Environmental research
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Environmental research · Oct 2015
Bisphenol A exposure and behavioral problems among inner city children at 7-9 years of age.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous endocrine disrupting compound. Several experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that gestational BPA exposure can lead to neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems in early-life, but results have been inconsistent. We previously reported that prenatal BPA exposure may affect child behavior and differently among boys and girls at ages 3-5 years. ⋯ These results suggest BPA exposure may affect childhood behavioral outcomes in a sex-specific manner and differently depending on timing of exposure.
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Environmental research · Oct 2015
Neighborhood walkability and particulate air pollution in a nationwide cohort of women.
Features of neighborhoods associated with walkability (i.e., connectivity, accessibility, and density) may also be correlated with levels of ambient air pollution, which would attenuate the health benefits of walkability. ⋯ This nationwide analysis showed a positive relationship between neighborhood walkability and modeled air pollution levels, which were consistent after adjustment for neighborhood-level socioeconomic status. Regional differences in the air pollution-walkability relationship demonstrate that there are factors that vary from region to region that allow for walkable neighborhoods with low levels of air pollution.
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Environmental research · Oct 2015
Long term effects of residential NO(x) exposure on total and cause-specific mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction in a Swedish cohort.
Exposure to air pollution has been linked to total and cardiopulmonary mortality. However, few studies have examined the effects of exposure over decades, or which time windows of long term exposure are most relevant. We investigated the long term effects of residential air pollution on total and cause-specific mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction in a well-characterized cohort of men in Sweden. ⋯ Long term residential exposure to NOx at these relatively low exposure levels in Gothenburg was associated with total non-accidental mortality. The association was as strong for NOx exposure in the last year as for longer exposure windows. The effect was near linear, and only marginally affected by confounders and effect modifiers. The improved air quality in Gothenburg has by these estimates led to a 6% decrease in excess non-accidental mortality during the study period.
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Environmental research · Oct 2015
Social deprivation and population density are not associated with small area risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Evidence of an association between areal ALS risk and population density has been previously reported. We aim to examine ALS spatial incidence in Ireland using small areas, to compare this analysis with our previous analysis of larger areas and to examine the associations between population density, social deprivation and ALS incidence. ⋯ Two areas showing low frequency of ALS have been identified in the Republic of Ireland. These areas do not correlate with population density or residential area social deprivation, indicating that other reasons, such as genetic admixture may account for the observed findings.