Pub Date : 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110192
Fei Wang, Yibo Wu, Tingshao Zhu
Against the backdrop of global climate warming, the impact of summer heat on urban residents’ health has become increasingly prominent. Given that existing studies, while confirming the adverse health effects of high temperatures, have failed to elucidate the specific mechanisms, resulting in policy interventions that remain largely confined to macro-level warnings without precise pathways, conducting mediation research is crucial for exploring potential explanatory pathways and informing public health strategies. Based on data from 106,949 residents across 263 Chinese cities, this study investigates the associations of summer temperature fluctuation in urban areas on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its potential explanatory pathways. The findings reveal that monthly fluctuations in summer urban temperatures exhibit a significant negative correlation with residents’ HRQoL, with temperatures above the seasonal average leading to a marked decline in HRQoL (β = -0.169, p = 0.006). Additionally, high temperatures are significantly associated with increased depressive tendencies among residents (β = 0.709, p = 0.003). More importantly, our analysis showed a statistical mediation pattern, with depressive symptoms mediating the relationship between temperature and HRQoL(indirect effect = -0.066, 95% CI [-0.025, −0.112]). The study further confirms that the impact of summer temperature on HRQoL follows a linear rather than U-shaped pattern, underscoring the importance of seasonal analysis. These findings provide empirical evidence relevant to climate-adaptive public health policies, implying that mental health interventions, particularly for depression-prone populations, could be considered for inclusion in high-temperature risk management. Through a multi-city, large-sample design, this study offers new insights into the complex relationship between climate change and urban residents’ health
{"title":"Summer temperatures, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life: a study of residents in 263 Chinese cities","authors":"Fei Wang, Yibo Wu, Tingshao Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110192","url":null,"abstract":"Against the backdrop of global climate warming, the impact of summer heat on urban residents’ health has become increasingly prominent. Given that existing studies, while confirming the adverse health effects of high temperatures, have failed to elucidate the specific mechanisms, resulting in policy interventions that remain largely confined to macro-level warnings without precise pathways, conducting mediation research is crucial for exploring potential explanatory pathways and informing public health strategies. Based on data from 106,949 residents across 263 Chinese cities, this study investigates the associations of summer temperature fluctuation in urban areas on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its potential explanatory pathways. The findings reveal that monthly fluctuations in summer urban temperatures exhibit a significant negative correlation with residents’ HRQoL, with temperatures above the seasonal average leading to a marked decline in HRQoL (β = -0.169, p = 0.006). Additionally, high temperatures are significantly associated with increased depressive tendencies among residents (β = 0.709, p = 0.003). More importantly, our analysis showed a statistical mediation pattern, with depressive symptoms mediating the relationship between temperature and HRQoL(indirect effect = -0.066, 95% CI [-0.025, −0.112]). The study further confirms that the impact of summer temperature on HRQoL follows a linear rather than U-shaped pattern, underscoring the importance of seasonal analysis. These findings provide empirical evidence relevant to climate-adaptive public health policies, implying that mental health interventions, particularly for depression-prone populations, could be considered for inclusion in high-temperature risk management. Through a multi-city, large-sample design, this study offers new insights into the complex relationship between climate change and urban residents’ health","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"198 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147393400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110180
Lindsay J. Underhill, Maggie L. Clark, Dana Boyd Barr, Kalpana Balakrishnan, Naveen Puttaswamy, Ajay Pillarisetti, Anaite A. Diaz-Artiga, Lisa M. Thompson, John P. McCracken, Victor G. Davila-Roman, Lance A. Waller, Bonnie N. Young, Michael A. Johnson, Karthikeyan Rajamani, William Checkley, Thomas F. Clasen, Jennifer L. Peel, Kyle Steenland
Background
While extensive research has linked ambient air pollution to increased COVID-19 infection rates and severity, the role of household air pollution (HAP)—a major public health exposure affecting nearly 3 billion people globally—remains understudied. Here, we evaluate associations between a clean cooking intervention, personal household air pollution exposure, and serologic evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection using exploratory intention-to-treat and exposure–response analyses.
Methods
The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) Trial randomized 3,200 households in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to either continue using traditional solid fuel cookstoves or receive liquefied petroleum gas stoves with continuous fuel supply and behavioral messaging. The current ancillary study leveraged personal exposures to PM2.5 and carbon monoxide (CO) and dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected in the Guatemala, India, and Peru HAPIN sites to study the association between personal air pollution exposures and COVID-19; Rwanda was excluded due to low COVID-19 prevalence at the time of collection. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were measured from DBS samples to define serology-based infection status and quantify immune response. Analyses included exploratory intention-to-treat and observational exposure–response analyses of associations between personal air pollution exposure and serology-based SARS-CoV-2 infection status and antibody levels.
Results
While the intervention effectively reduced HAP exposures, no significant differences in COVID-19 infection or antibody levels between intervention and control groups were found. However, exposure–response analyses found higher PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower odds of COVID-19 infection and lower antibody levels, diverging from most studies of ambient air pollution.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that household air pollution may influence SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune response through mechanisms distinct from those described for ambient air pollution.
{"title":"Personal household air pollution exposure and SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses among women and infants: an analysis within the HAPIN trial","authors":"Lindsay J. Underhill, Maggie L. Clark, Dana Boyd Barr, Kalpana Balakrishnan, Naveen Puttaswamy, Ajay Pillarisetti, Anaite A. Diaz-Artiga, Lisa M. Thompson, John P. McCracken, Victor G. Davila-Roman, Lance A. Waller, Bonnie N. Young, Michael A. Johnson, Karthikeyan Rajamani, William Checkley, Thomas F. Clasen, Jennifer L. Peel, Kyle Steenland","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110180","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Background</h3>While extensive research has linked ambient air pollution to increased COVID-19 infection rates and severity, the role of household air pollution (HAP)—a major public health exposure affecting nearly 3 billion people globally—remains understudied. Here, we evaluate associations between a clean cooking intervention, personal household air pollution exposure, and serologic evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection using exploratory intention-to-treat and exposure–response analyses.<h3>Methods</h3>The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) Trial randomized 3,200 households in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to either continue using traditional solid fuel cookstoves or receive liquefied petroleum gas stoves with continuous fuel supply and behavioral messaging. The current ancillary study leveraged personal exposures to PM<sub>2.5</sub> and carbon monoxide (CO) and dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected in the Guatemala, India, and Peru HAPIN sites to study the association between personal air pollution exposures and COVID-19; Rwanda was excluded due to low COVID-19 prevalence at the time of collection. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were measured from DBS samples to define serology-based infection status and quantify immune response. Analyses included exploratory intention-to-treat and observational exposure–response analyses of associations between personal air pollution exposure and serology-based SARS-CoV-2 infection status and antibody levels.<h3>Results</h3>While the intervention effectively reduced HAP exposures, no significant differences in COVID-19 infection or antibody levels between intervention and control groups were found. However, exposure–response analyses found higher PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure was associated with lower odds of COVID-19 infection and lower antibody levels, diverging from most studies of ambient air pollution.<h3>Conclusions</h3>These findings suggest that household air pollution may influence SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune response through mechanisms distinct from those described for ambient air pollution.","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110157
Anna C. O’Regan , Henrik Grythe , Philipp Schneider , Marguerite M. Nyhan
Urban areas experience elevated air pollution levels which pose significant health risks. Reducing exposure to poor air quality and mitigating the associated negative health impacts requires informed policy measures. This study advances urban air quality modelling by developing an air quality model (baseline model) and further integrating measurements from a network of low-cost sensors and regulatory monitors into the model output (data fusion model). The resulting data fusion model provides accurate air quality data in high spatiotemporal resolution. The data fusion model showed higher PM2.5 concentrations during evening hours and winter months, with a population-weighted exposure to PM2.5 almost twice as high as predicted by the baseline model during these months. The models exhibited different spatial patterns, with the data fusion model showing a shift in peak concentrations from the city centre to residential areas, where levels were up to 10 µg/m3 higher than the baseline model. These differences are likely attributable to an underestimation of residential emissions in the baseline model. While both models were FAIRMODE compliant, the data fusion model showed a reduced bias for most monitoring stations compared to the baseline model. The data fusion model enabled a more accurate assessment of existing policies, specifically those aimed at reducing urban air pollution from solid fuel burning. Moreover, by identifying locations and sectors which contribute significantly to high levels of PM2.5, the data fusion model supports the formation of targeted air quality policies. This enables cities to maximise reductions in air pollution and exposures, thereby safeguarding public health.
{"title":"Integrating Low-Cost Sensors with Dispersion Modelling for High-Resolution Insights into Urban Air Quality","authors":"Anna C. O’Regan , Henrik Grythe , Philipp Schneider , Marguerite M. Nyhan","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban areas experience elevated air pollution levels which pose significant health risks. Reducing exposure to poor air quality and mitigating the associated negative health impacts requires informed policy measures. This study advances urban air quality modelling by developing an air quality model (baseline model) and further integrating measurements from a network of low-cost sensors and regulatory monitors into the model output (data fusion model). The resulting data fusion model provides accurate air quality data in high spatiotemporal resolution. The data fusion model showed higher PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations during evening hours and winter months, with a population-weighted exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> almost twice as high as predicted by the baseline model during these months. The models exhibited different spatial patterns, with the data fusion model showing a shift in peak concentrations from the city centre to residential areas, where levels were up to 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup> higher than the baseline model. These differences are likely attributable to an underestimation of residential emissions in the baseline model. While both models were FAIRMODE compliant, the data fusion model showed a reduced bias for most monitoring stations compared to the baseline model. The data fusion model enabled a more accurate assessment of existing policies, specifically those aimed at reducing urban air pollution from solid fuel burning. Moreover, by identifying locations and sectors which contribute significantly to high levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub>, the data fusion model supports the formation of targeted air quality policies. This enables cities to maximise reductions in air pollution and exposures, thereby safeguarding public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110157"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147279743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110177
Golnoush Abbasi , Miguel Las Heras Hernández , Marina Jennifer Hauser , Émilien Bourgé , Mikael Harju , Vladimir Nikiforov
Circular Economy (CE) principles seek to eliminate hazardous substances and promote the reuse and recycling of plastic products. However, implementing these principles is challenging due to the wide variety of substances used in plastics, their potential health and environmental risks, the complexities of global supply chains, and concerns regarding reappearance of Chemicals of concern (CoCs) in post-recycled plastics (PRP). This study presents a novel approach for identifying CoCs in the waste stream by assessing the potential presence of chemicals in polymers across different industrial sectors and their hazard categories. With the objective of identifying CoCs that are most problematic regarding their reappearance in new products, selected CoCs are classified into four priority groups based on their physicochemical properties and molecular structures, for further risk and regulatory assessment. The first group includes 88 CoCs, that must be avoided in a circular economy, of which 70% are metalloids and 30% are organic additives. The second group comprises 167 CoCs, mainly additives, whose risks depend heavily on their concentration and specific use in products. The third and fourth groups consist of CoCs that are less frequently found in plastic waste and thus associated with relatively lower risks. Overall, this study offers a practical and adaptable tool to support the identification of hazardous substances in plastic waste, helping stakeholders make informed decisions by removing CoCs and promoting the development of safer alternatives for substitutions.
{"title":"Towards safe plastic recycling: A novel framework for identifying chemicals of concern in plastic waste","authors":"Golnoush Abbasi , Miguel Las Heras Hernández , Marina Jennifer Hauser , Émilien Bourgé , Mikael Harju , Vladimir Nikiforov","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Circular Economy (CE) principles seek to eliminate hazardous substances and promote the reuse and recycling of plastic products. However, implementing these principles is challenging due to the wide variety of substances used in plastics, their potential health and environmental risks, the complexities of global supply chains, and concerns regarding reappearance of Chemicals of concern (CoCs) in post-recycled plastics (PRP). This study presents a novel approach for identifying CoCs in the waste stream by assessing the potential presence of chemicals in polymers across different industrial sectors and their hazard categories. With the objective of identifying CoCs that are most problematic regarding their reappearance in new products, selected CoCs are classified into four priority groups based on their physicochemical properties and molecular structures, for further risk and regulatory assessment. The first group includes 88 CoCs, that must be avoided in a circular economy, of which 70% are metalloids and 30% are organic additives. The second group comprises 167 CoCs, mainly additives, whose risks depend heavily on their concentration and specific use in products. The third and fourth groups consist of CoCs that are less frequently found in plastic waste and thus associated with relatively lower risks. Overall, this study offers a practical and adaptable tool to support the identification of hazardous substances in plastic waste, helping stakeholders make informed decisions by removing CoCs and promoting the development of safer alternatives for substitutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110177"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147368205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110154
Dimitri Belenki, Dan Baaken, Felix Meyer, Jens Kuhne
The systematic review by Mevissen et al. (2025, Environment International) evaluated the evidence on the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in laboratory animals and concluded with a high certainty of evidence (CoE) that exposure to RF-EMF increases the risk of malignant glioma and malignant schwannoma in the brain and heart, respectively. Deviating from their pre-published systematic review protocol, the authors did not perform meta-analyses. Instead, they based their assessment on whether or not statistically significant increases in tumour rates were observed in the included studies. One positive finding was deemed sufficient to conclude an adverse effect of RF-EMF exposure in a specific organ, thereby setting the target of the CoE rating for that organ. Here, we question this approach because it does not consider all the available evidence, and highlight further methodologically inconsistent decisions, while laying out a quantitative alternative based on the protocol and common guidelines for systematic reviews. Re-assessing the eligible long-term carcinogenicity experiments, we consider important studies to be sufficiently similar to be combined in a meta-analysis (MA). We calculate odds ratios as the effect measure and perform MA as well as dose–response MA. Rating the results using GRADE and OHAT guidance, we downgrade the CoE for imprecision due to the very wide confidence intervals of the pooled odds ratios, and upgrade the CoE for malignant heart schwannomas because of a positive exposure–response association, concluding moderate and low CoE for carcinogenicity of RF-EMF exposures in the heart and brain, respectively. In summary, our quantitative assessment of the evidence results in lower CoE conclusions than those of Mevissen et al.
{"title":"Commentary on the systematic review of radiofrequency field exposure and animal cancer by Mevissen et al. (2025) – Revisiting the evidence and a quantitative perspective","authors":"Dimitri Belenki, Dan Baaken, Felix Meyer, Jens Kuhne","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The systematic review by <span><span>Mevissen et al. (2025</span></span>, Environment International) evaluated the evidence on the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in laboratory animals and concluded with a high certainty of evidence (CoE) that exposure to RF-EMF increases the risk of malignant glioma and malignant schwannoma in the brain and heart, respectively. Deviating from their pre-published systematic review protocol, the authors did not perform <em>meta</em>-analyses. Instead, they based their assessment on whether or not statistically significant increases in tumour rates were observed in the included studies. One positive finding was deemed sufficient to conclude an adverse effect of RF-EMF exposure in a specific organ, thereby setting the target of the CoE rating for that organ. Here, we question this approach because it does not consider all the available evidence, and highlight further methodologically inconsistent decisions, while laying out a quantitative alternative based on the protocol and common guidelines for systematic reviews. Re-assessing the eligible long-term carcinogenicity experiments, we consider important studies to be sufficiently similar to be combined in a <em>meta</em>-analysis (MA). We calculate odds ratios as the effect measure and perform MA as well as dose–response MA. Rating the results using GRADE and OHAT guidance, we downgrade the CoE for imprecision due to the very wide confidence intervals of the pooled odds ratios, and upgrade the CoE for malignant heart schwannomas because of a positive exposure–response association, concluding moderate and low CoE for carcinogenicity of RF-EMF exposures in the heart and brain, respectively. In summary, our quantitative assessment of the evidence results in lower CoE conclusions than those of Mevissen et al.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110154"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110189
David Dajnak, Heather Walton, Dimitris Evangelopoulos, Nosha Assareh, Andrew V. Beddows, Gregor B. Stewart, Sean D. Beevers
Air pollution has extensive, adverse impacts on human health throughout the life course. This study estimated the health and economic benefits that policy at country and city level can have on the UK achieving the PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) WHO interim target of 10 μg m−3. Here we quantify and monetise the health benefits using lifetable analysis from the air pollution concentrations created using sophisticated chemical transport models. Modelling predictions in 2030 were made by combining European Union and UK government’s emissions forecasts, with the Climate Change Committee’s Net Zero (NZ) Electric vehicle (EV) forecasts, and in London with the addition of local policies. UK health and monetary benefits of air pollution reductions up to 2030 were substantial with the UK population gaining 11.5 (8.7–12.8) million life years, equivalent to an improvement in average life expectancy of 2 months and monetised air pollution benefits of £218 to £300 billion (summed to 2134). The conclusions from this study contributes to the evidence base on health benefits to advocate for action and are therefore highly relevant to policy makers. From an economic perspective, this study shows that air-pollution-reduction policies costing up to £2.4 (1.8–2.7) billion per year would be justified. Furthermore, the issues addressed here, such as the co-benefit of NZ policy on EV combined with international, national and local policies toward meeting WHO targets, offer a global public health opportunity of major significance for this century and could be applicable to other international cities.
{"title":"Can the UK meet the World Health Organization PM2.5 interim target of 10 μg m−3 by 2030? Part II: Associated health and economic benefits","authors":"David Dajnak, Heather Walton, Dimitris Evangelopoulos, Nosha Assareh, Andrew V. Beddows, Gregor B. Stewart, Sean D. Beevers","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Air pollution has extensive, adverse impacts on human health throughout the life course. This study estimated the health and economic benefits that policy at country and city level can have on the UK achieving the PM<sub>2.5</sub> (particles with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) WHO interim target of 10 μg m<sup>−3</sup>. Here we quantify and monetise the health benefits using lifetable analysis from the air pollution concentrations created using sophisticated chemical transport models. Modelling predictions in 2030 were made by combining European Union and UK government’s emissions forecasts, with the Climate Change Committee’s Net Zero (NZ) Electric vehicle (EV) forecasts, and in London with the addition of local policies. UK health and monetary benefits of air pollution reductions up to 2030 were substantial with the UK population gaining 11.5 (8.7–12.8) million life years, equivalent to an improvement in average life expectancy of 2 months and monetised air pollution benefits of £218 to £300 billion (summed to 2134). The conclusions from this study contributes to the evidence base on health benefits to advocate for action and are therefore highly relevant to policy makers. From an economic perspective, this study shows that air-pollution-reduction policies costing up to £2.4 (1.8–2.7) billion per year would be justified. Furthermore, the issues addressed here, such as the co-benefit of NZ policy on EV combined with international, national and local policies toward meeting WHO targets, offer a global public health opportunity of major significance for this century and could be applicable to other international cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110189"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147440313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-22DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110159
Sadun Khezri , Benoît Thierry , Daniel Fuller , Meghan Winters , Martina Kanning , Ahmed El Geneidy , Yan Kestens
Understanding how built and social environments shape momentary well-being is essential for advancing urban health research and planning. This study investigated temporal, social, and environmental predictors of daily well-being using a geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) approach. Seven-day GEMA measures were collected between 2018 and 2021 among 889 residents of Greater Montreal, recruited through the INTERACT and REM studies. Participants (mean age = 41.7 years; age range = 18–80 years; 55.7% women) completed the Short Mood Scale three times daily via the EthicaData smartphone app, yielding over 10,600 prompts linked with GPS data. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between well-being and temporal, social, and environmental exposures. Well-being varied significantly across time and contexts (conditional R2 ≈ 0.6). Higher well-being was reported in the afternoon (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03–0.43) and on weekends, particularly Sundays (β = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.74–1.49), whereas evenings were associated with lower well-being (β = –0.31, 95% CI: –0.52 to –0.10). Social interactions, especially with friends (β = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.26–2.67) and family (β = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.42–1.25), were strongly associated with higher well-being. Built environment features, including greenness, proximity to parks, and road density, showed limited associations. Older adults (60–80 years) reported substantially higher well-being than younger (18–40) adults (β = 4.31, 95% CI: 3.44–5.18). An interaction indicated that women reported lower well-being than men when surrounded by others without direct interaction (β = –0.66, 95% CI: –1.17 to –0.09). Temporal rhythms, age, and social interactions were central determinants of momentary well-being, while built environment factors played a lesser role. Integrating GEMA approaches provides robust evidence to inform urban planning and public health strategies that promote supportive social and temporal environments.
{"title":"Exposure to built and social environments and momentary well-being: A geographic ecological momentary assessment study in Montreal","authors":"Sadun Khezri , Benoît Thierry , Daniel Fuller , Meghan Winters , Martina Kanning , Ahmed El Geneidy , Yan Kestens","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how built and social environments shape momentary well-being is essential for advancing urban health research and planning. This study investigated temporal, social, and environmental predictors of daily well-being using a geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) approach. Seven-day GEMA measures were collected between 2018 and 2021 among 889 residents of Greater Montreal, recruited through the INTERACT and REM studies. Participants (mean age = 41.7 years; age range = 18–80 years; 55.7% women) completed the Short Mood Scale three times daily via the EthicaData smartphone app, yielding over 10,600 prompts linked with GPS data. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between well-being and temporal, social, and environmental exposures. Well-being varied significantly across time and contexts (conditional R<sup>2</sup> ≈ 0.6). Higher well-being was reported in the afternoon (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03–0.43) and on weekends, particularly Sundays (β = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.74–1.49), whereas evenings were associated with lower well-being (β = –0.31, 95% CI: –0.52 to –0.10). Social interactions, especially with friends (β = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.26–2.67) and family (β = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.42–1.25), were strongly associated with higher well-being. Built environment features, including greenness, proximity to parks, and road density, showed limited associations. Older adults (60–80 years) reported substantially higher well-being than younger (18–40) adults (β = 4.31, 95% CI: 3.44–5.18). An interaction indicated that women reported lower well-being than men when surrounded by others without direct interaction (β = –0.66, 95% CI: –1.17 to –0.09). Temporal rhythms, age, and social interactions were central determinants of momentary well-being, while built environment factors played a lesser role. Integrating GEMA approaches provides robust evidence to inform urban planning and public health strategies that promote supportive social and temporal environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110159"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146778678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110171
D.R. Schultz , I.S. Frydas , N. Papaioannou , T. Papageorgiou , C. Gabriel , I. Dallas , M. Wabitsch , S. Karakitsios , J. Kucera , K. Audouze , D. Sarigiannis
The abilities of recent high throughput techniques to measure biological responses is rapidly growing, therefore methods to analyse and organise these vast amounts of data into meaningful results are needed. Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and AOP networks (AOPNs) are an increasingly recognised framework for translating mechanistic information into useable knowledge to support policy decisions. However, many traditional statistical approaches may be ineffective at capturing nuances of high throughput data, particularly from multiple disparate layers of biological organisation. We present a comprehensive method that combines univariate differential expression (UD) analysis and multivariate integrative modeling (MIM) approaches, using transcriptomic and metabolomic data from adipocytes exposed to a classic obesogen, to develop a conceptual AOPN (cAOPN) for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) preadipocyte cells were differentiated in tributyltin (TBT) and analysed using whole genome transcriptome and untargeted metabolomics analysis. UD and MIM results were used to identify perturbed features (PFs) for over-representation analysis for pathways and diseases and followed by integrated network and cluster analyses based on Jaccard similarity to reorganise resultant complex biological phenomena into exploratory depictions of cause-and-effect relationships. The resulting cAOPN for MetS was assembled and corroborated with the literature and mechanistic pathway databases that supported the identified disruptions in lipid regulation, iron transport, growth processes, key signalling processes, adipocyte differentiation, and hormonal homeostasis. Overall, by leveraging the strengths of multiple statistical methods in combination with heterogeneous data from multiple layers of biological organisation, this method facilitated the integration and interpretation of complex data into an exploratory mechanistic schema for AOP and AOPN hypothesis generation and prioritisation.
{"title":"Development of an integrative cross-omics approach for conceptual adverse outcome pathway network construction","authors":"D.R. Schultz , I.S. Frydas , N. Papaioannou , T. Papageorgiou , C. Gabriel , I. Dallas , M. Wabitsch , S. Karakitsios , J. Kucera , K. Audouze , D. Sarigiannis","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110171","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110171","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The abilities of recent high throughput techniques to measure biological responses is rapidly growing, therefore methods to analyse and organise these vast amounts of data into meaningful results are needed. Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and AOP networks (AOPNs) are an increasingly recognised framework for translating mechanistic information into useable knowledge to support policy decisions. However, many traditional statistical approaches may be ineffective at capturing nuances of high throughput data, particularly from multiple disparate layers of biological organisation. We present a comprehensive method that combines univariate differential expression (UD) analysis and multivariate integrative modeling (MIM) approaches, using transcriptomic and metabolomic data from adipocytes exposed to a classic obesogen, to develop a conceptual AOPN (cAOPN) for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) preadipocyte cells were differentiated in tributyltin (TBT) and analysed using whole genome transcriptome and untargeted metabolomics analysis. UD and MIM results were used to identify perturbed features (PFs) for over-representation analysis for pathways and diseases and followed by integrated network and cluster analyses based on Jaccard similarity to reorganise resultant complex biological phenomena into exploratory depictions of cause-and-effect relationships. The resulting cAOPN for MetS was assembled and corroborated with the literature and mechanistic pathway databases that supported the identified disruptions in lipid regulation, iron transport, growth processes, key signalling processes, adipocyte differentiation, and hormonal homeostasis. Overall, by leveraging the strengths of multiple statistical methods in combination with heterogeneous data from multiple layers of biological organisation, this method facilitated the integration and interpretation of complex data into an exploratory mechanistic schema for AOP and AOPN hypothesis generation and prioritisation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110171"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147334726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110190
Shuaifei Yang , Meichen Zhang , Yue Gao , Xirui Feng , Xin Wang , Jianguo Feng , Mengyuan Li , Xinhua Shao , Yanmei Yang , Yanhui Gao
Background
High fluoride exposure has been linked to neurological impairment; however, evidence on the safety threshold for fluoride-induced neurotoxicity remains limited.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a fluorosis-affected area with drinking water in Jishan County, Shanxi Province. Urinary fluoride was used as the biomarker of fluoride exposure and measured using an ion-selective electrode method. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multivariable linear regression and binary logistic regression were employed to examine the dose–response relationship between urinary fluoride and cognitive performance. The Bayesian Benchmark Dose (BBMD) system was used to estimate the safety reference for urinary fluoride.
Results
Higher urinary fluoride levels were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Upon controlling for possible confounders, each 1 mg/L increment in urine fluoride correlated with a 5% elevated risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). At a benchmark response (BMR) of 5%, the benchmark dose (BMD) was 3.12 mg/L, with a 95% lower bound (BMDL) of 1.18 mg/L.
Conclusion
Elevated urinary fluoride is an independent associated factor for cognitive dysfunction. The neuroprotective safety reference value of 1.0 mg/L for urinary fluoride estimated in this study is lower than the current Chinese reference standard, indicating that more rigorous regulations may be necessary to safeguard the nervous system from excessive fluoride exposure. These findings offer novel scientific information to guide measures for reducing fluoride-induced neurotoxicity.
{"title":"A bayesian benchmark dose–based assessment of the neuro-safety reference of urinary fluoride: implications for revising current Chinese standards","authors":"Shuaifei Yang , Meichen Zhang , Yue Gao , Xirui Feng , Xin Wang , Jianguo Feng , Mengyuan Li , Xinhua Shao , Yanmei Yang , Yanhui Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>High fluoride exposure has been linked to neurological impairment; however, evidence on the safety threshold for fluoride-induced neurotoxicity remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a fluorosis-affected area with drinking water in Jishan County, Shanxi Province. Urinary fluoride was used as the biomarker of fluoride exposure and measured using an ion-selective electrode method. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multivariable linear regression and binary logistic regression were employed to examine the dose–response relationship between urinary fluoride and cognitive performance. The Bayesian Benchmark Dose (BBMD) system was used to estimate the safety reference for urinary fluoride.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher urinary fluoride levels were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Upon controlling for possible confounders, each 1 mg/L increment in urine fluoride correlated with a 5% elevated risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). At a benchmark response (BMR) of 5%, the benchmark dose (BMD) was 3.12 mg/L, with a 95% lower bound (BMDL) of 1.18 mg/L.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Elevated urinary fluoride is an independent associated factor for cognitive dysfunction. The neuroprotective safety reference value of 1.0 mg/L for urinary fluoride estimated in this study is lower than the current Chinese reference standard, indicating that more rigorous regulations may be necessary to safeguard the nervous system from excessive fluoride exposure. These findings offer novel scientific information to guide measures for reducing fluoride-induced neurotoxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110190"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147383882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-28DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110174
Haowei Wu , Fengyuan Qi , Yuxin Huo , Ran Li , Mao Ye , Edward Topp , Min Qiao , Yongguan Zhu
Non-antibiotic components of feed additives can enter farmland soils via livestock manure and accumulate persistently in agroecosystems, presenting potential environmental risks. We established soil microcosms, integrated metagenomes with viromes, and applied a contig-based horizontal gene transfer (HGT)-resolution pipeline to partition vector-level contributions, to assess how saccharin, copper, and their co-contamination affect soil gene flow and health risk. Results indicate divergent vector responses under additive stress: phage–host associations increased under saccharin (82 pairs vs. control 29 pairs), whereas copper strengthened plasmid–host associations. With saccharin, phage nucleotide diversity rose while synonymous nucleotide diversity declined, consistent with stronger purifying selection atop enhanced mutation supply, whereas copper increased lysogeny. Saccharin significantly elevated HGT frequency (∼50% increase), expanded donor–recipient phylogenetic span (class-level P < 0.05), and raised the phage-mediated share (∼100% increase). Copper primarily modestly increased the plasmid-mediated contribution (Cu 2.7%, HS 1.9%). Two-factor analyses revealed a significant antagonistic interaction between saccharin and copper, reducing overall HGT across taxonomic ranks under co-exposure. Although total ARG abundance did not change significantly, the health-risk index increased under saccharin, driven by enhanced ARG–MGE co-occurrence. Under co-contamination, auxiliary metabolic genes were enriched, suggesting phage-conferred metabolic empowerment that mitigates stress, partly explaining the antagonism. Altogether, our findings reveal that feed additives reshape vector-specific gene mobility and ARG risk, and they underpin a three-tiered risk-assessment framework that progresses from mere abundance to network-structured mobility and finally to mobility drivers incorporating phylogenetic transfer distance, offering a more mechanistic basis for soil-health management.
{"title":"Feed additives increase soil risk from antibiotic resistance genes via distinct horizontal gene transfer pathways","authors":"Haowei Wu , Fengyuan Qi , Yuxin Huo , Ran Li , Mao Ye , Edward Topp , Min Qiao , Yongguan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110174","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110174","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-antibiotic components of feed additives can enter farmland soils via livestock manure and accumulate persistently in agroecosystems, presenting potential environmental risks. We established soil microcosms, integrated metagenomes with viromes, and applied a contig-based horizontal gene transfer (HGT)-resolution pipeline to partition vector-level contributions, to assess how saccharin, copper, and their co-contamination affect soil gene flow and health risk. Results indicate divergent vector responses under additive stress: phage–host associations increased under saccharin (82 pairs vs. control 29 pairs), whereas copper strengthened plasmid–host associations. With saccharin, phage nucleotide diversity rose while synonymous nucleotide diversity declined, consistent with stronger purifying selection atop enhanced mutation supply, whereas copper increased lysogeny. Saccharin significantly elevated HGT frequency (∼50% increase), expanded donor–recipient phylogenetic span (class-level <em>P</em> < 0.05), and raised the phage-mediated share (∼100% increase). Copper primarily modestly increased the plasmid-mediated contribution (Cu 2.7%, HS 1.9%). Two-factor analyses revealed a significant antagonistic interaction between saccharin and copper, reducing overall HGT across taxonomic ranks under co-exposure. Although total ARG abundance did not change significantly, the health-risk index increased under saccharin, driven by enhanced ARG–MGE co-occurrence. Under co-contamination, auxiliary metabolic genes were enriched, suggesting phage-conferred metabolic empowerment that mitigates stress, partly explaining the antagonism. Altogether, our findings reveal that feed additives reshape vector-specific gene mobility and ARG risk, and they underpin a three-tiered risk-assessment framework that progresses from mere abundance to network-structured mobility and finally to mobility drivers incorporating phylogenetic transfer distance, offering a more mechanistic basis for soil-health management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 110174"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147353110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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