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Gianquintieri L, Oxoli D, Caiani EG, Brovelli MA. Implementation of a GEOAI model to assess the impact of agricultural land on the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentration. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141438. [PMID: 38367880 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141438] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution is considered one of the major environmental risks to health worldwide. Researchers are making significant efforts to study it, thanks to state-of-art technologies in data collection and processing, and to mitigate its effect. In this context, while a lot is known about the role of urbanization, industries, and transport, the impact of agricultural activities on the spatial distribution of pollution is less studied, despite knowledge about emissions suggest it is not a secondary factor. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess this impact, and to compare it with that of traditional polluting sources, harvesting the capabilities of GEOAI (Geomatics and Earth Observation Artificial Intelligence). The analysis targeted the highly polluted territory of Lombardy, Italy, considering fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 data were obtained from the Copernicus-Atmosphere-Monitoring-Service and processed to infer time-invariant spatial parameters (frequency, intensity and exposure) of concentration across the whole period. An ensemble architecture was implemented, with three blocks: correlation-based features selection, Multiscale-Geographically-Weighted-Regression for spatial enhancement, and a final random forest classifier. Finally, the SHapley Additive exPlanation algorithm was applied to compute the relevance of the different land-use classes on the model. The impact of land-use classes was found significantly higher compared to other published models, showing that the insignificant correlations found in the literature are probably due to an unfit experimental setup. The impact of agricultural activities on the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentration was comparable to the other considered sources, even when focusing only on the most densely inhabited urban areas. In particular, the agriculture's contribution resulted in pollution spikes rather than in a baseline increase. These results allow to state that public policymakers should consider also agricultural activities for evidence-based decision-making about pollution mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Gianquintieri
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Daniele Oxoli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Gianluca Caiani
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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de Rooij MMT, Erbrink HJ, Smit LAM, Wouters IM, Hoek G, Heederik DJJ. Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117821. [PMID: 38072102 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117821] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH3 and PM10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH3 and PM10. METHODS In 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH3 and PM10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling. RESULTS Week-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH3 and PM10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure. CONCLUSIONS Lower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrna M T de Rooij
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Lidwien A M Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Inge M Wouters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dick J J Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Cox LA. Re-assessing human mortality risks attributed to PM2.5-mediated effects of agricultural ammonia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 223:115311. [PMID: 36731597 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115311] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
How can and should epidemiologists and risk assessors assemble and present evidence for causation of mortality or morbidities by identified agents such as fine particulate matter or other air pollutants? As a motivating example, some scientists have warned recently that ammonia from the production of meat significantly increases human mortality rates in exposed populations by increasing the ambient concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air. We reexamine the support for such conclusions, including quantitative calculations that attribute deaths to PM2.5 air pollution by applying associational results such as relative risks, odds ratios, or slope coefficients from regression models to predict the effects on mortality or morbidity of reducing PM2.5 exposures. Taking an outside perspective from the field of causal artificial intelligence (CAI), we conclude that these attribution calculations are methodologically unsound. They produce unreliable conclusions because they ignore an essential distinction between differences in outcomes observed at different levels of exposure and changes in outcomes caused by changing exposure. We find that multiple studies that have examined associations between changes over time in particulate exposure and mortality risk instead of differences in exposures and corresponding mortality risks have found no clear evidence that observed changes in exposure help to predict or explain subsequent changes in mortality risks. We conclude that there is no sound theoretical or empirical reason to believe that reducing ammonia emissions from farms has reduced or would reduce human mortality risks. More generally, applying CAI principles and methods can potentially improve current widespread practices of unsound causal inferences and policy-relevant causal claims that are made without the benefit of formal causal analysis in air pollution health effects research and in other areas of applied epidemiology and public health risk assessment.
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Kiss P, de Rooij MMT, Koppelman GH, Boer J, Vonk JM, Vermeulen R, Hogerwerf L, Sterk HAM, Huss A, Smit LAM, Gehring U. Residential exposure to livestock farms and lung function in adolescence - The PIAMA birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115134. [PMID: 36563981 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115134] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing interest in the impact of air pollution from livestock farming on respiratory health. Studies in adults suggest adverse effects of livestock farm emissions on lung function, but so far, studies involving children and adolescents are lacking. OBJECTIVES To study the association of residential proximity to livestock farms and modelled particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM10) from livestock farms with lung function in adolescence. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study among 715 participants of the Dutch prospective PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) birth cohort study. Relationships of different indicators of residential livestock farming exposure (distance to farms, distance-weighted number of farms, cattle, pigs, poultry, horses and goats within 3 km; modelled atmospheric PM10 concentrations from livestock farms) with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) at age 16 were assessed by linear regression taking into account potential confounders. Associations were expressed per interquartile range increase in exposure. RESULTS Higher exposure to livestock farming was consistently associated with a lower FEV1, but not with FVC among participants living in less urbanized municipalities (<1500 addresses/km2, N = 402). Shorter distances of homes to livestock farms were associated with a 1.4% (0.2%; 2.7%) lower FEV1. Larger numbers of farms within 3 km and higher concentrations of PM10 from livestock farming were associated with a 1.8% (0.8%, 2.9%) and 0.9% (0.4%,1.5%) lower FEV1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher exposure to livestock farming is associated with a lower FEV1 in adolescents. Replication and more research on the etiologic agents involved in these associations and the underlying mechanisms is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Kiss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Myrna M T de Rooij
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard H Koppelman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolanda Boer
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Judith M Vonk
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lenny Hogerwerf
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrika A M Sterk
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lidwien A M Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrike Gehring
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Gržinić G, Piotrowicz-Cieślak A, Klimkowicz-Pawlas A, Górny RL, Ławniczek-Wałczyk A, Piechowicz L, Olkowska E, Potrykus M, Tankiewicz M, Krupka M, Siebielec G, Wolska L. Intensive poultry farming: A review of the impact on the environment and human health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:160014. [PMID: 36368402 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Poultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil. t in 2020, with a steady growth each year. Such intensive growth methods however lead to a significant environmental footprint. Waste materials such as poultry litter and manure can pose a serious threat to environmental and human health, and need to be managed properly. Poultry production and waste by-products are linked to NH3, N2O and CH4 emissions, and have an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as animal and human health. Litter and manure can contain pesticide residues, microorganisms, pathogens, pharmaceuticals (antibiotics), hormones, metals, macronutrients (at improper ratios) and other pollutants which can lead to air, soil and water contamination as well as formation of antimicrobial/multidrug resistant strains of pathogens. Dust emitted from intensive poultry production operations contains feather and skin fragments, faeces, feed particles, microorganisms and other pollutants, which can adversely impact poultry health as well as the health of farm workers and nearby inhabitants. Fastidious odours are another problem that can have an adverse impact on health and quality of life of workers and surrounding population. This study discusses the current knowledge on the impact of intensive poultry farming on environmental and human health, as well as taking a look at solutions for a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Gržinić
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 23A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Piotrowicz-Cieślak
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego Str. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Klimkowicz-Pawlas
- Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Czartoryskich Str. 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Rafał L Górny
- Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska Str. 16, 00-701 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ławniczek-Wałczyk
- Laboratory of Biohazards, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska Str. 16, 00-701 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lidia Piechowicz
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 25, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa Olkowska
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 23A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marta Potrykus
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 23A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Maciej Tankiewicz
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 23A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Krupka
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego Str. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Siebielec
- Department of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Czartoryskich Str. 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Lidia Wolska
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębowa Str. 23A, 80-204 Gdansk, Poland
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6
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Ayala-Ramirez M, MacNell N, McNamee LE, McGrath JA, Akhtari FS, Curry MD, Dunnon AK, Fessler MB, Garantziotis S, Parks CG, Fargo DC, Schmitt CP, Motsinger-Reif AA, Hall JE, Miller FW, Schurman SH. Association of distance to swine concentrated animal feeding operations with immune-mediated diseases: An exploratory gene-environment study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107687. [PMID: 36527873 PMCID: PMC10962257 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107687] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are a source of environmental pollution and have been associated with a variety of health outcomes. Immune-mediated diseases (IMD) are characterized by dysregulation of the normal immune response and, while they may be affected by gene and environmental factors, their association with living in proximity to a CAFO is unknown. OBJECTIVES We explored gene, environment, and gene-environment (GxE) relationships between IMD, CAFOs, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of prototypical xenobiotic response genes AHR, ARNT, and AHRR and prototypical immune response gene PTPN22. METHODS The exposure analysis cohort consisted of 6,464 participants who completed the Personalized Environment and Genes Study Health and Exposure Survey and a subset of 1,541 participants who were genotyped. We assessed the association between participants' residential proximity to a CAFO in gene, environment, and GxE models. We recombined individual associations in a transethnic model using METAL meta-analysis. RESULTS In White participants, ARNT SNP rs11204735 was associated with autoimmune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ARNT SNP rs1889740 was associated with RA. In a transethnic genetic analysis, ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 and PTPN22 SNP rs2476601 were associated with autoimmune diseases and RA. In participants living closer than one mile to a CAFO, the log-distance to a CAFO was associated with autoimmune diseases and RA. In a GxE interaction model, White participants with ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 living closer than eight miles to a CAFO had increased odds of RA and autoimmune diseases, respectively. The transethnic model revealed similar GxE interactions. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest increased risk of autoimmune diseases and RA in those living in proximity to a CAFO and a potential role of the AHR-ARNT pathway in conferring risk. We also report the first association of ARNT SNPs rs11204735 and rs1889740 with RA. Our findings, if confirmed, could allow for novel genetically-targeted or other preventive approaches for certain IMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Ayala-Ramirez
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Nathaniel MacNell
- Social and Scientific Systems, 505 Emperor Blvd Suite 400, Durham, NC 27703, USA.
| | - Lucy E McNamee
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - John A McGrath
- Social and Scientific Systems, 505 Emperor Blvd Suite 400, Durham, NC 27703, USA.
| | - Farida S Akhtari
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Matthew D Curry
- Social and Scientific Systems, 505 Emperor Blvd Suite 400, Durham, NC 27703, USA.
| | - Askia K Dunnon
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Michael B Fessler
- Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop D2-01, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Stavros Garantziotis
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, BG 109 RM 109 MSC CU-01, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Christine G Parks
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop A3-05, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - David C Fargo
- Office of Scientific Computing, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop B3-01, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Charles P Schmitt
- Office of Data Science, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Drop K2-02, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Alison A Motsinger-Reif
- PEGS Co-PI, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, RTP 101, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Janet E Hall
- PEGS Co-PI, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, BG 101 RM A222 MSC A2-03. 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Frederick W Miller
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, RTP 101 David P. Rall Building, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Shepherd H Schurman
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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Wyer KE, Kelleghan DB, Blanes-Vidal V, Schauberger G, Curran TP. Ammonia emissions from agriculture and their contribution to fine particulate matter: A review of implications for human health. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 323:116285. [PMID: 36261990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) released from agriculture is contributing significantly to acidification and atmospheric NH3 may have on human health is much less readily available. The potential direct impact of NH3 on the health of the general public is under-represented in scientific literature, though there have been several studies which indicate that NH3 has a direct effect on the respiratory health of those who handle livestock. These health impacts can include a reduced lung function, irritation to the throat and eyes, and increased coughing and phlegm expulsion. More recent studies have indicated that agricultural NH3 may directly influence the early on-set of asthma in young children. In addition to the potential direct impact of ammonia, it is also a substantial contributor to the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fraction (namely the US and Europe); where it accounts for the formation of 30% and 50% of all PM2.5 respectively. PM2.5 has the ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and cause long term illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Hence, PM2.5 causes economic losses which equate to billions of dollars (US) to the global economy annually. Both premature deaths associated with the health impacts from PM2.5 and economic losses could be mitigated with a reduction in NH3 emissions resulting from agriculture. As agriculture contributes to more than 81% of all global NH3 emissions, it is imperative that food production does not come at a cost to the world's ability to breathe; where reductions in NH3 emissions can be easier to achieve than other associated pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Wyer
- UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - David B Kelleghan
- Teagasc, Environment, Soils and Land-Use Department, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Y35 TC97, Ireland
| | - Victoria Blanes-Vidal
- Applied AI and Data Science (AID), Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Günther Schauberger
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, A-1210 Wien, Veterinärplatz 1, Austria
| | - Thomas P Curran
- UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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van Kersen W, Bossers A, de Steenhuijsen Piters WAA, de Rooij MMT, Bonten M, Fluit AC, Heederik D, Paganelli FL, Rogers M, Viveen M, Bogaert D, Leavis HL, Smit LAM. Air pollution from livestock farms and the oropharyngeal microbiome of COPD patients and controls. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107497. [PMID: 36088872 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution from livestock farms is known to affect respiratory health of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The mechanisms behind this relationship, however, remain poorly understood. We hypothesise that air pollutants could influence respiratory health through modulation of the airway microbiome. Therefore, we studied associations between air pollution exposure and the oropharyngeal microbiota (OPM) composition of COPD patients and controls in a livestock-dense area. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 99 community-based (mostly mild) COPD cases and 184 controls (baseline), and after 6 and 12 weeks. Participants were non-smokers or former smokers. Annual average livestock-related outdoor air pollution at the home address was predicted using dispersion modelling. OPM composition was analysed using 16S rRNA-based sequencing in all baseline samples and 6-week and 12-week repeated samples of 20 randomly selected subjects (n = 323 samples). A random selection of negative control swabs, taken every sampling day, were also included in the downstream analysis. Both farm-emitted endotoxin and PM10 levels were associated with increased OPM richness in COPD patients (p < 0.05) but not in controls. COPD case-control status was not associated with community structure, while correcting for known confounders (multivariate PERMANOVA p > 0.05). However, members of the genus Streptococcus were more abundant in COPD patients (Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted p < 0.01). Moderate correlation was found between ordinations of 20 subjects analysed at 0, 6, and 12 weeks (Procrustes r = 0.52 to 0.66; p < 0.05; Principal coordinate analysis of Bray-Curtis dissimilarity), indicating that the OPM is relatively stable over a 12 week period and that a single sample sufficiently represents the OPM. Air pollution from livestock farms is associated with OPM richness of COPD patients, suggesting that the OPM of COPD patients is susceptible to alterations induced by exposure to air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warner van Kersen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter A A de Steenhuijsen Piters
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Myrna M T de Rooij
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marc Bonten
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ad C Fluit
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Malbert Rogers
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marco Viveen
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Debby Bogaert
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Helen L Leavis
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lidwien A M Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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9
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Han Q, Wang A, Fu Q, Zhou S, Bao J, Xing H. Protective role of selenium on ammonia-mediated nephrotoxicity via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway: Crosstalk between autophagy and cytokine release. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 242:113918. [PMID: 35882110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a hazardous substance to human and animal health. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient with multiple health benefits. The present study aimed to verify whether and how Se supplementation has a protective role against NH3 mediated-nephrotoxicity in pigs. A Se-NH3 interaction model was established in pigs and the kidney samples were collected after a 30-day treatment period. The results showed that NH3 exposure inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and enhanced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines to induce autophagy and inflammation. Se can regulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and attenuate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines altered by NH3 to reduce autophagy and inflammation. In addition, Se co-treatment inhibited ROS production, elevated the activities of antioxidant systems, and increased the expression of 13 selenoproteins in pig kidneys caused by NH3 exposure. These results implied that L-selenomethionine can moderate NH3-induced nephrotoxicity in pigs. Our study gives new ideas for the specific mechanism of NH3 nephrotoxicity and provides a reference for comparative medicine and clinical medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Anqi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Qin Fu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Sitong Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Jun Bao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Swine Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, China.
| | - Houjuan Xing
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
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Van Horne YO, Farzan SF, Razafy M, Johnston JE. Respiratory and allergic health effects in children living near agriculture: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:155009. [PMID: 35381238 PMCID: PMC9167771 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155009] [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: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to pesticides and agricultural burning are likely to co-occur in agricultural communities, but these exposures have remained distinct bodies of research. We reviewed epidemiological studies to identify the respiratory health effects of children exposed to pesticides and agricultural burning through a systematic evaluation of peer-reviewed publications of children living in industrial agricultural areas. METHODS Two academic search databases (PubMed and Scopus) were queried for all available studies published in English before May 31st, 2021. The initial search combining both exposure metrics (pesticides and agricultural burning) yielded zero publications and thus the queries were performed and presented separately. RESULTS Studies were categorized based on main exposure of interest (i.e., pesticides or agricultural burning) and by respiratory health outcome assessment (i.e., self-reported asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, and lung function measurements). In total we identified 25 studies that focused on pesticide exposures and children's respiratory health, and 12 studies that focused on exposure to agricultural burning and children's respiratory health. A majority of the pesticide studies (18/25) reported a positive association between exposure to pesticides and adverse childhood respiratory health effects. Similarly, most (11/12) of the agricultural burning studies also reported a positive association between exposure to agricultural burning and adverse respiratory health effects. CONCLUSION The most frequently studied health outcomes in these publications were acute respiratory symptoms (n = 11 pesticides, n = 3 agricultural burning), followed by asthma (n = 9 pesticides, n = 3 agricultural burning), and lung function measurements (n = 5 pesticides, n = 6 agricultural burning). Although health outcome assessment differed between pesticide studies and agricultural burning studies, similar adverse respiratory health effects were observed across the majority of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
| | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
| | - Mitiasoa Razafy
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
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11
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Burbank AJ, Kesic MJ, Hernandez ML. From the farm to the big city: emerging health effects of agricultural emissions on asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 150:64-66. [PMID: 35483508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Allison J Burbank
- Children's Research Institute, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Matthew J Kesic
- Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program, Buies Creek, NC
| | - Michelle L Hernandez
- Children's Research Institute, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
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12
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DZIARZHYNSKAYA NADZEYA, HINDZIUK ANDREY, HINDZIUK LARISA, SYSOEVA IRINA, KRUPSKAYA DARYA, URBAN ULIA, CHERNIAVSKAYA NATALYA, VISHNEVSKAYA ALEXANDRA, MAKAROVA ELENA, ERMAK SVETLANA, HINDZIUK NELLI. Airborne chemical pollution and children's asthma incidence rate in Minsk. JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 2022; 62:E871-E878. [PMID: 35603254 PMCID: PMC9104677 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.4.1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Asthma manifestations are closely connected with air pollution. Discovering interconnection between concentrations of air pollutants and asthma incidence rate among children provides information for developing effective measures to reduce air pollution and improve population health. Study purpose was to carry out hygienic analysis of the influence of atmospheric air quality on the incidence rate of bronchial asthma of children in Minsk in 2009-2018. Methods During 2019 retrospective health cohort study was conducted, data from stationary air quality monitoring posts were collected. Correlation analysis was conducted by determining the Pearson coefficient. Results Ten-year levels of asthma incidence rate had a moderate downward trend; the highest levels were registered among 5-9-year-old children. 74.7% of all cases of asthma were registered among children under 10 years: 33,61% among 1-4-year-old and 41.09% - among 5-9-year-old. Results of the study showed that concentrations of ammonia, particulate matter (dust/aerosol undifferentiated in composition) and lead in Minsk were characterized by downward trend, carbon oxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations remained unstable, elevated levels of formaldehyde remained near highways with heavy traffic. Strong evidence was found for concentrations of particulate matter (dust/aerosol undifferentiated in composition) (R = 0.76-0.85, p < 0.05), lead (R = 0.69-0.97, p < 0.05), ammonia (R = 0.64-0.72, p < 0.05) nitrogen dioxide (R = 0.63-0.8, p < 0.05) and children's asthma incidence rate. Conclusions Obtained results indicate that particulate matter, lead, ammonia and nitrogen dioxide concentrations hesitation causes changes in children's asthma incidence levels. Not being the initial cause of the disease, they influence epidemic process and can be the target for preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- NADZEYA DZIARZHYNSKAYA
- Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus
- Correspondence: Nadzeya Dziarzhynskaya, Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus; 2 Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus - E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - DARYA KRUPSKAYA
- Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - ULIA URBAN
- Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | | | | | - ELENA MAKAROVA
- Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - SVETLANA ERMAK
- Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - NELLI HINDZIUK
- Minsk City Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Minsk, Belarus
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13
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Drieling RL, Sampson PD, Krenz JE, Tchong French MI, Jansen KL, Massey AE, Farquhar SA, Min E, Perez A, Riederer AM, Torres E, Younglove LR, Aisenberg E, Andra SS, Kim-Schulze S, Karr CJ. Randomized trial of a portable HEPA air cleaner intervention to reduce asthma morbidity among Latino children in an agricultural community. Environ Health 2022; 21:1. [PMID: 34980119 PMCID: PMC8722199 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00816-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data on pediatric asthma morbidity and effective environmental interventions in U.S. agricultural settings are few. We evaluated the effectiveness of HEPA air cleaners on asthma morbidity among a cohort of rural Latino children. METHODS Seventy-five children with poorly controlled asthma and living in non-smoking homes were randomly assigned to asthma education alone or along with HEPA air cleaners placed in their sleeping area and home living room. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) score, asthma symptoms in prior 2 weeks, unplanned clinical utilization, creatinine-adjusted urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4 [ng/mg]), and additional secondary outcomes were evaluated at baseline, six, and 12 months. Group differences were assessed using multivariable-adjusted generalized estimating equations. Incident rate ratios of ever experiencing the metrics of poorer asthma health during follow-up (suboptimal asthma management) were estimated using Poisson regression models in secondary analysis. RESULTS Mean child age was 9.2 and 8.6 years in intervention and control groups, respectively, and two-thirds of participants were male. Primary analysis of repeated measures of ACT score did not differ between groups (HEPA group mean change compared to controls 10% [95% CI: - 12-39%]). A suggestion of greater decrease in uLTE4 (ng/mg creatinine) was observed (- 10% [95% CI: - 20 -1%]). Secondary analysis showed children with HEPAs were less likely to have an ACT score meeting a clinically defined cutoff for poorly controlled asthma using repeated measures (IRR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.21-0.97]). In Poisson models, intervention participants had reduced risk of ever meeting this cutoff (IRR: 0.43 [95% CI: 0.21-0.89]), ever having symptoms in the past 2 weeks (IRR: 0.71 [95% CI: 0.52-0.98]), and lower risk of any unplanned clinical utilization (IRR: 0.35 [95% CI: 0.13-0.94]) compared to control participants. DISCUSSION The HAPI study showed generally improved outcomes among children in the HEPA air cleaner group. However, primary analyses did not meet statistical significance and many outcomes were subjective (self-report) in this unblinded study, so findings must be interpreted cautiously. HEPA air cleaners may provide additional benefit for child asthma health where traditional asthmagens (traffic, tobacco smoke) are not prominent factors, but larger studies with more statistical power and blinded designs are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04919915 . Date of retrospective registration: May 19, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Drieling
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Paul D. Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Jennifer E. Krenz
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Maria I. Tchong French
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Karen L. Jansen
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Anne E. Massey
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Stephanie A. Farquhar
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Esther Min
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish, WA USA
| | - Anne M. Riederer
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA USA
| | - Lisa R. Younglove
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Eugene Aisenberg
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Syam S. Andra
- Department of Environmental Medicine & Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Seunghee Kim-Schulze
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Department of Oncological Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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14
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Geospatial Correlation Analysis between Air Pollution Indicators and Estimated Speed of COVID-19 Diffusion in the Lombardy Region (Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212154. [PMID: 34831909 PMCID: PMC8617767 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212154] [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: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background: the Lombardy region in Italy was the first area in Europe to record an outbreak of COVID-19 and one of the most affected worldwide. As this territory is strongly polluted, it was hypothesized that pollution had a role in facilitating the diffusion of the epidemic, but results are uncertain. Aim: the paper explores the effect of air pollutants in the first spread of COVID-19 in Lombardy, with a novel geomatics approach addressing the possible confounding factors, the reliability of data, the measurement of diffusion speed, and the biasing effect of the lockdown measures. Methods and results: all municipalities were assigned to one of five possible territorial classes (TC) according to land-use and socio-economic status, and they were grouped into districts of 100,000 residents. For each district, the speed of COVID-19 diffusion was estimated from the ambulance dispatches and related to indicators of mean concentration of air pollutants over 1, 6, and 12 months, grouping districts in the same TC. Significant exponential correlations were found for ammonia (NH3) in both prevalently agricultural (R2 = 0.565) and mildly urbanized (R2 = 0.688) areas. Conclusions: this is the first study relating COVID-19 estimated speed of diffusion with indicators of exposure to NH3. As NH3 could induce oxidative stress, its role in creating a pre-existing fragility that could have facilitated SARS-CoV-2 replication and worsening of patient conditions could be speculated.
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15
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Sun C, Hong S, Cai G, Zhang Y, Kan H, Zhao Z, Deng F, Zhao B, Zeng X, Sun Y, Qian H, Liu W, Mo J, Guo J, Zheng X, Su C, Zou Z, Li H, Huang C. Indoor exposure levels of ammonia in residences, schools, and offices in China from 1980 to 2019: A systematic review. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:1691-1706. [PMID: 34181775 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12864] [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: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Indoor ammonia (NH3 ) pollution has been paid more and more attention in view of its health risk. However, few studies have investigated the exposure level in the non-occupational environment in China. This study systematically reviewed the indoor ammonia exposure level in different regions, the equivalent exposure concentration of different populations, and the factors that influence indoor air ammonia in residences, offices, and schools in China. The literature published in 1980-2019 from main databases was searched and detailed screened, and finally, 56 related studies were selected. The results illustrated that the median concentration of indoor air ammonia in residences, offices, and school buildings was 0.21 mg/m3 , 0.26 mg/m3 , and 0.15 mg/m3 . There were 46.4%, 71.4%, and 40% of these samples exceeding the NH3 standard, respectively. The national concentrations and the equivalent exposure levels of adults and children were calculated and found to be higher than 0.20 mg/m3 . The concentration of ammonia varied greatly in different climate zones and economic development regions. Higher concentrations were found in the severe cold zone and the regions with higher economic level. This review reveals a high exposure risk of indoor air ammonia and the crucial impact of human emission, indoor air temperature, new concrete, and economic level, suggesting further investigation on indoor air ammonia evaluation and health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Sun
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shijie Hong
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangkai Cai
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinping Zhang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuohui Zhao
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Furong Deng
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangang Zeng
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yuexia Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Engineering Research Center of BEEE, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute for Health and Environment, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinhan Mo
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianguo Guo
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Engineering Research Center of BEEE, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunxiao Su
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Zou
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Li
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Huang
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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16
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Riederer AM, Krenz JE, Tchong-French MI, Torres E, Perez A, Younglove LR, Jansen KL, Hardie DC, Farquhar SA, Sampson PD, Metwali N, Thorne PS, Karr CJ. Effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners on reducing indoor endotoxin, PM 10, and coarse particulate matter in an agricultural cohort of children with asthma: A randomized intervention trial. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:1926-1939. [PMID: 34288127 PMCID: PMC8577577 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a randomized trial of portable HEPA air cleaners in the homes of children age 6-12 years with asthma in the Yakima Valley, Washington. All families received asthma education while intervention families also received two HEPA cleaners (child's bedroom, living room). We collected 14-day integrated samples of endotoxin in settled dust and PM10 and PM10-2.5 in the air of the children's bedrooms at baseline and one-year follow-up, and used linear regression to compare follow-up levels, adjusting for baseline. Seventy-one families (36 HEPA, 35 control) completed the study. Baseline geometric mean (GSD) endotoxin loadings were 1565 (6.3) EU/m2 and 2110 (4.9) EU/m2 , respectively, in HEPA vs. control homes while PM10 and PM10-2.5 were 22.5 (1.9) μg/m3 and 9.5 (2.9) μg/m3 , respectively, in HEPA homes, and 19.8 (1.8) μg/m3 and 7.7 (2.0) μg/m3 , respectively, in control homes. At follow-up, HEPA families had 46% lower (95% CI, 31%-57%) PM10 on average than control families, consistent with prior studies. In the best-fit heterogeneous slopes model, HEPA families had 49% (95% CI, 6%-110%) and 89% lower (95% CI, 28%-177%) PM10-2.5 at follow-up, respectively, at 50th and 75th percentile baseline concentrations. Endotoxin loadings did not differ significantly at follow-up (4% lower, HEPA homes; 95% CI, -87% to 50%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Riederer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Krenz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria I. Tchong-French
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA, USA
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish, WA, USA
| | - Lisa R. Younglove
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karen L. Jansen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David C. Hardie
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Farquhar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul D. Sampson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nervana Metwali
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Peter S. Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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17
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Spatial Distributions of Atmospheric Ammonia in a Rural Area in South Korea and the Associated Impact on a Nearby Urban Area. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) plays an important role in air quality and atmospheric chemistry, yet studies on the characteristics and impacts of NH3 are limited. Herein, we revealed the spatial distribution of atmospheric NH3, as measured by passive samplers, at three different sites (R1, R2, and R3) in the rural area (livestock environment) of Jeongeup, South Korea, from September 2019 to August 2020. At site R1, the boundary of a large-scale pig farm, dramatically high daily mean concentrations of NH3 were observed (118.7 ppb), whereas sites R2 and R3, located ~1 km from R1, exhibited lower concentrations of 18.2 and 30.4 ppb, respectively. In the rural environment, the monthly NH3 variations showed a peak in June (34.2 ppb), which was significantly higher than in the urban and remote areas. To examine the impact of NH3 from the rural area on a nearby urban area in June 2020, simultaneous measurements were performed using a real-time instrument in Jeonju. When high NH3 events occurred in the urban area in June, the results for the NH3 concentrations and observed meteorological conditions in the rural and urban areas showed that the rural area influenced the NH3 levels in the adjacent urban area.
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18
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Abstract
Ambient air pollution is produced by sources including vehicular traffic, coal-fired power plants, hydraulic fracturing, agricultural production, and forest fires. It consists of primary pollutants generated by combustion and secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere from precursor gases. Air pollution causes and exacerbates climate change, and climate change worsens health effects of air pollution. Infants and children are uniquely sensitive to air pollution, because their organs are developing and they have higher air per body weight intake. Health effects linked to air pollution include not only exacerbations of respiratory diseases but also reduced lung function development and increased asthma incidence. Additional outcomes of concern include preterm birth, low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders, IQ loss, pediatric cancers, and increased risks for adult chronic diseases. These effects are mediated by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endocrine disruption, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms across the life span. Natural experiments demonstrate that with initiatives such as increased use of public transportation, both air quality and community health improve. Similarly, the Clean Air Act has improved air quality, although exposure inequities persist. Other effective strategies for reducing air pollution include ending reliance on coal, oil, and gas; regulating industrial emissions; reducing exposure with attention to proximity of residences, schools, and child care facilities to traffic; and a greater awareness of the Air Quality Index. This policy reviews both short- and long-term health consequences of ambient air pollution, especially in relation to developmental exposures. It examines individual, community, and legislative strategies to mitigate air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Brumberg
- Division of Neonatology, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Westchester Medical Center and Departments of Pediatrics and Public Health, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York; and
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19
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Riederer AM, Krenz JE, Tchong-French MI, Torres E, Perez A, Younglove LR, Jansen KL, Hardie DC, Farquhar SA, Sampson PD, Karr CJ. Effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners on reducing indoor PM 2.5 and NH 3 in an agricultural cohort of children with asthma: A randomized intervention trial. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:454-466. [PMID: 32996146 PMCID: PMC8641645 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a randomized trial of portable HEPA air cleaners with pre-filters designed to also reduce NH3 in non-smoking homes of children age 6-12 with asthma in Yakima Valley (Washington, USA). Participants were recruited through the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic asthma education program. All participants received education on home triggers while intervention families additionally received two HEPA cleaners (child's sleeping area, main living area). Fourteen-day integrated samples of PM2.5 and NH3 were measured at baseline and one-year follow-up. We fit ANCOVA models to compare follow-up concentrations in HEPA vs control homes, adjusting for baseline concentrations. Seventy-one households (36 HEPA, 35 control) completed the study. Most were single-family homes, with electric heat and stove, A/C, dogs/cats, and mean (SD) 5.3 (1.8) occupants. In the sleeping area, baseline geometric mean (GSD) PM2.5 was 10.7 (2.3) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 11.2 (1.9) μg/m3 (control); in the living area, it was 12.5 (2.3) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 13.6 (1.9) μg/m3 (control). Baseline sleeping area NH3 was 62.4 (1.6) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 65.2 (1.8) μg/m3 (control). At follow-up, HEPA families had 60% (95% CI, 41%-72%; p < .0001) and 42% (19%-58%; p = .002) lower sleeping and living area PM2.5 , respectively, consistent with prior studies. NH3 reductions were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Riederer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Krenz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria I. Tchong-French
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA, USA
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish, WA, USA
| | - Lisa R. Younglove
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karen L. Jansen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David C. Hardie
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Farquhar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul D. Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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20
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Masterson EE, Younglove LB, Perez A, Torres E, Krenz JE, Tchong French MI, Riederer AM, Sampson PD, Metwali N, Min E, Jansen KL, Aisenberg G, Babadi RS, Farquhar SA, Thorne PS, Karr CJ. The home air in agriculture pediatric intervention (HAPI) trial: Rationale and methods. Contemp Clin Trials 2020; 96:106085. [PMID: 32721578 PMCID: PMC7494646 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data addressing air quality effects on children with asthma in rural U.S. communities are rare. Our community engaged research partnership previously demonstrated associations between neighborhood NH3 and ambient PM2.5 and asthma in the agricultural lower Yakima Valley of Washington. As a next step, the partnership desired an intervention approach to address concerns about pediatric asthma in this largely Latino immigrant, farm worker community. OBJECTIVE The Home Air in Agriculture Pediatric Intervention (HAPI) sought to examine the effectiveness of enrichment of an existing asthma education program with portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners designed to reduce PM2.5 and NH3. We investigated the effect of this enriched approach on these exposures and asthma health measures. DESIGN We randomized children with poorly controlled asthma to a control arm (current asthma education program) or an intervention arm (current asthma education program + placement of two indoor air cleaners in the family's home). Outcomes included (1) 14-day integrated samples of indoor air contaminants (PM2.5 and NH3) at baseline and one-year follow-up and (2) child asthma health metrics at baseline, midpoint (4-6 months) and one-year follow-up. These included the Asthma Control Test, symptoms days, clinical utilization, oral corticosteroid use, pulmonary function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and urinary leukotriene E4 concentration. DISCUSSION To our knowledge, this is the first randomized HEPA cleaner intervention designed to assess NH3 as well as PM2.5 and to evaluate health outcomes of children with asthma in an agricultural region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Masterson
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
| | - Lisa B Younglove
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Worker's Clinic, Toppenish, WA, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer E Krenz
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Maria I Tchong French
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Anne M Riederer
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Paul D Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nervana Metwali
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Esther Min
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Karen L Jansen
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Gino Aisenberg
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ryan S Babadi
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Stephanie A Farquhar
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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21
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Wu C, Wang G, Li J, Li J, Cao C, Ge S, Xie Y, Chen J, Liu S, Du W, Zhao Z, Cao F. Non-agricultural sources dominate the atmospheric NH 3 in Xi'an, a megacity in the semi-arid region of China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 722:137756. [PMID: 32208242 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3), as a dominant alkaline gas in the atmosphere, plays a vital role in Chinese urban haze formation process, but its source in urban areas of China is controversial. To identify the sources of urban NH3 in the semi-arid region of East Asia, real-time measurements of NH3 and NH4+ of PM2.5 in the urban atmosphere of Xi'an, inland China during the winter and summer of 2017 were performed and their stable nitrogen isotope composition were analyzed. NH3 was 38.0 ± 9.4 μg/m3 in the summer, which is 1.5 times higher than that in the winter. Concentration of NH3 in both seasons well correlated with that of PAHs in PM2.5 and the mass ratio of (BbF + BeP + IP + BghiP) to the total PAHs, suggesting that fossil fuel combustion is an important source of NH3 in Xi'an. Moreover, diurnal variation pattern of NH3 was consistent with that of CO in the summer, peaking in the morning and evening rush hours, respectively, further indicating an importance of the contribution of traffic emissions to NH3 in the city. Based on the source apportionment by using isotope mixing model, we found that 66.4% and 62.5% of NH3 in the urban atmosphere were contributed by non-agricultural sources in the summer and winter, respectively. Our work revealed that non-agricultural sources dominate the atmospheric NH3 of Xi'an, where haze pollution is still severe, and suggested that emission controls of non-agricultural NH3 could be an effective way to mitigate the air pollution problem in the semi-arid region of East Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Wu
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Gehui Wang
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China; Institute of Eco-Chong, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Cong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Shuangshuang Ge
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Yuning Xie
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Jianmin Chen
- Institute of Eco-Chong, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China; Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shijie Liu
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Wei Du
- Key Lab of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 210062, China
| | - Zhuyu Zhao
- Yale-NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Fang Cao
- Yale-NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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22
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Wang S, Li X, Wang W, Zhang H, Xu S. Application of transcriptome analysis: Oxidative stress, inflammation and microtubule activity disorder caused by ammonia exposure may be the primary factors of intestinal microvilli deficiency in chicken. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 696:134035. [PMID: 31470328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3), an inhaled harmful gas, is not only an important volatile in fertilizer production and ranching, but also the main basic component of haze. However, the effect and mechanism of NH3 on the intestines are still unclear. To investigate the intestinal toxicity of NH3 inhalation, morphological changes, transcriptome profiles and oxidative stress indicators of jejunum in broiler chicken exposed to NH3 for 42 days were examined. Results of morphological observation showed that NH3 exposure caused deficiency of jejunal microvilli and neutrophil infiltration. Transcriptomics sequencing identified 677 differential expressed genes (DEGs) including 358 up-regulated genes and 319 down-regulated genes. Enrichment analysis of obtained DEGs by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) found that biological functions and pathways affected by NH3 included antioxidant function, inflammation, microtubule and nutrition transport. Relative genes validation and chemical detection confirmed that NH3-induced oxidative stress by activating CYPs and inhibiting antioxidant enzymes promoted inflammatory response and decreased microtubule activity, thus destroying the balance of nutritional transporters. Our study perfects the injurious mechanism of NH3 exposure and provides a new insight and method for environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengchen Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Hongfu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Shiwen Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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Loftus C, Afsharinejad Z, Sampson P, Vedal S, Torres E, Arias G, Tchong-French M, Karr C. Estimated time-varying exposures to air emissions from animal feeding operations and childhood asthma. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019; 223:187-198. [PMID: 31543304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Industrial-scale animal feeding operations (AFOs) have adverse impacts on regional air quality. Air emissions include endotoxins and other pro-inflammatory components, and exposure may cause airway inflammation and respiratory effects in susceptible individuals residing nearby. We aimed to develop and validate metrics for estimating time-varying exposure to AFO air pollution in surrounding communities and, secondly, to determine whether exposure is associated with health effects in children with asthma. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal panel study of N = 58 children with asthma in an agricultural region of Washington State with a high density of dairy AFOs. Children were followed for up to 26 months with repeated measures of respiratory health (N = 2023 interviews; N = 3853 lung function measurements); urine was collected in a subcohort (N = 16) at six-day intervals over three months and analyzed for leukotriene E4 (LTE4), a biomarker of systemic inflammation (N = 138 measurements). We developed an approach to estimate daily exposure to AFO airborne emissions based on distance to AFOs, AFO size, and daily wind speed and direction, and validated the estimates against direct measurements of ammonia, a chemical marker of AFO emissions, measured biweekly at 18 sites across the region for 14 months. Short-term relationships between AFO pollutant exposure and outcomes were assessed using regression models accounting for within-participant correlation and several potential confounders. RESULTS Estimates of daily AFO air pollution correlated moderately well with outdoor ammonia measurements (N = 842; r = 0.62). Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) as percent of predicted was 2.0% (95% CI: 0.5, 3.5) lower with each interquartile increase in previous day exposure, but no associations with asthma symptoms were observed. There was suggestive evidence that LTE4 concentrations were higher following days of elevated exposure to AFO emissions (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS A simple metric of time-varying exposure to AFO emissions was correlated with daily outdoor ammonia levels. Children with asthma may be adversely affected by exposure to AFO emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Zahra Afsharinejad
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Paul Sampson
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Box 354322, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Sverre Vedal
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, 121 Sunnyside Ave, Granger, WA, 98932, United States
| | - Griselda Arias
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Yakima, WA, United States
| | - Maria Tchong-French
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Catherine Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Box 357234, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Box 356320, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
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24
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Neghab M, Mirzaei A, Jalilian H, Jahangiri M, Zahedi J, Yousefinejad S. Effects of Low-level Occupational Exposure to Ammonia on Hematological Parameters and Kidney Function. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE 2019; 10:80-88. [PMID: 31041925 PMCID: PMC6524738 DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2019.1527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: Many workers, particularly those working in manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, rubber, pesticides, textiles, and employees of petrochemical industries are exposed to ammonia in their workplaces. Toxic responses of hematopoietic system and kidney following occupational exposure to this chemical have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: To determine the relationship between long-term occupational exposure to low levels of ammonia and hematological parameters and kidney function. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 119 randomly selected, male petrochemical workers and 131 office employees (comparison group) were examined. Urine and blood samples were taken from all participants for urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC), serum calcium level, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine. Personal, environmental, and peak ammonia exposure were also measured. Results: The median personal, environmental, and peak occupational exposure to ammonia were 0.23, 0.16, and 65.50 mg/m3, respectively, among the exposed group. No significant difference was observed between the exposed and unexposed participants in terms of hematological parameters and urinalysis. Conversely, calcium and BUN, while within the normal range, were significantly higher in the exposed than in the comparison group. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to low atmospheric concentrations of ammonia was associated with subtle, sub-clinical, pre-pathologic changes in kidney function. Possible longterm consequences and ramifications of these effects require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Neghab
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Mirzaei
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Hamed Jalilian
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Jahangiri
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jafar Zahedi
- Petrochemical Complex, South Pars District, Iran
| | - Saeed Yousefinejad
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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25
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Benka-Coker W, Loftus C, Karr C, Magzamen S. Association of Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and a Marker of Asthma Morbidity in an Agricultural Community. J Agromedicine 2019; 25:106-114. [PMID: 31130077 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2019.1619644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: We explored the short-term impact of pesticide exposure on asthma exacerbation among children with asthma in an agricultural community.Methods: We obtained repeated urine samples from a subset of 16 school-age children with asthma (n = 139 samples) as part of the Aggravating Factors of Asthma in a Rural Environment (AFARE) study cohort. Biomarkers of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure (dialkylphosphates (DAPs)), and asthma exacerbation (leukotriene E4 (uLTE4)) were assessed in urine samples. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the association of summed measures of creatinine-adjusted DAPs (total dimethyl alkylphosphate (EDM), total diethyl alkylphosphate (EDE), and total dialkylphosphate pesticides (EDAP)) and uLTE4 concentration, adjusting for multiple confounders, yielding beta-coefficients with 95% CIs.Results: A total of 139 observations were obtained from the 16 children over the study period, the total number of samples per subject ranged from 1 to 12 (median: 10.5). The geometric mean (GM) of creatinine-adjusted EDE, EDM, and EDAP in this population were 81.0, 71.8 and 168.0 nmol/g, respectively. Increase in uLTE4 levels was consistently associated with increased exposures to DAPs (interquartile range in μg/g): βEDE: 8.7 (95%CI: 2.8, 14.6); βEDM: 1.1 (0.5, 1.7); βEDAP: 4.1 (0.7, 7.5).Conclusion: This study suggests that short-term OP exposure is associated with a higher risk of asthma morbidity, as indicated by increased uLTE4 levels in this cohort of children with asthma in an agricultural community. Additional studies are required to confirm these adverse effects, and explore the mechanisms underlying this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wande Benka-Coker
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christine Loftus
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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26
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Ammonia, ammonium, and the risk of asthma: A register-based case–control study in Danish children. Environ Epidemiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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27
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Borlée F, Yzermans CJ, Krop EJM, Maassen CBM, Schellevis FG, Heederik DJJ, Smit LAM. Residential proximity to livestock farms is associated with a lower prevalence of atopy. Occup Environ Med 2018; 75:453-460. [DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
ObjectivesExposure to farm environments during childhood and adult life seems to reduce the risk of atopic sensitisation. Most studies have been conducted among farmers, but people living in rural areas may have similar protective effects for atopy. This study aims to investigate the association between residential proximity to livestock farms and atopy among non-farming adults living in a rural area in the Netherlands.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among 2443 adults (20–72 years). Atopy was defined as specific IgE to common allergens and/or total IgE ≥100 IU/mL. Residential proximity to livestock farms was assessed as 1) distance to the nearest pig, poultry, cattle or any farm, 2) number of farms within 500 m and 1000 m, and 3) modelled annual average fine dust emissions from farms within 500 m and 1000 m. Data were analysed with multiple logistic regression and generalised additive models.ResultsThe prevalence of atopy was 29.8%. Subjects living at short distances from farms (<327 m, first tertile) had a lower odds for atopy compared with subjects living further away (>527 m, third tertile) (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.98). Significant associations in the same direction were found with distance to the nearest pig or cattle farm. The associations between atopy and livestock farm exposure were somewhat stronger in subjects who grew up on a farm.ConclusionsLiving in close proximity to livestock farms seems to protect against atopy. This study provides evidence that protective effects of early-life and adult farm exposures may extend beyond farming populations.
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Borlée F, Yzermans CJ, Aalders B, Rooijackers J, Krop E, Maassen CBM, Schellevis F, Brunekreef B, Heederik D, Smit LAM. Air Pollution from Livestock Farms Is Associated with Airway Obstruction in Neighboring Residents. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 196:1152-1161. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201701-0021oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Floor Borlée
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - C. Joris Yzermans
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bernadette Aalders
- Netherlands Expertise Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Rooijackers
- Netherlands Expertise Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Esmeralda Krop
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Catharina B. M. Maassen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - François Schellevis
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | - Bert Brunekreef
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Lidwien A. M. Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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Smit LAM, Heederik D. Impacts of Intensive Livestock Production on Human Health in Densely Populated Regions. GEOHEALTH 2017; 1:272-277. [PMID: 32158992 PMCID: PMC7007140 DOI: 10.1002/2017gh000103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In several regions worldwide, the presence of livestock in close proximity to residential areas raises questions about public health implications. The rapid expansion of large-scale livestock farms, increasingly interwoven with urbanized areas, and its potential impact on neighboring residents' health has hardly been accompanied by any research. The current situation in densely populated livestock farming areas could be regarded as a "natural experiment." Most scientific and public health initiatives have focused on emerging zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance as potential health threats. In this commentary, we emphasize the importance of respiratory health effects of noninfectious air pollutant emissions from livestock farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidwien A. M. Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
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30
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Balakrishnan L, Rennie D, Dosman J, Pahwa P, Karunanayake C, Hagel L, Lawson J. Lung function in relation to farm dwelling and farming activities in rural dwelling children. Respirology 2017; 22:1320-1328. [PMID: 28653785 DOI: 10.1111/resp.13097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The relationship between farming exposures and pulmonary function in a rural paediatric population was evaluated. METHODS Baseline data collection records of the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study (SRHS), a population-based study, were used. A subset of children (6-14 years old) participated in clinical testing, including anthropometric measures and pulmonary function testing (PFT), using spirometry (n = 584). PFTs followed ATS criteria and all statistical analyses were controlled for age, sex and height. RESULTS Among clinical testing participants, 47.5% were females and 54.5% were farm dwelling. Of those living on farms, 77.5% were livestock farms. Mean percent predicted value (PPV) for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC) among children living on a farm were 104.8% and 105.4%, respectively. Mean PPV for FEV1 and FVC among children not living on a farm were 102.7% and 101.4%, respectively. After adjustment, higher FEV1 (=0.079, SE = 0.033, P = 0.03) and FVC (=0.110, SE = 0.039, P = 0.006) were seen among children living on a farm. A trend towards lower FEV1 /FVC ratio (-0.013, SE = 0.008, P = 0.09) among children living on a farm was seen compared with children not living on a farm. Higher FVC and lower FEV1 /FVC ratio were seen in children who regularly emptied grain bins (P < 0.05). Trends towards higher FEV1 (P = 0.14) and FVC (P = 0.08) were also seen with children living on a farm in the first year of life. Since the majority of the population was Caucasian (91%), the results were not race-corrected. CONCLUSION We addressed the lack of knowledge regarding the association between lung function and rural exposures, and found that differences in lung function were seen between children living on a farm and not living on a farm in rural areas and certain farming activities, specifically emptying grain bins, where lung function was generally better in those living on a farm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Balakrishnan
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Donna Rennie
- Canadian Center for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - James Dosman
- Canadian Center for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Punam Pahwa
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Chandima Karunanayake
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Louise Hagel
- Canadian Center for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Joshua Lawson
- Canadian Center for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Estrada RD, Ownby DR. Rural Asthma: Current Understanding of Prevalence, Patterns, and Interventions for Children and Adolescents. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2017; 17:37. [PMID: 28484946 PMCID: PMC6533905 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-017-0704-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Asthma is the most common chronic illness of children and adolescents in the USA. While asthma has been understood to disproportionately affect urban dwellers, recent investigations have revealed rural pediatric asthma prevalence to be very similar to urban and to be more closely correlated with socioeconomic and environmental factors than geographic location or population density. RECENT FINDINGS Rural children experience factors unique to location that impact asthma development and outcomes, including housing quality, cigarette smoke exposure, and small/large-scale farming. Additionally, there are challenging barriers to appropriate asthma care that frequently are more severe for those living in rural areas, including insurance status, lack of primary care providers and pulmonary specialists, knowledge deficits (both patient and provider), and a lack of culturally tailored asthma interventions. Interventions designed to address rural pediatric asthma disparities are more likely to be successful when targeted to specific challenges, such as the use of school-based services or telemedicine to mitigate asthma care access issues. Continued research on understanding the complex interaction of specific rural environmental factors with host factors can inform future interventions designed to mitigate asthma disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dennis R Ownby
- Allergy & Immunology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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Rasmussen SG, Casey JA, Bandeen-Roche K, Schwartz BS. Proximity to Industrial Food Animal Production and Asthma Exacerbations in Pennsylvania, 2005-2012. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E362. [PMID: 28362334 PMCID: PMC5409563 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The research on industrial food animal production (IFAP) and asthma exacerbations in the United States has relied on small sample sizes and/or self-reported outcomes. We assessed associations of proximity to large-scale and densely stocked swine and dairy/veal IFAP with three types of asthma exacerbations: hospitalizations, emergency encounters, and oral corticosteroid (OCS) medication orders from Geisinger Clinic in Pennsylvania. We used a diagnosis code (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 493.x) and medication orders from electronic health records to identify these exacerbations among asthma patients (n = 35,269) from 2005-2012. We compared residential proximity to swine or dairy/veal IFAP (dichotomized as <3 miles (4.8 km) or ≥3 miles) among asthma patients with and without exacerbations and estimated odds ratios using multilevel logistic regression. In adjusted models, proximity to IFAP was associated (odds ratio (95% confidence interval)) with OCS orders (1.11 (1.04-1.19)) and hospitalizations (1.29 (1.15-1.46)), but not emergency encounters (1.12 (0.91-1.37)). This study contributes to growing evidence that IFAP may impact health, in this case clinically-documented asthma exacerbations. No prior study has evaluated the association of IFAP and clinically-documented asthma exacerbations in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Rasmussen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Joan A Casey
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Karen Bandeen-Roche
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Brian S Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Comorbidity and coexisting symptoms and infections presented in general practice by COPD patients: Does livestock density in the residential environment play a role? Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220:704-710. [PMID: 28279622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitute a potentially susceptible group towards environmental exposures such as livestock farm emissions, given their compromised respiratory health status. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between livestock exposure and comorbidities and coexisting symptoms and infections in COPD patients. METHODS Data were collected from 1828 COPD patients (without co-occurring asthma) registered in 23 general practices and living in a rural area with a high livestock density. Prevalence of comorbid diseases/disorders and coexisting symptoms/infections were based on electronic health records from the year 2012. Various indicators of individual exposure to livestock were estimated based on residential addresses, using a geographic information system. RESULTS At least one comorbid disorder was present in 69% of the COPD patients (especially cardiac disorders and depression, while 49% had at least one coexisting symptom and/or infection (especially upper respiratory tract infections, respiratory symptoms and pneumonia). Half of the COPD-patients resided less than 500m of the nearest farm. Some positive as well as inverse associations were found between the examined outcomes and exposure estimates, although not consistent. CONCLUSIONS Despite the high prevalence of coexisting chronic and acute conditions presented in primary care by in COPD patients, this investigation found no convincing evidence for an association with livestock exposure estimates. There is a need for a replication of the present findings in studies with a longitudinal design, on different groups of potentially susceptible patients. Future research should also elucidate the biological plausibility of possible protective effects of exposure.
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Cantuaria ML, Suh H, Løfstrøm P, Blanes-Vidal V. Characterization of exposure in epidemiological studies on air pollution from biodegradable wastes: Misclassification and comparison of exposure assessment strategies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2016; 219:770-779. [PMID: 27692572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The assignment of exposure is one of the main challenges faced by environmental epidemiologists. However, misclassification of exposures has not been explored in population epidemiological studies on air pollution from biodegradable wastes. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of different approaches for assessing exposure to air pollution from biodegradable wastes by analyzing (1) the misclassification of exposure that is committed by using these surrogates, (2) the existence of differential misclassification (3) the effects that misclassification may have on health effect estimates and the interpretation of epidemiological results, and (4) the ability of the exposure measures to predict health outcomes using 10-fold cross validation. Four different exposure assessment approaches were studied: ammonia concentrations at the residence (Metric I), distance to the closest source (Metric II), number of sources within certain distances from the residence (Metric IIIa,b) and location in a specific region (Metric IV). Exposure-response models based on Metric I provided the highest predictive ability (72.3%) and goodness-of-fit, followed by IV, III and II. When compared to Metric I, Metric IV yielded the best results for exposure misclassification analysis and interpretation of health effect estimates, followed by Metric IIIb, IIIa and II. The study showed that modelled NH3 concentrations provide more accurate estimations of true exposure than distances-based surrogates, and that distance-based surrogates (especially those based on distance to the closest point source) are imprecise methods to identify exposed populations, although they may be useful for initial studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuella Lech Cantuaria
- The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helen Suh
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Per Løfstrøm
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Victoria Blanes-Vidal
- The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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