosols, industrial gases, and fine particles in the atmosphere. In order to investigate the regularity of the emitter propagation into the atmosphere, a theory of impurity dispersion was developed. The model is constrained by the effect of particle interactions. The partial derivative equations are presented to calculate the concentrations of aerosols and fine particles under the turbulent airflow in the atmosphere, dispersion of inert impurities, and distribution of chemically active compounds. The adequacy of the mathematical model for a series of theoretical calculations was checked by contrasting the data of the atmospheric air monitoring for the cities of Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Atyrau, Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk, Beijing, and Shanghai. Air monitoring data included PM10, SO₂, and NO₂ levels. The mathematical model solutions for the relative values of the emitter concentration in the direction along the normal of the pollution source at the surface were obtained. Graphical interpretation of the calculation results over the 0…200 m distance for time intervals ranging from 3 to 600 min was provided. According to the multiple factor cluster analysis, the critical values of SO₂ concentrations in Atyrau exceeded MPC in 26.2% of cases. The level of NO₂ for Shanghai was 15.6%, and those for PM10 concentrations in Almaty and Atyrau amounted to 16.4%. A comparison of theoretical values and results obtained from official sources showed arithmetic mean of 49.4 mg/m³ and maximum value of 823.0 mg/m³. Standard deviation comprised 48.9 mg/m³. Results were considered statistically significant at p≤0.005. The mathematical model developed in this study can be used to predict the status of atmospheric air.