Pub Date : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127771
Hyeon-Kook Kim, EunRyoung Kim, Chang-Keun Song, Jae-Ho Choi, Ganghan Kim, Myong-In Lee, Yujin J. Oak, Rokjin J. Park, Ilhan Ryoo, Seung-Muk Yi, Kyung-Mi Lee, Hyeok-Gi Cheo, Kwon-Ho Jeon
{"title":"Corrigendum to ‘Comparative evaluation of surface-level PM2.5 modeling across Northeast Asia: relevance for regulatory and scientific applications’ [Environ. Pollut. 377 (2025) 126428]","authors":"Hyeon-Kook Kim, EunRyoung Kim, Chang-Keun Song, Jae-Ho Choi, Ganghan Kim, Myong-In Lee, Yujin J. Oak, Rokjin J. Park, Ilhan Ryoo, Seung-Muk Yi, Kyung-Mi Lee, Hyeok-Gi Cheo, Kwon-Ho Jeon","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127771","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
{"title":"Bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and health risk assessment of microplastics in the food web of Wuliangsuhai Lake, China: Higher risk for children","authors":"Guoliang Zhang, Jinhui Sun, Yiran Zhan, Bowen Xiao, Huamin Liu, Lixin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127787","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127787","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"182 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127778
Zhencheng Fan, Xinglong Wang, Yunqi Wu, Shuhao Li, Liang Kong, Shoujun Li, Tan Ma, Chun Pan
Polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs), despite being marketed as biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, have raised growing concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on human health. The reproductive toxicity of PLA-MPs exposure in male mammals has been confirmed in previous studies, but its specific effects on testosterone biosynthesis remain unclear. Male mice were treated with PLA-MPs at doses of low, medium, and high (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/d, respectively) for a duration of 28 days in this study. Our results demonstrated that PLA-MPs were enriched in mouse testes and led to a dose-dependent decrease in the serum testosterone concentration. We also observed the accumulation of senescent Leydig cells in the testis, along with inhibited autophagy and mitophagy. Moreover, we identified the critical involvement of autophagy and mitophagy in PLA-MPs-induced Leydig cell senescence. Re-establishment of autophagy and mitophagy effectively reserved the senescence of Leydig cell. Overall, our study revealed that PLA-MPs inhibit autophagy and mitophagy, thereby promoting Leydig cell senescence and subsequently reducing testosterone synthesis and secretion. These results advance our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying PLA-MPs-induced reproductive toxicity in male mammals.
{"title":"Polylactic acid microplastic exposure induced male reproductive toxicity and decreased testosterone levels by accelerating Leydig cell senescence","authors":"Zhencheng Fan, Xinglong Wang, Yunqi Wu, Shuhao Li, Liang Kong, Shoujun Li, Tan Ma, Chun Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127778","url":null,"abstract":"Polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs), despite being marketed as biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, have raised growing concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on human health. The reproductive toxicity of PLA-MPs exposure in male mammals has been confirmed in previous studies, but its specific effects on testosterone biosynthesis remain unclear. Male mice were treated with PLA-MPs at doses of low, medium, and high (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/d, respectively) for a duration of 28 days in this study. Our results demonstrated that PLA-MPs were enriched in mouse testes and led to a dose-dependent decrease in the serum testosterone concentration. We also observed the accumulation of senescent Leydig cells in the testis, along with inhibited autophagy and mitophagy. Moreover, we identified the critical involvement of autophagy and mitophagy in PLA-MPs-induced Leydig cell senescence. Re-establishment of autophagy and mitophagy effectively reserved the senescence of Leydig cell. Overall, our study revealed that PLA-MPs inhibit autophagy and mitophagy, thereby promoting Leydig cell senescence and subsequently reducing testosterone synthesis and secretion. These results advance our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying PLA-MPs-induced reproductive toxicity in male mammals.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127788
Zebin Fang, Xiaoyi Wang, Fan Wu, Sihan Mao, Hao Jiang, Chi Hu, Luyuan Zhang, Weijian Fan, Chao Zhang, Ping Lan, Kaiyuan Huang, Yuxiang Weng, Jianwei Pan
Microplastics (MPs) have become a global concern due to their widespread environmental presence and human health risk, yet their risk on cerebrovascular diseases remains largely unexplored. In this case-control study, we collected cerebrospinal fluid samples from 48 intracranial aneurysms (IAs) patients and 108 leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) patients, and investigated the presence of MPs in these cerebrospinal fluid samples using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven types of MPs were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid samples, among which polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene were present in over 80% of the samples. PE and PP were the most abundant MPs in cerebrospinal fluid samples. When using LM patients as controls, a significantly increased risk of IA was observed for subjects in the highest quartile of cerebrospinal fluid PP and PVC levels. Compared to the lowest quartile, the adjusted risk was elevated by 2.25-fold (95% CI: 1.68–5.94) and 3.82-fold (95% CI: 2.57–5.41) for PP and PVC levels, respectively. Our analysis revealed significant (p for trend < 0.01) dose-response relationships between cerebrospinal fluid MP mixture concentrations and IA risk. Bayesian kernel machine regression and quantile g-computation models further revealed synergistic effects of co-occurrence to MPs, with PVC contributing the strongest contribution (weight 55.8%). Our results suggest a potential link between higher cerebrospinal fluid levels of MPs and elevated IA risk, and highlight the need for further investigation into this emerging health risk.
{"title":"A Case-Control Study Linking Concentrations of Microplastics in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid to Intracranial Aneurysm Risk","authors":"Zebin Fang, Xiaoyi Wang, Fan Wu, Sihan Mao, Hao Jiang, Chi Hu, Luyuan Zhang, Weijian Fan, Chao Zhang, Ping Lan, Kaiyuan Huang, Yuxiang Weng, Jianwei Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127788","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127788","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics (MPs) have become a global concern due to their widespread environmental presence and human health risk, yet their risk on cerebrovascular diseases remains largely unexplored. In this case-control study, we collected cerebrospinal fluid samples from 48 intracranial aneurysms (IAs) patients and 108 leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) patients, and investigated the presence of MPs in these cerebrospinal fluid samples using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven types of MPs were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid samples, among which polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene were present in over 80% of the samples. PE and PP were the most abundant MPs in cerebrospinal fluid samples. When using LM patients as controls, a significantly increased risk of IA was observed for subjects in the highest quartile of cerebrospinal fluid PP and PVC levels. Compared to the lowest quartile, the adjusted risk was elevated by 2.25-fold (95% CI: 1.68–5.94) and 3.82-fold (95% CI: 2.57–5.41) for PP and PVC levels, respectively. Our analysis revealed significant (<em>p</em> for trend < 0.01) dose-response relationships between cerebrospinal fluid MP mixture concentrations and IA risk. Bayesian kernel machine regression and quantile g-computation models further revealed synergistic effects of co-occurrence to MPs, with PVC contributing the strongest contribution (weight 55.8%). Our results suggest a potential link between higher cerebrospinal fluid levels of MPs and elevated IA risk, and highlight the need for further investigation into this emerging health risk.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127789
Ran Zhu, Yuchen Li, Xiaofan Yang, Xiaozhong Gao, Xiang Cheng
{"title":"Development of HECAM Passive Samplers for Discovering the Occurrence, Sources, and Transport of Tire Additives and Their Transformation Products in Surface Waters","authors":"Ran Zhu, Yuchen Li, Xiaofan Yang, Xiaozhong Gao, Xiang Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127789","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127777
Yang Yuan, Kai Wang, Yongqiang Liu, Yaqi Wang, Yunquan Zhang
Nexus between PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and obesity remain unclear, particular in densely populated and highly polluted regions. This study aims to assess the obese risk related to long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> components among the Chinese elderly. We designed two nationwide dynamic cohort followed up from 2011 to 2015, through combining respondents from 28 provinces and estimates of PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents predicted by well-validated spatiotemporal models. Based on data of physical examination measured by well-trained interviewers using standard devices, we adopted body mass index and waist circumference to define systemic and abdominal obesity, respectively. Cox proportional hazard models with time-varying exposures and a qg-computation approach were employed to evaluate individual and joint associations of obesity with long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents. The prevalences of systemic and abdominal obesity were 5.7% and 26.0% during 43814.6 and 27052.9 person-years follow-up, respectively. In the single-constituent analysis, the highest risk of systemic obesity derived from multivariable-adjusted model was 1.62 (95%: 1.40–1.87) linked with a 10.2 μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase of <span><span style=""></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" />' role="presentation" style="font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="0.24ex" role="img" style="vertical-align: -0.12ex;" viewbox="0 -51.7 0 103.4" width="0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="currentColor" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="0" transform="matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)"></g></svg><span role="presentation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"></math></span></span><script type="math/mml"><math></math></script></span>, while the top-risk component of abdominal obesity was <span><span style=""></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" />' role="presentation" style="font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" height="0.24ex" role="img" style="vertical-align: -0.12ex;" viewbox="0 -51.7 0 103.4" width="0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="currentColor" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="0" transform="matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)"></g></svg><span role="presentation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"></math></span></span><script type="math/mml"><math></math></script></span>, with a hazard ratio of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.20–1.41) for per 6.2 μg/m<sup>3</sup> rise. For joint exposure, a quartile increase in the five-component mixture was associated with a 29% (95% CI: 19–40%) and 17% (95% CI: 12–23%) higher risk of systemic and abdominal obesity, respectively. This study offered robust associations between long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and increased risks of both obesity outcomes, sug
{"title":"Increased risks of systemic and abdominal obesity associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents","authors":"Yang Yuan, Kai Wang, Yongqiang Liu, Yaqi Wang, Yunquan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127777","url":null,"abstract":"Nexus between PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and obesity remain unclear, particular in densely populated and highly polluted regions. This study aims to assess the obese risk related to long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> components among the Chinese elderly. We designed two nationwide dynamic cohort followed up from 2011 to 2015, through combining respondents from 28 provinces and estimates of PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents predicted by well-validated spatiotemporal models. Based on data of physical examination measured by well-trained interviewers using standard devices, we adopted body mass index and waist circumference to define systemic and abdominal obesity, respectively. Cox proportional hazard models with time-varying exposures and a qg-computation approach were employed to evaluate individual and joint associations of obesity with long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents. The prevalences of systemic and abdominal obesity were 5.7% and 26.0% during 43814.6 and 27052.9 person-years follow-up, respectively. In the single-constituent analysis, the highest risk of systemic obesity derived from multivariable-adjusted model was 1.62 (95%: 1.40–1.87) linked with a 10.2 μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase of <span><span style=\"\"></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" />' role=\"presentation\" style=\"font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;\" tabindex=\"0\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"0.24ex\" role=\"img\" style=\"vertical-align: -0.12ex;\" viewbox=\"0 -51.7 0 103.4\" width=\"0\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g fill=\"currentColor\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)\"></g></svg><span role=\"presentation\"><math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"></math></span></span><script type=\"math/mml\"><math></math></script></span>, while the top-risk component of abdominal obesity was <span><span style=\"\"></span><span data-mathml='<math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" />' role=\"presentation\" style=\"font-size: 90%; display: inline-block; position: relative;\" tabindex=\"0\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" height=\"0.24ex\" role=\"img\" style=\"vertical-align: -0.12ex;\" viewbox=\"0 -51.7 0 103.4\" width=\"0\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g fill=\"currentColor\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"0\" transform=\"matrix(1 0 0 -1 0 0)\"></g></svg><span role=\"presentation\"><math xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\"></math></span></span><script type=\"math/mml\"><math></math></script></span>, with a hazard ratio of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.20–1.41) for per 6.2 μg/m<sup>3</sup> rise. For joint exposure, a quartile increase in the five-component mixture was associated with a 29% (95% CI: 19–40%) and 17% (95% CI: 12–23%) higher risk of systemic and abdominal obesity, respectively. This study offered robust associations between long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> constituents and increased risks of both obesity outcomes, sug","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Despite the growing concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in companion animals, dietary intake through commercial pet food remains poorly characterized. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 100 commercially available pet food products for dogs and cats in Japan, encompassing both dry and wet types, to quantify 34 target PFAS compounds. PFAS were frequently detected, with concentrations varying by food type, ingredients, and country of origin. Fish-based products contained elevated levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and regional patterns suggested the influence of Asian-specific PFAS sources such as F-53B. Hazard quotient (HQ) assessments based on EFSA tolerable weekly intakes indicated that average HQs exceeded 1 for both dogs and cats in several products, signaling potential health risks. However, due to the lack of species-specific toxicokinetic information for dogs and cats, the EFSA-based risk characterization presented here should be interpreted as a preliminary assessment. Although dry food had higher PFAS concentrations when converted to feeding amounts, estimated exposure was higher for wet food due to higher consumption. These findings provide the first evidence of ingredient-driven and country-of-origin-dependent PFAS contamination in pet food. Fish used as ingredients are a significant source of exposure to PFAS. They also highlight the urgent need for regulatory oversight and toxicological evaluations specific to companion animals. These animals serve as vulnerable populations and as sentinels of human co-exposure in domestic environments.
{"title":"Widespread PFAS Contamination in Pet Food: Dietary Sources and Health Risks to Companion Animals","authors":"Kei Nomiyama, Aika Sato, Rumi Tanoue, Kohei Saeki, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Hazuki Mizukawa","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127779","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127779","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the growing concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in companion animals, dietary intake through commercial pet food remains poorly characterized. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 100 commercially available pet food products for dogs and cats in Japan, encompassing both dry and wet types, to quantify 34 target PFAS compounds. PFAS were frequently detected, with concentrations varying by food type, ingredients, and country of origin. Fish-based products contained elevated levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and regional patterns suggested the influence of Asian-specific PFAS sources such as F-53B. Hazard quotient (HQ) assessments based on EFSA tolerable weekly intakes indicated that average HQs exceeded 1 for both dogs and cats in several products, signaling potential health risks. However, due to the lack of species-specific toxicokinetic information for dogs and cats, the EFSA-based risk characterization presented here should be interpreted as a preliminary assessment. Although dry food had higher PFAS concentrations when converted to feeding amounts, estimated exposure was higher for wet food due to higher consumption. These findings provide the first evidence of ingredient-driven and country-of-origin-dependent PFAS contamination in pet food. Fish used as ingredients are a significant source of exposure to PFAS. They also highlight the urgent need for regulatory oversight and toxicological evaluations specific to companion animals. These animals serve as vulnerable populations and as sentinels of human co-exposure in domestic environments.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127736
Xuelian Yuan, Li Dai, Ke Wang, Qi Li, Zhen Liu, Wenyan Li, Wenli Xu, Zhiyu Chen, Yuyang Gao, Jun Zhu, Hanmin Liu, Xiaohong Li
Numerous research works have established connections between maternal exposure to specific air pollutants and ventricular septal defects (VSD), there are still gaps in understanding the complexities of combined exposures in real-world settings. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between simultaneous exposure to five air pollutants throughout pregnancy and the likelihood of isolated VSD occurrence. It aims to address the gap between research focusing on individual pollutants and the complexities of real-world exposure scenarios. Utilizing data from China's National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance Network, we analyzed 850 isolated VSD cases against 1,097,056 unaffected births. Using a random forest land use regression model, we estimated daily pollutant concentrations (SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM2.5) at geocoded maternal residences from 2014 to 2017. Based on these daily estimates, trimester-specific exposure concentrations were derived using dates of pregnancy onset and gestational weeks. Additionally, we devised an "air pollution score" to evaluate their cumulative exposure. The risk of isolated VSDs rose significantly with every 10-μg/m3 increase in air pollution score during pregnancy, especially the first trimester (OR 1.023, 95% CI 1.011-1.035), and the third trimester (OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003-1.026). A linear relationship was observed between levels of air pollution scores during the entire pregnancy and the risk of isolated VSDs. The heightened risk linked to air pollution score during the first trimester surpassed that of the second and third trimesters. Besides, the results highlighted a pronounced risk among mothers in rural, low-income areas and being pregnant in cold season. By providing a more comprehensive assessment of the potential risks that pollutants pose to maternal and infant health, this study may offer important insights for public health policy and inform the development of new clinical tools for risk assessment and early screening.
许多研究工作已经建立了母亲暴露于特定空气污染物和室间隔缺陷(VSD)之间的联系,但在了解现实环境中联合暴露的复杂性方面仍然存在差距。本研究旨在探讨在怀孕期间同时暴露于五种空气污染物与孤立性室间隔发育的可能性之间的关系。它旨在解决关注单个污染物的研究与现实世界暴露情景的复杂性之间的差距。利用中国全国人口出生缺陷监测网的数据,我们分析了850例孤立的室性室间隔缺损病例和1,097,056例未受影响的新生儿。利用随机林地利用回归模型,我们估算了2014年至2017年地理编码的孕产妇居住地的日污染物浓度(SO2、NO2、CO、O3和PM2.5)。基于这些每日估计,根据妊娠开始日期和妊娠周得出妊娠期特异性暴露浓度。此外,我们设计了一个“空气污染评分”来评估他们的累积暴露。妊娠期空气污染评分每增加10 μg/m3,尤其是妊娠前期(OR 1.023, 95% CI 1.011 ~ 1.035)和妊娠晚期(OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003 ~ 1.026),分离性VSDs的发生风险显著增加。在整个怀孕期间的空气污染评分水平与孤立性室性心脏疾病的风险之间观察到线性关系。怀孕前三个月与空气污染得分相关的风险增加程度超过了妊娠中期和晚期。此外,研究结果还强调了农村、低收入地区的母亲在寒冷季节怀孕的明显风险。通过对污染物对母婴健康构成的潜在风险进行更全面的评估,本研究可能为公共卫生政策提供重要见解,并为风险评估和早期筛查的新临床工具的开发提供信息。
{"title":"Insights from Over a Million Births on Maternal Exposure to Multiple Pollutants and the Risk of Isolated Ventricular Septal Defects","authors":"Xuelian Yuan, Li Dai, Ke Wang, Qi Li, Zhen Liu, Wenyan Li, Wenli Xu, Zhiyu Chen, Yuyang Gao, Jun Zhu, Hanmin Liu, Xiaohong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127736","url":null,"abstract":"Numerous research works have established connections between maternal exposure to specific air pollutants and ventricular septal defects (VSD), there are still gaps in understanding the complexities of combined exposures in real-world settings. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between simultaneous exposure to five air pollutants throughout pregnancy and the likelihood of isolated VSD occurrence. It aims to address the gap between research focusing on individual pollutants and the complexities of real-world exposure scenarios. Utilizing data from China's National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance Network, we analyzed 850 isolated VSD cases against 1,097,056 unaffected births. Using a random forest land use regression model, we estimated daily pollutant concentrations (SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, CO, O<sub>3</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>) at geocoded maternal residences from 2014 to 2017. Based on these daily estimates, trimester-specific exposure concentrations were derived using dates of pregnancy onset and gestational weeks. Additionally, we devised an \"air pollution score\" to evaluate their cumulative exposure. The risk of isolated VSDs rose significantly with every 10-μg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in air pollution score during pregnancy, especially the first trimester (OR 1.023, 95% CI 1.011-1.035), and the third trimester (OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003-1.026). A linear relationship was observed between levels of air pollution scores during the entire pregnancy and the risk of isolated VSDs. The heightened risk linked to air pollution score during the first trimester surpassed that of the second and third trimesters. Besides, the results highlighted a pronounced risk among mothers in rural, low-income areas and being pregnant in cold season. By providing a more comprehensive assessment of the potential risks that pollutants pose to maternal and infant health, this study may offer important insights for public health policy and inform the development of new clinical tools for risk assessment and early screening.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"126 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127767
Junqi Li, Yulong Ma, Yanli Li, Cuiping Jia, Ying Xiong, Bo Zhang, Stuart Harrad, Ke Du
Although extensive studies have been performed to characterize Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, PFAS in PM2.5 remains underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of PFAS in indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and dust samples to evaluate their quantities and distribution. Twenty-nine ionic PFAS species were quantified in samples collected from ten different environments such as daycare center, vehicle, airport, and fire training facility. PFAS were found to be ubiquitous, and present in both PM2.5 (3.34–22.2 pg/m3) and dust (1.27–9840 ng/g). Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) dominated the PFAS profile in both indoor and outdoor PM2.5, accounting for 94.1 ± 11.1% of total PFAS, which was significantly higher than that in dust (61.5 ± 32.7%) (p < 0.01). In contrast, the proportion of perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in dust (21.7 ± 18.1%) was significantly higher than that in PM2.5 (4.54 ± 10.5%) (p < 0.01). This suggests that PFCAs are more likely than PFSAs to attach to PM2.5, and are capable of long-range atmospheric transport (LRT). Among the 11 PFCAs species, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), two short chain PFAS, were of the highest concentrations, particularly in samples collected during the wildfire events. This highlights the significance of short chain PFAS in LRT. For indoor PFAS, a strong relationship (r = 0.611–0.853, p < 0.01) was observed between long-chain PFCAs concentrations in PM2.5 and in dust. These findings provide new insights into the potential processes of indoor PFCAs emissions and distribution and suggest possible exposure pathways of airborne PFAS in urban environments.
{"title":"Ionic PFAS in PM2.5 and Dust: Insights on Indoor-Outdoor Profiles and Distribution","authors":"Junqi Li, Yulong Ma, Yanli Li, Cuiping Jia, Ying Xiong, Bo Zhang, Stuart Harrad, Ke Du","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127767","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127767","url":null,"abstract":"Although extensive studies have been performed to characterize Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, PFAS in PM<sub>2.5</sub> remains underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of PFAS in indoor and outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and dust samples to evaluate their quantities and distribution. Twenty-nine ionic PFAS species were quantified in samples collected from ten different environments such as daycare center, vehicle, airport, and fire training facility. PFAS were found to be ubiquitous, and present in both PM<sub>2.5</sub> (3.34–22.2 pg/m<sup>3</sup>) and dust (1.27–9840 ng/g). Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) dominated the PFAS profile in both indoor and outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub>, accounting for 94.1 ± 11.1% of total PFAS, which was significantly higher than that in dust (61.5 ± 32.7%) (p < 0.01). In contrast, the proportion of perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in dust (21.7 ± 18.1%) was significantly higher than that in PM<sub>2.5</sub> (4.54 ± 10.5%) (p < 0.01). This suggests that PFCAs are more likely than PFSAs to attach to PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and are capable of long-range atmospheric transport (LRT). Among the 11 PFCAs species, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), two short chain PFAS, were of the highest concentrations, particularly in samples collected during the wildfire events. This highlights the significance of short chain PFAS in LRT. For indoor PFAS, a strong relationship (r = 0.611–0.853, p < 0.01) was observed between long-chain PFCAs concentrations in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and in dust. These findings provide new insights into the potential processes of indoor PFCAs emissions and distribution and suggest possible exposure pathways of airborne PFAS in urban environments.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"160 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127774
Hagar Vardi-Naim, Gul Janovsky, Noga Kronfeld-Schor, Yariv Wine
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a rapidly expanding form of environmental pollution that disrupts natural light–dark cycles and alters behavioral and physiological rhythms across species. Because immune function is tightly linked to environmental cues, studying ALAN within an ecoimmunological framework is essential for understanding its real-world impacts on wildlife fitness. In natural settings, immune rhythms are shaped by multiple, interacting environmental pressures, and evaluating ALAN against this broader ecological backdrop is critical for interpreting its physiological consequences.We investigated how low-intensity ALAN affects immune and endocrine rhythmicity, antibody responses, and survival in two wild rodent species with opposing activity patterns, the nocturnal <em>Acomys dimidiatus</em> and the diurnal <em>Acomys russatus</em>, maintained in semi-natural outdoor enclosures. Under natural light-dark conditions, both species exhibited daily oscillations in circulating lymphocyte frequencies, and in <em>A. dimidiatus</em>, fecal cortisol also showed a clear daily rhythm. These rhythms were disrupted or dampened under ALAN. Moreover, antibody titers were significantly higher when immunization occurred during the species-specific rest phase, but ALAN exposure disrupted these rhythms, eliminating time-of-day variation in antibody responses. Overall, ALAN increased the mortality risk by 2.35-fold.Although controlled laboratory experiments have been essential for advancing immunology, they offer limited insight into how environmental disturbances like light pollution affect wildlife under realistic conditions. By studying wild rodents in semi-natural habitats, we reveal that ALAN exposure alters immune rhythms, endocrine patterns, and survival in ways that emerge only when animals experience natural ecological variation. These results highlight that immune baselines in the wild are products of complex environmental interactions and that ALAN can disrupt these integrated physiological systems. Together, these findings underscore the need for ecoimmunological approaches to assess how expanding light pollution threatens wildlife health and resilience.Significance StatementArtificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing anthropogenic disturbance with wide-ranging ecological and physiological impacts. While its disruptive effect on circadian rhythms is well documented, its effects on immune function remain underexplored. Our findings show that ALAN alters immune rhythmicity and weakens time-dependent antibody responses in wild rodents under semi-natural conditions, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection. Studying the effects of light pollution on wild species under natural conditions is essential not only for understanding its impact on ecosystem health, but also for assessing how altered immune function may influence the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. These insights underscore the need to investigate immunity in ecolog
{"title":"Artificial Light at Night Disrupts Immune Rhythms in Wild Rodents under Semi-Natural Conditions","authors":"Hagar Vardi-Naim, Gul Janovsky, Noga Kronfeld-Schor, Yariv Wine","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127774","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127774","url":null,"abstract":"Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a rapidly expanding form of environmental pollution that disrupts natural light–dark cycles and alters behavioral and physiological rhythms across species. Because immune function is tightly linked to environmental cues, studying ALAN within an ecoimmunological framework is essential for understanding its real-world impacts on wildlife fitness. In natural settings, immune rhythms are shaped by multiple, interacting environmental pressures, and evaluating ALAN against this broader ecological backdrop is critical for interpreting its physiological consequences.We investigated how low-intensity ALAN affects immune and endocrine rhythmicity, antibody responses, and survival in two wild rodent species with opposing activity patterns, the nocturnal <em>Acomys dimidiatus</em> and the diurnal <em>Acomys russatus</em>, maintained in semi-natural outdoor enclosures. Under natural light-dark conditions, both species exhibited daily oscillations in circulating lymphocyte frequencies, and in <em>A. dimidiatus</em>, fecal cortisol also showed a clear daily rhythm. These rhythms were disrupted or dampened under ALAN. Moreover, antibody titers were significantly higher when immunization occurred during the species-specific rest phase, but ALAN exposure disrupted these rhythms, eliminating time-of-day variation in antibody responses. Overall, ALAN increased the mortality risk by 2.35-fold.Although controlled laboratory experiments have been essential for advancing immunology, they offer limited insight into how environmental disturbances like light pollution affect wildlife under realistic conditions. By studying wild rodents in semi-natural habitats, we reveal that ALAN exposure alters immune rhythms, endocrine patterns, and survival in ways that emerge only when animals experience natural ecological variation. These results highlight that immune baselines in the wild are products of complex environmental interactions and that ALAN can disrupt these integrated physiological systems. Together, these findings underscore the need for ecoimmunological approaches to assess how expanding light pollution threatens wildlife health and resilience.Significance StatementArtificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing anthropogenic disturbance with wide-ranging ecological and physiological impacts. While its disruptive effect on circadian rhythms is well documented, its effects on immune function remain underexplored. Our findings show that ALAN alters immune rhythmicity and weakens time-dependent antibody responses in wild rodents under semi-natural conditions, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection. Studying the effects of light pollution on wild species under natural conditions is essential not only for understanding its impact on ecosystem health, but also for assessing how altered immune function may influence the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. These insights underscore the need to investigate immunity in ecolog","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"134 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}