Current Environmental Health Reports

Our medical research library holds 5 studies published in Current Environmental Health Reports (2015–2024). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 5 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG
• Published: 2014 to the present, Switzerland
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2196-5412 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Health Effects of Occupational and Environmental Exposures to Nuclear Power Plants: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression. R.T. Lin, H. Boonhat, Y.Y. Lin, et al. 2024;11(3):329-339. Meta-analysis · Review PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Purpose Of Review: Numerous epidemiological studies have shown increased health risks among workers and residents living near nuclear power plants exposed to radiation levels meeting regulatory dose limits. This study aimed to evaluate the association between radiation exposure and disease risks among these populations exposed to radiation levels meeting the current regulatory dose limits.

  Recent Findings: We searched four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) for studies published before August 2023, screened eligible studies (inclusion and exclusion criteria based on population, exposure, comparator, and outcome framework), and collected data on exposure indicators and disease risks. We applied random-effects models of meta-analysis to estimate the pooled effects and meta-regression to assess the dose-response relationship (radiation dose rate for workers and distance for residents). We identified 47 studies, 13 with worker and 34 with resident samples, covering 175 nuclear power plants from 17 countries, encompassing samples of 480,623 workers and 7,530,886 residents. Workers had a significantly lower risk for all-cancer and a significantly higher risk for mesothelioma. Residents had significantly higher risks for all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia. Notably, children under 5 years old showed the highest risk for all-cancer. Our meta-regression showed a significantly positive dose-response relationship between cumulative dose of radiation exposure and risk for circulatory disease among workers. Our findings demonstrated higher risks for mesothelioma for workers and all-cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia for residents exposed to low-dose radiation from nuclear power plants. Some included studies did not adjust for cancer risk confounders, which could overestimate the association between radiation exposure and cancer risk and increase the risk of bias.

  © 2024. The Author(s).

• A Review on The Role of Environmental Exposures in IgG4-Related Diseases. C. Grasso, F. Giacchero, S. Crivellari, et al. 2023;10(3):303-311. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Purpose Of Review: Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-RDs) are immune-mediated fibroinflammatory multisystemic conditions identified by the presence of tumefactive lesions with a rich infiltrate of IgG4-positive plasma cells, and often by a high IgG4 serum concentration. IgG-RDs have a prevalence of at least 1 case every 100,000 persons, and they are mostly diagnosed after age 50, with a male to female ratio of about 3:1. IgG4-RD pathophysiology is still uncertain: it has been proposed that both genetic predisposition and chronic environmental exposures may play a role by triggering abnormal immune activation that perpetuates the disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidences supporting the hypothesis that certain environmental/occupational exposures can trigger IgG4-RDs, focusing on the possible role of asbestos in an emerging IgG4-RD called idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF).

  Recent Findings: Although some studies suggested a relationship between tobacco smoking and IgG4-RD risk, occupational exposures seem to have the most interesting effects. Positive history of blue-collar work increases the risk of developing an IgG4-RD, and mineral dusts and asbestos were the most strongly associated industrial compounds. Asbestos has been found to be a risk factor for IRF years before its classification as IgG4-RD, and later in two large case-control studies. In the most recent one, conducted on 90 patients and 270 controls, asbestos exposure conferred an increased IRF risk, quantified by odds ratios from 2.46 to 7.07. Further structured studies including serum IgG4 evaluation should be conducted to clarify the effect of asbestos on patients with confirmed diagnosis of IgG4-related IRF. Environmental exposures, especially of occupational origin, appear to play a role in the development of different types of IgG-RDs. In particular, although first suggested very recently, the relationship between asbestos and IRF deserves to be explored in more structured studies, especially because of the biological plausibility of the role of asbestos in IRF pathogenesis.

  © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

• Association between Asbestos Exposure and the Incidence of Kidney Cancer: a Weight-of-Evidence Evaluation and Meta-analysis. F.W. Lee, Y.H. Chen, N.D. Tran, et al. 2023;10(4):394-409. Meta-analysis · Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Purpose Of Review: Occupational asbestos exposure has been extensively linked to various cancers, with ongoing debates regarding its association with kidney cancer. This study aims to investigate the correlation between occupational asbestos exposure and kidney cancer incidence. Additionally, potential influencing factors are analyzed to enhance the comprehension of the relationship between asbestos exposure and kidney cancer.

  Recent Finding: While asbestos has established strong associations with malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, its connection to other malignancies such as gastric, colorectal, and kidney cancers remains under scrutiny. The current study presents mixed opinions on the relationship between asbestos exposure and kidney cancer. Our analysis revealed a potential association between asbestos exposure and the incidence of kidney cancer. Notably, among different types of asbestos, exposure to amphibole appeared to be particularly linked to a higher incident risk of kidney cancer.

  © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

2010s

• Recent Scientific Evidence Regarding Asbestos Use and Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure. M. Valenzuela, M. Giraldo, S. Gallo-Murcia, et al. 2016;3(4):335-347. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  To justify the continuous use of two million tons of asbestos every year, it has been argued that a safe/controlled use can be achieved. The aim of this review was to identify recent scientific studies that present empirical evidence of: 1) health consequences resulting from past asbestos exposures and 2) current asbestos exposures resulting from asbestos use. Articles with evidence that could support or reject the safe/controlled use argument were also identified. A total of 155 articles were included in the review, and 87 % showed adverse asbestos health consequences or high asbestos exposures. Regarding the safe/controlled use, 44 articles were identified, and 82 % had evidence suggesting that the safe/controlled use is not being achieved. A large percentage of articles with evidence that support the safe/controlled use argument have a conflict of interest declared. Most of the evidence was developed in high-income countries and in countries that have already banned asbestos.

• The Challenges of Limiting Exposure to THS in Vulnerable Populations. J.M. Samet, D. Chanson, H. Wipfli. 2015;2(3):215-25. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Research on active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure has led to policy changes to protect individuals from the adverse health impacts of tobacco smoke. Despite the extensive literature on tobacco, only recently has there been recognition that long-lived tobacco smoke components (known as "thirdhand smoke" or THS) in indoor environments where smoking has taken place may have adverse health consequences. This paper describes THS and addresses the challenges of limiting exposure to THS in vulnerable populations (e.g., nonsmokers and young children). We conducted a limited survey of key stakeholders in the Los Angeles area to better understand approaches to address THS in the real estate and automobile industries. Most respondents indicated concerns about past smoking for property value and reported using various techniques to eliminate THS. We consider examples of other pollutants as case studies, including radon, asbestos, and lead, to help frame policy directions for THS. Based on the information collected from stakeholders and the case studies, we offer policy approaches to managing THS.

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