Ambient Levels Of PM2 Research Articles

Maternal exposure to ambient particulate matter and green spaces and fetal renal function

Exposure to air pollution has been associated with different harmful effects and exposure to greenspace has been related to improved human health. However, the available evidence on the impact of these exposures on renal function is still scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between exposure to ambient levels of PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and indicators of exposure to traffic as well as greenspace during pregnancy and fetal renal function based on the umbilical cord blood. This study was based on 150 pregnant women residing in Sabzevar, Iran (2018). Multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate the association of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) with exposure to air pollution, traffic, and greenspace (one at a time) controlled for relevant covariates. There was an inverse significant association between exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and total street length in a 100 m buffer around the home and eGFR. Increase in distance to major road and residential surrounding greenness (100 m buffer) was associated with increase in eGFR. We observed a significant direct association between exposure to PMs as well as street length in 100 m buffer and serum level of Cr. There was also an inverse association between distance to major road and NDVI in 100 m buffer and Cr. The associations for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were not statistically significant. Our results suggest that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy could have negative impact and exposure to greenspace could have positive impact on renal function of fetal.

Associations between Ambient Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Endothelial Dysfunction and Inflammation

TPS 683: Short-term health effects of air pollutants 2, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 28, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Ambient air pollution is a complex mixture of particulate matter (PM2.5), gases and metals. Epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While the association between PM2.5 exposure and CVD is particularly strong, the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this association are not completely understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 participants, recruited from the University of Louisville. Peripheral endothelial function in these subjects was assessed by calculating a reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using the EndoPAT device. Urine samples were used to measure isoprostanes (n=90) while 14 cytokines, 2 adhesion molecules, and 2 matrix metalloproteinases were measured in plasma using a Luminex (n=77). Ambient levels of PM2.5 were obtained by calculating the daily average of all regional EPA-validated monitoring stations in the Louisville, KY region. Adjusted associations with ambient PM2.5 levels were tested using generalized linear models. The average age of our participants was 48 years, with 44% male, 62% white, 52% with diagnosed hypertension, and 44% having Type-2 diabetes. Average daily PM2.5 levels were 11.5 ± 5.1 μg/m3. We found that there was a 12.4% decrease in RHI with every 10μg/m3 PM2.5 increase (95% CI: -21.0, -2.7). F-2 isoprostane metabolite, a measure of oxidative stress, showed a positive association of 28.4% (95% CI: 2.7, 60.3) per 10μg/m3 PM2.5. We also observed positive associations with angiopoietin 1 (17.4%; 95% CI: 2.8, 33.8), VEGF (10.4%; 95% CI: 0.6, 21.0), PiGf (31.7%; 95% CI: 12.2, 54.5), ICAM-1 (24.6%; 95% CI: 1.6, 52.8), and MMP-9 (30.3%; 95% CI: 8.0, 57.5) per 10μg/m3 PM2.5. Additionally, we observed a negative association between PM2.5 and VCAM-1 of -15.9% per 10μg/m3 (95% CI:-28.3, -1.3). Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with impaired vascular function, which may result from oxidative stress and inflammation, and lead to a pro-atherogenic state.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric PM2.5 and PM10 in the semi-arid city of Xi'an, Northwest China: Seasonal variations, sources, health risks, and relationships with meteorological factors

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) samples were collected at urban and suburban sites in Xi'an City from December 2016 to November 2017. Sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with PM2.5 and PM10 were analyzed for their seasonal variations, sources, health risks, and influencing factors. The results showed that the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were 111 and 185 μg/m3, respectively, exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of China (35 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 70 μg/m3 for PM10 in Grade II). The annual averages of PM2.5- and PM10-bound total PAHs were 63.1 and 66.8 ng/m3, respectively, with a PM2.5 decrease in the order of winter (115 ng/m3) > > spring (47.6 ng/m3) > summer (33.2 ng/m3) > autumn (30.8 ng/m3) and a PM10 decrease in the order of winter (127 ng/m3) > > spring (55.6 ng/m3) > autumn (32.6 ng/m3) > summer (30.2 ng/m3). The most abundant PAHs were benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and fluoranthene. The PM2.5- and PM10-bound PAHs were originated mainly from traffic emissions (51.0% and 43.4%), followed by combustion of biomass (20.4% and 23.6%) and coal (16.8% and 23.1%). Pressure and relative humidity were positively correlated with PM2.5 and PM10 as well as PM2.5- and PM10-bound PAHs, while temperature, visibility and wind speed had negative correlations. The annual means of TEQs (toxic equivalency quantities) for the 16 PAHs in PM2.5 and PM10 were 10.1 and 10.2 ng/m3, respectively, being attributed to 7 carcinogenic PAHs (> 95%). The ECRs (lifetime excess cancer risks) for PM2.5- and PM10-bound PAHs were 1.12 × 10−3 and 1.17 × 10−3, i.e., 1125 and 1169 lung cancer cases per million, respectively. The ILCRs (incremental lifetime cancer risks) due to PM2.5- and PM10-bound PAHs for adults (1.21 × 10−6 and 1.26 × 10−6) were larger than those for children (2.09 × 10−7 and 2.17 × 10−7), with acceptable carcinogenic risks. The ambient levels of PM and most PM-bound PAHs as well as their TEQs, ECRs and ILCRs exhibited a spatial pattern of the suburban site > the urban site and a seasonality with winter and spring > summer and autumn. The results suggest that it is important to control PM2.5 and PM10 for local air quality improvement and special attention should be paid to PM and PM-bound PAHs in suburban areas, particularly in winter and spring.

Associations of gestational and the first year of life exposure to ambient air pollution with childhood eczema in Hubei, China.

Whether exposure to air pollution is associated with the increased incidence of childhood eczema is controversial. Only a few previous researches about the relationship between gestational and early-life exposures to ambient air pollutants and childhood eczema were conducted in China, and there is a lack of studies in Hubei province. This study aimed to explore the associations between air pollution exposure in gestation and the first year of life and childhood eczema. From November to December 2017, a total of 3383 children aged 3-6years were recruited from 12 kindergartens in Hubei, China; 3167 were included in the final analysis. Parent-reported data involved with childhood eczema was inquired by questionnaire, and the concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 were acquired from air quality monitoring stations which were the nearest to the twelve kindergartens. A binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the associations of period-mean concentrations of individual pollutant exposure with childhood eczema. Of the 3167 children, 848 (26.8%) had a history of doctor-diagnosed eczema. After adjusting for the covariates, high levels of NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 exposures were significantly associated with a positive increase in risk of childhood eczema during the gestational period and the first year of life. In the gestational period, the estimate OR in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of NO2 was 1.256 and 1.496, respectively. During the first year of life, the estimate OR in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of NO2 was 1.371 and 1.335, respectively. Our study indicated that the gestational period and the first year of life exposures to high levels of ambient NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 were significantly associated with increased eczema among preschool children. Some effective measures of prevention and intervention could be developed for preschool children.

Ambient PM10 and Respirable Dust Levels Near Gold Mine Tailings Storage Facilities in South Africa

Gold mine tailings storage facilities (TSFs) contribute largely to high dust levels in the Gauteng and North‐West provinces, South Africa, and are seen as a public health concern. Currently, the South African National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM10 is 75 μg m−3 (24 h) and no limits have yet been set for respirable PM4 levels. This study investigates the ambient PM10 levels close to three TSFs as well as respirable PM4 levels of school learners at various distances from five TSFs during the dry and wet season. The results show that the ambient PM10 levels exceeded the current limit to a large degree between three and five times during the sampling period at the three TSFs studied. Analysis of wind speed, direction, and frequency show that emissions from two of the three TSFs could have been a possible dust source contributing to some of these exceedances. The respirable PM4 levels ranged from 10–130 μg m−3 (wet season) to 3–173 μg m−3 (dry season). For two TSFs studied, sampling sites close to the TSFs showed significantly higher PM4 levels compared to those further away, which was, however, likely not the result of TSF emissions but rather from other dust‐generating sources. Overall, these results reveal high PM10 levels in surrounding communities, which should be monitored and investigated further.

The estimated change in the level and distribution of PM2.5-attributable health impacts in the United States: 2005–2014

BackgroundPhotochemical modeling can predict the level and distribution of pollutant concentrations over time, but is resource-intensive. Partly for this reason, there are few studies exploring the multi-year trajectory of the historical change in fine particle (PM2.5) levels and associated health impacts in the U.S. ObjectivesWe used a unique dataset of Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model simulations performed for a subset of years over a decade-long period fused with observations to estimate the change in ambient levels of PM2.5 across the contiguous U.S. We also quantified the change in PM2.5-attributable health risks and characterized the level of risk inequality over this period. MethodsWe estimated annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2005, 2011 and 2014. Using log-linear and logistic concentration-response coefficients we estimated changes in the numbers of deaths, hospital admissions and other morbidity outcomes. Calculating the Gini coefficient and Atkinson Index, we characterized the extent to which PM2.5 attributable risks were shared equally across the population or instead concentrated among certain subgroups. ResultsIn 2005 the estimated fraction of deaths due to PM2.5 was 6.1%. This estimated value falls to 4.6% by 2014. Every portion of the contiguous U.S. experiences a decline in the risk of PM-related premature death over the 10-year period. As measured by the Gini coefficient and Atkinson index, the level of PM mortality risk is shared more equally in 2014 than in 2005 among all subgroups. ConclusionsBetween 2005 and 2014, the level of PM2.5 concentrations fall, and the risk of premature death, declined and became more equitably distributed across the U.S. population.

Ambient PM2.5 air pollutionexposure and hepatocellular carcinoma incidence in the United States.

To conduct the first epidemiologic study prospectively examining the association between particulate matter air pollution < 2.5µm in diameter (PM2.5) exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) provided information on HCC cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2014 from 16 population-based cancer registries across the U.S. Ambient PM2.5 exposure was estimated by linking the SEER county with a spatial PM2.5 model using a geographic information system. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to calculate incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between ambient PM2.5 exposure per 10µg/m3 increase and HCC risk adjusting for individual-level age at diagnosis, sex, race, year of diagnosis, SEER registry, and county-level information on health conditions, lifestyle, demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Higher levels of ambient PM2.5 exposure were associated with a statistically significant increased risk for HCC (n = 56,245 cases; adjusted IRR per 10µg/m3 increase = 1.26, 95% CI 1.08, 1.47; p < 0.01). If confirmed in studies with individual-level PM2.5 exposure and risk factor information, these results suggest that ambient PM2.5 exposure may be a risk factor for HCC in the U.S.

Effects of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutant PM10 on ultrasound-measured fetal growth.

Limited epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between prenatal exposure to ambient particulate matter and risk of abnormal fetal growth, and have reached inconclusive results. No study has been conducted in areas with very high air pollution levels. We investigated the hypothesis that exposure to high levels of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter no larger than 10 µm (PM10) during pregnancy increases the risk of abnormal fetal growth. A birth cohort study was performed in Lanzhou, China, 2010-12, including 8877 pregnant women with 18583 ultrasound measurements of four fetal growth parameters during pregnancy, including biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), head circumference (HC) and abdominal circumference (AC). Mixed-effects modelling was used to examine the associations between PM10 exposure and risk of abnormal fetal growth. When average PM10 exposure from conception until the ultrasound examination exceeded 150 µg/m3, there were significant increases in standardized FL (β = 0.095, P = 0.0012) and HC (β = 0.090, P = 0.0078) measures. When average PM10 exposure was treated as continuous variable, we found a significant decrease in standardized BPD (β = -0.018, P = 0.0016) as per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10. After examining the associations by various exposure windows, positive associations between higher levels of PM10 and fetal overgrowth were consistently seen for HC measures. Our study suggested that prenatal exposure to high levels of ambient PM10 increased the risk of abnormal fetal growth. The findings from our study have important public health implications and also call for future studies to explore the underlying mechanisms and post-natal consequences of these findings.

Chemical characterization and receptor modeling of PM10 in the surroundings of the opencast lignite mines of Western Macedonia, Greece.

The Western Macedonian Lignite Center (WMLC) in northwestern Greece is the major lignite center in the Balkans feeding four major power plants of total power exceeding 4GW. Concentrations of PM10 (i.e., particulate matters with diameters ≤10μm) are the main concern in the region, and the high levels observed are often attributed to the activities related to power generation. In this study, the contribution of fugitive dust emissions from the opencast lignite mines to the ambient levels of PM10 in the surroundings was estimated by performing chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor modeling. For this purpose, PM10 samples were concurrently collected at four receptor sites located in the periphery of the mine area during the cold and the warm periods of the year (November-December 2011 and August-September 2012), and analyzed for a total of 26 macro- and trace elements and ionic species (sulfate, nitrate, chloride). The robotic chemical mass balance (RCMB) model was employed for source identification/apportionment of PM10 at each receptor site using as inputs the ambient concentrations and the chemical profiles of various sources including the major mine operations, the fly ash escaping the electrostatic filters of the power plants, and other primary and secondary sources. Mean measured PM10 concentrations at the different sites ranged from 38 to 72μgm-3. The estimated total contribution of mines ranged between 9 and 22% in the cold period increasing to 36-42% in the dry warm period. Other significant sources were vehicular traffic, biomass burning, and secondary sulfate and nitrate aerosol. These results imply that more efficient measures to prevent and suppress fugitive dust emissions from the mines are needed.

Metro Commuter Exposures to Particulate Air Pollution and PM2.5-Associated Elements in Three Canadian Cities: The Urban Transportation Exposure Study.

System-representative commuter air pollution exposure data were collected for the metro systems of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada. Pollutants measured included PM2.5 (PM = particulate matter), PM10, ultrafine particles, black carbon, and the elemental composition of PM2.5. Sampling over three weeks was conducted in summer and winter for each city and covered each system on a daily basis. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to identify system features related to particulate exposures. Ambient levels of PM2.5 and its elemental components were compared to those of the metro in each city. A microenvironmental exposure model was used to estimate the contribution of a 70 min metro commute to daily mean exposure to PM2.5 elemental and mass concentrations. Time spent in the metro was estimated to contribute the majority of daily exposure to several metallic elements of PM2.5 and 21.2%, 11.3% and 11.5% of daily PM2.5 exposure in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, respectively. Findings suggest that particle air pollutant levels in Canadian metros are substantially impacted by the systems themselves, are highly enriched in steel-based elements, and can contribute a large portion of PM2.5 and its elemental components to a metro commuter's daily exposure.

Association between ambient PM(l0)/PM(2.5) concentration and outpatient department visits due to respiratory disease in a hospital in Jinan, 2013-2015: a time series analysis

Objective: To estimate the influence of the ambient PM(l0) and PM(2.5) pollution on the hospital outpatient department visit due to respiratory diseases in local residents in Jinan quantitatively. Methods: Time serial analysis using generalized addictive model (GAM) was conducted. After controlling the confounding factors, such as long term trend, weekly pattern and meteorological factors, considering lag effect and the influence of other air pollutants, the excess relative risks of daily hospital visits associated with increased ambient PM(10) and PM(2.5) levels were estimated by fitting a Poisson regression model. Results: A 10 μg/m(3) increase of PM(10) and PM(2.5) levels was associated with an increase of 0.36%(95%CI: 0.30%-0.43%) and 0.50%(95%CI: 0.30%-0.70%) respectively for hospital visits due to respiratory diseases. Lag effect of 6 days was strongest, the excess relative risks were 0.65% (95% CI: 0.58% -0.71% ) and 0.54% (95% CI: 0.42%-0.67%) respectively. When NO(2) concentration was introduced, the daily hospital visits due to respiratory disease increased by 0.83% as a 10 μg/m(3) increase of PM(10) concentration (95% CI: 0.76%-0.91%). Conclusion: The ambient PM(l0) and PM(2.5) pollution was positively associated with daily hospital visits due to respiratory disease in Jinan, and ambient NO(2) concentration would have the synergistic effect.

Ambient Levels of TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and Particle Number Concentration in Al Samha, UAE

The Arabian Peninsula experiences elevated levels of airborne particulate originated from both natural and anthropogenic sources. This study is mainly aimed to determine the ambient levels of TSP, PM10 and PM2.5) at one of the monitoring locations “Al Samha” that is located in the northeast quadrant of UAE. Mass concentrations, particle count, as well as meteorological parameters were simultaneously measured using a spectrometer, PM10 beta attenuation monitor and weather sensors for the period from April 10 to December 31, 2011. The hourly mean concentrations of TSP, PM10, PM2.5-10 and PM2.5 were 245, 110, 64 and 46 μg/m3, respectively. About 34%, 15% and 56% of the monitored days had daily concentrations above the allowable limits for TSP, PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. Diurnal peak occurred at 14:00 for TSP, at 10:00 for PM10, and at 04:00 for PM2.5 reaching values of up to 410, 122, and 54 μg/m3, respectively. The highest concentrations were observed on Saturdays for TSP and PM10, but on Sundays for PM2.5. July had the greatest monthly level of PM compared to other months of this study. The average ratios of PM10/TSP, PM2.5/TSP and PM2.5/PM10 were 0.61, 0.31 and 0.47, respectively. Weak relationships were found between the particle number and mass concentrations, while very strong to moderate correlations were observed among all PM size fractions as well as between TSP and wind speed. The measurement results of the light scattering spectrometer were strongly correlated with the beta attenuation monitor, but the mean value of the spectrometer was higher by 18%.

Spatial and temporal variation in endotoxin and PM10 concentrations in ambient air in a livestock dense area

Several studies have reported associations between farming and respiratory health in neighboring residents. Health effects are possibly linked to fine dust and endotoxin emissions from livestock farms. Little is known about levels of these air pollutants in ambient air in livestock dense areas. We aimed to explore temporal and spatial variation of PM10 and endotoxin concentrations, and the association with livestock-related spatial and meteorological temporal determinants.From March till September 2011, one week average PM10 samples were collected using Harvard Impactors at eight sites (residential gardens) representing a variety of nearby livestock-related characteristics. A background site was included in the study area, situated at least 500m away from the nearest farm. PM10 mass was determined by gravimetric analysis and endotoxin level by means of Limulus-Amebocyte-Lysate assay. Data were analyzed using mixed models.The range between sites of geometric mean concentrations was for PM10 19.8–22.3µg/m3 and for endotoxin 0.46–0.66EU/m3. PM10 concentrations and spatial variation were very similar for all sites, while endotoxin concentrations displayed a more variable pattern over time with larger differences between sites. Nonetheless, the temporal pattern at the background location was highly comparable to the sites mean temporal pattern both for PM10 and endotoxin (Pearson correlation: 0.92, 0.62). Spatial variation was larger for endotoxin than for PM10 (within/between site variance ratio: 0.63, 2.03). Spatial livestock-related characteristics of the surroundings were more strongly related to endotoxin concentrations, while temporal determinants were more strongly related to PM10 concentrations.The effect of local livestock-related sources on PM10 concentration was limited in this study carried out in a livestock dense area. The effect on endotoxin concentrations was more profound. To gain more insight in the effect of livestock-related sources on ambient levels of PM10 and endotoxin, measurements should be based on a broader set of locations.

Effects of the Post-Olympics Driving Restrictions on Air Quality in Beijing

To reduce congestion and air pollution, 20% driving restriction, a license plate-based traffic control measure, has been implemented in Beijing since October 2008. While the long-term impacts of this policy remain controversial, it is important to understand how and why the policy effects of driving restrictions change over time. In this paper, the short- and long-run effects of the 20% driving restrictions in Beijing and the key factors shaping the effects are analyzed using daily PM10 pollution data. The results showed that in the short run, 20% driving restriction could effectively reduce ambient PM10 levels. However, this positive effect rapidly faded away within a year due to long-term behavioral responses of residents. A modified 20% restriction, designed to replace the original 20% restriction system since April 2009, which is less stringent and provides more possibility for intertemporal driving substitution, has shown some positive influence on air quality over the long run comparing with that under the original policy design. Temporarily, the more stringent the driving restriction was, the better effects it would have on air quality. In the long-run, however, the policy was likely to cause a vicious circle, and more stringent policy might induce stronger negative incentives which would result in even worse policy effects. Lessons learned from study of the effects of driving restrictions in Beijing will help other major cities in China and abroad to use driving restrictions more prudently and effectively in the future. Decision-makers should carefully consider the pros and cons of a transport policy and conduct the ex-ante and ex-post evaluations on it.

Study on the benefits of children’s health from air quality improved in XX city

Objective The aim of this study was to establish the concentration–response relationships between the levels of SO2 and PM10 and the daily numbers of pediatric outpatient visits and to estimate benefits from the air quality improved. Method The study period was from 2001 to 2010. The data of pediatric outpatient visit numbers was from a major hospital in XX City; The daily levels of SO2 and PM10 in local Environment Monitoring Station was from XX monitoring Central Station; Data of weather was provided by XX Meteorological Service. Concentration-response functions(CRFs) were established by generalized additive modeling (GAM) with natural log link function, while the changing point in CRFs were determined by multiple structural change test. We estimated the risks of children’s outpatients visits for different segments of CRFs and calculated the extra risk of air pollution and the benefits from air quality improved based on the WHO Air quality guidelines(Global update 2005) and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Results Ambient air SO2 and PM10 levels of XX city showed significantly decreased in 2003 and 2007, respectively. Compared with the national secondary standard limits, the extra risk of children’s outpatient visits for SO2 exposure in XX city were 11.3% during 2001-2002, 2.5% in 2003 and 1.1% from 2004 to 2010, respectively. Meanwhile, the extra risk for children’s PM10 exposure were 3.1% increasing of outpatient visits in 2001 and 2002, 2.2% during 2003-2006 and 0.7% from 2007 to 2010. Based on the air quality guideline of WHO, the risk of children’s outpatient visits for the SO2 exposure reduced 57.9% in 2003 compared with year 2001 to 2002, while the risk of reduced 52.3% for PM10 exposure rom in 2007-2010 compared with 2005-2006. Conclusion The improvement of air quality might reduce the risk of children’s outpatient visits.

Personal Exposure and Dose of Inhaled Ambient Particulate Matter Bound Metals in Five European Cities

The objective of the current study is the determination of the personal exposure and dose of ambient particulate matter-bound metals in human tissues at five European cities. The accumulation in human body of lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), in five European cities (Athens, Seville, Rome, Frankfurt and Zabrze) was calculated using an exposure and dose assessment model, ExDoM, and a pharmacokinetic model, PBPK. The study subjects are adult Caucasian nonsmoker males. It was calculated that the highest dose of particulate matter is received from a resident of Seville, due to the higher ambient PM10 levels in the city compared to the other sites. First, the current study showed that the European Union thresholds of particle-bound Pb, Cd and As concentrations were not exceeded in the cities under study. As regard the dose of Pb and As the higher dose is calculated for Athens and Seville, respectively. The highest dose of Cd is found at Zabrze, due to the high industrial activity in the city. It was calculated that after one day of exposure, the highest accumulation of Pb occurred in blood, muscles and bones. Furthermore, the highest deposition of Cd occurred in the lungs and intestines and for As in the lung and muscles. The heavy metals intake, calculated in this study, was very low in comparison with the recommended WHO levels for heavy metals intake from all types of exposure (inhalation, ingestion).

Association between ambient inhalable particle pollution and mortality due to circulatory disease in Nanjing: a case-crossover study

To explore the short-term effects of ambient PM10 pollution on mortality due to circulatory diseases, and to study the modifying effect of season on the association between ambient PM10 concentration and mortality in Nanjing. Daily mortality, air pollution, and meteorological data from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 in Nanjing were collected; Time-stratified case-crossover design was used to analyze the associations between daily average concentration of inhalable particle (PM10) and mortality due to circulatory diseases; Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated; And stratified analysis was conducted to compare the mortality risks of circulatory diseases exposed to outdoor PM10 in warm season (May-October) with that in cool season (November-April). The mean daily average concentrations of PM10, NO2, and SO2 from 2009 to 2013 in Nanjing were 109.1, 51.5, and 35.4 µg/m(3), respectively. During our study period, a total of 78 299 circulatory disease deaths were recorded. On average, there were approximately 43 circulatory disease deaths per day; and deaths due to cardiac diseases, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases were 19, 10 and 24 per day, respectively. After adjusting for the meteorological variables such as daily temperature, relative humidity and air pressure, a10 µg/m(3) increment of PM10 was associated with the mortality on values of (OR) 1.002 4 (95% CI: 1.000 1-1.004 8) for total circulatory diseases, 1.004 8 (95% CI: 1.001 3-1.008 3) for cardiac diseases, 1.007 3 (95% CI: 1.002 4-1.012 3) for ischemic heart disease and 1.000 5 (95% CI: 0.998 5-1.002 4) for cerebrovascular diseases, respectively. In summer season, the OR values of daily mortality for total circulatory diseases and cerebrovascular diseases were 1.008 0 (95% CI: 1.003 9-1.012 2) and 1.005 7 (95% CI: 1.002 0-1.009 4), respectively, the corresponding OR values in cool season were 1.001 4 (95% CI: 0.998 5-1.004 2) and 0.998 8 (95% CI: 0.996 4-1.001 2), respectively; The effect estimates in warm season were higher than that in cool season. The elevated levels of ambient PM10 were positively associated with the increase of mortality due to circulatory diseases, and season may modify the effects of outdoor PM10 pollution on mortality.

Ambient PM10, NO2 And SO2 Levels And Cause-Specific Mortality In Two Cities Located In Different Köppen-Geiger Climatic Zones: 2006-2010

Introduction Climate and meteorology directly influence air pollution via pollutant/precursor transport and/or formation. Meteorological conditions also influence biogenic and anthropogenic air pollutant emissions. Climate and air quality are often treated as separate risk factors, but there are important interactions that need to be considered and addressed. Few studies investigated explicitly the influence of the Köppen-Geiger climatic zone type on the association between air pollution and human health. Methods This study investigated the association between ambient PM10, NO2 and SO2 levels and respiratory disease (RD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in two cities located in different Köppen-Geiger climatic zones, namely humid subtropical climate (Cfa), that closely borders a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw), and subtropical highland climate (Cwb). The time-series and case-crossover epidemiological study designs were applied for the period 2006-2010. Lag0-1 was investigated. Results In the city with a Cfa and Aw climate, RD and CVD mortality increased by 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively per IQR increase in PM10. The respective increase was 1.0% and 1.8% per IQR increase in NO2. The respective change was a 2.4% decrease and a 1.0% increase per IQR increase in SO2. None of the changes were statistically significant. In the city with a Cwb climate, RD and CVD mortality increased by 0.9% and 3.3%, respectively per IQR increase in PM10. The respective increase was 5.3% and 1.1% per IQR increase in NO2. The respective change was a 2.4% decrease and a 0.7% increase per IQR increase in SO2. None of the changes were statistically significant. Conclusion These results indicate that the health of the population living in these two cities is at slightly different risks with increases in PM10, NO2 and SO2, although not statistically significant.

Association between Chronic Laryngitis and Particulate Matter Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012.

BackgroundChronic laryngitis (CL) has been described as chronic inflammation of the larynx. CL have various causes such as long-term smoking, acid reflux, voice overuse, bronchitis, allergies, pneumonia, excessive exposure to toxic chemicals and complications from the flu or a chronic cold. However, the prevalence of CL and role of air pollution in the etiology is uncertain.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CL and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) in South Korea using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) during 2008–2012.MethodsKNHANES is a cross-sectional survey of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of South Korea (n = 21,116). A field survey team that included an otolaryngologist moved with a mobile examination unit and performed interviews and physical examinations. The mean annual concentrations of ambient PM10, SO2, O3, NO2, and CO levels in Korea were determined from monitoring station data. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship of air pollution to CL.ResultsAmong the population ≥ 19 years of age, the weighted prevalence of CL was 3.37 ± 0.30% (95% confidence interval, 2.79–3.95%). CL was more prevalent in men, current smokers, and those with lower household income and prevalence increased with age. A significant decrease over time was observed in the prevalence of CL (P for trend = 0.0049) and the annual average concentrations of PM10 (P for trend < 0.0001) from 2008 to 2012. In a multivariate model, the factors associated with CL included PM10 (odds ratio [OR], 1.378, p = 0.0457), age (OR, 1.020, p<0.0001), sex (OR, 0.734, p = 0.0179), and smoking status (OR, 1.438, p = 0.0054).ConclusionElevated PM10 exposures could be associated with increased risk of CL in South Koreans. Further epidemiological and experimental studies are necessary to clarify the impact of chronic PM10 exposure on CL.

Exposure to Fine Particles by Mine Tailing and Lung Function Effects in a Panel of Schoolchildren, Cha&amp;#241;aral, Chile

There is much literature on the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on respiratory and cardiovascular health. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of PM2.5 on a population living in the vicinity of a massive deposit of mine tailings. A longitudinal panel study was performed to evaluate the association between exposure to PM2.5 and acute effects on lung function in schoolchildren from November 2012 to May 2013. Ambient levels of PM2.5 and its metal composition were measured. Lung function was evaluated using spirometric testing. Associations were quantified using GEE multilevel analysis controlling for confounders by using different lag time periods. The chemical characterization of PM2.5 had high levels of S > Na > Cl > Ca > Si > Fe > Al > Mg > K > Cu > Ti > and Zn, which would be associated with metals present in tailings. We found a negative association between the temporal variation of PM2.5 and changes in lung function specifically on forced vital capacity. Our results suggest that schoolchildren exposed to fine particulate matter from tailings deposited in the bay of Chanaral have their forced vital capacity decreased, which would affect their present and future lung development, increasing the risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases.