Despite the biological plausibility of the association between heavy metal exposure and mental health disorders, epidemiological evidence remains scarce. The objective was to estimate the association between heavy metals and metalloids in soil and the prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population of Spain. Individual data came from the Spanish National Health Survey 2011-2012, 18,073 individuals residing in 1772 census sections. Mental health was measured with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The concentration estimates of heavy metal and metalloid levels in topsoil (upper soil horizon) came from the Geochemical Atlas of Spain based on 13,317 soil samples. Levels of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) were estimated in each census section by "ordinary Kriging". Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multilevel logistic regression models. Compared with the lowest Pb concentration levels quartile, the OR for the second quartile was 1.29 (95%CI: 1.11-1.50), increasing progressively to 1.37 (95%CI: 1.17-1.60) and 1.51 (95%CI: 1.27-1.79) in the third and fourth quartiles, respectively. For As, the association was observed in the third and fourth quartiles: 1.21 (95%CI: 1.04-1.41) and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.21-1.65), respectively. Cd was associated also following a gradient from the second quartile: 1.34 (95%CI: 1.15-1.57) through the fourth: 1.84 (95%CI: 1.56-2.15). In contrast, Mn only showed a positive association at the second quartile. Additionally, individuals consuming vegetables > once a day the OR for the fourth quartile of Pb concentration, vs. the first, increased to 2.93 (95%CI: 1.97-4.36); similarly for As: 3.00 (95%CI: 2.08-4.31), and for Cd: 3.49 (95%CI: 2.33-5.22). Living in areas with a higher concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in soil was associated with an increased probability of having a mental disorder. These relationships were strengthened in individuals reporting consuming vegetables > once a day.

It is likely that pollution from chemical facilities will affect the health of any exposed population; however, the majority of scientific evidence available has focused on occupational exposure rather than environmental. Consequently, this study assessed whether there could have been an excess of cancer-related mortality associated with environmental exposure to pollution from chemical installations - for populations residing in municipalities in the vicinity of chemical industries. To this end, we designed an ecological study which assessed municipal mortality due to 32 types of cancer in the period from 1999 to 2008. The exposure to pollution was estimated using distance from the facilities to the centroid of the municipality as a proxy for exposure. In order to assess any increased cancer mortality risk in municipalities potentially exposed to chemical facilities pollution (situated at a distance of ≤5 km from a chemical installation), we employed Bayesian Hierarchical Poisson Regression Models. This included two Bayesian inference methods: Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC, for validation). The reference category consisted of municipalities beyond the 5 km limit. We found higher mortality risk (relative risk, RR; estimated by INLA, 95% credible interval, 95%CrI) for both sexes for colorectal (RR, 1.09; 95%CrI, 1.05-1.15), gallbladder (1.14; 1.03-1.27), and ovarian cancers (1.10; 1.02-1.20) associated with organic chemical installations. Notably, pleural cancer (2.27; 1.49-3.41) in both sexes was related to fertilizer facilities. Associations were found for women, specifically for ovarian (1.11; 1.01-1.22) and breast cancers (1.06; 1.00-1.13) in the proximity of explosives/pyrotechnics installations; increased breast cancer mortality risk (1.10; 1.03-1.18) was associated with proximity to inorganic chemical installations. The results suggest that environmental exposure to pollutants from some types of chemical facilities may be associated with increased mortality from several different types of cancer.

Objectives: This study aims to estimate the impact of the co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors on mortality in the Spanish adult population. Design: Population-based cohort study based on data from the 2011–2012 Spanish National Health Survey and the 2014 European Health Survey (n=35 053 participants ≥15 years of age) both linked to mortality data as of December 2022. Risk factors included tobacco use, high-risk alcohol consumption, low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, leisure time sedentary lifestyle and body mass index outside the 18.5–24.9 kg/m ² range. Deaths from any cause (n=2784), from diseases of the circulatory system (n=678) and from tumours (n=869) were identified. Standardised rate differences (SRD) and standardised rate ratios (SRR) were estimated using Poisson regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables. Results: Compared with those with no unhealthy behaviours, overall mortality risk increased gradually as the co-occurrence of risk behaviours increased. Individuals with two factors had an SRD of 3.0 deaths per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1.8; 4.3) and an SRR of 1.88 (95% CI 1.35; 2.62). A coexistence of five risk factors increased SRD and SRR to 11.5 (95% CI 7.2; 15.8) and 4.34 (95% CI 2.84; 6.63), respectively. The association was stronger among individuals under 65 years of age, whereas it did not vary by sex and educational level. Those reporting five risk factors had SRRs of 6.35 (95% CI 2.91; 13.83) and 2.57 (95% CI 1.11; 5.98) for tumour-related and cardiovascular disease mortality, respectively. Conclusions: The co-occurrence of unhealthy behaviours increases the risk of overall and cause-specific mortality. Targeting multiple risk behaviours should be incorporated into the public health strategy.

• The literature reporting on rural-urban health status disparities remains inconclusive. • We analyzed data from a longitudinal population-based study using individual observations. • Our results show that the risks of all-cause and cancer mortality are greater in large cities than in other municipalities, with no clear urban-rural gradient. • Not differences were found among territories in cardiovascular mortality.