1
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Knoll M, Penz M, Schmidt C, Pöhler D, Rossi T, Casadei S, Bernard Y, Hallquist ǺM, Sjödin Ǻ, Bergmann A. Evaluation of the point sampling method and inter-comparison of remote emission sensing systems for screening real-world car emissions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:171710. [PMID: 38554971 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Emissions from internal combustion vehicles are currently not properly monitored throughout their life cycle. Remote emission sensing (RES) is a technology that can measure emissions under real driving conditions without contact. Current light extinction based RES systems are capable of providing emission factors for various gases, but lack accuracy for particulate matter (PM). Point Sampling (PS) is an extraction-based RES technique that can measure gases as well as various particle metrics such as black carbon or particle number. In this work, we evaluated the performance of a recently developed PS system and the state-of-the-art light extinction based remote sensing devices EDAR (HEAT) and ORSD (OPUS RSE) during co-location measurements. Validation measurements with portable emission measurement systems and emissions screening of several thousand cars in three European cities provide detailed insights into system's performance. Meteorological evaluations showed that the PS capture rate is strongly influenced by wind, but no other weather influences were found. Both light extinction based systems are unable to measure during rain. We found that all three systems tested were capable of screening NOx emissions from pre-Euro 6 diesel cars. Measurement results show the ability of the PS system to quantify high and low PM emitters equally well. The open-path RES systems (EDAR, ORSD) are capable of estimating PM emissions from pre-Euro 5 diesel cars. However, deficiencies of open-path RES systems are evident in the quantification of PM emissions from newer engine technologies (diesel Euro 5 and beyond) and from petrol cars. The PS system has a 2 to 5 times lower capture rate than open-path RES systems, but the PS measurement results are more accurate (more than 5 times for PM and more than 1.35 times for NOx). The good accuracy of individual measurements makes PS a powerful tool for reliable high emitter identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Knoll
- Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 33/I, Graz 8010, Austria.
| | - Martin Penz
- Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 33/I, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Christina Schmidt
- Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, INF 229, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Airyx GmbH, Justus-von-Liebig-Str. 14, Eppelheim 69214, Germany
| | - Denis Pöhler
- Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, INF 229, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Airyx GmbH, Justus-von-Liebig-Str. 14, Eppelheim 69214, Germany
| | - Tommaso Rossi
- Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria S.r.l., Sustainable Mobility Team, Via G. Galilei 1, San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy
| | - Simone Casadei
- Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria S.r.l., Sustainable Mobility Team, Via G. Galilei 1, San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy
| | - Yoann Bernard
- ICCT International Council on Clean Transportation, Fasanenstraße 85, Berlin 10623, Germany
| | - Ǻsa M Hallquist
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Valhallavaegen 81, Stockholm 10031, Sweden
| | - Ǻke Sjödin
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Valhallavaegen 81, Stockholm 10031, Sweden
| | - Alexander Bergmann
- Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 33/I, Graz 8010, Austria
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2
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Chen ZY, Petetin H, Méndez Turrubiates RF, Achebak H, Pérez García-Pando C, Ballester J. Population exposure to multiple air pollutants and its compound episodes in Europe. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2094. [PMID: 38480711 PMCID: PMC10937992 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Air pollution remains as a substantial health problem, particularly regarding the combined health risks arising from simultaneous exposure to multiple air pollutants. However, understanding these combined exposure events over long periods has been hindered by sparse and temporally inconsistent monitoring data. Here we analyze daily ambient PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3 concentrations at a 0.1-degree resolution during 2003-2019 across 1426 contiguous regions in 35 European countries, representing 543 million people. We find that PM10 levels decline by 2.72% annually, followed by NO2 (2.45%) and PM2.5 (1.72%). In contrast, O3 increase by 0.58% in southern Europe, leading to a surge in unclean air days. Despite air quality advances, 86.3% of Europeans experience at least one compound event day per year, especially for PM2.5-NO2 and PM2.5-O3. We highlight the improvements in air quality control but emphasize the need for targeted measures addressing specific pollutants and their compound events, particularly amidst rising temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Yue Chen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | | | - Hicham Achebak
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Inserm, France Cohortes, Paris, France
| | - Carlos Pérez García-Pando
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Munir M, Azab SM, I Bangdiwala S, Kurmi O, Doiron D, Brook J, Banfield L, de Souza RJ. Effects of ambient air pollution on obesity and ectopic fat deposition: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080026. [PMID: 38365287 PMCID: PMC10875506 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Globally, the prevalence of obesity tripled from 1975 to 2016. There is evidence that air pollution may contribute to the obesity epidemic through an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation of adipose tissue. However, the impact of air pollution on body weight at a population level remains inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis will estimate the association of ambient air pollution with obesity, distribution of ectopic adipose tissue, and the incidence and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for conduct and reporting. The search will include the following databases: Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, and will be supplemented by a grey literature search. Each article will be independently screened by two reviewers, and relevant data will be extracted independently and in duplicate. Study-specific estimates of associations and their 95% Confidence Intervals will be pooled using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model, implemented using the RevMan software. The I2 statistic will be used to assess interstudy heterogeneity. The confidence in the body of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION As per institutional policy, ethical approval is not required for secondary data analysis. In addition to being published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences, the results of the meta-analysis will be shared with key stakeholders, health policymakers and healthcare professionals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42023423955.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehnaz Munir
- Department of Global Health, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandi M Azab
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shrikant I Bangdiwala
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Om Kurmi
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty Research Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Dany Doiron
- Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Brook
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Banfield
- Health Sciences Library, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Russell J de Souza
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Global Health & Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Gong X, Liu L, Huang Y, Zou B, Sun Y, Luo L, Lin Y. A pruned feed-forward neural network (pruned-FNN) approach to measure air pollution exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1183. [PMID: 37695355 PMCID: PMC10829730 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11814-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental epidemiology studies require accurate estimations of exposure intensities to air pollution. The process from air pollutant emission to individual exposure is however complex and nonlinear, which poses significant modeling challenges. This study aims to develop an exposure assessment model that can strike a balance between accuracy, complexity, and usability. In this regard, neural networks offer one possible approach. This study employed a custom-designed pruned feed-forward neural network (pruned-FNN) approach to calculate the air pollution exposure index based on emission time and rates, terrain factors, meteorological conditions, and proximity measurements. The model's performance was evaluated by cross-validating the estimated exposure indexes with ground-based monitoring records. The pruned FNN can predict pollution exposure indexes (PEIs) that are highly and stably correlated with the monitored air pollutant concentrations (Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for tenfold cross-validation (mean ± standard deviation: 0.906 ± 0.028) and for random cross-validation (0.913 ± 0.024)). The predicted values are also close to the ground truth in most cases (95.5% of the predicted PEIs have relative errors smaller than 10%) when the training datasets are sufficiently large and well-covered. The pruned-FNN method can make accurate exposure estimations using a flexible number of variables and less extensive data in a less money/time-consuming manner. Compared to other exposure assessment models, the pruned FNN is an appropriate and effective approach for exposure assessment that covers a large geographic area over a long period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Gong
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, UNM Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Computer Science, UNM Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Yanhong Huang
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, UNM Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Bin Zou
- School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Yeran Sun
- Department of Geography, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Li Luo
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, UNM Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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5
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Kamani H, Baniasadi M, Abdipour H, Mohammadi L, Rayegannakhost S, Moein H, Azari A. Health risk assessment of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in different indoor air using Monte Carlo simulation in zahedan city, Iran. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20294. [PMID: 37809514 PMCID: PMC10560053 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene compounds (BTEX) in the breathing air outside and inside buildings is one of the most significant problems related to human health today. This study was performed to determine the concentration of BTEX pollutants in indoor environments. PhoCheck was used to detect the concentration of BTEX compounds. In this study, the concentration (BTEX pollutant) was assessed in four indoor spaces, including restaurants, laundries, hair salons, and photocopying centers. The results showed that the average concentration of all four searched compounds was higher than the recommended limit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results of carcinogenic risk assessment by benzene and ethylbenzene compounds show 2153 × 10-4 and 913 × 10-5 respectively. The HQ values for toluene and xylene were 1.397 and 0.505, respectively, indicating that exposure to toluene alone may have adverse effects on human health, while exposure to xylene alone has no adverse effects. The hazard index (HI) for toluene and xylene pollutants was higher than one. An HI value higher than one means that the two contaminants toluene and xylene in the air we breathe may have adverse effects on human health. As a result, the necessary control measures should be taken to prevent the unfavorable effects of these two pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Kamani
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan,Iran
| | - Marzieh Baniasadi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan,Iran
| | - Hossein Abdipour
- Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Leili Mohammadi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan,Iran
| | | | - Hossein Moein
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan,Iran
| | - Ali Azari
- Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
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6
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Jiang G, Song X, Xie J, Shi T, Yang Q. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air of Guangzhou city: Exposure levels, health effects and cytotoxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115308. [PMID: 37544068 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 pose potentially serious threats to human health. In this study, the distribution characteristics of 16 priority controlled, fine PM (PM2.5)-bound PAHs in the ambient air of Guangzhou city were analysed from 2016 to 2019. Four high-molecular-weight PAHs with the highest annual average concentrations were benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP; 0.757 ng/m3), indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IcdP; 0.627 ng/m3), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF, 0.519 ng/m3) and 3,4-benzopyrene (BaP; 0.426 ng/m3). Increasing concentrations of BghiP, IcdP, BbF and BaP were associated with increasing numbers of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases, indicating that exposure to these PAHs potentially causes acute respiratory injury in residents. Acute exposure of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B cells to BghiP, IcdP, BbF and BaP in vitro resulted in acute inflammation, DNA damage and apoptosis. Further bioinformatic analysis indicated that nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1) may be a key target gene involved in mediating the toxic effects of BghiP. Collectively, our results suggest that BghiP and the other PAHs represented by it can damage the respiratory system and induce lung cancer. This study provides valuable evidence regarding the potential health risks posed by local ambient PAHs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqing Jiang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Xu Song
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Jiaying Xie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Tongxing Shi
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1 Qide Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510440, PR China
| | - Qiaoyuan Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China.
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7
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Masoudkabir F, Mohammadifard N, Mani A, Ignaszewski A, Davis MK, Vaseghi G, Mansourian M, Franco C, Gotay C, Sarrafzadegan N. Shared Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Evidence for Joint Prevention. ScientificWorldJournal 2023; 2023:2404806. [PMID: 37520844 PMCID: PMC10386903 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2404806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and are the major focus of the World Health Organization's joint prevention programs. While, diverse diseases, CVD and cancer, have many similarities. These include common lifestyle-related risk factors and shared environmental, metabolic, cellular, inflammatory, and genetic pathways. In this review, we will discuss the shared lifestyle-related and environmental risk factors central to both diseases and how the strategies commonly used to prevent atherosclerotic vascular disease can be applied to cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Masoudkabir
- Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Noushin Mohammadifard
- Hypertension Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Arya Mani
- Yale Cardiovascular Genetics Program, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrew Ignaszewski
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margot K. Davis
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Golnaz Vaseghi
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Marjan Mansourian
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Christopher Franco
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carolyn Gotay
- School of Population & Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nizal Sarrafzadegan
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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8
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Katushabe C, Kumaran S, Masabo E. Internet of things based visualisation of effect of air pollution on the lungs using HEPA filters air cleaner. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17799. [PMID: 37539206 PMCID: PMC10395148 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of air quality on human health and the environment is very significant, with poor air quality being responsible for numerous deaths and environmental damage worldwide. Whereas a number of studies have been done to monitor the quality of air with help of emerging technologies, little has been done to visualize its effect on health particularly on the lungs. The study explores an approach that combines Internet of Things (IoT) technology with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters air cleaner to monitor and visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health, highlighting the significant damage that poor air quality causes particularly on the lungs graphically. To achieve this, a 3D display of the lungs is modelled using HEPA filters, which changes colour based on the air pollutant concentrations detected by IoT-based sensors. The collected air quality data is then transmitted to Thingspeak, a visualization platform for further analysis. It is observed that the colour of the 3D lung display changed to black over time as air pollutant concentrations increased which in our study is an indicator of unhealthy lung. The study presents an innovative approach to visualize the effects of air pollution on lung health using IoT and HEPA filters air cleaner, which could have significant implications for public health policies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution, particularly on lung health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calorine Katushabe
- African Center of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT), College of Science and Technology (C.S.T.), University of Rwanda, Nyarugenge, Kigali, P.O. Box 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Computer Science & Information Technology, Faculty of Computing, Library and Information Science, Kabale University, Street, Kabale, P.O. Box 317, Kabale, Uganda
| | - Santhi Kumaran
- School of ICT, Copperbelt University, KITWE, KITWE, P.O. Box: 21692, KITWE, Zambia
| | - Emmanuel Masabo
- African Center of Excellence in Data Science (ACEDS), College of Business and Economics (CBE), University of Rwanda, Kigali, Kigali, P.O. Box 3900, Kigali, Rwanda
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9
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Ansari M, Alam M. An Intelligent IoT-Cloud-Based Air Pollution Forecasting Model Using Univariate Time-Series Analysis. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2023:1-28. [PMID: 37361469 PMCID: PMC10209585 DOI: 10.1007/s13369-023-07876-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a significant environmental issue affecting public health and ecosystems worldwide, resulting from various sources such as industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and fossil fuel burning. Air pollution contributes to climate change and can cause several health problems, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. A potential solution to this problem has been proposed by using different artificial intelligence (AI) and time-series models. These models are implemented in the cloud environment to forecast the Air Quality Index (AQI) utilizing Internet of things (IoT) devices. The recent influx of IoT-enabled time-series air pollution data poses challenges for traditional models. Various approaches have been explored to forecast AQI in the cloud environment using IoT devices. The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of an IoT-Cloud-based model for forecasting the AQI under different meteorological conditions. To achieve this, we proposed a novel BO-HyTS approach that combines seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and long short-term memory (LSTM) and fine-tuned it by using Bayesian optimization to predict air pollution levels. The proposed BO-HyTS model can capture both linear and nonlinear characteristics of the time-series data, thus augmenting the accuracy of the forecasting process. Additionally, several AQI forecasting models, including classical time-series, machine learning, and deep learning, are employed to forecast air quality from time-series data. Five statistical evaluation metrics are incorporated to evaluate the effectiveness of models. While comparing the various algorithms among themselves becomes difficult, a non-parametric statistical significance test (Friedman test) is applied to assess the performance of the different machine learning, time-series, and deep learning models. The findings reveal that the proposed BO-HyTS model produced significantly better results than their competitor's, providing the most accurate and efficient forecasting model, with an MSE of 632.200, RMSE of 25.14, Med AE of 19.11, Max Error of 51.52, and MAE of 20.49. The results of this study provide insights into the future patterns of AQI in various Indian states and set a standard for these states as governments develop their healthcare policies accordingly. The proposed BO-HyTS model has the potential to inform policy decisions and enable governments and organizations to protect better and manage the environment beforehand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzoor Ansari
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Mansaf Alam
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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10
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Wang S, Cai W, Tao Y, Sun QC, Wong PPY, Huang X, Liu Y. Unpacking the inter- and intra-urban differences of the association between health and exposure to heat and air quality in Australia using global and local machine learning models. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:162005. [PMID: 36758700 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental stressors including high temperature and air pollution cause health problems. However, understanding how the combined exposure to heat and air pollution affects both physical and mental health remains insufficient due to the complexity of such effects mingling with human society, urban and natural environments. Our study roots in the Social Ecological Theory and employs a tri-environmental conceptual framework (i.e., across social, built and natural environment) to examine how the combined exposure to heat and air pollution affect self-reported physical and mental health via, for the first time, the fine-grained nationwide investigation in Australia and highlight how such effects vary across inter- and intra-urban areas. We conducted an ecological study to explore the importance of heat and air quality to physical and mental health by considering 48 tri-environmental confounders through the global and local random forest regression models, as advanced machine learning methods with the advantage of revealing the spatial heterogeneity of variables. Our key findings are threefold. First, the social and built environmental factors are important to physical and mental health in both urban and rural areas, and even more important than exposure to heat and air pollution. Second, the relationship between temperature and air quality and health follows a V-shape, reflecting people's different adaptation and tolerance to temperature and air quality. Third, the important roles that heat and air pollution play in physical and mental health are most obvious in the inner-city and near inner-city areas of the major capital cities, as well as in the industrial zones in peri-urban regions and in Darwin city with a low-latitude. We draw several policy implications to minimise the inter- and intra-urban differences in healthcare access and service distribution to populations with different sensitivity to heat and air quality across urban and rural areas. Our conceptual framework can also be applied to examine the relationship between other environmental problems and health outcomes in the era of a warming climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqin Wang
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Wenhui Cai
- Centre for Social Policy & Social Change, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.
| | - Yaguang Tao
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Qian Chayn Sun
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | | | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Geosciences, University of Arkansas, AR, USA.
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Desikan A, MacKinney T, Kalman C, Carter JM, Reed G, Goldman GT. An equity and environmental justice assessment of anti-science actions during the Trump administration. J Public Health Policy 2023; 44:147-162. [PMID: 36737622 PMCID: PMC9896454 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-022-00390-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, science shapes federal health and safety protections, but political officials can and do politicize federal science and science-based safeguards. Many presidential administrations have politicized science, but under the administration of President Trump, these attacks on science-such as buried research, censored scientists, halted data collection-increased in number to unprecedented levels. Underserved communities bore the brunt of the harms. Such attacks disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, low-income communities, and communities of color, all of whom have long been burdened by pollution exposure and other stressors. We analyze the effects on underserved communities of the Trump administration's anti-science environmental and public health policy actions and offer policy recommendations for current and future administrations. Our goal is to strengthen scientific integrity, prioritize health disparity research, and meaningfully engage affected communities in federal rulemaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Desikan
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Taryn MacKinney
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Casey Kalman
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jacob M Carter
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Genna Reed
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gretchen T Goldman
- Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, USA
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12
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Salaberria C, Chávez-Zichinelli CA, López-Rull I, Romano MC, Schondube JE. Physiological status of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) along an ozone pollution gradient. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 32:261-272. [PMID: 36810751 PMCID: PMC10008774 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mexico City is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and one in which air contamination is considered a public health threat. Numerous studies have related high concentrations of particulate matter and ozone to several respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and a higher human mortality risk. However, almost all of those studies have focused on human health outcomes, and the effects of anthropogenic air pollution on wildlife species is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impacts of air pollution in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) on house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We assessed two physiological responses commonly used as biomarkers: stress response (the corticosterone concentration in feathers), and constitutive innate immune response (the concentration of both natural antibodies and lytic complement proteins), which are non-invasive techniques. We found a negative relationship between the ozone concentration and the natural antibodies response (p = 0.003). However, no relationship was found between the ozone concentration and the stress response or the complement system activity (p > 0.05). These results suggest that ozone concentrations in air pollution within MCMA may constrain the natural antibody response in the immune system of house sparrows. Our study shows, for the first time, the potential impact of ozone pollution on a wild species in the MCMA presenting the Nabs activity and the house sparrow as suitable indicators to assess the effect of air contamination on the songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepción Salaberria
- Área de Biodiversidad, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, España
| | | | - Isabel López-Rull
- Área de Biodiversidad, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, España
| | - Marta C Romano
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jorge E Schondube
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Morelia, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Colonia Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
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13
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Krenz K, Dhanani A, McEachan RRC, Sohal K, Wright J, Vaughan L. Linking the Urban Environment and Health: An Innovative Methodology for Measuring Individual-Level Environmental Exposures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1953. [PMID: 36767317 PMCID: PMC9915172 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures (EE) are increasingly recognised as important determinants of health and well-being. Understanding the influences of EE on health is critical for effective policymaking, but better-quality spatial data is needed. This article outlines the theoretical and technical foundations used for the construction of individual-level environmental exposure measurements for the population of a northern English city, Bradford. The work supports 'Connected Bradford', an entire population database linking health, education, social care, environmental and other local government data over a period of forty years. We argue that our current understanding of environmental effects on health outcomes is limited both by methodological shortcomings in the quantification of the environment and by a lack of consistency in the measurement of built environment features. To address these shortcomings, we measure the environmental exposure for a series of different domains including air quality, greenspace and greenness, public transport, walkability, traffic, buildings and the built form, street centrality, land-use intensity, and food environments as well as indoor dwelling qualities. We utilise general practitioners' historical patient information to identify the precise geolocation and duration of a person's residence. We model a person's local neighbourhood, and the probable routes to key urban functions aggregated across the city. We outline the specific geospatial procedure used to quantify the environmental exposure for each domain and use the example of exposure to fast-food outlets to illustrate the methodological challenges in the creation of city and nationwide environmental exposure databases. The proposed EE measures will enable critical research into the relationship and causal links between the built environment and health, informing planning and policy-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimon Krenz
- The Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London WC1H 0QB, UK
| | - Ashley Dhanani
- The Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London WC1H 0QB, UK
| | - Rosemary R. C. McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Kuldeep Sohal
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Laura Vaughan
- The Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London WC1H 0QB, UK
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14
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Hu H, Liu X, Zheng Y, He X, Hart J, James P, Laden F, Chen Y, Bian J. Methodological Challenges in Spatial and Contextual Exposome-Health Studies. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 53:827-846. [PMID: 37138645 PMCID: PMC10153069 DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2022.2093595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The concept of the exposome encompasses the totality of exposures from a variety of external and internal sources across an individual's life course. The wealth of existing spatial and contextual data makes it appealing to characterize individuals' external exposome to advance our understanding of environmental determinants of health. However, the spatial and contextual exposome is very different from other exposome factors measured at the individual-level as spatial and contextual exposome data are more heterogenous with unique correlation structures and various spatiotemporal scales. These distinctive characteristics lead to multiple unique methodological challenges across different stages of a study. This article provides a review of the existing resources, methods, and tools in the new and developing field for spatial and contextual exposome-health studies focusing on four areas: (1) data engineering, (2) spatiotemporal data linkage, (3) statistical methods for exposome-health association studies, and (4) machine- and deep-learning methods to use spatial and contextual exposome data for disease prediction. A critical analysis of the methodological challenges involved in each of these areas is performed to identify knowledge gaps and address future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Hu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiaokang Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xing He
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jaime Hart
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peter James
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Francine Laden
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jiang Bian
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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15
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Meizyte G, Pearcy PAJ, Watson PD, Brewer EI, Green AE, Doll M, Duda OA, Mackenzie SR. An Infrared Study of Gas-Phase Metal Nitrosyl Ion-Molecule Complexes. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:9414-9422. [PMID: 36480929 PMCID: PMC9791661 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c07228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We present a combined experimental and quantum chemical study of gas-phase group 9 metal nitrosyl complexes, M(NO)n+ (M = Co, Rh, Ir). Experimental infrared photodissociation spectra of mass-selected ion-molecule complexes are presented in the region 1600 cm-1 to 2000 cm-1 which includes the NO stretch. These are interpreted by comparison with the simulated spectra of energetically low-lying structures calculated using density functional theory. A mix of linear and nonlinear ligand binding is observed, often within the same complex, and clear evidence of coordination shell closing is observed at n = 4 for Co(NO)n+ and Ir(NO)n+. Calculations of Rh(NO)n+ complexes suggest additional low-lying five-coordinate structures. In all cases, once a second coordination shell is occupied, new spectral features appear which are assigned to (NO)2 dimer moieties. Further evidence of such motifs comes from differences in the spectra recorded in the dissociation channels corresponding to single and double ligand loss.
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16
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Enhancing NO Uptake in Metal-Organic Frameworks via Linker Functionalization. A Multi-Scale Theoretical Study. CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemistry4040086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present work, ab initio calculations and Monte Carlo simulations were combined to investigate the effect of linker functionalization on nitric oxide (NO)’s storage ability of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The binding energy (BE) of nitric oxide with a set of forty-two strategically selected, functionalized benzenes was investigated using Density Functional Theory calculations at the RI-DSD-BLYP/def2-TZVPP level of theory. It was found that most of the functional groups (FGs) increased the interaction strength compared to benzene. Phenyl hydrogen sulfate (–OSO3H) was the most promising among the set of ligands, with an enhancement of 150%. The organic linker of IRMOF-8 was modified with the three top-performing functional groups (–OSO3H, –OPO3H2, –SO3H). Their ability for NO adsorption was investigated using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations at an ambient temperature and a wide pressure range. The results showed great enhancement in NO uptake constituting the above-mentioned FGs, suggesting them to be promising modification candidates in a plethora of porous materials.
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Li C, Yan Y, Lu Y, Zeng G, Zhou L, Jin H, Xu Y, Chen Y. Air pollution, investor sentiment and stock liquidity. Front Public Health 2022; 10:989457. [PMID: 36276384 PMCID: PMC9584628 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.989457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
With the aggravation of air pollution, the impact of air pollution on the stock market, especially from the perspective of investor sentiment, has been of great concern and widely discussed. Based on data from China's A-share listed firms from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, the relationship between urban air pollution and stock liquidity of listed firms and the internal mechanism is examined. Firstly, based on local preference theory, we start by predicting the impact of air pollution on stock liquidity. We, then, build a regression model for air pollution and stock liquidity, introducing the intermediary effect model to detect the relationship between the two and its mechanism. Finally, by subdividing the samples, we discuss the differential impact of air pollution on stock liquidity under different circumstances. We found that when air pollution worsens it reduces stock liquidity. The results of the mechanism analysis show that investor sentiment plays an intermediary role in the process of air pollution affecting stock liquidity, and pessimism induced by air pollution can reduce stock liquidity. Heterogeneity test results show that there are differences in the impact of air pollution on stock liquidity between heavily polluting firms and non-heavily polluting firms, different industries, different city sizes, and different levels of air pollution, has a greater effect in non-heavily polluting enterprises, manufacturing and other industries, medium sized cities and light pollution. The results of this research have important reference value for environmental protection departments to establish and improve air pollution monitoring systems and for listed firms to improve stock liquidity and deal with the environmental financial risks appropriately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenggang Li
- School of Big Data Application and Economics, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China,Green Development Strategy Research Institute in Western China, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics (First Batch of New Characteristic Think Tanks in Guizhou), Guiyang, China
| | - Ying Yan
- School of Big Data Application and Economics, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guifeng Zeng
- Archives of Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan, China,*Correspondence: Guifeng Zeng
| | - Liying Zhou
- Business School, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China,Guizhou Key Laboratory of Big Data Statistical Analysis, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China
| | - Han Jin
- School of Big Data Application and Economics, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China
| | - Yunbao Xu
- School of Economics, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan, China
| | - Yuzhu Chen
- School of Foreign Languages, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, China
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18
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Bumroongkit C, Liwsrisakun C, Deesomchok A, Pothirat C, Theerakittikul T, Limsukon A, Trongtrakul K, Tajarernmuang P, Niyatiwatchanchai N, Euathrongchit J, Inchai J, Chaiwong W. Correlation of Air Pollution and Prevalence of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Northern Thailand. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12808. [PMID: 36232104 PMCID: PMC9566050 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between the level of air pollution and acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has had inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the high level of air pollution exposure and APE. METHODS A ten-year retrospective cohort, single-center study was performed on patients diagnosed with APE from October 2010 to December 2020. The association between air pollution and monthly APE case diagnosis was analyzed. RESULTS A total number of 696 patients was included. The effect of every 10 µg/m3 increment of particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm (PM10) on total monthly APE cases (unprovoked PE and provoked PE) was increased significantly at lag 4, 5 and 6 months with adjusted RR (95% CI) of 1.06 (1.01, 1.12), p = 0.011, 1.07 (1.01, 1.13), p = 0.021 and 1.06 (1.01, 1.12), p = 0.030, respectively. Adjusted RR for APE was significantly increased for PM10 in the second tertile ((adjusted RR (95% CI) 1.76 (1.12, 2.77)), p = 0.014. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that PM10 is associated with an increased prevalence of APE cases. The policy for tighter control of air pollution in our country is needed to reduce the impact of air pollutants on people's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaiwat Bumroongkit
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Chalerm Liwsrisakun
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Athavudh Deesomchok
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Chaicharn Pothirat
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Theerakorn Theerakittikul
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Atikun Limsukon
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Konlawij Trongtrakul
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Pattraporn Tajarernmuang
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nutchanok Niyatiwatchanchai
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Juntima Euathrongchit
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Juthamas Inchai
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Warawut Chaiwong
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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19
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Ibrahim MAA, Mahmoud AHM, Mekhemer GAH, Shawky AM, Soliman MES, Moussa NAM. Adsorption Behavior of Toxic Carbon Dichalcogenides (CX 2; X = O, S, or Se) on β12 Borophene and Pristine Graphene Sheets: A DFT Study. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12193411. [PMID: 36234539 PMCID: PMC9565509 DOI: 10.3390/nano12193411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption of toxic carbon dichalcogenides (CX2; X = O, S, or Se) on β12 borophene (β12) and pristine graphene (GN) sheets was comparatively investigated. Vertical and parallel configurations of CX2⋯β12/GN complexes were studied herein via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Energetic quantities confirmed that the adsorption process in the case of the parallel configuration was more desirable than that in the vertical analog and showed values up to −10.96 kcal/mol. The strength of the CX2⋯β12/GN complexes decreased in the order CSe2 > CS2 > CO2, indicating that β12 and GN sheets showed significant selectivity for the CSe2 molecule with superb potentiality for β12 sheets. Bader charge transfer analysis revealed that the CO2⋯β12/GN complexes in the parallel configuration had the maximum negative charge transfer values, up to −0.0304 e, outlining the electron-donating character of CO2. The CS2 and CSe2 molecules frequently exhibited dual behavior as electron donors in the vertical configuration and acceptors in the parallel one. Band structure results addressed some differences observed for the electronic structures of the pure β12 and GN sheets after the adsorption process, especially in the parallel configuration compared with the vertical one. According to the results of the density of states, new peaks were observed after adsorbing CX2 molecules on the studied 2D sheets. These results form a fundamental basis for future studies pertaining to applications of β12 and GN sheets for detecting toxic carbon dichalcogenides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
- School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Amna H. M. Mahmoud
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Gamal A. H. Mekhemer
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Shawky
- Science and Technology Unit (STU), Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud E. S. Soliman
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Research Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Nayra A. M. Moussa
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
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20
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Nauwelaerts SJD, Van Goethem N, Ureña BT, De Cremer K, Bernard A, Saenen ND, Nawrot TS, Roosens NHC, De Keersmaecker SCJ. Urinary CC16, a potential indicator of lung integrity and inflammation, increases in children after short-term exposure to PM 2.5/PM 10 and is driven by the CC16 38GG genotype. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113272. [PMID: 35439460 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Particular matter (PM) exposure is a big hazard for public health, especially for children. Serum CC16 is a well-known biomarker of respiratory health. Urinary CC16 (U-CC16) can be a noninvasive alternative, albeit requiring adequate adjustment for renal handling. Moreover, the SNP CC16 G38A influences CC16 levels. This study aimed to monitor the effect of short-term PM exposure on CC16 levels, measured noninvasively in schoolchildren, using an integrative approach. We used a selection of urine and buccal DNA samples from 86 children stored in an existing biobank. Using a multiple reaction monitoring method, we measured U-CC16, as well as RBP4 (retinol binding protein 4) and β2M (beta-2-microglobulin), required for adjustment. Buccal DNA samples were used for CC16 G38A genotyping. Linear mixed-effects models were used to find relevant associations between U-CC16 and previously obtained data from recent daily PM ≤ 2.5 or 10 μm exposure (PM2.5, PM10) modeled at the child's residence. Our study showed that exposure to low PM at the child's residence (median levels 18.9 μg/m³ (PM2.5) and 23.6 μg/m³ (PM10)) one day before sampling had an effect on the covariates-adjusted U-CC16 levels. This effect was dependent on the CC16 G38A genotype, due to its strong interaction with the association between PM levels and covariates-adjusted U-CC16 (P = 0.024 (PM2.5); P = 0.061 (PM10)). Only children carrying the 38GG genotype showed an increase of covariates-adjusted U-CC16, measured 24h after exposure, with increasing PM2.5 and PM10 (β = 0.332; 95% CI: 0.110 to 0.554 and β = 0.372; 95% CI: 0.101 to 0.643, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using an integrative approach to investigate short-term PM exposure of children, using urine to detect early signs of pulmonary damage, and taking into account important determinants such as the genetic background and adequate adjustment of the measured biomarker in urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J D Nauwelaerts
- Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium; Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, University Catholique de Louvain, Woluwe, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nina Van Goethem
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Faculty of Public Health, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
| | - Berta Tenas Ureña
- Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Koen De Cremer
- Platform Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alfred Bernard
- Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, University Catholique de Louvain, Woluwe, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nelly D Saenen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nancy H C Roosens
- Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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21
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Mortelliti CL, Banzon TM, Phipatanakul W, Vieira CZ. Environmental Exposures Impact Pediatric Asthma Within the School Environment. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2022; 42:743-760. [DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Hu X, Han W, Wang Y, Aunan K, Pan X, Huang J, Li G. Does air pollution modify temperature-related mortality? A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112898. [PMID: 35181304 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is an increasing interest in understanding whether air pollutants modify the quantitative relationships between temperature and health outcomes. The results of available studies were, however, inconsistent. This study aims to sum up the current evidence and provide a comprehensive understanding of this topic. METHODS We conducted an electronic search in PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The modified Navigation Guide was applied to evaluate the quality and strength of evidence. We calculated pooled temperature-related mortality at low and high pollutant levels respectively, using the random-effects model. RESULTS We identified 22 eligible studies, eleven of which were included in the meta-analysis. Significant effect modification was observed on heat effects for all-cause and non-accidental mortality by particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) and ozone (O3) (p < 0.05). The excess risks (ERs) for all-cause and non-accidental mortality were 5.4% (4.4%, 6.4%) and 6.3% (4.8%, 7.8%) at the low PM10 level, 8.8% (7.5%, 10.1%) and 11.4% (8.7%, 14.2%) at the high PM10 level, respectively. As for O3, the ERs for all-cause and non-accidental mortality were 5.1% (3.9%, 6.3%) and 3.6% (0.1%, 7.2%) at the low O3 level, 7.6% (6.3%, 9.0%) and 12.5% (4.7%, 20.9%) at the high O3 level, respectively. Surprisingly, the heat effects on cardiovascular mortality were found to be lower at high carbon monoxide (CO) levels [ERs = 5.4% (3.9%, 6.9%)] than that at low levels [ERs = 9.4% (7.0%, 11.9%)]. The heterogeneity varied, but the results of sensitivity analyses were generally robust. Significant effect modification by air pollutants was not observed for heatwave or cold effects. CONCLUSIONS PM10 and O3 modify the heat-related all-cause and non-accidental mortality, indicating that policymakers should consider air pollutants when establishing heat-health warning systems. Future studies with comparable designs and settings are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wenxing Han
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kristin Aunan
- CICERO Center for International Climate Research, N-0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - Xiaochuan Pan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guoxing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Ju K, Lu L, Chen T, Duan Z, Chen D, Liao W, Zhou Q, Xu Z, Wang W. Does long-term exposure to air pollution impair physical and mental health in the middle-aged and older adults? - A causal empirical analysis based on a longitudinal nationwide cohort in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154312. [PMID: 35248644 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The world is aging, posing a challenge to public health. Air pollution is increasingly recognized as an important environmental risk factor, with effects on both physical and mental health. Considering the vulnerability of older adults, they tend to have more prevalent comorbidities that may lead to broader consequences. However, evidence to comprehensively assess the causal effects of long-term air pollution exposure on the physical and mental health of older adults remains limited and inconsistent, especially in developing countries. The longitudinal data from the Chinese Family Panel Study (a representative Chinese national cohort study) for 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 were included in this study. The Correlated Random Effects Control Function method (CRE-CF) in a counterfactual causal inference framework was employed to explore the causal relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and physical and mental health and self-rated health status in middle-aged and older adults, considering the ordered categorical nature of health outcomes. The appropriate instrumental variable was selected and validated. This study included 5846 participants aged >45 years in 2012. In the CRE-CF model for activities of daily living (ADLs, positively associated with physical health), subjective memory impairment (SMI, negatively associated with memory health) and self-rated health status in middle-age and older adults, the coefficient of PM2.5 is -0.069, 0.102, and 0.106 respectively, and all statistically significant at 5% level, which suggests that chronic exposure to air pollutants had significant negative effects on ADLs, SMI and self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults. The findings suggest that long-term exposure to air pollutants can impair the health of middle-aged and older adults across the board, including physical and mental health. In the context of an aging society, the findings of this study will provide tremendous implications for the authority to protect them from damage caused by long-term exposure to air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ju
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Liyong Lu
- HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ting Chen
- HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhongxin Duan
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dapeng Chen
- Department of Economics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Weibin Liao
- HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zongyou Xu
- Medical School, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, 445000, China
| | - Wen Wang
- HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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PM2.5 Pollution Levels and Chemical Components at Teahouses along the Poon Hill Trek in Nepal. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13071018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the local burning of solid fuels, and from regional transport of pollutants, remain a major public health problem in the Himalayan foothill villages in Nepal. Teahouses (i.e., mountain lodges) along popular hiking trails in the lower Himalayas commonly use wood as the primary energy source for heating; however, little is known about teahouse air quality. The purpose of this study was to characterize the levels and chemical constituents of indoor and ambient PM2.5 at three villages along the Poon Hill circuit trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal. A convenience sample of five PM2.5 measurements was collected with portable MicroPEM V.3.2A exposure monitors. Filters were analyzed for black and brown carbon using integrating sphere optical transmittance and 33 elemental constituents using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Median indoor PM2.5 over the sampling period was 41.3 µg/m3, whereas median ambient PM2.5 over the sampling period was 34.7 µg/m3. Chemical species associated with wood smoke, such as potassium (GM = 0.88 µg/m3), predominated. High indoor and ambient PM2.5 levels may pose a significant occupational health risk to teahouse workers, who may experience chronic exposures during trekking seasons. Our findings warrant additional research to characterize teahouse air pollution exposures more fully and to evaluate intervention measures.
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25
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Čabanová K, Štrbová K, Motyka O, Zeleník K, Dvořáčková J, Zabiegaj D, Havlíček M, Kukutschová J. Traffic pollution tracers in the lymphatic system tissue of children-possible link to chronic tonsillitis development: pilot study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:39131-39138. [PMID: 35099699 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18869-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of metal elements in tonsillar tissues of children patients was investigated in order to establish the link between environmental pollution and tonsilitis diagnosis. The children lived either in a polluted, industrial region (Moravian-Silesian Region, North-East Czechia) or a clean, predominantly agricultural region (South Bohemian Region, South-East Czechia). Simultaneously, the distance of the address of the patients to the closest main road was assessed. The elemental content of the present particulate matter in the tonsil samples, coming from indicated tonsillectomies, was analysed using scanning electron microscopy equipped with an X-ray microprobe. No significant association of the elemental composition and the region was found using both bivariate and multivariate methods; however, an association with the distance to the closest main road was found. The study presents a novel assessment of the tonsillar tissues and supports the link between environmental factors (traffic-related particulate pollution) and the onset of chronic, idiopathic diseases in children, which has been debated recently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Čabanová
- Centre for Advanced Innovation Technologies, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Kristína Štrbová
- ENET Centre, CEET, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Motyka
- Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Karol Zeleník
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Dvořáčková
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Zabiegaj
- Smart Materials and Surfaces Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | | | - Jana Kukutschová
- Centre for Advanced Innovation Technologies, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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26
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Bergstra AD, Been JV, Burdorf A. The association of specific industry-related air pollution with occurrence of chronic diseases: A register-based study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112872. [PMID: 35131328 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution may contribute to onset and progression of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Most studies have focused on the contribution of traffic-related exposure to PM10 or PM2.5. Our aim was to investigate the association of different components of industry-related air pollution on the occurrence of chronic diseases. A register-based repeated cross-sectional study was conducted among 89,714 subjects (2012) with 536,599 annual observations (2012-2017) living in the vicinity of a large industrial area in the Netherlands. Information from the dispensed medication registration was linked with a dispersion model to characterize annual individual-level exposure of all subjects at place of residence. Associations between annual exposure (concentration and duration) to particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) with annual dispensed medication for cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory conditions were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations (GEE) while controlling for confounders. Exposure to PM10 and to NOX (per μg/m3) were significantly associated with medication for cardiovascular diseases (OR 1.06, 95CI% 1.06-1.06 and OR 1.01, 95%CI 1.01-1.01 respectively). Exposures to PM10 and SO2 (per μg/m3) were significantly associated with medication for inflammatory conditions (OR 1.05, 95%CI 1.00-1.09 and OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.14 respectively). Exposure to SO2 was inversely associated with respiratory diseases (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.86-0.97). Except for inflammatory conditions, exposure duration (years) was significantly associated with the other three chronic diseases (OR varying from 1.01 to 1.03). This study indicates that specific air pollution components caused by industry may contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold D Bergstra
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Zeeland Public Health Service, PO Box 345, 4460AS, Goes, the Netherlands.
| | - Jasper V Been
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2060, 3000CB, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alex Burdorf
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Larsen K, Black P, Palmer AL, Sheppard AJ, Jamal S, Plain S, Peters C. Screening-level assessment of cancer risk associated with ambient air exposure in Aamjiwnaang First Nation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:1055-1066. [PMID: 33026840 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2020.1827226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The manuscript reports findings from a screening-level assessment of cancer risk from outdoor air in Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Ambient air pollution can contribute to cardiovascular/respiratory diseases, and certain types of cancer. Certain communities may be at higher risk to the negative health impacts due to their geographical proximity to pollution sources. Outdoor air concentrations were mapped and the Lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (LECR) associated with long-term exposure to known carcinogens were estimated. LECR results for both benzene and 1,3-butadiene were above one per million. The LECR for benzene was 6.4 per million when the Health Canada slope factor was applied and 12.0 when using the US EPA. For 1,3-butadiene the LECR estimate was 8.8 per million. This work provides a better understanding of environmental exposures and potential associated cancer risks for residents in the Aamjiwnaang community and highlights the need for further air monitoring and a more detailed risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Larsen
- CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paleah Black
- CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alison L Palmer
- CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda J Sheppard
- Ontario Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sara Plain
- Health Services, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Sarnia, ON, Canada
| | - Cheryl Peters
- CAREX Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Preventive Oncology & Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
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28
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Extracting Travelers’ Preferences toward Electric Vehicles Using the Theory of Planned Behavior in Lahore, Pakistan. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The high use of gasoline and diesel vehicles results in environmental pollution and loss of natural resources. The use of electric vehicles can be socially beneficial and reduce air pollution. In this research study, the main aims are to identify the potential of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Pakistan using a Stated Preferences (SP) survey. An SP questionnaire was designed using the theoretical framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This questionnaire consisted of travelers’ personal and travel characteristics and various statements designed to address the variables of TPB such as Attitudes Towards the Electric Vehicles, Subjective Norms (SN), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), and Behavioral Intentions (BI). The behavior items were designed in the context of travelers’ willingness to buy and use EVs. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) were conducted to validate the designed hypotheses related to the variables of TPB. The cross-analysis revealed that there are variations in responses across different occupations, trip distances, travel modes, and vehicle ownership. The developed structural models showed that the Attitudes and PBC have a positive influence on BI and PBC, which also have a direct impact on travelers’ willingness to use EV. The SN, PBC, and Attitudes are significant predictors of behavioral intentions in the willingness to buy EV and PBC is not a direct predictor of travelers’ willingness to buy an EV. The BI acts as a mediator to explain the indirect effects of Attitudes, SN, and PBC on willingness to purchase and use an EV. In the end, a framework is also proposed for the behavior-related interventions to promote the EVs considering the socio-economic context of Pakistan.
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Bansal P, Batra R, Yadav R, Purwar R. Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes supported with montmorillonite for efficient
PM2
.5 filtration and adsorption of Cu (
II
) ions. J Appl Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/app.51582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Bansal
- Discipline of Polymer Science and Chemical Technology, Department of Applied Chemistry Delhi Technological University Delhi India
| | - Radhika Batra
- Discipline of Polymer Science and Chemical Technology, Department of Applied Chemistry Delhi Technological University Delhi India
| | - Reetu Yadav
- Discipline of Polymer Science and Chemical Technology, Department of Applied Chemistry Delhi Technological University Delhi India
| | - Roli Purwar
- Discipline of Polymer Science and Chemical Technology, Department of Applied Chemistry Delhi Technological University Delhi India
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Liu Q, Li G, Zhang L, Liu J, Du J, Shao B, Li Z. Effects of household cooking with clean energy on the risk for hypertension among women in Beijing. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 289:133151. [PMID: 34871615 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Outdoor air pollution and indoor burning of biomass fuel can cause high blood pressure. However, little is known about the effects of cooking with clean energy on hypertension. We thus explored whether cooking with clean energy is associated with the risk for hypertension. The study used baseline data from 12,349 women from a large population-based cohort study in Beijing, China. Information on cooking habits, health status, and other characteristics was collected by questionnaire and physical examination. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and homocysteine (HCY). An index of cooking exposure was constructed. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate the association between cooking exposure and risk for hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.7%. Any cooking exposure at all was associated with an increased risk for hypertension with an adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of 2.27 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01, 2.57). The risk for hypertension increased with increases in cooking frequency, time spent cooking, and the cooking index, all showing a dose-effect relationship (P < 0.001). An increased risk for hypertension was associated with both cooking using mainly electricity (aPR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.41, 2.17) and cooking using mainly natural gas (aPR: 2.30, 95% CI: 2.03, 2.60). The cooking index was positively correlated with plasma concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-C, and HCY and negatively correlated with HDL-C. Abnormal levels of all these biomarkers were associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension after adjustment for confounding factors. Cooking with clean energy, mainly cooking habit, may contribute to an increased risk for hypertension among female residents of Beijing. Abnormal metabolism of lipids or HCY may be an important mechanism involved in the development of cooking-related hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingping Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, PR China; Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, 100013, PR China.
| | - Gang Li
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, 100013, PR China.
| | - Le Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100191, PR China.
| | - Jufen Liu
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100191, PR China.
| | - Jing Du
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, 100013, PR China.
| | - Bing Shao
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, 100013, PR China.
| | - Zhiwen Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, PR China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100191, PR China.
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Ferdous Z, Beegam S, Zaaba NE, Elzaki O, Tariq S, Greish YE, Ali BH, Nemmar A. Exacerbation of Thrombotic Responses to Silver Nanoparticles in Hypertensive Mouse Model. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:2079630. [PMID: 35111278 PMCID: PMC8802099 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2079630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With advent of nanotechnology, silver nanoparticles, AgNPs owing majorly to their antibacterial properties, are used widely in food industry and biomedical applications implying human exposure by various routes including inhalation. Several reports have suggested AgNPs induced pathophysiological effects in a cardiovascular system. However, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension may interfere with AgNPs-induced response, yet majority of them are understudied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the thrombotic complications in response to polyethylene glycol- (PEG-) coated AgNPs using an experimental hypertensive (HT) mouse model. Saline (control) or PEG-AgNPs (0.5 mg/kg) were intratracheally (i.t.) instilled four times, i.e., on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-angiotensin II-induced HT, or vehicle (saline) infusion. On day 29, various parameters were assessed including thrombosis in pial arterioles and venules, platelet aggregation in whole blood in vitro, plasma markers of coagulation, and fibrinolysis and systemic oxidative stress. Pulmonary exposure to PEG-AgNPs in HT mice induced an aggravation of in vivo thrombosis in pial arterioles and venules compared to normotensive (NT) mice exposed to PEG-AgNPs or HT mice given saline. The prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and platelet aggregation in vitro were exacerbated after exposure to PEG-AgNPs in HT mice compared with either NT mice exposed to nanoparticles or HT mice exposed to saline. Elevated concentrations of fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and von Willebrand factor were seen after the exposure to PEG-AgNPs in HT mice compared with either PEG-AgNPs exposed NT mice or HT mice given with saline. Likewise, the plasma levels of superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide were augmented by PEG-AgNPs in HT mice compared with either NT mice exposed to nanoparticles or HT mice exposed to saline. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PEG-AgNPs can potentially exacerbate the in vivo and in vitro procoagulatory and oxidative stress effect in HT mice and suggest that population with hypertension are at higher risk of the toxicity of PEG-AgNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zannatul Ferdous
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Sumaya Beegam
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Nur E. Zaaba
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Ozaz Elzaki
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Saeed Tariq
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Yaser E. Greish
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Badreldin H. Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Muscat 123, Al-Khod, Oman
| | - Abderrahim Nemmar
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
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Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites as an Effective Photocatalyst and Gas Sensor for Environmental Remediation. J Inorg Organomet Polym Mater 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10904-021-02178-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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D’Antona S, Castiglioni I, Porro D, Cava C. Consequences of exposure to pollutants on respiratory health: From genetic correlations to causal relationships. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277235. [PMID: 36395113 PMCID: PMC9671383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern society grew rapidly over the last few decades and this led to an alarming increase in air pollutants and a worsening of the human health, especially in relation to the respiratory system. Indeed, chronic respiratory diseases were the third main cause of death in 2017, with over 3 million of deaths. Furthermore, the pollution has considerable consequences both for burden medical expenses and environmental. However, the mechanisms linking pollutants to the onset of these diseases remain unclear. Thus, in this study we addressed this problem through the United Kingdom BioBank database, analyzing 170 genome-wide association studies (103 related to respiratory diseases and 67 related to pollutants). We analyzed the genetic correlations and causal relationships of these traits, leveraging the summary statistics and bioinformatics packages such as Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression and Latent Causal Variable. We obtained 158 significant genetic correlations and subsequently we analyzed them through the Latent Causal Variable analysis, obtaining 20 significant causal relationships. The most significant were between "Workplace full of chemicals or other fumes: Sometimes" and "Condition that has ever been diagnosed by a doctor: Asthma" and between "Workplace very dusty: Sometimes" and "Condition that has ever been diagnosed by a doctor: Emphysema or chronic bronchitis". Finally, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms independently associated with sveral pollutants to analyze the genes and pathways that could be involved in the onset of the aforementioned respiratory system disorders and that could be useful clinical target. This study highlighted how crucial are the air condition of the working environments and the type of transport used in the onset of respiratory-related morbidity. Based on that, we also suggested some interventions, in order to improve quality life and develop new and eco-friendly society and life style, such as improving indoor air circulation, the use of public transport and urban reforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore D’Antona
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Danilo Porro
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Cava
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Wu IP, Liao SL, Lai SH, Wong KS. The Respiratory Impacts of Air Pollution in Children: Global and Domestic (Taiwan) Situation. Biomed J 2021; 45:88-94. [PMID: 34929408 PMCID: PMC9133359 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is a global issue that threatens the health of human beings. Epidemiologic reports have shown air pollution exposures to result in millions of deaths annually. Infancy and childhood, the period of organ and lung development, is most susceptible to these environmental hazards; as a result, the risks of respiratory diseases are increased after air pollution exposure. These pollutants can originate from indoor and ambient environment, presenting as vapor or particles, and differ in chemical compositions. This review will give brief introduction to various major pollutants and their origin, as well the correlation with respiratory diseases after exposure. We will also present several current facts in domestic area (Taiwan), regarding the status of local air-pollution, and discuss its impacts on pediatric respiratory health. This report will provide useful information for clinicians and offer advice for policy makers to develop public health guidelines of pollution control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Ping Wu
- Departments of Respiratory Therapy, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Ling Liao
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatric, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Hao Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Kin-Sun Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Health and Economic Impacts Assessment of O 3 Exposure in Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111646. [PMID: 34770158 PMCID: PMC8583463 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Health effects related to exposure to air pollution such as ozone (O3) have been documented. The World Health Organization has recommended the use of the Sum of O3 Means Over 35 ppb (SOMO35) to perform Health Impact Assessments (HIA) for long-term exposure to O3. We estimated the avoidable mortality associated with long-term exposure to tropospheric O3 in 14 cities in Mexico using information for 2015. The economic valuation of avoidable deaths related to SOMO35 exposure was performed using the willingness to pay (WTP) and human capital (HC) approaches. We estimated that 627 deaths (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 227–1051) from respiratory diseases associated with the exposure to O3 would have been avoided in people over 30 years in the study area, which confirms the public health impacts of ambient air pollution. The avoidable deaths account for almost 1400 million USD under the WTP approach, whilst the HC method yielded a lost productivity estimate of 29.7 million USD due to premature deaths. Our findings represent the first evidence of the health impacts of O3 exposure in Mexico, using SOMO35 metrics.
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Hung SH, Bowden JW, Peltier RE, Schiffman JD. Optimizing the Packing Density and Chemistry of Cellulose Nanofilters for High-Efficiency Particulate Removal. Ind Eng Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c03051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Hsiang Hung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States
| | - Jared W. Bowden
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States
| | - Richard E. Peltier
- School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States
| | - Jessica D. Schiffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States
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Rani R, Arokiasamy P, Sikarwar A. Household air pollution during COVID-19 pandemic: A concern in India. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 2021; 21:e2729. [PMID: 34512188 PMCID: PMC8420276 DOI: 10.1002/pa.2729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Household air pollution is a serious public health concern in India with more than half of the Indian households relying on solid fuel use. The long periods of lockdown related measures to control COVID-19 pandemic in India further aggravated the adverse health effects of household air pollution as millions Indians were exposed to high level of health-damaging air pollutants inside their homes. This commentary discusses the vulnerability of the socioeconomically disadvantaged population forced to stay indoors during the pandemic. Exposure to household air pollution has detrimental effects on health, which might put individuals at higher risk for complications related to COVID-19. A large proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged section of the population were exposed to critical levels of household air pollution and more vulnerable to severe health effects of COVID-19. There is a pressing need to understand the aggravated health consequences of household air pollution in association with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Rani
- Department of Development StudiesInternational Institute for Population SciencesMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Perianayagam Arokiasamy
- Department of Development StudiesInternational Institute for Population SciencesMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
| | - Ankit Sikarwar
- Department of Development StudiesInternational Institute for Population SciencesMumbaiMaharashtraIndia
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Jo EJ, Choi MH, Kim CH, Won KM, Kim YK, Jeong JH, An HY, Hwang MK, Park HK. Patterns of medical care utilization according to environmental factors in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Korean J Intern Med 2021; 36:1146-1156. [PMID: 33561336 PMCID: PMC8435499 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2020.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Weather and air pollution are associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. We investigated patterns of medical care use according to meteorological factors and air pollution in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS We analyzed the medical care utilization patterns of patients with asthma or COPD registered in the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment database for the period 2007 to 2013. The patterns were divided into hospitalization and emergency department (ED) use. RESULTS The medical care use of patients with asthma or COPD increased when the mean temperature and relative humidity were lower, and the temperature difference and atmospheric pressure were greater. Medical care use increased with the concentrations of particulate matter and ozone. Among age groups, sensitivity to pollutants was greatest in patients aged ≥ 65 years. The effect of being elderly was greater for asthma than for COPD, with a higher hospitalization rate. ED utilization affected by environmental factors was significantly greater for females and hospitalization was significantly more common for males. CONCLUSION Meteorological factors and air pollutants were shown to contribute to increased medical care utilization by patients with asthma and COPD, particularly elderly patients. The overall effect was greater for COPD, but the effect in elderly patients was greater for asthma. In addition, the patterns of change in medical care use due to environmental factors differed according to sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jung Jo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Min-Hyeok Choi
- Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Chang-Hoon Kim
- Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Kyung-Mi Won
- The Institute of Environmental Studies, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Yoo-Keun Kim
- Division of Earth Environmental System, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Ju-Hee Jeong
- The Institute of Environmental Studies, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Hye Yeon An
- Division of Earth Environmental System, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Mi-Kyoung Hwang
- The Institute of Environmental Studies, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Hye-Kyung Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
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Deng J, Hu X, Xiao C, Pan F. The association between gaseous pollutants and non-accidental mortality: a time series study. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:2887-2897. [PMID: 33411120 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00800-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of gaseous pollutants (SO2, NO2) on non-accidental mortality of residents in Hefei city, we collected non-accidental deaths, air pollutants and meteorological data of Hefei city from 2014 to 2017. After controlling confounding factors with Poisson generalized additive model, we analyzed the relationship between air pollutants and non-accidental mortality and used subgroup analysis to identify susceptible groups. The number of non-accidental deaths during the study period was 42,116, with an average of 28.83 per day. The average concentrations of SO2 and NO2 were 16.08 μg/m3 and 39.10 μg/m3, respectively. In the single-pollutant model, every 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 and NO2 concentrations was significantly associated with non-accidental mortality, and there was a significant lag effect. SO2 increased the risk of non-accidental death by 4.93% (95% CI: 1.94% ~ 8.00%) at lag0-3. In addition, male, the elderly, non-elderly and low-education people were more susceptible (P < 0.05). NO2 increased the risk of non-accidental death by 2.11% (95% CI: 1.18% ~ 3.05%) at lag0-1 and had an effect on all subgroups (P < 0.05). For every 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 and NO2, the two-pollutant model showed that the risk of non-accidental death, respectively, increased by 3.34% (95% CI: 0.29% ~ 6.50%) and 1.82% (95% CI: 0.85% ~ 2.79%), suggesting that the effect was weakened. Our study suggested that SO2 and NO2 were associated with non-accidental mortality, and there were lag effects. Therefore, environmental management should be strengthened and health protection education should be carried out for different groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiang Deng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xingxing Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Changchun Xiao
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 86 Luan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China.
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Pekince Md B, Baccioglu Md A. Allergic and non-allergic asthma phenotypes and exposure to air pollution. J Asthma 2021; 59:1509-1520. [PMID: 34254843 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1955133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although harmful effects of air pollution on airway diseases are well-established, its effect on allergy still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine changes on asthma clinic and oxidant homeostasis due to air pollution between allergic asthma (AA) and non-allergic asthma (NA) phenotypes. METHODS This prospective, case-control study included patients with well-controlled asthma under regular treatment (n = 57) and healthy individuals (n = 51). Of asthma patients, 22 had AA and 35 had NA phenotypes. Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function tests, serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS), and thiol/disulfide levels were compared between the most (V1) and least (V2) air-polluted times. RESULTS High air pollution exposure resulted to an increase in the frequency of respiratory symptoms and serum inflammation markers in both asthmatic and healthy individuals. Frequency of dyspnea and cough in AA and rhinitis in NA decreased from V1 to V2. Hospitalization due to asthma exacerbation, systemic corticosteroid use, and eosinophil counts were more frequent in NA group than AA in V1. An increase of blood eosinophil counts was observed in AA group at the same visit. Mean TAS and TOS levels were higher in asthma group than control group, and the decline in TAS and TOS levels from V1 to V2 was seen only in NA. All thiols decreased and SH/total SH ratios significantly increased from V1 to V2 in all groups. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that air pollution affects both asthma patients and healthy individuals. Through oxidant-antioxidant and thiol pathways, however, it adversely affects respiratory system of asthma patients, at a greater extent, than healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Busra Pekince Md
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, School of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ayse Baccioglu Md
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, School of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey
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Chemical Composition of PM2.5 in Wood Fire and LPG Cookstove Homes of Nepali Brick Workers. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12070911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Household air pollution is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, largely due to particles ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5). The toxicity of PM2.5, however, depends on its physical properties and chemical composition. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the chemical composition of PM2.5 in brick workers’ homes (n = 16) based on use of wood cooking fire or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves. We collected samples using RTI International particulate matter (PM) exposure monitors (MicroPEMs). We analyzed filters for 33 elements using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and, for black (BC) and brown carbon (BrC), integrating sphere optical transmittance. Wood fire homes had significantly higher concentrations of BC (349 µg/m3) than LPG homes (6.27 µg/m3, p < 0.0001) or outdoor air (5.36 µg/m3, p = 0.002). Indoor chlorine in wood fire homes averaged 5.86 µg/m3, which was approximately 34 times the average level in LPG homes (0.17 µg/m3, p = 0.0006). Similarly, potassium in wood fire homes (4.17 µg/m3) was approximately four times the level in LPG homes (0.98 µg/m3, p = 0.001). In all locations, we found aluminum, calcium, copper, iron, silicon, and titanium in concentrations exceeding those shown to cause respiratory effects in other studies. Our findings suggest the need for multi-faceted interventions to improve air quality for brick workers in Nepal.
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Fongsodsri K, Chamnanchanunt S, Desakorn V, Thanachartwet V, Sahassananda D, Rojnuckarin P, Umemura T. Particulate Matter 2.5 and Hematological Disorders From Dust to Diseases: A Systematic Review of Available Evidence. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:692008. [PMID: 34336895 PMCID: PMC8316685 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.692008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in the air enters the human body by diffusion into the blood. Therefore, hematological abnormalities might occur because of these toxic particles, but few studies on this issue have been reported. According to Cochrane guidance, we performed a systematic review on the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 and the risk of hematological disorders. Ten articles were included in this review. Anemia was found among children and elderly populations with 2- to 5-year PM2.5 exposure. Young children from mothers exposed to air pollution during pregnancy had a higher incidence of leukemia similar to the elderly. Supporting these data, outdoor workers also showed abnormal epigenetic modifications after exposure to very high PM2.5 levels. Adults living in high PM2.5 areas for 2 years were more likely to develop thrombocytosis. Finally, elderly populations with 7- to 8-year PM2.5 exposure showed increased risks of venous thromboembolism. In conclusion, the associations between PM2.5 and hematological aberrations among high-risk people with long-term exposure were reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamonpan Fongsodsri
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supat Chamnanchanunt
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Varunee Desakorn
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Vipa Thanachartwet
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Duangjai Sahassananda
- Information Technology Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ponlapat Rojnuckarin
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tsukuru Umemura
- Department of Medical Technology and Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Ohkawa, Japan
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Ventilation-Associated Particulate Matter Is a Potential Reservoir of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Health Facilities. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070639. [PMID: 34209235 PMCID: PMC8307074 DOI: 10.3390/life11070639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Most healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) develop due to the colonisation of patients and healthcare workers by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Here, we investigated whether the particulate matter from the ventilation systems (Vent-PM) of health facilities can harbour MDRO and other microbes, thereby acting as a potential reservoir of HCAIs. Dust samples collected in the ventilation grilles and adjacent air ducts underwent a detailed analysis of physicochemical properties and biodiversity. All Vent-PM samples included ultrafine PM capable of reaching the alveoli. Strikingly, >70% of Vent-PM samples were contaminated, mostly by viruses (>15%) or multidrug-resistant and biofilm-producing bacterial strains (60% and 48% of all bacteria-contaminated specimens, respectively). Total viable count at 1 m from the ventilation grilles was significantly increased after opening doors and windows, indicating an association between air flow and bacterial contamination. Both chemical and microbial compositions of Vent-PM considerably differed across surgical vs. non-surgical and intensive vs. elective care units and between health facilities located in coal and chemical districts. Reduced diversity among MDRO and increased prevalence ratio in multidrug-resistant to the total Enterococcus spp. in Vent-PM testified to the evolving antibiotic resistance. In conclusion, we suggest Vent-PM as a previously underestimated reservoir of HCAI-causing pathogens in the hospital environment.
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Jankowska-Kieltyka M, Roman A, Nalepa I. The Air We Breathe: Air Pollution as a Prevalent Proinflammatory Stimulus Contributing to Neurodegeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:647643. [PMID: 34248501 PMCID: PMC8264767 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.647643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is regarded as an important risk factor for many diseases that affect a large proportion of the human population. To date, accumulating reports have noted that particulate matter (PM) is closely associated with the course of cardiopulmonary disorders. As the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and autoimmune disorders have risen and as the world’s population is aging, there is an increasing interest in environmental health hazards, mainly air pollution, which has been slightly overlooked as one of many plausible detrimental stimuli contributing to neurodegenerative disease onset and progression. Epidemiological studies have indicated a noticeable association between exposure to PM and neurotoxicity, which has been gradually confirmed by in vivo and in vitro studies. After entering the body directly through the olfactory epithelium or indirectly by passing through the respiratory system into the circulatory system, air pollutants are subsequently able to reach the brain. Among the potential mechanisms underlying particle-induced detrimental effects in the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS), increased oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial activation, disturbance of protein homeostasis, and ultimately, neuronal death are often postulated and concomitantly coincide with the main pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative processes. Other complementary mechanisms by which PM could mediate neurotoxicity and contribute to neurodegeneration remain unconfirmed. Furthermore, the question of how strong and proven air pollutants are as substantial adverse factors for neurodegenerative disease etiologies remains unsolved. This review highlights research advances regarding the issue of PM with an emphasis on neurodegeneration markers, symptoms, and mechanisms by which air pollutants could mediate damage in the CNS. Poor air quality and insufficient knowledge regarding its toxicity justify conducting scientific investigations to understand the biological impact of PM in the context of various types of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Jankowska-Kieltyka
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adam Roman
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Irena Nalepa
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
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Slawsky E, Ward-Caviness CK, Neas L, Devlin RB, Cascio WE, Russell AG, Huang R, Kraus WE, Hauser E, Diaz-Sanchez D, Weaver AM. Evaluation of PM 2.5 air pollution sources and cardiovascular health. Environ Epidemiol 2021; 5:e157. [PMID: 34131618 PMCID: PMC8196100 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term air pollution exposure, notably fine particulate matter, is a global contributor to morbidity and mortality and a known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarctions (MI). Knowledge of impacts related to source-apportioned PM2.5 is limited. New modeling methods allow researchers to estimate source-specific long-term impacts on the prevalence of CAD and MI. The Catheterization Genetics (CATHGEN) cohort consists of patients who underwent a cardiac catheterization at Duke University Medical Center between 2002 and 2010. Severity of coronary blockage was determined by coronary angiography and converted into a binary indicator of clinical CAD. History of MI was extracted from medical records. Annual averages of source specific PM2.5 were estimated using an improved gas-constrained source apportionment model for North Carolina from 2002 to 2010. We tested six sources of PM2.5 mass for associations with CAD and MI using mixed effects multivariable logistic regression with a random intercept for county and multiple adjustments. PM2.5 fractions of ammonium bisulfate and ammonium nitrate were associated with increased prevalence of CAD (odds ratio [OR] 1.20; 95% CI = 1.11, 1.22 and OR 1.18; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.32, respectively). PM2.5 from ammonium bisulfate and ammonium nitrate were also associated with increased prevalence of MI (OR 1.20; 95% CI = 1.10, 1.29 and OR 1.35; 95% CI = 1.20, 1.53, respectively). Greater PM2.5 concentrations of ammonium bisulfate and ammonium nitrate are associated with greater MI and CAD prevalence. The association with bisulfate suggests aerosol acidity may play a role. Our findings suggest analyses of source specific PM2.5 mass can reveal novel associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Slawsky
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Lucas Neas
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Robert B. Devlin
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Wayne E. Cascio
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Ran Huang
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | - David Diaz-Sanchez
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anne M. Weaver
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Durham, North Carolina
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Air Pollution Increases the Incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Symptoms among Polish Children. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10102150. [PMID: 34065636 PMCID: PMC8156299 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10102150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of airway disease’s global burden is attributable to exposure to air pollution. This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollution, assessed as concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 on the upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS) in children. A nation-wide, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Poland in winter 2018/2019 in a population of 1475 children, comparing URTS throughout the study period with publicly available data on airborne particulate matter. A general regression model was used to evaluate the lag effects between daily changes in PM10 and PM2.5 and the number of children reporting URTS and their severity. PM10 and PM2.5 in the single-pollutant models had significant effects on the number of children reporting URTS. The prevalence of URTS: “runny nose”, “sneezing” and “cough” was positively associated with 12-week mean PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. In the locations with the highest average concentration of PM, the symptoms of runny nose, cough and sneezing were increased by 10%, 9% and 11%, respectively, compared to the cities with the lowest PM concentrations. This study showed that moderate-term exposure (12 week observation period) to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of URTS among children aged 3–12 years in Poland. These findings may influence public debate and future policy at the national and international levels to improve air quality in cities and improve children’s health.
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Li YC, Chiou JY, Lin CL, Wei JCC, Yeh MH. The association between air pollution level and breast cancer risk in Taiwan. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e25637. [PMID: 34106591 PMCID: PMC8133213 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000025637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has the highest incidence of cancer among women in Taiwan, and air pollutants have been documented to have multiple adverse effects on human health. There is no relevant data, there has been no research in Taiwan to discuss the relevance of air pollutants to breast cancer, and evidence is sparse and inconclusive.Air quality data used in this study was collected from the 78 air quality monitoring stations situated in 74 municipalities in Taiwan during 2000 to 2011. The daily measurements taken at each monitoring station represented the level of exposure for each participant residing in that zone. The air pollution concentration is partitioned based on the concentration level in Quartile. We calculate the annual average air pollutants concentration (CO, NO, NO2, PM2.5, THC, and CH4) and the long-term average exposure levels of these pollutants until diagnosis of breast cancer, ending the study period for each individual.Patients who were living in areas with the highest air pollutants concentration (Quartile 4) had the most people diagnosed with breast cancer (CO:1.47%, NO:1.41%, NO2:1.63%, PM2.5:0.91%, THC:1.53%, CH4:2.33%). The patients who were exposed to Quartile 1 level of CO, NO, and NO2 concentration were the oldest, and other patients who were exposed to Quartile 4 level of CO, NO, and NO2 concentration were living in the areas of highest urbanization. Participants exposed to Quartile 4 level concentrations of air pollutants were associated with highest hazards ratios for breast cancer incidences.Most participants who were exposed to the high concentration of air pollutants (CO, THC and CH4) had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer. If we can improve air pollution in the environment, we can reduce the incidence of breast cancer and save precious medical resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chia Li
- Management, Chung Shan Medical University
- College of Medicine, China Medical University
| | - Jeng-Yuan Chiou
- School of Health Policy and Management, Chung Shan Medical University
| | | | - James Cheng-Chung Wei
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University
- Department of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University
| | - Ming-Hsin Yeh
- University of Southampton, England
- College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Maipas S, Panayiotides IG, Kavantzas N. Remote-Working Carbon-Saving Footprint: Could COVID-19 Pandemic Establish a New Working Model with Positive Environmental Health Implications? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2021; 15:11786302211013546. [PMID: 33994793 PMCID: PMC8107946 DOI: 10.1177/11786302211013546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urban air pollution is a major problem with known negative health implications, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Lockdown measures have caused the reductions of various urban pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matters (PMs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). COVID-19 pandemic has also established remote-working as an antidote to declining economic activity due to lockdown measures. The environmental health implications of the new hybrid-working model, which drastically reduces the number of circulating vehicles, appear to be positive enough to reveal an emerging opportunity. Since this hybrid model may have started becoming a widely accepted working model, the current situation has revealed the opportunity of remote-working arrangements to serve as a supplementary mitigative and adaptive measure against urban environmental deterioration. Also, a remote-working carbon-saving footprint may be introduced in order to evaluate a firm's carbon footprint reduction due to remote-working arrangements. These workings arrangements may be accompanied by improvements and expansions of urban green spaces and with broader use of electric vehicles, transforming our cities into more sustainable, safe, healthy, and worth-living environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios Maipas
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical
School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens General Hospital “Laikon,”
Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioannis G Panayiotides
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- Second Department of Pathology, “Attikon”
University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
Attica, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kavantzas
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical
School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens General Hospital “Laikon,”
Athens, Attica, Greece
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Bălă GP, Râjnoveanu RM, Tudorache E, Motișan R, Oancea C. Air pollution exposure-the (in)visible risk factor for respiratory diseases. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:19615-19628. [PMID: 33660184 PMCID: PMC8099844 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13208-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing interest in understanding the role of air pollution as one of the greatest threats to human health worldwide. Nine of 10 individuals breathe air with polluted compounds that have a great impact on lung tissue. The nature of the relationship is complex, and new or updated data are constantly being reported in the literature. The goal of our review was to summarize the most important air pollutants and their impact on the main respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis) to reduce both short- and the long-term exposure consequences. We considered the most important air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, ozone, particulate matter and biomass smoke, and observed their impact on pulmonary pathologies. We focused on respiratory pathologies, because air pollution potentiates the increase in respiratory diseases, and the evidence that air pollutants have a detrimental effect is growing. It is imperative to constantly improve policy initiatives on air quality in both high- and low-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel-Petrică Bălă
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeș", P-ța Eftimie Murgu nr.2, Timișoara, 300041, Timiș, Romania
| | | | - Emanuela Tudorache
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeș", P-ța Eftimie Murgu nr.2, Timișoara, 300041, Timiș, Romania
| | | | - Cristian Oancea
- Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeș", P-ța Eftimie Murgu nr.2, Timișoara, 300041, Timiș, Romania
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Eupatilin Inhibits Reactive Oxygen Species Generation via Akt/NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathways in Particulate Matter-Exposed Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9020038. [PMID: 33670750 PMCID: PMC7922545 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9020038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Eupatilin is an active flavon extracted from the Artemisia species and has properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. We examined the effect of eupatilin using fine particulate matter (FPM) and human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) to confirm the potential of eupatilin as a therapeutic agent for respiratory diseases caused by FPM. Methods: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were checked by flow cytometry to identify if FPM and eupatilin affect ROS production. Western blotting was performed to identify the mechanism of action of eupatilin in FPM-exposed BEAS-2B cells. Results: When cells were exposed to FPM above 12.5 μg/mL concentration for 24 h, ROS production increased significantly compared to the control. When eupatilin was added to cells exposed to FPM, the ROS level decreased proportionally with the eupatilin dose. The phosphorylation of Akt, NF-κB p65, and p38 MAPK induced by FPM was significantly reduced by eupatilin, respectively. Conclusion: FPM cause respiratory disease by producing ROS in bronchial epithelial cells. Eupatilin has been shown to inhibit ROS production through altering signaling pathways. The ROS inhibiting property of eupatilin can be exploited in FPM induced respiratory disorders.
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