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Increasing evidence indicates the adverse effect of air pollution exposure during pregnancy on neurologic development among children. However, the impact on neurobehavioral development in fetus remains unknown. In 2017, a total of 1193 mother–newborns pairs were enrolled in a birth cohort study in Changsha, China. Exposures to PM 2.5 , PM 10, SO 2 , CO and NO 2 were determined by using inverse distance weighted method based on local monitoring station data. Neurobehavioral measure was administered at 48–72 h postpartum by utilizing the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA). Basic information and covariates were collected by face to face interview. Generalized linear regression and multivariable restricted cubic spline function were performed to explore the trimester-specific association and dose-response relationship of maternal air pollution exposure with NBNA score, respectively. In adjusted three-pollutant model, PM 2.5 exposure in trimester 2 was negatively associated with behavior score (β, −0.003; 95% CI, −0.006, −0.001) and the inverse relation was more pronounced in male infants. In addition, PM 2.5 level in the 2nd trimester was negatively related to activetone score (β, −0.012; 95% CI, −0.021, −0.002) in a dose-dependent manner for both genders. Collectively, our results demonstrated that prenatal exposure to PM 2.5 was linked to poor neurobehavioral performance of newborns. The second trimester was the most sensitive time window for the developments of behavior and activetone, and male subject was more vulnerable as compared to females. • Prenatal exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with poor neurobehavioral performance of newborns. • The second trimester was the most sensitive time window for behavioral and activetone development. • Male newborns were more vulnerable to the influence of PM 2.5 as compared to females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association of metals/metalloids exposure with risk of liver disfunction among occupational population in Hunan Province, and to explore the potential dose-response relationship., Methods: In 2017, a mining area in Hunan Province was chosen as the research site, and eligible workers were recruited as study subjects. General demographic characteristics, levels of 23 metals/metalloids in plasma and urine, and liver function index(total bilirubin(TBIL), alanine amino transferase(ALT), globulin(GLB) and γ-glutamyl transferase(GGT)) were obtained by questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests. Participants were followed up in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. Cox proportional risk model was used to evaluate the relationship between metal/metalloids exposure and risk of liver disfunction, and dose-response relationship curves were plotted by using the restricted cubic spline function., Results: A total of 891 employees were recruited in the study, 576(65.0%)were aged ≤45 years, 832(93.4%) were male and 530(59.5%) worked as smelters. After adjusting various factors such as age, gender, BMI, type of work, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, stress, medical history, exercise and tea consumption, positive correlations were found between plasma tungsten(HR=4.90, 95%CI 1.17-20.48) and urinary barium(HR=1.07, 95%CI 1.02-1.12) levels with abnormally elevated TBIL levels. Additionally, a significant association was observed between plasma thallium and the risk of elevated ALT levels(HR=11.15, 95%CI 1.97-63.29)., Conclusion: Plasma tungsten and thallium, along with barium found in urine, are risk factors for the development of abnormally elevated liver function indices in occupational groups.

Objective: To investigate the association between levels of twenty-three plasma metals/metalloids and the risk of arrhythmia among occupational population., Methods: In 2017, a total of 765 workers aged 18 and above were recruited from a non-ferrous metal factory. The general demographic characteristics were obtained by using questionnaire. Plasma metal/metalloid levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). Participants were followed up in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. After the elements that may affect the incidence of arrhythmia were screened out by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) regression, Cox regression model was used to analyze the relationship between levels of selected elements and risk of arrhythmia occurrence, Quantile g-computation model was used to analyze the effect of element mixture exposure on arrhythmia, and the dose-response curve was estimated by using restricted cubic spline(RCS) function., Results: Of all the research subjects, 386(50.5%) were ≤45 years old; 401(52.4%) had 20 years or more of work experience; 712(93.1%) subjects were male workers. The incidence of arrhythmia was 17.6%. After adjusting for age, seniority, gender, body mass index(BMI), marital status, education level, smoking, drinking, drinking tea, regular exercise, chronic diseases(hypertension, hyperlipidemia), sleep quality and psychological stress, chromium, molybdenum and antimony increased the risk of arrhythmia with HR(95%CI) values of 1.22(1.11-1.34), 1.51(1.20-1.90) and 2.38(1.03-5.49), respectively, while barium reduced the risk of arrhythmia with HR(95%CI) value of 0.98(0.95-1.00)., Conclusion: Chromium, molybdenum and antimony are the risk factors while barium is the protective factor for arrhythmia.

Objective: To survey the expression of c-myc of teticles in rats exposed to carbon disulfide (CS2) and the possible mechanism of effects on it., Methods: 36 wistar male rats were randomly divided into six groups. Four groups were exposed to CS2 at the dose of 0, 50, 250 and 1250mg/m3. The other two groups were treated at the dose of 1250 mg/ m3 CS2 plus VitE (250mg/kg diet) and VitE (250mg/kg diet) respectively. After 10-week esposures, rats were sacrificed and the SOD activity and MDA content and the c-myc expressions in testicles were determined., Results: When compared with the control group, SOD activities of testicles in the exposure group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01), MDA contents of testicles were increased significantly at the concentration of 1250mg/m3 CS2 (P < 0.01). The expression of c-myc of testicles present biphasic, and decreased at the concentraton of 50mg/m3 CS2 and increased at the other concentrations and higher than these of controls at the concentration of 1250mg/m3 CS2 significantly (P < 0.05). After treatment of CS2 combined with antioxidant VitE, SOD activity of testicles increased (P < 0.05), MDA content of testicles decreased (P < 0.01) and c-myc expression of testicles decreased consequently (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: the modulation of c-myc expression in testicles of rats treated with CS2 could be associated with lipid peroxidation induced by CS2.