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Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks associated with chronic exposure to smoke and their potential benefits have been the matter of intense scientific debate. We aimed to replicate three published studies on cytotoxic and inflammatory effects of cigarette smoke and ENDS aerosol in an independent multi-center ring study. We aimed to establish the reliability of results and the robustness of conclusions by replicating the authors’ experimental protocols and further validating them with different techniques. Human bronchial epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were exposed to cigarette whole smoke and vapor phase and to aerosol from ENDS. We also assessed the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 and the remodeling mediator matrix metalloproteinase-1. We replicated cell viability results and confirmed that almost 80% of cytotoxic effects are due to volatile compounds in the vapor phase of smoke. Our findings substantiated the reduced cytotoxic effects of ENDS aerosol. However, our data on inflammatory and remodeling activity triggered by smoke differed significantly from those in the original reports. Taken together, independent data from multiple laboratories clearly demonstrated the reduced toxicity of ENDS products compared to cigarettes.

Cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium concentrations in fish muscle tissue taken from various Sicilian areas were detected. Fish caught in Siracusa, nearby a petrochemical industrial area, were more contaminated by cadmium, lead and chromium (respectively 0.366, 0.32, 0.72 μg/g) than those from the other sites. In the Sicily Channel, we found the highest bioaccumulation of mercury (0.31 μg/g). Although some metals concentrations exceed the limits set by the European regulation, the estimated weekly intake was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake established by the European Food and Safety Authority, and the Target Hazard Quotient values indicate that there is no carcinogenic risk for humans.

An increased incidence of thyroid cancer has been reported in the area close to Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe located in Northeastern Sicily. We tested the hypothesis that exposure to the emissions from the volcano is associated with thyroid cancer in 186 municipalities from three provinces surrounding the volcano (1.9 million inhabitants). We measured the angle between the bearing of the municipalities and each direction, with special focus on South-East, the prevalent direction of the plume, and conducted a regression analysis on 2003–2016 incidence rates of thyroid cancer, adjusting for distance from Mount Etna, population size, and income. A 10-degree increase in the angle with South-East was associated with a decrease in thyroid cancer rates in the whole population (− 0.67 cases/100,000, p = 0.002) and in women (− 1.54/100,000, p < 0.001), and were robust to several sensitivity analyses. Similar results were obtained for East-South-East direction. These results support the hypothesis of a potential role of exposure to the plume from Mount Etna in determining the high rates of thyroid cancer. The results need to be confirmed in analytical studies, in which information of exposure to chemicals originating from the volcano, as well as other possible causes, should be carefully measured, molecular characteristics of the tumors and taken into account.

Cosmetics can contain harmful compounds such as heavy metals. Several metals have a cumulative effect on the body, especially fatty tissues, and may have different health effects on the human body over the long term. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the health risks of heavy metals in cosmetics in Iran. Also, in this study, Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate uncertainties. In this study, heavy metals data of cosmetics were extracted from studies carried out at intervals 2010–2018. International and Iranian databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Irandoc, Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID), and Information Institute for Scientific (ISC) were searched for this purpose. In this study, the index of the Margin of Safety was calculated to determine the risk of human contact with metallic impurities in cosmetic products used by humans. In the selected period, 11 studies were conducted on the measurement of heavy metals in cosmetics in Iran. In these studies, cosmetics such as eye shadow, eye pencil, powder, cream, and lipstick were studied. The Margin of Safety (MoS) values calculated for different metals were higher than the established safe standard by WHO. The highest and lowest amount of systemic exposure dosage in all types of cosmetic investigated (lipstick, cream, eye pencil, face powder, and eye shadow) was related to Fe and Hg. The mean hazardous quotient (HQ) for Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Hg was 1.05E-03, 1.03E-01, 7.95E-03, 2.59E-03, 1.05E-03, 4.98E-03, 7.22E-04, 1.85E-01, and 1.35E-05, respectively. The highest HQ (6.10E-01) was found for Pb, which was observed in the cream.

This study aims to investigate the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals across their life cycle—from production to disposal—in the context of increasing concerns about sustainability in healthcare systems. Utilizing a narrative review approach, data from recent scientific literature and policy documents were analyzed to assess the extent of pharmaceutical pollution, its ecological consequences, and the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies. The analysis revealed that pharmaceutical residues, particularly non-metabolized active pharmaceutical ingredients, have been shown to contribute to aquatic pollution and biodiversity loss in multiple studies, with evidence of effects on certain species and ecosystems . Emissions from pharmaceutical production account for approximately 4.4% of global carbon emissions, while inadequate disposal practices exacerbate environmental contamination. Moreover, specific drug classes, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, hormones, and anticancer agents, pose heightened ecotoxicological risks, including endocrine disruption and antimicrobial resistance. The study highlights promising mitigation strategies, including solvent recovery technologies, green packaging, advanced wastewater treatments, and innovations such as biodegradable drugs and AI-driven telemedicine. Case studies from companies such as Merck, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca demonstrate the feasibility of integrating sustainability into pharmaceutical operations. The findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that incorporate environmental criteria into health technology assessments, in alignment with the EU Green Deal and Agenda 2030. These insights contribute to the One Health perspective, emphasizing the interdependence between environmental protection, public health, and pharmaceutical innovation.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a persistent degradation product of widely used fluorinated compounds such as hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroolefins, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrochlorofluoroolefins. Its chemical stability, water solubility, and environmental persistence raise concerns about potential human and ecological risks. To provide an overview of current knowledge on TFA, we conducted a literature search (PubMed and Scopus, December 2024–January 2025) focusing on its environmental fate, human exposure, toxicokinetic, ecotoxicology, and regulation. A narrative approach was applied, prioritizing recent and high-quality evidence. TFA is ubiquitous in air, water, food, and consumer products. Human exposure occurs mainly through ingestion and inhalation. It is rapidly absorbed and excreted mostly unchanged in urine, with limited metabolic transformation. Though not bioaccumulated in fat, its environmental persistence and ongoing exposure raise concerns about long-term systemic effects. Ecotoxicological data show chronic toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial species, with environmental concentrations often exceeding safety thresholds. Currently, no binding EU limit exists for TFA, although several countries have proposed drinking water guidelines. TFA represents an emerging environmental contaminant with potential human health and ecological impacts. Strengthened monitoring, long-term toxicological studies, and precautionary regulatory action are urgently needed.

The rise of microplastic (MPs) pollution presents a pressing environmental issue, raising concerns about its potential health impacts on human populations. Given the critical role of the liver in detoxification and metabolism, understanding the effects of MPs on the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells is essential for comprehensively assessing the dangers associated with MPs pollution to human health. Until now, the assessment of the harmful impact of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on HepG2 has been incomplete and lacks certain essential data points. In this particular setting, we examined parameters such as cell viability, oxidative stress, mtDNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and autophagy in HepG2 cells exposed for 72 h to PET and PE at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. Our data revealed that exposure of HepG2 to MPs causes an increase in cell viability accompanied by a heightened ROS and altered mitochondrial function, as revealed by decreased mtDNA integrity and membrane potential. In addition, results demonstrated that exposure to PET and PE activated autophagic events, as suggested by the increased levels of the specific markers LC3 and p62. This last point was further confirmed using bafilomycin, a specific blocker that hinders the merging of autophagosomes and lysosomes, thereby blocking autophagic degradation processes. Given the increasing evidence of food chain MPs contamination and its possible harmful effects, our data should be carefully considered.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants that have raised concerns due to their potential toxic impacts on human health. This study investigates the impact of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics on Caco-2 cells, a commonly used in vitro model for the intestinal barrier. Caco-2 cells were exposed to MPs of different sizes (1 µm and 2.6 µm) for 72 h. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in cell viability, accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, suggesting oxidative-stress-induced cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry and Western blot analyses revealed that the MPs induced apoptosis, as evidenced by an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 activation. Additionally, MPs triggered autophagy, indicated by elevated LC3-II levels and decreased p62 expression. The use of bafilomycin A1 further confirmed the enhancement of autophagic flux. These findings highlight the potential cytotoxic effects of MPs on intestinal epithelial cells, raising concerns about their impact on human health.

Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease with still unknown etiology. We aimed at investigating the association between environmental and occupational factors with ALS risk. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study in four Italian provinces (Catania, Modena, Novara, and Reggio Emilia) by administration of tailored questionnaires to ALS cases (n = 95) and randomly selected population referents (n = 135). We estimated ALS risk by calculating the odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) using an unconditional logistic regression model. Results: We found a positive association with disease risk for history of occupation in the agricultural sector (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 0.79–7.54), especially for longer than 10 years (OR = 2.72, 95% 1.02–7.20). Overall occupational exposure to solvents also suggested a positive association, especially for thinners (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.14–4.54) and paint removers (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 0.90–4.48). Both occupational and environmental exposure to electromagnetic fields show a slightly increased risk with OR = 1.69 (95% CI 0.70–4.09) and 2.41 (95% CI 1.13–5.12), respectively. Occupational but not environmental exposure to pesticides (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.63–2.37), particularly fungicides, and exposure to metals (OR = 4.20, 95% CI 1.88–9.38), particularly lead, mercury, and selenium, showed an imprecise but positive association. Finally, there was an indication of increased risk for living in proximity to water bodies. Conclusions: Despite the caution that needs to be used due to some study limitations, such as the low number of exposed subjects and the possibility of recall bias, these results suggest the potential role of some environmental and occupational factors in ALS etiology.

This umbrella review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence on the relationship between digital device use and adolescent sleep. It summarizes results from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, presenting the magnitude and direction of observed associations. A total of seven systematic reviews, including five qualitative reviews and two meta-analyses, were included, comprising 127 primary studies with a combined sample of 867,003 participants. The findings suggest a negative impact of digital device use on various sleep parameters, including sleep duration, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality. Devices such as smartphones and computers were found to have a greater adverse effect, while television use showed a weaker association. The most significant disruptions were observed in relation to social media and internet use, with problematic usage leading to delayed bedtimes, shorter sleep duration, and increased sleep onset latency. The review also highlights the role of timing and duration of device use, with late-night use particularly contributing to sleep disturbances. Biological, psychological, and social mechanisms are proposed as potential pathways underlying these effects. Despite moderate evidence supporting the negative impact of digital media on sleep, there is considerable heterogeneity across studies, and many relied on self-reported data, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research should aim to standardize exposure and outcome measures, incorporate objective data collection methods, and explore causal relationships through longitudinal studies. This umbrella review underscores the importance of developing targeted public health strategies, parental guidance, and clinical awareness to mitigate the potential adverse effects of digital device use on adolescent sleep and mental health.