Long-term exposure to PM10 above WHO guidelines exacerbates COVID-19 severity and mortality

COVID-19; COVID-19 mortality; COVID-19 severityCOVID-19; Mortalidad por COVID-19; Gravedad del COVID-19COVID-19; Mortalitat per COVID-19; Gravetat de la COVID-19Background Age, sex, race and comorbidities are insufficient to explain why some individuals remain asymptomatic after SARS-CoV-2 infection, while others die. In this sense, the increased risk caused by the long-term exposure to air pollution is being investigated to understand the high heterogeneity of the COVID-19 infection course. Objectives We aimed to assess the underlying effect of long-term exposure to NO2 and PM10 on the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted with 2112 patients suffering COVID-19 infection. We built two sets of multivariate predictive models to assess the relationship between the long-term exposure to NO2 and PM10 and COVID-19 outcome. First, the probability of either death or severe COVID-19 outcome was predicted as a function of all the clinical variables together with the pollutants exposure by means of two regularized logistic regressions. Subsequently, two regularized linear regressions were constructed to predict the percentage of dead or severe patients. Finally, odds ratios and effects estimates were calculated. Results We found that the long-term exposure to PM10 is a more important variable than some already stated comorbidities (i.e.: COPD/Asthma, diabetes, obesity) in the prediction of COVID-19 severity and mortality. PM10 showed the highest effects estimates (1.65, 95% CI 1.32–2.06) on COVID-19 severity. For mortality, the highest effect estimates corresponded to age (3.59, 95% CI 2.94–4.40), followed by PM10 (2.37, 95% CI 1.71–3.32). Finally, an increase of 1 µg/m3 in PM10 concentration causes an increase of 3.06% (95% CI 1.11%-4.25%) of patients suffering COVID-19 as a severe disease and an increase of 2.68% (95% CI 0.53%-5.58%) of deaths. Discussion These results demonstrate that long-term PM10 burdens above WHO guidelines exacerbate COVID-19 health outcomes. Hence, WHO guidelines, the air quality standard established by the Directive 2008/50/EU, and that of the US-EPA should be updated accordingly to protect human health

Occurrence and dietary intake of food processing contaminants (FPCs) in Catalonia, Spain

Altres ajuts: Agència Catalana de Seguretat Alimentària (ACSA), Department de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya.Food processing contaminants (FPCs) form a wide group of chemicals that are generated during different cooking practices. This study was aimed at determining the levels of a number of FPCs (i.e., acrylamide, furans, monochloropropanediols (MCPDs) and glycidyl esters (GEs)) in foodstuffs purchased in Catalonia (Spain), and assessing the human exposure for different population groups. The dietary intake of acrylamide for the adult population was estimated in 2.91 μg/day, while that of furan, 2-methylfurans and 3-methylfurans was 4.32, 7.35 and 0.439 μg/day, respectively. Finally, the exposure to 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD, 3-MCPD esters, 2-MCPD esters and GEs through food consumption was estimated in 0.657, 0.529, 10.7, 5.15 and 8.81 μg/day, respectively. The risk assessment showed that there is a health concern for developing neoplastic effects derived from the intake of acrylamide for all the population groups. In addition, toddlers and infants would exceed the threshold values of 3-MCDP and GEs. The global analysis of these results indicates that a special attention should be paid to the youngest population groups in Catalonia, reinforcing the need of conducting periodical monitoring studies and developing policy measures, especially focused on foodstuffs highly consumed by toddlers, infants and children

Essential and toxic elements in human milk concentrate with human milk lyophilizate: A preclinical study

Concentrated human milk (HM-concentrate) can be obtained from the simple and inexpensive method of donated breast milk direct lyophilization. A previous study reported that HM-concentrate contains the adequate amount of main macro- and micronutrients for use as a nutritional resource for preterm infants with very low birth weight admitted to neonatal intensive care units. However, further details need to be elucidated about HM-concentrate composition, particularly its content of essential and potentially toxic trace elements. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the concentration of essential and toxic elements in human milk considered baseline (HM-baseline) and HM-concentrate, as well as to quantify changes in concentration of these elements after the HM concentration process. The concentration of Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Mercury, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, Tin, and Thallium was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, Bayesian linear mixed effect models were applied to estimate the mean difference between HM-baseline and HM-concentrate samples. After comparison (HM-concentrate versus HM-baseline), a significant increase in concentration was observed only for Manganese (0.80 μg/L; 95% CrI [0.16; 1.43]) and Selenium (6.74 μg/L; 95% CrI [4.66; 8.86]), while Lead concentration (−6.13 μg/L; 95% CrI [-8.63; −3.61]) decreased. This study provides latest and reliable information about HM composition. After milk concentration by lyophilization, there was a significant increase only in the essential elements Manganese and Selenium. The essential micronutrient content in HM-concentrate was similar or higher than that in preterm mothers' milk, which suggests it is viable for nutritional support of preterm infants. In addition, the low concentrations of potentially toxic elements in HM-concentrate indicates that it is safe for consumption by premature newborns

Tumoral and normal brain tissue extraction protocol for wide-scope screening of organic pollutants

Little is known about the presence of organic pollutants in human brain (and even less in brain tumors). In this regard, it is necessary to develop new analytical protocols capable of identify-ing a wide range of exogenous chemicals in this type of samples (by combining target, suspect and non-target strategies). These methodologies should be robust and simple. This is particularly challenging for solid samples, as reliable extraction and clean-up techniques should be combined to obtain an optimal result. Hence, the present study focuses on the development of an analytical methodology that allows the screening of a wide range of organic chemicals in brain and brain tumor samples. This protocol was based on a solid-liquid extraction based on bead beating, solid-phase extraction clean-up with multi-layer mixed-mode cartridges, reconstitution and LC -HRMS analysis. To evaluate the performance of the extraction methodology, a set of 66 chemicals (e.g., pharmaceuticals, biocides, or plasticizers, among others) with a wide range of physicochemical properties was employed. Quality control parameters (i.e., linear range, sensitivity, matrix effect (ME%), and recoveries (R%)) were calculated and satisfactory results were obtained for them (e.g., R% within 60-120% for 32 chemicals, or ME% higher than 50% (signal suppression) for 79% of the chemicals)

The roses ocean and human health chair: A new way to engage the public in oceans and human health challenges

Involving and engaging stakeholders is crucial for studying and managing the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. The Oceans and Human Health Chair was founded in the town of Roses (Catalonia, Spain, NW Mediterranean) in 2018, the fruit of a regional partnership between various stakeholders, and for the purpose of leading the way to better health and wellbeing through ocean research and conservation. The Chair is located in an area of the Mediterranean with a notable fishing, tourist, and seafaring tradition and is close to a marine reserve, providing the opportunity to observe diverse environmental conditions and coastal and maritime activities. The Chair is a case study demonstrating that local, collaborative, transdisciplinary, trans-sector, and bottom-up approaches offer tremendous opportunities for engaging coastal communities to help support long-lasting solutions that benefit everyone, and especially those living by the sea or making their living from the goods and services provided by the sea. Furthermore, the Chair has successfully integrated most of its experts in oceans and human health from the most prestigious institutions in Catalonia. The Chair focuses on three main topics identified by local stakeholders: Fish and Health; Leisure, Health, and Wellbeing; and Medicines from the Sea. Led by stakeholder engagement, the Chair can serve as a novel approach within the oceans and human health field of study to tackle a variety of environmental and public health challenges related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, within the context of sociocultural issues. Drawing on the example provided by the Chair, four principles are established to encourage improved participatory processes in the oceans and human health field: bottom-up, “think local”, transdisciplinary and trans-sectorial, and “balance the many voices”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Roses Ocean and Human Health Chair: A New Way to Engage the Public in Oceans and Human Health Challenges

Involving and engaging stakeholders is crucial for studying and managing the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. The Oceans and Human Health Chair was founded in the town of Roses (Catalonia, Spain, NW Mediterranean) in 2018, the fruit of a regional partnership between various stakeholders, and for the purpose of leading the way to better health and wellbeing through ocean research and conservation. The Chair is located in an area of the Mediterranean with a notable fishing, tourist, and seafaring tradition and is close to a marine reserve, providing the opportunity to observe diverse environmental conditions and coastal and maritime activities. The Chair is a case study demonstrating that local, collaborative, transdisciplinary, trans-sector, and bottom-up approaches offer tremendous opportunities for engaging coastal communities to help support long-lasting solutions that benefit everyone, and especially those living by the sea or making their living from the goods and services provided by the sea. Furthermore, the Chair has successfully integrated most of its experts in oceans and human health from the most prestigious institutions in Catalonia. The Chair focuses on three main topics identified by local stakeholders: Fish and Health; Leisure, Health, and Wellbeing; and Medicines from the Sea. Led by stakeholder engagement, the Chair can serve as a novel approach within the oceans and human health field of study to tackle a variety of environmental and public health challenges related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, within the context of sociocultural issues. Drawing on the example provided by the Chair, four principles are established to encourage improved participatory processes in the oceans and human health field: bottom-up, "think local", transdisciplinary and trans-sectorial, and "balance the many voices"

Determinació de l’exposició a alcaloides de la pirrolizidina, alumini, aflatoxines i fitosanitaris pel consum de tes i herbes per a infusions a Catalunya: avaluació del risc per a la salut

Alcaloides de la pirrolizidina; Toxines naturals; PlantesAlcaloides de la pirrolizidina; Toxinas naturales; PlantasPyrrolizidine alkaloids; Natural toxins; FloorsEls objectius específics d’aquest estudi són els següents: Determinar i quantificar la presència d’alcaloides de la pirrolizidina, alumini, aflatoxines i fitosanitaris en els tes i les herbes per a infusions del mercat català. Estimar l’exposició dietètica de la població de Catalunya a alcaloides de la pirrolizidina, alumini, aflatoxines i fitosanitaris a través dels tes i herbes per a infusions. Avaluar el risc que representa l’exposició dietètica a aquestes substàncies derivada del consum de tes i herbes per a infusions. Determinar paràmetres microbiològics patògens i indicadors per avaluar l’estat higienicosanitari en els tes i herbes per a infusions

Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in Human Blood: A Review of Data from the Current Decade

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) are environmental pollutants with great persistence, the capacity of bioaccumulation, and well known important toxic effects in humans and animals. Incinerators of hazardous, municipal and medical waste, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp, cement plants, and the traffic of motor vehicles are the most frequent emission sources of these compounds. The diet, followed at a great distance by inhalation, is generally the main way of human exposure to PCDD/Fs. Human biomonitoring is of great importance to prevent potential adverse effects derived from exposure to chemicals such as PCDD/Fs. In relation to this, blood is among the most used biological monitors. In the current review, we have summarized the recent information (2000–2009) published in the scientific literature (databases: Scopus and PubMed) on the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood samples of non-occupationally exposed populations, as well as in some groups of occupationally exposed individuals. We have revised a number of studies conducted in various African, American, Asian and European countries, and Australia. Unfortunately, the information is quite limited. No data are available for most countries over the world. Based on the results here reviewed, where available, the current health risks for the general populations do not seem to be of concern. Moreover, taking into account the important reductions observed in the levels of PCDD/Fs in foodstuffs, new decreases in the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood—and other biological tissues—are very probable in the immediate years

Dones i sabates. El paper de la dona en el procés de la indústria del calçat a Ciutadella de Menorca

Realitzar un estudi sobre qualsevol aspecte relacionat amb la dona no és mai un camí fàcil de recórrer. Els principals obstacles vénen de la manca d’histo- riografia existent sobre les dones, o de la generalització dels termes sota els quals queden ocultes en la majoria dels treballs d’investigació publicats.Encara que no s’han estudiat les dones fins ara, és important destacar que cada vegada hi ha més historiadors, i historiadores sobretot, que volen resca- tar el passat de la dona.En relació amb el tema de la dona i les sabates a Ciutadella, la problemàti- ca és la mateixa. Per aquest motiu, amb aquest estudi s’ha volgut treure a la llum l’inexistent –la història de les sabateres ciutadellenques– amb antece- dents que ens remeten al s. XIX i amb vivències que ens apropen a la més recent actualitat