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Wei J, Luo J, Chen Y, Wang F, Yang F, Li Y, Zhu Z, Huang Z, Li X, Luo M. Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution correlated with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents: A cross-sectional real-world study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 387:125912. [PMID: 40414129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2025] [Revised: 05/14/2025] [Accepted: 05/19/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025]
Abstract
Air pollution has emerged as an essential risk factor for overweight and obesity. However, the combined effects of multiple air pollutants on overweight/obesity development in children and adolescents are not fully understood. In this study, a total of 189,448 children and adolescents in China were included. Logistics, weighted quantile sum, quantile g-computation, and bayesian kernel machine regression models were used to systematically assess the association between long-term outdoor air pollution exposure and overweight/obesity, and identified the major contributors. Our results revealed a significantly positive association of PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2 concentrations with overweight/obesity risk. Multi-pollutant models consistently demonstrated a positive association between the air pollutant mixture and the risk of overweight/obesity (OR: 1.825; 95 % CI: 1.036, 2.614). PM2.5 and PM10 were identified as the most significant contributors. Furthermore, we found significantly positive overall effects and interactions of these pollutants on an additive risk of overweight/obesity. The effects of air pollutants on overweight/obesity were pronounced in boys, rural residents, smokers, and primary school students. Our findings demonstrated that long-term exposure to air pollutants, particularly PM2.5 and PM10 was positively linked with an increased risk of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. The cross-sectional design and potential confounders limited the ability to establish causality. Prospective cohort studies and specific mechanism investigations are needed to provide more precise and robust evaluations in the future. Coordinated policies to reduce air pollutants and mitigate their combined effects are essential for addressing this public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wei
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Jiayou Luo
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yanhua Chen
- Department of School Health, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of School Health, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yamei Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhaozhong Zhu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhihang Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Xiaojun Li
- Department of School Health, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, 410005, China.
| | - Miyang Luo
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
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Sandhu S, Patel J, Khadilkar A, Bhawra J, Katapally TR. A potential environmental paradox in India: Associations between air pollution precautions and sedentary behaviour among children and youth. Health Place 2025; 93:103440. [PMID: 40174461 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2025] [Accepted: 03/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/04/2025]
Abstract
The negative impact of ambient air pollution on movement behaviours in the global south is a significant concern. Yet, evidence about this complex relationship is limited. This study assessed how precautions taken to prevent ambient air pollution exposure are associated with sedentary behaviour among children and youth in India. Participants aged 5-17 years (N = 986) from 41 schools in 28 urban and rural areas across India completed online surveys to provide information on movement behaviours, including precautions taken to avoid exposure to air pollution, perception of built environment, and sedentary behaviour. Multivariate gamma regression models were developed, adjusting for sociodemographic variables with sedentary behaviour as the primary criterion variable. Apart from an overall sample model, six segregated models were built to understand age, gender, and geographical variations. Children and youth who reported taking precautions to prevent ambient air pollution exposure were associated with significantly higher daily minutes of sedentary behaviour in both the overall sample (β = 0.085, 95 % CI = 0.001, 0.169) and the 13 to 17 age group (β = 0.110, 95 % CI = 0.007, 0.227). However, being able to access outdoor physical activity facilities before or after school was associated with lower sedentary behaviour in the following models: overall, rural, 5 to 12 and 13 to 17 age groups, and boys and girls. To our knowledge, this is the first study to depict a potential paradoxical relationship between precautions taken to avoid exposure to ambient air pollution and higher sedentary behaviour among children and youth in India i.e., a health-preserving behaviour is perpetuating another chronic disease risk factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapneet Sandhu
- DEPtH Lab, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamin Patel
- DEPtH Lab, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anuradha Khadilkar
- Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jasmin Bhawra
- Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India; CHANGE Research Lab, School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tarun Reddy Katapally
- DEPtH Lab, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
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3
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Liao M, Zhang S, Wolf K, Bolte G, Laxy M, Schwettmann L, Peters A, Schneider A, Kraus U. Long-term associations between ambient air pollution and self-perceived health status: Results from the population-based KORA-Fit study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2025; 264:114513. [PMID: 39719813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 12/17/2024] [Indexed: 12/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the association between air pollution and self-perceived health (including both health-related quality of life [HRQoL] and self-rated health [SRH]). The aim of this study was therefore to explore whether long-term air pollution exposure is associated with worse self-perceived health, as measured by different tools. METHODS We used a land-use regression model to determine the annual average levels of particulate matter with a diameter <10 μm (PM10), coarse particles (PMcoarse), fine particles (PM2.5), fine particle absorbances (PM2.5abs), particle number concentration (PNC), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrogen oxide (NOX) for geocoded residential addresses (2014-2015). Questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to collect HRQoL (measured using the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D] index and the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale [EQ-VAS]) and SRH indicators (measured through two survey questions) (2018-2019) from participants of the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA)-Fit study in Germany. We explored associations via generalized additive models, multinomial logistic regression, and logistic regression. RESULTS We included 2610 participants with a mean age of 64.0 years in this cross-sectional study, of which 1428 (54.7%) were female. Each interquartile range (IQR) increase in O3 was associated with a reduced EQ-5D index value (% change of mean points and 95% confidence interval: -0.91% [-1.76; -0.06]). The average EQ-VAS score declined between -1.57% and -0.96% with each IQR increase in PM10, PMcoarse, PM2.5abs, PNC, NO2, and NOX. These pollutants were associated with increased occurrence of poor SRH, with odds ratios ranging from 1.24 to 2.67. PM2.5abs was linked to a higher likelihood of reporting a worse comparative SRH (2.59 [1.12; 5.99]). Body mass index and self-perceived stress modified these associations. CONCLUSIONS Long-term air pollution exposure was associated with poor self-perceived health, presenting as lower HRQoL and higher odds of poor SRH. Single-item indicators measuring self-perceived health status may work better than multi-dimensional indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minqi Liao
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kathrin Wolf
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Bolte
- Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Department of Social Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Laxy
- Public Health and Prevention, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Lars Schwettmann
- Institute of Economics and Healthcare Management, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Division Health Economics, Department of Health Services Research, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra Schneider
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ute Kraus
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
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Zhou JX, Zheng ZY, Peng ZX, Ni HG. Global impact of PM 2.5 on cardiovascular disease: Causal evidence and health inequities across region from 1990 to 2021. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 374:124168. [PMID: 39837142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124168] [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: 11/20/2024] [Revised: 12/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 01/23/2025]
Abstract
PM2.5 is an important environmental risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and poses a threat to global health. This study combines bibliometric analysis, Mendelian randomization (MR), and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data to comprehensively explore the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and CVD. MR analyses provided strong evidence for causality, reinforcing findings from traditional observational studies. The estimated global burden of PM2.5-related CVD indicated, that there exist significant impacts on the elderly, men, and populations in low and medium socio-demographic index (SDI) areas. This study further found that population growth and aging are the main drivers of this burden with large inequities, although medical advances have mitigated some of the effects. Overall, the opportunity to reduce the burden of CVD remains significant, particularly in medium SDI countries. Projections to 2045 suggested that the absolute burden will increase, while age-standardized rates will decline due to improvements in air quality and health care. These findings emphasized the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate the deleterious effects of PM2.5 on global cardiovascular health and to address health inequalities between regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xuan Zhou
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zi-Yi Zheng
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhao-Xing Peng
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hong-Gang Ni
- School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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5
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Zhao Q, Feng Q, Seow WJ. Impact of air pollution on depressive symptoms and the modifying role of physical activity: Evidence from the CHARLS study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 482:136507. [PMID: 39579693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/12/2024] [Indexed: 11/25/2024]
Abstract
The association between air pollution and depressive symptoms has not been thoroughly investigated, and the role of physical activity (PA) is particularly unclear. Although PA has been shown to alleviate depression, it may also increase exposure to air pollution, potentially exacerbating its adverse effects. A total of 17,332 participants aged 45 years and older from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included in this study to assess the causal effect of air pollution on depressive symptoms in China and to clarify the role of PA in this relationship. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Data on particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) were obtained from the ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) dataset. PA levels were measured using a standardized questionnaire and categorized as low or high. An instrumental variable (IV) approach was used to estimate the causal effect of air pollution on depressive symptoms. Potential effect modification by PA was assessed. The IV estimates showed that all air pollutants were significantly and adversely associated with depressive symptoms, with a per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3, and CO associated with 1.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15, 1.99), 1.49 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.89), 1.71 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.17), 2.22 (95% CI: 1.62, 2.81), 1.30 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.65), 4.67 (95% CI: 3.37, 5.98), and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.22) units increase in CES-D scores, respectively. PA significantly modified this association, with higher PA levels mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution on depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhao
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Qiushi Feng
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Jie Seow
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
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Tian J, Wang J, Wang D, Fang C, Huang J. Research on ozone pollution control strategies for urban agglomerations based on ozone formation sensitivity and emission source contributions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 363:125182. [PMID: 39447629 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
Despite recent enhancements in China's anthropogenic emission controls, ozone (O3) concentrations have continuously increased owing to its nature as a secondary pollutant and the complexities of its production and consumption processes. This study quantified the contributions of urban and sectoral cross-emission sources to O3 levels and identified the anthropogenic emission sources requiring targeted control. Moreover, O3 sensitivity tests were conducted to determine optimal reduction ratios for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. The results were used to recommend effective measures for controlling O3 pollution in the Central Plains urban agglomeration (CPUA). The top 35 cities and sectoral cross-emission sources accounted for 80% of the O3 concentrations in the region, indicating the need for prioritized management of these sources. To achieve reductions in O3 concentrations across all cities, it was found that a 10% reduction in total NOx emissions would require a minimum of 18% reduction in VOCs emissions. Our results indicated that the appropriate coordination of reductions in VOCs and NOx emissions reduced the maximum daily 8-h average O3 (MDA8) concentrations in CPUA by 0.14%-4.78%. Enhancing control measures for prioritized emission sources reduced MDA8 concentrations by 0.78%-7.09%. Furthermore, adjusting the production and emission hours of the industrial sector resulted in a decrease in MDA8 concentrations by 1.10%-12.62%. Overall, our findings indicate that appropriately coordinated reduction of precursor emissions can reduce O3 levels. Further efforts to mitigate O3 pollution should include optimizing the timing of emissions from the industrial sector and other major sources of VOCs emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Tian
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Ju Wang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Dali Wang
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Chunsheng Fang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Jieyu Huang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Zhang JD, Cheng XF, He YT, Kong LS, Chen D, Zhang YL, Li B. Environmental pollution, trade openness and the health of middle-aged and elderly people: an analysis of threshold effect based on data from 111 prefecture-level cities in China. Arch Public Health 2024; 82:202. [PMID: 39501307 PMCID: PMC11536925 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-024-01429-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 10/20/2024] [Indexed: 11/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental pollution seriously endangers people's physical and mental health, especially the health of middle-aged and elderly people. Environmental pollution, trade openness, and population health are interconnected. Environmental pollution may have a nonlinear impact on health, and the impact of trade openness on the health effects of environmental pollution may not be a simple strengthening or weakening effect. However, few studies have used threshold effects model to explore the nonlinear mechanisms of environmental pollution's impact on health in China. As a result, this study incorporates trade openness into the research framework on the health effects of environmental pollution, aiming to study the mechanism of environmental pollution on health. METHODS Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data from 2013 to 2020 and the data of 111 prefecture-level cities in China, we combine two-way fixed-effects models and threshold models to explore the effects of environmental pollution on the health of middle-aged and elderly people and the role of trade openness in the path of environmental pollution affecting health. RESULTS Environmental pollution impairs the health of middle-aged and elderly people, and there is a single threshold effect and regional heterogeneity in this negative impact. Trade openness has the effect of first weakening and then strengthening in the inhibitory effect of environmental pollution on health. CONCLUSION The negative impact of environmental pollution on health has regional heterogeneity, and there is a nonlinear relationship between environmental pollution and the health of middle-aged and elderly people. The health effect of environmental pollution is mainly long-term effect, and trade openness has a threshold effect on the impact of environmental pollution on health. Therefore, instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all policy, environmental and economic policies should be customized according to the degree of environmental pollution, trade openness, and regional variations, so as to safeguard the health of middle-aged and elderly individuals through effective environmental governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Dan Zhang
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Fen Cheng
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yan-Ting He
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Lu-Shi Kong
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Duo Chen
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yi-Li Zhang
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Bei Li
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Gui ZH, Guo ZY, Zhou Y, Dharmage S, Morawska L, Heinrich J, Cheng ZK, Gan H, Lin ZW, Zhang DY, Huang JW, Lin LZ, Liu RQ, Chen W, Sun BQ, Dong GH. Long-term ambient ozone exposure and childhood asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis: A multi-city study in China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 478:135577. [PMID: 39178774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135577] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Evidence on the link of long-term exposure to ozone (O3) with childhood asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema is inconclusive. We did a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 177,888 children from 173 primary and middle schools in 14 Chinese cities. A satellite-based spatiotemporal model was employed to assess four-year average O3 exposure at both residential and school locations. Information on asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and conjunctivitis was collected by a standard questionnaire developed by the American Thoracic Society. We used generalized non-linear and linear mixed models to test the associations. We observed linear exposure-response associations between O3 and all outcomes. The odds ratios of doctor-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis associated with per interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentration were 1.31 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.28, 1.34), 1.25 (95 %CI: 1.23, 1.28), 1.19 (95 %CI: 1.16, 1.21), and 1.28 (95 %CI: 1.21, 1.34), respectively. Similar associations were observed for asthma-related outcomes including current asthma, wheeze, current wheeze, persistent phlegm, and persistent cough. Moreover, stronger associations were observed among children who were aged > 12 years, physically inactive, and exposed to higher temperature. In conclusion, long-term O3 exposure was associated with higher risks of asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Huan Gui
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhan-Yu Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shyamali Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Joachim Heinrich
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Zhang-Kai Cheng
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Gan
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Ying Zhang
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Wen Huang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Li-Zi Lin
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ru-Qing Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Bao-Qing Sun
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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9
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Zeng M, Lin Z, Li G, Tang J, Wu Y, Zhang H, Liu T. Risk/benefit trade-off of habitual physical activity and air pollution on mortality: A large-scale prospective analysis in the UK Biobank. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 279:116471. [PMID: 38772143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous observational studies have indicated associations of physical activity (PA) and air pollution with mortality. A few studies have evaluated air pollution and PA interactions for health. Still, the trade-off between the harmful effects of air pollution exposure and the protective effects of PA remains controversial and unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the joint association of air pollution and PA with mortality risks. METHODS This prospective cohort study included 322,092 participants from 2006 to 2010 and followed up to 2021 in the UK Biobank study. The concentrations of air pollutants (2006-2010), including particulate matter (PM) with diameters <=2.5 mm (PM2.5), <=10 mm (PM10), and between 2.5 and 10 mm (PM2.5-10), and nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx) were obtained. Information on PA measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (2006-2010) and wrist-worn accelerometer (2013-2015) were collected. All-cause and cause-specific mortalities were recorded. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the associations of air pollution exposure and PA with mortality risks. The additive and multiplicative interactions were also examined. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 11.83 years, 16629 deaths were recorded. Compared with participants reporting low PA, higher PA was negatively associated with all-cause [hazard ratio (HR), 0.74; 95% CI, 0.71-0.78], cancer (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.90), CVD (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.87), and respiratory disease-specific mortality (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.44-0.60). Exposure to PM2.5 (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00-1.09) and NOx (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10) was connected with increased all-cause mortality risk, and significant PM2.5-associated elevated risks for CVD mortality and NOx-associated elevated risks for respiratory disease mortality were observed. No obvious interaction between PA and PM2.5 or NOx exposure was detected. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides additional evidence that higher PA and lower air pollutant levels are independently connected with reduced mortality risk. The benefits of PA are not significantly affected by long-term air pollution exposure, indicating PA can be recommended to prevent mortality regardless of air pollution levels. Our findings highlight the importance of public health policies and interventions facilitating PA and reducing air pollution in reducing mortality risks and maximizing health benefits. Future investigation is urgently needed to identify these findings in areas with severe air pollution conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zeng
- Department of Statistics and Finance, School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengjun Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, People's Republic of China; Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqing Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, People's Republic of China; Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinxin Tang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, People's Republic of China; Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanlin Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Statistics and Finance, School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tang Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, People's Republic of China.
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Cipryan L, Litschmannova M, Barot T, Dostal T, Sindler D, Kutac P, Jandacka D, Hofmann P. Air pollution, cardiorespiratory fitness and biomarkers of oxidative status and inflammation in the 4HAIE study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9620. [PMID: 38671019 PMCID: PMC11053001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60388-w] [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] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), long-term air pollution exposure and biochemical markers of oxidative status and inflammation. This is a cross-sectional investigation focusing on biochemical markers of oxidative status and inflammation. Participants were Caucasian (N = 1188; age 18-65 years) who lived for at least 5 years in a high air-polluted (Moravian-Silesian; MS) or low air-polluted (South Bohemia; SB) region of the Czech Republic. Healthy runners and inactive individuals were recruited. A multiple regression analysis was used to explain the relationship between multiple independent variables (CRF, trunk fat mass, sex, socioeconomic status, and region (MS region vs. SB region) and dependent variables (oxidative status, inflammation). CRF, trunk fat mass, age and sex significantly predicted almost all selected markers of oxidative status and inflammation (except GSSG, GSH/GSSG and BDNF). Participants living in the MS region presented significantly higher GPx (by 3.1%) and lower BDNF values (by 4.5%). All other investigated biochemical markers were not significantly influenced by region. We did not find meaningful interactions between long-term air-pollution exposure versus markers of oxidative status and inflammation. However, we showed various significant interactions with sex, age, CRF and body composition. The significant association of living in the high air polluted MS region with the BDNF level warrants further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Cipryan
- Department of Human Movement Studies and Human Motion Diagnostic Centre, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Martina Litschmannova
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Barot
- Department of Mathematics with Didactics, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Dostal
- Department of Human Movement Studies and Human Motion Diagnostic Centre, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Sindler
- Department of Human Movement Studies and Human Motion Diagnostic Centre, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kutac
- Department of Human Movement Studies and Human Motion Diagnostic Centre, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Jandacka
- Department of Human Movement Studies and Human Motion Diagnostic Centre, The University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Hofmann
- Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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11
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Blaustein JR, Quisel MJ, Hamburg NM, Wittkopp S. Environmental Impacts on Cardiovascular Health and Biology: An Overview. Circ Res 2024; 134:1048-1060. [PMID: 38662864 PMCID: PMC11058466 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Environmental stressors associated with human activities (eg, air and noise pollution, light disturbance at night) and climate change (eg, heat, wildfires, extreme weather events) are increasingly recognized as contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These harmful exposures have been shown to elicit changes in stress responses, circadian rhythms, immune cell activation, and oxidative stress, as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes, obesity) that promote cardiovascular diseases. In this overview, we summarize evidence from human and animal studies of the impacts of environmental exposures and climate change on cardiovascular health. In addition, we discuss strategies to reduce the impact of environmental risk factors on current and future cardiovascular disease burden, including urban planning, personal monitoring, and mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R. Blaustein
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, New York, USA
| | - Matthew J. Quisel
- Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedision School of Medicine
| | - Naomi M. Hamburg
- Section of Vascular Biology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Sharine Wittkopp
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, New York, USA
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12
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Cheng J, Wu Y, Wang X, Yu H. Objectively measured the impact of ambient air pollution on physical activity for older adults. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:821. [PMID: 38491436 PMCID: PMC10941607 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18279-2] [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] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution poses a significant health risk to the human population, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. However, there is a lack of sufficient objective and longitudinal data in current research on how air pollution affects physical activity among older adults. With these gaps, we aimed to explore the relationship between air pollution and objective measurement-based physical activity among older adults by engaging in a longitudinal study design. METHODS A total of 184 older adults were recruited from three cities with varying levels of air quality. Mean daily minutes of physical activity were measured with 7 consecutive days of accelerometer monitoring (ActiGraph GT3X-BT). Corresponding air pollution data including daily PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3) and air quality index (AQI) were sourced from the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre at monitor locations close to older adults' addresses. Associations between air quality and physical activity were estimated using a fixed effect model, adjusting for average daytime temperature, rain, age and weight. RESULTS AQI and PM2.5 were observed to exhibit significant, inverse, and linear associations with mean daily walk steps, minutes of light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the single variable models. A one-level increase in AQI corresponded to a decline in 550.04 steps (95% [CI] = -858.97, -241.10; p < 0.001), 10.43 min (95% [CI] = -17.07, -3.79; p < 0.001), 4.03 min (95% [CI] = -7.48, -0.59; p < 0.001) and 4.16 min (95% [CI] = -7.77, -0.56; p < 0.001) in daily walking steps, LPA, MPA, and MVPA, respectively. A one-level increase in PM2.5 correlated with a decline in daily walk steps, LPA, MPA and MVPA by 361.85 steps (95% [CI] = -516.53, -207.16; p < 0.001), 8.97 min (95% [CI] = -12.28, -5.66; p < 0.001), 3.73 min (95% [CI] = -5.46, -2.01; p < 0.001,) and 3.79 min (95% [CI] = -5.59, -1.98; p < 0.001), respectively. However, PM10 displayed a significant negative association exclusively with LPA, with one-level increase in PM10 resulting in a 3.7-minute reduction in LPA (95% [CI] = -6.81, -0.59, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Air pollution demonstrates an inverse association with physical activity levels among older adults, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. Different air quality indicators may exert varying impacts on physical activity. Future studies are warranted to enhance policy interventions aimed at reducing air pollution and promoting physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Cheng
- Faculty of Public Physical Education, Hebei Normal University, 050024, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yin Wu
- The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, 100032, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxin Wang
- Department of Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Yuan Str, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Yu
- Department of Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Yuan Str, 100084, Beijing, China.
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13
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Cerin E, Chan YK, Symmons M, Soloveva M, Martino E, Shaw JE, Knibbs LD, Jalaludin B, Barnett A. Associations of the neighbourhood built and natural environment with cardiometabolic health indicators: A cross-sectional analysis of environmental moderators and behavioural mediators. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117524. [PMID: 37898226 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies examining the effects of neighbourhood urban design on cardiometabolic health focused solely on the built or natural environment. Also, they did not consider the roles of neighbourhood socio-economic status (SES) and ambient air pollution in the observed associations, and the extent to which these associations were mediated by physical activity and sedentary behaviours. METHODS We used data from the AusDiab3 study (N = 4141), a national cohort study of Australian adults to address the above-mentioned knowledge gaps. Spatial data were used to compute indices of neighbourhood walkability (population density, intersection density, non-commercial land use mix, commercial land use), natural environment (parkland and blue spaces) and air pollution (annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5)). Census indices were used to define neighbourhood SES. Clinical assessments collected data on adiposity, blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids. Generalised additive mixed models were used to estimate associations. RESULTS Neighbourhood walkability showed indirect beneficial associations with most indicators of cardiometabolic health via resistance training, walking and sitting for different purposes; indirect detrimental associations with the same indicators via vigorous gardening; and direct detrimental associations with blood pressure. The neighbourhood natural environment had beneficial indirect associations with most cardiometabolic health indicators via resistance training and leisure-time sitting, and beneficial direct associations with adiposity and blood lipids. Neighbourhood SES and air pollution moderated only a few associations of the neighbourhood environment with physical activity, blood lipids and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS Within a low-density and low-pollution context, denser, walkable neighbourhoods with good access to nature may benefit residents' cardiometabolic health by facilitating the adoption of an active lifestyle. Possible disadvantages of living in denser neighbourhoods for older populations are having limited opportunities for gardening, higher levels of noise and less healthy dietary patterns associated with eating out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Cerin
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Rd., Sandy Bay, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Yih-Kai Chan
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Mark Symmons
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Maria Soloveva
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Erika Martino
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jonathan E Shaw
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Public Health Unit, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Bin Jalaludin
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
| | - Anthony Barnett
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St., Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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