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With increased climate change pressures likely to influence harmful algal blooms, exposure to microcystin, a known hepatotoxin and a byproduct of cyanobacterial blooms can be a risk factor for NAFLD associated comorbidities. Using both in vivo and in vitro experiments we show that microcystin exposure in NAFLD mice cause rapid alteration of gut microbiome, rise in bacterial genus known for mediating gut inflammation and lactate production. Changes in the microbiome were strongly associated with inflammatory pathology in the intestine, gut leaching, tight junction protein alterations and increased oxidative tyrosyl radicals. Increased lactate producing bacteria from the altered microbiome was associated with increased NOX-2, an NADPH oxidase isoform. Activationof NOX2 caused inflammasome activation as shown by NLRP3/ASCII and NLRP3/Casp-1 colocalizations in these cells while use of mice lacking a crucial NOX2 component attenuated inflammatory pathology and redox changes. Mechanistically, NOX2 mediated peroxynitrite species were primary to inflammasome activation and release of inflammatory mediators. Thus, in conclusion, microcystin exposure in NAFLD could significantly alter intestinal pathology especially by the effects on microbiome and resultant redox status thus advancing our understanding of the co-existence of NAFLD-linked inflammatory bowel disease phenotypes in the clinic.

A strong association between exposure to the common harmful algal bloom toxin microcystin and the altered host gut microbiome has been shown. We tested the hypothesis that prior exposure to the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR may alter the host resistome. We show that the mice exposed to microcystin-LR had an altered microbiome signature that harbored antibiotic resistance genes. Host resistome genotypes such as mefA, msrD, mel, ant6, and tet40 increased in diversity and relative abundance following microcystin-LR exposure. Interestingly, the increased abundance of these genes was traced to resistance to common antibiotics such as tetracycline, macrolides, glycopeptide, and aminoglycosides, crucial for modern-day treatment of several diseases. Increased abundance of these genes was positively associated with increased expression of PD1, a T-cell homeostasis marker, and pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine IL-6 with a concomitant negative association with immunosurveillance markers IL-7 and TLR2. Microcystin-LR exposure also caused decreased TLR2, TLR4, and REG3G expressions, increased immunosenescence, and higher systemic levels of IL-6 in both wild-type and humanized mice. In conclusion, the results show a first-ever characterization of the host resistome following microcystin-LR exposure and its connection to host immune status and antimicrobial resistance that can be crucial to understand treatment options with antibiotics in microcystin-exposed subjects in clinical settings.

Background Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting properties. Their effects on women’s reproductive health, however, remain elusive. Here, we investigated associations between blood concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, and their mixture and infertility and long-term amenorrhea in women aged 20–49 years using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2018 cross-sectional survey. Methods A total of 1,990 women were included for the analysis of infertility and 1,919 women for long-term amenorrhea. The methods of log-transformation and use of quartiles were used to analyze blood heavy metal concentrations. Statistical differences in the covariates between the outcome groups were evaluated using a chi-squared test for categorical variables and a t-test for continuous variables. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations. Results The blood concentrations of Pb and heavy metal mixtures were significantly higher in ever-infertile women than pregnant women, but the concentrations of Cd and Hg were comparable. After full adjustment, multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a significant and dose-dependent positive association between blood Pb concentrations and women’s historical infertility, a negative association between Cd and women’s long-term amenorrhea, and no associations between Hg and heavy metal mixture and women’s infertility or long-term amenorrhea. Conclusions Our study suggests that exposure to heavy metals exhibit differential associations with history of infertility and amenorrhea, and Pb may adversely impact women’s reproduction and heighten the risks of infertility and long-term amenorrhea.

Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is a widely studied pollutant with substantial health impacts, yet little is known about the urban‐rural differences across the United States. Trends of PM2.5 in urban and rural census tracts between 2010 and 2019 were assessed alongside sociodemographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, poverty, and age. For 2010, we identified 13,474 rural tracts and 59,065 urban tracts. In 2019, 13,462 were rural and 59,055 urban. Urban tracts had significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations than rural tracts during this period. Levels of PM2.5 were lower in rural tracts compared to urban and fell more rapidly in rural than urban. Rural tract annual means for 2010 and 2019 were 8.51 [2.24] μg/m3 and 6.41 [1.29] μg/m3, respectively. Urban tract annual means for 2010 and 2019 were 9.56 [2.04] μg/m3 and 7.51 [1.40] μg/m3, respectively. Rural and urban majority Black communities had significantly higher PM2.5 pollution levels (10.19 [1.64] μg/m3 and 9.79 [1.10] μg/m3 respectively), in 2010. In 2019, they were: 7.75 [1.1] μg/m3 and 7.09 [0.78] μg/m3, respectively. Majority Hispanic communities had higher PM2.5 levels and were the highest urban concentration among all races/ethnicities (8.01 [1.73] μg/m3), however they were not the highest rural concentration among all races/ethnicities (6.22 [1.60] μg/m3) in 2019. Associations with higher levels of PM2.5 were found with communities in the poorest quartile and with higher proportions of residents age<15 years old. These findings suggest greater protections for those disproportionately exposed to PM2.5 are needed, such as, increasing the availability of low‐cost air quality monitors. Plain Language Summary PM2.5 is a well‐known air pollutant that impacts human health. However, little is known about how it differs between urban and rural areas in the United States (U.S). This study investigated these differences between 2010 and 2019 at a level that had not been assessed before across the United States. Rural areas generally had lower PM2.5 levels compared to urban areas and the pollution decreased faster in rural areas during this time. Both rural and urban areas with higher proportions of residents that are Black, Hispanic, and in poverty had higher PM2.5 levels. There were no consistent patterns between the age distribution of urban or rural census tracts and PM2.5 levels. Key Points Between 2010 and 2019, PM2.5 levels were consistently lower in rural communities than in urban communities across the United States High percentage Black communities had significantly higher PM2.5 pollution levels in both rural and urban census tracts Greater protection from air pollution for socially disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban settings is warranted

ABSTRACT Monitoring programs have traditionally monitored legacy contaminants but are shifting focus to Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). CECs present many challenges for monitoring and assessment, because measurement methods don't always exist nor have toxicological studies been fully conducted to place results in proper context. Also some CECs affect metabolic pathways to produce adverse outcomes that are not assessed through traditional toxicological evaluations. Antibiotics are CECs that pose significant environmental risks including development of both toxic effects at high doses and antibiotic resistance at doses well below the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) which kill bacteria and have been found in nearly half of all sites monitored in the US. Antimicrobial resistance has generally been attributed to the use of antibiotics in medicine for humans and livestock as well as aquaculture operations. The objective of this study was to assess the extent and magnitude of antibiotics in the environment and estimate their potential hazards in the environment. Antibiotics concentrations were measured in a number of monitoring studies which included Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) effluent, surface waters, sediments and biota. A number of studies reported levels of Antibiotic Resistant Microbes (ARM) in surface waters and some studies found specific ARM genes (e.g. the blaM-1 gene) in E. coli which may pose additional environmental risk. High levels of this gene were found to survive WWTP disinfection and accumulated in sediment at levels 100-1000 times higher than in the sewerage effluent, posing potential risks for gene transfer to other bacteria.in aquatic and marine ecosystems. Antibiotic risk assessment approaches were developed based on the use of MICs and MIC Ratios [High (Antibiotic Resistant)/Low (Antibiotic Sensitive) MIC] for each antibiotic indicating the range of bacterial adaptability to each antibiotic to help define the No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) for each antibiotic which were compared to maximum Measured Exposure Concentrations (MEC) in the environment to predict individual environmental risks. Four antibiotics had high MEC/NOEC and high MIC ratios and were identified as higher risks for concern based upon this approach, but only Triclosan had MEC/NOEC ratios >1 and was recommended for monitoring in future studies.

Over the past two decades, scientific research on the connections between the health and resilience of marine ecosystems and human health, well‐being, and community prosperity has expanded and evolved into a distinct “metadiscipline” known as Oceans and Human Health (OHH), recognized by the scientific community as well as policy makers. OHH goals are diverse and seek to improve public health outcomes, promote sustainable use of aquatic systems and resources, and strengthen community resilience. OHH research has historically included some level of community outreach and partner involvement; however, the increasing disruption of aquatic environments and urgency of public health impacts calls for a more systematic approach to effectively identify and engage with community partners to achieve project goals and outcomes. Herein, we present a strategic framework developed collaboratively by community engagement personnel from the four recently established U.S. Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH). This framework supports researchers in defining levels of community engagement and in aligning partners, purpose, activities, and approaches intentionally in their community engagement efforts. Specifically, we describe: (a) a framework for a range of outreach and engagement approaches; (b) the need for identifying partners, purpose, activities, and approaches; and (c) the importance of making intentional alignment among them. Misalignment across these dimensions may lead to wasting time or resources, eroding public trust, or failing to achieve intended outcomes. We illustrate the framework with examples from current COHH case studies and conclude with future directions for strategic community engagement in OHH and other environmental health contexts. Plain Language Summary Over the past two decades, scientific research on the connections between ocean health and the well‐being and prosperity of people has developed into a distinct field of study known as Oceans and Human Health (OHH). OHH goals seek to improve the health of people; promote the continued use of the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers; and strengthen the ability of communities to respond to public health concerns. OHH research has historically included some level of community outreach and involvement; however, the increasing deterioration of aquatic environments and urgency of public health impacts call for a more organized and deliberate approach to effectively work with community partners. Here, we outline a strategy developed collaboratively by community engagement personnel from the four recently established U.S. Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH). This strategy supports researchers in defining approaches to community engagement and in coordinating partners, purpose, activities, and approaches intentionally in their work with communities. We provide examples from current COHH case studies that show how to implement the strategy and describe future directions for community engagement in OHH and other research areas that focus on the interrelationships between people and their environment. Key Points Effective engagement with communities is paramount to achieving goals and outcomes of Oceans and Human Health research Presented herein is a strategic framework to purposefully align partners, purpose, activities, and approaches for outreach and engagement Adopting a systematic approach to community engagement can help to improve the extent and quality of meaningful partner participation

Community‐managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR) puts communities at the center of disaster readiness by assessing hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities, conducting risk analyses, and implementing comprehensive disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans. The EJ Strong pilot program was established to increase the resilience of participating environmental justice (EJ) communities in South Carolina (SC). This was accomplished through a CMDRR training program focused on EJ communities in SC. The curriculum was based on training manuals developed for use in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We modified the curriculum to make it culturally relevant, cope with the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic, and emphasize the application of training during field exercises within communities. In total, ∼110 community participants representing EJ communities across SC attended one or more of the workshops, virtual mini‐workshops, and/or field practicums. Invited speakers and program team members raised the overall total to ∼150, and 46 received certificates in CMDRR training after the final workshop. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of CMDRR training in the U.S. as well as the first focused on EJ communities. Other outcomes from EJ Strong included a state‐wide emergency food access map, a mobile‐enabled disaster risk assessment app, an internet‐based course that includes the CMDRR curriculum, incorporation of DRR materials for use in public school classrooms, air quality and flood monitoring systems for communities, and acquisition of follow‐on funding for communities and the program. Participant evaluations revealed high levels of satisfaction with and appreciation of the program's content. Plain Language Summary The EJ Strong pilot program was developed to address disaster resilience capacity gaps in EJ communities across SC, especially those related to the ongoing burden of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We adapted a training in CMDRR developed for international settings to be culturally relevant and applicable to EJ communities in SC. Overall, more than 110 community participants representing EJ communities attended one or more of the training sessions. Program team members and invited speakers raised the overall total to ∼150. 46 received certificates in CMDRR training. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of CMDRR training in the U.S. and the first focused on EJ communities. Outcomes from the pilot include a mobile‐enabled disaster assessment app, an emergency food access map, follow‐on funding for resilience projects in EJ communities, among others. Participant evaluations revealed high levels of satisfaction with and appreciation of the program's content. Key Points A Disaster Risk Reduction pilot program was tested in U.S. Environmental Justice communities to address acute and chronic hazard risks We contextualized and applied an international curriculum in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction to U.S. EJ settings The result was a product that was holistic, geographically transferrable, and provided a solution to address disaster risks in the U.S

Web cameras are transforming coastal environmental monitoring. Improvements in camera technology and image processing capabilities, paired with decreases in cost, enable widespread use of camera systems by researchers, managers and first responders for a growing range of environmental monitoring applications. Applications are related to transportation and commerce, preparedness, risk reduction and response, and stewardship of coastal resources. While web cameras are seemingly ubiquitous, operators often follow unique installation procedures and collect, store, and process imagery data in various ways. These inconsistencies significantly limit the ability for imagery data to be shared and utilized across research and operational disciplines. Similar to the early days of other remote sensing networks like High Frequency Radar, the benefits and downstream application of coastal imagery data can be greatly enhanced through centralized data access and standardization of data collection, analysis and dissemination. The NOAA National Ocean Service Web Camera Applications Testbed (WebCAT) was launched in 2017 in partnership with SECOORA, as a public-private partnership to address this coastal ocean observing standardization need. WebCAT is a pilot project relying on the private sector expertise of Surfline, Inc. to install and operate several web cameras capable of meeting the short-term needs of diverse users including NOAA, USGS, state health agencies, academia and others. The project aims to determine operational imagery collection, storage, processing, access, and archival requirements that will foster collaboration across research and operational user communities. Seven web cameras have been installed at six locations along the southeast U.S. coast (from Florida to North Carolina) for purposes including: counting animals on the beach and migrating right whales, identifying rip currents, validating wave runup models, and understanding human use of natural resources. Here we present a review of the state of coastal imagery data and an overview of the WebCAT project. Goals of an upcoming community workshop will also be presented along with our vision for how WebCAT can motivate a future sustained operational web camera network.

Advancing environmental health literacy in support of environmental management requires inclusive science communication, especially with environmental justice communities. In order to understand experiences of environmental practitioners in the realm of science communication, the Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions at the University of South Carolina conducted two studies on science communication and research translation with the center’s researchers and partners. This qualitative case study follows up with a select group of environmental practitioners on emergent themes from the initial work. It explores the specific topics of understanding, trust, and access and how those can become barriers or facilitators of public engagement with environmental activities and decision making. The authors conducted seven in-depth qualitative interviews with center partners whose work focuses on environmental water quality and impacts on human and environmental health. Key results indicate that the public may have limited understanding of scientific processes, establishing trust takes time, and access should be incorporated into the design of programs and activities to ensure broader reach. Findings from this research are relevant to other partner-engaged work and environmental management initiatives and provide insights on experiences, practices, and actions for equitable and effective stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships.

Opioid dependence and opioid-related mortality have been increasing in recent years in the United States. Available and accessible treatments may result in a reduction of opioid-related mortality. This work describes the geographic variation of spatial accessibility to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and identifies areas with poor access to care in South Carolina. The study develops a new index of access that builds on the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, and has three dimensions: a facility attractiveness index, defined by services rendered incorporated into the Huff Model; a facility catchment area, defined as a function of facility attractiveness to account for variable catchment size; and a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to account for nonspatial factors that mitigate or compound the impacts of spatial access to care. Results of the study indicate a significant variation in access to OTPs statewide. Spatial access to OTPs is low across the entire state except for in a limited number of metropolitan areas. The majority of the population with low access (85%) live in areas with a moderate-to-high levels of social vulnerability. This research provides more realistic estimates of access to care and aims to assist policymakers in better targeting disadvantaged areas for OTP program expansion and resource allocation.