Public healthcare costs associated with long-term exposure to mixtures of persistent organic pollutants in two areas of Southern Spain: A longitudinal analysis.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that had been banned or restricted in many countries, including Spain. However, their ubiquity still poses environmental and human health threats.

Objective: To longitudinally explore public healthcare costs associated with long-term exposure to a mixture of 8 POPs in a cohort of residents of two areas of Granada Province, Southern Spain.

Historical exposure to persistent organic pollutants and cardiovascular disease: A 15-year longitudinal analysis focused on pharmaceutical consumption in primary care.

Background: Despite restrictions on their production and use, most of the population is still exposed to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These chemicals are thought to contribute to the aetiology of highly prevalent chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), although current evidences are still controversial.

Objectives: To explore the potential contribution of historical POP exposure to 15-year pharmaceutical consumption in relation to CVD.

The efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy on pain and quality of life in patients with painful bone metastases: a prospective study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy in alleviating pain and improving the quality of life (QoL) with validated questionnaires in patients with painful bone metastases (BoM).

Methods: This prospective, observational study recruited 167 patients with painful BoM who were treated with palliative radiotherapy (PRT) from February 2015 to February 2018. After the first clinical assessment, the patients filled out specific questionnaires and underwent a fast radiotherapy treatment within 48 hours.

Human biomonitoring as a tool for exposure assessment in industrially contaminated sites (ICSs). Lessons learned within the ICS and Health European Network.

Background: the mixed and complex nature of industrially contaminated sites (ICSs) leads to heterogeneity in exposure and health risk of residents living nearby. Health, environment, and social aspects are strongly interconnected in ICSs, and local communities are often concerned about potential health impact and needs for remediation. The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) for impact assessment of environmental exposure is increasing in Europe.

A review of exposure assessment methods for epidemiological studies of health effects related to industrially contaminated sites.

Background: this paper is based upon work from COST Action ICSHNet. Health risks related to living close to industrially contaminated sites (ICSs) are a public concern. Toxicology-based risk assessment of single contaminants is the main approach to assess health risks, but epidemiological studies which investigate the relationships between exposure and health directly in the affected population have contributed important evidence.