1
|
Maitin-Shepard M, Werner EF, Feig LA, Chavarro JE, Mumford SL, Wylie B, Rando OJ, Gaskins AJ, Sakkas D, Arora M, Kudesia R, Lujan ME, Braun J, Mozaffarian D. Food, nutrition, and fertility: from soil to fork. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:578-589. [PMID: 38101699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.12.005] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Food and nutrition-related factors, including foods and nutrients consumed, dietary patterns, use of dietary supplements, adiposity, and exposure to food-related environmental contaminants, have the potential to impact semen quality and male and female fertility; obstetric, fetal, and birth outcomes; and the health of future generations, but gaps in evidence remain. On 9 November 2022, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the school's Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute hosted a 1-d meeting to explore the evidence and evidence gaps regarding the relationships between food, nutrition, and fertility. Topics addressed included male fertility, female fertility and gestation, and intergenerational effects. This meeting report summarizes the presentations and deliberations from the meeting. Regarding male fertility, a positive association exists with a healthy dietary pattern, with high-quality evidence for semen quality and lower quality evidence for clinical outcomes. Folic acid and zinc supplementation have been found to not impact male fertility. In females, body weight status and other nutrition-related factors are linked to nearly half of all ovulation disorders, a leading cause of female infertility. Females with obesity have worse fertility treatment, pregnancy-related, and birth outcomes. Environmental contaminants found in food, water, or its packaging, including lead, perfluorinated alkyl substances, phthalates, and phenols, adversely impact female reproductive outcomes. Epigenetic research has found that maternal and paternal dietary-related factors can impact outcomes for future generations. Priority evidence gaps identified by meeting participants relate to the effects of nutrition and dietary patterns on fertility, gaps in communication regarding fertility optimization through changes in nutritional and environmental exposures, and interventions impacting germ cell mechanisms through dietary effects. Participants developed research proposals to address the priority evidence gaps. The workshop findings serve as a foundation for future prioritization of scientific research to address evidence gaps related to food, nutrition, and fertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika F Werner
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Larry A Feig
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jorge E Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sunni L Mumford
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Blair Wylie
- Collaborative for Women's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Oliver J Rando
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Audrey J Gaskins
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Marla E Lujan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Joseph Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Dariush Mozaffarian
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rogers GP, Twum F, Zhang J, Wei Y. Covariation between serum cotinine and blood lead levels among US pediatric populations: Trends from 1999 to 2018. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2023; 80:127283. [PMID: 37586164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco smoke, including both active and passive smoke, can be an important source of lead exposure. However, the relationship between passive tobacco smoke exposure (PTSE) and blood lead levels (BLL), especially in vulnerable populations, needs to be further explored. The present study was to assess the covariation between serum cotinine, a measure of PTSE, and BLL in a pediatric population during 1999-2018. METHODS Data on 21,817 children, aged 3-19 years, was extracted from the biennial nationally representative surveys. The trends of the prevalence of lead exposure (BLL ≥ 3.5 µg/dL) and PTSE (cotinine ≥ 1 ng/mL but < 10 ng/mL) were determined, and the covariation between BLL and cotinine was assessed. The population attributable fraction (PAF) of PTSE to the BLL was proxied using the partial R2 of the hierarchical linear regression. The association between PTSE and lead exposure was estimated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS A parallel decreasing trend in the prevalence of lead exposure and PTSE was observed. Similarly, the means of both BLL and cotinine declined simultaneously. Overall, the PAF from PTSE towards blood lead was 7 %, doubling the PAF from race/ethnicity and family income combined. Stratified by race/ethnicity, PAF from PTSE was 8 % in Blacks and Whites and 4 % for Hispanics. The odds ratio of PTSE with lead exposure was 2.45 (95 % CI, 1.75, 3.44), 2.00 (1.21, 3.33), and 1.16 (0.64, 2.13) for Black, White, and Hispanic children, respectively. Cotinine mean remained two times higher in Blacks than non-Black children at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION Serum cotinine and BLL may have a significant association in children that persists even as both have been steadily declining in recent years. The contribution from PTSE to blood lead variations could be greater than that from socioeconomic factors. Further reducing lead exposure might be achieved by eliminating PTSE, particularly for the Black pediatric population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Felix Twum
- School of Health Professions, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.
| | - Yudan Wei
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Holt JM, Talsma A, Johnson TS, Ehlinger T. Artificial neural network approaches to identify maternal and infant risk and asset factors using Peridata.Net: a WI-MIOS study. JAMIA Open 2023; 6:ooad080. [PMID: 37719084 PMCID: PMC10500218 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyze PeriData.Net, a clinical registry with linked maternal-infant hospital data of Milwaukee County residents, to demonstrate a predictive analytic approach to perinatal infant risk assessment. Materials and Methods Using unsupervised learning, we identified infant birth clusters with similar multivariate health indicator patterns, measured using perinatal variables from 2008 to 2019 from n = 43 969 clinical registry records in Milwaukee County, WI, followed by supervised learning risk-propagation modeling to identify key maternal factors. To understand the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and birth outcome cluster assignment, we recoded zip codes in Peridata.Net according to SES level. Results Three self-organizing map clusters describe infant birth outcome patterns that are similar in the multivariate space. Birth outcome clusters showed higher hazard birth outcome patterns in cluster 3 than clusters 1 and 2. Cluster 3 was associated with lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after birth, shorter infant length, and premature birth. Prediction profiles of birth clusters indicate the most sensitivity to pregnancy weight loss and prenatal visits. Majority of infants assigned to cluster 3 were in the 2 lowest SES levels. Discussion Using an extensive perinatal clinical registry, we found that the strongest predictive performance, when considering cluster membership using supervised learning, was achieved by incorporating social and behavioral risk factors. There were inequalities in infant birth outcomes based on SES. Conclusion Identifying infant risk hazard profiles can contribute to knowledge discovery and guide future research directions. Additionally, presenting the results to community members can build consensus for community-identified health and risk indicator prioritization for intervention development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeana M Holt
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States
| | - AkkeNeel Talsma
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States
| | - Teresa S Johnson
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States
| | - Timothy Ehlinger
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Talayero MJ, Robbins CR, Smith ER, Santos-Burgoa C. The association between lead exposure and crime: A systematic review. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002177. [PMID: 37527230 PMCID: PMC10393136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated an association between lead exposure and criminal behavior at the population-level, however studies exploring the effect of lead exposure on criminal behavior at the individual-level have not been reviewed systematically. The intent of this study is to complete a systematic review of all studies assessing individual-level exposures to lead and the outcomes of crime and antisocial behavior traits. We included peer reviewed studies that were published prior to August 2022 and were classified as cohort, cross-sectional, or case-control. Studies measuring the outcomes of crime, delinquency, violence, or aggression were included. The following databases were searched using a standardized search strategy: ProQuest Environmental Science Database, PubMed, ToxNet and the Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). Seventeen manuscripts met our inclusion criteria. Blood lead was measured in 12 studies, bone lead in 3 studies, and dentine lead levels in 2 studies. This systematic review identified a wide range of diverse outcomes between exposure to lead at multiple windows of development and later delinquent, criminal and antisocial behavior. A review of all potential confounding variables included within each study was made, with inclusion of relevant confounders into the risk of bias tool. There is limited data at the individual level on the effects of prenatal, childhood, and adolescent lead exposure and later criminal behavior and more evidence is necessary to evaluate the magnitude of the associations seen in this review. Our review, in conjunction with the available biological evidence, suggests that an excess risk for criminal behavior in adulthood exists when an individual is exposed to lead in utero or in the early years of childhood. The authors report no conflict of interest and no funding source. Clinical trial registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021268379.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Talayero
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - C Rebecca Robbins
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Emily R Smith
- Department of Global Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Carlos Santos-Burgoa
- Department of Global Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Okatch H, Nkala B, Beltrami J, Poy E, Parmer D, Nkala J, Olawole F. Assessing the effect of four types of direct mail messages to promote the uptake of residential lead remediation funds. PUBLIC HEALTH IN PRACTICE 2022; 4:100321. [PMID: 36203491 PMCID: PMC9531283 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2022.100321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine the efficacy of direct mailing using four types of messaging on promoting the uptake of residential lead remediation (RLR) funds in Lancaster, PA, USA. Study design We designed a quasi-experiment to assess the effect of 4 RLR messages sent to households in Lancaster, PA by direct mail between September and December 2020: a brief flyer (F); a detailed brochure + the flyer (BF); a health infographic + the flyer (IF); and an application form + the flyer (AFF). Methods Mailers were sent to addresses in four census tracts; each census tract received a different message. Both English and Spanish versions were sent. The outcomes were the event rate defined as the number of phone call inquiries received, and the number of applications received. The association between type of messaging and household type (owner-vs renter-occupied) was assessed using a chi square test. Results The event rates for the renter-occupied households were lower than for owner-occupied households, regardless of treatment. The event rates for renter-occupied households in the F, BF, IF and AFF groups were 0.00%, 0.35%, 0.12% and 0.18% respectively compared to 0.93%, 0.45%, 0.86% and 1.32% for homeowners. More applications were received from homeowners, and the event rate of the owner-occupied households was significantly different from that of renter-occupied homes (p-value = 0.001). Conclusions Event rates and applications received were higher for owner-occupied households than they were for renter-occupied households. Direct mailing of RLR information is feasible especially if households at high risk for lead poisoning are targeted.
Collapse
|
6
|
Xue J, Zartarian V, Tornero-Velez R, Stanek LW, Poulakos A, Walts A, Triantafillou K, Suero M, Grokhowsky N. A Generalizable Evaluated Approach, Applying Advanced Geospatial Statistical Methods, to Identify High Lead Exposure Locations at Census Tract Scale: Michigan Case Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:77004. [PMID: 35894594 PMCID: PMC9327739 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite great progress in reducing environmental lead (Pb) levels, many children in the United States are still being exposed. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to develop a generalizable approach for systematically identifying, verifying, and analyzing locations with high prevalence of children's elevated blood Pb levels (EBLLs) and to assess available Pb models/indices as surrogates, using a Michigan case study. METHODS We obtained ∼1.9 million BLL test results of children <6 years of age in Michigan from 2006-2016; we then evaluated them for data representativeness by comparing two percentage EBLL (%EBLL) rates (number of children tested with EBLL divided by both number of children tested and total population). We analyzed %EBLLs across census tracts over three time periods and between two EBLL reference values (≥5 vs. ≥10μg/dL) to evaluate consistency. Locations with high %EBLLs were identified by a top 20 percentile method and a Getis-Ord Gi* geospatial cluster "hotspot" analysis. For the locations identified, we analyzed convergences with three available Pb exposure models/indices based on old housing and sociodemographics. RESULTS Analyses of 2014-2016 %EBLL data identified 11 Michigan locations via cluster analysis and 80 additional locations via the top 20 percentile method and their associated census tracts. Data representativeness and consistency were supported by a 0.93 correlation coefficient between the two EBLL rates over 11 y, and a Kappa score of ∼0.8 of %EBLL hotspots across the time periods (2014-2016) and reference values. Many EBLL hotspot locations converge with current Pb exposure models/indices; others diverge, suggesting additional Pb sources for targeted interventions. DISCUSSION This analysis confirmed known Pb hotspot locations and revealed new ones at a finer geographic resolution than previously available, using advanced geospatial statistical methods and mapping/visualization. It also assessed the utility of surrogates in the absence of blood Pb data. This approach could be applied to other states to inform Pb mitigation and prevention efforts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9705.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Xue
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Valerie Zartarian
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rogelio Tornero-Velez
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lindsay W. Stanek
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Antonios Poulakos
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- LinTech Global, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alan Walts
- U.S. EPA, Region 5, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas Grokhowsky
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Prado-Rico JM, Lee EY, Wang EW, Yanosky JD, Kong L, Chen H, Navas-Acien A, Du G, Lewis MM, Mailman RB, Huang X. Higher R2* in the Red Nucleus Is Associated With Lead Exposure in an Asymptomatic Welder Cohort. Toxicol Sci 2022; 187:345-354. [PMID: 35357496 PMCID: PMC9154244 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lead is a nonessential metal and may be a coexposure in welding fumes. Preclinical data indicate lead may affect iron regulation. The current study investigated blood lead concentrations and their association with brain iron accumulation in workers with chronic welding fume exposure, with a focus on iron-rich subcortical regions of the cerebellum and basal ganglia. Occupational exposure, whole blood metal, and brain MRI data were obtained from 29 controls and 42 welders. R2* (1/T2*) and R1 (T1 relaxation rate) values were used to estimate brain iron and manganese content, respectively. Blood metals and brain R2* (in the red nucleus [RN], dentate nucleus, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra) were compared between groups. Associations between brain R2* values and exposure metrics were tested within each group, and analyses were adjusted for potential confounders. Welders had significantly higher levels of whole blood lead, manganese, iron, and copper. Welders also had higher R2* RN (p = .002), but not R1. A 2nd-order polynomial modeled the association between R2* RN and a long-term welding exposure metric. In welders, but not controls, R2* RN was associated positively with whole blood lead (r = 0.54, p = .003), and negatively with whole blood manganese (r = -0.43, p = .02). Higher blood Pb and lower blood Mn independently accounted for variance in high RN R2*. Together, these data suggest that higher RN R2* values may mark lead exposure in welders. Because lead is a known neurotoxicant, additional studies are warranted to confirm this finding, and ascertain its scientific and public/occupational health implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janina Manzieri Prado-Rico
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Eun-Young Lee
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Ernest W Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Jeff D Yanosky
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Lan Kong
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Hairong Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Guangwei Du
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Mechelle M Lewis
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Richard B Mailman
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| | - Xuemei Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Radiology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pavilonis B, Cheng Z, Johnson G, Maroko A. Lead, Soils, and Children: An Ecological Analysis of Lead Contamination in Parks and Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Brooklyn, New York. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 82:1-10. [PMID: 34796370 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-021-00902-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although the prevalence of elevated childhood blood lead levels (BLLs) has been declining, there are still an estimated 500,000 children (1 to 5 years) with BLLs above the CDC's reference value (≥ 5 μg/dL). The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological association between soil lead (Pb) concentrations in greenspaces in Brooklyn, NY and elevated BLLs of children aged 1 to 5 years old. Soil samples (n = 1504) were collected from a wide variety of parks within 43 neighborhood tabulation areas (NTAs) located in Brooklyn, NY, analyzed with a portable XRF with a subset (n = 350), and also analyzed by ICP-MS. Lead concentrations were right skewed with a mean of 160.4 ppm and a median of 113.1 ppm. The Pb concentration range spanned three orders of magnitude with most samples (66.7%) ≥ 80 ppm and 6.7% of samples ≥ 400 ppm. Elevated BLL (≥ 5ug/dL) data on children 1 to 5 years were obtained from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2011-2015). Weighted median soil Pb concentrations were calculated for each NTA and stratified into quartiles. The overall median rate of children from 1 to 5 years old with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL was 28.6 per 1000; the median rate was highest (p = 0.070) in the fourth quartile (Pb concentrations ≥ 150 ppm) compared to the first quartile (Pb concentrations < 88 ppm), 37.2 vs. 28.3 per 1000, respectively. We then used multivariable linear regression to determine the ecological association between BLL rates and soil Pb concentrations. In the final stepwise multivariable regression model, controlling for known risk factors, there was a significant positive association between soil Pb concentrations and increased childhood BLL rates (beta = 0.0008; p = 0.004). Our findings suggest that there is an ecological association between high soil Pb levels and increased rates of elevated childhood BLLs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Pavilonis
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 W. 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Zhongqi Cheng
- Brooklyn College of The City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA
| | - Glen Johnson
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 W. 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Andrew Maroko
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 W. 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Grubesic TH, Nelson JR, Wallace D, Eason J, Towers S, Walker J. Geodemographic insights on the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Wisconsin and the role of risky facilities. GEOJOURNAL 2022; 87:4311-4333. [PMID: 34539044 PMCID: PMC8435185 DOI: 10.1007/s10708-021-10503-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to impact the United States. While age and comorbid health conditions remain primary concerns in the community-based transmission of the virus, empirical evidence continues to suggest that substantial variability exists in the geographic and geodemographic distribution of COVID-19 infection rates. The purpose of this paper is to provide an alternative, spatiotemporal perspective on the pandemic using the state of Wisconsin as a case study. Specifically, in this paper, we explore the geographic nuances of COVID-19 and its spread in Wisconsin using a suite of spatial statistical approaches. We link detected hot spots of COVID-19 to local geodemographic profiles and the presence of high-risk facilities, including federal and state correctional facilities. The results suggest that the virus disproportionately impacts several communities and geodemographic groups and that proximity to risky facilities correlates to increased community infection rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tony H. Grubesic
- Geoinformatics and Policy Analytics Laboratory, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin, 1616 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701 USA
| | - Jake R. Nelson
- Geoinformatics and Policy Analytics Laboratory, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin, 1616 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701 USA
- Department of Geosciences, Auburn University, Auburn, USA
| | - Danielle Wallace
- Center for Violence Prevention and Community Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - John Eason
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, USA
| | - Sherry Towers
- Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jason Walker
- School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lead Pollution, Demographics, and Environmental Health Risks: The Case of Philadelphia, USA. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179055. [PMID: 34501644 PMCID: PMC8431549 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) soil contamination in urban environments represents a considerable health risk for exposed populations, which often include environmental justice communities. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), Pb pollution is a major concern primarily due to extensive historical Pb-smelting/processing activity and legacy use of Pb-based paints and leaded gasoline. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) organized and/or compiled community-driven soil sampling campaigns to investigate Pb content in surface soils across Philadelphia. Using these data (n = 1277), combined with our own dataset (n = 1388), we explored the spatial distribution of Pb content in soils across the city using ArcGIS. While assessing Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP)-code level data, we found strong correlations between factors, such as the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels (% EBLL) and % minority population as well as between % EBLL and % children in poverty. We developed a “Lead Index” that took demographics, median measured Pb-in-soil content, and % EBLLs into account to identify ZIP codes in need of further assessment. Our results will be used to help lower the Pb-exposure risk for vulnerable children living in disproportionately burdened communities.
Collapse
|
11
|
Suarez-Lopez JR, Cairns MR, Sripada K, Quiros-Alcala L, Mielke HW, Eskenazi B, Etzel RA, Kordas K. COVID-19 and children's health in the United States: Consideration of physical and social environments during the pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111160. [PMID: 33852915 PMCID: PMC8542993 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Public health measures necessary to counteract the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have resulted in dramatic changes in the physical and social environments within which children grow and develop. As our understanding of the pathways for viral exposure and associated health outcomes in children evolves, it is critical to consider how changes in the social, cultural, economic, and physical environments resulting from the pandemic could affect the development of children. This review article considers the environments and settings that create the backdrop for children's health in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, including current threats to child development that stem from: A) change in exposures to environmental contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, disinfectants, air pollution and the built environment; B) changes in food environments resulting from adverse economic repercussion of the pandemic and limited reach of existing safety nets; C) limited access to children's educational and developmental resources; D) changes in the social environments at the individual and household levels, and their interplay with family stressors and mental health; E) social injustice and racism. The environmental changes due to COVID-19 are overlaid onto existing environmental and social disparities. This results in disproportionate effects among children in low-income settings and among populations experiencing the effects of structural racism. This article draws attention to many environments that should be considered in current and future policy responses to protect children's health amid pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Suarez-Lopez
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, and Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Maryann R Cairns
- Department of Anthropology, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kam Sripada
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lesliam Quiros-Alcala
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Howard W Mielke
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ruth A Etzel
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Albores-Garcia D, McGlothan JL, Guilarte TR. Early-life lead exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2021; 26:22-27. [PMID: 34013137 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb2+) exposure is a global public health problem of major proportion with an alarming number of children with blood Pb2+ levels > 10 >g/dL, twice the current CDC reference level for Pb2+ exposure. Mounting evidence from population-based studies suggests an association between chronic early life Pb2+ exposure (CELLE) and psychiatric disorders, specifically schizophrenia (SZ). Preclinical studies suggest a common mechanism in the pathophysiology of CELLE and SZ, NMDA receptor hypofunction. Here we describe human and experimental animal studies providing the evidence for such an association. Further, recent preclinical studies indicate that Pb2+-induced changes in neurotransmitter receptors that mediate the action(s) of drugs of abuse are increased in brain regions associated with addiction circuits in adolescence, a period of increased susceptibility to drug use and abuse and expression of psychiatric disease in humans. In summary, the relationship between the global burden of childhood Pb2+ exposure and the latent onset of psychiatric disorders and predisposition to drug use requires further investigations in human populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Albores-Garcia
- Brain, Behavior & the Environment Program Department of Environmental Health Sciences Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Florida International University Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - J L McGlothan
- Brain, Behavior & the Environment Program Department of Environmental Health Sciences Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Florida International University Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - T R Guilarte
- Brain, Behavior & the Environment Program Department of Environmental Health Sciences Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Florida International University Miami, FL 33199, United States
| |
Collapse
|