RIVM Publications Repository
Each year the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) produces numerous reports and publications on all aspects of public health, nutrition and food, health care, disaster management, nature and the environment.
In addition, RIVM employees publish scientific articles in national and international journals.
Elk jaar brengt het Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) talloze rapporten en adviezen uit over volksgezondheid en gezondheidszorg, voeding, natuur en milieu en rampenbestrijding.
Daarnaast publiceren RIVM-medewerkers wetenschappelijke artikelen in (inter-)nationale tijdschriften.
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Publication Publication Nasopharyngeal microbiota is influenced by agricultural air pollution in individuals with and without COPD(2025-05-05)Respiratory health in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is influenced by environmental factors such as air pollution, yet the role of the airway microbiota in this relationship remains unclear. We investigated the association between exposure to air pollution from livestock farms and the nasopharyngeal microbiota in individuals with COPD compared to healthy control subjects. The study included nasopharyngeal swabs from 186 currently non-smoking participants in the Netherlands, including 65 individuals with COPD and 121 without from a regional rural cohort. Additionally, 116 individuals from a population-wide cohort were included as national controls. Samples were taken at three time points over 12 weeks. The nasopharyngeal microbiota was studied using 16 S rRNA gene-based sequencing for all baseline samples and a random selection of 6-weeks and 12-weeks samples. Dispersion models were used to determine the average concentrations of livestock-related PM, endotoxin, and ammonia at the participants' home addresses. Individuals with COPD had a higher absolute abundance of anaerobic bacteria, such as Peptoniphilus, Anaerococcus, Finegoldia magna, and Prevotella. Importantly, residential exposure to ammonia was identified as the most important driver of the microbial community composition, explaining 6.6% of the variation in nasopharyngeal microbiota in individuals with COPD. Higher ammonia concentrations were associated with decreased levels of key commensals and increased abundance of anaerobic bacteria. Furthermore, individuals living in areas with high livestock density exhibited greater microbial diversity compared to the broader national population. The study highlights the influence of residential exposure to livestock-related air pollution, particularly ammonia, on nasopharyngeal microbiota composition in individuals with COPD. Our findings suggest that environmental factors significantly impact microbial communities and underscore the potential role of anaerobic bacteria in COPD pathology. Future research should further investigate the mechanisms by which environmental air pollutants affect microbial communities and explore potential interventions to mitigate their effects on respiratory health.Publication Performance Evaluation of Five Real-Time PCR Assays for the Detection of Candida auris DNA(2025-05)This study aimed to systematically evaluate and compare the performance of two laboratory-developed assays (LDAs) and three commercially available real-time PCR assays for the detection of Candida auris. The analytical sensitivity, specificity and limit of detection (LOD) of each assay were assessed, alongside their clinical sensitivity in identifying C. auris colonisation.Publication Exploring the relationship between daily intake and urinary excretion of the mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2 toxin in humans(2025-04-28)T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2) are mycotoxins that can contaminate food, especially cereals. Exposure to T-2 and HT-2 has mainly been estimated using dietary exposure assessment, however, human biomonitoring presents another valuable approach. The relationship between daily intake and urinary excretion of T-2 and HT-2 over time in 40 Norwegian adults was modelled. T-2, HT-2 and T-2 triol were analysed in 24-h urine samples using LC-MS/MS. Dietary exposure of T-2 and HT-2 was calculated using 24-h weighed dietary records and concentration data in food derived from measured concentrations in raw food commodities. A statistical model was developed and fit to estimate the excreted fraction (f) and residence time parameters. Without deconjugation prior to analysis, T-2, HT-2 or T-2 triol were not detected in the urine of the 40 adults. Applying a deconjugation step, total HT-2 (HT-2 and its glucuronides) was detected in almost all samples. Using the statistical model, the mean f was estimated to be 0.184, equivalent to 18.4 %. The estimated time in which 97.5 % of the ingested T-2 and HT-2 was excreted as total HT-2 was 14.3 h, and the elimination half-life was 4.0 h. This study highlights the challenges involved in modelling the relationship between daily intake and urinary excretion of T-2 and HT-2 over time in humans. The findings indicate that approximately 20 % of the external exposure can be traced back in the urine within 24 h. However, additional research is required to support and strengthen these findings.
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