Environmental Exposure

The Human Observatory Study is a prospective observational and ecological surveillance study building a continuously-updating world model for human health, disease, and death at the individual and population level. Individual multi-system clinical data from enrolled participants are linked to a continuously-ingested ecological data infrastructure spanning environmental exposures, social determinants, genealogical and family history records, mortality data, and population health databases at geographic resolutions from home address to global scale and beyond. The resulting model generates individual screening recommendations informed by population-level causal estimates, and population-level causal forecasts anchored by present-timepoint individual clinical biology. Thus creating a feedback architecture designed to improve both simultaneously.

The goal of this observational study is to characterize and evaluate micro- and nano-plastic (MNP) exposures among mothers and infants in mother-infant dyads 1 or 3 months postpartum living in Baltimore, Maryland. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What MNPs are present in breastmilk and maternal blood samples and in their infants stool sample? * Are there associations between amount of maternal MNPs in breast milk and mass of MNP particles in infant stool? * Which environmental and lifestyle factors are most predictive of maternal MNP burden? * Is infant exposure to MNPs associated with birth weight and postnatal growth trajectories? Participants will: * Complete several questionnaires assessing medical histories, lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, eating behaviors, etc. * Provide biological specimens including: maternal blood, stool, and breastmilk; infant stool * Clinical visit to have anthropometric measures documented including maternal height and weight, infant weight, length, and skin-fold thickness

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted public health campaigns in reducing lead exposure among adults living in urban communities with known environmental lead hazards. Lead exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly in older urban neighborhoods with aging infrastructure and legacy contamination. Despite existing regulations and remediation efforts, many communities continue to experience elevated blood lead levels, especially among vulnerable populations. The study will compare the impact of an intensive, multi-modal public health campaign-featuring community workshops, educational materials, and home intervention resources-against standard municipal information dissemination. By assessing changes in blood lead levels and lead-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors over a 12-month period, the trial seeks to determine whether enhanced public health outreach can more effectively reduce lead exposure and promote safer practices. The findings will inform future strategies for community-based environmental health interventions.

Climate change has become a major source of concern, particularly among younger generations who are facing the progressive degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and alarming environmental information disseminated through the media. The direct perception of climate-related disruptions has been shown to engender a profound sense of helplessness and loss. This distress, termed eco-anxiety, is characterised by feelings of fear, sadness and guilt regarding the planet's future. In a context where there has been a marked increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts among young people over the past decade, it is essential to explore the psychological manifestations of eco-anxiety within this vulnerable population. The paucity of studies investigating this association underscores the significance of the present research. The aims of this study is to examine the relationship between climate anxiety and suicidal risk among young people aged 16 to 24 years. The study will encompass 108 young participants aged between 16 and 24 years, who are either hospitalised or receiving outpatient psychiatric care. Each participant will be required to complete one clinician-administered assessment, namely the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and two self-report questionnaires: the Climate Change Anxiety Scale - French version (CCAS-FR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Furthermore, a sociodemographic questionnaire will be administered in order to collect information regarding the subjects' age, sex, education level, living conditions, and psychiatric history. It is hypothesised that there is a positive association between climate anxiety and suicidal risk, with the most eco-anxious participants showing higher C-SSRS scores. It is further predicted that eco-anxiety will correlate with elevated levels of state and trait anxiety, with the potential for modulating this relationship by sociodemographic factors, including gender. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the psychological impacts of climate change on young people and help identify the most vulnerable profiles.

PNEUMO-LIBS is a multicenter, non-interventional observational study designed to evaluate whether multi-element tissue imaging by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), combined with an artificial intelligence-based analysis tool called Interesting Features Finder (IFF), may help physicians better understand the possible causes of chronic lung diseases. The study focuses on adult patients with chronic lung diseases for which a lung biopsy has already been performed as part of routine medical care. These diseases include diffuse interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary granulomatoses such as sarcoidosis, and emphysema, especially when an environmental or occupational exposure is suspected but not clearly demonstrated. Some chronic lung diseases may be influenced by inhaled mineral or metallic particles, such as silica, aluminum, titanium, or other metals. However, these exposures are often difficult to document at the individual patient level. Standard clinical, radiological, and pathological investigations do not usually provide direct information on the presence and distribution of such elements within lung tissue. LIBS is an imaging technique that can detect and map chemical elements directly in tissue samples, including archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy blocks. In this study, lung biopsy samples will be analyzed with LIBS to search for elemental signatures that may be compatible with occupational or environmental exposures. The IFF algorithm will then be used to help interpret the LIBS data and identify rare or unexpected elemental signals. The study does not require any additional biopsy, blood test, imaging examination, treatment, or hospital visit for participants. It uses tissue samples and medical data already collected during routine care. The results of LIBS and IFF analyses will be presented to the treating physician or investigator, who will complete standardized online questionnaires at three time points: before receiving the LIBS results, after receiving the LIBS report, and after receiving the IFF-assisted interpretation. The main objective is to assess the perceived clinical utility of LIBS imaging for physicians, particularly regarding etiological understanding, possible occupational disease recognition, and prevention-oriented reasoning. Secondary objectives include assessing the added value of the IFF algorithm and evaluating the feasibility of a centralized multicenter workflow for sample transfer, LIBS analysis, IFF processing, result reporting, and questionnaire completion. The study aims to include approximately 70 patients across several French hospital centers. Its results may support the development of future diagnostic, occupational health, and environmental medicine approaches, without modifying the medical care of participants during the study.

The goals of this clinical trial are to: 1. gather preliminary data on the effectiveness of a table-top water pitcher filtration system in reducing arsenic exposure among individuals using private wells with elevated (\>5 μg/L) arsenic concentrations, and 2. identify the factors influencing implementation of the filter intervention (uptake and sustainability) and barriers and facilitators to its use. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do water and urinary arsenic concentrations change from baseline to Week 4 of the water pitcher intervention? Are changes in arsenic concentrations maintained during the eight-week sustainability period? * Which factors facilitate or impede uptake, use, and sustainability of the intervention? * Are household income and/or home ownership associated with sustained filter use? Participants will: * Receive a free 12-cup water filter pitcher and cartridge replacements * Use the pitcher filtration system, including replacement of filter cartridges, per manufacturer recommendations * Collect and mail water and urine samples at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks * Complete online questionnaires at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks

Various studies show an increase in the number of cases of early puberty in girls with breast development with a variable clinical presentation and evolution. This increasing phenomenon concerns girls between 6 and 8 years old. In a large number of cases, from 70 to 95% depending on the series, no medical cause is found and environmental factors are suspected to be involved. Descriptive studies of these patients are scarce and not always provide an overview of all the parameters in line with the concept of the exposome. The PENELOPE clinical trial will allow to analyze a large number of parameters, including the adipose tissue, its metabolism, the endocrine disruptors, and the epigenetic modifications, and to study the impact of environmental health measures in the evolution of these parameters. The data from the analyses of the endocrine disruptors of the patients will be explored in parallel in experimental models (amphibians, murine, cellular) in order to test potential mechanistic hypotheses.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention designed to reduce exposure to environmental chemical pollutants among adults in Spain.

The goal of this clinical trial is to collect environmental, bio-humoral, and clinical data derived from patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and systemic metal allergic syndromes related to the exposure to heavy metals, nanoparticles, and emergent contaminants and from healthy subjects. The main question it aims to answer is: are environmental, bio-humoral, and clinical data derived from patients with ACD and systemic metal allergic syndromes, related to the exposure to heavy metals, nanoparticles, and emergent contaminants, different from ones obtained by healthy subjects? Researchers will compare serum and urine concentration of heavy metals and nanoparticles, patch test to metals, within-breath analysis of oscillometry parameters, serum zonulin, and serum levels of protein oxidation products among patients with systemic allergic syndrome (1st study group), patients with ACD (2nd study group) and healthy subjects (3rd study group). Participants will undergo: * measurement of exposure to heavy metals and nanoparticles including nickel, cobalt, chromium, palladium, molybdenum, aluminium, and copper, through serum and urine measurement of concentration. * Patch test to before mentioned metals. * Within-breath analysis of oscillometry parameters. * Measurement of serum zonulin (related to gastro-intestinal exposure). * Measurement of serum levels of protein oxidation products (as markers of systemic oxidative stress).

The purpose of this study is to build on our equitable, eight-year Tribal-academic partnership with the Ramapough Nation of northern NJ to advance tradition-centered farming practices and management strategies supporting sustainable food systems to relieve local food insecurity and nutritional deficiency, prevent disease and promote health. Furthermore, assessing the extent of environmental contamination, individual toxicant burdens and micronutrient levels and health disorders in Ramapough Tribal members of both sexes as outlined in the following: * Collect in-person/online survey information on demographics, health and food intake, nutrition, food security, and psychosocial stressors, and perform core anthropometric measurements (i.e., height, weight, body mass index, body circumference and blood pressure) at enrollment on Tribal members to inform health promotion strategies and community actions. * Determine individual-level contaminant burdens and micronutrient concentrations (e.g., iron, calcium, folate, vitamins) in urine and blood from surveyed (sub-aim 1a) Ramapough Turtle Clan volunteers. * Test soil, plants and surface water where Turtle Clan residents live, recreate and attend church in Ringwood, NJ using a community-based, citizen scientist approach.

This large-scale study aims to understand how everyday environment and lifestyle may affect the success of fertility treatments like IVF. The main idea is that exposure to certain environmental chemicals (e.g., from plastics or air pollution) and personal habits (e.g., diet, stress) could be linked to whether these treatments result in a successful pregnancy and live birth. The study will follow approximately 5,000 couples undergoing fertility treatment in Hunan, China. Participants will answer questionnaires about their health, lifestyle, and environment and provide small biological samples (like blood and urine) during their standard treatment process. Their treatment outcomes will be tracked anonymously.The goal is to identify factors that might lower the chances of treatment success. This knowledge could help future patients and doctors make informed decisions and could guide public health advice on reducing potential risks. The study has received ethical approval, and all participant information will be kept strictly confidential.

This study tests whether a new educational curriculum can help high school students in construction career programs better understand how building design affects community health and environmental justice. The study compares two approaches: (1) a new "Community-Centered Design" curriculum that uses the Ecosystem Justice Translator (EJT) software tool, which helps students see connections between construction decisions, energy efficiency, nature exposure, and health outcomes in different neighborhoods; versus (2) the traditional construction career curriculum that focuses on technical skills. Students aged 14-18 enrolled in construction career programs will be randomly assigned to one of these two groups. Over 6 months, the intervention group will learn to use the EJT tool and apply environmental justice concepts to construction projects. Researchers will measure how well students understand connections between construction, environment, and health at the start, middle, and end of the program, and again 6 months later. The goal is to determine if integrating environmental justice and health concepts into construction education improves students' awareness of how their future work can help or harm community health, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

This study is a prospective, observational study of patients aged 18-80 years with clinical diagnosis of bronchial asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), bronchiectasis and healthy subjects. Among them, the bronchial asthma group will be divided into asthma control group, asthma partial control group and asthma uncontrolled group according to the GINA asthma control classification. Record the baseline information of the subjects in detail, including basic information, disease course, smoking, previous acute attacks and hospitalizations, long-term medication, etc. (including the frequency, dose and duration of ICS use, antifungal drug type, dose, duration of use, and course of treatment), and evaluate and record environmental factors (such as indoor).Humidity, temperature, ventilation, pet keeping, plant planting, etc.) and other lifestyle factors that may affect disease control and fungal exposure. The patient's disease status was assessed using questionnaire scores. Sputum samples were taken at the time of enrollment.Set (asthma ABPA group uses sputum induction), pulmonary function test and bronchodilator test, FeNO measurement (asthma ABPA group only), blood routine test, Aspergillus-specific IgE and IgG detection, total immunoglobulin IgE, allergen detection, etc. Dust was collected indoors (bedrooms), outdoor (balconies) and on the surface of air conditioners or fans (if applicable) in the subject's living environment, and environmental data such as ambient temperature, humidity, and particulate matter concentration were recorded. 18S rRNA technology was used for sputum and dust fungus detection, and ELISA was used for asthmatitis symptomatic markers, which assess the impact of fungal infections on the disease. Follow-up for each subject 6 months, 6 months after enrollment, the patient's symptom changes, acute exacerbations/exacerbations, and prognosis were recorded, and relevant questionnaire scores were completed.

This study, combining both an observational study and an interventional clinical trial, aims to assess how exposure to ultrafine particulate matter (PM0.1) and noise pollution affects the risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders in 45-64-year-old residents of Kaunas City, and whether lifestyle interventions-specifically physical activity in green spaces and the Mediterranean diet-can help reduce these risks. In the observational part, approximately 1,000 randomly selected 45-64 years men and women living in private households will complete an anonymous online health and lifestyle questionnaire. The clinical interventional trial will include 180 participants, who agreed to participate in the clinical study and, who meet specific health criteria. The main questions the study seeks to answer are: whether increased exposure to PM0.1 and noise is linked to higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk; and whether short-term healthy lifestyle changes can improve biological markers associated with these conditions. Participants in the clinical trial will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) control group continuing usual habits, (2) physical activity group at least 30-minute daily walks in green spaces, or (3) group adherence to a Mediterranean diet. They will have two visits to the clinic for health surveys: * Wear a wristband sensor for 7 days to monitor physical activity, heart rate, and sleep quality * Visit a clinic on Day 1 and Day 8 for measurements (blood pressure, waist circumference, body composition) and give blood samples for biomarker analysis. This research will provide new evidence on environmental health risks and practical recommendations for reducing the burden of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

The study will be based from a newly formed NHS service, the children's environmental health service. Participants will be children with a known chronic respiratory condition. Participants will undergo personal environmental exposure monitoring as well as home environmental assessments, before personalised exposure reports will be provided including a summary of their exposure and advising mitigation strategies based on exposure patterns and behaviours. The monitoring will be repeated after introduction of mitigation strategies. This will allow a comparison of the effectiveness of each method of mitigation.

Generation Victoria (GenV) is a longitudinal, population-based study of Victorian children and their parents that will bring together data on a wide range of conditions ,exposures and outcomes. GenV blends study-collected, study-enhanced and linked data. It will be multi-purpose, supporting observational, interventional, health services and policy research within the same cohort. It is designed to address physical, mental and social issues experienced during childhood, as well as the antecedents of a wide range of diseases of ageing. It seeks to generate translatable evidence (prediction, prevention, treatments, services) to improve future wellbeing and reduce the future disease burden of children and adults. The GenV Cohort 2020s is open to all children born over a two-year period, and their parents, residing in the state of Victoria Australia. The GenV Cohort 2020s is preceded by an Advance Cohort of children born between 5 Dec 2020 and 3 October 2021, and their parents. This comprises all families recruited at GenV's Vanguard hospital (Joan Kirner Women's and Children's) and at birthing hospitals throughout Victoria as GenV scaled up to commence recruiting for the GenV Cohort 2020s. The Advance Cohort have ongoing and full participation in GenV for their lifetime unless they withdraw but may have less complete data and biosamples.

Unblinded randomized clinical superiority trial in two parallel groups (intervention vs. no intervention) national multicentre to evaluate the effectiveness of the platforms on the evolution of phenoxyacetic acid levels measured in the urine at inclusion and 3 months after the intervention for patients who received the intervention compared to patients who did not receive the intervention.

Extreme heat events pose a significant health threat in Canada, as demonstrated by the 2021 heat wave that claimed over 600 lives in Western Canada. Most heat-related deaths occur indoors and are preventable. Primary care providers (PCPs), who serve 88% of Canadians, are uniquely positioned to identify and support at-risk individuals. Heat Smart, in alignment with Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS), aims to bridge the gap between primary care and public health to enhance community resilience and reduce health inequities related to extreme heat events. This randomized control trial in Eastern Ontario will examine whether patients receiving tailored digital health messages from their family physician or nurse practitioner change their behaviour to protect themselves from extreme heat-related illness. The Heat Smart study will: * Assess risk: Analyze electronic medical records and patient surveys to identify vulnerable individuals. * Deliver tailored messages: Send personalized digital guidance via e-mail or text, offering heat safety advice and local resource information in English and French. * Issue early warning alerts: Notify at-risk patients of upcoming heat events, prompting action. * Evaluate impact: Use surveys and health data to measure effectiveness in reducing heat-related health impacts. Short-term outcomes include increased awareness and preparedness among patients about heat-related health risks. Long-term goals involve scaling the intervention across Canada to reduce heat-related illnesses, enhance social connectedness, and decrease healthcare utilization.

By reconstructing schoolyards with greenery, physical activity levels among children can be increased at the population level and also mitigate health and environmental risks resulting from rising climate changes in urban areas. The overarching purpose of the proposed project is to: i. increase physical activity levels among school-aged children, independent of socioeconomic factors, and thus affect short- and long-term health outcomes on a population level ii. establish an evidence-based bottom-up approach for schoolyard reconstructions iii. evaluate the cost-effectiveness of schoolyard reconstructions with greening on health outcomes and its environmental impact

The primary objective of the PGL.EXPO-2 study is to test the hypothesis that exposure (occupational, environmental and/or domestic) to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHi) could contribute to tumor emergence in subjects carrying a germline mutation in one of the SDHx genes.The primary endpoint will be the proportion of subjects (cases or controls) exposed to SDHi and the association with paraganglioma risk. In addition, a blood sample (10 ml on EDTA) will be proposed to the participants to the study

To examine the impact of health determinants at the individual (e.g. health related behaviors) and societal level (e.g. environmental factors, health related policy, quality of health systems) on health outcomes (e.g. death, non-communicable disease development) across a range of socioeconomic and health resource settings. Additional components of this study will examine genetic factors for non-communicable diseases. This will be examined both through a cross sectional component, and prospectively (cohort component).

To quantify health effects of synergizing chemical and biological pollutants in a targeted population setting, i.e., school-aged children. Indoor air pollutants will be monitored within the classrooms with high end sensors. Exposure data from additional sources (outdoor, home, transports) will be obtained. Health outcomes will be assessed prospectively using validated medical procedures and real-time tracking with mobile health (mHealth) equipment and a gamified computer app.