Publications by authors named "Bartell S"
Article Synopsis
- Many studies rely on a single blood sample to assess long-term exposure to substances like PFOA, but this approach may not accurately reflect true long-term exposure levels.
- A simulation study was conducted to evaluate how well these single samples represent over-time PFOA concentrations, comparing misclassification rates between short and long-term exposure data.
- For the general population in Norway, while single baseline samples often aligned closely with repeated samples taken up to 13 years apart, they were less reliable for representing average exposure across longer periods, especially during times of significant PFOA level changes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese adolescents.
- Results show that higher PFHpA plasma concentrations correlate with increased MASLD risk and that PFHpA disrupts liver metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism.
- The research also introduces a novel approach to identify individuals at high risk for PFHpA-induced MASLD and suggests potential early intervention strategies based on molecular signatures.
Article Synopsis
- PFAS are synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and can negatively impact human health, and microRNAs can serve as biomarkers for understanding their effects.
- This study aimed to explore the relationship between PFAS levels and miRNA alterations in children using data from two cohorts in the U.S. and Greece.
- Findings showed that PFAS exposure was linked to changes in numerous miRNAs, particularly decreased levels of miR-148b-3p and miR-29a-3p, which may be associated with chronic diseases like cardiovascular issues and cancer.
Article Synopsis
- This study addresses the challenges of using human biomonitoring data to assess chemical exposures in populations, especially for chemicals that break down quickly, like agricultural chemicals.
- The researchers investigate new ways to combine dietary exposure modeling with biomonitoring data, focusing on lambda-cyhalothrin and urinary metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA).
- By employing an approximate Bayesian computing (ABC) approach, they improved the correlation between predicted and measured urinary 3PBA levels, showing that their method gives better predictions than traditional Monte Carlo methods used in regulatory assessments.
Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitous due to their persistence in the environment and in humans. Extreme weight loss has been shown to influence concentrations of circulating persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Using data from the multi-center perspective Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort, we investigated changes in plasma-PFAS in adolescents after bariatric surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), an obesogen accumulating in adipose tissue, is released into circulation with weight loss, although its impact is underexplored among adolescents. We tested the association using an integrative translational approach of epidemiological analysis among adolescents with obesity and in vitro measures exploring the impact of DDE on adipogenesis via preadipocytes.
Methods: We included 63 participants from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort.
Article Synopsis
- - American Indians face higher risks of dementia due to air pollution, yet research specifically targeting this population is limited.
- - A study involving 26,871 American Indians aged 55+ found a significant connection between ozone levels and increased dementia risk while examining various air pollutants.
- - Findings indicate that for every increase in ozone, the risk of developing dementia increases by 24%, whereas particulate matter and nitrogen oxides showed no significant association.
Animal studies have pointed at the liver as a hotspot for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation and toxicity; however, these findings have not been replicated in human populations. We measured concentrations of seven PFAS in matched liver and plasma samples collected at the time of bariatric surgery from 64 adolescents in the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study. Liver:plasma concentration ratios were perfectly explained ( > 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Unmatched spatially stratified random sampling (SSRS) is a method that ensures the selection of geographically balanced control groups by dividing a study area into different regions and randomly choosing controls from non-cases within those regions.
- A case study on preterm birth in Massachusetts revealed that SSRS had lower mean squared error (MSE) and higher relative efficiency (RE) compared to traditional simple random sampling (SRS), making it a more effective method for control selection in spatial analyses.
- The results showed that SSRS produced more consistent and reliable maps for identifying significant areas across simulations, highlighting its advantages, especially in regions with lower population density.
Article Synopsis
- - Bone lead is identified as a more reliable biomarker for chronic lead exposure in communities, and a new portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device allows for quick measurements.
- - The study tested bone lead levels across five different bone sites and found no significant differences in measurements from these locations.
- - The average bone lead concentration was 21.6 μg/g, and while the portable XRF can measure cumulative lead exposure accurately, the tibia is recommended for consistent comparison across studies.
Introduction: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been associated with kidney cancer in human studies.
Methods: We conducted a pooled analysis of two large studies of PFOA and renal cell carcinoma (RCC, the most common type of kidney cancer); one from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (324 cases and controls), and a second from the C8 Science Panel (103 cases and 511 controls). Serum PFOA levels were estimated a median of 8 years before diagnosis.
Article Synopsis
- PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are commonly found in the environment and human bodies, primarily through contaminated drinking water, and have been linked to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) in past studies.
- The research involved analyzing birth and HDP data in the U.S. from 2013-2015 alongside PFAS concentration data, utilizing statistical methods to evaluate the relationships between these factors.
- Results showed small but statistically significant positive associations between various PFAS levels in drinking water and HDP cases, while further adjustments revealed a reversal of PFOA's effect and lesser impacts for other PFAS, highlighting the limitations of data reliance in such studies.
Article Synopsis
- Prenatal exposure to arsenic in drinking water from private wells, particularly concentrations above 5 μg/L, is linked to lower term birth weights, but not with gestational age.
- Researchers used machine learning models based on data from around 20,000 private wells and analyzed over 3.6 million birth certificates from 2016 to assess health outcomes.
- The study found significant decreases in term birth weight associated with increased probabilities of arsenic concentrations in drinking water, even at levels below the established harmful concentration of 50 μg/L.
Article Synopsis
- In environmental epidemiology, single measurements of toxicants in biological samples can misrepresent individual exposure, especially if those exposures occur before disease onset, leading to potential errors in health outcome assessments.
- This study utilized an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) method to refine exposure estimates for PFOA and examine its impact on preeclampsia using data from the C8 Studies in West Virginia and Ohio.
- The ABC method improved correlation between estimated and measured PFOA levels while significantly reducing errors, reaffirming previous findings about the association between PFOA and preeclampsia.
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environments across all continents and are relatively well known in the developed world. However, few studies have investigated their presence and biological effects in low- and middle-income countries. We provide a survey of CEC presence in the Volta River, Ghana, and examine the microbial consequences of anthropogenic activities along this economically and ecologically important African river.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine if occupational exposure to dioxins is associated with an increased frequency of t(14;18) translocations.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of serum dioxin levels and t(14;18) frequencies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 218 former chemical plant workers and 150 population controls.
Results: The workers had significantly higher geometric mean serum levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (26.
We conducted a detailed analysis of coronavirus disease in a large population center in southern California, USA (Orange County, population 3.2 million), to determine heterogeneity in risks for infection, test positivity, and death. We used a combination of datasets, including a population-representative seroprevalence survey, to assess the actual burden of disease and testing intensity, test positivity, and mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We conducted serological SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing from October to November 2020 to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among firefighters/paramedics in Orange County (OC), California.
Methods: OC firefighters employed at the time of the surveillance activity were invited to participate in a voluntary survey that collected demographic, occupational and previous COVID-19 testing data, and a SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody blood test. We collected venous blood samples using mobile phlebotomy teams that travelled to individual fire stations, in coordination with an annual tuberculosis testing campaign for firefighters employed by OC Fire Authority (OCFA), and independently for firefighters employed by cities.
The occurrence of some species listed under the United States' Endangered Species Act in agricultural landscapes suggests that their habitats could potentially be exposed to pesticides. However, the potential effects from such exposures on populations are difficult to estimate. Mechanistic models can provide an avenue to estimating the potential impacts on populations, considering realistic assumptions about the ecology of the species, the ecosystem it is part of, and the potential exposures within the habitat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- There have been mixed conclusions from various agencies regarding the link between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and cancers, particularly kidney and testicular cancers, largely due to differing interpretations of epidemiological data.
- This review assesses existing studies using Hill's criteria and performs a meta-analysis to quantify cancer risk associated with serum PFOA levels.
- Findings indicate a 16% increase in kidney cancer risk and a 3% increase in testicular cancer risk per 10 ng/mL increase in serum PFOA, but these results are limited by factors like few testicular studies and overlapping populations, suggesting the need for larger future research.
Article Synopsis
- Water consumption is vital for life, but it can expose people to harmful chemicals, necessitating accurate long-term consumption estimates.
- This study aims to estimate long-term water consumption using data from a representative sample of the US population, analyzed from the NHANES survey between 2005 and 2010.
- The findings show that using a random effects model leads to lower estimates in mean water consumption and variability, suggesting this method could be more effective for future exposure assessments.
Article Synopsis
- PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are commonly found in the blood of many Americans, and sources of exposure include food, water, and consumer products, yet the impact of carpeting types has not been extensively studied.
- The study aimed to analyze the link between serum PFAS levels and the type of flooring in homes of individuals aged 12 and older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005-2006).
- Findings revealed that individuals with low pile carpeting had significantly higher levels of specific PFAS chemicals (PFHxS and MeFOSAA) compared to those with smooth floors, suggesting that approximately 24% and 19% of these chemicals in their
Article Synopsis
- Current estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the US likely overlook a significant number of cases due to inconsistent testing access and variable symptoms among individuals.
- A study in Orange County, CA, sought to provide a more accurate estimate of adult SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence by surveying participants without prior knowledge of being tested, utilizing a diverse and representative sample of nearly 3,000 adults.
- The findings revealed an adjusted seroprevalence of about 11.5%, which is seven times higher than official figures, highlighting that Hispanic and low-income populations are disproportionately impacted by the virus.