Associations between maternal exposure to air pollution and traffic noise and newborn's size at birth: A cohort study

BackgroundMaternal exposure to air pollution and traffic noise has been suggested to impair fetal growth, but studies have reported inconsistent findings.ObjectiveTo investigate associations between residential air pollution and traffic noise during pregnancy and newborn's size at birth.MethodsFrom a national birth cohort we identified 75,166 live-born singletons born at term with information on the children's size at birth. Residential address history from conception until birth was collected and air pollution (NO₂ and NO_x) and road traffic noise was modeled at all addresses. Associations between exposures and indicators of newborn's size at birth: birth weight, placental weight and head and abdominal circumference were analyzed by linear and logistic regression, and adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsIn mutually adjusted models we found a 10 μg/m³ higher time-weighted mean exposure to NO₂ during pregnancy to be associated with a 0.35 mm smaller head circumference (95% confidence interval (CI): 95% CI: − 0.57; − 0.12); a 0.50 mm smaller abdominal circumference (95% CI: − 0.80; − 0.20) and a 5.02 g higher placental weight (95% CI: 2.93; 7.11). No associations were found between air pollution and birth weight. Exposure to residential road traffic noise was weakly associated with reduced head circumference, whereas none of the other newborn's size indicators were associated with noise, neither before nor after adjustment for air pollution.ConclusionsThis study indicates that air pollution may result in a small reduction in offspring's birth head and abdominal circumference, but not birth weight, whereas traffic noise seems not to affect newborn's size at birth.     

Exposure to long-term air pollution and road traffic noise in relation to cholesterol: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundExposure to traffic noise and air pollution have both been associated with cardiovascular disease, though the mechanisms behind are not yet clear.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate whether the two exposures were associated with levels of cholesterol in a cross-sectional design.MethodsIn 1993–1997, 39,863 participants aged 50–64 year and living in the Greater Copenhagen area were enrolled in a population-based cohort study. For each participant, non-fasting total cholesterol was determined in whole blood samples on the day of enrolment. Residential addresses 5-years preceding enrolment were identified in a national register and road traffic noise (L_den) were modeled for all addresses. For air pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) was modeled at all addresses using a dispersion model and PM_2.5 was modeled at all enrolment addresses using a land-use regression model. Analyses were done using linear regression with adjustment for potential confounders as well as mutual adjustment for the three exposures.ResultsBaseline residential exposure to the interquartile range of road traffic noise, NO₂ and PM_2.5 was associated with a 0.58 mg/dl (95% confidence interval: − 0.09; 1.25), a 0.68 mg/dl (0.22; 1.16) and a 0.78 mg/dl (0.22; 1.34) higher level of total cholesterol in single pollutant models, respectively. In two pollutant models with adjustment for noise in air pollution models and vice versa, the association between air pollution and cholesterol remained for both air pollution variables (NO₂: 0.72 (0.11; 1.34); PM_2.5: 0.70 (0.12; 1.28) mg/dl), whereas there was no association for noise (− 0.08 mg/dl). In three-pollutant models (NO₂, PM_2.5 and road traffic noise), estimates for NO₂ and PM_2.5 were slightly diminished (NO₂: 0.58 (− 0.05; 1.22); PM_2.5: 0.57 (− 0.02; 1.17) mg/dl).ConclusionsAir pollution and possibly also road traffic noise may be associated with slightly higher levels of cholesterol, though associations for the two exposures were difficult to separate.     

Inflammatory markers in relation to long-term air pollution

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution can lead to chronic health effects such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Systemic inflammation has been hypothesized as a putative biological mechanism contributing to these adverse health effects. We evaluated the effect of long-term exposure to air pollution on blood markers of systemic inflammation.We measured a panel of 28 inflammatory markers in peripheral blood samples from 587 individuals that were biobanked as part of a prospective study. Participants were from Varese and Turin (Italy) and Umea (Sweden). Long-term air pollution estimates of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) were available from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Linear mixed models adjusted for potential confounders were applied to assess the association between NO_x and the markers of inflammation.Long-term exposure to NO_x was associated with decreased levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α in Italy, but not in Sweden. NO_x exposure levels were considerably lower in Sweden than in Italy (Sweden: median (5th, 95th percentiles) 6.65 μg/m³ (4.8, 19.7); Italy: median (5th, 95th percentiles) 94.2 μg/m³ (7.8, 124.5)). Combining data from Italy and Sweden we only observed a significant association between long-term exposure to NO_x and decreased levels of circulating IL-8.We observed some indication for perturbations in the inflammatory markers due to long-term exposure to NO_x. Effects were stronger in Italy than in Sweden, potentially reflecting the difference in air pollution levels between the two cohorts.     

High resolution exposure modelling of heat and air pollution and the impact on mortality

BackgroundElevated temperature and air pollution have been associated with increased mortality. Exposure to heat and air pollution, as well as the density of vulnerable groups varies within cities. The objective was to investigate the extent of neighbourhood differences in mortality risk due to heat and air pollution in a city with a temperate maritime climate.MethodsA case-crossover design was used to study associations between heat, air pollution and mortality. Different thermal indicators and air pollutants (PM₁₀, NO₂, O₃) were reconstructed at high spatial resolution to improve exposure classification. Daily exposures were linked to individual mortality cases over a 15 year period.ResultsSignificant interaction between maximum air temperature (Ta_max) and PM₁₀ was observed. During “summer smog” days (Ta_max > 25 °C and PM₁₀ > 50 μg/m³), the mortality risk at lag 2 was 7% higher compared to the reference (Ta_max 15 °C and PM₁₀ 15 μg/m³). Persons above age 85 living alone were at highest risk.ConclusionWe found significant synergistic effects of high temperatures and air pollution on mortality. Single living elderly were the most vulnerable group. Due to spatial differences in temperature and air pollution, mortality risks varied substantially between neighbourhoods, with a difference up to 7%.     

Relationship between air pollution and daily mortality in a subtropical city: Taipei, Taiwan

Air pollution has been associated with daily mortality in numerous studies over the past decade. However most of these studies were conducted in the United States and Europe with relatively few done in Asia. In the current study, the association between ambient air pollution and daily mortality in Taipei, Taiwan's largest city which has a subtropical climate was undertaken, for the period 1994-1998 using a case-crossover analysis. This design is an alternative to Poisson time series regression for studying the short-term adverse health effects of air pollution. The air pollutants examined included particulate matter (PM(10)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), ozone (O(3)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and carbon monoxide (CO). The largest observed effect, which was without statistical significance, was seen for NO(2) and CO levels on deaths due to respiratory diseases (ORs=1.013 and 1.014, respectively). The well established link between air pollution levels and daily mortality may not be as strong in cities in subtropical areas, although other factors such as differences in pollutant mix or the underlying health of the population may explain the lack of a strong association in this study. Further studies of this type in cities with varying climates and cultures are needed.     

Human mortality in Cyprus: the role of temperature and particulate air pollution

Climatic change results in increased occurrence of heat waves, and the thermal stress caused by such phenomena is leading to higher levels of heat-related mortality worldwide. This study is the first to examine the effect of extreme weather on mortality in Cyprus. It investigates the individual effect of meteorological indicators on mortality, as well as the role of particulate air pollution (PM₁₀). A generalized linear model (GLM) with quasi-Poisson regression was implemented. GLM included a temperature function and was adjusted for relative humidity and seasonality. The temperature function was developed under a newly developed framework of distributed lag nonlinear models, which capture nonlinearities and delayed effects of heat simultaneously. GLM was extended to examine the confounding effect of air pollution. All the results on heat effects are presented. High temperatures had a significant effect on mortality with increased mortality rates, independent of humidity and seasonality. Mortality risk increased steeply above a temperature threshold. A direct heat effect was shown, with higher risk on the current and next day of a severe heat event. PM₁₀ was not found to have a confounding effect on the temperature–mortality relationship, since the strength of this relationship remained after the inclusion of PM₁₀ in the model. Differences existed between urban and coastal areas.     

A review of traffic-related air pollution exposure assessment studies in the developing world

Exposure assessment studies in the developing world are important. Although recent years have seen an increasing number of traffic-related pollution exposure studies, exposure assessment data on this topic are still limited. Differences among measuring methods and a lack of strict quality control in carrying out exposure assessment make it difficult to generalize and compare findings between studies. In this article, exposure assessment studies carried out in the developing world on several traffic-related air pollutants are reviewed. These pollutants include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, it discusses advantages and disadvantages of various monitoring methods (ambient fixed-site monitoring, microenvironment monitoring, and personal exposure assessment using portable samplers) for these pollutants in exposure assessment studies. Also included in this paper is a brief introduction of standards for these pollutants in ambient air or in occupational settings established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The review ends with a summary of the limitations and gaps in recent studies and suggestions for future research in the developing world.     

Long-term air pollution exposure and diabetes in a population-based Swiss cohort

Air pollution is an important risk factor for global burden of disease. There has been recent interest in its possible role in the etiology of diabetes mellitus. Experimental evidence is suggestive, but epidemiological evidence is limited and mixed. We therefore explored the association between air pollution and prevalent diabetes, in a population-based Swiss cohort.We did cross-sectional analyses of 6392 participants of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults [SAPALDIA], aged between 29 and 73 years. We used estimates of average individual home outdoor PM₁₀ [particulate matter <10 μm in diameter] and NO₂ [nitrogen dioxide] exposure over the 10 years preceding the survey. Their association with diabetes was modeled using mixed logistic regression models, including participants' study area as random effect, with incremental adjustment for confounders.There were 315 cases of diabetes (prevalence: 5.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.8, 7.2%]). Both PM₁₀ and NO₂ were associated with prevalent diabetes with respective odds ratios of 1.40 [95% CI: 1.17, 1.67] and 1.19 [95% CI: 1.03, 1.38] per 10 μg/m³ increase in the average home outdoor level. Associations with PM₁₀ were generally stronger than with NO₂, even in the two-pollutant model. There was some indication that beta blockers mitigated the effect of PM₁₀. The associations remained stable across different sensitivity analyses.Our study adds to the evidence that long term air pollution exposure is associated with diabetes mellitus. PM₁₀ appears to be a useful marker of aspects of air pollution relevant for diabetes. This association can be observed at concentrations below air quality guidelines.     

Constrained confidence intervals in time series studies of mortality and air pollution

This paper focuses on constrained confidence intervals in the context of environmental time series studies where one seeks to ascertain the effects of ambient air pollution on human mortality. If the regression parameter representing such effects is non-negative, corresponding to a belief that more pollution cannot be beneficial, a desirable goal is to produce a constrained confidence interval for the parameter which is entirely non-negative. We show how this goal can be achieved using the method of tail functions. The proposed methodology is illustrated by the application to an environmental study of 100 cities in the United States involving regressions of mortality counts on levels of particulate matter air pollution. The large number of constrained CIs that contain zero is an indication that for the majority of the 100 cities there is not enough evidence to conclude a positive association between air pollution and mortality.     

Measuring combined exposure to environmental pressures in urban areas: an air quality and noise pollution assessment approach

This study presents a methodological scheme developed to provide a combined air and noise pollution exposure assessment based on measurements from personal portable monitors. Provided that air and noise pollution are considered in a co-exposure approach, they represent a significant environmental hazard to public health. The methodology is demonstrated for the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The results of an extensive field campaign are presented and the variations in personal exposure between modes of transport, routes, streets and transport microenvironments are evaluated. Air pollution and noise measurements were performed simultaneously along several commuting routes, during the morning and evening rush hours. Combined exposure to environmental pollutants is highlighted based on the Combined Exposure Factor (CEF) and Combined Dose and Exposure Factor (CDEF). The CDEF takes into account the potential relative uptake of each pollutant by considering the physical activities of each citizen. Rather than viewing environmental pollutants separately for planning and environmental sustainability considerations, the possibility of an easy-to-comprehend co-exposure approach based on these two indices is demonstrated. Furthermore, they provide for the first time a combined exposure assessment to these environmental pollutants for Thessaloniki and in this sense they could be of importance for local public authorities and decision makers. A considerable environmental burden for the citizens of Thessaloniki, especially for VOCs and noise pollution levels is observed. The material herein points out the importance of measuring public health stressors and the necessity of considering urban environmental pollution in a holistic way.     

Residential exposure to outdoor air pollution from livestock operations and perceived annoyance among citizens

Epidemiological studies have shown that residential exposure to livestock odors can affect the health and wellbeing of rural citizens. However, exposure–response models for this relationship have not been developed. One of the main challenges is to identify a compound that can be used as proxy for livestock odor exposure. In this paper we developed models that describe the relationship between long-term averaged outdoor residential ammonia (NH₃) exposures and livestock odor annoyance experienced by rural residents, and investigated person-related variables associated with annoyance responses. We used emission-based atmospheric dispersion modeling data to estimate household-specific outdoor concentrations and survey data to characterize the study subjects. Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions were used for model development. Residential NH₃ exposure was positively associated with moderate, high and extreme odor annoyance (adjusted odds ratio = 10.59; 95% confidence interval: 1.35–83.13, for each unit increase in Log_eNH₃ exposure). Specific characteristics of the exposed subjects (i.e., age, time per week spent at home, presence of children at home and job) act as co-determinants of odor annoyance responses. Predictive models showed classification accuracies of 67–72%. The results suggest that NH₃ exposure in the residential outdoor environment can be used as a predictor of livestock odor annoyance in population studies.     

Associations between short/medium-term variations in black smoke air pollution and mortality in the Glasgow conurbation,UK

ObjectivesTo examine associations between short/medium-term variations in black smoke air pollution and mortality in the population of Glasgow and the adjacent towns of Renfrew and Paisley over a 25-year period at different time lags (0–30 days).MethodsGeneralised linear (Poisson) models were used to investigate the relationship between lagged black smoke concentrations and daily mortality, with allowance for confounding by cold temperature, between 1974 and 1998.ResultsWhen a range of lag periods were investigated significant associations were noted between temperature-adjusted black smoke exposure and all-cause mortality at lag periods of 13–18 and 19–24 days, and respiratory mortality at lag periods of 1–6, 7–12, and 13–18 days. Significant associations between cardiovascular mortality and temperature-adjusted black smoke were not observed. After adjusting for the effects of temperature a 10 μg m^− 3 increase in black smoke concentration on a given day was associated with a 0.9% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.3–1.5%] increase in all cause mortality and a 3.1% [95% CI: 1.4–4.9%] increase in respiratory mortality over the ensuing 30-day period. In contrast for a 10 μg m^− 3 increase in black smoke concentration over 0–3 day lag period, the temperature adjusted exposure mortality associations were substantially lower (0.2% [95% CI: − 0.0–0.4%] and 0.3% [95% CI: − 0.2–0.8%] increases for all-cause and respiratory mortality respectively).ConclusionsThis study has provided evidence of association between black smoke exposure and mortality at longer lag periods than have been investigated in the majority of time series analyses.     

Reduced exposure to air pollution on the boardwalk in Dublin, Ireland. Measurement and prediction

This paper outlines an air pollution study carried out on Dublin city's recently completed boardwalk along the side of and overhanging the River Liffey. Air quality samples were taken along the length of the boardwalk to investigate whether pedestrians using the boardwalk would have a lower air pollution exposure than those using the adjoining footpath along the road. The results of the study show significant reductions in pedestrian exposure to both traffic derived particulates and hydrocarbons along the boardwalk as opposed to the footpath. Computational fluid dynamics was also used to model the outcome of these field measurements and shows the importance of the boundary wall between the footpath and boardwalk in reducing air pollution exposure for the pedestrian, the results of which are also presented herein.     

Association between background exposure to organochlorine pesticides and the risk of cognitive impairment: A prospective study that accounts for weight change

BackgroundBackground exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides was recently linked to cognitive impairment and dementia in cross-sectional and case–control studies. This prospective study was performed to evaluate if OC pesticides at baseline are associated with the future risk of cognitive impairment in elderly, with particular focus on weight change.MethodsPlasma concentrations of 3 OC pesticides (p,p′-DDE, trans-nonachlor, and hexachlorobenzene) were measured among 989 men and women aged 70 years in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS). Cognitive impairment was validated by reviewing medical records. During the ten year follow-up, cognitive impairment was developed in 75 subjects. When weight change from age 70 to 75 was considered in analyses, elderly with incident cases before age 75 were excluded to keep the prospective perspective, leaving 795 study subjects and 44 incident cases.ResultsThe summary measure of 3 OC pesticides predicted the development of cognitive impairment after adjusting for covariates, including weight change. Compared to subjects with OC pesticides < 25th percentile, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) in those with 25th–<75th and ≥ 75th percentiles were 3.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.5–8.5) and 3.2 (1.1–7.6), respectively (P_trend = 0.04). Among 506 subjects who maintained or gained body weight, adjusted HRs were 6.9 and 11.6 (1.4–92.6) among the elderly in the 25th–<75th and ≥ 75th percentiles compared to < 25th percentile (P_trend < 0.01).ConclusionsThis prospective study demonstrates that background exposure to OC pesticides are linked to the risk of developing cognitive impairment in elderly. The role of the chronic exposure to low dose OC pesticides in the development of dementia should be further evaluated in other populations.     

Recent versus chronic exposure to particulate matter air pollution in association with neurobehavioral performance in a panel study of primary schoolchildren

Children's neuropsychological abilities are in a developmental stage. Recent air pollution exposure and neurobehavioral performance are scarcely studied. In a panel study, we repeatedly administered to each child the following neurobehavioral tests: Stroop Test (selective attention) and Continuous Performance Test (sustained attention), Digit Span Forward and Backward Tests (short-term memory), and Digit-Symbol and Pattern Comparison Tests (visual information processing speed). At school, recent inside classroom particulate matter ≤ 2.5 or 10 μm exposure (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) was monitored on each examination day. At the child's residence, recent (same day up to 2 days before) and chronic (365 days before examination) exposures to PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and black carbon (BC) were modeled. Repeated neurobehavioral test performances (n = 894) of the children (n = 310) reflected slower Stroop Test (p = 0.05) and Digit-Symbol Test (p = 0.01) performances with increasing recent inside classroom PM_2.5 exposure. An interquartile range (IQR) increment in recent residential outdoor PM_2.5 exposure was associated with an increase in average latency of 0.087 s (SE: ± 0.034; p = 0.01) in the Pattern Comparison Test. Regarding chronic exposure at residence, an IQR increment of PM_2.5 exposure was associated with slower performances in the Continuous Performance (9.45 ± 3.47 msec; p = 0.007) and Stroop Tests (59.9 ± 26.5 msec; p = 0.02). Similar results were obtained for PM₁₀ exposure. In essence, we showed differential neurobehavioral changes robustly and adversely associated with recent or chronic ambient exposure to PM air pollution at residence, i.e., with recent exposure for visual information processing speed (Pattern Comparison Test) and with chronic exposure for sustained and selective attention.     

Association of modeled long-term personal exposure to ultrafine particles with inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers

BackgroundLong-term exposure to fine particulate matter has been linked to cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammatory responses; however, evidence is limited regarding the effects of long-term exposure to ultrafine particulate matter (UFP, < 100 nm). We used a cross-sectional study design to examine the association of long-term exposure to near-highway UFP with measures of systemic inflammation and coagulation.MethodsWe analyzed blood samples from 408 individuals aged 40–91 years living in three near-highway and three urban background areas in and near Boston, Massachusetts. We conducted mobile monitoring of particle number concentration (PNC) in each area, and used the data to develop and validate highly resolved spatiotemporal (hourly, 20 m) PNC regression models. These models were linked with participant time-activity data to determine individual time-activity adjusted (TAA) annual average PNC exposures. Multivariable regression modeling and stratification were used to assess the association between TAA-PNC and single peripheral blood measures of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor-necrosis factor alpha receptor II (TNFRII) and fibrinogen.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking and race/ethnicity, an interquartile-range (10,000 particles/cm³) increase in TAA-PNC had a positive non-significant association with a 14.0% (95% CI: − 4.6%, 36.2%) positive difference in hsCRP, an 8.9% (95% CI: − 0.4%, 10.9%) positive difference in IL-6, and a 5.1% (95% CI: − 0.4%, 10.9%) positive difference in TNFRII. Stratification by race/ethnicity revealed that TAA-PNC had larger effect estimates for all three inflammatory markers and was significantly associated with hsCRP and TNFRII in white non-Hispanic, but not East Asian participants. Fibrinogen had a negative non-significant association with TAA-PNC.ConclusionsOur findings suggest an association between annual average near-highway TAA-PNC and subclinical inflammatory markers of CVD risk.     

Heat and air pollution exposure as triggers of delivery: A survival analysis of population-based pregnancy cohorts in Rome and Barcelona

IntroductionEnvironmental exposures have been linked to length of gestation but the question as to during which weeks of gestation pregnancies are most susceptible still remains little explored.We estimated the effect of maximum apparent temperature and air pollution levels on risk of birth by week of gestation.MethodsWe analyzed two cohorts of singleton live births in Rome (2001–2010) and Barcelona (2007–2012). Maximum apparent temperature (MAT), PM₁₀, O₃ and NO₂ were analyzed in the warm period (1st April–31st October).Gestational week-specific hazard ratios of giving birth associated to a 1-unit increase in exposure were estimated fitting Cox regression models adjusted for seasonality, and demographic and clinical characteristics of the mother.ResultsWe observed 78,633 births (5.5% preterm) in Rome and 27,255 (4.5% preterm) in Barcelona. The highest hazard ratios for 1 °C increase in MAT were in the 22nd–26th weeks of gestation, 1.071, (95% CI 1.052–1.091) in Rome and 1.071 (95% CI 1.036–1.106) in Barcelona, and decreased to 1.032 (95% CI 1.026–1.038) and 1.033 (95% CI 1.020–1.045) at the 36th week of gestation, respectively. Similar associations and trends were observed for PM₁₀ and NO₂ after adjusting for MAT. O₃ showed similar trends but weaker associations.ConclusionsWe found, consistently in Rome and Barcelona, an increased risk of delivery for a unit increase in MAT, PM₁₀, NO₂ and O₃, especially in the second half of the second trimester, thus effectively increasing the risk of preterm and particularly early preterm birth. Results may help to increase awareness of these risks among public-health regulators and clinicians, leading to better preventive strategies.     

Air pollution exposure increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A longitudinal and nationwide study

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with inhaled pollutants in several studies, and it is a disease of chronic inflammation. The association between air pollution and the risk of RA remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this nationwide, retrospective, sex-stratification study to evaluate this association.MethodsWe collected data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID), maintained by the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance, and the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database (TAQMD), released by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency. The TAQMD provides the daily concentrations of particulate matter with the aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) from 74 ambient air quality-monitoring stations distributed all over Taiwan during 1998–2010. The LHID and TAQMD were linked according to the residential areas of insurants and the areas where the air quality-monitoring stations were located. A residential area was defined according to the location of the clinic and hospital that treated acute upper respiratory tract infections. The yearly average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into 4 levels based on quartiles. We evaluated the risk of RA in residents exposed to 4 levels of PM_2.5 and NO₂ concentrations.ResultsWe detected an increased risk of RA in participants exposed to PM_2.5 and NO₂. Among four quartiles of NO₂ concentration, namely Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) in Q2, Q3, and Q4 compared with that in Q1 were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76–1.50), 1.63 (95% CI = 1.16–2.31),and 1.49 (95% CI = 1.05–2.12), respectively. Regarding the PM_2.5 concentrations, the aHRs after exposure to the Q2, Q3, and Q4 levels were 1.22 (95% CI = 0.85–1.74), 1.15 (95% CI = 0.82–1.62), and 0.79 (95% CI = 0.53–1.16), respectively.ConclusionThe results of this nationwide study suggest an increased risk of RA in residents exposed to NO₂.     

Association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and the health of newborns

Phthalates are developmental and reproductive toxicants for the fetus in pregnant rodents, and the ability of phthalates to penetrate the placenta have been reported. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between maternal urine excretion, the exposure of fetus to phthalates in amniotic fluid, and the health of newborns. Amniotic fluid and urine samples from pregnant women were collected to measure five phthalate monoesters using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) and the newborns' birth weight, gestational age, and anogenital distance (AGD) were collected. The median levels of three phthalate monoesters in urine and amniotic fluid were 78.4 and 85.2 ng/mL monobutyl phthalate (MBP); 24.9 and 22.8 ng/mL mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP); 19.8 and Not Detected monoethyl phthalate (MEP). We found a significant positive correlation only between creatinine adjusted urinary MBP and amniotic fluid MBP (R(2)=0.156, p<0.05) in all infants and, only in female infants, a significantly negative correlation between amniotic fluid MBP, AGD (R=-0.31, p<0.06), and the anogenital index adjusted by birth weight (AGI-W) (R=-0.32, p<0.05). Although the influence of prenatal di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) exposure on the endocrinology and physiology of the fetus is still a puzzle, our data clearly show that in utero exposure to phthalates in general has anti-androgenic effects on the fetus.     

Air pollution exposure and telomere length in highly exposed subjects in Beijing,China: A repeated-measure study

BackgroundAmbient particulate matter (PM) exposure has been associated with short- and long-term effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of CVD risk that is modified by inflammation and oxidative stress, two key pathways for PM effects. Whether PM exposure modifies TL is largely unexplored.ObjectivesTo investigate effects of PM on blood TL in a highly-exposed population.MethodsWe measured blood TL in 120 blood samples from truck drivers and 120 blood samples from office workers in Beijing, China. We measured personal PM_2.5 and Elemental Carbon (EC, a tracer of traffic particles) using light-weight monitors. Ambient PM₁₀ was obtained from local monitoring stations. We used covariate-adjusted regression models to estimate percent changes in TL per an interquartile-range increase in exposure.ResultsCovariate-adjusted TL was higher in drivers (mean = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.74; 1.03) than in office workers (mean = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.67; 0.93; p = 0.001). In all participants combined, TL increased in association with personal PM_2.5 (+ 5.2%, 95%CI: 1.5; 9.1; p = 0.007), personal EC (+ 4.9%, 95%CI: 1.2; 8.8; p = 0.01), and ambient PM₁₀ (+ 7.7%, 95%CI: 3.7; 11.9; p < 0.001) on examination days. In contrast, average ambient PM₁₀ over the 14 days before the examinations was significantly associated with shorter TL (− 9.9%, 95%CI: − 17.6; − 1.5; p = 0.02).ConclusionsShort-term exposure to ambient PM is associated with increased blood TL, consistent with TL roles during acute inflammatory responses. Longer exposures may shorten TL as expected after prolonged pro-oxidant exposures. The observed TL alterations may participate in the biological pathways of short- and long-term PM effects.