Publications by authors named "Ana Rule"

Article Synopsis
  • Despite a decline in coal use in the US, over 90 million metric tons were exported in 2023, creating concerns about coal dust exposure among residents of Curtis Bay, Baltimore, who live near an open-air coal terminal.
  • A study aimed to address community concerns by analyzing settled dust samples from two locations near the terminal, using advanced techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify coal particles.
  • The analysis confirmed the presence of coal dust in both residential areas, with higher concentrations closer to the terminal, substantiating the residents' long-standing worries about coal dust accumulation in their environment.
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Objective: Dual use of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes is common among U.S. tobacco users, yet mis-perceptions about the harm of dual use persist, often oversimplifying its multifaceted exposure and health impacts.

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Background: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) is affected by high nicotine use and disease burden. Understanding nicotine exposure is important to recognize what groups may be at higher risk for negative health outcomes, including COVID-19.

Objective: To compare self-reported health outcomes and nicotine use between exclusive electronic cigarette (e-cig) users, users of combustible cigarettes, dual e-cig/cigarette users, and nonusers among adult residents on the CRST.

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  • Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a volatile organic compound and carcinogen, with limited reliable data on its ambient concentrations near production facilities, raising exposure concerns.
  • In February 2023, sensitive mobile measurements in southeastern Louisiana showed that 75% of sampled areas had EtO levels above the threshold associated with a 1-in-a-million cancer risk, with some locations exceeding levels indicating a 1-in-1,000 risk.
  • This study revealed higher EtO concentrations than previous EPA estimates and highlights the need for improved monitoring methods to assess exposure risks in industrial areas.
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  • Research indicates that exposure to a mixture of toxic and essential metals in men from the US Gulf states may affect cognitive functions like attention and memory.
  • The study involved measuring toenail concentrations of eight metals in 413 non-smoking men and assessing their neurobehavioral performance.
  • Significant findings showed that higher levels of chromium and manganese correlated with reduced attention and memory scores, with more pronounced deficits in Black participants compared to White participants.
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Urban particulate matter (PM; uPM) poses significant health risks, particularly to the respiratory system. Fine particles, such as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and exacerbate a range of health problems, including emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer.

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Background: Chronic arsenic exposure has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; diabetes; cancers of the lung, pancreas and prostate; and all-cause mortality in American Indian communities in the Strong Heart Study.

Objective: The Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS) designed and evaluated a multilevel, community-led arsenic mitigation program to reduce arsenic exposure among private well users in partnership with Northern Great Plains American Indian Nations.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the SHWS arsenic mitigation program over a 2-y period on ) urinary arsenic, and ) reported use of arsenic-safe water for drinking and cooking.

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Article Synopsis
  • Urban particulate matter (uPM) significantly impacts respiratory health and is linked to serious conditions like asthma, lung cancer, and heart diseases, while also reducing life expectancy.
  • A study aimed to explore whether uPM exposure can induce senescence in bone marrow-derived macrophages, essential cells for clearing particulate matter from the body.
  • Results show that uPM causes macrophages to exhibit a senescent phenotype, characterized by increased inflammatory markers and reduced cell growth, indicating that uPM exposure may impair immune function and contribute to various health issues.
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  • The study examines the demographics, usage patterns, and health outcomes of e-cigarette users, focusing on two types of devices: large modifiable (MOD) and small affordable (POD).
  • It recruited 91 participants, categorizing them into MOD users, POD users, dual users (both cigarettes and e-cigarettes), and non-users, collecting data via questionnaires and analyzing it through various statistical methods.
  • Results revealed that POD users tend to be younger and report more coughing, while MOD users take more puffs daily; both groups experience health issues like shortness of breath when compared to non-users, highlighting significant differences based on device type.
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Background: The rapid evolution of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products warrants surveillance of the differences in exposure across device types-modifiable devices (MODs), cartridge ("pod")-containing devices (PODs), disposable PODs (d-PODs)-and flavors of the products available on the market.

Objective: This study aimed to measure and compare metal aerosol concentrations by device type and common flavors.

Methods: We collected aerosol from 104 MODs, 67 PODs (four brands: JUUL, Bo, Suorin, PHIX), and 23 d-PODs (three brands: ZPOD, Bidi, Stig) via droplet deposition in a series of conical pipette tips.

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Low-cost air quality monitors are growing in popularity among both researchers and community members to understand variability in pollutant concentrations. Several studies have produced calibration approaches for these sensors for ambient air. These calibrations have been shown to depend primarily on relative humidity, particle size distribution, and particle composition, which may be different in indoor environments.

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Objective: The US Gulf region is heavily reliant on metal-emitting petrochemical and manufacturing industries. We characterized the effect of residential proximity to metal-emitting sites and metal body burden in Gulf states residents with particular attention to potential differential exposure burden by race.

Methods: We measured toenail concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 413 non-smoking men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-Up Study.

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Exposures to metals from industrial emissions can pose important health risks. The Chester-Trainer-Marcus Hook area of southeastern Pennsylvania is home to multiple petrochemical plants, a refinery, and a waste incinerator, most abutting socio-economically disadvantaged residential communities. Existing information on fenceline community exposures is based on monitoring data with low temporal and spatial resolution and EPA models that incorporate industry self-reporting.

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Welding fume is a common exposure in occupational settings. Gravimetric analysis for total particulate matter is common; however, the cost of laboratory analyses limits the availability of quantitative exposure assessment for welding fume metal constituents in occupational settings. We investigated whether a field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FP-XRF) could provide accurate estimates of personal exposures to metals common in welding fume (chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, vanadium, and zinc).

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Background: Toenails are a promising matrix for chronic metal exposure assessment, but there are currently no standard methods for collection and analysis. Questions remain about sample mass requirements and the extent to which metals measured in this matrix are representative of chronic body burden.

Objective: This study proposes a method to maximize sample conservation for toenail metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

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Importance: Structural racism has been implicated in the disproportionally high asthma morbidity experienced by children living in disadvantaged, urban neighborhoods. Current approaches designed to reduce asthma triggers have modest impact.

Objective: To examine whether participation in a housing mobility program that provided housing vouchers and assistance moving to low-poverty neighborhoods was associated with reduced asthma morbidity among children and to explore potential mediating factors.

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Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral determinants associated with exclusive use of arsenic-safe water in the community-led Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS) arsenic mitigation program.

Methods: The SHWS is a randomized controlled trial of a community-led arsenic mitigation program designed to reduce arsenic exposure among private well users in American Indian Great Plains communities. All households received point-of-use (POU) arsenic filters installed at baseline and were followed for 2 years.

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Background: Few studies have evaluated Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in longitudinal studies, as a potential source of metals which may have carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cardiotoxic effects. We evaluated metal body burden by ENDS use status in a longitudinal population-based national survey.

Methods: We used the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study wave 1 (2013-2014), wave 2 (2014-2015), and wave 3 (2015-2016) adult data to assess urinary concentrations of seven metals among (1) ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), (2) ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123) and (3) Never users (n = 1501) of any tobacco product.

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The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cig) has raised questions about the health effects of e-cig use, or vaping. Previous studies have reported on the potential of exposure to arsenic (As) and other metal(loid)s from vaping, but little is known about the speciation of As in the inhaled aerosols, an important determinant of toxicity. Inorganic As (iAs) species As and As are generally more hazardous than organic As species.

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Young children are particularly vulnerable to harms from tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). This study aimed to compare TSE: (1) between children who live in smoking families and those who do not; and (2) among children who live in smoking households with varying smoking locations. The data came from two studies that were conducted concurrently in Israel (2016-2018).

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Introduction: The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or vaping, is a relatively recent phenomenon, and there are various gaps in our current knowledge regarding the specific effects of e-cigarettes, such as their immunological effects. The importance of this question became even more relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This literature review examines the relationship between the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and immunological effects to examine available information and identify gaps in the current knowledge.

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Many rural populations, including American Indian communities, that use private wells from groundwater for their source of drinking and cooking water are disproportionately exposed to elevated levels of arsenic. However, programs aimed at reducing arsenic in American Indian communities are limited. The Strong Heart Water Study (SHWS) is a randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing arsenic exposure among private well users in American Indian Northern Great Plains communities.

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Background: Air trapping is an obstructive phenotype that has been associated with more severe and unstable asthma in children. Air trapping has been defined using pre- and postbronchodilator spirometry. The causes of air trapping are not completely understood.

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This study provides evidence of the seasonal and spatial variation of metal(lloid)s in particulate matter minor to 2.5 microns (PM) in the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area (TVMA), the fifth largest urban center in Mexico. Four sites were sampled between 2013 and 2014, which included urban and industrial areas, in the dry-cold (November-February) and dry-hot (March-May) seasons; PM was collected using high- and medium-volume samplers.

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Introduction: In July 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development passed a rule requiring public housing authorities to implement smoke-free housing (SFH) policies.

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