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Guo SE, Ratner PA, Tseng SC, Lin CM, Chi MC, Lee CW, Yu YC. Exposure to incense burning, biomarkers, and the physical health of temple workers in Taiwan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:101804-101816. [PMID: 37659022 PMCID: PMC10542283 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29420-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Incense burning releases heavy particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), known to have adverse effects on human health. Long-term exposure to PM and NO2 increases inflammatory cytokine levels and can induce respiratory diseases. This study examined the association between incense burning exposure and the health status, especially inflammatory biomarkers, of temple workers and volunteers in Taiwan. The longitudinal observational study compared adult temple workers and volunteers, with long-term incense burning exposure, to residents from outpatient clinics in the Chiayi area. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and serum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) cytokines were assessed. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare cytokine levels of the exposure and control groups during the cold and hot weather seasons. FEV1 was significantly more diminished in the exposed group than in the control group during the cold season. Exposure status was associated with greater hot-cold seasonal differences in serum interleukins (IL)-1β (regression coefficient (B) = 6.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.0 to 8.3, p < .001), IL17-A (B = 2.4, 95% CI = 0.3 to 4.5, p = .03), and plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]-1 (B = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3, p = .009). After adjusting for confounders, the groups' serum levels of IL-1β, IL-17A, and PAI-1 significantly differed. EBC cytokines did not show significant differences. Elevated levels of IL-1β, IL17-A, and PAI-1 have been associated with various autoinflammatory syndromes and diseases. Given the cultural significance of incense burning, culturally sensitive interventions, including education, policy development, and program implementation, are crucial to protect individuals' health, especially temple workers, from the adverse effects of exposure, addressing the manufacture, importation, and sale of incense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Er Guo
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan.
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 613, Taiwan.
- Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, 24301, Taiwan.
| | - Pamela A Ratner
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Sung-Chih Tseng
- Family Medicine Department, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Mo Lin
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University (CGU), Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Ching Chi
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Department of Respiratory Care, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
| | - Chiang-Wen Lee
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 613, Taiwan
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, CGU, Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chun Yu
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
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Macchi C, Sirtori CR, Corsini A, Mannuccio Mannucci P, Ruscica M. Pollution from fine particulate matter and atherosclerosis: A narrative review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107923. [PMID: 37119653 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
According to the WHO, the entire global population is exposed to air pollution levels higher than recommended for health preservation. Air pollution is a complex mixture of nano- to micro-sized particles and gaseous components that poses a major global threat to public health. Among the most important air pollutants, causal associations have been established between particulate matter (PM), mainly < 2.5 μm, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), i.e., hypertension, coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias as well as total cardiovascular mortality. Aim of this narrative review is to describe and critically discuss the proatherogenic effects of PM2.5 that have been attributed to many direct or indirect effects comprising endothelial dysfunction, a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, increased production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of metalloproteases, all leading to unstable arterial plaques. Higher concentrations of air pollutants are associated with the presence of vulnerable plaques and plaque ruptures witnessing coronary artery instability. Air pollution is often disregarded as a CVD risk factor, in spite of the fact that it is one of the main modifiable factors relevant for prevention and management of CVD. Thus, not only structural actions should be taken in order to mitigate emissions, but health professionals should also take care to counsel patients on the risks of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Macchi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cesare R Sirtori
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Corsini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Ruscica
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Diseases - Foundation IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy.
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