1
|
Vilcins D, Christofferson RC, Yoon JH, Nazli SN, Sly PD, Cormier SA, Shen G. Updates in Air Pollution: Current Research and Future Challenges. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:9. [PMID: 38312715 PMCID: PMC10836163 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4363] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The United Nations has declared that humans have a right to clean air. Despite this, many deaths and disability-adjusted life years are attributed to air pollution exposure each year. We face both challenges to air quality and opportunities to improve, but several areas need to be addressed with urgency. Objective This paper summarises the recent research presented at the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health Symposium and focuses on three key areas of air pollution that are important to human health and require more research. Findings and conclusion Indoor spaces are commonly places of exposure to poor air quality and are difficult to monitor and regulate. Global climate change risks worsening air quality in a bi-directional fashion. The rising use of electric vehicles may offer opportunities to improve air quality, but it also presents new challenges. Government policies and initiatives could lead to improved air and environmental justice. Several populations, such as older people and children, face increased harm from air pollution and should become priority groups for action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dwan Vilcins
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rebecca C. Christofferson
- Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jin-Ho Yoon
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Siti Nurshahida Nazli
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Peter D. Sly
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephania A. Cormier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University A&M College and the Pennington Biomedical Research Institute, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Guofeng Shen
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Urrutia-Pereira M, Chatkin JM, Chong-Neto HJ, Solé D. Radon exposure: a major cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. J Bras Pneumol 2023; 49:e20230210. [PMID: 38055388 PMCID: PMC10760439 DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20230210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to radon can impact human health. This is a nonsystematic review of articles written in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese published in the last decade (2013-2023), using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and SciELO. Search terms selected were radon, human health, respiratory diseases, children, and adults. After analyzing the titles and abstracts, the researchers initially identified 47 studies, which were subsequently reduced to 40 after excluding reviews, dissertations, theses, and case-control studies. The studies have shown that enclosed environments such as residences and workplaces have higher levels of radon than those outdoors. Moreover, radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers. An association between exposure to radon and development of other lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, was also observed. It is crucial to increase public awareness and implement governmental control measures to reduce radon exposure. It is essential to quantify radon levels in all types of buildings and train professionals to conduct such measurements according to proven efficacy standards. Health care professionals should also be informed about this threat and receive adequate training to deal with the effects of radon on human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Urrutia-Pereira
- . Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Pampa - UNIPAMPA - Uruguaiana (RS) Brasil
| | - José Miguel Chatkin
- . Disciplina de Medicina Interna e Pneumologia, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | | | - Dirceu Solé
- . Disciplina de Pediatria, Escola Paulista de Medicina - EPM - Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP) Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kumar P, Singh AB, Arora T, Singh S, Singh R. Critical review on emerging health effects associated with the indoor air quality and its sustainable management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162163. [PMID: 36781134 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the fundamental elements affecting people's health and well-being. Currently, there is a lack of awareness among people about the quantification, identification, and possible health effects of IAQ. Airborne pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (NO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) microbial spores, pollen, allergens, etc. primarily contribute to IAQ deterioration. This review discusses the sources of major indoor air pollutants, molecular toxicity mechanisms, and their effects on cardiovascular, ocular, neurological, women, and foetal health. Additionally, contemporary strategies and sustainable methods for regulating and reducing pollutant concentrations are emphasized, and current initiatives to address and enhance IAQ are explored, along with their unique advantages and potentials. Due to their longer exposure times and particular physical characteristics, women and children are more at risk for poor indoor air quality. By triggering many toxicity mechanisms, including oxidative stress, DNA methylation, epigenetic modifications, and gene activation, indoor air pollution can cause a range of health issues. Low birth weight, acute lower respiratory tract infections, Sick building syndromes (SBS), and early death are more prevalent in exposed residents. On the other hand, the main causes of incapacity and early mortality are lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disorders. It's crucial to acknowledge anticipated research needs and implemented efficient interventions and policies to lower health hazards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Environmental Studies, Satyawati College, University of Delhi, Delhi 52, India
| | - A B Singh
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Mall Road Campus, Delhi 07, India
| | - Taruna Arora
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Maternal and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Sevaram Singh
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajeev Singh
- Department of Environmental Studies, Satyawati College, University of Delhi, Delhi 52, India; Department of Environmental Science, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi 110025, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Muruganandam N, Mahalingam S, Narayanan R, Rajadurai E. Meandered and muddled: a systematic review on the impact of air pollution on ocular health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:64872-64890. [PMID: 37097565 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27079-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
From the years 1970-2023, a systematic overview of the diverse consequences of particulate matter on eye health and a disease classification according to acute, chronic, and genetic are presented using the PubMed, Research Gate, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. Various studies on medical aspects correlate with the eye and health. However, from an application perspective, there is limited research on the ocular surface and air pollution. The main objective of the study is to uncover the relationship between eye health and air pollution, particularly particulate matter, along with other external factors acting as aggravators. The secondary goal of the work is to examine the existing models for mimicking human eyes. The study is followed by a questionnaire survey in a workshop, in which the exposure-based investigation was tagged based on their activity. This paper establishes a relationship between particulate matter and its influence on human health, leading to numerous eye diseases like dry eyes, conjunctivitis, myopia, glaucoma, and trachoma. The results of the questionnaire survey indicate that about 68% of the people working in the workshop are symptomatic with tears, blurred vision, and mood swings, while 32% of the people were asymptomatic. Although there are approaches for conducting experiments, the evaluation is not well defined; empirical and numerical solutions for particle deposition on the eye are needed. There prevails a broad gap in the arena of ocular deposition modeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niveditha Muruganandam
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Anna University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sneha Mahalingam
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Anna University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramsundram Narayanan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang C, Wang J, Norbäck D. A Systematic Review of Associations between Energy Use, Fuel Poverty, Energy Efficiency Improvements and Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127393. [PMID: 35742650 PMCID: PMC9223700 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Energy use in buildings can influence the indoor environment. Studies on green buildings, energy saving measures, energy use, fuel poverty, and ventilation have been reviewed, following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The database PubMed was searched for articles published up to 1 October 2020. In total, 68 relevant peer-reviewed epidemiological or exposure studies on radon, biological agents, and chemicals were included. The main aim was to assess current knowledge on how energy saving measures and energy use can influence health. The included studies concluded that buildings classified as green buildings can improve health. More efficient heating and increased thermal insulation can improve health in homes experiencing fuel poverty. However, energy-saving measures in airtight buildings and thermal insulation without installation of mechanical ventilation can impair health. Energy efficiency retrofits can increase indoor radon which can cause lung cancer. Installation of a mechanical ventilation systems can solve many of the negative effects linked to airtight buildings and energy efficiency retrofits. However, higher ventilation flow can increase the indoor exposure to outdoor air pollutants in areas with high levels of outdoor air pollution. Finally, future research needs concerning energy aspects of buildings and health were identified.
Collapse
|
6
|
Orru H, Olstrup H, Hagenbjörk A, Nordin S, Orru K. Exposures, Symptoms and Risk Perception among Office Workers in Relation to Nanoparticles in the Work Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105789. [PMID: 35627326 PMCID: PMC9141247 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105789] [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: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Submicroscopic nanoparticles (NPs) in air have received much attention due to their possible effects on health and wellbeing. Adverse health impacts of air pollution may not only be associated with level of exposure, but also mediated by the perception of the pollution and by beliefs of the exposure being hazardous. The aim of this study was to test a model that describes interrelations between NP pollution, perceived air quality, health risk perception, stress, and sick building syndrome. In the NanoOffice study, the level of NPs was measured and a survey on health risk perception was conducted among 260 employees in twelve office buildings in northern Sweden. Path analyses were performed to test the validity of the model. The data refute the model proposing that the NP exposure level significantly influences stress, chronic diseases, or SBS symptoms. Instead, the perceived exposure influences the perceived risk of NP, and the effect of perceived exposure on SBS and chronic disease is mediated by stress. There was little concern about nanoparticles, despite relatively high levels in some facilities. Perceived pollution and health risk perception may explain a large part of the environmentally induced symptoms and diseases, particularly in relatively low levels of pollution. The research results raise important questions on the physiologically or psychologically mediated health effects of air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans Orru
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Correspondence: (H.O.); (H.O.); Tel.: +372-737-4203 (H.O.); +46-70-614-33-66 (H.O.)
| | - Henrik Olstrup
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Correspondence: (H.O.); (H.O.); Tel.: +372-737-4203 (H.O.); +46-70-614-33-66 (H.O.)
| | - Annika Hagenbjörk
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Steven Nordin
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Kati Orru
- Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Designing a Multicriteria WebGIS-Based Pre-Diagnosis Tool for Indoor Radon Potential Assessment. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12031412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Radon (222Rn) is a well-known source of indoor air contamination since in its gaseous form it is a reported source of ionizing radiation that belongs to the group of rare gases. Radon occurs naturally in soils and rocks and results from the radioactive decay of its longer-lived progenitors, i.e., radium, uranium, and thorium. Radon releases itself from the soil and rocks, which mainly occurs in outdoor environments, not causing any kind of impact due to its fast dilution into the atmosphere. However, when this release occurs in confined and poorly ventilated indoor environments, this release can result in the accumulation of high concentrations of radon gas, being recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the second cause of lung cancer, after smoking. Assessing the indoor radon concentration demands specific know-how involving the implementation of several time-consuming tasks that may include the following stages: (1) radon potential assessment; (2) short-term/long-term radon measurement; (3) laboratory data analysis and processing; and (4) technical reporting. Thus, during stage 1, the use of indirect methods to assess the radon occurrence potential, such as taking advantage of existent natural radiation maps (which have been made available by the uranium mineral prospecting campaigns performed since the early 1950s), is crucial to put forward an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) platform that opens up a straightforward approach for assessing indoor radon potential at an early stage, operating as a pre-diagnosis evaluation tool that is of great value for supporting decision making towards the transition to stage 2, which typically has increased costs due to the need for certified professionals to handle certified instruments for short-term/long-term radon measurement. As a pre-diagnosis tool, the methodology proposed in this article allows the assessment of the radon potential of a specific building through a WebGIS-based platform that adopts ICT and Internet technologies to display and analyze spatially related data, employing a multicriteria approach, including (a) gamma radiation maps, (b) built environment characteristics, and (c) occupancy profile, and thus helping to determine when the radon assessment process should proceed to stage 2, or, alternatively, by eliminating the need to perform additional actions.
Collapse
|
8
|
The Adverse Effects of Air Pollution on the Eye: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031186. [PMID: 35162209 PMCID: PMC8834466 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is inevitably the result of human civilization, industrialization, and globalization. It is composed of a mixture of gases and particles at harmful levels. Particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxides (CO2) are mainly generated from vehicle emissions and fuel consumption and are the main materials causing outdoor air pollution. Exposure to polluted outdoor air has been proven to be harmful to human eyes. On the other hand, indoor air pollution from environmental tobacco smoking, heating, cooking, or poor indoor ventilation is also related to several eye diseases, including conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the past 30 years, no updated review has provided an overview of the impact of air pollution on the eye. We reviewed reports on air pollution and eye diseases in the last three decades in the PubMed database, Medline databases, and Google Scholar and discussed the effect of various outdoor and indoor pollutants on human eyes.
Collapse
|
9
|
Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies for Managing Indoor Radon Risk Exposure: Applications, Opportunities, and Future Challenges. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112211064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Radon gas is a harmful pollutant with a well-documented adverse influence on public health. In poorly ventilated environments, that are often prone to significant radon levels, studies indicate a known relationship between human radon exposure and lung cancer. Recent technology advances, notably on the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, allow the integration of sensors, computing, and communication capabilities into low-cost and small-scale devices that can be used for implementing specific cyber-physical systems (CPS) for online and real-time radon management. These technologies are crucial for improving the overall building indoor air quality (IAQ), contributing toward the so-called cognitive buildings, where human-based control is tending to decline, and building management systems (BMS) are focused on balancing critical factors, such as energy efficiency, human radon exposure management, and user experience, to achieve a more transparent and harmonious integration between technology and the built environment. This work surveys recent IoT technologies for indoor radon exposure management (monitoring, assessment and mitigation), and discusses its main challenges and opportunities, by focusing on methods, techniques, and technologies to answer the following questions: (i) What technologies have been recently in use for radon exposure management; (ii) how they operate; (iii) what type of radon detection mechanisms do they use; and (iv) what type of system architectures, components, and communication technologies have been used to assist the referred technologies. This contribution is relevant to pave the way for designing more intelligent and sustainable systems that rely on IoT and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), to achieve an optimal balance between these two critical factors: human radon exposure management and building energy efficiency.
Collapse
|
10
|
Salman A, Sattineni A, Azhar S, Leousis K. A systematic review of building systems and technologies to mitigate the spread of airborne viruses. JOURNAL OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/jfm-01-2021-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to conduct a rigorous systematic literature review and present a summary of building systems and technologies that can be used to mitigate the spread of airborne viruses. With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, occupants’ health and indoor air quality (IAQ) have become a critical issue for facility managers to maintain the full functionality of the buildings. An improved understanding of these available systems will help facility managers and building owners to protect the health and safety of building occupants.
Design/methodology/approach
The PRISMA protocol was used for defining the literature search methodology. The concept mapping technique was used for determining the keywords. The keywords were then used to search for relevant articles using the Scopus database and Google Scholar. A thorough bibliometric analysis and qualitative analysis were conducted for the selected publications.
Findings
It was found that sensor technologies, botanical air-filtration systems and artificial intelligence could be used to effectively monitor and improve IAQ. In addition, natural ventilation is one of the low-cost and effective methods of reducing contaminants from the indoor air. Computational fluid dynamic modeling can be used to understand the flow of virus particles within the building through the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Several changes to the HVAC system are also discussed.
Originality/value
This study contains a diversity of methods from the existing literature that were systematically selected to present the state-of-the-art building systems and technologies that can effectively improve IAQ. The researchers plan to follow up on the findings of this research and will conduct an empirical study to assess its impact on IAQ.
Collapse
|
11
|
Occupants’ Satisfaction toward Indoor Environment Quality of Platinum Green-Certified Office Buildings in Tropical Climate. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14082264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The quality of the indoor environment has become a vital component for buildings due to the time spent indoors. To this extent, the performance of the indoor environment is considered as part of the greenery criteria by green rating schemes such as the Green Building Index in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate and assess the quality of the indoor environment of Platinum-certified office buildings in a tropical climate. This research applied a case study approach over two Platinum-certified office buildings. Post-occupancy evaluation is employed integrating full-scale measurement with an occupants’ survey. The measurement was carried out from May to August, and 112 questionnaires were retrieved to evaluate occupants’ satisfaction with aspects of the indoor environment. Thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustic, lighting, furniture, and cleanliness are considered as the main study variables. The findings of full-scale measurement indicated high relative humidity, and low air velocity and illuminance. While occupants reported overall indoor environment quality (IEQ) comfort, a significant correlation of variables was observed. The main sources of dissatisfaction were identified as overcooling around 24 °C, high relative humidity (RH), around 70% RH, glare, and background noise around 51.9 dB. Statistically, a significant difference between occupants’ responses to IEQ of two cases was identified, although both buildings are labelled with a Platinum certificate.
Collapse
|