Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100149
Yayuan Mei , Weitao Su , Jiaxin Zhao , Quan Zhou , Xiuzhi Li , Yanbing Li , Ming Yang , Jingtao Wu , Yaoyu Hu , Ang Li
We aimed to investigate whether heavy metal exposure is associated with aging acceleration and aging-related outcomes, and whether aging mediates such associations. 6583 participants from a 20-year nationally representative cohort study were included. Blood levels of two typical heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), were measured. Eleven aging signatures were assessed, including DNA methylation aging clocks, biological aging indicators, and telomere length. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazard models, generalized linear models, and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effects of metals on aging and related outcomes. An unsupervised machine learning algorithm was applied to identify aging-featured clusters. The role of aging acceleration in metal-associated frailty and mortality was tested using average causal mediation effect analysis. We found that Cd was associated with both frailty and mortality risk, and Pb was associated with mortality risk. Significant associations with multiple aging signatures were mainly observed for Cd exposure. Participants were categorized into four clusters. Finally, aging signatures mediated Cd-associated frailty and mortality with mediation proportions ranging from 4.37% to 43.61%. Our findings reveal that Cd exposure is associated with aging acceleration, frailty, and mortality risk. Aging mediated the Cd-associated frailty and mortality, which highlights the potential mechanisms and prevention avenues.
{"title":"Unravelling the crucial aging signatures linking cadmium exposure with the risk of frailty and mortality: DNA methylation aging clocks, biological aging indicators, or telomere length?","authors":"Yayuan Mei , Weitao Su , Jiaxin Zhao , Quan Zhou , Xiuzhi Li , Yanbing Li , Ming Yang , Jingtao Wu , Yaoyu Hu , Ang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We aimed to investigate whether heavy metal exposure is associated with aging acceleration and aging-related outcomes, and whether aging mediates such associations. 6583 participants from a 20-year nationally representative cohort study were included. Blood levels of two typical heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), were measured. Eleven aging signatures were assessed, including DNA methylation aging clocks, biological aging indicators, and telomere length. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazard models, generalized linear models, and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the effects of metals on aging and related outcomes. An unsupervised machine learning algorithm was applied to identify aging-featured clusters. The role of aging acceleration in metal-associated frailty and mortality was tested using average causal mediation effect analysis. We found that Cd was associated with both frailty and mortality risk, and Pb was associated with mortality risk. Significant associations with multiple aging signatures were mainly observed for Cd exposure. Participants were categorized into four clusters. Finally, aging signatures mediated Cd-associated frailty and mortality with mediation proportions ranging from 4.37% to 43.61%. Our findings reveal that Cd exposure is associated with aging acceleration, frailty, and mortality risk. Aging mediated the Cd-associated frailty and mortality, which highlights the potential mechanisms and prevention avenues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100149"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100152
Ziang Guo , Yuxuan Tan , Feng Huang , Jiyu Nie , Xiaoxiao Lin , Yingyin Fu , Huojie Yao , Xiaomei Wu , Guang Yang , Qinli Wan , Chunxia Jing
Aging presents a significant global public health challenge, raising concerns about environmental factors. However, evidence linking multiple endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to aging and their mechanisms is limited. This study explored the link between ten phthalates, four phenols, and two pesticides and biological senescence, along with oxidative stress's regulatory role. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2005-2016) with 2668 participants and sixteen chemicals. It used multiple linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and quantile g-computation (QGC) to explore the relationships between EDCs and phenotypic aging, as well as the mediating effects of oxidative stress. Multiple linear regression indicated that MCNP, MECPP, MEHHP, and MEOHP were linked to decreased phenotypic age acceleration (PAA). BKMR analysis showed that phthalates significantly impacted both the total population and men, with group PIP values of 0.6335 and 0.8546, respectively. QGC results confirmed negative confounding effects (Estimation [95 % CI]: -0.79 [-1.31, -0.27] for the total population; -0.89 [-1.65, -0.13] for men). Both models identified MECCP and BP3 as key contributors. Mediation analyses revealed that bilirubin and iron mediated the relationship between the chemical mixture and PAA, with proportions of -24.86 % and -21.06 %, respectively.Our findings suggest that exposure to EDCs, both individually and in combination, is linked to slowed aging, particularly with MECCP and BP3. Additional laboratory and multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.
{"title":"Unveiling the mediating role of oxidative stress in the association between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Ziang Guo , Yuxuan Tan , Feng Huang , Jiyu Nie , Xiaoxiao Lin , Yingyin Fu , Huojie Yao , Xiaomei Wu , Guang Yang , Qinli Wan , Chunxia Jing","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aging presents a significant global public health challenge, raising concerns about environmental factors. However, evidence linking multiple endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to aging and their mechanisms is limited. This study explored the link between ten phthalates, four phenols, and two pesticides and biological senescence, along with oxidative stress's regulatory role. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2005-2016) with 2668 participants and sixteen chemicals. It used multiple linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and quantile g-computation (QGC) to explore the relationships between EDCs and phenotypic aging, as well as the mediating effects of oxidative stress. Multiple linear regression indicated that MCNP, MECPP, MEHHP, and MEOHP were linked to decreased phenotypic age acceleration (PAA). BKMR analysis showed that phthalates significantly impacted both the total population and men, with group PIP values of 0.6335 and 0.8546, respectively. QGC results confirmed negative confounding effects (Estimation [95 % CI]: -0.79 [-1.31, -0.27] for the total population; -0.89 [-1.65, -0.13] for men). Both models identified MECCP and BP3 as key contributors. Mediation analyses revealed that bilirubin and iron mediated the relationship between the chemical mixture and PAA, with proportions of -24.86 % and -21.06 %, respectively.Our findings suggest that exposure to EDCs, both individually and in combination, is linked to slowed aging, particularly with MECCP and BP3. Additional laboratory and multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100146
Wei Jia , Aimin Chen , Kimberly Yolton , Yingying Xu , He Lili , Roman A. Jandarov
This manuscript presents a novel Bayesian varying coefficient quantile regression (BVCQR) model designed to assess the longitudinal effects of chemical exposure mixtures on children’s neurodevelopment. Recognizing the complexity and high-dimensionality of environmental exposures, the proposed approach addresses critical gaps in existing research by offering a method that can manage the sparsity of data and provide interpretable results. The proposed BVCQR model estimates the effects of mixtures on neurodevelopmental outcomes at specific ages, leveraging a horseshoe prior for sparsity and utilizing a Bayesian method for uncertainty quantification. Our simulations demonstrate the model’s robustness and effectiveness in handling high-dimensional data, offering significant improvements over traditional models. The model’s application to the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study further illustrates its utility in identifying significant chemical exposures affecting children’s growth and development. The findings underscore the potential of BVCQR in environmental health research, providing a sophisticated tool for analyzing the longitudinal impact of complex chemical mixtures, with implications for future studies aimed at understanding and mitigating environmental risks to child health.
{"title":"Assessing the longitudinal impact of environmental chemical mixtures on children’s neurodevelopment: A Bayesian approach","authors":"Wei Jia , Aimin Chen , Kimberly Yolton , Yingying Xu , He Lili , Roman A. Jandarov","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This manuscript presents a novel Bayesian varying coefficient quantile regression (BVCQR) model designed to assess the longitudinal effects of chemical exposure mixtures on children’s neurodevelopment. Recognizing the complexity and high-dimensionality of environmental exposures, the proposed approach addresses critical gaps in existing research by offering a method that can manage the sparsity of data and provide interpretable results. The proposed BVCQR model estimates the effects of mixtures on neurodevelopmental outcomes at specific ages, leveraging a horseshoe prior for sparsity and utilizing a Bayesian method for uncertainty quantification. Our simulations demonstrate the model’s robustness and effectiveness in handling high-dimensional data, offering significant improvements over traditional models. The model’s application to the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study further illustrates its utility in identifying significant chemical exposures affecting children’s growth and development. The findings underscore the potential of BVCQR in environmental health research, providing a sophisticated tool for analyzing the longitudinal impact of complex chemical mixtures, with implications for future studies aimed at understanding and mitigating environmental risks to child health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100143
Tiantian Chen , Wei Zhang , Yifan Li , Jin Zhou , Shu Guo
Background
As the key sensory tissue in the eye, the retina is vulnerable to environmental pollutants, with laboratory studies demonstrating their potential to disrupt retinal structure and function. To comprehensively understand the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of pollutants, this review studied the effects of major environmental pollutants, including heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead), organic compounds (bisphenol compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, triclosan, chlorpyrifos), and microplastics, on the structure and function of the retina.
Methods
Using PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases, search for keywords such as "retina," "toxicity," "environmental pollutants," "oxidative stress," "cell apoptosis," "visual function," and their combinations. Include original research and reviews evaluating the retinal toxicity of specific environmental pollutants, rigorously screen literature for in-depth analysis.
Results
Comprehensive analysis confirms that target environmental pollutants can induce significant retinal toxicity effects, including retinal developmental disorders, tissue structure damage, loss of photoreceptor cell specificity, and ultimately leading to visual dysfunction and visual related behavioral abnormalities.
Conclusion
This review integrates mechanistic insights from experimental toxicology research, providing a preclinical framework for understanding pollutant induced retinal damage and laying an important foundation for developing protective strategies against environmental retinal damage.
作为眼睛的关键感觉组织，视网膜很容易受到环境污染物的影响，实验室研究表明它们有可能破坏视网膜的结构和功能。为了全面了解污染物的毒性作用及其潜在机制，本文综述了主要环境污染物，包括重金属（镉、汞、铅）、有机化合物（双酚化合物、多氯联苯、三氯生、毒死蜱）和微塑料对视网膜结构和功能的影响。方法利用PubMed、Web of Science和CNKI数据库，检索“视网膜”、“毒性”、“环境污染物”、“氧化应激”、“细胞凋亡”、“视觉功能”等关键词及其组合。包括评估特定环境污染物视网膜毒性的原始研究和评论，严格筛选文献进行深入分析。结果综合分析证实，目标环境污染物可诱发视网膜明显的毒性作用，包括视网膜发育障碍、组织结构损伤、光感受器细胞特异性丧失，最终导致视觉功能障碍和视觉相关行为异常。结论本综述综合了实验毒理学研究的机制见解，为理解污染物性视网膜损伤提供了临床前框架，为制定环境性视网膜损伤的保护策略奠定了重要基础。
{"title":"Toxicology research on the effects of environmental pollutants on the retina: A review","authors":"Tiantian Chen , Wei Zhang , Yifan Li , Jin Zhou , Shu Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As the key sensory tissue in the eye, the retina is vulnerable to environmental pollutants, with laboratory studies demonstrating their potential to disrupt retinal structure and function. To comprehensively understand the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of pollutants, this review studied the effects of major environmental pollutants, including heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead), organic compounds (bisphenol compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, triclosan, chlorpyrifos), and microplastics, on the structure and function of the retina.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases, search for keywords such as \"retina,\" \"toxicity,\" \"environmental pollutants,\" \"oxidative stress,\" \"cell apoptosis,\" \"visual function,\" and their combinations. Include original research and reviews evaluating the retinal toxicity of specific environmental pollutants, rigorously screen literature for in-depth analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Comprehensive analysis confirms that target environmental pollutants can induce significant retinal toxicity effects, including retinal developmental disorders, tissue structure damage, loss of photoreceptor cell specificity, and ultimately leading to visual dysfunction and visual related behavioral abnormalities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review integrates mechanistic insights from experimental toxicology research, providing a preclinical framework for understanding pollutant induced retinal damage and laying an important foundation for developing protective strategies against environmental retinal damage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144921300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-29DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100145
Marina Rayciki Sotomayor , Aline Graciele Henriques Campos , Altair Rodrigues Pires de Paula Filho , Ana Carolina Aredes Goulart , Beatriz Geovana Leite Vacario , Julia Fernandes Gois Orrutéa , Juliana Maria Bitencourt de Morais Valentim , Tatiane Renata Fagundes , Shaiane Carla Gaboardi , Carolina Panis
Climate change, driven by global warming and environmental degradation, has far-reaching implications for human health, including its potential role in cancer incidence. Rising temperatures, increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and changes in air quality are linked to various cancer risks. disruptions in agricultural practices and food security can influence cancer risk through changes in diet and exposure to carcinogenic compounds such as pesticides. Water contamination due to flooding and chemical runoffs may also increase exposure to carcinogens. Vulnerable populations, particularly those in lower-income regions, are at heightened risk, as they often lack access to healthcare and preventive measures. In this context, this review addresses the relationship between climate changes impact and cancer risk, discussing how these events can increase cancer development.
{"title":"Climate changes and cancer risk: Key factors and emerging health threats","authors":"Marina Rayciki Sotomayor , Aline Graciele Henriques Campos , Altair Rodrigues Pires de Paula Filho , Ana Carolina Aredes Goulart , Beatriz Geovana Leite Vacario , Julia Fernandes Gois Orrutéa , Juliana Maria Bitencourt de Morais Valentim , Tatiane Renata Fagundes , Shaiane Carla Gaboardi , Carolina Panis","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change, driven by global warming and environmental degradation, has far-reaching implications for human health, including its potential role in cancer incidence. Rising temperatures, increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and changes in air quality are linked to various cancer risks. disruptions in agricultural practices and food security can influence cancer risk through changes in diet and exposure to carcinogenic compounds such as pesticides. Water contamination due to flooding and chemical runoffs may also increase exposure to carcinogens. Vulnerable populations, particularly those in lower-income regions, are at heightened risk, as they often lack access to healthcare and preventive measures. In this context, this review addresses the relationship between climate changes impact and cancer risk, discussing how these events can increase cancer development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100140
Donghong Gao , Samantha Friedman , Akiko S. Hosler , Scott Sheridan , Wangjian Zhang , Fangqun Yu , Gan Luo , Shao Lin
Background
Although the associations between ambient heat and diabetes have been assessed, the odds of ambient extreme cold exposure (ECE) or ultrafine particles (UFP) on diabetes admissions are understudied.
Objectives
We assessed the impacts of ECE on diabetes hospitalization and evaluated the modifications of demographics, comorbidities, and UFP on ECEdiabetes associations.
Methods
A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted by using mandatory New York State (NYS) admission data (principal diagnosis, 2013–2020) and temperature and simulated UPF data from NYS Mesonet and a global chemistry transport model, respectively. We defined ECE as <5th percentile of daily mean temperature and UFP-high as >50th percentile of the daily mean UFP. After adjusting for air pollutants, humidity, and holidays, we conducted conditional logistic regressions to investigate ECE-diabetes associations, additive and multiplicative interactions between UFP, demographics/comorbidities, and ECE.
Results
Diabetes admissions associated with ECE were significantly elevated in winter months (ranges of odds ratios (ORs): 1.099–1.104, P < 0.05 in January and February) but the associations increased more consistently across multiple lag days in March (ranges of ORs: 1.068–1.129, P < 0.05). ECE-diabetes associations were significant among patients with peripheral circulatory complications and hyperglycemia compared to those without these complications. UFP-diabetes associations were significant in November (OR: 1.052, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.012–1.093) and December (OR: 1.045, 95 % CI: 1.003–1.088). Additionally, ECE-UFP interactions on diabetes were significant at both additive (95 % CI >0 for the attributable proportion to interactions and relative excess risk index) and multiplicative (P < 0.05 for product terms) scales. Furthermore, females, older adults, urban residents, and patients with multiple comorbidities were more vulnerable to ECE than other groups.
Conclusions
ECE-diabetes associations were significant in winter months, but the increased associations occurred more persistently in March. While synergistic and additive interactions between ECE and UFP on diabetes were found, ECE-diabetes ssociations were also modified by demographics and comorbidities.
{"title":"Unseasonal extreme cold weather, ultrafine particles, and diabetes hospitalizations: an unexpected time window for intervention","authors":"Donghong Gao , Samantha Friedman , Akiko S. Hosler , Scott Sheridan , Wangjian Zhang , Fangqun Yu , Gan Luo , Shao Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although the associations between ambient heat and diabetes have been assessed, the odds of ambient extreme cold exposure (ECE) or ultrafine particles (UFP) on diabetes admissions are understudied.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>We assessed the impacts of ECE on diabetes hospitalization and evaluated the modifications of demographics, comorbidities, and UFP on ECEdiabetes associations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted by using mandatory New York State (NYS) admission data (principal diagnosis, 2013–2020) and temperature and simulated UPF data from NYS Mesonet and a global chemistry transport model, respectively. We defined ECE as <5th percentile of daily mean temperature and UFP-high as >50th percentile of the daily mean UFP. After adjusting for air pollutants, humidity, and holidays, we conducted conditional logistic regressions to investigate ECE-diabetes associations, additive and multiplicative interactions between UFP, demographics/comorbidities, and ECE.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Diabetes admissions associated with ECE were significantly elevated in winter months (ranges of odds ratios (ORs): 1.099–1.104, <em>P</em> < 0.05 in January and February) but the associations increased more consistently across multiple lag days in March (ranges of ORs: 1.068–1.129, <em>P</em> < 0.05). ECE-diabetes associations were significant among patients with peripheral circulatory complications and hyperglycemia compared to those without these complications. UFP-diabetes associations were significant in November (OR: 1.052, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.012–1.093) and December (OR: 1.045, 95 % CI: 1.003–1.088). Additionally, ECE-UFP interactions on diabetes were significant at both additive (95 % CI >0 for the attributable proportion to interactions and relative excess risk index) and multiplicative (<em>P</em> < 0.05 for product terms) scales. Furthermore, females, older adults, urban residents, and patients with multiple comorbidities were more vulnerable to ECE than other groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>ECE-diabetes associations were significant in winter months, but the increased associations occurred more persistently in March. While synergistic and additive interactions between ECE and UFP on diabetes were found, ECE-diabetes ssociations were also modified by demographics and comorbidities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100140"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100142
Xiaojing Li , Lijun Zhang , Jian Chen
Megacity rail transit systems harbor a pivotal microbial ecosystem that serves as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which is intricately linked to the urban dissemination of infectious diseases. Here, we conducted metagenomic sequencing to elucidate the composition of microbial communities, ARGs, and examine the co-occurrence patterns between microbes and ARGs across various surfaces in the Shanghai rail transit system. Our findings revealed that bacterial genera such as Rhodococcus, Cutibacterium, and Brevundimonas dominated, originating either from human skin or environmental sources. Notably, the bacterial diversity varied according to the type of surface and specific stations. The principal co-ordinates analysis revealed substantial beta-diversity disparities among the examined surfaces. We identified a total of 1930 ARGs conferring resistance to 20 distinct antibiotic classes, including clinically significant ones such as Aminoglycoside, Streptogramin, Multidrug, and Tetracycline, which are associated with either single or multidrug resistance. Network analysis further revealed the co-occurrence relationships between microbial genera and ARGs. This study highlights that the microbial communities and ARGs in the rail transit system are sustained by a metapopulation of human and environmental generalists. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the risks associated with microbial exposure and suggest strategies to mitigate the spread of pathogenic microorganisms in megacity rail transit systems, thereby enhancing public health.
{"title":"Metagenomic profiling of microbial community, antibiotic resistance genes and co-occurrence pattern in megacity rail transit system","authors":"Xiaojing Li , Lijun Zhang , Jian Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Megacity rail transit systems harbor a pivotal microbial ecosystem that serves as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which is intricately linked to the urban dissemination of infectious diseases. Here, we conducted metagenomic sequencing to elucidate the composition of microbial communities, ARGs, and examine the co-occurrence patterns between microbes and ARGs across various surfaces in the Shanghai rail transit system. Our findings revealed that bacterial genera such as <em>Rhodococcus, Cutibacterium</em>, and <em>Brevundimonas</em> dominated, originating either from human skin or environmental sources. Notably, the bacterial diversity varied according to the type of surface and specific stations. The principal co-ordinates analysis revealed substantial beta-diversity disparities among the examined surfaces. We identified a total of 1930 ARGs conferring resistance to 20 distinct antibiotic classes, including clinically significant ones such as Aminoglycoside, Streptogramin, Multidrug, and Tetracycline, which are associated with either single or multidrug resistance. Network analysis further revealed the co-occurrence relationships between microbial genera and ARGs. This study highlights that the microbial communities and ARGs in the rail transit system are sustained by a metapopulation of human and environmental generalists. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the risks associated with microbial exposure and suggest strategies to mitigate the spread of pathogenic microorganisms in megacity rail transit systems, thereby enhancing public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100139
C. Anthonj , S.N. Stanglow , J. Flacke , A. Leinen , C. Butsch , F. Meissner , S. Jendrek , J. Martinez
Introduction
People experiencing homelessness and the drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges that they are facing are neither well-represented in academic literature, nor in national and international statistics. This dynamic and often invisible vulnerable group is commonly undercounted in national surveys and official statistics are often based on household units, thus, not accounting for unsheltered individuals. Living at the margins, they are often out of reach to be involved in outreach efforts and interventions, and these systemic inequities increase their exposure to risks, while decreasing access to assistance to mitigate and reduce them.
Methods
Using a mixed method case study carried out in Germany in 2023, we involved 45 persons experiencing homelessness. We first provide an overview of our study design capturing spatial and non-spatial, individual and collective information through research methods such as in-depth interviews, walking interviews, focus group discussions, collaborative mapping (digital versus on paper), arts-based research, mental mapping, photovoice and shadowing. We then reflect on their feasibility and usefulness.
Results
In-depth interviews were most feasible to implement, captured individual, cross-sectional, information and lead to the best results. Participatory methods, collaborative mapping and group discussions were more difficult to implement, yet lead to highly relevant findings. Longitudinal approaches and mental mapping methods were most difficult to realize. Photovoice could not be implemented at all. Shadowing resulted in findings that were only of medium relevance, yet, were very helpful in establishing an improved relationship with the target population, and building trust.
Conclusions and recommendations
The multifaceted challenges of unhoused individuals require awareness of their lived realities, great flexibility, time, trust, relationships, openness and adaptations, and research designs tailored to their life realities. Our insights can enable decision-makers to design targeted interventions and have broader applicability among other populations and contexts.
{"title":"Reflecting mixed method research on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene among unhoused people. Insights into a case study from Germany","authors":"C. Anthonj , S.N. Stanglow , J. Flacke , A. Leinen , C. Butsch , F. Meissner , S. Jendrek , J. Martinez","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>People experiencing homelessness and the drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges that they are facing are neither well-represented in academic literature, nor in national and international statistics. This dynamic and often invisible vulnerable group is commonly undercounted in national surveys and official statistics are often based on household units, thus, not accounting for unsheltered individuals. Living at the margins, they are often out of reach to be involved in outreach efforts and interventions, and these systemic inequities increase their exposure to risks, while decreasing access to assistance to mitigate and reduce them.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using a mixed method case study carried out in Germany in 2023, we involved 45 persons experiencing homelessness. We first provide an overview of our study design capturing spatial and non-spatial, individual and collective information through research methods such as in-depth interviews, walking interviews, focus group discussions, collaborative mapping (digital versus on paper), arts-based research, mental mapping, photovoice and shadowing. We then reflect on their feasibility and usefulness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In-depth interviews were most feasible to implement, captured individual, cross-sectional, information and lead to the best results. Participatory methods, collaborative mapping and group discussions were more difficult to implement, yet lead to highly relevant findings. Longitudinal approaches and mental mapping methods were most difficult to realize. Photovoice could not be implemented at all. Shadowing resulted in findings that were only of medium relevance, yet, were very helpful in establishing an improved relationship with the target population, and building trust.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions and recommendations</h3><div>The multifaceted challenges of unhoused individuals require awareness of their lived realities, great flexibility, time, trust, relationships, openness and adaptations, and research designs tailored to their life realities. Our insights can enable decision-makers to design targeted interventions and have broader applicability among other populations and contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-08DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100136
Jinhua Wei , Dongyuan Bian , Shijian Huang , Xiaobing Wu , Liu Yang , Shasha Li , Beibei Xia , Yanbo Li , Guimiao Lin
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) exist widely in the environment. The likelihood of people being exposed to SiNPs has increased dramatically, and its biosafety bring a great concern. Mast cells are a type of key effector cells that mediate the occurrence of allergic reactions through IgE and non-IgE activation pathways.To date, the effects of SiNPs on these two activation pathways of mast cells remain unclear. In this study, RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin (OVA) asthma mice were used to investigate the effects of SiNPs on mast cell activation and its mediating asthma. in vitro studies, SiNPs significantly promoted the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β, but didn’t affect the release of β-Hex (degranulation) in the C48/80-mediated non-IgE activation pathway. In the IgE activation pathway, SiNPs significantly enhanced the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, and also promoted mast cell degranulation by increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels. in vivo study, respiratory exposure to SiNPs significantly enhanced the serum histamine and the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from asthmatic mice sensitized, thickened the airway walls, increased the inflammatory cells infiltration and the number of mast cells, suggesting that SiNPs significantly aggravated OVA-mediated asthma in mice. These findings reveal the effects of SiNPs on mast cells and their mediated allergic reactions, providing scientific clues for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, especially asthma.
{"title":"Silica nanoparticles interfere with mast cell activation by enhancing intracellular Ca2+ levels and aggravate ovalbumin-mediated asthma","authors":"Jinhua Wei , Dongyuan Bian , Shijian Huang , Xiaobing Wu , Liu Yang , Shasha Li , Beibei Xia , Yanbo Li , Guimiao Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) exist widely in the environment. The likelihood of people being exposed to SiNPs has increased dramatically, and its biosafety bring a great concern. Mast cells are a type of key effector cells that mediate the occurrence of allergic reactions through IgE and non-IgE activation pathways.To date, the effects of SiNPs on these two activation pathways of mast cells remain unclear. In this study, RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin (OVA) asthma mice were used to investigate the effects of SiNPs on mast cell activation and its mediating asthma. <em>in vitro</em> studies, SiNPs significantly promoted the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β, but didn’t affect the release of β-Hex (degranulation) in the C48/80-mediated non-IgE activation pathway. In the IgE activation pathway, SiNPs significantly enhanced the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, and also promoted mast cell degranulation by increasing intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels. <em>in vivo</em> study, respiratory exposure to SiNPs significantly enhanced the serum histamine and the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from asthmatic mice sensitized, thickened the airway walls, increased the inflammatory cells infiltration and the number of mast cells, suggesting that SiNPs significantly aggravated OVA-mediated asthma in mice. These findings reveal the effects of SiNPs on mast cells and their mediated allergic reactions, providing scientific clues for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, especially asthma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144661958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2025.100138
Yuchen Qian, Tiedong Liu
Research on heat vulnerability provides a scientific foundation for identifying heatwave-sensitive areas and vulnerable populations, thereby enabling targeted climate adaptation. Standardizing and refining metric selection is crucial for constructing effective heat vulnerability assessment systems. To boost the precision of heat vulnerability assessments, this research explores current limitations in metric selection. We systematically reviewed metrics from 31 studies across environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic dimensions. Our analysis reveals three main challenges: variations in indicator selection, classification, and processing; correlations between indicators and regional characteristics; and inter-metric correlations of conceptual redundancy and oversimplification. These discrepancies and deficiencies may affect the robustness of assessments and increase the difficulty of subsequent discussions, diminishing the policy relevance. Our review identifies and summarizes context-specific indicators, highlights issues of metric redundancy and oversimplification along with corresponding solutions, and establishes guidelines for metric selection. This facilitates the selection of concise, representative metrics for developing more accurate heat vulnerability indices, ultimately enabling targeted interventions to mitigate heatwave impacts.
{"title":"Heat vulnerability assessment: A systematic review of critical metrics","authors":"Yuchen Qian, Tiedong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.heha.2025.100138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on heat vulnerability provides a scientific foundation for identifying heatwave-sensitive areas and vulnerable populations, thereby enabling targeted climate adaptation. Standardizing and refining metric selection is crucial for constructing effective heat vulnerability assessment systems. To boost the precision of heat vulnerability assessments, this research explores current limitations in metric selection. We systematically reviewed metrics from 31 studies across environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic dimensions. Our analysis reveals three main challenges: variations in indicator selection, classification, and processing; correlations between indicators and regional characteristics; and inter-metric correlations of conceptual redundancy and oversimplification. These discrepancies and deficiencies may affect the robustness of assessments and increase the difficulty of subsequent discussions, diminishing the policy relevance. Our review identifies and summarizes context-specific indicators, highlights issues of metric redundancy and oversimplification along with corresponding solutions, and establishes guidelines for metric selection. This facilitates the selection of concise, representative metrics for developing more accurate heat vulnerability indices, ultimately enabling targeted interventions to mitigate heatwave impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73269,"journal":{"name":"Hygiene and environmental health advances","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144713096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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