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Reif J, Gamero A, Flousek J, Hůnová I. Ambient ozone - New threat to birds in mountain ecosystems? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162711. [PMID: 36906038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mountain ecosystems are inhabited by species with specific characteristics enabling survival at high altitudes, which make them at risk from various pressures. In order to study these pressures, birds represent excellent model organisms due to their high diversity and position at the top of food chains. The pressures upon mountain bird populations include climate change, human disturbance, land abandonment, and air pollution, whose impacts are little understood. Ambient ozone (O3) is one of the most important air pollutants occurring in elevated concentrations in mountain conditions. Although laboratory experiments and indirect course-scale evidence suggest its negative effects on birds, population-level impacts remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we analysed a unique 25-years long time series of annual monitoring of bird populations conducted at fixed sites under constant effort in a Central European mountain range, the Giant Mountains, Czechia. We related annual population growth rates of 51 bird species to O3 concentrations measured during the breeding season and hypothesized (i) an overall negative relationship across all species, and (ii) more negative O3 effects at higher altitudes due to increasing O3 concentration along altitudinal gradient. After controlling for the influence of weather conditions on bird population growth rates, we found an indication of the overall negative effect of O3 concentration, but it was insignificant. However, the effect became stronger and significant when we performed a separate analysis of upland species occupying the alpine zone above treeline. In these species, populations growth rates were lower after the years experiencing higher O3 concentration indicating an adverse impact of O3 on bird breeding. This impact corresponds well to O3 behaviour and mountain bird ecology. Our study thus represents the first step towards mechanistic understanding of O3 impacts on animal populations in nature linking the experimental results with indirect indications at the country-level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Reif
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia.
| | - Anna Gamero
- Czech Society for Ornithology, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Flousek
- Krkonoše National Park Administration, Vrchlabí, Czechia
| | - Iva Hůnová
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia; Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Prague, Czechia
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Izzotti A, Spatera P, Khalid Z, Pulliero A. Importance of Punctual Monitoring to Evaluate the Health Effects of Airborne Particulate Matter. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10587. [PMID: 36078301 PMCID: PMC9518414 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710587] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) pollution is one of the major public health problems worldwide, given the high mortality attributable to exposure to PM pollution and the high pathogenicity that is found above all in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. The main sources of PM pollution are the daily use of fuels (wood, coal, organic residues) in appliances without emissions abatement systems, industrial emissions, and vehicular traffic. This review aims to investigate the causes of PM pollution and classify the different types of dust based on their size. The health effects of exposure to PM will also be discussed. Particular attention is paid to the measurement method, which is unsuitable in the risk assessment process, as the evaluation of the average PM compared to the evaluation of PM with punctual monitoring significantly underestimates the health risk induced by the achievement of high PM values, even for limited periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Izzotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Paola Spatera
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Zumama Khalid
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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3
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Koo GPY, Zheng H, Pek PP, Hughes F, Lim SL, Yeo JW, Ong MEH, Ho AFW. Clustering of Environmental Parameters and the Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148476. [PMID: 35886328 PMCID: PMC9318360 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The association between days with similar environmental parameters and cardiovascular events is unknown. We investigate the association between clusters of environmental parameters and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk in Singapore. Using k-means clustering and conditional Poisson models, we grouped calendar days from 2010 to 2015 based on rainfall, temperature, wind speed and the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and compared the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of AMI across the clusters using a time-stratified case-crossover design. Three distinct clusters were formed with Cluster 1 having high wind speed, Cluster 2 high rainfall, and Cluster 3 high temperature and PSI. Compared to Cluster 1, Cluster 3 had a higher AMI incidence with IRR 1.04 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.07), but no significant difference was found between Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Subgroup analyses showed that increased AMI incidence was significant only among those with age ≥65, male, non-smokers, non-ST elevation AMI (NSTEMI), history of hyperlipidemia and no history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. In conclusion, we found that AMI incidence, especially NSTEMI, is likely to be higher on days with high temperature and PSI. These findings have public health implications for AMI prevention and emergency health services delivery during the seasonal Southeast Asian transboundary haze.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huili Zheng
- National Registry of Diseases Office, Health Promotion Board, Singapore 168937, Singapore;
| | - Pin Pin Pek
- Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (P.P.P.); (M.E.H.O.)
| | - Fintan Hughes
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Hospital, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Shir Lynn Lim
- Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore;
- Department of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Jun Wei Yeo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore;
| | - Marcus E. H. Ong
- Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; (P.P.P.); (M.E.H.O.)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore
| | - Andrew F. W. Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore
- Pre-Hospital and Emergency Research Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Correspondence:
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Daily Mortality in Different Age Groups Associated with Exposure to Particles, Nitrogen Dioxide and Ozone in Two Northern European Capitals: Stockholm and Tallinn. ENVIRONMENTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/environments9070083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Although the association between air pollution and mortality is well established, less is known about the effects in different age groups. This study analyzes the short-term associations between mortality in different age groups (0–14 years of age, 15–64 years of age, and 65+ years of age) and a number of air pollutants in two relatively clean northern European capitals: Stockholm and Tallinn. The concentrations in PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 10 µm), PM2.5–10 (coarse particles), PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 2.5 µm), BC (black carbon), PNC4 (particle number count of particles larger than or equal to 4 nm), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and O3 (ozone) were measured during the period of 2000–2016 in Stockholm and 2001–2018 in Tallinn (except for BC and PNC4 which were only measured in Stockholm). The excess risks in daily mortality associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in the measured air pollutants were calculated in both single- and multi-pollutant models for lag01 and lag02 (average concentration during the same and the previous day, and the same and the previous two days, respectively) using a quasi-Poisson regression model with a logistic link function. In general, the calculated excess risks per IQR increase were highest in the age group 0–14 years of age in both Stockholm and Tallinn. However, in Stockholm, a statistically significant effect was shown for PM2.5–10, and in Tallinn for O3. In the oldest age group (65+), statistically significant effects were shown for both PM2.5–10, PM10, and O3 in Stockholm, and for O3 in Tallinn.
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Contiero P, Tagliabue G, Tittarelli A, Bertoldi M, Tresoldi C, Barigelletti G, Perotti V, Balbo V, Rizzieri S, D’Orazi M, Gennaro V. Municipality Data as a Rapid and Effective Tool to Analyse Spatial and Temporal Variations of All-Cause Mortality by Town District: The Experience in Genoa (Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8250. [PMID: 34443999 PMCID: PMC8394076 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to analyse the space-time epidemiological differences by sex during the 2009-2020 period in the total mortality recorded among residents in each of the 25 districts of the Genoa municipality, net of the age effect. The analysis was based on official statistical data relating to total mortality and on the resident population. An estimate of the expected deaths was made to calculate the sex-specific age-standardised mortality ratio (SMR). The temporal trends and age-standardized death rates (SDRs) with respect to those of the European population specific to sex and calendar year were identified for each district. Over the entire observation period, the SMR for males ranged from 124.4 (Cornigliano) to 82.0 (Albaro); for females, the values ranged between 133.4 (Cornigliano) and 85.6 (Nervi-Quinto-S. Ilario). Between 2019 and 2020, Genoa recorded an increase in SDR of 24.5%, more pronounced in males (+26.7%) than in females (+22.4%). This epidemiological methodology is replicable and allows to quickly identify spatial, temporal, sex, and age differences in the general mortality within a municipality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Contiero
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Giovanna Tagliabue
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.T.); (G.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Andrea Tittarelli
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.T.); (G.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Martina Bertoldi
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Claudio Tresoldi
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.T.); (G.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Giulio Barigelletti
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.T.); (G.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Viviana Perotti
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (C.T.); (G.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Vittoria Balbo
- Information Office of the Municipality of Genoa, 16149 Genoa, Italy; (V.B.); (S.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Stefania Rizzieri
- Information Office of the Municipality of Genoa, 16149 Genoa, Italy; (V.B.); (S.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Marco D’Orazi
- Information Office of the Municipality of Genoa, 16149 Genoa, Italy; (V.B.); (S.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Valerio Gennaro
- International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), Past Director of the Liguria Mesothelioma Registry, Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
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Bigdeli M, Taheri M, Mohammadian A. Spatial sensitivity analysis of COVID-19 infections concerning the satellite-based four air pollutants levels. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2021; 18:751-760. [PMID: 33456479 PMCID: PMC7794616 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-020-03112-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), first reported in late December 2019, has affected the lives of many people throughout the world. Significant studies have been conducted on this pandemic, some of which have addressed understanding the relationship between different air pollutants and confirmed cases. In this study, the effects of four air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide) were assessed from February 19 to March 22, 2020 to explore how they can affect COVID-19 contagion in Iran. The mean concentrations of air pollutants were extracted from Sentinel 5P data. The COVID-19 confirmed case densities of two provinces, Semnan and Qom, were more than all other provinces. The effect of pollutants on the confirmed case densities was analyzed using multiple linear regression in order to estimate the impact coefficients for individual provinces. The impact coefficients determine the level of each pollutant's contribution to the density of total confirmed cases. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone had both considerable negative and positive correlations with the density of confirmed COVID-19 cases, although sulfur dioxide was correlated more negatively than positively. In Semnan, a high hot spot province, nitrogen dioxide had the most significant effect on the density of confirmed cases among all pollutants, while the effect of carbon monoxide was greater in Qom. The results indicated that even short-term exposure to higher concentrations of the pollutants could lead to an increased risk of COVID-19 outbreaks, which should be considered in adopting adequate and appropriate control policies to manage the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Bigdeli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - M. Taheri
- School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Mohammadian
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N6N5 Canada
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Patial S, Saini Y. Lung macrophages: current understanding of their roles in Ozone-induced lung diseases. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 50:310-323. [PMID: 32458707 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1762537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the Clean Air Act of the United States outlines acceptable levels of six different air pollutants considered harmful to humans and the environment. Included in this list is ozone (O3), a highly reactive oxidant gas, respiratory health hazard, and common environmental air pollutant at ground level. The respiratory health effects due to O3 exposure are often associated with molecular and cellular perturbations in the respiratory tract. Periodic review of NAAQS requires comprehensive scientific evaluation of the public health effects of these pollutants, which is formulated through integrated science assessment (ISA) of the most policy-relevant scientific literature. This review focuses on the protective and pathogenic effects of macrophages in the O3-exposed respiratory tract, with emphasis on mouse model-based toxicological studies. Critical findings from 39 studies containing the words O3, macrophage, mice, and lung within the full text were assessed. While some of these studies highlight the presence of disease-relevant pathogenic macrophages in the airspaces, others emphasize a protective role for macrophages in O3-induced lung diseases. Moreover, a comprehensive list of currently known macrophage-specific roles in O3-induced lung diseases is included in this review and the significant knowledge gaps that still exist in the field are outlined. In conclusion, there is a vital need in this field for additional policy-relevant scientific information, including mechanistic studies to further define the role of macrophages in response to O3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonika Patial
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Yogesh Saini
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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López-Bueno JA, Díaz J, Linares C. Differences in the impact of heat waves according to urban and peri-urban factors in Madrid. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2019; 63:371-380. [PMID: 30694395 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01670-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aside from climatic factors, the impact of heat waves on mortality depends on the demographic and socio-economic structure of the population as well as variables relating to local housing. Hence, this study's main aim was to ascertain whether there might be a differential impact of heat waves on daily mortality by area of residence. The study is a time-series analysis (2000-2009) of daily mortality and minimum and maximum daily temperatures (°C) in five geographical areas of the Madrid region. The impact of such waves on heat-related mortality due to natural causes (ICD-10: A00- R99), circulatory causes (ICD-10: I00-I99) and respiratory causes (ICD-10: J00-J99) was obtained by calculating the relative risk (RR) and attributable risk (AR), using GLM models with the Poisson link and controlling for trend, seasonalities and the autoregressive nature of the series. Furthermore, we also evaluated other external variables, such as the percentage of the population aged over 65 years and the percentage of old housing. No heat-related mortality threshold temperature with statistical significance was detected in the northern and eastern areas. While the threshold temperatures in the central and southern areas were very similar and close to the 90th percentile, the threshold in the western area corresponded to the 97th percentile. Attributable mortality proved to be highest in the central area with 85 heat wave-related deaths per annum. External factors found to influence the impact of heat on mortality in Madrid were the size of the population aged over 65 years and the age of residential housing. Demographic structure and the percentage of old housing play a key role in modulating the impact of heat waves. This study concludes that the areas in which heat acts earliest are those having a higher degree of population ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A López-Bueno
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - C Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Synergistic Effects of Ambient Temperature and Air Pollution on Health in Europe: Results from the PHASE Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15091856. [PMID: 30154318 PMCID: PMC6163671 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We studied the potential synergy between air pollution and meteorology and their impact on mortality in nine European cities with data from 2004 to 2010. We used daily series of Apparent Temperature (AT), measurements of particulate matter (PM10), ozone (O₃), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and total non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory deaths. We applied Poisson regression for city-specific analysis and random effects meta-analysis to combine city-specific results, separately for the warm and cold seasons. In the warm season, the percentage increase in all deaths from natural causes per °C increase in AT tended to be greater during high ozone days, although this was only significant for all ages when all causes were considered. On low ozone days, the increase in the total daily number of deaths was 1.84% (95% CI 0.87, 2.82), whilst it was 2.20% (95% CI 1.28, 3.13) in the high ozone days per 1 °C increase in AT. Interaction with PM10 was significant for cardiovascular (CVD) causes of death for all ages (2.24% on low PM10 days (95% CI 1.01, 3.47) whilst it is 2.63% (95% CI 1.57, 3.71) on high PM10 days) and for ages 75+. In days with heat waves, no consistent pattern of interaction was observed. For the cold period, no evidence for synergy was found. In conclusion, some evidence of interactive effects between hot temperature and the levels of ozone and PM10 was found, but no consistent synergy could be identified during the cold season.
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Darling E, Corsi RL. Field-to-laboratory analysis of clay wall coatings as passive removal materials for ozone in buildings. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:658-669. [PMID: 27859627 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ozone reacts readily with many indoor materials, as well as with compounds in indoor air. These reactions lead to lower indoor than outdoor ozone concentrations when outdoor air is the major contributor to indoor ozone. However, the products of indoor ozone reactions may be irritating or harmful to building occupants. While active technologies exist to reduce indoor ozone concentrations (i.e, in-duct filtration using activated carbon), they can be cost-prohibitive for some and/or infeasible for dwellings that do not have heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems. In this study, the potential for passive reduction of indoor ozone by two different clay-based interior surface coatings was explored. These coatings were exposed to occupied residential indoor environments and tested bimonthly in environmental chambers for quantification of ozone reaction probabilities and reaction product emission rates over a 6-month period. Results indicate that clay-based coatings may be effective as passive removal materials, with relatively low by-product emission rates that decay rapidly within 2 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Darling
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - R L Corsi
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Bell ML, Zanobetti A, Dominici F. Who is more affected by ozone pollution? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol 2014; 180:15-28. [PMID: 24872350 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ozone is associated with adverse health; however, less is known about vulnerable/sensitive populations, which we refer to as sensitive populations. We systematically reviewed epidemiologic evidence (1988-2013) regarding sensitivity to mortality or hospital admission from short-term ozone exposure. We performed meta-analysis for overall associations by age and sex; assessed publication bias; and qualitatively assessed sensitivity to socioeconomic indicators, race/ethnicity, and air conditioning. The search identified 2,091 unique papers, with 167 meeting inclusion criteria (73 on mortality and 96 on hospitalizations and emergency department visits, including 2 examining both mortality and hospitalizations). The strongest evidence for ozone sensitivity was for age. Per 10-parts per billion increase in daily 8-hour ozone concentration, mortality risk for younger persons, at 0.60% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40, 0.80), was statistically lower than that for older persons, at 1.27% (95% CI: 0.76, 1.78). Findings adjusted for publication bias were similar. Limited/suggestive evidence was found for higher associations among women; mortality risks were 0.39% (95% CI: -0.22, 1.00) higher than those for men. We identified strong evidence for higher associations with unemployment or lower occupational status and weak evidence of sensitivity for racial/ethnic minorities and persons with low education, in poverty, or without central air conditioning. Findings show that some populations, especially the elderly, are particularly sensitive to short-term ozone exposure.
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12
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Zaatari M, Nirlo E, Jareemit D, Crain N, Srebric J, Siegel J. Ventilation and indoor air quality in retail stores: A critical review (RP-1596). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/10789669.2013.869126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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15
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Farhat N, Ramsay T, Jerrett M, Krewski D. Short-Term Effects of Ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub> on Mortality in 12 Canadian Cities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/jep.2013.412a1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Hůnová I, Malý M, Řezáčová J, Braniš M. Association between ambient ozone and health outcomes in Prague. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2012; 86:89-97. [PMID: 22366988 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-012-0751-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Though numerous studies investigating ambient ozone (O(3)) effects on human health were published, such a study for Central Europe is still lacking. We have investigated the association between ozone (O(3)) levels and hospital admissions and mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for Prague inhabitants for summer months (April-September) over the 5-year period 2002-2006. Our hypothesis was that ambient O(3) levels in Prague resulted in adverse health outcomes and were associated with increased mortality and hospital admissions. METHODS The effect of O(3) on mortality and hospital admissions was investigated using the negative binomial regression after controlling for the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature and relative humidity) and calendar effects (seasonal patterns, long-term trends and day of week). RESULTS We found a statistically significant association between O(3) levels and daily mortality from respiratory diseases. Relative risk of 1.080 (95% CI: 1.031-1.132) was observed for mortality from respiratory diseases per 10 μg m(-3) increase in 1-day lagged daily mean O(3) concentration. No statistically significant association was detected between O(3) concentrations and daily mortality from all causes, daily mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The O(3) effects differed in men and women, nevertheless, the results were ambiguous with respect to used lag and O(3) metrics. No significant confounding effects of PM(10) on the investigated association were observed. CONCLUSIONS O(3) exposure in Prague, though lower as compared to many other cities in Europe, is high enough to cause adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Hůnová
- Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic,
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Chen C, Zhao B, Weschler CJ. Assessing the influence of indoor exposure to "outdoor ozone" on the relationship between ozone and short-term mortality in U.S. communities. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2012; 120:235-40. [PMID: 22100611 PMCID: PMC3279450 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1103970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2011] [Accepted: 11/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND City-to-city differences have been reported for the increase in short-term mortality associated with a given increase in ozone concentration (ozone mortality coefficient). Although ozone concentrations are monitored at central outdoor locations, a large fraction of total ozone exposure occurs indoors. OBJECTIVES To clarify the influence of indoor exposure to ozone of outdoor origin on short-term mortality, we conducted an analysis to determine whether variation in ozone mortality coefficients among U.S. cities might be partly explained by differences in total ozone exposure (from both outdoor and indoor exposures) resulting from the same outdoor ozone concentration. METHODS We estimated average annual air change rates (the overall rate at which indoor air is replaced with outdoor air) and used these to estimate the change in total ozone exposure per unit change in outdoor ozone exposure (ozone exposure coefficient) for 18 cities that had been included in the National Morbidity and Mortality Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS). We then examined associations between both parameters and published ozone mortality coefficients. RESULTS For the 18 targeted NMMAPS cities, the association between ozone mortality coefficients and ozone exposure coefficients was strong (1-hr ozone metric: R2 = 0.58, p < 0.001; 8-hr ozone: R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001; 24-hr ozone: R2 = 0.48, p = 0.001). When extended to another 72 NMMAPS cities, the associations remained strong (R2 = 0.47-0.63; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Differences in ozone mortality coefficients among cities appear to partially reflect differences in total ozone exposure resulting from differences in the amount of outdoor ozone that is transported indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Chen
- Department of Building Science, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Frush S, Li Z, Potts EN, Du W, Eu JP, Garantziotis S, He YW, Foster WM, Hollingsworth JW. The role of the extracellular matrix protein mindin in airway response to environmental airways injury. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2011; 119:1403-1408. [PMID: 21684833 PMCID: PMC3230443 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1003339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous work demonstrated that the extracellular matrix protein mindin contributes to allergic airways disease. However, the role of mindin in nonallergic airways disease has not previously been explored. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that mindin would contribute to airways disease after inhalation of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or ozone. METHODS We exposed C57BL/6J and mindin-deficient (-/-) mice to aerosolized LPS (0.9 μg/m3 for 2.5 hr), saline, ozone (1 ppm for 3 hr), or filtered air (FA). All mice were evaluated 4 hr after LPS/saline exposure or 24 hr after ozone/FA exposure. We characterized the physiological and biological responses by analysis of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) with a computer-controlled small-animal ventilator (FlexiVent), inflammatory cellular recruitment, total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), proinflammatory cytokine profiling, and ex vivo bronchial ring studies. RESULTS After inhalation of LPS, mindin-/- mice demonstrated significantly reduced total cell and neutrophil recruitment into the airspace compared with their wild-type counterparts. Mindin-/- mice also exhibited reduced proinflammatory cytokine production and lower AHR to methacholine challenge by FlexiVent. After inhalation of ozone, mice had no detectible differences in cellular inflammation or total BALF protein dependent on mindin. However, mindin-/- mice were protected from increased proinflammatory cytokine production and AHR compared with their C57BL/6J counterparts. After ozone exposure, bronchial rings derived from mindin-/- mice demonstrated reduced constriction in response to carbachol. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that the extracellular matrix protein mindin modifies the airway response to both LPS and ozone. Our data support a conserved role of mindin in production of proinflammatory cytokines and the development of AHR in two divergent models of reactive airways disease, as well as a role of mindin in airway smooth muscle contractility after exposure to ozone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Frush
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Karavitis J, Kovacs EJ. Macrophage phagocytosis: effects of environmental pollutants, alcohol, cigarette smoke, and other external factors. J Leukoc Biol 2011; 90:1065-78. [PMID: 21878544 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0311114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of a pathogen to evade host immunity successfully, in contrast to the host's capacity to defend itself against a foreign invader, is a complex struggle, in which eradication of infection is dictated by a robust immunologic response. Often, there are external factors that can alter the outcome by tipping the scale to benefit pathogen establishment rather than resolution by the host's defense system. These external sources, such a cigarettes, alcohol, or environmental pollutants, can negatively influence the effectiveness of the immune system's response to a pathogen. The observed suppression of immune function can be attributed to dysregulated cytokine and chemokine production, the loss of migratory potential, or the inability to phagocytose pathogens by immune cells. This review will focus on the mechanisms involved during the toxin-induced suppression of phagocytosis. The accumulated data support the importance of studying the mechanisms of phagocytosis following exposure to these factors, in that this effect alone cannot only leave the host susceptible to infection but also promote alterations in many other macrophage functions necessary for pathogen clearance and restoration of homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Karavitis
- Program of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA
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de Almeida SP, Casimiro E, Calheiros J. Short-term association between exposure to ozone and mortality in Oporto, Portugal. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2011; 111:406-410. [PMID: 21315327 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Revised: 01/26/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to air pollution in developed countries have generally decreased over the last two decades. However, many recent epidemiological studies have consistently shown positive associations between low-level exposure to air pollutants and health outcomes. In Portugal, very few studies have analysed the acute effect of air pollutants on health. The present study evaluates the association between exposure to air pollution and daily mortality in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, Portugal. Generalised additive models were used for this analysis. Pollutants assessed were ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter (PM(10)). Models were adjusted for time trend, seasonality, and weather. We report that an increase of 10 μg/m(3) in the daily ozone 8-h maximum moving-average corresponds to an increase of 0.95% (95%CI: 0.30, 1.60) and 1.58% (95%CI: 0.45, 2.73) in non-accidental mortality and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, in the summer season. A significant effect of 0.67% (95% CI: 0.03:1.32) was also found for the association between PM(10) and non-accidental mortality in the summer season. Associations with ozone and PM(10) exposures were higher in the elderly people. No significant effects on mortality were observed during the summer season with nitrogen dioxide exposures. Our analyses provide the first significant evidence in Oporto that exposures to O(3) and PM(10) have adverse effects on the health of the general population in the summer months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pinto de Almeida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Avenue Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
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Kim YM, Kim S, Cheong HK, Kim EH. Comparison of temperature indexes for the impact assessment of heat stress on heat-related mortality. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY 2011; 26:e2011009. [PMID: 22125770 PMCID: PMC3214990 DOI: 10.5620/eht.2011.26.e2011009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In order to evaluate which temperature index is the best predictor for the health impact assessment of heat stress in Korea, several indexes were compared. METHODS We adopted temperature, perceived temperature (PT), and apparent temperature (AT), as a heat stress index, and changes in the risk of death for Seoul and Daegu were estimated with 1℃ increases in those temperature indexes using generalized additive model (GAM) adjusted for the non-temperature related factors: time trends, seasonality, and air pollution. The estimated excess mortality and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) due to the increased temperature indexes for the 75th percentile in the summers from 2001 to 2008 were compared and analyzed to define the best predictor. RESULTS For Seoul, all-cause mortality presented the highest percent increase (2.99% [95% CI, 2.43 to 3.54%]) in maximum temperature while AIC showed the lowest value when the all-cause daily death counts were fitted with the maximum PT for the 75(th) percentile of summer. For Daegu, all-cause mortality presented the greatest percent increase (3.52% [95% CI, 2.23 to 4.80%]) in minimum temperature and AIC showed the lowest value in maximum temperature. No lag effect was found in the association between temperature and mortality for Seoul, whereas for Daegu one-day lag effect was noted. CONCLUSIONS There was no one temperature measure that was superior to the others in summer. To adopt an appropriate temperature index, regional meteorological characteristics and the disease status of population should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Min Kim
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Soyeon Kim
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Hae-Kwan Cheong
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Eun-Hye Kim
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
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Lin CM, Liao CM. Temperature-dependent association between mortality rate and carbon monoxide level in a subtropical city: Kaohsiung, Taiwan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2009; 19:163-74. [PMID: 20183190 DOI: 10.1080/09603120802460384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the combined effect of temperature and air pollutant levels on daily non-accidental deaths and cardiovascular causes of mortality. In this study, associations were assessed by means of time-series analyses over the period 1995-1999 for Kaohsiung, Taiwan's largest industrial city, which has a subtropical climate. Ambient exposures to various air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), ozone (O(3)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and particulate matter (PM(10)), were estimated from the arithmetic means of all daily measurements taken by an air quality monitoring station nearest to the residential district. Generalized additive models with non-parametric spline were used to identify associations between daily mortality and air pollutants as well as the air pollutant-temperature interaction correlation. Our findings indicate that CO is associated with increased risks of non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality. For a 0.2 ppm increase in CO, the increased relative daily risk of non-accidental death is at least 4% on the same day, when the mean temperature is above 24.8 degrees C, while the increased relative risk of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases is 7% two days later at 19.7 degrees C. The study also suggests a statistically significant interaction between CO concentration and daily mean temperature, with non-accidental mortality increasing with a warm outdoor temperature and the effect of CO on cardiovascular mortality being modified by a cold climate. Further reduction of CO pollution is thus deemed crucial for the benefit of public health.
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Palmieri S, Durante G, Siani A, Casale G. Atmospheric stagnation episodes and hospital admissions. Public Health 2008; 122:1128-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2008.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2007] [Revised: 12/19/2007] [Accepted: 02/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Daily increases in ambient ozone have been associated with increased mortality. However, little is known about which subpopulations are more susceptible to death related to ozone. METHODS We conducted a case-only study in 48 US cities to identify subpopulations particularly vulnerable to ozone air pollution. Mortality and ozone data were obtained for the period 1989-2000 (May through September of each year) for 2,729,640 decedents. For each potential effect modifier, we fitted city-specific logistic regression models and pooled the results across all cities. Additionally, we examined differences in susceptibility factors according to several city characteristics using a meta-regression. RESULTS For each 10 ppb increase in ozone (average of lags 0 to 2), people aged > or =65 years had a 1.10% (95% confidence interval = 0.44% to 1.77%) additional increase in mortality (compared with younger ages). Other groups that were particularly susceptible were black people (additional 0.53% [0.19% to 0.87%]), women (additional 0.58% [0.18% to 0.98%]), and those with atrial fibrillation (additional 1.66% [0.03% to 3.32%]). Susceptibility factors had a larger effect in cities with lower ozone levels. For instance, the additional increase in ozone-related mortality for the elderly was 1.48% (0.81% to 2.15%) in a city with a mean ozone level of 42 ppb versus 0.45% (-0.27% to 1.19%) in a city with a level of 51 ppb. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed the susceptibility of the elderly to die of ambient ozone and identified other vulnerable subpopulations including women, blacks, and those with atrial fibrillation. Differences in vulnerability were particularly marked in cities with lower ozone concentrations.
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Abstract
Ambient ozone (O(3)) is a commonly encountered environmental air pollutant with considerable impact on public health. Many other inhaled environmental toxicants can substantially affect pulmonary immune responses. Therefore, it is of considerable interest to better understand the complex interaction between environmental airway irritants and immunologically based human disease. The innate immune system represents the first line of defense against microbial pathogens. Intact innate immunity requires maintenance of an intact barrier to interface with the external environment, effective phagocytosis of microbial pathogens, and precise detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. We use ambient O(3) as a model to highlight the importance of understanding the role of exposure to ubiquitous air toxins and regulation of basic immune function. Inhalation of O(3) is associated with impaired antibacterial host defense, in part related to disruption of epithelial barrier and effective phagocytosis of pathogens. The functional response to ambient O(3) seems to be dependent on many components of the innate immune signaling. In this article, we review the complex interaction between inhalation of O(3) and pulmonary innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Hollingsworth
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3136, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Weschler CJ. Ozone's impact on public health: contributions from indoor exposures to ozone and products of ozone-initiated chemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2006; 114:1489-96. [PMID: 17035131 PMCID: PMC1626413 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The associations between ozone concentrations measured outdoors and both morbidity and mortality may be partially due to indoor exposures to ozone and ozone-initiated oxidation products. In this article I examine the contributions of such indoor exposures to overall ozone-related health effects by extensive review of the literature as well as further analyses of published data. FINDINGS Daily inhalation intakes of indoor ozone (micrograms per day) are estimated to be between 25 and 60% of total daily ozone intake. This is especially noteworthy in light of recent work indicating little, if any, threshold for ozone's impact on mortality. Additionally, the present study estimates that average daily indoor intakes of ozone oxidation products are roughly one-third to twice the indoor inhalation intake of ozone alone. Some of these oxidation products are known or suspected to adversely affect human health (e.g., formaldehyde, acrolein, hydroperoxides, fine and ultrafine particles). Indirect evidence supports connections between morbidity/mortality and exposures to indoor ozone and its oxidation products. For example, cities with stronger associations between outdoor ozone and mortality tend to have residences that are older and less likely to have central air conditioning, which implies greater transport of ozone from outdoors to indoors. CONCLUSIONS Indoor exposures to ozone and its oxidation products can be reduced by filtering ozone from ventilation air and limiting the indoor use of products and materials whose emissions react with ozone. Such steps might be especially valuable in schools, hospitals, and childcare centers in regions that routinely experience elevated outdoor ozone concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Weschler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
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