Environments - MDPI最新文献

The reliability of passive samplers in measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air depends on whether the uptake rate is constant given the environmental conditions and sampler exposure duration. The first phase of this study evaluated the performance of charcoal-based, solvent-extracted passive samplers (e.g., Radiello^® 130 passive samplers with white diffusive bodies) over exposure periods ranging from 1 week to 1 year in a test house with known vapor intrusion (VI). Chloroform %Bias values exceeded the ±30% acceptance criterion after 4 weeks exposure. Benzene, hexane, and trichloroethylene (TCE) concentrations were within the acceptance criterion for up to three months. Toluene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), the two least volatile compounds, demonstrated uniform uptake rates over one year. In the second phase of this study, testing of the longer exposure times of 6 months and 1 year were evaluated with three additional passive samplers: Waterloo Membrane Sampler^™ (WMS^™), SKC 575 with secondary diffusive cover, and Radiello^® 130 passive samplers with yellow diffusive bodies. The SKC 575 and Radiello^® 130 passive samplers produced acceptable results (%Bias ≤ 30%) over the 6-month exposure period, while the WMS^™ sampler results favored petroleum hydrocarbon more than chlorinated solvent uptake. After the 1-year exposure period, the passive sampler performances were acceptable under specific conditions of this study. The results suggest that all three samplers can produce acceptable results over exposure time periods beyond 30 days and up to a year for some compounds.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health burden influenced by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Among these, exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and toxic metals has been increasingly implicated in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the mediating role of dietary inflammation in these associations remains unclear.

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between PFAS and metal exposures and CVD risk, focusing on the potential mediating role of diet, operationalized through the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). Additionally, this study examines age as an effect modifier in these associations.

Methods: Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 cycle (n = 660), we assessed environmental exposures (lead, cadmium, mercury, perfluorooctanoic acid-PFOA, perfluorooctane sulfonate-PFOS), dietary inflammatory potential (DII), and cardiovascular markers (blood pressure, lipid profile, C-reactive protein). Statistical analyses included linear regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression-Causal Mediation Analysis (BKMR-CMA) to estimate the direct, indirect (through DII), and total effects of exposure on CVD risk biomarkers.

Results: Linear regression revealed significant associations between mercury and reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.017) and cadmium with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.006). Mediation analysis suggested dietary inflammation may play a role, though estimates were imprecise.

Conclusions: PFAS and metals may influence CVD risk through inflammatory pathways, with potential age-related differences. Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify these complex interactions, reduce measurement error, and guide age-specific exposure regulations.