Gastrointestinal tissue as a “new” target of pollution exposure

Abstract Background Perinatal exposure to air pollution and immune system dysregulation are two factors consistently associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, little is known about how air pollution may influence maternal immune function during pregnancy. Objectives To assess the relationship between mid-gestational circulating levels of maternal cytokines/chemokines and previous month air pollution exposure across neurodevelopmental groups, and to assess whether cytokines/chemokines mediate the relationship between air pollution exposures and risk of ASD and/or intellectual disability (ID) in the Early Markers for Autism (EMA) study. Methods EMA is a population-based, nested case–control study which linked archived maternal serum samples collected during weeks 15–19 of gestation for routine prenatal screening, birth records, and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) records. Children receiving DDS services for ASD without intellectual disability (ASD without ID; n = 199), ASD with ID (ASD with ID; n = 180), ID without ASD (ID; n = 164), and children from the general population (GP; n = 414) with no DDS services were included in this analysis. Serum samples were quantified for 22 cytokines/chemokines using Luminex multiplex analysis technology. Air pollution exposure for the month prior to maternal serum collection was assigned based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality System data using the maternal residential address reported during the prenatal screening visit. Results Previous month air pollution exposure and mid-gestational maternal cytokine and chemokine levels were significantly correlated, though weak in magnitude (ranging from − 0.16 to 0.13). Ten pairs of mid-pregnancy immune markers and previous month air pollutants were significantly associated within one of the child neurodevelopmental groups, adjusted for covariates (p < 0.001). Mid-pregnancy air pollution was not associated with any neurodevelopmental outcome. IL-6 remained associated with ASD with ID even after adjusting for air pollution exposure. Conclusion This study suggests that maternal immune activation is associated with risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, that prenatal air pollution exposure is associated with small, but perhaps biologically relevant, effects on maternal immune system function during pregnancy. Additional studies are needed to better evaluate how prenatal exposure to air pollution affects the trajectory of maternal immune activation during pregnancy, if windows of heightened susceptibility can be identified, and how these factors influence neurodevelopment of the offspring.

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Association between long-term ambient air pollution exposure and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-14903-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wu Wei ◽

Bing-Jie Wu ◽

Yue Wu ◽

Zhu-Ting Tong ◽

Fei Zhong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollution Exposure ◽

Pollution Exposure

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Epigenome-wide analysis of long-term air pollution exposure and DNA methylation in monocytes: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Epigenetics ◽

10.1080/15592294.2021.1900028 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Gloria C. Chi ◽

Yongmei Liu ◽

James W. MacDonald ◽

Lindsay M. Reynolds ◽

Daniel A. Enquobahrie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Ethnic Study ◽

Air Pollution Exposure ◽

Pollution Exposure

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Health Impacts of Urban Bicycling in Mexico

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2300

Author(s):

David Rojas-Rueda

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Health Risks ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Health Impacts ◽

Traffic Fatalities ◽

Premature Deaths ◽

Air Pollution Exposure ◽

Pollution Exposure

Background: Bicycling has been associated with health benefits. Local and national authorities have been promoting bicycling as a tool to improve public health and the environment. Mexico is one of the largest Latin American countries, with high levels of sedentarism and non-communicable diseases. No previous studies have estimated the health impacts of Mexico’s national bicycling scenarios. Aim: Quantify the health impacts of Mexico urban bicycling scenarios. Methodology: Quantitative Health Impact Assessment, estimating health risks and benefits of bicycling scenarios in 51,718,756 adult urban inhabitants in Mexico (between 20 and 64 years old). Five bike scenarios were created based on current bike trends in Mexico. The number of premature deaths (increased or reduced) was estimated in relation to physical activity, road traffic fatalities, and air pollution. Input data were collected from national publicly available data sources from transport, environment, health and population reports, and surveys, in addition to scientific literature. Results: We estimated that nine premature deaths are prevented each year among urban populations in Mexico on the current car-bike substitution and trip levels (1% of bike trips), with an annual health economic benefit of US $1,897,920. If Mexico achieves similar trip levels to those reported in The Netherlands (27% of bike trips), 217 premature deaths could be saved annually, with an economic impact of US $45,760,960. In all bicycling scenarios assessed in Mexico, physical activity’s health benefits outweighed the health risks related to traffic fatalities and air pollution exposure. Conclusion: The study found that bicycling promotion in Mexico would provide important health benefits. The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risk from traffic fatalities and air pollution exposure in bicyclists. At the national level, Mexico could consider using sustainable transport policies as a tool to promote public health. Specifically, the support of active transportation through bicycling and urban design improvements could encourage physical activity and its health co-benefits.

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