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Rovira J, González N, Nadal M, Domingo JL, Schuhmacher M. Air concentrations of trace elements in a municipality under the influence of Tarragona petrochemical complex: Human health risks. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117859. [PMID: 38070854 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117859] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
One of the largest petrochemical complexes of southern Europe is located in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). Despite environmental monitoring is routinely conducted in the area, the long-term occurrence of airborne trace elements has been poorly investigated. In the present study, the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V) were analysed in air samples collected in El Morell, a town potentially impacted by the petrochemical. Air samples were simultaneously collected in the town of Cambrils, as a background site. Meteorological data and retro trajectories analysis were used to evaluate the impact of the petrochemical industry on the levels of trace elements in air. Subsequently, human health risks due to inhalation exposure to the trace elements were also assessed. Except for V, air concentrations were significantly higher near the oil refinery than the background levels. Human health risks were also estimated to be higher in the vicinity of the petrochemical complex. In turn, air inhalation of Pb and V was higher than their dietary intakes. The present data should be considered only as preliminary, since the sampling was taken during only three weeks, which is an insufficient period to extract reliable conclusions. Further long-term studies should be focused on assessing the influence of temporary variables, such as meteorological conditions and fugitive or sporadic emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Rovira
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Neus González
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Martí Nadal
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - José L Domingo
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
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Rybarczyk Y, Zalakeviciute R, Ortiz-Prado E. Causal effect of air pollution and meteorology on the COVID-19 pandemic: A convergent cross mapping approach. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25134. [PMID: 38322928 PMCID: PMC10844283 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors have been suspected to influence the propagation and lethality of COVID-19 in the global population. However, most of the studies have been limited to correlation analyses and did not use specific methods to address the dynamic of the causal relationship between the virus and its external drivers. This work focuses on inferring and understanding the causal effect of critical air pollutants and meteorological parameters on COVID-19 by using an Empirical Dynamic Modeling approach called Convergent Cross Mapping. This technique allowed us to identify the time-delayed causation and the sign of interactions. Considering its remarkable urban environment and mortality rate during the pandemic, Quito, Ecuador, was chosen as a case study. Our results show that both urban air pollution and meteorology have a causal impact on COVID-19. Even if the strength and the sign of the causality vary over time, a general trend can be drawn. NO2, SO2, CO and PM2.5 have a positive causation for COVID-19 infections (ρ > 0.35 and ∂ > 9.1). Contrary to current knowledge, this study shows a rapid effect of pollution on COVID-19 cases (1 < lag days <24) and a negative impact of O3 on COVID-19-related deaths (ρ = 0.53 and ∂ = -0.3). Regarding the meteorology, temperature (ρ = 0.24 and ∂ = -0.4) and wind speed (ρ = 0.34 and ∂ = -3.9) tend to mitigate the epidemiological consequences of SARS-CoV-2, whereas relative humidity seems to increase the excess deaths (ρ = 0.4 and ∂ = 0.05). A causal network is proposed to synthesize the interactions between the studied variables and to provide a simple model to support the management of coronavirus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Rybarczyk
- School of Information and Engineering, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden
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Li X, Li X, Kang B, Eom Y, Lee HK, Kim DH, Zhong J, Song JS. Effects of particulate matter exposure on the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 ACE2 receptor in ocular surface tissues and cells. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:8768-8780. [PMID: 38180673 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31607-0] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) has been reported to be one of the risk factor for COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, although the ocular surface is deeply affected by both PM exposure and SARS-COV-2 infection, no studies have investigated the effects of PM exposure on the ocular route of SARS-COV-2 infection. To this end, we explored the effects of PM on the expression of SARS-COV-2-associated receptors and proteins in ocular surface. Herein, short- and long-term PM-exposed rat models were established by topically administering PM for 3 and 10 days, respectively. Immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCjECs) were exposed to PM. ACE2, TMPRSS2, CD147, and ADAM17 expression levels were measured by western blot analysis. Our results show that short-term PM exposure had little effect on the expressions of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CD147 in ocular surface tissues. However, long-term PM exposure decreased the ACE2 expression in conjunctival tissues and increased the CD147 expression in corneal or conjunctival tissues. PM exposure reduced the ACE2 expression by increasing the ADAM17 expression and ACE2 shedding level in HCECs and HCjECs. Our findings suggest that long-term PM exposure down-regulate the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in conjunctival tissues through ADAM17-dependent ACE2 shedding. However, long-term PM exposure up-regulates the expression of another SARS-CoV-2 receptor CD147 in ocular surface tissues, accompanied by ocular surface damage and cytotoxicity. This study provides a new insight into uncovering potential risk factors for infection with SARS-CoV-2 via the ocular route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhe Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xuemin Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 80, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea
| | - Boram Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 80, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea
| | - Youngsub Eom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 80, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea
| | - Hyung Keun Lee
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 80, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea
| | - Jingxiang Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Dongguan, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jong Suk Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 80, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea.
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Bhat SY, Abulaish M. A MapReduce-Based Approach for Fast Connected Components Detection from Large-Scale Networks. BIG DATA 2024. [PMID: 38285477 DOI: 10.1089/big.2022.0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Owing to increasing size of the real-world networks, their processing using classical techniques has become infeasible. The amount of storage and central processing unit time required for processing large networks is far beyond the capabilities of a high-end computing machine. Moreover, real-world network data are generally distributed in nature because they are collected and stored on distributed platforms. This has popularized the use of the MapReduce, a distributed data processing framework, for analyzing real-world network data. Existing MapReduce-based methods for connected components detection mainly struggle to minimize the number of MapReduce rounds and the amount of data generated and forwarded to the subsequent rounds. This article presents an efficient MapReduce-based approach for finding connected components, which does not forward the complete set of connected components to the subsequent rounds; instead, it writes them to the Hadoop Distributed File System as soon as they are found to reduce the amount of data forwarded to the subsequent rounds. It also presents an application of the proposed method in contact tracing. The proposed method is evaluated on several network data sets and compared with two state-of-the-art methods. The empirical results reveal that the proposed method performs significantly better and is scalable to find connected components in large-scale networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Yousuf Bhat
- Department of Computer Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Muhammad Abulaish
- Department of Computer Science, South Asian University, New Delhi, India
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Braggion A, Dugerdil A, Wilson O, Hovagemyan F, Flahault A. Indoor Air Quality and COVID-19: A Scoping Review. Public Health Rev 2024; 44:1605803. [PMID: 38273885 PMCID: PMC10810127 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2023.1605803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health concern for the past 3 years. Scientific evidence on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and indoor air quality still needs to be demonstrated. This scoping review aims to study the association between air quality indoors and COVID-19. Methods: A scoping review analyzing the association between indoor air quality and epidemiological outcomes was conducted. Papers published between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2022 were included. Hospital settings were excluded from the study. Results: Eight relevant articles met the inclusion criteria. Indoor settings included workplaces, schools, restaurants, and public transport. Types of ventilation used to improve indoor air quality were dilution methods (opening windows) and mechanical systems with or without filtration or purifier. CO2 sensors were employed in one study. All the studies showed a positive association between indoor air quality and its improvement and epidemiological indicators. Conclusion: The findings of this scoping review indicate that indoor air quality, which can be improved with ventilation methods, may reduce the risk of developing COVID-19. Ventilation could thus be viewed as a possible effective mitigating method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axelle Braggion
- Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Adeline Dugerdil
- Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olwen Wilson
- Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Public Policy, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Hovagemyan
- Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Flahault
- Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
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Sobek E, Elias DA. Bipolar ionization rapidly inactivates real-world, airborne concentrations of infective respiratory viruses. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293504. [PMID: 37992037 PMCID: PMC10664916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for strategies that rapidly inactivate airborne respiratory viruses and break the transmission cycle of indoor spaces. Air ions can reduce viable bacteria, mold, and virus counts, however, most studies use small test enclosures with target microbes and ion sources in close vicinity. To evaluate ion performance in real-world spaces, experiments were conducted in a large, room-size BSL-3 Chamber. Negative and positive ions were delivered simultaneously using a commercially available bipolar air ion device. The device housed Needle Point Bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology. Large chamber studies often use unrealistically high virus concentrations to ensure measurable virus is present at the trial end. However, excessively high viral concentrations bias air cleaning devices towards underperformance. Hence, devices that provide a substantial impact for protecting occupants in real-world spaces with real-world virus concentrations are often dismissed as poor performers. Herein, both real-world and excessive virus concentrations were studied using Influenza A and B, Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta strains. The average ion concentrations ranged from 4,100 to 24,000 per polarity over 60-minute and 30-minute time trials. The reduction rate was considerably greater for trials that used real-world virus concentrations, reducing infectivity for Influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 Delta by 88.3-99.98% in 30 minutes, whereas trials using in-excess concentrations showed 49.5-61.2% in 30 minutes. These findings strongly support the addition of NPBI ion technology to building management strategies aimed to protect occupants from contracting and spreading infective respiratory viruses indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Sobek
- Global Plasma Solutions, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | - Dwayne A. Elias
- Elias Consulting, LLC, Knoxville, TN, United States of America
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Kumar S, Klassen M, Klassen D, Hardin R, King MD. Dispersion of sneeze droplets in a meat facility indoor environment - Without partitions. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116603. [PMID: 37454802 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116603] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Spreading patterns of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) showed that infected and asymptotic carriers both played critical role in escalating transmission of virus leading to global pandemic. Indoor environments of restaurants, classrooms, hospitals, offices, large assemblies, and industrial installations are susceptible to virus outbreak. Industrial facilities such as fabrication rooms of meat processing plants, which are laden with moisture and fat in indoor air are the most sensitive spaces. Fabrication room workers standing next to each other are exposed to the risk of long-range viral droplets transmission within the facility. An asymptomatic carrier may transmit the virus unintentionally to fellow workers through sporadic sneezing leading to community spread. A novel Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of a fabrication room with typical interior (stationary objects) was prepared and investigated. Study was conducted to identify indoor airflow patterns, droplets spreading patterns, leading droplets removal mechanism, locations causing maximum spread of droplets, and infection index for workers along with stationary objects in reference to seven sneeze locations covering the entire room. The role of condensers, exhaust fans and leakage of indoor air through large and small openings to other rooms was investigated. This comprehensive study presents flow scenarios in the facility and helps identify locations that are potentially at lower or higher risk for exposure to COVID-19. The results presented in this study are suitable for future engineering analyses aimed at redesigning public spaces and common areas to minimize the spread of aerosols and droplets that may contain pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | | | - David Klassen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Robert Hardin
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Maria D King
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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8
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Zoran M, Savastru R, Savastru D, Tautan M, Tenciu D. Linkage between Airborne Particulate Matter and Viral Pandemic COVID-19 in Bucharest. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2531. [PMID: 37894189 PMCID: PMC10609195 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-distance spreading and transport of airborne particulate matter (PM) of biogenic or chemical compounds, which are thought to be possible carriers of SARS-CoV-2 virions, can have a negative impact on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 viral disease. Considering the total Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm (AOD) as an atmospheric aerosol loading variable, inhalable fine PM with a diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) or coarse PM with a diameter ≤10 µm (PM10) during 26 February 2020-31 March 2022, and COVID-19's five waves in Romania, the current study investigates the impact of outdoor PM on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bucharest city. Through descriptive statistics analysis applied to average daily time series in situ and satellite data of PM2.5, PM10, and climate parameters, this study found decreased trends of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of 24.58% and 18.9%, respectively compared to the pre-pandemic period (2015-2019). Exposure to high levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particles was positively correlated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality. The derived average PM2.5/PM10 ratios during the entire pandemic period are relatively low (<0.44), indicating a dominance of coarse traffic-related particles' fraction. Significant reductions of the averaged AOD levels over Bucharest were recorded during the first and third waves of COVID-19 pandemic and their associated lockdowns (~28.2% and ~16.4%, respectively) compared to pre-pandemic period (2015-2019) average AOD levels. The findings of this research are important for decision-makers implementing COVID-19 safety controls and health measures during viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Zoran
- C Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, 409 Atomistilor Street, MG5, 077125 Magurele, Romania; (R.S.); (D.S.); (M.T.); (D.T.)
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Tabassum T, Farzana M, Nahar AN, Araf Y, Ullah MA, Rahaman TI, Faruqui NA, Islam Prottoy MN, Anwar S, Ali N, Hosen MJ. COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Wave-centric assessments and mitigation measures for future pandemics. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20113. [PMID: 37810858 PMCID: PMC10550589 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20113] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic COVID-19 caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has wreaked havoc globally by affecting millions of lives. Although different countries found the implementation of emergency measures useful to combat the viral pandemic, many countries are still experiencing the resurgence of COVID-19 cases with new variants even after following strict containment guidelines. Country-specific lessons learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can be utilized in commencing a successful battle against the potential future outbreaks. In this article, we analyzed the overall scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh from Alpha to Omicron variant and discussed the demographic, political, economic, social, and environmental influences on the mitigation strategies employed by the country to combat the pandemic. We also tried to explore the preparedness and precautionary measures taken by the responsible authorities, the choice of strategies implemented, and the effectiveness of the response initiated by the government and relevant agencies. Finally, we discussed the possible strategies that might help Bangladesh to combat future COVID-19 waves and other possible pandemics based on the experiences gathered from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahani Tabassum
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Maisha Farzana
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abida Nurun Nahar
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Yusha Araf
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Md Asad Ullah
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tanjim Ishraq Rahaman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh
| | - Nairita Ahsan Faruqui
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Nazmul Islam Prottoy
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saeed Anwar
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nurshad Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Jakir Hosen
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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Sangkham S, Islam MA, Sarndhong K, Vongruang P, Hasan MN, Tiwari A, Bhattacharya P. Effects of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and meteorological factors on the daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bangkok during 2020-2021, Thailand. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2023; 8:100410. [PMID: 38620170 PMCID: PMC10286573 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The ongoing global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, has disrupted public health, businesses, and economies worldwide due to its widespread transmission. While previous research has suggested a possible link between environmental factors and increased COVID-19 cases, the evidence regarding this connection remains inconclusive. The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not there is a connection between the presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and meteorological conditions and COVID-19 infection rates in Bangkok, Thailand. The study employs a statistical method called Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to find a positive and non-linear association between RH, AH, and R and the number of verified COVID-19 cases. The impacts of the seasons (especially summer) and rainfall on the trajectory of COVID-19 cases were also highlighted, with an adjusted R-square of 0.852 and a deviance explained of 85.60%, both of which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study results assist in preventing the future seasonal spread of COVID-19, and public health authorities may use these findings to make informed decisions and assess their policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Md Aminul Islam
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
| | - Kritsada Sarndhong
- Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Patipat Vongruang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
- Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Mohammad Nayeem Hasan
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- COVID-19 Research, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10B, SE, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden
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Aboagye EM, Effah NAA, Effah KO. A bibliometric analysis of the impact of COVID-19 social lockdowns on air quality: research trends and future directions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27699-3. [PMID: 37219782 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Social lockdowns improved air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments had previously spent a lot of money addressing air pollution without success. This bibliometric study measured the influence of COVID-19 social lockdowns on air pollution, identified emerging issues, and discussed future perspectives. The researchers examined the contributions of countries, authors, and most productive journals to COVID-19 and air pollution research from January 1, 2020, to September 12, 2022, from the Web of Sciences Core Collection (WoS). The results showed that (a) publications on the COVID-19 pandemic and air pollution were 504 (research articles) with 7495 citations, (b) China ranked first in the number of publications (n = 151; 29.96% of the global output) and was the main country in international cooperation network, followed by India (n = 101; 20.04% of the total articles) and the USA (n = 41; 8.13% of the global output). Air pollution plagues China, India, and the USA, calling for many studies. After a high spike in 2020, research published in 2021 declined in 2022. The author's keywords have focused on "COVID-19," "air pollution," "lockdown," and "PM25." These keywords suggest that research in this area is focused on understanding the health impacts of air pollution, developing policies to address air pollution, and improving air quality monitoring. The COVID-19 social lockdown served as a specified procedure to reduce air pollution in these countries. However, this paper provides practical recommendations for future research and a model for environmental and health scientists to examine the likely impact of COVID-19 social lockdowns on urban air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kwaku Obeng Effah
- Law School, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
- Department Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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12
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN. Peculiar weather patterns effects on air pollution and COVID-19 spread in Tokyo metropolis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115907. [PMID: 37080275 PMCID: PMC10111861 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As a pandemic hotspot in Japan, between March 1, 2020-October 1, 2022, Tokyo metropolis experienced seven COVID-19 waves. Motivated by the high rate of COVID-19 incidence and mortality during the seventh wave, and environmental/health challenges we conducted a time-series analysis to investigate the long-term interaction of air quality and climate variability with viral pandemic in Tokyo. Through daily time series geospatial and observational air pollution/climate data, and COVID-19 incidence and death cases, this study compared the environmental conditions during COVID-19 multiwaves. In spite of five State of Emergency (SOEs) restrictions associated with COVID-19 pandemic, during (2020-2022) period air quality recorded low improvements relative to (2015-2019) average annual values, namely: Aerosol Optical Depth increased by 9.13% in 2020 year, and declined by 6.64% in 2021, and 12.03% in 2022; particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 decreased during 2020, 2021, and 2022 years by 10.22%, 62.26%, 0.39%, and respectively by 4.42%, 3.95%, 5.76%. For (2021-2022) period the average ratio of PM2.5/PM10 was (0.319 ± 0.1640), showing a higher contribution to aerosol loading of traffic-related coarse particles in comparison with fine particles. The highest rates of the daily recorded COVID-19 incidence and death cases in Tokyo during the seventh COVID-19 wave (1 July 2022-1 October 2022) may be attributed to accumulation near the ground of high levels of air pollutants and viral pathogens due to: 1) peculiar persistent atmospheric anticyclonic circulation with strong positive anomalies of geopotential height at 500 hPa; 2) lower levels of Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) heights; 3) high daily maximum air temperature and land surface temperature due to the prolonged heat waves (HWs) in summer 2022; 4) no imposed restrictions. Such findings can guide public decision-makers to design proper strategies to curb pandemics under persistent stable anticyclonic weather conditions and summer HWs in large metropolitan areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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13
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Dai Y, Xu D, Wang H, Zhang F. CFD Simulations of Ventilation and Interunit Dispersion in Dormitory Complex: A Case Study of Epidemic Outbreak in Shanghai. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4603. [PMID: 36901611 PMCID: PMC10002394 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054603] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of March 2022, a new round of COVID-19 outbreaks in Shanghai has led to a sharp increase in the number of infected people. It is important to identify possible pollutant transmission routes and predict potential infection risks for infectious diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the cross-diffusion of pollutants caused by natural ventilation, including external windows and indoor ventilation windows, under three wind directions in a densely populated building environment with the CFD method. In this study, CFD building models were developed based on an actual dormitory complex and surrounding buildings under realistic wind conditions to reproduce the airflow fields and transmission paths of pollutants. This paper adopted the Wells-Riley model to assess the risk of cross-infection. The biggest risk of infection was when a source room was located on the windward side, and the risk of infection in other rooms on the same side as the source room was large in the windward direction. When pollutants were released from room 8, north wind resulted in the highest concentration of pollutants in room 28, reaching 37.8%. This paper summarizes the transmission risks related to the indoor and outdoor environments of compact buildings.
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14
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Gatto A, Drago C, Ruggeri M. On the Frontline-A bibliometric Study on Sustainability, Development, Coronaviruses, and COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:42983-42999. [PMID: 35249187 PMCID: PMC8898194 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18396-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed the world's population in a state of unprecedented public health and global health vulnerability. Risks to public and global health have escalated due to COVID-19 contamination. This has raised the statistics of inequity and environmental concerns. A possible outlook entails reducing the pandemic consequences by prioritizing development, biodiversity, and adaptability, offering buffer solutions. It contains vital methods for studying, comprehending, and unraveling events-examining early responses to COVID-19, sustainability, and development, relating them with overall Coronaviruses reaction. This study maps out environmental, socioeconomic, and medical/technological issues using as statistical techniques multiple correspondence analysis and validated cluster analysis. The findings encourage rapid, long-term development policy involvement to address the pandemic. The resulting crises have highlighted the necessity for the revival of health justice policies anchored in distinctive public health ethical patterns in response to them. As a general rule, resilience and preparedness will be targeted at developing and vulnerable nations and are prone to include access to vaccines, public health care, and health investment. Our findings show the relevance of innovating on sustainable development routes and yardsticks. Sustainable global health requires crucial measures in prevention, preparation, and response. Long-term policy recommendations are needed to address pandemics and their interrelated crises and foster sustained growth and socioecological protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gatto
- Wenzhou-Kean University, CBPM, Wenzhou, 325060 Zhejiang Province China
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, ME4 4TB UK
- Centre for Studies on Europe, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Carlo Drago
- University of Rome N. Cusano, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Ruggeri
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 29900161 Roma, RM Italy
- St. Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant Alessandro, 8, 00131 Roma, RM Italy
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15
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Han J, Yin J, Wu X, Wang D, Li C. Environment and COVID-19 incidence: A critical review. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 124:933-951. [PMID: 36182196 PMCID: PMC8858699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented worldwide health crisis. Many previous research studies have found and investigated its links with one or some natural or human environmental factors. However, a review on the relationship between COVID-19 incidence and both the natural and human environment is still lacking. This review summarizes the inter-correlation between COVID-19 incidence and environmental factors. Based on keyword searching, we reviewed 100 relevant peer-reviewed articles and other research literature published since January 2020. This review is focused on three main findings. One, we found that individual environmental factors have impacts on COVID-19 incidence, but with spatial heterogeneity and uncertainty. Two, environmental factors exert interactive effects on COVID-19 incidence. In particular, the interactions of natural factors can affect COVID-19 transmission in micro- and macro- ways by impacting SARS-CoV-2 survival, as well as human mobility and behaviors. Three, the impact of COVID-19 incidence on the environment lies in the fact that COVID-19-induced lockdowns caused air quality improvement, wildlife shifts and socio-economic depression. The additional value of this review is that we recommend future research perspectives and adaptation strategies regarding the interactions of the environment and COVID-19. Future research should be extended to cover both the effects of the environment on the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19-induced impacts on the environment. Future adaptation strategies should focus on sustainable environmental and public policy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jie Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Danyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Chenlu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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16
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Parvin R. A Statistical Investigation into the COVID-19 Outbreak Spread. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2023; 17:11786302221147455. [PMID: 36699646 PMCID: PMC9868487 DOI: 10.1177/11786302221147455] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) outbreaks have been reported in a range of climates worldwide, including Bangladesh. There is less evidence of a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variables. This research article's purpose is to examine the relationship between COVID-19 outbreaks and climatic factors in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS The daily time series COVID-19 data used in this study span from May 1, 2020, to April 14, 2021, for the study area, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Climatic factors included in this study were average temperature, particulate matter ( P M 2 . 5 ), humidity, carbon emissions, and wind speed within the same timeframe and location. The strength and direction of the relationship between meteorological factors and COVID-19 positive cases are examined using the Spearman correlation. This study examines the asymmetric effect of climatic factors on the COVID-19 pandemic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model. RESULTS COVID-19 widespread has a substantial positive association with wind speed (r = .781), temperature (r = .599), and carbon emissions (r = .309), whereas P M 2 . 5 (r = -.178) has a negative relationship at the 1% level of significance. Furthermore, with a 1% change in temperature, the incidence of COVID-19 increased by 1.23% in the short run and 1.53% in the long run, with the remaining variables remaining constant. Similarly, in the short-term, humidity was not significantly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the long term, it increased 1.13% because of a 1% change in humidity. The changes in PM2.5 level and wind speed are significantly associated with COVID-19 new cases after adjusting population density and the human development index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehana Parvin
- Rehana Parvin, Department of Statistics, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), 4 Embankment Drive Road, Sector 10, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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17
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Kaewchutima N, Precha N, Duangkong N, Jitbanjong A, Dwipayanti NMU. Knowledge and practice of facemask disposal among university students in Thailand: A new normal post the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284492. [PMID: 37053157 PMCID: PMC10101522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of facemasks is essential to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. University students are a significant demographic that generates substantial infectious waste due to the new normal practice of using disposable facemasks. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the facemask disposal knowledge and practices among university students in Thailand between September and October 2022. We used a self-report questionnaire comprising 29 questions to determine the students' demographic characteristics and facemask disposal knowledge and practices. We then applied a logistic regression model to estimate the association between the students' facemask disposal knowledge and practices and their demographic characteristics. A total of 433 participants completed the questionnaire comprising health science (45.27%) and non-health science (54.73%) students. Surgical masks were the most popular masks (89.84%), followed by N95 (26.33%) and cloth masks (9.94%). While their levels of knowledge regarding facemask disposal were poor, the students' practices were good. The factors associated with proper facemask disposal were sex (AOR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.267, 0.825), academic grade (AOR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.193, 0.948), and knowledge level (AOR = 0.594, 95% CI: 0.399, 0.886). No demographic factors influenced knowledge. Our findings highlight the influence of facemask disposal knowledge on students' disposal practices. Information promoting the appropriate disposal practices should therefore be promoted extensively. Furthermore, continuous reinforcement by raising awareness and educating students on proper facemask disposal combined with the provision of adequate infectious waste disposal facilities could help reduce the environmental contamination of infectious waste and thus improve general waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narisara Kaewchutima
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Nopadol Precha
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Netnapa Duangkong
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Anthika Jitbanjong
- Department of Environmental Health and Technology, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Ni Made Utami Dwipayanti
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
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18
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Rodríguez-Arias RM, Rojo J, Fernández-González F, Pérez-Badia R. Desert dust intrusions and their incidence on airborne biological content. Review and case study in the Iberian Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120464. [PMID: 36273688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120464] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Desert dust intrusions cause the transport of airborne particulate matter from natural sources, with important consequences for climate regulation, biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and dynamics, human health, and socio-economic activities. Some effects of desert intrusions are reinforced or aggravated by the bioaerosol content of the air during these episodes. The influence of desert intrusions on airborne bioaerosol content has been very little studied from a scientific point of view. In this study, a systematic review of scientific literature during 1970-2021 was carried out following the standard protocol Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). After this literature review, only 6% of the articles on airborne transport from desert areas published in the last 50 years are in some way associated with airborne pollen, and of these, only a small proportion focus on the study of pollen-related parameters. The Iberian Peninsula is affected by Saharan intrusions due to its proximity to the African continent and is seeing an increasing trend the number of intrusion events. There is a close relationship among the conditions favouring the occurrence of intrusion episodes, the transport of particulate matter, and the transport of bioaerosols such as pollen grains, spores, or bacteria. The lack of linearity in this relationship and the different seasonal patterns in the occurrence of intrusion events and the pollen season of most plants hinders the study of the correspondence between both phenomena. It is therefore important to analyse the proportion of pollen that comes from regional sources and the proportion that travels over long distances, and the atmospheric conditions that cause greater pollen emission during dust episodes. Current advances in aerobiological techniques make it possible to identify bioaerosols such as pollen and spores that serve as indicators of long-distance transport from remote areas belonging to other bioclimatic and biogeographical units. A greater incidence of desert intrusion episodes may pose a challenge for both traditional systems and for the calibration and correct validation of automatic aerobiological monitoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Rodríguez-Arias
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - J Rojo
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Fernández-González
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - R Pérez-Badia
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain.
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19
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Homer ST, Khor KS. Exploring the perceptions of Malaysian Gen Z towards the impact of COVID-19 on sustainable development. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85700-85716. [PMID: 34826070 PMCID: PMC8617008 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17763-1] [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: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has affected the pursuit of sustainable development in multifaceted ways; this study investigates Malaysian Gen Z perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemics' disruptions to sustainable development. The exploratory research began with brainstorming from Malaysian Gen Z individuals with the following excerpt, 'The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world and led to unprecedented change. How do you believe this has impacted either positively or negatively, the global pursuit of sustainable development?' Ninety-eight unique statements were generated with subsequent participants sorting these statements into thematic groups before rating each of them on impact and duration. Subsequently, multi-dimensional scaling and cluster analysis was performed with eight-cluster solution being proposed. This study suggests that the pandemic has contributed both positively and negatively to sustainable development, while also highlighting the duration of these impacts. This community-based participatory research provides a guide for policy to mitigate negative impacts whilst also attempting to fully realise the positive impacts in response to managing the unprecedented effects of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Homer
- Management Department, Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Subang Jaya , Malaysia
| | - Kuan Siew Khor
- Management Department, Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Subang Jaya , Malaysia
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20
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Khaniabadi YO, Sicard P, Dehghan B, Mousavi H, Saeidimehr S, Farsani MH, Monfared SM, Maleki H, Moghadam H, Birgani PM. COVID-19 Outbreak Related to PM 10, PM 2.5, Air Temperature and Relative Humidity in Ahvaz, Iran. DR. SULAIMAN AL HABIB MEDICAL JOURNAL 2022. [PMCID: PMC9713103 DOI: 10.1007/s44229-022-00020-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we assessed several points related to the incidence of COVID-19 between March 2020 and March 2021 in the Petroleum Hospital of Ahvaz (Iran) by analyzing COVID-19 data from patients referred to the hospital. We found that 57.5% of infected referrals were male, 61.7% of deaths by COVID-19 occurred in subjects over 65 years of age, and only 2.4% of deaths occurred in younger subjects (< 30 years old). Analysis showed that mean PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were correlated to the incidence of COVID-19 (r = 0.547, P < 0.05, and r = 0.609, P < 0.05, respectively) and positive chest CT scans (r = 0.597, P < 0.05, and r = 0.541, P < 0.05 respectively). We observed that a high daily air temperature (30–51 °C) and a high relative humidity (60–97%) led to a significant reduction in the daily incidence of COVID-19. The highest number of positive chest CT scans were obtained in June 2020 and March 2021 for daily air temperature ranging from 38 °C and 49 °C and 11 °C and 15 °C, respectively. A negative correlation was detected between COVID-19 cases and air temperature (r = − 0.320, P < 0.05) and relative humidity (r = − 0.384, P < 0.05). In Ahvaz, a daily air temperature of 10–28 °C and relative humidity of 19–40% are suitable for the spread of coronavirus. The highest correlation with the number of COVID-19 cases was found at lag3 (r = 0.42) and at lag0 with a positive chest CT scan (r = 0.56). For air temperature and relative humidity, the highest correlations were found at day 0 (lag0). During lockdown (22 March to 21 April 2020), a reduction was observed for PM10 (29.6%), PM2.5 (36.9%) and the Air Quality Index (33.3%) when compared to the previous month. During the pandemic period (2020–2021), the annual mean concentrations of PM10 (27.3%) and PM2.5 (17.8%) were reduced compared to the 2015–2019 period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusef Omidi Khaniabadi
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Bahram Dehghan
- Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hassan Mousavi
- Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran ,grid.411230.50000 0000 9296 6873School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Saeid Saeidimehr
- Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Heidari Farsani
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sadegh Moghimi Monfared
- grid.419140.90000 0001 0690 0331Gachsaran Oil and Gas Production Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Gachsaran, Iran
| | - Heydar Maleki
- grid.411230.50000 0000 9296 6873Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hojat Moghadam
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Pouran Moulaei Birgani
- Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
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21
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Argyropoulos CD, Skoulou V, Efthimiou G, Michopoulos AK. Airborne transmission of biological agents within the indoor built environment: a multidisciplinary review. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2022; 16:477-533. [PMID: 36467894 PMCID: PMC9703444 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-022-01286-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The nature and airborne dispersion of the underestimated biological agents, monitoring, analysis and transmission among the human occupants into building environment is a major challenge of today. Those agents play a crucial role in ensuring comfortable, healthy and risk-free conditions into indoor working and leaving spaces. It is known that ventilation systems influence strongly the transmission of indoor air pollutants, with scarce information although to have been reported for biological agents until 2019. The biological agents' source release and the trajectory of airborne transmission are both important in terms of optimising the design of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems of the future. In addition, modelling via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will become a more valuable tool in foreseeing risks and tackle hazards when pollutants and biological agents released into closed spaces. Promising results on the prediction of their dispersion routes and concentration levels, as well as the selection of the appropriate ventilation strategy, provide crucial information on risk minimisation of the airborne transmission among humans. Under this context, the present multidisciplinary review considers four interrelated aspects of the dispersion of biological agents in closed spaces, (a) the nature and airborne transmission route of the examined agents, (b) the biological origin and health effects of the major microbial pathogens on the human respiratory system, (c) the role of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the airborne transmission and (d) the associated computer modelling approaches. This adopted methodology allows the discussion of the existing findings, on-going research, identification of the main research gaps and future directions from a multidisciplinary point of view which will be helpful for substantial innovations in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vasiliki Skoulou
- B3 Challenge Group, Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX UK
| | - Georgios Efthimiou
- Centre for Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX UK
| | - Apostolos K. Michopoulos
- Energy & Environmental Design of Buildings Research Laboratory, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
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22
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Armas FV, D’Angiulli A. Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration of the Central Nervous System from Air Pollutants: A Scoping Review. TOXICS 2022; 10:666. [PMID: 36355957 PMCID: PMC9698785 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10110666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this scoping review, we provide a selective mapping of the global literature on the effects of air pollution on the life-span development of the central nervous system. Our synthesis first defines developmental neurotoxicants and the model effects of particulate matter. We then discuss air pollution as a test bench for neurotoxicants, including animal models, the framework of systemic inflammation in all affected organs of the body, and the cascade effects on the developing brain, with the most prevalent neurological structural and functional outcomes. Specifically, we focus on evidence on magnetic resonance imaging and neurodegenerative diseases, and the links between neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. There is evidence of a developmental continuity of outcomes and effects that can be observed from utero to aging due to severe or significant exposure to neurotoxicants. These substances alter the normal trajectory of neurological aging in a propulsive way towards a significantly higher rate of acceleration than what is expected if our atmosphere were less polluted. The major aggravating role of this neurodegenerative process is linked with the complex action of neuroinflammation. However, most recent evidence learned from research on the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns around the world suggests that a short-term drastic improvement in the air we breathe is still possible. Moreover, the study of mitohormesis and vitagenes is an emerging area of research interest in anti-inflammatory and antidegenerative therapeutics, which may have enormous promise in combatting the deleterious effects of air pollution through pharmacological and dietary interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amedeo D’Angiulli
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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23
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Koch S, Hoffmann C, Caseiro A, Ledebur M, Menk M, von Schneidemesser E. Air quality in Germany as a contributing factor to morbidity from COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113896. [PMID: 35841971 PMCID: PMC9277987 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been spreading in Germany since January 2020, with regional differences in incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Long-term exposure to air pollutants as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (<10 μm PM10, <2.5 μm PM2.5) has a negative impact on respiratory functions. We analyze the association between long-term air pollution and the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany. METHODS We conducted an observational study in Germany on county-level, investigating the association between long-term (2010-2019) air pollutant exposure (European Environment Agency, AirBase data set) and COVID-19 incidence, morbidity, and mortality rate during the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (open source data Robert Koch Institute). We used negative binominal models, including adjustment for risk factors (age, sex, days since first COVID-19 case, population density, socio-economic and health parameters). RESULTS After adjustment for risk factors in the tri-pollutant model (NO2, O3, PM2.5) an increase of 1 μg/m³ NO2 was associated with an increase of the need for intensive care due to COVID-19 by 4.2% (95% CI 1.011-1.074), and mechanical ventilation by 4.6% (95% CI 1.010-1.084). A tendency towards an association of NO2 with COVID-19 incidence was indicated, as the results were just outside of the defined statistical significance (+1.6% (95% CI 1.000-1.032)). Long-term annual mean NO2 level ranged from 4.6 μg/m³ to 32 μg/m³. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that long-term NO2 exposure may have increased susceptibility for COVID-19 morbidity in Germany. The results demonstrate the need to reduce ambient air pollution to improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Koch
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anaesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christina Hoffmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, And Pathobiochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandre Caseiro
- Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS), Berliner Strasse 130, 14467, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marie Ledebur
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anaesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mario Menk
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anaesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erika von Schneidemesser
- Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS), Berliner Strasse 130, 14467, Potsdam, Germany
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Sussman RA, Golberstein E, Polosa R. Analytic modeling and risk assessment of aerial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus through vaping expirations in shared micro-environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:83020-83044. [PMID: 35754079 PMCID: PMC9244239 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that airborne transmission of COVID-19 in indoor spaces occurs through various respiratory activities: breathing, vocalizing, coughing, and sneezing. However, there is a complete lack of knowledge of its possible transmission through exhalations of e-cigarette aerosol (ECA), which is also a respiratory activity. E-cigarettes have become widely popular among smokers seeking a much safer way of nicotine consumption than smoking. Due to restrictive lockdown measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, many smokers and vapers (e-cigarette users) were confined to shared indoor spaces, making it necessary to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus aerial transmission through their exhalations. We summarize inferred knowledge of respiratory particles emission and transport through ECA, as well as a theoretical framework for explaining the visibility of exhaled ECA, which has safety implications and is absent in other respiratory activities (apart from smoking). We also summarize and briefly discuss the effects of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, vaccination rates, and environmental factors that may influence the spread of COVID-19. To estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus aerial transmission associated with vaping exhalations, we adapt a theoretical risk model that has been used to analyze the risks associated with other respiratory activities in shared indoor spaces. We consider home and restaurant scenarios, with natural and mechanical ventilation, with occupants wearing and not wearing face masks. We consider as "control case" or baseline risk scenario an indoor space (home and restaurant) where respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei are uniformly distributed and aerial contagion risk might originate exclusively from occupants exclusively rest breathing, assuming this to be the only (unavoidable) respiratory activity they all carry on. If an infected occupant uses an e-cigarette in a home or restaurant scenarios, bystanders not wearing face masks exposed to the resulting ECA expirations face a [Formula: see text] increase of risk of contagion with respect the control case. This relative added risk with respect to the control case becomes [Formula: see text] for high-intensity vaping, [Formula: see text], and over [Formula: see text] for speaking for various periods or coughing (all without vaping). Infectious emissions are significantly modified by mechanical ventilation, face mask usage, vaccination, and environmental factors, but given the lack of empiric evidence, we assume as a working hypothesis that all basic parameters of respiratory activities are equally (or roughly equally) affected by these factors. Hence, the relative risk percentages with respect to the control state should remain roughly the same under a wide range of varying conditions. By avoiding direct exposure to the visible exhaled vaping jet, wearers of commonly used face masks are well protected from respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei directly emitted by mask-less vapers. Compared to the control case of an already existing (unavoidable) risk from continuous breathing, vaping emissions in shared indoor spaces pose just a negligible additional risk of COVID-19 contagion. We consider that it is not necessary to take additional preventive measures beyond those already prescribed (1.5 m separation and wearing face masks) in order to protect bystanders from this contagion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto A Sussman
- Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eliana Golberstein
- Myriad Pharmaceuticals Limited, Unit 3, 36 Greenpark Rd, Penrose, 1061, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of HArm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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Radulovic A, Miocinovic J, Radulovic Z, Rajkovic MB. Relevance of corona virus in food industry: A literature review on risks, challenges, and potential preventive measures. J Food Saf 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jfs.13016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Radulovic
- Department of Animal Source Food Technology Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Beograd Serbia
| | - Jelena Miocinovic
- Department of Animal Source Food Technology Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Beograd Serbia
| | - Zorica Radulovic
- Department of Тechnological Мicrobiology Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Beograd Serbia
| | - Milos B. Rajkovic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Beograd Serbia
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Pytel K, Marcinkowska R, Rutkowska M, Zabiegała B. Recent advances on SOA formation in indoor air, fate and strategies for SOA characterization in indoor air - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156948. [PMID: 35753459 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies proves that indoor air chemistry differs in many aspects from atmospheric one. People send up to 90 % of their life indoors being exposed to pollutants present in gas, particle and solid phase. Particle phase indoor is composed of particles emitted from various sources, among which there is an indoor source - secondary chemical reactions leading to formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Lately, researchers' attentions turned towards the ultrafine particles, for there are still a lot of gaps in knowledge concerning this field of study, while there is evidence of negative influence of ultrafine particles on human health. Presented review sums up current knowledge about secondary particle formation in indoor environment and development of analytical techniques applied to study those processes. The biggest concern today is studying ROS, for their lifetime in indoor air is very short due to reactions at the very beginning of terpene oxidation process. Another interesting aspect that is recently discovered is monoterpene autooxidation process that leads to HOMs formation that in turn can influence SOA formation yield. A complex studies covering gas phase and particle phase characterization, but also toxicological studies are crucial to fully understand indoor air chemistry leading to ultrafine particle formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Pytel
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańnsk, Poland
| | - Renata Marcinkowska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańnsk, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Rutkowska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańnsk, Poland
| | - Bożena Zabiegała
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańnsk, Poland.
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN. Cumulative effects of air pollution and climate drivers on COVID-19 multiwaves in Bucharest, Romania. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2022; 166:368-383. [PMID: 36034108 PMCID: PMC9391082 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2022.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over more than two years of global health crisis due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Romania experienced a five-wave pattern. This study aims to assess the potential impact of environmental drivers on COVID-19 transmission in Bucharest, capital of Romania during the analyzed epidemic period. Through descriptive statistics and cross-correlation tests applied to time series of daily observational and geospatial data of major outdoor inhalable particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) or ≤ 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm (AOD) and radon (222Rn), we investigated the COVID-19 waves patterns under different meteorological conditions. This study examined the contribution of individual climate variables on the ground level air pollutants concentrations and COVID-19 disease severity. As compared to the long-term average AOD over Bucharest from 2015 to 2019, for the same year periods, this study revealed major AOD level reduction by ~28 % during the spring lockdown of the first COVID-19 wave (15 March 2020-15 May 2020), and ~16 % during the third COVID-19 wave (1 February 2021-1 June 2021). This study found positive correlations between exposure to air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and 222Rn, and significant negative correlations, especially for spring-summer periods between ground O3 levels, air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance with COVID-19 incidence and deaths. For the analyzed time period 1 January 2020-1 April 2022, before and during each COVID-19 wave were recorded stagnant synoptic anticyclonic conditions favorable for SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading, with positive Omega surface charts composite average (Pa/s) at 850 mb during fall- winter seasons, clearly evidenced for the second, the fourth and the fifth waves. These findings are relevant for viral infections controls and health safety strategies design in highly polluted urban environments.
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Key Words
- 222Rn
- 222Rn, Radon
- AOD, Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm
- Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)
- CAMS, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service
- CO, Carbon monoxide
- COVID, 19 Coronavirus Disease 2019
- COVID-19 disease
- Climate variables
- DNC, Daily New COVID-19 positive cases
- DND, Daily New COVID-19 Deaths
- MERS, CoV Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- NO2, Nitrogen dioxide
- NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S.A.
- O3, Ozone
- Outdoor air pollutants
- PBL, Planetary Boundary Layer height
- PM, Particulate Matter: PM1(1 µm), PM2.5 (2.5 µm) and PM10(10.0 µm) diameter
- RH, Air relative humidity
- SARS, CoV Severe Outdoor Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
- SARS, CoV-2 Severe Outdoor Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
- SI, Surface solar global irradiance
- SO2, Sulfur dioxide
- Synoptic meteorological circulation
- T, Air temperature at 2 m height
- p, Air pressure
- w, Wind speed intensity
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
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Liu C, Huang J, Chen S, Wang D, Zhang L, Liu X, Lian X. The impact of crowd gatherings on the spread of COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113604. [PMID: 35691382 PMCID: PMC9181815 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Crowd gatherings are an important cause of COVID-19 outbreaks. However, how the scale, scene and other factors of gatherings affect the spread of the epidemic remains unclear. A total of 184 gathering events worldwide were collected to construct a database, and 99 of them with a clear gathering scale were used for statistical analysis of the impact of these factors on the disease incidence among the crowd in the study. The results showed that the impact of small-scale (less than 100 people) gathering events on the spread of COVID-19 in the city is also not to be underestimated due to their characteristics of more frequent occurrence and less detection and control. In our dataset, 22.22% of small-scale events have an incidence of more than 0.8. In contrast, the incidence of most large-scale events is less than 0.4. Gathering scenes such as "Meal" and "Family" occur in densely populated private or small public places have the highest incidence. We further designed a model of epidemic transmission triggered by crowd gathering events and simulated the impact of crowd gathering events on the overall epidemic situation in the city. The simulation results showed that the number of patients will be drastically reduced if the scale and the density of crowds gathering are halved. It indicated that crowd gatherings should be strictly controlled on a small scale. In addition, it showed that the model well reproduce the epidemic spread after crowd gathering events better than does the original SIER model and could be applied to epidemic prediction after sudden gathering events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuwei Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianping Huang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Siyu Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Danfeng Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaoyue Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xinbo Lian
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Western Ecological Safety, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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Liu X, Kortoçi P, Motlagh NH, Nurmi P, Tarkoma S. A survey of COVID-19 in public transportation: Transmission risk, mitigation and prevention. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION 2022. [PMCID: PMC9174338 DOI: 10.1016/j.multra.2022.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is posing significant challenges to public transport operators by drastically reducing demand while also requiring them to implement measures that minimize risks to the health of the passengers. While the collective scientific understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 pandemic are rapidly increasing, currently there is a lack of understanding of how the COVID-19 relates to public transport operations. This article presents a comprehensive survey of the current research on COVID-19 transmission mechanisms and how they relate to public transport. We critically assess literature through a lens of disaster management and survey the main transmission mechanisms, forecasting, risks, mitigation, and prevention mechanisms. Social distancing and control on passenger density are found to be the most effective mechanisms. Computing and digital technology can support risk control. Based on our survey, we draw guidelines for public transport operators and highlight open research challenges to establish a research roadmap for the path forward.
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Del Real Á, Expósito A, Ruiz-Azcona L, Santibáñez M, Fernández-Olmo I. SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol samples. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:62973-62983. [PMID: 35449331 PMCID: PMC9023038 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20237-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol samples (PM10-2.5, PM2.5). Five outdoor daily samples were collected between November and December 2020 in an urban/industrial area with relatively high PM10 levels (Maliaño, Santander, Spain) by using a PM impactor (air flowrate of 30 L/min). In a non-hospital indoor sampling surveillance context, 8 samples in classrooms and 6 samples in the central library-Paraninfo of the University of Cantabria (UC) were collected between April and June 2021 by using personal PM samplers (air flowrate of 3 L/min). Lastly, 8 samples in the pediatric nasopharyngeal testing room at Liencres Hospital, 6 samples from different single occupancy rooms of positive patients, and 2 samples in clinical areas of the COVID plant of the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla (HUMV) were collected between January and May 2021. N1, N2 genes were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 positive detection was only obtained from one fine fraction (PM2.5) sample, corresponding to one occupancy room, where a patient with positive PCR and cough was present. Negative results found in other sampling areas such as the pediatric nasopharyngeal testing rooms should be interpreted in terms of air sampling volume limitation and good ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Del Real
- Medicine and Psychiatry Department, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. Cardenal Herrera Oria, s/n, 39011, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Andrea Expósito
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros S/N, 39005, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Laura Ruiz-Azcona
- Global Health Research Group. Dpto Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla, s/n, 39008, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Miguel Santibáñez
- Global Health Research Group. Dpto Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla, s/n, 39008, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
- Nursing Research Group, IDIVAL, Calle Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros S/N, 39005, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
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Sheridan C, Klompmaker J, Cummins S, James P, Fecht D, Roscoe C. Associations of air pollution with COVID-19 positivity, hospitalisations, and mortality: Observational evidence from UK Biobank. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 308:119686. [PMID: 35779662 PMCID: PMC9243647 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Individual-level studies with adjustment for important COVID-19 risk factors suggest positive associations of long-term air pollution exposure (particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide) with COVID-19 infection, hospitalisations and mortality. The evidence, however, remains limited and mechanisms unclear. We aimed to investigate these associations within UK Biobank, and to examine the role of underlying chronic disease as a potential mechanism. UK Biobank COVID-19 positive laboratory test results were ascertained via Public Health England and general practitioner record linkage, COVID-19 hospitalisations via Hospital Episode Statistics, and COVID-19 mortality via Office for National Statistics mortality records from March-December 2020. We used annual average outdoor air pollution modelled at 2010 residential addresses of UK Biobank participants who resided in England (n = 424,721). We obtained important COVID-19 risk factors from baseline UK Biobank questionnaire responses (2006-2010) and general practitioner record linkage. We used logistic regression models to assess associations of air pollution with COVID-19 outcomes, adjusted for relevant confounders, and conducted sensitivity analyses. We found positive associations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with COVID-19 positive test result after adjustment for confounders and COVID-19 risk factors, with odds ratios of 1.05 (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.02, 1.08), and 1.05 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.08), respectively. PM 2.5 and NO 2 were positively associated with COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths in minimally adjusted models, but not in fully adjusted models. No associations for PM10 were found. In analyses with additional adjustment for pre-existing chronic disease, effect estimates were not substantially attenuated, indicating that underlying chronic disease may not fully explain associations. We found some evidence that long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 was associated with a COVID-19 positive test result in UK Biobank, though not with COVID-19 hospitalisations or deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Sheridan
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
| | - Jochem Klompmaker
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States.
| | - Steven Cummins
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London, United Kingdom.
| | - Peter James
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States; Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, 401 Park Drive, Suite 401 East, Boston, MA, 02215, United States.
| | - Daniela Fecht
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
| | - Charlotte Roscoe
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, St Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States.
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN. Impacts of exposure to air pollution, radon and climate drivers on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bucharest, Romania: A time series study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113437. [PMID: 35594963 PMCID: PMC9113773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
During the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic disease, like several countries, Romania experienced a multiwaves pattern over more than two years. The spreading pattern of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in the Bucharest, capital of Romania is a multi-factorial process involving among other factors outdoor environmental variables and viral inactivation. Through descriptive statistics and cross-correlation analysis applied to daily time series of observational and geospatial data, this study aims to evaluate the synergy of COVID-19 incidence and lethality with air pollution and radon under different climate conditions, which may exacerbate the coronavirus' effect on human health. During the entire analyzed period 1 January 2020-21 December 2021, for each of the four COVID-19 waves were recorded different anomalous anticyclonic synoptic meteorological patterns in the mid-troposphere, and favorable stability conditions during fall-early winter seasons for COVID-19 disease fast-spreading, mostly during the second, and the fourth waves. As the temporal pattern of airborne SARS-CoV-2 and its mutagen variants is affected by seasonal variability of the main air pollutants and climate parameters, this paper found: 1) the daily outdoor exposures to air pollutants (particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide-NO2, sulfur dioxide-SO2, carbon monoxide-CO) and radon - 222Rn, are directly correlated with the daily COVID-19 incidence and mortality, and may contribute to the spread and the severity of the pandemic; 2) the daily ground ozone-O3 levels, air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance are anticorrelated with the daily new COVID-19 incidence and deaths, averageingful for spring-summer periods. Outdoor exposure to ambient air pollution associated with radon is a non-negligible driver of COVID-19 transmission in large metropolitan areas, and climate variables are risk factors in spreading the viral infection. The findings of this study provide useful information for public health authorities and decision-makers to develop future pandemic diseases strategies in high polluted metropolitan environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
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Manik S, Mandal M, Pal S. Impact of air pollutants on COVID-19 transmission: a study over different metropolitan cities in India. ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY 2022; 25:1-13. [PMID: 35975212 PMCID: PMC9371967 DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02593-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
India is affected strongly by the Coronavirus and within a short period, it becomes the second-highest country based on the infected case. Earlier, there was an indication of the impact of pollution on COVID-19 transmission from a few studies with early COVID-19 data. The study of the effect of pollution on COVID-19 in Indian metropolitan cities is ideal due to the high level of pollution and COVID-19 transmission in these cities. We study the impact of different air pollutants on the spread of coronavirus in different cities in India. A correlation is studied with daily confirmed COVID-19 cases with a daily mean of ozone, particle matter (PM) in size ≤ 10 μ m, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide of different cities. It is found that particulate matter concentration decreases during the nationwide lockdown period and the air quality index improves for different Indian regions. A correlation between the daily confirmed cases with particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 both) is observed. The air quality index also shows a positive correlation with the daily confirmed cases for most of the metropolitan Indian cities. The correlation study also indicates that different air pollutants may have a role in the spread of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Manik
- Midnapore City college, Kuturia, Bhadutala, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal 721129 India
| | - Manoj Mandal
- Midnapore City college, Kuturia, Bhadutala, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal 721129 India
| | - Sabyasachi Pal
- Midnapore City college, Kuturia, Bhadutala, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal 721129 India
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Mohammadi A, Soleimani A, Abdolahnejad A, Ahmed M, Akther T, Nemati-Mansour S, Raeghi S, Rashedi GH, Miri M. SARS-CoV-2 detection in hospital indoor environments, NW Iran. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101511. [PMID: 35880204 PMCID: PMC9301582 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the potential contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor settled dust and surfaces of Amir Al-Muminin hospital in Maragheh, Iran. Samples were taken from surfaces and settled dust using a passive approach and particulate matter (PM) using an active approach from different hospital wards. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 15% of settled dust samples (N = 4/26) and 10% of surface samples (3/30). SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in 13.8% and 9.1% of the dust samples collected at a distance of fewer than 1 m and more than 3 m from the patient bed, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was found in 11% of surface samples from low-touch surfaces and 8% from high touch surfaces. The relationship between PM2.5, PM10, humidity, temperature, and positive samples of SARS-CoV-2 was investigated. A positive correlation was observed between relative humidity, PM2.5, and positive SARS-CoV-2 samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested positive correlation between positive SARS-CoV-2 samples, relative humidity, and PM2.5. Risk assessment results indicated that the annual mean infection risk of SARS-CoV-2 for hospital staff with illness and death was 2.6 × 10-2 and 7.7 × 10-4 per person per year. Current findings will help reduce the permanence of viral particles in the COVID 19 tragedy and future similar pandemics e.g., novel influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Ali Soleimani
- Department of Public Health, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Ali Abdolahnejad
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Morshad Ahmed
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77024, United States
| | - Tanzina Akther
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77024, United States
| | | | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Gholam Hossein Rashedi
- Expert of Environmental Health Engineering, Amir Al-muminin Hospital, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Mohammad Miri
- Non-communicable Disease Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
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35
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Alsaber AR, Setiya P, Al-Sultan AT, Pan J. Exploring the impact of air pollution on COVID-19 admitted cases. JAPANESE JOURNAL OF STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE 2022; 5:379-406. [PMID: 35789779 PMCID: PMC9244511 DOI: 10.1007/s42081-022-00165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn urban areas, air pollution is one of the most serious global environmental issues. Using time-series approaches, this study looked into the validity of the relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 hospitalization. This time series research was carried out in the state of Kuwait; stationarity test, cointegration test, Granger causality and stability test, and test on multivariate time-series using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) technique. The findings reveal that the concentration rate of air pollutants ($$\hbox {O}_3$$
O
3
, $$\hbox {SO}_2$$
SO
2
, $$\hbox {NO}_2$$
NO
2
, $$\hbox {CO}$$
CO
, and $$\hbox {PM}_{10}$$
PM
10
) has an effect on COVID-19 admitted cases via Granger-cause. The Granger causation test shows that the concentration rate of air pollutants ($$\hbox {O}_3$$
O
3
, $$\hbox {PM}_{10}$$
PM
10
, $$\hbox {NO}_2$$
NO
2
, temperature and wind speed) influences and predicts the COVID-19 admitted cases. The findings suggest that sulfur dioxide ($$\hbox {SO}_2$$
SO
2
), $$\hbox {NO}_2$$
NO
2
, temperature, and wind speed induce an increase in COVID-19 admitted cases in the short term according to VECM analysis. The evidence of a positive long-run association between COVID-19 admitted cases and environmental air pollution might be shown in the cointegration test and the VECM. There is an affirmation that the usage of air pollutants ($$\hbox {O}_3$$
O
3
, $$\hbox {SO}_2$$
SO
2
, $$\hbox {NO}_2$$
NO
2
, $$\hbox {CO}$$
CO
, and $$\hbox {PM}_{10}$$
PM
10
) has a significant impact on COVID-19-admitted cases’ prediction and its explained about 24% of increasing COVID-19 admitted cases in Kuwait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad R. Alsaber
- Department of Management, American University of Kuwait, Salmiya, Kuwait
| | - Parul Setiya
- Department of Agrometeorology, College of Agriculture, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand India
| | - Ahmad T. Al-Sultan
- Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Jiazhu Pan
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XH UK
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36
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Hoteit R, Yassine HM. Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:919. [PMID: 35746526 PMCID: PMC9230982 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a virus that belongs to the coronavirus family and is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of May 2022, it had caused more than 500 million infections and more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Several vaccines have been produced and tested over the last two years. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, on the other hand, has mutated over time, resulting in genetic variation in the population of circulating variants during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also shown immune-evading characteristics, suggesting that vaccinations against these variants could be potentially ineffective. The purpose of this review article is to investigate the key variants of concern (VOCs) and mutations of the virus driving the current pandemic, as well as to explore the transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in relation to epidemiological factors and to compare the virus's transmission rate to that of prior coronaviruses. We examined and provided key information on SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in this study, including their transmissibility, infectivity rate, disease severity, affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, viral load, reproduction number, vaccination effectiveness, and vaccine breakthrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Hoteit
- Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 110236, Lebanon;
| | - Hadi M. Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center and College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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37
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Akan AP. Transmission of COVID-19 pandemic (Turkey) associated with short-term exposure of air quality and climatological parameters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:41695-41712. [PMID: 35098452 PMCID: PMC8801283 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18403-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The study aims to investigate associations between air pollution, climate parameters, and the diffusion of COVID-19-confirmed cases in Turkey using Spearman's correlation test as an empirical methodology by Statgraphics Centurion XVI (version 16.1) and to determine the risk factors accelerating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study demonstrates the strong impacts of air pollutants and weather conditions on the transmission of COVID-19 morbidity. Particularly, O3 and PM10 from air quality parameters exhibited the strongest correlation with the number of daily cases in Kütahya (rs = -0.62; p < 0.05) and Sivas (rs = -0.62; p < 0.05) provinces, respectively. In meteorological parameters, rainfall showed the highest impact (rs = 0.76; p < 0.05) on the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Denizli distinct. Moreover, this study suggested that the diffusion of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in regions with high levels of air pollution and low wind speed is dominant. To prevent the negative effects of the future pandemic crisis on public health and economic systems, manifold implications to encourage strategies to reduce air pollution in the polluted region such as being prevalent the usage of renewable energy technologies in particular electricity generation and sustainable policies such as improving the health system should be implemented by decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aytac Perihan Akan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Hacettepe University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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38
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Sakunkoo P, Thonglua T, Sangkham S, Jirapornkul C, Limmongkon Y, Daduang S, Tessiri T, Rayubkul J, Thongtip S, Maneenin N, Pimonsree S. Human health risk assessment of PM 2.5-bound heavy metal of anthropogenic sources in the Khon Kaen Province of Northeast Thailand. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09572. [PMID: 35711987 PMCID: PMC9193878 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to assess the human health risk of PM2.5-bound heavy metals from anthropogenic sources in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand between December 2020 and February 2021. According to the findings, the geometric mean concentration of PM2.5 in the university area, residential area, industrial zone, and the agricultural zone was 32.78 μg/m3, 50.25 μg/m3, 44.48 μg/m3, and 29.53 μg/m3, respectively. The results showed that the estimated human health risk assessment, in terms of non-carcinogenic risks among children and adults in an urban area (residential and university), industrial zone, and the agricultural area, was of hazard index (HI) value of >1.0 indicating a greater chance of chronic effects occurring. This study showed that exposure to PM2.5-bound heavy metal may increase the likelihood that lasting effects will result in a very high carcinogenic risk (CR) in children in residential areas, and an industrial zone with total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values of 0.23×101, and 0.12×101, respectively while resulting in a high TCR of 3.34×10−2 and 4.11×10−2 within the university areas and agricultural zone, respectively. In addition, health risk assessments among adults demonstrate high TCR values of 4.40×10−1 (residential area), 2.28×10−1 (industrial zone), and 7.70×10−3 (agricultural zone), thus indicating a potential health risk to adults living in these areas while the university area was very low effects on carcinogenic risk (CR≤10−8) for adults. Therefore, lowering the risk of exposure to PM2.5 via the respiratory tract, for example, wearing a mask outside is a very effective self-defense strategy for people within and around the study site. This data study strongly supports the implementation of the air pollutant emission source reduction measures control and health surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pornpun Sakunkoo
- Department of Environmental Health Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Epidemiology Group (OHSEE), Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Theerachai Thonglua
- Department of Environmental Health Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
- Corresponding author at: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand.
| | - Chananya Jirapornkul
- Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Epidemiology Group (OHSEE), Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Yuparat Limmongkon
- Department of Environmental Health Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Epidemiology Group (OHSEE), Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sakda Daduang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Thanee Tessiri
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Jetnapis Rayubkul
- Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Epidemiology Group (OHSEE), Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Sakesun Thongtip
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
- Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Naowarat Maneenin
- Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Epidemiology Group (OHSEE), Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
- Corresponding author at: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Muang District, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
| | - Sittichai Pimonsree
- Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
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39
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De Cos Guerra O, Castillo Salcines V, Cantarero Prieto D. Are spatial patterns of Covid-19 changing? Spatiotemporal analysis over four waves in the region of Cantabria, Spain. TRANSACTIONS IN GIS : TG 2022; 26:1981-2003. [PMID: 35601792 PMCID: PMC9115338 DOI: 10.1111/tgis.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This research approaches the empirical study of the pandemic from a social science perspective. The main goal is to reveal spatiotemporal changes in Covid-19, at regional scale, using GIS technologies and the emerging three-dimensional bins method. We analyze a case study of the region of Cantabria (northern Spain) based on 29,288 geocoded positive Covid-19 cases in the four waves from the outset in March 2020 to June 2021. Our results suggest three main spatial processes: a reversal in the spatial trend, spreading first followed by contraction in the third and fourth waves; then the reduction of hot spots that represent problematic areas because of high presence of cases and growing trends; and finally, an increase in cold spots. All this generates relevant knowledge to help policy-makers from regional governments to design efficient containment and mitigation strategies. Our research is conducted from a geoprevention perspective, based on the application of targeted measures depending on spatial patterns of Covid-19 in real time. It represents an opportunity to reduce the socioeconomic impact of global containment measures in pandemic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga De Cos Guerra
- Department of Geography, Urban and Regional PlanningUniversidad de CantabriaSantanderSpain
- Research Group on Health Economics and Health Services Management—Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL)SantanderSpain
| | - Valentín Castillo Salcines
- Department of Geography, Urban and Regional PlanningUniversidad de CantabriaSantanderSpain
- Research Group on Health Economics and Health Services Management—Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL)SantanderSpain
| | - David Cantarero Prieto
- Research Group on Health Economics and Health Services Management—Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL)SantanderSpain
- Department of EconomicsUniversidad de CantabriaSantanderSpain
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40
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Bignon E, Marazzi M, Grandemange S, Monari A. Autophagy and evasion of the immune system by SARS-CoV-2. Structural features of the non-structural protein 6 from wild type and Omicron viral strains interacting with a model lipid bilayer. Chem Sci 2022; 13:6098-6105. [PMID: 35685814 PMCID: PMC9132136 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00108j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The viral cycle of SARS-CoV-2 is based on a complex interplay with the cellular machinery, which is mediated by specific proteins eluding or hijacking the cellular defense mechanisms. Among the complex pathways induced by the viral infection, autophagy is particularly crucial and is strongly influenced by the action of the non-structural protein 6 (Nsp6) interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Importantly, differently from other non-structural proteins, Nsp6 is mutated in the recently emerged Omicron variant, suggesting a possible different role of autophagy. In this contribution we explore, for the first time, the structural properties of Nsp6 thanks to long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning analysis, identifying the interaction patterns with the lipid membrane. We also show how the mutation brought by the Omicron variant may indeed modify some of the specific interactions, and more particularly help anchor the viral protein to the lipid bilayer interface. The viral cycle of SARS-CoV-2 is based on a complex interplay with the cellular machinery, which is mediated by specific proteins eluding or hijacking the cellular defense mechanisms.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Marazzi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Chemical Research Institute "Andres M. del Rio" (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá 28805 Alcalá de Hénares Spain
| | | | - Antonio Monari
- Université Paris Cité and CNRS, ITODYS F-75006 Paris France
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41
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Broomandi P, Crape B, Jahanbakhshi A, Janatian N, Nikfal A, Tamjidi M, Kim JR, Middleton N, Karaca F. Assessment of the association between dust storms and COVID-19 infection rate in southwest Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36392-36411. [PMID: 35060047 PMCID: PMC8776378 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses a plausible correlation between a dust intrusion episode and a daily increase in COVID-19 cases. A surge in COVID-19 cases was observed a few days after a Middle East Dust (MED) event that peaked on 25th April 2020 in southwest Iran. To investigate potential causal factors for the spike in number of cases, cross-correlations between daily combined aerosol optical depths (AODs) and confirmed cases were computed for Khuzestan, Iran. Additionally, atmospheric stability data time series were assessed by covering before, during, and after dust intrusion, producing four statistically clustered distinct city groups. Groups 1 and 2 had different peak lag times of 10 and 4-5 days, respectively. Since there were statistically significant associations between AOD levels and confirmed cases in both groups, dust incursion may have increased population susceptibility to COVID-19 disease. Group 3 was utilized as a control group with neither a significant level of dust incursion during the episodic period nor any significant associations. Group 4 cities, which experienced high dust incursion levels, showed no significant correlation with confirmed case count increases. Random Forest Analysis assessed the influence of wind speed and AOD, showing relative importance of 0.31 and 0.23 on the daily increase percent of confirmed cases, respectively. This study may serve as a reference for better understanding and predicting factors affecting COVID-19 transmission and diffusion routes, focusing on the role of MED intrusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Broomandi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Masjed-Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed-Soleiman, Iran
| | - Byron Crape
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
| | - Ali Jahanbakhshi
- Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Nasime Janatian
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mahsa Tamjidi
- Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000.
| | - Nick Middleton
- St Anne's College, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6HS, UK
| | - Ferhat Karaca
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- The Environment and Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
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42
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Ademu LO, Gao J, Thompson OP, Ademu LA. Impact of Short-Term Air Pollution on Respiratory Infections: A Time-Series Analysis of COVID-19 Cases in California during the 2020 Wildfire Season. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:5057. [PMID: 35564452 PMCID: PMC9101675 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The 2020 California wildfire season coincided with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many counties in California, with impacts on air quality. We quantitatively analyzed the short-term effect of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission using county-level data collected during the 2020 wildfire season. Using time-series methodology, we assessed the relationship between short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Air Quality Index (AQI) on confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 20 counties impacted by wildfires. Our findings indicate that PM2.5, CO, and AQI are positively associated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. This suggests that increased air pollution could worsen the situation of a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Health policymakers should make tailored policies to cope with situations that may increase the level of air pollution, especially during a wildfire season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Ouja Ademu
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Jingjing Gao
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Onah Peter Thompson
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Lawrence Anebi Ademu
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University Wukari, Wukari 1020, Nigeria;
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43
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Zhao Y, Huang J, Zhang L, Chen S, Gao J, Jiao H. The global transmission of new coronavirus variants. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112240. [PMID: 34688639 PMCID: PMC8530777 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused tremendous losses to the world. This study addresses the impact and diffusion of the five major new coronavirus variants namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Eta, and Delta lineage. The results of this study indicate that Africa and Europe will be affected by new coronavirus variants the most compared with other continents. The comparative analysis indicates that vaccination can contain the spread of the virus in most of the continent, and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as restriction on gatherings and close public transport, will effectively curb the pandemic, especially in densely populated continents. According to our Global Prediction System of COVID-19 Pandemic, the diffusion of delta lineage in the US shows seasonal oscillation characteristics, and the first wave will occur in October 2021, with the record of 323,360, and followed by a small resurgence in April 2022, with the record of 184,196, while the second wave will reach to 232,622 cases in October 2022. Our study will raise the awareness of new coronavirus variants among the public, and will help the governments make appropriate directives to cope with the new coronavirus variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Zhao
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianping Huang
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China; College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China; College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China; College of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinfeng Gao
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hui Jiao
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for West Ecological Safety (CIWES), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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Wu JS, Font X, McCamley C. COVID-19 social distancing compliance mechanisms: UK evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112528. [PMID: 34953882 PMCID: PMC8696958 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Non-compliance with social distancing (SD) measures clearly has negative effects on both public health and post-pandemic economic recovery. However, little is as yet known about people's views on and factors influencing their behavioral intentions toward SD measures. This study draws on moral disengagement theory and the norm-activation model to investigate mechanisms that promote or hinder compliance with SD measures. A longitudinal research approach was adopted to compare changes in the main factors over three periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (UK). The results reveal significant differences between the three periods regarding intentions to comply with SD measures, altruistic value, moral obligation and moral disengagement, with no significant change in ascription of responsibility. Residents showed the strongest intentions to comply with SD measures during the first national lockdown, with the highest moral obligation and lowest moral disengagement levels, compared with the lowest intention to comply during the first re-opening period. Altruistic value is important in promoting moral obligation and compliance with SD measures, whereas the predictive powers of ascription of responsibility and moral disengagement were weaker than expected. These findings offer guidance to policymakers and researchers in developing more effective policies and public communication strategies. The results suggest that communication is key to normalizing SD compliance, which can be achieved most effectively by fostering residents' altruistic value and moral considerations. Particular attention must be paid to re-opening periods between lockdowns, with clear messages to remind residents of prosocial aspects of SD compliance and public health. In addition to appropriate communication and education, technologies such as apps, QR codes and contactless shopping settings may also be used to facilitate compliance with SD measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Snow Wu
- Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
| | - Xavier Font
- School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Business and Economics, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Claire McCamley
- Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
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Hirota M, Takahashi H, Takahashi T, Kurokawa Y, Yamasaki M, Eguchi H, Doki Y, Nakajima K. A Smoke Evacuator Equipped With a Filter Contributes Enough to Safe Gas Exhaustion From the Abdominal Cavity. Asian J Endosc Surg 2022; 15:427-431. [PMID: 34532969 DOI: 10.1111/ases.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Surgical plume (SP) carries biological risks such as virus transmission. An evacuation system can remove SP from the surgical field, but is it safe to release evacuated gas into the operating room (OR) atmosphere? We examined this using a commercially available evacuator equipped with a filter under a laparoscopic porcine surgery model. SP was generated by activating an electrocautery or ultrasonic scalpel on the surface of the liver, and we evaluated whether DNA fragments derived from porcine tissue were present in the exhausted gas from the evacuation system into the atmosphere. DNA fragments were detected in the inlet gas of the evacuation system, while it was not detected in the outlet gas. As far as pathogen transmission via SP in the abdominal cavity is concerned, if the smoke evacuator ensures filter adsorption, it seems that there is little risk in releasing the suction gas into the atmosphere in the OR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Hirota
- Department of Next Generation Endoscopic Intervention, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukinori Kurokawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Makoto Yamasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kiyokazu Nakajima
- Department of Next Generation Endoscopic Intervention, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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Moazeni M, Maracy MR, Dehdashti B, Ebrahimi A. Spatiotemporal analysis of COVID-19, air pollution, climate, and meteorological conditions in a metropolitan region of Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:24911-24924. [PMID: 34826084 PMCID: PMC8619654 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17535-x] [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: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a close relationship with local environmental conditions. This study explores the effects of climate characteristics and air pollution on COVID-19 in Isfahan province, Iran. A number of COVID-19 positive cases, main air pollutants, air quality index (AQI), and climatic variables were received from March 1, 2020, to January 19, 2021. Moreover, CO, NO2, and O3 tropospheric levels were collected using Sentinel-5P satellite data. The spatial distribution of variables was estimated by the ordinary Kriging and inverse weighted distance (IDW) models. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to analyze the relationship between environmental variables and COVID-19. The seasonal trend of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), wind speed, solar energy, and rainfall like COVID-19 was upward in spring and summer. The high and low temperatures increased from April to August. All variables had a spatial autocorrelation and clustered pattern except AQI. Furthermore, COVID-19 showed a significant association with month, climate, solar energy, and NO2. Suitable policy implications are recommended to be performed for improving people's healthcare and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study could survey the local spread of COVID-19, with consideration of the effect of environmental variables, and provides helpful information to health ministry decisions for mitigating harmful effects of environmental change. By means of the proposed approach, probably the COVID-19 spread can be recognized by knowing the regional climate in major cities. The present study also finds that COVID-19 may have an effect on climatic condition and air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Moazeni
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Maracy
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bahare Dehdashti
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Afshin Ebrahimi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Liu M, Shi L, Chen H, Wang X, Yang M, Jiao J, Yang J, Sun G. Comparison Between China and Brazil in the Two Waves of COVID-19 Prevention and Control. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2022; 12:168-181. [PMID: 35353368 PMCID: PMC8965218 DOI: 10.1007/s44197-022-00036-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study analyzes the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention and control in China and Brazil from the perspectives of policy and meteorological conditions, and provides experience for epidemic prevention and control. Methods This study collects data on meteorological conditions, vaccination and mutant strains in the two countries to analyze the reasons for the differences in epidemic status between the two countries and extracts public data on COVID-19 through various official websites, summarizes the prevention and control policies implemented by the two countries, and evaluates their effectiveness. Results As of August 12, 2021, the total number of COVID-19 cases and the daily number of new COVID-19 cases in China have been growing steadily, showing remarkable results in epidemic control. The total number of confirmed cases and the daily number of new confirmed cases in Brazil have continued to increase rapidly. The total death case in Brazil has reached 560,000, far exceeding that in China, and the effect of epidemic prevention and control is not satisfactory. Conclusions Multiple factors, such as meteorological conditions, policies and strategies, and economic conditions, can influence the spread of COVID-19, and therefore, the situation varies greatly from country to country. China and Brazil have chosen different interventions in the fight against COVID-19. The policy measures taken by China are typical containment measures and Brazil has a mitigation strategy. From the perspective of the current situation of the epidemic development in both countries, the cumulative death rate and daily new confirmed cases in Brazil are much higher than those in China, which indicates that the containment strategy is more effective than mitigation strategy in preventing and controlling COVID-19. Fighting the epidemic is a global long-lasting battle, and the two countries should learn from each other with the premise of respecting their national conditions. Countries should deepen cooperation and not let up prematurely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiheng Liu
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Leiyu Shi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Haiqian Chen
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohan Wang
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Manfei Yang
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Jiao
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyan Yang
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Sun
- Department of Health Management, School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Fan M, Fu Z, Wang J, Wang Z, Suo H, Kong X, Li H. A review of different ventilation modes on thermal comfort, air quality and virus spread control. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 212:108831. [PMID: 35125624 PMCID: PMC8799382 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In the era of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), inappropriate indoor ventilation may turn out to be the culprit of microbial contamination in enclosed spaces and deteriorate the environment. To collaboratively improve the thermal comfort, air quality and virus spread control effect, it was essential to have an overall understanding of different ventilation modes. Hence, this study reviewed the latest scientific literature on indoor ventilation modes and manuals of various countries, identified characteristics of different ventilation modes and evaluated effects in different application occasions, wherefore to further propose their main limitations and solutions in the epidemic era. For thermal comfort, various non-uniform ventilation modes could decrease the floor-to-ceiling temperature difference, draft rate or PPD by 60%, 80% or 33% respectively, or increase the PMV by 45%. Unsteady ventilation modes (including intermittent ventilation and pulsating ventilation) could lower PPD values by 12%-37.8%. While for air quality and virus spread control, non-uniform ventilation modes could lower the mean age of air or contaminants concentration by 28.3%-47% or 15%-47% respectively, increase the air change efficiency, contaminant removal effectiveness or protection efficiency by 6.6%-10.4%, 22.6% or 14%-50% respectively. Unsteady ventilation mode (pulsating ventilation) could reduce the peak pollutant concentration and exposure time to undesirable concentrations by 31% and 48% respectively. Non-uniform modes and unsteady modes presented better performance in thermal comfort, air quality and virus spread control, whereas relevant performance evaluation indexes were still imperfect and the application scenarios were also limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Fan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Zheng Fu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Jia Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Zhaoying Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Hanxiao Suo
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Xiangfei Kong
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Han Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
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Abstract
Eco-friendly face mask is necessity to reduce the aggravates the environment due to increased face masks waste during COVID-19 pandemic. The successful eco-friendly masks development influenced by understanding of user’s need and effectiveness of communications. The employed conjoint analysis obtained user mask preferences information to support effective communication strategies by business enterprises and policy makers on encouraging public to consume appropriate masks. The attribute importance followed from eco-friendly (32.1%), mask certification (26.5%), filtration efficiency (19.8%), price (13.9%), layers (5.6%), type of mask (1.5%), material (0.7%). The public expecting the mask with the ability to recycled and biodegradable, with certification, performance above 90% filtration efficiency, and affordable prices in the range of Rp.1.500-Rp.25.000. Also, 3-ply fabrics for the medical type and cotton material are generally preferred to polyester/polypropylene. The government needs to improve the effectiveness masks education, provide convenience process to masks certification by manufacturers, and provision of incentives to reduce masks production cost. Meanwhile, manufacturers ensure produce of the standard eco-friendly masks in affordable pricing. Furthermore, gender did not show significant effect on preferences, but varied with average expenditure.
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50
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Tang L, Liu M, Ren B, Chen J, Liu X, Wu X, Huang W, Tian J. Transmission in home environment associated with the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:111910. [PMID: 34464619 PMCID: PMC8401083 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
India has suffered from the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic since March 2021. This wave of the outbreak has been more serious than the first wave pandemic in 2020, which suggests that some new transmission characteristics may exist. COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets, aerosols, and contact with infected surfaces. Air pollutants are also considered to be associated with COVID-19 transmission. However, the roles of indoor transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of these factors in indoor environments are still poorly understood. Our study focused on reveal the role of indoor transmission in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Our results indicated that human mobility in the home environment had the highest relative influence on COVID-19 daily growth rate in the country. The COVID-19 daily growth rate was significantly positively correlated with the residential percent rate in most state-level areas in India. A significant positive nonlinear relationship was found when the residential percent ratio ranged from 100 to 120%. Further, epidemic dynamics modelling indicated that a higher proportion of indoor transmission in the home environment was able to intensify the severity of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Our findings suggested that more attention should be paid to the indoor transmission in home environment. The public health strategies to reduce indoor transmission such as ventilation and centralized isolation will be beneficial to the prevention and control of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Tang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Min Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China; International Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Bingyu Ren
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xinwei Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xilin Wu
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fuzhou, Fu Jian, 350001, China
| | - Weiren Huang
- International Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China; Department of Urology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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