The public health benefits of air pollution control

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells mediate ozone-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice

Advances in pediatric asthma in 2012: Moving toward asthma prevention

The aim of this paper is to monitor the air pollution at Campus I of Passo Fundo University, south Brazil, focusing on atmospheric pollutants SOx, NO2 and O3. To monitor the air quality we used passive samplers placed in several locations in the university campus, namely: energy generator, pool heating boiler, entrance porch, an exhaustion chamber and a place with less anthropic influence to represent the blank. The monitoring period went monthly from July 2012 to March 2014. After monitoring the sample’s membranes with absorbing solutions were analysed in the laboratory, by analytical methods specific for each gas. The results obtained for NO2, O3 e SOx from all monitoring sites varied between 0.11–8.20, 0.66–9.50 and 0–1594 µg/m3, respectively. The results of the various monitoring locations on campus were, with the exception of SOx, below those recommended by the legislation. It was also observed that the energy generator was the site where pollution was highest. Thus, it is recommended that combustion gases are treated before they are discharged into the atmosphere. Finally, by showing a case study, this paper emphasizes the importance of monitoring the environmental aspects from the different activities in the university campus.

Statement regarding “The public health benefits of air pollution control”

Ozone exposure induces respiratory barrier biphasic injury and inflammation controlled by IL-33

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Cigarette smoking is the well-known risk factor for lung cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest that air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) exposure, is associated with increased lung cancer risk and mortality independent of cigarette smoking. English-language publications focusing on PM, epigenetic changes, and lung cancer were reviewed. The epigenome serves as an interface between the environment and the genome. PM is one of the environmental factors that can cause epigenetic changes. The epigenome serves as an interface between the environment and the genome. Some of the epigenetic changes lead to increased disease susceptibility and progression. In cardiovascular disease and asthma, the association between PM exposure and the disease specific epigenetic changes has been identified. In lung cancer, the epigenetic changes in DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA expression are commonly found, but the specific link between PM exposure and lung cancer remains incompletely understood. The results of epidemiological studies indicate the important effects of PM exposure on lung cancer. PM2.5 is consistently associated with the increased lung cancer risk and mortality. Based on the epidemiological associations between PM exposure and lung cancer, PM-induced epigenetic changes may play important roles in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of epigenetic changes associated with PM exposure and lung cancer. Better understanding of the link between PM exposure and lung cancer at the epigenomic level by comprehensive comparison approach may identify lung cancer early detection biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the applicability of passive samplers for the monitoring and diagnosis of air pollution at Passo Fundo University, focusing on atmospheric pollutants NO2 and O3. The samplers were built in accordance with already verified methodologies and were placed in several locations in the university campus, namely: energy generator, pool heating boiler, entrance porch, an exhaustion chamber and a place with less anthropic influence to represent the blank. Higher concentrations of pollutants were encountered in the samplers located near the energy generator, followed by the ones in the boiler. Nevertheless, all the results were pursuant to the Brazilian legislation for air quality. The cost of these samplers was also considered and was regarded as viable for academic use and as a first step in air quality control.

City-Specific Air Quality Warnings for Improved Asthma Self-Management

While it is clear that biochar can alter soil N2O emissions, data on NO impacts are scarce. Reports range from 0 to 67% soil NO emission reductions postbiochar amendment. We use regional air quality and health cost models to assess how these soil NO reductions could influence U.S. air quality and health costs. We find that at 67% soil NO reduction, widespread application of biochar to fertilized agricultural soils could reduce O3 by up to 2.4 ppb and PM2.5 by up to 0.15 μg/m3 in some regions. Modeled biochar-mediated health benefits are up to $4.3 million/county in 2011, with impacts focused in the Midwest and Southwest. These potential air quality and health cobenefits of biochar use highlight the need for an improved understanding of biochar's impacts on soil NO emissions. The benefits reported here should be included with estimates of other biochar benefits, such as crop yield increase, soil water management, and N2O reductions.

Advances in adult asthma diagnosis and treatment in 2012: Potential therapeutics and gene-environment interactions