archives@tulane.edu / Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the mother; however, biological mechanisms remain relatively unknown, and known risk factors have shown to be incomplete. Both epidemiological and experimental research suggest that environmental exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) may initiate and further progress chronic diseases such as T2DM. This study investigates the association between PM2.5 exposure and the risk of T2DM among women with a history of GDM. Associations between prevalent and incident T2DM with PM2.5 utilized two PM2.5 metrics: 1) annual average PM2.5 concentration and 2) annual average modeled PM2.5 exposure, calculated from daily PM2.5 concentration levels provided by the USRA/NASA Marshal Space Flight Center. Data from the Southern Community Cohort Study, who at recruitment reported a previous diagnosis of GDM, for whom T2DM, risk factor, and follow-up information were available, was provided. In total, 2403 participants were included in the analysis of prevalent T2DM, and 1036 participants were included in the analysis of incident T2DM. Associations between proximity to roadways and race with PM2.5 metrics were also conducted. Participants that live close to roadways were exposed to higher annual average PM2.5 concentrations and annual average modeled PM2.5 exposures. When stratified by race, non-Black participants were exposed to higher averages. After adjustment, a significant association was observed between annual average PM2.5 concentration and incident T2DM (hazards ratio (HR)= 1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.003, 1.040). No association was observed between annual average PM2.5 concentrations and prevalent T2DM. Annual average modeled PM2.5 exposure was not associated with either prevalent or incident T2DM. Results were partly consistent with previous literature. Additional studies with a greater range of air pollution exposures, including higher levels, additional pollutants, and more tailored exposure models, are warranted to investigate hypothesized associations. / 0 / Ashley Bell

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Introduction: The attention on environmental impact on human health is rising. But, the association between particulate matter 2.5 and birth weight is still not acknowledged in the global burden of diseases, and the association has not yet been studied in the Philippines. The aim was to explore how increasing/decreasing concentrations of particulate matter 2.5 in pregnant women’s residence area was associated with the risk of having a child with low birth weight in the Philippines. Method: 1462 women pregnant in 2016 from the Demographic and Health Survey done in the Philippines in 2017 were analyzed by exposure to particulate matter 2.5 in their residence area. Particulate matter 2.5 was derived from the DIMAQ model, which estimated the annual mean exposure based on a mix of methods. A logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and variables important for fetal growth, and the birth season was done. Results: The results of the logistic regression when adjusted for all variables showed that the non-statistically significant odds of low birth weight in the children from to the particulate matter 2.5 categories: 7-10 μg/m3, 11-14 μg/m3, and 15-18 μg/m3 were respectively 21% lower (CI: 0.42-1.50), 33% lower (CI: 0.39-1.21) and 34% lower (CI: 0.39-1.14) compared to the highest exposure category of 19-22 μg/m3. Discussion: The study had several limitations in regard to the study design, especially in dealing with seasonal changes in low birth weight. Yet, the study did not disagree with the results from similar studies done in other countries or globally.

Black carbon has been reported to have major impacts on climate, environmental quality, and health. A chemothermal oxidation method, ordinarily used to isolate black carbon from soils, sediments and aquatic samples was applied to explore atmospheric samples. The results were then compared with thermal optical reflectance measurements, and then investigated in parallel with a health survey conducted during sampling. This study assesses atmospheric emissions from the NTPC Farakka coal-fired power plant in West Bengal, the distribution of emissions, the mobilization of black carbon, and its impact on pulmonary and cardiovascular conditions among respondents in Murshidabad and Malda, in West Bengal, India. Two measurement campaigns were conducted during winter and summer (November 2021 – June 2022); a total of 81 samples (Murshidabad) and 65 samples (Malda) were collected and analyzed and 193 respondents were surveyed for lung functionality. Over the study period, the mean concentration of PM2.5 and soot were observed to be 147 μg/m³; 113 μg/m³ and 1.52 μg/m³; 1.54 μg/m³ respectively. From the spirometry tests, it was concluded that there was chronic exposure to PM2.5 at both the sites, during the winter and monsoon campaigns. With increases in PM2.5 corresponding with higher numbers of restrictive and obstructive cases.