The influence of exposure to inorganic arsenic and other arsenic species on early renal impairment among young adults in Taiwan.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant global public health challenge, with environmental toxins potentially contributing to its prevalence. In Taiwan, where arsenic (As) contamination is endemic in certain areas, assessing its impact on renal health is crucial due to the country's high rates of unexplained CKD. This cross-sectional study assessed associations between urinary As species and early renal impairment biomarkers-the microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and β2-microglobulin (B2MG)-in 248 young Taiwanese adults (aged 20-29 years).

Impact of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy on subsequent pregnancies: A longitudinal study of maternal and paternal depression, anxiety and eudaimonia.

Background: Although miscarriage and termination of pregnancy affect maternal mental illnesses on subsequent pregnancies, their effects on the positive mental health (e.g., eudaimonia) of both first-time and multi-time parents have received minimal attention, especially for fathers.

Effects of shift work on sleep quality and cardiovascular function in Taiwanese police officers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of shift work on sleep quality, cardiovascular function, and physical activity (PA) levels in Taiwanese police officers. Twenty-one male police officers aged 26.9 ± 4.

Assessment of sources and health risks of heavy metals in metropolitan household dust among preschool children: The LEAPP-HIT study.

The most common construction material used in Taiwan is concrete, potentially contaminated by geologic heavy metals (HMs). Younger children spend much time indoors, increasing HM exposure risks from household dust owing to their behaviors. We evaluated arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) concentrations in fingernails among 280 preschoolers between 2017 and 2023.

Associations between parental and postnatal metal mixture exposure and developmental delays in a Taiwanese longitudinal birth cohort of preschool children.

Studies have evaluated the impact of environmental exposure to neurotoxic metals on developmental delays (DDs). However, comprehensive understanding regarding the associations between parental and postnatal exposure to metal mixtures and the occurrence of DDs in offspring is limited. In this study, we assessed the relationships between parental and postnatal exposure to three metals (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], and lead [Pb], levels of which were measured in toenails) and suspected DDs (SDDs) in preschool children within a Taiwanese longitudinal birth cohort.

Effects of mobile device use on emotional and behavioral problems in the CBCL among preschoolers: Do shared reading and maternal depression matter?

Introduction: Although mobile devices are used ubiquitously, studies on their detrimental effects on preschoolers are limited. Furthermore, no study has considered shared reading and mobile device usage simultaneously. Therefore, this study examined the effects of mobile devices and shared reading on preschoolers' development along with the effects of maternal depression on this association.

Effects of indoor air quality and home environmental characteristics on allergic diseases among preschool children in the Greater Taipei Area.

Indoor air quality and home environmental characteristics are potential factors associated with the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases. Our study examined the effects of these factors on allergic diseases (i.e.

Effects of preterm birth and postnatal exposure to metal mixtures on neurodevelopment in children at 24 months of age.

The effects of early-life metal exposure on neurodevelopment in very low birth weight preterm (VLBMP) children (with a birth weight of <1500 g and a gestational age of <37 weeks) have not been clearly established. We aimed to investigate associations of childhood exposure to multiple metals and preterm low birth weight with neurodevelopment among children at 24 months of corrected age. VLBWP children (n = 65) and normal birth weight term (NBWT) children (n = 87) were enrolled from Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan between December 2011 and April 2015.

Oral and inhalation bioaccessibility of mercury in contaminated soils and potential health risk to the kidneys and neurodevelopment of children in Taiwan.

Health risk assessments of exposure to mercury (Hg) from soils via ingestion and inhalation are indispensable for Taiwanese people living in the vicinity of Hg-contaminated sites. In this study, anthropogenic soils were collected from various polluted sources in Taiwan. In vitro oral and inhalation bioaccessible fractions of Hg were analyzed to avoid from overestimating the exposure risk.

Adverse effects of inadequate sleep duration patterns during pregnancy on toddlers suspected developmental delay: A longitudinal study.

Background: Although studies have reported the effects of inadequate sleep on maternal health, few have examined the relationships of maternal sleep patterns with fetal health and early childhood development. This study investigated maternal sleep duration patterns from early pregnancy to 3-years postpartum and their effects on birth outcomes and child development.

Methods: This study recruited pregnant women and their partners during prenatal visits at five selected hospitals in the Taipei area; follow-up lasted from July 2011 to April 2021.

Monitoring and evaluating the dietary risk of trace elements content in bottled and hand-shaken tea in Taiwan.

Tea is the most frequently consumed beverage worldwide and is obtained from the leaves Camellia sinensis. The traditional way of tea consumption through brewing is gradually being replaced by the consumption of bottled and hand-shaken tea. Despite the different ways of tea consumption, trace elements accumulation and contamination of tea leaves have caused concerns.

Associations of metal mixtures in the meconium with birth outcomes in northern Taiwan.

Previous studies investigated prenatal exposure to neurotoxic metals in relation to birth anthropometrics. However, limited information has been developed on associations with birth outcomes of fetal exposure to metal mixtures using the meconium as a biomarker. The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships of the combined effects of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) concentrations in the meconium on birth outcomes (i.

Sex-differences in the effects of indoor air pollutants and household environment on preschool child cognitive development.

Air pollution, outdoor residential environment, indoor household characteristics, and parental mental health are potential factors associated with child development. However, few studies have simultaneously analyzed the association between the aforementioned factors and preschool child (aged 2-5 years) development. This study investigated the effects of those factors on child development and their potential modifying effects.

Effects of prenatal subjective well-being on birth outcomes and child development: A longitudinal study.

Background: Although maternal mental illnesses have been found to influence child health and development, little is known about the impact of maternal positive well-being on child health and development. Therefore, this longitudinal study investigated the effects of prenatal subjective well-being on birth outcomes and child development by considering the potential modifier effect of parity.

Methods: Pregnant women in early stages of pregnancy were recruited at five selected hospitals in Taipei, Taiwan, during their prenatal appointments since 2011.

Associations of maternal food safety-related risk perceptions and protective behaviors with daily mercury intake and internal doses of Taiwanese women and their preschool children.

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known toxicant that can affect children's neurodevelopment. This study attempted to evaluate the internal dose of Hg in hair and fingernails and external Hg exposure from dietary consumption in 283 pairs of mothers and their children aged under 6 years in Taiwan. Mean Hg levels in hair and fingernail samples were 1.

Sex-specific differences in early renal impairment associated with arsenic, lead, and cadmium exposure among young adults in Taiwan.

Exposure to a single metal has been reported to damage renal function in humans. However, information regarding the association between multiple-metal exposure and markers for early renal impairment in different sexes among the young adult Taiwanese population is scarce. We assessed the association between exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), and early renal impairment markers using urinary microalbumin (MA), β2-microglobulin (β2MG), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) by analyzing 157 young adults aged 20‒29 years, in Taiwan.

Associations among prenatal and postnatal arsenic, lead, and cadmium exposures and motor development in 3-year-old children: a longitudinal birth cohort study in Taiwan.

Prenatal and postnatal exposures to heavy metals have been suggested to interfere with neurodevelopment, but the neurotoxicity of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the associations between the levels of As, Cd, and Pb and children's neurodevelopment. A total of 299 mother-infant pairs were recruited in this study and their meconium were collected.

Frequent occurrence of respiratory symptoms in children is associated with exposure to air pollution, land use types, and parental mental health in the Greater Taipei area.

Although studies have investigated the individual effects of air pollution, land use types, and parental mental health on children's respiratory health, few studies have examined the effects of these risk factors simultaneously in children aged <2 years. We investigated the effects of exposure to air pollution, land use types surrounding residences, and parental mental health on the frequent occurrence of respiratory symptoms in children aged <2 years in the Greater Taipei area. Participants were recruited from an ongoing Taiwanese birth cohort study.

Estimation of Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates from the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation Soil and Dust Model for Children in Taiwan.

This study focuses on estimating the probabilistic soil and dust ingestion rates for children under 3 years old by the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation Soil and Dust (SHEDS-S/D) model developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Effects of soil lead exposure and land use characteristics on neurodevelopment among children under 3 years of age in northern Taiwan.

Lead (Pb) exposure increases the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Child-specific activities and land use scenarios may lead to elevated opportunities for Pb exposure through the soil. Therefore, we investigated hair and fingernail Pb concentrations among young children in northern Taiwan, in relation to soil Pb pollution and land use characteristics.

Effects of air pollution, land-use type, and maternal mental health on child development in the first two years of life in the Greater Taipei area.

Introduction: Few studies have investigated the associations of child development with air pollution, land-use type, and maternal mental health simultaneously. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of exposure to air pollutants during several critical periods of life, with adjustment for land-use type and maternal mental status, on child development at 6, 12, and 24 months of age in the Greater Taipei area.

Methods: Participants were selected from an ongoing Taiwanese birth cohort study.

Associations of birth outcomes with air pollution and land use characteristics in the Greater Taipei Area.

Background: Understanding the effects of environmental factors on birth outcomes is crucial for public health because newborns' birth size affects their likelihood of childhood survival, risk of perinatal morbidity, and subsequent health and growth. Therefore, we investigated the associations of birth outcomes with prenatal air pollutant exposure and residential land use characteristics in the Greater Taipei Area.

Methods: Participants were selected from the Longitudinal Examination across Prenatal and Postpartum Health in Taiwan study, which is an ongoing prospective study launched in July 2011.

Influence of soil properties on the bioaccessibility of Cr and Ni in geologic serpentine and anthropogenically contaminated non-serpentine soils in Taiwan.

Serpentine minerals with high levels of geologic chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) and non-serpentine farmlands polluted by irrigation water causing high anthropogenic Cr and Ni levels are both found in Taiwan. Elevated levels of Cr and Ni in these soils are a concern due to their potential to promote cancer mortality in humans. Bioaccessibility is a crucial factor determining the actual health risk via oral ingestion when children are exposed to metal-contaminated soils.

Blood and seminal plasma mercury levels and predatory fish intake in relation to low semen quality.

Declining human sperm quality has been demonstrated in several recent studies. Age, environmental factors, and nutritional factors can affect semen quality. Mercury (Hg) is considered a male reproductive toxicant.