Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most prevalent mycotoxins, has been found to cause fetal growth retardation in animals. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on pregnant women. Methods: Maternal urinary concentration of total DON (tDON) and free DON (fDON) in the second trimester was measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Provisional daily intake (PDI) of DON was calculated based on tDON concentration. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between DON exposure levels and birth weight, birth length, and the risk of small for gestational age (SGA). Results: Among 1538 subjects, the median concentrations of tDON and fDON were 12.1 ng/mL and 5.1 ng/mL, respectively. The PDI values revealed that the median DON intake was 0.7 µg/kg bw, and 35.9% of the total population exceeded the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 1 µg/kg bw. Compared with the lowest tertile, birth weight decreased by 81.11 g (95% CI: -127.00, -35.23) for tDON (P-trend < 0.001) and 63.02 g (95% CI: -108.72, -17.32) for fDON (P-trend = 0.004) in the highest tertile. Each unit increase in Ln-tDON and Ln-fDON was also inversely associated with birth weight. Furthermore, compared to those who did not exceed PMTDI, pregnant women whose PDI exceeded PMTDI had lower birth weight (β = -79.79 g; 95% CI: -119.09, -40.49) and birth length (β = -0.21 cm; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.07), and a higher risk of SGA (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.15) in their offspring. Similar associations with birth weight, birth length, and SGA were found when comparing the highest tertile of PDI to the lowest tertile (all P-trend < 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal DON exposure is related to decreased birth weight. Our findings implicate that DON exposure during pregnancy may cause fetal growth faltering, and measures should be taken to reduce DON exposure in pregnant women.

Dioxin is a typical class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that could cause cancer. In China, the contribution of dietary dioxins to the cancer burden remains underexplored. This study evaluates the cancer risk and burden due to dietary dioxins and dioxin-like compounds among Chinese residents from 2000 to 2020. Based on adjustments in China's dioxin policies, the study period was divided into three stages with split years of 2007 and 2014 to estimate the toxic equivalent (TEQ) of dioxins. Participants in dietary surveys conducted in 31 provinces were included. Dietary exposure to dioxins was estimated in a probability model and compared with the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI). The risk was assessed using carcinogenic slope factors and expressed as the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). A two-stage model evaluated the burden of cancer attributable to dietary dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. Among all food categories, the highest concentration of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds was observed in aquatic foods at 0.15 pg TEQ/kg. Median dietary exposure to dioxins among Chinese residents decreased from 12.39 pg TEQ/kg/month to 8.72 pg TEQ/kg/month between 2000 and 2020. Consequently, the ILCR due to dietary dioxins declined from 6.44 × 10^-5 to 4.53 × 10^-5. The health risks were higher in younger groups and among residents of coastal areas (P < 0.001). The burden of cancer attributable to dietary intake of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in the Chinese population in 2000-2007, 2008-2014, and 2015-2020 was 2.25 (2.09-2.42) per 100,000, 2.20 (2.06-2.35) per 100,000, and 1.68 (1.60-1.77) per 100,000, respectively. Furthermore, the disease burden was highest for prostate cancer in men and for breast cancer in women. The dioxin management policies has reduced the burden of cancer attributable to dietary exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in China. However, excess exposure in coastal areas and children remains a priority for attention.

Introduction Public health surveillance is crucial for decision-making. Given the significant threat of influenza to public health, developing predictive models using multichannel surveillance systems is imperative. Methods Data were collected from multichannel surveillance systems, including hospitals, search engines, and climatological and air pollutant surveillance systems, in a southern Chinese city from January 2023 to January 2025. Spearman’s correlation analysis assessed the relationships between variables and reported influenza cases. Several machine learning models were used to predict trends in reported cases. Results Correlation analysis showed that all four surveillance systems were related to influenza, with 27 variables correlated with daily reported cases. The Long Short-Term Memory model, established based on variables with the highest lagged correlations (5-day to 7-day lag) through combined surveillance systems, outperformed other models for 5-day forecasts (R²=0.92; mean absolute error=156.92; mean absolute percentage error=79.95%; root Mean Squared Error=292.33). Conclusions Data from various surveillance systems effectively track influenza epidemics. The model shows potential for infectious disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness.

Graphical Probabilistic risk assessment strategy of potentially toxic elements in earthworms based on bioaccessibility and MCS technique.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a prevalent food additive, yet comprehensive data on particle size and dietary exposure are lacking in China. Transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the quantitative proportion of nanoparticles (NPs) in food-additive TiO₂ was 37.7%, with a mass fraction of 9.89%. Laboratory test results showed that among the domestic products surveyed, candies excluding gum-based candies contained the highest content of TiO₂. Using consumption data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2018, the average dietary exposure for TiO₂ and TiO₂ NPs in the Chinese population were calculated at 34.84 and 3.44 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. The primary dietary sources were puffed food and powdered drinks. Exposure varied significantly across age and region, with children and Inner Mongolia residents having the highest intake. TiO₂ NP exposure showed a negative correlation with age. Despite this, the dietary exposure risk of TiO₂ NPs for the Chinese population remains deemed acceptable.