Background and Objectives Prenatal fluoride exposure may pose risks for maladaptive social-emotional and behavioural development, but evidence using biomarkers that integrate long-term prenatal exposure is limited. This study examined associations between maternal toenail fluoride at multiple time points and water fluoride on preschool social-emotional and behavioural outcomes and evaluated potential differences by child sex and exposure window. Methods Participants included 358 mother-child dyads from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study using private, unregulated household water systems. Fluoride concentrations were measured in maternal toenails collected at ∼28 weeks’ gestation (reflecting early-pregnancy exposure) and 5 weeks postpartum (reflecting mid-to-late-pregnancy exposure), and in household tap water samples collected at ∼24-28 weeks’ gestation. Children’s social-emotional and behavioural functioning was assessed at approximately 5 years old using the Behavior Assessment System for Children–Second Edition, Parent Rating Scale-Preschool Form. Primary composite scores were dichotomized as at-risk (T-score ≥ 60). Covariate-adjusted generalized estimating equations estimated associations between toenail fluoride and at-risk outcomes, and multiple logistic regressions estimated associations between water fluoride and at-risk outcomes, testing sex and exposure-window interactions. Results A 1-µg/g increase in toenail fluoride concentration reflecting early pregnancy exposures, was associated with higher odds of at-risk Externalizing Problems (OR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.15-1.67). Toenail fluoride concentrations reflecting late-pregnancy exposures, showed a similar association (OR=1.30; 95% CI: 0.99-1.71). No associations were observed for other behavioural composites, or with water fluoride concentrations, with no apparent differences by sex or exposure window for the behavioural composites. Conclusions Higher maternal toenail fluoride concentrations, but not water fluoride concentrations, were associated with greater odds of at-risk externalizing problems in preschoolers in this U.S. cohort. Generalizability may be limited because participants were predominantly White, college-educated families from rural New England using private water systems. Further research incorporating both individual-level biomarkers and population-level exposure measures, together with information on major fluoride sources (e.g., drinking water), is needed to clarify the relationship between prenatal fluoride exposure and child neurobehavioural development.
Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, sequester significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. These ecosystems capture and store carbon in biomass and sediments over long periods. Other marine ecosystems, including the open ocean, kelp forests, bivalve reefs, and coral reefs, have been excluded from the BCEs, but they have the potential to serve as crucial blue carbon sinks or to support adjacent BCEs. Climate change, however, poses severe threats to these ecosystems. Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and ocean acidification can lead to habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and impaired carbon sequestration capacity. Consequently, anthropogenic degradation of BCEs releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. Despite these challenges, BCEs represent important natural climate solutions because conserving and restoring these ecosystems can enhance carbon storage, support biodiversity, and provide additional benefits for local communities. Active restoration, protection, and effective management strategies can increase ecosystem resilience and maintain long-term carbon capacity. Emerging marine geoengineering approaches, including enhanced weathering, iron fertilization, and artificial upwelling have been proposed as potential methods to increase ocean carbon storage; however, these approaches remain largely experimental and face substantial uncertainties regarding scalability, environmental impacts, carbon permanence, and feasibility. Therefore, future climate mitigation strategies should prioritize conservation and restoration of BCEs while continuing to evaluate emerging technologies as potential complementary approaches to enhance marine carbon storage.
Background Air pollution poses increasing risks to pediatric health, yet associations between ambient air pollutants and chronic pain in children remain poorly described. This study examined whether ambient air pollutants are associated with chronic pain in a national sample of US children. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted linking data from 54,880 children aged 0-17 years in the 2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) state-level air pollution estimates. Parents reported whether their child experienced chronic or frequent pain in the past 12 months. Survey-weighted logistic regression was used to estimate associations between seven pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, PM10-2.5, O3, SO2, NO2, NO) and chronic pain, adjusting for age, sex, income, and asthma. Principal component analysis (PCA) characterized pollutant mixtures. Findings Chronic pain prevalence was 5.1%, with higher rates among adolescents, females, and low-income households. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) was significantly associated with chronic pain after false discovery rate correction (aOR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13, p = 0.004, q = 0.028). PCA-derived mixture scores were not associated with chronic pain, and SO2 loaded weakly on both PCs (PC1-aOR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.87-1.04; PC2-aOR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89-1.07), suggesting it captures independent variance from distinct industrial emission sources. Interpretation SO2, a marker of industrial combustion and fossil fuel burning, was the only pollutant associated with pediatric chronic pain in this nationally representative sample. This association may reflect neuroinflammatory pathways linking combustion-derived pollution to pain sensitization. Future studies with finer-scale exposure assessment are needed to confirm these findings. Funding No direct funding for this project. Dr. Groenewald is supported by R01HL16637 from NHLBI
Blue light is a natural component of the visible spectrum that has a fundamental role in regulating circadian rhythms, visual performance, mood, and daytime alertness. In modern environments, however, exposure patterns have shifted due to widespread use of artificial lighting and digital devices. Artificial blue light exposure can be mistimed relative to the biological night. This literature review examines the consequences of inappropriately timed artificial blue light exposure. Specifically, the review covers: (i) the spectral biology of blue light and its role in circadian entrainment; (ii) the timing-, intensity-, and duration-dependent effects on human sleep, ocular health, mood, and metabolic regulation; (iii) age-specific vulnerabilities; (iv) ecological impacts of artificial blue light at night on wildlife behaviour and ecosystem dynamics; (v) existing regulatory frameworks and their limitations; and (vi) current and emerging mitigation technologies, including spectral optimization and adaptive lighting systems. For people, evening blue light exposure suppresses melatonin and disrupts circadian phase alignment leading to adverse metabolic, reproductive, and carcinogenic outcomes. Ecosystems can also be disrupted by artificial blue light at night. Relevant regulatory frameworks are fragmented; they largely do not incorporate circadian-relevant spectral metrics. Increasingly available mitigation technologies require agreed standards for their unbiased assessment.
Coastal blue-carbon ecosystems, particularly seagrass meadows, play a disproportionate role in global carbon sequestration. However, the spatial distribution of exported particulate organic matter (POM) remains poorly understood at large spatial scales. Satellite remote sensing offers a promising approach for monitoring coastal carbon dynamics, yet most studies have focused on benthic seagrass distribution rather than suspended carbon in the water column. This study evaluated the potential of total suspended matter (TSM) estimated from Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C) observations as a proxy for coastal blue-carbon distribution. Using 250-m gridded data from Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay, Japan, we examined whether TSM reflected POM distribution by testing its relationships with distance from river estuaries and mapped seagrass meadows. TSM showed a significant negative relationship with distance from river estuaries in both bays, consistent with riverine POM inputs. TSM values were also significantly higher within seagrass meadows than in surrounding waters, suggesting that TSM reflects both seagrass-derived organic particles and suspended particles retained within seagrass meadows that may potentially be buried and sequestered. Although TSM integrates both autochthonous and allochthonous material, our results demonstrate that satellite-based TSM provides a feasible, scalable proxy for coastal blue-carbon distribution, supporting future large-scale monitoring and assessment of coastal blue carbon.
Background Trace metals have been reported in menstrual tampons, raising concern about potential health risks. However, risk depends on bioavailable dose rather than product content, and vaginal exposure data are limited. Objectives This study presents an exposure-based risk assessment framework for metal release, vaginal epithelial permeation, and potential systemic exposure from tampon use. Methods A commercial tampon was analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). Tampons were incubated for 12 hours in artificial menstrual fluid (AMF) at 37°C. Permeability was evaluated using reconstructed human vaginal epithelium exposed to measured leachate and conservative surrogate solutions at 1,000- and 10,000-fold higher concentrations. Metals were measured in rinses, tissue, and receptor fluid by ICP-MS. Systemic exposure was estimated as maximum estimated exposure dose (EEDmax), and risk characterized using margin of safety (MoS) relative to parenteral permitted daily exposures (PDE). Results Mean metal concentrations in AMF leachate were minimal. Only Pb was consistently quantifiable (maximum 3.4 ng/mL), while others were at or below quantification limits. Most recovered mass resided in rinse fractions (∼50-95%) with limited tissue association (≤34%) and minimal receptor fluid transfer (generally ≤5%). Under measured leachate conditions, EEDmax values were near or below analytical detection limits, yielding estimated margin of safety (MoS) values > 90,000. Under 1000x conditions, EEDmax remained ≤0.12 µg/day with MoS ∼270-9,300. At 10,000x, EEDmax values remained ≤0.27 µg/day, and MoS values ranged from 24(Cd) to 3,970 (Cr), all exceeding the safety threshold (MoS≥1). Conclusion Systemic exposure to metals from tampon use is negligible. Even under conservative assumptions, absorbed doses were far below toxicological thresholds, indicating de minimis risk under anticipated use conditions. The experimental framework presented here provides a reproducible approach that can be applied to a variety of tampon materials and product types to support future exposure-based safety evaluations.
The ethanol fermentation process releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Existing monitoring practices, particularly annual stack tests, limit operational flexibility and often lead to the overapplication of water and chemicals. Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) provide more frequent measurements, enabling real-time optimization of scrubber performance. However, CEMS measure combined post-treatment emissions from multiple sources, not capturing unit-level contributions prior to control unit. The objective of this study was to provide high-resolution, source-specific pre-treatment emissions data to reveal the dynamics of HAPs production during batch fermentation, which can help develop approaches to optimize air treatment and fermentation processes. Measurements were conducted in three scales: 1) pilot-scale fermenter, 2) single industrial fermenter, and 3) four industrial fermenters operating simultaneously. The results show distinct emission dynamics across scales: pilot-scale results exhibit smooth trends, whereas industrial settings reveal fluctuations driven by operational variability, fermenter interconnections, and plant configurations. Acetaldehyde, a key fermentation byproduct, exhibited an early peak at pilot scale, whereas at industrial scale the peak occurred later in the fermentation cycle. The emissions from four industrial fermenters demonstrated repeating patterns consistent with fermentation schedules. The most notable finding was that emission profiles at the pilot scale differed from those at the industrial scale, as the pilot system is isolated and operates without chemical additions during fermentation. Another important finding is that the contribution of each unit to the overall emissions can be distinguished from these measurements, and HAPs production can be linked to the progression of the fermentation cycle.
Environmental impacts of persistent organic pollutants remain poorly constrained at landscape scales due to limited exposure data, despite past widespread use and their recognized persistence. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was once used across North America, including in one of the world’s largest spray programs in New Brunswick (Canada), where ∼6 million kg were applied to ∼50% of forested lands. Digitization of insecticide application records from 1952-1968 provides a rare opportunity to assess the fate and ecological risk from legacy DDTs across ∼36,000 km2 of forested lands. We combine geospatial application data with sedimentary measures from 31 lakes to quantify both historical and contemporary exposure to legacy DDTs. We show that sediments from top and middle core intervals exceeded probable effects levels for the dominant congener ΣDDE by a median of 7.2 and 17.4 times, respectively. A modest significant positive relationship (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.023) was observed between landscape DDT application rates and total ΣDDTs in surface sediments only. Surface sediment remained consistently above ecological risk levels, suggesting continued aquatic exposure to harmful levels. Ecological risks associated with past insecticide use have likely been substantially underestimated in the region. Importantly, we establish the first landscape-scale assessment of legacy DDT exposure, enabling future work on biodiversity response, bioaccumulation, and recovery trajectories. Overall, our approach highlights the relevance of landscape-scale assessments combined with sedimentary archives to evaluate legacy impacts of persistent organic pollutants on freshwater ecosystems.
A major limitation in wastewater-based epidemiology is its application in communities without centralised sewage systems necessitating alternative approaches.We evaluated surface water as an alternate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring interface by comparing the resistome, virulome, and phylogeny of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) from surface water (SW), healthy residents (HR), and clinical (CL) settings.Ninety-six (SW = 32, HR = 32, CL = 32) ESBL-Kp isolates collected over eight-months underwent comparative genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence determinants, multilocus sequence types, and phylogenetic relatedness.Sixteen sequence types (STs) were identified across all sources. ST983 was shared by all sources, ST25 and ST219 were exclusive to SW-HR, and ST152 to SW-CL. More SW (93.8%) isolates shared STs with HR than with CL (9.4%). Phylogenomic analysis was lineage-driven rather than source-structured, with SW isolates forming stronger subclades with HR through ST25 and ST219. Resistome composition showed substantial overlap with differences (p = 0.003). The dominant β-lactamase ARG in all sources was blaCTX-M-15, alongside non-β-lactam sul2 and dfrA14. Pairwise exclusive ARGs totalled 20 (CL-HR), seven (SW-HR), and two (SW-CL); source-restricted ARGs totalled fourteen, nine, and none for CL, HR, and SW, respectively. SW-HR. Virulome overlap was driven by ST25/KL2 and ST219/KL114, a limited SW-CL link was observed through ST152/KL149, and source-restricted lineages were concentrated mainly in clinical and healthy resident isolates.SW shared major ESBL-Kp AMR features with both HR and CL, but distribution differed across sources. SW more closely resembled HR, supporting its use as a complementary tool rather than a standalone approach for AMR surveillance.
Produced water (PW) represents the primary waste stream from oil and gas production. Biofilm-based microbial processes offer an effective approach for contaminant removal. This study evaluated how substrate materials shape biofilm development, microbial diversity, and functional potential in a 14-ha constructed wetland treating PW. Biofilms were developed for 30 days on polypropylene (PP), plywood (W), and natural marble (Mr) substrates across three tracks and were compared with planktonic PW and naturally floating biofilms. Surface-attached biofilms increased bacterial abundance by approximately 240–3100 × relative to planktonic PW. Substrate type further influenced biofilm biomass and density: plywood supported the highest bacterial counts, with CFU ∼2–9 × higher than PP and ∼3–11 × higher than Mr across tracks. Chlorophyll-a concentrations were highest on plywood (up to 6.9 µg cm ⁻²), representing ∼1–7 × higher values than PP and ∼1–3 × higher than Mr. 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated bacterial dominance (>98%) with limited archaeal contribution (<2%). PW communities were enriched with Epsilonproteobacteria (∼30%), whereas biofilms were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria (32%) and Alphaproteobacteria (31%). Biofilm communities exhibited higher richness than water. Functional analysis showed enrichment of hydrocarbon-related groups in surface-associated biofilms compared to water and naturally occurring biofilms. The relative abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial taxa increased by up to 55% in wood and up to 40% in PP and marble. Biofilms on wood also had a higher abundance of Rod, Cocci, Filaments in SEM images. Overall, the substrate type strongly controlled the biofilm structure and hydrocarbon functional potential, with W acting as the most promising microbial reactor for PW treatment.
Background Research on the influence of particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and the availability of green spaces on healthy ageing has so far been country-specific, with most studies examining these environmental factors in isolation, restricting the generalisability and applicability of the findings to global policy action. This study analyses global data to assess the synergistic effects of PM2.5 air pollution and green space availability on healthy ageing outcomes across various geopolitical and socio-economic landscapes. Methods This study adopted a population-based methodology, analysing global data from 183 World Health Organisation (WHO) countries. The investigation predominantly utilised one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to ascertain the impact of both environmental factors on Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) at age 60. Linear regression analysis was also performed. Results Elevated PM2.5 concentrations were observed in Low-income countries (LICs) (34.2 µg/m³) compared to High-income countries (HICs) (18.5 µg/m³). However, the effect size of PM2.5’s impact on HALE at age 60 was largest in HICs (0.166) and lowest in LICs (0.040). HICs had larger green areas (54.69 m2/person), thereby exhibiting the strongest positive association with HALE compared to other countries. Across all countries, PM2.5 explained 63.5% of the variance in HALE at age 60 while green space availability accounted for 23.5%. Mixed effects regression analysis of the combined influence of both environmental variables on HALE revealed that they jointly accounted for about 46% of the variance. Discussion Globally, robust international air pollution controls are critical in addition to expanding green space access through urban planning and environmental conservation to benefit healthy ageing. Importantly, strategies tailored to income stratification of countries are indispensable.
The use of pesticides is a major issue for public health and the environment. They are found in food, water and air, resulting in exposure of humans, wildlife and ecosystems. While the monitoring of pesticides in food and water is well regulated, this is not the case in the air. Since atmospheric monitoring campaigns consistently detect pesticides, the key question is which substances dominate at specific times and locations. To investigate this issue, it is essential to combine physicochemical and climatic data with information on local pesticide use. However, such use data are often not freely accessible. The objective of this study is therefore to develop a sales-based approach to estimate pesticide use at the territorial scale. Using data from the French national Distributor Sales Bank (BNV-d), we developed a methodology to process pesticide sales by postcode and cross-reference them with agricultural land use and product authorizations from the national E-phy database. We tested this approach in Rennes metropolitan area (Brittany, France), which includes 43 municipalities and 38,843 ha of utilized agricultural area. Results for the 2021–2023 period showed a strong predominance of herbicides (≈12,000 kg/year), followed by fungicides (≈1,300 kg/year) and insecticides (<600 kg/year). Prosulfocarb, S-metolachlor, were the most sold substances. Non-agricultural uses represented < 0.2% of all sales. These findings appear broadly consistent with known agricultural practices in the area and with qualitative observations from atmospheric pesticide monitoring programs. Despite limitations inherent to using sales data as a proxy for actual application, this methodology provides a transferable framework that can be applied to other territories to support the prioritization of monitoring efforts.
Environmental risk assessments (ERAs) of genetically engineered (GE) plants rely on robust, high-quality, and relevant ecotoxicological studies on non-target invertebrates. Although ERAs also consider evidence from published literature, the quality of these studies and their suitability for ERA are often unclear. This review focuses on aquatic invertebrates and comprises 51 articles identified through systematic literature searches. The review provides a detailed critical appraisal of studies and synthesizes recommendations for future research.Studies using purified Bt proteins reported effects on aquatic species only at very high concentrations, which possibly reflect non-specific toxicity rather than Bt protein-specific effects. Adverse effects reported for Bt plant material were frequently inconsistent. Methodological shortcomings indicate plant-background effects or experimental artifacts rather than Bt protein effects. Studies reporting no effects are difficult to interpret when exposure levels are unknown or test durations are short. Artifacts may arise when test substances are insufficiently characterized, when negative control treatments differ from test treatments in aspects other than the test compound, or when results are inconsistent across treatments and temporal repetitions. For laboratory studies involving GE plants other than Bt, as well as field studies, the available evidence does not indicate adverse effects, although methodological limitations were also identified for those kind of studies. Future research using plant material should be designed to disentangle effects of the gene product from plant background effects. The critical appraisal scheme developed in this review provides guidance for robust test protocols using purified proteins and GE plants and is also applicable to studies on terrestrial non-target species.
Background Evidence has been accruing on the impact of green space on population health. However, evidence is lacking for England. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate inequalities in access to green space and its association with life expectancy in England. Methods We extracted Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) for 2021-2025, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019, and life expectancy in England for 2022-2024. We checked the correlation between neighbourhood greenness and deprivation, rurality, and ethnicity. We used linear regression to estimate the association between NDVI and FVC and IMD and life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at birth for women and men. Subgroup analysis by IMD decile, urbanicity, and ethnicity was undertaken. Results Across England, the median NDVI was 0.504 [IQR 0.424, 0.592] and the median FVC was 0.312 [IQR 0.207, 0.451]. There were significant inequalities in neighbourhood greenness, with higher values in less deprived and rural areas. Areas inhabited by a larger proportion of minority ethnic groups had, on average, less green space than those inhabited by White British groups. Pairwise correlations also showed that neighbourhood greenness was positively albeit modestly correlated with both life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (r = 0.19 for NDVI and life expectancy and r = 0.27 for NDVI and healthy life expectancy). NDVI and FVC were associated with longer life expectancy, but this association seemed to be substantially accounted for by deprivation and, to a lesser extent, urbanicity. Conclusions There are significant inequalities in neighbourhood greenness in England. Urban, deprived areas with larger proportion of minority ethnic groups appear to have less green space than rural, affluent, mostly White areas. Women and men living in greener neighbourhoods seem to live longer but this is largely explained by socioeconomic deprivation.
Background: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can impact human health and have multigenerational consequences. These chemicals are particularly concerning because they accumulate in adipose tissue and are eliminated slowly, leading to prolonged internal exposure and potential long-term health effects. Methods: To assess whether a weight loss aid could reduce the body burden of POPs, we conducted a community-engaged randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial in a population highly exposed to a brominated flame retardant, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB). Blood samples, anthropometric data, and other study assessments were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The aim was to determine if orlistat use resulted in weight loss accompanied by a decrease in concentrations of PBB and other persistent chemicals (PBDEs, PCBs, and p,p’-DDE). Results: Of the 100 participants initially enrolled, 89 (placebo, n=45; orlistat, n=44) completed the six-month study. We found greater weight loss in the orlistat group, losing 2 kg more on average compared to the placebo group (Month 6 group difference: -1.99, 95% CI: -3.81, -0.18). POP models showed no statistically significant group differences, or a reduction in serum concentrations over the six months. Conclusions: This study began because community members raised questions about how to eliminate PBB from the body. Participants’ dedication was evident by the low attrition rate (11%). A six-month orlistat intervention did not result in lower serum concentrations of PBB or other POPs. Further research is needed to determine effective ways to decrease the body burden of this class of chemicals.
Background Father’s adolescent smoking and overweight contribute to shape future offsprings’ respiratory health. We examined whether biological aging in offspring was associated with parents’ smoking or overweight in puberty. Methods We estimated Horvath, GrimAge, PhenoAge and DunedinPACE epigenetic clocks from blood DNA methylation, in 892 RHINESSA cohort participants (mean age 27 years) with data on parental smoking and body shape in the RHINE/ECRHS surveys. Linear regressions assessed associations of parental smoking initiation ≤15 versus >15 years, and overweight body shapes in childhood/puberty versus age 30, with offspring epigenetic age acceleration, adjusting for offspring sex, age, and parental childhood socioeconomic status. Sensitivity analyses accounted for offspring smoking and BMI. Results Daughters of fathers who started smoking ≤15 years showed accelerated PCHorvath (β coefficient = 1.53; 95% confidence interval = 0.2-2.9) and PCGrimAge (1.21; 0.3-2.1), and suggestive trends in similar direction for DunedinPACE and PCPhenoAge. No corresponding associations were observed in sons. Father’s overweight in childhood/ puberty was associated with higher PCHorvath and PCPhenoAge acceleration in daughters, and higher acceleration across all clocks in sons. In analyses of sons and daughters together, paternal overweight in childhood/ puberty was associated with higher PCHorvath (2.25; 1.2-3.3), DunedinPACE (0.07; 0.01-0.1) and PCPhenoAge (3.11; 1.9–4.4). These findings remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. Mothers’s puberty exposures showed no consistent associations with offsprings’ age acceleration. Conclusions We find that smoking as well as overweight around puberty in future fathers associate with higher epigenetic age acceleration in their offspring, suggesting father’s puberty might be a susceptible period regarding offsprings’ biological aging.
This study characterizes the chemical and isotopic composition of produced water from the Permian Basin to evaluate environmental quality and resource recovery potential. Analyses of dissolved samples included major and trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and water isotopes (δ²H and δ¹⁸O). Produced water chemistry varied across sites, reflecting geological and operational factors. Water isotopic values averaged –16.91 ± 1.24 ‰ (δ²H) and 3.83 ± 1.19 ‰ (δ¹⁸O), suggesting multiple water sources. Concentrations of DOC ranged from 7.5 to 96.5 ppm (mean 38.52 ± 23.53 ppm) and TDN varied from 216 to 559 ppm (average 460 ± 208 ppm), far exceeding surface water levels, suggesting residual oil and nitrogen source. Major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg) were significantly higher than seawater, with a Ca/Mg molar ratio (3.75 ± 0.62) distinct from marine signatures. Most heavy metals were below detection limits, except Hg, Pb, and Zn at selected sites. Lithium concentrations averaged 17.83 ± 0.23 ppm, which is 2–3 orders of magnitude above seawater highlighting resource recovery potential. These findings underscore the need for targeted treatment strategies to enable water reuse and mitigate environmental impacts, positioning produced water as a valuable resource rather than waste.
Background Research suggests hot temperatures are associated with violent incidents, raising concerns about worsening violence with climate change. We sought to quantify the association between elevated daily maximum temperatures and rates of nonfatal assault hospital visits in New York City. Methods We analyzed 126,304 nonfatal assault-related hospital records during warm months (May–September), 2016–2021 using the International Classification of Diseases-, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes and distributed lag nonlinear negative binomial models, accounting for time-varying confounders. Results Our analysis found that the rate of nonfatal assault hospital visits increased with temperature to 32.2°C then declined at greater temperatures in an inverted U-shaped association. The peak cumulative rate ratio was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.53–2.03) using a 0–5-day lag, relative to 9.4°C, the lowest observed warm-season daily maximum temperature. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that temperature is associated with social interactions, including violence. While inconclusive on the full nature of extreme heat impacts on increased assault hospital visits, our findings illustrate one aspect of the relationship between increased temperature and violence, providing a foundation for future studies exploring the influence of environmental conditions on incidence of assault.
Asthma is influenced by air pollution and weather conditions, yet asthma-related responses to these exposures may vary across communities due to heterogeneity in population vulnerability—defined here as a context represented by socioeconomic, demographic, and landscape conditions. We propose a clustering framework to characterize region-level population vulnerability prior to exposure–asthma modeling. Using statewide longitudinal data from Pennsylvania (2011–2019), socioeconomic, demographic, and landscape factors are aggregated at the region level and clustered through a hierarchical algorithm to define distinct population types. The algorithm combines outcome-informed feature weighting with agglomerative hierarchical clustering based on Euclidean distance and Ward linkage. These groups are subsequently incorporated into stratified modeling of age-adjusted asthma hospitalization rates in relation to pollutant and weather conditions. Compared with statewide pooled modeling, the group-specific approach improves exposure–asthma characterization and predictive performance, with an absolute overall increase in R2 of 0.064. Five coherent population types are identified, spanning upland–plateau, lowland–valley, affluent suburban, peri-urban, and urban-core settings and reflecting multidimensional vulnerability profiles. These findings suggest that population clustering provides a principled approach to vulnerability-based stratification, supporting a more differentiated assessment of asthma burden. The proposed methodology may be transferable to broader geographic settings and related respiratory health applications.
Background Prenatal exposure to phthalate metabolites is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs); however, it is unknown whether replacement phthalate compounds, such as di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHTP), are safer alternatives. Methods We examined associations between prenatal exposure to phthalate metabolites, replacement phthalate metabolites, and APOs using data from a nested case-control study (n = 2,040) within the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be cohort. Cases included 1,020 participants with preeclampsia (PE), new-onset gestational hypertension (GHTN), or spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), matched 1:1 to controls by clinical site, maternal age, and infant sex. Twelve phthalate metabolites, including DEHTP metabolites mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl terephthalate (MECPTP) and mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl terephthalate (MEHHTP), were measured in urine samples across pregnancy (total = 5,265). We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to evaluate associations between specific gravity-adjusted geometric mean metabolite concentrations and each outcome, with metabolites modeled by quartiles and continuously. Infant sex and self-reported race and ethnicity were a priori effect measure modifiers. Results Higher concentrations of MEHHTP increased the overall odds of PE (adjusted OR [aOR], highest vs. lowest quartile: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.07–3.36). MECPTP was most strongly associated with PE among participants carrying infant girls (aOR, highest vs. lowest quartile: 6.49; 95% CI: 2.03–18.43), and with GHTN among non-Hispanic White participants (aOR, highest vs. lowest quartile: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.17–5.36). Conclusion These results indicate that prenatal exposure to DEHTP metabolites may be associated with APOs, specifically PE, and highlight the need for continued research and monitoring of these replacement compounds.
