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Guo J, Garshick E, Si F, Tang Z, Lian X, Wang Y, Li J, Koutrakis P. Environmental Toxicant Exposure and Depressive Symptoms. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2420259. [PMID: 38958973 PMCID: PMC11222999 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.20259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Recognizing associations between exposure to common environmental toxicants and mental disorders such as depression is crucial for guiding targeted mechanism research and the initiation of disease prevention efforts. Objectives To comprehensively screen and assess the associations between potential environmental toxicants and depressive symptoms and to assess whether systemic inflammation serves as a mediator. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 3427 participants from the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination and Survey who had information on blood or urine concentrations of environmental toxicants and depression scores assessed by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were included. Statistical analysis was performed from July 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024. Exposures Sixty-two toxicants in 10 categories included acrylamide, arsenic, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, iodine, metals, nicotine metabolites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites; and perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate. Main Outcomes and Measures An exposome-wide association study and the deletion-substitution-addition algorithm were used to assess associations with depression scores (PHQ-9 ≥5) adjusted for other important covariates. A mediation analysis framework was used to evaluate the mediating role of systemic inflammation assessed by the peripheral white blood cell count. Results Among the 3427 adults included, 1735 (50.6%) were women, 2683 (78.3%) were younger than 65 years, and 744 (21.7%) were 65 years or older, with 839 (24.5%) having depressive symptoms. In terms of race and ethnicity, 570 participants (16.6%) were Mexican American, 679 (19.8%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 1314 (38.3%) were non-Hispanic White. We identified associations between 27 chemical compounds or metals in 6 of 10 categories of environmental toxicants and the prevalence of depressive symptoms, including the VOC metabolites N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxy-3-butenyl)-l-cysteine (odds ratio [OR], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.38, 2.18]) and total nicotine equivalent-2 (OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.26-1.59]). Men and younger individuals appear more vulnerable to environmental toxicants than women and older individuals. Peripheral white blood cell count mediated 5% to 19% of the associations. Conclusions and Relevance In this representative cross-sectional study of adults with environmental toxicant exposures, 6 categories of environmental toxicants were associated with depressive symptoms with mediation by systemic inflammation. This research provides insight into selecting environmental targets for mechanistic research into the causes of depression and facilitating efforts to reduce environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Guo
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Feifei Si
- Peking University Sixth Hospital Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Tang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyao Lian
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Christensen JR, LaBine GO, Cheung JS, Rosol R, Mohapatra AK, Laird B, Chan HM. Micro-distribution of arsenic in toenail clippings using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: implications for biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:181. [PMID: 38246977 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12360-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Toenails are a common monitoring tool for arsenic exposure, but the risk of external contamination of toenails has cast doubt on its usefulness. The main objective of this study is to investigate the micro-distribution of arsenic through the dorsoventral plane of nail clippings to understand endogenous vs exogenous sources. We used laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to measure arsenic through a dorsoventral cross-section of the nail plate collected from reference (N = 17) and exposed individuals (N = 35). Our main results showed (1) bulk toenail concentrations measured using ICP-MS in this study ranged from 0.54 to 4.35 µg/g; (2) there was a double-hump pattern in arsenic concentrations, i.e., dorsal and ventral layers had higher arsenic than the inner layer; (3) the double-hump was more pronounced in the exposed group (ventral: 6.25 μg/g; inner: 0.75 μg/g; dorsal: 0.95 μg/g) than the reference group (ventral: 0.58 μg/g; inner: 0.15 μg/g; dorsal: 0.29 μg/g) on average; (4) the distribution was, in part, associated with different binding affinity of nail layers (i.e., ventral > dorsal > inner); (5) most individuals in the higher exposure group showed > 25% contamination in ventral and dorsal nail layers; and (6) there were no statistically significant correlations between LA-ICP-MS arsenic with either bulk toenail arsenic or urine arsenic from the same individuals. Our results on micro-distribution and binding affinity provide insight into the impact of external contamination on arsenic concentrations and show how LA-ICP-MS can access the protected inner nail layer to provide a more accurate result.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geriene O LaBine
- TrichAnalytics Inc., 207-1753 Sean Heights, Saanichton, BC, V8M 0B3, Canada
| | - Janet S Cheung
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Renata Rosol
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | | | - Brian Laird
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
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Menegatto M, Zamperini A. Health and Psychological Concerns of Communities Affected by Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances: The Case of Residents Living in the Orange Area of the Veneto Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7056. [PMID: 37998286 PMCID: PMC10671329 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20227056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Residents of an extensive area of the Veneto Region (Italy) face one of the largest technological disasters due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). On the basis of a risk gradient of contamination, the affected territories were divided into 4 areas: Red (of maximum exposure, where a human biomonitoring programme (HBM) was activated), Orange, Yellow, and Green. This article presents a case study of residents who live in the Orange Area, the second area in terms of contamination, excluded from the HBM. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 residents engaged in promoting a legal procedure to exercise their right to know. Grounded theory and a thematic analysis method were used. Overall, the findings revealed that experiencing contamination causes a negative psychosocial impact on the residents' lives; difficulty accessing information; living with uncertainty, caused by the lack of institutional and health support and medical consultation; a sense of abandonment; difficulty managing preventive and protective actions; and the deterioration of relationships, on the basis of the social comparison with residents of the Red Area, to whom HBM was granted and where the concept of health ostracism has emerged. This study demonstrated that biomonitoring may help reduce discomfort in the case of contamination by informing people of their chemical exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adriano Zamperini
- FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy
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4
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Lazarevic N, Smurthwaite KS, Batterham PJ, Lane J, Trevenar SM, D'Este C, Clements ACA, Joshy AL, Hosking R, Gad I, Lal A, Law HD, Banwell C, Randall DA, Miller A, Housen T, Korda RJ, Kirk MD. Psychological distress in three Australian communities living with environmental per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162503. [PMID: 36863595 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental chemical contamination is a recognised risk factor for psychological distress, but has been seldom studied in the context of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. We examined psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of three Australian communities exposed to PFAS from the historical use of aqueous film-forming foam in firefighting activities, and three comparison communities without environmental contamination. METHODS Participation was voluntary following recruitment from a PFAS blood-testing program (exposed) or random selection (comparison). Participants provided blood samples and completed a survey on their exposure history, sociodemographic characteristics, and four measures of psychological distress (Kessler-6, Distress Questionnaire-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7). We estimated prevalence ratios (PR) of clinically-significant psychological distress scores, and differences in mean scores: (1) between exposed and comparison communities; (2) per doubling in PFAS serum concentrations in exposed communities; (3) for factors that affect the perceived risk of living in a community exposed to PFAS; and (4) in relation to self-reported health concerns. RESULTS We recruited 881 adults in exposed communities and 801 in comparison communities. We observed higher levels of self-reported psychological distress in exposed communities than in comparison communities (e.g., Katherine compared to Alice Springs, Northern Territory: clinically-significant anxiety scores, adjusted PR = 2.82, 95 % CI 1.16-6.89). We found little evidence to suggest that psychological distress was associated with PFAS serum concentrations (e.g., Katherine, PFOS and anxiety, adjusted PR = 0.85, 95 % CI 0.65-1.10). Psychological distress was higher among exposed participants who were occupationally exposed to firefighting foam, used bore water on their properties, or were concerned about their health. CONCLUSION Psychological distress was substantially more prevalent in exposed communities than in comparison communities. Our findings suggest that the perception of risks to health, rather than PFAS exposure, contribute to psychological distress in communities with PFAS contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Lazarevic
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
| | - Kayla S Smurthwaite
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Jo Lane
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Susan M Trevenar
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Catherine D'Este
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Archie C A Clements
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Amelia L Joshy
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Rose Hosking
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Imogen Gad
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Aparna Lal
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Hsei Di Law
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Catherine Banwell
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Deborah A Randall
- The University of Sydney Northern Clinical School, Women and Babies Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Miller
- Central Queensland University, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
| | - Tambri Housen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Rosemary J Korda
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Martyn D Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
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Mental health of UK firefighters. Sci Rep 2023; 13:62. [PMID: 36627314 PMCID: PMC9832123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24834-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to trauma, high-stress situations, and disrupted sleep are well known risk factors affecting firefighters' mental health. Little is known about the association between firefighters' exposure to fire contaminants and mental health disorders. The UK Firefighter Contamination Survey assessed firefighters' health and capacity for occupational exposure to contaminants. Participants were invited to anonymously complete its 64 questions online. Logistic regression analyses assessed the associations between self-reported mental health disorders and proxies of contaminant exposure. Results found that firefighters who notice soot in their nose/throat for more than a day after attending fires (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.8, 1.4-2.4), and those who remain in their personal protective equipment (PPE) for over 4 h after fires (OR = 1.9, 1.2-3.1), were nearly twice as likely to report mental health disorders. Significantly increased odds ratios for all three outcomes of interest (anxiety, depression and/or any mental health disorders) were also found among firefighters who take PPE home to clean. Sleeping problems were reported by 61% of firefighters. These firefighters were 4.2 times more likely to report any mental health disorder (OR = 4.2, 3.7-4.9), 2.9 times more likely to report anxiety (OR = 2.9, 2.4-3.5) and 2.3 times more likely to report depression (OR = 2.3, 1.9-2.8) when compared to firefighters who did not report sleep issues. Effective decontamination measures within UK Fire and Rescue Services, together with firefighters' wellness, may play a crucial role in protecting firefighters' mental health.
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Seppälä T, Finell E, Kaikkonen S. Making sense of the delegitimation experiences of people suffering from indoor air problems in their homes. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2022; 17:2075533. [PMID: 35545878 PMCID: PMC9116269 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2075533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Little is known about the delegitimation experiences of people who associate their health problems with the indoor air quality of their homes (i.e., indoor air sufferers). From other contexts, it is known that people suffering from contested illnesses frequently report delegitimation from authorities and laypersons. Therefore, we analysed delegitimation experiences among indoor air sufferers, focusing on how they explain why others delegitimize them. Method Two types of qualitative data—semi-structured interviews with eight people and essays written by 28 people—were subjected to a thematic analysis. Results Thematic analysis revealed three themes: 1) lack of understanding; 2) others’ lack of morality; and 3) social discrimination and inequality. Conclusion This study demonstrates that indoor air sufferers are vulnerable as individuals and as a group, and suggests that authorities working with people suffering from indoor air problems in homes must pay more attention to sufferers’ ability/willingness to trust people and the system responsible for their care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuija Seppälä
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Eerika Finell
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Suvi Kaikkonen
- Department of Finnish, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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7
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Thayer Z, Uwizeye G, McKerracher L. Toolkit article: Approaches to measuring social inequities in health in human biology research. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23804. [PMID: 36173013 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Across populations, human morbidity and mortality risks generally follow clear gradients, with socially-disadvantaged individuals and groups tending to have higher morbidity and mortality at all life stages relative to those more socially advantaged. Anthropologists specialize in understanding the proximate and ultimate factors that shape variation in human biological functioning and health and are therefore well-situated to explore the relationships between social position and health in diverse ecological and cultural contexts. While human biologists have developed sophisticated methods for assessing health using minimally-invasive methods, at a disciplinary level, we have room for conceptual and methodological improvement in how we frame, measure, and analyze the social inequities that might shape health inequities. This toolkit paper elaborates on some steps human biologists should take to enhance the quality of our research on health inequities. Specifically, we address: (1) how to frame unequal health outcomes (i.e., inequalities vs. disparities vs. inequities) and the importance of identifying our conceptual models of how these inequities emerge; (2) how to measure various axes of social inequities across diverse cultural contexts, and (3) approaches to community collaboration and dissemination. We end by discussing (4) future directions in human biology research of health inequities, including understanding the ultimate causes of sensitivity to social inequities and transitioning from research to action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaneta Thayer
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Glorieuse Uwizeye
- Arthur Labatt School of Nursing, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Menegatto M, Lezzi S, Musolino M, Zamperini A. The Psychological Impact of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution in the Veneto Region, Italy: A Qualitative Study with Parents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14761. [PMID: 36429487 PMCID: PMC9690247 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the psychosocial impact on people who live in polluted areas, and its consequences for the parental role have been neglected. This study addresses this gap, proposing qualitative research referring to the case of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) water pollution in the Veneto Region of Italy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic exposure contamination (CEC) experience of parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 parents living in the so-called 'Red Area' considered to have had maximum exposure. Grounded theory was used to analyse the data. The three themes to emerge were three phases of a dynamic process: shock around the discovery (phase 1), lifestyle change (phase 2), and living with PFAS (phase 3). The two transitions (loss of innocence and environmental adaptation) linked the phases. Our findings show that PFAS CEC experience is a process whereby parents need to move from the shock of discovery to adapting to the new situation in order to incorporate a change into their daily life, especially in regard to children. Two emerging aspects that characterised the process as a constant were uncertainty and health concerns, while role strains could be a stress source in the context of CEC. We suggest introducing the notion of chronic role strain (CRS).
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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Kakkar R, Aravindakshan R, Tripathi M, Ayyanar R, V M. Mysterious Outbreak of Acute Neurological Syndrome in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India: A Post-outbreak Geo-Spatial Analysis. Cureus 2022; 14:e31801. [PMID: 36569687 PMCID: PMC9780085 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An outbreak characterized by sudden-onset seizures, loss of consciousness, and complete recovery within a few hours was reported from Eluru town in Andhra Pradesh on December 6, 2020. This study was conducted to assess the environmental correlates of the outbreak using geo-mapping tools. METHODS A post-outbreak survey was conducted among affected cases in January-February, 2021. A house-to-house survey tool collected information on demographics, clinical profile, and environmental and psychological aspects (Impact of Event Scale). Geo-mapping and news media content analyses were done using QGIS and Atlas.ti software, respectively. RESULTS A total of 394 cases were studied. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of the participants was 27 (17-39) years and comprised mostly male students. There was no clustering of cases within 48 hours of illness onset in the spatial analysis. Loss of consciousness was the first (50.7%) and the most common symptom. All cases were taken to a health facility and were discharged after a median duration of 48 minutes. COVID-19-related and environmental practices were not associated with the clinical manifestations. Awareness about pesticides was low. The outbreak reportedly had a psychological impact on 24.4% of the participants. The most common co-occurring themes in the news media analysis were water contamination and pesticides. CONCLUSION The geo-spatial analysis did not find case clustering or points of convergence during the incubation period. The geo-locations did not distribute around water bodies or suspected landmarks although news media projected water contamination and pesticides as probable causes of the outbreak.
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Lan Y, Roberts H, Kwan MP, Helbich M. Daily space-time activities, multiple environmental exposures, and anxiety symptoms: A cross-sectional mobile phone-based sensing study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 834:155276. [PMID: 35439503 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few mobility-based studies have investigated the associations between multiple environmental exposures, including social exposures, and mental health. OBJECTIVE To assess how exposure to green space, blue space, noise, air pollution, and crowdedness along people's daily mobility paths are associated with anxiety symptoms. METHODS 358 participants were cross-sectionally tracked with Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled mobile phones. Anxiety symptoms were measured at baseline using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Green space, blue space, noise, and air pollution were assessed based on concentric buffers of 50 m and 100 m around each GPS point. Crowdedness was measured by the number of nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices detected along the mobility paths. Multiple linear regressions with full covariate adjustment were fitted to examine anxiety-environmental exposures associations. Random forest models were applied to explore possible nonlinear associations and exposure interactions. RESULTS Regression results showed null linear associations between GAD-7 scores and environmental exposures. Random forest models indicated that GAD-7-environment associations varied nonlinearly with exposure levels. We found a negative association between green space and GAD-7 scores only for participants with moderate green space exposure. We observed a positive association between GAD-7 scores and noise levels above 60 dB and air pollution concentrations above 17.2 μg m-3. Crowdedness was positively associated with GAD-7 scores, but exposure-response functions flattened out with pronounced crowdedness of >7.5. Blue space tended to be positively associated with GAD-7 scores. Random forest models ranked environmental exposures as more important to explain GAD-7 scores than linear models. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate possible nonlinear associations between mobility-based environmental exposures and anxiety symptoms. More studies are needed to obtain an in-depth understanding of underlying anxiety-environment mechanisms during daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Lan
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
| | - Hannah Roberts
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Mei-Po Kwan
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Geography and Resource Management and Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Marco Helbich
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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Reuben A, Manczak EM, Cabrera LY, Alegria M, Bucher ML, Freeman EC, Miller GW, Solomon GM, Perry MJ. The Interplay of Environmental Exposures and Mental Health: Setting an Agenda. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:25001. [PMID: 35171017 PMCID: PMC8848757 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, health-effects research on environmental stressors has rarely focused on behavioral and mental health outcomes. That lack of research is beginning to change. Science and policy experts in the environmental and behavioral health sciences are coming together to explore converging evidence on the relationship-harmful or beneficial-between environmental factors and mental health. OBJECTIVES To organize evidence and catalyze new findings, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a workshop 2-3 February 2021 on the interplay of environmental exposures and mental health outcomes. METHODS This commentary provides a nonsystematic, expert-guided conceptual review and interdisciplinary perspective on the convergence of environmental and mental health, drawing from hypotheses, findings, and research gaps presented and discussed at the workshop. Featured is an overview of what is known about the intersection of the environment and mental health, focusing on the effects of neurotoxic pollutants, threats related to climate change, and the importance of health promoting environments, such as urban green spaces. DISCUSSION We describe what can be gained by bridging environmental and psychological research disciplines and present a synthesis of what is needed to advance interdisciplinary investigations. We also consider the implications of the current evidence for a) foundational knowledge of the etiology of mental health and illness, b) toxicant policy and regulation, c) definitions of climate adaptation and community resilience, d) interventions targeting marginalized communities, and e) the future of research training and funding. We include a call to action for environmental and mental health researchers, focusing on the environmental contributions to mental health to unlock primary prevention strategies at the population level and open equitable paths for preventing mental disorders and achieving optimal mental health for all. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9889.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Reuben
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erika M. Manczak
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Laura Y. Cabrera
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Margarita Alegria
- Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disparities Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Meghan L. Bucher
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Gary W. Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gina M. Solomon
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
| | - Melissa J. Perry
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Colombia, USA
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Chronic environmental contamination: A narrative review of psychosocial health consequences, risk factors, and pathways to community resilience. Soc Sci Med 2021; 276:113877. [PMID: 33812158 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A body of psychological and social scientific evidence suggests that the experience of technological disaster or long-term exposure to environmental contamination can be psychologically stressful. Addressing the psychosocial impact in communities living with chronic contamination is therefore a vital part of improving their resilience. Guided by a synthetic theoretical model of the unique psychosocial impact of chronic environmental contamination (in contrast to natural and technological disasters, and background pollution), we undertook a narrative review to assess the current research on this important social problem. Relevant qualitative peer-reviewed studies and grey literature were examined to derive a model identifying likely factors increasing risk for distress in chronic contamination experience and actions that may be taken by public health professionals and local leaders to enhance community resilience and take health-protective actions. Based on our initial theoretical model and the literature reviewed, we emphasize the importance of considering both the material and social dimensions of chronic environmental contamination experience. For instance, our review of the qualitative literature suggests that individuals who attribute material health impacts to contamination, and who have the social experience of their concerns being delegitimized by responsible institutions, are most at risk for psychological stress. Psychological stress in the context of chronic contamination is an important potential public health burden and a key area for additional research.
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