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Abstract Background: Vitamin D improves absorption of calcium; however, in animal studies vitamin D also increases the absorption of toxic metals, such as lead and cadmium. Objectives: We examined maternal and neonatal cord blood levels of lead, cadmium, manganese, and mercury after supplementation with vitamin D during pregnancy. Methods: The Maternal Vitamin D for Infant Growth trial was a randomized

Abstract Background: Only a limited number of neuroimaging studies have explored the effects of ambient air pollution in adults. The prior studies have investigated only cortical volume, and they have reported mixed findings, particularly for gray matter. Furthermore, the association between nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and neuroimaging markers has been little studied in adults. Objectives: We investigated

Abstract Background: Injectable contraceptive use is common, with 74 million users worldwide. Use of the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is associated with bone mineral density loss. We hypothesize that increased bone resorption with DMPA use allows for mobilization of the toxic metal lead stored in bone to blood, presenting users with increased systemic exposure to

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Abstract Background: Concern has grown in recent decades over anthropogenic contaminants that interfere with the functioning of endocrine hormones. However, mechanisms connecting developmental processes to pathologies associated with endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure are poorly understood in naturally exposed populations. Objectives: We sought to a) characterize divergence in ovarian transcriptomic

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Abstract Background: Modeling suggests that climate change mitigation actions can have substantial human health benefits that accrue quickly and locally. Documenting the benefits can help drive more ambitious and health-protective climate change mitigation actions; however, documenting the adverse health effects can help to avoid them. Estimating the health effects of mitigation (HEM) actions can help

Abstract Background: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce potent neurotoxins that threaten human health, but current regulations may not be protective of sensitive populations. Early life exposure to low levels of the HAB toxin domoic acid (DomA) produces long-lasting behavioral deficits in rodent and primate models; however, the mechanisms involved are unknown. The zebrafish is a powerful in vivo vertebrate

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Abstract Background: Reduced fetal growth increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that metal exposures contribute to reduced fetal growth, but little is known about the effects of complex metal mixtures. Objectives: We investigated the impact of a complex mixture of metals on birth weight for gestational age (BW for GA) in the Maternal and Developmental Risks from

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Abstract Background: Some 20 y ago, scientific and regulatory communities identified the potential of omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to improve chemical risk assessment through development of toxicogenomics. Recognizing that regulators adopt new scientific methods cautiously given accountability to diverse stakeholders, the scope and pace of adoption of toxicogenomics

Abstract Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most significant health threats to society. A growing body of research demonstrates selection for AMR likely occurs at environmental concentrations of antibiotics. However, no standardized experimental approaches for determining selective concentrations of antimicrobials currently exist, preventing appropriate environmental and human

Abstract Background: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) mono-ether structural analogs, identified as the by-products or transformation products of commercial TBBPA bis-ether derivatives, have been identified as emerging widespread pollutants. However, there is very little information regarding their toxicological effects. Objective: We aimed to explore the potential thyroid hormone (TH) system–disrupting

Abstract Background: Tropical cyclone epidemiology can be advanced through exposure assessment methods that are comprehensive and consistent across space and time, as these facilitate multiyear, multistorm studies. Further, an understanding of patterns in and between exposure metrics that are based on specific hazards of the storm can help in designing tropical cyclone epidemiological research. Objectives:

Abstract Background: Groundwater is a main drinking-water source for Chinese rural residents. The overall pollution status of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and metals in the groundwater and corresponding health risks are unknown. Objectives: Our objective was to comprehensively screen for and assess the health risks of OMPs and metals in groundwater of rural areas in China where groundwater is used

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Abstract Background: Environmental factors may contribute to the development of Kawasaki disease in children, but prenatal environmental exposures are understudied. Objective: We used a population-based cohort to investigate whether prenatal exposure to outdoor air pollution is associated with the incidence of Kawasaki disease in childhood. Methods: We performed a longitudinal cohort study of all children

Abstract Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with hormonal homeostasis and have adverse effects for both humans and the environment. Their identification is increasingly difficult due to lack of adequate toxicological tests. This difficulty is particularly problematic for cosmetic ingredients, because in vivo testing is now banned completely in the European Union. Objectives: The

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Abstract Background: Two of the most important causes of global disease fall in the realm of environmental health: household air pollution (HAP) and poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions. Interventions, such as clean cookstoves, household water treatment, and improved sanitation facilities, have great potential to yield reductions in disease burden. However, in recent trials and implementation

Abstract Background: Previous research has identified an association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and lung cancer. Most of the evidence for this association, however, is based on research using lung cancer mortality, not incidence. Research that examines potential associations between PM2.5 and incidence of non-lung cancers is limited. Objectives: The primary purpose of this

Abstract Background: Some disinfection by-products (DBPs) are reproductive and developmental toxicants in laboratory animals. However, studies of trimester-specific DBP exposure on adverse birth outcomes in humans are inconsistent. Objective: We examined whether trimester-specific blood and urinary biomarkers of DBP were associated with small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW), and preterm

Abstract Background: Exposure to coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is linked to the development of insulin resistance. Previous studies suggested PCB126 alters muscle mitochondrial function through an indirect mechanism. Given that PCBs are stored in fat, we hypothesized that PCB126 alters adipokine secretion, which in turn affects muscle metabolism. Objectives: We determined a) the impacts

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Abstract Objectives: Due to inconsistent epidemiological evidence on health effects of air pollution on progression of atherosclerosis, we investigated several air pollutants and their effects on progression of atherosclerosis, using carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), coronary calcification (CAC), and thoracic aortic calcification (TAC). Methods: We used baseline (2000–2003) and 5-y follow-up (2006–2008)

Abstract Background: Animal studies suggest that pesticide exposure elicits endocrine changes, increases embryo implantation failure, and decreases litter size. However, only a few epidemiological studies have evaluated the effects of pesticides on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies. Objectives: This study examined the associations between preconception organophosphate pesticides

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Abstract Background: Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic pollutant. Evidence suggests it is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. Objectives: We present a rigorous approach for identifying concentration–response functions that relate adult Pb exposures to CVD mortality to inform a health impact model (HIM). We then use the model in a proof-of-concept example. Methods: Building on

Abstract Background: Drinking water contamination related to the use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been documented at hundreds of military bases, airports, and firefighter training facilities. AFFF has historically contained high levels of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which pose serious health concerns. However, the composition and toxicity of legacy AFFF mixtures

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Abstract Background: Manganese (Mn) in drinking water may increase the risk of several neurodevelopmental outcomes, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Earlier epidemiological studies on associations between Mn exposure and ADHD-related outcomes had small sample sizes, lacked spatiotemporal exposure assessment, and relied on questionnaire data (not diagnoses)—shortcomings that

BACKGROUND Manganese (Mn) in drinking water may increase the risk of several neurodevelopmental outcomes, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Earlier epidemiological studies on associations between Mn exposure and ADHD-related outcomes had small sample sizes, lacked spatiotemporal exposure assessment, and relied on questionnaire data (not diagnoses)-shortcomings that we address

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Abstract Background: Fetal exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with the development of noncommunicable diseases in the offspring. Maternal smoking may induce such long-term effects through persistent changes in the DNA methylome, which therefore hold the potential to be used as a biomarker of this early life exposure. With declining costs for measuring DNA methylation, we aimed

BACKGROUND Fetal exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with the development of noncommunicable diseases in the offspring. Maternal smoking may induce such long-term effects through persistent changes in the DNA methylome, which therefore hold the potential to be used as a biomarker of this early life exposure. With declining costs for measuring DNA methylation, we aimed to develop

Abstract Background: Increasingly, risk of bias tools are used to evaluate epidemiologic studies as part of evidence synthesis (evidence integration), often involving meta-analyses. Some of these tools consider hypothetical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as gold standards. Methods: We review the strengths and limitations of risk of bias assessments, in particular, for reviews of observational

Abstract Background: Studies have reported that ambient air pollution is associated with an increased risk of developing or dying from coronavirus-2 (COVID-19). Methodological approaches to investigate the health impacts of air pollution on epidemics should differ from those used for chronic diseases, but the methods used in these studies have not been appraised critically. Objectives: Our study aimed

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Abstract Background: Research on the health effects of chemical mixtures has focused mainly on early life rather than adolescence, a potentially important developmental life stage. Objectives: We examined associations of a metal mixture with general cognition in a cross-sectional study of adolescents residing near ferromanganese industry, a source of airborne metals emissions. Methods: We measured

Abstract Background: Extreme heat poses current and future risks to human health. Heat vulnerability indices (HVIs), commonly developed using principal components analysis (PCA), are mapped to identify populations vulnerable to extreme heat. Few studies critically assess implications of analytic choices made when employing this methodology for fine-scale vulnerability mapping. Objective: We investigated

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Abstract Background: Living in greener areas of cities was linked to increased physical activity levels, improved mental well-being, and lowered harmful environmental exposures, all of which may affect human health. However, whether living in greener areas may be associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease incidence, progression, and premature mortality is unclear. Objectives: We conducted

Abstract Background: Epidemiological evidence for the association between traffic-related noise and the incidence of major cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and congestive heart failure (CHF) is inconclusive, especially in North America. Objectives: We evaluated the associations between long-term exposure to road traffic noise and the incidence of AMI and CHF. Methods:

Abstract Background: The genotoxicity of benzene has been investigated in dozens of biomonitoring studies, mainly by studying (classical) chromosomal aberrations (CAs) or micronuclei (MN) as markers of DNA damage. Both have been shown to be predictive of future cancer risk in cohort studies and could, therefore, potentially be used for risk assessment of genotoxicity-mediated cancers. Objectives: We

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Abstract Background: Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a significant public health problem. Methylation of iAs by arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) controls iAs detoxification and modifies risks of iAs-induced diseases. Mechanisms underlying these diseases have been extensively studied using animal models. However, substantive differences between humans and laboratory animals in efficiency

Abstract Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of widely used persistent chemicals with suspected immunotoxic effects. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the association between infant PFAS exposure and antibody responses to measles vaccination as well as morbidity in a low-income country. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, children from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa