Neighbourhood social and physical environment and general practitioner assessed morbidity.

The aim of our study was to investigate the association between health enhancing and threatening, and social and physical aspects of the neighbourhood environment and general practitioner (GP) assessed morbidity of the people living there, in order to find out whether the effects of environmental characteristics add up or modify each other. We combined GP electronic health records with environmental data on neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. Cross-classified logistic multilevel models show the importance of taking into account several environmental characteristics and confounders, as social capital effects on the prevalence of morbidity disappear when other area characteristics are taken into account. Stratification by area socio-economic status, shows that the association between environmental characteristics and the prevalence of morbidity is stronger for people living in low SES areas. In low SES areas, green space seems to alleviate effects of air pollution on the prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes, while the effects of green space and social capital reinforce each other

Human Genotoxic Study Carried Out Two Years after Oil Exposure during the Clean-up Activities Using Two Different Biomarkers

Micronuclei, comet and chromosome alterations assays are the most widely used biomarkers for determining the genotoxic damage in a population exposed to genotoxic chemicals. While chromosome alterations are an excellent biomarker to detect short- and long-term genotoxic effects, the comet assay only measures early biological effects, and furthermore it is unknown whether nuclear abnormalies, such as those measured in the micronucleus test, remain detectable long-term after an acute exposure. In our previous study, an increase in structural chromosome alterations in fishermen involved in the clean-up of the Prestige oil spill, two years after acute exposure, was detected. The aim of this study is to investigate whether, in lymphocytes from peripheral blood, the nuclear abnormalies (micronucleus, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds) have a similar sensitivity to the chromosome damage analysis for genotoxic detection two years after oil exposure in the same non-smoker individuals and in the same peripheral blood extraction. No significant differences in nuclear abnormalies frequencies between exposed and non-exposed individuals were found (p > 0.05). However, chromosome damage, in the same individuals, was higher in exposed vs. non-exposed individuals, especially for chromosome lesions (p < 0.05). These findings, despite the small sample size, suggest that nuclear abnormalities are probably less-successful biomarkers than are chromosome alterations to evaluate genotoxic effects two or more years after an exposure to oil. Due to the great advantage of micronucleus automatic determination, which allows for a rapid study of hundreds of individuals exposed to genotoxic chemical exposure, further studies are needed to confirm whether this assay is or is not useful in long-term genotoxic studies after the toxic agent is no longer present

Heart Rate Variability in Association with Frequent Use of Household Sprays and Scented Products in SAPALDIA

Background: Household cleaning products are associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes, but the cardiovascular health effects are largely unknown. Objective: We determined if long-term use of household sprays and scented products at home was associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic cardiac dysfunction. Methods: We recorded 24-hr electrocardiograms in a cross-sectional survey of 581 Swiss adults, ≥ 50 years of age, who answered a detailed questionnaire regarding their use of household cleaning products in their homes. The adjusted average percent changes in standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals in 24 hr (24-hr SDNN) and total power (TP) were estimated in multiple linear regression in association with frequency [< 1, 1–3, or 4–7 days/week, unexposed (reference)] of using cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products. Results: Decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP were observed with frequent use of all product types, but the strongest reductions were associated with air freshening sprays. Compared with unexposed participants, we found that using air freshening sprays 4–7 days/week was associated with 11% [95% confidence interval (CI): –20%, –2%] and 29% (95% CI: –46%, –8%) decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP, respectively. Inverse associations of 24-SDNN and TP with increased use of cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products were observed mainly in participants with obstructive lung disease (p < 0.05 for interactions). Conclusions: In predominantly older adult women, long-term frequent use of household spray and scented products was associated with reduced HRV, which suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular health hazards. People with preexisting pulmonary conditions may be more susceptible

Microbial exposures in moisture-damaged schools and associations with respiratory symptoms in students : A multi-country environmental exposure study

Moisture-damaged buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms and underlying diseases among building occupants, but the causative agent(s) remain a mystery. We first identified specific fungal and bacterial taxa in classrooms with moisture damage in Finnish and Dutch primary schools. We then investigated associations of the identified moisture damage indicators with respiratory symptoms in more than 2700 students. Finally, we explored whether exposure to specific taxa within the indoor microbiota may explain the association between moisture damage and respiratory health. Schools were assessed for moisture damage through detailed inspections, and the microbial composition of settled dust in electrostatic dustfall collectors was determined using marker-gene analysis. In Finland, there were several positive associations between particular microbial indicators (diversity, richness, individual taxa) and a respiratory symptom score, while in the Netherlands, the associations tended to be mostly inverse and statistically non-significant. In Finland, abundance of the Sphingomonas bacterial genus and endotoxin levels partially explained the associations between moisture damage and symptom score. A few microbial taxa explained part of the associations with health, but overall, the observed associations between damage-associated individual taxa and respiratory health were limited.Peer reviewe

Associations between proximity to livestock farms, primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms

BACKGROUND: Living in a neighbourhood with a high density of livestock farms has been associated with adverse respiratory health effects, but less is known about healthcare utilisation. This study aimed at investigating the associations between livestock exposure and primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms. In addition, we examined the potentially confounding effect of distance from home to general practice. METHODS: Contact data between 2006 and 2009 were obtained from electronic medical records of 54,777 persons registered within 16 general practices in an area with a high density of livestock farms in the Netherlands. Data on self-reported symptoms were used from a cross-sectional sample of 531 patients in 2010. Livestock presence in a 500 m radius from home was computed using Geographic Information System data. RESULTS: In general, livestock exposure was associated with fewer contacts and self-reported symptoms for respiratory and other conditions. The number of poultry within 500 m was positively associated with the number of contacts. A longer distance to general practice was associated with fewer contacts, but did not confound associations. CONCLUSIONS: People living close to livestock farms less often see their general practitioner and report symptoms

Response to : 'Domestic use of bleach and infections in children: a multicentre cross-sectional study' Response

Non peer reviewe

Reactive oxygen stress generating capacity and inflammatory potential of settled dust samples from moisture damaged and reference schools

Exposure to moisture damaged indoor environment is associated with adverse respiratory health effects, but responsible factors remain unidentified. In order to elucidate the mechanism behind these effects, Reactive Oxidative Stress (ROS)-generating capacity of settled dust samples (n=25) collected from moisture damaged and reference schools in Spain, The Netherlands and Finland was evaluated. In addition, the results were compared with immunotoxicological endpoints analysed with an in vitro model. ROS capacity was assessed with a plasmid scission assay (PSA), which determines the dose able to damage 50 % of DNA from a plasmid sensitive to ROS (TD50 value). In addition, immunotoxicological endpoints such as production of inflammatory markers as well as mitochondrial activity, viability, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were analysed in vitro using mouse RAW264.7 macrophages as a model. The average TD50 values showed that samples from moisture damaged schools in Spain and The Netherlands had higher ROS capacity compared to samples from reference schools, whereas the capacity of Finnish samples was lower with no clear difference between the schools. The results were in line with the findings of an in vitro model showing significant geographical differences and a trend for higher potency of samples from moisture damaged environments in two out of three countries. The results indicate that ROS producing capacity of indoor dust tends to be higher in moisture damaged buildings, but geographical differences and high variance confounds the differentiation between moisture damaged and reference environments

Short-Term Changes in Respiratory Biomarkers after Swimming in a Chlorinated Pool

36 páginas, 3 figuras, 5 tablas.[BACKGROUND]: Swimming in chlorinated pools involves exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) and has been associated with impaired respiratory health.[OBJECTIVES]: We evaluated short-term changes in several respiratory biomarkers to explore mechanisms of potential lung damage related to swimming pool exposure.[METHODS]: We measured lung function and biomarkers of airway inflammation (fractional exhaled nitric oxide –FeNO- and 8 cytokines and 1 growth factor (VEGF) in exhaled breath condensate), oxidative stress (8-isoprostane in exhaled breath condensate), and lung permeability (surfactant protein D -SPD- and the Clara cell secretory protein -CC16- in serum) in 48 healthy non-smoking adults before and after swimming for 40 min in a chlorinated indoor swimming pool. We measured trihalomethanes in exhaled breath as a marker of individual exposure to DBPs. Energy expenditure during swimming, atopy and CC16 genotype (rs3741240) was also determined.[RESULTS]: Median serum CC16 levels increased from 6.01 to 6.21 μg/L (average increase 3.3%, paired Wilcoxon test p = 0.03), regardless of atopic status and CC16 genotype. This increase was explained both by energy expenditure and different markers of DBP exposure in multivariate models. FeNO was unchanged overall but tended to decrease among atopics. We found no significant changes in lung function, SP-D, 8-isoprostane, 8 cytokines and VEGF.[CONCLUSIONS]: A slight increase in serum CC16, a marker of lung epithelium permeability, was detected in healthy adults after swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool. Exercise and DBP exposure explained this association, without involving inflammatory mechanisms. Further research is needed to confirm the results, establish the clinical relevance of short-term serum CC16 changes, and evaluate the long-term health impacts.Work funded by the projects SAF2005-07643-C03-01; CP06/00341; CP01/3058; SAF2007-62719, FISCP06/00341 and FI06/00651.Peer reviewe