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Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants

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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 "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 21330

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alesia Ferguson

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Guest Editor

Built Environment Department, College of Science and Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Interests: risk assessment and dermal adherence and exposures; human activity patterns and exposures; outreach and education focused on exposure in and around the home; occupational exposure in the service industries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Interests: relationships between the environment and health; contaminant fate and transport; microbial contaminants in the environment and their transmission pathways; oceans and human health; environmental and human health impacts of heavy metals including those from pressure treated wood and from organic compounds including pesticides, oil, and PFAS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Children are at risk of increased exposure to environmental contaminants that may result in adverse health outcomes. These environmental contaminants include both chemical and biological agents and can be found in the home or public environments. Sources of environmental contaminants vary from natural to anthropogenic, where exposures occur through the inhalation, ingestion, or dermal routes. Children’s unique behaviors may increase their contaminant intake and the health outcomes associated with these intakes can be intensified during particular developmental stages. This Special Issue aims to showcase and summarize newer information about environmental contaminants that threaten children’s health and strategies and methodologies to mitigate children exposures and health outcomes. Welcome are papers that focus on climate change outcomes that worsen environmental exposures, such as particles exposures during forest fires or increased microbial exposures caused by alterations in weather, globalization, and/or deforestation. Measures of environmental contaminants found in dust in and around homes, and techniques to quantify children’s exposure to those contaminants are also of interest.

Dr. Alesia Ferguson
Prof. Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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

contaminants in dust
children's exposure
children's health outcomes
climate change effects on children
emerging contaminants

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Hand Hygiene Intervention in Community Kindergartens: A Quasi-Experimental Study

by Shiyang Wu, Richard Szewei Wang, Yu-Ni Huang, Thomas T. H. Wan, Tao-Hsin Tung and Bing-Long Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14639; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192214639 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1993

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hand hygiene interventions on the overall hand hygiene (HH) status of teaching instruction of hand hygiene in kindergartens, given the vulnerability of kindergarten children and their high risk due to infectious diseases and the current COVID-19 epidemic. We investigated the HH status of teachers from two kindergartens in the same community. The participants were recruited from 28 classes in both kindergartens. After completing the baseline survey, the intervention program consisted of three components: lectures on infectious diseases, lectures on HH, and seven-step hand washing techniques conducted in two kindergartens. The intervention program effectively increased teachers’ perceived disease susceptibility (p < 0.05), reduced the total bacterial colonization of children’s hands (p < 0.001), and improved the HH environment (p < 0.01). We recommend that health authorities or kindergartens adopt this HH intervention program to effectively improve the HH status in kindergartens and allow for preventive responses to the COVID-19 epidemic or other emerging infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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14 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Infant Formulas Marketed in Brazil, and Child Health Risks According to the Target Hazard Quotients and Target Cancer Risk

by Cristine Couto de Almeida, Diego dos Santos Baião, Paloma de Almeida Rodrigues, Tatiana Dillenburg Saint’Pierre, Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, Katia Christina Leandro, Vania Margaret Flosi Paschoalin, Marion Pereira da Costa and Carlos Adam Conte-Junior

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11178; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191811178 - 06 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2062

Abstract

Children are highly vulnerable to chemical exposure. Thus, metal and metalloid in infant formulas are a concern, although studies in this regard are still relatively scarce. Thus, the presence of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, tin, mercury, lead, and uranium was investigated in infant formulas marketed in Brazil by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) and Target Cancer Risk (TCR) were calculated in to assess the potential risk of toxicity for children who consume these products continuously. Aluminum ranging from 0.432 ± 0.049 to 1.241 ± 0.113 mg·kg⁻¹, arsenic from 0.012 ± 0.009 to 0.034 ± 0.006 mg·kg⁻¹, and tin from 0.007 ± 0.003 to 0.095 ± 0.024 mg·kg⁻¹ were the major elements, while cadmium and uranium were present at the lowest concentrations. According to the THQ, arsenic contents in infant formulas showed a THQ > 1, indicating potential health risk concerns for newborns or children. Minimal carcinogenic risks were observed for the elements considered carcinogenic. Metabolic and nutritional interactions are also discussed. This study indicates the need to improve infant formula surveillance concerning contamination by potentially toxic and carcinogenic elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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16 pages, 411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residence in an Area with Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals and Neurobehavioral Performance in Children 9–11 Years Old: An Explorative Study

by Rocío Capelo, Diane S. Rohlman, Rocío Jara, Tamara García, Jesús Viñas, José A. Lorca, Manuel Contreras Llanes and Juan Alguacil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4732; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19084732 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1517

Abstract

We explored the association between residence in an area polluted with metals and neurobehavioral performance in children aged 9 to 11. A cross-sectional study was conducted with thirty boys and thirty girls aged 9 to 11 from public schools in a heavily industrialized area, matched by age (±4 months) and gender with 15 boys and 15 girls from public schools in cities without relevant industrial activity. Neurobehavioral performance was assessed with the Behavioral Assessment and Research System. Linear regression models were used, adjusting for age, sex, social class and multimedia activities to predict each of the neurobehavioral outcome variables. No differences in neurobehavioral performance were found when all children with residence in areas with environmental exposure to metals were classified as exposed and the children from the other provinces as unexposed. However, when we compared children living <1 km from an industrial area with respect to those living more than 1 km away, significant differences were found. Children living <1 km away had lower scores on Finger Tapping (p = 0.03), Symbol-Digit (p = 0.07) and Continuous Performance (p = 0.02) than those living farther away. Our results support the hypothesis that residing close to an area with industrial activity (<1 km) is associated with deficits in neurobehavioral performance among children aged 9 to 11. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

16 pages, 753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification and Analysis of Micro-Level Activities Data from Children Aged 1–12 Years Old for Use in the Assessments of Exposure to Recycled Tire on Turf and Playgrounds

by Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Jocelyn Claude, Patty Wong, Asa Bradman, Carly Hyland, Rosemary Castorina, Robert A. Canales, Dean Billheimer, Elmira Torabzadeh, James O. Leckie and Paloma I. Beamer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2483; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19042483 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2495

Abstract

Background: There are growing health concerns about exposure to toxicants released from recycled tire rubber, which is commonly used in synthetic turf and playground mats. To better estimate children’s exposure and risk from recycled tire rubber used in synthetic turf and playground mats, there is a need to collect detailed accurate information on mouthing activity and dermal contact behaviors. The objective of this study was to quantify and analyze micro-level activity time series (MLATS) data from children aged 1–12 years old while playing (non-sport-related games) at turf-like locations and playgrounds. Another objective was to estimate the incidental ingestion rate of rubber crumb among children. Methods: Hand and mouth contact frequency, hourly duration, and median contact duration with different objects were calculated for children playing on turf (i.e., parks, lawns, and gardens) (n = 56) and for children playing on playground structures (n = 24). Statistically significant differences between males and females as well as children’s age groups were evaluated. The daily incidental ingestion rate of rubber crumb was calculated. Results: For children playing on turf, there were significant differences between younger (1–6 y) and older (7–12 y) children for the mouthing median duration with non-dietary objects and all objects. For children playing on playground structures, we found significant mouthing frequency differences between younger (1–6 y) and older children (7–12 y) with all objects, and for mouthing median duration with non-dietary objects. There were no significant differences between males and females playing on artificial turf-like surfaces or playground mats. Our estimated mean incidental ingestion rate was 0.08, 0.07, and 0.08 g rubber crumb/day for children <2, 2–6, and 6–11 years old, respectively. Discussion: our results suggest that age and contact duration should be considered in risk assessment models to evaluate mouthing activities when children are playing on artificial turf surfaces or playground mats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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14 pages, 1227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Lung Function in Children with Asthma: A Mediation Analysis

by Giovanna Cilluffo, Giuliana Ferrante, Nicola Murgia, Rosanna Mancini, Simona Pichini, Giuseppe Cuffari, Vittoria Giudice, Nicolò Tirone, Velia Malizia, Laura Montalbano, Salvatore Fasola, Roberta Pacifici, Giovanni Viegi and Stefania La Grutta

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1826; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19031826 - 05 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

Studies investigating the association between urinary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and asthma in children provided inhomogeneous results. We aimed to use Mediation Analysis to discover whether a link between urinary PAHs and lung function exists and if it might be ascribed to a direct or a symptom-mediated (indirect) effect in children with asthma. This single-center prospective study was conducted in Palermo, Italy, between March and July 2017 and involved 50 children with persistent mild-moderate asthma, aged 6–11 years. At each time visit (day 0, 30, 60, and 90), physical examination, spirometry, and urine collection for detection of urinary cotinine and PAHs were performed. A symptom score was computed. The sum of individually calculated molar mass of nine PAH metabolites (ΣPAH), naphthalene metabolites (ΣPAHn) and phenanthrene metabolites (ΣPAHp) were calculated. Three children withdrew from the study due to technical problems (n = 1) and adverse events (n = 2). PAHs indirect effects on FEV₁ (ΣPAH: −0.011, p = 0.04; ΣPAH_n: −0.011, p = 0.04; ΣPAH_p: −0.012, p < 0.001) and FVC (ΣPAH: −0.012, p = 0.02; ΣPAH_n: −0.0126, p = 0.02; ΣPAH_p: −0.013, p < 0.001) were statistically significant. In conclusion, PAHs exposures have significant indirect (symptom-mediated) effects on lung function, emphasizing the role of PAHs-induced respiratory morbidity in decreasing lung function in children with asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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12 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Metal Concentrations and Associations with Pulmonary Function among Children with Asthma in Chicago, Illinois

by Jessica M. Madrigal, Victoria Persky, Brian P. Jackson, Amy Bain, Matt Siemer, Andrea A. Pappalardo and Maria Argos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(14), 7279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18147279 - 07 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2404

Abstract

Individuals living in areas with the potential for elevated metal exposure from industrial sources may have reduced pulmonary function. We evaluated cross-sectional associations of toenail concentrations of 17 metals within a community area of residence and asthma control in 75 children, and pulmonary function measures [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1; liters), forced vital capacity (FVC; liters), FEV1 to FVC ratio (FEV1:FVC), and mid-exhalation forced expiratory flow rate (FEF 25–75%; liters/second)], in a subsample of 39 children with diagnosed asthma in Chicago, Illinois. Linear regression models were used to estimate adjusted regression coefficients and standard errors (SE) for the associations between ≥ median versus <median metal exposures and natural log-transformed (ln) pulmonary function test parameters. Toenail levels of cadmium, cobalt, iron, manganese, and vanadium were higher among children residing near an industrial corridor than those in a comparison community. Copper concentrations were inversely associated with lnFEV1 (β = −0.10, SE = 0.04, p = 0.01), lnFEV1:FVC (β = −0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.02) and lnFEF 25–75% (β = −0.25, SE = 0.09, p = 0.01); manganese concentrations were inversely associated with lnFEV1 (β = −0.11, SE = 0.04, p = 0.01), lnFEV1:FVC (β = −0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.02), and lnFEF 25–75% (β = −0.28, SE = 0.10, p = 0.004), and vanadium concentrations were inversely associated with lnFEV1 (β = −0.08, SE = 0.04, p = 0.05) and lnFVC (β = −0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.03). Nickel and copper were associated with uncontrolled asthma (OR = 6.8; 95% CI 2.0, 22.8 and OR = 4.6; 95% CI 1.0, 21.0, respectively). These data suggest that selected metal exposures may be associated with impaired pulmonary function parameters and reduced asthma control among children with preexisting asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

14 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concentrations of Seven Phthalate Monoesters in Infants and Toddlers Quantified in Urine Extracted from Diapers

by Fiorella Lucarini, Marc Blanchard, Tropoja Krasniqi, Nicolas Duda, Gaëlle Bailat Rosset, Alessandro Ceschi, Nicolas Roth, Nancy B. Hopf, Marie-Christine Broillet and Davide Staedler

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6806; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18136806 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

Carrying out exposure studies on children who are not toilet trained is challenging because of the difficulty of urine sampling. In this study, we optimized a protocol for urine collection from disposable diapers for the analysis of phthalate metabolites. The exposure of Swiss children (n = 113) between 6 months and 3 years of life to seven phthalates was assessed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry measurements. The study showed limited exposures to phthalates, with only 22% of the samples containing some of the metabolites investigated. The three most frequently detected metabolites were monoethyl phthalate, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate, and mono-benzyl phthalate. We also detected mono-n-octyl phthalate and mono(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) phthalate, which have rarely been observed in urine from infants and toddlers; therefore, di-n-octyl phthalate and bis(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) phthalate can be considered as potentially new emerging phthalates. This study presents an initial snapshot of the Swiss children’s exposure to phthalates and provides a promising approach for further phthalate biomonitoring studies on young children using disposable diapers as urine sampling technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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19 pages, 2398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantified Activity Patterns for Young Children in Beach Environments Relevant for Exposure to Contaminants

by Alesia Ferguson, Ashok Dwivedi, Foluke Adelabu, Esther Ehindero, Mehdi Lamssali, Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, Kristina Mena and Helena Solo-Gabriele

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3274; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18063274 - 22 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2514

Abstract

In a study to evaluate beach play activities, 120 children were videotaped to observe and quantify factors that could influence their exposure to contaminants in the beach environment. Children aged 1 to 6 years were followed by researchers with video cameras at beaches (two in Miami, Florida and two in Galveston, Texas) for approximately one hour each. Factors evaluated included time spent in various beach locations, various activities engaged in, and various surfaces contacted (including contacts by hand and mouth). Activities recorded in the videos were transcribed to text files to allow for quantitative analyses. Across all sexes, age groups, and beaches, Wading was the most common activity and Seawater was the most common location where children played. The left hand was found to not be in contact with objects most of the time, while the right hand, considered the most dominant hand in most cases, contacted Plastic-Toys the most. Although activity patterns collection through videotaping and videotranslation can be labor-intensive, once collected, they can be widely useful for estimates of exposures to all contaminants in the beach environment (e.g., microorganisms and chemicals) as well as UV exposure, with considerations for whether the contaminants are found in water, sand or both. These activity patterns were collected to potentially look at exposures following the Deepwater Horizon 2010 Spill. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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10 pages, 316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches

by Tanu Altomare, Patrick M. Tarwater, Alesia C. Ferguson, Helena M. Solo-Gabriele and Kristina D. Mena

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(1), 126; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18010126 - 27 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2737

Abstract

The human health impact from exposure to contaminated shorelines following an oil spill event has been investigated to some extent. However, the health risks to children have largely been characterized through the use of surveys and extrapolation from adult health outcomes. There is limited information on children’s behaviors during beach play requiring assumptions made based on observations from play activities in home settings. The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEACHES) quantified specific beach activities that can be used to inform human health risk assessments of children playing on beaches impacted by oil spills. The results of this study characterize children’s risk of cancer from exposure to oil spill chemicals by incorporating exposure-related information collected from the BEACHES study and by assuming oral, dermal, and inhalation exposure routes. Point risk estimates are compared with a previous, similar study that applied default exposure parameter values obtained from the published literature. The point risk estimates informed by BEACHES data are one order of magnitude lower compared with the previous risk assessment, with dermal exposures the overall risk driver in both. Additional Monte Carlo simulations evaluating the BEACHES data provide ranges of health risks with the highest estimates associated with dermal and oral exposure routes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Environmental Exposure to and Health Outcomes from Environmental Contaminants)

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