Abstract Background: Population studies support the adverse associations of air pollution exposures with child behavioral functioning and cognitive performance, but few studies have used spatiotemporally resolved pollutant assessments. Objectives: We investigated these associations using more refined exposure assessments in 1,967 mother–child dyads from three U.S. pregnancy cohorts in six cities in

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Abstract Background: Markers of exposure to environmental toxicants are urgently needed. Tooth enamel, with its unique properties, is able to record certain environmental conditions during its formation. Enamel formation and quality are dependent on hormonal regulation and environmental conditions, including exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Among EDCs, phthalates such as di-(2-ethylhexyl)

Abstract Background: Developmental exposure to air pollution is associated with diminished cognitive abilities in observational studies, but no randomized controlled trial has examined the effect of reducing air pollution on cognition in children. Objectives: We sought to quantify the impact of reducing exposure to particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy on children’s cognitive performance at 4 y

Abstract Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants associated with diseases such as cancer and dyslipidemia. However, few studies have investigated the association between PFAS mixture exposure and mortality in general populations. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between PFAS mixture, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane

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Abstract Background: There is increasing evidence that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter [PM ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] may adversely impact cognitive performance. Wildfire smoke is one of the biggest sources of PM2.5 and concentrations are likely to increase under climate change. However, little is known about how short-term exposure impacts cognitive function. Objectives:

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Abstract Background: According to the World Health Organization/United Nations International Children’s Fund Joint Monitoring Program, 494 million people practice open defecation globally. After achieving open defecation-free (ODF) status through efforts such as Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), communities (particularly vulnerable households) may revert to open defecation, especially when toilet

Abstract Background: Air pollution disparities by socioeconomic status (SES) are well documented for the United States, with most literature indicating an inverse relationship (i.e., higher concentrations for lower-SES populations). Few studies exist for China, a country accounting for 26% of global premature deaths from ambient air pollution. Objective: Our objective was to test the relationship between

Abstract Background: No safe level of lead in blood has been identified. Blood lead testing is required for children on Medicaid, but it is at the discretion of providers and parents for others. Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) cannot be identified in children who are not tested. Objectives: The aims of this research were to identify determinants of lead testing and EBLLs among North Carolina children

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Abstract Background: The effective reproductive number, Re, is a critical indicator to monitor disease dynamics, inform regional and national policies, and estimate the effectiveness of interventions. It describes the average number of new infections caused by a single infectious person through time. To date, Re estimates are based on clinical data such as observed cases, hospitalizations, and/or deaths

Abstract Background: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and N-nitroso compounds (NOC), formed endogenously after nitrate ingestion, are suspected endometrial carcinogens, but epidemiological studies are limited. Objectives: We investigated the relationship of these exposures with endometrial cancer risk in a large prospective cohort. Methods: Among postmenopausal women in the Iowa Women’s Health Study

Abstract Background: Despite reductions in exposure for workers and the general public, radon remains a leading cause of lung cancer. Prior studies of underground miners depended heavily upon information on deaths among miners employed in the early years of mine operations when exposures were high and tended to be poorly estimated. Objectives: To strengthen the basis for radiation protection, we report

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Abstract Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic (man-made) chemicals widely used in consumer products and industrial processes. Thousands of distinct PFAS exist in commerce. The 2019 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan outlines a multiprogram national research plan to address the challenge

Abstract Background: Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge untreated sewage into surface and recreational water, often following heavy precipitation. Given projected increases in frequency and intensity of precipitation due to climate change, it is important to understand the health impacts of CSOs and mediating effects of sewerage systems. Objectives: In this study we estimate associations of

Abstract Background: Household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel combustion remains a leading environmental risk factor for morbidity worldwide. Objective: Measure the effect of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) interventions on HAP exposures in Puno, Peru. Methods: We conducted a 1-y randomized controlled trial followed by a 1-y pragmatic crossover trial in 180 women age 25–64 y. During the first

Abstract Background: Sewage surveillance, by detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation at the community level, has the potential to supplement individual surveillance for COVID-19. However, to date, there have been no reports about the large-scale implementation and validation of sewage surveillance for public health action. Objective: Here, we developed a standardized approach for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Abstract Background: Consensus on the etiology of 1991 Gulf War illness (GWI) has been limited by lack of objective individual-level environmental exposure information and assumed recall bias. Objectives: We investigated a prestated hypothesis of the association of GWI with a gene–environment (GxE) interaction of the paraoxonase-1 (PON1) Q192R polymorphism and low-level nerve agent exposure. Methods:

Abstract Background: The available evidence for positive associations between urban trees and human health is mixed, partly because the assessment of exposure to trees is often imprecise because of, for instance, exclusion of trees in private areas and the lack of three-dimensional (3D) exposure indicators (e.g., crown volume). Objectives: We aimed to quantify all trees and relevant 3D structural traits

Abstract Background: By-products are formed when disinfectants react with organic matter in source water. The most common class of disinfection by-products, trihalomethanes (THMs), have been linked to bladder cancer. Several studies have shown exposure–response associations with THMs in drinking water and bladder cancer risk. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated gene–environment interactions for

Abstract Summary: Advances in technologies to measure a broad set of exposures have led to a range of exposome research efforts. Yet, these efforts have insufficiently integrated methods that incorporate genetic data to strengthen causal inference, despite evidence that many exposome-associated phenotypes are heritable. Objective: We demonstrate how integration of methods and study designs that incorporate

Abstract Background: Research suggests environmental contaminants can impact metabolic health; however, high costs prohibit in vivo screening of putative metabolic disruptors. High-throughput screening programs, such as ToxCast, hold promise to reduce testing gaps and prioritize higher-order (in vivo) testing. Objectives: We sought to a) examine the concordance of in vitro testing in 3T3-L1 cells to

Abstract Background: Paraquat (PQ) is a pesticide, exposure to which has been associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease; however, PQ transport mechanisms in the brain are still unclear. Our previous studies indicated that the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) expressed on astrocytes could uptake PQ and protect the dopaminergic (DA) neurons from a higher level of extracellular PQ. At

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Abstract Background: Abnormal placental development may result in adverse pregnancy outcomes and metabolic diseases in adulthood; however, it remains unknown whether and how xenobiotics affect human placentation. Objectives: This study aimed to screen and identify placentation-disrupting chemicals in commonly used organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and, if identified, to investigate potential

Abstract Background: Experimental evidence indicates that exposure to certain pollutants is associated with liver damage. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic chemicals widely used in industry and consumer products and bioaccumulate in food webs and human tissues, such as the liver. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature

Abstract Background: Fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols might lead to fetal cardiovascular developmental adaptations and predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease in later life. Objectives: We examined the associations of maternal urinary bisphenol and phthalate concentrations in pregnancy with offspring carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility

Abstract Background: Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with lower birth weight but also higher weight in childhood. Few studies have examined weight or adiposity from birth to childhood and thus cannot assess growth trajectories associated with exposure. Objective: We assessed associations between maternal phthalate exposures in pregnancy and child weight and adiposity measured prenatally

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Abstract Background: School classrooms, where students spend the majority of their time during the day, are the second most important indoor microenvironment for children. Objective: We investigated factors influencing classroom exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in urban schools in the northeast United States. Methods: Over the period of 10

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Abstract Background: Humans are exposed to combinations of chemicals. In cumulative risk assessment (CRA), regulatory bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority consider dose addition as a default and sufficiently conservative approach. The principle of dose addition was confirmed previously for inducing craniofacial malformations in zebrafish embryos in binary mixtures of chemicals with either

Abstract Background: Although substantial evidence suggests that high and low temperatures are adversely associated with nonaccidental mortality, few studies have focused on exploring the risks of temperature on external causes of death. Objectives: We investigated the short-term associations between temperature and external causes of death and four specific categories (suicide, transport, falls, and

Abstract Background: Millions of rural U.S. households are heated with wood stoves. Wood stove use can lead to high indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter [airborne particles ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] and is associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children. Objectives: We assessed the impact of low-cost educational and air filtration interventions on childhood

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Abstract Background: Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world and is purported to have a variety of health effects, including endocrine disruption and an elevated risk of several types of cancer. Blood DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with many other environmental exposures, but to our knowledge, no studies to date have examined the association between blood DNA methylation