Relationship of trihalomethane in drinking water with hypertension and arrhythmia among young and middle-aged adults in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.

There are no studies investigating the association of chlorinated drinking water with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among young and middle-aged adults. This study was aimed to assess the associations between trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water and the risk of CVDs in in the target group in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan. 448 dwellers of Petropavlovsk were asked about their demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, behavioural characteristics, and drinking water preferences. THMs exposure was assessed to each participant based on their residence address. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the risk of CVDs in young and middle-aged adults. The results showed that the risk of hypertension in the adjusted logistic regression model was increased by 68% and a 2.7-fold in the second and third THM tertiles, respectively. Participants in the second and third THM exposure tertiles had a 2.3-fold and a 4.8-fold increase in the risk of arrhythmia.

Association between Outdoor Air Pollution and Fatal Acute Myocardial Infarction in Lithuania between 2006 and 2015: A Time Series Design.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution has a significant effect on human health and there is a broad body of evidence showing that exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of adverse health effects. The main objective of this study was to assess the association of traffic-related air pollutants with fatal AMI during the ten-year period. METHODS: The study was conducted in Kaunas city, where the WHO MONICA register included a total of 2273 adult cases of fatal AMI cases during the 10-year study period. We focused on the period between 2006 and 2015. The associations between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and the risk of fatal AMI were evaluated by using a multivariate Poisson regression model, RR presented per an increase in IQR. RESULTS: It was found that the risk of fatal AMI was significantly higher in all subjects (RR 1.06; 95% CI 1.00-1.12) and women (RR 1.12; 95% CI 1.02-1.22) when the concentration of PM10 in the ambient air was increased 5-11 days before the onset of AMI, adjusting for NO2 concentration. The effect was stronger during spring in all subjects (RR 1.12; 95% CI 1.03-1.22), in men (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.01-1.26), in younger-aged (RR 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.28), and in winter in women (RR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03-1.50). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that ambient air pollution increases the risk of fatal AMI, and this pertains to PM10 specifically.

Motivations and barriers towards optimal physical activity level: A community-based assessment of 28 EU countries.

Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the most important determinants of a healthy lifestyle and improved physical and mental well-being. Despite the health benefits of regular PA, the studies show low levels of PA among European adolescents and adults. An increase in physical inactivity has been associated with different personal and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate positive motivation and barriers to community-based PA. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data on PA, positive motivation and barriers to PA, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Moderate and vigorous levels of PA were assessed. Regression analysis was applied to estimate the associations for positive and negative reasons for meeting PA recommendations. Data were available for 28,031 adults with a mean age of 48.3 (SD = 18.8) and 51.8% women. Significant variations in individual characteristics were seen between different types of communities. The percentage of participants who reported achieving recommended levels of PA was the lowest in rural areas (44.3%). Regression models showed that most motivational factors had a strong positive association with meeting PA recommendations. We observed the effects of interactions between making acquaintances, having fun and the type of community on meeting PA recommendations. The effects of interactions between the type of community and barriers to PA such as price, risk of injury, disability / illness, and a lack of motivation on PA recommendations were observed. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers to PA are associated with the physical environment, and community-based programs and policies for encouraging PA participation are needed.

Promoting Sustainable Mobility: A Perspective from Car and Public Transport Users.

Sustainable mobility is becoming a key factor in improving the quality of life of the residents and increasing physical activity (PA) levels. The current situation of sustainable mobility and its analysis is a first step in understanding the factors that would encourage residents to discover and choose alternative modes of travel. The present study examined the factors that encourage the choice of active modes of travel among urban adult population. Walking and cycling were analyzed as the most sustainable forms of urban mobility from the perspective of car and public transport (PT) users. Total of 902 subjects aged 18 years or older were analyzed in the study to assess commuting habits in Kaunas city, Lithuania. The majority (61.1%) of the respondents used a passenger vehicle, 28.2% used PT, and only 13.5% used active modes of travel. The results showed that safer pedestrian crossings, and comfortable paths were the most significant factors that encourage walking. A wider cycling network, and bicycle safety were the most important incentives for the promotion of cycling. Our findings show that the main factors encouraging walking and cycling among car and PT users are similar, however, the individual characteristics that determine the choice of these factors vary significantly.

The Relationship Between the Healthy Diet Index, Chronic Diseases, Obesity and Lifestyle Risk Factors Among Adults in Kaunas City, Lithuania.

A healthy and balanced diet is an important factor contributing to overall health and wellness. The aim of this study was to develop a Healthy Diet Index (HDI) score and assess its association with various chronic diseases and lifestyle risk factors. A cross-sectional survey included 1,111 adults aged 18 years and older. Information on dietary habits was collected using a questionnaire. Additional demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle risk factors data were also collected. Sixteen food groups were used to develop the HDI score for the residents of Kaunas city, Lithuania based on the national recommendations, World Health Organization (WHO) and other guidance on a healthy diet. We used logistic regression models to assess the association of the HDI score with chronic diseases, obesity and lifestyle risk factors. We found that both males and females were lacking the optimal consumption of the base components of a healthy diet-fruits and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, and proteins. We also observed significant associations between the HDI score and several outcomes such as hypertension, arrhythmia, physical activity, and obesity. The suggested HDI score could serve as a valuable tool in assessing and improving dietary habits beneficial for promoting health and preventing many diseases.

Perceived Stress among Different Occupational Groups and the Interaction with Sedentary Behaviour.

Sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity are associated with health issues, including both physical and mental health, non-communicable diseases, overweight, obesity and reduced quality of life. This study investigated differences in physical activity and other individual factors among different occupational groups, highlighting the impact of sedentary behaviour on perceived stress by occupation. Cross-sectional study included 571 full-time workers of Kaunas city, Lithuania. The outcome of this study was assessment of perceived stress. Time spent sedentary per day, occupation and other individual characteristics were self-reported using questionnaires. Two main occupational groups were analysed: white-collar and blue-collar workers. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of sedentary behaviour on perceived stress among different occupational groups. The prevalence of high sedentary behaviour was 21.7 and 16.8 % among white-collar and blue-collar workers, respectively. Blue-collar workers had a higher risk of high perceived stress (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.05-2.29) compared to white-collar workers; however, sedentary time did not have any impact on high perceived stress level. Meanwhile, white-collar male (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.46-12.95) and white-collar female (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.23-8.65) workers who spend more than three hours per day sedentary had a greater risk of high levels of perceived stress. These findings indicate sedentary behaviour effect on perceived stress among two occupational groups-white-collar and blue-collar workers-and other important factors associated with perceived stress.

Seasonality of physical activity and its association with socioeconomic and health factors among urban-dwelling adults of Kaunas, Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) has been declining dramatically over time in many countries worldwide. The decrease of PA levels affects a person's health and quality of life as it is a significant risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases. Understanding the factors that determine PA is particularly important in promoting greater PA in adults and reducing the risk of diseases associated with physical inactivity. This study investigated associations of seasonal PA levels with socioeconomic and health factors among adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 1111 participants of Kaunas city, Lithuania who completed a questionnaire about PA and mobility behaviour, socioeconomic, health and demographic factors. Commuting PA and sufficient PA (sPA) on weekdays and weekends in the summer and winter seasons was investigated in this study. Data on daily commuting duration and forms of transportation were collected using a questionnaire survey. Daily commuting was categorized into two categories: 1) using motorized transportation or walking or cycling 0 to 29 min, 2) and walking or cycling for 30 min or more. RESULTS: Our findings showed significant seasonal impact on PA levels. The results revealed that employment status was significantly associated with PA. Unemployed individuals were 2 times more likely to engage in sPA in winter and almost 3 times in summer compared to workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the importance of considering environmental, socioeconomic and health factors when assessing PA. Promoting PA through active commuting is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and strategies to support the implementation of health-promoting policies and practices are needed.

The impact of particulate matter on allergy risk among adults: integrated exposure assessment.

Exposure assessment is an important part in environmental epidemiology for determining the associations of environmental factors with health effects. One of the greatest challenges for personal exposure assessment is associated with peoples' mobility during the day and spatial and temporal dynamics of air pollution. In this study, the impact of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 µm) on allergy risk among adults was assessed using objective methods of exposure assessment. The primary objective of the present study was to estimate personal exposure to PM10 based on individual daily movement patterns. Significant differences between the concentration of PM10 in different microenvironments (MEs) and personal exposure to PM10 were determined. Home exposure accounted for the largest part of PM10 exposure. Thirty-five percent of PM10 exposure was received in other non-home MEs. Allergy risk increased significantly with increasing exposure to PM10. Adults exposed to the highest levels of PM10 exposure had a twice-higher risk of allergies than adults exposed to the lowest levels of PM10 exposure. The study results have practical relevance for exposure assessment to environmental factors and its impact on health effects.

Individual exposure to nitrogen dioxide and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Kaunas study.

Several epidemiological studies have found some evidence suggesting that exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes. In this cohort study, we assessed individual maternal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during pregnancy and examined the association between the exposure and pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight (LBW), term low birth weight (TLBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PB). 3292 women living in Kaunas city, Lithuania, data and their singleton newborns were included in the study. Exposure to NO2 was assigned to each individual subject during pregnancy based on residential address using an AIRVIRO dispersion model and geographic information system (GIS). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that LBW risk increased statistically significantly with increasing exposure to NO2. Increased maternal exposure to NO2 tended to increase the risk for TLBW, SGA and PB.

Seasonal variation of indoor and outdoor air quality of nitrogen dioxide in homes with gas and electric stoves.

Indoor air pollution significantly influences personal exposure to air pollution and increases health risks. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the major air pollutants, and therefore it is important to properly determine indoor concentration of this pollutant considering the fact that people spend most of their time inside. The aim of this study was to assess indoor and outdoor concentration of NO2 during each season; for this purpose, passive sampling was applied. We analyzed homes with gas and electric stoves to determine and compare the concentrations of NO2 in kitchen, living room, and bedroom microenvironments (MEs). The accuracy of passive sampling was evaluated by comparing the sampling results with the data from air quality monitoring stations. The highest indoor concentration of NO2 was observed in kitchen ME during the winter period, the median concentration being 28.4 µg m(-3). Indoor NO2 levels in homes with gas stoves were higher than outdoor levels during all seasons. The concentration of NO2 was by 2.5 times higher in kitchen MEs with gas stoves than with electric stoves. This study showed that the concentration of NO2 in indoor MEs mainly depended on the stove type used in the kitchen. Homes with gas stoves had significantly higher levels of NO2 in all indoor MEs compared with homes where electric stoves were used.

The statistical evaluation and comparison of ADMS-Urban model for the prediction of nitrogen dioxide with air quality monitoring network.

In many countries, road traffic is one of the main sources of air pollution associated with adverse effects on human health and environment. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is considered to be a measure of traffic-related air pollution, with concentrations tending to be higher near highways, along busy roads, and in the city centers, and the exceedances are mainly observed at measurement stations located close to traffic. In order to assess the air quality in the city and the air pollution impact on public health, air quality models are used. However, firstly, before the model can be used for these purposes, it is important to evaluate the accuracy of the dispersion modelling as one of the most widely used method. The monitoring and dispersion modelling are two components of air quality monitoring system (AQMS), in which statistical comparison was made in this research. The evaluation of the Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS-Urban) was made by comparing monthly modelled NO2 concentrations with the data of continuous air quality monitoring stations in Kaunas city. The statistical measures of model performance were calculated for annual and monthly concentrations of NO2 for each monitoring station site. The spatial analysis was made using geographic information systems (GIS). The calculation of statistical parameters indicated a good ADMS-Urban model performance for the prediction of NO2. The results of this study showed that the agreement of modelled values and observations was better for traffic monitoring stations compared to the background and residential stations.