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Zanoletti A, Bontempi E. The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:24662-24672. [PMID: 38411917 PMCID: PMC10998790 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32592-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
This study delves into the repercussions of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, particularity its impact on air pollution. A year post-event, it is evident that scientific literature has paid limited attention to monitoring the situation. However, the release of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and other toxins, from damaged structures poses a significant threat by contaminating nearby air, soil, and water sources, thereby jeopardizing ecosystems and public well-being. The improper disposal of waste post-earthquake and the presence of mining and oil refinery sites in the region contribute to potential air pollutants. These circumstances create challenging environments conducive to the spread of respiratory diseases, with potential long-term health and social consequences. Unfortunately, existing data gaps hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This paper pioneers the reporting and analysis of data regarding potential sources of air pollution resulting from the earthquake in Turkey. It also pinpoints gaps in knowledge, outlining areas that demand further investigation. To effectively prevent and mitigate air pollution risks and associated health concerns linked to earthquakes, strategic recommendations are proposed. A key suggestion is the establishment of post-disaster air pollution monitoring systems capable of swiftly identifying emerging health issues, facilitating efficient responses, and curtailing potential long-term effects of the disaster. The paper underscores the necessity for continuous health monitoring of the affected population to mitigate possible adverse impacts on human health. These strategies play a pivotal role in reducing the likelihood of air pollution, supporting emergency response and recovery initiatives, and fostering new dedicated scientific studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanoletti
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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Milford C, Torres C, Vilches J, Gossman AK, Weis F, Suárez-Molina D, García OE, Prats N, Barreto Á, García RD, Bustos JJ, Marrero CL, Ramos R, Chinea N, Boulesteix T, Taquet N, Rodríguez S, López-Darias J, Sicard M, Córdoba-Jabonero C, Cuevas E. Impact of the 2021 La Palma volcanic eruption on air quality: Insights from a multidisciplinary approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161652. [PMID: 36693573 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The La Palma 2021 volcanic eruption was the first subaerial eruption in a 50-year period in the Canary Islands (Spain), emitting ~1.8 Tg of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the troposphere over nearly 3 months (19 September-13 December 2021), exceeding the total anthropogenic SO2 emitted from the 27 European Union countries in 2019. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the 2021 volcanic eruption on air quality (SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations) utilising a multidisciplinary approach, combining ground and satellite-based measurements with height-resolved aerosol and meteorological information. High concentrations of SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 were observed in La Palma (hourly mean SO2 up to ~2600 μg m-3 and also sporadically at ~140 km distance on the island of Tenerife (> 7700 μg m-3) in the free troposphere. PM10 and PM2.5 daily mean concentrations in La Palma peaked at ~380 and 60 μg m-3. Volcanic aerosols and desert dust both impacted the lower troposphere in a similar height range (~ 0-6 km) during the eruption, providing a unique opportunity to study the combined effect of both natural phenomena. The impact of the 2021 volcanic eruption on SO2 and PM concentrations was strongly influenced by the magnitude of the volcanic emissions, the injection height, the vertical stratification of the atmosphere and its seasonal dynamics. Mean daily SO2 concentrations increased during the eruption, from 38 μg m-3 (Phase I) to 92 μg m-3 (Phase II), showing an opposite temporal trend to mean daily SO2 emissions, which decreased from 34 kt (Phase I) to 7 kt (Phase II). The results of this study are relevant for emergency preparedness in all international areas at risk of volcanic eruptions; a multidisciplinary approach is key to understand the processes by which volcanic eruptions affect air quality and to mitigate and minimise impacts on the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Milford
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Carlos Torres
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Jon Vilches
- Department of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning, Canary Islands Government, Spain
| | | | | | - David Suárez-Molina
- Delegation of AEMET in the Canary Islands (DTCAN), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Spain
| | - Omaira E García
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Natalia Prats
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - África Barreto
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rosa D García
- TRAGSATEC, Madrid, Spain; Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Juan J Bustos
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Carlos L Marrero
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ramón Ramos
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - Thomas Boulesteix
- Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC), San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Noémie Taquet
- Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC), San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Sergio Rodríguez
- Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC), San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Jessica López-Darias
- Analytical Chemistry Department, La Laguna University, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA-CSIC), San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Michaël Sicard
- CommSensLab, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain; CTE-CRAE/IEEC, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain; Laboratoire de l'Atmosphère et des Cyclones (LACy), Université de La Réunion, Saint Denis, France
| | | | - Emilio Cuevas
- Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), Tenerife, Spain.
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Yin L, Han K, Jiang B, Meng Q, Aschner M, Li X, Chen R. NAT10 accelerates pulmonary fibrosis through N4-acetylated TGFB1-initiated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition upon ambient fine particulate matter exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121149. [PMID: 36731737 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121149] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to a higher pulmonary fibrosis risk. Dysregulation of the epitranscriptome results in abnormal expression of mRNAs during fibrosis development. N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is one of the most frequent RNA epigenetic alterations, however, its function in PM2.5-triggered fibrosis is yet unknown. In this study, lung epithelial and murine models were established and exposed to PM2.5 to analyze the function of ac4C alteration in pulmonary fibrosis and underlying mechanisms. Meanwhile, the expression levels of only known ac4C "writer" protein, N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10), were significantly induced in pulmonary epithelia, relative to the control. Subsequently, NAT10 enhanced the stability of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) mRNA as well as protein levels. As an up-stream driver, TGFB1 accelerated EMT and fibrosis process. Inhibition of NAT10 significantly protected against pulmonary EMT and fibrosis driven by PM2.5 exposure, whereas TGFB1 overexpression reversed the protective effects of NAT10 inhibition. Thus, NAT10 accelerated PM2.5-triggered pulmonary fibrosis via increasing TGFB1 mRNA stability in an ac4C-dependent manner. Our results reveal a pivotal role of NAT10-regulated mRNA ac4C acetylation in PM2.5-triggered pulmonary fibrosis and uncover the potential epitranscriptional mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijia Yin
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ke Han
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Qingtao Meng
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Forchheimer 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Xiaobo Li
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Rui Chen
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Beijing laboratory of allergic diseases, Capital Medical University; Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
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