Air Particulate Matter Concentrations Research Articles

A Quantitative Assessment of Air Particulate Matter Concentration and Its Correlation with the Climatic Factor of Dinajpur City, Bangladesh

Particulate matter (PM) is the air pollutant that poses the most significant risk to human health compared to other measured criteria pollutants. One of our main goals was to assess the quantities of particulate matter (0.3-10µm) in the Dinajpur municipality's sensitive zones, roads, and residential and commercial buildings. Light scattering particle counters, the Extech VPC-300, were used to measure particulate matter and climatic data at 26 distinct locations in Dinajpur. R 4.2.2 and the data analysis tool in Microsoft Excel were utilized for the statistical analysis. The highest values for PM 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 µm are 335195, 138118, 37965, 12995, 2087, and 2507 and medium value is accordingly 221304, 71873, 16681, 3393, 361 and 454, respectively. The PM 0.5 μm particle range, which includes 12 samples, is highly concerned and getting closer to the hazardous red polluted zone. Most places of PM 2.5 µm exceed the 2000 particles, which are hazardous for people. The link between climatic variables and particulate matter (PM 0.5-10 µm) significantly correlated with temperature. Humidity and PM (0.3-10 µm) measurements in the study area show a negative correlation. According to observations, factors contributing to the high PM concentration include excessive human movement, combustion byproducts of black smoke, road dust, waste, garbage in every possible place, and rice mill industry emissions.

Tradescantia response to air and soil pollution, stamen hair cells dataset and ANN color classification.

Tradescantia plant is a complex system that is sensible to environmental factors such as water supply, pH, temperature, light, radiation, impurities, and nutrient availability. It can be used as a biomonitor for environmental changes; however, the bioassays are time-consuming and have a strong human interference factor that might change the result depending on who is performing the analysis. We have developed computer vision models to study color variations from Tradescantia clone 4430 plant stamen hair cells, which can be stressed due to air pollution and soil contamination. The study introduces a novel dataset, Trad-204, comprising single-cell images from Tradescantia clone 4430, captured during the Tradescantia stamen-hair mutation bioassay (Trad-SHM). The dataset contain images from two experiments, one focusing on air pollution by particulate matter and another based on soil contaminated by diesel oil. Both experiments were carried out in Curitiba, Brazil, between 2020 and 2023. The images represent single cells with different shapes, sizes, and colors, reflecting the plant's responses to environmental stressors. An automatic classification task was developed to distinguishing between blue and pink cells, and the study explores both a baseline model and three artificial neural network (ANN) architectures, namely, TinyVGG, VGG-16, and ResNet34. Tradescantia revealed sensibility to both air particulate matter concentration and diesel oil in soil. The results indicate that Residual Network architecture outperforms the other models in terms of accuracy on both training and testing sets. The dataset and findings contribute to the understanding of plant cell responses to environmental stress and provide valuable resources for further research in automated image analysis of plant cells. Discussion highlights the impact of turgor pressure on cell shape and the potential implications for plant physiology. The comparison between ANN architectures aligns with previous research, emphasizing the superior performance of ResNet models in image classification tasks. Artificial intelligence identification of pink cells improves the counting accuracy, thus avoiding human errors due to different color perceptions, fatigue, or inattention, in addition to facilitating and speeding up the analysis process. Overall, the study offers insights into plant cell dynamics and provides a foundation for future investigations like cells morphology change. This research corroborates that biomonitoring should be considered as an important tool for political actions, being a relevant issue in risk assessment and the development of new public policies relating to the environment.

The regulation effect of urban green space on air particulate matter concentration under different matrices in Xi'an city

The regulation effect of urban green space on air particulate matter concentration under different matrices in Xi'an city

Reduction in Atmospheric Particulate Matter by Green Hedges in a Wind Tunnel

Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in reducing atmospheric particulate matter (PM), modifying microclimates, and improving air quality. This study investigates the impact of a laurel hedge (Laurus nobilis L.) on airborne PM, specifically total suspended particulate (TSP) and respirable particles (PM4) generated by a Diesel tractor engine. Conducted in a wind tunnel of approximately 20 m, the research provides insights into dust deposition under near-real-world conditions, marking, to our knowledge, the first exploration in a wind tunnel of this scale. Potted laurel plants, standing around 2.5 m tall, were arranged to create barriers of three different densities, and air dust concentrations were detected at 1, 4, 9, and 14 m from the plants. The study aimed both to develop an experimental system and to assess the laurel hedge’s ability to reduce atmospheric PM. Results show an overall reduction in air PM concentrations (up to 39%) due to the presence of the hedge. The highest value of dust reduction on respirable particles was caused by the thickest hedge (three rows of plants). However, the data exhibit varying correlations with hedge density. This study provides empirical findings regarding the interaction between dust and vegetation, offering insights for designing effective hedge combinations in terms of size and porosity to mitigate airborne particulate matter.

Particulate matter air pollution in the Republic of Slovenia and its national spatial emissions release

In this work, an impact of particulate matter (PM) on air pollution and its emissions released is investigated. Concentration levels of PM10 and PM2.5 in the Republic of Slovenia (RS) were analyzed on daily, weekly, monthly, quartile, and annual data and then compared. The study was conducted from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 at two monitoring stations, so-called urban traffic and urban industrial. Obtained results showed that the highest concentrations of PM in air were during the cold months of the year when the temperatures are lower (< 6%). Results from heating seasons (from October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 and from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) showed the highest concentration levels of PM10 between 9:00 and 14:00 and between 18:00 and 22:00, with highest concentrations recorded during the winter months (January and February). Additionally, emission building inventory was built based on PM10 and PM2.5 emissions released. The study includes yearly spatial building emissions release model considering currently installed high PM emitted stoves. The building model for the Republic of Slovenia has been developed by using 500 x 500 m model grid. Obtained results showed that changing currently low efficient appliance with advanced appliance would result in significant lower PM emissions released from building sector.

Associations between Daily Ambient Air Pollution and Pulmonary Function, Asthma Symptom Occurrence, and Quick-Relief Inhaler Use among Asthma Patients.

Particulate matter (PM) is harmful to human health, especially for people with asthma. The goal of this study was to enhance the knowledge about the short-term effects of daily air concentrations of PM on health outcomes among asthma patients. The novelty of this study was the inclusion of a homogeneous group of patients (N = 300) with diagnosed and partly controlled asthma. Patients recorded their symptoms, asthma quick-relief inhaler use, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements in a diary for two weeks. Data on particulate air pollution were obtained from stationary monitoring stations. We have shown that particulate pollutants (PM10 and PM2.5) are associated with significant deterioration of PEF and an increase in the frequency of early asthma symptoms, as well as asthma quick-relief inhaler use. These effects are observed not only on the day of exposure, but also on the following day. For public health practice, these results support the rationale for using peak-flow meters as necessary devices for proper asthma self-management and control, especially in locations where the air is polluted with particles. This may decrease the number of asthma patients seeking medical help.

Research on the Physicochemical Properties of Fine Particulate Matter in Changchun, Northeast China

Objective: Air particulate matter concentrations in Changchun City, Jilin Province, may change around the autumn heating day. The aim of this study was to provide data references for environmental protection, detection and regulation in Changchun. Methods: Atmospheric particulate matter samples were collected using an airborne particulate matter sampler on the roof top of the Civil Engineering Teaching Hall on the campus of Jilin University of Construction; free settling dust of Atmospheric particulate matter was collected using metal trays. Atmospheric particulate matter concentrations were analysed by manual detection methods (weight method), carbonaceous fractions by total organic carbon analyser, and atmospheric fallout material composition and crystal structure by XRD diffractometer. The physicochemical properties of fine particulate matter around the autumn heating day in Changchun were investigated. Conclusions: (1) The daily average concentrations of various types of atmospheric particulate matter PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 generally increased after the start of the heating period. However, air quality is influenced by a combination of meteorological factors, of which emissions of air pollutants from urban heat generating plants during the heating period is only one aspect. So there is a situation where the average daily concentration of atmospheric particulate matter is lower after heating than before. (2) Analysis of the atmospheric its particulate matter PM2.5 samples collected around the heating day showed that the daily average concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) of atmospheric its particulate matter PM2.5 increased significantly after the heating day. (3) There was no significant difference in the main components of atmospheric dust fall before and after the heating day in Changchun, with the main components being crystalline SiO2 and a small Number of impurities.

Laboratory Determination of Gravimetric Correction Factors for Real-time Area Measurements of Electronic Cigarette Aerosols.

Research on secondhand electronic cigarette (ECIG) aerosol exposure using aerosol monitors has demonstrated that ECIG use can generate high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and impact indoor air quality. However, quantifying indoor air PM concentrations using real-time optical monitors with on-site calibration specifically for different PM exposures has not been established. Therefore, the ECIG aerosol filter correction factors were calculated for different PM sizes (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) and different aerosol optical monitors, the MiniWRAS, pDR, and SidePak. ECIG aerosol generation was achieved using five ECIGs representing three ECIG types, disposable, pod-mod, and box mod. The aerosol size distribution by mass was measured for the five ECIGs during PM generation. Compared to the discrete filter measurements, the MiniWRAS performed the best when the concentrations were low, followed by the pDR and SidePak. The average PM concentrations and correction factor ranges for the different ECIGs were 323-1,775 μg/m3 and 0.64-6.01 for the MiniWRAS, 1,388-13,365 μg/m3 and 0.41-0.80 for the pDR, and 4,632-55,339 μg/m3 and 0.13-0.20 for the SidePak, respectively. The mass median diameter ranged from 0.41 and 0.62 μm, and most particles generated from the ECIGs were smaller than 1 μm. This study demonstrates that aerosol size distribution varies between ECIGs. Likewise, the correction factors developed for the real-time aerosol monitors are specific to the ECIG used. Thus, these data can help improve ECIG aerosol exposure measurement accuracy.

Methods for the analysis of airborne particulate matter

We provide a review of the common methodologies employed in the analysis of airborne particulate matter (PM). In this review, we focused on quantification of PM by different plant-based and instrument-based methods. First, we described sampling of PM by active and passive approaches. Then, different processing methods for PM samples required prior to final quantification are described. For final determination, the dust deposition, PM concentration in air in different fractions, and counting of PM in deposited form as well as in suspended form by various approaches are reviewed. We examined each method and their applicability in different environmental conditions. Finally, the described methods are evaluated with respect to their potential benefits and limitations in environmental monitoring and management.

Variation in Urban Forest Regulation of Air Particulate Matter Concentration

Urban forest was vital to adjusting Air Particulate Matter Concentration (APMC). The purpose of this study was designed to provide a more detailed analysis of the urban forest long-time scales effect on APMC. The paper assessed effect of forests (urban greening) on APMC in an urban environment, where an urban green center (nearly 2 km2) and a nearby (5 km away) bare-ground site (at a road intersection) in Yuhua District of Changsha, China, were chosen to delve into daily, seasonal, and annual variation of APMC in an urban forest and a non-forested site respectively. It was found that: (1) on a daily basis, APMC in both the urban forest and the non-forested site was high in the morning and evening, but low at noon, demonstrating a “two-peak-one-trough” or V-shaped pattern. Additionally, APMC in the morning was higher than evening. (2) in terms of season, APMC was high in spring and winter, but low in summer and fall. (3) the annual change of the APMC showed a “bimodal” annual trend in urban forest and non-forested site, with a peak concentration in the urban forest coming later than the non-forested site. (4) temperature and average wind speed composed main factors affecting APMC in Changsha’s ecotope. The paper characterized the change pattern in APMC in urban environment (forested and non-forested), suggested appropriate recreational periods in the urban forest, and gave insight in planning and construction of urban greening projects.

AlN FBAR Particle Sensor With a Thermophoretic Sampling Mechanism

Pollution by particulate matter (PM) poses a serious and growing risk to human health. Film Bulk Acoustic Resonators (FBARs) have been proposed as a low-cost way to monitor particle concentration. This paper presents particle detection by a 1.1 GHz aluminium nitride based FBAR designed and fabricated by SilTerra Malaysia. The FBARs are used in a differential configuration with one sensing and one reference device in a system comprising a microchannel with an electric microfan and a thermophoretic precipitator microhotplate array for improved sampling. A custom-built test chamber was designed to characterise the device at different levels of particulate matter concentration in air. The particle feed rate into the test chamber was varied between 9.5, 19, 43, 66 and 94 μg/m <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> s. The FBAR frequency was found to decrease with increasing particulate matter concentration in the test chamber air. The experiments were conducted with and without the microchannel and it was found that the sampling channel increased sensitivity of FBAR resonant frequency to particle concentration per cubic meter of air from 5 Hz/ μgm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> to 20 Hz/ μgm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> . The detection limit in this test was estimated at ca. 50 μg/m <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sup> , which is around current European limits for PM10 pollution. In addition, the use of the sampling microfan to aid cleaning of FBARs after particle measurement was also investigated and found to be feasible especially for lower particle concentration.

Changes in air particulate matter concentration in Kraków in years 2009-2019 in relation to air pollution prevention and control action

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Last decades brought more interest to air pollution harmful effect; evidence has emerged that air pollution can affect every major organ system. Kraków, the second largest city in Poland, from years belongs to the most polluted cities in Europe. Prospective cohort study conducted in Krakow confirmed detrimental effects of air pollution. Increased awareness of health consequences forced local government to undertake some mitigation measures. The aim of the current study was to asses relationship between preventing actions undertaken in Kraków and changes of particular matter levels during heating seasons in years 2009 – 2019. METHODS: Information about daily particulate matter concentration (PM10 and PM2.5) levels were obtained from Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Krakow. As the increased air pollution in Poland shows seasonal variability, we assessed the changes in mean concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 in heating season only. RESULTS:During the years 2009-2019 local government implemented a series of regulations and took some control actions to improve air quality, for example Inspections of waste incineration in heating stoves, inventory of sources of emission, Local Shield program for the poorest - co-financing program to help residents replace coal stoves to one from pro-ecological system, prohibiting the heating of houses / flats with low-quality coal, developing proposals for changes in Polish law that would enable an effective fight against pollution at the local level; and ultimately, from September 1, 2019, a total ban on burning solid fuels in the area of the municipality of Kraków. During analyzed time period the level of particulate matter in air pollution dropped gradually, decreasing by approximately 18.1 ug/m3 for PM10 and 21.6 ug/m3 for PM2.5. Also, number of days with exceeded the permissible level of pollution decreased. CONCLUSIONS:Implemented regulations and control actions resulted in lowering level of particulate matter air pollution. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Particulate matter, Policy and practice

Association Between Air Pollution and Acute Coronary Syndromes During Lockdown for COVID-19: Results From the Terni Hub Center.

Background: During the lockdown for COVID-19, a massive decrease in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a drop in air pollution were both detected in Italy. Our aim was to investigate the possible association between these two events at the Province of Terni, one of the most polluted urban and industrial area in Central Italy.Methods: We analyzed data of daily 24-h urban air concentrations of particulate matter (PM)10 and PM2.5 from fixed station monitoring network located in the main city centers of the Terni province, and accesses for ACS at the catheterization laboratory of the Cardiological Hub Center of the Terni University Hospital during lockdown. A comparison was made with data corresponding to the same lockdown time period of years 2019, 2018, and 2017.Results: Invasive procedures for ACS decreased in 2020 (n = 49) as compared with previous years (n = 93 in 2019, n = 109 in 2018, and n = 89 in 2017, p < 0.001). Conversely, reductions in average PM10 (20.7 μg/m3) and PM2.5 (14.7 μg/m3) in 2020 were consistent with a long-term decreasing trend, being comparable to those recorded in 2019 and 2018 (all p > 0.05) and slightly lower than 2017 (p < 0.05). The Granger-causality test demonstrated the lack of association between time-varying changes in air pollution and the number of procedures for ACS.Conclusions: Our results did not support the hypothesis that reduction in invasive procedures for ACS during lockdown was linked to an air cleaning effect. Reasons other than reduced air pollution should be sought to explain the observed decrease in ACS procedures.

Effect of Seasonal Variation on the Relationship of Indoor Air Particulate Matter with Measures of Obesity and Blood Pressure in Children.

Background.Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is an important environmental health risk factor. Although some studies have shown PM to be associated with obesity and hypertension, very few studies have assessed the association of indoor PM specifically with obesity and blood pressure measures in children with respect to seasonal variation.Objectives.The present study investigated the relationship of PM with obesity and blood pressure variables in children across the winter and summer seasons.Methods.A comparative descriptive approach was adopted and school children from 10–14 years of age from selected rural and urban localities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were assessed in winter and summer. Anthropometric measurements were taken, including height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and total fat mass (TFM), while blood pressure variables including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Indoor air PM concentrations were measured in the classrooms in the presence of children.Results.The prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children were 13.4% and 5.1% in winter and 12.9% and 1.0% in summer, respectively. High blood pressure was more prevalent in children in rural areas, while the prevalence of obesity in children was higher in urban areas. Particulate matter was significantly (p<0.05) higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Obese children in summer had a greater than 3-fold association (AOR: 3.681, p=0.005) with 4th interquartile range (IQR) of PM5 and a greater than 3- and 4-fold association (AOR: 3.08; 4.407; p<0.05) with 2nd and 4th IQR of PM10, respectively, than their overweight, normal weight or underweight counterparts. High blood pressure was not associated (p< 0.05) with PM.Conclusions.High concentrations of indoor PM were positively associated with obesity in children in summer, particularly among rural children. This association could be accounted for by location and seasonal differences.Participant Consent.ObtainedEthics Approval.Ethics approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of Walter Sisulu University, South Africa (Ref No: CHI011SCHU01).Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Real-time air monitoring of occupational exposures to particulate matter among hairdressers in Maryland: A pilot study.

Hairdressers are exposed to particulate matter (PM), a known air pollutant linked to adverse health effects. Still, studies on occupational PM exposures in hair salons are sparse. We characterized indoor air PM concentrations in three salons primarily serving an African/African American (AA) clientele, and three Dominican salons primarily serving a Latino clientele. We also assessed the performance of low-cost sensors (uRAD, Flow, AirVisual) by comparing them to high-end sensors (DustTrak) to conduct air monitoring in each salon over 3days to quantify work shift concentrations of PM2.5 , respirable PM (RPM), and PM10 . We observed high spatial and temporal variability in 30-min time-weighted average (TWA) RPM concentrations (0.18-5518μg/m3 ). Readings for the uRAD and AirVisual sensors were highly correlated with the DustTrak (R2 =0.90-0.99). RPM 8-hour TWAs ranged from 18 to 383µg/m3 for AA salons, and 9-2115µg/m3 for Dominican salons. Upper 95th percentiles of daily RPM exposures ranged from 439 to 2669µg/m3 . The overall range of 30-min TWA PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations was 0.13-5497 and 0.36-,541μg/m3 , respectively. Findings suggest that hairdressers could be overexposed to RPM during an 8-hour shift. Additional comprehensive monitoring studies are warranted to further characterize temporal and spatial variability of PM exposures in this understudied occupational population.

Risk assessment of occupational and public exposures to airborne particulate matter arising from a subway construction site in Tehran, Iran

The objective of this study was to assess the health risk of occupational and public exposures to airborne particulate matter (PM) arising from a subway construction site in Tehran, Iran. The occupational exposure was determined by personal sampling in three occupational groups (drivers, workers, and engineers) and the environmental emission was estimated by sampling from five point exhausts. The PM was measured in terms of total suspended particles (TSP), particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10), and less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). The ambient air concentrations of PM were modeled using AERMOD software and the health risk was estimated using AirQ+ software. The average (± standard deviation: SD) concentrations of TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 in the personal sampling were determined to be 3620 ± 250, 1690 ± 260, and 1350 ± 140 μg/m3 for drivers, 2190 ± 200, 1210 ± 310, and 960 ± 190 μg/m3 for workers, 690 ± 70, 410 ± 100, and 320 ± 60 μg/m3 for engineers, respectively. The average PM2.5/PM10 ratio in the workplace and exhausts was as high as 0.79. The average increases in ambient air PM2.5 concentrations in the surrounding areas were predicted to be in the range of 2.4–23.8 μg/m3. The all-cause death rates (per 100,000 persons) attributable to PM2.5 from the construction project for the drivers, workers, engineers, and general people were estimated to be as high as 225, 214.5, 193, and 18, respectively. The results indicated that the health effects of the PM emission in the subway construction site were remarkable; therefore, more control measures for the workplace exposure and environmental emission should be considered.

Origin, distribution, and perspective health benefits of particulate matter in the air of underground salt mine: a case study from Bochnia, Poland

The composition and distribution of airborne particles in different locations in a salt mine were determined in terms of their origin, the distance from the air inlet, and the adaptation of post-mining chambers and corridors for tourists and general audience. The composition of aerosols in air was also evaluated from the perspective of human health. Air samples were collected on filters by using portable air pumps, in a historical underground salt mine in Bochnia (Poland), which is currently a touristic and recreation attraction and sanatorium. The particulate matter (PM) concentration was determined using the gravimetric method by weighing quartz filters. The content of carbon, water-soluble constituents, trace elements, and minerals was also determined. A genetic classification of the suspended matter was proposed and comprised three groups: geogenic (fragments of rock salt and associated minerals from the deposit), anthropogenic (carbon-bearing particles from tourist traffic and small amounts of fly ash, soot, and rust), and biogenic particles (occasional pollen). The total PM concentration in air varied between 21 and 79 μg/m3 (with PM4 constituting 4–24 μg/m3). The amount of atmospheric dust components coming from the surface was low and decreased with the distance from the intake shaft, thus indicating the self-cleaning process. NaCl dominated the water-soluble constituents, while Fe, Al, Ag, Mn, and Zn dominated the trace elements, with the concentration of majority of them below 30 ng/m3. These metals are released into air from both natural sources and the wear or/and corrosion of mining and tourists facilities in the underground functional space. No potentially toxic elements or constituents were detected. The presence of salt particles and salty spray in the atmosphere of salt mine, which may have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties, is beneficial to human health. This study will allow for a broader look at the potential of halotherapy in underground salt mines from a medical and regulatory point of view.

Comprehensive evaluation of potential coal mine dust emissions in an open-pit coal mine in Northwest China

Coal mining in China is continually increasing, and the associated emitted coal mine dust is of growing environmental and occupational concern. In this study, deposited coal mine dust (DD) was analysed in three different regions of an active, highly-volatile bituminous open-pit coal mine in the Xingjian Province, Northwest of China: coal working fronts, tailings handling sites, and road traffic sites. Samples were analysed for particle size, and geochemical and mineralogical patterns, and then compared with the respirable DD fractions (RDDs, <4 μm) separated from DD samples. Online measurements of ambient air concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), black carbon (BC) and ultrafine particles (UFP) were performed in the same mine zones where DD was sampled.Furthermore, the RDD samples were subjected to analysis of specific biological response or toxicological indicators (oxidative potential, OP). The results demonstrated: i) large differences in particle size and composition among DD from tailings handling, road traffic and coal working front sites, ii) a strong influence of the DD moisture contents and ash yields on particle size, and, accordingly, on the potential dust emissions, iii) an enrichment of multiple elements (such as Nb, Th, Cr, Sr, Li, As, Pb, Cu, Zr and Ni) in the RDD from coal working fronts compared with their contents in the worked parent coal seams, mostly attributed to mining machinery, tyre and brake wear emissions and to deposition of dust emitted from gangue working zones, iv) low OP values of the RDD emitted from the studied mine, which works a high-quality coal, with OP being influenced by Mn, sulphate and anatase (TiO2) contents, and v) the impact of specific mining operations and mine areas on the levels of air pollutants, such as high PM from tailings handling in the upper parts of the mine or the high UFP levels in the bottom of the mine (due to vehicle and machinery emissions and lower dispersive conditions). The data presented here demonstrate the necessity of extracting the more deeply respirable size fraction of coal mine dusts in future studies on the health effects of these materials because this finer fraction is mineralogically and geochemically different from the parent rocks.

Fine particle environmental pollution and cardiovascular diseases

Air pollution affects 90% of the world's population and has caused 9 million deaths in 2015, becoming the most important cause of premature deaths in the world. Exposure to fine particulate matter, a major component of urban air pollution, has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk and associated mortality. Impact of fine particles on the cardiovascular system includes inflammation, activation of prothrombotic pathways, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction and remodeling, and neurological dysfunction. Genetic and epigenetic factors might also increase the susceptibility to air pollution. Consequently, epidemiologic studies have identified correlations between air particulate matter concentrations and acute coronary events, ischemic cardiomyopathy, acute heart failure, and stroke. Interestingly, these effects are present even for fine particulate matter concentrations below current US and EU regulatory standards, and seems to be more harmful in the most fragile population such as low-income or elderly subjects, or patients with previous cardiovascular disease.This review aims to summarize recent data on the pathophysiology and epidemiology of cardiovascular disease after particulate matter exposure. It will also discuss potential strategies to reduce the impact of air pollution on current and future populations' health.

Microfluidic and Micromachined/MEMS Devices for Separation, Discrimination and Detection of Airborne Particles for Pollution Monitoring.

Most of the microfluidics-related literature describes devices handling liquids, with only a small part dealing with gas-based applications, and a much smaller number of papers are devoted to the separation and/or detection of airborne inorganic particles. This review is dedicated to this rather less known field which has become increasingly important in the last years due to the growing attention devoted to pollution monitoring and air quality assessment. After a brief introduction summarizing the main particulate matter (PM) classes and the need for their study, the paper reviews miniaturized devices and/or systems for separation, detection and quantitative assessment of PM concentration in air with portable and easy-to-use platforms. The PM separation methods are described first, followed by the key detection methods, namely optical (scattering) and electrical. The most important miniaturized reported realizations are analyzed, with special attention given to microfluidic and micromachined or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) chip-based implementations due to their inherent capability of being integrated in lab-on-chip (LOC) type of smart microsystems with increased functionalities that can be portable and are easy to use. The operating principles and (when available) key performance parameters of such devices are presented and compared, also highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the most relevant conclusions are discussed in the last section.