Health Risk Associated with Exposure to PM10 and Benzene in Three Italian Towns

Biochar dust emission: Is it a health concern? Preliminary results for toxicity assessment

Biochar is currently garnering interest as an alternative to commercial fertilizer and as a tool to counteract global warming. However, its use is increasingly drawing attention, particularly concerning the fine dust that can be developed during its manufacture, transport and use. This work aimed to assess the toxicity of fine particulate Biochar ( Collapse

Key Words

• Biochar
• environmental pollution
• in-vitro studies
• in-vivo studies
• occupational exposure

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Affiliation(s)

Silvana Pinelli Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Stefano Rossi Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Alessio Malcevschi Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Michele Miragoli Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; CERT, Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Tossicologica, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Massimo Corradi Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; CERT, Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Tossicologica, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Luisella Selis Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Sara Tagliaferri Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; CERT, Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Tossicologica, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Francesca Rossi National Research Council (CNR), Istituto dei Materiali per l'Elettronica ed il Magnetismo (IMEM), Parma, Italy
Delia Cavallo INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Cinzia Lucia Ursini INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Diana Poli INAIL Research, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Paola Mozzoni Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; CERT, Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Tossicologica, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

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Health Impact Assessment of Short-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter (PM10) in Northern Thailand

In northern Thailand, in recent decades, particulate pollution from the burning of biomass has become a serious issue with toxicological implications for human health, especially during the winter months of January to April. The purpose of this study was to explore short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM₁₀) in northern Thailand. The high PM₁₀ concentration in 2012 was used as a case study. We used the EPA's Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-Community Edition (BenMAP-CE) for the health impact assessment, along with ground-based measurement data. The annual average observed PM₁₀ concentration was in the range of 43-61 μg/m³, with a maximum observed PM₁₀ concentration of 300 μg/m³ in March. We then assessed the impacts of PM₁₀ exposure in northern Thailand. When the PM₁₀ concentration was reduced to 120 μg/m³, the undesirable effects on respiratory mortality decreased by 5%-11%. When the concentration of PM₁₀ was reduced to 45 μg/m³, the deleterious effects on respiratory mortality decreased by 11-30%. In conclusion, adherence to the WHO-AQG, particularly for PM₁₀ (45 μg/m³), tends to result in considerable reductions in respiratory disease mortality in northern Thailand.

Occupational health risk assessment of the benzene exposure industries: a comprehensive scoring method through 4 health risk assessment models

Benzene is one of the most common occupational hazards in the working environment which was in the list of group 1 carcinogens. This study applied four occupational health risk assessment models: EPA model; MOM model of Singapore; the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) model, and the Technical guide WS/T 777-2021 of China. The models assessed both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects of benzene for 1629 employees in 50 factories in Jiangsu Province (China) who were exposed to benzene in the working environment and analysis the risk between industries by principal component analysis (PCA) method. The highest occupational health hazard of benzene among the five industries is petroleum processing industry, then followed by chemical products manufacturing industry, special equipment manufacturing industry, wood processing and products industry, and at last the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The population of abnormal routine blood parameters in the subjects was mostly in the "wood products industry" group, and the concentration of benzene in "wood products industry" group is the lowest in 5 groups. The industries with low exposure concentration have higher blood abnormality rates; this may be caused by the fact that blood damage is more secretive under low occupational health risk.

Health risk assessment of particulate matter 2.5 in an academic metallurgy workshop

Exposure to indoor PM_2.5 is associated with allergies, eye and skin irritation, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary diseases. To control indoor PM_2.5 and protect the health of occupants, exposure and health studies are necessary. In this study, exposure to PM_2.5 released in an academic metallurgy workshop was assessed and a health risk assessment was conducted for male and female students and technicians. Polycarbonate membrane filters and an active pump operating at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min were used to collect PM_2.5 from Monday to Friday for 3 months (August-October 2020) from 08:00-16:00. PM_2.5 mass concentrations were obtained gravimetrically, and the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry model was used to predict the deposition, retention, and clearance of PM_2.5 in the respiratory tract system. The risk of developing carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects among students and technicians was determined. The average PM_2.5 mass concentration for August was 32.6 μg/m³ 32.8 μg/m³ for September, and 32.2 μg/m³ for October. The head region accounted for the highest deposition fraction (49.02%), followed by the pulmonary (35.75%) and tracheobronchial regions (15.26%). Approximately 0.55 mg of PM_2.5 was still retained in the alveolar region 7 days after exposure. The HQ for male and female students was <1 while that of male and female technicians was >1, suggesting that technicians are at risk of developing non-carcinogenic health effects compared with students. The results showed a risk of developing carcinogenic health effects among male and female technicians (>1 × 10^-5 ); however, there was no excess cancer risk for students (<1 × 10^-6 ). This study highlights the importance of exposure and health studies in academic micro-environments such as metallurgy workshops which are often less researched, and exposure is underestimated. The results also indicated the need to implement control measures to protect the health of the occupants and ensure that the workshop rules are adhered to.

Magnetic particle monitoring on leaves in winter: a pilot study on a highly polluted location in the Po plain (Northern Italy)

Environmental monitoring in Northern Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Europe, is of paramount importance. Leaf monitoring throughout magnetic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis could be considered a good complementary analysis to sampling stations, but the lack of evergreen plants in the northern Italy towns may hinder magnetic leaf analysis in the winter season. Therefore, we tested three species of urban vegetation, which are evergreen and commonly found in urban environment, namely Hedera helix L., Parietaria officinalis L. and Rubus caesius L. Magnetic susceptibility, chosen as a simple parameter suitable for monitoring, was measured in seven stations, during the period 25 January 2019 to 8 March 2019 at a weekly step, in the cities of Torino and Parma in the same days. P. officinalis and R. caesius showed the best response, but also H. helix was suitable to detect highly polluted areas. In Torino, the magnetic susceptibility decreased in the last sampling, together with PM10, whereas in Parma it increased, likely for the beginning of the academic period in the University Campus. SEM-EDS analysis was done comparing leaves from the same plant sampled in February 2019, in highly polluted conditions, and in May 2020, after 2 months of very limited traffic, due to national lockdown. Silicate grains of natural minerals, sized between 10 and 20 µm, are present in both samples, whereas Fe oxides, about one micron size, possibly coming from car brake consumption, are prominent in the February 2019 sample. Magnetic susceptibility of leaves form the examined species looks promising to spot urban sites with high metal pollution.

Assessing the impact of long-term exposure to nine outdoor air pollutants on COVID-19 spatial spread and related mortality in 107 Italian provinces

This paper investigates the air quality in 107 Italian provinces in the period 2014-2019 and the association between exposure to nine outdoor air pollutants and the COVID-19 spread and related mortality in the same areas. The methods used were negative binomial (NB) regression, ordinary least squares (OLS) model, and spatial autoregressive (SAR) model. The results showed that (i) common air pollutants-nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀)-were highly and positively correlated with large firms, energy and gas consumption, public transports, and livestock sector; (ii) long-term exposure to NO₂, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, benzene, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and cadmium (Cd) was positively and significantly correlated with the spread of COVID-19; and (iii) long-term exposure to NO_2, O₃, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and arsenic (As) was positively and significantly correlated with COVID-19 related mortality. Specifically, particulate matter and Cd showed the most adverse effect on COVID-19 prevalence; while particulate matter and As showed the largest dangerous impact on excess mortality rate. The results were confirmed even after controlling for eighteen covariates and spatial effects. This outcome seems of interest because benzene, BaP, and heavy metals (As and Cd) have not been considered at all in recent literature. It also suggests the need for a national strategy to drive down air pollutant concentrations to cope better with potential future pandemics.

Particulate matter concentration and health risk assessment for a residential building during COVID-19 pandemic in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Building and its environment are in focus owing to health impact attributed to indoor air quality. This study was carried out to assess indoor air quality in terms of particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide in a residential building, during COVD-19 pandemic lockdown from March 25 to April 23, 2020, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The PM concentration range for kitchen, bedroom, and hall were 40,000-81000 μg/m³ (PM_0.3), 15,000-26000 μg/m³ (PM_0.5), 4000-6000 μg/m³ (PM₁), 1100-1500 μg/m³ (PM_2.5), 160-247 μg/m³ (PM₅), and 60-95 μg/m³ (PM₁₀). The results of this study suggest that bedroom needs to be ventilated as CO₂ concentration was reaching 700 ppm during sleep hours. PM concentration was exceeding 300 μg/m³ (unhealthy) for all particle sizes of PM_0.3, PM_0.5, PM₁, and PM_2.5 except for PM₁₀ which was also above safe limits (0-50 μg/m³). Also, with influential habit (aromatic smoke), these concentrations increased 2-28 times for PM. The hazard quotient value greater than 1 revealed potential health risk to the inhabitants. Hence, future studies are needed for developing indoor air quality guidelines for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia and better planning and management of energy consumption.

Linalool reverses benzene-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and lysosomal/mitochondrial damages in human lymphocytes

Benzene exposure results in bone marrow suppression, leading to a decrease in the number of circulating white blood cells, an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and aplastic anemia. Since the mechanism of induction of benzene toxicity is due to active metabolites through cytochrome p450 enzymes and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we hypothesized that natural compound such linalool with anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties could be effective in reducing its toxicity. Lymphocytes isolated from healthy individuals were simultaneously cotreated with different concentrations of LIN (10, 25 and 50 µM) and benzene (50 µM) for 4 h at 37 °C. After incubation, the toxicity parameters such cytotoxicity, ROS formation, lysosomal membrane integrity, mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse, oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were analyzed using biochemical and flow cytometry evaluations. Our data showed that benzene (50 µM) induced a significant increase in cytotoxicity, ROS formation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress while LIN with antioxidant potential reversed the toxic effects of benzene on isolated human lymphocytes. Our results suggest that LIN reduces and reverses benzene-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and lysosomal/mitochondrial damages in human lymphocyte. This study demonstrated that cotreatment of LIN with benzene can reduce several parameters indicative of oxidative stress. As such, LIN could represent a potential therapeutic agent in reducing certain aspects of benzene-induced toxicity.

In Utero Maternal Benzene Exposure Predisposes to the Metabolic Imbalance in the Offspring

Environmental chemicals play a significant role in the development of metabolic disorders, especially when exposure occurs early in life. We have recently demonstrated that benzene exposure, at concentrations relevant to cigarette smoke, induces a severe metabolic imbalance in a sex-specific manner affecting male but not female mice. However, the roles of benzene in the development of aberrant metabolic outcomes following gestational exposure, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we exposed pregnant C57BL/6JB dams to benzene at 50 ppm or filtered air for 6 h/day from gestational day 0.5 (GD0.5) through GD21 and studied male and female offspring metabolic phenotypes in their adult life. While no changes in body weight or body composition were observed between groups, 4-month-old male and female offspring exhibited reduced parameters of energy homeostasis (VO2, VCO2, and heat production). However, only male offspring from benzene-exposed dams were glucose intolerant and insulin resistant at this age. By 6 months of age, both male and female offspring exhibited marked glucose intolerance however, only male offspring developed severe insulin resistance. This effect was accompanied by elevated insulin secretion and increased beta-cell mass only in male offspring. In support, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, the index of insulin resistance was elevated only in male but not in female offspring. Regardless, both male and female offspring exhibited a considerable increase in hepatic gene expression associated with inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, gestational benzene exposure can predispose offspring to increased susceptibility to the metabolic imbalance in adulthood with differential sensitivity between sexes.

Publication trends in research on particulate matter and health impact over a 10-year period: 2009-2018

Exposure to ambient particulate matter is a major health risk factor for numerous diseases, including those of the cardiovascular and respiratory varieties. The aim of this study was to estimate the latest global research activities regarding particulate matter and health impact. We performed a bibliometric analysis of this field's scientific publication trends over a decade (2009-2018). Publications were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using the search terms "particulate matter," "fine particulate matter," "health impact," and their synonyms. The literature on health impact in the research fields of particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) trended to significantly increase over the decade in consideration. It appears to have been led by researchers of the United States and China. Worldwide research on particulate matter and health effects has focused primarily on respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The precursors to and components of particulate matter (such as nitrogen dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, sulfur dioxide, and black carbon) were also popular research topics in this field. Research on children, older adults, and pregnant women, who are most vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution, has increased dramatically over the past 10 years. Our findings provide the information necessary to predict unmet research topics and future research needs.

Acarbose protects from central and peripheral metabolic imbalance induced by benzene exposure

Benzene is a well-known human carcinogen that is one of the major components of air pollution. Sources of benzene in ambient air include cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes vaping, and evaporation of benzene containing petrol processes. While the carcinogenic effects of benzene exposure have been well studied, less is known about the metabolic effects of benzene exposure. We show that chronic exposure to benzene at low levels induces a severe metabolic imbalance in a sex-specific manner, and is associated with hypothalamic inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Benzene exposure rapidly activates hypothalamic ER stress and neuroinflammatory responses in male mice, while pharmacological inhibition of ER stress response by inhibiting IRE1α-XBP1 pathway significantly alleviates benzene-induced glial inflammatory responses. Additionally, feeding mice with Acarbose, a clinically available anti-diabetes drug, protected against benzene induced central and peripheral metabolic imbalance. Acarbose imitates the slowing of dietary carbohydrate digestion, suggesting that choosing a diet with a low glycemic index might be a potential strategy for reducing the negative metabolic effect of chronic exposure to benzene for smokers or people living/working in urban environments with high concentrations of exposure to automobile exhausts.

Temporal Trend of PM10 and Associated Human Health Risk over the Past Decade in Cluj-Napoca City, Romania

The human health risk associated with PM10 exposure was assessed for the residents of Cluj-Napoca city, Romania, for a best case-scenario based on the monthly average PM10 and for a worst-case scenario based on the monthly 90th percentile of PM10 concentration. As no toxicity value for PM10 was available, for the calculation of the hazard quotient, the toxicity value was considered to be equal to the annual limit value (40 µm/m3) set in the European Union (EU), and to air quality guidelines (20 µm/m3) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The daily PM10 concentrations for the period 2009–2019, at the four monitoring stations existing in Cluj-Napoca, were obtained from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network. The annual PM10 values ranged between 20.3 and 29.5 µg/m3, and were below the annual limit value (40 µg/m3) set by European and national legislation, but above the annual air quality guideline (20 µg/m3) set by WHO. Generally, the monthly PM10 concentrations were higher from October to March than in the rest of the year. The monthly air quality index (AQI) showed the good to moderate quality of the air during the whole decade; however, there were days when the air quality was unhealthy for sensitive population groups. The air quality was more or less constant during the warm months, and improved significantly for the cold months from 2009 to 2019. In the best-case scenario, calculated using the EU annual limit value for PM10, the potential non-carcinogenic chronic health risk was present only in 2009 and 2010, but in the worst-case scenario, in each year there were periods, especially in the cold months, in which health risk was present. When considering the WHO air quality guidelines in the calculation of the health risk, the potential non-carcinogenic chronic health risk was present between October and March in each year in the best-case scenario, and in most of the months in the worst-case scenario.

Outdoor benzene highly impacts indoor concentrations globally

Benzene is a carcinogen. Exposure to benzene severely threatens people's health. While its indoor sources such as paint and solvent have been tightly regulated as a result of its inclusion into indoor air standards globally, its outdoor emission from traffic and industry is less addressed. Since human's exposure to benzene mainly occurs indoors, how outdoor benzene affects indoor concentrations is a critical issue, but not well discussed yet. This study summarized 118 pairs of outdoor-indoor measurement of benzene concentrations mainly published in the past five years. We found that the outdoor benzene concentrations measured in developing countries exceed 5 μg/m³, an annual concentration limit recommended by Europe Union, more often than developed ones. It implies a worse benzene pollution situation in the developing places, probably due to strong emission from traffic and industry. The outdoor/indoor concentration ratio is 0.69 and 0.84 for the developing and developed places, respectively. It indicates a significant, if not dominant, role of outdoor benzene in formulating indoor concentrations over indoor sources. Controlling outdoor benzene emission is therefore highlighted. Actions should be taken to regulate benzene emission sources such as traffic and industry. This is particularly urgent to protect occupants in buildings close to roads and factories.

BTEXS Concentrations and Exposure Assessment in a Fire Station

The aim of this study was to evaluate benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene (BTEXS) concentrations in the changing room and garage in a fire station located in the Upper Silesian agglomeration (Poland), to compare them with the concentrations of the same compounds in the atmospheric air (outdoor background) and to assess the health exposure to BTEXS among firefighters and office workers in this unit. BTEXS samples were collected during the winter of 2018 in parallel in the garage, in the changing room, and outside, using sorption tubes filled with activated carbon. The average total BTEXS concentrations in the changing room and garage were over six times higher than those in the atmospheric air in the vicinity of the fire station. At each sampling site, toluene and benzene had the highest concentrations. According to the diagnostic indicators, the combustion of various materials and fuels was the source of BTEXS inside, while outside, the sources were the combustion of fuels and industrial activity. The carcinogenic risk related to benzene inhalation by the firefighters and office employees in the monitored unit exceeded the acceptable risk level value of 7.8 × 10−6 per 1 μg/m3 by more than 20 times.

Association Between Outdoor Air Pollution and Risk of Malignant and Benign Brain Tumors: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Background

There are increasing concerns about the potential impact of air pollution on chronic brain inflammation and microglia cell activation, but evidence of its carcinogenic effects is limited.

Methods

We used kriging interpolation and land use regression models to estimate long-term air pollutant exposures of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x, NO₂), kriging interpolation for ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide, and particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀), and nearest monitoring station measurements for benzene for 103 308 men and women from the Multiethnic Cohort, residing largely in Los Angeles County from recruitment (1993–1996) through 2013. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the associations between time-varying pollutants and risk of malignant brain cancer (94 men, 116 women) and meningioma (130 men, 425 women) with adjustment for sex, race and ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status, smoking, occupation, and other covariates. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex and race and ethnicity.

Results

Brain cancer risk in men increased in association with exposure to benzene (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.55 to 7.55) and PM₁₀ (HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.00 to 3.23). Stronger associations with PM₁₀ (HR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.26 to 7.23), O₃ (HR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.09 to 7.88), and benzene (HR = 4.06, 95% CI = 1.17 to 18.2) were observed among Latino men. Air pollution was unrelated to risk of meningioma except that O₃ exposure was associated with risk in men (HR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.02 to 3.06). Brain cancer risk in women was unrelated to air pollution exposures.

Conclusions

Confirmation of these sex differences in air pollution–brain cancer associations and the stronger findings in Latino men in additional diverse populations is warranted.

Characteristic and mechanism of sorption and desorption of benzene on humic acid

The sorption/desorption behaviors of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) on soil organic matter (SOM) have a significant influence on their fate and bioavailability in soil. Humic acid (HA) is a major fraction of SOM. And due to its various structural properties and chemical composition, the sorption/desorption characteristics and mechanisms of HA are diverse for organic contaminants. In this study, batch experiments were conducted to investigate the sorption/desorption behavior of benzene on HA at different conditions (temperature, pH, and ionic strength). The particle size of HA increased at lower initial pH which promoted sorption capacity for benzene, illustrating that HA with larger particle size may develop preferential chemical conformation for benzene sorption at lower pH. Sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of benzene on HA is an exothermic and spontaneous physical process. And kinetic studies showed that the sorption of benzene on HA is controlled by the diffusion process and the availability of sorption sites. Meanwhile, weak sorbent-sorbate interaction is presented in the desorption experiment. There was no obvious effect of ionic strength on benzene sorption, suggesting that the sorption process is not controlled by ion-exchange or electrostatic interaction. Combined with FTIR analysis, the hydrophobic partitioning and π-π conjugative interaction are the possible sorption mechanisms of benzene on HA.

Association between Outdoor Air Pollution and Childhood Leukemia: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

A causal link between outdoor air pollution and childhood leukemia has been proposed, but some older studies suffer from methodological drawbacks. To the best of our knowledge, no systematic reviews have summarized the most recently published evidence and no analyses have examined the dose-response relation.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the extent to which outdoor air pollution, especially as resulting from traffic-related contaminants, affects the risk of childhood leukemia.

METHODS

We searched all case-control and cohort studies that have investigated the risk of childhood leukemia in relation to exposure either to motorized traffic and related contaminants, based on various traffic-related metrics (number of vehicles in the closest roads, road density, and distance from major roads), or to measured or modeled levels of air contaminants such as benzene, nitrogen dioxide, 1,3-butadiene, and particulate matter. We carried out a meta-analysis of all eligible studies, including nine studies published since the last systematic review and, when possible, we fit a dose-response curve using a restricted cubic spline regression model.

RESULTS

We found 29 studies eligible to be included in our review. In the dose-response analysis, we found little association between disease risk and traffic indicators near the child's residence for most of the exposure range, with an indication of a possible excess risk only at the highest levels. In contrast, benzene exposure was positively and approximately linearly associated with risk of childhood leukemia, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia, among children under 6 y of age, and when exposure assessment at the time of diagnosis was used. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide showed little association with leukemia risk except at the highest levels.

DISCUSSION

Overall, the epidemiologic literature appears to support an association between benzene and childhood leukemia risk, with no indication of any threshold effect. A role for other measured and unmeasured pollutants from motorized traffic is also possible. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4381.