Residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial sites and toenail metal concentrations in a United States-wide prospective cohort.

Background: Industrial facilities across the United States (US) release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals, including metals. Exposure to toxic metals has been associated with adverse health outcomes, but there is limited evidence on the association between living near metal-releasing facilities and the body burden of emitted compounds.

Objective: To investigate the association between residential proximity to toxic metal-emitting industrial facilities and toenail metal concentrations and to evaluate whether associations differed by race.

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies.

We synthesized the epidemiologic evidence on the associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and breast cancer risk. Our systematic review and meta-analysis included 18 and 11 articles, respectively, covering studies up to February 2023. The summary relative risks (RRs) estimated by random-effects meta-analyses did not support an association between PFAS and overall breast cancer risk (eg, a natural log (ln)-unit increase in serum/plasma concentrations [ng/mL] for perfluorooctanoate [PFOA] RR = 0.

Outdoor air pollution exposure and uterine cancer incidence in the Sister Study.

Background: Outdoor air pollution is a ubiquitous exposure that includes endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic compounds that may contribute to the risk of hormone-sensitive outcomes such as uterine cancer. However, there is limited evidence about the relationship between outdoor air pollution and uterine cancer incidence.

Methods: We investigated the associations of residential exposure to particulate matter less than 2.

Opportunities, challenges, and future directions for simulation modeling the effects of structural racism on cancer mortality in the United States: a scoping review.

Purpose: Structural racism could contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in cancer mortality via its broad effects on housing, economic opportunities, and health care. However, there has been limited focus on incorporating structural racism into simulation models designed to identify practice and policy strategies to support health equity. We reviewed studies evaluating structural racism and cancer mortality disparities to highlight opportunities, challenges, and future directions to capture this broad concept in simulation modeling research.

Air pollution and epigenetic aging among Black and White women in the US.

Background: DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging have been associated with air pollution and may link pollutant exposures to aging-related health outcomes. However, evidence is inconsistent and there is little information for Black women.

Objective: We examined associations of ambient particulate matter <2.

Understanding the role of environmental and socioeconomic factors in the geographic variation of breast cancer risk in the US-wide Sister Study.

Objective: To describe the geographic pattern of breast cancer incidence in a nationwide prospective cohort and investigate whether environmental exposures and/or neighborhood socioeconomic status explain observed geographic disparities.

Methods: Using accelerated failure time models with a spatial random effect term, we mapped the health region-level association between residential location and breast cancer incidence for 44,707 participants in the Sister Study after controlling for established individual-level breast cancer risk factors. We performed a variable selection process to select environmental exposures [i.

Outdoor air pollution and histologic composition of normal breast tissue.

Background: Biologic pathways underlying the association between outdoor air pollution and breast cancer risk are poorly understood. Breast tissue composition may reflect cumulative exposure to breast cancer risk factors and has been associated with breast cancer risk among patients with benign breast disease. Herein, we evaluated whether fine particulate matter (PM) was associated with the histologic composition of normal breast tissue.

Susceptible windows of exposure to fine particulate matter and fetal growth trajectories in the Spanish INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente) birth cohort.

While prior studies report associations between fine particulate matter (PM) exposure and fetal growth, few have explored temporally refined susceptible windows of exposure. We included 2328 women from the Spanish INMA Project from 2003 to 2008. Longitudinal growth curves were constructed for each fetus using ultrasounds from 12, 20, and 34 gestational weeks.

Maternal occupational exposure to chemicals and child cognitive function.

Background: Limited data exist regarding child neurodevelopment in relation to maternal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Methods: We included 1058 mother-child pairs from the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) project (2003-2008). Using a job-exposure matrix, exposure probability scores for ten EDC groups were assigned to each mother based on her longest held job during pregnancy.

Maternal occupational exposures and fetal growth in a Spanish birth cohort.

While the epidemiologic literature suggests certain maternal occupational exposures may be associated with reduced measures of size at birth, the occupational literature employing fetal biometry data to assess fetal growth is sparse. The present study examines associations between maternal occupational exposures and ultrasound-measured fetal growth. We included 1,739 singleton pregnancies from the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) project (2003-2008).

Identifying Sensitive Windows of Exposure to NO2 and Fetal Growth Trajectories in a Spanish Birth Cohort.

Background: We previously identified associations between trimester-specific NO2 exposures and reduced fetal growth in the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) project. Here, we use temporally refined exposure estimates to explore the impact of narrow (weekly) windows of exposure on fetal growth.

Methods: We included 1,685 women from INMA with serial ultrasounds at 12, 20, and 34 gestational weeks.

Mental wellbeing among Hispanic female domestic cleaners.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the mental wellbeing of self-employed, Hispanic female domestic cleaners in San Antonio, Texas.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study and administered a short questionnaire to 56 participants. Mental wellbeing was assessed using The World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5).

Exploring Disparities in Maternal Residential Proximity to Unconventional Gas Development in the Barnett Shale in North Texas.

: This study explores sociodemographic disparities in residential proximity to unconventional gas development (UGD) among pregnant women. : We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a retrospective birth cohort of 164,658 women with a live birth or fetal death from November 2010 to 2012 in the 24-county area comprising the Barnett Shale play, in North Texas. We considered both individual- and census tract-level indicators of sociodemographic status and computed Indexes of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) to quantify relative neighborhood-level privilege/disadvantage.

Communication Preferences and Satisfaction of Secure Messaging Among Patients and Providers in the Military Healthcare System.

Introduction: Use of electronic secure messaging (SM) is rapidly growing in various healthcare settings. However, there is a large number of patients that choose not use SM or use it minimally. Thus, understanding preferences for patient-provider communication modalities is critically important, particularly among military healthcare beneficiaries.