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White AR. The firestorm within: A narrative review of extreme heat and wildfire smoke effects on brain health. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171239. [PMID: 38417511 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is generating increased heatwaves and wildfires across much of the world. With these escalating environmental changes comes greater impacts on human health leading to increased numbers of people suffering from heat- and wildfire smoke-associated respiratory and cardiovascular impairment. One area of health impact of climate change that has received far less attention is the effects of extreme heat and wildfire smoke exposure on human brain health. As elevated temperatures, and wildfire-associated smoke, are increasingly experienced simultaneously over summer periods, understanding this combined impact is critical to management of human health especially in the elderly, and people with dementia, and other neurological disorders. Both extreme heat and wildfire smoke air pollution (especially particulate matter, PM) induce neuroinflammatory and cerebrovascular effects, oxidative stress, and cognitive impairment, however the combined effect of these impacts are not well understood. In this narrative review, a comprehensive examination of extreme heat and wildfire smoke impact on human brain health is presented, with a focus on how these factors contribute to cognitive impairment, and dementia, one of the leading health issues today. Also discussed is the potential impact of combined heat and wildfire smoke on brain health, and where future efforts should be applied to help advance knowledge in this rapidly growing and critical field of health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia.
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Barros B, Oliveira M, Morais S. Continent-based systematic review of the short-term health impacts of wildfire emissions. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 2023; 26:387-415. [PMID: 37469022 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2236548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
This review systematically gathers and provides an analysis of pollutants levels emitted from wildfire (WF) and their impact on short-term health effects of affected populations. The available literature was searched according to Population, Exposure, Comparator, Outcome, and Study design (PECOS) database defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a meta-analysis was conducted whenever possible. Data obtained through PECOS characterized information from the USA, Europe, Australia, and some Asian countries; South American countries were seldom characterized, and no data were available for Africa and Russia. Extremely high levels of pollutants, mostly of fine fraction of particulate matter (PM) and ozone, were associated with intense WF emissions in North America, Oceania, and Asia and reported to exceed several-fold the WHO guidelines. Adverse health outcomes include emergency department visits and hospital admissions for cardiorespiratory diseases as well as mortality. Despite the heterogeneity among exposure and health assessment methods, all-cause mortality, and specific-cause mortality were significantly associated with WF emissions in most of the reports. Globally, a significant association was found for all-cause respiratory outcomes including asthma, but mixed results were noted for cardiovascular-related effects. For the latter, estimates were only significant several days after WF emissions, suggesting a more delayed impact on the heart. Different research gaps are presented, including the need for the application of standardized protocols for assessment of both exposure and adverse health risks. Mitigation actions also need to be strengthened, including dedicated efforts to communicate with the affected populations, to engage them for adoption of protective behaviors and measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Instituto Politécnico Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Instituto Politécnico Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Instituto Politécnico Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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3
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Dong J, Goodman N, Rajagopalan P. A Review of Artificial Neural Network Models Applied to Predict Indoor Air Quality in Schools. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:6441. [PMID: 37568983 PMCID: PMC10419013 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools can affect the performance and health of occupants, especially young children. Increased public attention on IAQ during the COVID-19 pandemic and bushfires have boosted the development and application of data-driven models, such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) that can be used to predict levels of pollutants and indoor exposures. METHODS This review summarises the types and sources of indoor air pollutants (IAP) and the indicators of IAQ. This is followed by a systematic evaluation of ANNs as predictive models of IAQ in schools, including predictive neural network algorithms and modelling processes. The methods for article selection and inclusion followed a systematic, four-step process: identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. RESULTS After screening and selection, nine predictive papers were included in this review. Traditional ANNs were used most frequently, while recurrent neural networks (RNNs) models analysed time-series issues such as IAQ better. Meanwhile, current prediction research mainly focused on using indoor PM2.5 and CO2 concentrations as output variables in schools and did not cover common air pollutants. Although studies have highlighted the impact of school building parameters and occupancy parameters on IAQ, it is difficult to incorporate them in predictive models. CONCLUSIONS This review presents the current state of IAQ predictive models and identifies the limitations and future research directions for schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jierui Dong
- Sustainable Building Innovation Lab., School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (N.G.); (P.R.)
- HEAL National Research Network, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nigel Goodman
- Sustainable Building Innovation Lab., School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (N.G.); (P.R.)
- HEAL National Research Network, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Priyadarsini Rajagopalan
- Sustainable Building Innovation Lab., School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (N.G.); (P.R.)
- HEAL National Research Network, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Gao Y, Huang W, Yu P, Xu R, Yang Z, Gasevic D, Ye T, Guo Y, Li S. Long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure on human health: A systematic review. Environ Pollut 2023; 320:121041. [PMID: 36639044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The intensity and frequency of wildfires is increasing globally. The systematic review of the current evidence on long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure on human health has not been performed yet. To provide a systematic review and identify potential knowledge gaps in the current evidence of long-term impacts of non-occupational exposure to wildfire smoke and/or wildfire impacts on human health. We conducted a systematic search of the literature via MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus from the database inception to July 05, 2022. References from the included studies and relevant reviews were also considered. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and a validated quality assessment framework were used to evaluate the quality of observational studies. Study results were synthesized descriptively. A total of 36 studies were included in our systematic review. Most studies were from developed countries (11 in Australia, 9 in Canada, 7 in the United States). Studies predominantly focused on mental health (21 studies, 58.33%), while evidence on long-term impacts of wildfire exposure on health outcomes other than mental health is limited. Current evidence indicated that long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure were associated with mortality (COVID-19 mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and acute myocardial disease mortality), morbidity (mainly respiratory diseases), mental health disorders (mainly posttraumatic stress disorder), shorter height of children, reduced lung function and poorer general health status. However, no significant associations were observed for long-term impacts of wildfire exposure on child mortality and respiratory hospitalizations. The population-based high-quality evidence with quantitative analysis on this topic is still limited. Future well-designed studies considering extensive wildfire smoke air pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides) and estimating risk coefficient values for extensive health outcomes (e.g., mortality, morbidity) are warranted to fill current knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Wenzhong Huang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Pei Yu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Rongbin Xu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Zhengyu Yang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Danijela Gasevic
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tingting Ye
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
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Walsh EI, Sargent G, Cevik-Compiegne B, Roberts M, Palfrey N, Gooyers-Bourke L, Vardoulakis S, Laachir K. Bushfire Smoke and Children's Health-Exploring a Communication Gap. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:12436. [PMID: 36231731 PMCID: PMC9566720 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The "Black Summer" bushfires of 2019/2020 in Australia generated smoke that persisted for over three months, mainly affecting Eastern Australia. Most communication strategies focused on the fire itself, revealing a knowledge gap in effective communication of the impact of bushfire smoke on health, especially for children and those living in non-English speaking minority groups. To address this, semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with sixteen adults with caring (n = 11) or educational (n = 5) responsibilities for primary-school aged children (5-12 years, with some also having children up to 16 years) who had direct experience of the "Black Summer" bushfires. Overall, 43% (n = 7) of the sample spoke English as a first language, 25% (n = 4) spoke Turkish, with the remainder speaking Persian, Arabic, and Spanish. Thematic inductive qualitative content analysis revealed predominant themes of the role of parents and caregivers as conduits and curators of information. Air quality apps were the most common source of information. Language barriers and the lack of child-friendly methods of communication were highlighted as particular challenges. This qualitative study provides evidence for future development of communication strategies to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and the children in their care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin I. Walsh
- Population Health Exchange, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Ginny Sargent
- Population Health Exchange, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Burcu Cevik-Compiegne
- Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Michelle Roberts
- Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nicola Palfrey
- Headspace Australia, 1/1 Torrens St. Braddon, Canberra, ACT 2612, Australia
| | - Laura Gooyers-Bourke
- Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Karima Laachir
- Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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6
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Chen H, Oliver BG, Pant A, Olivera A, Poronnik P, Pollock CA, Saad S. Effects of air pollution on human health - Mechanistic evidence suggested by in vitro and in vivo modelling. Environ Res 2022; 212:113378. [PMID: 35525290 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Airborne particulate matter (PM) comprises both solid and liquid particles, including carbon, sulphates, nitrate, and toxic heavy metals, which can induce oxidative stress and inflammation after inhalation. These changes occur both in the lung and systemically, due to the ability of the small-sized PM (i.e. diameters ≤2.5 μm, PM2.5) to enter and circulate in the bloodstream. As such, in 2016, airborne PM caused ∼4.2 million premature deaths worldwide. Acute exposure to high levels of airborne PM (eg. during wildfires) can exacerbate pre-existing illnesses leading to hospitalisation, such as in those with asthma and coronary heart disease. Prolonged exposure to PM can increase the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases affecting the brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney, although the latter is less well studied. Given the breadth of potential disease, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying airborne PM exposure-induced disorders. Establishing aetiology in humans is difficult, therefore, in-vitro and in-vivo studies can provide mechanistic insights. We describe acute health effects (e.g. exacerbations of asthma) and long term health effects such as the induction of chronic inflammatory lung disease, and effects outside the lung (e.g. liver and renal change). We will focus on oxidative stress and inflammation as this is the common mechanism of PM-induced disease, which may be used to develop effective treatments to mitigate the adverse health effect of PM exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Brian G Oliver
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2037, Australia
| | - Anushriya Pant
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Annabel Olivera
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Philip Poronnik
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carol A Pollock
- Renal Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sonia Saad
- Renal Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Ning J, Yang G, Liu X, Geng D, Wang L, Li Z, Zhang Y, Di X, Sun L, Yu H. Effect of fire spread, flame characteristic, fire intensity on particulate matter 2.5 released from surface fuel combustion of Pinus koraiensis plantation- A laboratory simulation study. Environ Int 2022; 166:107352. [PMID: 35749994 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
PM2.5 is one of major pollutants emitted from forest fires. High PM2.5 concentration not only affects short-term human respiration health, but also poses a long-term threat to human cardiopulmonary functionality. Therefore, it is of great importance to quantitatively assess the PM2.5 released by forest combustion in forest fire studies. In this study we examine relationships between the PM2.5 concentration and environment and fuel characteristics laboratory experiments. In the experiments, fuel beds with controlled moisture contents and loads were first built; then 144 ignition experiments were conducted for various combinations of wind speeds using a wind tunnel device. Fire behavior characteristics and PM2.5 concentrations released from fuel combustion were measured and analyzed. The experimental results show that the relationship between fire characteristics, fire intensity and the influencing factors of wind speed, fuel moisture content, and fuel load can be explained by the fundamental theory of forest combustion. Although PM2.5 concentration rises with the increase of wind speed, the decrease of fuel moisture content, and the increase of fuel load, there appears to be a fuel load threshold for a given combination of wind speed and fuel moisture content that the increase of PM2.5 concentration decelerates quickly after the load passes the threshold value. After screening fire behavior characteristics that affect PM2.5 concentration, we found that fire line intensity and flame width are the ones with the strongest association with the concentration. With flame width as independent variable, we have built two regression models to predict PM2.5 and fire line intensity which are treated as dependent variable; the models have high accuracy with R2 = 0.92 for predicting PM2.5 and R2 = 0.97 for predicting fire line intensity. Study results can be used as reference to protect the health of forest fire fighters, and can be helpful for forest fire smoke management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jibin Ning
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China.
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Daotong Geng
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Lixuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Zhaoguo Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Yunlin Zhang
- School of Biological Science, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Xueying Di
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Long Sun
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
| | - Hongzhou Yu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China
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8
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Li S, Li B, Lang K, Gong Y, Cheng X, Deng S, Shi Q, Zhao H. LncRNA MALAT1 Participates in Protection of High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronan against Smoke-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Upregulation of SOCS-1. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134128. [PMID: 35807375 PMCID: PMC9268129 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Smoke-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a grievous disease with high mortality. Despite advances in medical intervention, no drug has yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ALI. In this study, we reported that pretreatment with high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (1600 kDa, HA1600) alleviated pulmonary inflammation and injury in mice exposed to smoke and also upregulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), as well as suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), in the lung tissues. Next, we overexpressed MALAT1 in the lungs by intratracheal administration of adenovirus cloned with MALAT1 cDNA and found that the survival of mice after smoke exposure was improved. Moreover, pulmonary overexpression of MALAT1 ameliorated smoke-induced ALI in mice and elevated the level of SOCS-1 in the lungs. In conclusion, the results pointed out that HA1600 exerted a protective effect against smoke-induced ALI through increasing the MALAT1 level and the subsequent SOCS-1 expression. Our study provides a potential therapeutic approach to smoke-induced ALI and a novel insight into the mechanism of action of HA1600.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Qiwen Shi
- Correspondence: (Q.S.); (H.Z.); Tel.: +86-0571-88320494 (Q.S. & H.Z.)
| | - Hang Zhao
- Correspondence: (Q.S.); (H.Z.); Tel.: +86-0571-88320494 (Q.S. & H.Z.)
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9
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Capitanio JP, Del Rosso LA, Gee N, Lasley BL. Adverse biobehavioral effects in infants resulting from pregnant rhesus macaques' exposure to wildfire smoke. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1774. [PMID: 35365649 PMCID: PMC8975955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As wildfires across the world increase in number, size, and intensity, exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) is a growing health problem. To date, however, little is known for any species on what might be the behavioral or physiological consequences of prenatal exposure to WFS. Here we show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed to WFS in the first third of gestation (n = 52) from the Camp Fire (California, November, 2018) show greater inflammation, blunted cortisol, more passive behavior, and memory impairment compared to animals conceived after smoke had dissipated (n = 37). Parallel analyses, performed on a historical control cohort (n = 2490), did not support the alternative hypothesis that conception timing alone could explain the results. We conclude that WFS may have a teratogenic effect on the developing fetus and speculate on mechanisms by which WFS might affect neural development. Little is known about the consequences of prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke on biobehavioural outcomes. Here, the authors show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed early in gestation to wildfire smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire in California show more inflammation, blunted cortisol and altered behaviour outcomes compared to non-exposed animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Laura A Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nancy Gee
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bill L Lasley
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Vokina VA, Sosedova LM, Novikov MA, Rukavishnikov VS, Kapustina EA, Alekseenko AN, Andreeva ES. Alterations in CNS Functions and DNA Methylation in Rats after 24 h Exposure to Peat Smoke. Toxics 2021; 9:342. [PMID: 34941776 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9120342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of a developed experimental model of a natural fire made it possible to assess the consequences of 24 h exposure to peat combustion products in albino rats. Peat smoke exposure leads to behavioral disturbances in rats, characterized by an increase in locomotor activity and an increased level of anxiety. Indicators of brain bioelectrical activity of the exposed animals supported the state of anxiety and psychoemotional stress. Epigenetic changes in the blood cells of exposed animals were revealed under 24 h exposure to peat smoke, characterized by a decrease in the level of global DNA methylation.
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11
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Schuller A, Bellini C, Jenkins TG, Eden M, Matz J, Oakes J, Montrose L. Simulated Wildfire Smoke Significantly Alters Sperm DNA Methylation Patterns in a Murine Model. Toxics 2021; 9:199. [PMID: 34564350 PMCID: PMC8473101 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9090199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Wildfires are now a common feature of the western US, increasing in both intensity and number of acres burned over the last three decades. The effects of this changing wildfire and smoke landscape are a critical public and occupational health issue. While respiratory morbidity due to smoke exposure is a priority, evaluating the molecular underpinnings that explain recent extrapulmonary observations is necessary. Here, we use an Apoe-/- mouse model to investigate the epigenetic impact of paternal exposure to simulated wildfire smoke. We demonstrate that 40 days of exposure to smoke from Douglas fir needles induces sperm DNA methylation changes in adult mice. DNA methylation was measured by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and varied significantly in 3353 differentially methylated regions, which were subsequently annotated to 2117 genes. The differentially methylated regions were broadly distributed across the mouse genome, but the vast majority (nearly 80%) were hypermethylated. Pathway analyses, using gene-derived and differentially methylated region-derived gene ontology terms, point to a number of developmental processes that may warrant future investigation. Overall, this study of simulated wildfire smoke exposure suggests paternal reproductive risks are possible with prolonged exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Schuller
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.B.); (M.E.); (J.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Timothy G. Jenkins
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;
| | - Matthew Eden
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.B.); (M.E.); (J.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Jacqueline Matz
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.B.); (M.E.); (J.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Jessica Oakes
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.B.); (M.E.); (J.M.); (J.O.)
| | - Luke Montrose
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
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Liu F, Wang Z, Wei Y, Liu R, Jiang C, Gong C, Liu Y, Yan B. The leading role of adsorbed lead in PM 2.5-induced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and synaptic damage. J Hazard Mater 2021; 416:125867. [PMID: 34492814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases may be caused by air pollution, such as PM2.5. However, particles still need to be elucidated the mechanism of synergistic neurotoxicity induced by pollutant-loading PM2.5. In this study, we used a reductionist approach to study leading role of lead (Pb) in PM2.5-induced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and synaptic damage both in vivo and in vitro. Pb in PM2.5 caused neurotoxicity: 1) by increasing ROS levels and thus causing apoptosis in neuronal cells and 2) by decreasing the expression of PSD95 via interfering with the calcium signaling pathway through cAMP/CREB/pCREB/BDNF/PSD95 pathway and reducing the synapse length by 50%. This study clarifies a key factor in PM2.5-induced neurotoxicity and provides the experimental basis for reducing PM2.5-induced neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Zengjin Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yongyi Wei
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Rongrong Liu
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cuijuan Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chen Gong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yin Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 330106, China.
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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13
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Abstract
Behind the coronavirus headlines the year 2020 set multiple extreme weather records, including unprecedented wildfires in Australia and California, massive flooding in China, and back-to-back hurricanes in Central America. The impacts on the well-being of local populations have been devastating. We reviewed these extreme weather events, together with the year's newly published climate and health science reports, and identified three important themes for building health resilience in the decade ahead: (1) preparing for greater magnitude and intensity of climate hazards, extreme events, and population health impacts; (2) better anticipating cascading and compound impacts on population well-being, particularly for the most vulnerable; and (3) identifying appropriate, effective preparedness tools and strategies. While decarbonizing the economy is the urgent goal to protect both human and planetary health from a changing climate, 2020 demonstrates that recognizing the likely magnitude and complexity of future extreme weather events, and preparing local public health agencies and communities with the knowledge and tools to respond to them, will be essential in this critical decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Sheehan
- 310948Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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14
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Schuller A, Montrose L. Influence of Woodsmoke Exposure on Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Alzheimer's Disease: Existing Literature and Gaps in Our Understanding. Epigenet Insights 2020; 13:2516865720954873. [PMID: 32974607 PMCID: PMC7493275 DOI: 10.1177/2516865720954873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Woodsmoke poses a significant health risk as a growing component of ambient air pollution in the United States. While there is a long history of association between woodsmoke exposure and diseases of the respiratory, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems, recent evidence has linked woodsmoke exposure to cognitive dysfunction, including Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with largely idiopathic origins and no known cure. Here, we explore the growing body of literature which relates woodsmoke-generated and ambient air pollution particulate matter exposure to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) onset or exacerbation, in the context of an inflammation-centric view of AD. Epigenetic modifications, specifically changes in DNA methylation patterns, are well documented following woodsmoke exposure and have been shown to influence disease-favoring inflammatory cascades, induce oxidative stress, and modulate the immune response in vitro, in vivo, and in humans following exposure to air pollution. Though the current status of the literature does not allow us to draw definitive conclusions linking these events, this review highlights the need for additional work to fill gaps in our understanding of the directionality, causality, and susceptibility throughout the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Schuller
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Luke Montrose
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
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