Journal of Health and Pollution最新文献

Background: Rolling blackouts (planned power outages) are common in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Recently, South Africa has experienced longer and more frequent rolling blackouts owing to its reliance on an aging electricity grid, among other challenges. During rolling blackouts, parts of the electricity grid are shut down, and the loss of power in homes, businesses, and industries across vast areas leads to a breakdown of key amenities required for environmental health.

Objectives: This commentary contextualizes the existing consequences and potential implications of rolling blackouts for environmental health in South Africa.

Discussion: We examined key areas where rolling blackouts affect environmental health, including water and sanitation, air quality, food safety, and socioeconomic challenges. Power outages have led to contamination of freshwater bodies with raw sewage due to resultant interruptions of wastewater treatment works. The use of generators and burning of dirty fuels during blackouts have added to outdoor and household air pollution. Rolling blackouts also expose people to unsafe food. Finally, we discuss some ways forward and the benefits of using renewable energy sources. A critical evaluation of these impacts underscores the urgent need for more sustainable energy solutions that safeguard environmental health in South Africa. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1090.

Background: Engaging in physical exercise in urban green spaces is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor for well-being, offering a range of benefits for physical, mental, and social health in growing urban environments.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to analyze the scientific literature exploring the correlation between participating in physical exercise and sports activities in urban green spaces and the well-being of participants, encompassing physical, psychological, mental, and social aspects.

Methods: This systematic review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy included articles published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese within the databases Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) up to 15 June 2023. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, which included descriptive and observational epidemiological study designs and a population of adults 18-65 years of age. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies.

Results: A total of 6,634 studies were identified, of which 31 met all the inclusion criteria. The review identified evidence suggesting that physical exercise in urban green spaces can have a positive impact on health, including improvements in diastolic blood pressure and cardiovascular health, such as heart rate, heart rate variability, cardiac and vascular function, as well as mood and self-esteem. In addition, evidence supports an association with decreased stress and a lower risk for mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, in addition to a strengthening of social cohesion and social interaction.

Discussion: This systematic review suggests that physical exercise in urban green spaces is associated with positive health outcomes. The findings support a link between such activities and improvements in physical, psychological, mental, and social well-being. Despite variations in defining urban green spaces, the results highlight the importance of promoting physical activity programs in these environments to enhance the overall well-being of urban populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1040.

Background: The current literature on associations between organochlorine pesticides and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is conflicted, showing positive, inverse, or no association, findings that might be related to methodological issues and population characteristics, including the baseline LTL. Alternative exploration of this relationship over the whole LTL distribution may add information to help understand the role of pesticides in telomere shortening or enlargement.

Objective: We evaluated the association between environmental dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) exposure and percentiles of LTL in a sample of adults living in the urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods: LTL, serum pesticide concentration, and the covariates were determined cross-sectionally in a sample of 471 adults from the Pró-Saúde Study, a cohort of civil servants at a university campus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, conducted from July 2012 to October 2013. The percentiles (5th to 95th) of LTL (outcome variable) were modeled using quantile regression (QR) models with DDE as exposure and adjusted for age, sex, educational level, total body fat mass, total serum lipids, smoking, alcohol intake, and caloric share of in natura and ultra-processed foods.

Results: $\text{Mean}\pm \text{standard deviation\hspace{0.17em}}\left(\text{SD}\right)$ LTL and serum DDE were $0.578\pm 0.158$ telomere to single-copy gene ratio (T/S ratio) and $0.17\pm 0.34\text{\hspace{0.17em}ng}/\mathrm{mL}$ , respectively. Serum DDE was not detected in 44% of the samples. QR coefficients were positive and significant in the first percentiles (up to the 15th percentile) and inverse and significant at the 95th percentile. No significant association was observed between serum DDE and mean LTL ( $\beta =-0.001$ ; $p=0.93$ ).

Discussion: DDE exposure predicts some quantiles of LTL distribution, with a positive relationship in the first quantiles and inverse at the highest quantile. This study added new information to help understand the role of pesticides in telomere shortening or enlargement; however, given the few studies and the conflicting results, longitudinal investigations are needed to clarify this association. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1033.

Background: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are regions with intense pesticide use. Numerous studies have demonstrated the adverse health effects associated with pesticide exposure. The embryonic and fetal periods are particularly susceptible to xenobiotics, with pesticides exhibiting potentially teratogenic effects.

Objectives: The objective was to review the scientific literature on outcomes associated with prenatal pesticide exposure, identifying challenges and gaps in this field.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review using terms related to pesticides, LAC, and pregnancy across six databases. The final search was conducted on 5 March 2024. The inclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: a) being human observational studies involving pregnant women of any age or gestational age duration, newborns from these pregnancies, or both; b) reporting any exposure to pesticide and any adverse outcome; c) having been conducted in any country of LAC; d) having been published between 1 January 2000 and 5 March 2024; e) having the full text available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese; and f) presenting original results. Nonoriginal research papers, such as qualitative studies, reviews, critical analyses, and opinion papers, were excluded. The included studies were categorized and presented based on the outcomes they evaluated.

Results: We included 80 studies conducted in 13 countries; the included studies encompassed obstetric outcomes, anthropometric parameters, congenital anomalies, neurodevelopment, respiratory infections, and childhood leukemia, as well as molecular effects. Organochlorines were the primary type of exposure investigated among the included studies. Many studies relied on indirect measures of pesticide exposure.

Discussion: Adverse outcomes associated with prenatal pesticide exposure have been observed in Latin American and Caribbean populations, consistent with the global literature. Significant knowledge gaps remain, especially regarding groups of pesticides other than organochlorines. Less than half of the countries in LAC have conducted any study on the potential effects of prenatal exposure. Ongoing research into the risks of prenatal exposure is imperative. It is essential to consider the region's unique characteristics, particularly when investigating the risks associated with pesticides authorized exclusively in this region. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1043.

Background: Farming is an important occupation in Thai hill tribe communities, which are often remote, and lack other economic opportunities along with basic educational, health care, and occupational health and safety services. Additionally, these communities have a unique culture and language.

Objectives: The present study was conducted in northern Thailand to evaluate pesticide exposures and associated health impacts among hill tribe farmers, and to compare them to Thai farmers.

Methods: Lahu hill tribe farmers in a mountain community were recruited by public health hospital staff, along with a reference group of lowland Thai farmers. Participants completed a survey on demographic factors and work practices, and blood and urine samples were collected by a trained nurse. Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was quantified to assess pesticide exposure, whereas liver and kidney functions were evaluated using clinical biomarkers.

Results: A large fraction (nearly 50%) of Lahu farmers were illiterate and could not speak Thai. Thai farmers worked fewer hours per week (39.4) than did Lahu farmers. Among Lahu farmers, AChE levels were significantly lower (worse) than those of Thai farmers. However, other health outcomes in these populations were similar. Formal education and language skills were not associated with pesticide exposures or health outcomes. Pesticide spraying was found to be a significant predictor of reduced AChE (OR=8.5, 95% CI 1.1-69.6).

Conclusions: Pesticide exposures are a significant occupational health hazard among Thai hill tribe farmers. Training, potentially delivered by community health volunteers, is needed to communicate safe pesticide work practices to these farmers.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Mae Fah Luang University (REH-61080).

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Many studies have investigated the effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on adverse health outcomes. However, studies addressing the link between respiratory health and OCPs are limited. Organochlorine pesticides are stable compounds and belong to the class of endocrine disrupting chemicals that represent a threat to global health.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between respiratory morbidity and environmental exposure to OCPs in selected regions in Armenia.

Methods: The study was carried out in Lori and Gegharkunik provinces/marzes. The prevalence rate (per 100 000 population) and the average chronological indicators (ACh) for all respiratory diseases and asthma were calculated. Concentrations of OCPs (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane [DDT], dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD)) were determined in soil and plant product samples and the average annual total concentration (AATC) of OCPs (γ-HCH + 4,4'-DDT + 4,4'-DDE+4,4'-DDD) was calculated.

Results: The ACI for all respiratory diseases showed a growth tendency in areas of Gegharkunik province ranging from 14.2 to 20.9% and an increase in asthma ranging from 9.4% to 174.6%. The highest levels of AATC of OCPs were found in soil sampled in Gegharkunik province: 9.48 ± 1.11 μg/kg and 8.10 ± 1.05 μg/kg and these levels differed significantly from those in Lori (p=0.01-0.0007). The AATC of OCPs in plant products from Gegharkunik was also statistically higher: 1.83±0.13 μg/kg, in comparison with that of Lori province 1.31±0.09 μg/kg (p = 0.001 - 0.0000).

Conclusions: The results indicate that the increased tendency of respiratory diseases and asthma could be related to OCP residues found in soil and plant products in Gegharkunik province. However, the role of OCPs should not be ignored. Further research is needed to study OCP contamination dynamics and clarify the role of OCPs in respiratory morbidity.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.