Volatile hydrocarbon exposures and immune-related illnesses among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: Despite evidence from experimental studies linking some petroleum hydrocarbons to markers of immune suppression, limited epidemiologic research exists on this topic.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine associations of oil spill related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and n-hexane (BTEX-H)) and total hydrocarbons (THC) with immune-related illnesses as indicators of potential immune suppression.

Methods: Subjects comprised 8601 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill clean-up and response workers who participated in a home visit (1-3 years after the DWH spill) in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study.

The environmental neuroactive chemicals list of prioritized substances for human biomonitoring and neurotoxicity testing: A database and high-throughput toxicokinetics approach.

There is a diversity of chemicals to which humans are potentially exposed. Few of these chemicals have linked human biomonitoring data, and most have very limited neurotoxicity testing. Of particular concern are environmental exposures impacting children, who constitute a population of heightened susceptibility due to rapid neural growth and plasticity, yet lack biomonitoring data compared to other age/population subgroups.

Impact of genetic polymorphisms on associations between crude oil exposure and health effects among Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon responders.

The U.S. Coast Guard led a clean-up response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, the largest marine oil spill in history.

Acute gastrointestinal symptoms associated with oil spill exposures among U.S. coast guard responders to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Purpose: Research investigating gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms from oil spill-related exposures is sparse. We evaluated prevalent GI symptoms among U.S.

Estimating rates of change to interpret quantitative wastewater surveillance of disease trends.

Background: Wastewater monitoring data can be used to estimate disease trends to inform public health responses. One commonly estimated metric is the rate of change in pathogen quantity, which typically correlates with clinical surveillance in retrospective analyses. However, the accuracy of rate of change estimation approaches has not previously been evaluated.

Racial Disparities in Maternal Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution During Pregnancy and Prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects.

Air pollution may be a potential cause of congenital heart defects (CHDs), but racial disparities in this association are unexplored. We conducted a statewide population-based cohort study using North Carolina birth data from 2003-2015 (N=1,225,285) to investigate the relationship between air pollution and CHDs (specifically pulmonary valve atresia/stenosis, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)). Maternal exposure to particulate matter ≤2.

Residential natural hazard risk and mental health effects.

Mental health effects are frequently reported following natural disasters. However, little is known about effects of living in a hazard-prone region on mental health. We analyzed data from 9,312 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed standardized mental health questionnaires including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression=score≥10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (anxiety=score≥10), and Primary Care PTSD Screen (PTSD=score≥3).

Residential air pollution, greenspace, and adverse mental health outcomes in the U.S. Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study.

Air pollution and greenness are environmental determinants of mental health, though existing evidence typically considers each exposure in isolation. We evaluated relationships between co-occurring air pollution and greenspace levels and depression and anxiety. We estimated cross-sectional associations among 9015 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants living in the southeastern U.

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from a shared septic system and sub-sewershed sites to expand COVID-19 disease surveillance.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has expanded as a tool for collecting COVID-19 surveillance data, but there is limited information on the feasibility of this form of surveillance within decentralized wastewater systems (e.g., septic systems).

Associations of a toenail metal mixture with attention and memory in the Gulf long-term follow-up (GuLF) study.

Background: Research on metal-associated neurodegeneration has largely focused on single metals. Since metal exposures typically co-occur as combinations of both toxic and essential elements, a mixtures framework is important for identifying risk and protective factors. This study examined associations between toenail levels of an eight-metal mixture and attention and memory in men living in US Gulf states.

Reducing Transdermal Uptake of Semivolatile Plasticizers from Indoor Environments: A Clothing Intervention.

Models and laboratory studies suggest that everyday clothing influences the transdermal uptake of semivolatile organic compounds, including phthalate plasticizers, from indoor environments. However, this effect has not been documented in environmental exposure settings. In this pilot study, we quantified daily excretion of 17 urinary metabolites (μg/day) for phthalates and phthalate alternatives in nine participants during 5 days.

Residential proximity to metal emitting industries and toenail metal concentration in the US Gulf States.

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.

Association between spill-related exposure to fine particulate matter and peripheral motor and sensory nerve function among oil spill response and cleanup workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Background: Burning/flaring of oil/gas during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) generated high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Personnel working on the water during these activities may have inhaled combustion products. Neurologic effects of PM have been reported previously but few studies have examined lasting effects following disaster exposures.

Reliability of low mass toenail samples as biomarkers of chronic metal exposure.

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).

Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Oil Spill Workers.

Background: During the 2010 () disaster, response and cleanup workers were potentially exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure to individual oil spill-related chemicals in relation to cardiovascular outcomes among oil spill workers.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, -hexane (BTEX-H)] and total hydrocarbons (THC) with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events among workers enrolled in a prospective cohort.

Exposure to volatile hydrocarbons and neurologic function among oil spill workers up to 6 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, oil spill response and cleanup (OSRC) workers were exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. Few studies have examined exposure to individual volatile hydrocarbon chemicals below occupational exposure limits in relation to neurologic function among OSRC workers.

Objectives: To investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, n-hexane, i.

Exposure to indoor light at night in relation to multiple dimensions of sleep health: findings from the Sister Study.

Study Objective: To examine the association between light at night (LAN) and multiple sleep health dimensions.

Methods: Among 47 765 Sister Study participants, indoor LAN (TV on in the room, light(s) on in room, light from outside the room, nightlight, no light) and sleep dimensions were self-reported at baseline (2003-2009). We used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the cross-sectional associations between LAN and short sleep duration (<7 hours/night), insomnia symptoms (difficulty falling or staying asleep), frequent napping (≥3 naps/week), inconsistent sleep/wake time (differed day-to-day and week-to-week), sleep debt (≥2 hours between longest and shortest duration), recent sleep medication use, and a cumulative poor sleep score (≥3 poor sleep dimensions).

Risk of longer-term neurological conditions in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort Study - Five years of follow-up.

Background: Long-term neurological health risks associated with oil spill cleanup exposures are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate risks of longer-term neurological conditions among U.S.

Environmental Exposures and Kidney Disease.

Accumulating evidence underscores the large role played by the environment in the health of communities and individuals. We review the currently known contribution of environmental exposures and pollutants on kidney disease and its associated morbidity. We review air pollutants, such as particulate matter; water pollutants, such as trace elements, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and pesticides; and extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Neighborhood disadvantage and immune-related illnesses among residents living in the US Gulf States.

Purpose: Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with increased risk for pneumonia and influenza-associated hospitalizations. Few studies, however, have investigated how neighborhood disadvantage may influence immune-related illnesses. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighborhooddisadvantage and immune-related illnesses.

Fine particulate matter and incident coronary heart disease events up to 10 years of follow-up among Deepwater Horizon oil spill workers.

Background: During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, in-situ burning and flaring were conducted to remove oil from the water. Workers near combustion sites were potentially exposed to burning-related fine particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM has been linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but no study has examined the relationship among oil spill workers.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and comparison to COVID-19 cases in two sewersheds, North Carolina, USA.

Wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be useful for monitoring population-wide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, especially given asymptomatic infections and limitations in diagnostic testing. We aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and compare viral concentrations to COVID-19 case numbers in the respective counties and sewersheds. Influent 24-hour composite wastewater samples were collected from July to December 2020 from two municipal wastewater treatment plants serving different population sizes in Orange and Chatham Counties in North Carolina.