Latest news with #EnvironmentalScienceandTechnology
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Study reveals biological process of how air pollution increases premature birth risk
Researchers from Emory University in the US analysed blood samples from 330 African American pregnant women in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Women living in downtown and midtown neighbourhoods, where several highways intersect, had a higher level of exposure to pollution over a year, compared to those living on the outskirts of the city, the team said. Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to PM2.5 pollution. Two substances -- 'cortexolone' and 'lysoPE(20:3)' -- involved in the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and an elevated risk of early births, were identified. Cortexolone is a glucocorticoid crucial to regulating metabolism, inflammation, and the immune response, while lysoPE(20:3) is a lipid present in cells and important for cell function. Study highlights The findings, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, highlighted disruptions in how proteins are digested and absorbed -- vital to foetal development and immune function -- which potentially serve as a link between exposure to air pollution and premature deliveries. The changes were associated with an increased risk of various negative birth outcomes, including premature birth, the researchers said. "The link between air pollution and premature birth has been well established, but for the first time we were able to look at the detailed pathway and specific fine particles to identify how they are reflected in the increased risk of adverse birth outcomes," lead author Donghai Liang, associate professor of environmental health at Emory University, said. "This is important because if we can figure out the 'why' and 'how' then we can know better how to address it," Liang added. Of the 330 women participants, 66 (20 per cent) delivered preterm babies -- before 37 weeks of pregnancy -- and 54 (16.4 per cent) delivered early term babies -- occurring between 37 and 38 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy -- both of which are significantly higher than the prevalence in the general US population, the researchers said. The authors wrote, "We identified significant indirect effects of cortexolone and lysoPE(20:3) in mediating the relationship between PM2.5 and early births." "Perturbations in protein digestion and absorption and aromatic amino acid metabolism may potentially mediate the associations between PM2.5 and early births." Liang said that while even lower levels of air pollution are harmful, people cannot simply be asked to move away from highly polluted areas. "So, from a clinical intervention standpoint, it's critical to gain a better understanding of these pathways and molecules affected by pollution. In the future, we may be able to target some of these molecules to develop effective strategies or clinical interventions that could help reduce these adverse health effects," the lead author added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Study reveals biological process of how air pollution increases premature birth risk
New Delhi: A study has uncovered the biological process by which pregnant women exposed to PM2.5 air pollution could be at a higher risk of premature deliveries. Researchers from Emory University in the US analysed blood samples from 330 African American pregnant women in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Women living in downtown and midtown neighbourhoods, where several highways intersect, had a higher level of exposure to pollution over a year, compared to those living on the outskirts of the city, the team said. Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to PM2.5 pollution. Two substances -- 'cortexolone' and 'lysoPE(20:3)' -- involved in the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and an elevated risk of early births, were identified. Cortexolone is a glucocorticoid crucial to regulating metabolism, inflammation, and the immune response, while lysoPE(20:3) is a lipid present in cells and important for cell function. The findings, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, highlighted disruptions in how proteins are digested and absorbed -- vital to foetal development and immune function -- which potentially serve as a link between exposure to air pollution and premature deliveries. The changes were associated with an increased risk of various negative birth outcomes, including premature birth, the researchers said. "The link between air pollution and premature birth has been well established, but for the first time we were able to look at the detailed pathway and specific fine particles to identify how they are reflected in the increased risk of adverse birth outcomes ," lead author Donghai Liang, associate professor of environmental health at Emory University, said. "This is important because if we can figure out the 'why' and 'how' then we can know better how to address it," Liang added. Of the 330 women participants, 66 (20 per cent) delivered preterm babies -- before 37 weeks of pregnancy -- and 54 (16.4 per cent) delivered early term babies -- occurring between 37 and 38 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy -- both of which are significantly higher than the prevalence in the general US population, the researchers said. The authors wrote, "We identified significant indirect effects of cortexolone and lysoPE(20:3 ) in mediating the relationship between PM2.5 and early births." "Perturbations in protein digestion and absorption and aromatic amino acid metabolism may potentially mediate the associations between PM2.5 and early births." Liang said that while even lower levels of air pollution are harmful, people cannot simply be asked to move away from highly polluted areas. "So, from a clinical intervention standpoint, it's critical to gain a better understanding of these pathways and molecules affected by pollution. In the future, we may be able to target some of these molecules to develop effective strategies or clinical interventions that could help reduce these adverse health effects," the lead author added. PTI
The Star
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
‘Eat right to reduce microplastic toxicity'
PETALING JAYA: Purple sweet potato, black glutinous rice (pulut hitam), black seeds, roselle and red dragon fruit – put more of these on the table. Health experts say these types of food help fight the inflammatory and toxic effects of microplastics in the body, with reports highlighting that Malaysians are the world's top consumers of small plastic particles, ingesting an average of 502.3mg of it daily. Toxicologist Prof Dr Mustafa Ali Mohd said while completely avoiding microplastics would be unrealistic, eating more of specific foods offered a practical and science-backed approach to reducing their risks. 'Microplastics are everywhere and we're consuming them. They potentially affect our liver, nerves and cause mild inflammation,' said Dr Mustafa of the Global Institute for Leadership and Management, Singapore. 'To help reduce inflammation, we need to consistently consume antioxidants. 'The best source for antioxidants are black seed (habbatus sauda) and monk fruit (luo han guo). 'Black seed contains thymoquinone – a very important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound,' the dean of the institute's Medicine and Wellness programme said in an interview. According to a study published last year in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, Malaysia was tops among 109 countries in the consumption of microplastics, which are plastic particles less than 5mm in size. Nutritionist Dr Nurul Husna Shafie said another natural antioxidant, anthocyanins, has been shown to reduce toxicity caused by microplastics, by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation in reproductive tissues. 'They may also help improve gut health by reducing microplastic-induced gut dysbiosis and inflammation,' said the official from the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Dr Nurul Husna said meta-analyses indicated that dietary anthocyanins could reduce oxidative stress biomarkers and enhance the body's antioxidant capacity. 'Specifically, anthocyanins reduce stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidised LDL (Ox-LDL) and isoprostanes. 'They also boost antioxidant defences by increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the activity of key enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx),' she said. She said anthocyanins were pigments responsible for the red, purple and blue colours in fruits, vegetables and grains. 'In Malaysia, common anthocyanin-rich food includes purple sweet potato, black glutinous rice, roselle, red pitaya (dragon fruit), butterfly/blue pea flower (bunga telang), eggplant and red cabbage,' she said. She added that they could be easily incorporated into one's daily diet. 'Purple sweet potatoes can be steamed or boiled for breakfast, used in traditional kuih, made into chips for snacks or served as healthy desserts. 'Traditional Malaysian food such as ulam and fermented items like tempeh and tapai are often rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which support the body's detoxification processes,' she said, suggesting fresh food over processed ones and using water filters. Dr Mustafa said that while including antioxidant-rich food in one's daily diet was an effective way to reduce the effects of microplastics in the body, it was equally important for people to minimise their overall exposure to these toxins. 'Do not dispose of or burn plastics carelessly, as it can break down and release particles into the air which we then inhale. 'Avoid storing food in plastic containers, especially when it comes to hot, oily or highly acidic food, even if these containers are labelled as food-grade. 'There is a high likelihood that microplastics can leach into food, as certain conditions can cause the plastic to break down and mix with what we consume,' he said. Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam advised consumers to reduce the use of plastic containers. 'We need to break free from plastics. Replace plastic containers and products with safer, durable materials. 'Bring your own non-plastic, reusable containers when buying takeaway food. Replace plastic baby bottles with glass bottles. 'Babies and infants are particularly vulnerable to health risks associated with microplastic exposure,' she said.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This simple solution can break down forever chemicals
Toxic forever chemicals can be removed from drinking water by a form of activated carbon commonly used to clean aquariums, a new study says. Forever chemicals – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS – are a class of industrial chemicals used for manufacturing numerous products such as non-stick cookware, cosmetics, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, food packaging, and waterproof clothing. These substances, which persist in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years, have been linked to decreased fertility in adults and developmental delays in children as well as to increased risk of some cancers. Researchers have long been looking for ways to remove these chemicals from the environment or, at least, degrade them into harmless inorganic compounds. Now, a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that heating PFAS with a common material called granular activated carbon, or GAC, can degrade these chemicals. 'You don't need organic solvent or really high temperatures. Just heat the PFAS with granular activated carbon or GAC,' Feng Xiao, an author of the study from the University of Missouri in the US, says. GAC, commonly used in air and water filters, contains granules of coal, wood or other carbon-rich materials that have been heated. It's widely used to clean household aquariums and filter drinking water and can be easily purchased online. The latest study shows that heating PFAS with GAC at about 300C leads to a 90 per cent mineralization of the PFAS, breaking the toxic substance down into harmless inorganic fluorine. Such mineralisation of PFAS currently requires temperatures over 700C along with high pressure or solvents. The new method is also more cost-effective and sustainable as GAC is inexpensive and can be reheated many times, Dr Xiao says. 'Once GAC is involved, the thermal degradation of PFAS occurs much faster, and the mineralization is more intense,' he explains. 'It's not an expensive process compared to reverse osmosis and it can be done at a local scale with a regular furnace.' The findings represent a breakthrough in managing PFAS. 'In the Midwest, we use a lot of herbicides and give animals a lot of pharmaceuticals. These substances can contain high amounts of PFAS,' Dr Xiao says. 'Through this new removal method, we can drastically reduce the compounds' presence in our lives.'
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
This simple solution can break down forever chemicals
Toxic forever chemicals can be removed from drinking water by a form of activated carbon commonly used to clean aquariums, a new study says. Forever chemicals – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS – are a class of industrial chemicals used for manufacturing numerous products such as non-stick cookware, cosmetics, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, food packaging, and waterproof clothing. These substances, which persist in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years, have been linked to decreased fertility in adults and developmental delays in children as well as to increased risk of some cancers. Researchers have long been looking for ways to remove these chemicals from the environment or, at least, degrade them into harmless inorganic compounds. Now, a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that heating PFAS with a common material called granular activated carbon, or GAC, can degrade these chemicals. 'You don't need organic solvent or really high temperatures. Just heat the PFAS with granular activated carbon or GAC,' Feng Xiao, an author of the study from the University of Missouri in the US, says. GAC, commonly used in air and water filters, contains granules of coal, wood or other carbon-rich materials that have been heated. It's widely used to clean household aquariums and filter drinking water and can be easily purchased online. The latest study shows that heating PFAS with GAC at about 300C leads to a 90 per cent mineralization of the PFAS, breaking the toxic substance down into harmless inorganic fluorine. Such mineralisation of PFAS currently requires temperatures over 700C along with high pressure or solvents. The new method is also more cost-effective and sustainable as GAC is inexpensive and can be reheated many times, Dr Xiao says. 'Once GAC is involved, the thermal degradation of PFAS occurs much faster, and the mineralization is more intense,' he explains. 'It's not an expensive process compared to reverse osmosis and it can be done at a local scale with a regular furnace.' The findings represent a breakthrough in managing PFAS. 'In the Midwest, we use a lot of herbicides and give animals a lot of pharmaceuticals. These substances can contain high amounts of PFAS,' Dr Xiao says. 'Through this new removal method, we can drastically reduce the compounds' presence in our lives.'
