Spatially and Temporally Resolved Ambient PM2.5 in Relation to Preterm Birth

Growing evidence suggests that maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth; however, few studies have examined critical windows of exposure, which can help elucidate underlying biologic mechanisms and inform public health messaging for limiting exposure. Participants included 891 mother–newborn pairs enrolled in a U.S.-based pregnancy cohort study. Daily residential PM2.5 concentrations at a 1 × 1 km2 resolution were estimated using a satellite-based hybrid model. Gestational age at birth was abstracted from electronic medical records and preterm birth (PTB) was defined as <37 completed weeks of gestation. We used Critical Window Variable Selection to examine weekly PM2.5 exposure in relation to the odds of PTB and examined sex-specific associations using stratified models. The mean ± standard deviation PM2.5 level averaged across pregnancy was 8.13 ± 1.10 µg/m3. PM2.5 exposure was not associated with an increased odds of PTB during any gestational week. In sex-stratified models, we observed a marginal increase in the odds of PTB with exposure occurring during gestational week 16 among female infants only. This study does not provide strong evidence supporting an association between weekly exposure to PM2.5 and preterm birth.

Short-Term Cumulative Exposure to Ambient Traffic-Related Black Carbon and Blood Pressure: MMDA Traffic Enforcers’ Health Study

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked with acute alterations in blood pressure (BP). We examined the cumulative short-term effect of black carbon (BC) exposure on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP and assessed effect modification by participant characteristics. SBP and DBP were repeatedly measured on 152 traffic enforcers. Using a linear mixed-effects model with random intercepts, quadratic (QCDL) and cubic (CCDL) constrained distributed lag models were fitted to estimate the cumulative effect of BC concentration on SBP and DBP during the 10 hours (daily exposure) and 7 days (weekly exposure) before the BP measurement. Ambient BC was related to increased BP with QCDL models. An interquartile range change in BC cumulative during the 7 days before the BP measurement was associated with increased BP (1.2% change in mean SBP, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1 to 2.3; and 0.5% change in mean DBP, 95% CI, −0.8 to 1.7). Moreover, the association between the 10-h cumulative BC exposure and SBP was stronger for female (4.0% change, 95% CI: 2.1–5.9) versus male and for obese (2.9% change, 95% CI: 1.0–4.8) vs. non-obese traffic enforcers. Short-term cumulative exposure to ambient traffic-related BC could bring about cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms involving increased BP.

Short-Term Cumulative Exposure to Ambient Traffic-Related Black Carbon and Blood Pressure: MMDA Traffic Enforcers’ Health Study

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked with acute alterations in blood pressure (BP). We examined the cumulative short-term effect of black carbon (BC) exposure on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP and assessed effect modification by participant characteristics. SBP and DBP were repeatedly measured on 152 traffic enforcers. Using a linear mixed-effects model with random intercepts, quadratic (QCDL) and cubic (CCDL) constrained distributed lag models were fitted to estimate the cumulative effect of BC concentration on SBP and DBP during the 10-hours (daily exposure) and 7-days (weekly exposure) before the BP measurement. Ambient BC was related to increased BP with QCDL models. An interquartile range change in BC cumulative during the 7-days before the BP measurement was associated with increased BP [1.2% change in mean SBP, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1 to 2.3; and 0.5% change in mean DBP, 95% CI, &ndash;0.8 to 1.7]. Moreover, the association between the 10-hours cumulative BC exposure and SBP was stronger for females (4.0% change, 95% CI: 2.1&ndash;5.9) versus males, and for obese (2.9% change, 95% CI: 1.0&ndash;4.8) vs. non-obese traffic enforcers. Short-term cumulative exposure to ambient traffic-related BC could bring about cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms involving increased BP.

Parental Perceptions of Children’s Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Parental Smoking Behaviour

Around 40% of children are exposed to tobacco smoke, increasing their risk of poor health. Previous research has demonstrated misunderstanding among smoking parents regarding children’s exposure. The parental perceptions of exposure (PPE) measure uses visual and textual vignettes to assess awareness of exposure to smoke. The study aimed to determine whether PPE is related to biochemical and reported measures of exposure in children with smoking parents. Families with at least one smoking parent and a child ≤ age 8 were recruited. In total, 82 parents completed the PPE questionnaire, which was assessed on a scale of 1–7 with higher scores denoting a broader perception of exposure. Parents provided a sample of their child’s hair and a self-report of parental smoking habits. Parents who reported smoking away from home had higher PPE ratings than parents who smoke in and around the home (p = 0.026), constituting a medium effect size. PPE corresponded with home smoking frequency, with rare or no home exposure associated with higher PPE scores compared to daily or weekly exposure (p < 0.001). PPE was not significantly related to hair nicotine but was a significant explanatory factor for home smoking location. PPE was significantly associated with parental smoking behaviour, including location and frequency. High PPE was associated with lower exposure according to parental report. This implies that parental understanding of exposure affects protective behaviour and constitutes a potential target for intervention to help protect children.

Effects of different pH, temperature and foils on aluminum leaching from baked fish by ICP-MS

The effect of different type of fish, marination methods, temperature, and cooking time as well as foil type on Al leaching into baked fish, was determinated. Two fish types, Al foils, and marinating ingredients were procured from a hypermarket. Fish was cooked in the baking tray of oven, using two foil types, at 150°C for 40 min and at 200°C for 20 min. Al content was determined. It was found that increase in acidity caused significant increase in Al leaching. When the relationship between temperature-time and Al leaching based on meat type was analysed, it was found that when the temperature was increased the extent of Al leaching was higher in salmon. Even in the highest estimated weekly exposure to Al (1.228 ± 0.1631 mg/kg per week), Al PTWI suggested by JECFA was not exceeded. Although using different Al foil did not leach significant amounts of Al into the fish and exposure values of Al did not exceed the PTWI, exposure of Al from fish samples may be dangerous to vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and people with kidney disease.

Concentration of Nitrogen Dioxide and its relationship in acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years old in Lima

Air pollution is an increasingly common environmental problem, affecting the health of people in the world's major cities, with the most vulnerable being pregnant women, the elderly and children in economically deprived and excluded sectors. The city of Lima, Peru shows an accelerated increase of industrialization, commercialization, a great flow and vehicular congestion, generating high levels of nitrogen dioxide concentration. In order to obtain the concentrations, the passive method was used during a weekly exposure time. The registered cases of acute respiratory infections were obtained from the Centro Materno Infantil "Los Sureños". Of the results obtained normal, for nitrogen dioxide gave a value of 0.293 and a value of 0.514 for acute respiratory infections. The Pearson correlation value is 0.862 for the concentration of nitrogen dioxide and cases of acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age. In conclusion, it was possible to determine whether there is a strong correlation between nitrogen dioxide concentration and acute respiratory infections.

Experimentation and use of cigarette and other tobacco products among adolescents in the Brazilian state capitals (PeNSE 2012)

INTRODUCTION: Nicotine dependence establishes itself more rapidly among adolescents than among adults. Tobacco occupies the fourth place in the rank of main risk factors for non-communicable diseases in the continent. Studies reveal that other forms of tobacco use have increased among adolescents. METHODS: Were included the 9th grade students from the 26 State Capitals and the Federal District. who were participants of the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), in 2012. Factors independently associated with experimentation and regular use of cigarettes were investigated by means of multinomial logistic regression, using as reference "never tried a cigarette". The use of other tobacco products included cigar, pipe, narghile and others. RESULTS: Of the in the 61,037 participants in the 26 Brazilian capitals and the Federal District, 22.7% (95%CI 21.7 - 23.5) had experimented cigarettes, 6.1% (95%CI 5.6 - 6.6) are regular smokers and 7.1% (95%CI 6.5 - 7.7) had used other tobacco products, with half of them also being regular smokers. The chances of experimenting and being a regular smoker increased with age and according to the frequency of weekly exposure to other smokers. These chances were also higher among students who worked, who lived in monoparental families or without their parents, and those who felt that their parents would not mind if they smoked. CONCLUSION: Results reinforce the association between social disadvantages and experimenting and regular smoking. In addition, the use of other tobacco products is worthy of attention and may lead to regular smoking.

Antisense Oligonucletide Mediated Depletion of Factor VII Provides Protection from Ferric Chloride Induced Thrombosis without Increased Bleeding Risk in Mice

The Tissue Factor-Factor VIIa complex is the initiating protease in the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. Knockout of Factor VII in mice results in embryonic lethality. However, only humans with severe Factor VII deficiency exhibit any coagulopathy. In order to determine the potential of Factor VII as an anticoagulant target and the utility of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) as Factor VII inhibitors, ASOs were designed to promote RNaseH mediated degradation of Factor VII RNA and evaluated in mice. Factor VII is predominantly produced in the liver, a tissue that is tractable for antisense mediated target depletion. Following three weeks of treatment, the Factor VII ASO was well tolerated and supported significant reduction of Factor VII RNA and protein in mouse liver (ED50 of 3.5 mg/kg for RNA and 2.8 mg/kg for protein). Greater than 95% reduction in Factor VII RNA levels was observed at a dose of 25 mg/kg, administered twice weekly. Following three weeks exposure to 100 mg/kg/wk, prothrombin times (PT) from platelet poor mouse plasma was more than doubled, compared to untreated animals, while activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTT) was only increased 16%. Antithrombotic activity of Factor VII ASO was determined following ferric chloride injury to the inferior vena cava. ED50 for inhibition of thrombosis was 24 mg/kg/wk. The effects of Factor VII depletion on hemostatic control were also determined using a mouse tail nick model. No increase in blood loss was detected, compared to untreated animals, up to a weekly exposure of 80 mg/kg, the highest dose utilized in the study. Compared to warfarin, ASO mediated depletion of Factor VII promoted equivalent protection from thrombosis following ferric chloride injury while maintaining better hemostatic control. These findings support the development of an ASO drug targeting Factor VII as an anticoagulant.