Volume 39, Issue 2

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), known also as an idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) or a microwave sickness, is not considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being caused by the exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMF). EHS is not recognized as a disease anywhere in the world. Some studies have roughly estimated that 1–10% of the population might experience some form of EHS. However, because of the lack of diagnostic criteria for EHS, these estimates might be either under- or over-estimates. Because the vast majority of human population is exposed to EMF, the possibility of developing EHS from the EMF is a substantial public health issue that should be dealt with globally, even if the individual risk of developing EHS might be small. The WHO recognizes that the symptoms experienced by the EHS persons might be severe and might significantly hamper everyday life. However, after a broad analysis of international and national documents, there seems to be currently no effort to develop health policies for the dealing with EHS, no matter what causes it. National governments, follow the opinions of the WHO and the EMF safety standards setting organizations, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (IEEE-ICES), are not developing any practical health policy advisories for self-declared EHS sufferers. However, symptoms experienced by the self-declared EHS persons affect their well-being and, according to the Constitution of the WHO, are a health problem. Hence, independently of what causes EHS symptoms, this admitted well-being-impairment should be dealt with globally by developing an uniform health policy. Furthermore, WHO, ICNIRP and IEEE-ICES should be advocating and supporting research that would generate a reliable scientific evidence on what are the possible cause(s) of EHS. Without such research there is not possible to develop diagnostic methods as well as any possible mitigation approaches. There is an urgent need for the WHO to advocate for the national governments to urgently develop a comprehensive and common EHS health policy.

In the last decades, the micronucleus assay has been recognized as a suitable biomarker for monitoring populations exposed to many different occupational factors, lifestyle, environmental conditions, radiation exposure, and deleterious effects of pesticides. The objective of this work is to direct the design of future field studies in the assessment of the risk of children exposed to environmental mutagens, radiation, and pesticides. This review sought available information on the analysis of micronuclei in oral cells in children. A literature search for papers investigating DNA damage, genetic damage, oral cells, buccal cells, genotoxicity, mutagenicity and micronucleus was begun in 2000 and is scheduled to be concluded in May, 2022. Briefly, a search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for a variety of articles was performed. The results showed that there are still few studies that addressed micronuclei of oral cells in children exposed to the most diverse environmental conditions. Only environmental pollution was associated with damage to the genome of oral cells in children. Therefore, researchers need to be calibrated in cell analysis, standardization of field study protocols and the development of new research in the evaluation of children using the micronucleus test as a tool in child biomonitoring.

Treatment with non-thermal plasma is a reliable technology to oxidize chemical impurities that exist in polluted water, wastewater, and leachate, those degradation-resistant and cannot be removed by conventional treatment methods. In this study, the effective factors affecting in the formation ofreactive oxygen species in non-thermal plasma treatment process, as a new advanced oxidation process method explianed. In this manner, all associated manuscripts existed in the main databases including Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, and Open Access Journal Directory from 1990 until 2022 were explored. The utilized keywords were involved non-thermal plasma, Cold plasma, Measurement, • OH, O 3 and UV. Overall, 8,813 articles were gathered and based on the relevance titles and abstracts, 18 paper were selected for further reviewing. In several studies, plasma techniques have been used to treat water, wastewater and leachate, but few studies have evaluated the factors influencing the production of ROS species by non-thermal plasma. The non-thermal plasma destroys pollutants by reactive free radicals spices (hydroxyl, hydrogen atoms, etc.) a combination effect of strong electric fields, energetically charged particles, and ultrasound. Some factors such as water vapor, hydraulic retention time, inter-electrode spacing, discharge power density, and aeration of the effluent as well as use of catalyst have direct effect on the reactive oxygen species formation. If these factors controlled within the best ranges, it will promote the oxidizing radical production and system performance. Also, high-energy electrons and oxidizing species produced in the cold plasma system can well degrade most of pollution in water and wastewater.

Contamination of food with mycotoxins can pose harmful effects on the health of consumers in the long term. Coffee contamination with mycotoxins has become a global concern. This study attempted to meta-analyze the concentration and prevalence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in coffee products and estimate consumers’ health risks. The search was conducted among international databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, for 1 January 2010 to 1 May 2022. The concentration and prevalence of OTA in coffee products were meta-analyzed according to country subgroups. Health risk assessment was conducted based on Margin of Exposures (MOEs) using the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique. The three countries that had the highest Pooled concentration of OTA in coffee were observed in Chile (100.00%), Kuwait (100.00%), and France (100.00%). The overall prevalence of OTA in coffee products was 58.01%, 95% CI (48.37–67.39). The three countries that had the highest concentration of OTA were Philippines (39.55 μg/kg) > Turkey (39.32 μg/kg) > and Panama (21.33 μg/kg). The mean of MOEs in the adult consumers in Panama (9,526) and the Philippines (8,873) was lower than 10,000, while the mean of MOEs in other countries was higher than 10,000. Therefore, monitoring and control plans should be carried out in different countries.

Human environments influence human health in both positive and negative ways. Green space is considered an environmental exposure that confers benefits to human health and has attracted a high level of interest from researchers, policy makers, and increasingly clinicians. Green space has been associated with a range of health benefits, such as improvements in physical, mental, and social wellbeing. There are different sources, metrics and indicators of green space used in research, all of which measure different aspects of the environment. It is important that readers of green space research understand the terminology used in this field, and what the green space indicators used in the studies represent in the real world. This paper provides an overview of the major definitions of green space and the indicators used to assess exposure for health practitioners, public health researchers, and health policy experts who may be interested in understanding this field more clearly, either in the provision of public health-promoting services or to undertake research.

With the rapid expansion of industrial scale, an increasing number of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has bringing health concerns. Although exposure to PM 2.5 has been clearly associated with male reproductive toxicity, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that exposure to PM 2.5 can disturb spermatogenesis through destroying the blood-testis barrier (BTB), consisting of different junction types, containing tight junctions (TJs), gap junctions (GJs), ectoplasmic specialization (ES) and desmosomes. The BTB is one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers among mammals, which isolating germ cells from hazardous substances and immune cell infiltration during spermatogenesis. Therefore, once the BTB is destroyed, hazardous substances and immune cells will enter seminiferous tubule and cause adversely reproductive effects. In addition, PM 2.5 also has shown to cause cells and tissues injury via inducing autophagy, inflammation, sex hormones disorder, and oxidative stress. However, the exact mechanisms of the disruption of the BTB, induced by PM 2.5 , are still unclear. It is suggested that more research is required to identify the potential mechanisms. In this review, we aim to understand the adverse effects on the BTB after exposure to PM 2.5 and explore its potential mechanisms, which provides novel insight into accounting for PM 2.5 -induced BTB injury.

The use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) containers, a recent shift in the beverage industry, poses new potential human health concerns including contamination from the original container; use of additives, detergents, and catalysts during recycling; and improper recycling practices. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate available data regarding: (1) chemicals leached from PET and rPET in bottle form; (2) concentration of these chemicals; and (3) trends between rPET percent and concentration of chemicals leached. This analysis identified 211 scientific articles related to recycled plastic and leachables. Three articles met the inclusion criteria: (1) plastic was in bottle form; (2) plastic was made of PET or rPET; and (3) the study analyzed both PET and rPET using the same methods. This evaluation demonstrated that only nine compounds – benzene, styrene, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, furan, bisphenol A (BPA), 2-buta-none, acetone, and limonene – have been studied. Notably, the leachable concentration of benzene, styrene, and BPA increased as the percent of recycled content increased from 0 to 100%. However, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane and furan implied a reverse trend, where the leachable concentration decreased as the percent of recycled content increased from 0 to 100%. The concentrations of 2-butanone, acetone, and limonene did not follow any suggested trend. Evidently, recycling PET can lead to changes in the leachables profile. This analysis further identified key areas of research, including testing a variety of liquid types, that need to be addressed to adequately conduct a human health risk assessment.

Introduction The association between Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been a controversial topic. Objective: To evaluate the connection between BPA exposure and ADHD. Content We search Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline databases until August 2022. The meta-analysis was performed by using the software Stata 12.0 to calculate the combined effect value Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). A total of 8 studies were included in this meta-analysis, including 5,710 children. Using the random effect model, it was found that compared with the lowest level of BPA exposure, the OR (95%CI) value of urine BPA exposure and ADHD in the highest level of BPA exposure was 1.76 (1.13–2.74). Summary and Outlook Based on the current meta-analysis results, BPA exposure may be a significant contributing factor to the development of ADHD in children.

Objectives Over 50 countries are affected by arsenic contamination. The problem is becoming worse as the number of affected people increases and new sites are reported globally. Content Various human activities have increased arsenic pollution, notably in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Contamination of our water and soil by arsenic poses a threat to our environment and natural resources. Arsenic poisoning harms several physiological systems and may cause cancer and death. Excessive exposure may cause toxic build-up in human and animal tissues. Arsenic-exposed people had different skin lesion shapes and were vulnerable to extra arsenic-induced illness risks. So far, research shows that varying susceptibility plays a role in arsenic-induced diseases. Several studies have revealed that arsenic is a toxin that reduces metabolic activities. Diverse remediation approaches are being developed to control arsenic in surrounding environments. Summary and Outlook A sustainable clean-up technique (nanoremediation) is required to restore natural equilibrium. More research is therefore required to better understand the biogeochemical processes involved in removing arsenic from soils and waters.

Climate change has important implications on human health, affecting almost every system in the body. Multiple studies have raised the possibility of climate change impacting eye health. In this review, we aimed to summarize current literature on the impact of air pollution and climate change on eye health. We performed a search in four different databases, including Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. The search strategy combined terms regarding eye health and environmental/climate changes. The outcome of interest included all eye conditions. The search yielded 2,051 unique articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 61 articles were included in this systematic review with data covering 2,620,030 participants. Most studies originated from China, India, South Korea, and USA. Climate change adversely affected different eye conditions, with ocular surface diseases (e.g., conjunctivitis and dry eye) being most affected. Moreover, higher particulate matter (PM) was the most widely assessed pollutant and was adversely associated with the majority of eye conditions, increasing the burden on patients and healthcare providers. We found a low frequency of publications related to the delivery of eye care and its impact on climate change in countries with high air pollution and climate change burden.

Objectives Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous, toxic environmental chemicals that can cause adverse reproductive health effects. The objectives of this mini-review are to highlight the adverse reproductive outcomes due to PAH exposure with the main focus on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovarian failure (POF) and to provide perspectives on future research needs. Content We reviewed studies that have reported the adverse reproductive outcomes associated with PAHs exposures in women through a comprehensive search of bibliographic databases and gray literature sources. In addition, potentially modifiable sources of exposure to PAHs and associated reproductive outcomes were also investigated. Summary A total of 232 papers were retrieved through a comprehensive search of bibliographic databases, out of which three studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Results showed that exposure to PAHs is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes defined as PCOS, POF, and reproductive hormone imbalance. Sources of PAH exposure associated with adverse reproductive outcomes include active and passive tobacco smoking, specific cooking methods, and pesticides. Outlook Future studies are warranted to examine the mechanisms by which PAHs result in adverse reproductive endpoints in women. Further, environmental exposures that are potentially modifiable such as exposure to tobacco smoke, may contribute to PAH exposure, and these exposures should be targeted in future policies and interventions.

Objectives Cholera has a long history in India and Bangladesh, the region where six out of the past seven global pandemics have been seeded. The changing climate and growing population have led to global cholera cases remaining high despite a consistent improvement in the access to clean water and sanitation. We aim to provide a holistic overview of variables influencing environmental cholera transmission within the context of India and Bangladesh, with a focus on the mechanisms by which they act. Content We identified 56 relevant texts (Bangladesh n = 40, India n = 7, Other n = 5). The results of the review found that cholera transmission is associated with several socio-economic and environmental factors, each associated variable is suggested to have at least one mediating mechanism. Increases in ambient temperature and coastal sea surface temperature support cholera transmission via increases in plankton and a preference of Vibrio cholerae for warmer waters. Increased rainfall can potentially support or reduce transmission via several mechanisms. Summary and outlook Common issues in the literature are co-variance of seasonal factors, limited access to high quality cholera data, high research bias towards research in Dhaka and Matlab (Bangladesh). A specific and detailed understanding of the relationship between SST and cholera incidence remains unclear.

Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) is one of the most important gaseous air pollutants and the chemical index of sulfur oxides (SO x ). SO 2 is one of the six criteria pollutants in the air quality index (AQI). SO 2 can be emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources. Although efforts have been made to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions worldwide, this pollutant and its adverse effects remain a major concern, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was the investigated the effects of sulfur dioxide inhalation on human health. This narrative review was done based on the literature published from 2000 to 2022 through PubMed, Springer, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. In this study, was done screened first based on the abstract and Final assessment done based on the full text of the article. Finally, 38 articles were selected for inclusion in the study. The results of this study showed that sulfur dioxide has adverse health effects on the human respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems and causes type 2 diabetes and non-accidental deaths. Although some evidence suggests that sulfur dioxide in given concentrations has no adverse health effect, its synergistic effects in combination with other air pollutants may be significant. Among the most important practical results of this study can be mentioned to increase the health awareness of the general public, help the politicians of the health sector in making decisions in the health field, creating awareness among polluting producing units and industries and efforts to reduce the emission of Sulfur dioxide.

Objectives There are many water types available on the market. They are widely known in public with health claims. The questions are, are those claims are scientifically proven or those are just testimonies from the consumers or overclaimed by the producers. This study aims to systematically review evidences on the health effects of alkaline, oxygenated, and demineralized water in comparison with mineral water among healthy population. Contents Data were obtained from databases PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, EBSCO, dan Science Direct since January 2000 until July 2022. There were 10 eligible articles, consisted of two articles on alkaline, four articles on oxygenated, and four articles on demineralized water, that furtherly being analyzed.  Summary Compared to consumption of mineral water, consumption of alkaline and oxygenated water did not show any significant difference on gut microbiota, urine pH, blood parameter, or fitness parameter. While, consumption of demineralized water in the long term resulted in lower quality of certain nutrient intake. Outlook Recent evidences do not prove any additional health effects of alkaline, oxygenated, or demineralized water compared to mineral water. In contrast, demineralized water consumption in the long run was proven to lead to adverse effect.

Heavy metals (HM) are among the elements that are rare in nature and threaten human health, animals, and the environment. Fix sources including (power plants, industries, homes) and mobile sources include (cars and motorcycles) are the main sources production and emission of HM. It is important to understand the main information about sources of emission, chemical processes (reactions, oxidation, and leaching), and how they precipitate. The aim of this study was to evaluation an increased risk of leukemia due to exposure to HM. In this article narrative, the first literature search was performed with 580 articles according to different databases: Elsevier, PubMed, Web of science, Spring, and Google Scholar databases. 70 articles were included in the analysis process. Finally, 8 full-text articles were selected in this research. The search was restricted to English-language papers published between 2000 and 2021. In final stage literature, there is a notable health effect (carcinogenic) because of exposure to heavy metals. According to the results of this research natural procedures and human activities (industrial processes, car exhaust, and cigarette smoke) are the most important of ways that heavy metals can enter the natural cycle. Air, food, soil, water, and groundwater are the main sources of heavy metals that can cause severe disorders in the human body. After entering the body through ingestion heavy metals produce stable bio-toxic compounds. These compounds by disrupting biological processes, interrupt the body’s functions and cause various cancers in the human body. The results of this study can help to politicians for make comprehensive decisions to solve the problem and increase public awareness of the use of protective equipment.

Monkeypox (MPX) is one of the common infections between humans and animals that caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus. The Monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak is a global crisis triggered by environmental factors (virus, wastewater, surface, air) and amplified by the decisions of government officials and communities. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the environmental perspectives of MPXV with emphasis on risk assessment to prevent and control a new pandemic. Five online databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar were searched from 1990 to October 2022. Among 120 records, after the screening, four studies were included in the systematic review. The systematic review revealed that the possibility of MPXV transmission through wastewater, air, and the contaminated surfaces is a significant concern and its detection and destroying will play a major role in controlling the spread of the virus. Poxviruses have a high environmental stability, but are sensitive to all common chemical disinfectants. In conclusion, this study revealed that the environmental surveillance can be used as a complementary tool for detecting pathogens circulation in communities. This implies that the monitoring of environmental perspectives of MPXV can provide new awareness into virus transmission routes as well as the role of stakeholders and public health policies in MPXV risk management.

Introduction Lead industries are one of the major sources of environmental pollution and can affect human through different activities, including industrial processes, metal plating, mining, battery recycling, etc. Although different studies have documented the various sources of lead exposure, studies highlighting different types of industries as sources of environmental contamination are limited. Therefore, this narrative review aims to focus mainly on lead industries as significant sources of environmental and human contamination. Content Based on the keywords searched in bibliographic databases we found 44 relevant articles that provided information on lead present in soil, water, and blood or all components among participants living near high-risk areas. We presented three case scenarios to highlight how lead industries have affected the health of citizens in Vietnam, Uruguay, and Malaysia. Summary and Outlook Factories conducting mining, e-waste processing, used lead-acid battery recycling, electronic repair, and toxic waste sites were the primary industries for lead exposure. Our study has shown lead exposure due to industrial activities in Vietnam, Uruguay, Malaysia and calls for attention to the gaps in strategic and epidemiologic efforts to understand sources of environmental exposure to lead fully. Developing strategies and guidelines to regulate industrial activities, finding alternatives to reduce lead toxicity and exposure, and empowering the public through various community awareness programs can play a crucial role in controlling exposure to lead.