Enlarging effects of microplastics on adsorption, desorption and bioaccessibility of chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants in landfill soil particle-size fractions.

Chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants (Cl-OPFRs) and microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants in landfills, but their synergistic behaviors and triggering risks were rarely focused on, impeding the resource utilization of landfill soils. This study systematically investigated the adsorption/desorption behaviors, bioaccessibility and human health risks of Cl-OPFRs in landfill soil particle-size fractions coexisted with MPs under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The results showed that the adsorption capacity and bioaccessibility of Cl-OPFRs in humus soil were higher than that in subsoil. MPs promoted the adsorption of tris(1-chloro-2-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) in landfill soils by up to 34.6 % and 34.1 % respectively, but inhibited the adsorption of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) by up to 43.6 %. The bioaccessibility of Cl-OPFRs in landfill soils was positively correlated with MPs addition ratio but negatively correlated with the KOW of Cl-OPFRs, soil organic matter and particle size. MPs addition increased the residual concentration of Cl-OPFRs and significantly increased the bioaccessibility of TCEP and TDCPP by up to 33.1 % in landfill soils, resulting in higher carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks. The study presents the first series of the combined behavior and effects of MPs and Cl-OPFRs in landfill soils, and provides a theoretical reference for landfill risk management.

Weight changes since age 20 and cardiovascular risk factors in a middle-aged Chinese population.

Background: Little is known about the association between weight changes and adverse health outcomes among Chinese adults. Methods: A total of 1715 Chinese adults, 45-60 years of age, have been recruited to participate in the Hefei Nutrition and Health Study started in 2012. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of weight changes since age 20 (loss ≥5.0 kg; maintain [±4.9 kg]; gain 5.0-9.9 kg; gain ≥10.0 kg) with cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Men who gained 10.0 kg or more had increased risks of hypertension (odds ratios (OR) = 3.07; 95% CI: 1.98-4.76), impaired fasting glucose (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.02-2.97), reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.42-5.40) and elevated triglyceride levels (OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 2.94-11.12). Women who gained 10.0 kg or more had increased risks of hypertension, elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and elevated triglycerides levels of 2.01(95% CI: 1.18-3.42), 3.40 (95% CI: 1.18-9.82) and 5.60 (95% CI: 1.59-19.61), respectively. Conclusion: Weight gain during adulthood was associated with increased risks of high triglycerides, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose and risk of reduced HDL cholesterol in men. Furthermore, weight gain was a predictor of high-risk triglycerides, hypertension and elevated LDL cholesterol in women.

Maternal Continuing Folic Acid Supplementation after the First Trimester of Pregnancy Increased the Risk of Large-for-Gestational-Age Birth: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study.

Supplementation with folic acid (FA) was proven to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) and was recommended worldwide before and during early pregnancy. However, much less is known regarding the role of FA after the 12th gestational week (GW). This study aimed to investigate the related effects of continued FA supplementation after the first trimester of pregnancy on fetal growth. The study subjects came from the Ma'anshan-Anhui Birth Cohort Study (MABC) that recruited 3474 pregnant women from the city of Ma'anshan in Anhui Province in China during the period of May 2013 to September 2014. The information on use of vitamin and mineral supplements was recorded in different periods (the first/second/third trimester of pregnancy). Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births were live-born infants that were <10th percentile of birth weight, and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births were live-born infants that were ≥90th percentile of birth weight according to nomograms based on gender and gestational age from the latest standards. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the effects of FA supplement consumption in the second/third trimester of pregnancy on the risk of LGA and SGA. In addition, propensity score analysis was also performed to examine the effects. In this prospective birth cohort study conducted in Chinese women who had taken FA in the first trimester of pregnancy, we found that continued FA supplementation with 400 micrograms/day in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy significantly increased the risk of LGA (RR = 1.98 (1.29, 3.04)). This relation was strong or monotonic after adjusting for maternal age, newborn's gender, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal education level, smoking, alcohol consumption and calcium supplementation. We did not observe that continuing FA supplementation after the first trimester of pregnancy remarkably decreased the risk of SGA. The propensity score analysis showed similar results. To confirm these findings, additional investigations or trials with a large sample and the tracking of folate status throughout pregnancy are recommended.

Dietary Patterns Modulate the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Adults.

Although previous studies reported the associations between the intakes of individual foods or nutrients and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the relationship between dietary patterns and NAFLD in the Chinese population has been rarely studied to date. This study aimed to investigate the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of NAFLD in a middle-aged Chinese population. The Study subjects were 999 Chinese adults aged 45-60 years in the Anhui province who participated in the Hefei Nutrition and Health Study. Dietary intake was collected by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. NAFLD was defined as the presence of moderate-severe hepatic steatosis (by B-ultrasonic examination); the absence of excessive alcohol use (>20 g day(-1) in men and 10 g day(-1) in women); no use of steatogenic medications within the past six months; no exposure to hepatotoxins; and no history of bariatric surgery. Log-binomial regression analysis was used to examine the association between dietary patterns and NAFLD with adjustment of potential confounding variables. Out of 999 participants, 345 (34.5%) were classified as having NAFLD. Four major dietary patterns were identified: "Traditional Chinese", "Animal food", "Grains-vegetables" and "High-salt" dietary patterns. After adjusting for potential confounders, subjects in the highest quartile of the "Animal food" pattern scores had greater prevalence ratio for NAFLD (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.354; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.063-1.724; p < 0.05) than did those in the lowest quartile. After adjustment for body mass index (BMI), compared with the lowest quartile of the "Grains-vegetables" pattern, the highest quartile had a lower prevalence ratio for NAFLD (PR = 0.777; 95% CI: 0.618-0.977, p < 0.05). However, the "traditional Chinese" and "high-salt" dietary patterns showed no association with the risk of NAFLD. Our findings indicated that the "Animal food" dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD.