Air Pollution/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a global epidemic, and air pollution has been identified as a potential risk factor. This study aims to investigate the non-linear relationship between ambient air pollution and MASLD prevalence. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, participants undergoing health checkups were assessed for three-year average air pollution exposure. MASLD diagnosis required hepatic steatosis with at least 1 out of 5 cardiometabolic criteria. A stepwise approach combining data visualization and regression modeling was used to determine the most appropriate link function between each of the six air pollutants and MASLD. A covariate-adjusted six-pollutant model was constructed accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 131,592 participants were included, with 40.6% met the criteria of MASLD. "Threshold link function," "interaction link function," and "restricted cubic spline (RCS) link functions" best-fitted associations between MASLD and PM_2.5, PM₁₀/CO, and O₃ /SO₂/NO₂, respectively. In the six-pollutant model, significant positive associations were observed when pollutant concentrations were over: 34.64 µg/m³ for PM_2.5, 57.93 µg/m³ for PM₁₀, 56 µg/m³ for O₃, below 643.6 µg/m³ for CO, and within 33 and 48 µg/m³ for NO₂. The six-pollutant model using these best-fitted link functions demonstrated superior model fitting compared to exposure-categorized model or linear link function model assuming proportionality of odds. CONCLUSION Non-linear associations were found between air pollutants and MASLD prevalence. PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, CO, and NO₂ exhibited positive associations with MASLD in specific concentration ranges, highlighting the need to consider non-linear relationships in assessing the impact of air pollution on MASLD.
Humans ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Liver Diseases ; Environmental Exposure/analysis*

Objective To explore the overall level,distribution characteristics,and differences in household fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution caused by fuel burning in urban and rural areas in China. Methods The relevant articles published from 1991 to 2021 were retrieved and included in this study.The data including the average concentration of household PM_2.5 and urban and rural areas were extracted,and the stoves and fuel types were reclassified.The average concentration of PM_2.5 in different areas was calculated and analyzed by nonparametric test. Results The average household PM_2.5 concentration in China was (178.81±249.91) μg/m³.The mean household PM_2.5 concentration was higher in rural areas than in urban areas[(206.08±279.40) μg/m³ vs. (110.63±131.16) μg/m³;Z=-5.45,P<0.001] and higher in northern areas than in southern areas[(224.27±301.66) μg/m³ vs.(130.11±140.61) μg/m³;Z=-2.38,P=0.017].The north-south difference in household PM_2.5 concentration was more significant in rural areas than in urban areas[(324.19±367.94) μg/m³ vs.(141.20±151.05) μg/m³,χ²=-5.06,P<0.001].The PM_2.5 pollution level showed differences between urban and rural households using different fuel types (χ²=92.85,P<0.001),stove types (χ²=74.42,P<0.001),and whether they were heating (Z=-4.43,P<0.001).Specifically,rural households mainly used solid fuels (manure,charcoal,coal) and traditional or improved stoves,while urban households mainly used clean fuels (gas) and clean stoves.The PM_2.5 concentrations in heated households were higher than those in non-heated households in both rural and urban areas (Z=-4.43,P<0.001). Conclusions The household PM_2.5 pollution caused by fuel combustion in China remains a high level.The PM_2.5 concentration shows a significant difference between urban and rural households,and the PM_2.5 pollution is more serious in rural households.The difference in the household PM_2.5 concentration between urban and rural areas is more significant in northern China.PM_2.5 pollution in the households using solid fuel,traditional stoves,and heating is serious,and thus targeted measures should be taken to control PM_2.5 pollution in these households.
Humans ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis* ; Cooking ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China ; Rural Population

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the prenatal exposure of per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the neonatal outcome. Methods: A total of 506 maternal infant cohort samples were collected in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province from 2020 to 2021. The exposure levels of seven PFASs in maternal serum before delivery were detected by solid-phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear regression model was used to analyze the influence of prenatal exposure of PFASs on birth weight, birth length and Apgar score. Results: The maternal age, prenatal body mass index and gestation age were (31.3±4.3) years old, (26.7±3.2) kg/m² and (265.0±28.3) days, respectively. The birth weight, birth length and scores of Apgar-1 and Apgar-5 were (3.1±0.8) kg, (49.3±2.9) cm, (9.88±0.47) points and (9.99±0.13) points, respectively. PFASs were widely distributed in maternal serum, with the highest concentration of (18.453±19.557) ng/ml, (6.756±9.379) ng/ml and (5.057±8.555) ng/ml for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (Cl-PFESA), respectively. Maternal age, parity and delivery mode were associated with the exposure level of PFASs (P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that PFOS had negative effects on birth weight (β=-0.958), birth length (β=-0.073) and Apgar-5 score (β=-0.288) for neonates in the low birth weight (LBW) group. 6∶2 Cl-PFESA and 8∶2 Cl-PFESA inhibited the birth weight (β=-0.926; β=-0.552) and length (β=-0.074; β=-0.045) of newborn in the LBW group. In addition, 4∶2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS) was associated with increased birth weight (β=0.111) and decreased Apgar-5 score (β=-0.030) in the normal weight group. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with birth weight, birth length and Apgar-5 score. It is necessary to continue to pay attention to the impact of PFASs on fetal growth and development through maternal-fetal transmission.
Pregnancy ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Birth Weight ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Alkanesulfonic Acids/analysis* ; Alkanesulfonates/analysis* ; Fluorocarbons/analysis* ; Ethers/analysis* ; Ethyl Ethers/analysis* ; Environmental Pollutants/analysis* ; Maternal Exposure

In China, the level of ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution far exceeds the air quality standards recommended by the World Health Organization. Moreover, the health effects of PM 2.5 exposure have become a major public health issue. More than half of PM 2.5 -related excess deaths are caused by cardiopulmonary disease, which has become a major health risk associated with PM 2.5 pollution. In this review, we discussed the latest epidemiological advances relating to the health effects of PM 2.5 on cardiopulmonary diseases in China, including studies relating to the effects of PM 2.5 on mortality, morbidity, and risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These data provided important evidence to highlight the cardiopulmonary risk associated with PM 2.5 across the world. In the future, further studies need to be carried out to investigate the specific relationship between the constituents and sources of PM 2.5 and cardiopulmonary disease. These studies provided scientific evidence for precise reduction measurement of pollution sources and public health risks. It is also necessary to identify effective biomarkers and elucidate the biological mechanisms and pathways involved; this may help us to take steps to reduce PM 2.5 pollution and reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease.
Humans ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; China/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association of ambient PM_2.5 exposure with blood pressure (BP) at the population level in China. METHODS: A total of 14,080 participants who had at least two valid blood pressure records were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey during 2011-2015. Their long-term PM_2.5 exposure was assessed at the geographical level, on the basis of a regular 0.1° × 0.1° grid over China. A mixed-effects regression model was used to assess associations. RESULTS: Each decrease of 10 μg/m³ in the 1 year-mean PM_2.5 concentration (FPM_1Y) was associated with a decrease of 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-1.64] mmHg systolic BP (SBP) and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.25-0.75) mmHg diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. A robust association was observed between the long-term decrease in PM_2.5 and decreased BP in the middle-aged and older population. Using a generalized additive mixed model, we further found that SBP increased nonlinearly overall with FPM_1Y but in an approximately linear range when the FPM_1Y concentration was < 70 µg/m³; In contrast, DBP increased approximately linearly without a clear threshold. CONCLUSION Efficient control of PM_2.5 air pollution may promote vascular health in China. Our study provides robust scientific support for making the related air pollution control policies.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Aged ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Blood Pressure ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hypertension/etiology* ; East Asian People ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; China/epidemiology*

Ozone/toxicity* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Mortality ; Particulate Matter/analysis*

Objective: To analyze the level of PCDD/Fs exposure of occupational workers in the waste incineration industry and explore the risk of occupational exposure. Methods: In September 2021, literature on environmental PCDD/Fs exposure in waste incineration plants published from the establishment of the database to February 10, 2021 was retrieved from CNKI database. A total of 1365 literatures were retrieved, and 7 met the criteria for inclusion. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inhalation risk model was used to assess and analyze carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PCDD/Fs exposure among occupational workers in the waste incineration industry. Results: A total of 86 sampling sites were included in incineration plants in 7 regions. The study of Wuhan area showed that the concentration of working environment near the waste incinerator in the same factory was the highest, followed by the rest and office area in the factory. The concentration of PCDD/Fs in waste incinerators was the highest in Southwest China (4880.00-24880.00 pg TEQ/m(3)), and the lowest in Shenzhen (0.02-0.44 pg TEQ/m(3)). According to the cancer risk assessment, with the increase of exposure years, the risk of cancer increased. The highest risk of cancer was found in the waste incineration plants in Southwest China. When the exposure period was 1 year, the risk was moderate (22.40×10(-6)-114.20×10(-6)). When the exposure time was more than 5 years, the risk of cancer was high. In Jinan, workers working near the incinerator had a moderate risk of cancer after five years of exposure. In Zhejiang, workers were at medium risk of cancer after exposure for more than 20 years. Workers in Wuhan, Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta were still at low risk of cancer after 40 years of occupational exposure. HQ>1 of workers working near the waste incinerators in Jinan, Zhejiang Province and Southwest China, and the qualitative evaluation results showed that the non-carcinogenic risk was unacceptable. Conclusion: There are great differences in PCDD/Fs of occupational exposure in waste incineration industry, and the occupational exposure exceeding the occupational exposure limit has higher carcinogenic and non carcinogenic risks.
Humans ; Dibenzofurans ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Incineration ; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Benzofurans ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Carcinogens ; Risk Assessment ; Neoplasms ; Environmental Monitoring/methods*

Humans ; Nutrition Surveys ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/chemically induced* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring ; Phthalic Acids/toxicity* ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity*

Objective In recent years, many studies have reported that air pollution is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the evidence about the association between exposure to air pollution and T2DM in developing countries. Methods The databases, including PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science, were systematically searched for studies published up to 31 March 2022. Studies about the association between air pollution and T2DM prevalence or incidence in developing countries were included. The odds ratio (OR) was used as effect estimate. We synthesized the included studies in the meta-analysis. Results We included 8 cross-sectional studies and 8 cohort studies, all conducted in developing countries. Meta-analysis of 8 studies on PM_2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter) showed that T2DM prevalence was significantly associated with PM_2.5 exposure (OR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.17; P<0.001). The association between air pollutants and T2DM incidence was not estimated due to the limited relevant studies. Conclusions The exposure to PM_2.5 would be positively associated with an increased prevalence of T2DM in developing countries. Some effective measures should be taken to reduce air pollutant exposure in people who are vulnerable to diabetes.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Developing Countries ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Particulate Matter ; Air Pollutants/analysis*