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Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are hormone-disrupting chemicals that migrate from building materials into air and dust. Objectives: We aimed to quantify the hormonal activities of 46 dust samples and identify chemicals driving the observed activities. Methods: We evaluated associations between hormonal activities of extracted dust in five cell-based luciferase reporter assays and dust concentrations of 42 measured PFAS, OPEs, and PBDEs, transformed as either raw or potency-weighted concentrations based on Tox21 high- throughput screening data. Results: All dust samples were hormonally active, showing antagonistic activity toward peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor (PPAR[gamma]2) (100%; 46 of 46 samples), thyroid hormone receptor (TR[beta]) (89%; 41 samples), and androgen receptor (AR) (87%; 40 samples); agonist activity on estrogen receptor (ER[alpha]) (96%; 44 samples); and binding competition with thyroxine ([T.sub.4]) on serum transporter transthyretin (TTR) (98%; 45 samples). Effects were observed with as little as 4 [micro]g of extracted dust. In regression models for each chemical class, interquartile range increases in potency-weighted or unknown-potency chemical concentrations were associated with higher hormonal activities of dust extracts (potency- weighted: ZPFAS-TR[beta], [up arrow] 28%, p, Introduction Materials inside buildings contain many hormone-disrupting chemicals, including flame retardants (FRs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (Lucattini et al. 2018). As unbound additives, these chemicals can leach out [...]

Moderate indoor relative humidity (RH) levels (i.e., 40%–60%) may minimize transmission and viability of some viruses, maximize human immune function, and minimize health risks from mold, yet uncertainties exist about typical RH levels in offices globally and about the potential independent impacts of RH levels on workers' health. To examine this, we leveraged one year of indoor RH measurements (which study participants could view in real time) in 43 office buildings in China, India, Mexico, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and corresponding self‐report symptom data from 227 office workers in a subset of 32 buildings. In the buildings in this study, 42% of measurements during 9:00 – 17:00 on weekdays were less than 40% RH and 7% exceeded 60% RH. Indoor RH levels tended to be lower in less tropical regions, in winter months, when outdoor RH or temperature was low, and late in the workday. Furthermore, we also found statistically significant evidence that higher indoor RH levels across the range of 14%‐70% RH were associated with lower odds of reporting dryness or irritation of the throat and skin among females and unusual fatigue among males in models adjusted for indoor temperature, country, and day of year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence of the air pollution effects on cognitive function, little is known about the acute impact of indoor air pollution on cognitive function among the working-age population. We aimed to understand whether cognitive function was associated with real-time indoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). We conducted a prospective observational longitudinal study among 302 office workers in urban commercial buildings located in six countries (China, India, Mexico, Thailand, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom). For 12 months, assessed cognitive function using the Stroop color-word test and Addition-Subtraction test (ADD) via a mobile research app. We found that higher PM 2.5 and lower ventilation rates, as assessed by CO 2 concentration, were associated with slower response times and reduced accuracy (fewer correct responses per minute) on the Stroop and ADD for 8 out 10 test metrics. Each interquartile (IQR) increase in PM 2.5 (IQR=8.8 µ g/m 3 ) was associated with a 0.82% (95%CI: 0.42, 1.21) increase in Stroop response time, a 6.18% (95% CI: 2.08, 10.3) increase in Stroop interference time, a 0.7% (95% CI: -1.38, -0.01) decrease in Stroop throughput, and a 1.51% (95% CI: -2.65, -0.37) decrease in ADD throughput. For CO 2, an IQR increase (IQR=315ppm) was associated with a 0.85% (95% CI: 0.32, 1.39) increase in Stroop response time, a 7.88% (95% CI: 2.08, 13.86) increase in Stroop interference time, a 1.32% (95% CI: -2.3, -0.38) decrease in Stroop throughput, and a 1.13% (95% CI: 0.18, 2.11) increase in ADD response time. A sensitivity analysis showed significant association between PM 2.5 in four out of five cognitive test performance metrics only at levels above 12 µ g/m 3 . Enhanced filtration and higher ventilation rates that exceed current minimum targets are essential public health strategies that may improve employee productivity.