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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 31873

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Angela Di Pietro

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Guest Editor

Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Interests: pathogenetic mechanisms of environmental pollutants on human health; potential biomarkers of exposure; biomonitoring; effects of emerging pollutants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human health cannot leave aside from the environmental quality, being very numerous the chemical, physical, and biological hazards that impact on health. This has dramatic economic and social costs, contributing greatly to disability-adjusted life-year (DALY). Considering human health protection as a major target, a careful risk assessment, i.e. hazard identification, dose-response evaluation and exposure assessment with the use of possible new biomarkers, is essential to reduce the adverse health outcomes. In addition to the classic environmental factors of diseases, new evidences underline the harmuful effects of emerging pollutants such as nanomaterials and micro or nanoplastics.

Depending on the biological target, several pathogenetic mechanisms are triggered by environmental exposure, such as inflammation, oxidative damage, genotoxicity, inheritable epigenetic changes, mitochondrial impairment, tissue damages due to apoptosis and or necrosis, hormonal imbalances (by endocrine-distrupting chemicals) etc.

While toxicology-based risk assessment is the main approach to evaluate the harmuful effects of single contaminants, the epidemiological studies investigate the relationships between exposure and health directly in the affected population. This greatly complicates health risk assessment considering individual susceptibility due to biological, behavioral and occupational variables. Moreover, individuals are exposed to chemical mixtures, with possible additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects. All that contributes to uncertainty, in addition to exposure assessment, frequently not ascertained through biomarker use (to estimate internal dose due to all routes of exposure) or personal monitoring of exposure.

Dear Colleague, I invite you to participate on the basis of your experience in this Special Issue which aims to strengthen the knowledge on the classic and emerging environmental determinants that impact on human health, for a more correct risk assessment.

Prof. Angela Di Pietro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Hazard identification
Exposure assessment
Dose-response evaluation
Short time and long-time exposure
Threshold or non-threshold relationship
Health risk assessment of air-, water- and foodborne pollutants
Biomarker in the exposure assessment
Risk assessment of chemical mixtures
Microbiological risk assessment
Environmentally-induced pathogenetic mechanisms

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure: An Insight into Multiple Organ Histological Alterations, Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity in Javanese Medaka Fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854)

by Sunusi Usman, Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis, Khozirah Shaari, Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal, Mohd Zamri Saad, Nurulfiza Mat Isa and Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18189449 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4001

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have become pollutants of concern due to their unknown human health effect and negative impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is increasing number of experimental research on MPs globally with its effects not fully understood; recent animal studies explore its effects on the intestines, yet on other vital organs. Javanese medaka fish was exposed to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) beads for a period of 21 days. Histological alterations, intestinal oxidative stress, permeability and neurotoxicity were evaluated. Significant inflammatory changes and tissue damage were observed in the intestine, liver and kidney. Intestinal oxidative stress and permeability were found to be significantly increased. In the brain, neurotoxicity characterised by a significant induction of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme were elucidated. This study provided an insight into the multiple organ effect of microplastics exposure, necessitating further exploration and identification of biomarkers to be utilised for biomonitoring population at risk in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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13 pages, 2388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dispersion of Natural Airborne TiO₂ Fibres in Excavation Activity as a Potential Environmental and Human Health Risk

by Sebastiano La Maestra, Francesco D’Agostini, Elisa Sanguineti, Adrián Yus González, Samanta Annis, Gaia M. Militello, Giovanni Parisi, Alberto Scuderi and Laura Gaggero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6587; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126587 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

Titanium is the ninth most abundant element, approximately 0.7% of the Earth crust. It is used worldwide in large quantities for various applications. The IARC includes TiO₂ in Group 2B as possibly carcinogenic to humans suggesting that pathological effects correlate to particle size and shape. This study case quantifies the release of natural TiO₂ particles during mining activity, involving meta-basalt and shale lithologies in the Ligurian Alps, during excavation of the Terzo Valico as part of the Trans-European Transport Network. Type, width, length, aspect ratio, and concentration of TiO₂ particles in needle habit were determined. The different samplings have reported that airborne concentrations in meta-basalt were 4.21 ff/L and 23.94 ff/L in shale. In both cases, the concentration never exceeds the limits established by various organizations for workers health protection. Nevertheless, TiO₂ elongated particles, recognized as rutile, showed the dimensional characteristic of fibres, as reported by WHO. These fibres deserve particular attention because they can reach the alveolar space and trigger inflammation and chronic diseases. The results indicate that monitoring the TiO₂ in both working environments and Ti-rich geological formations, associated with epidemiological studies, may represent a useful tool to determine the exposure risk of workers and the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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11 pages, 977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Blood Mercury Levels and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Populations: The Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2012–2014

by Yun-Jung Yang, Eun-Jung Yang, Kyongjin Park, Subin Oh, Taehyen Kim and Yeon-Pyo Hong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6412; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126412 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

Mercury is widely distributed in the environment, and a plausible association between mercury exposure and hepatic damage has been reported. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which comprises a spectrum of liver diseases, has recently been recognized in non-obese subjects. However, there have been no studies on the relationship between internal mercury levels and NAFLD in non-obese individuals. Therefore, we investigated the association between blood mercury levels and NAFLD in non-obese subjects. Cross-sectional data (n = 5919) were obtained from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2012–2014). NAFLD was defined using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI). Blood mercury levels were log-transformed and divided into quartiles based on a weighted sample distribution. The association between blood mercury levels and NAFLD was analyzed using a multivariate logistic analysis after body mass index stratification. The geometric mean of blood mercury in the overweight group was significantly higher than that of the non-obese group (p < 0.001). The weighted frequencies of patients with NAFLD based on the HSI were 3.0–7.2% for the non-obese subjects and 52.3–63.2% for the overweight subjects. In the multivariate analysis, blood mercury levels were positively associated with NAFLD for both the overweight and non-obese groups (all p for trend < 0.001). Increased blood mercury levels are closely associated with NAFLD. In particular, mercury could be a risk factor for NAFLD in the non-obese population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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12 pages, 2325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute and Sub-Chronic Effects of Microplastics (3 and 10 µm) on the Human Intestinal Cells HT-29

by Giuseppa Visalli, Alessio Facciolà, Marianna Pruiti Ciarello, Giuseppe De Marco, Maria Maisano and Angela Di Pietro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5833; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115833 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 3888

Abstract

Due to ingestion of contaminated foods, the human gastrointestinal tract is the most likely site of exposure to microplastics (MPs) with gut barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation. Aimed to assess the effects induced by MPs with different granulometry (polystyrene (PS) 3 and 10 µm), we performed an in vitro study by using the human intestinal cell line HT29. As a novelty, we assessed the sub-chronic exposure extending the treatment up to 48 days simulating the in vivo situation. In the range of 100–1600 particles mL⁻¹, both the PS suspensions had moderate cytotoxicity after 24 h with percentages of mortality between 6.7 and 21.6 for the 10 µm and 6.1 and 29.6 for the 3 µm PS. Microscopic observation highlighted a more pronounced lysosomal membrane permeabilization in HT29 exposed to PS 3µm. Reactive oxygen species production was higher in cells exposed to PS 10 µm, but sub-chronic exposure highlighted the ability of the cells to partially neutralize this effect. Comet-assay confirmed the temporary oxidative damage that was PS-induced. Overall, considering the very fast turnover of intestinal cells, the increase in cell mortality, equal to 25% and 11% for 3 and 10 µm PS-MPs for each time point, could trigger intestinal disorders due to prolonged exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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18 pages, 1895 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Impacting Range Hood Use in California Houses and Low-Income Apartments

by Haoran Zhao, Wanyu R. Chan, William W. Delp, Hao Tang, Iain S. Walker and Brett C. Singer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 8870; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17238870 - 28 Nov 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3685

Abstract

Venting range hoods can control indoor air pollutants emitted during residential cooktop and oven cooking. To quantify their potential benefits, it is important to know how frequently and under what conditions range hoods are operated during cooking. We analyzed data from 54 single family houses and 17 low-income apartments in California in which cooking activities, range hood use, and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) were monitored for one week per home. Range hoods were used for 36% of cooking events in houses and 28% in apartments. The frequency of hood use increased with cooking frequency across homes. In both houses and apartments, the likelihood of hood use during a cooking event increased with the duration of cooktop burner use, but not with the duration of oven use. Actual hood use rates were higher in the homes of participants who self-reported more frequent use in a pre-study survey, but actual use was far lower than self-reported frequency. Residents in single family houses used range hoods more often when cooking caused a discernible increase in PM_2.5. In apartments, residents used their range hood more often only when high concentrations of PM_2.5 were generated during cooking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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16 pages, 3112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association between Drinking Water Quality and Inflammatory Bowel Disease—A Study in Eastern Croatia

by Dubravka Holik, Atila Bezdan, Monika Marković, Želimir Orkić, Andrea Milostić-Srb, Štefica Mikšić and Aleksandar Včev

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8495; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17228495 - 16 Nov 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2534

Abstract

The incidence rate of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming a global health problem that could be caused by changes in environmental and lifestyle habits. The study aimed to identify the association between the quality of drinking water, i.e., physiochemical and biological aspects of the phenotype and activity of IBD in Eastern Croatia. The study included 312 patients (63.4% ulcerative colitis, UC, and 36.6% Crohn’s disease, CD) from the area of Eastern Croatia. The data were collected by questionnaires and the analysis of the water safety, based on 65 samples of drinking water by the patient’s water supply method (public supply, rural water supply, and private well). IBD was active in 38.0% patients (34.0% CD and 40.0% UC). Significant differences (p = 0.001) were observed in the distribution of patients, according to counties in which they lived in. The largest deviation was noted in coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, and enterococci bacteria, Fe, Al, and nitrate in rural water supply and private wells, although, without significant impact on IBD phenotype and activity. The hazard quotient (HQ) simulations showed that children are a sensitive group, regarding exposure to nitrates in drinking water over a long period of time, so there is a need for further monitoring and analysis of this issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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11 pages, 2037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Thermal Sensitivity in the Rat

by Nihal S. Ouadah, Kelly Blazy and Anne-Sophie Villégier

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(20), 7563; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17207563 - 18 Oct 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

The World Health Organization and the French Health Safety Agency (ANSES) recognize that the expressed pain and suffering of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) people are a lived reality requiring daily life adaptations to cope. Mechanisms involving glutamatergic N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors were not explored yet, despite their possible role in hypersensitivity to chemicals. Here, we hypothesized that radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures may affect pain perception under a modulatory role played by the NMDA receptor. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF for four weeks (five times a week, at 0 (sham), 1.5 or 6 W/kg in restraint) or were cage controls (CC). Once a week, they received an NMDA or saline injection before being scored for their preference between two plates in the two-temperatures choice test: 50 °C (thermal nociception) versus 28 °C. Results in the CC and the sham rats indicated that latency to escape from heat was significantly reduced by −45% after NMDA, compared to saline treatment. Heat avoidance was significantly increased by +40% in the 6 W/kg, compared to the sham exposed groups. RF-EMF effect was abolished after NMDA treatment. In conclusion, heat avoidance was higher after high brain-averaged specific absorption rate, affording further support for possible effect of RF-EMF on pain perception. Further studies need to be performed to confirm these data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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12 pages, 1781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Assessment of Water Quality and Pollution Source Apportionment in Wuliangsuhai Lake, Inner Mongolia, China

by Rui Shi, Jixin Zhao, Wei Shi, Shuai Song and Chenchen Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 5054; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17145054 - 14 Jul 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3234

Abstract

Water quality is a key indicator of human health. Wuliangsuhai Lake plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region, protecting the local species diversity and maintaining agricultural development. However, it is also facing a greater risk of water quality deterioration. The 24 water quality factors that this study focused on were analyzed in water samples collected during the irrigation period and non-irrigation period from 19 different sites in Wuliangsuhai Lake, Inner Mongolia, China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were conducted to evaluate complex water quality data and to explore the sources of pollution. The results showed that, during the irrigation period, sites in the middle part of the lake (clusters 1 and 3) had higher pollution levels due to receiving most of the agricultural and some industrial wastewater from the Hetao irrigation area. During the non-irrigation period, the distribution of the comprehensive pollution index was the opposite of that seen during the irrigation period, and the degree of pollutant index was reduced significantly. Thus, run-off from the Hetao irrigation area is likely to be the main source of pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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17 pages, 1612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhalation Exposure to Gaseous and Particulate Bound Mercury Present in the Ambient Air over the Polluted Area of Southern Poland

by Halina Pyta, Kamila Widziewicz-Rzońca and Krzysztof Słaby

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 4999; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17144999 - 11 Jul 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

This study concerns the concentrations of gaseous and particle-bound mercury present in ambient air of two Polish sites, differing in terms of emission structure, and the estimation of inhalation risks related to those Hg species. The measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and PM_2.5-bound mercury (PBM) were performed at an urban station in Zabrze and a rural station in Złoty Potok, in 2014–2015. Both sites are located in Silesia, considered one of the European air pollution hot-spots. TGM was measured on-line (Tekran 2537). PM_2.5 samples were taken with the use of low volume samplers. Hg contents in PM were determined by the CVAAS method following thermal decomposition. The median concentrations of TGM and PBM in Zabrze were 2.48 ng m⁻³ and 37.87 pg m⁻³, respectively; meanwhile in Zloty Potok, these were 1.69 ng m⁻³ and 27.82 pg m⁻³, respectively. Clearly, seasonal variability of TGM and PBM concentrations were observed, reflecting the importance of Hg and PM emissions from coal combustion for power and heating purposes. Health risk assessment was performed using a deterministic approach by the most conservative exposure scenario. The obtained HQ ratios and the cumulative HI indexes were below the limit value (<1). This means an unlikely health hazard due mercury inhalation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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Review

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17 pages, 5105 KiB

Open AccessReview

Newly Emerging Airborne Pollutants: Current Knowledge of Health Impact of Micro and Nanoplastics

by Alessio Facciolà, Giuseppa Visalli, Marianna Pruiti Ciarello and Angela Di Pietro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2997; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18062997 - 15 Mar 2021

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 5391

Abstract

Plastics are ubiquitous persistent pollutants, forming the most representative material of the Anthropocene. In the environment, they undergo wear and tear (i.e., mechanical fragmentation, and slow photo and thermo-oxidative degradation) forming secondary microplastics (MPs). Further fragmentation of primary and secondary MPs results in nanoplastics (NPs). To assess potential health damage due to human exposure to airborne MPs and NPs, we summarize the evidence collected to date that, however, has almost completely focused on monitoring and the effects of airborne MPs. Only in vivo and in vitro studies have assessed the toxicity of NPs, and a standardized method for their analysis in environmental matrices is still missing. The main sources of indoor and outdoor exposure to these pollutants include synthetic textile fibers, rubber tires, upholstery and household furniture, and landfills. Although both MPs and NPs can reach the alveolar surface, the latter can pass into the bloodstream, overcoming the pulmonary epithelial barrier. Despite the low reactivity, the number of surface area atoms per unit mass is high in MPs and NPs, greatly enhancing the surface area for chemical reactions with bodily fluids and tissue in direct contact. This is proven in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and flock workers, who are prone to persistent inflammatory stimulation, leading to pulmonary fibrosis or even carcinogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment Related to Environmental Exposure)

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