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The prevalence of internalizing behavior disorders in children is increasing. Reasons for increasing anxiety and depression include several factors with a less studied consideration being the potential neurotoxic effects of environmental exposures. One group at risk for environmental exposures is children living near coal-burning power plants with coal ash storage facilities. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between metal(loid) exposures and internalizing behaviors in children aged 6–14 years. Metal(loid)s in nail samples were determined by Proton-Induced X-ray Emission and internalizing behavior problems were obtained from the parent ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist. Results indicated that concentrations of metal(loid)s in nails differ between children with internalizing behaviors and without internalizing behaviors. Logistic regression models suggested that exposure to zinc and imputed zirconium were associated with internalizing behaviors in children. However, when a sex-metal(loid) interaction term was included, none of the metal(loid)s were associated with internalizing behaviors indicating a role of sex differences in neurotoxicity with zinc and copper showing effects only for males. In all models, greater exposure to traffic was associated with internalizing behaviors. Zinc has previously been shown to increase risk for mental health problems, while zirconium has received less attention. Out findings indicate that environmental exposures of zinc and zirconium deserve further attention in studies of childhood internalizing disorders.

Children who live near coal-fired power plants are exposed to coal fly ash, which is stored in landfills and surface impoundments near residential communities. Fly ash has the potential to be released as fugitive dust. Using data collected from 263 children living within 10 miles of coal ash storage facilities in Jefferson and Bullitt Counties, Kentucky, USA, we quantified the elements found in nail samples. Furthermore, using principal component analysis (PCA), we investigated whether metal(loid)s that are predominately found in fly ash loaded together to indicate potential exposure to fly ash. Concentrations of several neurotoxic metal(loid)s, such as chromium, manganese, and zinc, were higher than concentrations reported in other studies of both healthy and environmentally exposed children. From PCA, it was determined that iron, aluminum, and silicon in fly ash were found to load together in the nails of children living near coal ash storage facilities. These metal(loid)s were also highly correlated with each other. Last, results of geospatial analyses partially validated our hypothesis that children’s proximity to power plants was associated with elevated levels of concentrations of fly ash metal(loid)s in nails. Taken together, nail samples may be a powerful tool in detecting exposure to fly ash.

Phthalates, a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are used widely in many consumer products, and exposure can interfere with a range of hormonal functions during early life. These disruptions may alter development during late childhood and adolescence. This article discusses the potential effects of phthalate exposure on adiposity, puberty, and neurodevelopment during late childhood and adolescence. It also highlights studies of behavioral interventions to reduce phthalate exposures and the roles of health care professionals and policy makers in preventing phthalate exposure.

Dust in homes can contain phthalates that may adversely affect child development, but whether residential interventions and dust removal can prevent children’s exposure to phthalates is unknown. We quantified the influence of a residential lead hazard intervention and dust control on children’s urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations. Between 2003 and 2006, The Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study randomized 355 pregnant women to receive an intervention to reduce either residential lead or injury hazards before delivery. We quantified eight urinary phthalate metabolites from 288 children at ages 1, 2, or 3 years (680 observations). During yearly home visits, we assessed dust accumulation in housing units. Children in the lead intervention group had 11–12% lower concentrations of the sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites, monocarboxyoctyl phthalate, and monocarboxynonyl phthalate compared to the injury intervention group. Monoethyl phthalate concentrations did not differ by group. In observational analyses, children living in housing units that appeared clean had 12–17% lower concentrations of these phthalate metabolites and monobenzyl phthalate, compared to children living in housing units with more dust accumulation. Features of this lead hazard intervention and measures to control dust may reduce children’s exposure to phthalates found in building materials and household furnishings.

Introduction:The human diet consists of a complex mixture of fatty acids with differential effects on cardiovascular health. Saturated fatty acids have been shown to exert a hypercholesterolemic effect, while omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Advanced statistical approaches are needed however to address whether their covarying relationships may contribute to varying outcomes on cardiovascular health.Methods:We used data on adult participants from the 2003-2004 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Blood lipid levels were measured in 2,926 participants, and C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in 1,339 participants. Fatty acids were measured in serum or plasma and analyzed as the percentage of total fatty acids. We used covariate-adjusted quantile g-computation to assess the joint effects of 6 saturated, 6 monounsaturated, and 11 polyunsaturated fatty acids on log-transformed outcomes, as well as examine the relative contribution of each fatty acid to the joint mixture effect.Results:We estimated positive associations between the mixture of saturated fatty acids with total cholesterol and LDL, which was primarily driven by myristic acid and docosanoic acid. The mixture of monounsaturated fatty acids was associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL, but higher CRP with a quartile increase in monounsaturated fatty acids associated with 21.1% (95% CI: 7.9, 35.9) higher CRP. The mixture of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was positively associated with both total cholesterol and LDL. We found that the mixture of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was negatively associated with CRP and LDL. A quartile increase in omega-3 fatty acids was associated with -11.6% (95% CI: -18.8, -3.7) lower CRP, and -2.1% (95% CI: -3.6, -0.4) lower LDL. The relationship with CRP was primarily driven by docosapentaenoicn-3acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, while the relationship with LDL was driven by docosapentaenoicn-3acid and docosahexaenoic acid.Conclusions:Assessing the complex mixture of fatty acids, we found distinct beneficial relationships between omega-3 fatty acids with inflammation and lipid profiles, with an important role of docosapentaenoicn-3acid.