Children’s exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs): a review on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and associated health effects

This article reviewed the published studies on the environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among children and assessed the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) level as a biomarker of exposure to PAHs. The current knowledge of the potential health effects of increased 1-OHP in children was reviewed. Additionally, the influence of genetic polymorphism on the urinary 1-OHP level was discussed in this review. The assembled data showed that children who are attending schools or living close to industrial and polluted urban areas might have greater exposure to higher concentrations of PAHs with a higher level of urinary 1-OHP when compared to those children living in rural areas. Urinary 1-OHP may be a reliable biomarker for determining the genotoxic effects, oxidative stress and inflammation caused by exposure to PAHs. Strong research evidence indicated that the total body burden of PAHs should be evaluated by biomonitoring of 1-OHP in line with other urinary PAHs metabolites (with 2–3 rings) to evaluate recent total exposure to PAHs. Overall, the study suggests implementing a mitigation plan to combat air pollution to provide a cleaner environment for children.

Parental Perceptions and Behaviors about Children’s Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Portugal

One of the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Tobacco consumption is a serious health problem that affects smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS), particularly children. This study aims to describe parental perceptions of smoke-free rules, to analyze parental awareness about health risks associated with children’s exposure to SHS, and to describe the prevalence of avoidance behaviors related to tobacco smoke, according to parental smoking status. This study includes 1175 parents from a representative sample of 1511 Portuguese children aged 4 to 9 years old in 2016. Parents who were non-smokers reported a higher level of agreement regarding smoke-free rules at home, inside the car, at playgrounds, and near the school entrance than smokers. A higher percentage of nonsmoking parents agreed that children whose parents smoke at home are more likely to become smokers themselves. Nonsmoking parents reported adopting more avoidance behaviors regarding exposure to SHS. The findings indicate that parental exposure perceptions and avoidance behaviors towards SHS were lower and less frequent among smokers. Health education, smoking cessation programs and smoking bans are needed to raise parental awareness and to protect children from SHS exposure.

Lead Exposure in Children: What Special Educators Need to Know

Journalists have reported large-scale lead poisoning affecting children in cities such as Flint, Michigan. Unfortunately, children’s exposure to lead is not isolated and occurs throughout the country in both urban and rural settings. The effects of lead exposure can cause children to develop disabilities, potentially requiring special education services to address their academic and behavioral difficulties. In this paper, we detail three areas where special education has a major role in addressing the lead crisis: special education identification; intervention; and advocacy, awareness, and prevention. For each area, we provide concrete suggestions for special educators to implement in order to ensure children exposed to lead receive the special education services they need.

Change in exposure of children to second-hand smoke with impact on children’s health and change in parental smoking habits after smoking ban in Bavaria – a multiple cross-sectional study

Background Concerns about smoking displacement from public places to private amenities aroused following smoking ban implementation in Bavaria in 2008. We analysed children’s exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) before and after the ban, its effect on children’s health and prevalence of active smoking in adults. Methods Six cross-sectional surveys (n = 32,443) on pre-school children in Bavaria were analysed, two surveys before the smoking ban in years 2004 and 2005 (S1 and S2) and four after the ban in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016 (S4, S6, S7 and S8). Using multivariable logistic regression, we analysed change in children’s intra- and extrauterine SHS exposure and its adverse health effects (Asthma, wheezing, bronchitis and neurodermatitis) as well as change in parental active smoking. Results The response rates were 78% for S1, 73% for S2, 61% for S4, 62% for S6, 56% for S7 and 54% for S8. Odds of parents never smoked at home in presence of children increased significantly from before to after the ban with odds ratios (OR) 1.17 (CI95% 1.01–1.35), 1.65 (CI95% 1.39–1.95), 2.85 (CI95% 2.32–3.51), 2.24 (CI95% 1.84–2.72) and 3.66 (CI95% 2.89–4.63) for S2, S4, S6, S7 and S8, respectively with S1 as reference. Compared to S4, odds of parents who were not actively smoking is significantly higher in S7 (OR = 1.13 (CI95% 1.03–1.24)) and S8 (OR = 1.24 (CI95% 1.13–1.36)). The odds of mothers who never smoked during pregnancy increased over time with OR = 1.22 (CI95% 1.06–1.40) for S2 and 1.57 (CI95% 1.33–1.86) for S8 compared to S1. Adverse health effects related to children’s exposure to SHS are significantly less in S8 compared to S1. Conclusion After 11 years of smoking ban in Bavaria, smoking displacement to homes was disproved. Exposure of children to SHS intrauterine and at home is decreasing. Number of parents who are not actively smoking is increasing over time. Prevalence of health problems in children related to exposure to SHS is decreasing.

Fluorine Speciation in Loess in The Shaanxi Loess Plateau, Related Quality Assessment And Exposure Risks Implication

In this study, distributing characteristics of five fluorine (F) species in loess in the Shaanxi Loess Plateau (SLP) were determined including unextractable residual F (Fre), extractable water-soluble F (Fws), exchangeable F (Fex), F bound to Fe-Mn oxides (Ffm), and F bound to organics (For). The results show that unextractable Fre represents most percentage of Ftf in loess. Of the four extractable F species, the content of Fws is higher than the other three extractable F species in most loess samples. The loess in the southeast SLP has the highest Fws content while the loess in the southwest has the highest Ftf content. And the loess in the north SLP contains the lowest overall concentrations of Ftf and Fws. Similar to Fws, the respective content of Fex, Ffm, and For in the loess is also very low. However, the total of them and Fws cannot be negligible for F mobility in loess. Overall, the loess in the SLP can be assessed as inferior quality in terms of F as a result of high Fws content in most samples. Based on the F speciation in the loess, F exposure to grazing animals and humans, in fact to children, was assessed, indicating that F in the loess in the southwest SLP might pose a much greater risk to grazing animals than in other part of SLP as the loess contains more Ftf. However, there is no concern for the children’s exposure to loess F via ingestion in the study area in the present condition. As for the loess F risk to groundwater, it can be concluded that not only Fws but also the other extractable F including Fex, Ffm and For in loess may be responsible for the F enrichment in local groundwater in the area with the aid of the characteristics of F speciation in loess and distribution of local high-fluoride groundwater.