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Starke JC, Bell NS, Martinez CM, Friberg IK, Lawley C, Sriskantharajah V, Hirschberg DL. Measuring SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in neighborhood wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:172021. [PMID: 38552966 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172021] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Longitudinal wastewater sampling during the COVID-19 pandemic was an important aspect of disease surveillance, adding to a more complete understanding of infection dynamics and providing important data for community public health monitoring and intervention planning. This was largely accomplished by testing SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in samples from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). We evaluated the utility of testing for virus levels upstream from WWTP within the residential neighborhoods that feed into the WWTP. We propose that monitoring virus dynamics across residential neighborhoods could reveal important public health-relevant information about community sub-group heterogeneity in virus concentrations. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Virus concentration patterns display heterogeneity within neighborhoods and between neighborhoods over time. Sewage SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations as measured by RT-qPCR also corresponded closely to verified COVID-19 infection counts within individual neighborhoods. More importantly, our data suggest the loss of disease-relevant public health information when sampling occurs only at the level of WWTP instead of upstream in neighborhoods. Spikes in SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in neighborhoods are often masked by dilution from other neighborhoods in the WWTP samples. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) employed at WWTP reliably detects SARS-CoV-2 in a city-sized population but provides less actionable public health information about neighborhoods experiencing greater viral infection and disease. Neighborhood sewershed sampling reveals important population-based information about local virus dynamics and improves opportunities for public health intervention. Longitudinally employed, neighborhood sewershed surveillance may provide a 3-6 day early warning of SARS-CoV-2 infection spikes and, importantly, highly specific information on subpopulations in a community particularly at higher risk at different points in time. Sampling in neighborhoods may thus provide timely and cost-saving information for targeted interventions within communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole S Bell
- RAIN Incubator, Tacoma, WA, USA; Squally Creek, LLC, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Chloe Mae Martinez
- RAIN Incubator, Tacoma, WA, USA; University of Washington-Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - David L Hirschberg
- RAIN Incubator, Tacoma, WA, USA; School of Engineering and Technology, University of Washington-Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, USA
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Tu B, Patel R, Pitalua M, Khan H, Gittner LS. Building effective intervention models utilizing big data to prevent the obesity epidemic. Obes Res Clin Pract 2023; 17:108-115. [PMID: 36870867 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.02.005] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The exposome consists of factors an individual is exposed to across the life course. The exposome is dynamic, meaning the factors are constantly changing, affecting each other and individuals in different ways. Our exposome dataset includes social determinants of health as well as policy, climate, environment, and economic factors that could impact obesity development. The objective was to translate spatial exposure to these factors with the presence of obesity into actionable population-based constructs that could be further explored. METHODS Our dataset was constructed from a combination of public-use datasets and the Center of Disease Control's Compressed Mortality File. Spatial Statistics using Queens First Order Analysis was performed to identify hot- and cold-spots of obesity prevalence; followed by Graph Analysis, Relational Analysis, and Exploratory Factor Analysis to model the multifactorial spatial connections. RESULTS Areas of high and low presence of obesity had different factors associated with obesity. Factors associated with obesity in areas of high obesity propensity were: poverty / unemployment; workload, comorbid conditions (diabetes, CVD) and physical activity. Conversely, factors associated in areas where obesity was rare were: smoking, lower education, poorer mental health, lower elevations, and heat. DISCUSSION The spatial methods described within the paper are scalable to large numbers of variables without issues of multiple comparisons lowering resolution. These types of spatial structural methods provide insights into novel variable associations or factor interactions that can then be studied further at the population or policy levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Tu
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| | - Radha Patel
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Mario Pitalua
- Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Hafiz Khan
- Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Lisaann S Gittner
- Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
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Ren X, Mi Z, Georgopoulos PG. Socioexposomics of COVID-19 across New Jersey: a comparison of geostatistical and machine learning approaches. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023:10.1038/s41370-023-00518-0. [PMID: 36725924 PMCID: PMC9889956 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities in adverse COVID-19 health outcomes have been associated with multiple social and environmental stressors. However, research is needed to evaluate the consistency and efficiency of methods for studying these associations at local scales. OBJECTIVE To assess socioexposomic associations with COVID-19 outcomes across New Jersey and evaluate consistency of findings from multiple modeling approaches. METHODS We retrieved data for COVID-19 cases and deaths for the 565 municipalities of New Jersey up to the end of the first phase of the pandemic, and calculated mortality rates with and without long-term-care (LTC) facility deaths. We considered 84 spatially heterogeneous environmental, demographic and socioeconomic factors from publicly available databases, including air pollution, proximity to industrial sites/facilities, transportation-related noise, occupation and commuting, neighborhood and housing characteristics, age structure, racial/ethnic composition, poverty, etc. Six geostatistical models (Poisson/Negative-Binomial regression, Poison/Negative-Binomial mixed effect model, Poisson/Negative-Binomial Bersag-York-Mollie spatial model) and two Machine Learning (ML) methods (Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting) were implemented to assess association patterns. The Shapley effects plot was established for explainable ML and change of support validation was introduced to compare performances of different approaches. RESULTS We found robust positive associations of COVID-19 mortality with historic exposures to NO2, population density, percentage of minority and below high school education, and other social and environmental factors. Exclusion of LTC deaths does not significantly affect correlations for most factors but findings can be substantially influenced by model structures and assumptions. The best performing geostatistical models involved flexible structures representing data variations. ML methods captured association patterns consistent with the best performing geostatistical models, and furthermore detected consistent nonlinear associations not captured by geostatistical models. SIGNIFICANCE The findings of this work improve the understanding of how social and environmental disparities impacted COVID-19 outcomes across New Jersey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Ren
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Zhongyuan Mi
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Panos G Georgopoulos
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
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Andrianou XD, Konstantinou C, Rodríguez-Flores MA, Papadopoulos F, Makris KC. Population-wide measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and exposome changes in the general population of Cyprus in March-May 2020. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2279. [PMID: 36471295 PMCID: PMC9724426 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14468-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., stay-at-home orders, school closures, physical distancing) implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to have modified routines and lifestyles, eventually impacting key exposome parameters, including, among others, physical activity, diet and cleaning habits. The objectives were to describe the exposomic profile of the general Cypriot population and compliance to the population-wide measures implemented during March-May 2020 to lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and to simulate the population-wide measures' effect on social contacts and SARS-CoV-2 spread. A survey was conducted in March-May 2020 capturing different exposome parameters, e.g., individual characteristics, lifestyle/habits, time spent and contacts at home/work/elsewhere. We described the exposome parameters and their correlations. In an exposome-wide association analysis, we used the number of hours spent at home as an indicator of compliance to the measures. We generated synthetic human proximity networks, before and during the measures using the dynamic-[Formula: see text]1 model and simulated SARS-CoV-2 transmission (i.e., to identify possible places where higher transmission/number of cases could originate from) on the networks with a dynamic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model. Overall, 594 respondents were included in the analysis (mean age 45.7 years, > 50% in very good health and communicating daily with friends/family via phone/online). The median number of contacts at home and at work decreased during the measures (from 3 to 2 and from 12 to 0, respectively) and the hours spent at home increased, indicating compliance with the measures. Increased time spent at home during the measures was associated with time spent at work before the measures (β= -0.87, 95% CI [-1.21,-0.53]) as well as with being retired vs employed (β= 2.32, 95% CI [1.70, 2.93]). The temporal network analysis indicated that most cases originated at work, while the synthetic human proximity networks adequately reproduced the observed SARS-CoV-2 spread. Exposome approaches (i.e., holistic characterization of the spatiotemporal variation of multiple exposures) would aid the comprehensive description of population-wide measures' impact and explore how behaviors and networks may shape SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xanthi D. Andrianou
- grid.15810.3d0000 0000 9995 3899Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Corina Konstantinou
- grid.15810.3d0000 0000 9995 3899Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Marco A. Rodríguez-Flores
- grid.15810.3d0000 0000 9995 3899Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Fragkiskos Papadopoulos
- grid.15810.3d0000 0000 9995 3899Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Konstantinos C. Makris
- grid.15810.3d0000 0000 9995 3899Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
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Sun H, Zhang Y, Gao G, Wu D. Internet search data with spatiotemporal analysis in infectious disease surveillance: Challenges and perspectives. Front Public Health 2022; 10:958835. [PMID: 36544794 PMCID: PMC9760721 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.958835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With the rapid development of the internet, the application of internet search data has been seen as a novel data source to offer timely infectious disease surveillance intelligence. Moreover, the advancements in internet search data, which include rich information at both space and time scales, enable investigators to sufficiently consider the spatiotemporal uncertainty, which can benefit researchers to better monitor infectious diseases and epidemics. In the present study, we present the necessary groundwork and critical appraisal of the use of internet search data and spatiotemporal analysis approaches in infectious disease surveillance by updating the current stage of knowledge on them. The study also provides future directions for researchers to investigate the combination of internet search data with the spatiotemporal analysis in infectious disease surveillance. Internet search data demonstrate a promising potential to offer timely epidemic intelligence, which can be seen as the prerequisite for improving infectious disease surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Sun
- Popsmart Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd, Ningbo, China
| | - Yuzhou Zhang
- Popsmart Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd, Ningbo, China,College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yuzhou Zhang
| | - Guang Gao
- Popsmart Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd, Ningbo, China
| | - Dun Wu
- Popsmart Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd, Ningbo, China
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Horga NG, Cirnatu D, Kundnani NR, Ciurariu E, Parvu S, Ignea AL, Borza C, Sharma A, Morariu S. Evaluation of Non-Pharmacological Measures Implemented in the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10091756. [PMID: 36141371 PMCID: PMC9498680 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091756] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania has included the involvement of not only the medical system, but also that of the administrative and social services. All these organizations are working together to lower the impact on the health of the general population, to increase the health system’s response capabilities and even to diminish the negative effects upon the economy due to the epidemic’s length. Therefore, non-pharmacological measures (NPMs) imposed through restrictive measures (administrative, economic and individual) have influenced the evolution of morbidity and mortality. Even from the first months of the pandemic’s progression, researchers have shown the impact of the NPMs’ existence, as there were many studies on all NPMs in conjunction, as well as those targeting specific measures such as school closures. Our study started by establishing a temporal relationship between the non-pharmacological measures found in most countries (wearing a mask, washing hands and physical distancing, limiting economic activities, closing schools, limiting internal and international movement, banning public and private events in closed spaces) and the evolution of the pandemic in Romania. The degree of novelty brought by this study consists of extending the analysis to the pre-existing state of the health system and to the measures meant to increase the resilience of the population, as well as to the measures aimed at reducing the type of risk, and factors that can equally influence the evolution of the number of cases. The results of the statistical analysis show the important effects of certain NPMs (mask mandates, online schooling, decisions regarding imposing or lifting local restrictions) as well as the reduced impact of other measures (hand disinfection, social distancing or the restriction of public and private events). Hence, it can be concluded that during such pandemics, implementing quick, simple measures can prevent the spread of the disease and help fight the contagion in a better manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nenssy Georgiana Horga
- Faculty of Medicine, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Daniela Cirnatu
- Faculty of Medicine, ‘Vasile Goldis’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 310025 Arad, Romania
| | - Nilima Rajpal Kundnani
- Department of Functional Sciences, Physiology, Centre of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies (CIFBIOTEH), University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Victor Babes’, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Civil Medical Society Dr Rosca, 307405 Teremia Mare, Romania
- Correspondence: (N.R.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Elena Ciurariu
- Department of Functional Sciences, Physiology, Centre of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies (CIFBIOTEH), University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Victor Babes’, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Simona Parvu
- Faculty of Medicine, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei Lucas Ignea
- Faculty of Medicine, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Claudia Borza
- Department of Functional Science, Discipline of Pathophysiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Centre of Cognitive Research in Pathological Neuro-Psychiatry NEUROPSY-COG, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Abhinav Sharma
- Civil Medical Society Dr Rosca, 307405 Teremia Mare, Romania
- Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of General Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
- Correspondence: (N.R.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Stelian Morariu
- Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of General Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
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Build Healthier: Post-COVID-19 Urban Requirements for Healthy and Sustainable Living. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14159274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed interest in urban environment and healthy living and the changes in urban environments which can make for a healthier living. Today, more than 50% of the global population lives in urban areas, and in Europe the number is 75%. We present a narrative review to explore considerations and necessary requirements to achieve health and well-being within strategies for healthy design and urban planning whilst rethinking urban spaces for a post-COVID-19 and carbon-neutral future. The achievement of health and well-being demands healthy design strategies, namely, (1) moving from the concept of infrastructure for processes to the infrastructure for healthy living—requirements for healthy places, cycling, walking, disintegrating the role of polluting traffic from the urban environments, social vulnerability and equality; (2) physical space that will achieve standards of ‘liveable communities’—open, green space requirements and standards for any built environment; (3) mainstreaming ‘in-the-walking distance’ cities and neighbourhoods for healthy physical activities for daily living; (4) exploring any of the new concepts that connect the nexus of urban spaces and public health and improving of the population’s well-being. Public health needs to be prioritised systematically in planning of built environments, energy generations, sustainable food production, and nutrition.
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Exposomic determinants of immune-mediated diseases. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e212. [PMID: 35702504 PMCID: PMC9187189 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Guo Y, Zhang N, Hu T, Wang Z, Zhang Y. Optimization of energy efficiency and COVID-19 pandemic control in different indoor environments. ENERGY AND BUILDINGS 2022; 261:111954. [PMID: 35185270 PMCID: PMC8848536 DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.111954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to considerable morbidity and mortality, and consumed enormous resources (e.g. energy) to control and prevent the disease. It is crucial to balance infection risk and energy consumption when reducing the spread of infection. In this study, a quantitative human, behavior-based, infection risk-energy consumption model for different indoor environments was developed. An optimal balance point for each indoor environment can be obtained using the anti-problem method. For this study we selected Wangjing Block, one of the most densely populated places in Beijing, as an example. Under the current ventilation standard (30 m3/h/person), prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic would be insufficient because the basic reproduction number (R0 ) for students, workers and elders are greater than 1. The optimal required fresh air ventilation rates in most indoor environments are near or below 60 m3/h/person, after considering the combined effects of multiple mitigation measures. In residences, sports buildings and restaurants, the demand for fresh air ventilation rate is relatively high. After our global optimization of infection risk control (R0 ≤ 1), energy consumption can be reduced by 13.7% and 45.1% on weekdays and weekends, respectively, in contrast to a strategy of strict control (R0 = 1 for each indoor environment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Guo
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Quality Evaluation and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tingrui Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Quality Evaluation and Control, Beijing, China
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Sun J, Fang R, Wang H, Xu DX, Yang J, Huang X, Cozzolino D, Fang M, Huang Y. A review of environmental metabolism disrupting chemicals and effect biomarkers associating disease risks: Where exposomics meets metabolomics. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106941. [PMID: 34689039 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to an ever-increasing number of environmental toxicants, some of which have gradually been elucidated to be important risk factors for metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. These metabolism-sensitive diseases typically occur when key metabolic and signaling pathways were disrupted, which can be influenced by the exposure to contaminants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), along with genetic and lifestyle factors. This promotes the concept and research on environmental metabolism disrupting chemicals (MDCs). In addition, identifying endogenous biochemical markers of effect linked to disease states is becoming an important tool to screen the biological targets following environmental contaminant exposure, as well as to provide an overview of toxicity risk assessment. As such, the current review aims to contribute to the further understanding of exposome and human health and disease by characterizing environmental exposure and effect metabolic biomarkers. We summarized MDC-associated metabolic biomarkers in laboratory animal and human cohort studies using high throughput targeted and nontargeted metabolomics techniques. Contaminants including heavy metals and organohalogen compounds, especially EDCs, have been repetitively associated with metabolic disorders, whereas emerging contaminants such as perfluoroalkyl substances and microplastics have also been found to disrupt metabolism. In addition, we found major limitations in the effective identification of metabolic biomarkers especially in human studies, toxicological research on the mixed effect of environmental exposure has also been insufficient compared to the research on single chemicals. Thus, it is timely to call for research efforts dedicated to the study of combined effect and metabolic alterations for the better assessment of exposomic toxicology and health risks. Moreover, advanced computational and prediction tools, further validation of metabolic biomarkers, as well as systematic and integrative investigations are also needed in order to reliably identify novel biomarkers and elucidate toxicity mechanisms, and to further utilize exposome and metabolome profiling in public health and safety management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Sun
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Runcheng Fang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Quality Control in Environmental, Monitoring, China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Huang
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Daniel Cozzolino
- ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Coopers Plans, Australia
| | - Mingliang Fang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China.
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Zerbo A, Castro Delgado R, Arcos González P. Conceptual frameworks regarding waterborne diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and the need of for a new approach to urban exposomes. Epidemiol Health 2021; 43:e2021079. [PMID: 34645205 PMCID: PMC8854781 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2021079] [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: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sub-Saharan African countries, like many other low-income countries, have experienced urban socioeconomic inequalities due to rapid and unplanned urbanization. These processes have resulted in the creation of poor urban areas lacking basic sanitation, water, and hygiene facilities, and subjacent public health issues such as the spread of waterborne diseases. A system for the demarcation of disease transmission areas already exists, but the traditional framework is less appropriate in sub-Saharan Africa, making it necessary to divide these urban areas more adequately. In addition, the construction of frameworks and tools more specific to waterborne disease-related issues is essential. We propose restructuring sub-Saharan urban areas into more specific areas of exposure to waterborne diseases and associated exposomes, and then use this restructuring of urban areas of exposure to waterborne diseases in a conceptual framework that takes into account causes of exposure, impacts, and interventions. The division of urban areas into public, domestic, and individual exposure areas facilitates a more straightforward understanding of the dynamics of waterborne exposomes. Moreover, the inclusion of this division in the driving force-pressure-state-exposure-effect-action framework allows an effective stratified implementation of urban public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Zerbo
- Unit of Research in Emergency and Disaster, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Rafael Castro Delgado
- Unit of Research in Emergency and Disaster, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pedro Arcos González
- Unit of Research in Emergency and Disaster, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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Zhang P, Carlsten C, Chaleckis R, Hanhineva K, Huang M, Isobe T, Koistinen VM, Meister I, Papazian S, Sdougkou K, Xie H, Martin JW, Rappaport SM, Tsugawa H, Walker DI, Woodruff TJ, Wright RO, Wheelock CE. Defining the Scope of Exposome Studies and Research Needs from a Multidisciplinary Perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2021; 8:839-852. [PMID: 34660833 PMCID: PMC8515788 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The concept of the exposome was introduced over 15 years ago to reflect the important role that the environment exerts on health and disease. While originally viewed as a call-to-arms to develop more comprehensive exposure assessment methods applicable at the individual level and throughout the life course, the scope of the exposome has now expanded to include the associated biological response. In order to explore these concepts, a workshop was hosted by the Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR, Japan) to discuss the scope of exposomics from an international and multidisciplinary perspective. This Global Perspective is a summary of the discussions with emphasis on (1) top-down, bottom-up, and functional approaches to exposomics, (2) the need for integration and standardization of LC- and GC-based high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for untargeted exposome analyses, (3) the design of an exposomics study, (4) the requirement for open science workflows including mass spectral libraries and public databases, (5) the necessity for large investments in mass spectrometry infrastructure in order to sequence the exposome, and (6) the role of the exposome in precision medicine and nutrition to create personalized environmental exposure profiles. Recommendations are made on key issues to encourage continued advancement and cooperation in exposomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Gunma
University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Division
of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
- Key
Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry
of Education), State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Christopher Carlsten
- Air
Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department
of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Romanas Chaleckis
- Gunma
University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Division
of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Kati Hanhineva
- Department
of Life Technologies, Food Chemistry and Food Development Unit, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland
- Department
of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers
University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden
- Department
of Clinical Nutrition and Public Health, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Mengna Huang
- Channing
Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- The
Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Sciences, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Ville M. Koistinen
- Department
of Life Technologies, Food Chemistry and Food Development Unit, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland
- Department
of Clinical Nutrition and Public Health, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Isabel Meister
- Gunma
University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Division
of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Stefano Papazian
- Science
for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-114 18, Sweden
| | - Kalliroi Sdougkou
- Science
for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-114 18, Sweden
| | - Hongyu Xie
- Science
for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-114 18, Sweden
| | - Jonathan W. Martin
- Science
for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-114 18, Sweden
| | - Stephen M. Rappaport
- Division
of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-7360, United States
| | - Hiroshi Tsugawa
- RIKEN Center
for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- RIKEN Center
for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Department
of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo
University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical life Science, Yokohama
City University, 1-7-22
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Douglas I. Walker
- Department
of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York10029-5674, United States
| | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- Program
on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department
of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York10029-5674, United States
| | - Craig E. Wheelock
- Gunma
University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Division
of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
- Department
of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska
University Hospital, Stockholm SE-141-86, Sweden
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13
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Boriani E, Aragrande M, Canali M, Balzan MV, Asaduzzaman M. Pragmatic Use of Planetary Health and Nature-Based Solutions for Future Pandemics Using COVID-19 Case Scenario. Front Public Health 2021; 9:620120. [PMID: 34095046 PMCID: PMC8172619 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.620120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Boriani
- Independent Researcher, EB Consult, Hellebæk, Denmark
| | - Maurizio Aragrande
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Canali
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario V Balzan
- Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, Institute of Applied Sciences, Paola, Malta
| | - Muhammad Asaduzzaman
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Planetary Health Alliance, Boston, MA, United States
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14
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Li B, Peng Y, He H, Wang M, Feng T. Built environment and early infection of COVID-19 in urban districts: A case study of Huangzhou. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 66:102685. [PMID: 33520609 PMCID: PMC7836794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Since COVID-19 spread rapidly worldwide, many countries have experienced significant growth in the number of confirmed cases and deaths. Earlier studies have examined various factors that may contribute to the contagion rate of COVID-19, such as air pollution, smoking, humidity, and temperature. As there is a lack of studies at the neighborhood-level detailing the spatial settings of built environment attributes, this study explored the variations in the size of the COVID-19 confirmed case clusters across the urban district Huangzhou in the city of Huanggang. Clusters of infectious cases in the initial outbreak of COVID-19 were identified geographically through GIS methods. The hypothetic relationships between built environment attributes and clusters of COVID-19 cases have been investigated with the structural equation model. The results show the statistically significant direct and indirect influences of commercial vitality and transportation infrastructure on the number of confirmed cases in an infectious cluster. The clues ch inducing a high risk of contagions have been evidenced and provided for the decision-making practice responding to the initial stage of possible severe epidemics, indicating that the local public health authorities should implement sufficient measures and adopt effective interventions in the areas and places with a high probability of crowded residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - You Peng
- Urban Planning and Transportation Group, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - He He
- School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Tao Feng
- Urban Planning and Transportation Group, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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15
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Konstantinou C, Andrianou XD, Constantinou A, Perikkou A, Markidou E, Christophi CA, Makris KC. Exposome changes in primary school children following the wide population non-pharmacological interventions implemented due to COVID-19 in Cyprus: A national survey. EClinicalMedicine 2021; 32:100721. [PMID: 33681739 PMCID: PMC7910671 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-pharmacological interventions (NPI), including lockdowns, have been used to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe changes in the environment and lifestyle of school children in Cyprus before the lockdown and during school re-opening, and assess compliance to NPI, using the exposome concept. METHODS During June 2020, parents completed an online questionnaire about their children's lifestyle/behaviours for two periods; school re-opening (May 21-June 26) following the population-wide lockdown, and the school period before lockdown (before March). FINDINGS Responses were received for 1509 children from over 180 primary schools. More than 72% of children complied with most NPI measures; however, only 48% decreased the number of vulnerable contacts at home. Sugary food consumption was higher in the post-lockdown period with 37% and 26% of the children eating sugary items daily and 4-6 times/week, compared to 33% and 19%, respectively, for the pre-lockdown period (p<0.001). Children's physical activity decreased compared to pre-lockdown (p<0.001), while screen time increased in the post-lockdown period, with 25% of children spending 4-7 hours/day in front of screens vs. 10% in the pre-lockdown period (p<0.001). About half of the children washed their hands with soap 4-7 times/day post-lockdown vs. 30% in the pre-lockdown period (p<0.001). INTERPRETATION This national survey showed a high degree of compliance to NPI measures among school children. Furthermore, the exposome profile of children may be affected in the months following NPI measures due to alterations in diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and hand hygiene habits. FUNDING Partial funding by the EXPOSOGAS project, H2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant #810995).
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Konstantinou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Xanthi D. Andrianou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Andria Constantinou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Anastasia Perikkou
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Eliza Markidou
- Department of Nutrition, Cyprus Ministry of Health, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Costas A. Christophi
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Konstantinos C. Makris
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
- Corresponding author.
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