Bacterial Emission Factors: A Foundation for the Terrestrial-Atmospheric Modeling of Bacteria Aerosolized by Wildland Fires

Wildland fire is a major global driver in the exchange of aerosols between terrestrial environments and the atmosphere. This exchange is commonly quantified using emission factors or the mass of a pollutant emitted per mass of fuel burned. However, emission factors for microbes aerosolized by fire have yet to be determined. Using bacterial cell concentrations collected on unmanned aircraft systems over forest fires in Utah, USA, we determine bacterial emission factors (BEFs) for the first time. We estimate that 1.39 × 1010 and 7.68 × 1011 microbes are emitted for each Mg of biomass consumed in fires burning thinning residues and intact forests, respectively. These emissions exceed estimates of background bacterial emissions in other studies by 3-4 orders of magnitude. For the ∼2631 ha of similar forests in the Fishlake National Forest that burn each year on average, an estimated 1.35 × 1017 cells or 8.1 kg of bacterial biomass were emitted. BEFs were then used to parametrize a computationally scalable particle transport model that predicted over 99% of the emitted cells were transported beyond the 17.25 x 17.25 km model domain. BEFs can be used to expand understanding of global wildfire microbial emissions and their potential consequences to ecosystems, the atmosphere, and humans.

The Role of Social Support and Acculturation Factors on Postpartum Mental Health Among Latinas in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort

We examined the associations between social support and postpartum mental health in 137 U.S. and foreign-born Latinas in the MADRES pregnancy cohort. We also examined whether language, years in the U.S., and country of birth moderates these relationships. Participants were administered PROMIS support measures 1 month postpartum; the Perceived Stress and Postpartum Distress Measure 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum; and the CESD scale 12 months postpartum. Perceived stress was lower at 6 months postpartum for women reporting higher emotional (p = 0.01), informational (p = 0.03), and instrumental support (p < 0.001); and lower at 12 months postpartum for women reporting higher emotional support (p = 0.01). Distress at 6 months was lower in women reporting higher emotional support (p = 0.03). Interactions suggest that associations were stronger for mothers that speak Spanish, spent fewer years in the U.S., and were born in Central America.

Targeting sex determination to suppress mosquito populations

Each year, hundreds of millions of people are infected with arboviruses such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, which are all primarily spread by the notorious mosquito Aedes aegypti. Traditional control measures have proven insufficient, necessitating innovations. In response, here we generate a next-generation CRISPR-based precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) for Ae. aegypti that disrupts genes essential for sex determination and fertility, producing predominantly sterile males that can be deployed at any life stage. Using mathematical models and empirical testing, we demonstrate that released pgSIT males can effectively compete with, suppress, and eliminate caged mosquito populations. This versatile species-specific platform has the potential for field deployment to effectively control wild populations of disease vectors.

Exploring the state of health of electric vehicle batteries at end of use; hierarchical waste flow analysis to determine the recycling and reuse potential

With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, their end-of-life management is a timely matter. This requires recognizing the upcoming volume of retired electric-vehicle-batteries to the waste stream. The projection is further useful if we have an estimation of the remaining value within them to categorize the recycling or repurposing potential to allow appropriate policy development and facility planning. This qualification assessment is neglected in the current literature. Neglecting the health status of retired batteries in estimating their residual value might end up over or underestimating their reuse and recycling potential. This study aims to provide a hierarchical battery waste estimation based on their health and age of disposal in Ireland. These two factors are the fundamental parameters in determining the feasibility of repurposing or recycling retired batteries. Identifying this information, we defined three reuse scenarios with different state-of-health limits. Results indicate almost 50%, 30%, and below 10% repurposing potential in the year 2050 when setting a repurposing threshold of above 80%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. The authors also highlight the effect of non-regional repurposing on the recycling potential.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13243-024-00137-4.

Application of a GIS-Based Hydrological Model to Predict Surface Wetness of Blanket Bogs

Understanding hydrological processes operating on relatively intact blanket bogs provides a scientific basis for establishing achievable restoration targets for damaged sites. A GIS-based hydrological model, developed to assess restoration potential of Irish raised bogs, was adapted and applied to four relatively intact blanket bogs in Ireland. The Modified Flow Accumulation Capacity (MFAC) model utilised high-resolution topographic data to predict surface wetness, based on climatic conditions, contributing catchment and local surface slope. Modifications to MFAC parameters aimed to account for differences in hydrological processes between raised bogs and blanket bogs. Application of a climatic correction factor accounted for variations in effective rainfall between the four study sites, while monitoring of water table levels indicated a log-linear relationship between MFAC values and summer water table levels and range of water table fluctuations. Deviations from the observed relationship between MFAC and water table levels were associated with hydrological pressures, such as artificial drainage or the occurrence of subsurface macropores (peat pipes), which further lowered summer water tables. Despite being effective as a predictor of relative surface wetness, the relationship between MFAC and ecological variables such as Sphagnum spp. cover proved poor, pointing to the impact of past activities and damage caused by anthropogenic pressures. Findings demonstrated MFAC as an effective tool in predicting surface wetness within blanket bog-covered landscapes, thus proving useful to peatland practitioners in planning and prioritising areas for restoration.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13157-023-01765-5.

Behaviourally-informed household communications increase uptake of radon tests in a randomised controlled trial

Exposure to radon gas is a leading cause of lung cancer. Testing homes for the gas is straightforward, yet most people do not undertake tests even when offered freely. We report a pre-registered randomised controlled trial of communications to encourage test uptake. Households (N = 3500) in areas at high risk of radon exposure were randomly assigned to receive (i) a the control letter from the national Environmental Protection Agency; (ii) a behaviourally-informed version of the control letter that incorporated multiple nudges, including reciprocity messages and numeric frequencies of risk; (iii) this same behaviourally-informed letter in a re-designed envelope; (iv) the behaviourally-informed letter in the re-designed enveloped with a radon risk map of the household's county. The behaviourally-informed letter led to a large increase in test uptake, from 22% in the control condition to 33% (a 50% increase). There was no additional benefit of the re-designed envelope, which generated uptake of 30%. Including the map led some households to respond faster, but the overall uptake (26%) was weaker. The results have implications for public health communications with households and show the potential for techniques from behavioural science to help mitigate environmental risks.

Ambient NO2 Air Pollution and Public Schools in the United States: Relationships with Urbanicity, Race-Ethnicity, and Income

Schools may have important impacts on children's exposure to ambient air pollution, yet ambient air quality at schools is not consistently tracked. We characterize ambient air quality at home and school locations in the United States using satellite-based empirical model (i.e., land use regression) estimates of outdoor annual nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We report disparities by race-ethnicity and impoverishment status, and investigate differences by level of urbanicity. Average NO2 levels at home and school for racial-ethnic minoritized students are 18-22% higher than average (and 37-39% higher than for non-Hispanic, white students). Minoritized students are less likely than their white peers to live (0.55 times) and attend school (0.58 times) in areas below the World Health Organization's NO2 guideline. Predominantly minoritized schools (i.e., >50% minoritized students) are less likely than predominantly white schools (0.43 times) to be in locations below the guideline. Income and race-ethnicity impacts are intertwined, yet in large cities, racial disparities persist after controlling for income.

A national-scale assessment of land use change in peatlands between 1989 and 2020 using Landsat data and Google Earth Engine-a case study of Ireland

Over the centuries, anthropogenic pressure has severely impacted peatlands on the European continent. Peatlands cover ~ 21% (1.46 Mha) of Ireland's land surface, but 85% have been degraded due to management activities (land use). Ireland needs to meet its 2030 climate energy framework targets related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use, land use change and forestry, including wetlands. Despite Ireland's voluntary decision to include peatlands in this system in 2020, information on land use activities and associated GHG emissions from peatlands is lacking. This study strives to fill this information gap by using Landsat (5, 8) data with Google Earth Engine and machine learning to examine and quantify land use on Irish peatlands across three time periods: 1990, 2005 and 2019. Four peatland land use classes were mapped and assessed: industrial peat extraction, forestry, grassland and residual peatland. The overall accuracy of the classification was 86% and 85% for the 2005 and 2019 maps, respectively. The accuracy of the 1990 dataset could not be assessed due to the unavailability of high-resolution reference data. The results indicate that extensive management activities have taken place in peatlands over the past three decades, which may have negative impacts on its ecological integrity and the many ecosystem services provided. By utilising cloud computing, temporal mosaicking and Landsat data, this study developed a robust methodology that overcomes cloud contamination and produces the first peatland land use maps of Ireland with wall-to-wall coverage. This has the potential for regional and global applications, providing maps that could help understand unsustainable management practices on peatlands and the impact on GHG emissions.

Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter Components as Surrogates for Disinfection Byproduct Formation in Drinking Water: A Critical Review

Disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation, prediction, and minimization are critical challenges facing the drinking water treatment industry worldwide where chemical disinfection is required to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) is used to characterize and quantify fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) components in aquatic systems and may offer considerable promise as a low-cost optical surrogate for DBP formation in treated drinking waters. However, the global utility of this approach for quantification and prediction of specific DBP classes or species has not been widely explored to date. Hence, this critical review aims to elucidate recurring empirical relationships between common environmental fluorophores (identified by PARAFAC) and DBP concentrations produced during water disinfection. From 45 selected peer-reviewed articles, 218 statistically significant linear relationships (R2 ≥ 0.5) with one or more DBP classes or species were established. Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), as key regulated classes, were extensively investigated and exhibited strong, recurrent relationships with ubiquitous humic/fulvic-like FDOM components, highlighting their potential as surrogates for carbonaceous DBP formation. Conversely, observed relationships between nitrogenous DBP classes, such as haloacetonitriles (HANs), halonitromethanes (HNMs), and N-nitrosamines (NAs), and PARAFAC fluorophores were more ambiguous, but preferential relationships with protein-like components in the case of algal/microbial FDOM sources were noted. This review highlights the challenges of transposing site-specific or FDOM source-specific empirical relationships between PARAFAC component and DBP formation potential to a global model.

A confinable female-lethal population suppression system in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae

Malaria is among the world's deadliest diseases, predominantly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa and killing over half a million people annually. Controlling the principal vector, the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, as well as other anophelines, is among the most effective methods to control disease spread. Here, we develop a genetic population suppression system termed Ifegenia (inherited female elimination by genetically encoded nucleases to interrupt alleles) in this deadly vector. In this bicomponent CRISPR-based approach, we disrupt a female-essential gene, femaleless (fle), demonstrating complete genetic sexing via heritable daughter gynecide. Moreover, we demonstrate that Ifegenia males remain reproductively viable and can load both fle mutations and CRISPR machinery to induce fle mutations in subsequent generations, resulting in sustained population suppression. Through modeling, we demonstrate that iterative releases of nonbiting Ifegenia males can act as an effective, confinable, controllable, and safe population suppression and elimination system.

Measurement of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Indoor Materials: Method Development

Wildfire smoke penetrates indoors, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoke may accumulate on indoor materials. We developed two approaches for measuring PAHs on common indoor materials: (1) solvent-soaked wiping of solid materials (glass and drywall) and (2) direct extraction of porous/fleecy materials (mechanical air filter media and cotton sheets). Samples are extracted by sonication in dichloromethane and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Extraction recoveries range from 50-83% for surrogate standards and for PAHs recovered from direct application to isopropanol-soaked wipes, in line with prior studies. We evaluate our methods with a total recovery metric, defined as the sampling and extraction recovery of PAHs from a test material spiked with known PAH mass. Total recovery is higher for "heavy" PAHs (HPAHs, 4 or more aromatic rings) than for "light" PAHs (LPAHs, 2-3 aromatic rings). For glass, the total recovery range is 44-77% for HPAHs and 0-30% for LPAHs. Total recoveries from painted drywall are <20% for all PAHs tested. For filter media and cotton, total recoveries of HPAHs are 37-67 and 19-57%, respectively. These data show acceptable HPAH total recovery on glass, cotton, and filter media; total recovery of LPAHs may be unacceptably low for indoor materials using methods developed here. Our data also indicate that extraction recovery of surrogate standards may overestimate the total recovery of PAHs from glass using solvent wipe sampling. The developed method enables future studies of accumulation of PAHs indoors, including potential longer-term exposure derived from contaminated indoor surfaces.

Relationships of the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal functional strategies of grass species with lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate

Grass species (family Poaceae) are globally distributed, adapted to a wide range of climates and express a diversity of functional strategies. We explored the functional strategies of grass species using the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal (CSR) system and asked how a species' strategy relates to its functional traits, climatic distribution and propensity to become naturalized outside its native range. We used a global set of trait data for grass species to classify functional strategies according to the CSR system based on leaf traits. Differences in strategies in relation to lifespan (annual or perennial), photosynthetic type (C₃ or C₄), or naturalisation (native or introduced) were investigated. In addition, correlations with traits not included in the CSR classification were analyzed, and a model was fitted to predict a species' average mean annual temperature and annual precipitation across its range as a function of CSR scores. Values for competitiveness were higher in C₄ species than in C₃ species, values for stress tolerance were higher in perennials than in annuals, and introduced species had more pronounced competitive-ruderal strategies than native species. Relationships between the CSR classification, based on leaf traits, and other functional traits were analyzed. Competitiveness was positively correlated with height, while ruderality was correlated with specific root length, indicating that both above- and belowground traits underlying leaf and root economics contribute to realized CSR strategies. Further, relationships between climate and CSR classification showed that species with competitive strategies were more common in warm climates and at high precipitation, whereas species with stress tolerance strategies were more common in cold climates and at low precipitation. The findings presented here demonstrate that CSR classification of functional strategies based on leaf traits matches expectations for the adaptations of grass species that underlie lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.

An examination of the influence of drained peatlands on regional stream water chemistry

Currently, 50% of Irish rivers do not meet water quality standards, with many declining due to numerous pressures, including peatland degradation. This study examines stream water quality in the Irish midlands, a region where raised bogs have been all historically disturbed to various extent and the majority drained for industrial or domestic peat extraction. For the first time, we provide in-depth analysis of stream water chemistry within a heavily modified bog landscape. Small streams from degraded bogs exhibited greater levels of pollutants, in particular: total dissolved nitrogen (0.48 mg/l) and sulphate (18.49 mg/l) as well as higher electrical conductivity (mean: 334 μS/cm) compared to similar bog streams in near-natural bogs. Except for site-specific nitrogen pollution in certain streams surrounding degraded peatlands, the chemical composition of the receiving streams did not significantly differ between near-natural and degraded sites, reflecting the spatio-temporal scales of disturbance in this complex peat-scape. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations in all the receiving streams were high (27.2 mg/l) compared to other Irish streams, even within other peatland catchments. The region is experiencing overall a widespread loss of fluvial nitrogen and carbon calling for (a) the development of management instruments at site-level (water treatment) and landscape-level (rewetting) to assist with meeting water quality standards in the region, and (b) the routine monitoring of water chemistry as part of current and future peatland management activities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10750-023-05188-5.

Spatial Decomposition of Air Pollution Concentrations Highlights Historical Causes for Current Exposure Disparities in the United States

Racial-ethnic disparities in exposure to air pollution in the United States (US) are well documented. Studies on the causes of these disparities highlight unequal systems of power and longstanding systemic racism-for example, redlining, white flight, and racial covenants-which reinforced racial segregation and wealth gaps and which concentrated polluting land uses in communities of color. Our analysis is based on empirical estimates of ambient concentrations for two important pollutants (NO2 and PM2.5). We show that spatially decomposed concentrations can be used to infer and quantify types of root causes for local- to national-scale disparities. Urban-scale segregation is important yet reflects less than half of the overall national disparities. Other historical causes of national exposure disparities include those that led current populations of Black, Asian, and Hispanic Americans to live in larger cities; those outcomes are consistent with, for example, greater economic opportunity in large cities, land-takings from non-White farmers, and racism in homesteading and between-state migration. Our results suggest that contemporary national exposure disparities in the US reflect a broad set of historical local- to national-scale mechanisms-including racist laws and actions that include, but also extend beyond, urban-scale aspects-and offer a first attempt to quantify their relative importance.

miR-223 Plays a Key Role in Obesogen-Enhanced Adipogenesis in Mesenchymal Stem Cells and in Transgenerational Obesity

Exposure of pregnant F0 mouse dams to the obesogen tributyltin (TBT) predisposes unexposed male descendants to obesity and diverts mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) toward the adipocytic lineage. TBT promotes adipogenic commitment and differentiation of MSCs in vitro. To identify TBT-induced factors predisposing MSCs toward the adipocytic fate, we exposed mouse MSCs to TBT, the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)-selective agonist rosiglitazone, or the retinoid X receptor (RXR)-selective agonist LG-100268. Then we determined their transcriptomal profiles to determine candidate microRNAs (miR) regulating adipogenic commitment and differentiation. Of the top 10 candidate microRNAs predicted by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, miR-21, miR-33, and miR-223 were expressed consistent with an ability to differentially regulate target genes during adipogenesis. We found that 24-hour exposure to 50nM TBT caused miR-223 levels in MSCs to increase; expression of its target genes ZEB1, NFIB, and FOXP1 was decreased. Rosiglitazone and TBT increased miR-223 levels. This induction was inhibited by the PPARγ antagonist T0070907 but not by the RXR antagonists HX531 or UVI3003, placing miR-223 downstream of PPARγ. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed TBT-induced binding of PPARγ to regulatory elements in the miR-223 promoter. miR-223 levels were elevated in white adipose tissue of F2 and F3 male descendants of pregnant F0 mouse dams exposed to 50nM TBT throughout gestation. miR-223 levels were potentiated in males fed an increased fat diet. We infer that TBT induced miR-223 expression and increased adipogenesis in MSCs through the PPARγ pathway and that transgenerationally increased expression of miR-223 plays an important role in the development of obesity caused by TBT exposure.

EASIUR-HR: A Model To Evaluate Exposure Inequality Caused by Ground-Level Sources of Primary Fine Particulate Matter

People of color disproportionately bear the health impacts of air pollution, making air quality a critical environmental justice issue. However, quantitative analysis of the disproportionate impacts of emissions is rarely done due to a lack of suitable models. Our work develops a high-resolution reduced-complexity model (EASIUR-HR) to evaluate the disproportionate impacts of ground-level primary PM_2.5 emissions. Our approach combines a Gaussian plume model for near-source impacts of primary PM_2.5 with a previously developed reduced-complexity model, EASIUR, to predict primary PM_2.5 concentrations at a spatial resolution of 300 m across the contiguous United States. We find that low-resolution models underpredict important local spatial variation of air pollution exposure to primary PM_2.5 emissions, potentially underestimating the contribution of these emissions to national inequality in PM_2.5 exposure by more than a factor of 2. We apply EASIUR-HR to analyze the impacts of vehicle electrification on exposure disparities. While such a policy has small aggregate air quality impacts nationally, it reduces exposure disparity for race/ethnic minorities. Our high-resolution RCM for primary PM_2.5 emissions (EASIUR-HR) is a new, publicly available tool to assess inequality in air pollution exposure across the United States.

Transitions in nitrogen and organic matter form and concentration correspond to bacterial population dynamics in a hypoxic urban estuary

Nitrogen (N) inputs to developed coastlines are linked with multiple ecosystem and socio-economic impacts worldwide such as algal blooms, habitat/resource deterioration, and hypoxia. This study investigated the microbial and biogeochemical processes associated with recurrent, seasonal bottom-water hypoxia in an urban estuary, western Long Island Sound (WLIS), that receives high N inputs. A 2-year (2020-2021) field study spanned two hypoxia events and entailed surface and bottom depth water sampling for dissolved nutrients as inorganic N (DIN; ammonia-N and nitrite + nitrate (N + N)), organic N, orthophosphate, organic carbon (DOC), as well as chlorophyll a and bacterial abundances. Physical water quality data were obtained from concurrent conductivity, temperature, and depth casts. Results showed that dissolved organic matter was highest at the most-hypoxic locations, DOC was negatively and significantly correlated with bottom-water dissolved oxygen (Pearson's r = -0.53, p = 0.05), and ammonia-N was the dominant DIN form pre-hypoxia before declining throughout hypoxia. N + N concentrations showed the reverse, being minimal pre-hypoxia then increasing during and following hypoxia, indicating that ammonia oxidation likely contributed to the switch in dominant DIN forms and is a key pathway in WLIS water column nitrification. Similarly, at the most hypoxic sampling site, bottom depth bacteria concentrations ranged ~ 1.8 × 10⁴-1.1 × 10⁵ cells ml^-1 pre-hypoxia, declined throughout hypoxia, and were positively and significantly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.57; p = 0.03) with ammonia-N, confirming that hypoxia influences N-cycling within LIS. These findings provide novel insight to feedbacks between major biogeochemical (N and C) cycles and hypoxia in urban estuaries.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10533-023-01021-2.

Microbial Water Quality through a Full-Scale Advanced Wastewater Treatment Demonstration Facility

The fates of viruses, bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes during advanced wastewater treatment are important to assess for implementation of potable reuse systems. Here, a full-scale advanced wastewater treatment demonstration facility (ozone, biological activated carbon filtration, micro/ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation) was sampled over three months. Atypically, no disinfectant residual was applied before the microfiltration step. Microbial cell concentrations and viability were assessed via flow cytometry and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Concentrations of bacteria (16S rRNA gene), viruses (human adenovirus and JC polyomavirus), and antibiotic resistance genes (sul1 and bla _TEM ) were assessed via quantitative PCR following the concentration of large sample volumes by dead-end ultrafiltration. In all membrane filtration permeates, microbial concentrations were higher than previously reported for chloraminated membranes, and log₁₀ reduction values were lower than expected. Concentrations of 16S rRNA and sul1 genes were reduced by treatment but remained quantifiable in reverse osmosis permeate. It is unclear whether sul1 in the RO permeate was from the passage of resistance genes or new growth of microorganisms, but the concentrations were on the low end of those reported for conventional drinking water distribution systems. Adenovirus, JC polyomavirus, and bla _TEM genes were reduced below the limit of detection (∼10^-2 gene copies per mL) by microfiltration. The results provide insights into how treatment train design and operation choices affect microbial water quality as well as the use of flow cytometry and ATP for online monitoring and process control.

Accounting for transgenerational effects of toxicant exposure in population models alters the predicted long-term population status

Acute environmental stressors such as short-term exposure to pollutants can have lasting effects on organisms, potentially impacting future generations. Parental exposure to toxicants can result in changes to the epigenome (e.g., DNA methylation) that are passed down to subsequent, unexposed generations. However, it is difficult to gauge the cumulative population-scale impacts of epigenetic effects from laboratory experiments alone. Here, we developed a size- and age-structured delay-coordinate population model to evaluate the long-term consequences of epigenetic modifications on population sustainability. The model emulated changes in growth, mortality, and fecundity in the F0, F1, and F2 generations observed in experiments in which larval Menidia beryllina were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of bifenthrin (Bif), ethinylestradiol (EE2), levonorgestrel (LV), or trenbolone (TB) in the parent generation (F0) and reared in clean water up to the F2 generation. Our analysis suggests potentially dramatic population-level effects of repeated, chronic exposures of early-life stage fish that are not captured by models not accounting for those effects. Simulated exposures led to substantial declines in population abundance (LV and Bif) or near-extinction (EE2 and TB) with the exact trajectory and timeline of population decline dependent on the combination of F0, F1, and F2 effects produced by each compound. Even acute one-time exposures of each compound led to declines and recovery over multiple years due to lagged epigenetic effects. These results demonstrate the potential for environmentally relevant concentrations of commonly used compounds to impact the population dynamics and sustainability of an ecologically relevant species and model organism.

Geospatial Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the US EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment Survey

Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a serious global problem due to the overuse of antimicrobials in human, animal, and agriculture sectors. There is intense research to control the dissemination of AR, but little is known regarding the environmental drivers influencing its spread. Although AR genes (ARGs) are detected in many different environments, the risk associated with the spread of these genes to microbial pathogens is unknown. Recreational microbial exposure risks are likely to be greater in water bodies receiving discharge from human and animal waste in comparison to less disturbed aquatic environments. Given this scenario, research practitioners are encouraged to consider an ecological context to assess the effect of environmental ARGs on public health. Here, we use a stratified, probabilistic survey of nearly 2000 sites to determine national patterns of the anthropogenic indicator class I integron Integrase gene (intI1) and several ARGs in 1.2 million kilometers of United States (US) rivers and streams. Gene concentrations were greater in eastern than in western regions and in rivers and streams in poor condition. These first of their kind findings on the national distribution of intI1 and ARGs provide new information to aid risk assessment and implement mitigation strategies to protect public health.

Cohort profile: the ECHO prenatal and early childhood pathways to health consortium (ECHO-PATHWAYS)

PURPOSE

Exposures early in life, beginning in utero, have long-term impacts on mental and physical health. The ECHO prenatal and early childhood pathways to health consortium (ECHO-PATHWAYS) was established to examine the independent and combined impact of pregnancy and childhood chemical exposures and psychosocial stressors on child neurodevelopment and airway health, as well as the placental mechanisms underlying these associations.

PARTICIPANTS

The ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium harmonises extant data from 2684 mother-child dyads in three pregnancy cohort studies (CANDLE [Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood], TIDES [The Infant Development and Environment Study] and GAPPS [Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth]) and collects prospective data under a unified protocol. Study participants are socioeconomically diverse and include a large proportion of Black families (38% Black and 51% White), often under-represented in research. Children are currently 5-15 years old. New data collection includes multimodal assessments of primary outcomes (airway health and neurodevelopment) and exposures (air pollution, phthalates and psychosocial stress) as well as rich covariate characterisation. ECHO-PATHWAYS is compiling extant and new biospecimens in a central biorepository and generating the largest placental transcriptomics data set to date (N=1083).

FINDINGS TO DATE

Early analyses demonstrate adverse associations of prenatal exposure to air pollution, phthalates and maternal stress with early childhood airway outcomes and neurodevelopment. Placental transcriptomics work suggests that phthalate exposure alters placental gene expression, pointing to mechanistic pathways for the developmental toxicity of phthalates. We also observe associations between prenatal maternal stress and placental corticotropin releasing hormone, a marker of hormonal activation during pregnancy relevant for child health. Other publications describe novel methods for examining exposure mixtures and the development of a national spatiotemporal model of ambient outdoor air pollution.

FUTURE PLANS

The first wave of data from the unified protocol (child age 8-9) is nearly complete. Future work will leverage these data to examine the combined impact of early life social and chemical exposures on middle childhood health outcomes and underlying placental mechanisms.

Ranavirus infection-induced avoidance behaviour in wood frog juveniles: do amphibians socially distance?

Hosts may limit exposure to pathogens through changes in behaviour, such as avoiding infected individuals or contaminated areas. Here, we tested for a behavioural response to ranavirus infection in juvenile wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) because the majority of dispersal between populations occurs during this life stage. We hypothesized that if infections are transmissible and detectable at this life stage, then susceptibles would display avoidance behaviours when introduced to an infected conspecific. Despite no apparent signs of infection, we observed a greater distance between susceptible-infected pairs, compared to pairs of either two infected or two susceptible animals. Further, distances between susceptible-infected pairs were positively related to the infection intensity of the focal exposed frog, suggesting the cue to avoid infected conspecifics may become more detectable with more intense infections. Although we did not quantify whether the transmission was affected by their distancing, our findings suggest that juvenile frogs have the potential to reduce terrestrial transmission of ranaviruses through avoidance behaviours.

How low can you go? Air pollution affects mortality at very low levels

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released new guidelines for outdoor fine particulate air pollution (PM_2.5) recommending an annual average concentration of 5 μg/m³. Yet, our understanding of the concentration-response relationship between outdoor PM_2.5 and mortality in this range of near-background concentrations remains incomplete. To address this uncertainty, we conducted a population-based cohort study of 7.1 million adults in one of the world's lowest exposure environments. Our findings reveal a supralinear concentration-response relationship between outdoor PM_2.5 and mortality at very low (<5 μg/m³) concentrations. Our updated global concentration-response function incorporating this new information suggests an additional 1.5 million deaths globally attributable to outdoor PM_2.5 annually compared to previous estimates. The global health benefits of meeting the new WHO guideline for outdoor PM_2.5 are greater than previously assumed and indicate a need for continued reductions in outdoor air pollution around the world.

Urban Roadway Runoff Is Lethal to Juvenile Coho, Steelhead, and Chinook Salmonids, But Not Congeneric Sockeye

We compared the sensitivity of closely related Pacific salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) to untreated urban stormwater runoff across three storm events. Juvenile coho, sockeye, steelhead, and Chinook were exposed for 24 h to untreated urban runoff and then transferred to clean water for 48 h. As anticipated from previous studies, coho were highly susceptible to runoff toxicity, with cumulative mortality rates ranging from 92%-100% across the three storms. By contrast, juvenile sockeye were unaffected (100% survival), and cumulative mortality rates were intermediate for steelhead (4%-42%) and Chinook (0%-13%). Furthermore, coho died rapidly following the onset of stormwater exposure (generally <4 h), whereas mortality in Chinook and steelhead was delayed by 1-2 days. Similar to previous findings for coho, steelhead and Chinook did not recover when transferred to clean water. Lastly, significant mortality occurred in coho even when roadway runoff was diluted by 95% in clean water. Our findings extend the urban runoff mortality syndrome in salmonids and point to a near-term need for sublethal studies in steelhead and Chinook to more precisely understand stormwater risks to threatened species recovery efforts in the western United States.

Simulation of the Environmental Fate and Transformation of Nano Copper Oxide in a Freshwater Environment

Production of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) has rapidly increased, yet uncertainty exists regarding the full extent of their environmental implications. This study investigates the fate, transformation, and speciation of nano copper oxide (nanoCuO) released into Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, over 101 years. Using the Advanced Toxicant module of the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP8), we assessed the accumulation and mass proportions of nanoCuO and Cu²⁺ (the product of nanoCuO's dissolution) in the water column and sediments. Our simulations suggest that when nanoCuO is released into Lake Waccamaw, the highest concentrations of both nanoCuO and Cu²⁺ are found in the surface sediments, followed by the subsurface sediments and the water column. Simulating different heteroaggregation attachment efficiencies of nanoCuO suggested that increases in attachment efficiency increased nanoCuO concentrations and mass proportions in the water column and sediments, while Cu²⁺ exhibited the opposite trends. After 101 years, most nanoCuO in the sediments was attached to particulate organic matter and clay particles at all attachment efficiencies, while low attachment efficiency slowed aggregate formation in the water column. Our results highlight the influence that heteroaggregation has on the behavior of nanoCuO inputs and suggest the potential for legacy contamination of nanoCuO and Cu²⁺ in sediments.

Shell microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for brain organoids

Brain organoids are important models for mimicking some three-dimensional (3D) cytoarchitectural and functional aspects of the brain. Multielectrode arrays (MEAs) that enable recording and stimulation of activity from electrogenic cells offer notable potential for interrogating brain organoids. However, conventional MEAs, initially designed for monolayer cultures, offer limited recording contact area restricted to the bottom of the 3D organoids. Inspired by the shape of electroencephalography caps, we developed miniaturized wafer-integrated MEA caps for organoids. The optically transparent shells are composed of self-folding polymer leaflets with conductive polymer-coated metal electrodes. Tunable folding of the minicaps' polymer leaflets guided by mechanics simulations enables versatile recording from organoids of different sizes, and we validate the feasibility of electrophysiology recording from 400- to 600-μm-sized organoids for up to 4 weeks and in response to glutamate stimulation. Our studies suggest that 3D shell MEAs offer great potential for high signal-to-noise ratio and 3D spatiotemporal brain organoid recording.

Ecosystem services provided by the exotic bivalves Dreissena polymorpha, D. rostriformis bugensis, and Limnoperna fortunei

The ecosystem services approach to conservation is becoming central to environmental policy decision making. While many negative biological invasion-driven impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning have been identified, much less was done to evaluate their ecosystem services. In this paper, we focus on the often-overlooked ecosystem services provided by three notable exotic ecosystem engineering bivalves, the zebra mussel, the quagga mussel, and the golden mussel. One of the most significant benefits of invasive bivalves is water filtration, which results in water purification and changes rates of nutrient cycling, thus mitigating the effects of eutrophication. Mussels are widely used as sentinel organisms for the assessment and biomonitoring of contaminants and pathogens and are consumed by many fishes and birds. Benefits of invasive bivalves are particularly relevant in human-modified ecosystems. We summarize the multiple ecosystem services provided by invasive bivalves and recommend including the economically quantifiable services in the assessments of their economic impacts. We also highlight important ecosystem disservices by exotic bivalves, identify data limitations, and future research directions. This assessment should not be interpreted as a rejection of the fact that invasive mussels have negative impacts, but as an attempt to provide additional information for scientists, managers, and policymakers.

A comprehensive aerobiological study of the airborne pollen in the Irish environment

Respiratory allergies triggered by pollen allergens represent a significant health concern to the Irish public. Up to now, Ireland has largely refrained from participating in long-term aerobiological studies. Recently, pollen monitoring has commenced in several sampling locations around Ireland. The first results of the pollen monitoring campaigns for Dublin (urban) and Carlow (rural) concerning the period 2017-2019 and 2018-2019, respectively, are presented herein. Additional unpublished pollen data from 1978-1980 and, 2010-2011 were also incorporated in creating the first pollen calendar for Dublin. During the monitoring period over 60 pollen types were identified with an average Annual Pollen Integral (APIn) of 32,217 Pollen × day/m³ for Dublin and 78,411 Pollen × day/m³ for Carlow. The most prevalent pollen types in Dublin were: Poaceae (32%), Urticaceae (29%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (11%), Betula (10%), Quercus (4%), Pinus (3%), Fraxinus (2%), Alnus (2%) and Platanus (1%). The predominant pollen types in Carlow were identified as Poaceae (70%), Urticaceae (12%), Betula (10%), Quercus (2%), Fraxinus (1%) and Pinus (1%). These prevalent pollen types increased in annual pollen concentration in both locations from 2018 to 2019 except for Fraxinus. Although higher pollen concentrations were observed for the Carlow (rural) site a greater variety of pollen types were identified for the Dublin (urban) site. The general annual trend in the pollen season began with the release of tree pollen in early spring, followed by the release of grass and herbaceous pollen which dominated the summer months with the annual pollen season coming to an end in October. This behaviour was illustrated for 21 different pollen types in the Dublin pollen calendar. The correlation between ambient pollen concentration and meteorological parameters was also examined and differed greatly depending on the location and study year. A striking feature was a substantial fraction of the recorded pollen sampled in Dublin did not correlate with the prevailing wind directions. However, using non-parametric wind regression, specific source regions could be determined such as Alnus originating from the Southeast, Betula originating from the East and Poaceae originating from the Southwest.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10453-022-09751-w.

Dietary Exposure to Essential and Non-essential Elements During Infants' First Year of Life in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study

Even the low levels of non-essential elements exposure common in the US may have health consequences especially early in life. However, little is known about the infant's dynamic exposure to essential and non-essential elements. This study aims to evaluate exposure to essential and non-essential elements during infants' first year of life and to explore the association between the exposure and rice consumption. Paired urine samples from infants enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) were collected at approximately 6 weeks (exclusively breastfed) and at 1 year of age after weaning (n = 187). A further independent subgroup of NHBCS infants with details about rice consumption at 1 year of age also was included (n = 147). Urinary concentrations of 8 essential (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, and Se) and 9 non-essential (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, and U) elements were determined as a measure of exposure. Several essential (Co, Fe, Mo, Ni, and Se) and non-essential (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, Sn, and V) elements had higher concentrations at 1 year than at 6 weeks of age. The highest increases were for urinary As and Mo with median concentrations of 0.20 and 1.02 µg/L at 6 weeks and 2.31 and 45.36 µg/L at 1 year of age, respectively. At 1 year of age, As and Mo urine concentrations were related to rice consumption. Further efforts are necessary to minimize exposure to non-essential elements while retaining essential elements to protect and promote children's health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12403-022-00489-x.

Communicating Confidence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Identification via High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are important environmental contaminants, yet relatively few analytical reference standards exist for this class. Nontarget analyses performed by means of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) are increasingly common for the discovery and identification of PFASs in environmental and biological samples. The certainty of PFAS identifications made via HRMS must be communicated through a reliable and harmonized approach. Here, we present a confidence scale along with identification criteria specific to suspect or nontarget analysis of PFASs by means of nontarget HRMS. Confidence levels range from level 1a-"Confirmed by Reference Standard," and level 1b-"Indistinguishable from Reference Standard," to level 5-"Exact Masses of Interest," which are identified by suspect screening or data filtering, two common forms of feature prioritization. This confidence scale is consistent with general criteria for communicating confidence in the identification of small organic molecules by HRMS (e.g., through a match to analytical reference standards, library MS/MS, and/or retention times) but incorporates the specific conventions and tools used in PFAS classification and analysis (e.g., detection of homologous series and specific ranges of mass defects). Our scale clarifies the level of certainty in PFAS identification and, in doing so, facilitates more efficient identification.

Air Pollutants and Asthma Hospitalization in the Medicaid Population

Rationale: Risk of asthma hospitalization and its disparities associated with air pollutant exposures are less clear within socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, particularly at low degrees of exposure. Objectives: To assess effects of short-term exposures to fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ⩽2.5 μm [PM2.5]), warm-season ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on risk of asthma hospitalization among national Medicaid beneficiaries, the most disadvantaged population in the United States, and to test whether any subpopulations were at higher risk. Methods: We constructed a time-stratified case-crossover dataset among 1,627,002 hospitalizations during 2000-2012 and estimated risk of asthma hospitalization associated with short-term PM2.5, O3, and NO2 exposures. We then restricted the analysis to hospitalizations with degrees of exposure below increasingly stringent thresholds. Furthermore, we tested effect modifications by individual- and community-level characteristics. Measurements and Main Results: Each 1-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, 1-ppb increase in O3, and 1-ppb increase in NO2 was associated with 0.31% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.37%), 0.10% (95% CI, 0.05 - 0.15%), and 0.28% (95% CI, 0.24 - 0.32%) increase in risk of asthma hospitalization, respectively. Low-level PM2.5 and NO2 exposures were associated with higher risk. Furthermore, beneficiaries with only one asthma hospitalization during the study period or in communities with lower population density, higher average body mass index, longer distance to the nearest hospital, or greater neighborhood deprivation experienced higher risk. Conclusions: Short-term air pollutant exposures increased risk of asthma hospitalization among Medicaid beneficiaries, even at concentrations well below national standards. The subgroup differences suggested individual and contextual factors contributed to asthma disparities under effects of air pollutant exposures.

Placental methylome reveals a 22q13.33 brain regulatory gene locus associated with autism

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves complex genetics interacting with the perinatal environment, complicating the discovery of common genetic risk. The epigenetic layer of DNA methylation shows dynamic developmental changes and molecular memory of in utero experiences, particularly in placenta, a fetal tissue discarded at birth. However, current array-based methods to identify novel ASD risk genes lack coverage of the most structurally and epigenetically variable regions of the human genome.

RESULTS

We use whole genome bisulfite sequencing in placenta samples from prospective ASD studies to discover a previously uncharacterized ASD risk gene, LOC105373085, renamed NHIP. Out of 134 differentially methylated regions associated with ASD in placental samples, a cluster at 22q13.33 corresponds to a 118-kb hypomethylated block that replicates in two additional cohorts. Within this locus, NHIP is functionally characterized as a nuclear peptide-encoding transcript with high expression in brain, and increased expression following neuronal differentiation or hypoxia, but decreased expression in ASD placenta and brain. NHIP overexpression increases cellular proliferation and alters expression of genes regulating synapses and neurogenesis, overlapping significantly with known ASD risk genes and NHIP-associated genes in ASD brain. A common structural variant disrupting the proximity of NHIP to a fetal brain enhancer is associated with NHIP expression and methylation levels and ASD risk, demonstrating a common genetic influence.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these results identify and initially characterize a novel environmentally responsive ASD risk gene relevant to brain development in a hitherto under-characterized region of the human genome.

Home Dust Allergen Exposure Is Associated with Outcomes among Sensitized Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Environmental exposures have been associated with adverse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Approximately one-third of individuals with COPD have allergic sensitization, but it is unknown whether exposure to allergens in the home is associated with outcomes. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and associations of allergen sensitization with exposure to common indoor allergens with symptoms and exacerbation risk in COPD. Methods: Allergen sensitization to five common indoor allergens was assessed in former smokers with COPD. Home settled dust was assessed for presence of corresponding allergens. Sensitization and exposure status was determined and associations evaluated in adjusted models with longitudinal outcomes including symptoms, lung function, and exacerbations. Interactions were assessed between sensitization/exposure status and lung function. Measurements and Main Results: One hundred eighty-three individuals studied were on average 67.3 years of age (SD, 8.22) with average FEV1 of 53.2% (SD, 17.6%). Seventy-seven percent of participants were exposed to at least one tested allergen, and 17% had sensitization with corresponding allergen exposure. After adjustment, sensitization with exposure was associated with lower lung function (β, -8.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], -14.80 to -1.77), higher St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire Total Score (β, 6.71; 95% CI, 0.17 to 13.25), and higher exacerbation risk (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.11 to 4.79). Associations appeared to be more pronounced among individuals with lower lung function. Conclusions: Allergen exposures are common in COPD and associated with adverse outcomes among those with concomitant allergen sensitization. This study establishes allergens as an important home exposure that potentially could be addressed with comprehensive home environmental modification strategies to improve COPD outcomes.

Mapping emergent public engagement in societal transitions: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Transition discourses are gaining prominence in efforts to imagine a future that adequately addresses the urgent need to establish low carbon and climate resilient pathways. Within these discourses the 'public' is seen as central to the creation and implementation of appropriate interventions. The role of public engagement in societal transformation while essential, is also complex and often poorly understood. The purpose of this paper is to enhance our understanding regarding public engagement and to address the often superficial and shallow policy discourse on this topic.

MAIN TEXT

The paper offers a review of evolving literature to map emergent public engagement in processes of transition and change. We adopt a pragmatic approach towards literature retrieval and analysis which enables a cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral review. We use a scoping review process and the three spheres of transformation framework (designated as the practical, political and personal spheres) to explore trends within this complex research field. The review draws from literature from the last two decades in the Irish context and looks at emergence and evolving spaces of public engagement within various systems of change including energy, food, coastal management and flood adaptation, among others.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight the siloed and fragmented way in which public engagement in transitions is carried and we propose a more cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary approach which depends on bringing into dialogue often contrasting theories and perspectives. The paper also illustrates some shifting engagement approaches. For instance, nexus articles between the practical and political spheres suggest deeper forms of public engagement beyond aggregated consumer behaviour to align technological delivery with institutional and societal contexts. While most articles in the practical sphere draw largely on techno-economic insights this influence and cross-disciplinarity is likely to draw in further innovations. Nexus articles between the political and personal sphere are also drawing on shifting ideas of public engagement and largely stress the need to disrupt reductive notions of engagement and agency within our institutions. Many of these articles call attention to problems with top-down public engagement structures and in various ways show how they often undermine and marginalise different groups.

Disparities in Risks of Inadequate and Excessive Intake of Micronutrients during Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Inadequate or excessive intake of micronutrients in pregnancy has potential to negatively impact maternal/offspring health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to compare risks of inadequate or excessive micronutrient intake in diverse females with singleton pregnancies by strata of maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, and prepregnancy BMI.

METHODS

Fifteen observational cohorts in the US Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Consortium assessed participant dietary intake with 24-h dietary recalls (n = 1910) or food-frequency questionnaires (n = 7891) from 1999-2019. We compared the distributions of usual intake of 19 micronutrients from food alone (15 cohorts; n = 9801) and food plus dietary supplements (10 cohorts with supplement data; n = 7082) to estimate the proportion with usual daily intakes below their age-specific daily Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), above their Adequate Intake (AI), and above their Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), overall and within sociodemographic and anthropometric subgroups.

RESULTS

Risk of inadequate intake from food alone ranged from 0% to 87%, depending on the micronutrient and assessment methodology. When dietary supplements were included, some women were below the EAR for vitamin D (20-38%), vitamin E (17-22%), and magnesium (39-41%); some women were above the AI for vitamin K (63-75%), choline (7%), and potassium (37-53%); and some were above the UL for folic acid (32-51%), iron (39-40%), and zinc (19-20%). Highest risks for inadequate intakes were observed among participants with age 14-18 y (6 nutrients), non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity (10 nutrients), less than a high school education (9 nutrients), or obesity (9 nutrients).

CONCLUSIONS

Improved diet quality is needed for most pregnant females. Even with dietary supplement use, >20% of participants were at risk of inadequate intake of ≥1 micronutrients, especially in some population subgroups. Pregnancy may be a window of opportunity to address disparities in micronutrient intake that could contribute to intergenerational health inequalities.

The climate and health benefits from intensive building energy efficiency improvements

Intensive building energy efficiency improvements can reduce emissions from energy use, improving outdoor air quality and human health, but may also affect ventilation and indoor air quality. This study examines the effects of highly ambitious, yet feasible, building energy efficiency upgrades in the United States. Our energy efficiency scenarios, derived from the literature, lead to a 6 to 11% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and 18 to 25% reductions in particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in 2050. These reductions are complementary with a carbon pricing policy on electricity. However, our results also point to the importance of mitigating indoor PM2.5 emissions, improving PM2.5 filtration, and evaluating ventilation-related policies. Even with no further ventilation improvements, we estimate that intensive energy efficiency scenarios could prevent 1800 to 3600 premature deaths per year across the United States in 2050. With further investments in indoor air quality, this can rise to 2900 to 5100.

Quantifying impacts of stony coral tissue loss disease on corals in Southeast Florida through surveys and 3D photogrammetry

Since 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has contributed to substantial declines of reef-building corals in Florida. The emergence of this disease, which impacts over 20 scleractinian coral species, has generated a need for widespread reef monitoring and the implementation of novel survey and disease mitigation strategies. This study paired SCTLD prevalence assessments with colony-level monitoring to help improve understanding of disease dynamics on both individual coral colonies and at reef-wide scales. Benthic surveys were conducted throughout the northern Florida Reef Tract to monitor the presence/absence of disease, disease prevalence, and coral species affected by SCTLD. Observed SCTLD prevalence was lower in Jupiter and Palm Beach than in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea or St. Lucie Reef, but there were no significant changes in prevalence over time. To assess colony-level impacts of the disease, we optimized a low-cost, rapid 3D photogrammetry technique to fate-track infected Montastraea cavernosa coral colonies over four time points spanning nearly four months. Total colony area and healthy tissue area on fate-tracked colonies decreased significantly over time. However disease lesion area did not decrease over time and was not correlated with total colony area. Taken together these results suggest that targeted intervention efforts on larger colonies may maximize preservation of coral cover. Traditional coral surveys combined with 3D photogrammetry can provide greater insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics and impacts of coral diseases on individual colonies and coral communities than surveys or visual estimates of disease progression alone.

Short- and long-term effects of perinatal phthalate exposures on metabolic pathways in the mouse liver

Phthalates have been demonstrated to interfere with metabolism, presumably by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). However, mechanisms linking developmental phthalate exposures to long-term metabolic effects have not yet been elucidated. We investigated the hypothesis that developmental phthalate exposure has long-lasting impacts on PPAR target gene expression and DNA methylation to influence hepatic metabolic profiles across the life course. We utilized an established longitudinal mouse model of perinatal exposures to diethylhexyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate, and a mixture of diethylhexyl phthalate+diisononyl phthalate. Exposure was through the diet and spanned from 2 weeks before mating until weaning at postnatal day 21 (PND21). Liver tissue was analyzed from the offspring of exposed and control mice at PND21 and in another cohort of exposed and control mice at 10 months of age. RNA-seq and pathway enrichment analyses indicated that acetyl-CoA metabolic processes were altered in diisononyl phthalate-exposed female livers at both PND21 and 10 months (FDR = 0.0018). Within the pathway, all 13 significant genes were potential PPAR target genes. Promoter DNA methylation was altered at three candidate genes, but persistent effects were only observed for Fasn. Targeted metabolomics indicated that phthalate-exposed females had decreased acetyl-CoA at PND21 and increased acetyl-CoA and acylcarnitines at 10 months. Together, our data suggested that perinatal phthalate exposures were associated with short- and long-term activation of PPAR target genes, which manifested as increased fatty acid production in early postnatal life and increased fatty acid oxidation in adulthood. This presents a novel molecular pathway linking developmental phthalate exposures and metabolic health outcomes.

Cohort profile: Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico

PURPOSE

Puerto Rican children experience high rates of asthma and obesity. Further, infants born in Puerto Rico are more at risk for being born prematurely compared with infants on the mainland USA. Environmental exposures from multiple sources during critical periods of child development, potentially modified by psychosocial factors, may contribute to these adverse health outcomes. To date, most studies investigating the health effects of environmental factors on infant and child health have focused on single or individual exposures.

PARTICIPANTS

Infants currently in gestation whose mother is enrolled in Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort, and infants and children already born to mothers who participated in the PROTECT study.

FINDINGS TO DATE

Data collection and processing remains ongoing. Demographic data have been collected on 437 mother-child pairs. Birth outcomes are available for 420 infants, neurodevelopmental outcomes have been collected on 319 children. Concentrations of parabens and phenols in maternal spot urine samples have been measured from 386 mothers. Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development mothers have significantly higher urinary concentrations of dichlorophenols, triclosan and triclocarban, but lower levels of several parabens compared with reference values from a similar population drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

FUTURE PLANS

Data will continue to be collected through recruitment of new births with a target of 600 children. Seven scheduled follow-up visits with existing and new participants are planned. Further, our research team continues to work with healthcare providers, paediatricians and early intervention providers to support parent's ability to access early intervention services for participants.

Modeling chemical effects on breast cancer: the importance of the microenvironment in vitro

Accumulating evidence suggests that our ability to predict chemical effects on breast cancer is limited by a lack of physiologically relevant in vitro models; the typical in vitro breast cancer model consists of the cancer cell and excludes the mammary microenvironment. As the effects of the microenvironment on cancer cell behavior becomes more understood, researchers have called for the integration of the microenvironment into in vitro chemical testing systems. However, given the complexity of the microenvironment and the variety of platforms to choose from, identifying the essential parameters to include in a chemical testing platform is challenging. This review discusses the need for more complex in vitro breast cancer models and outlines different approaches used to model breast cancer in vitro. We provide examples of the microenvironment modulating breast cancer cell responses to chemicals and discuss strategies to help pinpoint what components should be included in a model.

Ischaemic heart disease and stroke mortality by specific coal type among non-smoking women with substantial indoor air pollution exposure in China

BACKGROUND

Lifetime use of bituminous ('smoky') coal is associated with nearly a 100-fold higher risk of lung cancer mortality compared with anthracite ('smokeless') coal use in rural Xuanwei, China, among women. Risk of mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke for these coal types has not been evaluated.

METHODS

A cohort of 16 323 non-smoking women in Xuanwei, who were lifetime users of either smoky or smokeless coal, were followed up from 1976 to 2011. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate lifetime use of coal types and stoves in the home in relation to risk of IHD and stroke mortality.

RESULTS

Among lifetime users of smokeless coal, higher average exposure intensity (≥4 tons/year vs <2.5 tons/year, HR = 7.9, 95% CI = 3.5-17.8; Ptrend =<0.0001) and cumulative exposure (>64 ton-years vs ≤28 ton-years, HR = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.5-28.3; Ptrend =0.003) during follow-up and over their lifetime was associated with increased IHD mortality, and ventilated stove use dramatically reduced this risk (HR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5). Higher cumulative exposure to smoky coal during follow-up showed positive associations with IHD mortality, but the evidence for other metrics was less consistent compared with associations with smokeless coal use.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher use of smokeless coal, which is burned throughout China and is generally regarded to be a cleaner fuel type, is associated with IHD mortality. Use of cleaner fuels or stove interventions may be effective in reducing the increasing burden of IHD in developing regions that currently rely on smokeless coal for cooking and heating.

Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Newborn DNA Methylation: Findings From the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium

OBJECTIVE

Maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been associated with adverse outcomes in the offspring. Growing evidence suggests that the epigenome may play a role, but most previous studies have been small and adjusted for few covariates. The current study meta-analyzed the association between maternal GDM and cord blood DNA methylation in the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) consortium.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Seven pregnancy cohorts (3,677 mother-newborn pairs [317 with GDM]) contributed results from epigenome-wide association studies, using DNA methylation data acquired by the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array. Associations between GDM and DNA methylation were examined using robust linear regression, with adjustment for potential confounders. Fixed-effects meta-analyses were performed using METAL. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified by taking the intersection of results obtained using two regional approaches: comb-p and DMRcate.

RESULTS

Two DMRs were identified by both comb-p and DMRcate. Both regions were hypomethylated in newborns exposed to GDM in utero compared with control subjects. One DMR (chr 1: 248100345-248100614) was located in the OR2L13 promoter, and the other (chr 10: 135341870-135342620) was located in the gene body of CYP2E1. Individual CpG analyses did not reveal any differentially methylated loci based on a false discovery rate-adjusted P value threshold of 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal GDM was associated with lower cord blood methylation levels within two regions, including the promoter of OR2L13, a gene associated with autism spectrum disorder, and the gene body of CYP2E1, which is upregulated in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Future studies are needed to understand whether these associations are causal and possible health consequences.

Geomagnetic disturbances driven by solar activity enhance total and cardiovascular mortality risk in 263 U.S. cities

BACKGROUND

Short-term geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) driven by the quasi-periodic 11-year cycle of solar activity have been linked to a broad range of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and total deaths. We conducted a large epidemiological study in 263 U.S. cities to assess the effects of GMD on daily deaths of total, CVD, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke.

METHODS

We employed a two-step meta-analysis approach, in which we estimated city-specific and season-stratified mortality risk associated with a GMD parameter (Kp index) in 263 U.S. cities. In addition, sensitivity analysis was performed to assess whether effect modification of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the prior day changed Kp index effects on daily deaths after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

We found significant association between daily GMD and total, CVD, and MI deaths. The effects were even stronger when we adjusted the models for 24-h PM2.5 for different seasons. For example, in the winter and fall one standard deviation of z-score Kp index increase was associated with a 0.13 and 0.31% increase in total deaths, respectively (Winter: p = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.24; Fall: p = 0.00001; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.4), without adjusting for PM2.5. The effects of GMD on total deaths were also observed in spring and summer in the models without PM2.5 (p = 0.00001). When the models were adjusted for PM2.5 the total deaths increased 0.47% in winter (p = 0.00001, 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.65) and by 0.23% in fall (p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.37). The effects of GMD were also significant associated with MI deaths and CVD. No positive significant association were found between Kp and stroke. The GMD effects on deaths were higher than for 24 h-PM2.5 alone, especially in spring and fall.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that GMD is associated with total, CVD and MI deaths in 263 U. S cities. Increased mortality in the general population during GMD should be further investigated to determine whether those human physiological dynamics driven by variations in solar activity can be related to daily clinical cardiovascular observations.

Engineering of bio-mimetic substratum topographies for enhanced early colonization of filamentous algae

This work reveals a set of surface topography parameters that are significant for algal attachment to natural rock substrata. Topography analysis of rock surfaces from a stream identifies three descriptive areal parameters (Smr, Sv, and Sa) that correlate with the presence of natural periphyton community. A method was developed and validated to reverse engineer and manufacture artificial substrata with topographic complexity defined by these parameters, using computational modeling and additive manufacturing. Results from colonization experiments with filamentous algae show statistically significant increases in early biomass accrual rates on substrata with higher values of Sa and Sv parameters and lower values of Smr parameter. These results suggest that manipulation of the level of roughness (peak-to-valley distance and material ratio above the mean) and the distribution of hill and dale sequences can control initial colonization locations and biomass accrual rates, presumably by enhancing growth and recruitment of cells from the overlying flow into protected refugia spaces. As such, these findings provide an approach for optimizing the design of substratum for increased early biomass productivity for attached growth algae cultivation systems.

Sustainability assessment of agricultural rainwater harvesting: Evaluation of alternative crop types and irrigation practices

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been used globally to address water scarcity for various ecosystem uses, including crop irrigation requirements, and to meet the water resource needs of a growing world population. However, the costs, benefits and impacts of alternative crop types and irrigation practices is challenging to evaluate comprehensively. We present an assessment methodology to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems as applied to a southeastern U.S. river basin. We utilized detailed, crop-level cultivation information to calculate sustainability indicators (relative to well-water irrigation) at the basin scale (6-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes). 40 design configurations comprising crop types and irrigation practices were evaluated to demonstrate the methodology's robustness. Four RWH designs and four major crops (pasture-grass, soybeans, corn, and cotton) resembling current practices were evaluated, as well as six combined systems (combined RWH and well-water systems) with four globally representative crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, and quinoa). Sustainability scores were calculated by integrating seven life cycle impact indicators (cumulative energy demand, CO2 emission, blue water use, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, human health-cancer, and life cycle costs). At a basin-wide RWH adoption rate of 25%, the benefits, relative to 100% well-water, of the RWH systems irrigating soybeans and supported with well-water (0.4 well-water: 0.6 RWH) provided cumulative energy savings of 39 Peta Joule and reductions in CO2 emission, blue water use, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, and human health-cancer at 1.9 Mt CO2 eq., 6.9 Gm3, 5.7 MCTU, 6.6 kt N eq., and 0.07 CTU, respectively. These benefits increased linearly with RWH scaling variables including the adoption rates, system service life, crop area, and water needs. Our methodology integrates the three pillars of agricultural sustainability specific to rainwater harvesting into a single score. It is applicable to other locations worldwide facing water scarcity by modifying the RWH system design, selecting other crop types, and obtaining appropriate data.

Invasion genetics of the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix across North America: Differentiation of fronts, introgression, and eDNA metabarcode detection

In the 1970s, the introduced silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (which is indigenous to eastern Asia) escaped from southern U.S. aquaculture to spread throughout the Mississippi River basin, and since has steadily moved northward. This large, prolific filter-feeder reduces food availability for other fishes. It now has reached the threshold of the Laurentian Great Lakes, where it likely will significantly impact food chains and fisheries. Our study evaluates population genetic variability and differentiation of the silver carp using 10 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci, and sequences of two mitochondrial genes-cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, along with the nuclear ribosomal protein S7 gene intron 1. We analyze population samples from: two primary Great Lakes' invasion fronts (at the Illinois River outside of Chicago, IL in Lake Michigan and in the Wabash River, which leads into the Maumee River and western Lake Erie), the original establishment "core" in the Lower Mississippi River, and expansion areas in the Upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers. We analyze and compare our results with bighead and other invasive carps, and cyprinid relatives. Results reveal that the silver carp invasion possesses moderate levels of genetic diversity, with more mtDNA haplotypes and unique microsatellite alleles in the "core" Lower Mississippi River population, which also diverges the most. The two invasion fronts also significantly genetically differ. About 3% of individuals (including all populations except the Illinois River) contain a unique and very divergent mtDNA haplotype, which likely stems from historic introgression in Asia with female largescale silver carp H. harmandi. The nuclear microsatellites and S7 sequences of the introgressed individuals do not differ from silver carp and are very distant from bighead carp. These sequence variation data are employed to design and evaluate a targeted high-throughput metabarcoding sequence assay that identifies and distinguishes among species of invasive carps (i.e., silver, bighead, grass, black, and common carps, along with goldfish), as well as native cyprinids, using cytochrome b. Our assay further differentiates among selected silver carp haplotypes (including between H. molitrix and H. harmandi), for use in population genetics and future analyses of spread pathways. We test and evaluate this assay on environmental (e)DNA water samples from 48 bait shops in the Great Lakes' region (along the Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Wabash River watersheds), using positive and negative controls and custom bioinformatic processing. Test results discern silver carp eDNA in four of the shops-three in Lake Erie and one in the Wabash River watershed-and bighead carp from one of the same Lake Erie venues, suggesting that retailers (who often source from established southerly populations) comprise another introduction vector. Our overall findings thus provide key population genetic and phylogenetic data for understanding and tracing introductions, vectors, and spread pathways for silver carp, their variants, and their relatives.

Antibiotic resistance in European wastewater treatment plants mirrors the pattern of clinical antibiotic resistance prevalence

Integrated antibiotic resistance (AR) surveillance is one of the objectives of the World Health Organization global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are among the most important receptors and sources of environmental AR. On the basis of the consistent observation of an increasing north-to-south clinical AR prevalence in Europe, this study compared the influent and final effluent of 12 UWTPs located in seven countries (Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Finland, and Norway). Using highly parallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed 229 resistance genes and 25 mobile genetic elements. This first trans-Europe surveillance showed that UWTP AR profiles mirror the AR gradient observed in clinics. Antibiotic use, environmental temperature, and UWTP size were important factors related with resistance persistence and spread in the environment. These results highlight the need to implement regular surveillance and control measures, which may need to be appropriate for the geographic regions.

Pyrolysis of wastewater sludge and composted organic fines from municipal solid waste: laboratory reactor characterisation and product distribution

Sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants and organic fines from mechanical sorting of municipal solid waste (MSW) are two common widespread waste streams that are becoming increasingly difficult to utilise. Changing perceptions of risk in food production has limited the appeal of sludge use on agricultural land, and outlets via landfilling are diminishing rapidly. These factors have led to interest in thermal conversion technologies whose aim is to recover energy and nutrients from waste while reducing health and environmental risks associated with material re-use. Pyrolysis yields three output products: solid char, liquid oils and gas. Their relative distribution depends on process parameters which can be somewhat optimised depending on the end use of product. The potential of pyrolysis for the conversion of wastewater sludge (SS) and organic fines of MSW (OF) to a combustion gas and a carbon-rich char has been investigated. Pyrolysis of SS and OF was done using a laboratory fixed-bed reactor. Herein, the physical characterisation of the reactor is described, and results on pyrolysis yields are presented. Feedstock and chars have been characterised using standard laboratory methods, and the composition of pyrolysis gases was analysed using micro gas chromatography. Product distribution (char/liquid/gas) from the pyrolysis of sewage sludge and composted MSW fines at 700°C for 10 min were 45/26/29 and 53/14/33%, respectively. The combustible fractions of pyrolysis gases range from 36 to 54% for SS feedstock and 62 to 72% from OF. The corresponding lower heating value range of sampled gases were 11.8-19.1 and 18.2-21.0 MJ m^-3, respectively.