Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal, which in some production areas reaches levels above allowed limits in cereals. Thus, reducing its concentration in cereals is crucial for mitigating health risks and complying with food safety regulations. This review evaluates strategies to reduce Cd accumulation in cereal grains by mitigating soil Cd contamination and its bioavailability to plants. It covers methods for Cd estimation in soil and explores biological, chemical, and genetic approaches to limit Cd uptake by crops. The effectiveness of these strategies depends on genetic factors, soil properties, and crop type. Key approaches include traditional breeding, genome editing, digital and predictive soil mapping, and silicon (Si) and selenium (Se) supplementation. Traditional breeding, enhanced by modern genetic tools, enables the development of high-yielding, low-Cd cultivars but is time-consuming. Genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, offers precise gene modifications to reduce Cd uptake but faces regulatory constraints. Digital and predictive soil mapping provide high-resolution maps for targeted interventions but require extensive calibration. Silicon supplementation is a promising approach, as it competes with Cd for uptake sites, and limits Cd translocation to edible plant parts. Additionally, Si enhances plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, making it a multifunctional solution. Selenium supplementation can also reduce Cd accumulation while offering health benefits. However, the effectiveness of both Si and Se vary with dosage and crop type. An integrated approach combining these strategies is essential for effective Cd reduction in cereals. Continued research, technological advancements, and supportive policies are crucial for ensuring safe and sustainable cereal production.

Epidemiological investigations regarding the correlation between mixed heavy metals (HMs) exposure in early pregnancy and low birth weight (LBW) have shown contradictory findings. Moreover, investigations into the fundamental mechanisms, including the possible impacts of HMs exposure on mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), are limited.

This study sought to examine the influence of mixed HMs exposure during early gestation on the prevalence of LBW and to ascertain whether mtDNAcn mediates this relationship.

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University conducted a nested case-control study involving 49 pregnant women who delivered LBW infants and 196 matched controls. Urine and blood samples were collected during early pregnancy, along with placental and umbilical cord blood samples at delivery. Concentrations of ten metals-magnesium(Mg), manganese(Mn), copper(Cu), arsenic(As), selenium(Se), strontium(Sr), molybdenum(Mo), cadmium(Cd), thallium(Tl), and lead(Pb)-were quantified. mtDNAcn was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Random forest analysis identified five metals-As, Se, Tl, Mn and Cd -as most strongly associated with the risk of preterm birth in LBW cases. These were selected for further analysis. Conditional logistic regression was applied to examine associations between early maternal urinary metal levels and infant malformations. To assess the combined effect of these metals on LBW, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used. Finally, mediation analysis was conducted to explore whether mtDNAcn mediated the relationship between Mn exposure and LBW.

The results of the study revealed a significant association between urinary Mn concentrations and LBW, with a p-value of0.015 and an odds ratio (OR) of 2.33 (95%CI:1.18-4.58) before adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for confounders, urinary manganese concentration remained significantly associated with LBW (p=0.017), with an OR of 2.36(95%CI:1.16-4.80). The odds of LBW significantly increased as exposure levels moved from the 25th to the 75th percentile for metal combinations, with the effect becoming more pronounced when the exposure index exceeded the 60th percentile. Notably, mtDNAcn levels mediated 27%of the association between Mn exposure and the incidence of umbilical cord bypass syndrome.

In conclusion, our data suggest that changes in mtDNAcn may mediate the association between Mn exposure during early pregnancy and the development of LBW. This study not only provides new evidence of the relationship between HMs exposure and fetal developmental disorders in China, but also serves as a valuable reference for global awareness regarding the effects of environmental pollution during pregnancy on fetal health.

Several studies have demonstrated that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is associated with elevated risks of developing ischemic stroke (IS). However, evidence on the association of PM2.5 components with IS is still lacking. Thus, we aimed to estimate the association of 15 chemical components of PM2.5 with risk of IS in a cohort study.

A community-based prospective cohort study comprising 29,926 participants was conducted in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, China. We utilized a land-use regression model to calculate the concentrations of PM2.5 and its 15 components. Adaptive elastic net (AENET) models were used to select important components from 135 predictors and environmental risk score (ERS) was calculated to quantify the multi-pollutant combined effect. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic splines were used to estimate the associations of PM2.5 components with the occurrence of IS.

During 156,694 person-years of follow-up period, 770 new IS cases were identified. In single pollutant model, every IQR increased in PM2.5 (HR=1.240, 95 % CI: 1.098-1.401) and mercury (HR=1.441, 95 % CI: 1.240-1.675) was positively associated with risk of IS, whereas every IQR increased in cadmium (HR=0.935, 95 % CI: 0.900-0.971), antimony (HR=0.867, 95 % CI: 0.761-0.987), selenium (HR=0.700, 95 % CI: 0.611-0.802), and ammonium (HR=0.797, 95 % CI: 0.709-0.897) were inversely associated with IS. ERS was constructed by AENET according to 3 main effects (lead, selenium, and thallium), 3 square terms (beryllium, cadmium, and selenium), and 2 component-component interactions (beryllium × mercury and cadmium × selenium). A higher ERS was associated with a higher risk of IS (every IQR increased: HR=1.429, 95 % CI: 1.275-1.601).

Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents may increase the risk of IS. Three heavy metals in PM2.5 from soil dust and coal combustion (lead, selenium, and cadmium), as well as three from non-ferrous metallurgy (thallium, beryllium, and mercury), contributed the most.

Biomarkers, such as toenails, are commonly used to investigate the health status of individuals. Nails samples are a useful marker of exposure, as they are easy to collect, store, and represent exposure from 6 to 12 months. There are multiple analytical methods that can be used to extract long-term exposure profiles from toenails including Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission(PIXE) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The overall goal of this research was to evaluate the level of agreement between the two analytical methods for assessment of different metals in nail samples. Children's nail samples were collected. Nail samples were first analyzed by PIXE and then analyzed by ICP-MS. To compute quantiles for the metal concentrations that had some fully observed and some left-censored concentrations, a reverse Kaplan-Meier estimator was used. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the Pearson correlation coefficient were calculated to assess agreement between the two methods and to determine the strength of the linear association between the metal concentration measurements obtained under each analytical technique. PIXE and ICP-MS determined similar median concentrations for calcium, copper, potassium, and nickel. However, there were stark differences between other elements. Several elements, such as copper, potassium, and zinc represented strong concordance through use of the CCC. In many studies, scholars want to evaluate how well one measurement can reproduce another, and our paper used several elements to show the degree of reproducibility between the two analytical methods. This can be useful when scholars are determining methods to assess biomarkers in health-related studies.

High arsenic (As) exposure (≥ 100 µg/l) is associated with cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes, however, the CVD risk from low-to-moderate As exposure (< 100 µg/l) has been less explored. There is a paucity of systematic reviews that comprehensively evaluate both urine and water As exposure metrics in assessing As-related CVD outcomes within the general population. To fill this gap, this review sought to update and consolidate data regarding the correlation between low-to-moderate As exposure and specific CVD outcomes, including stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and heart failure (HF). A search for peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, the Global Medicos Index, and Web of Science and unpublished dissertations in Prospero until October 31, 2024, was performed. Nineteen studies were included. Relative risks were pooled by contrasting the highest v/s lowest exposure groups across studies. Positive associations were observed between urine As and stroke incidence, and water As with IHD incidence. Associations between water As and IHD and AMI mortality were suggestive and became stronger after excluding ecological studies. Sex-stratified analyses suggested an increased risk for all groups with strongest indication of an increased risk of AMI mortality in men. Increased risk was suggested for HF but only two studies assessed this outcome. These findings underscore potential risk for CVD outcomes in relation to low-to-moderate As exposure, and highlight the necessity for additional rigorous, well-structured studies to more clearly delineate the possible effects of low-to-moderate As exposure on different CVD outcomes.

Heavy metal exposure is acknowledged as a risk factor for poor health. However, the effect of heavy metal exposure on the prevalence of gallstones is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between heavy metal concentrations and the prevalence of gallstones among US adults. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that only urinary cadmium was an independent risk factor for gallstones. Compared to the low urine cadmium group, the high cadmium group had a elevated increased risk of gallstone formation. Furthermore, the weighted quantile sum model showed that heavy metal mixtures were not associated with gallstone prevalence. Additionally, urinary cadmium levels were associated with an increased risk of gallstone formation in young individuals, males, Mexican Americans, Non-Hispanic Whites, as well as smokers and drinkers. Moreover, nine machine learning methods were utilized to construct an interpretable predictive model for gallstone prevalence. Among these models, the XGBoost model exhibited the highest performance and was selected for further investigation. Subsequently, shapely additive explanations was used for model interpretation. The results also indicated that urinary cadmium concentrations were the most important variable for gallstones. Thus, our results indicated that long-term chronic cadmium exposure is a risk factor for gallstone prevalence.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) fluids and aerosols contain metals, which can be detrimental to human health. Recently marketed ultrasonic cigarettes (u-cigarettes) claim to be less harmful than e-cigarettes, which use heating coils.

We quantified chemical elements/metals in multiple flavors of SURGE u-cigarettes, JUUL e-cigarettes, and "Other Brands" of pod-style e-cigarettes.

Elements/metals were identified in atomizers of SURGE using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Quantitation of elements/metals in fluids and aerosols from SURGE, JUUL, and "Other Brands" was performed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.

U-cigarettes contained a sonicator, unlike e-cigarettes, which had heated coils. Sixteen elements were identified in at least one fluid or aerosol sample. Generally, u-cigarette fluids and aerosols had more elements/metals at higher concentrations than aerosols from fourth-generation e-cigarettes. Element concentrations generally increased in fluids after vaping. All products, including SURGE, had silicon in their fluids and aerosols. Nickel, which was present in low concentrations in all fluids except KWIT Stick (up to 66,050 μ g / mL ), transferred to the aerosols with low efficiency. SURGE, but not e-cigarettes, also had copper and zinc in their fluids, but little transferred to their aerosols. SURGE fluids and aerosols, unlike e-cigarettes, had relatively high concentrations of arsenic and selenium. Arsenic and selenium, which are on the US Food and Drug Administration list of "Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents," likely came from poor quality solvents used to produce the e-fluids in SURGE pods and possibly from the sonicator, which heats during use.

SURGE u-cigarettes produce aerosols with metals equivalent to heated coil-style e-cigarettes and had high levels of arsenic and selenium, which are a health concern. Regulations limiting arsenic and selenium in these products are needed, and routine surveillance to identify rogue products, such as KWIT Stick, which have abnormally high levels of nickel or other metals, could protect human health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP15648.

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) is an effective method developed in the 1980s for the separation and purification of proteins. The system consists of a solid-phase matrix, a linking ligand, and a metal ion. The method is based on the ability of metal ions to bind specifically to certain specific amino acid residues of proteins, thereby selectively enriching and purifying proteins.

This review aims to describe current knowledge of fundamental principle of IMAC and summarize the supports, chelating ligands, and metal ions of IMAC. In addition, how IMAC technology is used in proteomics and nucleic acids research are highlighted.

Over the past decades, IMAC has been extensively utilized as a predominant technique for protein enrichment in a variety of biological and medical research, such as disease diagnosis, tumor biomarker identification, protein purification, and nucleic acids research. In the future, IMAC should be integrated with other emerging proteomics technologies to promote the applications of metalloproteomes in disease diagnosis, metallodrug development, and clinical translation.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common cardiovascular disease that it is an important reason for the decline of patients' quality of life and the increase of family economic burden. To systematically evaluate the association between environmental lead exposure and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and to characterize the global distribution of PAD disease burden, while exploring differences among regions with varying socioeconomic development.

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we employed multivariable logistic regression to examine the link between lead exposure and PAD. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to infer causality, and we analyzed PAD disease burden trends across countries of differing income levels.

The burden on PAD patients worldwide shows a downward trend. In high SDI and high middle SDI countries, the burden of PAD gradually decreases, while in low middle SDI and low SDI countries, the burden of PAD gradually decreases. After adjusting for potential confounders, a significant dose-response relationship was observed between blood lead levels and PAD risk (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09). This association was more pronounced among males (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.09), individuals with higher education (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.16-1.32), and patients with hypertension (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.09). MR analysis supported a causal link between lead exposure and PAD. Global trend analysis indicated that PAD burden is declining in high-income countries but rising in low-income regions, highlighting significant health inequities.

Environmental lead exposure is significantly associated with increased PAD risk, with notable differences in population susceptibility. These findings underscore the necessity of environmental exposure control and tailored prevention strategies to enhance cardiovascular health worldwide.

Despite the popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) among adolescent and youth never-smokers and adult smokers seeking a less harmful substitute for tobacco cigarettes, the long-term health impact of vaping is largely unknown. Biochemical, molecular, and toxicological analyses of biospecimens from e-cig users as well as assays in relevant in vitro models and in silico studies can identify chemical constituents of e-cig emissions that may contribute to the disease-causing potential of vaping. E-cig aerosol contains a wide range of toxic and carcinogenic compounds, of which metals are of particular concern. This is due to the known or suspected role of various metals in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Many metals and metalloids (herein referred to as "metals") have been detected in e-cig liquid (e-liquid) and aerosol and/or in cells, tissues, biofluids, or other specimens from e-cig users. Metals can contaminate the ingredients of e-liquid or corrode from the internal components of the e-cig device. Metals may also be directly aerosolized from the surface of the heating element or other parts of the device. Inhalation of e-cig metal emissions in habitual vapers and nonusers through secondary exposure may increase the body burden of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. This review summarizes the state of research on e-cig-derived metals and their contributions to the estimated health risks of vaping. Highlighting the chemical composition of e-cig liquid and aerosol, it focuses on the metal contents of the inhaled aerosol and the health risks associated with this exposure. Emphasis is placed on adolescents and youth who are vulnerable populations and bear a disproportionate burden of risk and harm from tobacco products. The gaps in knowledge, methodological challenges, and opportunities ahead are discussed. The importance of translating research findings into actionable information that can be used for the regulation of the manufacturing of tobacco products is underscored.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulates in the body over time, damaging organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. Some researchers have suggested that elevated blood Cd levels may contribute to the onset and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, only a few studies have explored the relationship between Cd exposure and long-term health outcomes in patients with NAFLD. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of blood cadmium levels for mortality risk in patients with NAFLD.

This study analyzed data from 13,450 patients with NAFLD in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, covering the years 1999 to 2018. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their blood Cd levels. The relationship between blood cadmium concentrations and all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in NAFLD patients was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression while accounting for potential confounders. Results were visualized using Kaplan-Meier and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves. Stratified analyses were performed for validation of the robustness of the results.

After adjusting for all covariates, blood Cd levels were positively associated with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in patients with NAFLD, showing a significant linear dose-response relationship. Specifically, for each unit increase in Log-transformed blood cadmium concentration, the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 191% (HR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.39-3.53); cardiovascular mortality risk increased by 160% (HR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.80-3.76); and cancer mortality risk increased by 279% (HR = 3.79, 95% CI: 2.54-5.65). Stratified analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings.

Our study suggests that high Blood Cd levels adversely affect the prognosis of patients with NAFLD. Individuals with NAFLD should be aware of Cd exposure and take preventive measures. Moreover, stricter environmental protection policies may be necessary to reduce Cd exposure.

The long-term associations between metal mixtures in pregnancy and women's mid-life blood pressure (BP) and hypertension remain unclear.

In Project Viva (enrolled 1999-2002), we measured nonessential (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, mercury, lead) and essential metals (copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc) in red blood cells, along with folate and vitamin B12 in plasma, collected during pregnancy. We measured mid-life BP from 2017 to 2021 (median age, 51.2 years). We examined associations of individual metals with BP using linear regression and with hypertension (≥130/80 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication) using modified Poisson regression. We used Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine the mixture effects of metals and micronutrients.

The median follow-up time of the 493 women was 18.1 years (interquartile range, 17.8-18.6 years). After adjustment, a doubling of copper and manganese was associated with 0.75 (95% CI, 0.57-0.99) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.71-0.91) times the risk of hypertension, respectively. Although higher cesium and selenium levels were associated with a slightly increased risk of hypertension, the 95% CIs were wide and crossed the null. A doubling of vitamin B12 was associated with a 3.64 (95% CI, 1.23-6.04) mm Hg lower systolic BP and a 2.52 (95% CI, 0.72-4.32) mm Hg lower diastolic BP. Bayesian kernel machine regression showed linear associations with no metal-metal or metal-micronutrient interactions. The essential metal mixture was monotonically associated with lower BP, while its association with hypertension showed threshold effects.

Optimizing essential metal levels during pregnancy, particularly copper and manganese, along with vitamin B12, may protect against higher BP and hypertension in mid-life women.

The effect of cadmium exposure on mortality risk among individuals with diabetes and prediabetes remains unclear, particularly regarding potential mediation by oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the associations of blood cadmium levels with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality and the mediating effects of oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in patients with diabetes and prediabetes.

In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed 17,687 adults with diabetes and prediabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2018). Nine biomarkers related to oxidative stress (gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], uric acid [UA], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], UA to HDL ratio [UHR]) and inflammation (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], monocyte-lymphocyte ratio [MLR], neutrophil-monocyte-lymphocyte ratio [NMLR], systemic inflammation response index [SIRI], systemic immune-inflammation index [SII]) were systematically assessed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards models, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were applied to evaluate the association of cadmium with mortality risk. Generalized linear models were used to assess the association of cadmium with oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers, while Cox regression and RCS evaluated their effects on mortality. Causal mediation analysis identified biological pathways mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Stratified and sensitivity analyses were further employed to confirm the robustness of the results.

During 161,047.75 person-years of follow-up, 3562 deaths occurred, including 1214 from CVD and 680 from cancer. Higher blood cadmium levels were associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (fully adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-2.79, comparing highest vs. lowest quartile), CVD mortality (HR 2.06; 95% CI 1.41-3.02), and cancer mortality (HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.47-3.85), without evidence of nonlinear relationship. Mediation analyses indicated that UA, NLR, MLR, NMLR, and SIRI partially mediated the associations of cadmium with all-cause and CVD mortality, although the mediated proportions were relatively modest (ranging from 1.4 to 4.8%). Additionally, GGT mediated a small fraction of the associations with all-cause and cancer mortality.

Cadmium exposure increases the risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation appear to partially mediate this adverse effect. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce cadmium-related mortality risks.

What is currently known about this topic? Cadmium exposure is linked to increased mortality. Oxidative stress and inflammation are critical in diabetes development and complications. What is the key research question? Does cadmium exposure increase mortality risk in patients with diabetes and prediabetes? Are oxidative stress and inflammation involved in mediating these effects? What is new? Cadmium exposure increases all-cause and cause-specific mortality in diabetes and prediabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation mediate these associations. How might this study influence clinical practice? Monitor cadmium, oxidative stress, and inflammation to reduce mortality in diabetes and prediabetes.

Industrialization and modernization have changed the environment. A group of emerging contaminants (ECs) has been defined recently. Psoriasis, whose incidence has increased in recent years, is a relapsing immune-mediated disease carrying a heavy disease burden. The erythematous scaly plaque is a typical symptom and occurs on several parts of the body. In addition, psoriasis has many comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, diabetes, and depression, damaging the quality of life of patients. IL-17, IL-12, IL-23, and TNF-alpha are important related cytokines. ECs can influence psoriasis through the immune system and inflammatory responses. Specific mechanisms include increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-17, and activating immune cells such as macrophages. And for psoriasis patients, it is suggested to reduce the exposure of most ECs. However, the complex mechanisms involved have not been discussed together and concluded. In this review, we summarize the relationship between ECs and psoriasis, focusing on the immune system, especially the immune cells and cytokines. These results can help guide clinical treatment and long-term management of psoriasis.

Developing new materials capable of the safe and efficient removal of toxic substances has become a research hotspot in the field of materials science, as these toxic substances pose a serious threat to human health, both directly and indirectly. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as an emerging class of crystalline porous materials, have advantages such as large specific surface area, tunable pore size, designable structure, and good biocompatibility, which have been proven to be a superior adsorbent design platform for toxic substances capture. This review will summarize the synthesis methods of COFs and the properties and characteristics of typical toxicants, discuss the design strategies of COF-based adsorbents for the removal of toxic substances, and highlight the recent advancements in COF-based adsorbents as robust candidates for the efficient removal of various types of toxicants, such as animal toxins, microbial toxins, phytotoxins, environmental toxins, etc. The adsorption performance and related mechanisms of COF-based adsorbents for different types of toxic substances will be discussed. The complex host-guest interactions mainly include electrostatic, π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and molecular sieving effects. In addition, the adsorption performance of various COF-based adsorbents will be compared, and strategies such as reasonable adjustment of pore size, introduction of functionalities, and preparation of composite materials can effectively improve the adsorption efficiency of toxins. Finally, we also point out the challenges and future development directions that COFs may face in the field of toxicant removal. It is expected that this review will provide valuable insights into the application of COF-based adsorbents in the removal of toxicants and the development of new materials.

Mercury is widely used in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization, it has been ranked as one of the ten most hazardous substances in the world, with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ranking it third. It has no known positive functionality in the human body, and even at low concentrations, it can have harmful long-term health effects, seriously affecting the healthcare system as well as posing a serious public health threat. This review focuses on the health effects of mercury and its major sources in the environment. We highlight its major toxic role in almost every possible aspect. Mercury and its forms, even in the smallest doses, cause numerous disorders to the body, including to the nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. It can cause disorders such as various cancers; endothelial dysfunction; gastric and vascular disorders; liver, kidney, and brain damage; hormonal imbalances, miscarriages, and reproductive disorders; skin lesions; vision damage; and even death. The fact of such widespread use as well as its toxicity to the human body prompts further and in-depth research in populations of both low and moderate exposure. The constant controlling and monitoring of mercury use is a serious public health problem, requiring urgent attention and attentiveness from the governments of all countries and, in the long run, a rapid and concerted response. Thus, it is important to analyze in depth the impact of this highly toxic metal on the human body and to prepare the most precisely targeted public health interventions among all decision- and policy-makers.

Lead is an established causal risk factor for coronary heart disease. Atherosclerosis may be the key mediator for this association, but evidence from studies in humans is limited. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that environmental lead exposure is associated with coronary atherosclerosis.

We used cross-sectional data from the SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study), including 5627 men and women aged 50 to 64 years. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS), measured using computed tomography, was used as a marker of atherosclerosis, and blood lead was used as a biomarker of lead exposure. The prevalence ratio (PR) of positive (>0) and high (≥100) CACSs in relation to blood lead (continuous variable) was modeled using Poisson regression with robust SEs, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio, waist circumference, heredity for cardiovascular diseases, statin use, diabetes, blood cadmium, low physical activity, and educational level.

Median blood lead was 14.2 μg/L. Positive CACS (prevalence, 41%) was not significantly associated with blood lead (PR per Δ10 μg/L, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.99-1.04]), whereas the association was stronger for high CACS (prevalence, 13%; and PR per Δ10 μg/L, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.00-1.11]). The estimate for high CACS was stronger in men (PR per Δ10 μg/L, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01-1.13]) than among women (PR per Δ10 μg/L, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.85-1.20]).

Our study, which found that lead is associated with coronary artery calcification in men, provides further evidence that lead is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

The aim was to examine the relationship between exposure to environmental metallic and metalloid pollutants and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality by integrating the information currently available from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were thoroughly searched up to October 9, 2024. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of various kinds that evaluated the relationship between exposure to ambient metallic and metalloid pollutants and CVD and all-cause mortality were included. The methodological quality and the evidence quality were assessed using AMSTAR2 and GRADE, respectively.

We identified 25 meta-analyses and 81 health outcomes-76 unique outcomes from observational studies and 5 unique outcomes from RCTs-from 8,841 independent publications. Exposure to non-essential metallic and metalloid pollutants, including arsenic, lead, and cadmium as well as essential metallic and metalloid contaminants like copper, has been associated with an elevated risk of CVD events and CVD mortality, according to moderate-quality evidence. According to low-quality evidence, exposure to arsenic, lead, and cadmium increases the risk of CHD, while exposure to lead, cadmium, and copper is strongly associated with an increased risk of stroke and all-cause mortality. Further, zinc and selenium may be protective factors for CVD and all-cause mortality.

Despite variations in evidence gradients, environmental metallic and metalloid contaminants like arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and copper are linked to CVD events and mortality, whereas zinc and selenium may offer protection.

Fast-food workers in Iraq face significant health risks due to exposure to heavy metals from fumes and dust during cooking activities. Heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni), are toxic to cells even at low concentrations and can cause health risks, including atherosclerosis, due to oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assess the levels of heavy metals in fast-food workers and investigate their potential link to atherosclerosis development by monitoring the levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). A total of 120 male participants aged between 20 and 40 years were included in the study, with 40 fast-food workers, 40 patients with atherosclerosis, and 40 healthy individuals evaluated. The levels of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn, and Fe in all blood samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed that the fast-food worker group had significantly higher levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Fe compared to the healthy control group, with increases of 57%, 75%, 30%, and 55%, respectively. Conversely, their levels of Zn and Mg were significantly lower, decreasing by 15% and 16%, respectively. On the other hand, the atherosclerosis patients' group had significantly higher levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Fe, with increases of 47%, 74%, 34%, and 28%, respectively, as well as significantly lower levels of Zn and Mg, decreasing by 17% and 21%, respectively, compared to the control group. These findings suggest that fast-food workers are at risk of developing atherosclerosis due to exposure to high levels of heavy metals and imbalances in essential trace elements. The results showed a significant increase in the levels of Pb and Cd in the sera of these workers, which was expected because of the long duration and high intensity of exposure to toxic heavy metals. This is a serious indicator that must be considered, as it has been previously established that increased levels of Pb and Cd in the body are linked to the risk of atherosclerosis. Additionally, an association between Pb and Cd levels and an imbalance in trace element levels (Cu, Zn, Mg, and Fe) were observed. The Implementation of stricter regulations and guidelines for maintaining cleanliness and safety in fast-food restaurants may be crucial for protecting workers and preventing long-term health complications.

Wildfires significantly contribute to ambient air pollution, yet our understanding of how wildfire smoke influences specific chemicals and their resulting concentration in smoke remains incomplete. We combine 15 years of daily species-specific PM2.5 concentrations from 700 air pollution monitors with satellite-derived ambient wildfire smoke PM2.5, and use a panel regression to estimate wildfire smoke's contribution to the concentrations of 27 different chemical species in PM2.5. Wildfire smoke drives detectable increases in the concentration of 25 out of the 27 species with the largest increases observed for organic carbon, elemental carbon, and potassium. We find that smoke originating from wildfires that burned structures had higher concentrations of copper, lead, zinc, and nickel relative to smoke from fires that did not burn structures. Wildfire smoke is responsible for an increasing share of ambient concentrations of multiple species, some of which are particularly harmful to health. Using a risk assessment approach, we find that wildfire-induced enhancement of carcinogenic species concentrations could cause increases in population cancer risk, but these increases are very small relative to other environmental risks. We demonstrate how combining ground-monitored and satellite-derived data can be used to measure wildfire smoke's influence on chemical concentrations and estimate population exposures at large scales.

The adverse effects of environmental noise on human health have been recognized for more than a century. In particular, during the last decades, the vast majority of studies have focused on the detrimental role of noise in the induction of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aim to conduct a literature review on chronic stress responses induced by environmental noise, the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We retrieved the publications from the PubMed database by searching for "noise AND cardiovascular." By reviewing these publications in this study, we will first describe the epidemiologic research on cardiovascular risk factors and diseases induced by environmental noise, then discuss the mechanism(s) underlying these noise-induced cardiovascular impairments based on clinical and experimental studies, and finally evaluate the strategies to mitigate the effects of noise on cardiovascular health. We also evaluate the studies that describe the effects of noise level and noise intermittency, such as train noise, on cardiovascular health. We discuss whether environmental noise should be part of a risk factor profile for cardiovascular disease and how we should manage it, and assess the strategy that can be used to mitigate the noise-induced physiopathological changes. Furthermore, we briefly describe the effects of air pollution and heavy metals on cardiovascular health and discuss the relevance of these environmental stressors in the noise-induced cardiovascular disease. Our studies suggest that future studies are warranted to investigate new strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects of environmental noise on cardiovascular health.

The impact of lead and cadmium exposure on subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), indicated by elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) remains uncertain. We analyzed data from participants aged 20 and older, without overt CVD, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 1999-2004). Elevated lead and cadmium levels were defined as 3.5 μg/dL and 1.0 μg/L (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and 3.8 μg/dL and 0.9 μg/L (atomic absorption spectrometry), respectively. Elevated hs-cTnT was ≥ 19 ng/L, and elevated NT-proBNP was ≥ 125 pg/mL. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for elevated biomarkers. Among 10,197 participants (mean age 48.8 years; 50.3% female), 5.3% had elevated hs-cTnT and 19.4% had elevated NT-proBNP. Elevated blood lead was associated with increased ORs for elevated hs-cTnT (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.15-1.84) and NT-proBNP (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.40-1.97). The corresponding ORs (95% CI) for elevated blood cadmium were 1.33 (1.02, 1.74) and 1.39 (1.18, 1.65). The effect of elevated blood lead on NT-proBNP was particularly pronounced among non-Hispanic Blacks (OR [95% CI], 3.26 [2.24, 4.74]) compared to Mexican Americans (1.46 [0.99, 2.17]) and non-Hispanic Whites (1.31 [1.02, 1.68]) and was stronger in individuals with impaired kidney function (OR [95% CI], 2.31 [1.43, 3.75]) compared to those with normal kidney function (1.44 [1.18, 1.75]). This study first reveals the association between lead and cadmium exposure and subclinical CVD, underscoring the need for targeted preventive measures to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve health outcomes.

Healthy, uncontaminated soils and clean water support all life on Earth and are essential for human health. Chemical pollution of soil, water, air and food is a major environmental threat, leading to an estimated 9 million premature deaths worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that pollution was responsible for 5.5 million deaths related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2019. Robust evidence has linked multiple pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins and toxic synthetic chemicals, with increased risk of CVD, and some reports suggest an association between microplastic and nanoplastic particles and CVD. Pollutants in soil diminish its capacity to produce food, leading to crop impurities, malnutrition and disease, and they can seep into rivers, worsening water pollution. Deforestation, wildfires and climate change exacerbate pollution by triggering soil erosion and releasing sequestered pollutants into the air and water. Despite their varied chemical makeup, pollutants induce CVD through common pathophysiological mechanisms involving oxidative stress and inflammation. In this Review, we provide an overview of the relationship between soil and water pollution and human health and pathology, and discuss the prevalence of soil and water pollutants and how they contribute to adverse health effects, focusing on CVD.

The association of plasma metals on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in adults with prediabetes remains poorly investigated. To assess the association between plasma metal exposure and the risk of CVD in prediabetic adults in the United States using five plasma metals.

Five cycles of data (2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018) from the NHANES were adopted in this study. The plasma metals were measured in 1088 participants with prediabetes. We utilized multivariate logistic regression, WQS, and BKMR models to evaluate the associations between the five plasma metals and the risk of CVD.

The risk of CVD in participants with prediabetes were found to link to the 2nd quartile, 3rd and 4th quartiles of cadmium on the basis of multivariate logistic model (OR = 3.03, 95%CI: 1.17-7.82, P<0.01). Moreover, the joint effect of the five metals on the risk of CVD participants with prediabetes were unveiled using WQS and BKMR models (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.15-2.77, P<0.01). In addition, when the concentrations of the other four metals were controlled at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile, correspondingly, cadmium had a statistically significant positive association with the risk of CVD.

The exposure of metals documented by the five metals links to the risk of CVD in participants with prediabetes in the United States. Among all the five metals, cadmium has the strongest association with the risk of CVD in participants with prediabetes.

The increasing risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with worsening environmental exposure is a critical health concern garnering global research attention.

To systematically assess the scope and characteristics of research on the relationship between environmental exposure and CVD.

A thorough examination of publications on the relationship between environmental exposure and CVD from 1999 to 2022 was carried out by extensively screening the literature using the Web of Science Core Collection. The language of the selected publications was standardized to English. Afterward, different academic tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, HistCite, Python, Matplotlib, and Bibliometrix were utilized to examine the research trends in this field.

The study's findings indicated a steady increase in scientific publications among the 1640 analyzed documents, peaking in 2022 with 197 publications. The United States emerged as the leading nation regarding high-quality publications and international collaboration. Harvard University was identified as the most prolific institution. "Environmental research" was the most frequently contributing journal, and Muenzel T was recognized as the top contributor. Current research hotspots are primarily concentrated on themes such as "cardiovascular disease", "exposure", "risk", "mortality", and "air pollution".

This study highlights increasing research on the link between environmental exposure and CVD, identifying key exposures and diseases while emphasizing the need for further investigation into underlying mechanisms.

Physical activity (PA) may be considered an alternative method to ameliorate the elevated mortality risks associated with cadmium exposure. In this prospective cohort study, a total of 20,253 participants (weighted mean age, 47.79 years), including 10,247 men (weighted prevalence: 50.1 %), aged 18 years or older, were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were utilized to evaluate the associations between blood cadmium levels, PA, and the risks of mortality. Restricted cubic spline analyses were employed to investigate the nonlinear relationships between blood cadmium and PA levels and mortality risks. During a median follow-up of 7.6 years, a total of 2002 (9.89 %) all-cause deaths occurred, of which 581 (2.87 %) participants were due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 498 (2.46 %) died of cancer. J-shaped associations were observed for blood cadmium with risks of mortality (all Poverall < 0.001; all Pnonlinearity < 0.001). Blood cadmium and PA had multiplicative interactions on mortality risk (all Pinteraction < 0.05). Compared with the subgroup with the lowest quartile of blood cadmium and recommended PA, the combination of the highest quartile of blood cadmium and without recommended PA was associated with the highest risks of all-cause and cancer mortality, followed by those meeting recommended PA but in the highest quartile of blood cadmium (hazard ratios, 2.43; 95 % confidence interval, 1.95-3.02). Achieving recommended PA significantly attenuated the detrimental effects of blood cadmium on all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality risks.

Epidemiological research on the association between heavy metals and congestive heart failure (CHF) in individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism is scarce. The study addresses this research gap by examining the link between exposure to heavy metals and the odds of CHF in a population with dysregulated glucose metabolism.

This cross-sectional study includes 7326 patients with diabetes and prediabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2018. The exposure variables are five environmental heavy metals-cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn)-and the endpoint is CHF, determined via face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS), and Bayesian kernel machine learning (BKMR) models were employed to investigate the association between exposure to mixtures of five heavy metals and the odds of having CHF in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis Shows that only blood Cd exhibited a significant linear positive correlation with CHF odds (OR: 1.26, 95%CI 1.07-1.47, p = 0.005), there was a significant 14% decrease in the odds rate of CHF for each additional standard deviation of log10 Se (OR: 0.86,95%CI 0.76-0.96, P = 0.009). The WQS index for the metal mixture only marginally increased the odds of CHF by 1% (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02, P = 0.032). BKMR analysis demonstrated a positive association between Cd levels and the odds of CHF, an inverse relationship with Se levels in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. However, no significant association was observed between the metal mixture and CHF.

This cross-sectional study demonstrates that increased Cd levels are associated with a higher odds of CHF in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes, whereas elevated blood Se levels significantly mitigate this odds.

Long-term exposure to lead is associated with an increased risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, limited data exist on global trends in DKD burden attributable to lead exposure, especially across diverse regions categorized by socioeconomic level. We aimed to assess the spatiotemporal changes in DKD burden attributable to lead exposure from 1990 to 2019 across 204 countries and regions with varying socio-demographic index (SDI) metrics. This retrospective analysis utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD2019) database. We estimated the burden of DKD attributable to lead exposure using the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR), accounting for sex, age, nationality, and SDI. The annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated using the Joinpoint model to evaluate trends in the ASMR and ASDR attributable to lead exposure from 1990 to 2019. Gaussian process regression was used to model the relationship between the SDI and ASMR/ASDR. Globally, the burden of DKD attributable to lead exposure has significantly increased since 1990, especially among elderly men and in regions such as Asia, Central Latin America, North Africa, the Middle East, and low-SDI regions. In 2019, the ASMR and ASDR of DKD attributable to lead exposure were 0.68 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.98) per 100,000 people and 15.02 (95% CI: 8.68, 22.26) per 100,000 people, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the global ASMR and ASDR attributable to lead-associated DKD changed by 15.45% and -1.78%, respectively. The global AAPCs of the ASMR and ASDR were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.65) and -0.01 (95% CI: -0.12, 0.1), respectively. Significant declining trends were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region, eastern sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, and other regions with high SDIs. Over this 30-year study period, the global burden of DKD attributable to lead exposure has increased, particularly in regions with low SDI. Lead exposure remains a significant concern in the global burden of diabetic kidney disease.

Manganese (Mn) is a known toxicant and an essential trace element, and it plays an important role in various mechanisms in relation to cardiovascular health. However, epidemiological studies of the association between blood Mn and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among U.S. adults are rare. A cross-sectional study of 12,061 participants aged ≥ 20 was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to examine the relationship between blood Mn levels and total CVD risk and specific CVD subtypes. Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR) and weighted quantile sum (WQS) analyses were performed to explore the joint effects of Mn with other metals on CVD. The results showed that individuals with the third quartile group of blood Mn levels had significantly lower risks of CVD, displaying a non-linear U-shaped dose-response relationship. A significant interaction of age on this association was observed. No significant associations were found between Mn levels and specific CVD subtypes. BKMR and WQS analyses showed a positive association between heavy metal mixtures and CVD risks, with no interaction between Mn and other metals. In conclusion, blood Mn levels were significantly associated with CVD risks with a U-shaped relationship in U.S. adults, with possible age-specific differences. Future larger prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Living beings as open systems depend on climate and weather to survive. However, changes in the Earth's climatology, which have become more frequent since the industrial period, have affected different territories of the planet, limiting access to ecosystem services and causing imbalances in health and well-being. The first purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on academic production regarding climate change and its impact on health, in the context of education, using international academic production condensed in the Web of Science (WOS) database over the last 10 years as a reference. The second purpose focuses on identifying the environmental attitudes of science teachers in initial training regarding aspects related to climate change. The study results show three categories emerging from the literature review: Climate Change and Health, Nature and Risks, and Environment and Energy. For the analysis of environmental attitudes, a survey was conducted with 51 pre-service teachers, consisting of 59 items distributed in five categories: (a) environment, (b) climate change, (c) health, (d) education, and (e) lifestyle. Although the results reveal a positive attitude towards all analyzed categories, it is important to advance effective mitigation and adaptation strategies from the teacher training processes themselves.

Heavy metal(loid)s (HM) pollution in aquatic environments is a serious issue due to the toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of these pollutants. The main sources of HM contamination are industrial activities, mining, agricultural practices, and combustion of fossil fuels. Fish can accumulate HMs through a process called bioaccumulation. As larger predatory fish consume smaller fish, these HMs enter the main food chains and can become increasingly concentrated in their tissues and finally reach humans. Here, we provided a general and concise conclusion from current research findings on the toxicological effects on different body systems. Exposure to HMs can lead to a range of adverse health effects, including neurological damage, developmental disorders, kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, and cancers. Their long-term accumulation can result in chronic toxicity even at low levels of exposure. HMs exert cellular cytotoxicity by disrupting essential cellular processes and structures. They can interfere with enzyme function, disrupt cell membrane integrity, induce oxidative stress, and cause DNA damage, ultimately leading to cell death or dysfunction. Prevention and control of HMs involve implementing measures to reduce their release into the environment through regulations on industrial processes, waste management, and pollution control technologies. Additionally, monitoring and remediation efforts are crucial for identifying contaminated sites and implementing strategies such as soil and water remediation to reduce human exposure and mitigate the impact on ecosystems. To conclude, HM accumulation in fish poses serious risks to public health and the environment, necessitating urgent interdisciplinary efforts to mitigate their harmful effects and promote sustainable practices that reduce HM flow into biological systems.

This research aims to enhance our comprehensive understanding of the influence of type-2 diabetes on the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk, its underlying determinants, and to construct precise predictive models capable of accurately assessing CVD risk within the context of Bangladesh. This study combined data from the 2011 and 2017 to 2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys, focusing on individuals with hypertension. CVD development followed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Eight machine learning algorithms (Support Vector Machine, Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor, Light GBM, and XGBoost) were analyzed and compared using 6 evaluation metrics to assess model performance. The study reveals that individuals aged 35 to 54 years, 55 to 69 years, and ≥ 70 years face higher CVD risk with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 2.140, 3.015, and 3.963, respectively, compared to those aged 18 to 34 years. "Rich" respondents show increased CVD risk (AOR = 1.370, P < .01) compared to "poor" individuals. Also, "normal weight" (AOR = 1.489, P < .01) and "overweight/obese" (AOR = 1.871, P < .01) individuals exhibit higher CVD risk than "underweight" individuals. The predictive models achieve impressive performance, with 75.21% accuracy and an 80.79% AUC, with Random Forest (RF) excelling in specificity at 76.96%. This research holds practical implications for targeted interventions based on identified significant factors, utilizing ML models for early detection and risk assessment, enhancing awareness and education, addressing urbanization-related lifestyle changes, improving healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, and implementing workplace interventions to mitigate stress and promote physical activity.

Soybean and palm oils are widely consumed in Bangladesh.

The study aimed to investigate the levels of heavy metals and estimate their health risks in nationally representative samples of branded and unbranded soybean and palm oils sold in retail stores in Bangladesh.

A total of 1,521 soybean and palm oil samples were collected from eight administrative divisions. National composites of branded oil were prepared by combining at least 12 samples for each brand. In the case of unbranded oil, composites were prepared for each administrative division. A total of 44 composite samples, including 23 soybean oil samples (19 branded and 4 unbranded) and 21 palm oil samples (13 branded and 8 unbranded), were tested. Twenty-five individual samples (11 crude and 14 refined) collected from the refineries were also analyzed to trace the origin of the heavy metals. Market samples were analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) and only mercury (Hg) in both market and refinery samples using various atomic absorption spectrophotometric techniques. The possible adverse health effects of exposure to heavy metals content in edible oil were estimated using the tools of daily exposure (D E ) and noncarcinogenic risk assessment hazard quotient (HQ).

The median values of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg content in soybean and palm oil respectively ranged between 6.9  and  8.8 μ g / kg   ( As ) , 4.3  and  6.9 μ g / kg   ( Cd ) , 12.3  and  42.3 μ g / kg   ( Cr ) , 19.4  and  27.8 μ g / kg   ( Pb ) , and 1.73  and  5.11 mg / kg   ( Hg ) . The differences in heavy metal contents between branded and unbranded oils were not statistically significant. Except for Hg, all other metal concentrations were within national and international standard limits. The estimatedD E of Hg through edible oil represented a considerable risk for noncarcinogenic health effects ( HQ > 1 ). The ranking orders of HQ for the oil samples were as follows: unbranded soybean oil (3.99) > branded soybean oil (3.50) > branded palm oil (2.61) > unbranded palm oil (1.69).

The present study evaluated the level of heavy metal contamination in soybean and palm oils and conducted risk assessments associated with their consumption in Bangladesh. It appears that the source of this contamination is the imported crude oil. Strong and effective monitoring infrastructure is needed to regulate the import of safe crude oils for refineries. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1072.

A population-level trauma, the Flint water crisis (FWC) exposed approximately 140 000 people to lead in water. In response, the Flint Registry (FR) was established by a local university in partnership with the community. Lead exposure has been linked to multiple adult-onset chronic diseases, and addressing the health needs of those exposed requires estimating the prevalence of these conditions. Our objective was to calculate the prevalence of chronic conditions among FR-enrolled adults and compare prevalence to state-wide surveillance estimates.

Data collection for the FR started 4.5 years after the onset of the FWC; this cross-sectional study included participants who completed their enrolment survey December 2018-July 2022. Participants reported if they had ever been diagnosed with 11 chronic conditions. We used crude and age-adjusted prevalence of the 11 chronic conditions and compared them to 2019-2021 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (MiBRFSS) estimates.

We included 14 274 adult (≥18) participants in this study. Crude and age-adjusted prevalence was higher in FR participants than MiBRFSS estimates for 9 of the 11 chronic conditions, such as kidney disease. Age-adjusted results suggested that 8.1% of participants would have kidney disease if they had the same age distribution as the adult population of Michigan, whereas only 3.4% of the adult population in Michigan has a kidney disease diagnosis. Patterns for males, females, black and white participants were similar to the overall results, though differences between the black FR participants and MiBRFSS estimates were less extreme.

The FR is a resource for the Flint community and an example for other communities experiencing mass environmental disruptions. We cannot assert the FWC caused any cases of the health conditions evaluated, however, establishing the prevalence of lead-associated conditions among people exposed to the FWC is needed to prioritise secondary prevention efforts and demonstrate the utility of a university-run registry in response to events like the FWC.

The "One Health approach" has evidenced the significant impact of xenobiotic exposure to health, and humans are a relevant target for their toxic effects. Bisphenol A (BPA) exerts a ubiquitous exposure source in all ecosystems. Given its endocrine-disrupting and harmful consequences on health, several countries have enforced new regulations to reduce exposure to BPA. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are complex conditions that lead to higher mortality worldwide, where family history, lifestyle, and environmental factors, like BPA exposure, have a remarkable contribution. This chemical compound is the most widely used in plastic and epoxy resin manufacturing and has been associated with effects on human health. Therefore, new-generation bisphenols (NGBs) are replacing BPA use, arguing that they do not harm health. Nonetheless, the knowledge about whether NGBs are secure options is scanty. Although BPA's effects on several organs and systems have been documented, the role of BPA and NGBs in CVDs has yet to be explored. This review's goals are focused on the processes of endothelial activation (EA)-endothelial dysfunction (ED), a cornerstone of CVDs development, bisphenols' (BPs) effects on these processes through oxidant and antioxidant system alteration. Despite the scarce evidence on pro-oxidant effects associated with NGBs, our review demonstrated a comparable harmful effect on BPA. The results from the present review suggest that the biological mechanisms to explain BPs cardiotoxic effects are the oxidant stress ↔ inflammatory response ↔ EA ↔ ED → atherosclerotic plate → coagulation promotion. Other effects contributing to CVD development include altered lipid metabolism, ionic channels, and the activation of different intracellular pathways, which contribute to ED perpetuation in a concerted manner.

Background: Limited evidence links urinary metal exposure to osteoporosis in broad populations, prompting this study to cover this knowledge gap using supervised and unsupervised approaches. Methods: This study included 15,923 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 1999 to 2020. Urinary concentrations of nine metals-barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), cesium (Cs), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), and tungsten (Tu)-were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Osteoporosis was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analysis evaluated each metal's contribution to osteoporosis risk. Partitioning around medoids (PAM) clustering identified the high- and low-exposure groups, and their association with the risk and prognosis of osteoporosis was evaluated. Results: WQS regression identified Cd as a significant osteoporosis risk factor in the general population (odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.31, weight = 0.66). Pb notably affected those individuals aged 30-49 years and classified as Mexican American, while Sb impacted Black individuals. PAM clustering showed that the high-exposure group had a significantly higher risk of osteoporosis (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.12) and cumulative mortality risk. Conclusions: Urinary metals are associated with the risk and prognosis of osteoporosis.

An increasing number of studies have shown that lead is an important cardiovascular risk factor, but the impact of cardiovascular related gene polymorphisms on lead induced cardiovascular diseases is still unclear. To assess the interaction of lead exposure and related key cardiovascular regulating gene polymorphisms on blood pressure traits, three single-nucleotide polymorphisms including NOTCH1 rs3124591, Cerebral cavernous malformations 3 (CCM3) rs3804610 and Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2 (VEGFR2) rs2305948 were selected and genotyped using improved multiplex ligase detection reaction method in 568 lead exposure workers in South China. General characteristics, blood lead and biochemical parameters including glucose, lipid profile and creatinine were also collected according to standard protocols. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of blood pressure with lead exposure, polymorphisms and their interaction. This study displayed that CCM3 rs3804610 had a positive interaction with lead and VEGFR2 rs2305948 had a negative interaction with lead. Specifcally, compared with the wild-type population, the blood lead of the genotype population carrying the risk allele increased by 1 µg/dL, systolic blood pressure increased by 0.53 mmHg (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure increased by 0.34 mmHg (p < 0.05) for CCM3 rs3804610, and systolic blood pressure decreased by 0.28 mmHg (p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 0.22 mmHg (p < 0.05) for VEGFR2 rs2305948. Thus our findings showed that the interaction between CCM3 rs3804610 and VEGFR2 rs2305948 and lead exposure were associated with blood pressure and may provide guidance for future research on hypertension prevention and personalized clinical treatment in lead exposed populations.

The massive increase in the number of published scientific articles enhances knowledge but makes it more complicated to summarize results. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus was created in the mid-20th century with the aim of systematizing article indexing and facilitating their retrieval. Despite the advent of search engines, few studies have questioned the relevance of the MeSH thesaurus, and none have done so systematically.

The objective of this study was to estimate the added value of using MeSH terms in PubMed queries for systematic reviews (SRs).

SRs published in 4 high-impact medical journals in general medicine over the past 10 years were selected. Only SRs for which a PubMed query was provided were included. Each query was transformed to obtain 3 versions: the original query (V1), the query with free-text terms only (V2), and the query with MeSH terms only (V3). These 3 queries were compared with each other based on their sensitivity and positive predictive values.

In total, 59 SRs were included. The suppression of MeSH terms had an impact on the number of relevant articles retrieved for 24 (41%) out of 59 SRs. The median (IQR) sensitivities of queries V1 and V2 were 77.8% (62.1%-95.2%) and 71.4% (42.6%-90%), respectively. V1 queries provided an average of 2.62 additional relevant papers per SR compared with V2 queries. However, an additional 820.29 papers had to be screened. The cost of screening an additional collected paper was therefore 313.09, which was slightly more than triple the mean reading cost associated with V2 queries (88.67).

Our results revealed that removing MeSH terms from a query decreases sensitivity while slightly increasing the positive predictive value. Queries containing both MeSH and free-text terms yielded more relevant articles but required screening many additional papers. Despite this additional workload, MeSH terms remain indispensable for SRs.

Fish meat is recommended for consumption as a source of protein, essential unsaturated fatty acids, and fat-soluble vitamins, unfortunately it can also be a source of dangerous contaminants. The aim of the study was to assessment the level of Zn, Cu and Pb in water and bottom sediments collected in summer and autumn from the Koronowo Reservoir and the Wierzchucińskie Duże Lake and in the tissues of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophtalmus L.) for health risk assessment of potential consumers. Metals accumulated in the tissues in the following order: meat, liver and gills: Zn > Cu > Pb. Of the four factors taken into account, such as: type of tissue, fish species, catching season and place of catching, the first one determined the degree of metal accumulation to the greatest extent. The high level of Pb in muscle tissue was determined by the content of this metal in tissue collected from rudd from Wierzchucińskie Duże Lake in the summer (0.383 mg kg-1 ww). The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Pb, Zn and Cu in all tissues of analysed fish was much higher from water than from sediments. The highest value of metal pollution index (MPI) in the meat (1.42), liver (12.97), and gills (8.49) was calculated for summer-caught fish. The research indicated that consumption of 100 g of fish meat could meet daily requirement for Zn up to 26.3 % and for Cu in 16.4 %. The potential risk of Pb consumption according to RDA is as much as 2.4 %.

Toxic metals in PM2.5 represent a growing public health concern because of their potential health effects. Ambient PM2.5 samples were collected from five provinces around Bangkok from December 2020 to December 2021. The concentrations of PM2.5 and metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, lead, and vanadium) were analyzed. The noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were evaluated via Monte Carlo simulations in four age groups (0 to <6, 6 to <12, 12 to <18, 18-70 years), with a dataset comprising 2282 heavy metal assays within the particulate matter. Significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations were detected in provinces with higher factory densities, as well as higher concentrations during haze periods than during non-haze periods. The HI values for all age groups and provinces were lower than 1, indicating acceptable noncarcinogenic risks. The carcinogenic risks from PM2.5-bound metals varied between 7.08×10-7 and 4.29×10-6, indicating increased cancer risks, for preschool children and adults. Cancer risk was highest in industrial areas, followed by areas with dense traffic, and lowest in agricultural areas. The results indicated that Thailand's current air quality regulations, which primarily provide only lead limits, are insufficient considering the high carcinogenic potential of other metals. The Monte Carlo simulation results confirmed that lowering Thailand's 24-h PM2.5 standard from 37.5 to either 25 or 15 µg m-3, as specified in the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines, would decrease cancer risk by 9.63-43.18 %.