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Chowdhury S, Hänninen R, Sofiev M, Aunan K. Fires as a source of annual ambient PM 2.5 exposure and chronic health impacts in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171314. [PMID: 38423313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171314] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to ambient PM2.5 is the largest environmental health risk in Europe. We used a chemical transport model and recent exposure response functions to simulate ambient PM2.5, contribution from fires and related health impacts over Europe from 1990 to 2019. Our estimation indicates that the excess death burden from exposure to ambient PM2.5 declined across Europe at a rate of 10,000 deaths per year, from 0.57 million (95 % confidence intervals: 0.44-0.75 million) in 1990 to 0.28 million (0.19-0.42 million) in the specified period. Among these excess deaths, approximately 99 % were among adults, while only around 1 % occurred among children. Our findings reveal a steady increase in fire mortality fractions (excess deaths from fires per 1000 deaths from ambient PM2.5) from 2 in 1990 to 13 in 2019. Notably, countries in Eastern Europe exhibited significantly higher fire mortality fractions and experienced more pronounced increases compared to those in Western and Central Europe. We performed sensitivity analyses by considering fire PM2.5 to be more toxic as compared to other sources, as indicated by recent studies. By considering fire PM2.5 to be more toxic than other PM2.5 sources results in an increased relative contribution of fires to excess deaths, reaching 2.5-13 % in 2019. Our results indicate the requirement of larger mitigation and adaptation efforts and more sustainable forest management policies to avert the rising health burden from fires.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kristin Aunan
- CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Oslo, Norway
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2
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Barkoski J, Van Fleet E, Liu A, Ramsey S, Kwok RK, Miller AK. Data Linkages for Wildfire Exposures and Human Health Studies: A Scoping Review. GEOHEALTH 2024; 8:e2023GH000991. [PMID: 38487553 PMCID: PMC10937504 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, with significant consequences that impact human health. A scoping review was conducted to: (a) understand wildfire-related health effects, (b) identify and describe environmental exposure and health outcome data sources used to research the impacts of wildfire exposures on health, and (c) identify gaps and opportunities to leverage exposure and health data to advance research. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and a sample of 83 articles met inclusion criteria. A majority of studies focused on respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Hospital administrative data was the most common health data source, followed by government data sources and health surveys. Wildfire smoke, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), was the most common exposure measure and was predominantly estimated from monitoring networks and satellite data. Health data were not available in real-time, and they lacked spatial and temporal coverage to study health outcomes with longer latency periods. Exposure data were often available in real-time and provided better temporal and spatial coverage but did not capture the complex mixture of hazardous wildfire smoke pollutants nor exposures associated with non-air pathways such as soil, household dust, food, and water. This scoping review of the specific health and exposure data sources used to underpin these studies provides a framework for the research community to understand: (a) the use and value of various environmental and health data sources, and (b) the opportunities for improving data collection, integration, and accessibility to help inform our understanding of wildfires and other environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Barkoski
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - E. Van Fleet
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - A. Liu
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
- Kelly Government SolutionsRockvilleMDUSA
| | - S. Ramsey
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - R. K. Kwok
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - A. K. Miller
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
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3
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Abstract
We review current knowledge on the trends and drivers of global wildfire activity, advances in the measurement of wildfire smoke exposure, and evidence on the health effects of this exposure. We describe methodological issues in estimating the causal effects of wildfire smoke exposures on health and quantify their importance, emphasizing the role of nonlinear and lagged effects. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure, finding positive impacts on all-cause mortality and respiratory hospitalizations but less consistent evidence on cardiovascular morbidity. We conclude by highlighting priority areas for future research, including leveraging recently developed spatially and temporally resolved wildfire-specific ambient air pollution data to improve estimates of the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos F Gould
- Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; ,
| | - Sam Heft-Neal
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;
| | - Mary Johnson
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ,
| | - Juan Aguilera
- Center for Community Health Impact, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, El Paso, Texas, USA;
| | - Marshall Burke
- Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; ,
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ,
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4
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Wilgus ML, Merchant M. Clearing the Air: Understanding the Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and COPD. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:307. [PMID: 38338192 PMCID: PMC10855577 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12030307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Wildfires are a global natural phenomenon. In North America, wildfires have not only become more frequent, but also more severe and longer in duration, a trend ascribed to climate change combined with large fuel stores left from modern fire suppression. The intensification of wildfire activity has significant implications for planetary health and public health, as exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke is linked to adverse health effects. This review focuses on respiratory morbidity from wildfire smoke exposure. Inhalation of wildfire PM2.5 causes lung injury via oxidative stress, local and systemic inflammation, airway epithelium compromise, and increased vulnerability to infection. Wildfire PM2.5 exposure results in exacerbations of pre-existing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with an escalation in healthcare utilization, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Wildfire smoke exposure may be associated with asthma onset, long-term impairment of lung function, and increased all-cause mortality. Children, older adults, occupationally-exposed groups, and possibly women are the most at risk from wildfire smoke. Future research is needed to clarify best practices for risk mitigation and wildfire management.
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Affiliation(s)
- May-Lin Wilgus
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1405, USA;
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5
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Chung MK, House JS, Akhtari FS, Makris KC, Langston MA, Islam KT, Holmes P, Chadeau-Hyam M, Smirnov AI, Du X, Thessen AE, Cui Y, Zhang K, Manrai AK, Motsinger-Reif A, Patel CJ. Decoding the exposome: data science methodologies and implications in exposome-wide association studies (ExWASs). EXPOSOME 2024; 4:osae001. [PMID: 38344436 PMCID: PMC10857773 DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
This paper explores the exposome concept and its role in elucidating the interplay between environmental exposures and human health. We introduce two key concepts critical for exposomics research. Firstly, we discuss the joint impact of genetics and environment on phenotypes, emphasizing the variance attributable to shared and nonshared environmental factors, underscoring the complexity of quantifying the exposome's influence on health outcomes. Secondly, we introduce the importance of advanced data-driven methods in large cohort studies for exposomic measurements. Here, we introduce the exposome-wide association study (ExWAS), an approach designed for systematic discovery of relationships between phenotypes and various exposures, identifying significant associations while controlling for multiple comparisons. We advocate for the standardized use of the term "exposome-wide association study, ExWAS," to facilitate clear communication and literature retrieval in this field. The paper aims to guide future health researchers in understanding and evaluating exposomic studies. Our discussion extends to emerging topics, such as FAIR Data Principles, biobanked healthcare datasets, and the functional exposome, outlining the future directions in exposomic research. This abstract provides a succinct overview of our comprehensive approach to understanding the complex dynamics of the exposome and its significant implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Kei Chung
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - John S House
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Farida S Akhtari
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Konstantinos C Makris
- Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Michael A Langston
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of TN, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Khandaker Talat Islam
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Philip Holmes
- Department of Physics, Villanova University, Villanova, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Marc Chadeau-Hyam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alex I Smirnov
- Department of Chemistry, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Xiuxia Du
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, College of Computing and Informatics, University of NC at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Anne E Thessen
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of CO Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yuxia Cui
- Exposure, Response, and Technology Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of NY, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Arjun K Manrai
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alison Motsinger-Reif
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chirag J Patel
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Yu K, Zhang Q, Wei Y, Chen R, Kan H. Global association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167542. [PMID: 37797765 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167542] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenge for global public health systems and exacerbates existing health disparities. Epidemiological evidence suggested a potential linkage between particulate and gaseous pollutants and COVID-19 mortality. We aimed to summarize the overall risk of COVID-19 mortality associated with ambient air pollutants over the short- and long-term. METHODS For the systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched five databases for studies evaluating the risk of COVID-19 mortality from exposure to air pollution. Inclusion of articles was assessed independently on the basis of research topic and availability of effect estimates. The risk estimates (relative risk) for each pollutant were pooled with a random-effect model. Potential heterogeneity was explored by subgroup analysis. Funnel plots and trim-and-fill methods were employed to assess and adjust for publication bias. FINDINGS The systematic review retrieved 2059 records, and finally included 43 original studies. PM2.5 (RR: 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.40-2.08, per 10 μg/m3 increase), NO2 (RR: 1.33, 1.07-1.65, per 10 ppb increase) and O3 (RR: 1.61, 1.00-2.57, per 10 ppb increase) were positively associated with COVID-19 mortality for long-term exposures. Accordingly, a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality was associated with PM2.5 (1.05, 1.02-1.08), PM10 (1.05, 1.01-1.08), and NO2 (1.40, 1.04-1.90) for short-term exposures. There was some heterogeneity across subgroups of income level and geographical areas. CONCLUSION Both long-term and short-term exposures to ambient air pollution may increase the risk of COVID-19 mortality. Future studies utilizing individual-level information on demographics, exposures, outcome ascertainment and confounders are warranted to improve the accuracy of estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Yu
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingli Zhang
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhao Wei
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Center for Children's Health, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Lane TJ, Carroll M, Borg BM, McCaffrey TA, Smith CL, Gao CX, Brown D, Poland D, Allgood S, Ikin J, Abramson MJ. Long-term effects of extreme smoke exposure on COVID-19: A cohort study. Respirology 2024; 29:56-62. [PMID: 37681548 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2014, the Hazelwood coalmine fire shrouded the regional Australian town of Morwell in smoke and ash for 6 weeks. One of the fire's by-products, PM2.5 , is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 and severe disease. However, it is unclear whether the effect persisted for years after exposure. In this study, we surveyed a cohort established prior to the pandemic to determine whether PM2.5 from the coalmine fire increased long-term vulnerability to COVID-19 and severe disease. METHODS From August to December 2022, 612 members of the Hazelwood Health Study's adult cohort, established in 2016/17, participated in a follow-up survey that included standardized items to capture COVID-19 cases, as well as questions about hospitalization and vaccinations. Associations were evaluated in crude and adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS A total of 268 (44%) participants self-reported or met symptom criteria for having had COVID-19 at least once. All models found a positive association, with odds of COVID-19 increasing by between 4% and 30% for a 10 μg/m3 increase in coalmine fire-related PM2.5 exposure. However, the association was significant in only 2 of the 18 models. There were insufficient hospitalizations to examine severity (n = 7; 1%). CONCLUSION The findings are inconclusive on the effect of coalmine fire-related PM2.5 exposure on long-term vulnerability to COVID-19. Given the positive association that was robust to modelling variations as well as evidence for a causal mechanism, it would be prudent to treat PM2.5 from fire events as a long-term risk factor until more evidence accumulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Lane
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Carroll
- Monash Rural Health Churchill, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brigitte M Borg
- Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tracy A McCaffrey
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine L Smith
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Caroline X Gao
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Orygen, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Brown
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Poland
- Monash Rural Health Churchill, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shantelle Allgood
- Monash Rural Health Churchill, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jillian Ikin
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J Abramson
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Houweling L, Maitland-Van der Zee AH, Holtjer JCS, Bazdar S, Vermeulen RCH, Downward GS, Bloemsma LD. The effect of the urban exposome on COVID-19 health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117351. [PMID: 37852458 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117351] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global severity of SARS-CoV-2 illness has been associated with various urban characteristics, including exposure to ambient air pollutants. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize findings from ecological and non-ecological studies to investigate the impact of multiple urban-related features on a variety of COVID-19 health outcomes. METHODS On December 5, 2022, PubMed was searched to identify all types of observational studies that examined one or more urban exposome characteristics in relation to various COVID-19 health outcomes such as infection severity, the need for hospitalization, ICU admission, COVID pneumonia, and mortality. RESULTS A total of 38 non-ecological and 241 ecological studies were included in this review. Non-ecological studies highlighted the significant effects of population density, urbanization, and exposure to ambient air pollutants, particularly PM2.5. The meta-analyses revealed that a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a higher likelihood of COVID-19 hospitalization (pooled OR 1.08 (95% CI:1.02-1.14)) and death (pooled OR 1.06 (95% CI:1.03-1.09)). Ecological studies, in addition to confirming the findings of non-ecological studies, also indicated that higher exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), as well as lower ambient temperature, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and less green and blue space exposure, were associated with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION This systematic review has identified several key vulnerability features related to urban areas in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of improving policies related to urban exposures and implementing measures to protect individuals from these harmful environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Houweling
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Anke-Hilse Maitland-Van der Zee
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Judith C S Holtjer
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Somayeh Bazdar
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roel C H Vermeulen
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - George S Downward
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lizan D Bloemsma
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Cherbuin N, Bansal A, Dahlstrom JE, Carlisle H, Broom M, Nanan R, Sutherland S, Vardoulakis S, Phillips CB, Peek MJ, Christensen BK, Davis D, Nolan CJ. Bushfires and Mothers' Mental Health in Pregnancy and Recent Post-Partum. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 21:7. [PMID: 38276795 PMCID: PMC10815782 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010007] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The compounding effects of climate change catastrophes such as bushfires and pandemics impose significant burden on individuals, societies, and their economies. The enduring effects of such syndemics on mental health remain poorly understood, particularly for at-risk populations (e.g., pregnant women and newborns). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of direct and indirect exposure to the 2019/20 Australian Capital Territory and South-Eastern New South Wales bushfires followed by COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies. METHODS All women who were pregnant, had given birth, or were within three months of conceiving during the 2019/2020 bushfires, lived within the catchment area, and provided consent were invited to participate. Those who consented were asked to complete three online surveys. Mental health was assessed with the DASS-21 and the WHO-5. Bushfire, smoke, and COVID-19 exposures were assessed by self-report. Cross-sectional associations between exposures and mental health measures were tested with hierarchical regression models. RESULTS Of the women who participated, and had minimum data (n = 919), most (>75%) reported at least one acute bushfire exposure and 63% reported severe smoke exposure. Compared to Australian norms, participants had higher depression (+12%), anxiety (+35%), and stress (+43%) scores. Women with greater exposure to bushfires/smoke but not COVID-19 had poorer scores on all mental health measures. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide novel evidence that the mental health of pregnant women and mothers of newborn babies is vulnerable to major climate catastrophes such as bushfires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Cherbuin
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Amita Bansal
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jane E. Dahlstrom
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia; (H.C.)
| | - Hazel Carlisle
- The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia; (H.C.)
| | - Margaret Broom
- The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia; (H.C.)
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia;
| | - Ralph Nanan
- Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Centre Nepean, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia;
| | - Stewart Sutherland
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Christine B. Phillips
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Michael J. Peek
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Bruce K. Christensen
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Deborah Davis
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia;
- Nursing and Midwifery Office, ACT Government Health Directorate, Phillip, ACT 2606, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Nolan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; (A.B.); (C.J.N.)
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia; (H.C.)
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10
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Wei J, Li Z, Lyapustin A, Wang J, Dubovik O, Schwartz J, Sun L, Li C, Liu S, Zhu T. First close insight into global daily gapless 1 km PM 2.5 pollution, variability, and health impact. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8349. [PMID: 38102117 PMCID: PMC10724144 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43862-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we retrieve global daily 1 km gapless PM2.5 concentrations via machine learning and big data, revealing its spatiotemporal variability at an exceptionally detailed level everywhere every day from 2017 to 2022, valuable for air quality monitoring, climate change, and public health studies. We find that 96%, 82%, and 53% of Earth's populated areas are exposed to unhealthy air for at least one day, one week, and one month in 2022, respectively. Strong disparities in exposure risks and duration are exhibited between developed and developing countries, urban and rural areas, and different parts of cities. Wave-like dramatic changes in air quality are clearly seen around the world before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns, as is the mortality burden linked to fluctuating air pollution events. Encouragingly, only approximately one-third of all countries return to pre-pandemic pollution levels. Many nature-induced air pollution episodes are also revealed, such as biomass burning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wei
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Zhanqing Li
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Alexei Lyapustin
- Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Iowa Technology Institute, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Oleg Dubovik
- Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique, Université de Lille, CNRS, Lille, France
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lin Sun
- College of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Chi Li
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Song Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tong Zhu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
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11
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Lorenz C, Libonati R, Belém LBC, Oliveira A, Chiaravalloti RM, Nunes AV, Batista EKL, Fernandes GW, Chiaravalloti-Neto F, Damasceno-Junior GA, Berlinck CN, Roque FO. Wildfire and smoke association with COVID-19 cases in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Public Health 2023; 225:311-319. [PMID: 37972494 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In 2020, Brazil experienced two concurrent public health challenges related to respiratory disease: wildfires and increased mortality due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Smoke from these wildfires contributed to a variety of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The present study aims to investigate the effects of environmental and socio-economic factors on COVID-19 hospitalisation in the Pantanal. STUDY DESIGN Ecological retrospective study. METHODS We applied a multilevel negative binomial model to relate monthly hospitalisation data with environmental variables. RESULTS We showed that monthly PM2.5 concentration levels had the greatest influence on the increase in hospitalisations by COVID-19 in the elderly (23 % increase). The Gini index, a coefficient that reflects income inequalities, also had a positive association with COVID-19 hospitalisations (18 % increase). Higher temperatures and humidity were protective factors, showing a 15 % and 14 % decrease in hospitalisations, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that high PM2.5 exposure contributed to the increase in COVID-19 hospitalisations, as did the social inequalities of each municipality. CONCLUSIONS The present study highlights the importance of gathering evidence supported by multiple information sources to guide decision-making and identify populations needing better public health systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lorenz
- Instituto de Estudos Avançados, Universidade de São Paulo, R. do Anfiteatro, 513 - Butantã, São Paulo/SP, 05508-060, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - R Libonati
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 274, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-916, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L B C Belém
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 274, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-916, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A Oliveira
- Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos, 274, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-916, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R M Chiaravalloti
- University College London, Anthropology Department, 14 Taviton Street, WC1H 0BW, London, United Kingdom
| | - A V Nunes
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Av. Costa e Silva - Pioneiros, MS, 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - E K L Batista
- National Research Center for Carnivores Conservation, Chico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Estrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600, Atibaia, 12952-011, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - G W Fernandes
- Evolutionary Ecology & Biodiversity (DGEE ICB) Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - F Chiaravalloti-Neto
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715, 01246-904, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - G A Damasceno-Junior
- Laboratório de Botânica/Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Av. Costa e Silva - Pioneiros, MS, 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - C N Berlinck
- National Research Center for Carnivores Conservation, Chico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Estrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600, Atibaia, 12952-011, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - F O Roque
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Av. Costa e Silva - Pioneiros, MS, 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brazil; Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Dr, Douglas, Cairns, 4811, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Yu SE, Athni TS, Mitchell MB, Zhou X, Chiang S, Lee SE. The Impact of Ambient and Wildfire Air Pollution on Rhinosinusitis and Olfactory Dysfunction. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2023; 23:665-673. [PMID: 38047993 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW With increasing industrialization, exposure to ambient and wildfire air pollution is projected to increase, necessitating further research to elucidate the complex relationship between exposure and sinonasal disease. This review aims to summarize the role of ambient and wildfire air pollution in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and olfactory dysfunction and provide a perspective on gaps in the literature. RECENT FINDINGS Based on an emerging body of evidence, exposure to ambient air pollutants is correlated with the development of chronic rhinosinusitis in healthy individuals and increased symptom severity in CRS patients. Studies have also found a robust relationship between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and olfactory dysfunction. Ambient air pollution exposure is increasingly recognized to impact the development and sequelae of sinonasal pathophysiology. Given the rising number of wildfire events and worsening impacts of climate change, further study of the impact of wildfire-related air pollution is a crucial emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E Yu
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tejas S Athni
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret B Mitchell
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye & Ear, Boston, USA
| | - Xiaodan Zhou
- Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Simon Chiang
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stella E Lee
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Bansal A, Cherbuin N, Leach L, Simmons RA, Nolan CJ. Wildfires and COVID-19: syndemic impact on maternal and child health. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:779-782. [PMID: 37658035 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and climate change-mediated wildfires can combine to impact maternal-child health, yet this connection remains understudied. To shape policies and design interventions to mitigate the combined effects of future global catastrophes, it is vital to holistically evaluate the impact of syndemics on maternal-child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amita Bansal
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Liana Leach
- National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Simmons
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christopher J Nolan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT 2601, Australia
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14
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Bansal A, Cherbuin N, Davis DL, Peek MJ, Wingett A, Christensen BK, Carlisle H, Broom M, Schoenaker DAJM, Dahlstrom JE, Phillips CB, Vardoulakis S, Nanan R, Nolan CJ. Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action. Lancet Planet Health 2023; 7:e718-e725. [PMID: 37558352 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Adverse environmental exposures in utero and early childhood are known to programme long-term health. Climate change, by contributing to severe heatwaves, wildfires, and other natural disasters, is plausibly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increase in the future burden of chronic diseases in both mothers and their babies. In this Personal View, we highlight the limitations of existing evidence, specifically on the effects of severe heatwave and wildfire events, and compounding syndemic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the short-term and long-term physical and mental health of pregnant women and their babies, taking into account the interactions with individual and community vulnerabilities. We highlight a need for an international, interdisciplinary collaborative effort to systematically study the effects of severe climate-related environmental crises on maternal and child health. This will enable informed changes to public health policy and clinical practice necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amita Bansal
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Deborah L Davis
- Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; ACT Government, Health Directorate, ACT, Australia
| | - Michael J Peek
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Amanda Wingett
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bruce K Christensen
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Hazel Carlisle
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Margaret Broom
- Midwifery, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Danielle A J M Schoenaker
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jane E Dahlstrom
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine B Phillips
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; Companion House Refugee Medical Service, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ralph Nanan
- Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Center Nepean, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher J Nolan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia; The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, ACT, Australia.
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15
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Erb WM, Barrow EJ, Hofner AN, Lecorchick JL, Mitra Setia T, Vogel ER. Wildfire smoke linked to vocal changes in wild Bornean orangutans. iScience 2023; 26:107088. [PMID: 37456857 PMCID: PMC10339020 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical peatlands are the sites of Earth's largest fire events, with outsized contributions to greenhouse gases, toxic smoke, and haze rich with particulate matter. The human health risks from wildfire smoke are well known, but its effects on wildlife inhabiting these ecosystems are poorly understood. In 2015, peatland fires on Borneo created a thick haze of smoke that blanketed the region. We studied its effects on the long call vocalizations of four adult male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) in a peat swamp forest. During the period of heavy smoke, orangutans called less often and showed reduced vocal quality-lower pitch, increased harshness and perturbations, and more nonlinear phenomena-similar to changes in human smokers. Most of these changes persisted for two months after the smoke had cleared and likely signal changes in health. Our work contributes valuable information to support non-invasive acoustic monitoring of this Critically Endangered primate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M. Erb
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Barrow
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, West Kalimantan, Ketapang 78811, Indonesia
| | - Alexandra N. Hofner
- Department of Integrative Conservation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jessica L. Lecorchick
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Tatang Mitra Setia
- Fakultas Biologi, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
- Primate Research Center, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
| | - Erin R. Vogel
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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16
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DiSalvatore R, Bauer SK, Ahn JE, Jahan K. Development of a COVID-19 Vulnerability Index (CVI) for the Counties and Residents of New Jersey, USA. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6312. [PMID: 37444160 PMCID: PMC10341843 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136312] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, has impacted countless aspects of everyday life since it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March of 2020. From societal to economic impacts, COVID-19 and its variants will leave a lasting impact on our society and the world. During the height of the pandemic, it became increasingly evident that indices, such as the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), were instrumental in predicting vulnerabilities within a community. The CDC's SVI provides important estimates on which communities will be more susceptible to 'hazard events' by compiling a variety of data from the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey. The CDC's SVI does not directly consider the susceptibility of a community to a global pandemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the four themes and 15 factors that contribute to the index. Thus, the objective of this research is to develop a COVID-19 Vulnerability Index, or CVI, to evaluate a community's susceptibility to future pandemics. With 15 factors considered for CDC's SVI, 26 other factors were also considered for the development of the CVI that covered themes such as socioeconomic status, environmental factors, healthcare capacity, epidemiological factors, and disability. All factors were equally weighted to calculate the CVI based on New Jersey. The CVI was validated by comparing index results to real-world COVID-19 data from New Jersey's 21 counties and CDC's SVI. The results present a stronger positive linear relationship between the CVI and the New Jersey COVID-19 mortality/population and infection/population than there is with the SVI. The results of this study indicate that Essex County has the highest CVI, and Hunterdon County has the lowest CVI. This is due to factors such as disparity in wealth, population density, minority status, and housing conditions, as well as other factors that were used to compose the CVI. The implications of this research will provide a critical tool for decision makers to utilize in allocating resources should another global pandemic occur. This CVI, developed through this research, can be used at the county, state, and global levels to help measure the vulnerability to future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remo DiSalvatore
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (R.D.); (K.J.)
| | - Sarah K. Bauer
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, USA;
| | - Jeong Eun Ahn
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (R.D.); (K.J.)
| | - Kauser Jahan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (R.D.); (K.J.)
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17
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Noah TL, Worden CP, Rebuli ME, Jaspers I. The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Asthma and Allergy. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2023; 23:375-387. [PMID: 37171670 PMCID: PMC10176314 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01090-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the recent literature on the effects of wildfire smoke (WFS) exposure on asthma and allergic disease, and on potential mechanisms of disease. RECENT FINDINGS Spatiotemporal modeling and increased ground-level monitoring data are allowing a more detailed picture of the health effects of WFS exposure to emerge, especially with regard to asthma. There is also epidemiologic and some experimental evidence to suggest that WFS exposure increases allergic predisposition and upper airway or sinonasal disease, though much of the literature in this area is focused more generally on PM2.5 and is not specific for WFS. Experimental evidence for mechanisms includes disruption of epithelial integrity with downstream effects on inflammatory or immune pathways, but experimental models to date have not consistently reflected human disease in this area. Exposure to WFS has an acute detrimental effect on asthma. Potential mechanisms are suggested by in vitro and animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Noah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | - Cameron P Worden
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Meghan E Rebuli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 260 Macnider Building, 333 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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18
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Vos S, De Waele E, Goeminne P, Bijnens EM, Bongaerts E, Martens DS, Malina R, Ameloot M, Dams K, De Weerdt A, Dewyspelaere G, Jacobs R, Mistiaen G, Jorens P, Nawrot TS. Pre-admission ambient air pollution and blood soot particles predict hospitalisation outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Eur Respir J 2023; 62:2300309. [PMID: 37343978 PMCID: PMC10288811 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00309-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure is one of the major risk factors for aggravation of respiratory diseases. We investigated whether exposure to air pollution and accumulated black carbon (BC) particles in blood were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity, including the risk for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and duration of hospitalisation. METHODS From May 2020 until March 2021, 328 hospitalised COVID-19 patients (29% at intensive care) were recruited from two hospitals in Belgium. Daily exposure levels (from 2016 to 2019) for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm and <10 µm (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and BC were modelled using a high-resolution spatiotemporal model. Blood BC particles (internal exposure to nano-sized particles) were quantified using pulsed laser illumination. Primary clinical parameters and outcomes included duration of hospitalisation and risk of ICU admission. RESULTS Independent of potential confounders, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure in the week before admission was associated with increased duration of hospitalisation (PM2.5 +4.13 (95% CI 0.74-7.53) days, PM10 +4.04 (95% CI 1.24-6.83) days and NO2 +4.54 (95% CI 1.53-7.54) days); similar effects were observed for long-term NO2 and BC exposure on hospitalisation duration. These effect sizes for an IQR increase in air pollution on hospitalisation duration were equivalent to the effect of a 10-year increase in age on hospitalisation duration. Furthermore, for an IQR higher blood BC load, the OR for ICU admission was 1.33 (95% CI 1.07-1.65). CONCLUSIONS In hospitalised COVID-19 patients, higher pre-admission ambient air pollution and blood BC levels predicted adverse outcomes. Our findings imply that air pollution exposure influences COVID-19 severity and therefore the burden on medical care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Vos
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- S. Vos and E. De Waele contributed equally
| | - Elien De Waele
- Hospital VITAZ Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
- S. Vos and E. De Waele contributed equally
| | | | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Bongaerts
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Robert Malina
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Karolien Dams
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Annick De Weerdt
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | | | - Rita Jacobs
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | | | - Philippe Jorens
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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19
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Dong Z, Ma J, Qiu J, Ren Q, Shan Q, Duan X, Li G, Zuo YY, Qi Y, Liu Y, Liu G, Lynch I, Fang M, Liu S. Airborne fine particles drive H1N1 viruses deep into the lower respiratory tract and distant organs. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2165. [PMID: 37294770 PMCID: PMC10256160 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mounting data suggest that environmental pollution due to airborne fine particles (AFPs) increases the occurrence and severity of respiratory virus infection in humans. However, it is unclear whether and how interactions with AFPs alter viral infection and distribution. We report synergetic effects between various AFPs and the H1N1 virus, regulated by physicochemical properties of the AFPs. Unlike infection caused by virus alone, AFPs facilitated the internalization of virus through a receptor-independent pathway. Moreover, AFPs promoted the budding and dispersal of progeny virions, likely mediated by lipid rafts in the host plasma membrane. Infected animal models demonstrated that AFPs favored penetration of the H1N1 virus into the distal lung, and its translocation into extrapulmonary organs including the liver, spleen, and kidney, thus causing severe local and systemic disorders. Our findings revealed a key role of AFPs in driving viral infection throughout the respiratory tract and beyond. These insights entail stronger air quality management and air pollution reduction policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Juan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiahuang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Quanzhong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Qing’e Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250117, China
| | - Xuefeng Duan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guangle Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Yi Y. Zuo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Yu Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yajun Liu
- Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Guoliang Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Centre for Respiratory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
- National Center for Respiratory Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Min Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250117, China
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20
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Kline O, Prunicki M. Climate change impacts on children's respiratory health. Curr Opin Pediatr 2023; 35:350-355. [PMID: 37057656 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review examines the impact of climate change on the respiratory health of children, with a focus on temperature, humidity, air pollution, and extreme weather events. Climate change is considered the greatest health threat of our time, and children are especially at risk. This review is timely and relevant as it provides an overview of the current literature on the effects of climate change on children's respiratory health, and the implications of these findings for clinical practice and research. RECENT FINDINGS The findings of this review suggest that climate change has a significant impact on children's respiratory health, with temperature, humidity, air pollution, and extreme weather events being key contributory factors. Increases in extreme weather events such as heatwaves, wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes and dust storms all cause the health of children's respiratory system to be at increased risk. SUMMARY The findings of this review suggest that climate change has a significant impact on children's respiratory health, and that mitigation and adaptation strategies are necessary to protect children from the harmful effects of climate change and improve their respiratory health. Overall, a comprehensive and integrated approach is necessary to protect children from the increasing impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Kline
- Sean Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
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21
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Tuluri F, Remata R, Walters WL, Tchounwou PB. Impact of Regional Mobility on Air Quality during COVID-19 Lockdown in Mississippi, USA Using Machine Learning. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6022. [PMID: 37297626 PMCID: PMC10252722 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20116022] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social distancing measures and shelter-in-place orders to limit mobility and transportation were among the strategic measures taken to control the rapid spreading of COVID-19. In major metropolitan areas, there was an estimated decrease of 50 to 90 percent in transit use. The secondary effect of the COVID-19 lockdown was expected to improve air quality, leading to a decrease in respiratory diseases. The present study examines the impact of mobility on air quality during the COVID-19 lockdown in the state of Mississippi (MS), USA. The study region is selected because of its non-metropolitan and non-industrial settings. Concentrations of air pollutants-particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), particulate matter 10 (PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO)-were collected from the Environmental Protection Agency, USA from 2011 to 2020. Because of limitations in the data availability, the air quality data of Jackson, MS were assumed to be representative of the entire region of the state. Weather data (temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction) were collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA. Traffic-related data (transit) were taken from Google for the year 2020. The statistical and machine learning tools of R Studio were used on the data to study the changes in air quality, if any, during the lockdown period. Weather-normalized machine learning modeling simulating business-as-scenario (BAU) predicted a significant difference in the means of the observed and predicted values for NO2, O3, and CO (p < 0.05). Due to the lockdown, the mean concentrations decreased for NO2 and CO by -4.1 ppb and -0.088 ppm, respectively, while it increased for O3 by 0.002 ppm. The observed and predicted air quality results agree with the observed decrease in transit by -50.5% as a percentage change of the baseline, and the observed decrease in the prevalence rate of asthma in MS during the lockdown. This study demonstrates the validity and use of simple, easy, and versatile analytical tools to assist policymakers with estimating changes in air quality in situations of a pandemic or natural hazards, and to take measures for mitigating if the deterioration of air quality is detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Tuluri
- Department of Industrial Systems & Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Reddy Remata
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA;
| | - Wilbur L. Walters
- College of Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA;
| | - Paul B. Tchounwou
- RCMI Center for Health Disparities Research, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
- RCMI Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
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22
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Martenies SE, Wilson A, Hoskovec L, Bol KA, Burket TL, Podewils LJ, Magzamen S. The COVID-19-wildfire smoke paradox: Reduced risk of all-cause mortality due to wildfire smoke in Colorado during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 225:115591. [PMID: 36878268 PMCID: PMC9985917 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020, the American West faced two competing challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst wildfire season on record. Several studies have investigated the impact of wildfire smoke (WFS) on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, but little is known about how these two public health challenges impact mortality risk for other causes. OBJECTIVES Using a time-series design, we evaluated how daily risk of mortality due to WFS exposure differed for periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Our study included daily data for 11 counties in the Front Range region of Colorado (2010-2020). We assessed WFS exposure using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and used mortality counts from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. We estimated the interaction between WFS and the pandemic (an indicator variable) on mortality risk using generalized additive models adjusted for year, day of week, fine particulate matter, ozone, temperature, and a smoothed term for day of year. RESULTS WFS impacted the study area on 10% of county-days. We observed a positive association between the presence of WFS and all-cause mortality risk (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.04 for same-day exposures) during the period before the pandemic; however, WFS exposure during the pandemic resulted in decreased risk of all-cause mortality (IRR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.87-0.93 for same-day exposures). DISCUSSION We hypothesize that mitigation efforts during the first year of the pandemic, e.g., mask mandates, along with high ambient WFS levels encouraged health behaviors that reduced exposure to WFS and reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Our results suggest a need to examine how associations between WFS and mortality are impacted by pandemic-related factors and that there may be lessons from the pandemic that could be translated into health-protective policies during future wildfire events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Ander Wilson
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lauren Hoskovec
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kirk A Bol
- Center for Health and Environmental Data, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Tori L Burket
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Laura Jean Podewils
- Center for Health Systems Research, Denver Health Office of Research, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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23
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Zhang Y, Hu H, Fokaidis V, V CL, Xu J, Zang C, Xu Z, Wang F, Koropsak M, Bian J, Hall J, Rothman RL, Shenkman EA, Wei WQ, Weiner MG, Carton TW, Kaushal R. Identifying environmental risk factors for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: An EHR-based cohort study from the recover program. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES 2023; 11:100352. [PMID: 36785842 PMCID: PMC9907788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2023.100352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) affects a wide range of organ systems among a large proportion of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although studies have identified a broad set of patient-level risk factors for PASC, little is known about the association between "exposome"-the totality of environmental exposures and the risk of PASC. Using electronic health data of patients with COVID-19 from two large clinical research networks in New York City and Florida, we identified environmental risk factors for 23 PASC symptoms and conditions from nearly 200 exposome factors. The three domains of exposome include natural environment, built environment, and social environment. We conducted a two-phase environment-wide association study. In Phase 1, we ran a mixed effects logistic regression with 5-digit ZIP Code tabulation area (ZCTA5) random intercepts for each PASC outcome and each exposome factor, adjusting for a comprehensive set of patient-level confounders. In Phase 2, we ran a mixed effects logistic regression for each PASC outcome including all significant (false positive discovery adjusted p-value < 0.05) exposome characteristics identified from Phase I and adjusting for confounders. We identified air toxicants (e.g., methyl methacrylate), particulate matter (PM2.5) compositions (e.g., ammonium), neighborhood deprivation, and built environment (e.g., food access) that were associated with increased risk of PASC conditions related to nervous, blood, circulatory, endocrine, and other organ systems. Specific environmental risk factors for each PASC condition and symptom were different across the New York City area and Florida. Future research is warranted to extend the analyses to other regions and examine more granular exposome characteristics to inform public health efforts to help patients recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Zhang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hui Hu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vasilios Fokaidis
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Colby Lewis V
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Chengxi Zang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zhenxing Xu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael Koropsak
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jiang Bian
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jaclyn Hall
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Russell L Rothman
- Institute of Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Shenkman
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Wei-Qi Wei
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Mark G Weiner
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas W Carton
- Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Rainu Kaushal
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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24
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Monoson A, Schott E, Ard K, Kilburg-Basnyat B, Tighe RM, Pannu S, Gowdy KM. Air pollution and respiratory infections: the past, present, and future. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:3-14. [PMID: 36622042 PMCID: PMC10025881 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Air pollution levels across the globe continue to rise despite government regulations. The increase in global air pollution levels drives detrimental human health effects, including 7 million premature deaths every year. Many of these deaths are attributable to increased incidence of respiratory infections. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented public health crisis that has claimed the lives of over 6.5 million people globally, respiratory infections as a driver of human mortality is a pressing concern. Therefore, it is more important than ever to understand the relationship between air pollution and respiratory infections so that public health measures can be implemented to ameliorate further morbidity and mortality. This article aims to review the current epidemiologic and basic science research on interactions between air pollution exposure and respiratory infections. The first section will present epidemiologic studies organized by pathogen, followed by a review of basic science research investigating the mechanisms of infection, and then conclude with a discussion of areas that require future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexys Monoson
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Evangeline Schott
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kerry Ard
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Brita Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Sonal Pannu
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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25
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Collivignarelli MC, Bellazzi S, Caccamo FM, Carnevale Miino M. Discussion about the Latest Findings on the Possible Relation between Air Particulate Matter and COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20065132. [PMID: 36982044 PMCID: PMC10049697 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065132] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Since SARS-CoV-2 was identified, the scientific community has tried to understand the variables that can influence its spread. Several studies have already highlighted a possible link between particulate matter (PM) and COVID-19. This work is a brief discussion about the latest findings on this topic, highlighting the gaps in the current results and possible tips for future studies. Based on the literature outcomes, PM is suspected to play a double role in COVID-19: a chronic and an acute one. The chronic role is related to the possible influence of long-term and short-term exposure to high concentrations of PM in developing severe forms of COVID-19, including death. The acute role is linked to the possible carrier function of PM in SARS-CoV-2. The scientific community seems sure that the inflammatory effect on the respiratory system of short-term exposure to a high concentration of PM, and other additional negative effects on human health in cases of longer exposure, increases the risk of developing a more severe form of COVID-19 in cases of contagion. On the contrary, the results regarding PM acting as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 are more conflicting, especially regarding the possible inactivation of the virus in the environment, and no final explanation on the possible acute role of PM in the spread of COVID-19 can be inferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Water Research, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.C.); (M.C.M.)
| | - Stefano Bellazzi
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Maria Caccamo
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Carnevale Miino
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.C.); (M.C.M.)
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26
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Gao Y, Huang W, Yu P, Xu R, Yang Z, Gasevic D, Ye T, Guo Y, Li S. Long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure on human health: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 320:121041. [PMID: 36639044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The intensity and frequency of wildfires is increasing globally. The systematic review of the current evidence on long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure on human health has not been performed yet. To provide a systematic review and identify potential knowledge gaps in the current evidence of long-term impacts of non-occupational exposure to wildfire smoke and/or wildfire impacts on human health. We conducted a systematic search of the literature via MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus from the database inception to July 05, 2022. References from the included studies and relevant reviews were also considered. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and a validated quality assessment framework were used to evaluate the quality of observational studies. Study results were synthesized descriptively. A total of 36 studies were included in our systematic review. Most studies were from developed countries (11 in Australia, 9 in Canada, 7 in the United States). Studies predominantly focused on mental health (21 studies, 58.33%), while evidence on long-term impacts of wildfire exposure on health outcomes other than mental health is limited. Current evidence indicated that long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure were associated with mortality (COVID-19 mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and acute myocardial disease mortality), morbidity (mainly respiratory diseases), mental health disorders (mainly posttraumatic stress disorder), shorter height of children, reduced lung function and poorer general health status. However, no significant associations were observed for long-term impacts of wildfire exposure on child mortality and respiratory hospitalizations. The population-based high-quality evidence with quantitative analysis on this topic is still limited. Future well-designed studies considering extensive wildfire smoke air pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxides) and estimating risk coefficient values for extensive health outcomes (e.g., mortality, morbidity) are warranted to fill current knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Wenzhong Huang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Pei Yu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Rongbin Xu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Zhengyu Yang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Danijela Gasevic
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia; Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tingting Ye
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
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27
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Chu B, Chen R, Liu Q, Wang H. Effects of High Temperature on COVID-19 Deaths in U.S. Counties. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000705. [PMID: 36852181 PMCID: PMC9958002 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The United States of America (USA) was afflicted by extreme heat in the summer of 2021 and some states experienced a record-hot or top-10 hottest summer. Meanwhile, the United States was also one of the countries impacted most by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Growing numbers of studies have revealed that meteorological factors such as temperature may influence the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. However, the associations between temperature and COVID-19 severity differ in various study areas and periods, especially in periods of high temperatures. Here we choose 119 US counties with large counts of COVID-19 deaths during the summer of 2021 to examine the relationship between COVID-19 deaths and temperature by applying a two-stage epidemiological analytical approach. We also calculate the years of life lost (YLL) owing to COVID-19 and the corresponding values attributable to high temperature exposure. The daily mean temperature is approximately positively correlated with COVID-19 deaths nationwide, with a relative risk of 1.108 (95% confidence interval: 1.046, 1.173) in the 90th percentile of the mean temperature distribution compared with the median temperature. In addition, 0.02 YLL per COVID-19 death attributable to high temperature are estimated at the national level, and distinct spatial variability from -0.10 to 0.08 years is observed in different states. Our results provide new evidence on the relationship between high temperature and COVID-19 deaths, which might help us to understand the underlying modulation of the COVID-19 pandemic by meteorological variables and to develop epidemic policy response strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Chu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System SciencesSchool of Atmospheric SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public HealthKey Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and National Health Commission Key Lab of Health Technology AssessmentFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qi Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System SciencesSchool of Atmospheric SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Climate ChangeNanjingChina
| | - Haikun Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System SciencesSchool of Atmospheric SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Climate ChangeNanjingChina
- Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material CyclingNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
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28
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Yu S, Hsueh L. Do wildfires exacerbate COVID-19 infections and deaths in vulnerable communities? Evidence from California. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 328:116918. [PMID: 36529003 PMCID: PMC9705198 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116918] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding whether and how wildfires exacerbate COVID-19 outcomes is important for assessing the efficacy and design of public sector responses in an age of more frequent and simultaneous natural disasters and extreme events. Drawing on environmental and emergency management literatures, we investigate how wildfire smoke (PM2.5) impacted COVID-19 infections and deaths during California's 2020 wildfire season and how public housing resources and hospital capacity moderated wildfires' effects on COVID-19 outcomes. We also hypothesize and empirically assess the differential impact of wildfire smoke on COVID-19 infections and deaths in counties exhibiting high and low social vulnerability. To test our hypotheses concerning wildfire severity and its disproportionate impact on COVID-19 outcomes in socially vulnerable communities, we construct a county-by-day panel dataset for the period April 1 to November 30, 2020, in California, drawing on publicly available state and federal data sources. This study's empirical results, based on panel fixed effects models, show that wildfire smoke is significantly associated with increases in COVID-19 infections and deaths. Moreover, wildfires exacerbated COVID-19 outcomes by depleting the already scarce hospital and public housing resources in local communities. Conversely, when wildfire smoke doubled, a one percent increase in the availability of hospital and public housing resources was associated with a 2 to 7 percent decline in COVID-19 infections and deaths. For California communities exhibiting high social vulnerability, the occurrence of wildfires worsened COVID-19 outcomes. Sensitivity analyses based on an alternative sample size and different measures of social vulnerability validate this study's main findings. An implication of this study for policymakers is that communities exhibiting high social vulnerability will greatly benefit from local government policies that promote social equity in housing and healthcare before, during, and after disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyang Yu
- School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Lily Hsueh
- School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA; Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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29
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Huang X, Ding K, Liu J, Wang Z, Tang R, Xue L, Wang H, Zhang Q, Tan ZM, Fu C, Davis SJ, Andreae MO, Ding A. Smoke-weather interaction affects extreme wildfires in diverse coastal regions. Science 2023; 379:457-461. [PMID: 36730415 DOI: 10.1126/science.add9843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Extreme wildfires threaten human lives, air quality, and ecosystems. Meteorology plays a vital role in wildfire behaviors, and the links between wildfires and climate have been widely studied. However, it is not fully clear how fire-weather feedback affects short-term wildfire variability, which undermines our ability to mitigate fire disasters. Here, we show the primacy of synoptic-scale feedback in driving extreme fires in Mediterranean and monsoon climate regimes in the West Coast of the United States and Southeastern Asia. We found that radiative effects of smoke aerosols can modify near-surface wind, air dryness, and rainfall and thus worsen air pollution by enhancing fire emissions and weakening dispersion. The intricate interactions among wildfires, smoke, and weather form a positive feedback loop that substantially increases air pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ke Ding
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jingyi Liu
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zilin Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Rong Tang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lian Xue
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haikun Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhe-Min Tan
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Congbin Fu
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Steven J Davis
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Meinrat O Andreae
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, Riyadh 145111, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aijun Ding
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.,Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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30
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Chang CT, Yang CJ, Huang JC. Wet depositions of cations in forests across NADP, EMEP, and EANET monitoring networks over the last two decades. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:26791-26806. [PMID: 36371567 PMCID: PMC9995420 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24129-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Studies focused on emissions and acid deposition of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) and the consequent precipitation acidity have a long history. However, atmospheric depositions of cations play a critical role in buffering precipitation acidity, and providing cationic nutrients for vegetation growth lacks sufficient studies equally. The spatiotemporal patterns of cation depositions and their neutralization potential across broad scales remain unclear. Through synthesizing the long-term data in forest sites (n = 128) derived from three monitoring networks (NADP in Northern America, EMEP in Europe, and EANET in East Asia) on wet deposition of cations (Na+, NH4-N, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+), this study assesses the temporal changes and spatial patterns of cation depositions and their neutralization potential over the last two decades. The results showed that the depositions of cationic nutrients were considerably higher in EANET compared to NADP and EMEP. The depositions of sea salt-associated sodium exhibited a significant transition from marine (> 15 kg ha-1 year-1) to inland (< 3.0 kg ha-1 year-1) forest sites attributable to the precipitation quantity and influences of sea spray. The higher emissions of NH3 and particulate matter in East Asia explained the higher cation depositions in EANET than NADP and EMEP. The annual trends of cations revealed that only 20-30% of the forest sites showed significant changing trends and the sites widely spread across the three networks. Possibly, base cation (BC) deposition has reached a low and stable condition in NADP and EMEP, while it has high spatial heterogeneity in the temporal change in EANET. The difference in BC deposition among the three networks reflects their distinct development of economy. Our synthesis indicates that the annual trends of neutralization factor (NF) in NADP can be explained by the declining of acid potential (AP), not by neutralization potential (NP) as BC deposition has been stably low over the past two decades. Whereas, the concurrent decreases of AP and NP in EMEP or plateau period of both AP and NP in EANET have come to a standstill of acid neutralizing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Te Chang
- Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) - Ph.D. Program on Biodiversity, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407224, Taiwan.
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407224, Taiwan.
| | - Ci-Jian Yang
- German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jr-Chuan Huang
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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Han J, Yin J, Wu X, Wang D, Li C. Environment and COVID-19 incidence: A critical review. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 124:933-951. [PMID: 36182196 PMCID: PMC8858699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented worldwide health crisis. Many previous research studies have found and investigated its links with one or some natural or human environmental factors. However, a review on the relationship between COVID-19 incidence and both the natural and human environment is still lacking. This review summarizes the inter-correlation between COVID-19 incidence and environmental factors. Based on keyword searching, we reviewed 100 relevant peer-reviewed articles and other research literature published since January 2020. This review is focused on three main findings. One, we found that individual environmental factors have impacts on COVID-19 incidence, but with spatial heterogeneity and uncertainty. Two, environmental factors exert interactive effects on COVID-19 incidence. In particular, the interactions of natural factors can affect COVID-19 transmission in micro- and macro- ways by impacting SARS-CoV-2 survival, as well as human mobility and behaviors. Three, the impact of COVID-19 incidence on the environment lies in the fact that COVID-19-induced lockdowns caused air quality improvement, wildlife shifts and socio-economic depression. The additional value of this review is that we recommend future research perspectives and adaptation strategies regarding the interactions of the environment and COVID-19. Future research should be extended to cover both the effects of the environment on the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19-induced impacts on the environment. Future adaptation strategies should focus on sustainable environmental and public policy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jie Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Danyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Chenlu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Naqvi HR, Mutreja G, Shakeel A, Singh K, Abbas K, Naqvi DF, Chaudhary AA, Siddiqui MA, Gautam AS, Gautam S, Naqvi AR. Wildfire-induced pollution and its short-term impact on COVID-19 cases and mortality in California. GONDWANA RESEARCH : INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE JOURNAL 2023; 114:30-39. [PMID: 35529075 PMCID: PMC9066963 DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2022.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Globally, wildfires have seen remarkable increase in duration and size and have become a health hazard. In addition to vegetation and habitat destruction, rapid release of smoke, dust and gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere contributes to its short and long-term detrimental effects. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a public health concern worldwide that primarily target lungs and respiratory tract, akin to air pollutants. Studies from our lab and others have demonstrated association between air pollution and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. However, current knowledge on the impact of wildfire-mediated sudden outburst of air pollutants on COVID-19 is limited. In this study, we examined the association of air pollutants and COVID-19 during wildfires burned during August-October 2020 in California, United States. We observed an increase in the tropospheric pollutants including aerosols (particulate matter [PM]), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by approximately 150%, 100% and 20%, respectively, in 2020 compared to the 2019. Except ozone (O3), similar proportion of increment was noticed during the peak wildfire period (August 16 - September 15, 2020) in the ground PM2.5, CO, and NO2 levels at Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco, cities with largest active wildfire area. We identified three different spikes in the concentrations of PM2.5, and CO for the cities examined clearly suggesting wildfire-induced surge in air pollution. Fresno and Sacramento showed increment in the ground PM2.5, CO and NO2 levels, while San Diego recorded highest change rate in NO2 levels. Interestingly, we observed a similar pattern of higher COVID-19 cases and mortalities in the cities with adverse air pollution caused by wildfires. These findings provide a logical rationale to strategize public health policies for future impact of COVID-19 on humans residing in geographic locations susceptible to sudden increase in local air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Raja Naqvi
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Guneet Mutreja
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, R & D Center, New Delhi, India
| | - Adnan Shakeel
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Karan Singh
- Department of Physics, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Kumail Abbas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut 250005, India
| | | | - Anis Ahmad Chaudhary
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 13317-7544, Saudi Arabia
| | - Masood Ahsan Siddiqui
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Alok Sagar Gautam
- Department of Physics, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sneha Gautam
- Department of Civil Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641114, India
| | - Afsar Raza Naqvi
- Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Su YF, Li C, Xu JJ, Zhou FY, Li T, Liu C, Wu YT, Huang HF. Associations between short-term and long-term exposure to particulate matter and preterm birth. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137431. [PMID: 36455656 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the longstanding evidence on the effect of air pollutants on preterm birth (PTB), few studies have focused on its subtypes, including spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and medically indicated preterm birth (miPTB). Most studies evaluated only the short-term or long-term effects of particulate matter (PM) on PTB. Thus, we designed this study, based on a cohort of 179,385 women, to evaluate both short- and long-term effects of PM with diameters ≤2.5 μm and ≤10 μm (PM2.5 and PM10) on PTB, sPTB and miPTB in Shanghai. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were applied to evaluate short-term effects. Lagged effects were identified using different lag structures. Exposure-response correlation curves were plotted using GAMs after adjustment for confounders. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated using logistic regression to estimate the long-term effect after adjustment for confounders. There was 5.67%, 3.70% and 1.98% daily incidence of PTB, sPTB, and miPTB on average. Every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 was positively associated with PTB and sPTB at lag 2 day. The exposure-response curves (lag 2 day) indicated a rapid increase in sPTB for PM2.5 and a linear increase for PM10, in PTB for PM2.5 and PM10 at concentrations over 100 μg/m3. Regarding long-term exposure, positive associations were found between 10 μg/m3 increases in PM2.5 and PM10 in 3rd trimester and greater odds of sPTB (aOR: 1.042, 95% CI: 1.018-1.065, and 1.018, 95% CI:1.002-1.034), and during the 3 months before conception and miPTB (aOR: 1.023, 95% CI: 1.003-1.042, and 1.017, 95% CI: 1.000-1.036). Acute exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 at lag 2 day and chronic exposure in 3rd trimester was significantly associated with sPTB, while miPTB was related to chronic exposure during the 3 months before pregnancy. These findings indicate that susceptibility windows of PM exposure can be influenced by different underlying etiologies of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Fei Su
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Cheng Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jing-Jing Xu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fang-Yue Zhou
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tao Li
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yan-Ting Wu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - He-Feng Huang
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
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Jerrett M, Nau CL, Young DR, Butler RK, Batteate CM, Su J, Burnett RT, Kleeman MJ. Air pollution and meteorology as risk factors for COVID-19 death in a cohort from Southern California. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107675. [PMID: 36565571 PMCID: PMC9715495 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence links ambient air pollution to COVID-19 incidence, severity, and death, but few studies have analyzed individual-level mortality data with high quality exposure models. METHODS We sought to assess whether higher air pollution exposures led to greater risk of death during or after hospitalization in confirmed COVID-19 cases among patients who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) healthcare system (N=21,415 between 06-01-2020 and 01-31-2022 of whom 99.85 % were unvaccinated during the study period). We used 1 km resolution chemical transport models to estimate ambient concentrations of several common air pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particle matter (PM2.5). We also derived estimates of pollutant exposures from ultra-fine particulate matter (PM0.1), PM chemical species, and PM sources. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between air pollution exposures and death from COVID-19 among hospitalized patients. FINDINGS We found significant associations between COVID-19 death and several air pollution exposures, including: PM2.5 mass, PM0.1 mass, PM2.5 nitrates, PM2.5 elemental carbon, PM2.5 on-road diesel, and PM2.5 on-road gasoline. Based on the interquartile (IQR) exposure increment, effect sizes ranged from hazard ratios (HR) = 1.12 for PM2.5 mass and PM2.5 nitrate to HR ∼ 1.06-1.07 for other species or source markers. Humidity and temperature in the month of diagnosis were also significant negative predictors of COVID-19 death and negative modifiers of the air pollution effects. INTERPRETATION Air pollution exposures and meteorology were associated the risk of COVID-19 death in a cohort of patients from Southern California. These findings have implications for prevention of death from COVID-19 and for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jerrett
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 650 Charles Young Dr. S., 56-070 CHS Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
| | - Claudia L Nau
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Deborah R Young
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Rebecca K Butler
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Christina M Batteate
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 650 Charles Young Dr. S., 56-070 CHS Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Jason Su
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Richard T Burnett
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Directorate, Health Canada 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Michael J Kleeman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis 1 Sheilds Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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Kim H, Samet JM, Bell ML. Association between Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality: A Population-Based Case-Crossover Study Using Individual-Level Mortality Registry Confirmed by Medical Examiners. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:117006. [PMID: 36367781 PMCID: PMC9651183 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have suggested links between ambient air pollution and coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) mortality, yet confirmation by well-designed epidemiological studies with individual data is needed. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine whether short-term exposure to air pollution is associated with risk of mortality from COVID-19 for those infected with COVID-19. METHODS The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office reports individual-level data for deaths from COVID-19 that occur in its jurisdiction, which includes all confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Cook County, Illinois. Case-crossover analysis was conducted to estimate the associations of estimated short-term exposures to particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5μm (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) on the day of death and up to 21 d before death at location of death with COVID-19. A total of 7,462 deaths from COVID-19 that occurred up to 28 February 2021 were included in the final analysis. We adjusted for potential confounders by time-stratified case-crossover design and by covariate adjustments (i.e., time-invariant factors, meteorological factors, viral transmission, seasonality, and time trend). RESULTS Of the 7,462 case and 25,457 self-control days, almost all were days with exposure levels below the PM2.5 24-h National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) (35 μg/m3); 98.9% had O3 levels below the maximum 8-h NAAQS (35.7 μg/m3 or 70 parts per billion). An interquartile range (IQR) increase (5.2 μg/m3) in cumulative 3-wk PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 69.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 34.6, 113.8] increase in risk of COVID-19 mortality. An IQR increase (8.2 μg/m3) in 3-d O3 exposure was associated with a 29.0% (95% CI: 9.9, 51.5) increase in risk of COVID-19 mortality. The associations differed by demographics or race/ethnicity. There was indication of modification of the associations by some comorbid conditions. DISCUSSION Short-term exposure to air pollution below the NAAQS may increase the mortality burden from COVID-19. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10836.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghyok Kim
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Samet
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Michelle L. Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Zhang Y, Hu H, Fokaidis V, Lewis C, Xu J, Zang C, Xu Z, Wang F, Koropsak M, Bian J, Hall J, Rothman RL, Shenkman EA, Wei WQ, Weiner MG, Carton TW, Kaushal R. Identifying Contextual and Spatial Risk Factors for Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An EHR-based Cohort Study from the RECOVER Program. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2022:2022.10.13.22281010. [PMID: 36263067 PMCID: PMC9580388 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.13.22281010] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) affects a wide range of organ systems among a large proportion of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although studies have identified a broad set of patient-level risk factors for PASC, little is known about the contextual and spatial risk factors for PASC. Using electronic health data of patients with COVID-19 from two large clinical research networks in New York City and Florida, we identified contextual and spatial risk factors from nearly 200 environmental characteristics for 23 PASC symptoms and conditions of eight organ systems. We conducted a two-phase environment-wide association study. In Phase 1, we ran a mixed effects logistic regression with 5-digit ZIP Code tabulation area (ZCTA5) random intercepts for each PASC outcome and each contextual and spatial factor, adjusting for a comprehensive set of patient-level confounders. In Phase 2, we ran a mixed effects logistic regression for each PASC outcome including all significant (false positive discovery adjusted p-value < 0.05) contextual and spatial characteristics identified from Phase I and adjusting for confounders. We identified air toxicants (e.g., methyl methacrylate), criteria air pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide), particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) compositions (e.g., ammonium), neighborhood deprivation, and built environment (e.g., food access) that were associated with increased risk of PASC conditions related to nervous, respiratory, blood, circulatory, endocrine, and other organ systems. Specific contextual and spatial risk factors for each PASC condition and symptom were different across New York City area and Florida. Future research is warranted to extend the analyses to other regions and examine more granular contextual and spatial characteristics to inform public health efforts to help patients recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Zhang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Hui Hu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Vasilios Fokaidis
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Colby Lewis
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Chengxi Zang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Zhenxing Xu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Michael Koropsak
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Jiang Bian
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Jaclyn Hall
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Russell L Rothman
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Elizabeth A Shenkman
- Department of Health Outcomes Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Wei-Qi Wei
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Mark G Weiner
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Rainu Kaushal
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
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Hervieux-Moore Z, Dominici F. Human behaviour and wildfire smoke. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1327-1328. [PMID: 35798883 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01400-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Dominici
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Burke M, Heft-Neal S, Li J, Driscoll A, Baylis P, Stigler M, Weill JA, Burney JA, Wen J, Childs ML, Gould CF. Exposures and behavioural responses to wildfire smoke. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1351-1361. [PMID: 35798884 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01396-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pollution from wildfires constitutes a growing source of poor air quality globally. To protect health, governments largely rely on citizens to limit their own wildfire smoke exposures, but the effectiveness of this strategy is hard to observe. Using data from private pollution sensors, cell phones, social media posts and internet search activity, we find that during large wildfire smoke events, individuals in wealthy locations increasingly search for information about air quality and health protection, stay at home more and are unhappier. Residents of lower-income neighbourhoods exhibit similar patterns in searches for air quality information but not for health protection, spend less time at home and have more muted sentiment responses. During smoke events, indoor particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations often remain 3-4× above health-based guidelines and vary by 20× between neighbouring households. Our results suggest that policy reliance on self-protection to mitigate smoke health risks will have modest and unequal benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marshall Burke
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Sam Heft-Neal
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Li
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anne Driscoll
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Baylis
- Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Matthieu Stigler
- Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joakim A Weill
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Burney
- Global Policy School, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeff Wen
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marissa L Childs
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Abstract
Wildfire smoke is a rapidly growing threat to global cardiovascular health. We review the literature linking wildfire smoke exposures to cardiovascular effects. We find substantial evidence that short-term exposures are associated with key cardiovascular outcomes, including mortality, hospitalization, and acute coronary syndrome. Wildfire smoke exposures will continue to increase over the majority of Earth's surface. For example, the United States alone has experienced a 5-fold increase in annual area burned since 1972, with 82 million individuals estimated to be exposed to wildfire smoke by midcentury. The associated rise in excess morbidity and mortality constitutes a growing global public health crisis. Fortunately, the effect of wildfire smoke on cardiovascular health is modifiable at the individual and population levels through specific interventions. Health systems therefore have an opportunity to help safeguard patients from smoke exposures. We provide a roadmap of evidence-based interventions to reduce risk and protect cardiovascular health. Key interventions include preparing health systems for smoke events; identifying and educating vulnerable patients; reducing outdoor activities; creating cleaner air environments; using air filtration devices and personal respirators; and aggressive management of chronic diseases and traditional risk factors. Further research is needed to test the efficacy of interventions on reducing cardiovascular outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah B Henderson
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada (S.B.H.).,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (S.B.H., M.B.)
| | - Michael Brauer
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (S.B.H., M.B.).,Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle (M.B.)
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40
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Al Huraimel K, Alhosani M, Gopalani H, Kunhabdulla S, Stietiya MH. Elucidating the role of environmental management of forests, air quality, solid waste and wastewater on the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2022; 3:100006. [PMID: 37519421 PMCID: PMC9095661 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2022.100006] [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: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The increasing frequency of zoonotic diseases is amongst several catastrophic repercussions of inadequate environmental management. Emergence, prevalence, and lethality of zoonotic diseases is intrinsically linked to environmental management which are currently at a destructive level globally. The effects of these links are complicated and interdependent, creating an urgent need of elucidating the role of environmental mismanagement to improve our resilience to future pandemics. This review focused on the pertinent role of forests, outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste and wastewater management in COVID-19 dissemination to analyze the opportunities prevailing to control infectious diseases considering relevant data from previous disease outbreaks. Global forest management is currently detrimental and hotspots of forest fragmentation have demonstrated to result in zoonotic disease emergences. Deforestation is reported to increase susceptibility to COVID-19 due to wildfire induced pollution and loss of forest ecosystem services. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 like viruses in multiple animal species also point to the impacts of biodiversity loss and forest fragmentation in relation to COVID-19. Available literature on air quality and COVID-19 have provided insights into the potential of air pollutants acting as plausible virus carrier and aggravating immune responses and expression of ACE2 receptors. SARS-CoV-2 is detected in outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste, wastewater and shown to prevail on solid surfaces and aerosols for prolonged hours. Furthermore, lack of protection measures and safe disposal options in waste management are evoking concerns especially in underdeveloped countries due to high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Inadequate legal framework and non-adherence to environmental regulations were observed to aggravate the postulated risks and vulnerability to future waves of pandemics. Our understanding underlines the urgent need to reinforce the fragile status of global environmental management systems through the development of strict legislative frameworks and enforcement by providing institutional, financial and technical supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Al Huraimel
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Alhosani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hetasha Gopalani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shabana Kunhabdulla
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Hashem Stietiya
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Affiliation(s)
- Cezmi A Akdis
- Affiliations Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.
| | - Kari C Nadeau
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University and Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Wildfire Smoke Exposure is Associated with Adverse Respiratory Events Under General Anesthesia in At-Risk Pediatric Patients. Anesthesiology 2022; 137:543-554. [PMID: 35950818 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing wildfire activity worldwide has led to exposure to poor air quality and numerous detrimental health impacts. This study hypothesized an association between exposure to poor air quality from wildfire smoke and adverse respiratory events under general anesthesia in pediatric patients. METHODS This was a single-center retrospective double-cohort study examining two significant wildfire events in Northern California. Pediatric patients presenting for elective surgery during periods of unhealthy air quality were compared to those during periods of healthy air quality. The primary exposure, unhealthy air, was determined using local air quality sensors. The primary outcome was the occurrence of an adverse respiratory event under anesthesia. Secondary analysis included association with other known risk factors for adverse respiratory events. RESULTS 625 patients were included in the analysis. The overall risk of a respiratory complication was 42.4% (265/625). In children without history of reactive airway disease, the risk of adverse respiratory events did not change during unhealthy air periods (102/253, 40.3%) as compared with healthy air periods (95/226, 42.0%) (relative risk 0.96 (0.77 to 1.19), p = 0.703). In children with history of reactive airway disease, the risk of adverse respiratory events increased from 36.8% (25/68) during healthy air periods to 55.1% (43/78) during periods with unhealthy air (1.50 (1.04 to 2.17), p = 0.032). The effect of air quality on adverse respiratory events was significantly modified by reactive airways disease status (1.56 (1.02 to 2.40), p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients with underlying risk factors for respiratory complications under general anesthesia had a greater incidence of adverse respiratory events during periods of unhealthy air quality caused by wildfire smoke. In this vulnerable patient population, postponing elective anesthetics should be considered when air quality is poor.
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Piscitelli P, Miani A, Setti L, De Gennaro G, Rodo X, Artinano B, Vara E, Rancan L, Arias J, Passarini F, Barbieri P, Pallavicini A, Parente A, D'Oro EC, De Maio C, Saladino F, Borelli M, Colicino E, Gonçalves LMG, Di Tanna G, Colao A, Leonardi GS, Baccarelli A, Dominici F, Ioannidis JPA, Domingo JL. The role of outdoor and indoor air quality in the spread of SARS-CoV-2: Overview and recommendations by the research group on COVID-19 and particulate matter (RESCOP commission). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113038. [PMID: 35231456 PMCID: PMC8881809 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There are important questions surrounding the potential contribution of outdoor and indoor air quality in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and perpetuation of COVID-19 epidemic waves. Environmental health may be a critical component of COVID-19 prevention. The public health community and health agencies should consider the evolving evidence in their recommendations and statements, and work to issue occupational guidelines. Evidence coming from the current epidemiological and experimental research is expected to add knowledge about virus diffusion, COVID-19 severity in most polluted areas, inter-personal distance requirements and need for wearing face masks in indoor or outdoor environments. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for maintaining particulate matter concentrations at low levels for multiple health-related reasons, which may also include the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Indoor environments represent even a more crucial challenge to cope with, as it is easier for the SARS-COV2 to spread, remain vital and infect other subjects in closed spaces in the presence of already infected asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people. The potential merits of preventive measures, such as CO2 monitoring associated with natural or controlled mechanical ventilation and air purification, for schools, indoor public places (restaurants, offices, hotels, museums, theatres/cinemas etc.) and transportations need to be carefully considered. Hospital settings and nursing/retirement homes as well as emergency rooms, infectious diseases divisions and ambulances represent higher risk indoor environments and may require additional monitoring and specific decontamination strategies based on mechanical ventilation or air purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Setti
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Xavier Rodo
- ICREA and Climate & Health Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Begona Artinano
- Unit Atmospheric Pollution and POP Characterization, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elena Vara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lisa Rancan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Arias
- School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Département d'Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique, Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Institute for Thermal-fluid systems and clean Energy (BRITE), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Edoardo Cavalieri D'Oro
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudio De Maio
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesco Saladino
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Massimo Borelli
- UMG School of PhD Programmes, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- BioStatistics & Data Science Division, Meta-Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Giovanni S Leonardi
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTP), London, UK.
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
| | | | - John P A Ioannidis
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Josè L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, School of Medicine, Reus, Spain.
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Mohammadi A, Soleimani A, Abdolahnejad A, Ahmed M, Akther T, Nemati-Mansour S, Raeghi S, Rashedi GH, Miri M. SARS-CoV-2 detection in hospital indoor environments, NW Iran. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101511. [PMID: 35880204 PMCID: PMC9301582 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the potential contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor settled dust and surfaces of Amir Al-Muminin hospital in Maragheh, Iran. Samples were taken from surfaces and settled dust using a passive approach and particulate matter (PM) using an active approach from different hospital wards. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 15% of settled dust samples (N = 4/26) and 10% of surface samples (3/30). SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in 13.8% and 9.1% of the dust samples collected at a distance of fewer than 1 m and more than 3 m from the patient bed, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was found in 11% of surface samples from low-touch surfaces and 8% from high touch surfaces. The relationship between PM2.5, PM10, humidity, temperature, and positive samples of SARS-CoV-2 was investigated. A positive correlation was observed between relative humidity, PM2.5, and positive SARS-CoV-2 samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested positive correlation between positive SARS-CoV-2 samples, relative humidity, and PM2.5. Risk assessment results indicated that the annual mean infection risk of SARS-CoV-2 for hospital staff with illness and death was 2.6 × 10-2 and 7.7 × 10-4 per person per year. Current findings will help reduce the permanence of viral particles in the COVID 19 tragedy and future similar pandemics e.g., novel influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Ali Soleimani
- Department of Public Health, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Ali Abdolahnejad
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Morshad Ahmed
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77024, United States
| | - Tanzina Akther
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77024, United States
| | | | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Gholam Hossein Rashedi
- Expert of Environmental Health Engineering, Amir Al-muminin Hospital, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Mohammad Miri
- Non-communicable Disease Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
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Schuller A, Walker ES, Goodrich JM, Lundgren M, Montrose L. Indoor Air Quality Considerations for Laboratory Animals in Wildfire-Impacted Regions-A Pilot Study. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10070387. [PMID: 35878291 PMCID: PMC9315628 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10070387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire events are increasing across the globe. The smoke generated as a result of this changing fire landscape is potentially more toxic than air pollution from other ambient sources, according to recent studies. This is especially concerning for populations of humans or animals that live downwind of areas that burn frequently, given that ambient exposure to wildfire smoke cannot be easily eliminated. We hypothesized that a significant indoor air pollution risk existed for laboratory animal facilities located proximal to fire-prone areas. Here, we measured real time continuous outdoor and indoor air quality for 28 days at a laboratory animal facility located in the Rocky Mountain region. We demonstrated that during a wildfire event, the indoor air quality of this animal facility is influenced by ambient smoke events. The daily average indoor fine particulate matter value in an animal room exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's ambient annual standard 14% of the time and exceeded the World Health Organization's ambient annual guideline 71% of the time. We further show that specialized cage filtration systems are capable of mitigating air pollution penetrance and could improve an animal's microenvironment. The potential effects for laboratory animal physiology that occur in response to the exposure levels and durations measured in this study remain to be determined; yet, even acute wildfire exposure events have been previously correlated with significant differences in gene regulatory and metabolic processes in vivo. We believe these findings warrant consideration for indoor laboratory animal facility air quality monitoring and development of smoke exposure prevention and response protocols, especially among facilities located downwind of fire-prone landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Schuller
- Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Program, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Ethan S. Walker
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA;
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Matthew Lundgren
- Office of Research Compliance, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Luke Montrose
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(208)-426-3979
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46
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Montrose L, Walker ES, Toevs S, Noonan CW. Outdoor and indoor fine particulate matter at skilled nursing facilities in the western United States during wildfire and non-wildfire seasons. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e13060. [PMID: 35762245 PMCID: PMC9835102 DOI: 10.1111/ina.13060] [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: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire activity is increasing in parts of the world where extreme drought and warming temperatures contribute to fireprone conditions, including the western United States. The elderly are among the most vulnerable, and those in long-term care with preexisting conditions have added risk for adverse health outcomes from wildfire smoke exposure. In this study, we report continuous co-located indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) measurements at four skilled nursing facilities in the western United States. Throughout the year 2020, over 8000 h of data were collected, which amounted to approximately 300 days of indoor and outdoor sampling at each facility. The highest indoor 24 h average PM2.5 recorded at each facility was 43.6 µg/m3 , 103.2 µg/m3 , 35.4 µg/m3 , and 202.5 µg/m3 , and these peaks occurred during the wildfire season. The indoor-to-outdoor PM2.5 ratio and calculated infiltration efficiencies indicated high variation in the impact of wildfire events on Indoor Air Quality between the four facilities. Notably, infiltration efficiency ranged from 0.22 to 0.76 across the four facilities. We propose that this variability is evidence that PM2.5 infiltration may be impacted by modifiable building characteristics and human behavioral factors, and this should be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Montrose
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Ethan S. Walker
- Center for Population Health Research, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Sarah Toevs
- Department of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Curtis W. Noonan
- Center for Population Health Research, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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47
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Agache I, Sampath V, Aguilera J, Akdis CA, Akdis M, Barry M, Bouagnon A, Chinthrajah S, Collins W, Dulitzki C, Erny B, Gomez J, Goshua A, Jutel M, Kizer KW, Kline O, LaBeaud AD, Pali‐Schöll I, Perrett KP, Peters RL, Plaza MP, Prunicki M, Sack T, Salas RN, Sindher SB, Sokolow SH, Thiel C, Veidis E, Wray BD, Traidl‐Hoffmann C, Witt C, Nadeau KC. Climate change and global health: A call to more research and more action. Allergy 2022; 77:1389-1407. [PMID: 35073410 DOI: 10.1111/all.15229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing understanding, globally, that climate change and increased pollution will have a profound and mostly harmful effect on human health. This review brings together international experts to describe both the direct (such as heat waves) and indirect (such as vector-borne disease incidence) health impacts of climate change. These impacts vary depending on vulnerability (i.e., existing diseases) and the international, economic, political, and environmental context. This unique review also expands on these issues to address a third category of potential longer-term impacts on global health: famine, population dislocation, and environmental justice and education. This scholarly resource explores these issues fully, linking them to global health in urban and rural settings in developed and developing countries. The review finishes with a practical discussion of action that health professionals around the world in our field can yet take.
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48
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Ademu LO, Gao J, Thompson OP, Ademu LA. Impact of Short-Term Air Pollution on Respiratory Infections: A Time-Series Analysis of COVID-19 Cases in California during the 2020 Wildfire Season. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:5057. [PMID: 35564452 PMCID: PMC9101675 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The 2020 California wildfire season coincided with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many counties in California, with impacts on air quality. We quantitatively analyzed the short-term effect of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission using county-level data collected during the 2020 wildfire season. Using time-series methodology, we assessed the relationship between short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Air Quality Index (AQI) on confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 20 counties impacted by wildfires. Our findings indicate that PM2.5, CO, and AQI are positively associated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. This suggests that increased air pollution could worsen the situation of a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Health policymakers should make tailored policies to cope with situations that may increase the level of air pollution, especially during a wildfire season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Ouja Ademu
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Jingjing Gao
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Onah Peter Thompson
- Public Policy Ph.D. Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (J.G.); (O.P.T.)
| | - Lawrence Anebi Ademu
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University Wukari, Wukari 1020, Nigeria;
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Weaver AK, Head JR, Gould CF, Carlton EJ, Remais JV. Environmental Factors Influencing COVID-19 Incidence and Severity. Annu Rev Public Health 2022; 43:271-291. [PMID: 34982587 PMCID: PMC10044492 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052120-101420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports a link between environmental factors-including air pollution and chemical exposures, climate, and the built environment-and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility and severity. Climate, air pollution, and the built environment have long been recognized to influence viral respiratory infections, and studies have established similar associations with COVID-19 outcomes. More limited evidence links chemical exposures to COVID-19. Environmental factors were found to influence COVID-19 through four major interlinking mechanisms: increased risk of preexisting conditions associated with disease severity; immune system impairment; viral survival and transport; and behaviors that increase viral exposure. Both data and methodologic issues complicate the investigation of these relationships, including reliance on coarse COVID-19 surveillance data; gaps in mechanistic studies; and the predominance of ecological designs. We evaluate the strength of evidence for environment-COVID-19 relationships and discuss environmental actions that might simultaneously address the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental determinants of health, and health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Weaver
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; ,
| | - Jennifer R Head
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Carlton
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, USA;
| | - Justin V Remais
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; ,
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50
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Sheehan MC. 2021 Climate and Health Review - Uncharted Territory: Extreme Weather Events and Morbidity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2022; 52:189-200. [PMID: 35229682 DOI: 10.1177/00207314221082452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Extreme weather events (EWEs) affected health in every world region during 2021, placing the planet in "uncharted territory." Portraying the human impacts of EWEs is part of a health frame that suggests public knowledge of these risks will spur support for needed policy change. The health frame has gained traction since the Paris COP21 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) and arguably helped to achieve modest progress at the Glasgow COP26. However, reporting rarely covers the full picture of health impacts from EWEs, instead focusing on cost of damages, mortality, and displacement. This review summarizes data for 30 major EWEs of 2021 and, based on the epidemiological literature, discusses morbidity-related exposures for four hazards that marked the year: wildfire smoke; extreme cold and power outages; extreme, precipitation-related flooding; and drought. A very large likely burden of morbidity was found, with particularly widespread exposure to risk of respiratory outcomes (including interactions with COVID-19) and mental illnesses. There is need for a well-disseminated global annual report on EWE morbidity, including affected population estimates and evolving science. In this way, the public health frame may be harnessed to bolster evidence for the broader and promising frame of "urgency and agency" for climate change action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Sheehan
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.,Public Policy Center, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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