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Hill E, Harleman M, Harris L, Sventek G, Ritz B, Campbell EJ, Willis M, Hystad P. Roadway construction as a natural experiment to examine air pollution impacts on infant health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118788. [PMID: 38555097 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) poses a significant public health risk that is associated with adverse birth outcomes. Large roadway infrastructure projects present a natural experiment to examine how resulting congestion change is associated with adverse birth outcomes for nearby populations. This study is designed to examine the influence of living close to a roadway before, during, and after a construction project using a difference-in-differences design. We integrated data on all large roadway construction projects (defined as widening of existing roads, building new roads, improving bridges, installing intelligent transportation systems, improving intersections, and installing or upgrading traffic signals) in Texas from 2007 to 2016 with Vital Statistic data for all births with residential addresses within 1 km of construction projects. Our outcomes included term low birth weight, term birth weight, preterm birth, and very preterm birth. Using a difference-in-differences design, we included births within 3 years of construction start and 2 years of construction end. In our main model, the exposed group is limited to pregnant individuals residing within 300 m of a construction project, and the control group includes those living within 300-1000 m from a project. We used regression models to estimate the influence of construction on infant health. We included 1,360 large roadway construction projects linked to 408,979 births. During construction, we found that the odds of term low birth weight increased by 19% (95% CI: 1.05, 1.36). However, we saw little evidence of an association for other birth outcomes. Contrary to our hypothesis of decreased TRAP after construction ends, we did not observe consistent improvements post-construction for pregnant individuals living within 300 m. Continued consideration of the influence of traffic congestion programs on birth outcomes is necessary to inform future policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Hill
- Department of Economics, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, 280 Hutchison Rd, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd Box 420644, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - Max Harleman
- Department of Government and Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia College and State University, 410 W Greene St, Milledgeville, GA, USA
| | - Lena Harris
- Department of Economics, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, 280 Hutchison Rd, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Grace Sventek
- Department of Economics, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, 280 Hutchison Rd, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Blvd Box 420644, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Erin J Campbell
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mary Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Perry Hystad
- School of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Roche IV, Ubalde-Lopez M, Daher C, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Gascon M. The Health-Related and Learning Performance Effects of Air Pollution and Other Urban-Related Environmental Factors on School-Age Children and Adolescents-A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:300-316. [PMID: 38369581 PMCID: PMC11082043 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This scoping review aims to assess the impact of air pollution, traffic noise, heat, and green and blue space exposures on the physical and cognitive development of school-age children and adolescents. While existing evidence indicates adverse effects of transport-related exposures on their health, a comprehensive scoping review is necessary to consolidate findings on various urban environmental exposures' effects on children's development. RECENT FINDINGS There is consistent evidence on how air pollution negatively affects children's cognitive and respiratory health and learning performance, increasing their susceptibility to diseases in their adult life. Scientific evidence on heat and traffic noise, while less researched, indicates that they negatively affect children's health. On the contrary, green space exposure seems to benefit or mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting a potential strategy to promote children's cognitive and physical development in urban settings. This review underscores the substantial impact of urban exposures on the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. It highlights adverse health effects that can extend into adulthood, affecting academic opportunities and well-being beyond health. While acknowledging the necessity for more research on the mechanisms of air pollution effects and associations with heat and noise exposure, the review advocates prioritizing policy changes and urban planning interventions. This includes minimizing air pollution and traffic noise while enhancing urban vegetation, particularly in school environments, to ensure the healthy development of children and promote lifelong health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Valls Roche
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mònica Ubalde-Lopez
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolyn Daher
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Gascon
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Conway F, Portela A, Filippi V, Chou D, Kovats S. Climate change, air pollution and maternal and newborn health: An overview of reviews of health outcomes. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04128. [PMID: 38785109 PMCID: PMC11117177 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Climate change represents a fundamental threat to human health, with pregnant women and newborns being more susceptible than other populations. In this review, we aimed to describe the current landscape of available epidemiological evidence on key climate risks on maternal and newborn health (MNH). Methods We sought to identify published systematic and scoping reviews investigating the impact of different climate hazards and air pollution on MNH outcomes. With this in mind, we developed a systematic search strategy based on the concepts of 'climate/air pollution hazards, 'maternal health,' and 'newborn health,' with restrictions to reviews published between 1 January 2010 and 6 February 2023, but without geographical or language restriction. Following full text screening and data extraction, we synthesised the results using narrative synthesis. Results We found 79 reviews investigating the effects of climate hazards on MNH, mainly focussing on outdoor air pollution (n = 47, 59%), heat (n = 24, 30%), and flood/storm disasters (n = 7, 9%). Most were published after 2015 (n = 60, 76%). These reviews had consistent findings regarding the positive association of exposure to heat and to air pollution with adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. We found limited evidence for impacts of climate-related food and water security on MNH and did not identify any reviews on climate-sensitive infectious diseases and MNH. Conclusions Climate change could undermine recent improvements in maternal and newborn health. Our review provides an overview of key climate risks to MNH. It could therefore be useful to the MNH community to better understand the MNH needs for each climate hazard and to strengthen discussions on evidence and research gaps and potential actions. Despite the lack of comprehensive evidence for some climate hazards and for many maternal, perinatal, and newborn outcomes, we observed repeated findings of the impact of heat and air pollutants on birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. It is time for policy dialogue to follow to specifically design climate policy and actions to protect the needs of MNH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Conway
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anayda Portela
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Veronique Filippi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Doris Chou
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sari Kovats
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, London, United Kingdom
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Aplin JD, Jones CJP, Jauniaux E. Environmental nanoparticles and placental research. BJOG 2024; 131:551-554. [PMID: 37880085 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John D Aplin
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Maternal and Fetal Health Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Carolyn J P Jones
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Maternal and Fetal Health Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Eric Jauniaux
- Faculty of Population Health Sciences, EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London (UCL), London, UK
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Baranyi G, Williamson L, Feng Z, Tomlinson S, Vieno M, Dibben C. Early life PM 2.5 exposure, childhood cognitive ability and mortality between age 11 and 86: A record-linkage life-course study from Scotland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117021. [PMID: 37659643 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living in areas with high air pollution concentrations is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Exposure in sensitive developmental periods might be long-lasting but studies with very long follow-up are rare, and mediating pathways between early life exposure and life-course mortality are not fully understood. METHODS Data were drawn from the Scottish Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort of 1936, a representative record-linkage study comprising 5% of the Scottish population born in 1936. Participants had valid age 11 cognitive ability test scores along with linked mortality data until age 86. Fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations estimated with the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport model were linked to participants' residential address derived from the National Identity Register in 1939 (age 3). Confounder-adjusted Cox regression estimated associations between PM2.5 and mortality; regression-based causal mediation analysis explored mediation through childhood cognitive ability. RESULTS The final sample consisted of 2734 individuals with 1608 deaths registered during the 1,833,517 person-months at risk follow-up time. Higher early life PM2.5 exposure increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04 per 10 μg m-3 increment), associations were stronger for mortality between age 65 and 86. PM2.5 increased the risk of cancer-related mortality (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08), especially for lung cancer among females (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21), but not for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Higher PM2.5 in early life (≥50 μg m-3) was associated with lower childhood cognitive ability, which, in turn, increased the risk of all-cause mortality and mediated 25% of the total associations. CONCLUSIONS In our life-course study with 75-year of continuous mortality records, we found that exposure to air pollution in early life was associated with higher mortality in late adulthood, and that childhood cognitive ability partly mediated this relationship. Findings suggest that past air pollution concentrations will likely impact health and longevity for decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Baranyi
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Lee Williamson
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Longitudinal Studies Centre - Scotland, School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zhiqiang Feng
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sam Tomlinson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Library Ave, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
| | - Massimo Vieno
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, UK
| | - Chris Dibben
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Bansal A, Cherbuin N, Davis DL, Peek MJ, Wingett A, Christensen BK, Carlisle H, Broom M, Schoenaker DAJM, Dahlstrom JE, Phillips CB, Vardoulakis S, Nanan R, Nolan CJ. Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action. Lancet Planet Health 2023; 7:e718-e725. [PMID: 37558352 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Adverse environmental exposures in utero and early childhood are known to programme long-term health. Climate change, by contributing to severe heatwaves, wildfires, and other natural disasters, is plausibly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increase in the future burden of chronic diseases in both mothers and their babies. In this Personal View, we highlight the limitations of existing evidence, specifically on the effects of severe heatwave and wildfire events, and compounding syndemic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the short-term and long-term physical and mental health of pregnant women and their babies, taking into account the interactions with individual and community vulnerabilities. We highlight a need for an international, interdisciplinary collaborative effort to systematically study the effects of severe climate-related environmental crises on maternal and child health. This will enable informed changes to public health policy and clinical practice necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amita Bansal
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Deborah L Davis
- Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; ACT Government, Health Directorate, ACT, Australia
| | - Michael J Peek
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Amanda Wingett
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bruce K Christensen
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Hazel Carlisle
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Margaret Broom
- Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Danielle A J M Schoenaker
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jane E Dahlstrom
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine B Phillips
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Companion House Refugee Medical Service, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ralph Nanan
- Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Center Nepean, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher J Nolan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia.
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Karimi SM, Mostafavi-Dehzooei M, Asadi G, Jacobs C, Majbouri M. Early-life exposure to Saharan dust storms and adolescence functional disability: Evidence from Cameroon. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:160007. [PMID: 36368388 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The direct link between early-life dust storm exposure and later-in-life outcomes is not fully understood. This study examines the association of functional disability in a large sample of adolescent Cameroonians (N = 112,855) with in-utero and early childhood exposure to Saharan dust storms. Adjusting all estimations for temperature, precipitation, time and location fixed-effects, and person and family sociodemographic characteristics, we documented adverse effects on functional disability in female adolescents due to exposure to dense dust storms during the third gestation trimester and the second postnatal trimester. We also found suggestive evidence that an effect exists for the first as well as the third through fifth postnatal trimesters. In the third trimester of gestation and the second postnatal trimester, exposure to an average length dust storm with PM10 levels beyond 190 μg/m3 increased the likelihood of disability among female adolescents by approximately 229 (95 % CI: 10-464) in 100,000. The size of the adverse effects for the other periods followed similar patterns. These results show the value of creating infrastructures to mitigate or adapt to the effects of dust storms. These endeavors should focus on communities and populations in and around the Sahara where international organizations can play a role. In addition, establishing health data infrastructures not only improves public health but also advances our understanding of the long-term effects of dust storms. This study demonstrates the importance of research on the long-term effects of early-life exposure to dust storms and the need for additional work on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed M Karimi
- Department of Health Management and System Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
| | | | | | - Claire Jacobs
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Mahdi Majbouri
- Department of Economics, Babson College, Wellesley, MA, USA.
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Gupta K, Al Rifai M, Hussain A, Minhas AMK, Patel J, Kalra D, Samad Z, Virani SS. South Asian ethnicity: What can we do to make this risk enhancer a risk equivalent? Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2022; 75:21-32. [PMID: 36279943 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2022.10.001] [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] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
South Asians account for around 25% of the global population and are the fastest-growing ethnicity in the US. This population has an increasing burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) which is also seen in the diaspora. Current risk prediction equations underestimate this risk and consider the South Asian ethnicity as a risk-enhancer among those with borderline-intermediate risk. In this review, we discuss why the South Asian population is at a higher risk of ASCVD and strategies to mitigate this increased risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mahmoud Al Rifai
- Section of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aliza Hussain
- Section of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jaideep Patel
- Pauley Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA; Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dinesh Kalra
- Rudd Heart & Lung Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Zainab Samad
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Salim S Virani
- Section of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Health Policy, Quality & Informatics Program, Health Services Research and Development Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Section of Cardiology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Segal TR, Giudice LC. Systematic review of climate change effects on reproductive health. Fertil Steril 2022; 118:215-223. [PMID: 35878942 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is a major risk factor for overall health, including reproductive health, and well-being. Increasing temperatures, due mostly to increased greenhouse gases trapping excess heat in the atmosphere, result in erratic weather patterns, wildfires, displacement of large communities, and stagnant water resulting in vector-borne diseases that, together, have set the stage for new and devastating health threats across the globe. These conditions disproportionately affect disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including women, pregnant persons, young children, the elderly, and the disabled. This review reports on the evidence for the adverse impacts of air pollution, wildfires, heat stress, floods, toxic chemicals, and vector-borne diseases on male and female fertility, the developing fetus, and obstetric outcomes. Reproductive health care providers are uniquely positioned and have an unprecedented opportunity to educate patients and policy makers about mitigating the impact of climate change to assure reproductive health in this and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia R Segal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Nyadanu SD, Dunne J, Tessema GA, Mullins B, Kumi-Boateng B, Lee Bell M, Duko B, Pereira G. Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: An umbrella review of 36 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119465. [PMID: 35569625 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses linked prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants to adverse birth outcomes with mixed findings, including results indicating positive, negative, and null associations across the pregnancy periods. The objective of this study was to systematically summarise systematic reviews and meta-analyses on air pollutants and birth outcomes to assess the overall epidemiological evidence. Systematic reviews with/without meta-analyses on the association between air pollutants (NO2, CO, O3, SO2, PM2.5, and PM10) and birth outcomes (preterm birth; stillbirth; spontaneous abortion; birth weight; low birth weight, LBW; small-for-gestational-age) up to March 30, 2022 were included. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection, systematic reviews repositories, grey literature databases, internet search engines, and references of included studies. The consistency in the directions of the effect estimates was classified as more consistent positive or negative, less consistent positive or negative, unclear, and consistently null. Next, the confidence in the direction was rated as either convincing, probable, limited-suggestive, or limited non-conclusive evidence. Final synthesis included 36 systematic reviews (21 with and 15 without meta-analyses) that contained 295 distinct primary studies. PM2.5 showed more consistent positive associations than other pollutants. The positive exposure-outcome associations based on the entire pregnancy period were more consistent than trimester-specific exposure averages. For whole pregnancy exposure, a more consistent positive association was found for PM2.5 and birth weight reductions, particulate matter and spontaneous abortion, and SO2 and LBW. Other exposure-outcome associations mostly showed less consistent positive associations and few unclear directions of associations. Almost all associations showed probable evidence. The available evidence indicates plausible causal effects of criteria air pollutants on birth outcomes. To strengthen the evidence, more high-quality studies are required, particularly from understudied settings, such as low-and-middle-income countries. However, the current evidence may warrant the adoption of the precautionary principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; Education, Culture, and Health Opportunities (ECHO) Ghana, ECHO Research Group International, P. O. Box 424, Aflao, Ghana.
| | - Jennifer Dunne
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Gizachew Assefa Tessema
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Ben Mullins
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Bernard Kumi-Boateng
- Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
| | - Michelle Lee Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Bereket Duko
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Gavin Pereira
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; Centre for Fertility and Health (CeFH), Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0473, Oslo, Norway; enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
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Schwinger C, Kvestad I, Chandyo RK, Ulak M, Shrestha M, Ranjitkar S, Strand TA. The association between biomass fuel use for cooking and linear growth in young children in Bhaktapur, Nepal. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 161:107089. [PMID: 35063791 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are still many people in the world who prepare their meals on open fires or stoves using solid fuels from biomass, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Although biomass cooking fuels have been associated with adverse health impacts and diseases, the association with child linear growth remains unclear. OBJECTIVES In a cohort design, we aimed to describe the association between the use of biomass cooking fuels and linear growth in children aged 18-23 months living in the urban and peri-urban community of Bhaktapur, situated in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. METHODS Caretakers of 600 marginally stunted children aged 6-11 months were interviewed about their source of cooking fuel and other socio-demographic characteristics at enrolment into a randomized controlled trial. Children's body length was measured when children were 18-23 months old. In linear regression models, we estimated the association between the use of biomass fuel and length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), adjusted for relevant confounders. We repeated these analyses in pre-defined sub-groups and different percentiles of LAZ using quantile regression models. RESULTS Among study participants, 101 (18%) used biomass as cooking fuel. The association between biomass fuel and LAZ was not statistically significant in the full sample (adjusted regression coefficient: -0.14, 95% CI: -0.28, 0.00). The association was stronger in some of the sub-groups and in the lower tail of the LAZ distribution (those who are stunted), but neither reached statistical significance. DISCUSSION Children from households in poor, urban neighborhoods in Nepal which used biomass fuel for cooking were on average slightly shorter than other children, although the association only approached statistical significance. As this was an observational study, residual confounding cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations, in particular those seen in certain sub-groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Schwinger
- Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Ingrid Kvestad
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway; Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Ram K Chandyo
- Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Manjeswori Ulak
- Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Merina Shrestha
- Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Suman Ranjitkar
- Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Tor A Strand
- Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
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Rangel MA, Tomé R. Health and the Megacity: Urban Congestion, Air Pollution, and Birth Outcomes in Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031151. [PMID: 35162175 PMCID: PMC8835072 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We studied the health effects of economic development in heavily urbanized areas, where congestion poses a challenge to environmental conditions. We employed detailed data from air pollution and birth records around the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2002 and 2009. During this period, the megacity experienced sustained growth marked by the increases in employment rates and ownership of durable goods, including automobiles. While better economic conditions are expected to improve infant health, air pollution that accompanies it is expected to do the opposite. To untangle these two effects, we focused on episodes of thermal inversion—meteorological phenomena that exogenously lock pollutants closer to the ground—to estimate the causal effects of in utero exposure to air pollution. Auxiliary results confirmed a positive relationship between thermal inversions and several air pollutants, and we ultimately found that exposure to inversion episodes during the last three months of pregnancy led to sizable reductions in birth weight and increases in the incidence of preterm births. Increased pollution exposure induced by inversions also has a significant impact over fetal survival as measured by the size of live-birth cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos A. Rangel
- Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA;
| | - Romina Tomé
- American Institutes for Research, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-202-403-5029
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Noël A, Perveen Z, Xiao R, Hammond H, Le Donne V, Legendre K, Gartia MR, Sahu S, Paulsen DB, Penn AL. Mmp12 Is Upregulated by in utero Second-Hand Smoke Exposures and Is a Key Factor Contributing to Aggravated Lung Responses in Adult Emphysema, Asthma, and Lung Cancer Mouse Models. Front Physiol 2021; 12:704401. [PMID: 34912233 PMCID: PMC8667558 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.704401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (Mmp12) is upregulated by cigarette smoke (CS) and plays a critical role in extracellular matrix remodeling, a key mechanism involved in physiological repair processes, and in the pathogenesis of emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer. While cigarette smoking is associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and lung cancer, in utero exposures to CS and second-hand smoke (SHS) are associated with asthma development in the offspring. SHS is an indoor air pollutant that causes known adverse health effects; however, the mechanisms by which in utero SHS exposures predispose to adult lung diseases, including COPD, asthma, and lung cancer, are poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that in utero SHS exposure aggravates adult-induced emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer. Methods: Pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed from gestational days 6–19 to either 3 or 10mg/m3 of SHS or filtered air. At 10, 11, 16, or 17weeks of age, female offspring were treated with either saline for controls, elastase to induce emphysema, house-dust mite (HDM) to initiate asthma, or urethane to promote lung cancer. At sacrifice, specific disease-related lung responses including lung function, inflammation, gene, and protein expression were assessed. Results: In the elastase-induced emphysema model, in utero SHS-exposed mice had significantly enlarged airspaces and up-regulated expression of Mmp12 (10.3-fold compared to air-elastase controls). In the HDM-induced asthma model, in utero exposures to SHS produced eosinophilic lung inflammation and potentiated Mmp12 gene expression (5.7-fold compared to air-HDM controls). In the lung cancer model, in utero exposures to SHS significantly increased the number of intrapulmonary metastases at 58weeks of age and up-regulated Mmp12 (9.3-fold compared to air-urethane controls). In all lung disease models, Mmp12 upregulation was supported at the protein level. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that in utero SHS exposures exacerbate lung responses to adult-induced emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer. Our data show that MMP12 is up-regulated at the gene and protein levels in three distinct adult lung disease models following in utero SHS exposures, suggesting that MMP12 is central to in utero SHS-aggravated lung responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Noël
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Zakia Perveen
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Rui Xiao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Harriet Hammond
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | | | - Kelsey Legendre
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Manas Ranjan Gartia
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Sushant Sahu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, United States
| | - Daniel B Paulsen
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Arthur L Penn
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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Exploring the Effects of Environmental Factors on the Development of 0-4-Year Old Children in The Netherlands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18157782. [PMID: 34360070 PMCID: PMC8345559 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution, noise, and green space are important environmental exposures, having been linked to a variety of specific health outcomes. However, there are few studies addressing overall early life development. To assess their effects, associations between developmental milestones for a large population of 0–4-year old children in The Netherlands and environmental exposures were explored. Developmental milestones and background characteristics were provided by Preventive Child Health Care (PCHC) and supplemented with data from Statistics Netherlands. Milestones were summarized and standardized into an aggregate score measuring global development. Four age groups were selected. Environmental exposures were assigned to geocoded addresses using publicly available maps for PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse, NO2, EC, road traffic noise, and green space. Associations were investigated using single and multiple-exposure logistic regression models. 43,916 PCHC visits by 29,524 children were available. No consistent associations were found for air pollution and road traffic noise. Green space was positively associated in single and multiple-exposure models although it was not significant in all age groups (OR 1.01 (0.95; 1.08) (1 year) to 1.07 (1.01; 1.14) (2 years)). No consistent associations were found between air pollution, road traffic noise, and global child development. A positive association of green space was indicated.
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Mueller W, Tantrakarnapa K, Johnston HJ, Loh M, Steinle S, Vardoulakis S, Cherrie JW. Exposure to ambient particulate matter and biomass burning during pregnancy: associations with birth weight in Thailand. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:672-682. [PMID: 33603098 PMCID: PMC8263346 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00295-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing evidence that exposure to ambient particulate air pollution during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including reduced birth weight (BW). The objective of this study was to quantify associations between BW and exposure to particulate matter (PM) and biomass burning during pregnancy in Thailand. METHODS We collected hourly ambient air pollutant data from ground-based monitors (PM with diameter of <10 µm [PM10], Ozone [O3], and nitrogen dioxide [NO2]), biomass burning from satellite remote sensing data, and individual birth weight data during 2015-2018. We performed a semi-ecological analysis to evaluate the association between mean trimester exposure to air pollutants and biomass burning with BW and low-birth weight (LBW) (<2500 g), adjusting for gestation age, sex, previous pregnancies, mother's age, heat index, season, year, gaseous pollutant concentrations, and province. We examined potential effect modification of PM10 and biomass burning exposures by sex. RESULTS There were 83,931 eligible births with a mean pregnancy PM10 exposure of 39.7 µg/m3 (standard deviation [SD] = 7.7). The entire pregnancy exposure was associated with reduced BW both for PM10 (-6.81 g per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10 [95% CI = -12.52 to -1.10]) and biomass burning (-6.34 g per 1 SD increase in fires/km2 [95% CI = -11.35 to -1.34]) only after adjustment for NO2. In contrast with these findings, a reduced odds ratio (OR) of LBW was associated with PM10 exposure only in trimesters one and two, with no relationship across the entire pregnancy period. Associations with biomass burning were limited to increased ORs of LBW with exposure in trimester three, but only for male births. CONCLUSION Based on our results, we encourage further investigation of air pollution, biomass burning and BW in Thailand and other low-income and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kraichat Tantrakarnapa
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Helinor Jane Johnston
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Miranda Loh
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - John W Cherrie
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
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Fukunaga H. Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126634. [PMID: 34205712 PMCID: PMC8235559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to contribute to mitochondrial diseases, as well as to a variety of aging-based pathologies. Mitochondria have their own genomes (mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)) and the abnormalities, such as point mutations, deletions, and copy number variations, are involved in mitochondrial dysfunction. In recent years, several epidemiological studies and animal experiments have supported the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, which states that the environment during fetal life influences the predisposition to disease and the risk of morbidity in adulthood. Mitochondria play a central role in energy production, as well as in various cellular functions, such as apoptosis, lipid metabolism, and calcium metabolism. In terms of the DOHaD theory, mtDNA copy number may be a mediator of health and disease. This paper summarizes the results of recent epidemiological studies on the relationship between environmental factors and mtDNA copy number during pregnancy from the perspective of DOHaD theory. The results of these studies suggest a hypothesis that mtDNA copy number may reflect environmental influences during fetal life and possibly serve as a surrogate marker of health risks in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisanori Fukunaga
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N12 W7 Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
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Abstract
Purpose for Review Since the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in China in late 2019 turned into a global pandemic, numerous studies have reported associations between environmental factors, such as weather conditions and a range of air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, etc.) and the first wave of COVID-19 cases. This review aims to offer a critical assessment of the role of environmental exposure risk factors on SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 disease severity. Recent Findings In this review, we provide a critical assessment of COVID-19 risk factors, identify gaps in our knowledge (e.g., indoor air pollution), and discuss methodological challenges of association and causation and the impact lockdowns had on air quality. In addition, we will draw attention to ethnic and socioeconomic factors driving viral transmission related to COVID-19. The complex role angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays in COVID-19 and future promising avenues of research are discussed. Summary To demonstrate causality, we stress the need for future epidemiologic studies integrating personal air pollution exposures, detailed clinical COVID-19 data, and a range of socioeconomic factors, as well as in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies.
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