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Muñoz E, Hyun J, Diaz JA, Scott SB, Sliwinski MJ. Exposure to neighborhood violence, and laboratory-based and ambulatory cognitive task performance in adulthood. Soc Sci Med 2024; 348:116807. [PMID: 38569283 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exposure to neighborhood violence may have negative implications for adults' cognitive functioning, but the ecological sensitivity of these effects has yet to be determined. We first evaluated the link between exposure to neighborhood violence and two latent constructs of cognitive function that incorporated laboratory-based and ambulatory, smartphone-based, cognitive assessments. Second, we examined whether the effect of exposure to violence was stronger for ambulatory assessments compared to in-lab assessments. METHODS We used data from 256 urban-dwelling adults between 25 and 65 years old (M = 46.26, SD = 11.07); 63.18% non-Hispanic Black, 9.21% non-Hispanic White, 18.41% Hispanic White, 5.02% Hispanic Black, and 4.18% other. Participants completed baseline surveys on neighborhood exposures, cognitive assessments in a laboratory/research office, and ambulatory smartphone-based cognitive assessments five-times a day for 14 days. RESULTS Exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with poorer performance in a latent working memory construct that incorporated in-lab and ambulatory assessments, but was not associated with the perceptual speed construct. The effect of exposure to neighborhood violence on the working memory construct was explained by its effect on the ambulatory working memory task and not by the in-lab cognitive assessments. CONCLUSION This study shows the negative effect that exposure to neighborhood violence may have on everyday working memory performance in urban-dwelling adults in midlife. Results highlight the need for more research to determine the sensitivity of ambulatory assessments to quantify the effects of neighborhood violence on cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Muñoz
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Jinshil Hyun
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jose A Diaz
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stacey B Scott
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Karimi H, Mahdavi S, Moghaddam SS, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Soleimani Z, Esfahani Z, Masinaei M, Fateh SM, Golestani A, Dilmaghani-Marand A, Kompani F, Rezaei N, Ghasemi E, Larijani B, Farzadfar F. Unveiling the lead exposure attributed burden in Iran from 1990 to 2019 through the lens of the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8688. [PMID: 38622232 PMCID: PMC11018826 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58823-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the estimated burden attributed to lead exposure (LE), at the national and subnational levels from 1990 to 2019 in Iran. The burden attributed to LE was determined through the estimation of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs) using the comparative risk assessment method of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study presenting as age-standardized per 100,000 person year (PY) with 95% uncertainty intervals (95% UI). Furthermore, the burden of each disease were recorded independently. Eventually, the age-standardized YLLs, DALYs, deaths and YLDs rates attributed to LE demonstrated a decrease of 50.7%, 48.9%, 38.0%, and 36.4%, respectively, from 1990 to 2019. The most important causes of LE burden are divided into two acute and chronic categories: acute, mainly causes mental disorders (DALYs rate of 36.0 in 2019), and chronic, results in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (DALYs rate of 391.8) and chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) (DALYs rate of 26.6), with CVDs bearing the most significant burden. At the sub-national level, a decrease in burden was evident in most provinces; moreover, low and low-middle SDI provinces born the highest burden. The burden increased mainly by ageing and was higher in males than females. It was concluded that although the overall decrease in the burden; still it is high, especially in low and low-middle SDI provinces, in advanced ages and in males. Among IDID, CKDs and CVDs that are the most important causes of LE-attributed burden in Iran; CVDs bear the highest burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanie Karimi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Mahdavi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran
| | - Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany
| | - Mohsen Abbasi-Kangevari
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Soleimani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Esfahani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Masinaei
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Mohammadi Fateh
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Golestani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezou Dilmaghani-Marand
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Kompani
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Rezaei
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Erfan Ghasemi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshad Farzadfar
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Panlilio LV, Burgess-Hull AJ, Feldman JD, Rogers JM, Tyburski M, Smith KE, Epstein DH. Activity space during treatment with medication for opioid use disorder: Relationships with personality, mood, and drug use. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2024; 157:209219. [PMID: 37981240 PMCID: PMC10922786 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activity space in people with substance use disorders (SUDs) has been assessed for theoretical reasons and for detection/prevention of relapse. In this observational study, we relate passively obtained activity space measures to mental states and behaviors relevant to the success of treatment for opioid use disorder. Our long-term goal is to use such data to assess risk in real time and to recognize when SUD patients might benefit from a just-in-time intervention. METHODS We used GPS data from 238 urban residents in the first 16 weeks of stabilization on medication for opioid use disorder to test preregistered hypotheses about activity space (distance traveled, number of locations, time spent moving, and psychosocial-hazard levels of neighborhoods where participants spent time) in relation to certain static variables (personality, mood propensities) and time-varying treatment-relevant behaviors such as craving and use of opioids and cocaine. RESULTS The most consistent findings were that 1) mobility decreased over the course of the study; 2) neuroticism was associated with overall lower mobility; 3) trait-like positive mood (averaged from momentary ratings) was associated with higher mobility; 4) participants who used cocaine more frequently had lower mobility; 5) early in treatment, participants spent less time moving (i.e., were more sedentary) on days when they were craving. Some of these findings were in the expected direction (i.e., the ones involving neuroticism and positive mood), and some were opposite to the expected direction (i.e., we expected cocaine use to be associated with higher mobility); others (e.g., changes in mobility over time or in relation to craving) involved nondirectional hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS Real-time information that patients actively provide is valuable for assessing their current state, but providing this information can be burdensome. The current results indicate that certain static or passively obtained data (personality variables and GPS-derived mobility information) are relevant to time-varying, treatment-relevant mental states and drug-related behavior, and therefore might be useful when incorporated into algorithms for detecting need for intervention in real time. Further research should assess how population-specific these relationships are, and how these passive measures can best be combined with low temporal-density, actively-provided data to obtain valid, reliable assessments with minimal burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh V Panlilio
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Albert J Burgess-Hull
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Jeffrey D Feldman
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Rogers
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program (in Clinical Psychology), 6363 Alvarado Ct, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Matthew Tyburski
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Kirsten E Smith
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - David H Epstein
- Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment (RAPT) Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP), 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Mallamaci R, Barbarossa A, Carocci A, Meleleo D. Evaluation of the Potential Protective Effect of Ellagic Acid against Heavy Metal (Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead) Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Foods 2024; 13:419. [PMID: 38338554 PMCID: PMC10855963 DOI: 10.3390/foods13030419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic constituent of plant origin, has been thoroughly investigated for its hypothesised pharmacological properties among which antioxidant and neuroprotective activities are included. The present study was designed to explore whether EA could attenuate heavy metal (cadmium, mercury, and lead)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, which were utilized as a model system for brain cells. MTT and LDH assays were performed to examine the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to Cd, Hg, and Pb (either individually or in combination with EA) as well as the effects of necrotic cell death, respectively. Furthermore, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), a cell-based assay, was performed to determine whether EA could protect SH-SY5Y from heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. Results allowed us to assess the capability of EA to enhance the number of viable SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to heavy metal toxicity. Pre-treatment with EA showed a considerable, concentration-dependent, cytoprotective effect, particularly against Cd2+-induced toxicity. This effect was confirmed through the reduction of LDH release after the simultaneous cell treatment with Cd2+ and EA compared with Cd2+-treated cells. Furthermore, a significant, concentration-dependent decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induced by H2O2 or heavy metals, was observed in the same model. Overall, the obtained results provide further insight into the protective role of EA against heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress, thus indicating the potential beneficial effects of the consumption of EA-rich foods. However, to confirm its effects, well-designed human randomized controlled trials are needed to fill the existing gap between experimental and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Mallamaci
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Alexia Barbarossa
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Alessia Carocci
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Daniela Meleleo
- Department of Science of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
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Choi EY, Lee H, Chang VW. Cumulative exposure to extreme heat and trajectories of cognitive decline among older adults in the USA. J Epidemiol Community Health 2023; 77:728-735. [PMID: 37541774 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-220675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The projected increase in extreme heat days is a growing public health concern. While exposure to extreme heat has been shown to negatively affect mortality and physical health, very little is known about its long-term consequences for late-life cognitive function. We examined whether extreme heat exposure is associated with cognitive decline among older adults and whether this association differs by race/ethnicity and neighbourhood socioeconomic status. METHODS Data were drawn from seven waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018) merged with historical temperature data. We used growth curve models to assess the role of extreme heat exposure on trajectories of cognitive function among US adults aged 52 years and older. RESULTS We found that high exposure to extreme heat was associated with faster cognitive decline for blacks and residents of poor neighbourhoods, but not for whites, Hispanics or residents of wealthier neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION Extreme heat exposure can disproportionately undermine cognitive health in later life for socially vulnerable populations. Our findings underscore the need for policy actions to identify and support high-risk communities for increasingly warming temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Choi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haena Lee
- Department of Sociology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Virginia W Chang
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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Besser LM, Meyer OL, Streitz M, Farias ST, Olichney J, Mitsova D, Galvin JE. Perceptions of greenspace and social determinants of health across the life course: The Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ). Health Place 2023; 81:103008. [PMID: 37003018 PMCID: PMC10176197 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
We developed the Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ) to query older adults about perceived neighborhood greenspaces across the life course (i.e., distance to park, number of neighborhood parks/playgrounds, and neighborhood greenness) and about characteristics hypothesized to confound or moderate/mediate greenspace-health associations. Six perceived life course indices are derived from the LSNEQ: neighborhood socioeconomic status, neighborhood walking/biking, urbanicity, neighborhood amenities, neighborhood park access, and neighborhood greenness. Older adults from St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, completed the LSNEQ in 2020-2021. The indices demonstrated borderline acceptable to good internal consistency (alpha = 0.60-0.79) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71-0.96) and detected different patterns of park access and neighborhood greenness by racialized group and location. Individuals with index scores indicating more neighborhood walking/biking and greater presence of neighborhood amenities over their life course were more likely to report neighborhood-based walking in older age. Overall, the LSNEQ is a reliable instrument to assess perceptions of life course social determinants of health including neighborhood greenspaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah M Besser
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 7700 W Camino Real, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL, 33433, USA.
| | - Oanh L Meyer
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3900, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Marissa Streitz
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4488 Forest Park, Suite 101, Saint Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
| | - Sarah T Farias
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3900, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - John Olichney
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3900, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Diana Mitsova
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, SO 284, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - James E Galvin
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 7700 W Camino Real, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL, 33433, USA.
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Ghaderi S, Komaki A, Salehi I, Basir Z, Rashno M. Possible mechanisms involved in the protective effects of chrysin against lead-induced cognitive decline: An in vivo study in a rat model. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 157:114010. [PMID: 36402029 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a highly poisonous environmental pollutant that can induce cognitive decline. Chrysin, a natural flavonoid compound, has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties in different neurodegenerative disorders. The present study was designed to examine the putative effects of chrysin against Pb-induced cognitive impairment and the possible involved mechanisms. Adult male Wistar rats were exposed to Pb acetate (500 ppm in standard drinking water) either alone or in combination with daily oral administration of chrysin (30 mg/kg) for eight consecutive weeks. During the eight-week period of the study, the cognitive capacity of the rats was evaluated by employing both novel object recognition and passive avoidance tests. On day 56, hippocampal synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation; LTP) was recorded in perforant path-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapses to assess field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) slope and population spike (PS) amplitude. Subsequently, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and histological changes were evaluated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats. Moreover, Pb levels in blood and brain tissues were assessed. The results showed that Pb exposure causes cognitive decline, inhibition of hippocampal LTP induction, imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, enhancement of Pb levels in blood and brain tissues, and neuronal loss. However, chrysin treatment improved cognitive dysfunction, ameliorated hippocampal LTP impairment, modulated inflammatory status, reduced Pb concentration, and prevented neuronal loss in the Pb-exposed rats. The results suggest that chrysin alleviates Pb-induced cognitive deficit, possibly through mitigation of hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, modulation of inflammatory status, reduction of Pb concentration, and prevention of neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahab Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Iraj Salehi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Asadabad School of Medical Sciences, Asadabad, Iran
| | - Zahra Basir
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Masome Rashno
- Asadabad School of Medical Sciences, Asadabad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Asadabad School of Medical Sciences, Asadabad, Iran.
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Lee H. Disorder, networks, and cognition: do social networks buffer the influence of neighborhood and household disorder on cognitive functioning? Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:1010-1018. [PMID: 34015238 PMCID: PMC8754472 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1922600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine whether neighborhood and household disorder matter for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults and whether the disorder-cognition link is moderated by social network resources. METHOD Data are drawn from National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 2 (N = 3198). Both neighborhood and household were considered as key residential contexts that shape one's social life and health. Exposure to neighborhood and household disorder was measured using interviewer assessments of signs of disorder and decay, including the presence of disrepair, trash, noise, and unpleasant smells such as air pollution, in the buildings and streets in which the respondent lives. Cognitive function was measured using the survey-adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-SA). Network size, network range, and frequency of interaction among network members were assessed as moderators. RESULTS Neighborhood and household disorder were independently associated with cognitive function. However, disorder in the household appeared to have more direct associations with cognitive function than did the neighborhood when both were present. The association between household disorder and cognitive function was mitigated by network size, such that poor housing conditions were associated with lower cognitive function only for those with small social networks. CONCLUSION This study suggests a larger network may play a role in minimizing the negative influence of household disorder on cognitive function for middle-aged and older adults. Social policy and intervention aimed at promoting network ties may help reduce further disparities in cognitive function, especially for those vulnerable groups living in a poor-quality household.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haena Lee
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Malecki KMC, Andersen JK, Geller AM, Harry GJ, Jackson CL, James KA, Miller GW, Ottinger MA. Integrating Environment and Aging Research: Opportunities for Synergy and Acceleration. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:824921. [PMID: 35264945 PMCID: PMC8901047 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.824921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant overlaps in mission, the fields of environmental health sciences and aging biology are just beginning to intersect. It is increasingly clear that genetics alone does not predict an individual’s neurological aging and sensitivity to disease. Accordingly, aging neuroscience is a growing area of mutual interest within environmental health sciences. The impetus for this review came from a workshop hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in June of 2020, which focused on integrating the science of aging and environmental health research. It is critical to bridge disciplines with multidisciplinary collaborations across toxicology, comparative biology, epidemiology to understand the impacts of environmental toxicant exposures and age-related outcomes. This scoping review aims to highlight overlaps and gaps in existing knowledge and identify essential research initiatives. It begins with an overview of aging biology and biomarkers, followed by examples of synergy with environmental health sciences. New areas for synergistic research and policy development are also discussed. Technological advances including next-generation sequencing and other-omics tools now offer new opportunities, including exposomic research, to integrate aging biomarkers into environmental health assessments and bridge disciplinary gaps. This is necessary to advance a more complete mechanistic understanding of how life-time exposures to toxicants and other physical and social stressors alter biological aging. New cumulative risk frameworks in environmental health sciences acknowledge that exposures and other external stressors can accumulate across the life course and the advancement of new biomarkers of exposure and response grounded in aging biology can support increased understanding of population vulnerability. Identifying the role of environmental stressors, broadly defined, on aging biology and neuroscience can similarly advance opportunities for intervention and translational research. Several areas of growing research interest include expanding exposomics and use of multi-omics, the microbiome as a mediator of environmental stressors, toxicant mixtures and neurobiology, and the role of structural and historical marginalization and racism in shaping persistent disparities in population aging and outcomes. Integrated foundational and translational aging biology research in environmental health sciences is needed to improve policy, reduce disparities, and enhance the quality of life for older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. C. Malecki
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- *Correspondence: Kristen M. C. Malecki,
| | | | - Andrew M. Geller
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC, United States
| | - G. Jean Harry
- Division of National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chandra L. Jackson
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katherine A. James
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Gary W. Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mary Ann Ottinger
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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The effects of the exposure to neurotoxic elements on Italian schoolchildren behavior. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9898. [PMID: 33972598 PMCID: PMC8110539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88969-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are constantly increasing on a global scale. Some elements like heavy metals are known to be neurotoxic. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the neurobehavioral effect of the exposure to trace elements including lead, mercury, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium and their interactions among 299 schoolchildren residing in the heavily polluted Taranto area in Italy. Whole blood, urine and hair were collected for metal analyses, while the Child Behavior Checklist and the Social Responsiveness Scale, administered to the main teacher and the mothers were considered to identify behavioral problems in children. Blood lead mainly influenced social problems, aggressive behavior, externalizing and total problems. Urinary arsenic showed an impact on anxiety and depression, somatic problems, attention problems and rule breaking behavior. A significant interaction between lead and arsenic was observed, with a synergistic effect of the two metals increasing the risk of attention problems, aggressive behavior, externalizing problems and total problems. Overall, we were able to test that higher blood lead, urinary arsenic concentrations and their interaction increase the risk of neurobehavioral problems. This is in line with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s priority list of hazardous substances where arsenic and lead are ranked as first and second respectively.
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Payne-Sturges DC, Cory-Slechta DA, Puett RC, Thomas SB, Hammond R, Hovmand PS. Defining and Intervening on Cumulative Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks: Introducing a Complex Systems Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:35001. [PMID: 33688743 PMCID: PMC7945198 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combined effects of multiple environmental toxicants and social stressor exposures are widely recognized as important public health problems contributing to health inequities. However cumulative environmental health risks and impacts have received little attention from U.S. policy makers at state and federal levels to develop comprehensive strategies to reduce these exposures, mitigate cumulative risks, and prevent harm. An area for which the inherent limitations of current approaches to cumulative environmental health risks are well illustrated is children's neurodevelopment, which exhibits dynamic complexity of multiple interdependent and causally linked factors and intergenerational effects. OBJECTIVES We delineate how a complex systems approach, specifically system dynamics, can address shortcomings in environmental health risk assessment regarding exposures to multiple chemical and nonchemical stressors and reshape associated public policies. DISCUSSION Systems modeling assists in the goal of solving problems by improving the "mental models" we use to make decisions, including regulatory and policy decisions. In the context of disparities in children's cumulative exposure to neurodevelopmental stressors, we describe potential policy insights about the structure and behavior of the system and the types of system dynamics modeling that would be appropriate, from visual depiction (i.e., informal maps) to formal quantitative simulation models. A systems dynamics framework provides not only a language but also a set of methodological tools that can more easily operationalize existing multidisciplinary scientific evidence and conceptual frameworks on cumulative risks. Thus, we can arrive at more accurate diagnostic tools for children's' environmental health inequities that take into consideration the broader social and economic environment in which children live, grow, play, and learn. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7333.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon C. Payne-Sturges
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of UMD Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Robin C. Puett
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of UMD Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen B. Thomas
- Department of Health Policy and Management and Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ross Hammond
- Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter S. Hovmand
- Center for Community Health Integration, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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12
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Cognitive Impairment Induced by Lead Exposure during Lifespan: Mechanisms of Lead Neurotoxicity. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9020023. [PMID: 33525464 PMCID: PMC7912619 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9020023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is considered a strong environmental toxin with human health repercussions. Due to its widespread use and the number of people potentially exposed to different sources of this heavy metal, Pb intoxication is recognized as a public health problem in many countries. Exposure to Pb can occur through ingestion, inhalation, dermal, and transplacental routes. The magnitude of its effects depends on several toxicity conditions: lead speciation, doses, time, and age of exposure, among others. It has been demonstrated that Pb exposure induces stronger effects during early life. The central nervous system is especially vulnerable to Pb toxicity; Pb exposure is linked to cognitive impairment, executive function alterations, abnormal social behavior, and fine motor control perturbations. This review aims to provide a general view of the cognitive consequences associated with Pb exposure during early life as well as during adulthood. Additionally, it describes the neurotoxic mechanisms associated with cognitive impairment induced by Pb, which include neurochemical, molecular, and morphological changes that jointly could have a synergic effect on the cognitive performance.
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13
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Araujo UC, Krahe TE, Ribeiro-Carvalho A, Gomes RAA, Lotufo BM, Moreira MDFR, de Abreu-Villaça Y, Manhães AC, Filgueiras CC. Forced swimming stress increases natatory activity of lead-exposed mice. Toxicol Res 2021; 37:115-124. [PMID: 33489862 DOI: 10.1007/s43188-020-00045-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence points to the relationship between lead toxicity and the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which suggests that lead exposure could influence how an individual cope with stress. Here we test this hypothesis by investigating the behavioral effects of lead exposure in mice during the forced swimming test (FST), a parading in which animals are exposed to a stressful situation and environment. Swiss mice received either 180 ppm or 540 ppm of lead acetate (Pb) in their ad-lib water supply for 60-90 days, starting at postnatal day 30. Control (Ctrl) mice drank tap water. At the end of the exposure period, mice were submitted to a 5-min session of FST or to an open-field session of the same duration. Data from naïve animals showed that corticosterone levels were higher for animals tested in the FST compared to animals tested in the open-field. Blood-lead levels (BLL) in Pb-exposed mice ranged from 14.3 to 106.9 µg/dL. No differences were observed in spontaneous locomotion between Ctrl and Pb-exposed groups in the open-field. However, in the FST, Pb-treated mice displayed higher swimming activity than Ctrl ones and this effect was observed even for animals with BLL higher than 20 µg/dL. Furthermore, significant differences in brain glutathione levels, used as an indicator of led toxicity, were only observed for BLL higher than 40 µg/dL. Overall, these findings suggest that swimming activity in the FST is a good indicator of lead toxicity and confirm our prediction that lead toxicity influences behavioral responses associated to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulisses C Araujo
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Professor Manuel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-170 Brazil
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Departamento de Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anderson Ribeiro-Carvalho
- Departamento de Ciências, Faculdade de Formação de Professores da, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Dr. Francisco Portela 1470-Patronato, São Gonçalo, RJ 24435-005 Brazil
| | - Regina A A Gomes
- Centro de Estudos da Saúde Do Trabalhador E Ecologia Humana, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-210 Brazil
| | - Bruna M Lotufo
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Professor Manuel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-170 Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima R Moreira
- Centro de Estudos da Saúde Do Trabalhador E Ecologia Humana, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-210 Brazil
| | - Yael de Abreu-Villaça
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Professor Manuel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-170 Brazil
| | - Alex C Manhães
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Professor Manuel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-170 Brazil
| | - Cláudio C Filgueiras
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Centro Biomédico, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Professor Manuel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20550-170 Brazil
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14
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Muñoz E, Scott SB, Corley R, Wadsworth SJ, Sliwinski MJ, Reynolds CA. The role of neighborhood stressors on cognitive function: A coordinated analysis. Health Place 2020; 66:102442. [PMID: 32977302 PMCID: PMC7686053 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between perceived neighborhood stressors, encompassing negative perceived neighborhood characteristics, and specific cognitive abilities in adulthood. We conducted a coordinated analysis across three studies of adults in the United States and found that perceived neighborhood stressors were consistently associated with poorer performance on attention-demanding cognitive tasks. We specifically found that perceived neighborhood stressors were associated with lower performance in spatial abilities, working memory, and executive function but not perceptual speed, and that the effect was most consistent for lower perceived neighborhood safety followed by lower perceived aesthetic quality, greater perceived neighborhood crime, and lower perceived neighborhood cohesion. These results highlight the importance of the psychosocial neighborhood context for cognitive health in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Muñoz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Stacey B Scott
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Robin Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Sally J Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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15
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Micera A, Bruno L, Cacciamani A, Rongioletti M, Squitti R. Alzheimer's Disease and Retinal Degeneration: A Glimpse at Essential Trace Metals in Ocular Fluids and Tissues. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 16:1073-1083. [PMID: 31642780 DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666191023114015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Life expectancy is increasing all over the world, although neurodegenerative disorders might drastically affect the individual activity of aged people. Of those, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most social-cost age-linked diseases of industrialized countries. To date, retinal diseases seem to be more common in the developing world and characterize principally aged people. Agerelated Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a late-onset, neurodegenerative retinal disease that shares several clinical and pathological features with AD, including stress stimuli such as oxidative stress, inflammation and amyloid formations. METHODS In both diseases, the detrimental intra/extra-cellular deposits have many similarities. Aging, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, arteriosclerosis and smoking are risk factors to develop both diseases. Cellular aging routes have similar organelle and signaling patterns in retina and brain. The possibility to find out new research strategies represent a step forward to disclose potential treatment for both of them. Essential trace metals play critical roles in both physiological and pathological condition of retina, optic nerve and brain, by influencing metabolic processes chiefly upon complex multifactorial pathogenesis. CONCLUSION Hence, this review addresses current knowledge about some up-to-date investigated essential trace metals associated with AD and AMD. Changes in the levels of systemic and ocular fluid essential metals might reflect the early stages of AMD, possibly disclosing neurodegeneration pathways shared with AD, which might open to potential early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Bruno
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cacciamani
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS - Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Rongioletti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Research and Development Division, San Giovanni Calibita, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosanna Squitti
- IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, BS, Italy
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16
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Thomson EM. Air Pollution, Stress, and Allostatic Load: Linking Systemic and Central Nervous System Impacts. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:597-614. [PMID: 31127781 PMCID: PMC6598002 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. A growing literature also links exposure to diverse air pollutants (e.g., nanoparticles, particulate matter, ozone, traffic-related air pollution) with brain health, including increased incidence of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as cognitive decline, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), anxiety, depression, and suicide. A critical gap in our understanding of adverse impacts of pollutants on the central nervous system (CNS) is the early initiating events triggered by pollutant inhalation that contribute to disease progression. Recent experimental evidence has shown that particulate matter and ozone, two common pollutants with differing characteristics and reactivity, can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and release glucocorticoid stress hormones (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) as part of a neuroendocrine stress response. The brain is highly sensitive to stress: stress hormones affect cognition and mental health, and chronic stress can produce profound biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Chronic activation and/or dysfunction of the HPA axis also increases the burden on physiological stress response systems, conceptualized as allostatic load, and is a common pathway implicated in many diseases. The present paper provides an overview of how systemic stress-dependent biological responses common to particulate matter and ozone may provide insight into early CNS effects of pollutants, including links with oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic processes. Evidence of pollutant effect modification by non-chemical stressors (e.g., socioeconomic position, psychosocial, noise), age (prenatal to elderly), and sex will also be reviewed in the context of susceptibility across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Errol M Thomson
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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17
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Forrester SN, Gallo JJ, Whitfield KE, Thorpe RJ. A Framework of Minority Stress: From Physiological Manifestations to Cognitive Outcomes. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2019; 59:1017-1023. [PMID: 30169640 PMCID: PMC6858824 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gny104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment and dementia continue to threaten the aging population. Although no one is immune, certain groups, namely black older persons, are more likely to have a diagnosis of certain dementias. Because researchers have not found a purely biological reason for this disparity, they have turned to a biopsychosocial model. Specifically, black persons in the United States are more likely to live with social conditions that affect their stress levels which in turn affect physiological regulation leading to conditions that result in higher levels of cognitive impairment or dementia. Here we discuss some of these social conditions such as discrimination, education, and socioeconomic status, and how physiological dysregulation, namely allostatic load that can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia in black persons especially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Forrester
- Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
| | - Joseph J Gallo
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Roland J Thorpe
- Departmnet of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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18
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Besser L, Galvin JE, Rodriguez D, Seeman T, Kukull W, Rapp SR, Smith J. Associations between neighborhood built environment and cognition vary by apolipoprotein E genotype: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Health Place 2019; 60:102188. [PMID: 31797769 PMCID: PMC6901106 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
We examined whether neighborhood built environment (BE) and cognition associations in older adults vary by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 4091 participants. Neighborhood characteristics included social and walking destination density (SDD, WDD), intersection density, and proportion of land dedicated to retail. Individuals were categorized as APOE ε2 (lower AD risk), APOE ε4 (higher AD risk), or APOE ε3 carriers. Among APOE ε2 carriers, greater proportion of land dedicated to retail was associated with better global cognition, and greater SDD, WDD, intersection density, and proportion of land dedicated to retail was associated with better processing speed. These associations were not observed in APOE ε3 or ε4 carriers. APOE ε2 carriers may be more susceptible to the potentially beneficial effects of denser neighborhood BEs on cognition; however, longitudinal studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah Besser
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, SO-284H, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - James E Galvin
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, ME-104, First Floor, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - Daniel Rodriguez
- Department of City and Regional Planning, College of Environmental Design, Office 313B, Wurster Hall #1820, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-1820, USA.
| | - Teresa Seeman
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339 (PVUB Uberroth Building), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Walter Kukull
- National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 4311 11th Avenue NE, Suite 300, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Stephen R Rapp
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 791 Jonestown Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103, USA.
| | - Jennifer Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Room 2631, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
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19
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Rocha A, Trujillo KA. Neurotoxicity of low-level lead exposure: History, mechanisms of action, and behavioral effects in humans and preclinical models. Neurotoxicology 2019; 73:58-80. [PMID: 30836127 PMCID: PMC7462347 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lead is a neurotoxin that produces long-term, perhaps irreversible, effects on health and well-being. This article summarizes clinical and preclinical studies that have employed a variety of research techniques to examine the neurotoxic effects of low levels of lead exposure. A historical perspective is presented, followed by an overview of studies that examined behavioral and cognitive outcomes. In addition, a short summary of potential mechanisms of action is provided with a focus on calcium-dependent processes. The current level of concern, or reference level, set by the CDC is 5 μg/dL of lead in blood and a revision to 3.5 μg/dL has been suggested. However, levels of lead below 3 μg/dL have been shown to produce diminished cognitive function and maladaptive behavior in humans and animal models. Because much of the research has focused on higher concentrations of lead, work on low concentrations is needed to better understand the neurobehavioral effects and mechanisms of action of this neurotoxic metal.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adolescent Behavior/drug effects
- Adolescent Development/drug effects
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Animals
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/growth & development
- Child
- Child Behavior/drug effects
- Child Development/drug effects
- Child, Preschool
- Cognition/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- Humans
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/history
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/physiopathology
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/psychology
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood/history
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood/physiopathology
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood/psychology
- Mice
- Middle Aged
- Rats
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
- Toxicity Tests
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Rocha
- California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA.
| | - Keith A Trujillo
- California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA
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20
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Abstract
Millions of Americans now entering midlife and old age were exposed to high levels of lead, a neurotoxin, as children. Evidence from animal-model and human observational studies suggest that childhood lead exposure may raise the risk of adult neurodegenerative disease, particularly dementia, through a variety of possible mechanisms including epigenetic modification, delayed cardiovascular and kidney disease, direct degenerative CNS injury from lead remobilized from bone, and lowered neural and cognitive reserve. Within the next ten years, the generation of children with the highest historical lead exposures, those born in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, will begin to enter the age at which dementia symptoms tend to emerge. Many will also enter the age in which lead stored in the skeleton may be remobilized at greater rates, particularly for women entering menopause and men and women experiencing osteoporosis. Should childhood lead exposure prove pro-degenerative, the next twenty years will provide the last opportunities for possible early intervention to forestall greater degenerative disease burden across the aging lead-exposed population. More evidence is needed now to characterize the nature and magnitude of the degenerative risks facing adults exposed to lead as children and to identify interventions to limit long-term harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Reuben
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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21
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Taheri F, Sepehri G, Sheibani V, Sharififar F. Amelioration of Prenatal Lead-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments by Methanolic Extract of Zataria Multiflora in Male Rats. Basic Clin Neurosci 2019; 11:535-548. [PMID: 33613892 PMCID: PMC7878035 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.9.10.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The current study aimed at evaluating the effects of Zataria Multiflora (ZM) on learning and memory of adult male offspring rats with prenatal lead-exposure. Methods Pregnant rats in the case group received tap water containing 0.2% lead acetate throughout the gestation period. Control rats had free access to lead-free tap water. Two male offspring (two-month-old, weighing 180-200 g) from each mother were randomly selected and treated with either Z. Multiflora (50, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/Intraperitoneally (I.P)/20 day) or saline. Spatial memory of the control, saline, and ZM-treated rats was evaluated by a training trial and probe test using Morris water maze (6-8 rat/group). Results The obtained results showed memory deficits including increased escape latency, and a greater traveled distance, as well as decrements in the frequency of crossings into target quadrants in prenatally lead-exposed male offspring compared with the controls. ZM treatment (200 mg/kg/i.p) ameliorated the memory deficits in male offspring by increasing the time spent and traveled distance in the trigger zone (P<0.01 vs. saline).There was no significant difference in swimming speed between the groups. Conclusion The results showed memory deficits in prenatally lead-exposed male offspring. ZM treatment (especially 200 mg/kg) had beneficial effects on cognitive behavior and was indicated as the improvement of lead-induced memory deficits in prenatally lead-exposed male rats. The exact mechanism(s) is not determined yet, but it could be mediated through the anticholinesterase and antioxidant effects and also alterations in Central Nervous System (CNS) and neurotransmission in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Sepehri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fariba Sharififar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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22
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Taheri F, Sepehri G, Sheibani V, Sharififar F. Amelioration of Prenatal Lead-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments by Methanolic Extract of Zataria Multiflora in Male Rats. Basic Clin Neurosci 2019. [PMID: 31031904 PMCID: PMC6484190 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.10.2.1104.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The current study aimed at evaluating the effects of Zataria Multiflora (ZM) on learning and memory of adult male offspring rats with prenatal lead-exposure. Methods: Pregnant rats in the case group received tap water containing 0.2% lead acetate throughout the gestation period. Control rats had free access to lead-free tap water. Two male offspring (two-month-old, weighing 180–200 g) from each mother were randomly selected and treated with either Z. Multiflora (50, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/Intraperitoneally (I.P)/20 day) or saline. Spatial memory of the control, saline, and ZM-treated rats was evaluated by a training trial and probe test using Morris water maze (6–8 rat/group). Results: The obtained results showed memory deficits including increased escape latency, and a greater traveled distance, as well as decrements in the frequency of crossings into target quadrants in prenatally lead-exposed male offspring compared with the controls. ZM treatment (200 mg/kg/i.p) ameliorated the memory deficits in male offspring by increasing the time spent and traveled distance in the trigger zone (P<0.01 vs. saline).There was no significant difference in swimming speed between the groups. Conclusion: The results showed memory deficits in prenatally lead-exposed male offspring. ZM treatment (especially 200 mg/kg) had beneficial effects on cognitive behavior and was indicated as the improvement of lead-induced memory deficits in prenatally lead-exposed male rats. The exact mechanism(s) is not determined yet, but it could be mediated through the anticholinesterase and antioxidant effects and also alterations in Central Nervous System (CNS) and neurotransmission in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Sepehri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fariba Sharififar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Besser LM, McDonald NC, Song Y, Kukull WA, Rodriguez DA. Neighborhood Environment and Cognition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Am J Prev Med 2017; 53:241-251. [PMID: 28455123 PMCID: PMC5522645 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2017.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Some evidence suggests that treating vascular risk factors and performing mentally stimulating activities may delay cognitive impairment onset in older adults. Exposure to a complex neighborhood environment may be one mechanism to help delay cognitive decline. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global database were systematically reviewed, identifying 25 studies published from February 1, 1989 to March 5, 2016 (data synthesized, May 3, 2015 to October 7, 2016). The review was restricted to quantitative studies focused on: (1) neighborhood social and built environment and cognition; and (2) community-dwelling adults aged ≥45 years. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The majority of studies were cross-sectional, U.S.-based, and found at least one significant association. The diversity of measures and neighborhood definitions limited the synthesis of findings in many instances. Evidence was moderately strong for an association between neighborhood SES and cognition, and modest for associations between neighborhood demographics, design, and destination accessibility and cognition. Most studies examining effect modification found significant associations, with some evidence for effect modification of the neighborhood SES-cognition association by individual-level SES. No studies had low risk of bias and many tested multiple associations that increased the chance of a statistically significant finding. Considering the studies to date, the evidence for an association between neighborhood characteristics and cognition is modest. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should include longitudinal measures of neighborhood characteristics and cognition; examine potential effect modifiers, such as sex and disability; and study mediators that may help elucidate the biological mechanisms linking neighborhood environment and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilah M Besser
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Noreen C McDonald
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yan Song
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Walter A Kukull
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Daniel A Rodriguez
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
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Taheri F, Sepehri G, Sheibani V, Esmaeilpour K. Lavandula angustifolia and combination of Lavandula angustifolia and Zataria multiflora administration attenuates prenatal lead-exposed induced learning and memory impairments in male rats. TOXIN REV 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2017.1344711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Taheri
- Institute of Neuropharmacology, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Sepehri
- Institute of Neuropharmacology, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Vahid Sheibani
- Institute of Neuropharmacology, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Institute of Neuropharmacology, Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Fox MA, Brewer LE, Martin L. An Overview of Literature Topics Related to Current Concepts, Methods, Tools, and Applications for Cumulative Risk Assessment (2007-2016). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14040389. [PMID: 28387705 PMCID: PMC5409590 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cumulative risk assessments (CRAs) address combined risks from exposures to multiple chemical and nonchemical stressors and may focus on vulnerable communities or populations. Significant contributions have been made to the development of concepts, methods, and applications for CRA over the past decade. Work in both human health and ecological cumulative risk has advanced in two different contexts. The first context is the effects of chemical mixtures that share common modes of action, or that cause common adverse outcomes. In this context two primary models are used for predicting mixture effects, dose addition or response addition. The second context is evaluating the combined effects of chemical and nonchemical (e.g., radiation, biological, nutritional, economic, psychological, habitat alteration, land-use change, global climate change, and natural disasters) stressors. CRA can be adapted to address risk in many contexts, and this adaptability is reflected in the range in disciplinary perspectives in the published literature. This article presents the results of a literature search and discusses a range of selected work with the intention to give a broad overview of relevant topics and provide a starting point for researchers interested in CRA applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Fox
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - L Elizabeth Brewer
- Office of the Science Advisor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Washington, DC 20004, USA.
| | - Lawrence Martin
- Office of the Science Advisor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20004, USA.
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Cultural Epigenetics: On the Missing Heritability of Complex Diseases. COMPUTATIONAL PSYCHIATRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53910-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Ailshire J, Karraker A, Clarke P. Neighborhood social stressors, fine particulate matter air pollution, and cognitive function among older U.S. adults. Soc Sci Med 2017; 172:56-63. [PMID: 27886528 PMCID: PMC5388445 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A growing number of studies have found a link between outdoor air pollution and cognitive function among older adults. Psychosocial stress is considered an important factor determining differential susceptibility to environmental hazards and older adults living in stressful neighborhoods may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of exposure to hazards such as air pollution. The objective of this study is to determine if neighborhood social stress amplifies the association between fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) and poor cognitive function in older, community-dwelling adults. We use data on 779 U.S. adults ages 55 and older from the 2001/2002 wave of the Americans' Changing Lives study. We determined annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2001 in the area of residence by linking respondents with EPA air monitoring data using census tract identifiers. Cognitive function was measured using the number of errors on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Exposure to neighborhood social stressors was measured using perceptions of disorder and decay and included subjective evaluations of neighborhood upkeep and the presence of deteriorating/abandoned buildings, trash, and empty lots. We used negative binomial regression to examine the interaction of neighborhood perceived stress and PM2.5 on the count of errors on the cognitive function assessment. We found that the association between PM2.5 and cognitive errors was stronger among older adults living in high stress neighborhoods. These findings support recent theoretical developments in environmental health and health disparities research emphasizing the synergistic effects of neighborhood social stressors and environmental hazards on residents' health. Those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, where social stressors and environmental hazards are more common, may be particularly susceptible to adverse health effects of social and physical environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ailshire
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Amelia Karraker
- Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Philippa Clarke
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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28
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Solomon GM, Morello-Frosch R, Zeise L, Faust JB. Cumulative Environmental Impacts: Science and Policy to Protect Communities. Annu Rev Public Health 2016; 37:83-96. [PMID: 26735429 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032315-021807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many communities are located near multiple sources of pollution, including current and former industrial sites, major roadways, and agricultural operations. Populations in such locations are predominantly low-income, with a large percentage of minorities and non-English speakers. These communities face challenges that can affect the health of their residents, including limited access to health care, a shortage of grocery stores, poor housing quality, and a lack of parks and open spaces. Environmental exposures may interact with social stressors, thereby worsening health outcomes. Age, genetic characteristics, and preexisting health conditions increase the risk of adverse health effects from exposure to pollutants. There are existing approaches for characterizing cumulative exposures, cumulative risks, and cumulative health impacts. Although such approaches have merit, they also have significant constraints. New developments in exposure monitoring, mapping, toxicology, and epidemiology, especially when informed by community participation, have the potential to advance the science on cumulative impacts and to improve decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M Solomon
- Office of the Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), Sacramento, California 95812;
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3114;
| | - Lauren Zeise
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), Oakland, California 94612; ,
| | - John B Faust
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), Oakland, California 94612; ,
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Shmool JLC, Yonas MA, Newman OD, Kubzansky LD, Joseph E, Parks A, Callaway C, Chubb LG, Shepard P, Clougherty JE. Identifying Perceived Neighborhood Stressors Across Diverse Communities in New York City. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 56:145-55. [PMID: 26148979 DOI: 10.1007/s10464-015-9736-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in the role of psychosocial stress in health disparities. Identifying which social stressors are most important to community residents is critical for accurately incorporating stressor exposures into health research. Using a community-academic partnered approach, we designed a multi-community study across the five boroughs of New York City to characterize resident perceptions of key neighborhood stressors. We conducted 14 community focus groups; two to three in each borough, with one adolescent group and one Spanish-speaking group per borough. We then used systematic content analysis and participant ranking data to describe prominent neighborhood stressors and identify dominant themes. Three inter-related themes regarding the social and structural sources of stressful experiences were most commonly identified across neighborhoods: (1) physical disorder and perceived neglect, (2) harassment by police and perceived safety and (3) gentrification and racial discrimination. Our findings suggest that multiple sources of distress, including social, political, physical and economic factors, should be considered when investigating health effects of community stressor exposures and psychological distress. Community expertise is essential for comprehensively characterizing the range of neighborhood stressors that may be implicated in psychosocial exposure pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie L C Shmool
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 350, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA,
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Clougherty JE, Shmool JLC, Kubzansky LD. The Role of Non-Chemical Stressors in Mediating Socioeconomic Susceptibility to Environmental Chemicals. Curr Environ Health Rep 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40572-014-0031-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Abstract
Older adults may be more vulnerable to negative health effects from alcohol as they age. Distress and adverse neighborhood conditions that provoke distress may influence drinking behavior. Using baseline data from the Baltimore Memory Study, a cohort study of adults aged 50-70 years living in 65 Baltimore City neighborhoods, we investigated the association between neighborhood psychosocial hazards (NPH) and the number of binge drinking days in the past month among non-abstainers (N = 645). We used negative binomial regression with generalized estimating equations to estimate the relative number of binge drinking days per month associated with a one standard deviation increase in NPH score. Residing in neighborhoods with more psychosocial hazards was independently associated with more binge drinking for females, but not for males. For females, each one standard deviation increase in NPH score was associated with a 1.52 relative risk of binge drinking (95 % confidence interval, 1.10, 2. 10) in the adjusted model. The findings were robust to a sensitivity analysis in which we used the average number of drinks per drinking occasion as an alternative outcome. Our findings provide evidence linking adverse neighborhood conditions with alcohol consumption in non-abstaining late middle-aged women, and suggest that late middle-aged men and women may have different reactions to adverse residential neighborhoods.
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Abstract
This paper briefly reviews the social science on “neighborhood effects” as an independent force in shaping poor outcomes, specifically mental illness and criminal behavior, before discussing the implications of that research for understanding the relationship between neighborhoods, race and class. Neighborhood effects research has proliferated in recent years with extensive attention again being focused on the social context of family and individual development and life course. Moreover, recent work has suggested the need to consider the developmental effects of neighborhoods that persist across life-span. This paper will focus specifically on mental illness and criminal behavior as outcomes for understanding neighborhood effects, but will also consider what the structural causes of individual behavior and functioning mean for clinical assessment, especially forensic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Freedman
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - George W Woods
- Morehouse University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Zota AR, Shenassa ED, Morello-Frosch R. Allostatic load amplifies the effect of blood lead levels on elevated blood pressure among middle-aged U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health 2013; 12:64. [PMID: 23953669 PMCID: PMC3847858 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-12-64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scientists and regulators have sought to understand whether and how physiologic dysregulation due to chronic stress exposure may enhance vulnerability to the adverse health effects of toxicant exposures. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether allostatic load (AL), a composite measure of physiologic response to chronic exposure to stress, amplifies the effect of lead exposure on blood pressure among middle-aged adults. METHODS We analyzed associations between blood lead levels and blood pressure in a nationally representative sample of 8,194 U.S. adults (aged 40-65 years) participating in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 1999--2008. Outcomes were elevated systolic (≥ 140 mm Hg) and diastolic (≥ 90 mm Hg) blood pressure. AL was defined as the aggregate score of seven components, reflecting dysregulation of the cardiovascular, inflammatory, and endocrine systems. RESULTS Logistic regression models showed a linear dose-response relationship for quintiles of blood lead and elevated systolic blood pressure in the high AL group (p = 0.03) but not the low AL group (p = 0.24). Similarly, the relationship between lead exposure and elevated diastolic blood pressure was stronger among the high AL group than the low AL group. Within the high AL group, the fourth and fifth quintiles had significantly elevated odds of elevated blood pressure compared to lowest quintile [OR = 1.92, (95% CI, 1.07, 3.47) and OR =2.28 (95% CI, 1.33, 3.91), respectively]. In the low AL group, none of the quintile effects were significantly different than the referent group although there was evidence of a linear trend (p =0.03). The lead by AL interaction term was not statistically significant for either systolic or diastolic blood pressure models. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that higher AL may amplify the adverse effects of lead on blood pressure. Future research should assess the implications of cumulative exposures to environmental and social stressors for regulatory decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami R Zota
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Edmond D Shenassa
- Maternal and Child Health Program and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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Hicken MT, Gee GC, Connell C, Snow RC, Morenoff J, Hu H. Black-white blood pressure disparities: depressive symptoms and differential vulnerability to blood lead. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2013; 121:205-9. [PMID: 23127977 PMCID: PMC3569674 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blacks have higher hypertension rates than whites, but the reasons for these disparities are unknown. Differential vulnerability, through which stress alters vulnerability to the effects of environmental hazards, is an emergent notion in environmental health that may contribute to these disparities. OBJECTIVES We examined whether blacks and whites exhibit different associations between blood lead (BPb) and blood pressure (BP) and whether depressive symptoms may play a role. METHODS Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008, we regressed BP on the three-way interaction among race/ethnicity, BPb, and depressive symptoms in blacks and whites ≥ 20 years of age. RESULTS Blacks but not whites showed a positive association between BPb and systolic blood pressure (SBP). The disparity in this association between blacks and whites appeared to be specific to the high depressive symptoms group. In the low depressive symptoms group, there was no significant black-white disparity (βinteraction = 0.9 mmHg; 95% CI: -0.9, 2.7). However, of those with high depressive symptoms, blacks and whites had 5.6 mmHg (95% CI: 2.0, 9.2) and 1.2 mmHg (95% CI: -0.5, 2.9) increases in SBP, respectively, in association with each doubling of BPb (βinteraction = 4.4 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.5, 8.3). The pattern of results was similar for diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that depressive symptoms may contribute to the black-white disparity in the association between BPb and BP. Depressive symptoms may result, in part, from psychosocial stress. Our results support the notion that stress increases vulnerability to the health effects of environmental hazards and suggest that stress-related vulnerability may be an important determinant of racial/ethnic health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret T Hicken
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA.
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35
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Grashow R, Spiro A, Taylor KM, Newton K, Shrairman R, Landau A, Sparrow D, Hu H, Weisskopf M. Cumulative lead exposure in community-dwelling adults and fine motor function: comparing standard and novel tasks in the VA normative aging study. Neurotoxicology 2013; 35:154-61. [PMID: 23370289 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2013.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Revised: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lead exposure in children and occupationally exposed adults has been associated with reduced visuomotor and fine motor function. However, associations in environmentally exposed adults remain relatively unexplored. To address this, we examined the association between cumulative lead exposure-as measured by lead in bone-and performance on the grooved pegboard (GP) manual dexterity task, as well as on handwriting tasks using a novel assessment approach, among men in the VA Normative Aging Study (NAS). METHODS GP testing was done with 362 NAS participants, and handwriting assessment with 328, who also had tibia and patella lead measurements made with K-X-Ray Fluorescence (KXRF). GP scores were time (s) to complete the task with the dominant hand. The handwriting assessment approach assessed the production of signature and cursive lowercase l and m letter samples. Signature and lm task scores reflect consistency in repeated trials. We used linear regression to estimate associations and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with adjustment for age, smoking, education, income and computer experience. A backward elimination algorithm was used in the subset with both GP and handwriting assessment to identify variables predictive of each outcome. RESULTS The mean (SD) participant age was 69.1 (7.2) years; mean patella and tibia concentrations were 25.0 (20.7)μg/g and 19.2 (14.6)μg/g, respectively. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, GP performance was associated with tibia (β per 15μg/g bone=4.66, 95% CI: 1.73, 7.58, p=0.002) and patella (β per 20μg/g=3.93, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.76, p=0.006). In multivariable adjusted models of handwriting production, only the lm-pattern task showed a significant association with tibia (β per 15μg/g bone=1.27, 95% CI: 0.24, 2.29, p=0.015), such that lm pattern production was more stable with increasing lead exposure. GP and handwriting scores were differentially sensitive to education, smoking, computer experience, financial stability, income and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Long-term cumulative environmental lead exposure was associated with deficits in GP performance, but not handwriting production. Higher lead appeared to be associated with greater consistency on the lm task. Lead sensitivity differences could suggest that lead affects neural processing speed rather than motor function per se, or could result from distinct brain areas involved in the execution of different motor tasks.
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MESH Headings
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Aging/psychology
- Algorithms
- Body Burden
- Central Nervous System/drug effects
- Central Nervous System/physiopathology
- Environmental Exposure/adverse effects
- Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects
- Environmental Pollutants/metabolism
- Handwriting
- Humans
- Lead/adverse effects
- Lead/metabolism
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/etiology
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/metabolism
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/physiopathology
- Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult/psychology
- Linear Models
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Motor Activity
- Multivariate Analysis
- Neuropsychological Tests
- Patella/metabolism
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Risk Factors
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
- Tibia/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Grashow
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Hicken MT, Gee GC, Morenoff J, Connell CM, Snow RC, Hu H. A novel look at racial health disparities: the interaction between social disadvantage and environmental health. Am J Public Health 2012; 102:2344-51. [PMID: 23078461 PMCID: PMC3519308 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2012.300774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We explored the notion that social disadvantage increases vulnerability to the health effects of environmental hazards. Specifically, we examined (1) whether race modifies the association between blood lead and blood pressure and (2) whether socioeconomic status (SES) plays a role in this modifying effect. METHODS Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2008) and linear regression, we estimated the association between blood lead and blood pressure. Using interactions among race, SES, and lead, we estimated this association by levels of social disadvantage. RESULTS Black men and women showed a 2.8 (P < .001) and 4.0 (P < .001) millimeters mercury increase in SBP, respectively, for each doubling of blood lead. White adults showed no association. This lead-SBP association exhibited by Blacks was primarily isolated to Blacks of low SES. For example, poor but not nonpoor Black men showed a 4.8 millimeters mercury (P < .001) increase in SBP for each doubling of blood lead. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that social disadvantage exacerbates the deleterious health effects of lead. Our work provides evidence that social and environmental factors must be addressed together to eliminate health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret T Hicken
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Bell ML, Ebisu K. Environmental inequality in exposures to airborne particulate matter components in the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2012; 120:1699-704. [PMID: 22889745 PMCID: PMC3546368 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates that toxicity of fine particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) differs by chemical component. Exposure to components may differ by population. OBJECTIVES We investigated whether exposures to PM2.5 components differ by race/ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS Long-term exposures (2000 through 2006) were estimated for 215 U.S. census tracts for PM2.5 and for 14 PM2.5 components. Population-weighted exposures were combined to generate overall estimated exposures by race/ethnicity, education, poverty status, employment, age, and earnings. We compared population characteristics for tracts with and without PM2.5 component monitors. RESULTS Larger disparities in estimated exposures were observed for components than for PM2.5 total mass. For race/ethnicity, whites generally had the lowest exposures. Non-Hispanic blacks had higher exposures than did whites for 13 of the 14 components. Hispanics generally had the highest exposures (e.g., 152% higher than whites for chlorine, 94% higher for aluminum). Young persons (0-19 years of age) had levels as high as or higher than other ages for all exposures except sulfate. Persons with lower SES had higher estimated exposures, with some exceptions. For example, a 10% increase in the proportion unemployed was associated with a 20.0% increase in vanadium and an 18.3% increase in elemental carbon. Census tracts with monitors had more non-Hispanic blacks, lower education and earnings, and higher unemployment and poverty than did tracts without monitors. CONCLUSIONS Exposures to PM2.5 components differed by race/ethnicity, age, and SES. If some components are more toxic than others, certain populations are likely to suffer higher health burdens. Demographics differed between populations covered and not covered by monitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA.
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Young GS, Fox MA, Trush M, Kanarek N, Glass TA, Curriero FC. Differential exposure to hazardous air pollution in the United States: a multilevel analysis of urbanization and neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2012; 9:2204-25. [PMID: 22829799 PMCID: PMC3397373 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph9062204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2012] [Revised: 04/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Population exposure to multiple chemicals in air presents significant challenges for environmental public health. Air quality regulations distinguish criteria air pollutants (CAPs) (e.g., ozone, PM2.5) from hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)—187 chemicals which include carcinogens and others that are associated with respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological and numerous other non-cancer health effects. Evidence of the public’s cumulative exposure and the health effects of HAPs are quite limited. A multilevel model is used to assess differential exposure to HAP respiratory, neurological, and cancer hazards (2005) related to the Townsend Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (TSI), after adjustment for regional population size and economic activity, and local population density. We found significant positive associations between tract TSI and respiratory and cancer HAP exposure hazards, and smaller effects for neurological HAPs. Tracts in the top quintile of TSI have between 38%–60% higher HAP exposure than the bottom quintile; increasing population size from the bottom quintile to the top quintile modifies HAP exposure hazard related to TSI, increasing cancer HAP exposure hazard by 6% to 20% and increasing respiratory HAP exposure hazard by 12% to 27%. This study demonstrates the value of social epidemiological methods for analyzing differential exposure and advancing cumulative risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary S. Young
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.T.); (N.K.); (F.C.C.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; ; Tel.: +1-856-986-3112; Fax: +1-856-342-3299
| | - Mary A. Fox
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Michael Trush
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.T.); (N.K.); (F.C.C.)
| | - Norma Kanarek
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.T.); (N.K.); (F.C.C.)
| | - Thomas A. Glass
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Frank C. Curriero
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.T.); (N.K.); (F.C.C.)
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Nweke OC, Payne-Sturges D, Garcia L, Lee C, Zenick H, Grevatt P, Sanders WH, Case H, Dankwa-Mullan I. Symposium on integrating the science of environmental justice into decision-making at the Environmental Protection Agency: an overview. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 Suppl 1:S19-26. [PMID: 22028456 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2011.300368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In March 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with government and nongovernmental organizations to host a groundbreaking symposium, "Strengthening Environmental Justice Research and Decision Making: A Symposium on the Science of Disproportionate Environmental Health Impacts." The symposium provided a forum for discourse on the state of scientific knowledge about factors identified by EPA that may contribute to higher burdens of environmental exposure or risk in racial/ethnic minorities and low-income populations. Also featured were discussions on how environmental justice considerations may be integrated into EPA's analytical and decision-making frameworks and on research needs for advancing the integration of environmental justice into environmental policymaking. We summarize key discussions and conclusions from the symposium and briefly introduce the articles in this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyemaechi C Nweke
- Office of Environmental Justice, US Environmental Protection Agency, MC 2201A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
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Schwartz J, Bellinger D, Glass T. Exploring potential sources of differential vulnerability and susceptibility in risk from environmental hazards to expand the scope of risk assessment. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 Suppl 1:S94-101. [PMID: 22021315 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2011.300272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Genetic factors, other exposures, individual disease states and allostatic load, psychosocial stress, and socioeconomic position all have the potential to modify the response to environmental exposures. Moreover, many of these modifiers covary with the exposure, leading to much higher risks in some subgroups. These are not theoretical concerns; rather, all these patterns have already been demonstrated in studies of the effects of lead and air pollution. However, recent regulatory impact assessments for these exposures have generally not incorporated these findings. Therefore, differential risk and vulnerability is a critically important but neglected area within risk assessment, and should be incorporated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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McEwen BS, Tucker P. Critical biological pathways for chronic psychosocial stress and research opportunities to advance the consideration of stress in chemical risk assessment. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 Suppl 1:S131-9. [PMID: 22021312 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2011.300270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that psychosocial stress and toxicants may interact to modify health risks. Stress-toxicant interactions could be important in chemical risk assessment, but these interactions are poorly understood and additional research is necessary to advance their application. Environmental health research can increase knowledge of these interactions by exploring hypotheses on allostatic load, which measures the cumulative impacts of stress across multiple physiological pathways, using knowledge about physiological pathways for stress-related health effects, and evidence of common target pathways for both stress and toxicants. In this article, critical physiological pathways for stress-related health effects are discussed, with specific attention to allostatic load and stress-toxicant interactions, concluding with research suggestions for potential applications of such research in chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce S McEwen
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendrocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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Schwartz J, Bellinger D, Glass T. Expanding the scope of risk assessment: methods of studying differential vulnerability and susceptibility. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 Suppl 1:S102-9. [PMID: 22021313 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2011.300367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Several methodological issues have been identified in analysis of epidemiological data to better assess the distributional effects of exposures and hypotheses about effect modification. We discuss the hierarchical mixed model and some more complex methods. Methods of capturing inequality are a second dimension of risk assessment, and simulation studies are important because plausible choices for air pollution effects and effect modifiers could result in extremely high risks in a small subset of the population. Future epidemiological studies should explore contextual and individual-level factors that might modify these relationships. The Environmental Protection Agency should make this a standard part of their risk assessments whenever the necessary information is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Schwartz
- School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Loef M, Mendoza LF, Walach H. Lead (Pb) and the Risk of Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive decline: A systematic review. TOXIN REV 2011. [DOI: 10.3109/15569543.2011.624664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Couch SR, Coles CJ. Community stress, psychosocial hazards, and EPA decision-making in communities impacted by chronic technological disasters. Am J Public Health 2011; 101 Suppl 1:S140-8. [PMID: 21836109 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2010.300039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress has emerged as an important consideration in managing environmental health risks. Stress has adverse impacts on health and may interact with environmental hazards to increase health risk. This article's primary objective was to explore psychosocial stress related to environmental contamination. We hypothesized that knowledge about stress should be used in conjunction with chemical risk assessment to inform environmental risk management decisions. Knowledge of psychosocial stress at contaminated sites began by exploring the relationships among social capital, collective efficacy, and contamination at the community level. We discussed stress at the family and individual levels, focusing on stress proliferation, available resources, and coping styles and mechanisms. We then made recommendations on how to improve the use of information on psychosocial stress in environmental decision-making, particularly in communities facing chronic technological disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Couch
- Academic Affairs, Pennsylvania State University, The Schuylkill Campus, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania 17972, USA.
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Bellinger DC. The protean toxicities of lead: new chapters in a familiar story. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2011; 8:2593-628. [PMID: 21845148 PMCID: PMC3155319 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph8072593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Revised: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 06/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many times in the history of lead toxicology the view that "the problem" has been solved and is no longer a major health concern has prevailed, only to have further research demonstrate the prematurity of this judgment. In the last decade, an extraordinary amount of new research on lead has illustrated, all too clearly, that "the problem" has not disappeared, and that, in fact, it has dimensions never before considered. Recent risk assessments have concluded that research has yet to identify a threshold level below which lead can be considered "safe." Although children's intelligence has traditionally been considered to be the most sensitive endpoint, and used as the basis for risk assessment and standard setting, increased lead exposure has been associated with a wide variety of other morbidities both in children and adults, in some cases at biomarker levels comparable to those associated with IQ deficits in children. In adults, these endpoints include all-cause mortality and dysfunctions in the renal, cardiovascular, reproductive, central nervous systems. In children, IQ deficits are observed at blood lead levels well below 10 μg/dL, and the dose-effect relationship appears to be supra-linear. Other health endpoints associated with greater early-life lead exposure in children include ADHD, conduct disorder, aggression and delinquency, impaired dental health, and delayed sexual maturation. Studies employing neuroimaging modalities such as volumetric, diffusion tensor, and functional MRI are providing insights into the neural bases of the cognitive impairments associated with greater lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Bellinger
- Children's Hospital Boston, Farley Basement Box 127, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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A framework for integrating environmental justice in regulatory analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2011; 8:2366-85. [PMID: 21776235 PMCID: PMC3138030 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph8062366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With increased interest in integrating environmental justice into the process for developing environmental regulations in the United States, analysts and decision makers are confronted with the question of what methods and data can be used to assess disproportionate environmental health impacts. However, as a first step to identifying data and methods, it is important that analysts understand what information on equity impacts is needed for decision making. Such knowledge originates from clearly stated equity objectives and the reflection of those objectives throughout the analytical activities that characterize Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), a process that is traditionally used to inform decision making. The framework proposed in this paper advocates structuring analyses to explicitly provide pre-defined output on equity impacts. Specifically, the proposed framework emphasizes: (a) defining equity objectives for the proposed regulatory action at the onset of the regulatory process, (b) identifying specific and related sub-objectives for key analytical steps in the RIA process, and (c) developing explicit analytical/research questions to assure that stated sub-objectives and objectives are met. In proposing this framework, it is envisioned that information on equity impacts informs decision-making in regulatory development, and that this is achieved through a systematic and consistent approach that assures linkages between stated equity objectives, regulatory analyses, selection of policy options, and the design of compliance and enforcement activities.
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Lewis AS, Sax SN, Wason SC, Campleman SL. Non-chemical stressors and cumulative risk assessment: an overview of current initiatives and potential air pollutant interactions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2011; 8:2020-73. [PMID: 21776216 PMCID: PMC3138011 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph8062020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory agencies are under increased pressure to consider broader public health concerns that extend to multiple pollutant exposures, multiple exposure pathways, and vulnerable populations. Specifically, cumulative risk assessment initiatives have stressed the importance of considering both chemical and non-chemical stressors, such as socioeconomic status (SES) and related psychosocial stress, in evaluating health risks. The integration of non-chemical stressors into a cumulative risk assessment framework has been largely driven by evidence of health disparities across different segments of society that may also bear a disproportionate risk from chemical exposures. This review will discuss current efforts to advance the field of cumulative risk assessment, highlighting some of the major challenges, discussed within the construct of the traditional risk assessment paradigm. Additionally, we present a summary of studies of potential interactions between social stressors and air pollutants on health as an example of current research that supports the incorporation of non-chemical stressors into risk assessment. The results from these studies, while suggestive of possible interactions, are mixed and hindered by inconsistent application of social stress indicators. Overall, while there have been significant advances, further developments across all of the risk assessment stages (i.e., hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response, and risk characterization) are necessary to provide a scientific basis for regulatory actions and effective community interventions, particularly when considering non-chemical stressors. A better understanding of the biological underpinnings of social stress on disease and implications for chemical-based dose-response relationships is needed. Furthermore, when considering non-chemical stressors, an appropriate metric, or series of metrics, for risk characterization is also needed. Cumulative risk assessment research will benefit from coordination of information from several different scientific disciplines, including, for example, toxicology, epidemiology, nutrition, neurotoxicology, and the social sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari S. Lewis
- Gradient, 20 University Road, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Sonja N. Sax
- Gradient, 20 University Road, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Susan C. Wason
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Sharan L. Campleman
- Electric Power Research Institute, 3420 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; E-Mail:
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Peters JL, Weisskopf MG, Spiro A, Schwartz J, Sparrow D, Nie H, Hu H, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Interaction of stress, lead burden, and age on cognition in older men: the VA Normative Aging Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2010; 118:505-10. [PMID: 20064786 PMCID: PMC2854727 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2009] [Accepted: 11/06/2009] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-level exposure to lead and to chronic stress may independently influence cognition. However, the modifying potential of psychosocial stress on the neurotoxicity of lead and their combined relationship to aging-associated decline have not been fully examined. OBJECTIVES We examined the cross-sectional interaction between stress and lead exposure on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores among 811 participants in the Normative Aging Study, a cohort of older U.S. men. METHODS We used two self-reported measures of stress appraisal--a self-report of stress related to their most severe problem and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Indices of lead exposure were blood lead and bone (tibia and patella) lead. RESULTS Participants with higher self-reported stress had lower MMSE scores, which were adjusted for age, education, computer experience, English as a first language, smoking, and alcohol intake. In multivariable-adjusted tests for interaction, those with higher PSS scores had a 0.57-point lower (95% confidence interval, -0.90 to 0.24) MMSE score for a 2-fold increase in blood lead than did those with lower PSS scores. In addition, the combination of high PSS scores and high blood lead categories on one or both was associated with a 0.05-0.08 reduction on the MMSE for each year of age compared with those with low PSS score and blood lead level (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Psychological stress had an independent inverse association with cognition and also modified the relationship between lead exposure and cognitive performance among older men. Furthermore, high stress and lead together modified the association between age and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junenette L Peters
- Department of Environment Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
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Geller AM. Making the needed linkages and economic case for continued lead-paint abatement. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2009; 117:A332-A334. [PMID: 19672376 PMCID: PMC2721880 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.13098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
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