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Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment

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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 (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 29283

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nicolle S. Tulve

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Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Interests: children's environmental health; exposures to chemical agents; influences of social determinants of health on chemical exposures; total environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Children are exposed to a wide variety of chemical and non-chemical stressors at each lifestage throughout their lifecourse, potentially impacting their lifelong health and well-being. However, we currently do not fully understand how chemical and non-chemical stressors from the built, natural, and social environments interact to influence health and well-being across the human lifecourse. There is growing recognition that environmental and social factors interact in complex ways to determine human health and well-being, and that optimizing environments for healthy and sustainable living requires an understanding of this complexity.

For this Special Issue, we invite submissions that examine the interrelationships between chemical and non-chemical stressors on children's health and well-being with an emphasis on understanding how non-chemical stressors act as modifiers of chemical exposures. Papers addressing policy implications, community health with a focus on child-specific environments, and translation of in vivo/in vitro systems to human health may also be considered.

Prof. Dr. Nicolle S. Tulve
Guest Editor

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

children
social determinants of health
non-chemical stressors
chemical stressors
lifestage
exposure
health
well-being
total environment

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Neurotoxicants and Disparities in Markers of Neurodevelopment in Children by Maternal Nativity Status

by Faven Araya, Jeanette A. Stingone and Luz Claudio

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(14), 7512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147512 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1992

Abstract

Exposure levels to environmental pollutants vary significantly among different populations. These inequities in exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAP) among different populations can contribute to disparities in neurodevelopmental outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if exposure to HAP varies by maternal nativity status, a demographic marker often overlooked in the study of health disparities. We also assessed if those inequalities in exposure levels are associated with neurodevelopmental measures in young children. To do this, we obtained data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth cohort (ECLS-B), a nationally representative sample of children born in the U.S. in the year 2001 (n = 4750). Bayley’s Short Form-Research Edition (BSF-R) was used to measure cognitive development at 2 years of age. Using residential location at nine months of age, participants were assigned exposures to ten HAPs identified as potentially neurotoxic. Linear regression models were used to assess the joint effect of maternal nativity status and HAP exposure on neurodevelopment. Results showed inequities in exposure levels to ten different HAPs among the populations, as approximately 32% of children of foreign-born mothers were exposed to high levels of HAPs, compared to 21% of children born to U.S.-born mothers. Adjusting for socioeconomic factors, both isophorone exposure (a marker of industrial pollution) (−0.04, 95% CI, −0.12, 0.04) and maternal nativity status (−0.17, 95% CI, −0.27, −0.06) were independently associated with lower standardized BSF-R mental scores in children. Interaction between nativity status and isophorone was not statistically significant, but the change in mental scores associated with isophorone exposure was greater in children of foreign-born mothers compared to children of U.S.-born mothers (−0.12, vs. −0.03, p = 0.2). In conclusion, exposure to HAPs within the highest quartile was more commonly found among children of foreign-born mothers as compared to children of US-born mothers, indicating inequities in pollutant exposure by nativity status within urban populations. Exposures associated with nativity status may negatively contribute to children’s neurodevelopment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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16 pages, 644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Pollution, Neonatal Immune Responses, and Potential Joint Effects of Maternal Depression

by Jill Hahn, Diane R. Gold, Brent A. Coull, Marie C. McCormick, Patricia W. Finn, David L. Perkins, Sheryl L. Rifas Shiman, Emily Oken and Laura D. Kubzansky

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105062 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2472

Abstract

Prenatal maternal exposure to air pollution may cause adverse health effects in offspring, potentially through altered immune responses. Maternal psychosocial distress can also alter immune function and may increase gestational vulnerability to air pollution exposure. We investigated whether prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with altered immune responses in cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) and potential modification by maternal depression in 463 women recruited in early pregnancy (1999–2001) into the Project Viva longitudinal cohort. We estimated black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), residential proximity to major roadways, and near-residence traffic density, averaged over pregnancy. Women reported depressive symptoms in mid-pregnancy (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and depression history by questionnaire. Immune responses were assayed by concentrations of three cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), in unstimulated or stimulated (phytohemagglutinin (PHA), cockroach extract (Bla g 2), house dust mite extract (Der f 1)) CBMCs. Using multivariable linear or Tobit regression analyses, we found that CBMCs production of IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-10 were all lower in mothers exposed to higher levels of PM_2.5 during pregnancy. A suggestive but not statistically significant pattern of lower cord blood cytokine concentrations from ever (versus never) depressed women exposed to PM_2.5, BC, or traffic was also observed and warrants further study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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10 pages, 839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Exposures in Singapore Schools: An Ecological Study

by Divya Periyakoil, Hari Prasanna Das, Clayton Miller, Costas J. Spanos and Ndola Prata

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041843 - 14 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2621

Abstract

Global climate change is a clear and present danger to our environment, but the impacts of climate change on human health are less known. People in Asian countries are more susceptible to the negative impacts of climate change and the subsequent environmental exposures because of the high population density, rapid urbanization, and natural geography of the region. The objective of this multidisciplinary collaborative ecological study was to explore the impact of environmental exposures such as temperature (°C), noise (db), humidity (%rh), air conditioning exposure time (hours), and distance traveled to school (km) on the comfort and academic success of school children in Singapore. Analysis of a large dataset from the Singapore National Science Experiment revealed a positive correlation between the distance traveled to school and favorable environmental conditions (moderate temperatures, low noise, low humidity, and higher amount of air conditioning time) and student academic performance. The analysis revealed that the distance traveled between home and school for public school students falls within a larger range than that for independent (private) school students. On average, students traveled farther distances to attend schools of higher academic caliber thereby increasing their exposure to environmental pollution. Student exposure to pollution can be minimized if all schools adhere to higher standards of environmental comfort and standardized academic caliber. If students can attend the school closest to their homes, they can minimize their daily pollution exposure due to traffic/commute, thereby mitigating the resultant negative health consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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18 pages, 3052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gestational Pesticide Exposure and Child Respiratory Health

by Robyn Gilden, Erika Friedmann, Katie Holmes, Kimberly Yolton, Yingying Xu, Bruce Lanphear, Aimin Chen, Joseph Braun and Adam Spanier

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 7165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197165 - 30 Sep 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2306

Abstract

Background: Childhood wheeze may be related to pesticide exposure, and diet and genetics (Paroxonase; PON1) may modify the effects of exposure. Methods: We analyzed data from the HOME Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort, to examine the association of gestational urinary organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (3PBA) metabolite concentrations with child wheeze, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at ages 4 and 5 years, and wheeze trajectory patterns through age 8 years. Results: Among 367 singletons, the frequency of wheeze ranged from 10.6% to 24.1% at each measurement age. OP and 3PBA metabolite concentrations were not associated with wheeze at 8 years or from birth to 8 years, but there were three significant interactions: (1) maternal daily fruit and vegetable consumption (less than daily consumption and increasing 3PBA was associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 1.40), (2) maternal PON1_-108 allele (CT/TT genotypes and high DE was associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 2.13, 2.74) and (3) PON1₁₉₂ alleles (QR/RR genotypes with higher diethylphosphate (DE) and dialkyl phosphate (DAP) were associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 3.84). Pesticide metabolites were not consistently related to FEV1 or wheeze trajectory. Conclusions: Gestational OP and 3PBA metabolites were associated with child respiratory outcomes in participants with maternal dietary and genetic susceptibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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Review

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13 pages, 2233 KiB

Open AccessReview

Children’s Environmental Health: A Systems Approach for Anticipating Impacts from Chemicals

by Elaine A. Cohen Hubal, David M. Reif, Rachel Slover, Ashley Mullikin and John C. Little

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8337; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228337 - 11 Nov 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2681

Abstract

Increasing numbers of chemicals are on the market and present in consumer products. Emerging evidence on the relationship between environmental contributions and prevalent diseases suggests associations between early-life exposure to manufactured chemicals and a wide range of children’s health outcomes. Using current assessment methodologies, public health and chemical management decisionmakers face challenges in evaluating and anticipating the potential impacts of exposure to chemicals on children’s health in the broader context of their physical (built and natural) and social environments. Here, we consider a systems approach to address the complexity of children’s environmental health and the role of exposure to chemicals during early life, in the context of nonchemical stressors, on health outcomes. By advancing the tools for integrating this more complex information, the scope of considerations that support chemical management decisions can be extended to include holistic impacts on children’s health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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35 pages, 1593 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Meta-Analysis of Stressors from the Total Environment Associated with Children’s General Cognitive Ability

by Frances M. Nilsen, Jazmin D.C. Ruiz and Nicolle S. Tulve

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5451; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155451 - 29 Jul 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7150

Abstract

General cognitive ability, often referred to as ‘general intelligence’, comprises a variety of correlated abilities. Childhood general cognitive ability is a well-studied area of research and can be used to predict social outcomes and perceived success. Early life stage (e.g., prenatal, postnatal, toddler) exposures to stressors (i.e., chemical and non-chemical stressors from the total (built, natural, social) environment) can impact the development of childhood cognitive ability. Building from our systematic scoping review (Ruiz et al., 2016), we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate more than 100 stressors related to cognitive development. Our meta-analysis identified 23 stressors with a significant increase in their likelihood to influence childhood cognitive ability by 10% or more, and 80 stressors were observed to have a statistically significant effect on cognitive ability. Stressors most impactful to cognition during the prenatal period were related to maternal health and the mother’s ability to access information relevant to a healthy pregnancy (e.g., diet, lifestyle). Stressors most impactful to cognition during the early childhood period were dietary nutrients (infancy), quality of social interaction (toddler), and exposure to toxic substances (throughout early childhood). In conducting this analysis, we examined the relative impact of real-world exposures on cognitive development to attempt to understand the inter-relationships between exposures to both chemical and non-chemical stressors and early developmental life stages. Our findings suggest that the stressors observed to be the most influential to childhood cognitive ability are not permanent and can be broadly categorized as activities/behaviors which can be modified to improve childhood cognition. This meta-analysis supports the idea that there are complex relationships between a child’s total environment and early cognitive development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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32 pages, 3370 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Investigating the Relationship between Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors during Prenatal Development and Childhood Externalizing Behaviors

by Frances M. Nilsen, Jessica Frank and Nicolle S. Tulve

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072361 - 31 Mar 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6112

Abstract

Childhood behavioral outcomes have been linked to low quality intrauterine environments caused by prenatal exposures to both chemical and non-chemical stressors. The effect(s) from the many stressors a child can be prenatally exposed to may be influenced by complex interactive relationships that are just beginning to be understood. Chemical stressors influence behavioral outcomes by affecting the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) enzyme, which is involved in serotonin metabolism and the neuroendocrine response to stress. Non-chemical stressors, particularly those associated with violence, have been shown to influence and exacerbate the externalizing behavioral outcomes associated with low MAOA activity and slowed serotonin metabolism. The adverse developmental effects associated with high stress and maternal drug use during pregnancy are well documented. However, research examining the combined effects of other non-chemical and chemical stressors on development and childhood outcomes as a result of gestational exposures is scarce but is an expanding field. In this systematic review, we examined the extant literature to explore the interrelationships between exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors (specifically stressful/traumatic experiences), MAOA characteristics, and childhood externalizing behaviors. We observed that exposures to chemical stressors (recreational drugs and environmental chemicals) are significantly related to externalizing behavioral outcomes in children. We also observed that existing literature examining the interactions between MAOA characteristics, exposures to chemical stressors, and traumatic experiences and their effects on behavioral outcomes is sparse. We propose that maternal stress and cortisol fluctuations during pregnancy may be an avenue to link these concepts. We recommend that future studies investigating childhood behaviors include chemical and non-chemical stressors as well as children’s inherent genetic characteristics to gain a holistic understanding of the relationship between prenatal exposures and childhood behavioral outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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Other

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5 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

The Dose Makes the Poison: A Case Report of Acquired Methemoglobinemia

by Giulia Cannata, Luciana Abate, Chiara Scarabello, Monica Rubini, Alessandra Giacometti, Nicola Principi, Susanna Esposito and Icilio Dodi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(6), 1845; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17061845 - 12 Mar 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

Background: Methemoglobinemia (MET) should be suspected in cases where cyanosis is not associated with signs and symptoms of lung and/or heart disease, or in a cyanotic child exhibiting discrepancies in the partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood, the blood oxygen saturation, and the clinical assessment. Case presentation: A 10-month-old girl was taken to the Pediatric Emergency Department for the acute, sudden development of significant peroral cyanosis associated with gray pigmentation of the skin. The problem was evidenced approximately one hour after she ingested a homemade puree of mixed vegetables, mainly composed of potatoes and chards that had been prepared three days before and had been kept in the refrigerator since then. Physical examination revealed that the child was very pale, conscious, and without respiratory distress. Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the arterial blood (SpO₂) was 94%. Respiratory, cardiovascular, and abdominal evaluations did not reveal any signs of disease. A venous blood sample showed chocolate-colored blood with a pH of 7.404, a partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) of 40.6 mmHg, a partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂) of 21.3 mmHg, a bicarbonate level of 24 mmol/L, and an oxygen saturation (SO₂%) of 47.7%. CO-oximetry carried out simultaneously identified a methemoglobin level of 22%. MET was suspected, and oxygen via nasal cannula at a rate of 4 L/min was given with only a slight increase in oxygen saturation (96%). Slow intravenous injection of methylene blue 1 mg/kg over a period of 5 min was initiated. The peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) gradually improved to 100% over the next 20 min. Forty minutes later, venous blood gas analysis showed a methemoglobin level of 0.9% with a complete resolution of cyanosis; supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula was therefore discontinued. During the next 36 h, the patient remained hemodynamically stable with good oxygenation on room air. Conclusions: This case report shows that recognition of acquired MET in a child with sudden cyanosis onset requires a high index of suspicion. In daily activities, there is a need to pay particular attention when homemade vegetable soups for child alimentation are prepared. The consumption of vegetable soups must occur immediately after preparation. Storage in a refrigerator must last no more than 24 h and if longer storage is needed, vegetable soups should be frozen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors Found in Their Everyday Environment)

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